5/25/23 Novi Note by C & G Newspapers

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Mainka first State of ofthewater District address Shelbygives and Utica put part and sewer

payments in escrow until state settles debt dispute BY CHARITY MEIER

cmeier@candgnews.com

Ben Mainka, who has been at the helm of the Novi Community School District as superintendent for just under a year, is striving to bring a new tradition to the Novi community with what he hopes will become an annual State of the District address. Mainka spoke to the Novi community at the Novi High School auditorium April 25 about the many things that have happened in the schools since he took over last summer. “Tonight is a chance for us to come together and — if I could use an expression from

one of our math teachers — ‘to show our work,’” Mainka said. “We have an opportunity to share with you some of the exciting things, celebrate some of the successes, as well as talk about upcoming things that we want you to be excited about as a community member and support our endeavors as a school district.” Mainka, who came to the district from Swartz Creek, had held similar events in that district. The idea is to showcase all that the district and community have to offer for students. Representatives from every school in the community, school organizations, city representatives, the Novi Chamber of Commerce and many

Event to raise money, awareness for Turning Point BY KRISTYNE E. DEMSKE kdemske@candgnews.com

MOUNT CLEMENS — Taking steps this month to highlight awareness of sexual assault, Turning Point Macomb is hosting its sixth annual fundraiser, Stepping Out With the Stars, April 29. Turning Point strives to empower survivors of

See DISTRICT on page 10A

domestic and sexual violence through comprehensive services and resources. The agency provides emergency, support and prevention services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including an emergency shelter, individual and group counseling, advocacy, a personal protection order assistance program, and a forensic nurse examiners program. See TURNING on page 18A

Photos by Charity Meier

Turning Point President and CEO Sharman Davenport stands at the 2021 event with Stepping Out with the Stars emcee Evrod Cassimy, of WDIV-TV.

ABOVE: Ben Mainka, superintendent of the Novi Community School District, gives his first State of the District address at Novi High School April 25. RIGHT: Novi orchestra students Tanisha Parikh, 17, cello; Elizabeth Yoon, 17, viola; and Rebecca Borlace, 15, violin, entertain people with their music to attract student interest in the orchestra.

Photo courtesy of Turning Point

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NOVI NOTE • MAY 25, 2023

Catching Cancer Before It’s Too Late

Early Cancer Detection Made Possible: Michigan’s First MRI Total Body Screening Clinic Now Open in Southfield, Pioneering Symptom-Free Diagnosis. I’ll never forget the words of a patient who recently completed a total body cancer screening with me: ‘Doc, you saved my life!’ Despite having no symptoms, we discovered a tiny tumor lurking and growing inside of him. Without early detection, the mass could have silently grown into late-stage cancer, leading to excruciating treatments and a potentially dire outcome. Thanks to the power of early detection, cancer was discovered before it was too late. It’s moments like these that are precisely why total body screening saves lives. As a general rule, when someone presents to the doctor with a symptom related to cancer, they are usually at stage III or stage IV. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screening tests that are covered by insurance companies only cover about 29% of cancers. The other 71% of cancers occur in areas where doctors are unable to screen, and insurance companies will not pay for screening. This is where Bionicc Body Screening in Southfield can save lives. I am Dr. Warren Ringold, and last month marked the fifth anniversary of the day my life changed forever. Five years ago, I was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in my chest and

abdomen. The most alarming part is that I had no symptoms before this diagnosis. This is the great dilemma of cancer: the need for early detection. Early diagnosis is key to successful treatment, and cancer needs to be detected when it is most treatable. My personal stage IV cancer journey has been long and rugged. My tumor eventually was recurrent in my brain after an initial seven months of chemotherapy. I have been extraordinarily lucky. After being told that I would live only two months without treatment on my brain, I was fortunate enough to become patient number one in a new drug study and I have been in remission 5 to 8 times longer than expected. During that time, instead of ending up with the indignation of dying, from a brain tumor in front of my family with seizures and eventual blindness, I have been able to see twins, born as grandchildren, ball games, swim meets, graduations, while watching my grandchildren and children achieve. Most importantly, I’ve gotten to hold my wife, Nancy, in my arms for more than 1500 more nights of my life. I get to hug my children and kiss my 13 grandchildren. They don’t have to look at me with tears in their eyes, because

