Chamber of Commerce plans
‘BIG’ event
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce will hold a “Business Innovation Generator” event March 27 at Cauley Ferrari of Detroit in West Bloomfield
The BIG event is set to take place from 6-7:30 p.m. and feature a night of information gathering, networking and making connections.
The event is designed to give business owners an opportunity to network, ask questions and learn from each other, according to Suzanne Levine, the executive director of the Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. She created the event to bring in expert speakers on a variety of topics.
The event went virtual when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. However, this year it is set to return in person.
“We decided we’re going to relaunch in a big way,” Levine said.
The self-described “business match-
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
ORCHARD LAKE — Orchard
Lake St. Mary’s won the Division III hockey state championship March 8 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.
St. Mary’s is consistently competing in the state final tournament
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s hockey wins state championship
weekend and is highly ranked year in and year out, but this season the program was finally able to get over the hump and win the school’s first hockey title since 2008.
“This team is very skilled and very talented,” Orchard Lake St. Mary’s longtime head coach Brian Klanow said. “But the most impor-
tant component they had was their brotherhood.”
That talent and camaraderie took this program to incredible heights this season. In the run to the crown, St. Mary’s won 5-1 and 9-1 in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, before a dominant 3-0
ABOVE: Orchard
Lake St. Mary’s hockey team celebrates after winning the Division III state title at USA Ice Arena in Plymouth March 8.
Photo provided by Brian Klanow
Local teacher recognized for instruction in ‘Positive Psychology’
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WEST BLOOMFIELD — West Bloomfield
High School teacher Jennifer Sepetys has been acknowledged by the Michigan Education Association for her efforts in addressing student mental health as part of her 20-week course, “Positive Psychology.”
The class utilizes tools such as mindfulness, breathing, goals, gratitude, journaling and meditation to achieve results.
Sepetys and two of her former students recently shared details about the class and the impact it has had.
According to Sepetys, after the pandemic she noticed that her students were struggling with mental health concerns.
She said that she would ask if they were OK “and some would break down.”
“They would be crying,” Sepetys said.
As a teacher, she wanted to support them in her classroom, but also wanted to help them learn strategies they could use to help themselves in their own mental health journey.
“With the rising mental health conditions among the adolescent population, how can we manage their mental health if there’s maybe six counselors at a school, one mental health coordinator, two social workers and a psychologist, with schools over 1,000-plus? There’s a lot of responsibility put on the schools to help out with managing all the mental health conditions,” Sepetys said.
See PSYCHOLOGY on page 4A
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Governor approves bills for sick time, minimum wage
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.
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
See
on page 11A
Photo provided by Chris Behnan
Jennifer Sepetys teaches mindfulness as part of her “Positive Psychology” class at West Bloomfield High School. Mindfulness is being aware of the present moment.
WAGE
Whitmer
Psychology
She wanted to implement something that students could readily access.
“What I’m trying to do through this class is help with (some) of those barriers and really try to help them learn strategies that they can potentially use,” Sepetys said.
Some of the barriers students can face include a lack of transportation to get extra support if they need a therapist, financial issues, and stigmas associated with mental health, according to Sepetys.
Septettes is currently working on a Ph.D. in education leadership with a focus on student mental health. Through her research, she dove into the topic and took an online course with Martin Seligman, a psychologist and educator.
At that time, a lot of the work had been done with college students, according to Sepetys. However, she tailored what she learned to high school students.
“The purpose of the class is … to bring evidence-based strategies to the students in order to increase their wellbeing,” Sepetys said.
Sepetys’ class incorporates multiple strategies, including mindfulness, breathing techniques, gratitude, goal setting, journaling, and meditation.
Mindfulness
Sepetys describes mindfulness as being aware of the present moment.
“Mindfulness is another evidence-based strategy that has been shown over time, if you practice it, it starts to bring some calmness to yourself,” Sepetys said.
Kennedi Aulgur, a 2023 graduate of
West Bloomfield High School, took the class in 2022, the first year it was offered, and still practices many of the strategies and tools that she learned during the course.
Aulgur has learned to be mindful about taking care of herself, eating, sleeping, drinking water, going outside and taking a walk, saving her money, and on occasion, indulging in a treat.
Breathing
Sepetys teaches more than 20 breathing techniques, although she does not expect her students to remember and use all of them. Instead, her aspiration is for them to have a couple of “go-to” ones they can use before a game, an interview, speaking before a group, or anytime they need to calm themselves.
“That is something that has really helped me,” Aulgur said. “Overall, a simple deep breath can improve you so much.”
She inhales for four seconds, holds for four seconds, and then exhales for four seconds.
Ella Thomakos, a 2024 graduate of West Bloomfield High, took the class her senior year and still uses the breathing exercises to help manage her anxiety.
“I have severe anxiety when I am getting really, really anxious or worked up. I will use these techniques at any random point of time, if I feel I need to calm down,” Thomakos said.
According to Thomakos, reciting anything, including numbers, as she is doing the breathing exercises, calms her.
Among her favorite exercises is drawing an imaginary box while inhaling and exhaling — breathing out while drawing the horizontal line and breathing in while drawing the vertical line. She repeats until a box is drawn.
Photo provided by Kennedi Aulgur
Kennedi Aulgur, currently a sophomore in college, still uses breathing techniques, meditation, mindfulness, and other techniques that she learned during her “Positive Psychology” class at West Bloomfield High School. Aulgur is pictured with her medically-declared support cat, Lily.
