Trustees do away with emergency manager role
COUNTY AND LIAISONS TO REPLACE PARTTIME POSITION
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Changes to how Clinton Township responds during crisis scenarios began with a unanimous vote at the Feb. 24 board of trustees meeting. All board members agreed to end the dedicated emergency manager position in favor of closer ties to the county’s emergency management program.
The plan as approved will see the part-time emergency manager position replaced by two liaisons that will work closely with Macomb County Emergency Management and Communications during large-scale emergencies while still focusing on emergency preparedness at the local level. The move puts the township in line with the remainder of Macomb County — aside from the city of War-
Plunge participants make a splash for a good cause
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Participants took the plunge for a great cause at the Macomb Polar Plunge this year.
The event started in 2019. It raises money for the Special Olympics Michigan. This year, the plunge took place at MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township on Feb. 22.
Kayla Kubik, coordinator of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, said they provide year-round training for the Special Olympics athletes.
“When people are fundraising for our polar plunge, all proceeds go directly to our athletes,” Kubik said.
The money covers registration fees, tournaments, uniforms and more.
Kubik said people usually find out about the polar plunge by word of mouth. She said there are some participants who take the plunge every year and they bring their friends and family with them. She said a lot
Participants plunge into the freezing cold water in MacRay Harbor at the Macomb Polar Plunge.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
See POLAR PLUNGE on page 15A
SECOND FRONT PAGE
Pleasantrees received an extension to its conditional marihuana designated consumption establishment permit from the Mount Clemens City Commission on Feb. 18. The firm plans to open a consumption business in its 237 North River Road location after new state regulations are approved sometime later this year.
City commission extends dispensary’s consumption permit
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — The legal public consumption of cannabis in the seat of Macomb County will have to wait a little longer, though the city is not to blame.
On Feb. 18, Mount Clemens city commissioners approved an extension of the conditional marihuana designated consumption establishment permit for VBJG Mt. Clemens LLC — better known as Pleasantrees — that gives the Harrison Township-based company permission to operate a consumption lounge in the city for another year.
However, such an establishment at the former Gibraltar Trade Center will not open just yet.
“Pleasantrees is now asking for a second extension, due to recent changes to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency’s rules and regulations, which will not become effective until late 2025,” Mount Clemens City Manager Gregg Shipman said. “Pleasantrees has delayed opening a marihuana designated consumption establishment on their premises until these new operating rules are in effect and accordingly are requesting that their conditional permit be granted an additional one-year extension.”
The new rules proposed by the CRA were first published in November 2024 and remain under consideration. Changes proposed are extensive, including provisions that would affect the operation of multiple marijuana businesses within the same building. In the case of the Pleasantrees operation, that is relevant because the existing dispensary and proposed consumption site would take place at the same 237 North River Road address.
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 apprenticeships; $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
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Susan Corbin, left; Stephanie Beckhorn, deputy director, LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, center; and Heidi Devroy, CEO/founder, Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool, located in Richmond, discuss Michigan’s Statewide Workforce Plan Feb. 18 at the University Center on the Macomb Community College Center Campus in Clinton Township. ABOVE: “At Prosper-Tech, we believe it’s important to teach the trade to the next generation,” said Devroy. “We need younger people to come in and do this type of work.”
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes TOP:
CRIME WATCH
House fire assist
MOUNT CLEMENS — On Feb. 18 at around 7 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 140 block of South Avenue to provide assistance during a house fire.
Speaking with the homeowner, deputies learned an air fryer was placed on an electric stove that was left on, causing the air fryer to catch fire.
Another member of the family removed the air fryer from the stove and placed it outside of the house.
The Mount Clemens Fire Department secured the scene. All residents and animals evacuated the home.
Six-figure scam
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 18 at around 5:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with an 80-year-old Harrison Township woman about scams she was involved in.
Several weeks prior, the woman received a text claiming a pair of headphones were purchased on her card. She called the texter’s number and was told by a man that she was flagged for “money laundering and drugs” and that he could help her because he worked for the FBI.
Over the next few weeks at the man’s instruction, the Harrison Township woman purchased numerous gift cards, made Bitcoin transactions, emptied her retirement accounts and bought 120 gold bars from Gold Cove in Roseville. She delivered the bars to someone behind the Roseville Chili’s on Feb. 14.
The woman said she wished to press charges against the scammer.
Fire engine hit
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 16 at around 3:40 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a scene on westbound Interstate 94 to assist the Harrison Township Fire Department with an incident.
