City Council approves third marijuana retail site
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.comSOUTHFIELD — In a 5-2 vote, the City Council approved a third recreational marijuana retail facility in Southfield April 15.
“I’m a peacemaker, just ask anyone,” said Rosemerry Allen as she posed with the peace poles near Southfield City Hall.
Councilman Daniel Brightwell, supported by Councilman Lloyd Crews, made the motion to approve Cloud Opportunity’s special use request and site plan to build and operate a one-story recreational marijuana retailer on 1 acre at 28610 Northwestern Highway. Councilmembers Charles Hicks
and Nancy Banks voted no.
“I am not in favor of recreational marijuana, and I have voted no on all the previous recreational marijuana facilities in the city,” Banks said.
The two other recreational marijuana retailers in Southfield are Lume Cannabis, at
26760 Lahser Road, and Dreams Canna, at 28930 Telegraph Road. There is also a grow facility, NTK Investments, at 21680 W. Eight Mile Road.
During the public hearing, residents raised concerns about the smell of the facil-
See MARIJUANA on page 15A
Rosemerry
to the rescue
Activist works for good of Southfield after learning that charity begins at home
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.comSOUTHFIELD — “If you need something, Rosemerry will always help you out.”
That is what Mayor Siver says of Rosemerry Allen, a longtime Southfield resident and community activist. He added that she also has a “wicked sense of humor.”
Allen moved to Southfield nearly 30 years ago, and since then, she has immersed herself in the community, finding herself involved in everything from serving as president for two dif-
See ACTIVIST on page 10A
Looking for the best district for your young scholar to excel? Southfeld A&T High School - Gym 24675 Lahser Road, Southfeld
Thursday || May 9, 2024 4-7 pm
Bring your rising young scholar for a showcase of our District elementary, middle and high schools, and learn about our exciting and rigorous academic pathways, foundational support for the whole child, extra-curricular activities and athletics and more!
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Local leaders discuss deer management options
BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.comMETRO DETROIT — Although most cities and townships have their own unique agendas to tend to, in recent years a common issue has captured the attention of multiple municipalities. For some, deer sightings are perhaps mostly associated with areas in the northern part of the
state, but residents in some local communities know that you don’t have to take an hours-long car ride to get a glimpse of the graceful wild animals. They can be spotted in yards of many Oakland County homes.
For some, that brings joy. For others, it’s a nuisance, and a potentially dangerous one at that.
The issue is one that recently brought local community leaders together.
MITZVAHS FOR THE COMMUNITY
Last month, the city of Farmington Hills hosted a meeting of the South Oakland County Mayors Association, and a regional approach to urban deer herd management was a topic of discussion.
At a goals study session in January, the Farmington Hills City Council set a goal to work toward creating a systematic solution “to an ongoing
See DEER on page 6A
ABOVE: Rabbinical students from 20 countries celebrate the Passover spirit around Mitzvah Tanks April 15 at the Harry & Wanda Zekelman Campus in Oak Park. The parade departed from the campus and drove through Huntington Woods and Royal Oak, and ended in Birmingham. After the parade, the Mitzvah Tanks went to communities across southeast Michigan, including West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Troy and Orchard Lake, to hand out thousands of packages of Shmurah Matzah.
The Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan sent 13 Mitzvah Tanks adorned with inspirational messages.
Parks and Recreation presents bike safety night May 9
SOUTHFIELD — The Southfield Parks and Recreation Department will host Bike Safety Night 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 9 in the north parking lot of the Southfield municipal campus, near the Parks and Recreation building, 26000 Evergreen Road.
The event is free and welcomes families to bring their bikes and ride through a skills course set up by the League of Michigan Bicyclists to learn and practice essential bike skills.
Participants who complete the course will be entered in a drawing to win a new bike.
Visitors are also encouraged to have their bike checked for safety by local experts. Corewell Health will be on-site giving away free bicycle helmets for the first 400 visitors.
The Southfield Police Department will share information on safe road sharing with others.
City offers free wood chips to residents
SOUTHFIELD — The city of Southfield invites residents to take advantage of the city’s free wood chips from April to December, from dawn to dusk, while supplies last. The wood chips are located behind the baseball diamond directly behind the Southfield Sports Arena on the Southfield municipal campus, 26000 Evergreen Road.
Residents are allowed to take up to five yards of wood chips and must provide their own equipment to load and transport the wood chips.
The wood chips are only available to Southfield residents, not commercial contractors or landscapers.
SOUTHFIELD HOSTS EARTH DAY DRIVE-THRU
The city of Southfield partnered with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland Schools for an Earth Day drive-thru and donation event April 20. The drive-thru collected nonperishable food, clean and gently used clothing, prescription drugs, and bikes. The donated bikes will be refurbished by the Sheriff’s Office’s Re-CYCLE for Kids program for families in need. The event also included document shredding, walk-up Narcan training, free radon test kits, free prescription drug lock boxes and Deterra bags, and recyclable tote bags with earth-friendly resources inside.
SOUTHFIELD — Yoga Moves MS is hosting a Holistic Health and Wellness Forum for MS at 5 p.m. May 8 at the Carpe Diem Banquet Hall, 28847 Franklin Road. People with multiple sclerosis and their care partners are invited to learn from experts about a range of integrative and holistic mindbody strategies.
Attendees will learn about healthy living and holistic methods that can be paired with traditional medical care and enjoy a healthy meal.
The forum will feature topics such as MS and weight loss, adaptive yoga for MS, craniosacral therapy, vestibular therapy and more. The event is in person but has live virtual access for those unable to physically attend.
Check-in begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are free with a suggested donation of $25. The deadline to register is May 1.
Registration can be completed at yogamovesms.org, select “events” and choose the in-person or virtual registration option. For more information, contact Mindy Eisenberg at mindy@yogamovesms.org or (248) 417-5985.
The storied history of Charlevoix’s Castle Farms
BY GREG TASKERCHARLEVOIX — When most people think of northern Michigan, images of Renaissance-style castles don’t readily spring to mind.
Yet, such a castle, one with a storied history and ties to state and national memories, stands outside Charlevoix, tucked among the expansive farms, orchards, lakes and small towns of this inviting patch of northern Michigan.
Its existence perplexed me for years. Until a recent visit, I knew nothing about this castle, now called Castle Farms, except that it was a wedding venue. It turns out that Castle Farms is so much more and well worth a visit.
amenities, including a miniature railroad and wine bistro. More recently, a cluster of barns were revamped into Hungry Ducks Farm, a petting farm for children and families.
The following is part of C & G Newspapers’ feature series about Northern Michigan destinations for readers to explore
Built in 1918, the castle, after years of being abandoned, was restored by its current owner, Linda Mueller, who purchased the property with her late husband, Richard, in 2001. Since then, gardens have been replanted or added, along with other
To visit Castle Farms today is to walk through eras of history, from the early decades of the last century to the present. Stories from its past incarnations are as plentiful as the maple and oak trees in nearby forests.
The man behind the castle was Albert Loeb, acting president of Sears, Roebuck and Company. He had an affinity for the architecture of Renaissance castles and the stone farms of Normandy, France. The castle was built not as a home but as a working model dairy farm, a place to showcase the latest advances in farm equipment, all available through the Sears catalog, the Amazon of its day.
This was a big dairy farm, part of an See CASTLE FARMS on page 12A
Deer
from page 3A
concern,” according to a press release.
Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich, along with City Manager Gary Mekjian and members of Farmington Hills City Council, were part of the meeting.
Other attendees included representatives from Berkley, Birmingham, Farmington, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Novi, Southfield, Troy, Northville, Wixom and Oakland County.
