Rochester Road resurfacing might take away parking from Royal Oak businesses
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Several local businesses received a letter regarding next year’s Rochester Road resurfacing project that has raised concerns and questions about the potential impact on parking.
This is scheduled to be spoken about at a City Commission meeting at 7 p.m. April 28 at Royal Oak City Hall, 203 S. Troy St.
Royal Oak released a statement on the issue.
“As part of the project, the City will evaluate several small, business-frontage parking areas located in the public right-of-way along Rochester Road,” the statement reads.
“As Rochester Road continues to attract new investment, this is a moment to reevaluate how we
See RESURFACING on page 15A
CLAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT, 12, TAKING CALCULUS CLASSES AT OCC
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
CLAWSON — Ian Konkolesky is the real life “Young Sheldon.”
The 12-year-old is so precocious at math that he is currently taking his second calculus class at Oakland Community College.
Ian is a sixth grade student at Clawson Middle School, but for the last hour of his day, he attends OCC math classes online in a separate room.
“He started OCC classes at the beginning of this year,” Ian’s mom, Rebecca, said. “He actually finished Calculus I while he was still 11 years old and in sixth grade.”
Ian’s brain has always been wired for math.
“When I was really young, like 2 years old, I came across this toy cash register that also doubled as a calculator,” he said. “I looked at it and mashed a couple of buttons and I asked, ‘Wait, how did the numbers get there?’ So, I just kept on mashing and typing, and eventually I just figured out how addition, subtraction and multiplication and division worked. And from there on I was obsessed.”
Ian’s parents said their first memory of him being a math wiz was during a road trip.
“I think he was about 4 years old, so not even in kindergarten, we were going to Port Huron and I had my phone up there with the navigation, and at one point he asked how long until
See KONKOLESKY on page 15A
Ian Konkolesky, 12, of Clawson, is currently taking Calculus II at Oakland Community College.
Photo provided by Rebecca Konkolesky
‘THIS
IS A LITTLE SLICE OF HISTORY’
DETROIT’S AUTO LEGACY EMBOSSED IN MICHIGAN INNOVATION DOLLAR
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — In April 2022 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Steve Bieda as the official liaison to the U.S. Mint for the development of design for the Michigan Innovation Dollar.
It was the perfect fit for the Warren resident who is a history buff and has an interest in coin collecting. For the past three years, the former state legislator and current Warren 37th District Court judge consistently met with various coin clubs around the state to come up with a theme and design for the collector coin. Many topics were considered to represent Michigan, including Motown, colleges and the Mackinac Bridge. Ultimately, the choice was made to honor Detroit’s automobile assembly line on the collector coin.
On April 8, Bieda and others involved with the process unveiled the Michigan Innovation Dollar during a ceremony at the Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave. The MotorCities National Heritage Area, the Michigan History Foundation and the Michigan State Numismatic Society hosted the event.
The Michigan Innovation Dollar features a 1930s-era assembly line in which a team of autoworkers are lowering an automobile body into place. On the flipside is the Statue of Liberty.
See DOLLAR on page 14A
Mark Zagata and Lisa Stoddard of the Michigan State Numismatic Society manage the sale of the new 2025 Michigan Innovation Dollar coin to collectors during the coin launch ceremony April 8 at the Detroit Historical Museum.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
International Glass53 to open May 3 at Habatat Galleries
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The annual and internationally recognized glass art show is back for the 53rd year at Habatat Galleries, 4400 Fernlee Ave. in Royal Oak. Glass53, featuring some of the finest glass artists in the world, will be opening May 3. The show includes 400 examples of studio glass art and will have the artists in attendance to speak about their pieces.
The May 3 Glass 53 Opening Night Gala will run from 8 to 10 p.m. and will include live glass blowing demonstrations by Michigan glass artist Andrew Madvin. The demonstrations will be taking place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Axiom Studio, 4706 Delemere Road, down the block from Habatat.
“It’s going to be an overall great experience for art and the Detroit community,” said Aaron Schey, vice president of Habatat Galleries. “We are approaching this exhibition as an experience. We are trying to get people to come and experience the glass. Many are here for the first time and get their socks shot off, and other longtime fans have been coming back for decades.”
ROHS production of ‘Our Town’ explores themes of life and death
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak High School Drama Club will be showcasing its talents in the show “Our Town,” a play by Thornton Wilder.
The heartfelt and thought-provoking production follows two families and their journey through childhood, adulthood, and the realities of life and death.
Audiences can see the show at 6:30 p.m. April 25 and 26 or 2 p.m. April 27 in the Royal Oak High School auditorium, 1500 Lexington Blvd.
TOP: Art Weintraub’s piece is titled “Just Beans.”
ABOVE: Andrew Madvin demonstrates glass blowing.
Photos provided by Linda Ashley
See
Griffin Lamb, Olivia Walker (in front) and Ryan Anglebrandt will be in the Royal Oak Drama Club’s rendition of “Our Town,” opening at 6:30 p.m. April 25.
Photo provided by Amy Murphy
Royal Oak continues initiative to protect the bees
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The annual practice of No Mow May has been unanimously approved for the fourth time since 2022 at the April 14 Royal Oak City Commission meeting.
No Mow May is a movement that encourages people to let their lawns grow during the month of May, which can make a positive impact on the environment and help protect bees.
“The No Mow May program helps local pollinators by preserving their winter habitats and providing early spring pollen and nectar sources,” the proposal document states.
