4/18/24 Macomb Township Chronicle

Grant pays for Pitchford Park plants

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Officials in Macomb Township look to make the most of April’s showers to grow May flowers, as the Board of Trustees on April 11 accepted grant funds to plant a hummingbird garden at Pitchford Park.

Coming to the township as two grants — $1,600 from the county’s Green Macomb initiative and $4,900 from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service — the township will plant 28 trees in the new park. The trees will be planted around a bridge that connects Pitchford Park to surrounding neighborhoods.

“Getting the grant is just half the project,” Macomb Township Treasurer Leon Drolet said. “Somebody has to design the garden, and we’re very fortunate in our township to have some great volunteers that have stepped forward to design not just this project, but to volunteer on other tree planting, garden projects in other areas like old town hall.”

Volunteers that have helped with the garden so far include Nethanya and Ramila Fonseka of Plant It Forward and Kathi PiepenSee PLANTS on page 8A

‘WORK HARD WHILE YOU WAIT’

Dakota baseball looking to make a name for itself

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — There’s always a certain level of excitement when

a coach sees a large group of sophomores or juniors excelling because they know one day they’ll have a stacked senior group.

That’s the time to make the state tournament run and lay the foundation for future classes when the majority of the team is veteran leaders, but what isn’t talked about enough are the players patiently waiting their turn and working hard be-

hind the scenes for their moment to shine.

In the case of Macomb Dakota baseball, 12 seniors in the 2023 class led the Cougars to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state semifinals with only four players currently on the roster taking the field in the 6-4 semifinals loss to Brownstown Woodhaven.

See BASEBALL on page 4A

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Macomb Dakota junior Luke DeMasse makes a stop at first base and gets the out in a matchup against Novi on April 13 at Novi High School.

Dakota student wins billboard contest

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Johnathon Putrus Jr. has designed a sign of the times.

As one of two finalists of a Transportation Improvement Association billboard contest, Putrus’ design is a straightforward statement against distracted driving. “PHONE DOWN,” reads the sign in yellow text on a black background. “LAW IS HANDS-FREE DRIVING.”

Originally hearing about the contest through social media, Putrus entered it using what he learned in his technical design class.

“I wanted to create a clean, simple design that anybody just driving by would be able to understand,” Putrus said.

Putrus’ design and a design by Farmington Hills Mercy High School student Brandy Cavanaugh were chosen from over 60 student-designed entries to promote the new hands-free driving law in Michigan.

Music fans tune in to Record Store Day

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

The spirit of independent record stores will make music on Record Store Day, set for April 20 this year.

Record Store Day, held internationally, was launched in 2007 to give employees and customers the chance to gather and celebrate the culture of the indie record store, including those that sell used and new titles.

The event can trigger feelings of nostalgia for anyone who grew up listening to vinyl on their parents’ turntables or met up with friends at the neighborhood shop in their youth.

It’s also a day on which artists release new music or re-release albums and CDs that have been out of print or previously weren’t available. That could include music from current bands and also from groups no longer together. Some titles are limited releases.

From the mainstream to the obscure, Re-

Photo provided by the Transportation Improvement Association

A design created by Dakota High School student Johnathon Putrus Jr. will be seen on billboards throughout Michigan this April.

Village Vinyl owner John Lehl, left, and manager Adam Davey will be on hand to welcome customers on Record Store Day April 20. Pictured with them are posters from past Record Store Day events.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes See RECORDS on page 14A

Baseball

All across the diamond, voids would need to be filled for a Cougars team bracing for a grueling Macomb Area Conference Red league and a division eager to take down the reigning regional champions.

Luckily for Dakota, every player who waited in the wings last year is more than prepared to take control of their spot.

“My big motto that I tell kids is that you got to work hard while you wait your turn,” Dakota head coach Angelo Plouffe said. “You got a chance to win a job, but sometimes the guy may be older, may be stronger, and may be a little bit more seasoned. Sometimes the younger guys win the job. Sometimes the older guys take over.”

Entering his second year as head coach, Plouffe’s squad won its first regional championship since 2019 last year, and his motivated group of ballplayers are looking to defend their title.