The keynote speaker at the meeting was Chad Stewart, who is a deer, elk and moose management specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Some communities are part of the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Coalition, which was formed in 2021 as the Oakland County Community Deer Coalition.
“Once a month, the mayors of south Oakland County get together and talk about issues that cut across our various cities, and March was Farmington Hills’ turn to host, and we saw this as an opportunity to bring together regional leaders from numerous cities across the county so that we could all hear from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ expert at the same time, because
the reality is we all have an issue with the urban deer herd,” Rich said. “So far, I think, there’s been little collaborative regional action that’s been taken to manage the urban deer herd. What we know is that if we’re going to have a lasting impact, we’re going to have to work together on this very important safety issue.”
According to the Humane Society’s website, deer thrive in human-shaped habitats such as the edges of roadways, forests, parks and suburban yards, and the development of woods and open space has forced them into close contact with people.
Aside from the frustrations some residents have with deer damaging their gardens, more serious concerns include deer-vehicle collisions and the fear that their presence could cause Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deer “are important sources of blood for ticks and are important to tick survival and movement to new areas. However, deer are not infected with Lyme disease bacteria and do not infect ticks.”
Strategies for how to manage the deer population vary, with some advocating for nonlethal solutions and others preferring a lethal way of dealing with the issue.
A few of the nonlethal suggestions that
See DEER on page 7A
Deer
have been put forth include trapping deer and relocating them to a northern part of the state, lacing food with contraceptives so that female deer cannot become impregnated, and putting fencing around yards.
Trap and transfer
Rich addressed the possibility of relocating deer.
“That seems like a great, humane way of handling it, but the reality is that deer are a very anxious animal, and so, when we relocate them, I’m told the majority of them die because of the anxiety of the move, or they’re taken to a place that they’re not imprinted –they don’t know where to gather food, where to sleep, what’s safe, what’s not safe, as opposed to where they grew up,” she said. “And so, while that may seem like a great option, it really isn’t.”
Trapping and relocating deer is not an option that is endorsed by the DNR.
“That is something that is not going to be authorized or permitted just because there’s a lot of stress involved with capturing deer,” Stewart said. “Where would you take those deer? And the likely survival of those
deer is often very poor. They often succumb to some sort of environmental condition shortly after release.”
Attending the meeting helped Farmington Mayor Pro Tem Johnna Balk gain an understanding of why relocating deer may not be a feasible option.
“As far as transporting deer say, Up North, it’s very traumatic for the deer, and they would not survive,” Balk said. “If you have an urban deer or suburban deer, they’re not going to know what to do with 4 feet of snow regularly in the U.P. So, it would be cruel to do that kind of thing, and I thought that was rather eye-opening, because I would not have known that.”
Contraception and containment
The idea of utilizing contraceptives is also one that is not supported by the DNR.
“The other thing that is oftentimes brought up is this idea of contraception, and contraception is not permitted,” Stewart said. “There’s only two types of federally registered drugs. They’re actually registered as pesticides in the country, neither of which have been approved for use in Michigan, so that’s also not an option moving forward.”
As for the idea of employing fencing to keep deer off of properties, according to Stewart, due to their powerful legs, it would
be easy for them to clear a fence even as tall as 8 feet high.
“Anything less than that is just like you or I jumping over a stick on the ground,” Stewart said. “They’re very strong and very powerful, so you need a fence that really needs to be about, probably closer to 10 feet in height before you start to get true exclusion. So yes, it’s a possibility, but in a lot of these communities there’s sort of an aesthetic value that goes along with neighborhoods and properties, and that’s something communities are considering, is that nobody really wants to put everybody’s own front yard, backyard, behind a 10-foot fence. It almost feels like you’re in individual cell blocks at that time.”
Lethal options
Lethal options for managing the deer population are managed hunts and a cull, which is a practice designed to control wildlife population.
“When you start talking about what can actually address populations, it almost always comes back to one of two options, and that is some type of managed hunt or what we call culling, which is done by trained professionals that go in and very quickly and effectively remove deer, but it’s expensive,” Stewart said. “Those individuals just don’t
grow on trees. There are only a select few groups and organizations that do that.”
Although Stewart said that the cost varies, he added that, “I think it’s probably anywhere between $100 and $200 a deer in many instances, and that could be a little bit higher, it could be a little bit lower, depending on the situation.”
From the perspective of West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Steven Kaplan, when it comes to deer, residents are split between “leave them be or extinguish them.”
He is also a proponent of trying to identify a regional solution.
“When a deer crosses 14 Mile heading northbound from Farmington Hills, the deer doesn’t distinguish between boundaries,” Kaplan said. “We’re a team on this, because if they decide to cull and they do so successfully over a three-year period and we don’t, well the deer will start gravitating toward Farmington Hills.”
Kaplan shared one option for attempting to manage the deer population that he is ruling out.
“I’m opposed to assigning our police officers to the woods and other areas where the deer populate,” he said. “We’re not (going to) spend taxpayer dollars on having our police officers shoot deer.”
SUMMARY OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024 AT 6:00 P.M., LOCAL TIME, 26000 EVERGREEN ROAD, SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN.
PRESENT: Councilmembers: Nancy Banks, Daniel Brightwell, Lloyd Crews, Yolanda C. Haynes, Charles Hicks, Coretta Houge, and Michael Ari Mandelbaum. EXCUSED: None. ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Kenson Siver, Administrator Fred Zorn, Deputy Clerk Kelda London, Attorney Dawn King, and Planner Terry Croad.
Approve Appointments of New Southfeld Fire Offcers, Drive Engineers, Firefghter Paramedics, and Firefghters
Approve Cell Tower Lease Renewal with New Par d/b/a Verizon Wireless at the DPW Garage – 25501 Clara Ln
Approve Award of Bid for Pavement Marking Services for Traffc Services Division
Approve Award of Bid for the Purchase and Installation of the Public Works Building Generator
Approve Reimbursement Agreement with the Road Commission for Oakland County for Street Sweeping Services
Approve Authorization to Purchase Mobile Vehicle Lift System for Motor Pool
Approve Award of Bid for Landscape Maintenance Services
Approve Authorization to Purchase Exercise Equipment for the Fire Department
Authorize Change Order for EV Chargin Station
Authorize Contract to Plan and Supervise Replacement of Court Escalators
Authorize Contract for Vending Machine Services
Authorize Contract for Audio and Lighting Services for Concerts and Events
Authorize Purchase of Webex Board for Human Resources
Approve Award of Contract to OHM Advisors for Professional Design and Engineering Services for pathway feasibility studies
Approve Road Masters Vette Club of Michigan – Annual Blessings of the Vette
Approve Renewal of City Attorney Employment Contract
Approve Acknowledgement of Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Potential Project
Approve PCZR24-0001, to conditionally rezone 0.86 acres of land at 29201 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-08-451-013) from ERO-M, Education-Research-Offce (Limited) to B-3, General Business
Introduce Ordinance No. 1784
Approve PSLU23-0022, the Special Use Request by Lannie Cowden, Heights Venture Architecture + Design, to construct and operate a Panda Express restaurant with a drive-thru on property located at 29201 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-08-451-013)
Approve PSP23-0022, the Site Plan Review request by Lannie Cowden, Heights Venture Architecture + Design, to construct a Panda Express restaurant with a drive-thru on property located at 29201 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-08-451-013)
Approve PZR23-0004, the request to rezone 1.25 acres of land at 23055 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 2429-476-024) from I-1, Industrial to B-3, General Business
Introduce Ordinance No: 1785
Approve PSLU23-0019, the Special Use Request by Art Danou, 23055 LLC, to construct a conveyor type motor vehicle wash on property located at 23055 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-29-476-024)
Approve PSP 23-0019, the Site Plan Review request by Art Danou, 23055 LLC, to construct a conveyor type motor vehicle wash on property located at 23055 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-29-476-024)
Approve PSLU 23-0021, the Special Use Request by the Philippine American Cultural Center of Michigan, to permit of a vacant church for a religious/cultural institution on property located at 23800 Lahser Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-27-301-027)
Approve PSP23-0021, the Site Plan Review request by the Philippine American Cultural Center of Michigan, to permit of a vacant church for a religious/cultural institution on property located at 23800 Lahser Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-27-301-027)
Approve PSLU24-0002, the Special Use Request by Ron Mims, South Ten Hospitality LLC, to renovate and reuse a vacant, former restaurant and bar/lounge tenant space for a new restaurant and bar/lounge tenant on property located at 25080 Southfeld Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-24-353-001)
Approve PSLU23-0020, the Special Use Request by Duraid Yousif, Ten Mile and Greenfeld Gas Station Inc., to permit addition of liquor sales and a carry-out restaurant uses to an existing gas station on property located at 24839 Greenfeld Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-25-227-035)
Approve PSP23-0020, the Site Plan Review request by Duraid Yousif, Ten Mile and Greenfeld Gas Station Inc., to permit addition of liquor sales and a carry-out restaurant uses to an existing gas station on property located at 24839 Greenfeld Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-25-227-035)
Approve Travel Expense Report: Charles Hicks, MML CapCon24, Lansing, MI, March 12 – 13, 2024
The meeting adjourned at 10:58p.m.