Dr. Warren Ringold, M.D. they see Papa deteriorating. What a gift that has been. But very few patients are as fortunate as I have been, which is why I founded Bionicc Body Screening. At Bionicc Body Screening, we can screen for cancer from the top of the head through the genitals, detecting cancers as small as the size of a pencil eraser. We use highly advanced and sophisticated MRI screening, which can find small cancers in areas where doctors cannot order testing that will be covered by insurance. The irony is that these cancers start out very small, and they are very treatable at this stage. They are usually stage one and can be seen in

every organ of the body, including the dreaded pancreas. While screening for cancer, we can also find many other things that need to be treated or watched, such as brain, abdominal, chest, and groin aneurysms. If detected at this stage, treatment for stage one cancer is usually simple resection of a tumor. Unfortunately, if you are stage III or IV like most people, it results in vigorous and difficult treatment with much poorer outcomes. It is unfortunate that some patients resist screening due to fear. Despite their desire to take the test, they unnecessarily delay it out of fear of receiving potentially distressing news about their health. Giving in to fear can only make matters worse and potentially allow undetected health problems to spiral out of control. Don’t put off your screening any longer. Ask yourself, when is a better time to take action than right now? Don’t wait another 6 months or even another day. Prioritize your health and get screened today. The only regret patients have is that they waited. Don’t wait. Get a total body cancer screening today. Call 1-833-BIONICC (1-833-246-6422) today, or learn more now by visiting www.BioniccBodyScreening.com.

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SECOND FRONT PAGE Kidnapped DMC nurse found dead in Novi

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3A/ NOVI NOTE • MAY 25, 2023

RIGHT: Erik Hodson, of Grosse Pointe, shows his illustrations at Motor City Comic Con in Novi May 19.

A nurse who was kidnapped as she left her job at the Detroit Medical Center May 13 was found dead inside the trunk of her car in Novi at approximately 9 p.m. May 14. Patrice Wilson, 29, was leaving her job at the Detroit Medical Center at 7:40 a.m. May 13 when she was allegedly kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, Jamere Miller, in a parking area in the 4200 block of St. Antoine, according to Detroit police. Detroit Police Chief James White said the couple is believed to have broken up recently. As Wilson got into her vehicle, Miller, 36, allegedly approached her wearing a blond/red wig as she was getting into the driver’s side of her vehicle. He allegedly forced Wilson over and took off with her heading south toward Interstate 75 and Mack Avenue in Wilson’s black 2020 Lincoln Nautilus, according to Detroit Police Department officials. White said the kidnapping call initially came into the Wayne State University Police Department, which notified Detroit police. Detroit police said they then deployed multiple units to look for both Wilson and Miller, including the organized crime unit, major crimes unit, homicide division, commercial auto theft division, fugitive apprehension

BELOW: Caitlin Bridges and her daughter, Aayla, 4, of Oak Park, enjoy visiting with R2-D2 from “Star Wars.” Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Motor City Comic Con draws fans, artists, families BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

eople from all over the country converged upon the Suburban Collection Showplace May 19-21, many in costume, for the opportunity to be themselves and enjoy the company of like-minded folks at the annual Motor City Comic Con. MC3 offers a vast array of opportunities and experiences for event attendees, including the opportunity to meet and take photos with celebrities (for an additional fee) and comic artists; experience HADO, an augmented reality sport; interact with “Ghostbusters,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Star Wars” groups; view various animes; and shop at numerous vendor booths for

See NURSE on page 10A

See COMIC CON on page 9A

Anika Ranjan Novi High School

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Congratulations

What an amazing school journey of yours it has been. We are so proud & blessed to be part of this. Wish you only the best & brightest for future! Congrats! Lots of Love - Mamma, Papa and Mihika

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BY CHARITY MEIER

cmeier@candgnews.com

Compiled by Charity Meier

4A/ NOVI NOTE • MAY 25, 2023

Golf fundraiser to support bartender with esophageal cancer

Links of Novi, 50395 W. 10 Mile Road, is hosting a golf outing fundraiser at 2 p.m. May 28 to raise money for longtime bartender Misty Lindquist, a single mom of three girls who has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The funds will help Lindquist as she undergoes treatment and recovery. The event will have a shotgun start. The cost for each team of four is $110 per player and includes an 18-hole game of golf, a hot dog lunch and a barbecue dinner with beer tickets. A dinner-only option is available for $25 per person. Dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Find the registration form at facebook.com/linksofnovi.