Senior shortstop Matt Wouters; senior pitcher Brendan Pryzbycki, a Macomb Community College commit; junior catcher Evan Kavalick; and junior pitcher Luke DeMasse, a Ball State University commit, headline the returning group and understand their role as players who have been to the top and know what it takes to get there.

“During the state tournament last year, every guy bought into the team and each other,” Kavalick said. “Everyone played for the guy standing next to them instead of themselves, and that really brought the team closer and together. Each guy knew their role

See

Macomb Dakota junior Jadin

Roels pitches against Novi on April 13 at Novi High School.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

from page 1A

Macomb Dakota senior Mike Wouters takes a swing.

BASEBALL on page 13A

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Planning commission to meet May 7

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At its April 11 meeting, the Macomb Township Board of Trustees voted to reschedule the May 7 Planning Commission meeting for May 1.

According to Planning Director Josh Bocks, the original date clashes with an election day, with voting taking place in the same room at Township Hall.

The Macomb Township Planning Commission will have its second monthly meeting on the regularly scheduled day of May 21.

MENTORS NEEDED IN WINNING FUTURES

METRO DETROIT — Winning Futures, a program in which professionals from the community mentor high school students, is seeking volunteer mentors for the 2024-25 school year.

The mentors help students with life skills, financial literacy, job readiness training, goal setting and career exploration.

The students attend schools in Detroit, Harper Woods, Warren, Sterling Heights and Pontiac. For more information, call (586) 294-8449 or visit the website at winningfutures.org.

MDOT program plows into town

LANSING — The Michigan Department of Transportation is seeking talented high school students to help with its 2024-2025 “Paint the Plow” program.

This year’s theme is “Go hands-free. Just drive. It’s the law.” Students are invited to submit designs that reflect their schools while also promoting a safety theme.

The program reminds motorists that recent legislation has made it illegal to hold and use an electronic device in Michigan.

MDOT will accept Paint the Plow design applications until May 17. For more information or to apply michigan.gov/PaintThePlow.

Adopt-A-Highway volunteers take to state roads

STATEWIDE — Thousands of volunteers across Michigan will flock to state highways, cleaning them up during the first Adopt-A-Highway week of the year from April 13-21.

“Our Adopt-A-Highway volunteers come back year after year to keep roadsides in their communities clean,” Brad Wieferich, state transportation director, said in a press release from the Michigan Department of Transportation. “Some of these groups have been with the program since it started more than 30 years ago. We want to thank them for their hard work and remind everyone to help them stay safe. Please drive cautiously during the pickup periods and watch out for them on the roadside.”

The Michigan Adopt-A-Highway program began in 1990 and since then more than 2,900 organizations have signed up to clean over 6,000 miles of state highways. MDOT assists the groups by providing gloves and bags and arranging trash pickup, while all crew members are required to wear high visibility vests.

The first Adopt-A-Highway week coincides with National Work Zone Awareness Week, which begins on April 15. The week aims to make motorists aware of workers in roadside and traffic construction projects. In 2023, there were 7,237 work zone crashes in Michigan — 17 of the crashes were fatal.

MACOMB BALLET TO PERFORM ‘PETER PAN’

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Macomb Ballet Company will perform an original production of “Peter Pan” at the Macomb Center for Performing Arts from April 26-28.

Based on the book by J.M. Barrie, the MBC’s production was created for the stage by Artistic Director Amber Megna Michalik and Associate Directors Hannah Carden, Brandon Koepsell and Mary Sherman.

“Peter Pan has been a decade-long dream for MBC and we are thrilled to bring the magic of Neverland to our home stage,” Michalik said in a press release.

The MBC is a pre-professional ballet company for performers ages 8-18. The company aims to provide experience to its performers while “reaching, educating and enriching the audiences of Macomb County and beyond through special performances and formal concerts.” Tickets to “Peter Pan” are $25 and can be purchased by visiting macombcenter.com or calling (586) 286-2222.

SCAN FOR STORY

Rock hunters find cool stones, spend time together

BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Rock hunting is a fun pastime spent finding unique stones alone or with friends and family.

