5/15/24 Eagle

CITY PREPARES FOR THE CELEBRATE BIRMINGHAM HOMETOWN PARADE

BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com

On Sunday, May 19, the Celebrate Birmingham Hometown Parade will begin at 1 p.m., followed by a party in Shain Park at 4 p.m.

Residents will line the streets as local businesses, civic groups and organizations march through town. There will also be public safety vehicles, unicyclists from the Redford Township Unicycle Club and more.

The parade’s path will begin near Booth Park and will end in Shain Park. They will march south along North Old Woodward Avenue, west along Maple Road and south along Bates Street.

The party following the parade is presented by Bloom Pediatrics and Bank of Ann Arbor. There will be face painting, mini train rides, a bounce house, crafts and more entertainment until 4 p.m. at the park. Guests can also purchase food from a hot dog stand and an ice cream truck. Sponsors include Bloom Pediatrics, Bank of Ann Arbor-Birmingham, Birmingham Family YMCA and Next Level Dance Center. More information can be found at bhamgov.org/parade.

Birmingham middle schools expand robotics programming

ADULT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT NEEDED, ORGANIZERS SAY

from adults in the community to support and supervise the program.

an all-girls team next year.

They are seeking more involvement

such as community outreach.

At the middle school level, students participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge, which gives students experience in hands-on engineering and also teaches kids soft skills,

Birmingham Public Schools’ robotics programs are part of the FIRST Robotics organization. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

“It is a really cool program that builds on a lot of real-world life skills for students that they don’t get in other programs through their experiences at schools,” Berkshire Middle School science teacher Phillip Goeman said.

Children line the route at a past Celebrate Birmingham Hometown Parade.

Photo provided by the city of Birmingham

State rep raises alarm on oily spill on Square Lake Road

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

WEST BLOOMFIELD — According to a press release from the West Bloomfield Police Department, at around 1 a.m. May 7, an oily substance was discovered on Square Lake Road, between St. Joseph Street and Pine Ridge Road.

“A preliminary examination of the oily substance determined it was not harmful. However, the road conditions are still too slick for traffic to pass through. As a result, the affected stretch of Square Lake Road, between St Joseph St and Pine Ridge Road, is closed until further notice while cleanup efforts take place,” the release states.

According to the release, motorists were being advised to avoid

Family, friends and staff at Cedarbrook Senior Living celebrated resident Anne Trudeau’s 102nd birthday April 29. During her party Trudeau was surrounded by pink decorations, her favorite color.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

On May 7, a substantial amount of an oily substance was reportedly discovered on Square Lake Road, between St. Joseph Street and Pine Ridge Road.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Produce your own TV show or podcast with BCTV

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Are you a Bloomfield Township resident interested in producing your own TV show or podcast? BCTV will host its next orientation at 10 a.m. May 21 at the BCTV Studio, 4190 Dublin Road in Bloomfield Township.

The one-hour orientation includes a 20-minute presentation and facility tour. People will also have the opportunity to meet staff and fellow producers. To register, email jguzman@bloomfieldtwp.org.

Library presents talk by indigenous herbalist Nathan Wright

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Public Library will host Indigenous herbalist and Michigan native Nathan Wright at 2 p.m. May 18 to dis-

cuss plants used by the Anishinabek of the Great Lakes.

The presentation will include the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with surroundings and utilizing natural resources sustainably. Not just about using plants for medicinal purposes, herbalism is an integral part of Indigenous culture, fostering a respect for nature and containing knowledge passed down from generations, organizers said.

Registration is required for this program. For more information, call the library at (248) 642-5800 or visit www.btpl.org.

The StoryTime Guild Meeting welcomes speaker

BIRMINGHAM — Jean Alica Elster, the author of the picture book series “Joe Joe In The City,” will speak at the The StoryTime Guild meeting at 10 a.m. May 16 at Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave. in Bloomfield Hills.

— Mary Beth Almond and Mary Genson

C & G Newspapers publishes 21 papers in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties:

Farmington Press

Editor: Annie Bates | (586) 498-1071 | abates@candgnews.com

Reporters: Mary Genson | (586) 498-1095 | mgenson@candgnews.com

Mary Beth Almond | (586) 498-1060 | malmond@candgnews.com

Sports: Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com

Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com

B&R Auto: A Reliable Source to Keep You

e certified mechanics at B & R Auto Repairs and Towing are ready to Service your car’s A/C System with the required Refrigerants. All 2015 and newer cars require a new type of Freon to protect our environment.

Ray Bazzi and his certified mechanics are Licensed, Certified and Educated on the new Refrigerants

equipment. Stop in today and take advantage of their special discount for the New Freon special. It includes a Flush, Vacuum and Filter plus all Parts and Labor for new model cars. e team at B & R also o ers Emergency Towing during business hours: Monday-Saturday from 8am-8pm. B & R is located at 2330 Cole Street in Birmingham.

For retail ad rates: Pam Tassoni | (248) 821-6210 | ptassoni@candgnews.com Karen Bozimowski | (586) 498-1032 | kboz@candgnews.com

Classifieds: For ad rates (586) 498-8100 Legals and Obits: (586) 498-1099

Automotive Advertising: Louise Millar | (586) 498-1054 | lmillar@candgnews.com

Real Estate Advertising: Paula Kaspor | (586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle

BEVERLY HILLS BECOMES TREE CITY USA

BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com

BEVERLY HILLS — The Arbor Day Foundation recently recognized the village of Beverly Hills as a Tree City USA.

In order to become a Tree City, a city must meet The Arbor Day Foundation’s four standards: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

“We really believe that the standards of the program create this common framework for cities of all sizes around the country that show that they are committed to protecting and growing their community forest,” Senior Manager of Programs Logan Donahoo said. “The standards provide this framework that communities can commit to year after year as they aim to protect

their trees and ultimately have a thriving community forest that everyone in the community has access to.”

Donahoo said that the standards to become a Tree City are inclusive enough for there to be a large range of cities recognized, from New York City to the smallest, Sibley, North Dakota, with 29 residents.

The Arbor Day Foundation reported that in 2023, the village of Beverly Hills planted 30 trees and maintained 100. Their total expenditure on tree planting and care was $173,180.00.

“We take care of our tree canopy,” Beverly Hills Public Services Director Neil Johnston said. “We do pruning as needed throughout the village. We do removals when there are trees that are hazardous and they need to be removed. As far as planting goes, we don’t have a planting program right now, but when we do receive

See TREE CITY on page 6A

Beverly Hills is officially a recognized Tree City USA. One of the standards they had to meet to earn this title is celebrating Arbor Day.