Novi BBQ Fest to be held Memorial Day weekend

The Novi BBQ Fest will be held May 25-28 at 12 Mile Crossing, 44175 W. 12 Mile Road in Novi. The festival will feature national and local barbecue trucks with a variety of types of barbecue. There will also be live music along with activities for kids, such as face painting and games. Attendees can enjoy their food on the patio at Beerhead, which has a Photo provided by Novi BBQ Fest huge selection of drinks. No outside beverages will be permitted. On Sunday, the festival will feature a free magic show for kids at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Novi BBQ Fest will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 25-26, from noon to 9 p.m. May 27 and from noon to 5 p.m. May 28. There is no cost for parking or admission. For information, visit NoviBBQFest.com.

Oakland County Parks to give out Native Plants

Oakland County Parks, in partnership with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and Michigan State University Extension, will be giving out 630 native plant kits in June. Oakland County residents can register for one free kit per household. Each kit includes approximately 16 plants that are native to Michigan, plus planting instructions. Registration is required and the kits must be picked up June 2-3. Pickup on Friday, June 2, will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lyon Oaks County Park, 52221 Pontiac Trail in Wixom. On Saturday, June 3, pickup will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Evanswood Church, 2601 E. Square Lake Road in Troy. For more information or to register, visit OaklandCountyParks.com.

AAPI Heritage Festival coming to Fuerst Park The first AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Festival will be held in Fuerst Park, 45325 W. 10 Mile Road, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4. The event is being put on as a collaborative effort between the Novi Public Library, Novi Parks and Recreation, and the student-led organization Dear Asian Youth Novi. According to Rebecca Borlace, of DAYN, the festival is being held to “expand the Asian presence in the community by exhibiting various Asian foods, traditions, crafts and more.”

City offices to close for Memorial Day

City offices, Meadowbrook Activity Center and the Novi Public Library will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. The library will also be closed on Sunday, May 28. Trash services will be delayed by one day this week.

City Superhero Showcase rescheduled

The City Superhero Showcase has been rescheduled to 6-8:30 p.m. June 2 at the Novi Civic Center, 45175 10 Mile Road in Novi. The event will feature a community open house; family-friendly activities; police, fire and public works vehicles; free hot dogs; and a character meet-and-greet. The event will provide residents with the chance to learn about the city and share in its community spirit, according to a press release.

Applications are open for the Novi Youth Police & Fire Leadership Academy

Novi to host multiple Memorial Day events

The city of Novi will host multiple events this weekend in celebration of those who sacrificed their lives for this country, including the Fuerst Trail of Honor, the Memorial Day run and the Memorial Day parade. The Fuerst Trail of Honor will be open all Memorial Day weekend. The public is welcome to take a stroll through the field of flags in the park and learn about the local men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Fuerst Park is at 45325 W. 10 Mile Road. The annual Memorial Day run will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 29. The event will feature a 5K starting at 7:30 a.m. and a one-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m. Part of the event proceeds will go towards the Novi Parks Foundation and Jessica’s Splash-pad. The parade will start at Meadowbrook Commons, 25075 Meadowbrook Road, at 10 a.m. and end at the east entrance of the Novi Civic Center. For more information on these events, and to register for the Memorial Day run, visit CityofNovi.org/MemorialDay.

Lakeshore Beach to open Memorial Day weekend

Lakeshore Beach will open Saturday, May 27. The beach will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day. No lifeguards are on duty at Lakeshore Beach.