Roundtable addresses Michigan’s first Statewide Workforce Plan
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 18, one week before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity held a roundtable discussion in Macomb County to discuss the first-ever Statewide Workforce Plan.
Held at the University Center on the Macomb Community College Center Campus, attendees discussed the plan designed to expand career opportunities, strengthen Michigan’s workforce and support employers. There are three components of the plan: registered apprenticeships, pre-employment transition services, and removing barriers to work.
The roundtable panel included presentations from LEO Director Susan Corbin; Stephanie Beckhorn, deputy director, LEO’s Office of Employment and Training; and Heidi Devroy, CEO/founder, Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool, located in Richmond.
According to LEO, Whitmer’s proposed 2026-27 fiscal-year budget includes $19 million to expand access to registered appren-
ticeships; $40.4 million — including a $8.4 million general fund investment to secure $32 million in matching federal funds — for pre-employment transition support and other vocational rehabilitation services for students with disabilities; and $7.5 million for the Barrier Removal Employment Success program.
“We know that registered apprenticeships strengthen our talent pool and help Michiganders earn while they learn. One year after successfully completing their training program, registered apprentices in Michigan have median annual earnings of over $80,700,” Corbin said. “That can put a household into the middle class. One of the strong, clear priorities and goals of our Statewide Workforce Plan is to bring 75,000 additional households into the middle class. We also know that 94% of apprentices are retained in employment one year after completing their apprenticeship program.”
The $19 million is expected to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities in traditional and nontraditional industries. According to the panel, that will strengthen Michigan’s talent pool of students and job
See WORKFORCE on page 13A
MARCH 19
Growing vegetables: Hear from author and farmer Bevin Cohen about planning, planting and producing in your garden, 6-8 p.m., West Bloomfield Township Public Library - Westacres Branch, 7321 Commerce Road, (248) 363-4022, wblib.org
MARCH 23
‘Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!’: Adaptation of 2003 picture book with script written by author Mo Willems, 1 p.m., The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in The J, 6600 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield, (248) 406-6677, theberman.org
Author fair: Meet 13 writers and discover new books, 1-4 p.m., West Bloomfield Township Public Library - Main Branch, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, (248) 6822120, see scheduled participants at wblib.org
MARCH 26
‘Researching the Underground Railroad in Oakland County’: Presentation by Oakland County Parks historian Carol Bacak-Egbo about Mary Parker, William Taylor and other freedom seekers, 7 p.m., West Bloomfield Township Public Library - Main Branch, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, wblib.org, gwbhs.org/events
MARCH 30
Hear Blue Water Ramblers: Free concert part of Mu-
sic @ Main series, 2-3 p.m. (doors at 1:30 p.m.), West Bloomfield Township Public Library - Main Branch, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, (248) 682-2120, wblib.org
Hear The Guy Mintus Trio: Led by Israeli-born pianist, composer and vocalist with focus on jazz, classical and world music, 7 p.m., The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in The J, 6600 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield, (248) 406-6677, theberman.org
APRIL 4-6
Used book sale: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 5 and noon-3 p.m. April 6, West Bloomfield Township Public Library, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, pre-sale for “Friends” members from 7-9 p.m. April 4, (248) 682-2120, wblib.org
APRIL 6
Day off for caregivers: Free massage, yoga, music, games, snacks and lunch for those caring for loved ones with dementia, 10 a.m.-3.30 p.m., Soul Café, 5586 Drake Road in West Bloomfield, loved ones can be dropped off for respite care during same time period at Brown Center, 6720 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield, RSVP to Sharilyn at (248) 592-5032 by March 24, brownadultday.org
ONGOING
Orchard Lake Museum: Visit home of Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society for open houses from 1-4 p.m. March 23, April 6 and April 13 (also find tax records information), 3951 Orchard Lake Road, gwbhs.org/events
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UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY
WEST BLOOMFIELD —The Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society announced that a traveling exhibit about the Underground Railroad in Oakland County is on display in March at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library.
“Mary Parker, William Taylor and Other Freedom Seekers: Researching the Underground Railroad in Oakland County” is set to take place at 7 p.m. March 26 at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library, located at 4600 Walnut Lake Road.
The panels are scheduled to be at West Bloomfield Town Hall, located at 4550 Walnut Lake Road, in April.
The six exhibit panels are the result of “The Oakland County Underground Railroad Project,” a “multicommunity public history project to research and provide access to evidence-based local Underground Railroad history,” a press release from the Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society states.
The Underground Railroad in Oakland County Public History Project is led by The Birmingham Museum and Oakland County Historical Commission. It is funded in part by Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The exhibit is enhanced with an accompanying website where users can find an interactive map, sources, and more information.
The panels will then be at West Bloomfield Town Hall, located at 4550 Walnut Lake Road, in April, according to the release.
“The exhibit has been super popular, and visitors’ evaluations are extraordinarily high. People are reading everything, they are just fascinated. It’s been a great success.” Leslie Pielack, the director of the Birmingham Museum, stated via the release.
LOCAL TUSKEGEE
WEST BLOOMFIELD — At the March 10 West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting, board members voted unanimously to proclaim March 22 Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Macon - Thomas Chapter Day.
