5/23/24 Novi Note

City Council reconsiders prior decision and votes to fully subsidize Pex

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

In a turn of events, the Novi City Council reconsidered its previous decision and unanimously voted to fully subsidize the costs of People’s Express transportation services for older adults and people with disabilities during its regular meeting May 6.

“It was disappointing the last time we voted on this that

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

Dear Asian Youth Novi, in conjunction with the city of Novi and the Novi Public Library, will hold its second annual Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. June 2 at Fuerst Park.

“This festival is designed to celebrate the cultural diversity in Novi, especially since we have such a great demographic of Asian residents,”

said Grace Tie, the outreach director of DAYN and a sophomore at Novi High School.

The festival will feature various performances by local Asian cultural groups such as the Michigan Lion Dance Team. The team is a studentled group composed of Taiwanese, Malaysian and Cantonese students.

According to Carrie Ong — social media director for DAYN, a sophomore at Novi High School and cocaptain of the team, which includes

Dear Asian Youth Novi to hold second Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Festival

two other NHS students — the dance is performed at weddings and other cultural events. There will also be a performance by Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group, Hoaloha Polynesian Dance Group and the Nunmaan Tamil Academy.

Tie said they chose those specific groups because they wanted to highlight some of the Asian arts that most people don’t really know about.

“We definitely tried to incorpo-

See HERITAGE on page 12A

Photo by Charity Meier

A city of Novi Senior Transportation van sits outside the Meadowbrook Medical Center. Novi Senior Transportation will be disbanded after May 31.

Photo provided by the Novi Community School District Students from Dear Asian Youth Novi pose with state Rep. Kelly Breen, center, at the 2023 Asian Pacific Islander Heritage festival at Fuerst Park in Novi. The 2024 festival will take place June 2.

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SECOND FRONT PAGE

3A/

Pilot suffers minor injuries after plane crashes into Novi neighborhood

Police: No injuries on the ground

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

A single-engine Titan T-51 Mustang airplane crashed into a Novi neighborhood May 12.

“The pilot of a single-engine Titan T-51

Mustang reported engine issues and landed in a residential neighborhood in Novi, Michigan, around 6:40 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 12. Only the pilot was on board,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The World War II replica aircraft crashed onto Cambridge Drive, just north of Eight Mile Road and west of Haggerty Road. According to

a press release from the Novi Police Department, it appears the pilot was attempting an emergency landing and crashed into some trees.

“There was no fire associated with the crash and no one on the ground was injured. No structures were damaged in the crash, only some trees,” said Cmdr. Jason Meier, of the Novi Police Department.

Artists, celebrities from Michigan took many paths to get to Motor City Comic Con

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

People from all over the world came to the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi May 17-19 to attend the Motor City Comic Con and have the chance to meet their favorite celebrities and comic book artists. Some of those celebrities and artists were Michigan natives, and they took the time to share how they got to be featured at “Michigan’s largest pop-culture event,” along with some words of advice for those aspiring to follow in their footsteps.

Comic artist Jay Fosgitt, of Westland, said he always knew he wanted to write comics and said he has a really special connection to the

See PLANE CRASH on page 12A

Photo by Brian Wells

Artist K. Lynn Smith, from Mason, talks about her art Saturday, May 18, at Motor City Comic Con in Novi.

See COMIC CON on page 6A

NEWS & NOTES

Jessica’s Splash Pad to open Memorial Day Weekend

Jessica’s Splash Pad, 25805 Beck Road in Novi, the long-awaited memorial tribute to the late meteorologist Jessica Starr, is scheduled to open to the public on Saturday, May 25, and will be open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Labor Day.

Novi BBQ Fest:

Ribs & Whiskey

In the spirit of traditional Memorial Day festivities, the Novi BBQ Fest: Ribs & Whiskey will take place at Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk May 24-27. The event will feature a dozen national pitmasters and local favorites competing in a cookout competition with their signature barbecue dishes such as ribs, brisket and more. The event will also include live musical performances on three stages, including tributes to Jimmy Buffet, Taylor Swift, Motown, Journey and the Beatles. There will also be kids activities, a hot pepper eating contest, a cigar lounge, artisan venders, a bourbon sampling for those over 21 and a cutest puppy contest.

The event will be open 4-10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Memorial Day. Tickets cost $7 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to cityofnovi.org.

FRIDAY 5/24

MEMORIAL DAY RUN AND PARADE

The city of Novi will be celebrating the holiday with its annual Memorial Day run and parade. The events will include a 5K run starting at 7:30 a.m. followed by a mile fun run at 8:30 a.m. The cost to participate is $34 for the 5K and $19 for the fun run. Prices will go up after May 26. A portion of the proceeds from the run will benefit Jessica’s Splash Pad.