The Novi Youth Police & Fire Leadership Academy is a free program to give kids an inside look at local law enforcement and fire prevention careers. The academy is for Novi students in grades six to 10. It will be held primarily at the Novi Police Department Training Center, 45125 10 Mile Road, July 17-21. Applications will be accepted through June 26. For more information, go to cityofnovi.org/youthacademy or contact Detective Julie Warren (248) 449-1606 or Detective Sarah Moulik (248) 449-1537.

ITC to conduct helicopter inspections of transmission lines

ITC Transmissions will be conducting aerial inspections of its highvoltage transmission structures and lines in Novi from May 29 to June 2. The helicopters are expected to be flying lower than usual, but there is no cause for concern.

Consumers Energy doing construction on Taft Road

Consumers Energy has begun construction work that will involve lowering sections of buried natural gas pipeline to accommodate future road work. The construction started in mid-May and is anticipated to last a month. According to a press release, subdivision entrances off Taft Road at Addington Lane and White Pines Drive may be closed during the project, along with the shoulder on the west side of Taft Road. Temporary lane shifts may take place on Taft Road as equipment and materials are loaded or unloaded, the press release states. The sidewalk on the west side of Taft Road in the project area will be closed while work is underway.

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NOVI NOTE • MAY 25, 2023

NOVI SOFTBALL SETTING A STANDARD BEHIND SENIOR CORE BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

While having a new coach and a new mindset heading into this season, Novi softball has the same goal as it looks to claim back-toback district titles. As senior pitcher Reganne Bennett, a University of South Carolina commit, battled injuries throughout her junior season, Novi never seemed to fully find its footing. Now back and at full strength, Bennett and Novi (21-9-1) are looking like one of the teams to beat in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state tournament. “I think last year we weren’t at full strength because Reganne was out for a while, and it affected us going through the season,” said senior infielder Lily Smith, a Ferris State University commit. “We didn’t have as much confidence as when she’s with us, and this year I think we’re back to full strength and we’re just having fun.” Bennett, a first team all-state selection in 2021 and 2022, is one of three team captains alongside Smith and junior pitcher Emma Prahin, who forms one of the strongest pitching duos in Division 1 with Bennett. While the team was excited to have its allstater back on the mound, a promotion within

the coaching staff would be the confidence booster the team needed heading into the year. Catherine Marion, who served as the assistant coach last season under James Carlisle, took over the head coaching position this season, and Prahin said Marion brought a whole new mentality to the team. “I think this year, too, with coach Cat (Catherine) being our new head coach, it really brought a new team mindset,” Prahin said. “We’ve been working well together compared to last year having some struggles with that. With her being our new head coach, that allowed us to start the season off strong.” It also helps when you have a senior group as strong as the one Novi possesses with Bennett, Smith, Avery Meister — a Lakeland University commit — and Sarah Cho all serving as exceptional leaders. Aside from what they do on the field, Novi’s four seniors have led by example in terms of getting those extra reps in during practice, supporting each other on a day-to-day basis, and establishing a family-like culture within the team. Marion said the seniors’ impact this season will leave a mark on the softball program for years to come. “The seniors really know what they’re doing,” Marion said. “They really care about the

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Novi junior pitcher Emma Prahin slaps gloves with sophomore catcher Meagan Lowes. With that solidified culture, Novi’s young game, and they really care about helping the team become better. It’s not just for them and guns are playing for their seniors and juniors, to help them get better or to help them improve and it’s become a well-oiled machine between their stats or win the game. It’s really to make veteran leaders and youthful talent on the field. As Novi’s veteran group of seniors and the team a more positive atmosphere to be a part of, and it’s really nice to see.” See SOFTBALL on page 9A

