5/8/24 Madison-Park News

Playscape at Green Acres Park receives upgrade/3A

Grafstein to face Gault in Democratic primary for county board

MACLEAN FILES AS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GENERAL ELECTION

BY ANDY

KOZLOWSKI

akozlowski@candgnews.com

MADISON HEIGHTS — Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, has announced she is running for a four-year term on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

She will be competing as a Democrat in the Aug. 6 primary election with Ann Erickson Gault, D-Troy, who was appointed by the board to fill the vacancy left by the late Gary McGillivray in District 3, which includes Madison Heights, Hazel Park and parts of Troy. McGillivray died on Nov. 3, 2023, and Gault took office on Nov. 16.

See BOARD on page 14A

NONPROFIT HELPS PARENTS PROCESS GRIEF

BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

MADISON HEIGHTS — The saying goes that no parent should have to bury their own child. Diane Lees, of Madison Heights, has done it twice — first losing a baby born prematurely, and then an adult son.

Each loss was devastating, but Lees and her husband found a lifeline in Helping Parents Heal, a national nonprofit with local affiliates focused on grief counseling. The support group leans into spirituality but does not associate with any organized religion. People of all faiths, or lack thereof, are welcome without judgment.

“My husband and I went from having no knowledge of the afterlife and spirituality — not in any religious sense — to believing and trusting when presented with evidence that our children, and all of our loved ones, have transitioned to another plane of existence where we will meet again when it’s our time to cross over,” Lees said. “I no longer fear death, and I’ve received much comfort knowing my children are OK on the other side. The evidence is there if you choose to open your mind to it.”

In Michigan, there are only three locations that serve HPH members at

See GRIEF on page 8A

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Diane and Larry Lees, of Madison Heights, with a portrait of their late son, Larry. The piano belonged to their son, who was an accomplished musician. Diane leads the Madison Heights affiliate for the nonprofit Helping Parents Heal, a group that has helped them navigate their grief.

Playscape at Green Acres Park receives substantial upgrade

BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

HAZEL PARK — The playscape at Green Acres Park has received updated equipment and quadrupled in size, thanks to a major investment by Oakland County Parks.

City and county officials gathered to cut the ribbon at the grand reopening April 20. The park is located at 620 W. Woodward Heights Blvd., next to the Hazel Park Community Center.

“A community needs open areas where everyone feels safe taking their kids and enjoying their time together,” Hazel Park Mayor Mike Webb said. “Being in an urban area, we want to be close to where we work, but we also have smaller backyards. We all live so close together, so we want family areas where we can all get together. And we already have vibrant young families

State police investigate same-day car crashes on

BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

HAZEL PARK — In separate incidents that occurred on Interstate 75 the same day, a retired Madison Heights police officer was critically injured in one car crash, while a Harper Woods woman allegedly stabbed someone with scissors following another collision.

Both incidents occurred April 22. The first took place around 10 a.m. on the southbound lanes of I-75 at Schaefer Highway near the Detroit border in southern Wayne County, with two back-to-back vehicle crashes ensnarling traffic for miles.

In that incident, a 2013 Ford Escape entered a construction zone and hit a road crew’s truck. There were no injuries. The sole occupant of the Escape was a 21-year-old Detroit woman.

However, mere minutes later, a 2019 Jeep Compass driving in the left lane crashed into a nearby Wayne County arrow board truck. The 48-year-old driver was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. The driver of the Wayne County truck was unharmed.

“The first crash was due to speed and improper lane use,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw, in an email. “The second was due to speed and being unable to stop in a clear sure distance. Neither driver was able to control their vehicle.”

The driver of the Compass was later identified as Greg Hartunian, who retired as a sergeant from the Madison Heights Police Department less than two months ago. He had served with the department for 25 years.

“He was a detective, an evidence tech and an accident investigator,” said Madison Heights Police Chief Brent LeMerise. “I know Sgt. Hartunian both personally and professionally, and I had the opportunity to work closely with him in the detective bureau. Sgt. Hartunian is a hardworking, dedicated officer who had a fulfilling career here at the Madison Heights Police Department.”

The chief added that Hartunian had recently visited the department for a friend’s promotion to the rank of lieutenant, and that he was recently updated to stable condition.

TOP: Andrea Washington, the newest member of the Hazel Park City Council, tries out the new slide.