The initiative also aligns with many of Royal Oak’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan goals including those related to water management, alternative lawn care practices and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
No Mow May is a part of a Bee City USA initiative.
This action also allows code enforcement not to write people tickets for not mowing their lawns, according to Susan Barkman, assistant city manager, who spoke at the meeting.
Participating residents can purchase a sign to place in their lawn throughout the month.
Signs will be available for purchase 3-7 p.m. April 26 during the Oakland County Earth Day Climate March, Rally and Fair at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road.
Signs can also be purchased at City Hall, 203 S. Troy St. All the funds raised from purchased signs will be donated toward buying native plants for inclusion in parks and pollinator gardens to expand the positive environmental impact, according to the proposal document.
One does not have to purchase a lawn sign to participate in No Mow May.
Commissioner Monica Hunt asked if participation had gone up in No Mow May since its inception in 2022.
“We’ve sold about 500 signs since its inception, so you know, that’s accumulative. But we assume that the people that bought them the first years are still using them,” said Judy Davids, community engagement specialist for the city of Royal Oak. “We are selling more signs each year for sure, but the first year we sold the most signs.”
According to beecityusa.org, lawns cover 40 million acres, or 2% of land in the US, making them the single largest irrigation crop.
“Lawns are mowed, raked, fertilized, weeded, chemically treated, and watered — sucking up time, money, and other resources,” the website states. “Lawns provide little benefit to wildlife, and are often harmful. Grass-only lawns lack floral resources and nesting sites for bees and are often treated with pesticides that harm bees and other invertebrates.”
Commissioner Brandon Kolo commented on the attention No Mow May receives.
“Every year this creates a lot of buzz in the community,” Kolo said. “But I also think it’s smart in that it’s creating awareness. … I’ve talked more about bees in the last four years than I think I have in my entire life before that. As a community, we are thinking more and more about this.”
Those who choose to participate do not have to go the entire month without mowing; it is an option to mow every two or three weeks, according to Bee City USA.
Commissioner Melanie Macey clarified that the parks will continue to be maintained and are not participating in No Mow May.
No Mow May is an optional initiative.
For more information on No Mow May and Bee City USA, visit beecityusa.org/ no-mow-may. For more information on No Mow May in Royal Oak, visit romi.gov.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
NEWS & NOTES
CLAWSON PARK GROUNDBREAKING EVENT APRIL 30
ROYAL OAK — Improvements at Clawson Park, 1901 Essex St. in Royal Oak, will be unveiled in a groundbreaking event April 30.
From 4:30 to 6 p.m. the public is invited to witness the changes to be made to Clawson Park during 2025 when the city of Royal Oak undertakes a major renovation to refurbish and modernize the park. The project will include the addition of a sidewalk, parking spaces, playground swings, a shaded picnic area adjacent to the playground, and a new Little League Baseball field.
According to a press release sent out by the city of Royal Oak, the improvements are possible because of funding through a Community Development Block Grant. The groundbreaking event will begin with a welcome and sign-in at 4:30, a guided stroll offering project details at 5 p.m., and a groundbreaking ceremony with city representatives at 5:30 p.m. Project team members will be available at the event to answer questions from community members.
ROS requesting enrollments for kindergarten and developmental kindergarten students
ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak Schools is currently accepting enrollments for the 2025-2026 school year for kindergarten and developmental kindergarten. Families are being encouraged to enroll early as developmental kindergarten class sizes are limited and filling quickly.
Enrolling early can ensure that families are getting important information and communications involving back-to-school events through the district’s kindergarten mailing list. Enrollment is fully digital. Parents can begin the process by visiting the online enrollment portal at royaloakschools.org. Enrollment is not considered complete until families receive a confirmation email from the district, according to a press release sent out by Royal Oak Schools.
Vision, hearing and dental screenings are not required at the time of enrollment but must be submitted before the first day of school. For more information, visit royaloakschools.org or contact the enrollment office at enrollment@ royaloakschools.org.
Royal
Oak Memorial Day Parade to take place May 26
ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade is coming up on May 26. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Main Street at Lincoln Avenue. The Memorial Day ceremony will immediately follow the parade at Centennial Commons, 221 E. Third St. For more information, visit romi.gov.
Mothers love flowers
ROYAL OAK — The annual Royal Oak in Bloom flower and garden sale, held annually on Mother’s Day for the past 31 years, brings people from all over to Royal Oak to shop for flowers.
The event will go from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11 and take place at the parking lots located at 150 W. Sixth St. (P3 Lot) and 163 Sixth St. (P7 Lot).
The shopping will also include plants, landscaping items and decorative elements for lawns. Vendors who attend offer a variety of different plants and flowers including tomato plants. For more information, visit royaloakchamber.com.
ROYAL OAK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM SPRING CONCERT
ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra’s last concert of the 2024-2025 season is coming up and is called “All You Need is Love.”
The spring concert will be taking place at 7:30 p.m. May 9 at Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave.
The show is directed by Eszter Horvath, who has programmed “La nuit et l’amour,” by Augusta Holmes; the “Love is All You Need” Beatles medley arranged and orchestrated by Bruce Healy; and “Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 17 “Little Russian,” by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the door and cost $20, $15 for students and seniors, and they are free for children 12 and younger. Bell-bottoms, paisley and beads are encouraged for a themed dress. For tickets and more information, visit royaloakorchestra.org.
File photos by Donna Dalziel
Glass
from page 3A
The Glass53 event will include two special exhibitions that will be new to the show.
