5/22/24 Farmington Press

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARITIES & NONPROFITS

Hills’ new parks and rec plan priorities include splash pad, Hawk, Costick Center

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — Farmington Hills resident Claudette Wellons recently spent part of her Tuesday morning at the Costick Center and said it is “excellent” that parks and recreation activities are funded.

She partook in water aerobics for “exercise and for fun.”

“My favorite part is the deep water, because it just feels better,” Wellons said. “I do regular aerobics, but deep water is better.”

For residents who enjoy parks and recreation facilities, a big part of the thanks goes to the master plan process.

A lot of thought, attention and detail go into

identifying ways for residents to get the most out of parks and recreation amenities, with master plans helping to put some of the priorities into focus.

Farmington Hills’ most recent parks and recreation master plan was approved by City Council earlier this year, which was followed by approval from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The new master plan is set to run from 20242028.

One of the aspirations that Ellen Schnackel, who is the director of special services for Farmington Hills, cited is to analyze and understand the best usage for the Costick Center and The Hawk.

Walled Lake resident Cheryl Vanderbeek also

ART ON THE GRAND TO RETURN IN JUNE

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — Those who love art and the great outdoors are invited to enjoy both next month, with historic downtown Farmington as the backdrop.

Thousands of artists and art lovers are set to converge on Grand River Avenue for the 15th edition of Art

on the Grand, which is scheduled to take place Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2.

The fair is set to run 10 a.m.-7 p.m. June 1 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 2, spanning nearly a quarter mile on Grand River Avenue, from Grove Street to Farmington Road.

The event may attract as many as 40,000 people, with the work of approximately 100 artists scheduled to be featured.

The juried fine arts and crafts fair will include ceramics, jewelry, painting, photography, wood, wearable art, glass, sculpture and more in a variety of price ranges.

It is being presented by the city of Farmington Hills Special Services Cultural Arts Division and the Farming-

A five-year Farmington Hills parks and recreation master plan was approved earlier this year.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

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e Whole-Body MRI Debate:

(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.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard addresses a May 13 town hall meeting at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Sheriff hosts town hall to address high-end home robberies

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — A recent town hall meeting drew more attention to an issue that has been a source of concern for some Oakland County residents going back at least as far as last year.

More than 200 people attended a meeting at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills May 13 to address concerns about international organized gangs that have been targeting affluent neighborhoods in the county, according to a press

release from state Rep. Donni Steele.

“One of the best ways to prevent yourself from being a crime victim is to be situationally aware and to know steps you can take to better protect yourself and your family,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press release. In December, Bouchard organized a task force of more than 20 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies — the Southeast Michigan Capture/Arrest/Prosecute task force — and the town hall event was sponsored by Michigan Realtors, the North Oakland County Board of

See TOWN HALL on page 18A

NFHS alumna among artists featured in NFL themed Detroit art contest

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — A North Farmington High School alumna recently had her artwork featured in the DCleated Sculpture Project, which was put on by Detrit’s City Walls initiative in conjunction with Visit Detroit in celebration of “the city’s vibrant spirit and community-driven initiatives” during the NFL draft.

Juliana Rabban, 22, of Farmington, a 2020 graduate of NFHS, was selected from over 100 applicants to be one of 20 local artists to participate in the project.

Participants painted a giant prefabricated cleat, 5 feet tall, 30 inches square and mounted on a steel plate. Each cleat weighs 125 pounds.

The cleats were displayed throughout the city during the month of April. A silent auction was held for each, with the funds going toward a local charity of the artist’s choice.

Bethany Howard, City Walls project manager, said that her supervisor, Zak Meers, the blight remediation division head for the city of Detroit and an avid sports fan, modeled the project after the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats, which pairs NFL stars with artists to paint cleats that are then worn by the star and sold to benefit charities of the stars’ choice. Her supervisor wanted to do it on a more colossal scale, and thus the DCleated Project was born.

“It’s kind of blossomed into this awesome Instagramable moment,” said Howard. “It’s very exciting to see people get excited, the artists included, and then the organizations that they have decided to partner with to just highlight some of the work that people are doing in Detroit at all times.”

She said the people really seemed to love the cleats and could be seen taking pictures of them over the course of the month. “I think the feedback has been grand. It’s just quite pleasing and magical, if you will,” said Howard.

“I was just super drawn to (the project) because I just love doing stuff with the community and I just think it’s such a powerful thing to do,” said Rabban.

Rabban selected Kids Without Cancer as her charity to support. The organization was founded as Leukemia, Research, Life in 1981 and was re-

CRIME WATCH

Drunk driver arrested with child in car FARMINGTON — An officer on patrol stopped a vehicle for speeding in the area of Grand River Avenue and Brookdale around 10:30 p.m. May 2.

While speaking with the driver, the officer noticed several indications that she was

Plan

paid a visit to the Costick center to spend some time in the pool.

“I’m not a Farmington Hills resident, but I come to the pool Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I love it and I hope it never goes away,” Vanderbeek said.

Madison Heights resident Mark Solomon also took some time to take advantage of amenities offered by the city, only his choice of activity was pickleball at The Hawk.

“It was nice,” said Solomon. “There’s so many more places opening up, and so I decided to come and check it out here today. … Both socially and for exercise, it’s really good.”

Farmington Hills resident Mark Erichsen estimated that he utilizes the track at The Hawk three or four times per week.

He said that it is “really convenient” to have amenities so close to home.

“I need to keep in shape,” Erichsen said. “I occasionally use this track. My wife (uses) the pool.”

According to Schnackel, master plans are required by the DNR.

A previous report from the city stated that the DNR provides $40 million in grants through a variety of different programs.

The parks located within Farmington Hills are Heritage Park, Founders Sports

intoxicated. There was a small child in the back seat.

The driver failed several field sobriety evaluations and was arrested for operating while intoxicated and child endangerment. The driver was held until sober, and the child was turned over to a family member.

Man stumbling in traffic found with meth

FARMINGTON — Officers were dispatched to a welfare check for a male that

Park, William Grace Dog Park, Olde Towne Park, Harmon Oaks Park, Bond Field, Pioneer Park and Woodland Hills Park.

The Hawk and the Costick Activities Center are popular facilities in the city.

Last year, residents had the opportunity to provide feedback about the master plan in an online survey.