BOTTOM: Nathan Roth, 11, of Hazel Park, tries out the xylophone, one of the new musical play elements.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

CRIME WATCH

Bicycle stolen

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, sometime between last November and April 29, a green Electra Townie women’s bicycle was stolen from a 67-year-old Madison Heights resident in the 1000 block of West 13 Mile Road.

Police were investigating.

Identity theft

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, sometime on April 27 in the 30000 block of Stephenson Highway, an unknown suspect used information stolen from a 31-year-old Canton resident to open an account in their name. Investigations were ongoing.

Phone delivery stolen

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown suspect stole a Samsung Galaxy phone from a package prior to delivery.

The incident occurred April 26 in the 32000 block of Concord Drive. The victim

was a 52-year-old Madison Heights resident. Police were investigating.

Facebook fraud

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown suspect used Facebook Messenger to fraudulently obtain $1,000 for housing relocation from a Madison Heights resident, 52, in the 29000 block of Howard Avenue.

The scheme took place between April 22 and April 25. Investigations were ongoing.

If you know more about these crimes or others, call Madison Heights Police at (248) 585-2100.

Alleged drunken driver blocks street

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, around 10:20 p.m. April 15 in the area of Evelyn and Hughes avenues, police were called to the area for a vehicle blocking the street and perched on the curb.

The driver of the 2008 Chevy pickup truck was a 38-year-old Highland Park man. He was allegedly found to be lethargic and unsteady on his feet, unable to answer questions coherently. He reportedly failed sobriety tests and was later taken to the hospital for treatment and a blood draw.

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According to the report, he was issued a violation for operating a vehicle while under the influence and released to the hospital for further treatment. Police were investigating.

Man reportedly stops traffic, arrested

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, officers were called to the area of Eight Mile Road and South Chrysler Drive around 2 p.m. April 15 to investigate 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.

If you know more about these crimes or others, call Hazel Park Police at (248) 5426161.

— Andy Kozlowski

Madison Heights partners up for regional decarbonization plan

BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

MADISON HEIGHTS — The city of Madison Heights and several regional partners have been awarded $500,000 by the U.S. Department of Energy, which will fund the creation of a plan to reduce the energy footprint of their operations.

Madison Heights was the lead application in a partnership that also includes the cities of Ferndale and Oak Park, as well as the Lamphere Public Schools that serve part of Madison Heights. The Berkley-based sustainability think tank Energy Sciences helped Madison Heights research the grant application and reach out to partner communities.

The $500,000 awarded to them is part of a larger $27 million pool that the federal government is splitting between 40 partner teams through the Energy Future Grants program.

According to Melissa Marsh, the city manager of Madison Heights, the money will support the development of a regional decarbonization plan that will allow the city and its partners to share and leverage information, experiences and expertise. Their goal is to improve energy efficiency in their vehicle fleets, buildings and other infrastructure, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

She said Madison Heights will also share its expertise in benchmark energy reporting and operational energy management, while Ferndale will bring valuable perspective as a city that has already established a citywide

GHG inventory, a climate action plan and a “Downtown Zero Waste” initiative that aims to improve recycling rates.

Oak Park, meanwhile, has been focused on sustainability in its planning documents, and the Lamphere school district will benefit by assessing its aging building stock and developing a roadmap to improve the energy profile of each structure and their mechanical systems. This plan could include improvements to individual building exteriors and appropriately “right-size” the heating, cooling and ventilation systems of each learning space.

Quinn Wright, a member of the Madison Heights City Council, said the partnership has potential.

“Really, it’s about listening to the residents and what they want, which are programs that in the long term provide them tax savings, but that also in the long term improve both their environment and their overall quality of life,” Wright said. “Everyone wins with these types of programs. It’s no surprise we continue to be leaders and innovators on these types of initiatives.”

Initial grant applications were last fall. The grant was open to local, state or tribal government-led partnerships aimed at scaling strategies for energy efficiency and improved access to affordable clean energy.

Among the perks of the grant are financial assistance and technical assistance in designing and deploying each regional decarbonization plan.

“As the city manager, I reached out to our surrounding communities and school

districts in Madison Heights to make the largest impact,” Marsh said via email, noting that interested participants were required to issue letters of support.