Approved minutes are available on the City’s website at www.cityofsouthfeld.com.
Janet Jackson City Clerk
PUBLISHED LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS & SITE PLAN REVIEWS PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF SOUTHFIELD
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 6:30 P.M., Local Time, in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 26000 Evergreen Road, South eld, Michigan, at which time and place the South eld Planning Commission will consider the following requests pursuant to Title V, Zoning and Planning, Chapter 45, Zoning, of the Code of the City of South eld, to wit:
PSP24-0003 (SITE PLAN REVIEW) is a Site Plan Review request of Contour Companies, to construct phase 2 of the McKinley School Residential Unit Development District at 18330 George Washington Dr, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 2426-226-004).
PCZR24-0002 (CONDITIONAL REZONING – PUBLIC HEARING) is a request of The Kroger CO of Michigan to conditionally rezone the parcel at 19991 W 12 Mile Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-14-101-227) from B-2 Planned Business to B-3 General Business.
PSLU24-0009 (SPECIAL USE – PUBLIC HEARING) is a Special Use request of The Kroger CO of Michigan to construct and operate a gas station at 19991 W 12 Mile Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-14-101-227).
PSP24-0005 (SITE PLAN REVIEW) is a Site Plan Review request of The Kroger CO of Michigan, to construct and operate a gas station at 19991 W 12 Mile Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-14-101-227).
PSLU24-0010 (SPECIAL USE – PUBLIC HEARING) is a Special Use request of Farrah Properties, L.L.C. to reconstruct and recon gure an existing gas station at 28745 Northwestern Highway, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-18-276-007).
PSP24-0006 (SITE PLAN REVIEW) is a Site Plan Review request of Farrah Properties, L.L.C. to reconstruct and recon gure an existing gas station at 28745 Northwestern Highway, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-18-276-007).
PZR24-0003 (REZONING – PUBLIC HEARING) is a request of South eld Christian School & Highland Park Baptist Church to rezone the majority of the northern part of the parcel at 28600 Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-15-101-007) from RM Multiple Family (Low Rise) to R-2 Single Family. The southern portion of the site is currently zoned R-2 Single Family).
0381-2417
PSLU24-0011 (SPECIAL USE – PUBLIC HEARING) is a Special Use request of Grand 8 LLC to recon gure an existing multi-tenant shopping center to add a Biggby Coffee with a drive-thru at 27200 W 8 Mile Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-31-356-025).
PSP24-0007 (SITE PLAN REVIEW) is a Site Plan Review request of Grand 8 LLC to recon gure an existing multi-tenant shopping center to add a Biggby Coffee with a drive-thru at 27200 W 8 Mile Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-31-356025).
Written comments may be mailed to the Planning Department, 26000 Evergreen Road, P.O. Box 2055, South eld, MI 480372055, prior
Published: Southfeld Sun 04/25/2024 0154-2417
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DETROIT STAGES 1 FINAL SHOW HOUSE
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.comGROSSE 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 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 See SHOW HOUSE on page 16A
Activist
from page 1A
ferent parent-teacher associations while her children attended Southfield Public Schools to serving for 22 years on the Parks and Recreation Commission to serving the Southfield Emergency Management Community Emergency Response Team since 2012.
Allen has been on the Parks and Recreation Commission for so long that she often finds herself giving new directors a history lesson on how things were done in the past.
“It’s great seeing all the different directors come on. And they’ll say, ‘Well, no, we don’t do this.’ But we used to. They say, ‘That’s right. Rosemerry has been on here forever.’ And I want to say, ‘Yeah, but I still look good,’” Allen joked.
Allen’s other community involvement includes being a precinct delegate, the president of the Hiawatha Neighborhood Association, and corresponding secretary for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force for 23 years. She’s a graduate of the Southfield Citizen’s Police Academy, and a member of the Southfield Historical Society, the League of Women Voters, the Southfield Community Coalition, the Southfield Community AntiDrug Coalition, the Southfield Police Citizens Advisory Board, the Detroit NAACP, and more.
In addition to her activism and giving back to the community, Allen is an FCC-licensed amateur radio operator and a vocalist.
Councilwoman Yolanda Haynes met Allen before she moved to Southfield. They were both working as leaders for the Junior Great Books program at the Detroit Public Library when their children were little.
“I call her Miss Southfield. She’s just been an all-around person, always showing up, helping out, being a part of things. She’s got a bubbly personality and is such a good person. She’s always been like that, as long as I’ve known her,” Haynes stated.
Allen will be the first to admit that she doesn’t know how she balances her many activities and personal life, but her childhood helped her in learning how. Growing up in Detroit as the oldest daughter in a family of nine children, Allen was her mother’s right hand. She helped care for her younger siblings while working and going to school.
“It’s like, that’s how it works. If I’m super busy with stuff, I can get things done. I was going to school and maintained an A average. I was working as a teenager for the top major, still the No. 1 automotive company in the world, General Motors, and I was able to do that, help my mom, who was very sick, help my dad, who had gotten sick, and still maintain the house. And I was only a child myself.”
At the age 22, Allen lost both of her parents within months of each other. She helped to raise her seven younger siblings.
“All of that was preparing me for what my life would be. And you heard the saying: ‘What would Jesus do?’ And I said, ‘What would my parents say about everything that I’ve accomplished, even without them?’ Because I never knew I was going to be parentless at 22. And it was tough. It was challenging. But I got through it.”
Allen had always been fascinated by engineering, but her high school counselor had advised her to become a secretary instead. She worked at GM for 37 years, progressing from a secretary to a statistical engineer analyst, thus proving her high school counselor wrong. She retired from GM 15 years ago. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in applied science from Central Michigan University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is a graduate of the Detroit Bible Institute, with a certificate in foundational biblical studies and advanced biblical studies. Allen became an ordained minister in 2019 and founded a nonprofit ministry in 2020 called Heart of Hearts Ministries.
“During the pandemic, the good Lord and I had a conversation. He said, ‘OK, you can’t go to church now, so this is a teachable moment. How are you going to worship?’ Because a lot of us felt that the church is a building. But the church is supposed to be here in your heart. And wherever you are, that’s the church. So that’s when he told me and encouraged me to do my own nonprofit.”
Now, on Sunday mornings, you won’t find Allen at church.