“Your work in the community is really to behold, and certainly, this history of your organization is very important to our community,” Township Supervisor Jonathan Warshay said at the meeting.
Charles Matthews, who is the president of the Macon – Thomas West Bloomfield Chapter, also shared some comments at the meeting.
“The township has been a supporter of ours since inception and we appreciate the kind words, thoughts, deeds, and everything the township has placed our way and helped us along the way,” Matthews said. “We look forward to many, many more years of combined efforts to make the community and the world a better place.”
West Bloomfield Township Clerk Debbie Binder praised the organization for their outreach and programming for kids.
“The programs you offer kids (are) so broad,” Binder said. “You make sure they have exposure to all sorts of different opportunities.”
The chapter will have a scholarship luncheon March 22 for deserving students.
SPOTLIGHT EVENT FEATURES FORMER WHITE SUPREMACIST AT JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
WEST BLOOMFIELD — Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit is scheduled to host, “Healing After Hate” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at Temple Israel, located at 5725 Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield.
The event will feature speaker Arno Michaelis, a former white supremacist who now works to counter extremism and promote compassion.
Michaelis is the author of “My Life After Hate.”
Michaelis will share his unique journey, helping others to understand and overcome prejudice. His storytelling has been described as raw and honest, drawing from his personal experience.
“(He) illustrates how empathy and compassion can allow for healing after hate,” a press release from JFS states.
According to JFS, dollars raised enable Jewish Family Service to address the greatest needs of the community and continue serving the most vulnerable.
For sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, visit jfsspotlightevent.org.
Photo provided by Debbie Binder
from page 1A
maker” said, “I try to connect our small to medium-size businesses to resources, if I don’t have them, or to other members who have been there and are now in a more solid place.”
As an example, Levine shared the story of a young man who purchased a pizza shop in West Bloomfield and wanted to grow his footprint.
“I connected him to all these real estate agents and I (asked) them, when they sell a house, if he could deliver a small to mediumsize pizza and say, ‘Welcome to the neighborhood’ and put a coupon on it,” Levine said. “What a great way to introduce himself to homeowners. And plus, what a treat that they would receive when they are unpacking and trying to get settled.”
Jeff Cauley, the owner and dealer principal of Cauley Ferrari of Detroit, will be one of the keynote speakers and share some of his business experience. His family’s name has been on automotive dealerships for more than 60 years.
“The customer, the customer, and then the customer,” Cauley said of the three things he would tell business owners, in order to be successful. “(Also), attention to detail, doing what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it, and just keep focusing on the customer. That’s the most important thing in any business.”
Cauley elaborated on what attention to detail means for his business.
“In our case we do a lot of events for clients, just thinking of every detail of the event, making sure it’s perfect,” Cauley said. “Making sure all the paperwork is handled properly, and you are in-tune to what the clients’ needs are.”
The Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to hold a “Business Innovation Generator” event at Cauley Ferrari of Detroit in West Bloomfield March 27. The event provides an opportunity for business owners to network.
From Cauley’s perspective, knowing the individual likes of each client is very important.
“It’s always the little things in life that make the biggest difference,” Cauley said.
Jack Cauley, Jeff’s dad, opened Jack Cauley Chevrolet in 1969 in Ferndale. He then moved the dealership to West Bloomfield in 1978.
“(The) beauty and affluence of the West Bloomfield community was a perfect match for our business,” Jeff Cauley said.
In the spring of 1999, Cauley Ferrari of Detroit was opened. As the only Ferrari dealership in Michigan, the business attracts customers from all over the state, as well as the country, according to Jeff Cauley.
“I do believe that the higher-income products will always sell because that community always seems to have disposable income,” Levine said. “But how do we help our small to medium-size businesses when there’s uncertainty in the economy?”
Although the specifics of the speeches have not been defined yet, Levine believes the topic of small and medium-size businesses in an uncertain economy will be discussed.
One local small business owner is Nimesh Seth, who owns Resurgence Physical Therapy in West Bloomfield.
“I love the BIG events that we do,” said Seth, who serves on the board for the Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. “It gives us a lot of opportunity to meet other people and meet other businesses, spread the word, and you never know how you may make a connection.”
For more information about the BIG event, contact Levine at the Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce at (248) 626-3636 or at wbloomfieldchamber@gmail. com.
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
Psychology from page 4A
“I do take medication for anxiety. Personally, I’m trying to work on not relying on medication for anxiety, so it (the breathing exercises) has helped me wean off of the medication because I can replace the medication with these techniques I learned in class,” Thomakos said.
Goal Setting
Goal setting is also a key component to the class. Sepetys has students set a goal to accomplish in four weeks.
Doing so provides them an opportunity to focus on something they have been thinking about.
Thomakos set the goal of not biting her nails.
“With anxiety comes a lot of fidgeting with your hair or your nails,” Thomakos said.
Sepetys has provided “fidgets” in the classroom that students can use to occupy their hands to prevent them from fidgeting. The fidgets included Play-Doh, slime, fidget spinners, things that can be put together, fidget blocks to click, and more.
During those four weeks, Thomakos was able to stop biting her nails. Now, she uses a stress ball to squeeze when she feels anxious.
Although Thomakos has made headway, if she doesn’t have the stress ball with her she still occasionally resorts to biting her nails.
Thomakos is currently studying forensic science at a university in Chicago. In addition to the breathing exercises, she also incorporates yoga to ease her anxiety.