“The plan will help identify where each partner is at in their sustainability journey, and move us all forward to make the most impact for the region,” Marsh said. “We will be emphasizing GHG reduction by creating a citywide GHG inventory, building audits, fleet electrification and (electric vehicle) infrastructure integration. Actual projects will be identified during this process.”

Marsh added that as an Energy Future grantee in Round 1, the city will also be eligible to apply for Round 2 of the program, with $1 million available in funds for the project.

Marsh noted that Madison Heights is already ranked as a silver-level “Michigan Green City” through an assessment program by the Michigan Municipal League, which underscores the strength of the city’s current environmental practices.

The city recently received a grant of $22,500 from the Michigan Department

of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which the city and Energy Sciences used to develop the city’s first sustainability master plan. The city also recently installed LED streetlights throughout the city, updated its mechanical systems at the Civic Center Complex, completed energy audits on its facilities and started tracking energy use for all municipal buildings.

Mark Bliss, the mayor pro tem of Madison Heights, said that he thinks it’s especially impressive that the Madison Heights-led coalition was one of only two partnerships in Michigan — the other being the city of Detroit — to receive the Energy Futures grant.

“There are two layers to this, I think. Obviously, ensuring our planet survives and is a hospitable place for my kids and their kids is important. But also, I think there’s a direct and immediate benefit to our residents where the cost of energy we’re generating becomes less, which means more in the budget to make other investments,” Bliss said. “I think that’s a win-win for us all.”

Call Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at (586) 498-1046.

NEWS & NOTES

7A/ MADISON-PARK NEWS • MAY 8, 2024

POLLINATOR

GARDEN WORKSHOP

HAZEL PARK — The Hazel

Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights Blvd. will host a pollinator garden workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. The cost is $5. In addition to learning how to landscape your yard with native plants and other features conducive to pollinators, there will be seed sharing and honey tasting. For more information, call (248) 547-5535.

Compost available

OUR NEXT EDITION WILL COME TO HOMES MAY 22 LOOK FOR THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR IN SECTION B

MADISON HEIGHTS — The Madison Heights Department of Public Services, 801 Ajax Drive, has a compost bin located outside its facility. The compost there is screened and cured, and available to residents free of charge.

At the circle drive, veer right into the parking lot outside the gate to find the bin in the back of the parking lot. Do not enter the gate unless going to the animal shelter. Also, watch out for heavy trucks and equipment moving in the area.

The compost is available while supplies last. Bring a container and shovel to load. The city typically receives about 100 yards of compost per season, from April through the end of May. The city tries to keep the bin stocked, but the compost often goes fast, and there may be periods where none is available. Once all compost is gone, wood chips will be available there instead.

For more information, call the DPS at (248) 589-2294.

PROGRAM ON PSYCHOSIS

MADISON HEIGHTS — The Madison Heights Public Library, 240 W. 13 Mile Road, will host a presentation titled “Psychosis and The Effects of Substance,” in the Breckenridge Room from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 23.

The program is for people 18 and older. No registration is required. The presenter is Kimberly Son, a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine, currently in her first year of psychiatric residency at Trinity Health Livonia Hospital.

For more information, call the library at (248) 588-7763.

RUNNING FOR THE HEALTH OF IT

ABOVE: Runners finish the last leg of the 2024 Madison Heights “Run for the Health of It” 5K Run/Walk at the Red Oaks Nature Center April 20. RIGHT: Braxton Sipes was the overall winner for this year’s event.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

LEFT: Simonne Wright, 11, placed third in the category for participants under 12. Seda Wright, 8, was not far behind.

in-person meetings. Lees is now the affiliate leader for the one in Madison Heights. The other two are in Coldwater and Ann Arbor. The Madison Heights group meets monthly and serves Oakland and Macomb counties. The national website, helpingparentsheal. org, anchors each group with an array of resources.

The parents in the Madison Heights group run the gamut in terms of how they lost children. One parent’s child died at 22, and another at age 5 — both taken by the same type of brain tumor. Others were lost to leukemia, brain aneurysms, cardiac disease, substance abuse and suicide. Some children died as recently as two months ago. Other parents have been processing their grief for nearly a decade.

For Lees, the loss goes back even further. Her daughter, Jenifer, was born prematurely in September 1974 and died shortly thereafter. The Lees then had a second child five years later; their son, Larry.