Instead, she’s in the homeless communities to feed them and provide them with hygiene kits. She visits jails, prisons and nursing homes. Her outreach is done with funds from her own pocket, as well as donations and volunteers from those who’ve heard of her work by word of mouth.
In 2017, while on a walk, Allen helped rescue an AT&T lineman who fell off a pole. She didn’t see the fall happen but heard a cry for help. Acting quickly, she called 911 and stayed with the injured man, using tactics she’d learned from the Citizen’s Police Academy to keep him alert. She was able to retrieve his emergency card and contact his family.
Allen has been honored with numerous awards, such as the Coleman-Meier Volunteer Service Award from the Oakland County Democratic Party in 2023, the Oakland County Sheriff Bouchard Chaplain Volunteer of the Year in 2019, the 2018 MLK Community Service Award by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force, and the 2019 Greg Kennedy Community Service
Award, which is the highest civilian award in Southfield.
Despite all of that, Allen said her greatest achievement is being a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a loved one and a friend to many. She shared that her greatest memories
are of her parents, her late brother and many loved ones. She added that her greatest hero is God.
For more information on Heart of Hearts Ministries, contact hofheartsmin20@ gmail.com.
COMMUNITY BRIEF
AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services to hold public hearing
SOUTHFIELD — AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, formerly known as the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, will hold a virtual public hearing at noon May 17 to collect public feedback regarding the use of federal and state funding for senior services in the 2025 fiscal year. The forum invites older adults, caregivers, senior advocates, senior care professionals and anyone interested to discuss feedback for spending $26 million in the six-county region: Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw.
For those interested in attending, the meeting can be accessed at tinyurl.com/AgeWaysListen or by phone at (312) 626-6799/ Meeting ID: 844 242 4714.
Written comments will be accepted May 3-June 3 and can be sent to Taylor Clark, 29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48034.
Comments can also be submitted by email to tclark@AgeWays.org. For those who wish to review the AIP in a language other than English, call (800) 852-7795, choose Option 3, and request Taylor Clark. For more information, visit ageways.org.
— Kathryn PentiukCALENDAR
APRIL 26
Arbor Day tree planning ceremony: 11 a.m., Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road, (248) 796-4634
MAY 2
ShowLTU 2024: Includes 150-plus original works by graduating students and alumni of Lawrence Technological University’s College of Architecture and Design, open to public 6-9 p.m., lecture and book signing with Prizker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne at 7:30 p.m., Building 3 of LTU’s College of
Architecture and Design, 21000 W. 10 Mile Road in Southfield, free but registration required, ltu.edu
MAY 5
Teen Mental Wellness Community Forum: Keynote speech by Oakland County Deputy Executive Director Madiah Tariq, also panels, 2 p.m., Metro Detroit Youth Clubs Field Zone on Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road, www.southfieldlathrupvillageoptimists.org
ONGOING
‘An Inspector Calls’: Presented by Rosedale Community Players, 8-10 p.m. April 26-27, May 3-4 and May 10-11, and 2-4 p.m. April 28, May 5 and May
11, Peace Lutheran Church, 17029 W. 13 Mile Road in Southfield, rosedalecommunityplayers.com
‘Conversations in Fiber’: All-female art exhibition, on display until April 30, Southfield City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road, cityofsouthfield.com
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
Castle Farms
from page 5A
1,800-acre tract that included a private home for the Loeb family. Loeb Farms boasted the most modern milking machinery and was home to 200 head of Holstein-Friesian cows. The star producer was Marion, who was milked six times a day. She consistently set records in milk production and in one banner year — 1922 — produced 35,000 pounds of milk (well above the average 25,000 pounds) and made headlines.
The cows lived a good life. They were housed in two wings — now known as the East and West Garden rooms, replicated during the restoration. They grazed in a courtyard between the wings and elsewhere on the farm. Instead of the normal whitewash, the barn walls were covered in tile lining and the floor was paved. The barns were hosed down regularly.
“The milking barns were so clean you could eat off the floor,” says Jessica Anderson, who is director of guest services at Castle Farms and made the time to walk me through the property and share many stories of its past.
At its peak, Loeb Farms was the largest employer in the Charlevoix region, with more than 90 people among its daily work force, Anderson says. The farm also boasted a semi-professional baseball team, the Sodbusters, who played on a field north of the barn complex.
“In the evening, during wedding re-
hearsal dinners, our staff regularly hear the crack of a baseball and bat from the ball diamond,” Anderson says, adding a haunted tour planned for the fall will share more ghost stories from Castle Farms.
Unfortunately, the farm closed in 1927, a few years after Loeb’s death and a family tragedy. Many visitors have some knowledge of the family’s connection to a notorious Chicago murder. Anderson is well prepared to answer those questions and share what she knows. One of Loeb’s sons, Richard Loeb, was convicted, in 1924, of the kidnapping and murder of a 14-year-old boy. The murder garnered national headlines. Lawyer Clarence Darrow represented the young Loeb and his crime partner in court — just before the famed Scopes “Monkey” Trial.
Decades later, the large empty stone walls caught the artistic eye of John VanHaver, a Muskegon businessman. He was also an artist and sculptor with a background in metallurgy and metal casting.
His dream? An artists’ mecca with a Renaissance theme. He purchased 100 acres of the original Loeb property, including the barns, office, blacksmith shop and manager’s house, and renamed the site Castle VanHaver. He opened the grounds to the public. Visitors could browse art but also have a cup of coffee and snacks in the Queen’s Courtyard.
Unfortunately, financial difficulties forced VanHaven to sell the property in 1969.
New owners, Arthur and Erwina
See CASTLE FARMS on page 13A
CRIME WATCH
Handicap placard stolen from vehicle
SOUTHFIELD — Between April 1 at 11 p.m. and April 2 at 9:45 a.m., a motorist had their handicap placard removed from their vehicle in the 26000 block of Telegraph Road.
Cash register stolen
SOUTHFIELD — A window was smashed and a cash register was taken from a business in the 2400 block of West Nine Mile Road at 6:27 a.m. April 9.
Firearm missing from home after gathering
SOUTHFIELD — A resident alerted police 3:17 p.m. April 13 that she could not locate her firearm in her home.
A few days prior, she had had approximately 15-20 people at her residence in the 29000 block of Brentwood Street for a gathering.
Two firearms stolen from gun lockbox in vehicle
SOUTHFIELD — At 12:44 p.m. April 14, a man reported to police that his gun lockbox was damaged in his vehicle in the 29000 block of Wellington Court and two firearms were stolen from his truck.
Shoes, cellphone stolen
SOUTHFIELD — A complainant stated that a person known to them demanded the shoes off their feet at 10:37 p.m. April 3 in the 26000 block of Central Park Boulevard.
When the victim denied the request, the suspect forcefully took the shoes and phone.
— Kathryn PentiukNOTICE
Public Hearing will be held on Monday May 6, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Savings Time, in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 26000 Evergreen Road, City of Southfeld, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, at which time and place the Southfeld City Council will confrm the Single Lot Special Assessment Roll in accordance with Chapter 1, Section
Questions regarding the Single Lot Special Assessment Roll should be directed to the Assessing Department at 248-796-5230.
JANET JACKSON, CITY CLERK
Individuals with special needs who plan to attend this meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Offce at 248-796-5150 (voice) or 248-354-4831 (TDD). If auxiliary aids or services are needed, reasonable advance notice is required.
Published: Southfeld Sun 04/25/2024
SUMMARY OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY
to the Zoning Board of Appeals of James Jenkins.