Getting feedback from residents can help municipalities shape master plans and develop goals.

“We had over 1,000 responses to the online survey, which is a really, really big number,” Schnackel said. “A lot of respondents felt like they’re hearing about our activities, but that we could increase how we’re communicating that through other platforms, including things like social media – not just mailing out a brochure or flier. … The major goal that came out of it was community relations and partnerships. We touch lots and lots of people in the community of all different ages and abilities and interests, and how we can look to expand on those relationships with community partners and maybe leverage them for some more benefits, not only through the city, but … through our residents and our guests.”

Taking a look at whether aging infrastructures should be repaired or replaced and making it easier for residents to navigate parks and facilities, including via “user-friendly documents,” are also areas of consideration.

Another highlight of the master plan is

was seen staggering into traffic in the area of Grand River Avenue and Orchard Lake Road around 12:30 p.m. April 26. Officers arrived in the area and were able to locate the subject. An investigation led to the discovery of methamphetamine. The case will be forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for warrant consideration.

Resident reports fraud

FARMINGTON — A resident went

environmental awareness and preservation.

“This is something that’s a constant goal with special services, but we’ve earmarked it here as well, in the master plan, making sure that everything is environmentally-friendly, from whatever it might be, as simple as water bottle fillers in our parks and in our facilities, (and) other larger things as far as infrastructure, exploring solar panels, things like that,” Schnackel said. “And then also the preservation of green space everywhere that we can.”

Schnackel pointed out that the master plan is a planning document.

“It’s really looking at, what are the things that we’d like to see happen in some of these spaces and with these programs and activities, and then what’s realistic that we can possibly afford,” she said. “All that stuff gets put into this document, and then that gets sent off to get approved by the DNR, which it was approved. And now we work closely with our city administration, our City Council, and make plans over the next five years of this master plan process on what are the things we can try to get accomplished, and what are some things that … that’s outside of that five years that might lead into the next master plan.”

With it being a planning document, Schnackel said that she can’t give an exact dollar amount as to what the cost might be to implement goals in the master plan. However, she did share details about a potential major overhaul to the playground and splash

to the police station April 27 to file a police report after receiving a phone call from an unknown male claiming to be a representative for a bank and stating that the victim owed the bank a sum of money.

The victim told the caller that she did not have the entirety of the amount, but that she could pay some. The suspect agreed to accept the lower sum of money, which the victim paid by credit card over the phone. The case has been forwarded to the detective bureau for investigation.

pad at Heritage Park.

“This is a million-dollar-plus project, so it’s going to take some really careful planning on our part,” Schnackel said. “We think we know what we want to do out there; however, to get it funded, we want to go after some grant funding through the DNR to assist with that process. So it takes quite a bit of time to get all of that stuff laid out, bid out, planned out. But that’s, for example, one of the items in our action plan of the master plan, is an overhaul at Heritage Park to that playground and splash pad.”

Aside from grant funding, there are a variety of ways parks and recreation amenities can be paid for.

“There is a parks millage that does provide some funding … and then we have a really great cost-recovery model, and we do (that) through program charges, fees, ticket sales,” Schnackel said. “We’re funded several ways, and then some of the things with the Adults 50 And Better Division are funded through federal and local grants. It’s kind of a combination coming together.”

To learn more about the master plan, visit fhgov.com/parksandrecmasterplan.aspx.

“It’s fantastic that we have a planning document that helps us prioritize where some of those needs are and when funding is available, prioritize where some of that can go to enhance facilities and programs and parks we currently operate,” Schnackel said.

NEWS & NOTES

Campout scheduled at Heritage Park

FARMINGTON HILLS — The “Great Farmington Hills Campout” is scheduled to take place June 1-2 at Heritage Park, located at 24915 Farmington Road.

According to a press release from the city of Farmington Hills, families can participate in outdoor activities to entertain and educate campers of all ages. The campout is scheduled to include tours of the Farmington Hills Nature Center, a guided sunset hike through Heritage Park and more. A campfire, marshmallows and stories under the stars will be part of the event.

“The event offers families the chance to try camping in a safe and fun environment, without the hassle or expense of a road trip,” the release states.

Each campsite costs $35 for residents of Farmington and Farmington Hills and $40 for nonresidents. One tent is allowed per campsite, with a maximum of six campers per site. Campers can arrive anytime after 1 p.m. June 1 to pitch a tent and set up camp before heading home after breakfast June 2, according to the release.

Farmington Hills visited as part of ‘Centennial Roadshow’

FARMINGTON HILLS — On May 9, the city of Farmington Hills served as a stop on the “National League of Cities Centennial Roadshow: 100 Years, 100 Cities.” The initiative is a “commitment to advancing local government and advocating for the interests of cities, towns and villages nationwide,” information on the city’s website states. “The roadshow aims to spotlight the diversity, resilience and transformation of America’s local communities.” As part of the stop, NLC board members and staff toured historic sites in and around Heritage Park, highlighting the city’s activation of important heritage sites throughout the city.

‘Community Conversation’ about human trafficking scheduled

FARMINGTON HILLS — Farmington Suicide Awareness for Everyone will partner with Community Action Resources Empowerment Service in Farmington Hills for a “Community Conversation” on human trafficking and protecting the community June 8.

The event will take place 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the CARES campus, located at 27835 Shiawassee Road. The event is sponsored by the Graham E.

CORRECTION:

In the May 8 edition of the Farmington Press, it should have been reported that if a $75,000 crowdfunding campaign goal for a public gathering space downtown is not met, donors would not get their money back.

Smith Memorial Fund, a nonprofit. A light lunch is scheduled at 11:30 a.m., followed by experts’ presentations at noon. The presenters are Dr. Tehmina Shakir, psychiatrist and educator, Elaine Grohman, an integrative medicine energy healer, and Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King.

Anyone interested in getting involved is welcome to attend Farmington SAFE meetings at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at Farmington Hills City Hall. For more information, visit farmingtonsafe.com or call (734) 834-3156.

Farmington Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Kate Knight later sent an email that stated, “In fact, we are set up on this campaign to keep incremental funding. Any donations toward an unmet grant match would only still be applied toward the park.”

Farmington Hills native named head coach of OCC men’s basketball team

FARMINGTON HILLS — According to a press release from Oakland Community College, Gjon Djokaj was named as the head coach of OCC’s men’s basketball team.