“He was our everything from day 1,” Lees said. “He brought us joy and laughter beyond our wildest dreams.”

Larry proved gifted academically, attending University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods from eighth grade through graduation, and also excelled as a pianist, performing onstage at Oakland University with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra. He attended Ithaca College, focused on musical theater. Larry worked for Music Theatre International for two decades in New York, and on the side, he arranged and conducted music for The Summer Club, a big band that showcased music from the Frank Sinatra era of the Rat Pack. He also created original pieces and musicals performed at venues throughout New York and Philadelphia.

“He lived and breathed music,” Lees said.

But his life was cut short. In March 2022, Larry died from renal failure due to complications from alcohol use. He made such an impression on his fellow students that 25 years after their graduation, they came together in November 2022 to honor him with a concert at Liggett. Larry also has a permanent place of honor in the school’s art wing as of last year.

Prior to joining HPH, Lees said her husband had been visited by their children in his dreams. The couple had been attending another grief group that proved the opposite of helpful, leaving them feeling emotionally drained and worse off than when

they arrived. Lees herself was contemplating taking her own life to escape the pain. But then a mother suggested the HPH website. The talks there helped her finally make sense of things that had previously defied explanation.

“My husband and I were both experiencing odd occurrences,” Lees recalled. “The familiar smell of our son’s cologne. My husband was having vivid memorable dreams. Feathers and coins started showing up in the oddest places. We didn’t know what to make of any of it. I was raised Catholic and thought when you’re gone, you’re gone. But I no longer believe that.

“It’s every parent’s inconceivable nightmare to think you could ever lose your children. I grieved for my parents and sister, but the pain and hopelessness of losing our son is beyond what I ever could’ve imagined. It took my breath away. If you talk with any parent who has lost a child, they will tell you it’s the most painful experience of their life. The suicide rate for grieving parents increases within months of losing a child,” she said. “So if I can give one parent who is feeling the desperation of losing their child some hope and comfort in these darkest days of their soul, it will be enough.”

Mary Yamamoto is the affiliate leader for the HPH group in Ann Arbor. Her daughter, Kathryn, died at age 29 due to a heart issue. Yamamoto, her husband, their son and daughter-in-law recently returned from a trip to Ireland where they spread Kathryn’s ashes.

“She passed five years ago. And it was totally shattering — just a soul-crushing experience,” Yamamoto said. “I was raised Catholic, but not practicing. But I was always interested in spirituality, and I always believed in an afterlife. But it’s the moment when Kathryn passed away that I knew there was one. I knew there was no way that that was it. And as a parent, I really wanted to know where Kathryn was after she died. So that ignited a strong interest in understanding things.”

Yamamoto’s search led her to HPH.

“I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life really sad and in a difficult place, so it was important to find a way forward, even though we will always miss not having (Kathryn) here physically. I believe that our loved ones who are no longer with us physically want us to be happy. And making a difference in the world is one way to honor them,” she said.

Leading the Ann Arbor affiliate has been Yamamoto’s way to give back. She said the group is one of the newer affiliates and

Do you own a vehicle with an interesting

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.

Classic car season has begun with a number of local spots hosting car shows.

LOCAL CAR SHOWS DRIVE INTO TOWN

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Hang those fuzzy rearview mirror dice, shine up that chrome and get ready to ride — car show season has arrived.

Classic car owners are ready to spin their wheels at weekly haunts that welcome all kinds of cruisers, from the hot rod masters to the vintage collectors. Honk, honk.

The Breakfast Club is back at the Ram’s Horn, located at 1990 S. Rochester Road at Hamlin Road in Rochester Hills. The group meets from 6:30 to 11 a.m. every Saturday to reminisce about cruising over coffee.

“We have quite a big group that talk and have breakfast,” manager Kevin Knapp said. “Anyone is welcome to bring their cars.”

The folks at Culver’s on the Romeo/Washington Township border also are getting in on the classic car culture. The eatery, located at 66227 Van Dyke Ave., is holding a classic car show from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays until Labor Day. Staff members will pick

See CAR SHOWS on page 11A

MEET INDY NXT DRIVER NOLAN ALLAER MAY 17

WARREN/ROSEVILLE — On April 30, National Coney Island announced that it signed on as the official signature sponsor of metro Detroit-born race car driver

Nolan Allaer and his No. 11 HMD Motorsports car for the INDY NXT series race at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, sponsored by Lear, May 31-June 2.