Approve Scheduling of Public Hearing for Single Lot Special Assessment Roll
Approve Receipt of Bid for Replacement Wash Rack Bay Door
Approve Authorization to Purchase Replacement Vehicle for Police Chief
Approve Request for Public Hearing Date – CDBG Program 2024-2025
24-08-451-013) from ERO-M, Education-Research-Offce (Limited) to B-3, General Business
Enact Ordinance No. 1785, PZR23-0004, the request to rezone 1.25 acres of land at 23055 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel# 24-29-476-024) from I-1, Industrial to B-3, General Business
Approve Cost Increase for 2023 Local HMA Road Rehabilitation Project (Job No. 2382SFLD)
Approve Travel Expense Report: Coretta Houge, MML CapCon24, Lansing, MI, March 12-13, 2024.
The meeting adjourned at 11:14p.m.
Approved minutes are available on the City’s website at www.cityofsouthfeld.com.
Janet Jackson City Clerk
Published:
Castle Farms
from page 12A
Reibel, came along, initially envisioning the farm as a riding academy. Their plans, however, evolved to include an outdoor concert venue. A 50-foot wide, covered concrete steel stage was constructed and two wings (where the cows once lived) were removed to accommodate larger crowds and reserved seating.
Consider Castle Farms the Pine Knob of the north. Just about every major recording act in the late 1970s through the early 1990s rocked the stage here. That roster includes Bob Seger, the Doobie Brothers, Heart, Def Leppard, KISS, Iron Maiden, Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Tina Turner and Bob Dylan, and many more.
The music is long gone but stories linger. Aerosmith reportedly had a water fight in the artesian well in the Queen’s Courtyard. Bon Jovi carved his name in a stone in a room that now serves as a changing room for wedding couples. Ozzie Osburn is remembered as a Dracula figurine in one of Mueller’s miniature collections.
The property went up for sale — again — in 1999.
Thanks to Mueller, the castle we are able to visit today has been restored — its crumbling fieldstone walls and windows repaired, along with other buildings on the property, now just 37 acres.
Castle Farms celebrated its centennial
Consider Castle Farms the Pine Knob of the north.
Just about every major recording act in the late 1970s through the early 1990s rocked the stage here.
Pictured is a 1983 concert.
Photo
CASTLE FARMS
5052 M-66 Charlevoix, MI 49720 (231) 237-0884 info@castlefarms.com
Self-guided and guided tours available; guided tours are two hours and include a Tram Tour of the property (in season). Hours vary: Currently, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Hours are extended in the summer months.
in 2018 and opened a winery, 1918 Cellars, named after the year in which the castle was founded. The winery is temporarily closed (expected to reopen by November). It’s an inviting place to linger after a tour and ponder the history of this unusual structure and its many incarnations.
It’s a treat to walk through the castle, to hear interesting stories here and there, and to muse over the vast collection Mueller has amassed. The 1918 Museum, for instance, honors not only World War I but includes a collection of products Sears sold, complete with the original advertising. There’s a barrel-shaped washing machine for $7.95. A 1918 bicycle with wooden wheels — a luxury then — priced at $28.95. Her collection includes wedding cake toppers, not common in 1918 but something Sears eventually mass produced and helped popularize.
PUBLISHED LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
& SITE PLAN REVIEWS
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SOUTHFIELD
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a meeting will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 6:00 P.M., Local Time, Council Chambers, 26000 Evergreen Road, City of South eld, County of Oakland, Michigan, at which time and place the South eld City Council will consider the following requests pursuant to Title V, Zoning and Planning, Chapter 45, Zoning, of the Code of the City of South eld, to wit:
PSLU24-0007 (PUBLIC HEARING-SPECIAL USE) is a Special Use request of Superior Fence, to operate a contractor’s of ce with ancillary showroom and storage at 26650 W 8 Mile Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-31-377-045).
PSLU24-0008 (PUBLIC HEARING-SPECIAL USE) is a Special Use request of MAB Real Estate, Inc., to construct and operate a gas station with beer/wine/liquor sales and a carry-out restaurant at 30835 Green eld Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-12-230-027).
PSP24-0004 (SITE PLAN REVIEW) is a Site Plan Review request of MAB Real Estate, Inc., to construct and operate a gas station with beer/wine/liquor sales and a carry-out restaurant at 30835 Green eld Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 24-12-230-027).
PZRRUDD24-0001 (PUBLIC HEARING-RESIDENTIAL UNIT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT) is a rezoning request of Wellspring LDHA LLC, to build two four-story apartment buildings (60 apartments total) and four two-story attached townhome buildings (12 townhomes total) on Hooper Blvd, west of Berg Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcels 24-20-277001, -002, -003, -004, -005, -006, -007, -008, -012, -026 & -027).
PZRODD24-0001 (PUBLIC HEARING-OVERLAY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REZONING) is an Overlay Development District rezoning request of Onyx South eld LLC, to develop commercial out lots in the parking in front of
Deer
from page 7A
Aside from expense, there is another potential issue with the idea of having a deer cull.
“The first year that happened we would expect to see more babies,” Rich said. “If there was a cull, a one-time cull, what we’re told is that the deer sense that the herd size has gone down and so they will act to bring back up the size of the herd, and so they will have more multiple babies. So rather than deer just having one fawn, they might have two, or sometimes … they might even have three.”
Environmental impacts and deterring deer
Another complaint about deer is that they damage forests and reduce biodiversity.
However, the Humane Society’s website states that deer are “scapegoats” for larger ecological problems of biodiversity loss and forest-growth failures.
“Notions of overpopulation, or how many deer are too many for a given area, are subjective,” the site states. “It may be true that deer densities are at historic highs, but the forests of today in no way represent historical conditions. Urbanization has created an abundance of edge habitat, which is ideal for browsing deer. Deer have simply adjusted their populations to available resources.”
When it comes to deer population, Kaplan is of the opinion that there is no cureall solution. However, he shared what he is a proponent of.
“We urge residents not to feed the deer,” Kaplan said. “Don’t leave food scraps and other food for the deer. … They’ll remember and they’ll revisit. Theoretically, if West Bloomfield residents do not feed the deer, many of the deer would find another haven.”
Stewart said that there are “huge” benefits to not feeding deer, and added that there is a state law that prohibits it.
“It is illegal to bait and feed deer anywhere in the lower peninsula of Michigan,” Stewart said. “So communities don’t even have to develop that ordinance. It’s already existing at the state level.”
Although the Humane Society’s website states that the key to success is for residents to understand that deer are here to stay, a “deerproofing” strategy was offered.
“Certain plants like tulips and hostas are irresistible to deer,” the site states. “Even if the deer population could be greatly reduced, these favorite flowers would still be eaten by any remaining deer. Effective solutions focus on deterring deer and protecting flowers and ornaments. … Choose plants deer generally
don’t like, such as daffodils and irises, boxwood and pachysandra.”
By the numbers
According to Stewart, deer population estimates are difficult to obtain, and “that’s not something we even have.”
However, Rich said that an aerial survey in 2019 showed 370 deer in Farmington Hills. When another survey was conducted in 2021, she said, the population had risen to 729.
Perhaps the biggest concern about a high deer population for some residents is the possibility of deer-vehicle collisions.
According to michigantrafficcrashfacts. org, motorists in Michigan reported 58,894 vehicle-deer crashes in 2022, resulting in 1,633 people being injured and 11 people being killed.
Of the 11 people who were killed, six were reported to be motorcycle riders.
The site states that vehicle-deer crashes occurred most often in Michigan’s heavily populated southern counties.
That year, Kent County had the most with 2,250, followed by Oakland County, which reported 2,009 vehicle-deer crashes.
According to the Humane Society, studies have shown that reducing the deer population doesn’t necessarily reduce the number of collisions.
“Many factors contribute to deer-vehicle collisions, such as traffic volume, speed limits, the extent to which roads bisect habitats and migration routes and the use of visual barriers,” the site states.