“One is an artist named Robert Mickelsen, and he’s well known in the functional glass community. What that means is the pipe world of people who make elaborate pipes,” Schey said. “He’s not making pipes, but he’s using a program called Blender to build his work virtually and then create the designs physically with his talent and make the work in the real world.”
Mickelsen will have 12 different pieces on display showcasing different topics.
The second special exhibition is a precursor for a show coming up later in the year by an artist named Lino Tagliapietra.
“Lino is known throughout the world. We are going to have a very special presentation by him, probably at least eight to 10 works on display,” Schey said. “It’s something you must see. We’re going to do another show later on with him with more pieces, but we wanted to get a taste for this exhibition.”
Michigan artist Herb Babcock will be showing his pieces at Glass53. Babcock said he has witnessed the beginning of Habatat and growth since its opening in 1971.
“What’s unique about Habatat is that initially they were a wide variety of material, ceramics, prints, photography, painting as well as glass,” Babcock said. “But they realized sort of the energy that was being put into glass, not only locally, but on a national level, so they started promoting glass more specifically.”
Babcock said that Habatat started these glass shows early on, and since then it has grown into a world-renowned glass gallery.
“They kept growing to the point where they were the premier event happening in the United States. It’s one of the largest showings of international glass that happens every year,” he said. “The international (Glass53) is not only about the technique itself, it’s about what is being done with the technique in terms of fine art expression.”
Babcock aims to create work that speaks to the viewer in a way that is almost emotional, in a way that the viewer can make a connection to his art.
“In my sculptures, it is that harmonic balance of yes, you’re standing in front of the sculpture, and it’s an object, but all of a sudden, the gestures I put into it, the way it holds the light, the way it moves through space, it makes you reconcile that you are a human being here now and in reality, that is a success of any masterpiece,” he said.
Babcock creates his pieces using glass
ABOVE: Habatat Galleries, 4400 Fernlee Ave. in Royal Oak, will be hosting the 53rd annual International Glass Invitational Award Exhibition
May 3. Glass53 will run through Sept. 19.
BELOW: Dean Allison’s work will be on
at the Glass53 show.
infused with metal or stone.
Schey said that the show is always a way for him to see people connect with the art, artists and community.
“We want people to feel that art is important in our community and beyond. It’s something you should experience every day should you choose,” Schey said. “When someone buys a piece of art, they’re not only spending their money, they’re spending their time and their space. Every piece that you acquire is a part of you, and the work lives with the client who buys it longer than the artist that made it. So it becomes a part of their story, which is kind of exciting.”
The Glass53 exhibition will continue on after the opening night throughout August. Habitat Galleries is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
For more information on Habatat and the Glass53 event, visit habatat.com.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
display
Photos provided by Linda Ashley
CRIME WATCH
Jacket stolen from gym locker
ROYAL OAK — Between 1:43 and 3:30 p.m. April 7, an unknown person stole a jacket from an unlocked locker at the LA Fitness on Woodward Avenue.
Pedestrian crossing signal damaged
ROYAL OAK — Between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. April 6, an unknown person damaged a pedestrian crossing signal near South Main Street and West Harrison Avenue.
Vehicle stolen from parking lot
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported 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 Mansfield Avenue.
Package stolen off porch
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 5:22 and 8:22 a.m. April 1, an unknown person stole a package from the complainant’s front porch near North Wilson Avenue and North Campbell Road.
Sign stolen
ROYAL OAK — Sometime March 21 to March 30 an unknown person stole a sign that was near the sidewalk at G & S Market on Woodward Avenue. — Taylor Christensen
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
8A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW • APRIL 23, 2025
APRIL 23-25
Art show: Featuring hundreds of works by local students in kindergarten-12th grade, on display 9 a.m.-8 p.m. April 23-24 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. April 25, Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, ropl. org, read story at candgnews.com
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
Oakland County Earth Day: Climate rally and march through downtown Royal Oak from 3-4:30 p.m., also vendor fair with kids section from 4:30-7 p.m., Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, RSVP at turnoaklandcountygreen.com/oakland-county-march, read story at candgnews.com
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
Women’s Wellness Day: Free event for ages 25-75,
includes interactive doctor panels, sessions about caregiving, integrative medicine and therapy, mindfulness, narrative medicine and meal planning, and resources for anxiety reduction, self care and community wellness, 9 a.m.-noon, also chair yoga at 8 a.m., Rose Cancer Center (at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital), 3577 W. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak, register at corewellhealth.org/womenswellness-day
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
MAY 6
Royal Oak Woman’s Club meeting: Social time from 6-6:30 p.m., general meeting from 6:30-7:15 p.m. and program about financial literacy, budgeting tips, basic investing strategies and more from Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union’s Jolene Plotzke at 7:15 p.m., also light snacks and refreshments, plus Cindo de Mayo theme, 404 S. Pleasant St. in Royal Oak, rowc.org/events
MAY 8
Fashion show and luncheon fundraiser: Presented by Royal Oak Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, doors at 11 a.m., gourmet boxed lunch at 11:30 a.m. and fashion show at 12:15 p.m., Leon & Lulu, 96 W. 14 Mile Road in Clawson, RSVP by April 27, (248) 5855600, jennifer.woodard@usc.salvationarmy.org
Understanding sleep cycles: Free presentation by Aaron Wallace from Balance Your Fitness, 5 p.m., Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, (248) 588-5500
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
MAY 9
‘All You Need is Love’ concert: Performance by Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra includes The Beatles medley and more, 7:30-9:15 p.m., Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave., royaloakorchestra.com
MAY 12
Royal Oak Garden Club: Social time at 6:30 p.m. and meeting from 7-8 p.m., Unity of Royal Oak, 2500 Crooks Road, also meets June 9, royaloakgardenclub@ gmail.com, royaloakgardenclubmi.org
MAY 18
‘Nature’s Wonders’ concert: Performance by Royal Oak Concert Band and Woodward Avenue Jazz Orchestra, 3 p.m., Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave., royaloakconcertband.org
ONGOING
‘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 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 advertisements, 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
‘Gla53’: Features 400 pieces of glass art from around world, exhibit on display May 3-Sept. 19, Habatat Galleries, 4400 Fernlee Ave. in Royal Oak, habatat.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
Continued on page 9A
CALENDAR COMMUNITY
• STEM and electronics hobbyists meet 6-7:30 p.m. every first Wednesday, journaling and discussion 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
Farmers markets: 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, 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, (248) 246-3276, farmersmarket@romi.gov, romi.gov/1533/ farmers-market, read story about market celebrating centennial at candgnews.com
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 17 and 31, June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, and Aug. 9, Southeast Municipal Lot at South Main Street and Gardner Avenue, cityofclawson. 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
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THE NECESSARY BURDEN OF TEEN CAR INSURANCE
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT— Obtaining a driver’s license is one of the major milestones in life but also can become a liability very quickly.
