EXPERTS OFFER TIPS TO AVOID PROBATE
18A
Planning Commission approves Royal Oak Master Plan Draft 2050
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
Clawson special election asks voters to choose size of City Council
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
CLAWSON — A special election will take place in Clawson May 6, when voters will be asked to decide on two proposed city charter amendments. Both proposed amendments must pass in order for them to take effect.
The first proposed charter amendment asks voters whether they would like to continue with the council’s current size of four council members and the mayor, or if they want the terms of the adopted 2023 city charter to go into effect, whereby the City Council in the regular election later this year would expand to six council members and the mayor.
Charter Amendment No. 1 reads: “Clawson Pro-
The proposed plan has seven goals listed in its introduction at planroyaloak.com.
The first goal is to reinforce the city’s historic structure through defining the character of places throughout the city.
ROYAL OAK — The public was called to City Hall during the April 8 Planning Commission meeting to voice their opinions about the proposed master plan of 2050. The master plan was passed in a unanimous vote and is now going to be sent to the City Commission for further approval.
•
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
The Royal Oak Planning Commission held a master plan public hearing April 8 at City Hall, 203 S. Troy St.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
SECOND FRONT PAGE
ROYAL
OAK ONCE AGAIN HOSTS
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Earth Day is coming up fast, and to help spread the word on sustainability and environmental awareness, Oakland County will be hosting a Climate March, Rally and Fair from 3 to 7 p.m. April 26 at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road.
According to Amanda Costello, organizer for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Earth Day 2025 is more important than ever.
“It’s not going to be a regular Earth Day,” Costello said, “because if you look at a lot of the things coming from Washington that aren’t friendly to addressing climate change, and are in fact trying to reverse a lot of the efforts that have been made to address climate change.”
The event will feature a rally, a march through downtown Royal Oak and a fair including a new specialized kids section.
“This event has always been something that families can come to, but we’re trying to make
Our next edition will come to homes April 23. Stay
Royal Oak Arboretum to unveil new additions April 24
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak is upping its game in the nature department with some updates to the Fred A. Erb Arboretum, located at the southeast corner of Lexington Boulevard and Marais Avenue, that will be unveiled in a special ceremony April 24.
The unveiling will include improvements funded by a grant from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation.
The unveiling will begin at 10:30 a.m., with a tree planting ceremony to take place at 11 a.m. Self-guided walks will take place immediately following the ceremony.
“The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation continues the legacy of two lifelong Southeast Michigan residents who were deeply committed to their community,” according to erbff.org.
The Erb Foundation donates and awards initiatives that Fred and Barbara cared the most about, such as the environment, arts and culture, jazz education, sustainable business, and Alzheimer’s disease research.
The grant provided the arboretum with $250,000 to plant
COUNTY EARTH DAY
EVENT
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
The Royal Oak Arboretum, 920 W. Windemere Ave., will host an event April 24 to unveil updates to the park.
photo by Donna Dalziel
Royal Oak Shrine hires alumnus as new head football coach
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Shrine Catholic High School is bringing back one of its own.
The school has named 2015 graduate and former Shrine football captain Chris Kelly the program’s next head football coach.
There is excitement surrounding the hire from the top down.
“The excitement is there. It’s in the halls,” Shrine Catholic Athletic Director Ben Kerfoot said. “Just with what he’s done here (in the past), everyone’s just excited to get going.”
The hire comes after a disappointing end to a solid season for Shrine in 2024. The team went 7-3; however, it lost 52-0 to Warren Michigan Collegiate in the first round of the district playoffs.
“I just want to build on what they did last year,” Kelly said. “I want to improve them as much as I can, because we have a big senior class. … So, I have to tap into that potential as much as I can in just a couple months.”
Kelly is an offensive-minded coach and is taking over a team that scored 14 or fewer points in six of Shrine’s 10 games last season. Preparing the offense with offensive coordinator John Wangler will be a large part of training camp this summer.
“Wangler graduated from Shrine and played quarterback at the University of
Michigan,” Kelly said. “It’s sort of a spread power run (offense). I want to score points.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the coordinator will be another Shrine graduate in Harry Cooney. Cooney played college football at Albion and looks to have an aggressive defense with Kelly this fall.
The coaching staff being led by three Shrine graduates isn’t lost on anyone. The program wants people in charge who know and understand the importance of the Shrine Catholic culture.
“That was a big thing for us. It helps create that story for the kids so that they understand … being at Shrine isn’t like being anywhere else,” Kerfoot explained.
That mindset is important to Shrine. The expectation is to be active in the community and be a great student while continuing to succeed athletically.
“We’re not looking for someone that’s coming in and just focusing on a sport,” Kerfoot said. “We want our coaches to be involved in the community and make good young men and women.”
Kelly can help be a positive influence on the young men playing football because he’s a young man himself. At just 28 years old, he’ll be one of the younger coaches in the state.
“It’s definitely something people will talk about … but we think it’ll work out just fine,” Kerfoot said. “That wasn’t really a fac-
Photo by Liz Carnegie
New Royal Oak Shrine Catholic High School varsity football head coach Chris Kelly sits in the Shrine locker room April 6.
NEWS & NOTES
5A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW • APRIL 16, 2025
Compiled by Taylor Christensen
ROPD TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR ROYAL OAK YOUTH POLICE ACADEMY
ROYAL OAK — Applications for the second annual Royal Oak Youth Police Academy are now open and will be open until May 5.
The youth police academy will be taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 21-25 and is open to Royal Oak Schools students entering seventh or eighth grade this fall.
The academy is free, but space is limited to 25 students.
Students will be learning teamwork, leadership, and getting hands-on experience with real police equipment and training.
To apply, download and complete the application at romi.gov. Completed forms, essays and teacher recommendations must be emailed to Sgt. Ryan Spangler at RyanS@romigov or dropped off at the Police Department, 450 E. 11 Mile Road.
For questions, call Spangler at (248) 246-3520.
Oakland Elementary student wins ‘Why Compost’ poster and essay contest
ROYAL OAK — Jose F. Aguado, a student at Oakland Elementary School, has been chosen as the winner of the district’s “Why Compost” Poster and Essay Contest.
Aguado created an entry called “Soil Doesn’t Spoil,” which detailed the purpose and benefits of composting. His work was chosen for the clear message and strong visual presentation.
Aguado will receive a composting bucket from the city of Royal Oak for winning, and will be honored April 25 with a tree planted in his name for Earth Day.
The winning poster will be displayed at Oakland Elementary, and Aguado will be recognized at the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education meeting May 10.
THE GREAT MARSHMALLOW DROP IS BACK
ROYAL OAK — The great marshmallow drop for kids up to 12 years old will be coming to Worden Park, located at the intersection of Lexington Boulevard and Crooks Road in Royal Oak.
From 10 a.m. to noon April 18, 15,000 marshmallows will be dropped from the sky, thanks to a helicopter. Participants can then collect just one marshmallow to exchange for a prize.
The event is hosted by Oakland County Parks, which will be having four drop zone groups.
The first group is children ages 4 years and younger, the second group consists of children ages 5-7, the third group is for children ages 8-12, and the fourth group is for individuals with disabilities of all ages.
American Sign Language interpretation will be on-site, and there will be sensory regulation tools and fidget tools in the Quiet Zone.
For more information, visit oakgov.com. No preregistration is required. The event is popular, so arriving early for parking is suggested.
Easter Bunny is coming to town
ROYAL OAK —
The Easter Bunny will be hopping back to visit the Royal Oak Police Department April 19 at 450 E. 11 Mile Road.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Easter Bunny will be in the community room of the ROPD and available for photo opportunities with officers of the ROPD. For more information, visit romi.gov. information, visit romi.gov.
