4/25/24 Grosse Pointe Times

Residents of Pointes, Harper Woods invited to Shred Day

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

SHORES — Residents of the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods are invited to get rid of personal documents in a secure manner — and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft — during the Grosse Pointe Shores Beautification Advisory Committee’s annual drive-thru Shred Day from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 4 at Osius Park, 800 Lake Shore Road.

The event is held in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup.

Participants pay $5 per grocery-sized paper bag or banker-sized box of paper documents, such as old taxes or bills. Acceptable items include canceled checks, bank statements and letters. Only paper documents can be shredded.

Items that cannot be accepted include credit cards, cardboard, floppy disks, CDs and tissue paper or paper towels.

The popular event usually gets a helping hand from local high school students.

“People say ours is the best of any Shred Day around

Dr. Werner Spitz was for many years the chief medical examiner in both Wayne and Macomb counties. He died April 14 at the age of 97.

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

‘WHAT AN ICON HE WAS’ COMMUNITY REMEMBERS FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST WERNER SPITZ

METRO DETROIT — From testifying at the O.J. Simpson civil case in 1996 to offering his perspective in the Chappaquiddick incident that involved Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne in 1969, Werner Spitz was widely known for providing his expertise on the witness stand.

The prominent forensic pathologist was sought after in the court system for his knowledge in forensic evidence and his testimony regarding many high-

Photo provided by Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Special activities for kids added to Shores Arbor Day Fun Run this year

SHORES — If anyone ever had any doubt about Grosse Pointe Shores’ commitment to its urban forest, consider this: Both the Planning Commission and City Council recently approved a fence setback variance in large part because the homeowner needed it to save an 80-year-old maple tree on his property.

The Shores will mark its 21st anniversary as a Tree City USA with an Arbor Day Fun Run and other activities starting at 9 a.m. May 5 at Osius Park.

Since the annual Easter egg hunt had to be canceled because of a spring snowstorm, Arbor Day Fun Run organizers are hosting a children’s festival the same day at Osius Park. It will include a petting zoo, games, treats, prizes and face painting.

“This Arbor Day is special,” Beautification Advisory Committee Chair Helen Bai said at an April 16 Shores City Council meeting.

The fun run is a 1-mile, 3K or 5K course open to Shores runners, walkers, inline skaters and strollers. The course extends from Osius Park to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House and back. The full course is about 3 miles. There’s a $5 entry fee per walker/runner, which includes a commemorative T-shirt.

“It’s a way to connect with people,” Mayor Ted Kedzierski said after the meeting of this annual tradition. “It’s just a way for people at the beginning of the (park) season to get together.”

See RUN on page 18A

Grosse Pointe Theatre brings something extra to ‘Newsies’

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

WOODS — A plucky band of impoverished kids trying to eke out a living selling newspapers on the streets of New York in the 1800s take on the corporate Goliaths who own said papers when they raise prices and pinch the already paltry sums the youths earned.

If it sounds like a Disney story, it is — but it’s also rooted in reality. Disney’s “Newsies the Musical” was inspired by the newspaper strike

See NEWSIES’ on page 19A

ABOVE: Rachel Williams plays Medda Larkin in Grosse Pointe Theatre’s production of Disney’s “Newsies the Musical.”

TOP: Mack Kohler and Ryan Roetker play brothers in the musical.

Photos by Dale Pegg, provided by Grosse Pointe Theatre

Neff Park clock tower repair timed to coincide with summer park opening

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

CITY — An icon at Neff Park in Grosse Pointe City is getting repaired thanks to a personal gift from a city official.

Upon learning that funding wasn’t available in the budget, Grosse Pointe City Councilman Dave Fries offered to pay for a repair of the clock tower at Neff Park, which was no longer working.

“I would like to thank Councilman Fries for his generosity,” Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak said.

“I’m excited about fixing the clock,” Fries said during a March 18 Grosse Pointe City Council meeting. “The older I get, the more I realize the greatest gift is giving back.”

As part of its consent agenda, the Grosse Pointe City Council unanimously approved the low bid from Cincinnati-based The Verdin Co. to do the work for $6,375. Verdin was one of two bidders for the project. It is the firm that installed the clock originally and has maintained it over the years when needed.

“This is a very niche service, with limited companies providing this service,” Parks and Recreation Coordinator Rebecca Jenzen wrote in a March 18 memo.

“I thought it would be a wonderful thing when people come to that park to see that clock tower lighted and working,” Fries said after the meeting.

The clock tower is located on top of the building next to the pool. Its mechanism is 20 years old and it needs a new mechanism, Fries said. He said the clock will be lighted again as well once the work is done.

He hopes his gift inspires others to take similar actions.

