4/17/24 Farmington Press

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS/3A

WHERE THE DEER ROAM

LOCAL LEADERS DISCUSS DEER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Although most cities and townships have their own unique agendas to tend to, in recent years a common issue has captured the attention of multiple municipalities.

For some, deer sightings are perhaps mostly associated with areas in the northern part of the state, but residents in some local communities know that you don’t have to take an hours-long car ride to get a glimpse of the graceful wild animals. They can be spotted in yards of many Oakland County homes.

For some, that brings joy. For others, it’s a nuisance, and a potentially dangerous one at that.

The issue is one that recently brought local community leaders together.

Last month, the city of Farmington Hills hosted a meeting of the South Oakland County Mayors Association, and a regional approach to urban deer herd management was a topic of discussion.

At a goals study session in January, the Farmington Hills City Council set a goal to work toward creating a systematic solution “to an ongoing concern,” according to a press release.

Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich, along with City Manager Gary Mekjian and members of Farmington Hills City Council, were part of the meeting.

See DEER on page 4A

Farmington man strives to bring awareness to kidney diseases

FARMINGTON — After being diagnosed with kidney failure, a Farmington man has made it his life mission to advocate for awareness, prevention and possibly a cure for chronic kidney disease.

In the fall of 2018, James Fabin was told he was on death’s door and needed to go on immediate dialysis for CKD or his wife would be picking out his casket within 45 days.

“No one wants to die. We don’t think about dying. Even though we know we’re not immortal, we think we are. We don’t think about what’s going to happen later,” said Fabin.

Despite dire consequences Fabin, a young father of two, chose to forego dialysis. Instead he

ABOVE: James Fabin, of Farmington, a local author who lives with chronic kidney disease, shows off the three books he has written on the subject.

Photo by Charity Meier

TOP: Fabin, right, speaks with Dr. Steven Rosansky about chronic kidney disease during his regular podcast on DadVice TV in February. Photo provided by James Fabin

State of the County address focuses on affordable housing, transit, business

‘PROVING ONCE AGAIN THAT IN

OAKLAND COUNTY, WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE IS HOW WE DO BUSINESS’

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

OAKLAND COUNTY — At his State of the County address at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills April 4, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter painted an optimistic picture of where things stand in the county.

Coulter took the stage following remarks by Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich.

During his speech, Coulter highlighted what he considers some of the county’s successes, including affordable housing, transit, small business coaching and mental health care.

He said that one of the county’s greatest strengths is fiscal responsibility, as, from his perspective, taxpayer dollars have been handled responsibly.

“Every year I’ve presented three-year balanced budgets with healthy reserves that help provide essential services that reflect our shared priorities and values,” Coulter said to those in attendance, including residents, and city, county and state officials. “That careful and far-sighted fiscal planning has once again allowed us to earn our AAA bond rating. … It’s the foundation that allows us to execute our strategic plan — an intentional and thoughtful roadmap to deliver initiatives

Motorcyclist arrested following pursuits across multiple cities

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — A motorcycle rider is facing charges after taking police officers on a potentially dangerous ride.

Abdel Rahman Tarabah, a 26-year-old resident of Dearborn, was arrested by the Farmington Hills Police Department for fleeing and eluding and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony following multiple pursuits through multiple jurisdictions, according to a press release from the city of Farmington Hills.

Shortly before midnight April 9, the Dearborn Police Department attempted to stop Tarabah’s motorcycle for reckless driving.

The motorcycle had no visible license plate and fled from Dearborn police officers at a high rate of speed.

and services to improve the lives

our people.”

Coulter shared what he thinks has gone well for the county over the past 12 months or so.

“We’ve had remarkable success on a number of fronts this past year, from transit to mental health care, affordable housing to sustainability, small business

coaching to education (and) training,” he said. “We were able to provide these innovative programs with the support of our Board of Commissioners. They passed a budget in a bi-partisan manner, proving once again that in Oakland County, working across the aisle is how we do business. These programs have

See ADDRESS on page 12A

According to the release, Tarabah repeatedly taunted officers during the pursuit, which was terminated when the Michigan State Police helicopter, Trooper 3, arrived in the area and began to monitor the motorcycle.

Tarabah’s motorcycle was observed by Trooper 3 through several jurisdictions, as he continued to operate it in a “reckless and dan-

See ARREST on page 14A

Can you hear your grandchild asking you to read a story or the pitter patter of rain on the roof?

Our comprehensive hearing evaluation is always no charge.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter highlighted what he considers some of the county’s successes at a State of the County address April 4 at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills.

of

Tarabah

Deer

from page 1A

Other attendees included representatives from Berkley, Birmingham, Farmington, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Novi, Southfield, Troy, Northville, Wixom and Oakland County.

The keynote speaker at the meeting was Chad Stewart, who is a deer, elk and moose management specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Some communities are part of the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Coalition, which was formed in 2021 as the Oakland County Community Deer Coalition.

“Once a month, the mayors of south Oakland County get together and talk about issues that cut across our various cities, and March was Farmington Hills’ turn to host, and we saw this as an opportunity to bring together regional leaders from numerous cities across the county so that we could all hear from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ expert at the same time, because the reality is we all have an issue with the urban deer herd,” Rich said. “So far, I think, there’s been little collaborative regional action that’s been taken to manage the urban deer herd. What we know is that if we’re going to have a lasting impact, we’re going to have to work together on this very important safety issue.”

According to the Humane Society’s website, deer thrive in human-shaped habitats such as the edges of roadways, forests, parks and suburban yards, and the development of woods and open space has forced them into close contact with people.

Aside from the frustrations some resi-

Troy resident snaps photos of rare albino deer

dents have with deer damaging their gardens, more serious concerns include deer-vehicle collisions and the fear that their presence could cause Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deer “are important sources of blood for ticks and are important to tick survival and movement to new areas. However, deer are not infected with Lyme disease bacteria and do not infect ticks.”