The Memorial Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. It will feature local veterans and a variety of Novi civic organizations, businesses, bands, Scout troops and families. It will travel along Meadowbrook Road starting at 10 Mile Road. For more information, call Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services at (248) 3470414, email noviparks@cityofnovi.org or visit cityofnovi.org.

City Superhero Showcase

The city of Novi will be hosting its free annual City Superhero Showcase from 6 to 8 p.m. June 6 at the Novi Civic Center, 45175 W. 10 Mile Road. The community is encouraged to come out and meet the city staff and learn about the city. The event will feature family-friendly activities, a character meet-and-greet, a community open house, free hot dogs, face painting, balloon twisting, bounce houses, public safety vehicles and public works vehicles, and science activities from the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. For more information, visit cityofnovi. org/superhero.

ASIANFEST MICHIGAN

Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk will host AsianFest Michigan May 31-June 2. The event will feature pro wrestling, muay thai, a boxing clinic, volleyball tournaments, vendor booths, lots of Asian food, as well as food-eating contests. It will also feature music from various Asian communities, with performances by Linda Trang Dai, Sons of N Town and Heartbreaka. Tickets cost $8 for a one-day pass or $20 for a weekend pass. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to asianfestmi.org.

MSU Tollgate Summer Farm Tour

Seniors age 55 and older are being offered the opportunity to take a tour of the Michigan State University Tollgate Farm at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 12. The 160-acre farm is one of Novi’s historical sites and is host to farm animals, community gardens, a pond, and lots of rolling farmland. Participants will get a live interpretive tour, meet the farm animals and enjoy a wagon hayride around the farm. The cost is $15 per person. Participants must register by June 5. To register, visit cityofnovi.org.

File photo by Brian Wells

SONIC task force makes arrest in auto theft case

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

A 25-year-old Detroit man was arrested for a string of auto thefts due to the efforts of an undercover Novi police officer and the South Oakland Narcotics Intelligence Consortium.

SONIC is a multijurisdictional task force composed of detectives from the Novi Police Department, the Farmington Hills Police Department, the West Bloomfield Police Department and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

On May 2, detectives with SONIC obtained and implemented a warrant from the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for the arrest of James Edward White III. The team arrested White for nine felony charges, including seven counts of unlawful driving away of an automobile, one count of larceny $1,000-$20,000, and one count of running a criminal enterprise.

White was arrested by SONIC detectives and is currently being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He was scheduled for a preliminary examination in Novi’s 52-1 District Court May 22, after the Novi Note went to press.

White’s attorney, Richard T. Taylor, declined to comment when reached earlier this week.

White’s arrest was the result of an investigation, by SONIC, into a series of automobile thefts that reportedly took several months to complete. It brings closure to open motor vehicle theft cases in 11 jurisdictions in southeast Michigan and northern Ohio, according to Novi police.

“Motor vehicle theft has been on the rise in southeast Michigan over the last couple

See ARREST on page 12A

Enjoy Backyard Bird Feeding!

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.

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

Comic Con

from page 3A

con. He recalled attending the very first Motor City Comic Con in Dearborn, back in 1989, at the age of 14.

“It was just the most amazing experience,” Fosgitt said. “Even back then, I knew I wanted to be in comics. I thought I wanted to do comic strips, but I was always a big fan of comic books, and then coming here, which was my first major comic convention, it inspired me. I’m like, ‘Maybe I can do comic books.’ It’s not just people doing superheroes. There’s cartoony guys like me who draw like animation style, I guess you would say, and so it was very inspiring to me.”

He said he kept coming back to MC3 regularly, and then in 2008 he broke into the comics industry, and MC3 was one of the first shows he attended as a professional artist as well.

“It was just such an amazing sort of fullcircle moment for me,” he said.

Fosgitt said he always knew he wanted to be a cartoonist, but he didn’t know how he was going to get there. He said he drew caricatures for parties when he was younger and did cartoons for a couple of college newspapers, and eventually he made his first graphic novel. He said he found a publisher for it at a con in Chicago and eventually started networking with some of the major artists that come to MC3, and he became professional friends with them.

“So doing conventions, particularly this one, has been extremely important to my career,” Fosgitt said.

Fosgitt, who has worked for such corporations as Marvel, Disney and the Jim Henson Co., said he encourages aspiring comic artists to create their own comic books. He said many of the young artists they meet aspire to work

for Marvel or DC. However, he recommends that they create their own books instead.