Maggie Ehrlich, a rockhound and a Grosse Pointe native, lived in California for around 20 years before making her home in Michigan once again. During her time on the West Coast, every summer, she and her husband came back to the Mitten State to visit her mother in Charlevoix. During their summer trips, her favorite thing to do was to collect Petoskey stones with her nieces.

Now she takes her children, twins Arlie and Teddy Ehrlich, rock hunting.

“I was just kind of always hoping that I would have kids and I ended up having my twins and be able to do this with them,” Ehrlich said. “It was really special when we were able to start taking them up there, too.”

Ehrlich has taken them rock hunting in Michigan and on the East Coast. Ehrlich’s friend and fellow rock hunter, Meta Mar-

Plants

from page 1A

brock. The trees will be planted on Arbor Day, April 26.

Rec center voting

Trustees also approved expanding the township recreation center’s voting activity, adding it as a location where township residents can pick up and drop off absentee ballots.

“Ultimately, this allows the clerk’s office to carry out the same services that we provide in the clerk’s office during early vot-

tinez, is originally from Grosse Pointe and lived on the East Coast north of Boston for around 25 years. Ehrlich said Martinez watched her kids and called her a second mom to them.

“She also loves to rock hunt,” Ehrlich said. “So when she is watching my kids a lot of the time she does that with them on Belle Isle.”

Martinez has been rock collecting and hunting since she was a little girl. She also took her own children out rock hunting. She has a small box of numbered rocks she’s kept from when she was a child that her children also played with.

“At one point I had a card that I would write down what type of rock it was,” Martinez said. “Of course, the card is long gone, and then numbered it.”

Martinez’s love of rock hunting started when she was a child. Her parents built her childhood home in the place of another house that was torn down. Supposedly, she explained, there were underground tunnels

See ROCKS on page 12A

ing over at the rec center so that I ultimately don’t have to staff two locations to carry out the same service,” Macomb Township Clerk Kristi Pozzi said. “We call it a satellite office and we will be able to handle all the election needs in one location versus two.”

Pozzi assured the board that using the rec center as a satellite office would not disrupt recreation operations during the early voting period. The rec center is the township’s designated early voting site and was last used during the 2024 presidential primaries.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

HOMES

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

FLOWER SEASON APPROACHES AS WEATHER IMPROVES

TBY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

he 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.

Photo by Erin Sanchez

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.

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.

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.

“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. “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.”

“Compared to other home improvements,

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.

Rocks

from page 8A

that lead to the lake. There was also a lot of upturned earth on the property.

“It was kid heaven,” Martinez said. “To go out there and just start picking through the debris and the dirt and stuff that’d been

turned up when this old house had been torn down. And we loved collecting stones from that area.”

She also said her grandparents had a house in Port Huron and she took trips Up North.

When Martinez lived on the East Coast, she collected sea glass.

“Which we consider our own rocks on

the East Coast,” Martinez said with a laugh.

According to the Pure Michigan website, there are federal rules and regulations to follow when rock hunting.

“According to the Michigan DNR, you are only allowed to remove 25 pounds of stones per year. If any Petoskey Stone weighs over 25 pounds, the DNR has the right to confiscate it,” the website stated. “If you’re

strolling the shores of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for your search, keep in mind that stones must remain where you find them.”

But Martinez said rules like these might be in place to keep people from taking home boatloads of stones to fill gardens. Ehrlich said she, as well as her nieces, would take

See ROCKS on page 18A

Photo by Alyssa Ochss Maggie Ehrlich, left, and Meta Martinez, right, look at rocks they’ve collected over the years.

Baseball

from page 4A

and never complained about what it was. Everybody was accountable and each guy could hold each other accountable.”

If there are some perfect spots for returning veterans, it’s Kavalick behind the dish, DeMasse and Pryzbycki in the rotation, and Wouters as the captain of the infield.

DeMasse was thrown into the fire as a sophomore last year, starting in a state quarterfinals matchup against Grand Blanc and helping Dakota earn an 8-6 victory.

While Luke’s older brother, Will DeMasse, who is now playing at Wayne State University, led the Cougars rotation in 2023, Plouffe has plenty of arms at his disposal this season, including junior Jadon Ford, the Cougars varsity quarterback who was sidelined during the baseball season due to injury.