“To team up with an icon such as National Coney Island that has literally been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, just feels like a natural fit,” Allaer said in a prepared statement. “I’m just hoping I can create some great memories for race fans like NCI has created for me since I was a kid. I’m proud to be a part of the NCI family.”

Race fans will have the opportunity to meet Allaer during a meet and greet from 4 to 6 p.m. May 17 at the National Coney Island located at 30140 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren. He will sign autographs, display his No. 11 National Coney Island-branded race car and pass out free merchandise including a special poster. Attendees can try to win two tickets to the Detroit Grand Prix, as well as National Coney Island gifts.

and

Nolan is a third-generation race car driver as his father, grandfather and uncle also drove competitively. In 2020, Allaer graduated magna cum laude from University Liggett High School in Grosse Pointe Woods. National Coney Island is headquartered in Roseville.

— MARIA ALLARD

May

Race fans can meet race car driver Nolan Allaer from 4 to 6 p.m.

17 at the National Coney Island located at 30140 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren.

Photo provided by Nolan Allaer Racing

File photo by Donna Dalziel

Car shows

from page 10A

their favorite car each week and give out a special gift.

Another place for a “wheel” good time is the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 26601 Ryan Road in Warren. Cruise night is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. At press time, the first official date was set for May 7.

It’s the 1950s all over again when cruisers meet up at Eddie’s Drive-In, 36111 Jefferson Ave. in Harrison Township. Gearheads are usually there at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer.

Mark your calendar for June 7. That’s when the car shows at the Walter F. Bruce Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1146, located at 28404 Jefferson Ave. in St Clair Shores, will begin. The event will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. every Friday in the back of the facility, between the building and Lake St. Clair.

The car shows will be different than in the past. There is no cost to attend, and there will not be trophies or door prizes this year. However, there will be raffles and music from a disc jockey. Food, including hamburgers and hot dogs, will be for sale. For more information, call Randell Shafer ar (586) 524-0449.

Here are some other places for weekly car shows, weather permitting:

The Big Boy located at 200 W. Maple Road in Troy welcomes cruisers from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

The Twisted Axle Car Club will park its unique and stylish automobiles at 7 p.m. every Friday at Gratiot Coney Island, 28560 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville.

Louie’s Towne Grill Cruise Nights, located at 79 N. Main St. in Mount Clemens, will be from 4 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday this spring and summer.

Beginning June 6, the Stahl’s Automotive Collection at 56516 North Bay Drive in

Chesterfield Township will hold cruise nights from 4 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, minus the third Thursday of the month. During the cruise nights, car fans can also check out the museum, which will be open from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The museum is the creation of businessman Ted Stahl, who has stocked the facility with antique vehicles that date back to the early 1900s.

Sweet Treats and Sweet Rides: Cars on display, music and in-store specials, 5-8 p.m. May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15 and Sept. 19 at Sanders Chocolate and Ice Cream Shoppe, 23770 Hall Road in Clinton Township. Call (586) 464-5372 for more information.

SandBaggers Sports Bar and Grill, 25615 Van Dyke Ave. in Center Line, will start its weekly car shows May 15. Everyone gathers in the parking lot from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays until September.

The “Fun Time Cruzers” meet at Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights from 4-8 p.m. (to 7 p.m. after mid-September) every Monday night from May to September. Meet at the Lakeside Mall Food Court on the south side of Hall Road and east of Schoenherr in Sterling Heights.

The public is cordially invited to the monthly Cars and Coffee at 8 a.m. the first Saturday of the month at the M1 Concourse, located at 1 Concourse Drive in Pontiac. There is no cost to attend. The 87-acre property features a 28,000-square-foot, stateof-the-art event complex, a 1.5-mile closed track, 255 private garages, and a full schedule of signature events. For more information, visit m1concourse.com or call (248) 3269999.

There is also a spot in town for vintage bicycle enthusiasts. The Lumberyard Pub & Grub and East Side Bike Shop are again hosting the weekly bicycle nights at the Lumberyard, 26700 Schoenherr Road in Warren. Anyone can attend from 6 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday evening to talk about their twowheeled Roadmasters, Schwinns and Columbias. According to staff, there also will be a

special bike night for kids with a date to be determined later in the season.