Gratitude
According to Sepetys, writing a letter to thank someone and reading it to that person makes both the receiver and the writer feel good.
See PSYCHOLOGY on page 15A
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Goal setting is a strategy taught in a “Positive Psychology” class taught at West Bloomfield High School. Ella Thomakos, who took the class while she was a student at West Bloomfield High, set a goal to stop biting her nails.
Photo provided by Ella Thomakos
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 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
16A
Hockey
showing in the state title game against Cranbrook Kingswood.
“(Cranbrook) beat us twice this year,” St. Mary’s sophomore forward Thad Raynish said. “We really wanted to beat them… 3-0 looks really good up on the scoreboard.”
Raynish is right, and shutouts in state title games are very rare. The goaltending and defense that St. Mary’s got in the postseason was stellar, as the team only allowed two goals in the final three rounds of the tournament combined.
“My philosophy certainly has to start with defense. If you can’t play in the defensive end then it doesn’t really matter what you’re doing offensively,” Klanow explained. “We changed our strategy a little bit about three quarters of the way through (the season)... It really helped us out.”
You can almost pinpoint exactly where the adjustments were made. After a 3-2 loss to Sault Ste. Marie Feb. 14, the team then went 6-0 and outscored its opponents by a whopping 38-4 to close out the year.
Jacob Fedor, Jack Squire and Diezel Cariera led the team’s defense this season and were pillars to the success of the program. In net, St. Mary’s had two goalies with a save percentage over .900 in Mason Shea and Will Keane, with Keane getting the shutout in the state title game.
“We knew that if everyone did their jobs the goals would come,” Raynish said. “We always find ways to score so we knew if we could just shut down the other team, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to score.”
The offense was led by Raynish and junior Charlie Roberts, who both led the team
in scoring this season with 36 and 32 points, respectively. Both of them recorded a point in the state title game as well.
“One of the things that was nice was we never had to rely on one or two people to score,” Roberts said. “That’s what we saw in the playoffs, different people stepping up at different times.”
The hockey program at St. Mary’s has a winning culture. However, after nearly 20 years of competitive seasons and postseason appearances, the team still wasn’t able to bring home a trophy.
That makes this season’s title mean even
more to the team and the community.
“We haven’t won (a title) in a long time and I think everyone rallied around that,” Raynish said. “It’s great being a part of this team. (For) all of the people that come to the games… it’s just good that we finally got it done.”
The standard at the program was already to win state titles, and now with a win in everyone’s back pocket, that message only grows stronger.
“For us, every year going into our season, the state championship… is the goal,” Klanow said. “Every year we feel that we
have a solid opportunity to win that.”
The 2024-2025 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s team will forever be remembered within the program for the hard work, dedication and brotherhood of everyone involved.
“(The players) always used the slogan, ‘Keep your eye on the prize,’” Klanow said. “That started from day one when we started training in the summer and carried through until the final day when we won a state championship.”
Call Sports Writer Scott Bentley at (586) 498-1090.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s storms the ice after the clock hits 0.00 in the state title game at USA Ice Arena March 8.
Photo provided by Brian Klanow
Workforce
from page 5A
seekers by helping them to gain in-demand skills and provide employers with the workers they need.
An apprenticeship program trains future employees to become skilled in a trade or profession. Apprenticeship training combines classroom learning with hands-on work as students prepare for entry level patient-centered or business-oriented health careers.
“Registered apprenticeships are an opportunity to learn important skills that lead to industry-recognized credentials while getting paid,” Beckhorn said. “You earn and you learn at the same time. They are pathways into good paying jobs. We currently have more than 850 active programs and over 22,000 active registered apprentices in our state.”
The $40.4 million for pre-employment transition support will provide academic remediation, specialized tutoring and enrollment into career and technical training courses or college, with the goal of assisting individuals with disabilities on a pathway to in-demand jobs. The $8.4 million general fund investment will allow the state to provide the required match to access federal vocational rehabilitation funding. Michigan’s
pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities are provided through the state’s vocational rehab programs, which includes Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons.
The $7.5 million for the Barrier Removal Employment Success program is for no- and low-income residents, including those who earn above the poverty level but not enough to adequately sustain a household. This service will address transportation, legal services, childcare, clothing needs, tools for work and other barriers that keep people from participating in the workforce. The goal is to lift 100,000 families out of working poverty during the next five years.
“The governor’s proposed budget will allow us to work closely with over 8,000 students aged 14 and older to help them with their transition from high school to post-secondary education into employment,” Beckhorn said.
Devroy, whose husband is an apprentice, said Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool began 18 years ago. The production machine company staffs 24 employees and began an apprenticeship program in 2017. They have four children, one of whom is a journeyman electrician.
“I’m a big proponent of the skilled
See WORKFORCE on page 19A
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You may qualify if you are:
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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH
A RACE TO THE FINISH LINE
PERSONAL TRAINERS SHARE HOW TO PREPARE FOR A 5K
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
The first race for many runners, the 5K, is a tangible goal for just about anyone, if you commit to the proper training.
Because the 5K is one of the shortest race distances — at 3.1 miles — many say it’s a great choice for beginners and seasoned athletes alike.
“Running a 5K is not an easy task — it’s achievable, but it’s not an easy task,” said Brian Gibes, personal training director for Champion Health Club.