Photo provided by the village of Beverly Hills

Birmingham forms guidelines on AI use

BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com

BIRMINGHAM — In July 2023, the city of Birmingham formed an Artificial Intelligence Committee to review and consider the potential of AI tools within the city.

Birmingham IT Manager Eric Brunk is leading this committee, which began looking at how AI was already being used throughout the city and if it was a necessity.

A survey was sent out to city staff to collect their thoughts and knowledge about AI.

“We found that there was a growing usage of it out there, that a lot of people didn’t know what it was or how it could be used, but had an interest in it,” Brunk said.

This feedback led the AI Committee to form guidelines for the city to follow if it decides to use AI technology.

Prior use of AI

One of the departments that had been working with AI already is the Human Resources Department.

Christina Woods, the city’s HR manager, said in an interview in 2023 that her department used ChatGPT as a resource to help brainstorm ideas for things such as letters and interview questions.

“It really has been saving a lot of time in getting a bunch of stuff out there so that we can actually focus on what is important, which is finding the best way to communicate to people and the best way to ask ques-

Tree City

from page 5A

funding from the grants and those types of things. We like to plant as many trees as we can to replace the ones that we do remove.

The village far exceeded the Tree City USA requirement of at least $2 per capita with a per capita expenditure of $16.34.

The 2023 program numbers are not yet final, but in 2022, The Arbor Day Foundation reported, there were 117 Tree City USA

tions that get to the bottom of what it is that we are looking for in an employee,” Woods said in a previous interview.

Brunk said that the Planning Department had been using AI sparingly to re-voice some documentation that they were writing.

AI guidelines

The new guidelines discuss the importance of fact checking, privacy concerns, the need to disclose when AI is used and more.

“We took a look at a lot of guidelines that were already published out there to give us sort of an idea of where to start,” Brunk said. “And we did some research into the types of issues that might pop up with generative AI.”

Brunk emphasized that if city employees decide to use AI, they need to use it to supplement thorough research, because AI uses large language models that could be swayed by incorrect information.

“We definitely wanted our employees to be the end decision for anything that was being published by them, because it was going to have their name on it,” Brunk said. “We are using AI as more of a tool.”

The guidelines that are posted now are called the “City of Birmingham Interim Guidelines For Using Generative Artificial Intelligence.” Within these guidelines, it states that they will be replaced “with permanent policies, standards, and training.”

Call Staff Writer Mary Genson at (586) 498-1095.

communities in Michigan and 3,559 nationwide.

A city must reapply each year to maintain its Tree City USA status. Other neighboring cities that have been recognized are Birmingham and Franklin.

“It’s not about achieving the four standards once. The idea is that it’s something that you need to commit to every year in order to continue growing a thriving urban forestry program,” Donahoo said.

Call Staff Writer Mary Genson at (586) 498-1095.

RESTORING THE RUETHER

BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center has prepared its busy spring schedule.

Until May 30, the BBAC will host four new free exhibitions with support from Bank of Ann Arbor/ Birmingham. These exhibitions include John McLaughlin, “Paper Trail”; Laura Mazar, “Lover of the Light”; Michael Brzozwski, “Urban Waters”; and the students of Andrea Tama.

The public can view these exhibits 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 1516 S Cranbrook Road.

The Michigan Department of Transportation hosted an open house April 23 at the Southfield Public Library for the public to learn more about the Restore the Reuther project. The Southfield open house was one of two open houses that the public is invited to attend with questions and comments regarding the last phase of the Interstate 696 Restore the Reuther project. The proposed rebuilding will be between Lahser Road and Dequindre Road, impacting the communities of Southfield, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Ferndale, Madison Heights and Hazel Park. The next MDOT open house regarding the last phase of the I-696 Restore the Reuther project will take place 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 15 at the Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights. Comments regarding the project can be submitted to MonsmaM@Michigan.gov.

‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — St. Dunstan’s Outdoor Greek Theatre is presenting Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” 8 p.m. May 31, and June 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 at 400 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Hills. The production is directed by Jeff Davison, from Bloomfield Hills, and the music is directed by Matt Horn, from Ferndale. Maria will be played by Lindsey Brenz, from Berkley, and Captain von Trapp will be played by Craig Van Kempen, from Beverly Hills. Tickets cost $27 for adults, and $25 for students and seniors. A service fee will be charged if tickets are purchased online. For more information, visit StDunstansTheatre.com.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Photo by Molly Dorset at St. Dunstan’s Theatre ST. DUNSTAN’S THEATRE PERFORMS

Photo provided the BBAC; Art by John McLaughlin

CRIME WATCH

Birmingham woman accused of punching West

Bloomfield woman at bar

BIRMINGHAM — A West Bloomfield woman, 21, went to the Birmingham Police Department lobby to report an assault that she said had occurred in the 100 block of Willits at approximately 1:30 a.m. May 3. She said she was punched in the face after hearing commotion behind her and turning around while seated at a bar.

She had facial injuries, and she brought a witness, who corroborated her recounting of events. She identified her attacker as a 32-year-old Birmingham woman, whose identity was later confirmed by a restaurant employee who also witnessed the altercation. An investigation is ongoing.

Scooters missing from Shain Park

BIRMINGHAM — Two residents reported to police the thefts of their motorized

scooters around 10 p.m. May 3.

The two scooters, valued at approximately $1,000 each, had been left unattended in Shain Park approximately 90 minutes earlier. An investigation is ongoing.

Bike stolen from Ferndale teenager

BIRMINGHAM — On May 5, at approximately 3 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of East Maple regarding a report of a larceny.

A 19-year-old Ferndale man stated that his bike had been stolen while he was working.

The bike had been outside of his workplace, unlocked and unchained. Witnesses saw the suspect, an unknown male, earlier in the day walking up to the bicycle and stealing it. An investigation is ongoing.

Intoxicated driver arrested

BIRMINGHAM — Officers were dispatched to the area of Henrietta and Maple Road regarding a vehicle that was driving recklessly around 10 p.m. May 4. Officers identified the suspect as a 70-year-old man from Hamtramck.

Officers activated their emergency

Quenlyn Watkins began her career as a hairdresser in 1982 and opened her own salon — Quenlyn & Company Salon and Spa, in Bloomfield Hills — in 1995. While the hairstyles and salon services have changed over the years, the salon’s commitments to quality and customer service for clients of all ages have not.