Djokaj was the head coach of the Warren De LaSalle Collegiate boys basketball team when the program won a state championship in 2022.

That same year, he was named Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Coaches Association and The Detroit News.

Djokaj is also the head coach for the Boys Under 14 team with the American Athletic Union program Religion Education Athletics Character Hope Legends, according to the release.

“I am thrilled to be named the head men’s basketball coach at OCC and plan to develop a program focused around student athlete development on and off the court,” Djokaj stated in the release. “We will strive to achieve common goals through team success, which will ultimately lead to our student athletes consistently having opportunities to advance to four-year programs, while winning championships in the process.”

Robert Belf Jr., of Bloomfield Hills, was selected as OCC’s women’s basketball coach.

“Gjon and Bob both bring extensive and successful coaching experience,” OCC Athletic Director Jamie Corona stated in the release. “We are fortunate to have them leading our OCC basketball teams.”

OCC is in the eastern conference of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.

Djokaj Belf

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARITIES & NONPROFITS

FOSTER CARE MONTH HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR LOVING HOMES, SUPPORT FOR FOSTER CHILDREN

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Around 10,000 children in Michigan are currently in foster care, but the need for loving homes remains constant.

Foster mom Michele Austin decided to open up a foster closet in her own home in 2013 to give other foster families access to items that she knew foster kids needed.

“When my very first foster child came to me, he didn’t have anything, so I started talking to family and friends and opened up the closet in my home to help other foster families,” she said.

The closet grew by leaps and bounds, and in 2018 the Oakland County Foster Closet opened as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and expanded into an office building. Today, the Oakland County Foster Closet, a nonprofit based in Farmington Hills, offers supportive services, supplies and aid to children in the foster care system and to those in crisis situations at no cost.

“We offer all of the basic essentials that kids need in life: hygiene items, clothing, socks, underwear, school supplies — everything that they would need, and we do that absolutely for free for our foster kids and for low income,” she said.

The closet is currently in dire need of hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion toothbrushes, toothpaste and more.

See FOSTER on page 13A

ABOVE: Volunteers and staff at Spaulding for Children help make a past holiday party at First Baptist Institutional Church in Detroit a great time for foster children and families. RIGHT: Volunteers assist at the dessert table during a past Spaulding for Children holiday party for foster families at First Baptist Institutional Church.

Nurturing small businesses and fueling the county’s economic success

Nearly 50% of small businesses don’t survive to the fveyear mark. Oakland Thrive aims to change that by providing essential support and resources to businesses of all sizes in an effort to help them prosper.

Back in 2020, Oakland County sprang into action to support small businesses grappling with survival and recovery following the lengthy COVID-19 shutdown. Although the county was in good economic shape overall, several regions were lagging behind.

The American Rescue Plan Act awarded Oakland County funding for transformational and sustainable programs and services, and Oakland Thrive was created as a 501(c)(3) nonproft organization to support small businesses in those underperforming areas. “There are 36,000 small businesses in Oakland County, and our role is to help them build something sustainable,” said Chief Operating Offcer Laura Dodd. “It’s hard to know who to trust or where to go if no one in your social circle or family has ever opened a business. We are taking the mystery and challenge out of the situation and offering that backbone of support.”

preparation of an appropriate facility to house the business.

“We also have a team of Business Forward consultants, who are regular folks in the community doing general small business consulting with business owners,” Dodd added.

“Focusing on a business-to-business model, participants can engage in two hours of specialized consulting with professionals such as lawyers, CPAs, web designers and so forth.”

Oakland Thrive also collaborates with various organizations across the county to optimize resource allocation and prevent duplication of services, such as banks and nonprofts like the Accounting Aid Society.

A brand-new Newcomer Entrepreneur Program assists immigrants and refugees who have been in the United States for fve years or less with overcoming the unique obstacles they face when starting a business in a new country.

Oakland Thrive’s services are entirely free, and individuals can participate in a range of comprehensive weekly small business training sessions available virtually and in person. The staff also provides one-on-one guidance. “Our staff includes three business specialists who focus on sectors requiring unique expertise, such as childcare and food service,” Dodd explained. Those individuals delve into industry-specifc challenges like compliance with complex regulations and the

“The business owners who are really struggling aren’t always the ones reaching out for help,” Dodd said. “When someone tells us, ‘You’re here just in time,’ that tells us we are truly making a difference. It’s rewarding to see people regain hope and enthusiasm as they overcome challenges and live the American Dream of business ownership. This not only flls us with pride but reinforces our commitment to continue our efforts.”

Oakland Thrive is located at 35 W. Huron St., Suite 201, in Pontiac. To access resources for your business, call (248) 602-0040 or visit oaklandthrive.org.

Laura Dodd Chief Operating Offcer

Photos provided by Spaulding for Children

Te Zekelman Holocaust Center: Preserving history and educating future generations

Founded in 1984, Te Zekelman Holocaust Center reaches more than 150,000 people annually through teacher trainings, virtual museum experiences, virtual programs and in-person visits to the museum.

According to Director of Curatorial Afairs Mark Mulder, the center’s mission is to engage, educate and empower by remembering the Holocaust.

“In memorializing the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, we teach the importance of choice and that people have free will and are capable of committing acts of good and evil,” Mulder said. “We teach that therefore history isn’t inevitable. Te Holocaust was the catastrophic result of a series of choices by ordinary people at all levels of society, including government, to perpetuate violence against their neighbors, or to stand by and do nothing, or in rare instances, to resist.”

Mulder noted that the most impactful exhibits are those that focus on individual stories. “When the storytelling and focus is narrowed to individual experiences, we fnd again and again that our visitors connect more meaningfully to the topics,” he said, adding that the center’s new permanent exhibit uses these stories throughout to draw visitors in and make meaningful connections with those who experienced the Holocaust frsthand.

Mulder continued, “When we recognize and understand the roots of antisemitism and how it manifests itself, we can call it out.

Te Holocaust teaches important lessons in critical thinking and recognizing propaganda, and the importance of drawing legitimate facts to have conversations.”

Mulder, whose graduate work was focused on Holocaust representation in museums, considers the work that Te Zekelman Holocaust Center does to be some of the most meaningful and important work there is. He oversees all exhibits with a focus on preserving and sharing the stories of Michigan Holocaust survivors

through their testimonies and artifacts.