Strategies for how to manage the deer population vary, with some advocating for nonlethal solutions and others preferring a lethal way of dealing with the issue.

A few of the nonlethal suggestions that have been put forth include trapping deer and relocating them to a northern part of the state, lacing food with contraceptives so that female deer cannot become impregnated, and putting fencing around yards.

Trap and transfer

Rich addressed the possibility of relo-

cating deer.

“That seems like a great, humane way of handling it, but the reality is that deer are a very anxious animal, and so, when we relocate them, I’m told the majority of them die because of the anxiety of the move, or they’re taken to a place that they’re not imprinted –they don’t know where to gather food, where to sleep, what’s safe, what’s not safe, as opposed to where they grew up,” she said. “And so, while that may seem like a great option, it really isn’t.”

Trapping and relocating deer is not an option that is endorsed by the DNR.

“That is something that is not going to be authorized or permitted just because there’s a lot of stress involved with capturing deer,” Stewart said. “Where would you take those deer? And the likely survival of those deer is often very poor. They often succumb to some sort of environmental condition shortly after release.”

Attending the meeting helped Farmington Mayor Pro Tem Johnna Balk gain an understanding of why relocating deer may not be a feasible option.

“As far as transporting deer say, Up North, it’s very traumatic for the deer, and they would not survive,” Balk said. “If you have an urban deer or suburban deer, they’re not going to know what to do with 4 feet of snow regularly in the U.P. So, it would be cruel to do that kind of thing, and I thought that was rather eye-opening, because I would not have known that.”

Contraception and containment

The idea of utilizing contraceptives is also one that is not supported by the DNR.

“The other thing that is oftentimes brought up is this idea of contraception,

and contraception is not permitted,” Stewart said. “There’s only two types of federally registered drugs. They’re actually registered as pesticides in the country, neither of which have been approved for use in Michigan, so that’s also not an option moving forward.”

As for the idea of employing fencing to keep deer off of properties, according to Stewart, due to their powerful legs, it would be easy for them to clear a fence even as tall as 8 feet high.

“Anything less than that is just like you or I jumping over a stick on the ground,” Stewart said. “They’re very strong and very powerful, so you need a fence that really needs to be about, probably closer to 10 feet in height before you start to get true exclusion. So yes, it’s a possibility, but in a lot of these communities there’s sort of an aesthetic value that goes along with neighborhoods and properties, and that’s something communities are considering, is that nobody really wants to put everybody’s own front yard, backyard, behind a 10-foot fence. It almost feels like you’re in individual cell blocks at that time.”

Lethal options

Lethal options for managing the deer population are managed hunts and a cull, which is a practice designed to control wildlife population.

“When you start talking about what can actually address populations, it almost always comes back to one of two options, and that is some type of managed hunt or what we call culling, which is done by trained professionals that go in and very quickly and effectively remove deer, but it’s expensive,” Stewart said. “Those individuals just don’t See DEER on page 6A

CRIME WATCH

Check altered

FARMINGTON — Police were dispatched to the Flagstar Bank in Farmington for a forgery complaint around 3 p.m. April 2.

Officers met with a man who reported that he had mailed a check via the U.S. Postal Service, but later noticed on his bank statement that the check written had been cashed for a larger amount and to a different recipient.

The man stated he did not know who might have obtained and cashed the check, or when it might have been intercepted and altered. The case has been forwarded to the detective bureau.

Stolen truck found in Detroit

FARMINGTON — Police were dispatched to the 36000 block of Smithfield Street for a reported vehicle theft at 8:15 a.m. April 6.

Officers made contact with the victim, who stated the stolen vehicle, a 2023 Ford F-150, had been left unlocked with the keys inside of it overnight. The suspect is unknown at this time. Detroit police later recovered the vehicle. There were, however, some items of value missing from the recovered vehicle. The case has been forwarded to the detective bureau.

Home burns on Violet

FARMINGTON — At approximately 1 a.m. March 29, officers were dispatched to the 22000 block of Violet on a report of a structure fire.

Officers arrived to find the structure on fire. The occupants were able to self-evacuate the residence prior to officers’ arrival. The fire was extinguished, and the scene was turned over to Oakland County officials for investigation.

Speeding driver arrested

FARMINGTON — Officers on routine patrol at 7:40 a.m. March 30 initiated a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle at Grand River and Grove.

The driver, a 28, showed signs of intoxication and had a suspended driver’s license. The investigation of the driver led to her arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol, third offense, and driving on a suspended license.

Deer

from page 4A

grow on trees. There are only a select few groups and organizations that do that.”

Although Stewart said that the cost varies, he added that, “I think it’s probably anywhere between $100 and $200 a deer in many instances, and that could be a little bit higher, it could be a little bit lower, depending on the situation.”

From the perspective of West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Steven Kaplan, when it comes to deer, residents are split between “leave them be or extinguish them.”

He is also a proponent of trying to identify a regional solution.

“When a deer crosses 14 Mile heading northbound from Farmington Hills, the deer doesn’t distinguish between boundaries,” Kaplan said. “We’re a team on this, because if they decide to cull and they do so successfully over a three-year period and we don’t, well the deer will start gravitating toward Farmington Hills.”

Kaplan shared one option for attempting to manage the deer population that he is ruling out.

“I’m opposed to assigning our police officers to the woods and other areas where the deer populate,” he said. “We’re not (going to) spend taxpayer dollars on having our police officers shoot deer.”

Aside from expense, there is another potential issue with the idea of having a deer cull.

“The first year that happened we would expect to see more babies,” Rich said. “If there was a cull, a one-time cull, what we’re told is that the deer sense that the herd size has gone down and so they will act to bring back up the size of the herd, and so they will have more multiple babies. So rather than deer just having one fawn, they might have two, or sometimes … they might even have three.”

Environmental impacts and deterring deer

Another complaint about deer is that they damage forests and reduce biodiversity.

However, the Humane Society’s website states that deer are “scapegoats” for larger ecological problems of biodiversity loss and forest-growth failures.