To avoid hitting an animal with a vehicle, the Humane Society suggests following speed limits, watching for wildlife in and near the road at dawn and dusk and in the first few hours after darkness, exercising caution on two-lane roads bordered by woods or fields or where streams cross under roads, watching edges for wildlife about to cross, not throwing trash out of car windows, and lowering dashboard lights slightly — headlights reflected in the eyes of animals can help drivers brake in time.
The Humane Society’s website also states that scientific studies have shown that killing deer won’t reduce people’s risk of contracting Lyme disease.
“Deer kills do not significantly reduce the population of the tick that spreads the disease – the black-legged tick (or deer tick), which feeds on almost all mammals, most songbirds and even lizards,” the site states. “In Great Island, Mass., when up to 70% of the deer were removed, there was no marked reduction in tick abundance. Where deer are scarce, ticks switch to other hosts or congregate in higher numbers on the remaining deer.”
Although Rich said that there will probably be some sort of action taken, she is not expecting an immediate solution.
“Anything that we would be organizing would require DNR approval and collaboration with the various governments, and so I think that is something that will be, probably, years in the making for action to actually happen,” she said. “I am optimistic that we all recognize that the No. 1 job of government is to keep people safe, and so if this is truly a safety issue, and we have some people who believe it is and some people who believe it is not, let’s get the data and let that drive what our actions are going to be.”
From Balk’s perspective, it was helpful to have DNR input on what she said is the information-seeking phase of the process.
She understands that the conversation surrounding deer management solutions is a “very tender and emotionally charged topic.”
“I just know that we all have to work together as communities in order for it to be effective, and information has to be the main thing, because you have to get the public to
understand what the situation is,” Balk said. “There has to be collaboration. We, as Farmington, can’t just decide to do something, because we’re surrounded by Farmington Hills. So whatever we do or they do directly impacts the other.”
Kaplan said that “we might be able to reduce the deer population, but not eliminate it.”
Stewart shared a similar sentiment and said, “you will never fully eliminate your potential for a collision with a deer.”
“Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a cheap, effective and fast deer-management tool that is completely supported by members in their community,” he said. “I don’t think that there is one golden solution that all communities can just simply implement and their problems are going to go away.
… There is some component or some level of living with deer. It’s just, I think, most people are willing to live with less deer than what they’re currently experiencing.”
Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 498-1052.
SUMMARY OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2024 AT 6:00 P.M., LOCAL TIME, 26000 EVERGREEN ROAD, SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN.
PRESENT: Councilmembers: Nancy Banks, Daniel Brightwell, Lloyd Crews, Yolanda C. Haynes, Charles Hicks, Coretta Houge, and Michael Ari Mandelbaum. EXCUSED: None. ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Kenson Siver, Administrator Fred Zorn, Clerk Janet Jackson, Attorney Dawn King, and Deputy Planner Thomas Paison.
Approve Reappointment to the Historic District Commission of Corey Moffatt, to the Local Offcers Compensation Commission of Janie Fulton, and to the Public Arts commission of Lynda Wood
Approve Agreement with Kimmie Horne Productions, LLC to Arrange the Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival at the Southfeld Municipal Campus – August 9 and 10, 2024
Approve West Nile Virus Prevention Funding Assistance
Approve Acceptance of Grant Funding of the Keep Michigan Beautiful (KMB) Grant
Approve Bid for Drainage Repairs at Evergreen Hills Golf Course
Approve Purchase of Case 580sn Backhoe for Park Services
Approve Crohn’s and Colitis foundation Michigan Chapter – Request for Use of the Donald F. Fracassi Municipal Campus Front Lawn and Walkways
Approve Bid for Replacement of Wooden Fencing at Mary Thompson Farm
Approve and Adoption of Capital Improvement Plan
Approve PSLU24-0001, the Special Use Request by Paul Domish & Kim Lucine, Drifter Vans LLC, to add a Class A Dealership License to sell the custom camper vans already built on-site at 24175 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel 24-29-276-055)
Approve PSLU24-0004. the Special Use Request by Carmita Johnson, Tots Academy Home Day Care, to operate a Group Child Care Home on property located at 27090 Berkshire Drive, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel 24-15-480-009)
Approve PSLU24-0005, the Special Use Request by Murad Mohammed, Marya Wholesale Corp, to add a furniture wholesale and warehouse use located at 23840 8 Mile Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel 24-33-301-014)
Approve PSLU24-0003, the Special Use Request by John McLeod, Cloud Opportunity,
Marijuana
from page 1A
ity, the number of recreational marijuana sites in the city and the possibility of limiting the sites.
Thomas Paison, the deputy city planner, explained that finding a location within the required 500-foot setback buffer for residential districts, residential use, drug-free school zones, adult-regulated uses (sexually oriented businesses), schools, religious institutions, child care facilities and parks, and the 1,500-foot setback buffer for medical marijuana provisioning centers and marijuana retailers has proven to be a challenge.
“We did note into the licensing ordinance, there’s a cap of five retailers,” Paison said. “This would be the third. But given the separation requirements that we have in the ordinance zoning, it’s very hard to find these sites and get them straightened out. I’ve had many inquiries that almost all of them are within 500-foot residential or residential zoning, and that’s just a no-go.”
Southfield resident Lewis Williams spoke to the council about the matter.
“I urge the City Council to vote no on this proposal. I say that we have too many recreational marijuana businesses operating in our city already. I urge that we put a moratorium on any more recreational marijuana businesses in our city. Our young people and our adult citizens don’t need to be confronted with these businesses on a continuing basis. If people want marijuana, there’s plenty of places for them to get it. Let them go somewhere else. In the past, we called ourselves the ‘all-American city,’ the ‘family city.’ And that’s fine. I’m very pleased with Southfield as a city, but we don’t want to be known as the ‘marijuana city.’”
Southfield resident Pamela Gerald said she was in support of the other two locations and would be in favor of this location if the owner could address concerns such as the smell, signage and crime prevention.
“One thing about it, our youth, from junior high on up, you’re not going to stop them from using marijuana. You’re not going to be able to keep them from getting it. Because before all of this came about, kids somehow or another got a hold of marijuana. So the fact that it’s legal, there are some state safeguards on it. If you want to do it, at least be safe about it.”
The site will be equipped with 27 security cameras inside and outside, and security guards on-site to escort the rotating 25 employees in and out and patrol the business after hours. The original proposal stated that the hours of operation would be 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Sundays; however, due to a
city ordinance in place, the location would not be able to operate past 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
John McLeod, the owner of Cloud Opportunity, which currently owns and operates two other locations under the name Bloomery, stated, “Why Southfield? And I say, ‘Why not Southfield?’ It’s the ‘Center of it All.’ It’s a great community. Great access to freeways, great access to an employee base, lots of good public services. So that’s why Southfield.”
McLeod addressed concerns regarding the smell.
“There are some state standards that we’re held to, and there’s some local standards that we’re held to, but charcoal filtration is like a gating item, bare minimum. And that takes care of the smell, so there will be no marijuana smell that will be omitted from the facility.”
McLeod explained that under the former brand that he recently sold, Cloud
Cannabis, there were 15 locations, with one in Detroit, where he lives. His new brand, Bloomery, has locations in Mount Clemens and New Buffalo.
“I will add that for all of these establishments, even prior to the city approving the ordinance change to allow for recreational marijuana, the city administrator and I actually went to tour one of the facilities, and the security is extremely tight,” Council President Michael “Ari” Mandelbaum said.
“There’s cameras everywhere that feed directly into the Police Department. They do take everything very seriously. Pretty much if you’re not even 21, they won’t allow you in the building. And they do have armed security guards as well, inside and outside the parking lots to help with the security.”