Aguado
CRIME WATCH
Someone damages home’s outside lights
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 9:23 p.m. March 22, an unknown person damaged multiple light fixtures outside the complainant’s home near Shenandoah Drive and West Webster Road.
Vehicle stolen from parking lot
ROYAL OAK — A complainant re-
ported that at 2:37 a.m. April 3, an unknown person stole the complainant’s vehicle from an apartment parking lot near Parmenter Boulevard and Leafdale Boulevard, in the area of 14 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway.
Items stolen from unlocked vehicle
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 12 a.m. March 20
and 7 a.m. March 21, an unknown person stole various items from the complainant’s unlocked vehicle near Devon Road and 13 Mile Road.
Vehicle stolen from driveway
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 4 a.m. March 24, an unknown person stole the complainant’s vehicle from the complainant’s driveway on Whitcomb Avenue near North Blair Avenue, which is
in the general area of North Campbell and 14 Mile roads.
Police take theft report from gas station
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 2:30 p.m. March 21, an unknown person stole various goods from the Mobil Gas Station on East 11 Mile Road, at South Campbell Road.
— Taylor Christensen
Step into the world of dreams with Stagecrafters
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ begins run next month
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Stagecrafters has begun to sell tickets for the popular musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which is slated to be on the main stage at the Baldwin Theater, 415 S. Lafayette Ave., May 30-June 22.
The show is unique in that it is told entirely through song and showcases multiple different genres of music including country, calypso and Elvis-inspired rock ‘n’ roll.
“It’s super interesting doing a show that’s completely sung, because as the conductor, I don’t get a break,” said Jordan Farr, music director for the production and a member of Stagecrafters. “But I think it’s a nice challenge for our singers and for our group, not only to learn a lot of music, but to be onstage quite a bit.”
Farr will be educating the singers and conducting an orchestra of 14 people for the show.
“Every show is different in terms of how big your orchestra is. Your orchestra could be five people or it could be 14,” Farr said. “For this show we have 14, so it’s going to be pretty toasty down there in the pit.”
Latress London will be taking on the role of Joseph, a boy who is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, according to stagecrafters.org.
London said that this is his first show with Stagecrafters and first show after a long pause in his theatrical career.
“I love musical theater, and performing has always been something I love to do, and I kind of put that on the back burner, you know, because of life,” London said. “After I got the role, I think for the first week I was in shock for a minute. … Most of everyone who auditioned have been a part of Stagecrafters for a while. So for them to pick me, I was like, ‘Are they serious?’”
London said his debut back into the
See DREAM on page 23A
KBY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
en and Melody Klemmer “are preservationists at heart.”
They live in a historic home built in 1925, and a favorite pastime is driving their antique cars. The Klemmers buy and sell different vintage models every few years.
“I’ve had American cars, Model Ts and involvement with the Franklins,” said Ken, who has also owned Austin-Healey, Lotus and Mini Cooper cars. “We don’t tend to keep them for very long. There are so many cool ones out there that we want them all. We buy them and we fix them up. We drive them for a year or two and then we sell them and buy something else.”
TOP RIGHT: The prewar 1931 MG D-Type Midget is parked in front of the historic Farmington Hills home of Ken and Melody Klemmer.
TOP LEFT: Ken and Melody Klemmer, along with their dog, Cocoa Puff, love to drive their prewar 1931 MG D-Type Midget. Directly behind them is their 1930 MG M-Type.
RIGHT: The passenger compartment and frame sets off the cerulean blue prewar 1930 “Wiggy” MG M-Type that the Klemmers own.
Photos by Liz Carnegie
Earth Day
from page 3A
sure that it’s as accessible to children and families as possible,” Costello said. “We’re introducing a children’s section, so that it will have hands-on activities so that young people can start to build a relationship with their environment and understand why taking care of it is so important.”
The climate rally and march will begin at 3 p.m. and go until 4:30 p.m. The Earth fair will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Also new this year is the theme of “Journey to Climate Action,” which plays into the fair in the form of passports.
Each attendee will receive a passport and use that passport to “travel” to each vendor. Vendors will be giving out information, sustainability products and more.
“The passport essentially guides them throughout the fair to talk to someone who has an environmentally friendly product and to learn about the product,” Costello said. “Or to take action at one of our action stations, to learn about an environmental effort that’s going on and figure out how to join that.”
Woody Gontina, planning commissioner and chair of the Royal Oak environmental advisory board, said that the event will be showcasing some important speakers and vendors at the event.
“We typically have some pretty bigname relevant speakers that come to talk about sustainability and get the crowd sort of revved up before going on the march to help raise awareness for climate issues,” Gontina said. “This year we have Mayor Michael Fournier from Royal Oak; Jim Nash, who is
the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner; Dave Coulter, Oakland County executive; and (state) Representative Natalie Price.”
Gontina said there are still a few invitations outstanding, so more speakers are yet to be announced.
The vendors will be sorted into different categories. According to Gontina, the categories are: advocacy, education, sustainable services, and products and technology.
“Of course we have advocacy groups like EDF Action and (Michigan League of Conservation Voters),” Gontina said. “Our board will have a table there, like the environmental advisory board, so we have a wide variety of sustainability-related vendors for people to come and check out.”
Costello believes that this event is an opportunity to learn more about environmental issues.
“We know people are seeing what’s going on and are going to see what’s going on in the future, and they’re going to want to do something,” Costello said. “They are going to want to have a place where they can come together and show that they care about the environment, and so that’s what we want to do is offer a space for them to go on that journey and actually take action.”
“Everyone is welcome to this event, whether you’re 5 or your 70, there’s something for you at this event and a way to come together and take action and show that we care about this so our leaders actually know they need to listen to us,” Costello said.
For more information, visit turnoakland countygreen.com/oakland-county-march.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
File photo by Donna Dalziel
Attendees of the Oakland County 2024 Earth Day event in Royal Oak march for climate action.