The first, and arguably the most crucial, step is to make sure you have the proper footwear — including comfortable socks and a new, well-fitting and supportive pair of shoes.
“Running is very violent. It’s a lot of impact, so the proper footwear is important,” Gibes explained. “You lose that shock absorption with shoes that are two, three, four or more years old.”
Shock-absorbing shoes are important because they help reduce the impact of each step on your body, preventing injuries and limiting the amount of force on your joints, bones and muscles.
To provide the best fit for your feet, Christine Utter, a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach at YMCA Farmington Hills, recommends getting fitted for shoes at a running store.
Utter, who has trained many runners over the years, has competed in many races herself, including 5Ks, marathons, and her longest, a 50K.
She says it’s important to train for the race in your new shoes to help break them in.
“Wear the same gear you will wear on race day just to make sure there is no chafing or rubbing or anything that will be agonizing at the end,” she shared.
To conquer your first 3.1-mile race, you need to commit to at least a two- to three-month training program with a mix of
5K
Visual Impairment and Computer Use
Dear Dr. Jacobi, I spent my career in IT work and had always enjoyed using my computer and tablet. However, since I had developed macular degeneration, I’m no longer able to use any of my electronics. I can barely use my smart phone by holding it a couple of inches from my face. Would you be able to return me to using these devices and help me indulge my favorite hobby? I’m tired of having to hold a magnifer up to my screens. Frank- 77 years old
Q. A.
Frank, I am confdent there is much I can do to restore you to computer use. Before seeing me, many of my patients have had to use handheld magnifers to see detail on their computer screens. However, their hands and arms tire. It becomes extremely diffcult for patients to use a handheld magnifer when they have tremors.
Though increasing the print size on the computer screen can be helpful, it can interfere with the speed of reading and orientation on the screen. However, telescopic devices mounted into a pair of spectacles allow a balance between spotting details and seeing the entire screen.
In addition, having magnifcation built into a pair of glasses will allow you to have your hands free to use the keyboard or use a touch screen. The telescopic glasses also allow you to switch between several screens, including your smart phone. These devices will also facilitate doing any writing while you are computing.
It is extremely important that the low vision doctor understands at what distance from the screen the patient is positioned. I have found over the years that some patients like to “sink” into the screen and some like to sit back and survey the “terrain”. The telescopes can be prescribed to address these preferences.
The frst step is to evaluate the level of your vision and then prescribe accordingly. I have helped thousands of patients with your very specifc goal. Bring your smart phone, computer tablet and hope to the appointment. I assure you I will take care of the rest.
Jev Gasso, a trainer at Champion Health Club in St. Clair Shores, keeps track of Justin Gentner as he runs on a treadmill. Gentner is in training for the U.S. Border Patrol. He is wearing a mask that simulates the oxygen level at 5,000 feet above sea level. Gasso recommends high intensity treadmill and cardio exercises for runners.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
14A/ WEST BLOOMFIELD BEACON • MARCH
Psychology
Journaling
Journaling helped Aulgur when the school she was enrolled in her freshman year of college faced a closure.
For her, that meant relocating and leaving the friends she made her freshman year of college. Although she described this as a “bad” time, journaling helped.
“I made sure my journaling was on top of everything,” Aulgur said. “Mrs. Sepetys would make us do these daily journals and think of three things for that day that (were) positive or that we enjoyed, just to make us aware that the whole day may have been bad… but there were still good things from the day that made it better. You just don’t realize them (the good things) and you don’t appreciate it as much until you write it down.”
Aulgur ended up moving across the country and is currently a sophomore at a university in Oregon, where she studies biology and lives in a dorm with her medicallydeclared support cat, Lily.
Aulgur plans to become a physician’s assistant or a medical doctor.
Meditation
Aulgur credits the course for making her more optimistic and open to new ideas. The meditation portion of the class is a practice she continues today.
“I love sitting on my bed or on my floor with no bright lights on… and (going) to a happy place,” Aulgur said.
She credits the class for making her more independent and receptive to new ideas, as well as helping her rely on herself and others.
“I’ve bettered (myself) so much after taking that course,” Aulgur said. “I remember always leaving that course with a smile on my face.”
The students have been receptive to the class.
“People may think, ‘Why am I not happy? I don’t understand,’” Sepetys said. “But … happiness takes work and there’s things people can do in order to improve that.”
Although Sepetys gives her students tools that can ease stress and promote happiness, she tells them, “You’re going to get out of it what you put in.”
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
closure of a business due to a public health emergency, also qualify.
Reactions
Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, 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 leg-
Notice of Posting
For Charter Township of West Bloomfeld Township Board
1. Synopsis of the Regular meeting on: Monday, March 10, 2025
2. Emergency Adoption of Ordinance CZ25-01 Woodland Ordinance Related to Township Forester – An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 26 of the Charter Township of West Bloomfeld Code of Ordinances, Article 3, Woodland Conservation Overlay District, Section 3.1.21, Subsections 3.1.21.E.c.2, related to Township Forester
The above Synopsis and Ordinances shall be posted (in their entirety) at the following locations:
(1) Offce of the Township Clerk
4550 Walnut Lake Road
(2) Township’s website: www.wbtownship.org Debbie Binder Township Clerk
Published: West Bloomfeld Beacon 03/19/2025
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CANDGNEWS.COM
islators 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.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COUNTY OF OAKLAND
CITY OF SYLVAN LAKE ORDINANCE NO. 374-2025
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF SYLVAN LAKE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 78, “ZONING,” ARTICLE II, “ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT,” DIVISION 1, “GENERALLY,” SECTION 78-37, “FEES,” IN ORDER TO CLARIFY WHAT ACTIVITIES CITY COUNCIL MAY SET FEES FOR.