“Statistics show that young drivers are involved in more car accidents, and many companies consider them a greater risk,” a fact sheet shared at michigan.gov states. “As a result, automobile insurance will be one of the most expensive costs teens will face in relation to obtaining their driver’s license and earning the privilege to drive.”
To help ensure that young drivers and their parents don’t find themselves in a sticky situation with a car accident, parents must take action to put their child on car insurance as soon as the child gets their learner’s permit.
“People are mostly nervous about the fact that their car insurance for teen drivers does rake their prices up pretty high,” said Azaila Powell, of Powell Insurance Agency. “In the event of an accident, your child needs to be listed on your own insurance, because it can cause voiding their insurance and your own.”
In terms of costs for insuring a teenager, every company is different, according to Sue Crowe, an insurance agent with State Farm in St. Clair Shores.
Crowe said that at State Farm, it is nearly impossible to predict the general cost of insurance after adding a teen because of an algorithm they use to give families coverage that makes sense based on their personal situations.
“You can’t even guestimate anymore. Thirty or 40 years ago, I could tell you exactly what it would be. Now, all of us insurance companies have our secret algorithms, and
In terms of costs for insuring a teenager, every company is different, according to Sue Crowe, an insurance agent with State Farm in St. Clair Shores.
Shutterstock photo
for me to spit out the cost, I can’t even do that anymore,” Crowe said. “It used to be so easy. I think insurance companies are better at matching a risk to the price now… you need to find a good, reputable company with a good agent that can help guide you when you are making the choices to pick out the discounts.”
Every state is different when it comes to insurance policies. In Michigan, a teen has to be 18 or older to be able to purchase their own car insurance, according to Powell. The teen driver must be put onto their parent’s insurance policy as soon as they receive their learner’s permit.
Michigan is a no-fault state, and the law requires people to have no-fault insurance on all cars. If you have an accident, no-fault insurance will pay for the injuries to the people involved and for the damages your car does to other people’s property, according to michigan.gov.
“It is against the law to drive, or let your car be driven, without no-fault insurance. If you are caught driving without insurance, you could be fined $500, sentenced to jail time, and have your license revoked,” ac-
cording to michigan.gov.
“If you don’t notify your car insurance company of a new driver and they are the cause of an accident while they are driving, the insurance may not cover your teens medical bills,” Powell said. “They also may not be able to sue the at-fault driver who caused an accident if they are not listed, even if your teenager wasn’t found guilty or at fault, even if they suffered an injury. Putting off adding your child to your car insurance policy is definitely not a good call.”
To help parents navigate saving money on car insurance, Crowe said it is important to find a trustworthy insurance agent who can help find all of the discounts that the company has to offer.
“Take advantage of every discount that an insurance company has to offer. You need to find a good, reputable company with a good agent that can help guide you when you are making the choices to pick out the discounts.” Crowe said. “For example, we (State Farm) have a good student discount that has a very good effect on the cost… Bottom line, buy a safer car, because with a safer car, the less extreme injuries can happen, and therefore the cost of the insurance is reflective.”
Making sure that new drivers are practicing safe driving is another major suggestion that both Crowe and Powell emphasized
to help avoid accidents in the first place.
“A lot of parents don’t talk to their teens about driving safety. There are times it seems that they may have left it up to the drivers training school to kind of help, but it’s important for parents to be involved in that process,” Powell said. “Distracted driving is a very serious issue that goes on within our
community. It is important for teen drivers to have guidance when it comes to driving and understand the importance of not being on their phones.”
For more information about teen car insurance in Michigan, visit michigan.gov. Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
CONTAINER GARDENING 101:
TIPS TO HAVE THRIVING PLANTS IN SMALL SPACES
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Not all gardens need to be grown in the ground.
According to Lindsey Kerr, the Wayne County consumer horticulture educator for Michigan State University Extension, container gardening is a great option for those who want to enjoy gardening without the need to dig holes in their backyards or for aspiring gardeners who do not have backyards at all.