CALENDAR
APRIL 18-19
Bunnyville: Includes golden egg hunt, live entertainment, whisker painting, Easter Bunny photos, animal engagements and more, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, detroitzoo.org/ events/bunnyville
APRIL 24
Royal Oak Nature Society soiree/fundraiser: Benefits city’s 50 acres of wooded nature preserves, features silent auction with 150-plus items, 50-50, desserts and Mediterranean dinners for sale, 7-10 p.m., Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, romi.gov/463/annual-fundraiser
APRIL 25
Euchre tournament: Registration at 6:15 p.m., rules at 6:55 p.m. and deal at 7 p.m., includes light appetizers, also prizes and full cash bar, Pronto!, 608 S. Washington Ave. in Royal Oak, benefits Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum, register early at (248) 318-8357 or royaloakhistoricalsociety.com/events
APRIL 26
A Walk At The Zoo: Fundraiser for Shades Of Pink Foundation (provides financial assistance for living expenses for those undergoing breast cancer treatments), 7 a.m.-noon, Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, see details, register and donate at shadesofpinkfoundation.goodworldnow.com/p/awalk-at-the-zoo
APRIL 26-27
Earth Day Park Cleanup: Volunteer to pick up litter and beautify one of 51 Royal Oak parks, sign up at romi.gov/1884/park-cleanup by April 21, waste bags and trash bags available one week prior from Department of Public Services, 1600 N. Campbell Road
MAY 3-4
Cinco de Mayo Festival: Food trucks, margaritas, live
music, lucha libre wrestling and more, free admission, noon-11 p.m. May 3 and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. May 4, held near Mezcal Mexican Bar & Kitchen, 201 E. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, (248) 268-3915, facebook.com/ mezcalferndale
ONGOING
Art show: Featuring hundreds of works by local students in kindergarten-12th grade, on display 1-5 p.m. Sundays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays until April 25, Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, ropl.org, read the story at candgnews.com
‘Perfect Arrangement’: Classic sitcom-style comedy-drama about two gay U.S. State Department employees who marry each other’s partners as cover in 1950, presented by Stagecrafters 2nd Stage, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays May 2-11, Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette Ave. in Royal Oak, (248) 541-6430, stagecrafters.org
Nature walks: Look forwildflowers at 2 p.m. April 19, April 26 and May 4, Tenhave Woods in Royal Oak, park at Marais/Lexington lot and walk 300 feet east to entrance, also search for mushrooms at 10 a.m. April 26, Cummingston Park, park on street and meet at intersection of Torquay and Leafdale, and 10 a.m. May 24, Tenhave Woods, romi.gov/411/nature-walks
CAMEO Quilters Guild: Meetings with lectures and demonstrations at 7 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.) every third Thursday of month September-June, Clawson United Methodist Church, 205 N. Main St., (248) 5444504, cameoquilters@gmail.com, cameoquilters.org
‘A Tangled Web: Stories About African Americans in 19th Century Royal Oak’: Exhibit on display 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through May, Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum, 1411 W. Webster Road, (248) 439-1501, royaloakhistoricalsociety.org
Kit Homes of Clawson exhibit: Includes advertise-
See CALENDAR on page 23A
by Patricia O’Blenes
Council
from page 1A
posed Amendment Number 1 to maintain the size of Clawson City Council at four members plus the mayor. Under the City Charter Adopted in 2023, commencing with the 2025 regular city election, the city council shall be expanded from four to six city council members, plus the mayor shall continue to be on the city council. The proposed amendment will provide that the Clawson City Council shall consist of four council members, plus the mayor shall continue to be on the city council. Shall the amendment as proposed be adopted? This proposal is contingent on proposal 2 being approved by the voters at this election.”
The second charter amendment deals with the term of office of City Council members. If the first and second charter amendments are passed, all council members will be elected to four-year terms with council members on the ballot every two years. A no vote means to continue with the 2023 city charter, which states that beginning with the regular 2025 election later this year, the top three vote-getters will win four-year terms and the fourth-place vote-getter will win a two-year term. The council will have seven members including the mayor, in that case.
Charter Amendment No. 2 reads: “Clawson Proposed Amendment Number 2 to set the term duration and election schedule of the Clawson City Council Members. Under the current charter adopted in 2023, at the 2025 regular city election, four city council members shall be elected. The three highest vote-getters shall hold office for a
term of four years. The fourth highest votegetter shall hold office for a term of two years. The proposed amendment will provide that the Clawson City Council members shall be elected to four-year terms every two years. Shall the amendment as proposed be adopted? This proposal is contingent on proposal 1 being approved by the voters in this election.”
In a document of frequently asked questions that the Charter Commission compiled in 2023, the commission stated that there are three reasons why it proposed the addition of two City Council members.
“First, the larger the city council, the more representative it may be of the general public,” the document states. “When the charter commission explored other communities, it found that more city boards, commissions, and councils comprise seven or more members.”
The document also states that “individual members of a seven member city council have less power on their own than members of a five person city council.”
The final reason listed is that a sevenperson City Council has more people overseeing and asking questions regarding administration policies of the city, which the commission felt balances the outcome and outlook on different issues.
City manager Joseph Rheker said that increasing the number of City Council members does not make sense.
“It made sense to stay at five, so why go to seven? I don’t know how that made sense, because the real troublesome provision in the old charter was that if somebody was running for mayor, they would have to resign,
See COUNCIL on page 17A
Photo
Clawson residents are being asked to vote on two proposed charter amendments affecting the City Council in the special election May 6.
Master plan
The second goal is to advance sustainability and climate action by implementing the city’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.
The third goal is to provide more housing options through greater types of housing and supply. The third goal includes wanting to provide housing options for every stage of life.
The fourth goal is to preserve and enhance neighborhood character, which includes access to parks and retail areas.
The fifth goal is to reinforce activity centers, providing residents and visitors with destinations for shopping, dining, services and entertainment.
The sixth goal is to increase mobility across the city, ensuring that “people who walk, roll, bicycle, drive, or use public transit are well accommodated throughout Royal Oak.”
The final goal is to align policies, including Royal Oak’s future land use policy, zoning regulations, and other ordinances to produce the future city that residents and city leaders want.
Many of the residents who spoke during the April 8 Planning Commission meeting were unhappy with the proposed master plan, with few in support.
The master plan proposal removes the term “single-family homes,” which was a major issue for many of the residents who spoke at the public hearing. Instead of single-family homes, Royal Oak would just have neighborhoods.
“When you eliminate the single-family name, you can put anything you want in our neighborhoods, because that’s not single-family anymore,” resident Tom Hallock said in reference to section 1.3 Summary of Actions, section one in the master plan proposal.
Joseph Stevenson asked the Planning Commission to focus on affordable housing and mentioned his concern of the disregard for single-family homes.
“If we change the definition of singlefamily to neighborhood, it allows the development of (accessory dwelling units), it allows development of duplexes and triplexes and things like that,” Stevenson said. “That does not help affordability. That does not help aging in place.”
Alex Morford, a member of YIMBY Oakland County, spoke in favor of the master plan proposal, saying that she believes the plan was a good compromise to the residents’ wants.
“The commission and the consultants
have listened to everyone and come up with this current proposed master plan that is a compromise of residents’ opinions,” Morford said. “I am here tonight to express my support for the proposed master plan. Moving forward with this proposed master plan is the next step for future Royal Oak with more housing and better infrastructure for everyone.”
“One of the reasons we loved the city and the area was due to the single-family neighborhoods, and a lot of that appeal, that was tied to the low-density residential structures that did define the community,” John Gist said. “By protecting the single-family homes, we are protecting the distinctiveness of the town, which led us to fall in love with it.”
The Planning Commission members discussed the next steps of the master plan draft following public comment.
Mayor Michael Fournier said that although people in public comment were asking for the decision to be made by the residents, that was impossible.
“The bulk of the work here is charged with the Planning Commission,” Fournier said.
Fournier said with his understanding of ordinances and how development works, he doesn’t see how the master plan draft would allow for developers to build apartment complexes within neighborhood communities.
“The fear is that developers could go and buy lots in, you know, off Main Street or any neighborhood, just buy three lots in any neighborhood and build a large multifamily apartment community,” Fournier said. “I can’t see how this master plan would allow that.”
Fournier asked the city attorney if that is a possibility, and how likely that would happen in Royal Oak.
“There are a number of different issues with that, and you still would have to go through a site plan approval, and in your scenario you’d have three separate plots, so those would have to be consolidated or you’d still have to comply with all of the setbacks, … So, theoretically, unless you went through all of those procedures, you’d have three dif-
ferent plots but you would only be able to put one house on each,” said Ryan Kaluzny, assistant city attorney for Royal Oak.
“The document says in so many words and sets as a goal to preserve and enhance neighborhood character, and then it physically defines on a map the areas that are
See MASTER PLAN on page 15A
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
Residents packed the chambers and overflowed into the lobby to voice their opinions on the master plan draft during the meeting.
Joseph Stephenson commented during the meeting, sharing that he did not approve of some of the plans listed in the master plan draft.