Firefighters parked a fire engine across two lanes of the highway to control traffic. As firefighters handled the scene, a semitruck stuck the engine and did not stop. No firefighters were injured.
Suspicious visitor
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 14 at around 12:20 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 42-year-old Harrison Township woman about a suspicious person she encountered.
On Jan. 25, a man came to her door in the 27000 block of Willowood Drive. He claimed to be a private investigator and demanded she give him a package containing drugs and clothes or else he would call the FBI.
The man provided some identification when requested and fled after the woman threatened to call the police.
Gas pump hit at station
MOUNT CLEMENS — On Feb. 11, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the Mobil gas station at 24701 N. River Road for a property damage report.
At around 4:45 a.m., a gray GMC pulled into the gas and reportedly struck a pump. Video footage showed the driver exiting the truck and entering the store, during which the truck rolled forward and struck a garbage can and another pump. The man returned to his truck and drove off.
Phone order scam
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 5 at around 12:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 75-year-old Harrison Township man at the Macomb County Jail about a case of fraud he was involved in.
The man was contacted by someone claiming to be from Verizon who stated a phone was being sent in his name to an address in Ohio. To stop the delivery, the man was instructed to give the “Verizon” representative his Social Security number and two credit card numbers, which he did.
The caller then instructed him to purchase $1,000 in gift cards, which led the Harrison Township man to realize it was a scam. He ended the call.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP CONSOLIDATES PRECINCTS
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Changes are underway to how Clinton Township hosts its elections.
As of Feb. 10, the number of voting precincts has been reduced by half from 42 to 20, and in-person election day voting sites have been slightly reduced from 23 to 19. According to Elections Coordinator Matthew Cheung, the changes are being made in response to the state raising the precinct size from 2,999 to 4,999 in 2023.
“It also helps us streamline elections with efficiency and managing our workers,” Cheung said. “It’s a lot more manageable in terms of the number of workers and the resources that we have to allocate to each polling place.”
By consolidating polling places and precincts, the township reduces the number of ballots it needs to print from 48 styles to 28. Staffing levels are expected to decrease from over 450 election workers to 315, a 30% reduction that could save the township $72,000 in wages. Maintaining election day staffing levels of eight poll workers per precinct would see staff sizes shrink from 336 to 160, and increasing staffing to 10 workers per precinct would still leave levels below 2024 levels with 200 poll workers across the township.
Cheung, in a presentation to the Clinton Township Board of Trustees on Feb. 10, argued the changes to staff levels would make polling places more manageable, reducing the chances of election administra-
tion errors and possibly speeding up the preparation of results. Reducing the number of precincts also cuts down on the amount of work the Department of Public Works has to do setting up and tearing down election equipment.
When consolidating the precincts, care was taken to base the boundaries around those for the state legislative seats, school districts and the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. This has led to more precincts being noncontiguous and several precincts lacking a polling place within its borders.
“The law says that we should try to be as contiguous as possible, but it does not mandate that they are contiguous,” Cheung said. “The ones that are not contiguous fall within the same (legislative and school) boundaries; they are not contiguous, but they are geographically close, and it was the best way to optimize those precincts.”
Along with the state increasing the maximum precinct size, early voting has seen a decrease in residents voting on election day proper. Only 36.4% of Clinton Township residents who voted in the November 2024 election did so on election day while 63.6% voted either by mail or utilized early in-person voting. The reduction of polling places means more voting booths can be set up at in-person voting sites and any tabulators that would normally be used in a consolidated precinct could now be enlisted for counting absentee ballots. Early in-person voting itself is not affected by the precinct reductions, with Township Clerk Kim Melt-
See PRECINCTS on page 7A
RIGHT: The Clinton Township Board of Trustees voted to reduce the number of voting precincts and polling locations at its Feb. 10 meeting. The township’s new elections map appears as such.
Precincts
from page 6A
zer saying the township plans on having three locations available for early voting during state and federal elections in 2026.
“The one we can guarantee is the Civic Center,” Meltzer said. “We can’t for certain say if we’ll have Kensington or Faith Baptist Church, however we are hoping to have them. It was very successful working with them, and everybody was great to work with … The Civic Center is central to the whole township but there are parts of the community where even coming to the central location is a challenge. That’s why we really wanted to focus on the south end and the north end of the township.”
Meltzer says it is too early to know exactly what the non-Civic Center locations will be because schedules for other venues cannot be pinned down so far in advance.