“We’re trying to get people to think about giving back,” Fries said after the meeting. “We have to do what we can.”

Like Tomkowiak, Fries’ fellow council members also acknowledged his gift.

City Councilman Terence Thomas thanked Fries for his “generosity and service.”

“Thanks, Dave,” City Councilman Christopher Walsh said. “That was great.”

Fries said the clock tower is expected to be repaired by the time the pool opens for the season May 25.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

Photo provided by Dave Fries Grosse Pointe City Councilman Dave Fries recently donated funds to repair the clock tower at Neff Park.

STATE RUNNER-UP BANNER, TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN D2 ONLY MOTIVATE LIGGETT BASEBALL

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

WOODS — The ranking system tends to be a flawed analysis of where teams are in their respective divisions.

For example, in baseball, the Michigan High School Athletic Association ranked reigning Division 1 champion Novi High School ninth to start the season.

Graduating college talent can move the needle in the opposite direction for a team, which is understandable to a degree, but teams need to be given the opportunity to prove that they belong or that they can continue their success from the previous season.

For Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, a state finals runner-up finish last year placed the Knights 12th in the opening rankings.

Take into account the 2023 seniors who now play Division 1 college baseball, a longtime coach departing, and having the toughest schedule of any Division 2 team, and maybe there’s a case for why Liggett was ranked where it was.

In the eyes of Liggett, this is nothing new, and if anything, it’s only added motivation for a team with five state championships since 2010.

“Every year, we’re counted out and

people take us out of the rankings or put us lower in the rankings, and then we go and prove it,” senior first baseman Zachary Hill said. “Even after being a state runner-up, we were outside the top 10 in our division. It’s like, ‘All right, if you’re not going to respect

Photos by Erin Sanchez

ABOVE: University Liggett sophomore Javion Gray slides into home. BELOW: University Liggett junior Mack Phillips follows through on his pitch.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS NAMED

The Helm at the Boll Life Center in Grosse Pointe Farms has several new board members. They are David DeBrunner, of Grosse Pointe Farms; Michelle Jackson, of Southfield,; Richard Lueders, of Grosse Pointe Park; and Lisa Vallee-Smith, of Grosse Pointe Farms.

“We are so pleased to welcome these new members to our board of directors,” Helm Executive Director Krista Siddall said in a press release. “They bring vast experience in various industries and businesses to The Helm Board. Their input will be invaluable as we continue to evolve and grow.”

TAKE A SWING FOR SENIORS

The fundraising Fore The Helm golf outing is slated for June 24 at Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods. Registration will start at noon and there will be a shotgun start at 1 p.m. for this fourperson scramble-style event, which includes a boxed lunch, use of a cart for two, contest entries, heavy hors d’oeuvres and four drink tickets.

The cost is $300 per golfer. Nongolfers can purchase tickets for $50 per person to attend an afterglow that includes hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

“This event is open to all ages — anyone who supports our mission is helping older adults receive essential services they may need,” The Helm Executive Director Krista Siddall said in a press release. “As an extra perk, we’re offering a free one-year membership to The Helm for anyone who brings a parent or adult child to golf. Our goal is to expose more seniors or their adult children to what The Helm has to offer. Someone who isn’t a member will be able to learn about the magnitude of resources we provide to help make the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods a great place to grow older.”

To register or for more information, visit helmlife.org or call (313) 649-2104.

Democracy is subject of talk

MILITARY BAND TO PERFORM

The United States Air Force Academy ensemble Blue Delta will perform a free concert at 6:30 p.m. April 28 at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. The band plays popular music. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. The concert will take place inside the ballroom. While admission is free, attendees should register for tickets by visiting the events page on The War Memorial’s website, warmemorial.org.

The League of Women Voters of Grosse Pointe will present the program “Assessing the Risks to American Democracy” at 7 p.m. May 8 at Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, 211 Moross Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. The speakers are former Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer and former Michigan Republic Party Executive Director Jeff Timmer. The program is free but registration is requested and can be made by visiting lwvgrossepointe.org. Questions about the program can be sent to Vice President for Programs Dawn Drozd at lwvgrossepointe@gmail.com.

Show House special events planned

In conjunction with the final Junior League of Detroit Designers’ Show House, there will be several special events at the home, at 315 Lakeland Ave. in Grosse Pointe City. At 6:30 p.m. May 8, there will be a concert by a Detroit Opera House quartet, at a cost of $40 per person; show house tours are optional and cost an additional $35. At 7 p.m. May 11, singer Ben Sharkey will perform, at a cost of $40; show house tours are optional and cost an additional $35. A flower cuff workshop will be held at 2 p.m. May 12, at a cost of $30. “The Art of Tablescaping with Arthur White” will take place at 7 p.m. May 18, at a cost of $30; show house tours are optional and cost an additional $35. For tickets, visit jldetroit.ticketbud.com.