“Container gardening is great for people who live in smaller spaces, maybe in a condo or an apartment,” Kerr said. “But even homeowners that have maybe a deck or a patio, container gardening can be great because you might not have to bend over as much.”
Kerr advised beginner container gardeners to keep an eye out for keywords like “patio,” “baby,” “bush” or “dwarf” when purchasing fruits and vegetables.
“If you want to grow squash in a pot, then you would want a dwarf or a bush-type squash plant. It’s not going to vine. Squash, like zucchini, can get huge. They bred ones that the plant is smaller, but the produce is the same size,” Kerr said.
She added that, ultimately, one would want a bigger pot, around 18 inches across, for things like tomatoes, because they can grow tall. Wind could cause them to topple over in a smaller pot, and the plant might dry out faster in a smaller pot.
Kerr added that gardeners should also be careful not to put young, small plants in a pot that is too big to avoid rotting. Instead, she encourages container gardeners to start small with a 4- or 6-inch pot and gradually work up to the 18-inch pot as the plant grows.
“I tell people to only plant one tomato plant or one pepper plant or one eggplant in a pot. I don’t think it’s a good idea to put other things in a pot with them. It’s just too much competition,” Kerr said.
MSU Extension Greenhouse and Floriculture Extension Educator Caitlin Splawski, who is based in Oakland County, shared how to ensure success for co-inhabiting plants in a container.
“The rule of thumb is to have a thriller, a filler and a spiller in a container so that you kind of mix and match those different height levels within the container,” Splawski said.
Splawski said a thriller is the center or the tallest plant. The fillers spread out under the thriller to cover the soil, and the spillers trail over the sides of the container.
She shared that a combination of plants in a sunny spot could have a mangave as the thriller, since they have fibrous tissue with a high water-holding capacity, paired with angelonia as the filler and an ornamental oregano as the spiller.
“Those two plants (angelonia and ornamental oregano) are going to use up a little more moisture, which is fine when you’re combining it with one that doesn’t use quite as much moisture, but they can all tolerate full sunshine, and that will make them flower more,” Splawski said.
She added that most plants need attention on a weekly
basis, so tools like self-waterers can help to keep the moisture level consistent, and some pots have water reservoirs to allow the plant to access additional water if needed.
“You can use little tricks like that to kind of help keep those pots maintained, and just knowing your preferences as a gardener is important,” Splawski said.
She explained that gardeners who don’t want to have to worry about checking on their plants so much might prefer plants that require part shade since they can do well with only six hours or less of sun.
She shared an example of some partially shaded plants that could coexist in a container and combine different textures, including alocasia as the thriller, Persian shield as the spiller and euphorbia as a filler.
Splawski encouraged gardeners to combine herbs with flowers, if they’d like, but advised gardeners to be careful when using pesticides on ornamental plants that are combined with edible plants.
“You can combine all sorts of flowers with herbs. You just want to make sure that you know you’re treating them in a way that is going to be safe for you to eat. So, steer clear from putting any pesticides on those containers. If you are someone that uses those chemicals, you’re going to want to keep in mind that you’ve got edible things in the pot,” she said.
Splawski added that gardeners pulling out their containers for the new growth season might be pleasantly surprised to find some perennial herbs that survived the Michigan winter.
“When you are rehabbing your containers for the season, you might have some perennial herbs that can last in those containers for you over the winter. And all you have to do is build in some annuals around them, and it gives you a nice start,” Splawski said.
Both Kerr and Splawski warned Michigan gardeners who have a case of spring fever to hold off on planting just yet, with some exceptions for hearty plants such as kale, lettuce, snap peas and pansies. Otherwise, Kerr said to keep a watchful eye on the weather, and it is usually safe to plant around Memorial Day.
“We can plant those kinds of things in pots and have them outside, and they’ll be OK. If it’s going to get below freezing, then I would just cover those pots. You can cover them with blankets or old towels or bedsheets, and that helps hold in the heat overnight, and then you take those covers off in the morning. But I would wait till late May to plant anything like tomatoes and eggplant and peppers and cucumbers, melons, squash, beans — those things like to be hot,” Kerr said.
Gardeners are encouraged to reach out to the MSU Extension with any questions at www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening. The MSU Extension gardening hotline, (888) 678-3464, operates from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“It’s a free resource that Michigan State University Extension provides to everybody in Michigan. So we just want people to know that so we can fulfill our mission of serving the people of Michigan,” Kerr said.
Lettuce can be grown around this time of year for eager gardeners who have a case of spring fever. Pictured is lettuce grown in an aluminum lasagna pan.
Photo provided by Lindsey Kerr
This mangave in the center paired with angelonia — the white flowers — and an ornamental oregano are an example of a thriller, filler and spiller that can coexist in a pot together.
Photo provided by Caitlin Splawski
When choosing a tomato or other vegetables to grow in a container, Lindsey Kerr, of MSU Extension, advises gardeners to look for keywords like “patio,” “baby,” “bush” or “dwarf.”
Photo provided by Lindsey Kerr
Our Town
from page 3A
Tickets are available at rohsdrama.com. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for students and children.
Zoe Hubbard-Reinstein, a senior at ROHS, will be playing the part of the narrator.
“I love the part; it’s very different from the townspeople. It’s really cool as an alternative role,” Hubbard-Reinstein said. “I guide the audience through what’s going on, through different time changes and things like that.”