For a compiled a list of local car shows

visit candgnews.com/news/car-shows-cruis es-2024. Another good source is facebook. com/AmericanDreamCars.

Playscape

from page 3A

moving to the area, so we have to keep our parks moving in the right direction.”

The new playscape at Green Acres Park is an example of that progress, Webb said. Not only did it expand from 1,125 square feet to 4,500 square feet, but its new poured-in-place rubber surface makes it more accessible to individuals of all ability levels. Three shaded bench areas around the perimeter give parents and guardians room to relax while keeping a watchful eye on their kids.

The playscape itself sports an “urban nature” theme with six swings, including two infant swings and one inclusive swing, as well as three slides of different heights, a bumblebee spring rider, a ladybug spring rider, and three climbing structures. There are also three musical play elements that encourage creative play, while a variety of activity panels promote sensory experiences.

It was all made possible by a $400,000 contribution from Oakland County Parks, part of its Healthy Communities Park and Outdoor Recreation Investment Plan.

The $20.2 million program, aimed at enhancing green spaces and recreational programming across the county, includes $15 million in pandemic relief funds that the county received as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The allocation was approved in 2022 by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. Another $5.2 million was then added in a matching grant from the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Green Acres Park is owned and operated by the city of Hazel Park, spanning 17.9 acres. A public workshop in July 2023 solicited input from residents about how to redevelop the playscape. Construction commenced in October

See PLAYSCAPE on page 13A

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Officials from Oakland County and the city of Hazel Park cut the ribbon on the new playscape at Green Acres Park April 20.

The site is four times larger than before, with new equipment and accessibility features.

Playscape

from page 12A

2023 once the list of elements was finalized.

“I wish we had opportunities to have areas like this for our children,” Webb said, referring to his own family. “But for our children’s children, it’s wonderful to give them these opportunities.”

Hazel Park also received another $300,000 from the county that will be used

Investigate

from page 3A

“He has a difficult recovery ahead,” LeMerise said. “Our hearts go out to him and his family.”

The second crash occurred later that day, around 5:40 p.m., on the freeway ramp from northbound I-75 to eastbound Interstate 696 in Hazel Park. While state troopers raced to the scene, dispatchers used freeway cameras to locate and observe two vehicles that had crashed into each other.

According to Shaw, the driver of one crashed vehicle continued to back up into

to fund upgrades at the nearby Community Center. And beyond the city of Hazel Park, the county program will be funding improvements at park spaces in Madison Heights, Lyon Township, Oak Park, Pontiac, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Waterford and Wixom.

Oakland County Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault, D-Troy, representing District 3, said that projects such as the new playscape were one of the reasons she was excited to be appointed to the Parks Com-

the other, and when troopers arrived, their investigation reportedly revealed that one of the drivers — a 37-year-old Harper Woods woman — had stabbed the other driver in the back with a pair of scissors.

The victim was treated at the scene and refused transport to the hospital. As for the suspect, who at press time had not been named, she was determined to be impaired. She allegedly threatened to harm herself and was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation, and then arrested. Her case was pending review by prosecutors.

“It is still under investigation, so I don’t have any other comments at this time,” Shaw said.

mission.

“We’re on a mission to make sure we have Oakland County parks easily available to everyone in the county. There was a time where they were mostly available only in the north, and depending on where you were in the county, you might have to drive quite some distance to reach them. So we’re focusing on spots all over the county,” Gault said.

“One of the things I like most about (Green Acres Park) is this is truly a com-

munity park. It’s set in such a beautiful neighborhood, and now the people who live there can walk to this beautiful new play structure,” Gault said. “And I love how this program is a partnership between the county and the Parks Commission and the cities. We’re not coming in with a heavy-handed government approach. We’re working together, hand in hand, with Hazel Park and Madison Heights. I just love how we’re all working together to make these communities even better.”

Board

from page 1A

McGillivray, 71, had been a resident of Madison Heights.

Grafstein said that after six years on the Madison Heights City Council, she is ready to take her advocacy for the community to the county level. She is currently about six months into her second two-year term. If she is elected to the commission, the remaining six members of the City Council would appoint one of their own to fill the vacancy.