ATTORNEY HONORED

Thomas S. Vaughn, of Grosse Pointe Woods, a tenured attorney at Dykema, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Corporate Growth of Detroit during their ninth annual mergers and acquisitions awards event May 6 at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.

Vaughn, who is also a member of the Grosse Pointe Woods City Council, is a member of Dykema’s Corporate Finance Group and served as co-chair of its mergers and acquisitions group until 2023. He has worked for Dykema since 1980 and graduated magna cum laude with his law degree from Georgetown University.

Programs aimed at addressing mental health

The Family Center of Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods will offer a session of QPR — which stands for “question, persuade, refer” — from 7 to 8 p.m. May 7 at the Central Branch of the Grosse Pointe Public Library, 10 Kercheval Ave. in Grosse Pointe Farms. QPR is considered CPR for mental health. This program is designed to teach participants to recognize suicide warning signs, start the conversation and provide people in crisis with the resources they need. It’s open to anyone ages 15 and older and is being offered in conjunction with Kevin’s Song and the GPPL. While the program is free, registration is requested. To register or for more information, email MaryJo@FamilyCenterHelps.org.

The Family Center will also host the eighth annual Suicide Prevention Walk and Mental Health Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 11 at Grosse Pointe South High School, 11 Grosse Pointe Blvd. in Grosse Pointe Farms. This event takes place rain or shine. More than 20 local mental health vendors will be on-site. For more information, visit familycenterhelps.org.

From 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays through May 20, The Family Center is offering a mental health series featuring different speakers discussing a new topic each week. This series takes place at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. Registration is requested and can be made by emailing hello@FamilyCenterHelps.org.

Business owner addresses club

— pictured with Lakeshore Optimist Club President Julie Baumer — discussed her vision for Michael B’s Café with the Lakeshore Optimist Club in March. The nonprofit café will be a place where those with special needs can work in food preparation and the service industry in a supportive environment. Fundraising to renovate a building on Mack Avenue in the Park for the café was ongoing at press time. For more information, visit michaelbcafe.com.

Spitz

from page 1A

profile murders that drew public interest and media attention.

The longtime chief medical examiner — who performed or supervised more than 60,000 autopsies during his career — died April 14 at the age of 97. He was a resident of Grosse Pointe Shores. Many in the community are remembering the well-known forensic expert.

Warren City Council member Mindy Moore felt “very sad” when she learned Spitz died. Moore, a freelance court reporter, has known Spitz since the late 1970s when he was the chief Wayne County medical examiner. She was present for many depositions he provided over the years.

“What an icon he was. He was quite brilliant and so effective,” she said. “He had a way about him. His whole career was fascinating. When he spoke, all eyes were on him. You knew what he would say would be impactful and very important. He certainly was one of a kind.”

Sometimes the evidence presented in court could be very technical, and Moore said Spitz was always able to explain it “so any lay person could understand him.” One deposition that stands out was the time the forensics expert testified in a case to determine whether a man committed suicide or was murdered. With the unloaded firearm in his hand, the pathologist laid on the floor to demonstrate that the deceased man could not have killed himself at the particular angle in which he died.

Despite the gruesome work he did, Moore, at times, saw the medical examiner in another light.

“He had a really good sense of humor,” she said.

According to his resume, Spitz practiced forensic pathology for more than 50 years. He was the chief medical examiner in Wayne County from 1972-88 and in Macomb County from 1972-2004. He also served as a deputy chief medical examiner in Maryland.

He received his medical training at the Geneva University Medical School in Switzerland and the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem. His resume states he was an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University, and that he worked for the Department of Legal Medicine at the University School of Medicine in West Berlin.

Throughout his lifetime, Spitz served on various committees investigating the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. He testified at various trials in the U.S. and Canada including the “Preppy Murder” in New York, the talk show host Jenny Jones case, the Crown vs. Truscott in Toronto, music producer Phil Spector’s murder trial and the Casey Anthony murder case. He also consulted with the police in Boulder, Colorado, about the death of JonBenét Ramsey.

Steve Bieda, a 37th District Court judge in Warren, recalled how when he was in the Michigan Legislature as a state representative and senator, the elected officials often contacted Spitz for advice regarding criminal justice issues.

“He was highly regarded and would be asked to weigh his opinions based on his expertise,” Bieda said. “He was iconic in the sense of high-profile crime.”

On a personal level, Bieda followed

See SPITZ on page 17A

Photo by: Lori Hannon

Dr. Werner Spitz testified in many high-profile cases.