The frst set of amendments pertain to Section 78-1 Defnitions, Division 1 Section 78-37 Fees that do the following:
• Clarify the activities for which city council may establish fees
Section 6 of Ordinance. Enactment.
This Ordinance is declared to have been enacted by the City Council of the City of Sylvan Lake at a meeting called and held on the 12 day of March, 2025, and ordered to be given publication in the manner prescribed by law.
A true copy of this ordinance is kept at the Sylvan Lake Clerk’s offce, 1820 Inverness, Sylvan Lake, Michigan 48320, and may be reviewed, inspected and/or obtained during normal business hours.
Megan Synk, Deputy Clerk
Publish: West Bloomfeld Beacon 03/19/2025
from page 14A
stretching, strength training, cardiovascular exercise and rest days.
“It’s going to take a little bit of preparation, some focus, discipline, and that includes nutrition, hydration, proper footwear, and strength training. It’s really surrounding yourself with a support system and a good coach,” Gibes said.
An important piece of your routine is to start your workout — your practice run, your race run, or any strength training that you’re doing — with dynamic stretching.
“Dynamic stretching is a moving stretch where you are swinging your legs, running with high knees, or doing hamstring curls, also known as butt kicks,” Utter explained.
For the best results, racers should also commit to strength training two to three times a week, ideally with a personal trainer to oversee proper exercises and form.
“You should do strength training two, three times a week focusing on the lower body, since legs are used in the running — especially calves, which I think are most overlooked, but are important for stability, propulsion and speed on runs. You also need to include upper body and core strength, because it affects your posture, your balance and your form,” Utter said.
In between strength training days, you can mix up easy runs, long runs and interval runs. There are many good running apps to help you train, including the classic, Couch Potato to 5K.
“These will give you increments, increasing the intensity to help you build your endurance, so following a program like that, you can go from a coach potato to a 5K in just a couple of months, if you follow the app,” said Utter. “And make sure you get a rest day or two in there as well. Rest is just as important. Your body has to recover.”
Following this plan — paired with the proper nutrition and hydration — you will gradually build up your cardiovascular and muscular endurance enough to conquer race day.
“You just need to take a couple of months to get your body accustomed to the endurance that’s needed to do the 5K, and strength training as well, to make sure you have proper form and don’t injure yourself,” said Utter.
COMMUNITY BRIEF
Tax preparation assistance offered at library
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The West Bloomfield Township Public Library is scheduled to provide tax preparation assistance to members of the community who are 60-plus for one hour from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m March 26 and March 27.
The library is located at 4600 Walnut Lake Road.
To register, visit wbparks.org or call (248) 451-1900.
— Gena Johnson
Photo by Liz Carnegie
William Downing prepares a protein shake for a member of the Champion Health Club. Downing works the front desk and juice bar at the club.
Main Office: 13650 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48089 (586) 498-8000 facebook.com/westblomfieldbeacon @candgnews candgnews.com
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Getting it right
(586) 498-1042, email gdemers@candgnews.com or write us at 13650 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089.
STATE OF MICHIGAN COUNTY OF OAKLAND CITY OF SYLVAN LAKE ORDINANCE NO. 375-2025
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF SYLVAN LAKE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 78, ‘ZONING,” ARTICLE I, “IN GENERAL,” SECTION 78-1, “DEFINITIONS,” ARTICLE IV, “DISTRICT REGULATIONS,” DIVISION 3, “R-1 AND R-2 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS,” SECTION 78-323, “PERMITTED USES AFTER SPECIAL APPROVAL,” ARTICLE V, “OFF-STREET PARKING AND OFF-STREET LOADING,” DIVISION 2, “OFF STREET PARKING,” SECTION 78-571, “SCHEDULE,” AND ARTICLE VI, “SUPPLEMENTARY DISTRICT REGULATIONS,” SECTION 78-620, “AUTOMOTIVE TRAILER CAMPS OR TOURIST CABINS,” IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE DEFINITIONS OF “BOARDING HOUSE” AND “TOURIST HOME” AND AMEND THE DEFINITION OF “MOTEL”; TO AMEND THE SPECIAL APPROVAL USES WITHIN THE R-1 AND R-2 DISTRICTS AND THEIR RELATED PARKING REQUIREMENTS; TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO DELETED USES; AND TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO AUTOMOTIVE TRAILER CAMPS OR TOURIST CAMPS.
Division 3 Section 78-323 Permitted uses after special approval (R-1 and R-2 district), Division 2 Section 78-620 Automotive trailer camps or tourist cabins, and Division 2 Section 78-571 – Parking Schedule. The amendments do the following:
• Remove antiquated and unnecessary defnitions of “boardinghouse” and “tourist home,”, and update the defnition of “motel”
• Remove tourist homes, boardinghouses, and breakfast inns from permitted uses after special approval in the R-1 and R-2 district
• Remove the section prohibiting automotive trailer camps or tourist cabins, as it is redundant
• Update the parking schedule by removing the requirements related to lodging establishments and tourist homes in residential districts Section 10 of Ordinance. Enactment.