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Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy visits Novi BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi May 7. tance of God, said he would make the country independent from China, said he favored shutting down the FBI, said that there are only two genders, and spoke about border security. “I liked everything he had to say, because he’s got almost a grassroots view and he seems to have a plan, and the plan really coincides with our values,” said Michelle Rollinger, a district delegate from Canton. “My grandparents came over as immigrants, so I don’t have a problem with immigrants. But I have a problem with coming over illegally.” Retired teacher Wilson Willard drove in from Cincinnati for the event, as it was the closest stop. Willard, who said he taught Ramaswamy fifth grade math, recalled that he was in the school’s gifted and talented program. He said he was brought to tears seeing his student succeed on this level. “He was always just a great student with parents that cared about education, and that was so obvious by the way that he knew that education was the most important thing and was his path to success, and he followed up on it. He’s achieved so much. It’s just wonderful to see. I just had to come up because I was just so proud,” Willard said. “It’s amazing.” “He has great ideas. The country needs young leaders and that is what I see (in Ramaswamy). … The way he spoke on certain things and what he wanted to do, I think that’s the right thing for the country,” said Bob Pathar, of Northville. Ramaswamy also spoke in Rochester Hills and Howell May 7. Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.

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Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made a campaign stop in Novi on Sunday afternoon, May 7, where he spoke to approximately 250 people in the Diamond Room at the Suburban Collection Showplace. “We are empowered to have been born in not just the greatest nation, but the greatest nation at the right time in our history, actually. … I’m lucky to have been born in 1985, where right in my adulthood where we have finally reached the promised land that Martin Luther King talked about 60 years ago,” Ramaswamy told his supporters. Event coordinator Hima Kolanagireddy, of the Sixth Congressional Republican District, said that she wanted to bring Ramaswamy to Novi in particular to reach Indian American voters. “That’s why I wanted him to give the message as to what does the party stand for. Just an education. You can still choose to vote for whoever, but if it comes from someone who looks like them, they’re more likely to listen,” Kolanagireddy said. Ramaswamy, 37, a businessman and a bestselling author of three books, said that it was Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream that allowed him, a child of immigrants, to run his own company and now campaign for the presidency. Ramaswamy hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, and attributes much of his success to being raised in a nuclear family that stressed the importance of education. He graduated as valedictorian from St. Xavier, a Catholic high school for boys, and then went on to graduate summa cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in biology and earned his law degree from Yale. He then went on to open a company called Roivant Sciences, where he oversaw the development of five FDA-approved drugs. He currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Apoorva, a throat surgeon and assistant professor at Ohio State University, and their two children. “I stepped down from my job as a biotech CEO to focus on a different type of cancer, not biological cancer, but cultural cancer that threatened to kill that dream that Martin Luther King had 60 years ago, that threatened to kill the dream that had allowed me to achieve everything I had in my life, and that’s a cancer that led us to the midst of this national identity crisis that we’re in today,” Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy talked about the impor-

NOVI NOTE • MAY 25, 2023

WATCH Diabetic supplies stolen from mailbox

A man contacted police after he realized that a package containing $100 worth of his diabetic testing supplies had been taken from his mailbox just before 3 p.m. May 2. The man told police that he did not notice the package missing initially, but he decided to check his security footage when his package was a week late and after hearing from neighbors that several mailboxes had been rummaged through. A neighbor had also provided him with video footage of someone going through the mailboxes in the neighborhood. According to the police report, the activity is far from the camera, it is raining, and the subjects are very blurry, with nothing to identify them. There is no time stamp on the video. According to the police report, no suspects were identified and the case was closed pending more information.

Lost wallet found by fellow shopper

A woman filed an online police report after her wallet was stolen from a handheld shopping basket at an unidentified store between 6:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 2. She had placed the wallet in the basket while she shopped. She told police she put the basket down several times but never walked away from it, but she did turn her back away from it multiple times. The woman said she didn’t realize the wallet was missing until she went to check out. The dark blue wallet contained her driver’s license, $55 in cash, credit cards and five miscellaneous gift cards worth $228.25. Police advised her to cancel all her cards that

she lost and to call the three major credit bureaus and report the cards as stolen. The woman said none of the cards had been used. On May 10, the woman informed police that her wallet had been returned to her. She stated a female shopper had placed the wallet in between her front door and screen door shortly after the initial incident, with a note. The shopper explained that she did not trust the store employees and decided to drop it off instead. The owner of the wallet stated she does not use the front door, which created the delay in finding the wallet. All contents were present except for the cash.