Luke DeMasse and junior Ryan Petrovitch already gave teams a glance of what the pitching staff looks like, throwing a combined no-hitter against Clinton Township Chippewa Valley on April 10 as DeMasse, who tallied six strikeouts, handled five innings, and Petrovitch finished off the final two, collecting four strikeouts.

Alongside the core four of DeMasse, Petrovitch, Ford, and Pryzbycki, senior Jake Andrews (a St. Clair Community College commit), senior Donovan Heugh, senior Tyler Murphy (Albion College), senior John Kurzawa (Lawrence Tech University), junior Braylon Ryan and sophomore Andrew Borowicz are all expected to contribute innings.

As dominant as the pitching staff’s arsenal and depth may be, Ford said its chemistry is what sets it apart.

“The bond of our pitching rotation is unmatchable,” Ford said. “Our guys are really close with each other and work hard at practice to make each other better. Our pitching crew feeds off of each other’s energy and the dominance of pitching we bring to

the game.”

Half the battle for a pitcher is trusting the defense, and the Cougars are looking to field another extremely efficient defensive unit with twin brothers Matt and Mike Wouters shoring up the middle infield.

Double-play duos are an art form in their own right, and also make up the majority of YouTube searches for young baseball players, and what better chemistry can there be than twin brothers turning two?

“Coming to the games when I was kid watching my older brother was always fun, and I couldn’t wait to be out there like him,” Matt Wouters said. “Now, I’m out there alongside my twin brother that I have been playing with since we started. It’s always been the dream for both of us growing up.”

Dakota will have plenty of bats pacing the offense this season with senior Landon Moore, senior Joey Tocco, junior Dylan Beitelshees, junior Evan Morrison, junior Luke Kavalick, and freshman Tyler Gardner all expected to contribute.

Currently 5-3 on the season and fresh off a two-game series split with defending

Division 1 champions Novi, Dakota will look to be major players in a MAC Red league that last crowned Dakota champs in 2021.

With an impressive crop of talent and a rotation that can go as deep as Plouffe needs to go in any situation, the Cougars expect to be back in the state semifinals game this season.

“For us to make another state tournament run, we need to work hard at practice from the time we step onto the field till the time we step off, and there should be 100% focus and effort,” Matt Wouters said. “Last year was a lot of fun, and we will be back again this year.”

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

The Macomb Dakota dugout is all smiles during a matchup against Novi on April 13 at Novi High School.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Records

from page 3A

cord Store Day will have artists from all genres: classic rock, rap, blues, jazz, punk and country. Each individual record store owner decides what titles to order.

Several metro Detroit stores will participate in Record Store Day. It has become a tradition for record collectors to wait in line before the stores open for the day in hopes of getting that one special title they have been patiently waiting for.

“People make a day of it,” said Todd Fundaro, owner of Flipside Records in Berkley, which will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on April 20. “It’s the busiest day of the year by far.”

Flipside Records will offer discounts on used merchandise. Customers may even get a chance to see their favorite bands live this year as Fundaro will have ticket giveaways to 14 different upcoming concerts, including Santana, Green Day and Incubus.

The alternative rock group Paramore was crowned as the Record Store Day 2024 ambassadors. The musicians will pay tribute to the Talking Heads with their version of “Burning Down the House” on 12-inch vinyl; on the B-side will be Paramore’s song “Hard Times,” performed by David Byrne.

“That’s been getting some buzz,” Fundaro said.

As Record Store Day approaches, pop music’s biggest star right now — Taylor Swift — will drop her new album the day before. Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” is set for release April 19, and Fundaro expects “a bunch of Swifties” to go record store shopping to pick up the new release. “Dark Matter” from Pearl Jam is due out April 19, which could prompt fans of the Seattle rockers to hit the stores on Saturday.

Music from many other artists will come out on April 20 including selections from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Doors, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, The Offspring, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, The Sisters of Mercy and many, many more. There are singles, full albums and picture discs. A list of new releases also can be found on recordstoreday.com.