“It doesn’t matter how polished or perfect it is. Create your own thing and bring it to conventions and show it to artists like myself. Get feetback. Get encouragement and start networking, because networking is like 99% of how I got into the industry and the rest was talent and perseverance,” Fosgitt said. “That’s what I encourage young artists to do. Come out and talk to us. That’s why we are here. We want to meet new creators. We want to meet young people that want to get into comics and encourage them and tell them whatever knowledge we might have that could help.”

K. Lynn Smith, a comic artist from Mason, said she got her start in the business thanks to the encouragement of Deana Morse, who was an animation professor at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, who pushed Smith to enter her work in contests and to get out of her comfort zone. She said Morse pushed her to enter a storyboard contest, which is very similar to comic books, and that is how she got her start in the business.

Smith said she loves meeting people at the cons and seeing returning faces. She said she hasn’t done MC3 in a while, but that the MC3 staff are great to work with.

“Being in this room inspires me,” Smith said. “Seeing all the different art and, like, seeing how different people are doing their projects and their approach is an inspiration for me.”

Martin Klebba, who portrayed Marty in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise, grew up in Troy. Klebba said he attended Troy Athens High School and he discovered his love for acting thanks to his drama instructor, Krista Manfredi, who encouraged him to perform in the high school’s production of “Peter Pan.”

He said when he was a young man he had wanted to become a police officer, but in his

second year attending Oakland University for criminal justice, a teacher pulled him aside and informed him that he could never be a cop because of his short stature and the height regulations in the industry at the time. So he went on to Broadway and eventually made his way to Los Angeles, and thanks to his connections, discovered that he really liked the motion picture industry. He said he would never recommend anyone go into the industry today, as it is really difficult to get into. However, if someone does still desire to, he said to get acclimated to self-taped auditions, as those have become standard in the industry.

He said that many little people think they should go into the industry and just take any role just to be on film.

“It’s like, no. If you’re going to have them laugh, they’ve gotta be laughing with you, not at you,” Klebba stressed. “You got to have good comedic timing. I feel like too many people wanna make a buck and get out. They’re willing to do anything, like ‘Jackass.’”

Robert Dieterle, who grew up in Michigan and is one of the writers of OMG comics, said he got into comics by default. Dieterle said he owns a construction company and was asked to help finance a woman’s book. However, after the woman only completed nine pages, Dieterle was left with the task of completing it, and therefore entered the industry.

“I learned that to make a comic book, it’s $5,000 before you print it,” Dieterle said.

Dieterle said he would advise comic artists and writers to always save all their work, because you never know what could be worth something someday.

“Just do what you love,” Dieterle said he would advise young people today.

Johnathan Rand, of Grayling, writes horror books and owns a shop that solely carries his work.

“I think I was inspired by all the authors

I read. I would get excited when I read a good story, and I would think, ‘Man I wish I could write like that,’” Rand said.

Rand advises those who seek to be a writer to write every day.

“Five minutes a day can be beneficial. It’s like anything else: The more you do it, the better you will get at it. Write when you don’t want to write. It’s a discipline and that’s one of the things I found out a long time ago is that if you want to produce, if you want to write, you have to write even when you don’t feel like writing,” Rand said. “The other thing I say is to read every day. If you want to write scary books, read all kinds of scary stuff. Don’t just read one author that you’re into, but expand … because it helps you create your own unique author’s voice.”

WWE wrestler Ethan Page moved to Michigan two years ago from Canada and now resides in Milford. He said he wanted to eliminate the constant border crossing, as he is a frequent traveler, but its close proximity to the border enables his family to visit him frequently.

“It was the perfect place for us. … I like all the lakes, the parks all over. … It’s just beautiful,” Page said of his Michigan home.

Page said he was attracted to MC3 as it is one of the best cons in America and just a 20-minute drive from his home.

He advises aspiring wrestlers that the sport will break their heart a million times, but the victories are always worth it.

“If it’s something you love, it’s always worth chasing,” Page said.

Erik Hodson, an illustrator from Grosse Pointe, said he “just loves telling stories.”

“I want to make stuff that children nowadays can enjoy, just like I enjoyed stuff when I was a kid,” Hodson said. “I want to just tell exciting stories and just give people a break from the world and some entertainment.

Express

from page 1A

we were taking services that were being provided by the city and adding a cost to them. This is fixing a wrong in my mind,” said Councilman Dave Staudt. “So, I’m pleased that we’re doing this.”

Staudt, who has served on the council for many years, said that as long as he has been on the council, the city has provided free transportation for its seniors. He said that by doing so it enables seniors to vote, go to the library and City Hall. He said that by providing seniors and disabled residents with free rides, it allows them to do things that are “critical to their life.”