Thief steals plastic pouch from vehicle

Police were dispatched to a residence on Pheasant Run, near 10 Mile and Meadowbrook roads, after a woman’s 2013 Kia Sportage was ransacked. The woman said she parked her vehicle outside her address at approximately 9:45 p.m. May 6. She stated that she returned to her vehicle at 2:45 p.m. May 7 and noticed that the vehicle had been ransacked. According to the report, it is believed the vehicle was left unlocked, as there was no damage to the vehicle. The woman said the only item missing was a small pouch that she kept her registration and insurance information in. She said the pouch also contained a used Target gift card with no remaining funds on it. She stated her registration and insurance were taken out of the pouch and were left inside the vehicle. She told the officer that the vehicle had been cleaned and reorganized prior to his arrival. No prints were taken. There were no suspects, according to the report. — Charity Meier

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NOVI NOTE • MAY 25, 2023

Comic Con from page 3A

comic- and anime-themed merchandise. “My husband, myself and our daughter are all just huge nerds,” attendee Caitlin Bridges, of Oak Park, said with a laugh. “We love ‘The Hobbit,’ ‘Harry Potter,’ spooky stuff, comics — my husband has probably thousands of comics. We’re just big fans of a lot of this stuff, so we come every year.” Bridges said it is her “love of fun” that brings her and her family to Comic Con year after year. However, the best part of Comic Con for her these days, she said, is seeing her 4-year-old daughter Aayla’s reactions to all the activities. She said it’s “priceless.” “When she sees the characters, she is just elated and it’s just heartwarming to see that. That’s my favorite part now,” Bridges said. “And just how wonderful everybody is with the kids, really making it special for them.” This year’s show featured the Ghostbusters Detroit and the Great Lakes Ghostbuster Coalition, “Beetlejuice” and “Star Wars” cosplay groups. Many guests came in costume as their favorite characters from anime, “Star Wars,” Marvel and many others. Deborah Taylor, 18, of Roseville, came to the con dressed as her “fursona,” “Spork,” a black, white and hot pink dog. According to Taylor, a “fursona” takes its characteristics, such as favorite foods, things it likes and how it acts, from its human counterpart. “‘Spork’ is me, but a dog. A pink and white and black dog,” she said of her character. Taylor said she has been coming to MC3 since 2020, along with many of her friends, and described the event as “a big family.” “I feel welcome here, more than in other places,” she said. “Con spaces feel more safe than, like, anywhere else, because we all like the same stuff pretty much. Everybody that’s here is weirdos,” she stated with pride. “It’s like a big family. Like the cosplay community, comics — it’s like a giant family.” Taylor said she liked the large variety of vendors this year. She said the show seemed to have expanded this year, and she liked that organizers added a lot of games. The games were brought in by Mike Castro, owner of Nebula Amusements, a mobile entertainment company based in Lapeer. One of the main attractions this year was HADO AR — an augmented reality sport that allows participants to play a dodgeballtype game with orbs in an augmented reality world. Castro described the orbs as being “‘Dragon Ball Z’ style.” “It’s essentially anime dodgeball meets sci fi,” he said. According to Castro, there are only

three companies with HADO AR in the U.S. The other two are in Florida and Nevada. “I love seeing people play (HADO AR) in cosplay. At any con I go to, they’ve never seen it before, because no one’s brought it to this part of the country,” said Castro. “I want to add value to places I go.” Castro said anybody can play regardless of physical disabilities. He said that Nebula Amusements will do its best to adapt and find a way so that all customers can play the game. “It’s all about the experience,” said Castro. “I want everyone to have an awesome experience, because comic cons are an escape. If you are an adult doing a job, most people hate their job to an extent. They get to go on a vacation, and you lose all that stress. You’re a kid again having fun, and I want to give that experience to adults. When you’re a kid and you come to a place like a comic con, the world is huge. The world is big. Oh, my God, this is amazing and I want to add to that.” The event also showcased the work of multiple comic book writers and artists, such as Dominic Riggio, of Birmingham, owner of Mess Bucket Comics, and artist Erik Hodson, of Grosse Pointe, owner of the Dreaded Dinosaur brand. Riggio creates comic books that integrate sports, including hockey and wrestling, into the comic world. Some of his books feature actual sports heroes, such as Darren McCarty, as an owner of a fictional team. Riggio said he plans to bring McCarty with him for the fall Motor City Comic Con to sign copies of his book, “The Darren McCarty Life Story Comic Book.” He said he originally wanted to write film scripts, but the cost to break into the industry was just too much. However, comic books have always been a passion of his and offered him a more cost-effective way of breaking into the writing industry 11 years ago. “I’m really glad I did (start writing comic books). It’s been very rewarding,” said Riggio. According to Riggio, who has been coming to MC3 for many years, this year’s con offered a “strong celebrity lineup” with guests such as Michael Rooker, of “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame. According to Riggio, Rooker is the “MVP of any comic convention” and is “amazing.” Riggio recalled an event he was at in Indiana, where Rooker found out it was a young fan’s birthday and sang “Happy Birthday” to her over the event’s PA system. “Having (Rooker) here and other guests — they always do a good job here. I’m excited for what this weekend’s going to bring,” Riggio said May 19. “Everybody is here for the same thing,” said Dan Carr, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Hodson’s agent. “(MC3) is very family-oriented.