Te exhibits are intentionally focused not on the general events of the Holocaust but on individual experiences. Each section was designed to express what it was like for those who lived through it and places personal narratives front and center.

Refecting on one particularly moving story, Mulder shared, “Janny Blom, a Christian in Amsterdam and a dental assistant to a Jewish dentist, immigrated to Michigan after the war. When the Germans occupied the Netherlands, she hid the dentist and his family in her home. For three years, they lived in a small room, reading and playing chess during the day, and only coming downstairs at night. To keep the secret the Bloms hid the Jewish family from their 3-year-old son. During this time, Mr. Blom became a captain in the underground resistance. Because of the Bloms’ courageous actions, their Jewish friends survived the Holocaust and stayed in Amsterdam after the war.”

In addition to the tens of thousands of visitors who come through the museum, the center hosts in-person and virtual programs throughout the year and ofers customized educational experiences for adults from every sector of society. A traveling exhibit is in the works, to reach parts of Michigan that are too far for a feld trip or an easy museum visit.

“Using the same techniques as our permanent exhibit, we will tell the history of the Holocaust through the lens of various forms of resistance, incorporating frsthand testimony,” Mulder said.

Te organization also ofers public tours at 1 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and a Survivor Talk every Sunday at noon.

Coming Summer 2024: Sweet Home Sweet: A Story of Survival, Memory, and Returns. Tis photography exhibit opens in June and explores the complex relationship Holocaust survivors have with their country of origin. Visit holocaustcenter.org to register for public programs.

Te Zekelman Holocaust Center is located at 28123 Orchard Lake Rd. in Farmington Hills. For more information, call (248) 553-2400.

Farmington Community Library EXPANDS ACCESSIBILITY & DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

The Farmington Community Library (FCL) is hosting an Accessibility and Disability Support Showcase on June 4, between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., at the FCL Farmington Hills location on 12 Mile Road. Attendees can drop in at any time during the event to learn how FCL is working to ensure Library services meet best practices in accessibility and serve the needs of our disabled community of all ages. Light refreshments will be available.

The Showcase will highlight newly acquired accessibility devices in the Library’s circulating collection. These items were purchased using a grant of $23,787 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.

During the Showcase, Library sta will be available to demonstrate and answer questions about the devices in the collection and other accessibility and support services available at FCL. Items include C-Pen Readers, OrCam readers, magnifiers, Brailler, and resources from the Children’s Disability Support Collection.

The initiative to provide accessible services and collections supporting the disabled community aligns with the strategic directions outlined in the Library’s 2023-2029 Strategic Plan. The plan defines a prima-

ry goal to “provide barrier-free access to resources that support community members of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.”

FCL serves a significant number of residents in the community facing mobility, cognitive, hearing, and vision disabilities. Adding these devices to the circulating collection amplifies other crucial services the Library o ers, including weekly visits to senior living facilities, one-on-one technology support sessions, and the Children’s Disability Support Collection that includes media and adaptive games to support children and pre-teens with disabilities and their caregivers.

“Research for this project supports the continued need to o er accessibility and disability support services at both locations of the Farmington Community Library, and we hope our community supports this work as well. The addition of these items to our collection will benefit our disabled community of all ages for the foreseeable future,” says Anna Hay, Senior Outreach Librarian at FCL.

FCL continues to enhance the public library experience by o ering accessible so ware, materials, and other assistive items, ensuring that the Library remains a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone.

Community Choice Foundation continues to ‘Give Big’ with scholarship awards

A credit union is more than a fnancial institution. It’s a community pillar, a job of which is to add strength to the lives of its individual members and the community as a whole.

Founded in 2008 in the grip of the Great Recession, Community Choice Credit Union’s Community Choice Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $1.6 million in scholarships to 346 recipients over the 15-year life of the program.

“We are one of the largest credit union scholarship programs nationally,” said Kevin McAlpine, CFRE, the foundation’s executive director.

“Currently, we award scholarships to graduating high school seniors, people going into the skilled trades and those continuing their education.”

Tis year, 25 scholars received awards out of a feld of more than 2,500 applicants. A total of $100,000 is awarded annually.

“Te Community Choice Foundation is committed to supporting local causes and nonproft organizations through volunteerism in communities around Michigan where members and team members live, work and play,” McAlpine said. “Te Foundation supports the ‘Give Big’ philosophy of cre-

ating sustained and lasting impact on people’s lives, including causes and nonproft organizations we care about that make a positive difference. We believe in the power of giving back to our community, and with the endless support of our members and team members, we make a tremendous impact on our community by volunteering thousands of hours each year.”

McAlpine added, “Te ability

ways Community Choice Credit Union gives back through the generosity of its members and team members. Other opportunities to “Give Big” include seven Backto-School Bashes at our Hillsdale, Jackson, Livonia, Muskegon - Harvey Street, Roseville, Warren & Wyandotte member centers, where more than 3,200 backpacks will be provided for local students heading

to continue our tradition of giving means a tremendous amount to the entire Community Choice organization. We’d like to send a huge thank you to our members, team members and business partners whose support has made the program a success.”

Scholarship sponsorship opportunities are available.

Te program is just one of the

back to the classroom. Interested in supporting local children with the tools needed to thrive? Sponsorship opportunities are available, and donations can be made online at communitychoicefoundation.org.

For more information about Community Choice Credit Union, the scholarship program and the Community Choice Foundation, visit CommunityChoice.com

“We’ve seen a significant amount of need, because people are really struggling right now,” said Austin.

The Oakland County Foster Closet also has many volunteer options available, including one-time, once-in-a-while, and weekly opportunities for individuals and groups. For more information, call the Oakland County Foster Closet (248) 419-4487.

“It’s a really fulfilling type of volunteering because you’re seeing the impact and feeling the impact,” Austin said.

May is Foster Care Month, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel said she is thankful for the thousands of families across the state who have already opened up their hearts and homes to care for youth in foster care, but she said more foster families are needed to provide temporary care while the state works to reunify kids with their parents.

“There continues to be a need for more foster families to provide stable and safe family homes for children of all ages in the state’s care,” Hertel said in a statement.