“Notions of overpopulation, or how many deer are too many for a given area, are subjective,” the site states. “It may be true that deer densities are at historic highs, but the forests of today in no way represent historical conditions. Urbanization has created an abundance of edge habitat, which is ideal for browsing deer. Deer have simply adjusted

their populations to available resources.”

When it comes to deer population, Kaplan is of the opinion that there is no cureall solution. However, he shared what he is a proponent of.

“We urge residents not to feed the deer,” Kaplan said. “Don’t leave food scraps and other food for the deer. … They’ll remember and they’ll revisit. Theoretically, if West Bloomfield residents do not feed the deer, many of the deer would find another haven.”

Stewart said that there are “huge” benefits to not feeding deer, and added that there is a state law that prohibits it.

“It is illegal to bait and feed deer anywhere in the lower peninsula of Michigan,” Stewart said. “So communities don’t even have to develop that ordinance. It’s already existing at the state level.”

Although the Humane Society’s website states that the key to success is for residents to understand that deer are here to stay, a “deer-proofing” strategy was offered.

“Certain plants like tulips and hostas are irresistible to deer,” the site states. “Even if the deer population could be greatly reduced, these favorite flowers would still be eaten by any remaining deer. Effective solutions focus on deterring deer and protecting flowers and ornaments. … Choose plants deer generally don’t like, such as daffodils and irises, boxwood and pachysandra.”

By the numbers

According to Stewart, deer population estimates are difficult to obtain, and “that’s not something we even have.”

However, Rich said that an aerial survey in 2019 showed 370 deer in Farmington Hills. When another survey was conducted in 2021, she said, the population had risen to 729.

Perhaps the biggest concern about a high deer population for some residents is the possibility of deer-vehicle collisions.

According to michigantrafficcrashfacts. org, motorists in Michigan reported 58,894 vehicle-deer crashes in 2022, resulting in 1,633 people being injured and 11 people being killed.

Of the 11 people who were killed, six were reported to be motorcycle riders.

The site states that vehicle-deer crashes occurred most often in Michigan’s heavily populated southern counties.

That year, Kent County had the most with 2,250, followed by Oakland County, which reported 2,009 vehicle-deer crashes.

According to the Humane Society, studies have shown that reducing the deer population doesn’t necessarily reduce the number of collisions.

See DEER on page 14A

Farmington Hills to host traveling exhibit

FARMINGTON HILLS — The city of Farmington Hills recently announced that an Underground Railroad exhibit is set to be at City Hall this month.

The exhibit features panels that highlight the history of the Underground Railroad in Oakland County and includes photographs and stories of abolitionists and freedom seekers, according to a press release.

“The Underground Railroad exhibit is the culmination of a year-long research project, which examined primary source materials connected to courageous individuals who played pivotal roles in the Underground Railroad network within Oakland County, including some of the Quaker settlers in the area that eventually became the City of Farmington Hills,” the release states. “The exhibit also highlights influential individuals from Birmingham, Pontiac, Royal Oak and Southfield. Further, the exhibit showcases how various local communities were connected, rather than

Local swim team has strong finish

FARMINGTON/FARMINGTON HILLS — The Farmington Family YMCA Stingrays, along with other swim teams from Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, recently competed in Canton, Ohio.

The Stingrays have swimmers from the ages of 9-18, with the team finishing in second place at the competition.

According to an email, each of the 30 Stingrays’ swimmers contributed points for the team.

Highlights from the competition include Jill Stricher finishing as zone champion in a girls 200-yard individual medley race, Emme D-Errico finishing as zone champion in the women’s 200-yard butterfly, and Luke Fava finishing as zone champion in the men’s 500-yard freestyle and in the 200-yard freestyle.

Luis Cervantes, Timothy Simpson, Cason Kliebert, Hank Blanchard, Gavin Varga, Declan Smith, Finn Smith and Otis Smith of the 11-12 boys squad won the High Points Award.

On the men’s squad, RJ Bennetts, Mark Holdridge, Fava and Ben Swanton got five new national cuts and are set to compete at the YMCA Nationals in North Carolina, according to the email. The Stingrays are led by head coach Rich Bennetts and assistant head coach Matt Zavislak.

isolated, in their efforts to fight slavery.”

The exhibition is free and is typically open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays in the rotating gallery inside City Hall.

“With this traveling exhibit, our goal is to shed light on new discoveries made by local historians about the opposition to slavery in Oakland County from the very beginning,” Leslie Pielack, who is the director of the project, stated in the release.

The exhibit has an interactive digital map and website, which expand on the information presented, the release states.

The creation of the panels was a collaborative effort between the Birmingham Museum, the Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society/ Oakland History Center, the Farmington Historical Society, the Southfield Historical Society and the Royal Oak Historical Society, with the city of Birmingham and the Friends of the Birmingham Museum being additional partners, according to the release.

SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

OAKLAND COUNTY — According to a press release, Oakland Schools Intermediate School District Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson is set to retire, effective Aug. 30.

Cook-Robinson has served as the superintendent since 2015, the release states.

During the course of her career Cook-Robinson has received multiple accolades, including being named the State of Michigan Superintendent of the Year and receiving the Wayne State University College of Education Alumni Association’s Distinguished Educator Award.

In a separate press release, Kenneth Gutman was announced as Cook-Robinson’s successor.

According to the release, Gutman has 32 years of professional educational experience, including 14 as a superintendent. He served in leadership roles in three Oakland County school districts. In 2016, he was named Region 9 Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators. Gutman is set to begin his new role Aug. 31.

Awareness

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spent his time in the intensive care unit conducting research on the various treatments for the disease around the world.

“We use dialysis more than any other country, but we have some of the worst results,” Fabin said.

According to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan there are just over 16,000 people on dialysis in the state. It is not a cure for kidney failure but a temporary means to stay alive until a patient receives a kidney transplant. According to Fabin, patients with kidney disease often wait 10 years for a transplant. Those who do receive a transplant may get two to seven years of a normal life, but some might reject the transplant and remain on dialysis.