The newest collection includes a cerulean blue prewar 1930 “Wiggy” MG M-Type they bought in 2022, and a maroonish/black prewar 1931 “Edwin” MG D-Type they’ve owned since 2023. Neither car is its original color although the M-Types were available in blue. According to Ken, most early D-Types were black, and then green and red were available often in two-tones.
The Farmington Hills residents belong to several MG car clubs, including the WindsorDetroit MG Club; the North American MMM Register, which stands for Midget, Magna and Magnette; and Melody is president of the Michigan Chapter of the New England MG T Register, and Ken is the vice president.
The couple attend many local British car shows or drive through country roads with other MG enthusiasts, stopping for ice cream, at cider mills or museums for friendship and camaraderie. The annual Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village in Dearborn is a favorite spot. The national Gathering of the Faithful is another regular haunt. There are a few different locations, and the Klemmers frequent the central show in the Midwest.
Ken has studied the history of the MGs extensively.
“This M-Type we have, they built 3,000 of those cars. Quite a few survived, I would say close to 500 worldwide, which is shocking for a car like that,” Ken said. “It was just a cheap sports car. It’s got a wood body. It rotted and rusted and it went through World War II. They were loved so much. People hung onto them and didn’t junk them when they got old.
“The D-Type is the rarest road car MG made. They only made 250 in total. There’s about 40 in the original condition still left. The guys at the MG factory would be shocked to know that we’re still driving these 100 years later,” Ken said. “MG was super prolific in the early years. They built a lot of different models. They were very innovative. There were some really interesting things with chassis and suspension.”
There are different groups of MGs, depending on the year the model was built. Because they are English cars, the steering wheel is on the right side.
“The Triple-M cars are the cars we like to specialize in. Those were built from 1929 through 1935, 1936,” Ken said. “The Triple-M cars had innovative suspension systems. Very quick steering, very nimble cars, very lightweight.”
The style also had small, high-RPM engines with overhead cams.
“The overhead cam was kind of unusual for that time. It made for a very high revving engine,” Ken said. “These cars were all raced in amateur and professional racing. The racing scene in the 1930s in England was big, and then a lot of those cars would go over to Europe to race there as well.”
The Klemmers take out their cars often, several times a week, even in less-than-favorable weather. That includes trips to the grocery store, meetings and out to dinner. There are times they feel like they are in a time warp and even dress in 1930s clothing and wear race jackets. A third passenger sometimes is their dog, Cocoa Puff.
“You’re on the wheel on the other side, so there is already a difference there,” Ken said. “It looks intimidating, but it’s easy.”
It’s guaranteed they’ll meet people who want to know all about the MGs.
“The looks on the kids’ faces,” said Melody, who always lets people sit in the cars. “We let them in. We take pictures with them.”
“People come up to you and talk to you about them,” Ken said, who challenges teens to try to figure out how to start the MGs. “The most prevalent question is, ‘Did GM build these?’ because they see the MG and they reverse the letters.”
Melody said many want to know if the 1930 “Wiggy” MG M-Type is a boat.
The Klemmers attribute the MG’s popularity to different factors.
“It’s a passion,” Melody said.
“Cars were bought by young people and they traded around a lot,” Ken said. “Also, the war and the Depression helped because Britain was in such austerity by the time the war started. After that, people couldn’t afford to buy new cars so they kept old cars running for a long time. They patched them up and they made them work and they stayed on the road. That’s why we have a pretty high survival rate for British cars.”
Ken discovered MGs when he was a preteen after reading the book, “The Red Car,” by Don Stanford.
“That really had a formidable allure to me,” Ken said.
His father also made an impact.
“My dad was a designer for Chrysler, and I had been around cars all my life,” Ken said. “But my dad always bought really boring cars, and the MGs sounded so exotic. But he told me about MGs. The MGs sounded exciting.”
Arboretum
from page 3A
100 trees and support other ecosystem improvements at the arboretum in honor of what would have been Fred Erb’s 100th birthday, according to Jill Martin, Royal Oak’s management analyst and grants coordinator.
The other items funded with the grant include irrigation system installation, storage shed building and tools, maintenance for trees, invasive species removal, prairie oak restoration, educational signage, and programming, according to Martin.
“This money from the Erbs has allowed us to do things we wouldn’t have accomplished in our lifetimes,” Bob Muller, from the Royal Oak Nature Society, said.
The Royal Oak Arboretum sits on four and a half acres of land and surrounds the Leo Mahany/Harold Meininger Senior Center. Around 2006, a long range plan was put in place to plant a collection of native plants that were not found in Tenhave Woods, according to an informational document about the arboretum on romi.gov.
“We actually started doing something in 2008, and it started because the nature society maintains the two nature parks and we had a tree ID workshop in the community center, and we noticed a couple of trees that weren’t in either nature park,” Muller said.
Muller explained that because the native trees that were missing could not be planted in the already existing
Grants helped to fund the installation of hard surface trails.
nature parks at the time, because it’s not allowed to plant in a nature park, they would plant the trees behind the senior center where there was a large opening.
The arboretum is home to around 82 Michigan native trees. In Michigan, there are 87 native trees, so the arboretum just has a few more to go before it can be said that it has every native tree species.
The unveiling will also include showcasing the improvements made by two other grants.
An Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission grant in the amount of $71,250 with a required match from the city of Royal Oak of $23,750 funded 1,300 feet of hard surface trails, three Americans with Disabilities Actcompliant benches, one picnic table, and two additional handicapped parking spaces at the trailhead.
An AARP grant in the amount of $15,000 has been put toward installing three ADA-compliant picnic tables and two accessible benches at the Royal Oak Senior Center.
“The nature society makes around $5,000 a year; that sort of limits how many things we could buy,” Muller said. “I think we have put somewhere in the neighborhood of a little over $20,000 worth of trees that the Erb grant helped us with.”
A major installation to the park is the addition of hard surface trails, making the trail more accessible.
“The new trails are all 6 feet wide, which means if you’re having a nature walk you can have a group of people next to you,” Muller said. “Some of our trails were originally
See ARBORETUM on page 17A
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Master plan
from page 12A
neighborhoods and says we will preserve them,” Planning Commission member and City Commissioner Sharlan Douglas said. Member of the Planning Commission Woody Gontina made a statement addressing some of the behavior at the public hearing, and his opinion on the master plan draft.
“The fact that residents are so engaged in their city is what makes us one of the strongest in the region, in my opinion. But yelling your opinion louder and more
demonstratively than others does not make you any more correct than those that were more soft-spoken,” Gontina said. “This plan prioritizes sustainability; that means more than just things like energy and water efficiency, it means adapting to make sure that we have a city that stays strong and viable for future generations.”
The draft of the master plan was found to have errors including typos and grammar discrepancies; the council discussed the possibility of moving forward with the document with the errors.
Some members of the Planning Commission were OK with moving forward with the typos, saying that the small errors would
Coach
tor for us, and I know he’s bringing in a lot of experience with him.”
During his time at Shrine, Kelly played football, lacrosse and hockey all while doing enough outside of sports to earn the Catholic High School League’s John Shada Award his senior year. The award recognizes “exceptional achievement in the areas of Academics, Leadership, Community Service, and Athletics” while playing varsity football, according to chsl.com.
“First things first, they’re student-athletes. That’s how I was raised,” Kelly said. “I think the football players in the school can be the leaders of the school. … I want them to be the role models of the school.”
The expectations are set. On the field and off the field, Shrine football will be held
not be detrimental to the plan itself.