This Ordinance is declared to have been enacted by the City Council of the City of Sylvan Lake at a meeting called and held on the 12 day of March, 2025, and ordered to be given publication in the manner prescribed by law.
A true copy of this ordinance is kept at the Sylvan Lake Clerk’s offce, 1820 Inverness, Sylvan Lake, Michigan 48320, and may be reviewed, inspected and/or obtained during normal business hours.
Megan Synk, Deputy Clerk
Publish: West Bloomfeld Beacon 03/19/2025
• Anti-Infammation
• Anti-Pain (Analgesic)
• Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth
• Improved Vascular Activity
• Increased Metabolic Activity
• Trigger Points and Acupuncture Points
• Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation
• Improved Nerve Function
• Immunoregulation
• Faster Wound Healing
Workforce
from page 13A
trades. We lived off them, my family, our son and now our company has a very thriving apprenticeship program. At Prosper-Tech, we believe it’s important to teach the trade to the next generation. We need younger people to come in and do this type of work,” Devroy said.
“That’s why we became a registered apprenticeship employer through the Department of Labor. I’ve seen firsthand how offering opportunity gives career advancement and higher wages,” Devroy said. “They’re more likely to retain employment. Also, they hold a nationwide certificate. We’re on our six apprentices now. An apprenticeship program is four years but takes 10 years to become an expert.”
Beckhorn addressed how the funding will be distributed under the Statewide Workforce Plan.
“We’re held to requirements with the state dollars. We will put out competitive grants or requests for proposals. Sometimes we may start with a request for information. We do want these to be high wage, high demand jobs. We want to invest where there are quality jobs that pay good wages, that have
benefits such as health care, retirement benefits,” Beckhorn said. “We’re going to invest it where the data says we need more direct care workers and more advanced manufacturing. We’re working here with Macomb (County) with the Department of Defense, particularly the (maritime) industrial bases.”
Tatjana T. Savich and her brother, Alex Savich, attended the roundtable discussion. Alex Savich is the owner of Angelica’s Place, an assisted living facility in Romeo. Tatijana Savich is the CEO and owner of Quality Care Rehab & Autism Center, with locations in Shelby Township and Clinton Township, and Divinity Homecare in Clinton Township. Between the three companies, there are 32 apprenticeships in five different areas. While there are many associate apprenticeships with manufacturing, Tatjana Savich said the health care field is in need of them, too.
“We’ve already had several people complete their apprenticeship, and it’s really been wonderful,” Tatjana Savich said. “Many of the team members are now looking at getting an associate’s degree, getting a bachelor’s degree because they never thought they could do it. They never had the support, but they do have the support.”
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
•
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INCIDENTS REPORTED TO LOCAL POLICE, AS COMPILED BY C & G REPORTERS
Landlord holds tenant at gunpoint
SOUTHFIELD — At 4:24 p.m. Feb. 13, a resident’s landlord kicked in the front door of a home in the 21000 block of Inkster Road and told the victim to get out at gunpoint.
The landlord was arrested for home invasion and assault.
Suspects arrested after breaking into construction site
SOUTHFIELD — At 12:33 a.m. Feb. 19, officers observed two suspects attempting to enter a building under construction in the 16000 block of Northland Drive. The suspects were arrested for breaking and entering, possession of burglary tools and obstructing police.
Wanted woman found
HAZEL PARK — On Feb. 24, a Hazel Park police officer on patrol observed a 2024 Chrysler 300 traveling in front with an expired temporary plate in the window. The officer verified the plate was registered to a Chevrolet Colorado truck and had expired in January.
The officer stopped the vehicle on northbound I-75 and I-696. The driver claimed she had purchased the vehicle two weeks earlier off Facebook Marketplace and didn’t have valid registration.
It was later found that she was wanted on a felony warrant for assault out of Sterling Heights. She was arrested and turned over to police there.
Officers further inspected the Chevrolet 300 and found the vehicle identification number plate to be fraudulent, locating the true VIN and determining the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Detroit in November 2024.
The investigation was turned over to the auto theft unit for investigation.
Stolen vehicle found
HAZEL PARK — A Hazel Park officer on patrol found a 2017 Kia Optima parked oddly in the Tim Horton’s lot at Eight Mile and Dequindre Road around 5:30 a.m. Feb. 23. Upon investigating, the officer found the vehicle was reported stolen out of Warren two hours earlier that morning. The Warren Police Department confirmed the theft, and the vehicle was impounded.
Warren resident reports assault and battery
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Feb. 10, a female resident of Warren went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report being the victim of assault and battery Feb. 9.
of business located on Maple Road, the victim was then reportedly flagged down by a female motorist on Orchard Lake Road.
The victim pulled over and the motorist who flagged her down was now out of the car and walked toward her vehicle.
The woman on foot accused the victim of having a relationship with the man she had just dropped off.
The suspect reached into the car and struck the victim in the side of her head twice with her hand.
According to police, no apparent injuries were sustained by the victim.
Resident reports scam
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Feb. 8, a male homeowner living in the 2900 block of Greenwoods Court went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report that he had been a victim of fraud.
He told the officers he invested $300,000 in a cryptocurrency that he believed was a legitimate investment located in Hong Kong.
The unknown suspect told the victim his $300,000 had grown to $2.4 million but he needed to pay $450,000 in taxes before the funds could be released to him. The victim paid the money but never received his investment profits.