Photo provided by Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DETROIT STAGES 1 FINAL SHOW HOUSE

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Metro Detroiters will have one final chance to see interior designers work their magic on a majestic home when the Junior League of Detroit hosts its 25th — and final — biennial Designers’ Show House in May.

Located at 315 Lakeland Ave. in Grosse Pointe City, the almost 8,500-square-foot Tudor home will be open for tours May 4-19. A ticketed preview party that’s also open to the public will take place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. May 3 and will include cocktails, heavy appetizers, an open bar, a DJ and dancing, a raffle, a silent auction, and valet parking.

Almost 20 designers and artists were chosen to make over the home, which was built in 1929 for Dr. J. Milton Robb and designed by acclaimed architect George D. Mason.

Visitors can get ideas for things they can do in their own homes, from surprising color and pattern mixes to furniture arrangements that

LEFT:

Pops of color, like olive green, stand out against the cream and off-white furniture chosen by Loretta Crenshaw, of Crenshaw & Associates, for the elegant, expansive living room.

BOTTOM LEFT: A sustainable nursery by Laura Zender, of Laura Zender Design, includes a light fixture made with seashells.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Kelly Osten, of Closet Connections, stands in the closet she designed with Aubrey Crawford and Ashlynn Robinson for the show house.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Show House

from page 10A

are both beautiful and functional.

The living room, as envisioned by Loretta Crenshaw, of Crenshaw & Associates, is an elegant oasis with lots of green and cream, including multiple seating areas, an inviting window seat and an olive green velvet couch.

“Loretta’s specialty really is layering things — textures and colors,” Show House Co-Chair Ann Baxter said.

Although the designers work independently, threads appear each time that tie the whole home together. This year, those threads include tactile fabrics like velvet and boucle; deep, rich colors — especially shades of green — offset by cream and white; gold and bronze accents; and nods to the Scottish and German ancestry of original homeowner Robb and his wife, with plaid in particular popping up repeatedly.

“Every room is going to need some investigation,” Show House Co-Chair Julia Keim said. “There’s so much to see in every room. We’ve got a great roster of designers.”

Laura Zender, of Laura Zender Design, created a sustainable nursery with vintage dressers, organic and sustainable toys, wallpaper using sustainable paper, children’s books from a book recycler, and low chemicals and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. With its soft colors and whimsical touches, the room is warm and inviting.

“I wanted to show we could do a room that was beautiful and with a lot of personality,” Zender said.

In a nod to Show House history, the hallway leading to the master bedroom includes framed photos — designed by Michelle Boggess, of Posterity Art & Framing Gallery — of rooms designed by Hudson’s for these houses.

A sleek closet showcasing showstopping shoes and apparel was designed by Kelly Osten, Aubrey Crawford and Ashlynn Robinson, of Closet Connections.

“Our inspiration was designing for a modern woman who was working and traveling quite a bit,” Osten said.

Alexandra Decker, of A Decker Design, brought color and life to a small room she made appear larger by hanging the striped wallpaper horizontally instead of vertically and wallpapering the ceiling.

Unexpected details abound, from wallpaper with fringe to a chandelier made of cobalt blue Murano glass to a painting hung in front of a window. Without the strictures imposed by a client, the designers are free to do whatever they feel best suits the space and their artistic aesthetic.

Alexandra Decker,

“The designers are designing for themselves,” Keim said. “It’s never happened (with previous Show Houses) to the degree it’s happened in this house. … One of the beauties of the Show House is a designer can step out of what they’re known for and do what’s in their head.”

Held every other year since 1976, the Show House has been the JLD’s biggest fundraiser and has raised more than $4.5 million for programs and projects in Detroit. The JLD, which was founded in 1914, also awards community grants and, since 2014, scholarships to young women.

Keim said this last house is “very bittersweet” because a coming generation of JLD members won’t have this experience, which has fostered lifelong friendships because of the time commitment needed to put on a Show House. The challenge of securing numerous volunteers with lots of time available is one of the reasons the Show House tradition is ending.

“We feel this is going to be one of the top (Show Houses) as far as design,” Baxter said. “We want everyone to see this. The designers are going out on a high note with this one.”

JLD leaders said their mission of raising funds for needed initiatives will continue.

“We look forward to everyone joining us to celebrate this beautiful show house and support our mission of doing good in the community,” JLD President Mary Hollens said in a prepared statement. “We have incredible plans that will allow the Junior League of Detroit to more fully invest in projects and programs that continue to change lives.”