Residents will be mailed new voter identification cards with details about their new precincts and polling locations.
Residents in new precincts 4, 5, 8, 12 and 18 will be prioritized because of the upcoming Mount Clemens Community Schools bond election in May, though voters will report to transitional polling locations rather than their new normal polling location.
For the May election, voters in precincts 4, 5 and 8 will vote at the Harry L. Wheeler Community Center and Adminis-
at its Feb. 10 meeting.
trative Offices while voters in precincts 12 and 18 will vote at the Robbie Hall Parker elementary school.
To find out more about the new precincts and how they may affect you, Clinton Township residents are urged to visit clintontownship.com/183/Clerk-Elections. To speak with someone in the clerk’s office, call (586) 286-9422 or go to the office at 40700 Romeo Plank Road.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Workforce
from page 3A
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 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 handson 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
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
electrician.
“I’m a big proponent of the skilled 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.
department available.
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 postsecondary 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
“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.
Justin Al-Igoe, executive director of the Macomb/ St. Clair Workforce Development Board, talks about how his department works with the apprenticeship program in Macomb County and made himself and his
Manager
from page 1A
ren — in working with county emergency management. At least $43,000, the portion of the former emergency manager’s $55,000 salary not subsidized by a grant, will be saved with the change.
“The truth is this is a regional issue,” Deputy Supervisor Dan O’Leary said. “If you have flooding, it’s going to impact more than just us; it’s going to impact our neighbors. If you have a plane crash from Selfridge, chances are it could impact more than just Clinton Township. Tornadoes will impact more than Clinton Township. A coordinated response makes a lot of sense when you think about it.”
Clinton Township’s liaisons — Fire Chief John Gallagher and officer Tyler Eng of the Clinton Township Police Department — will receive input from the 27-member county emergency management team when developing plans and they will call upon their resources during emergencies.
“As the county, we set the parameters for what our county emergency management program looks like,” said Macomb County Emergency Management and Communications Director Brandon Lewis. “Those are generally in alignment with best practices from FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, the state of Michigan (and) all of the agencies that set forth emergency management standards. Those liaisons … are essentially our representative within your community and it’s their role within the process
Permit
“I generally would rather see them take the time to open in accordance with the new rules once they hit instead of, like, open, close, adjust to the new rules (and) open again,” City Commissioner Erik Rick said. “It seems just practical to give them another year (and) wait for the wheels of government to turn slowly (and) spit out the new rules.”
Approved unanimously, it is the second extension commissioners have granted to the consumption permit. A first extension was granted at the meeting on Jan. 3, 2024, under the terms of the city’s marijuana business ordinance allowing the commission to grant one-year extensions to permits.
to bring back what’s coming down from our program to the community and be our pathway and our gateway to the township to facilitate that discussion.”
Lewis made it clear the county would not dictate how the township’s liaisons handled local issues and local emergencies.
Trustees Dan Kress and Bruce Wade made arguments in support of maintaining the township’s subscription-based NIXLE emergency alert system, as the county would be unlikely to use its text alert system to notify township residents of local-level incidents.
Residents can sign up for NIXLE alerts on their cellphone by texting their ZIP code to 888777.
New water meter replacement policy
Trustees also approved a new policy to allow the Department of Public Works to shut off water service to residents as part of its water meter replacement program. The aim of the policy is to assist in the replacement of the nearly 800 township-owned water meters installed in the 1980s that are older than their recommended service life.
Clinton Township DPW will first reach out with a yellow-colored notice asking residential property owners to schedule a meter replacement appointment. Additional green and pink notices will be sent out on a weekly basis. Water shutoff will take place at least one week following the delivery of the final pink notice if no response from the owner is received.
The policy was approved 6-1 with Kress providing the lone vote against.
Snow removal update
During the reading of the city manager’s report, Shipman dedicated time to go over the work being done by the Department of Public Services between Wednesday, Feb. 12 and Monday, Feb. 17. According to the National Weather Service, nearby communities in Macomb County received 4 inches of snowfall between Feb. 12-13 and another 3 1/2 to 4 inches between Feb. 15-16.
Over the course of Feb. 12-17, the department accumulated 518 staff hours over shifts that ran back-to-back with as little as one hour in between. Several pieces of equipment had breakdowns during the storm, requiring vehicles to be taken out of service and some parts to be temporarily swapped on snow-removal machines. The Water and Sewer Department responded to two water main breaks during the snowfall period.