“I think we have a really relaxed atmosphere here. It’s very laid-back. Everyone is very friendly and willing to help,” Watkins said. “We work as a team. The feeling is, it’s just a family and you can sit down with anybody here and feel comfortable.”

Family is the theme on which the salon was built, and it goes beyond the family-friendly atmosphere. Quenlyn & Company provides salon services for all ages, from infant haircuts to hairdressing for seniors.

Watkins started the business when she was pregnant with her second child, and she credited her own family’s support for the salon’s survival and success.

“I was lucky. I had a really good support group,” Watkins said. “I had my in-laws, and my sister

lights and pulled over the suspect. Officers were able to identify a strong odor of intoxicants from the driver and the vehicle. Upon failing field sobriety evaluations, the suspect was placed under arrest. The suspect had two prior operating while intoxicated convictions.

Waterford man points toy gun at people

BIRMINGHAM — On May 5 at approximately 3 p.m., officers were dispatched to North Old Woodward and Harmon for an individual in the street waving a fake gun at people.

They found the suspect, a 58-year-old man from Waterford, standing near a restaurant in the 500 block of North Old Woodward.

Police recovered a green-and-red toy gun in a search of the man, and they noticed signs that he was intoxicated. Multiple witnesses at the scene reported seeing the

suspect point the toy gun and a phone at passing people and vehicles and pretend to shoot. The suspect was arrested and issued a citation for disorderly conduct.

Novi man causes disturbance

BIRMINGHAM — On April 29 at approximately 1 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 300 block of Hamilton Row, where an individual was causing a disturbance.

The suspect, a 38-year-old Novi man, had previously been escorted out of the business on multiple occasions for disruptive behavior and was no longer allowed there.

A check of records confirmed that Birmingham officers had been called to the business three prior times for similar issues with this suspect. When officers began to question him outside the shop, he caused a disturbance and was arrested and issued a citation for trespassing.

— Mary Genson

who helped me. My husband is a teacher who had summers off. My kids grew up in the salon. Without my family helping me, it would have been really hard. I was one of the fortunate people who had a close family base of people who could help me navigate having a business, a career, and two li le kids.”

Quenlyn & Company provides a full range of hair and nail services including cuts, color and styling, blow drying, perms, manicures and pedicures, skin treatments and waxing. The staff is happy to meet walk-in customers and is always accepting new clients looking to build a lasting relationship with a stress-free salon.

For more information, stop by the salon at 3644 W. Maple Road, on the northeast corner of Maple and Lahser roads, in the Village Knoll Shopping Center. To schedule an appointment call (248) 6422666 or (248)

FOR LOCAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS, CAR DEALERSHIPS ARE A FAMILY AFFAIR

BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — It’s all about family for Sherry Maxey, a second-generation owner of Bob Maxey Lincoln, 16901 Mack Ave. in Detroit.

Maxey and her two brothers, Bob and Michael, operate Bob Maxey dealerships in Fowlerville, Detroit and Howell.

“Something that my dad always instilled is that the three of us had to work together, that a first generation can start something, but it often falls apart in a second generation because they don’t work together.”

The late Bob Maxey got his start at a dealership on Gratiot in 1972, and in 1982, he moved to the Mack Avenue location. For Sherry Maxey, there was no question of whether she’d join her father and two older brothers in the dealership industry. From a young age, she recalls, dealership talk was common dinner table conversation. She remembers working at the dealership during the summers while finishing up her master of business administration degree at the University of Michigan.

“I think it was just a thing for all of us; this is where we were going to be. My brothers started out cutting the grass and washing cars. And luckily, as a female, my dad was more old-fashioned. I didn’t do that. I got to sell. So that was the difference, but even when I was going to school at Michigan and there were interviews, I did a couple, but I always knew I was going to come back here.”

She worked as a sales manager until she got married and raised her children. It was when her father passed away that she was pulled back in.

“I felt like Al Pacino. ‘Just when I thought I was out, they’re pulling me back in.’”

See WOMEN on page 11A

Photo by Liz Carnegie

Sherry Maxey, a second-generation car dealership owner, poses in a black Aviator on the sales floor where it all began for her.

It was a full circle moment for Maxey to return to the Mack Avenue location where it all began for her. She honors her late father’s memory in her office with the original chairs and his desk.

Maxey explained that the hope is for the dealership to pass into the hands of a third generation through her children and her nieces and nephews. She and her brothers tried to foster a close-knit environment for their children to have a sibling-like bond, since they are cousins.

“So what we’ve tried to do with our kids is, because there are 11 grandkids, we knew they all weren’t going to go in. But we started taking trips together. Whether it was a cruise or whether we went to an all-inclusive, we made sure we did that with all 11 of them. So they are close.”

Maxey added that three of the grandkids are working at the dealerships. “We want them to feel that they have to work together and rely on each other in order for the business to grow.”

Liz Sellers is a third-generation dealership owner.

“From the very beginning, my grandfather instilled taking care of customers, taking care of employees, making commonsense decisions,” she said. “My father carried that on. He was a very benevolent, genuine human being that loved coming to work every day, loved interacting with customers and employees. I mean, he knew employees by name. So those were qualities that were bred into us, which is how we view it. Certainly, it’s a business, but the business’ success is because of our team members and our customers.”

Sellers said she understands the importance of legacy and working together with family. Like Maxey, she also works with two brothers, Dean and Blair, at their family dealership, Dean Sellers Ford, located at 2600 W. Maple Road in Troy. Sellers explained that her grandfather, Dean Sellers, opened the dealership in January 1948 in Detroit.

“He was born in Ohio but moved to Detroit in search of the automobile industry. He started working for Chevrolet at General Motors at the corporation. He then moved over to Ford Motor Co. He was a general sales manager for Ford and then headed up the Ford-Ferguson tractor division. He had told Henry Ford II that what he really wanted to do was own a car dealership.”

When her grandfather retired, her father took over the business in the 1970s and

made the decision to relocate to the Troy Motor Mall in June 1980. Sellers added that the rest is history: Her brothers have been at the dealership for around 36 years, and she has worked there for about 31 years. Though Sellers knew she wanted to be in the business profession, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted it to be her family business. “I did not have a desire to go into the business. I had two older brothers, it was my dad and my grandfather. It was very male-oriented, which didn’t matter, but I just didn’t have a desire. I wanted to kind of go my own path. So I went to the University of Michigan, and through the career search while I was at school, I was down to several choices, and my heart told me to

go with working for Ford Motor Co.”