Show House tickets cost $35 before May 4 and $40 afterward. A café and gift shop will be open to Show House ticketholders and non-ticketholders alike. For Show House or preview party tickets or more information, visit jldetroit.org or call (313) 881-0040.

of A Decker Design, made this small room — which she named The Retreat — look more spacious by hanging the wallpaper so that the lines are horizontal instead of vertical.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

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 City 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 Martinez, is originally from Grosse Pointe City 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 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 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 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.

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CRIME WATCH

Woman arrested for retail fraud

FARMS — The owner of a store in the 18000 block of Mack Avenue contacted police at 3:04 p.m. April 13 after he saw a woman who he said has stolen from his store in the past attempt to take merchandise again. Police said the suspect, a 47-year-old from Detroit, had a bottle of Flecha Azul Tequila Blanco valued at $69.99, a bottle of Cabo Waco Tequila Blanco valued at $49.99, a bottle of Daou Rose wine valued at $29.99, a bag of cookies valued at $6.99 and a container of sliced fruit valued at $15.74 that she had taken from the store without paying for. The suspect was also found to be in possession of a crack pipe and a credit card that belonged to a man who said he lost his wallet on opening day at Comerica Park. The suspect was arrested and is facing possible thirddegree retail fraud charges, among other possible charges.

Vehicle stolen

CITY — Sometime during the overnight hours of April 20, an unknown suspect is said to have stolen a 2022 Ram TRX valued at $70,000 from the driveway of a home in the 900 block of University Place. Anyone with more information can call (313) 8863200.

Beer thief arrested

FARMS — A 38-year-old Detroit man who is alleged to have stolen a beer from a store in the 19000 block of Mack Avenue at around 5:09 p.m. April 10 was arrested nearby after police spotted a man at a bus stop matching the suspect’s description.

Police said the suspect admitted to having stolen the beer. He was arrested and could be facing a charge of retail fraud. The store owner confirmed the man police arrested was the same person who took the beverage without paying for it. The suspect told police he had already consumed the beer, according to the report.

Credit cards taken

CITY — Between 1:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. April 19, an unknown suspect is said to have entered the employee area of a business in the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue in The Village and stolen credit cards belonging to people who work at the business. A police report states that the cards were then fraudulently used to make purchases at multiple places in Macomb County. Anyone with more information can call (313) 886-3200.

Woman accused of theft

PARK — A resident in the 1000 block of Beaconsfield Avenue contacted police April 21 after he said a woman he met on Instagram came to his home for a visit and then stole his iPhone 10. The victim said the suspect took his phone while he was using the restroom. He said he ordered an Uber for the suspect; after she left, his phone was missing. The case was under investigation at press time. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Driver faces second drunken driving offense

FARMS — A 39-year-old Grosse Pointe Farms man is facing a possible charge of driving while intoxicated, second offense, after police found him to be driving drunk in the 100 block of Merriweather Road at around 5:21 p.m. April 16. Police responded to the area after getting a report of a man who appeared to be sleeping in a vehicle that was still running.

Officers found multiple concerned residents gathered around the vehicle and pounding on the windows, trying to rouse the driver and check to see if he was all right. Police said the driver smelled of alcohol and appeared to have vomited on himself. The driver reportedly refused at first to exit his vehicle as instructed. He then either didn’t do field sobriety tests or failed the ones he took and refused to take a preliminary breath test, police said. He was arrested.

Bike stolen

PARK — An unlocked black Huffy bike valued at $40 was stolen from the 15000 block of Charlevoix Avenue at around 12:34 p.m. April 21. Surveillance footage from the area shows the suspect take the bike. Anyone with more information can call (313) 8227400.

Gun found in rental vehicle

FARMS — A black Glock 43 gun and ammunition were discovered in a rental vehicle after it was returned to the rental agency April 16. It was determined that the weapon belonged to the husband of the woman who had rented it.

Sleeper evicted from business

FARMS — Police were called to a gas station in the 19000 block of Mack Avenue at 5:06 a.m. April 16 because an employee said there was a man sleeping in front of the garage doors. The suspect, a 36-year-old man from Grand Rapids, was found to be intoxicated and officers couldn’t understand what he was saying to them. Police said they

found a citation on the suspect for disorderly conduct and trespassing out of Detroit from 2:35 a.m. April 16, and he also had a valid order for a mental evaluation in the Law Enforcement Information Network. The suspect was assisted by police to a bus station across the street from the gas station and was told he would be charged with trespassing if he returned to the gas station.

Intoxicated driver accused in accident

PARK — Police arrested a 76-year-

old Grosse Pointe Woods woman after she reportedly rear-ended a driver stopped at a traffic light in the area of Mack Avenue and Whittier Road at around 6:45 p.m. April 19. Police said the driver was found to be intoxicated, for which she was arrested. Before being taken to jail, they said they transported the woman to a local hospital because of her age and the injuries she sustained in the crash.