The show is broken up into three acts. The first act is called “The Daily Life,” the second is called “Love and Marriage,” and the third and final act is called “Death and Eternity.”
“I really like the family dynamics and how all of the characters interact. It’s really interesting to see all of these different types of people being represented,” she said.
Abbey Lilly-Lacca, drama director at ROHS, said that “Our Town” is a timeless classic that is a great way to showcase the talent and drive of the drama students.
“It was written to be a time capsule of early American life, and it really endured as a classic play. I really love the timelessness of it, and the fact that over 100 years later, students connect those stages of life that the characters are going through,” Lilly-Lacca said. “The students are able to connect with
what people went through at the turn of the century, and we have really discussed the similarities and differences we experience today.”
The students played a big part in the choosing of the show, Lilly-Lacca said, as they wanted to do an emotional piece.
“When I discussed with our drama club officers and the drama club at large what they were interested in doing for our spring play, a lot of them expressed they wanted to do a serious drama,” Lilly-Lacca said. “They felt that throughout high school they had done a lot of comedy and they had done a lot of flashy shows. They wanted to do something that was more stripped down and serious, and that’s also what ‘Our Town’ is known for.”
The show specifically does not use many props and has minimal costumes and minimal sets. It’s an opportunity for the students to dive into a different genre of performance and show that they are capable of acting without much technical support.
“It’s been really challenging for them to scale back and to not have as many set and prop pieces that they are used to having,” Lilly-Lacca said. “I was really impressed that they recognized they wanted to have that different experience, and I was happy to choose ‘Our Town’ because I have read it or seen it in different stages of my life, and I do think it’s just a beautiful play about life.”
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
From left, Griffin Lamb, Olivia Walker, Ryan Anglebrandt, Zoe Hubbard-Reinstein, Lillian Navin, Miles Goecke and Amado Nolasco will perform “Our Town” April 25-27 in the Royal Oak High School auditorium.
Photo provided by Amy Murphy
According to a MotorCities National Heritage Area press release, the design was created by U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program designer Ronald D. Sanders and was sculpted by U.S. Mint Medallic artist John P. McGraw.
“I was delighted by the way it looked,” Bieda said when he first saw the coin. “This is a little slice of history.”
The assembly line concept hit close to home for Bieda, who grew up in an automotive family. His dad worked for General Motors and Chrysler, his grandpa worked on the Model T assembly line, and Bieda had summer internships at the GM Tech Center in Warren.
During the ceremony, Michigan History Foundation Director Bill Arnold talked about the innovations that contributed to the automobile industry and assembly line technology “for which our state is worldrenowned.”
“This is our history. That’s why we’re so committed to preserving and interpreting that history,” Arnold said. “We’re so proud to be a part of this commemorative effort and celebrate the legacy of the state of Michigan and our people whose contributions to innovation are represented by this Innovation Dollar.”
Brian Yopp, deputy director of the MotorCities National Heritage Area, also addressed the crowd.
“The assembly line is an innovation that revolutionized auto production, making cars affordable to the masses and literally putting the world on wheels,” Yopp said. “It took an idea that was a craft — they were making cars by hand one at a time — that exploded into the industry that we know and love.
“The story we’re telling didn’t start too far from here. Not too far down Woodward
Avenue, going towards the river, Ransom E. Olds owned a place. He patented an assembly line and had a plant here in Detroit before it burned,” Yopp said. “The story moves to an area called Milwaukee Junction. This was sort of a bed of automobile manufacturing in the early 1900s. That’s where a lot of folks were trying to get their start. You see the stories of Packard and Hudson.”
Yopp said the Highland Park Ford Plant is “where things got launched and started” and “most people got their image of what the assembly line was and the impact it made more than a century later.”
The U.S. Mint made arrangements to have coins on sale for $1 after the ceremony, with a limit of two coins per person. The coins will not be available in banks. The American Innovation Dollars struck with a circulation quality finish will not be released to the Federal Reserve for general circulation. The unveiling ceremony was made possible through donations from the sponsors that permitted the coins to be sold at face value for $1.
The collector coins will cost higher than face value because they are offered on the U.S. Mint’s website, usmint.gov. According to Bieda, the cost will be $36.25 for 25 coins, or a bag of 100 for $123.50. He said all of the coins at the April 8 ceremony can be used for commerce and were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Bieda said the coins are being sold through eBay now from people who were at the unveiling. There are plans to put the coin on display at the Detroit Historical Museum.
During the ceremony, Kathy Freeland, of the Michigan Numismatic Association, and Rebecca Salminen Witt, chief strategy and marketing officer of the Detroit Historical Society, spoke to attendees. American Numismatic Association President Tom Uram reminded everyone that National Coin Week is April 20-26 this year.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
Warren 37th District Court Judge Steve Bieda, right, hands a Michigan Innovation Dollar coin to Jeremy Dimick, director of Collections and Curatorial at the Detroit Historical Society. Since April 2022, Bieda has served as the official liaison to the U.S. Mint for the development of design for the Michigan Innovation Dollar.
Resurfacing
from page 1A
use our right-of-way. While on-street parking has historically served us well, we also see potential in converting some of these spaces to green infrastructure that enhances walkability, manages stormwater, and contributes to a more vibrant and connected corridor,” Joe Gacicoh, city manager, said in a prepared statement.
The press release states that at this time no decision has been made, and no formal proposals are under consideration.
“Each location will be reviewed individually, with attention to context and stakeholder input,” the press release states.