Sellers accepted a job at Ford in the Philadelphia region. She worked there for around five years before returning back home to her roots.

“Through my experience with the corporation and also interacting with dealers, I realized that my passion would be back at the dealership level, still representing Ford, but at a more micro level. So I started at the dealership in 1993,” Sellers said. She added that she’s always had a desire to learn the whole operation, from the financial analysis to the personnel and management side of things. While back at the dealership, Sellers obtained her master’s in management from Walsh College.

Decades later, her spark for the family business is still burning. She and her family maintain a close connection through Sunday get-togethers with the entire family, including her 92-year-old mother. With the greatgrandchildren of Dean Sellers dipping their toes in the family business through summer jobs and part-time work, Sellers explained that no fourth generation has come on fulltime yet, but there is interest. “My parents made decisions and sacrifices. My dad didn’t sell the business so that we could continue it on. And our goal is to do the same for the next generation.”

For more information on Bob Maxey Lincoln, visit BobMaxeyLincoln.com. For more information on Dean Sellers Ford, visit SellersFord.com.

Photo provided by Liz Sellers

Liz Sellers is pictured with brother Dean Sellers, son Scott Caspersen, nephew Christopher Seller, nephew Adam Sellers and a golden retriever statue, which is one of the many golden retriever artworks featured around the dealership.

Michiganders warned of unpaid toll text message scam

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A new text message phishing scam targeting toll road users is circulating across Michigan.

Over the past few weeks, Better Business Bureau Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula President and CEO Melanie Duquesnel said, several Michigan residents began contacting the bureau after receiving fraudulent text messages regarding unpaid tolls.

The scam involves a deceptive text claiming the individual owes money for unpaid tolls, threatening a $50 late fee if the balance is not settled immediately.

Officer Nick Soley of the Bloomfield Township Police Department warned Michiganders never to reply to suspicious texts or emails, and never to click on links or attachments.

“Like all scams, these are typically meant to look real with a scare tactic — ‘your toll dues are overdue, pay now to avoid big charges’ — and directions to do so via a link in the text. This leads to a phishing scam. Common sense is the best defense. If you haven’t gone through any tolls, you don’t owe any money,” he said.

“While Michigan does have tolls at bridges and tunnels, we don’t even have toll roads so, luckily for those of us in Michigan, simply being told we owe a fee for a toll road fee should be a red flag unless you were recently traveling out of state,” Duquesnel said in a statement.

The text message also includes a fake link deceptively made to look legitimate by using the name of a real toll company.

Those who click the link and input personal and payment details are exposing themselves to scammers, risking financial compromise.

“Scammers craft these messages with links designed to steal consumers’ personal and financial information,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “It’s important for residents to recognize the signs of smishing texts so they aren’t duped out of their hard-earned money.”

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 2,000 complaints in March and April from at least three states relating to collecting unpaid tolls.

Officials believe the scam may be moving from state to state.

Reports from The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker also indicate a rise of the messages, with victims recounting similar experiences.

One consumer shared: “I got a text message from ‘Michigan toll services.’ We have noticed an outstanding balance of $11.69 on your record. To prevent a late fee of $50, please visit this website.”

“I received a text message that stated I owed funds from using a tollway. It was not specific, and since I do not use a tollway, I knew it was a fraud,” another consumer said.

Anyone who receives a similar text message should verify any outstanding balances through official sources, avoid clicking any links, block the number, delete the message and report any scam messages to the Better Business Bureau, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Federal Trade Commission or the Michigan attorney general.

Soley encourages Michiganders to slow down and think.

“Don’t hurry to pay given the scare tactic or threat. Scammers want you to react quickly, without consultation,” he said in an email.

Soley says residents can always check with the company or agency the potential scammer is saying they’re from by using a phone number or website they know is real, not any information from the text.

He also encourages people to use their phone’s “report junk” option to report any unwanted texts or forward them to 7726 (SPAM) and then delete the message.

“Unwanted messages often lead to scams. Once you’ve checked it out and reported it, delete the text message,” Solely said.

Consumers can report smishing texts by forwarding them to SPAM (7726) and by sending the texts to the Federal Trade Commission. To file a complaint with the attorney general, or get additional information, call (517) 335-7599.

Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.

Cranbrook student selected for prestigious summer music program

BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Cranbrook Schools junior Summer Su is the only Michigan student and the only saxophonist who has been selected for the NYO2, a program through Carnegie Hall.

Carnegie Hall has three national youth ensembles: the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, or NYO-USA; NYO; and NYO Jazz.

NYO-USA started in 2013 for musicians ages 16-19. Due to the program’s success, Carnegie Hall created NYO2 as a sister orchestra for younger musicians in 2016 and NYO Jazz in 2018.

NYO2 is an intensive summer orchestral training program for high school musicians ages 14-17 are chosen across the county to participate each year. This year, 89 young musicians from 29 states were chosen to participate in this national program.

Selected students have the opportunity to participate in the program at Purchase College, State University of New York, July 20-Aug. 8.

Su has been playing the saxophone since the sixth grade. She said she likes the instrument’s versatility and the “palette of colors you can produce with it.”

She was nominated by her private saxophone teacher, Zachary Shemon. The application process required Su to prepare orchestra excerpts that the program sent to her, play a solo from her repertoire and record a video essay where she had to verbally respond to prompts.

Cranbrook Schools Coordinator of Performing Arts and Band Director Mark Hourigan has been with Cranbrook Schools for 34 years, and he said Su is one of the top five students he has taught in his career.

“She is a once-in-a-career kind of student,” Hourigan said.

On Aug. 1, NYO2 will perform at Carnegie Hall. While the saxophone is not typically included in orchestral pieces, they will be performing Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story,” of which the saxophone is an integral part.

Su said it is always special to get to play with an orchestra as a saxophonist.

“It is fun for me, but also a role that

comes with responsibility,” Su said. “I want to showcase the classical side of the instrument and its capabilities.”

Following the show at Carnegie Hall, NYO2 will travel from New York to Dallas Aug. 6 to perform at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

Su said she is excited to play at Carnegie Hall and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, since she has never been to either of the venues.

The NYO2 performance marks the beginning of World Orchestra Week, which goes until Aug. 7. World Orchestra Week is a new summer concert festival that brings together international youth orchestras from five continents on the Carnegie Hall stage throughout the week.

During the first week of residency, students will have the opportunity to interact with these musicians from other countries, which Su said she is looking forward to.

Call Staff Writer Mary Genson at (586) 498-1095.