In Michigan there are just over 2,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant as of February, according to the foundation, which is working to let people know how they can become a living donor. The kidney is one of few organs someone can donate while they are still living.

Health care costs have been completely covered for people with kidney failure who go on to dialysis since 1979. It is the only universal coverage in the United States, and

Fabin believes people are referred to dialysis too soon because of that. He said people with kidney disease are seeing much better results in southern Europe, where they focus on diet, and blood sugar control. According to Fabin this helps people to live longer and still do things such as continue to work and travel.

Fabin said he went from someone who had never even heard of a nephrologist or a renal dietitian to someone who researches the topic. He said he started by calling doctors and specialists around the world from his ICU bed, and he continued to document his experiences with YouTube videos at every stage of his recovery, including various medications and treatments he was using, what worked and what didn’t.

“It became my purpose in life to spread knowledge of kidney disease and what people can do to prevent ending up on dialysis,” said Fabin, who has penned four books on the subject and is working on his fourth. He holds weekly podcasts on his channel, DadviceTV, with many prominent figures in the realm of kidney disease.

Fabin has never been on dialysis, and was able to get his kidney function numbers from the single digits up as high as a 33, and now remains in the mid 20s thanks to drastically altering and monitoring his diet. He said those numbers go down a point a year

naturally after age 50, and he hopes at that rate that he will have at least 10 years before he is in the danger zone again, and that possibly by that time there will have been some advancements in the treatment of the disease. According to Fabin scientists are working on an artificial kidney that is tentatively scheduled to be released in 2030.

“Here’s what worked for me. You can’t really get (kidney function numbers up). Your kidneys will never get better, but you can ask less of them,” said Fabin.

“Certainly diet is a big part of prevention for the disease itself. That’s one of the things we focus on at the foundation is prevention,” said Joyce Williams, a communications specialist for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

Jen Hernandez, a renal dietitian and the founder of Plant Powered Kidneys, said diet can play a major role in kidney health.

“Diet definitely can play a really big factor as with many health concerns — the more proactive you can be, the more opportunities you can have,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez said that the American diet is typically loaded with sodium. She said the recommended sodium intake is 23 milligrams or fewer per day. One thing people can do to protect their kidney health/function is to maintain a low sodium diet and aim to stick around the recommended number.

“Aiming for that heart healthy amount of sodium in a day can be really, really helpful, and the reason is because it helps to prevent higher blood pressure, which is one of the top causes of kidney disease. So, basically, reducing the risk of that precursor for kidney disease can be great. So that is one of the No. 1 things that I recommend,” she said.

She also recommends getting enough potassium. According to Hernandez 98% of Americans don’t get enough potassium in their diet. She said people should aim to consume at least 2,600 milligrams of potassium per day or more. She said the guidelines show that up to 4,700-plus milligrams of potassium can be helpful as long as someone doesn’t have a medically ordered low potassium diet. She said the right amount of potassium helps with cardiovascular health and enables the body to do the “tons” of things that it does. Hernandez said that in order to get enough potassium, people need to make sure they are consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables.

“Eating enough fruits and vegetables is always going to be a big win in order to fight against so many different health conditions, including kidney disease,” said Hernandez.

Good sources of potassium include potatoes and tomatoes, she said.

Awareness

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According to Hernandez, women age 19 or older should consume 2,600 milligrams of potassium per day, and men 19 and older should consume 3,400 milligrams.

She said that in order to retain kidney function people with the disease often need to follow a low-protein diet.

“So having less protein in the diet can be kidney protective, but as a dietitian I’m always looking at if we are going to be reducing something, what are we adding to it? What are we adding to the plate? So that’s when we look back into getting plenty of fruits and vegetables, getting healthy fats, getting whole grains into the diet to make sure that we are getting enough nutrients,” she said. “One of the biggest concerns that I have with many of my kidney patients is that they are not eating enough, because there is so much fear around food, and that’s because a lot of information people can find online is avoiding nutrients. And these nutrients can include sodium, but also potassium, phosphorus, protein, sometimes calcium, because the kidneys play such an important role in managing our mineral balance, our nutritional balance. So that’s when people automatically become afraid of it if they have kidney issues.”

She said the diet for each patient is individualized, and not everyone needs to avoid all those things. She spends a lot of time getting her patients to eat more of some of those nutrients to make sure they are not becoming malnourished, which can lead to other health issues.

One thing that Fabin said he eliminated from his diet is colored soda as it has inorganic phosphorus in it as a preservative, which is hard on the kidneys.

Williams stressed the importance of drinking enough water.

“You’re helping your body by getting rid of the toxins. You’re helping your kidneys get rid of them. You’re, again, taking some

of that burden off your kidneys by giving them lots of fluid to flush out the normal toxins that your body makes every day. So definitely water,” said Williams.

Hernandez said those who are diagnosed early have a lot of opportunities to make a lot of diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes to protect their kidneys.

“It can be a very very helpful tool, nutrition can, to help somebody protect their kidney function or even for somebody on dialysis,” said Hernandez. “There’s absolutely something that can be done in any stage of (CKD). I have yet to come across a patient that there is no opportunity to be made, no change or improvement that can be seen from a nutritional perspective.”

However, Williams said many people don’t even know they have CKD until it’s too late as it is a silent killer, and people with the disease don’t have symptoms right away. She said that 37 million Americans have CKD, and in Michigan, 1 million adults are affected.

“So it’s a big issue, and it definitely keeps us on our toes, as far as what we can do to help people who already have the disease but also to try and help more people from getting it,” she said.

Williams said they are striving to get more people tested because 1 in 3 adults in Michigan is at risk. A blood test or a urine test can be used, but they aren’t part of a routine checkup and bloodwork.

She said people should ask for the tests.

“It’s important to ask for both of those (blood and urine tests) because they tell you different things,” said Williams.

She said the urine test checks for protein in the urine. If you are spilling protein in your urine that means your kidneys are not doing their job completely.