It’s a nice sense of community. There’s plenty to do. You hope that everybody makes it all the way around (the entire event). It’s quite the setup.” Hodson continues to create beautiful artwork despite scleroderma, which caused his joints to stiffen and fuse in awkward positions. He said his artwork has gotten better despite his illness. He takes classic comic book characters and does an homage to them by fusing them with wrestlers. Hodson is the artist featured in Riggio’s series, “Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Kilted Avenger.” He also draws numerous anime characters and spoofs of characters such as “The Little Merk Maid” which he describes as a parody of “The Little Mermaid” where she is out for revenge. “Find something that you have ambition and passion for, because sometimes that’s the only thing that’s going to keep you going when the disease or illness is hard, or when it’s just too much, when you keep failing over and over again,” Hodson said. “I’ve been through several failures, but those are steps to success — not reasons to quit. But you got to have that passion for doing this to keep you going.” MC3 also featured multiple celebrity guests in multiple fandoms such as Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning from “Home Improvement,” Tony Danza from “Who’s the Boss,” Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and Zack Aguilar, the voice behind Tanjiro Kamado in “Demon Slayer.” A kids area offered entertainment including balloon artists, slime-making and crafts. Children could also participate in a scavenger hunt during the con. “It’s a quality show. It’s not some dinky little hotel-type show,” said artist Robert “Rak” Kraus, of Akron, Ohio, who has been coming to MC3 since its inception. “It’s fun.” MC3 will return for its fall edition Nov. 10-12. For more information, visit www. motorcitycomiccon.com. Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.

Softball from page 5A

juniors execute day-in and day-out on both sides of the field, don’t think for a second that the freshmen and sophomore groups aren’t going to make names for themselves as well. While sophomores Mae Griffore, JoJo Curtiss, Avery Trombley and Meagan Lowes all returned for their second year on varsity, freshmen Izzy Hanna and Katelyn Perrine have flexed their muscles this season as well. Like all young players, there are growing pains, but Marion said she’s been impressed with what the young core has shown so far. “They’ve done a really good job,” Marion said. “Obviously, with their inexperience, there’s been a couple more errors or a couple more things we can work on, but they’re freshmen and they’ve done a good job.” In search of their second straight district title — and what a send-off for the senior class that would be — Novi will open up district play at 10 a.m. June 3 against Walled Lake Western at Novi High School. The winner of Walled Lake Northern versus Walled Lake Central will face the winner of Novi’s matchup at 2 p.m. later that day at Novi High School. In a one-game elimination, it’s anybody’s game, and Novi knows that after being viewed as the underdogs last season against Canton and Plymouth. To Novi’s credit, a one-two punch of Bennett and Prahin on the bump can help Novi hang with the best teams at the state tournament. “I think the confidence that we can do it and that we’ve done it in the past helps us go in confident, but not too overconfident because we’re playing new teams, but I think just the fact that we’ve been able to win two highly competitive games in one day helps us know that we can do it again,” Bennett said.