Many foster children have been victims of abuse and neglect, and officials say they need a nurturing environment until they can be safely reunified with their parents or — in a smaller number of cases — until they can find adoptive homes if it’s not safe for them to return home.

In Michigan, the first step to becoming a foster parent is contacting a “foster care navigator” — experienced foster parents who can answer questions, help individuals find an agency that’s right for them, assist families with the foster home licensing process and provide guidance along their journey to becoming a foster parent. A foster care navigator can be reached at 855-MICHKIDS or www.Fcnp.org.

Spaulding for Children — a private,

nonprofit child welfare agency located in Southfield — was established in 1968 to find permanent and safe families for children.

Spaulding for Children President and CEO Melissa Jenovai said there is an increased awareness of the need to search out relatives for foster children in Michigan.

“If we can’t prevent them from coming in, we know the next best place for them to go would be with a relative,” she said. “We have put a lot more effort into searching for those relatives up front, and the outcomes tend to be much greater for children and youth who are placed with their kinship families — there’s more stability, and there are better mental health outcomes for those kids.”

But, oftentimes, kids who enter the system don’t have a family member available, so the need for nonrelative foster homes remains constant.

“It can take a person, on average, seven years from the time they inquire about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, all the way up until the point that they decide to take that step and become one,” Jenovai noted.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides foster families a daily rate to help with the care of foster children based on the age and needs of the child. Foster families also receive a semi-annual clothing allowance, and many families qualify for reimbursement for the costs of day care, according to state officials. Children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid, which pays for medical, dental and mental health care.

Spaulding for Children offers monthly online orientation classes for those interested in becoming a foster or adoptive family. In June, orientation sessions will be held 6-7:30 p.m. June 12 and 1-2:30 p.m. June 20. Register by contacting Stacey Oakes at (248) 443-0300 or soakes@spaulding.org, or visit www.spaulding.org.

“Coming to an orientation does not

commit you to anything. It really just helps you to learn about the need, and maybe if you decide this isn’t something for you, then you can encourage others to reach out and provide support or learn about it to eventually become an adoptive or foster parent,” Jenovai said.

Those who aren’t ready to become a foster or adoptive parent can still offer support to foster children through monetary donations to organizations dedicated to helping those in the system, volunteering during an event and more.

“We really believe that the more opportunities that we involve the community in and offer our families these positive experiences that in turn helps offset some of the trauma that our kids and families have experienced over the years. The more positive events we can have, the better outcomes we hope to be able to provide with our kids and our families,” Jenovai said.

To learn more about foster care, visit Michigan.gov/HopeforaHome.

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

ton Downtown Development Authority.

Rachel Timlin, who is the cultural arts supervisor for the city of Farmington Hills, explained how the collaboration works.

“We organize all of the artists — so we jury the artists, we do the call for entries — all of that part,” Timlin said. “We help with some of the logistics with the DDA, but we’ve got a great partnership with the DDA, so they handle the street closing down and the barriers (being) put up, and some of the events over in the kids zone and all of that, then we handle the artists’ part of it.”

Timlin gives the event a top ranking among those that Farmington Hills helps organize.

“It’s our largest event, by far,” she said. “It’s a large, important event. … It is our star event, I would say, in the Cultural Arts Division.”

The fair is one of many events that have been scheduled to coincide with Farmington’s bicentennial year.

Farmington Mayor Joe LaRussa has some familiarity with what a large downtown event looks like.

“I’m excited that during our bicentennial we’re going to host another great event, and I want to encourage everybody to enjoy downtown and get a chance to see how a 200-yearold community does it,” LaRussa said.

Timlin said that the application deadline for artists was Dec. 31, and then a jury of cultural arts staff members went through them.

She said the booth fee for the artists was $375.

She said 60 artists were cut from the application process.

“We do it because we really want to give every artist that’s participating a time to shine and not have to compete with other artists that are making very similar work,” Timlin said. “So I would say every booth is different

from one to the next.”

From Timlin’s perspective, another positive aspect that Art on the Grand has going for it is that the size of the fair is manageable.

“What I mean by that is sometimes I feel like people can get overwhelmed at some of the larger art fairs,” she said. “This fair is, in my opinion, the perfect size. You can see everybody, with just enough artists where we don’t start repeating art styles, and the artists feel like they get a lot of attention from the participants that come to see the show. So it’s fewer artists, but it’s more selective.”

One of the artists set to display her work at the fair is Kelly O’Neill, who has been part of the show for multiple years.

O’Neill commended those who help to put the fair together.

“Art on the Grand’s my favorite show,” she said. “Every year it gets better. … It’s 100% an art fair, and it’s always the same weekend of the year, so I get more repeat customers there than any other art fair that I do, because … they know what to expect when they go to Art on the Grand. … They couldn’t do a better job.”

Art shows provide opportunities for artists to display their work on a large, public scale, and LaRussa recognizes the role that Farmington is playing in helping them do that.

“What’s special about it is that it brings a focus to the creative talent that we have in our community and from all around the state,” he said. “There’s a lot of creative people doing a lot (of) creative things, and to have Farmington as the backdrop for them to share their creativity with the world is a privilege for us, and it’s a great opportunity for our residents and visitors to see what’s available, creatively, in our region.”

Children can get in on the act as well. More than 40 artists in grades 5-12 will have their art displayed at Kids Art Alley, located near the center of Art on the Grand in the Huntington Bank parking lot.

According to a press release, fun activi-

ties scheduled for youngsters in the Kidzone include art workshops with the Detroit Institute of Arts.

“It started as a way to encourage young artists to learn how to be an art fair artist, sell their work and show them that they can make a living off of their work,” Timlin said. “We want them to understand the concept of art fairs. … It’s gotten very popular over the last few years. We have 40 kids this year showing their work, and they sell a lot of work, those kids.”

For some, the event is not something that is going to sneak up on them.

“People will tell us they block it off every year, like, ‘Oh, first weekend of June, it’s blocked off,’” Timlin said. “A lot of people consider it like a homecoming or like the kickoff to their summer, so it’s something I think people look forward to every year.”

Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit artonthegrand.com.

For those considering attending, Timlin’s advice is to “prepare to stay longer than you expected, because every single booth has something cool in it.”

“It’s so fun, and it’s so great to see artists selling their work,” she said. “This is the

highlight of my job, because we’re trying to create this environment for artists to be able to thrive, and Farmington/Farmington Hills has such a unique arts community — very supportive of the arts.”