The blood test looks for the glomaria filtration rate, which is the rate at which the kidneys filter blood.

A quiz to check for risks can be found at NKFM.org. Three major risk factors are obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure

Hernandez said that the labs and energy

level of patients who have chosen to make dietary changes are dramatically different from those who chose not to improve their diet. She said she sees people get better all the time. She said she has had some students in her nutrition class go from a GFR in the 50s to back into the 80s with diet changes. She has also had people go from stage 5 to stage 3, which she said is from the point of talking about dialysis to the point of doctors saying they are stable. Some people have even been discharged by their nephrology doctors after making diet changes, she said.

Plant-Powered Kidneys offers both one

on one instruction and a nutrition course for early stages of CKD online.

“It’s not anything magical. It’s just what we tell people with heart disease, what we tell people with diabetes — healthy diet and physical activity. If people could just get out and walk every day, that helps your body immensely and makes a big difference,” said Williams.

For more information, visit NKFM. com. For information on courses offered by Hernandez, go to plantpoweredkidneys. com. To listen to Fabin’s podcasts or purchase his books, go to dadvicetv.com.

HOMES

FLOWER SEASON APPROACHES AS WEATHER IMPROVES

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT— The weather has been slowly getting warmer in Michigan, which means homeowners can start planning their flower beds for their properties.

The first thing people should think about when getting their flower beds ready, said Brad Wethy, manager for the Oakland County Farmers Market, is how to prepare the beds, what needs to be removed, what needs to be deadheaded and cut down, and what can last through the wintertime.

“It’s gonna be cleaning up that flower bed, making sure that when things do want to actually sprout through the ground, that they’re not having any extra obstacles such as branches, piles of leaves from the previous fall, things of that nature,” he said.

Wethy also recommended adding things to the soil that will help with plant growth, such as compost.

Matt Colonius, co-owner of Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Gate in Oakland Township, said that people moving into newly built homes have to mend the soil.

“You buy a new house and it’s just an empty lot. The foundation that they dig, they bring up the old soil from the job,” he said. “They usually don’t replenish the topsoil. So you’re stuck with this topsoil. It’s just not got any nutrients or anything in it. So it takes time the first year to establish your plants when you’re buying a new house. You have to add topsoil and nutrients.”

The best way to clean the flower beds, Wethy said, is to use simple gardening tools.

“You don’t need to go too in depth with it,” he said. “You don’t need power tools, nothing of that nature. A simple trowel, a simple … rake and just knowing what to remove and what not to remove can do leaps and bounds for your garden.”

Colonius said that if homeowners are cleaning up the yard, they should do a walkthrough to see if anything was damaged over the winter.

Items for homeowners to search for include broken branches caused by the weather and rodent damage.

“Be careful, if you have any perennials, not to disturb the perennials. Leave the mulch around them until the danger of frost is over, which is usually the beginning of

May, but it can be as late as Memorial Day,” he said.

As for what to plant right now, Colonius said flowers including pansies, daffodils and tulips would grow well.

“You might want to consider whether you have deer in your yard or not,” he said. “When you make the choices, you want some deer-tolerant, cold-tolerant plants. So you know pansies are wonderful. They can take the cold but … there’s a lot of problems with the way the deer have cohabitated with us and it’s causing a lot of issues with landscapes in the area.”

Besides sun and water, Wethy said the best way to keep the flowers healthy is to keep an eye out for pest and fungi issues, and issues with overcrowding.

“I even had issues with overcrowding. … As I removed certain things from the garden or gave them more space, they were actually able to flourish better,” he said.

He said it’s important to know the space and light requirements for plants — what needs more space, what grows in shade and what grows in direct sunlight.

Customers show interest in buying pansies April 6 at the Oakland County Farmers Market.

Photo by Erin Sanchez

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Address from page 3A

touched hundreds of thousands of people.”

Coulter cited Oakland SAVES, which he said was opened on a Monday morning in January and is designed to provide grants to people with an interest in energy-efficient improvements in their homes.

“The interest and need were so high that by Friday of that same week, the entire $5 million in funding was spoken for,” Coulter said. “We’re helping to keep people safer and more comfortable in their homes, providing more energy efficiency and keeping more money in their pockets as they save on their monthly utility bills.”

Coulter said that affordable housing is important for attracting and retaining individuals to help grow the population.

“So, working with the Board of Commissioners and using federal American Rescue Plan (Act) dollars, we established a $20 million housing trust fund — this fund is working with developers to provide more affordable housing options in the county through incentives and gap finding,” he said. “Projects have already been approved for these funds in Southfield, Royal Oak Township, Pontiac and Rochester Hills, filled with both market-rate and affordable homes that will create inclusive communities for the hard-working Michiganians who are looking for attractive and safe places to raise their families. And we just closed last month on a project in Rochester Hills to provide desperately needed housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It’s only the second such development in all of Michigan.”

With the help of multiple Oakland County Michigan Works offices, Coulter said that more than 8,500 people have entered the workplace over the last two years.

He said that due to services that have been offered, interns and apprentices have been matched with thousands of businesses.

Coulter touted the county’s Oakland

80 initiative, which aims to have 80% of the adult population attain a college degree or certified training by 2030.

He said the county is currently at 69%.

Coulter also highlighted Oakland Thrive, a nonprofit that was launched to provide coaching and consulting resources for small businesses in the county.

Oakland Thrive can assist entrepreneurs with things such as a business plan, social media, financial workshops, and assistance with applications for business grants and loans.

Coulter also cited efforts to help small and midsize manufacturers.

“Our economic development department has helped 20 companies either locate or expand in Oakland County during 2023,” he said. “Their presence represents $387 million in new investment, and more than 3,300 new and retained jobs.”

In 2022, voters approved the Oakland County Public Transportation Millage. With that approval, the county is now authorized to levy a millage for the purpose of funding transportation services throughout Oakland County. Prior to that, individual communities could opt out.