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NOVI NOTE • MAY 25, 2023

10A

Photo by Charity Meier

District from page 1A

more hosted tables with information. Prior to Mainka’s speech, the school cafeteria was opened and provided free food to allow the community to taste what was being offered to students. “The food service was amazing,” said Deborah Beeker, president of the Novi Woods Parent Teacher Organization. Mainka was welcomed to the auditorium with a performance of the school fight song by the NHS marching band, who formed a line on each side of the doorway. In the speech, Mainka spoke of the many student successes that have been achieved through program offerings such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and many more. He spoke of the construction of a new lab, which will have $1 million worth of robots to be able to train students in mechatronics. These students will know how to adapt and use robots in the real world. “These are things that kids in other school districts do not have the opportunity to do,” Mainka said. He said the district is planning to continue current initiatives and implement a K-5 literacy program and a K-12 character education program, which will help support students with social and emotional learning. The district is also looking into teaching kids about artificial intelligence. The district is focused on school safety, Mainka said. The district has hardened security at the entrances for its schools. “Those have led to a variety of other domino effects, but obviously some things we can’t speak of due to safety reasons, but we have a number of security protocols that we train on a regular basis,” Mainka said. The district uses ALICE for its activeshooter awareness program. It has increased

its security cameras and formed a partnership with the Novi Police Department. The district is working on mapping out all buildings so that first responders will have interactive maps of the buildings and know exactly where a call is coming from in the event of an emergency. “We have worked very closely to try and build transparent communications during crises and that remains a top priority,” Mainka said. “Keeping students safe is a critical part of our school district.” The one negative issue Mainka discussed is that of transportation for district students. The district has faced many challenges around the issue of bus transportation. The district has made many changes in order to attract more school bus drivers, Mainka said. However, the school district has been able to offer busing five days a week now. “We still have a lot of challenges with our recruitment. We still have challenges with our walk zones and we are hoping to be able to transport more students,” he said. The school is hoping to be able to reintroduce the after-school bus program. He said the district is working “hard” to remedy the transportation issues. “I loved the information offered by Mainka and just getting that information out to parents is really nice,” Beeker said. Following the speech, the approximately 400 guests were able to attend breakout sessions on four different topics: master planning and construction, mental health, school safety, and the new Novi Meadows construction. Throughout the event, complimentary child care was provided for kids up to age 12 in the gymnasium. The child care featured face painting, basketball and inflatables. Around 100 children utilized the services. Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.

Nurse from page 3A

team, special response team, the Detroit Police Department headquarters surveillance unit, and the homicide task force. “I want the community to know that we activated all of these units with the efforts of identifying where she was located and identifying our suspect,” Detroit Police Chief James White said during a press conference May 15. Wilson was found dead in the parking lot of Pavilion Court Apartments, 22675 Pavilion Drive in Novi. The complex is located off Haggerty Road between Nine Mile and 10 Mile roads. She reportedly had been shot. According to a Novi police report, investigators believe she was shot in Detroit. Wilson leaves behind a 7-year-old son. A GoFundMe page, www.gofundme.com/f/ PatriceWilsonRN, was established for Wilson’s funeral expenses, and the remainder will be used to create a college fund for her son. It had raised $23,866 of a $25,000 goal as of the afternoon May 23. Miller surrendered to police at approximately 2:15 p.m. May 14 at the Detroit Detention Center after “feeling the pressure of this investigation,” White said. The surrender reportedly was negotiated by the suspect’s lawyer, according to White. “It’s a tragedy that someone like Miss Wilson would be taken away from this world so young and so tragically in this horrific way,” White said. “She was young and she had her whole life ahead of her. She was dedicated to serving and helping others as a nurse and putting others before herself. She was also a mother. … For her to have her life taken away from her just before Mother’s Day is absolutely heartbreaking.” Multiple police departments assisted in the investigation, including the Novi Police Department, the Michigan State Police, the Wayne State Police Department, and the Inkster Police Department. It did not appear from 36th District Court records May 23 that Miller had been charged in Detroit. Miller faces 14 charges in a separate case in Garden City. His attorney in the 21st District Court records, Sharon Clark Woodside, declined to comment. Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.

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