Photo provided by Cranbrook Schools

This summer, Cranbrook Schools junior Summer Su is participating in a selective program through Carnegie Hall.

The high cost of renting EXPERTS SAY RENT INCREASES ARE A NATIONAL TREND

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Over the course of many years, the American dream for a large portion of the population has been to save up enough money to eventually buy a home.

One of the most popular routes for achieving that aspiration has been to rent an apartment or home while saving money for a down payment.

However, current conditions have made that an old-fashioned notion for some.

“There appears to be a shortage in all of the markets, both rental and single-family homes and condos, because wanna-be buyers cannot find housing that’s suitable or affordable, which has caused people to look for rentals and leases,” said Larry Campbell, who owns Century 21 Campbell Realty in Madison Heights. “Rentals and leases are in very, very short supply, and as a result, the rentals, I would say in the last 18 months, have probably gone up 25% or 30%.”

According to information released last month by Rent, which provides data at a national level, Michigan and Minnesota are experiencing the biggest rental price increases in the country.

ABOVE: Century 21 Campbell Realty owner Larry Campbell recently said that “rentals and leases are in very, very short supply,” which has led to higher rents.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Rent

Campbell estimated that 18 months ago, a 1,000-square-foot brick home in Madison Heights with a basement and a garage would have rented for around $1,300 per month.

“I think today, if you wanted a threebedroom brick, it’s $1,800-$2,200, and it’s gone up, I’d say, 30% in two years,” he said.

As another example, Campbell said in Berkley, for a 1,000-square-foot home, “You’re well over $2,000 for a rental in that community.”

Unfortunately for those who are looking for a less-expensive alternative, apartments aren’t necessarily the answer anymore, either.

“Even your apartments, which used to be pretty reasonable, they’ve gone up,” Campbell said. “If you were charging $1,000, and now I’m charging you $1,300, that’s a 30% increase.”

Madison Heights resident Kelly Watson estimated that she has been renting the condominium that she currently resides in for approximately five years. She said that during that time, the rent has gone up approximately $400, with an average increase of about $75-$100 per year.

“You’re unable to save any money to put towards a house, because rent is more than the average mortgage,” Watson said. “In my situation, I can’t just go get a mortgage for a house being a single person with a single income. I wouldn’t qualify for any type of mortgage for any type of house that I could afford to live in.”

Kate Terhune is the director of brand for Rent. She said that an increase in rental prices has “absolutely” been a national trend.

“We’re seeing quite a lot of interesting factors at play between the housing market and the rental market,” Terhune said. “With housing prices being as high as they have been, they’re reaching record highs, and interest rates are remaining high and aren’t coming down to where we thought they might come down. Those two things are going to put way more pressure on the rental market.”

Campbell agrees that an increase in rental prices is a nationwide trend.

“What’s happened is a lot of buyers have been knocked out of the market because of (the) cost of housing, the cost of interest,” he said. “Housing is not affordable and accessible, so they’re looking for apartments, condos and houses, and the demand is … much stronger than the inventory, so landlords have an opportunity to get top dollar. … The cost of real estate is more ex-

pensive today than it’s ever been, which is eliminating a lot of purchasers (from) coming into the market.”

As for whether it’s better to rent or buy given current market conditions, according to Campbell, it depends on individual circumstances. He is not optimistic that things are going to change anytime soon.

“I don’t see it changing because the inventory’s not getting better,” Campbell said. “Everyone is in a stay-in-place type situation. If you own a house, it’s hard to find another house when you’re moving, and now, when you look at all of the economic factors — interest, taxes, and lack of inventory — a lot of folks are deciding not to move.”

Watson thinks her best option for now is to stay put.

“There’s not really many alternatives in my situation,” she said. “For me, (it’s) stay here and suck it up and hope that every time the lease renewal comes up, it’s not a big jump.”

Another reason why it may be best for Watson to stay put is due to what she said are currently unrealistic requirements to rent a property.

“Say the rent they’re charging is $1,700; they want you to have four to six times that amount in income a month to be eligible,” she said. “The units straight across from us, they’re charging $1,300 a month, but you have to make five times that in order to even be eligible to apply for an application to rent there, so it’s becoming real hard for renters to move.”

Adapting to her current circumstances has called for a mixture of cutting back on things and working more hours at a second job, according to Watson.

Campbell understands how tough it is out there.

“Nowadays, it’s pretty much taking two incomes to qualify for a house or (as) a tenant,” he said. “It’s real hard for one person to be able to make ends meet. … Most households require two incomes to make things happen.”

Despite the challenging circumstances that many are facing, Terhune did offer some tips for those who are searching for a rental property.

“I usually tell people, ‘Check places like rent.com (and) apartment.com. When you’re going to find a place to live, look around at the properties that are near your target destination and get a good sense of what all the different properties are going for; that way, if you find one you like but it’s $300 more than one down the street, you can do some negotiating,’” she said.

Peripheral Neuropathology

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Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 498-1052.

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Spill

from page 3A

the area and seek alternative routes.

Noah Arbit, who is the representative for state House District 20, which comprises all of West Bloomfield, shared an update about the incident via a press release that was sent May 10.

“Late Monday evening, the West Bloomfield Police Department closed multiple roadways near Square Lake and Middlebelt roads after an oily substance appeared to be dumped intentionally on the road and throughout the neighborhood,” the release states.

According to the release, Arbit has been in contact with residents, as well as officials from West Bloomfield Township, the Road Commission for Oakland County, the West Bloomfield Police Department and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, known as EGLE.

“I am deeply disturbed by the oil spill that occurred north of Pine Lake this week; the idea that an individual or entity would intentionally and recklessly harm West Bloomfield’s environment, including our lakes, is abhorrent,” Arbit stated via the release. “As a resident of this neighborhood, I have been in touch with concerned residents, visited the site and taken steps to monitor the response efforts,” Arbit said. “I’m grateful for the vigilance of residents who immediately reported the incident, and for the immediate, coordinated response of WBPD, RCOC and the township to investigate, clean up and work to contain any environmental impact.”

The release stated that Pine Lake will

require careful monitoring by EGLE following conflicting results from on-site testing of the oily substance conducted by the HAZMAT team and the Pine Lake Association, and that Arbit’s priority is to monitor the area and take appropriate action to ensure the oil does not spread to contaminate Pine Lake.

“Residents in the area, including me, are rightfully concerned by the potential impact on our neighborhood. I have been in contact with EGLE to ensure an aggressive response by the state and will follow the results of both the environmental health assessment and criminal investigation closely. I will continue to do all that I can to ensure an appropriate response, and keep residents updated on any developments,” Arbit stated.