Residents in communities that opted in prior to the countywide millage paid 1 mill in taxes for public transportation services. Residents in all Oakland County communities will now pay 0.95 mill for 10 years, which is 95 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value of a home.

“We’re building on the strength of voters, who, like us, were committed to creating a countywide public transportation system,” Coulter said. “We’re expanding into the jobrich centers of Novi, Wixom, Bloomfield Hills and Rochester Hills, which is happening with the help of the SMART bus system. Transit is on the move for the folks who live in the outer reaches of Oakland County, who may not have been sure they would ever benefit from a public transportation system.”

Opponents of the millage, however, said that residents in communities where

there is not a high demand for public transportation should not have to pay taxes for it.

Mental health care has been a popular topic in the country, and it is one that Coulter touched on during his speech.

“Another significant initiative we’ve adopted … is our investment in expanding access to mental health care in Oakland County,” he said. “Through our partnership with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan we’ve provided millions in grants to dozens of nonprofits that have the expertise to positively impact, and in some cases save, the lives of tens of thousands of people across our country.”

Coulter’s speech also included a “sad note,” as he discussed the deaths of three individuals who helped serve Oakland County.

“Oakland County Sheriff Deputy Nicholas Dotson from Holly died in December after a battle with cancer,” Coulter said. “Sheriff Mike Bouchard said Nick had a special spark that led him to his job with the county because he wanted to make a real difference, and he did during his 10 years of service with the Sheriff’s Office. At the young age of 32 he leaves behind his wife, Delaney, and son, Sullivan.

“County Commissioner Gary McGillivray lost his battle with cancer late last year,” Coulter said. “He was a devoted public servant during his time as a councilman and mayor of Madison Heights, and during his 15 years on the Board of Commissioners. He was also a champion for the Oakland parks system and as chairman of the Parks and Rec Commission.”

Coulter also recalled someone who he said had a legacy of helping people.

“We tragically lost Dr. Calandra Green, our county health officer, almost a year ago,” he said. “Calandra was a passionate advocate for public health services … especially in communities of color.”

Green’s death last year was ruled a homicide. She was found near her husband in their home in Pontiac. His death was ruled as a suicide.

At the address, Coulter announced that

working with Oakland University, a scholarship fund to help nursing students at the university was created.

Coulter also said that a $20 million investment will help create new public spaces and make improvements to dozens of parks across the county.

He referred to the county’s 14 parks as the “crown jewel of Oakland County.”

Coulter said the county is helping communities with $14 million in grants to upgrade water infrastructure, with a $5 million investment going toward 29 senior centers across the county.

He also touted a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the county’s public radio safety program.

“That allows our police, firefighters and EMTs to seamlessly and in real time connect with hundreds of agencies across the region and the state so we can improve response times (and) better respond to a crisis,” Coulter said.

Oakland County Commissioner Bob Hoffman attended the event.

Although he said that he thinks the county is in good shape and he commended the employees who work for the county, he did share a concern.

“It just seems like we keep building staff and creating programs, and that’s always a concern to me. (It’s) somebody else’s money we’re spending,” Hoffman said.

He also questioned a decision to purchase two office buildings in Pontiac for $19.2 million.

“We have the true market value of those two office buildings,” Hoffman said. “It’s either $10 (million) or $12 million. So we’re going to pay $19.2? Then we’re going to get another $100 (million) or $150 million (invested) in it, and they talk about we’re getting money from the state, whatever. I don’t care where you get the money: It’s taxpayer money, and how are you creating economic development in Pontiac when you spend $19.2 million for a building and then take them off the tax rolls?”

Arrest

from page 3A

gerous manner,” including popping wheelies while traveling at high speeds, leaving the roadway, driving through yards and reaching speeds of more than 140 mph, even when officers were not in pursuit.

Tarabah then fled another traffic stop that was initiated by the Redford Township Police Department, with a pursuit being terminated when Tarabah drove recklessly, reaching speeds of over 100 mph, according to police.

Oakland County’s new P-25 radio system, which allows for seamless radio communication across the county, was utilized in the attempt to bring an end to the situation, as Trooper 3 notified the Farmington Hills Police Department just after midnight that

Deer

from page 6A

“Many factors contribute to deer-vehicle collisions, such as traffic volume, speed limits, the extent to which roads bisect habitats and migration routes and the use of visual barriers,” the site states.

To avoid hitting an animal with a vehicle, the Humane Society suggests following speed limits, watching for wildlife in and near the road at dawn and dusk and in the first few hours after darkness, exercising caution on two-lane roads bordered by woods or fields or where streams cross under roads, watching edges for wildlife about to cross, not throwing trash out of car windows, and lowering dashboard lights slightly — headlights reflected in the eyes of animals can help drivers brake in time.

The Humane Society’s website also states that scientific studies have shown that killing deer won’t reduce people’s risk of con-

Tarabah’s motorcycle had entered Farmington Hills.

Officers responded to the area of Middlebelt Road, near Eight Mile Road, and quickly located Tarabah’s motorcycle.

Officers pursued Tarabah eastbound on Grand River Avenue from Middlebelt Road, but he abruptly reversed his course of travel at speeds near 100 mph as he looped Grand River Avenue between Purdue Street and Middlebelt Road.

Following that, Tarabah pulled over into a parking lot and immediately surrendered to police with his hands in the air.

Tarabah advised approaching officers that he was armed with a handgun.

Officers secured a loaded 9 mm handgun from his waist and took him into custody without incident, according to the release.

An inspection of the motorcycle revealed that it had run out of gas.

tracting Lyme disease.

“Deer kills do not significantly reduce the population of the tick that spreads the disease — the black-legged tick (or deer tick), which feeds on almost all mammals, most songbirds and even lizards,” the site states. “In Great Island, Mass., when up to 70% of the deer were removed, there was no marked reduction in tick abundance. Where deer are scarce, ticks switch to other hosts or congregate in higher numbers on the remaining deer.”

Although Rich said that there will probably be some sort of action taken, she is not expecting an immediate solution.