Police said the driver of the vehicle that was struck was unhurt.

— K. Michelle Moran

Shred Day

from page 1A

town,” Shores Beautification Advisory Committee Chair Helen Bai said during an April 16 Shores City Council meeting.

Last year, Bai said, the event actually made about $1,200 after the cost to pay for the shredding truck and its workers was covered. While she said that’s great because it can help with the city’s beautification projects, she said that’s not the reason they organize Shred Day.

“Our goal has never been … to make money,” Bai said. “It’s a community service.”

At some stores that offer shredding, she said, customers “pay by the pound, and it can get really expensive.”

According to the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, roughly 23.9 million people — or 9% of those ages 16 and older — had been the victims of identity theft in 2021. Those victims suffered financial losses that, in 2021 alone, totaled $16.4 billion.

Mayor Ted Kedzierski acknowledged Bai’s role in making this and other events happen, and in finding others in the community who can lend a hand.

“Helen, thank you for your many, many years of volunteering … and getting the (other) volunteers involved,” Kedzierski said. “People have said (to me), ‘How can I say no to Helen?’”

For more information, visit gpshores mi.gov.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

CANDGNEWS.COM

Liggett

from page 6A

us, then we’ll go out there and show you.’”

In its first season competing in Division 2 in 2023, Liggett acclimated quickly with a trip to the state championship game, losing 2-1 to Grand Rapids Christian.

Without five Division 1 college baseball players and a five-time state champion head coach in Dan Cimini, who led the Knights for 17 seasons before becoming the head coach at Northville High School, the winds of change were moving quicker than anyone could have anticipated in the program.

To counteract all the moving parts, Liggett called upon one of its own to take over the dugout this season in Jay Ricci, a 1994 Liggett graduate who played Division 1 baseball at the University of Dayton. Ricci previously served as the junior varsity baseball head coach at Liggett.

“For me, I’ve put on the uniform and I put on the UL, and I loved every part of it,” Ricci said. “To come back and coach the middle school team, the freshman team, the JV team, and now the varsity team, for me — and my kids go here — I love it. I love the school. I’ll do anything to support the school and try to give anybody that’s a part of it the best experience possible.”

Having someone with the passion for the program that Ricci possesses is infectious for the team, and it needs it now more than ever with new names and faces taking over the everyday lineup.

The mainstays like seniors Preston Barr, a University of Michigan baseball commit, and Nick Greene, who both started in the

to do things you didn’t have to do last year, like being an example and showing younger guys how it’s supposed to be done, and being another voice for your coaches and putting their words onto the field for your guys.”

Players such as senior Andrew Stalker (P/OF), junior Drew Johnson (C/INF), junior Gary Stacy (OF) and junior Ben Wehrmann (C) are all filling out the batting order as guys looking to come into their own this season.

The pitching staff is where the Knights plan to do damage with Barr, junior Jackson Fetter, junior Mack Phillips, junior Cameron Veitengruber, junior Edwin Narva, sophomore Javion Gray, sophomore Kanaan Taylor, and sophomore Joseph Harris expected to contribute innings.

Ricci has just about everyone on the roster at his disposal to throw on the mound, but he said Fetter and Phillips were guys the team planned to lean on alongside Barr.

to the team of the unfinished business it has to attend to. Johnson said they have the group to do it.

“I think we’re scrappy,” Johnson said. “I think we have a different mentality than years previous. Obviously, losing a bunch of guys is always tough, but I like this group we got. I think we’re close and I think we got a great mentality. We got the same goal. The goal is to win a state championship.”

Currently 5-8 after already going to battle with some of the top teams in the state such as North Branch (D2 No. 12), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (D1 No. 4), and Detroit U of D Jesuit, Liggett will have its work cut out for it this season in a grueling Catholic High School League consisting of St. Mary’s, Detroit Catholic Central and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, currently ranked No. 2 in Division 1.

state championship, provide leadership alongside Hill, a senior captain and Siena Heights University football commit.

Greene (INF) and Barr (P/INF) were everyday guys for the Knights in 2023, so they know what is expected each day at the varsity level.

For guys like Hill, who are new to the lineup after sitting behind seniors, it’s a learning process being the veteran.

“It’s been an adjustment,” Hill said. “Taking a leadership role, you know you got

“They both (Fetter and Phillips) have what’s considered a stereotypical pitcher physique,” Ricci said. “One is 6-foot-7 and the other is 6-foot-8, so they have those pitcher bodies. They’re not necessarily going-to-blow-you-away-with-the-fastball kind of guys, but we’ve really been working in the offseason on locating their pitches and working that velocity behind it, and getting good secondary pitches to keep these kids off balance. That’s really what they did.”