The press release states that the city engineering staff sent out information to business owners who might be affected by this.
John Spreitzer, owner of Green Lan-
Konkolesky
from page 1A
we get there, and I looked at my phone and said 13 minutes,” Rebecca Konkolesky said. “I heard him in the back, sort of thinking, whispering to himself, and he comes back and says, ‘That’s 780 seconds.’”
Rebecca Konkolesky has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Wayne State University, and father Bill Konkolesky is the academic testing coordinator at Oakland Community College. Ian also has a 14-yearold sister, Alex, who is an honors student herself.
“I have a degree in mathematics myself, but I never really pushed it on the kids too much. He just sort of picked it up,” Rebecca Konkolesky said. “He’s been self-driven. It’s all YouTube, and books, but mostly You-
tern Pizza, 4326 Rochester Road in Royal Oak, said that if the green space gets approved by the City Commission, he will probably have to move out of that building.
“The letter specifically stated that this (the green space) was recommended,” Spreitzer said. “The letter came from the engineering department, and that is their recommendation to the commission to replace parking spots with green space.”
Spreitzer wants to make people aware of the meeting in the hopes that they will show up and request this to not go through. He said his neighboring businesses would also be greatly affected by this change.
The first Green Lantern pizza restaurant started in 1955, but the location in Royal Oak was the first carryout location. The spots that would be taken by green space are four spots out front that the Royal Oak Green Lantern uses for carryout spots.
“That specific location (Royal Oak) is
Tube that he’s gotten into and he’s figured it all out.”
Rebecca Konkolesky said that she grew up in a mathematical household herself and has always been enamored by the clear-cut nature of math, but never wanted to force her kids to pursue it.
“I didn’t want to force it on anyone. … Sometimes I would play math games with the kids but never really pushed any kind of higher math onto them,” she said.
Ian said his favorite math so far is Calculus II, which he is currently enrolled in at OCC. He said he is learning about summation, integration and differential equations.
“I just like math,” he said. “I’m proud of myself for being at such a high level at such a young age.”
Belle Kimmel, Ian’s Calculus II teacher at OCC, said that the 12-year-old thinks in a way that isn’t the same as other students.
the busiest carryout we have; it’s the first carryout that we started 20 years ago,” Spreitzer said. “Right now, we only have access to eight parking spots. The strip mall is owned by somebody else, so that gentleman has been very nice to me and allowed us to use all of the parking over the last 20 years. But if he decides to say, ‘No more,’ I have no more parking at all, except for the eight spots, four of them being out front.”
Spreitzer said that the parking lot behind the Green Lantern is always full, and there is no way that it would be able to be utilized during the busiest weekend hours, as it is always packed.
“The letter from the city is basically saying, well, we have enough street parking per code, thus pushing everybody into the neighboring neighborhoods, which on a Friday night alone, we have 14 drivers, 14 kitchen staff, and need 20 parking spots just for my staff,” he said. “We have roughly
“My students submit notes after watching course videos, writing down the steps they take to solve a problem,” Kimmel said in an OCC press release. “The steps that Ian writes are not typical. He uses a different angle, which I find interesting.”
Rebecca Konkolesky said that she is particularly grateful for the Clawson teachers that have been assisting her son through this time.
“Last year when he was in elementary school, he was given the opportunity to test out of every class up through calculus,” she said. “It was really because of the administrators at the Clawson Schools that he was able to do that. … This was such an unusual thing and they really went to bat for him.”
Rebecca Konkolesky said that she and Bill asked the school if they could accommodate his abilities in fifth grade.
“In fifth grade, he was basically taking sixth grade math, and he was bored out of
250 pickup orders on a Friday night, so that would be pushed without the parking spots up front; the neighborhoods would be taking all of that traffic.”
Spreitzer said it’s not just him; it’s all of those neighboring businesses affected if this goes through.
“We are more than willing to work with the city to improve that front parking lot, to keep it parking up there,” he said. “It’s not like we want to stick the city with the bill — we are more than happy to pay for it — but hopefully the commission will come to terms and use some sense, and we will be able to work together and get this done, because I think it’s the best for everybody.”
For more information on City Commission meetings, visit romi.gov. Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
his mind,” she said. “They kind of set him aside and had him do ninth grade ingenuity, and he was bored with that. So then we were just like, ‘What can we do?’ and they said he could try to test out because he really wanted to take calculus, so it was totally him driving it, and he did the work and tested out of everything.”
When Ian is not studying math, he said a hobby of his is baking.
“I make brownies, ice cream, scones, cookies. I am actually going to make brownies tomorrow,” he said.
The future for Ian is bright, and his mother predicts that by the time he is in college, he will be taking master’s-level math courses.
Ian said he is most likely going to pursue a degree in math, maybe focusing on engineering or architecture.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
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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
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Man taken to hospital after running around naked, acting ‘bizarre’
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to the area of S. Livernois and Brompton Drive for a welfare check at 1:01 a.m. March 22. The caller advised that an unknown naked male attempted to get into his vehicle through the sunroof. The male was last seen on foot in the wooded area of the subdivision. Deputies located the male, 31, of Rochester Hills, who was rambling and acting bizarre. He was ordered to the ground and taken into protective custody due to the nature of the call and his behavior. When asked what he had ingested (narcotics), he replied, “Everything.”