“Anything that we would be organizing would require DNR approval and collaboration with the various governments, and so I think that is something that will be, probably, years in the making for action to actually happen,” she said. “I am optimistic that we all recognize that the No. 1 job of government is to keep people safe, and so if this is truly a safety issue, and we have some people

On April 11, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office authorized a two-count warrant, charging Tarabah with fleeing and eluding third degree and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Tarabah was arraigned at the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills. A $10,000 10% cash surety bond was set.

The Dearborn Police Department and the Redford Police Department are also reportedly pursuing charges against Tarabah.

“When an individual flees from police, they endanger the public at large, the officers in pursuit and themselves,” Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King stated via the release. “It is their choices and their actions that jeopardize the people and communities we have sworn to protect. The number of suspects and vehicles fleeing from police has increased at an alarming rate and contrary to some opinions, these dangerous suspects continue

who believe it is and some people who believe it is not, let’s get the data and let that drive what our actions are going to be.”

From Balk’s perspective, it was helpful to have DNR input on what she said is the information-seeking phase of the process.

She understands that the conversation surrounding deer management solutions is a “very tender and emotionally charged topic.”

“I just know that we all have to work together as communities in order for it to be effective, and information has to be the main thing, because you have to get the public to understand what the situation is,” Balk said. “There has to be collaboration. We, as Farmington, can’t just decide to do something, because we’re surrounded by Farmington Hills. So whatever we do or they do directly

their reckless and hazardous behavior, even after police terminate the pursuit.”

Aside from acknowledging the work of Farmington Hills police officers, King also credited others for helping to resolve the situation.

“The peaceful resolution to this dangerous incident wouldn’t have been possible without the support and guidance of MSP Trooper 3,” King stated. “The expert coordination between MSP and FHPD was critical in bringing this pursuit to an end with the peaceful surrender and arrest of the suspect, and it wouldn’t have been possible to communicate efficiently without the new interoperable radio system.”

A pre-exam conference hearing is scheduled for April 19. Tarabah did not have an attorney on record at press time.

Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk contributed to this report.

impacts the other.”

Kaplan said that “we might be able to reduce the deer population, but not eliminate it.”

Stewart shared a similar sentiment and said, “you will never fully eliminate your potential for a collision with a deer.”

“Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a cheap, effective and fast deer-management tool that is completely supported by members in their community,” he said. “I don’t think that there is one golden solution that all communities can just simply implement and their problems are going to go away. … There is some component or some level of living with deer. It’s just, I think, most people are willing to live with less deer than what they’re currently experiencing.”

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The Exterior Painters Celebrate 20 Years of Transforming Properties, Neighborhoods

Nothing transforms a property and makes it shine brighter than a fresh coat of paint. It’s simply the best and most cost-effective investment you can make for your home draped in the colors of yesterday.

The Exterior Painters have been revitalizing properties for 20 years.

“We specialize in just exterior painting, and the reason why we do that is we believe that repetition is the mother of all skill,” said owner Brian Scott. “For 20 years, that’s all we’ve been doing is outside work. When it comes to that, we do wood replacement and siding replacement. It makes us the perfect fit for homeowners who don’t want to re-side their whole house.”

The Exterior Painters replace damaged siding and boards as needed, but they’re not looking to push for a full siding replacement.

“It gets people by another 10 years and transforms the look of the house, bringing it to the next color trends of today,” Scott said.

“Another thing we do that makes us unique, we have a full-time color consultant,” Scott added. “For most people, that’s the hardest, most stressful part, choosing what color they want. Our consultant comes out and

meets with the homeowners and gives them an idea of what the new color trends are so they can make a good color choice that complements their landscaping, brickwork and architectural features.”

The Exterior Painters also specialize in brick staining.

“A lot of younger people are buying houses. We’re taking it from grandma’s house of the ’50s, ’60s or ’70s and bringing it to that HGTV look,” Scott said.

you’re getting a bigger bang for your buck.”

It’s a win for everyone, from the crews The Exterior Painters employ and pay well to the homeowners who see their neighborhoods transformed. The company paints 30 houses a week on average in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Livingston counties, and boasts a five-star Google review average.

Power washing the siding — and for an additional charge, soft washing the roof if needed — can also make a big difference in terms of curb appeal.

charge, soft washing the roof if needed — can also

transformed through fresh paint,

Scott said his crews often see their work spread from house to house in a neighborhood as the properties are transformed through fresh paint, siding repairs and much-needed washing.

“It’s the cheapest home improvement you can do without breaking the bank,” Scott said.

“With us you’re buying certainty. We don’t ask for a large deposit, and you don’t have to worry about anyone running off with your deposit,” Scott said.

“Compared to other home improvements,

“We stand by our work. We provide a warranty and proven results by taking care of everybody in the community. We’re Nextdoor’s No. 1 preferred contractor in Rochester two years in a row. It’s that certainty factor. You know what you’re going

“It’s the cheapest home to get.”

The Exterior Painters are located at 2365 Avon Industrial Drive in Rochester Hills. To request a quote or for more information, call (248) 844-8888.