‘There are a lot of good releases this year’

“We always have a great turnout,” said John Lehl, who owns Village Vinyl in Sterling Heights, which will open at 8 a.m. April 20. “There are 300 releases, and we should have most of them.”

For Lehl, the Mudhoney box set “Suck You Dry: The Reprise Years”’ is the title he’s most interested in. Village Vinyl recently moved from its digs on Chicago Road in Warren to its new spot at 34230 Van Dyke Ave., between 14 Mile and 15 Mile roads. Something Lehl always notices about Record Store Day is the camaraderie between customers.

See RECORDS on page 15A

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Village Vinyl, which recently moved from Warren to Sterling Heights, will participate again in Record Store Day April 20.

According to the website recordstoreday.com, the following stores in the C & G Newspapers coverage area are participating in Record Store Day:

• Dearborn Music-Farmington, 33025 Grand River Ave., Farmington.

• Found Sound, 234 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale.

• Ripe Records Detroit, 15212 Charlevoix St., Grosse Pointe Park.

• Weirdsville Records, 61 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens.

• Blast in the Past, 28071 Gratiot Ave., Roseville.

• Solo Records, 30148 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak.

• The Detroit Record Club, 28834 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak.

• UHF Music, 512 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak.

• Media Reload, 13285 Hall Road, Utica.

Participating record stores are subject to change.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Records

from page 14A

“It’s a lot of people talking music and having a good time,” he said. “I think people are on the move all day bouncing from store to store. Every store has different sales.”

One piece of music people have been asking about is the release from folk-pop performer Noah Kahan.

“There’s a regular release and a split with Olivia Rodrigo, which is going to be pretty big,” Lehl said.

Village Vinyl has been in business for seven years.

“I enjoy everything about music,” Lehl said. “It’s always exciting to see what people will buy and what people will bring in. We see a little bit of everything.”

Melodies & Memories, located at 23013 Gratiot Ave., in Eastpointe, will get into the vibe of the occasion by offering a 20% discount on used merchandise all day. The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We do Record Store Day every year. A lot of the people are our regular customers,” said Dan Zieja, who owns the business with his wife, Denise. “There are a lot of good releases this year.”

Over the years, vinyl records have been the biggest seller for the Ziejas. They’ve also witnessed a recent resurgence of 45 RPM sales, and plans are underway to start stocking vintage T-shirts. Melodies & Memories recently celebrated 36 years in business.

“We’re like an old slipper,” Zieja said. “We’ve been here a long time. People know our store from all over the world.”

According to Zieja, past shoppers have included rappers Eminem and Kanye West, and Motown great Martha Reeves.

“Aretha Franklin used to shop here,” he said. “Questlove (from) Jimmy Fallon’s show was just in here.”

Record Store Day is held twice a year, in April and every November on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.

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Billboard

from page 3A

“What I heard the judges say was that they liked that these were short and to the point,” TIA CIO Jim Santilli said. “Some of the submissions that we receive will have paragraphs on them, for example. We don’t want drivers staring at the billboard trying to read a paragraph while driving. That kind of defeats the purpose. We want something that’s very visible, short and to the point with the message (and) that won’t be distracting to drivers.”

The TIA has held the traffic safety billboard contest since 2014 using $40,000 in grant funds from State Farm.

“When I submitted the grant request, I decided it would be good to challenge students from across the state of Michigan to come up with distracted driving awareness messages that are just short and to the point to help educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving,” Santilli said. “The difference with this year’s campaign is obviously Michigan became a hands-free state last year, so this year we challenged students to educate the public about the hands-free law Michigan has for drivers.”

Student-made billboards have been a key part of the TIA’s messaging strategy, which

includes speaking at schools, public service announcements and working with law enforcement and other organizations raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

“We need motorists to understand that

when operating a motor vehicle, they have a huge responsibility not only to protect their life, but the lives of innocent people traveling around them,” Santilli said.

Putrus’ billboard was unveiled at Dakota High School on March 26 alongside law enforcement and government officials. The billboards will be seen throughout Michigan this April with the TIA estimating 10 million people seeing the messages.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

Photo provided by the Transportation Improvement Association

Johnathon Putrus Jr., center left, accepts a certificate during an event at Dakota High School on March 26. Putrus was joined by Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, left, state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, Transportation Improvement Association CEO Jim Santilli, Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw and Chippewa Valley Schools Superintendent Ron Roberts.