The latest report from the WBPD states that the roadway is open.

According to an email, EGLE is not the lead agency involved in investigating the incident, as the response is “being handled by the local road commission and local hazmat.”

However, according to the email, EGLE was on-site in a supporting role.

“The Road Commission put together a team to address cleanup, and has applied absorbent material to soak up any remaining product on the roadway and hand swept the area,” the email from an EGLE representative states. “Two booms were set — one in a nearby culvert and one in a small drainage ditch near Pine Lake. EGLE has not taken any samples. The Hazmat team did analyze the material and it was not petroleum based or a solvent.”

Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 498-1052.

Police reportedly closed multiple roadways near Square Lake and Middlebelt roads after an oily substance was discovered.

MOTOR CITY COMIC CON BRINGS FANDOMS TOGETHER

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

NOVI — The 2024 Motor City Spring Comic Con is set to take over the Suburban Collection Showplace May 17-19. The annual show draws a crowd of 30,000-40,000 people who are anxious to meet their celebrity idols, like-minded people, and have the opportunity to purchase various paraphernalia from a vast array of fandoms.

As always, the show will bring many bigname celebrities to the area. This year, William Shatner, who is best known for his role as Captain Kirk on “Star Trek” will return to the con, and actress Helen Hunt will make her first-ever con appearance.

“For people who enjoy ‘Star Trek,’ he is the ‘Star Trek’ name. I mean, he is the original Captain Kirk, he is an icon for that franchise. So, both ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars’ just always has such a huge following that we always try to bring in people from both of those fandoms,” said Beth Burland, MC3 show manager.

“Then on top of that, he has now been to space, so he has a whole new perspective on life,” added Samantha Yankee, MC3 show

manager.

Shatner went to space with the Blue Origin Shuttle on Oct. 13, 2021, at the age of 90. This made him the oldest person to travel into space. Yankee said this will give him something extra to talk about this time around.

According to Yankee, Hunt decided to make her con premeire at MC3, as her agent loves the show and said her clients always have a great time. Hunt will be hosting a special screening of her film “Twister” at 8 p.m. May 18 at the Emagine Novi with a Q-and-A session prior.

“It’s going to be a really cool event,” said Yankee. “And this is her first con that she’s ever done, so it’s definitely exclusive.”

Hunt and Shatner will be joined at MC3 by 38 other celebrities in various fandoms, including John Ratzenberger and George Wendt, best known for their roles as Cliff and Norm on the hit sitcom “Cheers”; Michigan’s own Ernie Hudson, who stars in the latest Ghostbusters movie, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” and who will host a screening of the original movie; Katey Sagal, of “Sons of Anarchy”; Paul Sun-Hyung Lee from “Avatar: The Last Airbender”; and Tom Kenny, the voice of

SpongeBob SquarePants.

Although known for certain roles and fandoms, many of the celebrities attract fans of their other roles. For example, although many will know Sagal for “Sons of Anarchy,” others will remember her as Peggy Bundy on the hit sitcom “Married with Children.” Lee is also known for his role in the Canadian comedy sitcom series “Kim’s Convenience,”

and Shatner is also known for other roles including hosting the TV series “The UnXplained.” This enhances the draw to MC3 for so many people.

“I mean we’re bringing Bruce Greenwood in for ‘Star Trek,’ but I just watched a show called ‘The Resident’ on Netflix with him in it. So, just because we are bringing See COMIC CON on page 21A

Attendees at the fall 2023 Motor City Comic Con visit with R2-D2 from “Star Wars.” The spring Motor City Comic Con will take place May 17-19 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

THE STORIED HISTORY OF CHARLEVOIX’S CASTLE FARMS

BY GREG TASKER

CHARLEVOIX — When most people think of northern Michigan, images of Renaissance-style castles don’t readily spring to mind.

Yet, such a castle, one with a storied history and ties to state and national memories, stands outside Charlevoix, tucked among the expansive farms, orchards, lakes and small towns of this inviting patch of northern Michigan.

Its existence perplexed me for years. Until a recent visit, I knew nothing about this castle, now called Castle Farms, except that it was a wedding venue. It turns out that Castle Farms is so much more and well worth a visit.

The castle was built not as a home but as a working model dairy farm and a place to showcase the latest advances in farm equipment. Pictured here is cow auction held on the grounds.

Built in 1918, the castle, after years of being abandoned, was restored by its current owner, Linda Mueller, who purchased the property with her late husband, Richard, in 2001. Since then, gardens have been replanted or added, along with other amenities, including a miniature railroad and wine bistro. More recently, a cluster of barns were revamped into Hungry Ducks Farm, a petting farm for children and families.

To visit Castle Farms today is to walk through eras of history, from the early decades of the last century to the present. Stories from its past incarnations are as plentiful as the maple and oak trees in nearby forests.

ABOVE: Castle Farms, located in Charlevoix, was built in 1918. To visit Castle Farms today is a walk through northern Michigan history.

RIGHT:

Photos provided by Castle Farms

Robotics

page 1A

The main competition season starts the first week of September, when teams learn what the challenge is for that year. The main season runs until December, but it could potentially go beyond that, depending on if teams qualify to compete on the state and world level in the spring.

Goeman started the robotics program on the middle school level at Birmingham seven years ago, when he started teaching at Berkshire Middle School. It started with eight kids and has since evolved into a larger program, with over 40 kids. This year, Berkshire Middle School had three coed teams for students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade, and Derby Middle School had one. The Derby Middle School team was open to both boys and girls, but they did not have any girls participating this year.

“I think robotics is for everybody. It’s one of those things where even if you think you are not a techy person or you don’t like tools or you don’t like programming, there is so much more to the program than just the technical skills kids learn,” Goeman said.

Birmingham parent and retired en-

gineer Erin Phillips started the robotics program at Derby Middle School this fall when her son started eighth grade. She plans to coach the all-girls team this year as her daughter starts at Derby Middle School.

“Being a female in engineering, I know, can have its challenges, and I definitely want to open as many doors for girls as I can,” Phillips said.

The all-girls team will include students from Berkshire and Derby middle schools.

The idea for the all-girls team actually grew from feedback from students and parents. While many girls found success on the coed teams, some girls wanted an opportunity to have their own space where their voices could be more easily heard.

“We truly invite every kid to be a part of this program,” Goeman said. “Part of our expansion is just trying to make the team and program more accessible to as many students as possible.”