The victim then invested an additional $250,000 in another cryptocurrency investment scheme and again was defrauded.
He contacted what he believed was a legitimate website for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and reported his losses online. He then received an email from what he thought was the Federal Trade Commission stating they had recovered $980,000 of his lost funds. However, he would need to pay $64,000 in legal fees to an attorney before he could receive his funds, which he did.
He never received any returned funds and has been defrauded out of more than $1 million to date.
Money stolen at self checkout
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 4 p.m. Feb. 19, an unknown person stole money that the complainant had left unattended at the self-checkout at Kroger, 2200 E. 12 Mile Road.
Dog food theft
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 3:15 p.m. Feb. 17, an unknown person stole multiple bags of dog food from the Pet Supplies Plus located at 29402 Woodward Ave.
Resident encounters burglar
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 8:30 p.m. on
the 600 block of Purdy Street, where a 37-year-old male resident reported a burglary in progress. He and a 35-year-old woman live in one unit in the building and rent a second unit, from which they sell clothing, purses and other fashion merchandise.
The male victim went to the rental unit after receiving motion notifications and found its door had been forcibly opened. Inside, he encountered a man carrying a container of stolen merchandise.
The suspect initially claimed to be a police officer but could not produce a badge. The victim took the container of merchandise from the suspect and threw the man outside, then chased the suspect to Townsend and Pierce, where the suspect got into a vehicle and drove away. That vehicle is registered to a 62-year-old Detroit man. An investigation was ongoing.
Warren man uses fake preapproval to tour expensive homes
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately noon Feb. 24, officers were dispatched to a local real estate agency in response to a report of a suspicious person. The reporting person, a real estate agent, reported that the suspect, a 49-year-old man from Warren, was using a fake preapproval letter and refused to provide a driver’s license.
The suspect requested to tour high-value homes in the area. Further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested in Shelby Township for using real estate agents to gain access to homes and committing larceny.
An investigation was ongoing.
Teen attempts to purchase marijuana
BERKLEY — Police were called to a local marijuana shop for someone who attempted to make a purchase with a fake ID.
According to police, officers were called at 3:58 p.m. Feb. 9 to Quality Roots, 3916 W. 11 Mile Road. Police were told that a 19-year-old Detroit man attempted to use a fraudulent Michigan operator’s license to purchase marijuana.
A manager at the store knew the identification was fake and confiscated it, while the teen left the business. Police were able to identify the teen, contacted him and issued him a citation. Police said the teen agreed to identify websites where people could purchase fake IDs.
Office transporting prisoner spots drunken driver
NOVI — A Novi police officer reportedly observed a vehicle swerving on Haggerty Road near Grand River Avenue on Feb. 15. The officer was transporting a
Another officer who was patrolling the area then pulled behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The driver reportedly told police that he was delivering papers, but the officer could tell he was intoxicated, police said. The man was arrested for driving under the influence and his car was impounded.
Stolen beer leads to arrest NOVI — Novi police were contacted after a man was seen by Walmart security stealing a $2 can of beer and then walking off toward Crumbl Cookies at 7 p.m. Feb. 16. Dispatchers advised officers that the man was spotted kicking the can and appeared to be highly intoxicated. According to the police report, officers confirmed that the man appeared to be intoxicated and said he would not respond to any of their commands and later determined that there was a language barrier. The man was arrested for retail fraud, and another officer came to assist with the arrest.
Resident reports scam TROY — Sometime between Feb. 13 and Feb. 18, a resident from Forge Drive reported that she received a letter in the mail claiming to be from Xfinity informing her that her bill was increasing. The victim called the number provided and was told they could lock her into a lower rate if she paid for the year upfront. The suspect went on to say that the deal was a promotion with Target, so she would need to buy two $300 gift cards for the payment. The victim purchased the gift cards and provided the activation codes to the suspect. The next day, the victim received a text message that stated there was a problem with her payment. She called the number provided and was told her funds did not go through and she needed to purchase two more $300 Target gift cards. The victim went to an Xfinity store in person and spoke to employees who advised it was a scam.
Scam attempt reported TROY — On Feb. 22, a 75-year-old resident of Capri Drive reported that she received an email that was supposedly from Paypal notifying her of an overpayment.
The victim called the number provided and was told she was accidentally issued a refund of $36,919 instead of $369.19. The caller demanded repayment and the victim sent $3,000 in Apple gift cards, $900 in Bitcoin, and a cashier’s check for $32,000 before realizing it was a scam. The victim was working with her bank to stop the cashier’s check.
org or (248) 334-1323. For Macomb County residents, contact Amanda Layne at alayne@hom.org or (248) 568-7564.
Detroit Zoo’s Greenfest back in April
practices, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 12-13 at the Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak. Greenfest is free with zoo admission, and free for members. Attendees can connect with local environmental groups and organizations, a sustainable marketplace shopping experience, sustainable food options, animal engagements throughout the zoo, hands-on and educational activities, live music, and more. In addition to the events, the zoo will be accepting old or unwanted electronics to safely recycle them during the annual e-recycling event that takes place at the 10 Mile Road parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon April 12-13. People who recycle electronics get a free ticket to the zoo. For more information on Greenfest, visit detroitzoo.org/ events/greenfest.
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Photos provided by Hospice of Michigan
Photo provided by Macomb Ballet Company