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Flowers

from page 10A

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

Rocks

from page 12A

home a couple of stones and put the rest back.

“The fun is the hunt, right?” Ehrlich said. “And if they’re all gone, there’s nothing to hunt for anymore.”

Aside from Petoskey stones, other rocks found in Michigan include Leland blue stones, agates, various forms of fossilized coral, granite and much more.

Ehrlich joked that the pose of Charlevoix is the bent over person searching for rocks. Martinez added there was a time when her friend asked why her head swiveled from side to side while walking on the beach.

“I was like, ‘I was looking for treasures, you know,’” Martinez said. “‘And rocks and sea glass and shells and different things.’”

She added, while in the rock hunting zone, she can spot the rocks she wants from a mile away.

Both have tried using rock tumblers before, but the machines can be very loud.

“I tried it in an apartment building, and I felt like I was going to get a fine from our landlord,” Ehrlich said.

Ehrlich joined a rockhound Facebook group and now that she’s back in Michigan she wants to explore more locations to find cool rocks. Martinez would like to go to the Upper Peninsula.

“The whole Lake Huron side is completely new to me, I was just looking at Oscoda,” Ehrlich said. “There’s like a great creek there, but also just the water line.”

Rock hunters are really nice, Martinez said, and she recalled a time when a man gave up his whole collection of rocks to a group of children who were getting frustrated with their searches.

“I think we’re all in it for the thrill of the hunt, you know, a little bit,” Ehrlich said.

Martinez said it’s nice to walk along the water and it’s a nice thing to do together with family.

“It’s just a fun thing to do together and

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.

again it’s something that you’re not going out and buying something,” Martinez said.

To find out more about rock hunting, visit the Pure Michigan website at michigan. org. To find out more about Michigan’s state parks, visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources page at michigan.gov.

Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.

Photo provided by Maggie Ehrlich Teddy Ehrlich shows off the rock he’s found while his twin sister Arlie Ehrich searches for more rocks.

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

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MAY 22 Native wildflowers for woodland gardens: Hear from master gardener, 6:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, registration required, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.org

MAY 28-30

1931 Packard Salon Special Showing: Vehicle photoshoots, site tours, dinner and visits to other local automotive attractions, Packard Proving Grounds, 49965 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, see times at more details at packardprovinggrounds.org

ONGOING

Garden art sale: Open May 9-Sept. 2, Schramm’s Farm, 21701 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, all proceeds benefit Macomb Charitable Foundation

Ostomy peer support group: 2-3 p.m. every third Sunday of month, Northside Church, 25600 23 Mile Road in Chesterfield Township, ostomysupport-macomb.org

Macomb Motivators Toastmasters Club: Meets 6:30-8 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of month, St. Isidore Church, 18201 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, www.6104644.toastmastersclubs.org

Men overcoming loss of partner/spouse: Meetings 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

Widowed Friends breakfasts: 10 a.m. every fourth Monday of month,

ONGOING

‘Freedom Confirmed’: Exhibits and presentations include “Michigan Men in the Civil War” (April 20), “Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation & the Cause of Freedom” (April 24), and “President Abraham Lincoln’s Courage to Create Change” and performance by 5th Michigan Regiment Band (April 27), Lorenzo Cultural Center on Macomb Community CollegeCenter Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, www. lorenzoculturalcenter.com

Amore’s Grill, 53100 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Liz at (586) 801-4536

Bereaved Parents of Macomb Support Group: Meets 7-9 p.m. every first Thursday of month, Washington Senior Center, 57880 Van Dyke Ave. in Washington Township, neilflyer@yahoo.com, (248) 425-2999

Washington Art Guild: Learn about art, listen to demonstrators and speakers, practice art in workshops, and exchange ideas, meets 6:309 p.m. every first Monday of month, Romeo Community Center, 361 Morton St., washington-art-guild.homestead.com

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

Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/ support-groups

Mother arrested for child neglect

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Police responded to the Kroger store in the 20400 block of Mack Avenue at around 7:50 p.m. March 22 after being alerted to a running vehicle in the parking lot with unattended children inside.