“I’m going to quote Mr. Gontina, who used one of my favorite quotes, which is that perfect is the enemy of good enough,” Douglas said. “If there are commas misplaced, if there is a city council instead of a City Commission, is that fatal to the implementation of the plan? I don’t think so. So, I am not inclined to take any action and we’ve been at this for more than two years now.”
Jim Ellison, planning commissioner, said he would not like to see the document move forward to the City Commission if there are errors.
“We hired a firm to deliver us a document. I would expect that document to be correct. This document is not correct and I am hesitant to send it forward, because, you know, what else have we missed?” Ellison said.
Chairperson Gary Quesada said that he
is not happy with the typos, but he would rather not add another step to the already long process it has been to create the 2050 master plan draft.
Timothy Thwing, Royal Oak director of community development, said that it is possible to send the draft to the City Commission with a list of the typo changes needed to be made within the document.
The Planning Commission unanimously voted to send the master plan draft with typos fixed to the City Commission. The changes are not going to change the content of the draft, only the typos and grammatical errors.
The full master plan proposal can be viewed at planroyaloak.com.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
to a high standard, and Kelly wants to build a program that is able to reach those standards year in and year out.
“I’ve already told the team this: I want to make the Prep Bowl,” Kelly said. “Making the state playoffs is definitely a goal of ours. … Hopefully go undefeated in the (Catholic) League and play at Ford Field.”
The first-time head coach will look to build a long-standing tradition at the high school.
“I didn’t know when I was going to get my first head coaching job, but it came a little sooner than I thought,” Kelly said. “I want to lay a good foundation of what I want to bring to Shrine football. … I want to be a stable coach at the high school.”
Royal Oak Shrine Catholic will open the 2025 season at home against Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood on Aug. 28.
Call Sports Writer Scott Bentley at (586) 498-1090.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Clawson Planning Commissioner Nate Hara addresses the Royal Oak City Commission and the residents in attendance at the meeting.
Decorations help gardeners to express themselves
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
Believe it or not, there is more to gardens than planting flowers.
Landscapes, patios, gardens and all sorts of curated outdoor environments are more than places where flowers go — they are places to express yourself.
“To me, gardens are just a great opportunity to create or decorate an outdoor space or room that allows the place to invite nature and wildlife in, and it also gives you a relaxing break from challenging lives,” Sue Keehn, chair of the Harrison Township Beautification Committee, said. “It’s really art in itself and an outlet for everybody to create a spot in their life that’s a place for reflection and peace. … The things that you choose for your garden are a reflection of you.”
Decorating a garden is a personal project that can be approached in different ways, but Keehn recommends taking a few steps when planning out the garden before setting a decoration down.
Beyond finding out the dimensions of the space, composition of the soil, what the natural light and shade coverage of the area is, and how much time and effort maintaining the desired living elements will take, a key consideration is how the landscape will affect the people within it.
“It needs to be a place of reminiscing, a place of conversation … someplace that’s contemplative,” Keehn said. “That would come up first, and then certainly how the particular artifact(s) or sculpture(s) … might affect the people that would view them. Art is meant to cause stimulation and conversation.”
Traci Schwartz, store manager at Piechnik’s Garden Gate in Oakland Township, said decorations can be a way of adding interesting elements to a garden where the environment or plants might not always be the most aesthetically spectacular.
“Let’s say (a garden) has some hardscapes, so it’s more stone or even evergreen,” Schwartz said. “It’s a beautiful look, it’s usually a more tailored look, and the color doesn’t change. Putting some garden art of some sort can bring color or interest to those areas. … A lot of our perennial gardens are seasonal, so adding some elements of true garden art is going to give interest to that See GARDENS on page 22A
From statues to spikes to globes and more, how you place items in a garden — and which items you choose — is a means of expressing yourself.
Photos provided by Traci Schwartz
Council
other than obviously the mayor running for reelection,” Rheker said. “So if a council member wanted to challenge the mayor, they would have to resign from the council, and that created vacancies, which created problems. That’s been remedied under the new charter.”
Rheker said the outcome of the vote could go either way, and that the vote really depends on perspective.
“It all depends how you look at it; some people think you will have greater representation,” Rheker said. “The problems that Clawson has had in the past did not come from the City Manager’s Office, it came from the council where everyone is seated. It’s never been from the City Manager’s Office.”
Rheker said that from 2018 to his arrival in 2022, Clawson had gone through a handful of city managers and interim city managers.
“From an administrator’s perspective, I don’t see that adding two more to the council is adding value to it,” Rheker said. “And I made that clear to the charter commission when they were meeting.”
Clawson City Council member Bruce Anderson said that the charter commission, which has since disbanded, did a good job revising the charter, but this is the one element that he said doesn’t seem to make much sense.
“When they proposed to go from five to seven, it kind of seemed a little puzzling,” Anderson said. “The charter commission people really worked hard and did a good job. And they kind of looked at five to seven and said, OK, and they accepted it and the
Certified Sommelier
Arboretum
from page 14A
sort of dead ends. We made sure that all of the trails, wherever you are walking, you would never have to turn around and walk back. The trails all loop back to the community center in some way.”
In addition to native trees, the arboretum features native plants and flowers that are also used for learning purposes, according to Muller.
The nature society often puts on guided walks that people can attend to learn about the various flowers, plants and trees located on the grounds of the Arboretum, and now with the improvements, Muller sees many more walks in the future.
“It was literally a waste area behind the community center when we started,” Muller said. “So we’ve created a whole park for the city of Royal Oak that I think is sort of unique. I can think of no other city adjacent to us that has an arboretum, a botanical garden.”
The ceremony celebrating the updated Arboretum is free to the public.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
thing is there are arguments for and against it.”
Anderson said it is possible to revise charter amendments over years of time, which he would have preferred instead of having a vote now to change the council from five to seven.
“To be honest with you, I think five is better than seven, but if it goes to seven, I don’t think it’s a horrible thing,” Anderson said. “Bottom line, the documents are pretty well done. But that’s the one element that I wish they had left alone.”
Voting information
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 6.
For the special election, some Clawson voters will be voting at temporary voting locations. Precinct 1 and Precinct 3
will be voting at the Baker Administration Building, 626 Phillips Ave. Precinct 4 and Precinct 5 will be voting at Grace Apostolic Church, 700 E. Elmwood Ave. Precinct 2 will be voting at the City Hall Community Center, 425 N. Main St.
Early in-person voting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 26 to May 4 at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois Road, in room 303. On May 1, early in-person voting will begin at noon and go until 8 p.m.
The last day to register by mail or online for the election is April 21. In-persononly voter registration is open April 26 to May 6, and the Clerk’s Office will be open for absentee voting ballots from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
On Our Staff At ML To Help With All Your Special Occasions & Parties
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
The updates include the planting of 100 trees native to Michigan.
SPOTLIGHT ON HOMES
ADVANCE PREP KEY TO AVOIDING PROBATE AT WORST POSSIBLE TIME
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
The last thing that a family wants amidst the passing of a loved one is to wind up in court. Figuring out how to share an estate is expensive, time-consuming, and complicated for many and probate court can lead to drama within a family unless the right steps are taken.
The most important step anyone can take to avoid probate court is to simply be prepared. It may sound fairly obvious, but making sure you have a will, trust, or some form of legal document involving your assets can go a long way in avoiding family tension.
“I’ve been practicing law for over 40 years. The best way to avoid the probate court is to prepare,” attorney Randall Shepard of Colbert, Shepard & Sadowski
LLP said. “Talk to an attorney or talk to a specialist that can help you prepare your estate plan so that you don’t have to end up going through probate.”
There are several ways to organize assets in a way that prevents going to court. Trusts, ladybird deeds and wills can be simple ways to make sure your estate ends up in the right hands.