Goeman said any limit on the expansion is not caused by lack of student interest, but a lack of adult and community support.

“We actually have enough kids interested to start more teams; however, we lack the adult involvement and supervision that’s necessary to make these teams successful,” Goeman said.

Goeman hopes that parents and members of the community will reach out to help

so that the

can continue to expand.

with the robotics program

program

Photo provided Phillip Goeman

Starting in the fall, Birmingham middle schoolers will have the opportunity to join an all girls robotics team. Currently, Berkshire Middle School and Derby Middle School have robotics teams where students explore STEM skills.

Castle Farms

The man behind the castle was Albert Loeb, acting president of Sears, Roebuck and Company. He had an affinity for the architecture of Renaissance castles and the stone farms of Normandy, France. The castle was built not as a home but as a working model dairy farm, a place to showcase the latest advances in farm equipment, all available through the Sears catalog, the Amazon of its day.

This was a big dairy farm, part of an 1,800-acre tract that included a private home for the Loeb family. Loeb Farms boasted the most modern milking machinery and was home to 200 head of Holstein-Friesian cows. The star producer was Marion, who was milked six times a day. She consistently set records in milk production and in one banner year — 1922 — produced 35,000 pounds of milk (well above the average 25,000 pounds) and made headlines.

The cows lived a good life. They were housed in two wings — now known as the East and West Garden rooms, replicated during the restoration. They grazed in a courtyard between the wings and elsewhere on the farm. Instead of the normal whitewash, the barn walls were covered in tile lining and the floor was paved. The barns were hosed down regularly.

“The milking barns were so clean you could eat off the floor,” says Jessica Anderson, who is director of guest services at Castle Farms and made the time to walk me through the property and share many stories of its past.

At its peak, Loeb Farms was the largest employer in the Charlevoix region, with more than 90 people among its daily work force, Anderson says. The farm also boasted a semi-professional baseball team, the Sodbusters, who played on a field north of the barn complex.

“In the evening, during wedding rehearsal dinners, our staff regularly hear the crack of a baseball and bat from the ball diamond,” Anderson says, adding a haunted tour planned for the fall will share more ghost stories from Castle Farms.

Unfortunately, the farm closed in 1927, a few years after Loeb’s death and a family tragedy. Many visitors have some knowledge of the family’s connection to a notorious Chicago murder. Anderson is well prepared to answer those questions and share what she knows. One of Loeb’s sons, Richard Loeb, was convicted, in 1924, of the kidnapping and murder of a 14-year-old boy. The murder garnered national headlines. Lawyer Clarence Darrow represented the young

CASTLE FARMS

5052 M-66

Charlevoix, MI 49720

(231) 237-0884

info@castlefarms.com

Self-guided and guided tours available; guided tours are two hours and include a Tram Tour of the property (in season). Hours vary: Currently, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Hours are extended in the summer months.

Consider Castle Farms the Pine Knob of the north.

about every major recording act in the late 1970s through the early 1990s rocked the stage here. Pictured is a 1983 concert. Photo provided by Castle Farms

Loeb and his crime partner in court — just before the famed Scopes “Monkey” Trial.

Decades later, the large empty stone walls caught the artistic eye of John VanHaver, a Muskegon businessman. He was also an artist and sculptor with a background in metallurgy and metal casting.

His dream? An artists’ mecca with a Renaissance theme. He purchased 100 acres of the original Loeb property, including the barns, office, blacksmith shop and manager’s house, and renamed the site Castle VanHaver. He opened the grounds to the public. Visitors could browse art but also have a cup of coffee and snacks in the Queen’s Courtyard.

Unfortunately, financial difficulties forced VanHaven to sell the property in 1969.

New owners, Arthur and Erwina Reibel, came along, initially envisioning the

See CASTLE FARMS on page 21A

Just

Castle Farms

from page 20A

farm as a riding academy. Their plans, however, evolved to include an outdoor concert venue. A 50-foot wide, covered concrete steel stage was constructed and two wings (where the cows once lived) were removed to accommodate larger crowds and reserved seating.

Consider Castle Farms the Pine Knob of the north. Just about every major recording act in the late 1970s through the early 1990s rocked the stage here. That roster includes Bob Seger, the Doobie Brothers, Heart, Def Leppard, KISS, Iron Maiden, Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Tina Turner and Bob Dylan, and many more.

The music is long gone but stories linger. Aerosmith reportedly had a water fight in the artesian well in the Queen’s Courtyard. Bon Jovi carved his name in a stone in a room that now serves as a changing room for wedding couples. Ozzie Osburn is remembered as a Dracula figurine in one of Mueller’s miniature collections.

The property went up for sale —

again — in 1999. Thanks to Mueller, the castle we are able to visit today has been restored — its crumbling fieldstone walls and windows repaired, along with other buildings on the property, now just 37 acres.

Castle Farms celebrated its centennial in 2018 and opened a winery, 1918 Cellars, named after the year in which the castle was founded. The winery is temporarily closed (expected to reopen by November). It’s an inviting place to linger after a tour and ponder the history of this unusual structure and its many incarnations.

It’s a treat to walk through the castle, to hear interesting stories here and there, and to muse over the vast collection Mueller has amassed. The 1918 Museum, for instance, honors not only World War I but includes a collection of products Sears sold, complete with the original advertising. There’s a barrelshaped washing machine for $7.95. A 1918 bicycle with wooden wheels — a luxury then — priced at $28.95. Her collection includes wedding cake toppers, not common in 1918 but something Sears eventually mass produced and helped popularize.

Comic Con

from page 17A

them in for a reason, they have so many different credits of things that they’ve done. It’s amazing,” said Burland. “That’s the nice thing about the people we’re bringing in. One person might be coming because they have a ‘Star Wars’ credit, and you may be coming for another reason.”

On top of all the celebrity guests who will be available to meet fans, there will be around 40 comic book artists, numerous vendors catering to the different fandoms, kids activities, concessions and plenty of events. This includes the traditional cosplay contests for both adults and children, multiple panels with celebrity and comic guests, and sketch duels by artists.

“I’m excited because we’re doing a lot of different things this show than what we’ve done in the past. So that’s exciting to be able to add new events,” Burland said.

New this year is the Extra Lives, which is marketed as the “world’s first Audience RPG (Role Playing Game).” It is a type of chooseyour-adventure game where the participants are the main characters. The fully narrated storyline includes visuals, music, sound effects and an inclusive choose-your-own-adventure game where you are the main character in legendary

console games of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, such as Super Smash Bros. This is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

Another new event this year is “FandoMadness,” a pop culture trivia game show experience that will be offered throughout the show. Guests can test their expertise in various categories such as comics, TV shows, movies, music, food and more.