• MARCH 5, 2025
From left: Stephanie Lang, Lesia Fedorak and Shannon Vanslambrouck rehearse their roles in Turning Point’s production of “The Vagina Monologues,” taking place at the Emerald Theater on March 7.
TURNING POINT HOSTS
‘THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES’
MOUNT CLEMENS — Turning Point, a nonprofit supporting those impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking, will host its fifth performance of “The Vagina Monologues” at the Emerald Theatre on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m.
“We are pleased that hosting The Vagina Monologues has become a tradition in our community,” Sharman Davenport, Turning Point CEO and president, said in a press release. “This is an evening for everyone; we all know someone who has been impacted by the scenes presented in the play. It takes education and effort from all of us to end domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. The performance is both powerful and moving, while also entertaining and fun for the audience.”
Created by playwright V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) in 1996, “The Vagina Monologues” has since become key work in the campaign to end violence against women. The Emerald Theatre performance involves community members who support Turning Point’s mission and is based on real-life stories that explore several topics through the perspectives of women of different ages, races, sexualities and backgrounds.
Tickets for the show begin at $35. Four-seat opera boxes are $200 and eight-seat tables are $245. All proceeds benefit Turning Point. Tickets and more information can be found at turningpoint macomb.org.
DAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL HOSTING CRAFT SHOW
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — DIYers and curio lovers, your time has come. The Dakota High School Boosters will host the 2025 Spring Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Dakota High School. Admission is $3 to see and purchase hand-built crafts from a full house of local creators. For more information visit dakotaboosters.weebly.com.
CMPL MARCH EVENTS
CLINTON TOWNSHIP/MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Books are not the only way to learn at the library.
Over the month of March, the branches of the Clinton-Macomb Public Library will host various events that let attendees learn through listening and doing.
Jennifer Levasseur, a National Air and Space Museum space history curator, will guide a virtual tour of the International Space Station in a Zoom-based presentation at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18. Topics of discussion include the people who are in the station, the research performed up there, how the station is operated as both a residence and research station and how microgravity affects people.
Students, parents and caregivers preparing for college are invited to the North Branch at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 20 for a discussion about filling out and submitting the FAFSA form.
Children ages 7-12 are invited to the South Branch at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 24 for a STEAM circuitry craft session about the human brain. Adults are invited to the North Branch at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 for a show-and-tell session. Attendees are encouraged to bring a treasured object to discuss. Items must be appropriate for a public setting.
To register for these events and more, visit cmpl.libnet.info/events.
‘An Evening with Rita Rudner’ is no laughing matter
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Comedian Rita Rudner is coming to town.
“An Evening with Rita Rudner” is scheduled for 3 p.m. March 9 at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, located on the Macomb Community College Center Campus at 44575 Garfield Road.
Rudner, known for sharp wit and one-liners, has been a top draw in Las Vegas since June 2000. She has appeared on countless television shows including HBO specials and performs nationally. Rudner earned the title of Las Vegas’s Comedian of the Year for nine consecutive years and was honored with The Nevada Ballet’s Woman of the Year Award in 2006.
For tickets, visit macombcenter.com, call the box office at (586) 286-2222, or email MacombArts@macomb.edu.
Macomb Ballet Company goes to Oz
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Take a trip down the yellow brick road and go somewhere over the rainbow with the Macomb Ballet Company’s upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, the “The Wizard of Oz” follows Dorothy on a journey through the fantastical world of Oz as she tries to return home to Kansas. Adapted by Artistic Director Amber Megna Michalik and assistant directors Hannah Carden, Brandon Koepsell and Mary Sherman, “The Wizard of Oz” is a full-length ballet featuring performers ages 8-19. It is intended for an all-ages audience. Performances take place at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts at Macomb Community College on Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; on Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. The 10 a.m. performance on April 25 is a sensoryfriendly performance. Shows last around an hour and 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Visit macombcenter.com for tickets and macombballet.org for more information.
‘SPARKLE’ AT THIS YEAR’S PROM
ROSEVILLE — Sparkle Network Founder Moe Lietz is operating the foundation’s 10th annual Prom Closet Tour this spring, which will stop April 11-13 at Macomb Mall, located 32233 Gratiot Ave. The program is for Class of 2026 juniors on a case-by-case basis, and Class of 2025 seniors. Lietz, a 1992 Romeo High School graduate, will set up a temporary shop in which high school girls can pick out a prom dress, shoes and jewelry to wear on prom night 2025. All the dresses are donated. Some are brand-new while others are gently used. The collection offers a variety of colors, lengths and styles. The dresses and accessories are free of charge, but an appointment is needed. Anyone interested can send an email to sparkle.network3@gmail. com for an application form. A completed form, a photo of their ID card and an email confirmation is required for an appointment. All participants get a 45-minute shopping spree to find the right look for prom night. For more information, call Sparkle Network at (248) 840-8136 or visit sparklenetwork.org.