It’s going to be a community effort across the board for Liggett in 2024 with everyone looking to contribute with the bats and find their footing as everyday starters.

The state runner-up banner is currently hanging on the outfield fence near left-center field, and it serves as a constant reminder

Liggett has the talent to make it back to East Lansing, but Ricci said he wants to emphasize winning the right way.

“I talk to these guys and I tell them that they’re not going to remember April 27 at Catholic Central when we lost 4-2,” Ricci said. “You’re just not. You might remember winning a state championship game, but you’re going to remember the whole experience in its entirety. We want to create that experience for these kids, and there’s going to be ups and downs, and they may wish they got more playing time, but we want to make sure they leave here and they feel like they had such a good time that they want to come back here. That’s important to me. I played here, and I love coming back here. To me, that’s important.”

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

Photo by Erin Sanchez University Liggett senior Nick Greene makes contact with the ball during a matchup against Ann Arbor Greenhills on April 8 at Liggett High School.

Spitz

from page 9A

Spitz’s work on the Oakland County child killer case in the 1970s and his work related to President Kennedy’s death.

“He was a fascinating individual and very charismatic,” Bieda said.

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel met Spitz in 1981 when he worked as a dispatcher on the midnight shift for the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. On his first night, Hackel took a call from a Macomb Township man who reported that his neighbor killed his wife and children. But the caller “was the guy that did it,” Hackel said. “That’s when I first got to know Spitz, who left an impression.”

“He was the guy that could tell you what happened just by looking at the body,” Hackel said. “He tried to put himself in their place. He wanted to know the circumstances of how they died. I don’t know of a time when he wasn’t spot on.”

Hackel said many law enforcement officers he worked with over the years were interested in what Spitz had to offer. Hackel said Spitz was always kind when speaking to families of the victims.

“I am so sad about his loss, but I am fortunate to have known him,” Hackel said. “He

was the forefather of pathology. I don’t know if you will see another like that.”

During his career, Spitz taught at different colleges, including pathology at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.

“He was a great teacher and a huge contributor to the field of pathology and forensics,” said Dr. Wael Sakr, dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine. “He had a huge presence and was a consultant on many big profile cases across the country. Before I knew him, I had a lot of admiration toward him.”

Spitz returned to the school on occasion to present seminars to students.

“He was interested in human life and, sadly, was trying to solve death, particularly in trauma, accidents, homicides and burns,” Sakr said. “He had a love for the discipline in what he did and was meticulous in his approach.”

Sakr will definitely feel his loss.

“I enjoyed his friendship and his support for the department,” Sakr said.

Spitz’s legacy includes the nearly 100 scientific publications he authored, the Dean’s Award for service to the Medicolegal Community and Wayne State University of Medicine, awards from Wayne County and the Macomb County Board of Commissioners for outstanding service, and from various police departments and the FBI.

Work on Farms pickleball courts to start this spring

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

FARMS — Pickleball players in Grosse Pointe Farms will likely be happy to hear that progress is being made toward the construction of pickleball courts at Pier Park.

The Grosse Pointe Farms City Council voted unanimously April 8 in favor of a low bid from Best Asphalt Inc. to build the courts for $262,225.

“We received (only) two bids, despite really lobbying for more bids,” City Manager Shane Reeside said.

Reeside said Best Asphalt “met the bid requirements” established by the city.

“It is understood that the Grosse Pointe Farms Foundation committed $100,000 towards this project,” City Councilman Lev Wood said.

The remainder of the cost will be covered by the city.

During a Dec. 11, 2023, meeting, the council unanimously voted in favor of a proposal that would add four pickleball courts to the tennis court area. This plan, which was the most popular option at a public meeting last fall, includes the elimination of a walkway adjacent to the courts to reduce the loss of green space.

The project also includes restriping and

Run

from page 3A

After the run, residents can learn about tree maintenance and selection from the Shores Tree Board. There will be information as well about the legendary Johnny Appleseed, who was known for establishing orchards across the American frontier.

Bai said there will be a paper bag raffle with prizes for all ages.

“We have a nice array of about 15 items,” Bai said.

A memorial tree for late Shores resident and philanthropist John Boll Sr. has been purchased and will be planted in about two or three weeks, Bai said. She said a bronze marker has been ordered as well. Boll died Aug. 24, 2022, at the age of 93.

For a fun run registration form or more information about Arbor Day, visit gp shoresmi.gov.

resurfacing the remaining two permanent tennis courts.

Wood asked Reeside about the anticipated construction date for the courts.

Reeside said they were having a preconstruction meeting that week.