New Dawn Kyber Squadron will be offering classes for those 18 and up on the fundamentals of LED swordsmanship. They will also offer another type of class geared toward children.

Tickets to MC3 are now on sale at MotorCityComicCon.com. Tickets range in price from $30 to $50 for an adult day pass, depending on the day and whether the tickets are purchased online or in person. Tickets for children ages 6-12 cost $10-$20 for Friday and Saturday, depending on how the tickets are purchased. Weekend and VIP passes are also available. Autographs and photos with celebrity guests are individually priced. Show parking is available on-site for $10 per car. There is also parking available off-site at Novi Middle School for $2 per car with a shuttle running continuously between the school and Suburban Collection Showplace. ATMs will be available on-site. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to motorcitycomicon.com.

e Whole-Body MRI Debate: Are Doctors Missing Something?

(South eld, MI) e recent buzz around full-body MRI screenings has sparked a lot of debate. While some question this approach, the controversy itself signals an advance in how we think about proactive health. It means we’re not just waiting around for symptoms when it might be too late.

Full body screenings use MRI technology to scan from the top of the head through the pelvis looking for potential abnormalities and early signs of diseases like cancer.

Tyler, age 52, lost his grandfather to lymphoma, so when the results of his full body MRI highlighted enlarged lymph nodes in his chest it gave him concern. “I felt completely healthy, but I wanted to be proactive so I did the scan. My results were concerning, so I saw an oncologist who ordered additional testing.”

e controversy comes from MRI body scans producing false positives. ese ndings are eventually proven

to be benign. Critics claim that false positives create unnecessary worry for people and needless follow up tests.

Tyler says he would rather be safe than sorry. “I hear some doctors on TV saying not to do get full body screenings, but why wouldn’t you? It’s about taking control of your health and being proactive. I had some follow up tests to make sure I don’t have cancer – big deal. But what if it turned out to be cancer?

en it’s caught as early as possible, and without this scan I never would have known until it was too late!”

Proponents of MRI full body screenings say that false positives should not outweigh the bene ts, stating that early detection is key to easier treatments and better outcomes.

“Early detection saves lives,” says Ryan Ringold who leads the MRI full body screening center in South eld, called Bionicc Body Screening. His father, the late Dr. Ringold, founded the company after battling cancer – twice. “My father

became short of breath one day and discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs inside of him. He endured brutal treatments and never wanted to see others su er because of late detection,” says Ryan.

MRI does not replace annual physicals nor routine screenings like a colonoscopy or mammogram. Although, it may be surprising to learn that routine screenings only cover 29% of cancers and 71% of cancers occur in other areas.

“ is is an additional tool to be proactive. MRI can reduce the enormous blind spot where cancer may be silently growing. ere are no routine screenings for areas like the pancreas, liver, brain, chest or abdomen,” says Ringold. “My father was oblivious to hundreds of tumors growing inside his body and his story is not unique. You rarely hear of someone getting diagnosed with stage one pancreatic cancer because nobody knows until they have symptoms. By that time, it’s almost always stage

four.”  In addition to tumors, MRI can detect hundreds of abnormalities like brain aneurysms, MS, fatty liver and spinal disc disease to name a few. “It’s quite remarkable,” Ringold adds.

Robert B. credits his scan to saving his life. A full-body MRI caught the kidney tumor his CT scan missed. “I consider it a lifesaver,” he says. Stories like these highlight the power of MRI body screenings.

For a limited time, you can request a $200 o coupon when you visit their website at BioniccBodyScreening.com. Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC. 0065-2420

The debate over full-body MRIs heats up as some doctors criticize the scans, while others quietly get them done.

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SUPREMEOUTDOOR SPECIALISTS

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Painting

586-792-3117

PETE'SPAINTING SPRINGSPECIALS!

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PAINTINGby-GPC MASTER

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586.899.3555(Cell) 248.566.6460(Office)

2BROTHERS PAINTING

CompleteInterior/Exterior WoodRepair, Powerwash, Free-Estimates CallFrank 248-303-5897 ReferencesAvailable

Painting

PROTOUCH PAINTINGLLC

Interior/Exterior 30-yrs-experience, Power-washing, Drywallrepairs, Staining, Free-Estimates. AllWorkGuaranteed. AffordablePrices. SeniorDiscount/Insured. 248-495-3512

WOWPAINTING

Residential/Commercial

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Plumbing

586.421.5520

586.524.6752 ANDY'S PLUMBING 25-YearsExperience Licensed/Insured CallUsToday ForAllYour PlumbingNeeds!! ServingThe Tri-County-Area 10%/Senior/Military/ Discounts Lic#-8004254

EAPLUMBING ANDDRAIN

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Powerwashing

AJʼsPRESSURE CLEANING& SEALCOATING

•StampedConcrete(removemilkyorcloudyfilm)

•ExposedAggregate

•BrickPavers(resanding) Website: ajspressure cleaning.com 586-431-0591

Roofng

PREFERRED

BROTHERSROOFING

•FullTear-off•Recover

•ShingleRepair

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Senior/Military-Discount Upto20%Off 586-944-8898

AA4DABLE ROOFING

Hurry&SaveBig-$$$! SPRING-SPECIALS Upto30%-Off!!!

Roofing/Siding/Gutters, All-Leaks/Repairs, Residential/Shingles/ Commercial-FlatRoofs/Torch-downs 30yrs-exp.Allmajor creditcardsaccepted. 586-822-5100

SILVERSMITHROOF MAINTENANCE

FlatRoofSpecialist $225•MinorShingle ReplacementSpecial •GutterRepairs

Residential/Commercial InsuranceWork 30-yrsexp/Family-Owned WeAcceptAll MajorCreditCards 248-707-4851

Roofng

MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC.

BuildingValueEveryday 586-436-9600

Licensed/Insured Since1965

Servicing-Roofing, Siding,Basement, Bathroom,Kitchen Remodeling,Decks& AllYourHome ImprovementNeeds.

Tree Service

DAVE'S TREE&SHRUB

20%-SpringDisc.Insured, EmergencyStorm Damage,Large-Tree Removals,Trimming, Stump-Grinding,Gutters, Season-Firewood (100acord)Free-Estimates/10%Senior-Disc. (586)216-0904 davestreeandshrub.com