Deputies transported the male to the hospital for medical attention and evaluation. He was then turned over to hospital staff, who were advised on the circumstances. Deputies were able to locate his wife and parents. His wife advised that she had no knowledge that he had left their residence and that there is no history of drug abuse. She also checked their residence and found nothing. She further advised that his family does have a history of mental illness, but he had not been diagnosed.
Man with felony warrant arrested
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies received information that a Rochester Hills resident had an active felony warrant for receiving and concealing stolen property, and that he was driving a red 2009 Dodge Caliber at 8:35 p.m. March 24.
Deputies received a notification that the suspect car was near the area of Rochester Road and Owendale Road. Deputies responded to the area, located the vehicle, contacted the driver and arrested him on the felony warrant. A search of his vehicle revealed a loaded Glock 17 9 mm handgun. The vehicle was impounded, and the driver, 23, of Rochester Hills, was lodged at the Oakland County Jail pending arraignment.
Woman with warrant arrested; suspected narcotics found in her backpack
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to 2228 Crooks Road on the report of a suspicious woman carrying a backpack who was loitering in a shopping plaza at 6:37 p.m. March 25. The caller stated the woman had been peering into parked vehicles while in the parking lot. Deputies located the female, 35 of Burton, at which time she identified herself by a false name. Once identified, deputies learned that she had a valid warrant out of the 71-A District Court. The female was arrested and taken into custody. Following her arrest, a search of her person and belongings revealed suspected narcotics in her
County Jail, she complained about a medical issue. She was then transported to the hospital for examination and clearance. Once released from the hospital, she was transported to jail for lodging.
Borrowed car stolen overnight
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 9 a.m. March
28, officers were dispatched to the BIPD lobby for a stolen vehicle report. The victim, a 29-year-old male from Macomb, stated that he had allowed another individual, a 31-year-old male resident, to borrow his mother’s vehicle, which was stolen overnight.
The 31-year-old reported that he was unsure whether the key fob had been left inside the vehicle. A credit card that was inside the vehicle was later used fraudulently in Detroit on the same day. An investigation was ongoing.
Taser found in arrested suspect’s vehicle
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 9 p.m. March
27, officers on patrol near Woodward Avenue identified multiple vehicles in the bottom level of a parking area with their headlights on. Knowing that the parking area is a common location for unsanctioned car meets, officers informed the parties that the parking area was private property and that they had to leave.
As the vehicles were leaving, officers noticed two of the three vehicles had unreadable plates. Officers followed the vehicles and performed a traffic stop.
Upon speaking with the suspect, a 24-year-old male from Hamtramck, officers learned he was driving without a driver’s license and that his license had been suspended.
Officers arrested the suspect and found a Taser in his vehicle, for which he did not have a permit.
Unlocked vehicle with keys inside stolen
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 8 a.m. April
1, police were dispatched to the 800 block of Wimbleton, where a vehicle was stolen from the driveway overnight.
Its 26-year-old owner said the vehicle was unlocked with the keys inside.
Larceny reported in Bloomfield Square sub
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Police took a report for a larceny in the Bloomfield Square subdivision on March 29. The victim stated two metal “R” and one metal “L,” approximately 10” x 10” in size, were stolen off their subdivision entrance sign. In front of the missing letters were signs painted with the individual
were investigating.
Yeti cooler stolen from store
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department took a third-degree retail fraud report from a sporting goods store in the 2100 block of South Telegraph Road March 25. The manager reported that a male suspect approached the cash register with a yellow Yeti cooler and bottle of water. The suspect stated he had previously purchased the Yeti cooler and a kayak but a store employee had forgotten to load it into his vehicle. The subject purchased the bottle of water, with cash, and left the store with the Yeti cooler and got into a white sedan. After the store inventory was checked, it was discovered they were one Yeti cooler short. The Yeti cooler was valued at $200. Police were investigating.
Fake DTE Energy call
nearly scams resident
TROY — At 11 a.m. March 31, a 38-year-old resident of Robinwood Street reported that he received a call from someone claiming to be with DTE Energy.
The caller informed him that he owed $492.61 for an energy bill. The resident was sent a barcode via text message and instructed to go to 7-Eleven to process the payment with the clerk.
After transferring the money at 7-Eleven, the clerk informed the resident that it may be a scam.
The resident then refused to provide the access code to the caller.
Resident reports $12,500 scam
TROY — Between April 1 at noon and April 2 at 7:30 p.m., a 79-year-old resident of Round Tree Drive reported that she received a text about charges to her Apple account and called the number provided.
She was told there were charges on her account and she would need to talk to a supervisor. Upon talking to the supervisor, the victim was instructed to withdraw a total of $12,500 from her bank and deposit it at a Bitcoin machine, which she did.
Inebriated driver crashes vehicle
TROY — At 10:30 p.m. April 3, officers were dispatched to the areas of Northfield Parkway and Long Lake Road for a single-vehicle crash.
Upon arrival, officers observed a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox fully engulfed in flames with heavy crash damage to the entire vehicle. Officers spoke with the driver, a 27-year-old male from Bloomfield Hills, and noted there was an odor of alcohol coming from his breath. The driver refused medical treatment from paramedics at the scene.
Police Department, where he was read his chemical test rights and refused to take a breath test. A search warrant to complete the blood draw was prepared and granted, and his blood was drawn by medical personnel. The case was turned over to the detective bureau for appropriate warrants once the blood results were returned.
Miscellaneous snacks stolen from snack bar
SOUTHFIELD — At 12:17 a.m. March 29, an