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

named Kids Without Cancer in 2011. Kids Without Cancer raises money to fund pediatric cancer research that is being conducted at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and its affiliates at Wayne State University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Rabban said she chose KWC as she has had multiple family members stricken with the disease. She hopes to donate over $100,000 in her lifetime to support families and researchers.

“I just think it’s something everyone can relate to, because it’s inevitable; I think every person has dealt with someone battling it, and I just wanted to bring that to the light,” she said.

Rabban made sure to incorporate several elements that represent both the city of Detroit and the disease into her design.

“There’s elements such as the lion, which represents our team (Detroit Lions), but it also just represents that fury that people battling cancer have as well,” Rabban said. “And then the cleat is purple, because I learned that’s the universal color for all cancer types.”

Howard said that by partnering with KWC and using the universal color of cancer, Rabban showed her inclusivity and kindness in making sure that all people are connected and covered. “The humanity of it,” she said.

According to Howard, Rabban’s cleat caught the attention of alumni, students and staff of Southeastern High School in Detroit, whose mascot, the Jungaleer, is essentially a purple lion.

Rabban’s cleat, which features a purple lion, was placed at the Coleman A Young International Airport, which is near the school, on the east side of Detroit. She said the cleat pleased many of the alumni and students of that school.

FRIDAY 5/24

“I’ve had so many conversations with people that have gone to that school, where they are the Southeastern Jungaleers, which is essentially a purple lion, and they’re just talking and they’re just fanning and fawning over it,” said Howard. “It’s just one of those things where some people are creating because they have a cause in mind and an initiative in mind, and they don’t know how it relates to other people. So with her cleat, specifically, it’s connected, because a lot of my family members actually went to Southeastern, and you know that’s something Juliana probably doesn’t even know what a Jungaleer is. I know she does now, but it’s just, like, the connections that can be made to these cleats and the stories that come from them.”

The starting bid for each cleat was $2,500, capped at $10,000. Rabban’s cleat sold for the max bid April 29, four days before bidding ended.

“It’s been a very exciting week,” said Rabban.

Rabban is the owner of Just by Juliana, an online business where she sells her artwork, and she has been commissioned to do several murals at local businesses across metro Detroit. Ironically, Rabban is most known for painting custom sneakers. She said she posted a video of herself painting a pair of sneakers, and it went viral on TikTok, with almost 2 million views, and her business has just grown from there.

“That’s actually one of the other reasons why I was interested (in the project), is because I am super into sneakers. I was like, ‘Oh, my God! I have to do this,’” said Rabban.

Rabban said she has always had a passion for art, but she didn’t take a lot of art classes in high school as she was an AP student. So she took an art class whenever she got a chance. Rabban credits her mom with encouraging her to make a career of art.

“She just always had a gift with art. I don’t know what it was — that was just al-

ways her passion,” said Jenny Rabban, Juliana’s mother.

Jenny Rabban said that so many kids go off to college and hate their career choice and then go into something else. She said she encouraged her daughter to go into art as she wanted her daughter to love what she was doing when she got out of college.

“Believe it or not, artists make a great living. They really do,” said Jenny Rabban. “They’re pursuing her, to reach out for her. She’s not having to chase anybody down for it. Which is kind of cool. She’s got calls every day coming in (with work offers). Through DM (direct messaging), through Instagram, a lot of people are reaching out to her… There’s a lot of companies that are reaching out to her. You really don’t think about it like that, but there is a place for artists, and I think it’s just about how aggressively you pursue it, but people love art. It’s unbeliev-

able.”

Juliana Rabban was set to graduate from the Center for Creative Studies with a major in advertising design and a minor in graphic design and entrepreneurship May 9.

After graduation she plans to focus on and continue to grow her business.

She said that this project was a great opportunity for her to build up her credibility as an artist at a young age.

“I’m just excited to see where this will take me,” she said of both the project and her career.

“I was loving that she gets to do something for the city of Detroit,” said Jenny Rabban. “It was pretty cool, though, because it was a life-size cleat. The great thing about it is that there is a cause behind it.”

To see or purchase some of Rabban’s work, visit JustbyJuliana.com or find her on Instagram at the same handle.

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Artist Juliana Rabban, an alumna of North Farmington High School, points to her signature on the giant cleat she painted for the DCleated art project.

Photos provided by Juliana and Jenny Rabban

BEHIND THE WHEEL

16A/ FARMINGTON PRESS • MAY 22, 2024

Do you own a vehicle with an interesting history?

Contact Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045, and you could be featured in an upcoming Behind the Wheel. For more stories, visit candgnews.com/news/auto or use the QR code.

Dodge Super Bee 1970 creates a buzZ

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — If you were to dig into Mike Mazelis’ vehicle history, you’d find someone who, at one time, had an interest in off-road trucks.

“I was always going out into the mud and mud-bogging and things like that,” he said. “I was always breaking the truck. Every time I’d come back, I’d have to fix something new.”

Eventually, the Warren resident switched gears and found a new pastime: muscle cars. In 2008, while perusing Craigslist, Mazelis found out about a 1970 Dodge Super Bee for sale in Hazel Park. He decided to check out the car, but when he did, it didn’t look like much.

“It was just a shell. There’s nothing on it but wheels. There’s no interior, there’s no engine,” he said. “The engine, transmission and all these boxes were just next to the car.”

Even though he “didn’t have any tools or knowledge” of restoring the car, he purchased the vehicle anyway.

“Everybody’s like, ‘How are you going to do this?” Mazelis, 51, said. “‘How are you even going to put this car together?’”

Mazelis learned from friends, watched YouTube videos and did plenty of reading to learn how to build the Super Bee.

“I spent almost every day of two years to get the car on the road, learning as I went, buying tools as I went,” Mazelis said. “A lot of trial and error.”

He made the car his own, including the sublime green paint job and addition of comfortable seats.

“It’s got a five-speed manual transmission in there. It had an automatic before. I

When Warren resident Mike Mazelis found his 1970 Dodge Super Bee in 2008, “It was just a shell.” Mazelis created the Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club on social media. The club meets at 7 p.m. every Friday at Gratiot Coney Island, 28560 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville.