Permanent part-time Custodian position, $18.01 - $22.92 hourly (32 Hours per week) includes benefit package. Successful completion of Civil Service Examination(s) is required, and applicant must meet all requirements set forth in the Employees Civil Service Ordinance, as well as possession of a valid Michigan driver’s license and a good driving record. Pre-employment background investigation and substance abuse testing is required. Interested, applicants must submit application to the Clinton Township Employees Civil Service Commission, 40700 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Twp., MI 48038 on or before the close of business, Friday, April 26, 2024. The Charter Township of Clinton is an Equal Opportunity Employer, applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or disability. For further information pertaining to this position or to download employment application please refer to www.clintontownship.com,

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APRIL 20

Celebration of Earth concert: Hear music inspired by Navajo, Swahili, Korean and European traditions, 7 p.m., Universalist Unitarian Church of Farmington, 25301 Halstead Road in Farmington Hills, free but donations appreciated, uufarmington.org, (248) 478-7272

APRIL 20

Planet vs. Plastics: Program for grades K-5, 2-3 p.m., Farmington Community Library, 32737 W. 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, farmlib.org, (248) 553-0300

APRIL 27

The Justice Summit: Workshops provide information and opportunities for involvement with LGBTQ, immigration, nursing homes, anti-racism and more, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 23225 Gill Road in Farmington Hills, free but registration required, semisynodjustice.com/justicesummit

APRIL 28

Sip and shop craft and vendor expo: More than 40 vendors expected, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Monaghan Banquet Center, 19801 Farmington Road in Livonia, sipandshopmi@gmail.com, (586) 770-0081

MAY 4

Household hazardous waste collection: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Lot 8 at Oakland Community College - Orchard Ridge Campus, 27055 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills, rrrasoc.org

ONGOING Art exhibit: Solo show by Margo Dupre featuring works inspired by cotton of West Texas, on display 8:30

The passenger asked the driver to let her out of the vehicle.

The passenger said that after she exited the vehicle, the driver punched her in the back of the head. An investigation was ongoing.

to take her to a doctor’s appointment in West Bloomfield.

After the two reportedly got into an argument, the driver had her exit his vehicle before arriving at her appointment, leaving her to walk the rest of the way.

Just before she went into the doctor’s office, the male reportedly showed up in the parking lot and yelled threats at her.

No further information was provided.

Photo leads to alleged extortion attempt

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 18, a resident in their 50s went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report that an unknown person was trying to extort money, due to the reporting party sending a compromising photo.

No further information was provided.

Pierce Elementary closed for bomb threat

BIRMINGHAM — On March 18 at approximately 7 a.m., the deputy superintendent of Birmingham Public Schools contacted the Birmingham Police Department regarding a threatening voicemail at Pierce Elementary.

The suspect left a voicemail that a bomb would explode within 10 minutes of the call on Sunday evening, March 17. School staff received the voicemail the next morning, Monday, March 18, prior to school starting for the day.

A decision was made to close the school for the day. Those who had already arrived for early morning programs were bused to another school. An investigation was immediately initiated and a sweep of the school was conducted, determining there were no credible threats or safety risks to the public. An investigation was ongoing.

Uber driver accused of punching passenger

BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 10 a.m. March 15, officers were dispatched to the Birmingham Police Department lobby for an assault report.

A 78-year-old Auburn Hills woman told them that on March 14 she was taking an Uber to her desired location, and shortly into the ride, the driver, a

Someone uses stolen credit card number to order groceries

NOVI — Novi police were dispatched at 8:06 a.m. March 23 to a residence on Steinbeck Glen, near 13 Mile and Meadowbrook roads, after a woman discovered fraudulent charges had been made on her credit card.

The woman told police that her Capital One Venture account had been used to make unauthorized purchases at Kroger in Lincoln Park in the amount of $418.67 and again for $347. She said another unauthorized purchase was made at Fry’s Food and Drug in Georgia for $487.44.

The Novi resident contacted the credit card company and informed it that the charges were fraudulent. She said she had also contacted the Kroger in Lincoln Park. They told her that it was an online purchase and provided her with the email address to which the order was charged.

The suspect was going to pick up the groceries that morning but canceled the order. Police advised the Novi woman to contact the credit reporting agencies and notify them that her name and credit card account had been used fraudulently. Capital One returned the money to her account, according to the police report. The woman said she wishes to prosecute if police find a suspect.

Window broken at store

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, an unknown suspect used a brick to break the front win-

March 7 at the parking structure at 300 S. Lafayette Ave., an unknown person keyed the complainant’s vehicle, wrote on the driver’s side window in marker, and spit on the rear windshield.

Police investigate fraudulent withdrawal

BERKLEY — Berkley police were investigating an incident where $1,000

pay for work that he had done.

The clerk told the man that credit union policy was that when verifying a check, she only could release $1,000 of the funds, which was done. The man exited the building and left in a small white SUV.

Five days later, the check was alerted as altered or fake, and correspondence was made with the suspect with no resolution. A risk management investigator also spoke with a representative from the business that allegedly sent the check, and the representative reportedly did not know anyone by the name of the suspect.

The case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.

Suspect flees through multiple cities

BERKLEY — A 20-year-old Detroit man was arrested for fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed weapon and motor vehicle fraud at 8:31 p.m. March 30 at Greenfield and 12 Mile roads.

The police report states that while on patrol, an officer pursued a wanted vehicle that ran from Troy, Royal Oak and Beverly Hills police. The jeep was found to be driving erratically at speeds of 80-90 miles per hour.

“Due to the erratic driving of the suspect, fleeing from multiple jurisdictions and the lack of concern for the general public’s safety, (the officer) intentionally collided with the (suspect’s) rear passenger side bumper to end the pursuit as the vehicle slowed to approximately 37MPH,” the report states. “The vehicle spun around and came to a stop at 696 and Greenfield.”

The driver allegedly exited the vehicle and began running on foot. The officer reportedly pulled out a Taser and ordered the suspect to the ground. Simultaneously, the suspect fell to the ground and a handgun fell from his person, according to the report. The officer was able to jump on the suspect and place him under arrest.

Drunk driver hits tree

FARMINGTON — On March 15, at approximately 11:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Lakeway and Valleyview for a one-car property damage crash involving a tree. Officers arrived to find that a Ford Mustang had struck a tree on the northwest corner of the intersection. Officers made contact with the driver, who reported no injuries. The officers’ investigation led to a 56-year-old man, was housed until sober, cited for operating

Microwave stolen at gunpoint

SOUTHFIELD — Around 8:06 p.m. March 17, loss prevention officers saw someone take a microwave from a store in the 28000 block of Telegraph Road. When confronted by loss prevention staff, the suspect walked away and entered a vehicle. The driver reportedly pointed a firearm

Neighbor assaulted over package complaint

— At 3:57 p.m.