The issue of subsidizing rides came to the forefront after the city voted to replace Novi Senior Transit service with Pex, as People’s Express is called, which was recommended by Oakland County, starting on July 1. Pex will provide services for residents 14 and older as well, provided minors have parental or a guardian’s consent, and also allows for riders to travel farther for the cost of $2 per ride.

The council had voted at its previous meeting April 22 to subsidize rides from Pex for seniors and disabled residents who were going to and from medically related destinations, but not other rides.

“I’ve been talking to different and diverse community members, especially in this age group (55 and older), and my understanding is that they mainly use this for the medical purpose, which made me feel really good. So I’m very happy to see this, because it actually matches, in terms of fare, with our current Novi transportation,” Councilwoman Priya Gurumurthy said May 6.

Councilman Brian Smith pointed out that just because someone is in the age group doesn’t mean they will necessarily be utilizing the free rides.

“Sadly, I’m in that category. I could have been taking our free transit to work for the

last 10 years. I think there’s enough friction in the system. Two dollars or $4 — I think it’s more of locking your schedule in, so people who can still drive probably would still choose to drive,” Smith said. “I also think we need to look at people who are younger than that and either can’t or shouldn’t still drive, possibly. So, I think we have a great platform in the new mobility community and hopefully that will be something that gets looked at.”

Mayor Justin Fischer said that he really appreciated the Older Adult Needs Committee taking another look at the issue. He said they, as a city, had made a promise to people and needed to keep it.

“Just because we’re making some changes on who’s driving, just because we’re making some changes to who’s providing the service, we shouldn’t take away the service for free, and it sounds like as a council we are all going to get behind continuing that for our seniors,” Fischer said. “That’s a great accomplishment for all of us to be proud of tonight.”

See EXPRESS on page 11A

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARITIES & NONPROFITS

Foster Care Month highlights need for loving homes, support for foster children

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

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.

“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

Youth Mental Health First Aid: Training adults to save young lives

Cynthia Jackson Director of Training & Education

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.

See CHILDREN on page 9A

Volunteers assist at the dessert table during a past Spaulding for Children holiday party for foster families at First Baptist Institutional Church.

Photo provided by Spaulding for Children

Children

from page 8A

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 fos-

ter 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.

Waltonwood

Express

from page 7A

The measure is expected to cost the city somewhere north of $30,000, as the routes and hours of service have been extended by utilizing Pex. The city has budgeted more than $150,000 for transportation for seniors and those who have disabilities. The free rides will not be extended to those residents choosing to travel outside the Pex boundaries.

Both Fischer and Staudt expressed their dismay at the April meeting that the county was not allowing Novi to keep its current service and forcing Novi to subsidize the cost for Novi seniors and disabled residents, rather than the county picking up the subsidy with the new service using the tax money that Novi sends to the county. The change was a result of the people’s vote at the last election to expand public transportation into the city.

“The discussions that we’ve been having are that the city (of Novi) is contracting with People’s Express for their service, and if they want that from People’s Express, then the city can continue to subsidize that,” said Oakland County Commissioner Gwen Markham, D-Novi. “There are not other

communities that I know of where that’s happening.”

“The $2 that we’re charging for all the Pex communities is going to be the same charge that we are charging for all the other communities,” said County Commissioner Ajay Raman, D-Novi. “So in that regard we’re trying to keep consistency for everybody.”

For more information on the transition to Pex, contact Older Adult Services at (248) 347-0414.

Photo provided by Evelina Taylor

A People’s Express employee demonstrates some of the features of a Pex bus.

Plane crash

from page 3A

The plane was being piloted by a 71-year-old man from Northville. He suffered minor injuries, police said. According to the police report, the crash was witnessed by a local doctor who helped pull the conscious pilot out of the plane and who was assisting with medical care until emergency services arrived on the scene. The pilot was then transported to St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia for treatment.

The accident is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board in conjunction with the FAA.

“Preliminary information indicates the airplane departed Canton-Plymouth Mettetal Airport on a local flight and experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff,” said Jennifer Gabris, of the NTSB.

Novi police remained on the scene to assist the FAA and NTSB by securing the area. The Novi Fire Department cut down some large tree branches in order to remove the plane from the crash site. The plane was then towed back to Canton-Plymouth Mettetal Airport by Hadley’s Towing, who were given a police escort due to the oversize load.

According to Gabris, the investigation will take between one to two years to complete.