Officers said they found a 6-year-old, a 2-yearold and a 3-month-old alone in the vehicle, which was running and had the heater on. An officer found the mother — a 27-year-old Detroit woman — inside the store. She told police she had only been in the store for 10 minutes, but police said she had a cart full of groceries. The mother reportedly told police she had a license to carry a concealed weapon and her gun was under the front passenger seat, which meant the children had access to an unsecured firearm while she was shopping.

Police said they ran a check on the woman and found an active felony warrant against her out of Novi for fraud. They said she also had no license plate on her vehicle. The woman was arrested and is facing possible child neglect charges. Her vehicle was impounded and the children were turned over to the woman’s brother.

Bus driver assaulted

GROSSE POINTE PARK — An unknown female assailant is said to have punched a Detroit Department of Transportation bus driver several times in the face when the driver told the suspect that she needed to exit the bus because it was at the last stop on its route in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Lakepointe Street at 9:14 p.m. March 28.

The driver told police the suspect became angry when informed she needed to leave, which is when the attack occurred. Police said she’s facing possible assault charges. Liquor thieves sought

Package snatched GROSSE POINTE FARMS — An unknown suspect is said to have stolen a FedEx package containing nearly $90 worth of vitamins and supplements from the front porch of a home in the 400 block of Moross Road between the hours of 5:54 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. March 27. The victim told police she received a notification that her package had been delivered, but when she checked her porch, it wasn’t there.

Intoxicated driver arrested

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Police pulled over a 24-year-old Grosse Pointe Woods man in the area of Mack Avenue and LaBelle Circle at 11:43 p.m. March 19 after spotting him traveling 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, swerving on the road and nearly hitting a legally parked scout car.

Although the driver smelled of alcohol and had slightly slurred speech, police said he denied having been drinking. The driver was asked to recite the letters of the alphabet from D to Q, and he reportedly said, “D, E, F, G, Q.” According to a police report, the driver then told police he was “never very good at mathematics.”

After failing field sobriety tests and having a blood alcohol content of 0.17% in a preliminary breath test, the driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated. When police inventoried the contents of the driver’s vehicle before it was impounded, they said they found an open bottle of Coastal Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, which they confiscated.

Juveniles throw rocks at cars

STERLING HEIGHTS

— Police were alerted that three juveniles allegedly were throwing rocks at vehicles from a bridge at the M-59 and Ryan Road intersection the afternoon of March 16.

Pair accused of stealing

Legos from Kohl’s STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said a male suspect and a female suspect left Kohl’s, 44200 Schoenherr Road, after allegedly stealing a $19.99 Lego set March 17. According to store staff, the suspects have previously stolen from the store.

Lakeside Circle and arrested them on suspicion of third-degree retail fraud, though the suspects reportedly didn’t have the Lego set on them, and they allegedly wouldn’t say what happened to it.

Police settle dispute over cutting in line

STERLING HEIGHTS — Police reportedly went to a business in the 35000 block of Dodge Park Road March 16 upon hearing that someone was being aggressive and causing disorder over their placement in a line. Police said the argument involved an allegation of cutting in line and included a statement about being able to beat up one of the parties.

Police said they separated the parties and advised one of them to leave and refrain from contacting the other side. Once the parties split, police took no further action.

Women panhandle at restaurant

STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they heard that two women and two girls were sitting by a restaurant’s front door along 15 Mile Road, allegedly begging for money and disturbing customers March 16. Police said the individuals were gone by the time police arrived.

Vehicle vandalized with spray paint

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 3:52 p.m. March 9, officers were dispatched to a residence in the area of 23 Mile and Ryan roads for a vandalism report. Upon arrival, officers spoke to the caller, who stated that his vehicle had bright spray-painted writing on the windows about being owed a debt. A steering wheel lock had been placed on the

p.m. March 9. The man stated that he is the vice president of his homeowners association, and he wanted to report that two solar light fixtures had been ripped out of their bases at the entrance to his subdivision. He said there was approximately $400 to $500 worth of damage done to