Photos by Maria Allard

Super Bee

added the wheels that I wanted. I added some suspension upgrades. That’s a custom hood that’s on there. It’s a steel hood with a fiberglass scoop,” he said. “I’m still modifying, adding parts, doing things to the car. People that have classic cars, they always say they’re never done because they’re always fixing things.”

One change Mazelis recently made was the engine.

“The car had a 440 six pack in it. That was getting pretty tiring,” Mazelis said. “I recently put a 512 cubic inch stroker engine in there, so it makes 650 horse (power). At least 600.”

Mazelis’ main goal was to drive the car as much as possible. During the summer, most Sundays are spent cruising Lake Shore Drive with his wife, Stacy; daughter Alaina, 15; and son Evan, 11. They’ll stop for lunch somewhere or grab an ice cream.

“It’s a special thing. It’s just quality time,” Mazelis said. “I like being able to share it with my family, driving around and going places.”

The eye-catching vehicle has been fea-

tured in many shows, including Detroit Autorama. The farthest trip he’s taken in the Super Bee was an 11-hour drive to Wisconsin for a car show.

Looking to connect with other car buffs, Mazelis created the Twisted Axle Car Club on Facebook and Instagram in 2013. At first, 30 people joined the group, and then 70 car enthusiasts came aboard. After a while, the pages went global as they reached car owners in Germany, Australia and Canada.

“Now it’s 50,000 people,” Mazelis said.

From that, Mazelis started the Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club on social media. He also has a presence on social media with Dynamic Detroit Mopars on Facebook.

“A lot of these people became my best friends. The car community’s just great, always trying to help each other out,” Mazelis said. “Metro Detroit is very diverse. You have all different kinds of cars, all cars that span decades. It’s just a very rich culture that we have here.”

The Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club meets at 7 p.m. every Friday at Gratiot Coney Island, 28560 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville. All are welcome. Car enthusiasts are also encouraged to check out the website twistedaxlemotorsports.com.

Realtors, and the Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors.

The meeting was hosted by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, with Bloomfield Township Police Chief James Gallager and Bloomfield Hills Police Department Capt. Tom Van Simaeys.

Last September, Bouchard held a news conference about a transnational crime ring consisting of organized and trained thieves targeting certain areas of the United States and breaking into homes, with the intent of stealing cash and jewelry, and high-end clothing, purses and products.

Teams of criminals from Central and South America have reportedly targeted wealthy homes, stealing millions of dollars worth of jewelry, cash and other items, according to the release.

Last year it was reported that the thieves had begun targeting homes with the highest net value in Oakland Township.

Bouchard reported that the belief is that the thieves have entered the country illegally across the southern border or through the Visa Waiver Program.

They typically break in around 5-9 p.m., preferring homes that are isolated and back up to wooded areas, trails and golf courses, and in which nobody is home.

Bouchard reported that the thieves purchase fake identifications, often overstay their visas and cancel their return dates.

At the townhall meeting, Bouchard warned that international gangs arrive in teams sent intentionally for robberies, with each gang member having a backpack with specialized equipment, including breaching tools, alarm jams and more.

“I don’t think people realize the full extent of what’s happening in Oakland County,” Steele stated in the release. “The number of people at the town hall showed just how scared people are. Homeowners in Oakland County are living in constant fear that their homes may be next on the hit list. This is the kind of fear that makes you jump at every shadow you see in the window and go to sleep with the lights on.”

Steele said she supports a House Republican plan to target criminals illegally entering the country on behalf of transnational criminal organizations. House Bill 5650 would increase penalties for crimes committed to benefit transnational crime organizations and for felonies committed by individ-

uals who return to the country illegally after being deported, according to the release.

“We’re not talking about kids stealing stuff out of a garage,” Steele stated. “These are professional criminals who illegally entered our country to wreak havoc on our communities.”

The bill was referred to the House Government Operations Committee, according to the release.

Making sure that home security systems are on and tested, with quality cameras and layered systems throughout a home, along with securing valuables in a heavy-duty safe that is anchored, are some measures that homeowners can take.

Residents are also encouraged to contact law enforcement if they see something suspicious.

Spotlight on business...

Tropical Smoothie Cafe launches summer events with focus on ending childhood hunger

Cafe franchisee Hani Halloun, across his 22 cafes, has a goal of raising $100,000 this year. Last year, TSC raised $93,000 from the 22 combined locations to lead the e orts! e fundraising helped bring 4.8 million meals for children to Michigan.

Kicking o summer May 29, which is National Flip Flop Day, Tropical Smoothie Cafe will be celebrating by giving out free 12-ounce Island Punch Smoothies from 2 to 7 p.m. at every Tropical Smoothie Cafe across America! Guests simply need to bring their ip ops! is event will be only during this time period on May 29, 2024, and inside the cafe. Tropical Smoothie Cafe will not be o ering this event via the drive-thru.

May 29 is also the launch date for TSC’s national campaign with No Kid Hungry! Fundraising e orts will last until June 23. Tropical Smoothie

Inside each cafe there will be a QR Code to see exactly where the donations go in each ZIP code. Each of the franchised locations in Troy, Clawson, Madison Heights, South eld, Farmington Hills, and the Haggerty Rd. Location in Livonia will have unique o ers on each donation over $1. TSC will nish its kicko to summer June 21, which is National Smoothie Day! Via the TSC app, guests will get a free smoothie with any food purchase (excludes sides/kids’ food). is summer also brings back three favorite summer smoothies: Watermelon Mojito, Mango Berry Cosmo, and Island Punch, which will be staying from May 22 until Aug. 20! Come out to celebrate summer, help children and get free smoothies!

Pictured is Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee Hani Halloun. He owns 22 TSC restaurants in Michigan and Ohio including locations in Troy, Clawson, Madison Heights, Southfield, Farmington Hills and Livonia. TSC nationwide supports No Kid Hungry, a national nonprofit created to help solve the issue of childhood hunger, from May 29 through June 23.