Photo provided by Turning Point
John Tompkins of New Baltimore shows off his bird feeders at a prior craft show at Dakota High School. File photo
Photo provided by Macomb Ballet Company
The Macomb Ballet Company will perform “The Wizard of Oz” at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts April 25-27.
mall’s owners to end a lawsuit that alleged plans to demolish the mall deterred potential tenants from renting the former Sears space.
Lakeside demolition lawsuit dismissed
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — Plans to demolish Lakeside Mall remain set to continue as a lawsuit from a property owner was dismissed in mid-February.
Lakeside Circle Holdings, owner of the former Sears at Lakeside Mall, reached an agreement with mall owners Out of the Box Ventures and the city of Sterling Heights on Feb. 12 to dismiss its lawsuit alleging plans to demolish the mall deterred tenants from doing business in the ex-Sears building.
Per the dismissal order issued by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard Caretti, Lakeside Circle and Out of the Box Ventures are to agree on a final site plan and form an agreement “defining their respective rights, which is expected to include an agreed upon construction schedule … an agreement related to demolition, access, utility, drainage, and parking assurances and easements, and common area obligations, all with a desire to create an attractive mixed-use community … or unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise directs or allows.”
In light of the agreement, representatives for Out of the Box Ventures have been positive about the future of the Lakeside Town Center project. Lakeside Town Center aims to be a mixed-use development featuring 2,359 multifamily residential units, over 700,000 square feet of retail space, 70,000 square feet of offices, a 20,000-square-foot community center and a hotel with 80-100
rooms.
“We believe our client is able to move forward with the project just as it was before the lawsuit was filed,” Bernard Fuhs, director of law firm Butzel Attorneys and Counselors and counsel for Out of the Box Ventures, said via email. “To the extent there are any future issues or disputes that touch upon Lakeside Circle’s specific property rights, the parties can either work it out themselves or our client still retains the right to go to Court to address an issue. Importantly, our client is looking forward to continuing the work on this transformative redevelopment project and continuing to work with the city staff, community leaders, state officials and others to make it all happen.”
The optimism toward continuing the project expressed by Fuhs is shared by the city of Sterling Heights.
“The City is pleased that the parties were able to reach a swift resolution of this matter,” a spokesperson for Sterling Heights said via email. “The dismissal of the lawsuit allows everyone to work together towards the common goal of developing Lakeside City Center into what promises to be a transformative mixed-use development, as envisioned by the approved Master Development Plan Agreement.”
Lakeside Circle Holdings filed its lawsuit on Jan. 7. Representatives for the company were unable to be reached by press time.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Editor: Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com
Reporters: Dean Vaglia | (586) 498-1043 | dvaglia@candgnews.com Alyssa Ochss | (586) 498-1103 | aochss@candgnews.com
Sports: Scott Bentley | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Lacking the Sears branding it was once known for, the segment of Lakeside Mall owned by Lakeside Circle Holdings sits empty. Lakeside Circle Holdings reached an agreement with the
GROWING YOUR MONEY WITH HIGH-YIELD ACCOUNTS
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — This may be news to some, but money doesn’t grow on trees. It can grow, however, if you know how and where to plant it.
Money is handy in a checking account or kept as cash because it can easily be spent. Investing what you don’t need to spend immediately in stocks, mutual funds and other long-term investments can see a high return when it is time to cash out — if you have years or decades to see it through.
For those looking to grow their unused cash but are not interested in waiting years to see the pay off, there are high-yield savings account options.
Banks and credit unions offer savings accounts as a way for customers to grow deposited funds through compounding interest at a rate known as an annual percentage yield. The ability to build upon deposited funds through interest serves as a tradeoff for often not being able to directly use funds as they would be in a checking account. Using money in a savings account requires transferring funds to a checking account, and the frequency and amount of transfers is governed by federal regulations and often by policies set by individual banks and credit unions.
While savings accounts at large brick-and-mortar institutions have APYs in the 0.01-0.05% range, the growth of online banking options has seen the rise of a more aggressive way to save — the high-yield savings account.