“We want them to get started as soon as they can,” Reeside said.

He said the completion date, at press time, was slated to be June 26, which is just before the heavily used weekend around the July 4th holiday.

“We’re optimistic if things go well, it could be (done) sooner than that,” Reeside told the council.

However, he cautioned that the reverse could also be true, if bad weather delays construction.

While this project had support from pickleball players, as well as data from the Farms Parks and Recreation Department demonstrating the demand for pickleball based on reservations for the temporary courts the city had been using, that support wasn’t universal. Tennis players were concerned about the loss of court space, noting the longstanding use of these courts and the fact that high school tennis players can qualify for tennis scholarships for college — something that’s not true for pickleball.

Newsies’

from page 3A

of 1899 in New York. And now this story is making its way to a local venue thanks to Grosse Pointe Theatre, which is staging “Newsies” May 3 to 12 in the Parcells Middle School auditorium in Grosse Pointe Woods.

“It’s so inspirational,” said Patricia Ellis, of Grosse Pointe City, the publicity and community engagement chair for this show. “The audience is going to be able to relate. Who doesn’t want kids to come out on top?”

In the show, a magnetic newsboy named Jack Kelly — played by Charles Kruse, of Grosse Pointe City — leads the charge of the newspaper sellers to unionize after the price hike. Along the way, he becomes smitten with Katherine, an ambitious young female reporter played by Kristina Kamm Mardlin, of Warren, who’s trying to prove she can handle what was then considered a man’s job.

Alex Quinlan, of Royal Oak — who was in GPT’s production of “9 to 5 The Musical” earlier this year — plays Crutchie, one of the newsies. His wife, Kristin Pagels-

Quinlan, is also in the “Newsies” cast.

“The music’s great,” Quinlan said. “I’m not much of a dancer, but my wife is.”

Quinlan was in a 2019 production of this show in Lansing.

Ryan Roetker, of Royal Oak, who plays Davey, said he’s known about this show for years as well.

“It’s got fantastic music,” said Roetker, who was in GPT’s “The Addams Family: A New Musical” this past fall. “When I saw that Grosse Pointe Theatre was doing it, I had to audition.”

Kyle O’Donnell, of Grosse Pointe Farms, who plays newspaper owner Joseph Pulitzer, said he would have been happy just being part of the chorus. Instead, he’s one of the main characters.

“It’s an incredibly exciting show,” O’Donnell said. “It’s a story that takes place a long time ago but is relevant today.”

Not everyone in the cast was familiar with “Newsies,” however. Rachel Williams, of Grosse Pointe City, who brings dynamic vocals and sass to nightclub entertainer Medda Larkin, said she’d never seen it before getting cast. She quickly became a fan, though, preparing for the role by watching it on film.

“I got so into it,” Williams said. “It’s a

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great story and it really draws you in.”

Director Tim Higgins, of Royal Oak, insisted on renting a special set made for “Newsies” — with moving platforms and moving staircases — to give it the production value he feels this show needs. He’s holding his “awesome” cast up to the same high standards.

“The choreography that we see in the Broadway version — it’s just incredible,” Higgins said. “We’re trying to replicate that.”

Higgins is co-choreographing the show with Christine Campbell-Cormier, of Columbus.

While the show has its heartbreaking moments, the unity and spirit of the young workers keeps “Newsies” from being a depressing show.

“The camaraderie is what got these kids through this,” Higgins said.

While most musicals have one or two showstopping numbers, O’Donnell said “Newsies” has one after another.

“It’s a show for anyone,” Roetker said. “It’s a show for all ages. It’s very entertaining. … It’s one of my favorite shows because of how enjoyable it is.”

In conjunction with the show, GPT is collecting items for The Old Newsboys’

Goodfellow Fund of Detroit. The Detroit Goodfellows distribute Christmas gift boxes to children in need. Show attendees can support this endeavor by bringing new items to GPT’s “Newsies” performances: children’s winter hats, gloves or mittens; children’s winter socks; children’s coloring books; lip balm; small packages of colored pencils, crayons or washable markers; and stuffed animals no more than 8 inches tall.

“The Detroit Goodfellows is thrilled to partner with the Grosse Pointe Theatre for their production of Newsies,” Goodfellows President Rick Pacynski said in a press release. “The show is relevant to the history of our organization which started when a group of old newspaper boys gathered together at their old corners to sell newspapers to raise money for kids’ Christmas presents. They did so for the first time on the Monday after Thanksgiving in 1914, and the tradition has continued for over one hundred years.”

Parcells Middle School is located at 20600 Mack Ave. (at Vernier Road) in Grosse Pointe Woods. For tickets or more information, visit gpt.org or call (313) 8814004.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

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