Probate also isn’t strictly used when someone passes away, as a lot of families find themselves in court for guardianship and conservatorship.
“Conservatorship is, of course, when the court oversees the management of somebody’s finances,” Shepard explained. “You really want to avoid that at all costs if you can. You’re better off having that set up ahead of time.”
In order to prepare in advance, one of the best things a person can do is have an expert in their corner.
There are so many possible outcomes in probate and having a specialist to help with documentation that “speaks the language” is sometimes all a client needs.
“My advice is to get someone to help you. Don’t try and do it yourself,” Shepard said. “It can be a nightmare… Try to have an attorney that helps you resolve your case, not make it worse.”
Arguably the most common reason for probate is housing. Real estate is something that many families end up going to court over and it is an area of law that can get very complicated very quickly.
“Especially in real estate, you can encounter some family situations where it can be contentious,” Re/Max First certified probate specialist Ray Nadolski said. “Do you want sons and
Real Property Management Metro Detroit Expands to Deliver Better Results for Property Owners
Real estate remains one of the most reliable forms of investment. Many property owners are seasoned investors managing multiple properties. Others are what some call “accidental landlords”—people who inherited a home, got married and ended up with two, or downsized but chose to keep their original house as a rental.
Regardless of their background, most property owners are drawn to the cash flow, tax advantages, and long-term appreciation that real estate offers. But few understand the day-to-day responsibilities of actually being a landlord – managing collections, ongoing maintenance and repairs and answering late-night calls.
That’s where Troy-based Real Property Management Metro Detroit (RPM MD) comes in. The company recently acquired 21 Property
Management, creating one of the largest property management firms in the region with more than 800 properties in its portfolio.
“The property management industry is highly fragmented, with dozens of small companies managing limited portfolios,” said Jeff Hurley, RPM MD CEO. “While size alone doesn’t create value, we’ve made strategic investments in platforms and technology that make us faster, more transparent, and more comprehensive. Ultimately, our technology, combined with our talented team of real estate professionals, leads to greater customer satisfaction.”
Locally owned and operated by lifelong metro Detroit residents, RPM MD has a deep understanding of the area’s unique market dynamics. From acquisition to day-to-day management to eventual sale, RPM supports property owners through every stage of ownership.
“We help investors evaluate long-term value
using our proprietary Wealth Optimizer,” said Hurley. “It factors in acquisition costs, potential rental revenue, taxes, maintenance, and more to project a property’s financial return. In many ways, we act as financial advisors for your real estate assets.”
Once a property is offered for rent, RPM MD employs proven strategies to deliver peace of mind and real savings to property owners. Their transparent, customer-focused approach keeps clients fully informed, making it easy to protect their investment—all without disrupting their daily routines.
With streamlined systems for leasing, rent collection, and even evictions, RPM MD ensures regulatory compliance while minimizing operational friction. The company’s in-depth knowledge of real estate laws and local tax codes helps owners stay protected.
But RPM MD doesn’t just focus on the numbers. The company understands that successful property management also means taking care of tenants with superior service.
For instance, if a rental property suddenly needs a new water heater, RPM MD has already vetted qualified contractors to ensure the issue is handled promptly and completely. The team provides photo documentation and seeks owner approval before moving forward with repairs—maintaining transparency every step of the way while quickly solving the issue.
“Responsive service is an absolute must and is at the heart of what we do,” Hurley emphasized. “We expect our team to respond to every client inquiry within an hour. That level of communication builds trust and keeps everything running smoothly.”
“Our acquisition of 21 Property Management is a major milestone,” he added. “Not just because it makes us larger—but because it enhances our team and our capabilities to deliver results that property owners can count on.”
Learn more by visiting metrodetroitrpm.com or calling Real Property Management Metro Detroit at (248) 808-6550
MD rental property in Royal Oak RPM MD rental property in Troy
The advice that is most commonly told from people that work in probate is about how to avoid it. Shutterstock image
DAY Saturday April 26
3 to 7 pm Royal Oak Farmers Market
Why Community Choice?
Grow Your Savings with Ease.
Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are a flexible option that allow you to pick the deposit amount and term timeline to help you achieve your financial goals.
In this higher interest rate environment, a strategy to efficiently use CDs called laddering divides your deposits into several smaller CDs, so you can lock in great rates while keeping your money more accessible. Ladders offer more flexibility than a single CD, giving you guaranteed cash – at the cost of potentially higher returns.
Financial wellness doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of research, discipline and, of course, hard work.
at’s not something Community Choice Credit Union members have to navigate alone.
“Choice Map is the credit union’s nancial wellness program,” Community Choice Credit Union Product Design Manager Cat McMacken said. “We’re really proud of it for a couple of reasons, primarily because it’s a comprehensive approach to nancial wellness for our members wherever they are on their nancial journey. It’s about overcoming hardship and also optimizing your nancial outlook when you’re thriving.”
Choice Map is a complimentary service o ered to all Community Choice Credit Union members.
“Our members are always welcome to enroll in the Choice Map program and get started on that journey,” McMacken said. “It’s always free for members of the credit union.”
Find your way to financial wellness with Choice Map
at’s unique, McMacken said, as opposed to services at othernancial institutions that come with fees.
“We provide this free to our members because we want to make it accessible to everyone,” McMacken said. “Members can sign up at any time by contacting one of our 24 member centers across the state, where they are paired with a personal advisor.”
All personal advisors at Community Choice Credit Union are certi ed credit union nancial counselors.
“ ey bring an extra level of credibility to be able to provide that top notch nancial guidance to our members,” McMacken said.
From nding ways to save by making small adjustments to building nancial strength by cutting interest or simplifying debt reduction, the solutions found through Choice Map are in line with Community Choice Credit Union’s guiding purpose.
“Part of the credit union movement is people helping people,” McMacken said. “We know we want to be a positive force in the community and help improve the nancial
wellness of our members. It’s something we’re excited about and something we’re eager to be able to provide.
“We’ve always been, as a credit union, our members’ best partner in their nancial journey. We’ve been delivering this program in our member centers for about a year, and
Macken said. “A lot of thenancial wellness programs out there in the market are on one end of the spectrum: saving, budgeting, overcoming hardship or wealth management. We think of it more like an all-encompassing circle: save, borrow, simplify and protect.
we already have about 1,000 members enrolled,” McMacken said.
What they’re seeing are improved credit scores, consolidated debt, better ways to borrow and smarter ways to save.
“Having a simple, clear money management program to o er our members is needed now more than ever,” Mc-
It is a truly unique approach.”
To become a member, or to learn more about Choice Map if you’re already a member of Community Choice Credit Union, go to communitychoicecu.com/choice-map. For more information, stop by your local branch or call (877) 243-2528.
Gardens
from page 16A
space when those plants are not in bloom.”
A garden’s theme, if a specific theme is chosen, can also influence how one selects the decorations to go within it.
“There’s so many garden themes,” Keehn said. “Herb gardens, Asian, shade gardens, cottage, something of a specific color. Even moon gardens; there are some folks who come home at night and that’s the only time they can view their garden. There are plants that will be bright enough to show up at night — those are your whites and pastels — and there are some plants that open their blooms only at night. … If you’re going to go in with those, go the whole hog. Make the theme a reality.”
Items for gardens can be found in many places. Schwartz said garden stores like Piechnik’s can provide a wide variety of decorations — art ranging from globes, cement and metal elements like statues, benches, and more — that fit into gardens and landscapes. One particular class of item Schwartz is interested in is solar-powered lighting elements.