“A lot of (high-yield savings accounts) are offered by institutions that mainly do online services,” said Sam Taube, lead investing writer at NerdWallet. “They have fewer or no branches and the way that they work, in a business model sense, is that those financial institutions have much lower overhead costs because they’re not renting storefronts to operate branches, and they
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Amy Persyn, chief marketing officer of First State Bank, said savings accounts can be used to build up money and behaviors. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Money
pass those savings along to the consumer in a higher APY.”
By cutting the overhead costs and funneling the savings into the accounts of members, high-yield savings accounts from online institutions can have APY rates anywhere from 3-5%. However, the lack of overhead that leads to some banks being able to provide high-yield savings accounts can create problems for some savers.
“On one hand they offer a much higher APY than you would get from a traditional bank, but on the other the branchless model can mean that they offer slightly more limited customer service options than a traditional bank,” Taube said. “If you really want the ability to physically go to the bank and talk to someone if you have a problem, that may not be available through every highyield savings account provider.”
If the virtual nature of online banking is not attractive and the inability to directly pull from savings accounts seems stifling, brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions offer money market accounts as an alternative.
“It’s more like a hybrid between a
checking and a savings account,” said Amy Persyn, chief marketing officer at First State Bank, on Groesbeck Highway in Clinton township. “This acts like a checking account because you can write checks off of it.”
Unlike high-yield savings accounts from online banks, money market accounts can be directly used to make up to six transactions in a calendar month via checks or a debit card per federal regulations. APYs on money market accounts can rival those of high-yield savings accounts on an institution-by-institution basis. Financial institutions offer other kinds of ways to build savings through accrued interest.
Certificates of deposit are savings accounts where money is held without being withdrawn and they have a fixed APY. Institutions may offer various themed savings accounts, such as those built around saving for holidays, vacations and taxes.
“Sometimes they (savings accounts) are about the rate you’re getting and sometimes it’s about creating a behavior that ends up benefiting you in the long run,” Persyn said.
Terms, conditions, fees, rates and other critical details for savings and money market accounts vary by institution. Prospective savers are encouraged to look around and see which institutions offer more agreeable conditions.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
14A/ JOURNAL • MARCH 5, 2025
MARCH 6
Clinton/Macomb Senior Expo: Connect with dozens of organizations specializing in assistance and care, also free admission, health screenings, prizes, giveaways and refreshments, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Italian American Cultural Society Banquet & Conference Center, 43843 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, register at seniorexpousa.com for chance to win gift card and more
MARCH 8
Gardening 101: Learn about composting with Sue Keehn of Harrison Township Beautification Commission, 1 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse (Suite A), also lecture about spring cleanup April 12, register at htlibrary.org/events
Euchre tournament: Card playing for ages 21 and older at 7 p.m. (dinner at 6 p.m. and sign-in at 6:30 p.m.), 50-50 tournament benefits Knights of Columbus, St. Peter Catholic Church, 95 Market St. in Mount Clemens, RSVP by March 6, (586) 468-4579
MARCH 9
‘An Evening with Rita Rudner’: Featuring stand-up comedian known for long-running Las Vegas act, HBO specials and more, 3 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
MARCH 12
Bring Your Own Book Club: Also books on site, snacks provided and beverages available for purchase, hosted by Clinton-Macomb Public Library, meet at 6 p.m., Filipo Marc Winery, 39085 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, register at (586) 226-5050
MARCH 14-15
‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition’: Play about grown-up Harry and son Albus based on original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, presented by Pankow Performing Arts, 7 p.m. March 14 and 3 p.m. March 15, John R. Armstrong Performing Arts Center, 24600 Frederick Pankow Blvd. in Clinton Township, showpass.com/harry-potter-andcursed-child
MARCH 15
Gratiot Valley Railroad Club: Open house from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 281 North Ave. in Mount Clemens, free but donations appreciated, (586) 468-4877, gvrr.org
Great Puzzle Smackdown: Teams of six adults maximum compete to finish challenging jigsaw puzzle for prize, 1 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse (Suite A), registration required, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