“It’s important to note that historically, Madison Heights has had a representative at the county, but currently, we don’t have any representatives from our city at any higher levels of government,” Grafstein said.

The decision to run

Grafstein said she has been a dedicated volunteer since her kids were in preschool. With her youngest now graduating high school, she feels she will have more time to commit to public service.

“I want to serve the entire community, which includes not only Madison Heights but also its neighbors to the north and south. We’re all connected, and we all affect each other. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for awhile,” Grafstein said. “I’ve been on a few task forces for (the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments), and something that often comes up is we need to work together as a larger community, support our neighbors, and look at the metro area as a whole.”

Grafstein first became mayor of Madison Heights in 2020 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy left by the previous mayor, Brian Hartwell, after he became judge of the 43rd District Court, in Hazel Park. In 2021, she was elected to a full two-year term, and she has continued to hold the office ever since.

But she feels that her first experience leading the city actually came before her appointment. Near the end of 2019, mere months before the start of the pandemic, the city of Madison Heights had an environmental crisis where green-colored ooze leaked onto Interstate 696. The pollution was actually groundwater laced with cancer-causing hexavalent chromium that had welled up beneath the site of the former Electro-Plating Services, where illegal dumping of hazardous waste had occurred.

At the time, Hartwell was abroad, so Grafstein assumed mayoral duties and helped lead a multi-agency cleanup operation that included both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes

Madison Heights Mayor Roslyn Grafstein, left, will be competing with incumbent Oakland County Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault, D-Troy, middle, in the Democratic primary Aug. 6 for District 3. The winner will then compete with Republican challenger Douglas MacLean, of Madison Heights, in the November general election.

and Energy. She called for and chaired a special City Council meeting to discuss the issue with the public, and has continued to work with city staff and attorneys on remediating the site. The building there has since been demolished.

In March 2020, when the global lockdown began, she helped secure a disinfection protocol for the city’s emergency vehicle fleet, and when COVID-19 vaccines became available, she coordinated with local pharmacies to secure doses and organize vaccination clinics for the city’s most vulnerable.

She also points to feats such as the revival of the city’s Environmental Citizens Committee, which she spearheaded shortly after joining the council in 2017. She helped secure funding for projects such as rain gardens to manage stormwater runoff, and worked with volunteers to launch the Bloom Project, which transforms vacant areas into pollinator-friendly native gardens. The city’s efforts to restore the tree canopy under her watch have also secured it “Tree City USA” status from the Arbor Day Foundation since 2020.

Safety has been another priority for the mayor. Grafstein said that since she joined the council, Madison Heights has increased its police and fire personnel by 20%. She helped restructure the Crime Commission to focus more on education and prevention. She also supported the creation of an ordinance to clean up blight and crack down on crime at hotels and motels in the city.

The mayor said that a recent mental health co-responder program Madison Heights helped broker with neighboring communities is an example of the sort of collaborative work she wants to continue at the county level.

“I feel everyone should have the opportunity to have a safe and clean neighborhood where they can thrive,” Grafstein said. “So focusing on environment and public safety is very important.”

Gault: ‘I’ve hit the ground running’

Gault works as an attorney, specializing in appeals and contract legal writing and research for individual and small-firm lawyers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Manchester University and a law degree from the University of Toledo. She is also a past chair and member of the Providing Access to Legal Services Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association and does pro bono law work with the Family Law Clinic.

Her appointment to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in November 2023 came not long after she had been reelected to the Troy City Council, where she had served since late 2019. Gault is a 20year resident of Troy, where she resides with her husband Tom and daughter Eleanor.

“I was told by one of my fellow commissioners that I’ve hit the ground running,” Gault said of her half-year thus far on the board. “And I appreciate that compliment. I’ve been striving to represent the people of Madison Heights, Hazel Park and Troy, and to honor (McGillivray’s) legacy.”

The board also appointed Gault to fill McGillivray’s seat on the county’s Parks Commission. The parks were near and dear to McGillivray’s heart, and Gault said she is pleased to have overseen improvements in the county parks system, including the recent playscape at Green Acres Park in Hazel Park. She said she’s also pleased by the collaborative mental health co-responder program in which Madison Heights and Hazel Park are participating, and which Oakland County supports.