“Sometimes I feel (solar items) can extend the beauty of your garden from a daytime space to a nighttime space,” Schwartz said. “Maybe during the daytime the flowers
Probate
from page 18A
daughters to become enemies after you die? That’s the message I would send to people.”
A joint tenant, a trust or a will can help make the process easier for everyone involved. The best way to accomplish this is by working with someone in real estate that specializes in probate. In some cases, even with documentation, families find themselves in court because there are errors or missing statements from those involved.
“Some of the longest, most contentious and expensive probate battles come from unforeseen mistakes made by a person seeking to avoid probate,” Nadolski said. “I see a lot of issues in real estate… Do this just in case so it’s not all hearsay.”
Nadolski is now an expert in probate and has been working with former Macomb County Probate Court Judge Carl Marlinga to help make the transition of assets easier for families. Nadolski and Marlinga provided C & G Newspapers with a document that highlights important background information about probate and what advice they have after many years in the field.
The advice that is most commonly told
or your perennial garden or your landscape gets the attention, but once the sun starts to set, some of these other elements can then take center stage.”
Solar lighting can range from straightforward stakes to globes and sculptures that charge during the day and come to life at night.
“I think in Michigan we actually have a very short window to enjoy the outdoors, even into the evening hours,” Schwartz said. “Even having a string of party lights by a sitting area brings off some ambient light, but you can also do that with solar-powered lighting as well.”
Keehn finds decorations for her gardens in a variety of places. She promotes reusing found items and finding uses for items that may run against their originally intended use.
“I do a lot of estate sales and looking at different containers you wouldn’t consider, things that have some age to them that you could, perhaps, grow some moss on and make them look even more a part of the garden,” Keehn said. “Things that are simple that you could do are a birdbath. … You can use either water or a small fountain in them, which is great for that tricking water effect and also attracts wildlife. Or you could plant them with, perhaps, succulents on two layers. They look beautiful that way and they are low maintenance.”
from people that work in probate is about how to avoid it. As Nadolski and Marlinga explained, even a will that has been witnessed and notarized can still be subject to the jurisdiction of probate court. People will argue that the deceased may have been acting “under duress” or “undue influence.” Finding a lawyer that specializes in probate is the best court of action.
In the long run, planning ahead is also far cheaper than the alternative of probate court.
“The money you spend now would be less expensive than what your estate would have to spend if you don’t,” Shepard said. “It goes back to the theme of avoiding these problems.”
Perhaps the most important reason to get assets aligned and avoid probate is simply because it’s fair. The management of finances, housing or anything else should be decided by the owner of those assets while the person is still able.
“You’re better off spending the money now while the person is able to make the decisions of where they want their property to go,” Shepard said. “If you don’t have anything planned, then a judge makes the decision.”
Call Staff Writer Scott Bentley at (586) 498-1090.
Garden decorations do not have to only be aesthetic. Many items that can decorate gardens also serve different purposes, including bringing certain animals and insects to an area. Bright items can bring hummingbirds and orioles, while other elements can provide homes for pollinators.
“When we’re thinking about gardens these days, it’s very important to consider pollinators,” Keehn said.
Playing to the senses is also something to keep in mind. Plants can provide scents, while decorations can be a source of complimentary sounds, such as the trickling of a fountain or the ringing of wind chimes.
While there are different approaches, philosophies, themes and ideas as to how and why to decorate gardens, most important is that you find satisfaction from the garden you create.
“I think people should be really free to express themselves, no different from how they express themselves and decorate the inside,” Schwartz said. “I am a big believer that anything goes. … It really has to be something that speaks to you, something that you’re going to enjoy seeing there in your garden.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
0262-2516
spotlight has not been an easy road, with director Rodel Salazar’s tough directing style.
“Stagecrafters is not for the weak. Our director is an amazing artist, his vision for the music and what he’s given us, it’s not like just getting onstage and singing some, you know, he’s making sure that we are doing character development and lots of choreography,” London said. “The process is tough, but it’s rewarding in a way, and it’s a lot of fun.”
Farr said to be a part of Stagecrafters and constantly see people make their way back into theater is always a delight.
Calendar
ments, photos, artifacts and more about unique early 20th century housing, open 2-5 p.m. Saturdays and Wednesdays until Dec. 31, Clawson Historical Museum, 41 Fisher Court, also on display noon-1 p.m. April 26, Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, cityofclawson.com, (248) 588-9169, historicalmuseum@cityofclawson.com
Widowed Friends breakfasts: 9:30 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesday of month, The Avenue Family Restaurant, 31253 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak, RSVP to Marilyn at (248) 543-1018, widowedfriends.com
Harmony United Chorus: Open rehearsals for men’s barbershop-style group from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave., greaterdetroit.org
Bingo: 12:30-1:30 p.m. every first Friday of month, Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais Ave. in Royal Oak, (248) 246-3900
Monthly groups: For kids, LGBTQIA+, book clubs for horror fans and more, Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, (248) 246-3700, romi.gov/1532/ library
• STEM and electronics hobbyists meet 6-7:30 p.m. every first Wednesday, journaling and discussion
“It’s so beautiful for people to be able to come back to the theater after so long and to be in these amazing shows,” Farr said.
Farr said that the show’s upbeat and exciting music changes are the showstopping elements of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
“I just hope people can really appreciate that they’ll never know what to expect after every song,” Farr said. “There will be maybe a few songs where the audience will be like, ‘I’m getting into the groove of this,’ and then there will be a completely different genre out of nowhere.
“I think that really keeps people on their toes. But it’s also a really happy, family-friendly show,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of shows in the last year, and sometimes you just
group for older adults meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. every third Monday, book club meets 1-2 p.m. every third Wednesday, and writing group meets 6-7:30 p.m. every fourth Wednesday, Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, (248) 588-5500, clawson.lib. mi.us
Royal Oak Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays from early May-late November and Saturdays year-round, also antiques and collectibles from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays year-round (except Easter), plus food truck rally with live music, vendors, face painting, kids crafts and bounce house from 4-8 p.m. every second Wednesday of month through October, additional special dates include flower and garden day May 24, 100 vendors and corn roast Aug. 9, and harvest festival featuring music, food and more Oct. 8, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, romi. gov/1533/farmers-market, read story about market celebrating centennial at candgnews.com
Health workshops: For hypertension, diabetes, pre-diabetes and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups
ADHD meetings: Hosted by CHADD of Eastern Oakland County, for adults and parents, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Zoom, see schedule on chadd.net/chapterevents/527
C & G Newspapers publishes 21 papers in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties:
Editor: David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com
Reporters: Taylor Christensen | (586) 498-1081 | tchristensen@candgnews.com
Mike Koury | (586) 498-1077 | mkoury@candgnews.com
Sports: Scott Bentley | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
(586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com
need a show that’s happy and colorful and really positive.” London said the show holds a special place in his heart and was one of the main reasons he found himself back in the spotlight.
“I hope everyone just remembers to be a dreamer. I know it sounds really cliche, but in the beginning of the musical, one of the narrators sings a phrase. They say, ‘If you think it, want it, dream it, then it’s real. You are what you feel,’” London said. “It just kind of sets the tone for me at least. It’s so powerful.”