“NTSB investigators will look at the human, machine and environment as the outline of the investigation. At this early stage of an investigation, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident,” said Gabris.

Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.

Arrest

from page 5A

years, but we remain steadfast in protecting the property of the people who live, visit, and work in our cities. By sharing resources with our neighboring communities through the SONIC Task Force, we are able to apply a force multiplier against those that would commit these crimes,” Erick Zinser, Novi director of public safety and chief of police said in a press release. “I am proud of the work the detectives did in this case and the work they continue to do, and I thank them for their efforts.”

Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.

Heritage

from page 1A

rate as many different types of Asian businesses and groups as possible,” Tie said.

There will also be a variety of vendors offering for purchase limited selections of the types of Asian cuisine they serve at their main locations. DAYN students will be manning several Asianthemed activities tables as well for people to participate in, such as origami, face painting, and henna. At the event, guests will be able to pick up a passport book and collect stamps to gain a raffle ticket for several prizes, such as gift baskets and cards.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, but DAYN chose to celebrate it on the first Sunday in June as it is near enough to May, but closer to the end of the school year.

“It’s a great way to kick off summer vacation, almost,” Ong said. “It’s a day of fun activities and great weather. So that’s why we chose to hold the festival the first week of June. It’s like the perfect time when students are finished worrying about their academics and also before summer gets too busy.”

Tie said the festival gives the community the opportunity to celebrate not only their personal heritage but also the diversity of Novi. According to Tie, more than 25% of the people in Novi are members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. She said that over half of the high school population is Asian American and Pacific Islander.

“Having this diversity at Novi High School is a really good thing because you

are exposed to so many other perspectives and cultures, and it definitely opens up your mindset,” Tie said.

Tie said she immigrated to the U.S. and Michigan in particular from Malaysia when she was 10 years old, as her parents had acquired work here.

“It was a pretty crazy experience for me because it all happened so fast and there was a ton of culture shocks,” Tie said.

She said her parents picked Novi for its excellent school system and cultural and racial diversity.

“It’s pretty diverse, so I would have a space to be able to celebrate my heritage,” Tie said.

Ong on the other hand is a first-generation American of Taiwanese and Hong Kong descent. She said she was born in Southfield and then moved to Novi.

“It’s, like, probably a similar story to the American Dream in coming here — just like a better future, better opportunities,” said Ong of her parents’ decision to come to the U.S.

Dear Asian Youth is an international organization meant to empower young people of Asian descent through advocacy work.

Ong said the group offers a lot of activities that focus on inclusion.

“It’s a little bit more different than other usual clubs, because first we are a very advocacy-heavy group, and the second thing is that it’s like an organization,’ Ong said. “It’s not just like a Novi High School club thing. It’s an international thing, and because of that we do a lot more community events.”

The group often discusses solidarity with other demographic groups and social stereotypes against Asians, and various hate crimes.

“It’s just like a reminder that you don’t have to go through this alone, especially if it is related to bias because of your skin color,” Ong said.

“This club kind of provides a place for all of us to get together and form this little community,” Tie said.

Ong said last year they had a great turnout and hope to see it again this year. The event is free. Parking is available at the library and the high school lots. Attendees are asked to take photos and share them with #NoviAPIFestival.

Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.

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– Qualifications necessary for an applicant to be considered are:

1. Must be 18 years of age or older.

– Qualifications necessary for an applicant to be considered are:

1. Must be 18 years of age or older.

2. Complete the application and return to the Pipefitting Industry Training Center with:

a. A valid driver’s license.

2. Complete the application and return to the Pipefitting Industry Training Center with:

a. A valid driver’s license.

b. High School diploma or high school equivalency (GED) certificate.

c. There is a $45.00 OR $100.00 testing fee that will be collected when turning in application.

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OFFERINGS AROUND MICHIGAN

AUCTION

May Consignment Auction, May 23-28. Tractors, riding mowers, yard/garden, power & hand tools, ammo, sporting goods, vintage collectibles, hardware and more. View current catalogue online at NarhiAuctions.com. Call with questions 810-266-6474.

Mark Carson Online Estate Auction ending May 30. Tractors, trailers, feld sprayer, gravity wagon, tractor implements, various lawn/garden items, vintage tools and more!  Visit Bid.SherwoodAuctionServiceLLC. com to view catalogue, other auctions. 1-800-835-0495.

Online Road Commission & Starrs

Estate auctions bidding open!

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BUILDINGS

BUILT RITE POLE BUILDINGS

State-wide. Prices starting at - 24x40x10 -

Call

Or call 989-259-2015 or 989-600-

It’s

(for military, health workers