To learn more about Bloomery, visit bloomerycannabis.com.
Call Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk at (586) 498-1070.
Show House
from page 9A
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.
“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.
OFFERINGS AROUND MICHIGAN
AUCTION
Spring Firearm, Knife & Ammo
Auction – 10 AM Saturday, April 27 - online virtual simulcast or absentee bidding. Preview on April 25 and 26 in Leslie, MI. EpicAuctions.com for more info. 517-927-5028
David Diehlman Estate. 2006 Ford F-150, John Deere riding lawnmower & accessories, rototillers, electric mower, solar panels, power tools, more! Bidding ends May 2. Bid. SherwoodAuctionServiceLLC.com to view catalogue, other auctions.
1-800-835-0495.
Spring Sporting Goods Auction, 3-wheeler, John Deere Gator, guns, ammo, vintage sporting goods, boat, minibike, lots more! Lots closing May 1. JohnPeckAuctions.com. Call John 989-426-8061. Facilities in Charlotte & Gladwin.
April Consignment Auction. Bidding ends April 29. C20 pickup, Honda Rebel 500, lawn/ garden power tools, woodworking tools, vintage items and more. To view auction details, photos at NarhiAuctions.hibid.com. Questions, call 810-266-6474.
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Licensed/Insured References
THE bathroomofyour dreamsinaslittleas1 day.LimitedTimeOffer$1000offorNoPaymentsandNoInterestfor 18monthsforcustomers whoqualify.BCIBath& Shower.Manyoptions available.Qualitymaterials&professionalinstallation.Senior&MilitaryDiscountsAvailable.Call Today!1-877-957-1264
Brick Work
AA4DABLE MASONRY
586-822-5100
Chimneys,Porches, Steps,Flat-Work, Residential/Commercial Tuck-Pointing,CulturedStone,AllBrick&MasonryRepairs/Needs. SPRINGSPECIALS Upto30%-OFF Free-Est./SeniorDisc.
MOUTON'S MASONRY
Any&allmasonryrepairs. Brick,block,steps, chimneys,porches-tuckpointing,Cementwork, mortar-matching. 25-yrsexperience Free-estimates. References/Insured. 248-252-5331
A-DMASONRYLLC.
AllMasonryWork
Bricks,Stones,Pavers, Blocks,Porches, Chimneys.Tuckpointing. 26-yrsexperience Insured,FreeEstimates. 586-873-8210 Filip
PREFERRED BROTHERSMASONRY
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Electrical
Gutters
Hauling & Waste Removal
Carpentry GOTROT? RottenWood ReplacementSpecialist AllTypesofWoodRepair Fascia,Soffit&Siding PaintedtoMatch
AMGAppliedServices 248-828-7998
www.amgapplied services.com
Carpet Cleaning CARPET WAVY-n-LOOSE? WePower Re-stretch and Steam-clean ForOneLowPrice MultipleRoomDiscount CallNow
586-754-9222
ccarpetrepair.com
Cement ALLEN CEMENT a.k.a
"TheDrivewayGuy" Established1999 Driveways/Garage Floors/Patios,etc. Licensed/Insured CheckoutAllen CementonFacebook! VernAllen
586-457-1300
ROZECEMENTLLC CONCRETE,MASONRY &LANDSCAPING
10%OffPre-Spring!
•Driveways•Patios
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Free-Estimates
Requests: roze cementllc@gmail.com Andre-586-354-7791
Cement
Elite Concrete Services, LLC.
WE RAISE SETTLED OR SUNKEN CONCRETE PATIOS • DRIVEWAYS SIDEWALKS • FLOORS CURBS • PORCHES
Commercial • Industrial Residential 1/3 TO 1/2 THE COST OF REPLACEMENT FREE ESTIMATES (586)731-7226 (248)481-6919 0026-2242
Cleaning Service
CLEANINGLADY
with10-yrexperienceis lookingforwork.Weekly, bi-weekly,monthly Excellentreferences. Flexiblehours. Bonded&insured. 248-890-8830
Decks/Patios
2024SPECIALS CustomDeck Building/Repair, Power-Washing, DecksRemoved, Composite,Treated &CedarMaterials, CustomRailingMaterials, CustomFence Installation. 586-260-5218
BEST-Price-Period
Licensed/Insured. Additions,Remodels, Basements,Kitchens, 30-yrs.-experience. Callforfree-estimates. Open7-daysaweek 24/hrs-day. HotchkissElectric
586-291-3143
Lic.#6211028
586-755-3636
Father&Son
MasterElectricians
Dr.Electric
Same-Day-Service! All-Residential-Wiring, ChangeFuseBoxto CircuitBreakerPanel, Troubleshooting, ElectricVehicleChargers, BackupGenerator TransferSwitch, License#6109094
Senior/Discounts! Visa/MC/Lic./Insured
CASTLEELECTRIC
586-634-1152
(directcellphone#)
Panelupgrades, generators,hottubs, 220lines.ALLSERVICE
Licensed&Insured Dependable,quality work!
License#-6111359
PREPARE forpower outagestodaywithaGeneracHomeStandbyGenerator.Actnowtoreceive aFREE7-Yearwarranty withqualifyingpurchase. Call1-855-773-8191 todaytoscheduleafree quote.Itʼsnotjustagenerator.Itʼsapowermove.
Fence Service
PLATINUMFENCE
Residential/Commercial
Vinyl,Wood, Aluminum,Chain-link, CommercialGates, QualityWork,Affordable, FamilyOwned/Operated, FreeEstimates, SeniorDiscounts 586-701-0596
A.M.G. Gutters&Downspouts.Owneroperated. Seamlessgutter installationandrepair specialist.Builders License#2101202369 www.amgapplied services.com FullyInsured 248-828-7998
*”STEVE'S SEAMLESSGUTTERS” Made&installedonthe spot.5”&6”Gutter Cleaning.Treetrimming, exteriorpainting, powerwashing. 586-778-3393 586-531-2111
ELIMINATE gutter cleaningforever!LeafFilter,themostadvanced debris-blockinggutter protection.Schedulea FREELeafFilterestimate today.20%offEntire Purchase.Plus10%Senior&MilitaryDiscounts. Call1-866-495-1709
POWERWASHING, GUTTER&WINDOW CLEANING
Veteran/Firefighter Owned/Operated championwindow cleaning.net 248-765-0613
GUTTERS &WINDOW CLEANING INSURED TOMMICOLI 313-656-9402
Handyman Services
AA4DABLE HANDYMAN HomeImprovement, Tile,Hardwood-Floors, Kitchen/Bath-Remodeling, Plumbing,Electrical, Painting,Hauling,Cleanouts,AnyHomeRepairs, FreeEst.30%Disc. AllMajorCredit CardsAccepted 586-822-5100
***AAA HAULING*** JUNKREMOVAL Wehaulitall!
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Free-Estimates
Senior/MilitaryDiscounts 586-360-0681 ucallwehauljunk.com
**CLUTTERGUY'S** Removal-Experts
Residential/Commercial Houses/Offices
Garage/Storage-Areas
EfficientCourteous Workers
Reasonable-Rates
Free-Estimates NEEDCLUTTER REMOVED?
LETUSDOTHEWORK! 586-258-6672
Heating & Cooling
AFFORDABLE
HeatingandCooling
Greg'sHeatingLLC
Familyowned company
89$servicecall
79A/Ctuneup
SeniorDiscounts
Kitchens/ Cabinets/ Countertops
MR.BACKSPLASH
·CUSTOM BACKSPLASHES
·CUSTOMKITCHENS
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*Granite*Quartz* ·CustomBathrooms
·TILEREPAIRS
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586-552-5416 mrbacksplash.com
Landscaping & Water Gardens
ALLTIMATE OUTDOOR SERVICES
DrainageSystem Professionals
New-Construction, Yard-Drainage,Grading, Sod/Seed,Retaining Walls/Walkways/Patios, Senior/Military-Discounts Credit-Cards-Accepted Free-Estimates 586-719-1202
DOLL'S LANDSCAPING SPRINGCLEAN-UPS!