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CALENDAR

MAY 24

Blood drive: Noon-6 p.m., Farmington Community Library, 32737 W. 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, register using sponsor code Farmingtoncl at redcross.org

MAY 24

Young Explorers: Drop-off program for ages 3-5, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, registration required, facebook.com/fhspecialservices

MAY 29

The Geology of Michigan: Presentation about rocks, minerals, groundwater and formation Great Lakes, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Farmington Community Library, 32737 W. 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, registration suggested but not required, (248) 553-0300, farmlib.org

JUNE 1

FAB Fest: Farmington Author & Book Festival includes free readings, book signings, discussions, workshops and more, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Memorial Park, 33430 Grand River Ave., see list of authors and schedule of events at farmlib.org

JUNE 1-2

The Great Campout: Set up tent after 1 p.m. June 1, then participate in outdoor activities, dinner and campfire, pancake breakfast served before 11 a.m. departure June 2, Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, registration required, (248) 699-6700, specialservices@fhgov.com, facebook.com/fhspecialservices

JUNE 7

Rock Around the Hawk: Free mini music festival for ages 18 months to 5 years, 10-11:30 a.m., The Hawk - Farmington Hills Community Center, 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, (248) 699-6700

JUNE 12

Kickoff 2 Summer: Bounce houses, fitness obstacle course, sports contests, aquatics

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.

Speeding vehicles flee police

BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 8 p.m. April 25, officers on patrol identified two vehicles going approximately 72 mph in a 45 mph zone.

Officers initiated their overhead emergency lights in an attempt to pull over one of the vehicles, which continued to drive beyond the speed limit. The driver was driving recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic, and did not stop for the police officers. An investigation was ongoing.

Bowling bag stolen from unlocked car

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between midnight and 6 a.m. on April 22, an unknown person stole a bowling bag containing the complainant’s shoes and multiple bowling balls from the complainant’s unlocked car in the 200 block of South Wilson Avenue, near East 11 Mile and South Campbell roads.

Man reportedly stops traffic, arrested HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, officers were called to the area of Eight Mile Road and

gate a report of an aggressive man who was stopping traffic while drinking beer. He was stopped by police and found to have warrants.

When told to put his hands behind his back, the man allegedly pulled away from officers and began to flee on foot. An officer stumbled to the ground briefly, but the police were ultimately able to capture and arrest the man. The officer later went to the hospital, having suffered a broken finger.

The suspect, 32, of Detroit, faces a felony charge for allegedly resisting and obstructing a police officer. An investigation was ongoing.

Woman steals beer, baby wipes

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A woman stole beer and baby wipes from a drugstore in the 6500 block of Telegraph Road at 6:45 p.m. April 15. According to reports, a woman loaded two 12-pack cases of Stella Artois beer, two six-packs of Stella Artois beer, and one pack of Huggies baby wipes into a cart and left the store without paying. The suspect was seen loading the merchandise into a U-Haul box truck before leaving the parking lot. Police were investigating.

Man staggering in traffic found with meth

FARMINGTON — Officers were dispatched to a welfare check for a man seen staggering into traffic in the area of Grand River Avenue and Orchard Lake Road at 12:30 p.m. April 26.

Officers made contact with the man and conducted an investigation, leading to the discovery of methamphetamine. The case was to be forwarded on to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for warrant consideration.

Woman calls 911 after truck begins repeatedly ramming her vehicle

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to Adams Road and Walton Boulevard for a white Tesla being rammed by a black truck at 5:11 p.m. April 16.

While on 911, a 43-year-old woman from Rochester Hills told police the truck was ramming her vehicle. She stated that the truck behind her began flipping her off, then making gun gestures at her.

She had her daughter in the vehicle and called 911. The truck rammed the Tesla four or five times and drove onto the Oakland University campus. When deputies arrived on the scene they could not locate the vehicle, or the suspect.

Woman reports indecent exposure at gym

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to a

report of indecent exposure at 7:38 p.m. March 30. The caller, a 21-year-old woman from Rochester Hills, told dispatchers that an unknown man who had been on the treadmill pleasuring himself in the presence of other gym members was attempting to leave the gym in a black Dodge Charger.

Deputies located the Dodge Charger in the parking lot, occupied by two males, who were detained and investigated.

The caller was located, interviewed, and provided video of the incident.

Gym managers said they would provide interior video of the incident at a later date.

Per video review, the driver of the Charger, a 23-year-old man from Clarkston, was identified as the suspect. He was transported to the Rochester Hills substation for processing and was released pending further investigation.

Shot fired at condo as man cleans rifle

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to 1600 block of Oneil Circle on a report of a shot fired from a condo at 6:49 p.m. April 19.

The round went through the ceiling of another condo unit. Deputies contacted the occupants of both units. The upstairs resident, a 54-year-old man, said he had been cleaning his rifle and moving it from the kitchen to a bedroom when the rifle went off.

The round went through the floor and ceiling and then fragmented, causing no further damage. No injuries were reported at the time of the investigation. The man was interviewed and released pending further investigation. The rifle was recovered and transported to the police property room. The investigation was ongoing.

Teen throws plate at school security guard, resulting in concussion, stitches

ROCHESTER HILLS — School resource officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of Dequindre on a report of an assault at Ace High School at 11:42 a.m. April 15.

School administrators told police that an 18-yearold male student had become agitated in class. When the principal and security personnel arrived to deescalate the situation, the student threw a ceramic plate toward staff, hitting a 62-year-old male security guard in the forehead.

The Rochester Hills Fire Department arrived at the scene and rendered aid to the guard, who was transported to the hospital. He had a concussion and suffered a laceration to the head that required stitches.

The student was taken into custody for felonious assault and was transported to the Oakland County Jail.

Victim drives suspect’s vehicle to police station to file report

SOUTHFIELD — A man stated that he was approached by an unknown male in the 26000 block of Telegraph Road at 7:31 a.m. April 27. The victim perceived that he was being robbed and noticed that the suspect had left his vehicle running with the door open. The victim got into the vehicle and drove it to the police station to file a report.

Driver hits construction equipment

TROY — Officers responded to Coolidge Highway and Wattles Road for a vehicle crash at 2:48 p.m. April 26 in which a Buick SUV had struck a piece of construction equipment.

The driver of the 2017 Buick Encore, a 63-year-old man from Troy, could not explain how he had ended up crashing into the construction equipment in an active construction zone.

Police discovered the driver did not have a valid license, and they noted that his eyes were watery and bloodshot and that there was a strong odor of intoxicants coming from his vehicle.

The driver did poorly on field sobriety evaluations. He submitted to a preliminary breath test, with a result of a 0.193% blood alcohol content.

Photo provided by City of Farmington Hills