‘Dirty Dancing in Concert’: Watch digitally remastered movie with live band and singers followed by encore party, 7:30 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
Irish trivia night: Also themed dinner, 5:15 p.m., St. Thecla Catholic Church, 20740 S. Nunneley Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to signupgenius.com/go/ irishtrivianight25
MARCH 20
Medicare 101 seminar: Presented by Medicare Learning Services, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, also held May 22 and June 26, registration required, (586) 465-0588
Trivia night: Compete in teams of six or be placed with group, includes unlimited pizza, salad and pop, 6:30-8 p.m., Total Sports, 40501 Production Drive in Harrison Township, presented by Harrison Township Public Library, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
MARCH 20-21
‘Stomp’: High-energy performance featuring wooden poles, garbage cans, hubcaps and other unconventional percussive instruments, 7:30 p.m. both dates, Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
MARCH 22
Hula Palooza: Learn history of Polynesian dance, basics of hula and Tahitian dancing, and Maori poi ball skills, 2-4:30 p.m., Unity East Church, 23057 N. Nunneley Road in Clinton Township, (586) 295-7070, register to uec.hulapalooza@gmail.com by March 19, proceeds benefit UEC and Polynesian Arts Advocacy Council of Michigan
MARCH 23
Card party: Pinochle, euchre, dominoes and other games, also lunch, dessert, raffles, and door and table prizes, 12:30-3:30 p.m., St. Thecla Catholic Church, 20740 S. Nunneley Road in Clinton Township, (586) 791-6177 or (586) 791-9012
ONGOING
Fish fries: 4-7 p.m. Fridays March 7-April 11, St. Paul of Tarsus Catholic Church, 41300 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, dine in and carryout, spotknights.com
• Also bake sales to support nonprofits, 4-7 p.m. Fridays March 7-April 11, St. Hubert Catholic Church, 38775 Prentiss St. in Harrison Township, dine in and carryout, (586) 463-5877
• 4-6:30 p.m. Fridays March 7-April 18, First United Methodist Church of Mount Clemens, 57 S. Gratiot Ave., (586) 468-6464, office@mountclemensumc.org
• 4-7 p.m. Fridays March 7-April 11, St. Thecla Catholic Church, 20740 S. Nunneley Road in Clinton Township, stthecla.com
‘Leading Ladies of Michigan’s Past’: Exhibit on display 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays until April 26, also presentations about “Women Engineers
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
Moved the Motor City: Female Automotive Pioneers in Detroit” (1 p.m. March 8), “She Won, and Won, and Won: Women in the Michigan Legislature” (11 a.m. March 12), “Integrating Boblo: The Story of Sarah Elizabeth Ray” (1 p.m. March 15), “Great Girls in Michigan History” (11 a.m. March 19), “Michigan’s Most Dangerous Women” (1 p.m. March 29), “What She Left Behind: Uncovering the Stories of Rochester Women” (1 p.m. April 11 and 23), “Nancy Harkness Love: The True Story of a WWII Pilot” (1 p.m. April 12), “Conquering Heroines: How Women Fought Sex Bias at U of M and Paved the Way for Title IX” (11 a.m. April 25), and “Elly Peterson: Mother of the Moderates” (1 p.m. April 25), Lorenzo Cultural Center on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, lorenzoculturalcenter.com
Social groups: Find meetups for yoga, knitting and crocheting, anime, babies and teens, book clubs and storytime, kids music, Lego, and more, Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse St. (Suite A), (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
Take Off Pounds Sensibly: Weight-loss group for ages 7 and older, includes education, ideas, recipes, accountability, support and prizes, confidential weigh-ins at 5:30 p.m. and meetings at 6 p.m. every Tuesday, Tucker Senior Center, 26980 Ballard St. in Harrison Township, contact Barb at (586) 549-2925 or tbreardon@comcast.net
Widowed Friends breakfasts: 10:30 a.m. every second Monday of month, Big Boy, 16880 Hall Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471, widowedfriends.com
Men overcoming loss ofpartner/spouse: Meetings from 6-7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of month, virtual and in person, Hospice of Michigan, 39531 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, wlawton@hom.org, (586) 263-8514
Health workshops: For hypertension, diabetes, pre-diabetes and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups
Polar Plunge
of people experience shock when they first hit the water.
“They are coming back year after year, so that minute of freezing cold is, they know what it’s doing for our athletes so it’s a great sacrifice they’re willing to make,” Kubik said.
This year, plungers and others raised $70,700 to meet their goal. Last year, they raised around $88,000.
The Macomb Polar Plunge is hosted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a campaign to benefit the Special Olympics that hosts plunges across the state.
“This is our largest fundraising series,” Kubik said. “So they put it on and then we have teams that just continue to come back year after year and fundraise.”
Kubik said it’s fun to see these participants, growing relationships with them and watching as their goals rise.
Kubik said costumes are encouraged but not required.
“We do have awards for the best costume,” Kubik said.