A#1REPAIRSERVICES: GUTTERS
Clean/Repair InstallGuards SIDING
Vinyl-Siding/Alum-Trim Gable/SoffitVents/Shutters ROOF
Leaks/Shingles
Vents/Caps 248-892-1927
586-422-8528 Home Improvement
GOLDENBUILT CONSTRUCTION
New-garages/additions &dormers,New-siding/ roofingandallrepairs, Interior/exterior-renovations,Supportingwallsremoved/rebuilt,Seamless gutters/downspouts, Concrete-sidewalks/ driveways/foundations.
Licensed/Insured 586-948-4764
Home Repairs
Shrub&Tree-Trimming, Planting,Removal.Mulch, SodInstallation,Pavers, Garden/RetainerWalls, PorchSteps,Raise Backyards/DrainTiles, Powerwashing/Sealing, Powerrake,Aeration, Seeding,DebrisRemoval 586-634-0033
TOTALBRICKPAVING LANDSCAPINGPROS
586-420-3531
Brickpaving,Patio, Walkways,Driveways, Porches,Repairs, Powerwash,Rock Installation,Mulch,Sod, CompleteLandscape Design.
2024SPRING
586-260-5218
Commercial/Residential
*Landscaping
*Decks
*SpringClean-Ups
*LawnCutting
*LicensedFertilization
*Aerating&Thatching VisitFacebook: BrightHorizonServicesInc. Gutters
Handyman Services
CARPENTRY, GeneralRepairs, Tuckpointing, TextorCallDavid 248-862-8688
EXTERIOR REPAIRSLLC.
Since1999
Roofing,Siding, GuttersandMore!
Reliable Ask,WeMightDoIt! FREEESTIMATES 248-242-1511
SUPREMEOUTDOOR SPECIALISTS
SpringClean-up LawnMaintenance, Landscaping,Paver, Patios,RetainingWalls, CementWork,Shrub/Tree Trimming&Removal, Mulching,35Yearsin Business,Free-Estimates
586-727-3924
Painting
586-792-3117
PETE'SPAINTING
SPRINGSPECIALS! 20%OFF Specializing inVacantHomes, GreatRooms&Decks, Interior/Exterior, Residential/Commercial. SeniorDiscount, Free-Estimates,Insured.
PAINTINGby-GPC MASTER
Plaster/Drywall CompleteRestoration &InsuranceProjects Wallpaper Removal/Hanging PAINTING!PAINTING! A+BBB-Rating/20yrs 30-yrs,BuilderLicense SeniorDisc/FreeEst. 586.899.3555(Cell) 248.566.6460(Office)
(586)229-4267
American Painting
•Residential/Commercial
•Interior/25YearsExp.
•PowerWashing
•Insurance•Drywall
•PlasterRepair
•Clean-outs
•HomeRepairs
•SeniorDiscounts
•Guaranteed-Work.
PEAKPAINTING
Custom-Painting, Commercial/Residential, Interior/Exterior. Drywall-Repair,Paper Removal,Carpentry. 30-yr.-exp.*WillBeat
AnyOtherReasonable Estimate! Senior-Disc. Insured.Credit-Cards
Accepted.References.
586-722-8381
*N&J Professional Painting
Interior/Exterior, Residential/Commercial. Powerwashing,caulking, deckstaining,varnishing, wallpaperremoval. Drywallrepair/installation. Insured.Free-estimates.
586-489-7919
Painting
2BROTHERS PAINTING
CompleteInterior/Exterior WoodRepair, Powerwash, Free-Estimates CallFrank 248-303-5897 ReferencesAvailable
FARR'SPAINTING
Interior/Exterior Wood&DrywallRepairs
MoldRemediation
FreeEstimates
CertifiedMoldInspector 248-345-3308 farrsmoldremoval.com
NEBOPAINTING
ServiceAllYearRound
Interior/Exterior 15YearsExperience
WeMakeIt
EasierForYou, AllNeedsAreMet!
Call 248-953-7807
REUBEN'SPAINTING
Interior/Exterior Powerwashing
Reliable
GoodWork
Reasonable
40YearsinBusiness FreeEstimates Call248-217-3744
WOWPAINTING
Residential/Commercial
Interior/Exterior QualityPainting
DrywallRepairs, RemoveWallpaper, ExteriorWood Replacement, EpoxyFlooring, Insured Free-Estimates 248-990-5388 wowpaintingmi.com
MASTER PLUMBER
Sewer&DrainService. Remodeling,Repairs, NewInstallations. FreeEstimates
SeniorRates. 35+yrsexp.CallPaul 248-904-5822
Lic.#8109852
586.421.5520
586.524.6752
ANDY'S PLUMBING
25-YearsExperience
Licensed/Insured CallUsToday
ForAllYour PlumbingNeeds!!
ServingThe Tri-County-Area 10%/Senior/Military/ Discounts Lic#-8004254
WATERWORK
Plumbing.com
•DrainCleaning
•SewerCamera
•WaterHeaters
•SumpPumps
•BackflowTesting
248-542-8022
SameDayEmergency ServiceAvailable
Reliable/Experienced License#8003885
Powerwashing
AJʼsPRESSURE CLEANING& SEALCOATING
•StampedConcrete(removemilkyorcloudyfilm)
•ExposedAggregate •BrickPavers(resanding)
Website: ajspressure cleaning.com
586-431-0591
AA4DABLE ROOFING
Hurry&SaveBig-$$$! SPRING-SPECIALS
Upto30%-Off!!!
Roofing/Siding/Gutters, All-Leaks/Repairs, Residential/Shingles/ Commercial-FlatRoofs/Torch-downs 30yrs-exp.Allmajor creditcardsaccepted.
586-822-5100
CITYROOFING
-Commercial& ResidentialRoofRepairs
-FullRoofReplacement (Shingles)
-FlatRoofReplacement
-24/7EmergencyRepairs
-Eavestroughs(Gutters) andLeafGuard Installations.
586-733-3004
cityroofinginc@gmail.com
MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC.
BuildingValueEveryday
586-436-9600
Licensed/Insured
Since1965
Servicing-Roofing, Siding,Basement, Bathroom,Kitchen Remodeling,Decks& AllYourHome ImprovementNeeds.
PREFERRED
BROTHERSROOFING
•FullTear-off•Recover •ShingleRepair •Leak's•AllRepair •Flat-Roof•TourchDown
•SeamlessGutters& GutterGuards
Senior/Military-Discount Upto20%Off 586-944-8898
SILVERSMITHROOF
MAINTENANCE
FlatRoofSpecialist
$225•MinorShingle ReplacementSpecial •GutterRepairs
Residential/Commercial InsuranceWork 30-yrsexp/Family-Owned
WeAcceptAll MajorCreditCards 248-707-4851
Tree Service
DAVE'S TREE&SHRUB
20%-SpringDisc.Insured, EmergencyStorm
Damage,Large-Tree Removals,Trimming, Stump-Grinding,Gutters, Season-Firewood (100acord)Free-Estimates/10%Senior-Disc. (586)216-0904
davestreeandshrub.com
ELITETREE SERVICE
"Bringing30yearsof experiencetoyourdoor!" Treetrimming, removals&stump grinding.Insured&FREE estimateswithfairprices! FirewoodForSale 586-756-0757