Tickets for “Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat” can be found and purchased on stagecrafters.org/on-stage/ main-stage/102-joseph.html.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
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Police investigate driver who allegedly brandished a gun
ROCHESTER HILLS — On March 10, a woman reported a traffic altercation involving the brandishing of a handgun that occurred at 8:10 p.m. March 7. The victim stated that she was traveling westbound on M-59 when a 2019 white Camaro pulled up behind her in the left-hand lane. She said she changed lanes so that he could pass her, and as he did, he gave her the middle finger. They both ended up getting slowed by construction, at which time she passed him again. As she was driving by him, the driver of the white Camaro looked at her and held up a black handgun. She indicated that he did not point it at her but raised it in a manner to intimidate her. She slowed down so that she could get behind him and he ended up getting in front of her. At this time, she took a picture of the vehicle and license plate. They both exited M-59 onto Crooks Road, at which time the suspect continued driving south as she drove in the opposite direction. Police have identified the driver and vehicle, adding that the registered owner of the vehicle, a 32-year-old man from Sterling Heights, does have a “KIE 45cal 8 shot handgun” registered to him. The victim stated that she could identify the suspect if she saw him again. Police were investigating. Women arrested for retail fraud
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to Lululemon, 340 N. Adams Road, for a retail fraud that had just occurred at 3:40 p.m. March 18. A store employee stated that five females entered the store with empty bags. Once inside the store, the five females started putting clothing into the bags and once the bags were full, the females exited the store after making no attempt to pay for the items. The females were observed fleeing the scene driving a Mazda CX-30. The store employee obtained the license plate and provided it to the responding deputies. Deputies located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at Walton Road and Walnut Road. A search of the vehicle revealed all the stolen items. An inventory of stolen clothing totaled over $2,600. Deputies requested store video footage and a statement of loss. The suspects — which included a 22-year-old female from Pontiac, a 17-year-old female from Saginaw, an 18-year-old female from Saginaw, a 19-year-old female from Saginaw, a 17-year-old female from Saginaw, and a 15-year-old female from Saginaw — were arrested and transported to the Orion Substation for processing.
Man arrested for drunken driving
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Police made an arrest for operating while intoxicated near Telegraph Road and Hickory Grove Road March 16. Officers responded to the area for a report of a rollover crash. The vehicle was located, but the occupants fled on foot. A K-9
Telegraph Road into a wooded area near Hickory Grove Road where they were located.
The driver of the vehicle, a male, admitted to having consumed “a couple beers,” according to reports, and was arrested for operating while intoxicated. He was transported to the nearest hospital for his injuries and was released from custody. Blood toxicology results were pending.
Woman arrested for retail fraud
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Officers made an arrest for retail fraud third-degree at Target, 2400 S. Telegraph Road, March 13. A Target loss prevention officer detained a woman for stealing two Barbie dolls valued at $33.90. Loss prevention stated the woman entered the store with an unopened “Ken” Barbie doll in a Target plastic bag. The woman went to the toy section and selected two more of the same kind of Ken dolls off the shelf. She then brought all three of the dolls to customer service and tried to return all three of them, but was denied. She then started to walk toward the exit with all three dolls, passing all points of sale without attempting to pay for the merchandise. She was issued a citation for retail fraud and released from the scene pending a court date at the 48th District Court.
Clothing stolen from porch
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Police took a report for a larceny near the 1200 Block of Hidden Lake Drive March 14. The victim stated they put several items of custom clothing on their porch for their dry-cleaning service to pick up in the early morning. A short time later, they discovered the clothing was stolen off their porch. The clothing reportedly totaled $3,950. Police were investigating.
DTE impersonators on the loose CLAWSON — On March 14, the Clawson Police Department posted a warning on its facebook page outlining a threat involving fake DTE Energy workers.
The post reads: “We recently had a resident approached by three unknown male suspects. They claimed to be with DTE and were checking electrical issues in the area. One of the males told the resident that he needed to check the electrical panel in the basement.”
While downstairs, the resident began to hear footsteps upstairs. She then pushed her way past the men, who fled the scene in a white pickup truck.
“If anyone arrives at your home or business claiming they are DTE, please ask to see a badge with a photo ID,” DTE Energy said in a prepared statement. “If the person refuses to show their badge, do not allow them entry into your home. If the person becomes agitated or acts in a strange manner, call 911 immediately.”
Contractor reportedly scams resident WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 6, a 60-year-old homeowner reported a fraud complaint to the West Bloomfield Police Department
The homeowner hired a contractor to install a sunroom in his home on Autumn Hill Drive last July. The total price was $121,000. The homeowner paid a 63-year-old contractor from White Lake a deposit of $31,000 by personal check.
According to police, the suspect cashed the check and never returned to the home to do any work. Although the homeowner has demanded to receive his money back from the suspect, it has reportedly not been returned.
Senior gets scammed WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 6, an 81-year-old resident reported a fraud to the West Bloomfield Police Department.
After completing a Google search for Amazon returns, the senior found an “855” telephone number that he thought was Amazon.
According to police, the victim spoke to a person claiming to be Alex from Amazon. The senior gave “Alex” his username, password, and personal financial information.
“Alex” kept him on the phone for more than two hours and told him his account had been hacked.
“Alex” reportedly had the senior buy $500 in gift cards. He also had the senior give him the card and PIN numbers.
Later, the victim discovered an unauthorized $25,000 withdrawal from his credit union checking account.
Driver arrested after drugs, gun found SOUTHFIELD — Officers stopped a vehicle for traffic offenses at 8:11 p.m. March 15 at West Eight Mile and Southfield roads. During the stop, police located a Taurus G3c compact 9mm pistol, marijuana and unprescribed pills. The driver was arrested.
Fake text message scams elderly victim TROY — At 1:34 p.m. March 14, a 71-year-old resident of Lovington Drive reported that she received a text message thanking her for her $255.79 subscription to Netflix.
The victim called the number provided to cancel since she had not subscribed. She spoke to a female who advised the resident that she had $240,000 in a bank account that she was not aware of.
The resident called a second number and spoke with a male who claimed he was an agent with the Department of Investigations. He instructed the resident to go to various locations and purchase gift cards
account.
The resident purchased 10 gift cards totaling $2,000 and provided pictures of each to the male. Fraudulent email leads to loss of money TROY — At 1 p.m. March 14, a 46-year-old resident of Livernois Road reported he received an email that was supposedly from DTE. The email informed him that his bill was overdue and provided a barcode for him to pay the balance and avoid shutoff. The victim was instructed to go to 7-Eleven and have the clerk scan the code, which he did, paying $494.61.
He later contacted DTE and was informed it was a scam.
Firearms stolen MADISON HEIGHTS — A resident of East China Township told police that sometime between 9 p.m. March 20 and 12:30 p.m. March 21, a West Bloomfield resident stole several firearms from the building he was renting in the 700 block of West 11 Mile Road. Police were investigating.
Drunk driver caught after hit-and-run
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 1 a.m. March 15, officers were dispatched to a nearby gas station regarding a vehicle accident that had occurred shortly before in Bloomfield Township. The suspect, a 37-yearold male from Troy, rear-ended the vehicle of the victim, a 60-year-old male resident, and left the scene. The victim followed the suspect and contacted the police. Upon speaking with the suspect, officers immediately noticed signs of intoxication. Upon failing field sobriety evaluations, the suspect was placed under arrest and given a citation for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Intoxicated man punches resident at bar
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 8 p.m. March 12, officers were dispatched to a bar in the 100 block of Willits Street for a report of an individual who assaulted somebody and refused to leave the establishment. After arriving at the restaurant, officers escorted the suspect, a 35-year-old male resident, out of the bar. The suspect was visibly intoxicated. Officers then spoke with the victim, a 32-year-old male resident, who stated that while watching a sports game on TV, the suspect sat in the empty seat next to him. Shortly after, the suspect punched the victim in the shoulder without provocation.
The suspect has had multiple public intoxication incidents in Birmingham in the past. The suspect was given a citation for disturbing the peace.