She went on to say they love to see the creativity participants bring.
Plungers donned a wide variety of costumes this year including lions, characters from the “Wizard of Oz” and Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen.” They then jumped into the freezing cold water at MacRay Harbor with safety personnel close by, just in case.
Though there is no age limit for participants, those 18 and younger must have a parent sign a waiver.
Kubik said she loves to see the community come together.
“Everyone is there for the same reason,
for our athletes,” Kubik said. “And it’s just such a fun community event to see all different groups of people get together for one reason.”
Chris McClellan, a St. Clair resident, said he’s always raised money for the Special Olympics and thinks it’s a great cause. This was his first time participating in the polar plunge.
“I think that more people should be interested and raising money for the Special Olympics,” McClellan said.
He went on to say it’s amazing they reached their goal that day.
Francis Smith is an Algonac resident and owns the Tombstone Brewery in Chesterfield. He said they’ve been supporting the Special Olympics for years. He thinks more people should participate.
“I think this is a fun thing to do where people can get out and support a good cause,” Smith said.
Krista Rybarczyk, a St. Clair resident, said her friend brought up the polar plunge at their church and asked who wanted to join. She said she thinks everyone should do it.
“I think everyone should come out and raise money for the Special Olympics and it’s going to be fun,” Rybarczyk said.
Ronda Lamas, a Harrison Township resident, said she has two sisters who used to participate in the Special Olympics and that it’s near and dear to her heart. She also knows others who are involved. This was her first time taking the plunge.
“This is just an exciting group of people and an awesome charitable event and I recommend anybody (if they) want to volunteer or donate or participate, this is an awesome one to do,” Lamas said.
Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
from page 1A
Some teams wore colorful and creative costumes as they jumped into the water.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Participants jumped into the water, enduring the icy cold for a few seconds for a good cause.
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his accounts was being used for suspicious activity and that they needed $2,500 to make it go away. The man bought $2,000 in Sephora gift cards and $500 in Bitcoin and gave the information to the alleged scammers.
Retail fraud suspect strikes again
GROSSE POINTE CITY — An unknown suspect 4550 years old is said to have stolen four bottles of Jack Daniels honey whiskey, worth a total of $112, from The Village CVS store at around 10:25 a.m. Feb. 14. Police said the suspect is believed to be the same man responsible for similar liquor thefts from this store on Dec. 17 and 18.
Bar fight reported
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 3 at around 2 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to The Hub at 21 Mile Road for a fight between patrons on their way out.
According to the report narrative, a 30-year-old Shelby Township man said he noticed a 37-year-old Washington Township man inappropriately touch a woman earlier that evening. The Shelby man confronted the Washington man, leading to an argument that turned into a fight as both men’ s parties left.
Deputies arrested the Washington man for assault and battery.
Collateral damage
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 2 at around 10:30 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were alerted to a Dodge Avenger that hit two cars and was going west on Hall Road.
Deputies located the suspect Dodge on the right shoulder of Hall Road near Chateau Thierry Drive along with two other damaged cars. Drivers of the other cars told deputies they were hit by the Dodge.
A 21-year-old Clinton Township woman exited the Dodge and allegedly tried to leave the scene. She reportedly became combative with deputies and was ultimately handcuffed.
The woman was reportedly given breath tests that showed blood alcohol content levels of 0.149 and 0.141.
Fraud on Colonial Court
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 7:29 p.m. on Feb. 3, a case of fraud was reported in the 23000 block of Colonial Court.
The victim, a 60-year-old man, stated he received an email that he thought was from the U.S. Marshals Service. The man stated it made him believe one of
An officer advised the man a report would be made, but that the chances of arrest were slim because some scammers live in different countries. The officer also advised him to contact the Federal Trade Commission and ask local law enforcement in the future before sending anyone large amounts of money.
Forgery on Little Mack Avenue
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 9:42 a.m. on Feb. 7, an act of forgery was reported in the 24000 block of Little Mack Avenue. An officer was at a local credit union when the assistant branch manager stated there was recently a case of fraud. A 40-year-old woman wrote a check for $162.52 to the credit union and placed it in her mailbox. When she checked it later, the check had been cashed for $762.52. A 24-year-old man, the suspect, arrived at a location on foot and cashed the check. He presented his driver’s license to the credit union. He allegedly had washed the check, writing in his name and amount from the woman’s account. The woman filed a report with the Chesterfield Township Police Department. License plate swapper HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 4 p.m. on Feb. 1, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 32000