During her time on the board, Gault has also voted to fund multiple affordable housing projects through the county’s Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund, and she supported a resolution urging the state Legislature to pass a water affordability bill package. She also voted to approve a grant application to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund that would cover the creation of a new county park in Troy, named Turtle Woods. She also hosted Hazel Park High students for this year’s Youth in Government Day, in February.

See BOARD on page 15A

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the City Council for the City of Madison Heights will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 300 W. 13 Mile Road, Madison Heights, Michigan 48071 to consider the following Special Approval requests:

Case # PSP 24-03 – 28245 John R Road

The applicant, Steve Gunn, requests a modifcation to a previously-approved Special Approval application per the procedures set forth in Section 10.201(5) of the Madison Heights Zoning Ordinance. The applicant owns and operates Wash Pointe Car Wash at the subject property (28245 John R Road; PIN 44-25-14-232-014) and requests to increase the number of exterior vacuums from four (4) to eight (8).

Case # PSP 24-04 – 950 E. Whitcomb Ave.

The applicant, Mobility Resource Associates dba MRA, requests a modifcation to a previously-approved Special Approval application per the procedures set forth in Section 10.201(5) of the Madison Heights Zoning Ordinance. The applicant owns and operates a motor vehicle maintenance service facility specializing in customized vehicles and semitrailers at the subject property (950 E. Whitcomb Ave.; PIN 44-25-01-326-027) and requests to expand the outdoor area dedicated to storing display trailers/vehicles.

The applications and any supporting documents can be viewed during regular business hours at the Community and Economic Development Department. In addition, the agenda item can be viewed online after 4:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the meeting at www.madison-heights.org in the Agenda Center.

For further information, please contact the Community and Economic Development Department at (248) 583-0831. Cheryl Rottmann, CMC City Clerk (248) 583-0826

Gault said that continuing to enhance and expand the county parks will be a priority for her. She will also be focused on improving mental health care and substance abuse treatment options, and making housing more affordable in Oakland County.

Gault has also proposed to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners that they sponsor the Juneteenth Festival in Madison Heights, and she is leading a policy work group that will promote voting rights and election integrity.

She said she is supporting plans by the Parks Commission to modernize the Bob Welch baseball field in Hazel Park, as well as to rehabilitate the basketball court at Civic Center Plaza in Madison Heights, and to enhance Ambassador Park and the Red Oaks Nature Center.

“And in August, we will begin our budget discussions, where I will advocate for investing in our local communities to improve our public safety and quality of life,” Gault said.

She said her 26 years of experience as a lawyer taught her how to advocate and negotiate — critical skills, she said, for advancing policy and funding proposals on the board. She also feels qualified due to her four years of service as a member of the Troy City Council.

“I look forward to speaking with the voters of my district, and learning more about the issues that matter most to them,” Gault said.

The opposite ticket

Whoever prevails between Grafstein and Gault in the

Democratic primary will advance to the general election in November, where they will compete against Douglas MacLean, a Madison Heights resident who is running as a Republican.

MacLean has a long history of service with the city of Madison Heights, including 29 years as an officer with the Madison Heights Police Department. He retired in 1995 and then served on the Madison Heights City Council from 1995 to 1999, when George Suarez was mayor and shortly before Ed Swanson became mayor. MacLean also served for 17 years on the Madison District Public Schools Board of Education, beginning in the late ’70s when he was still a police officer.

“I’ve always been civic-minded, for one thing,” MacLean said of his decision to run for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. “I would be there on the board to look out for fiduciary responsibility for the county of Oakland, and for the people I’m representing in Madison Heights, Hazel Park and Troy. I would be on the opposite ticket running as a Republican, for what has been a Democratic seat for many years. Really, I just think that it’s time for a change.”

He said he has concerns about recent county investments into mass transit that he feels are prohibitively expensive and shortsighted. He also has concerns about the commission considering property acquisitions in downtown Pontiac with possible plans to relocate county employees there from the county campus on Telegraph Road.

“I don’t think these are necessary expenditures at this time,” MacLean said. “The economy is going through a rough patch right now, experiencing inflation. And I feel we need to be more careful with how we’re spending the taxpayers’ dollars.”

Call Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at (586) 498-1046.

from page 8A

still relatively small.

“Some of the parents here, their loss is recent. I see them change in the course of a meeting. They can talk and share and laugh together and cry together. And by the end of the meeting, I see them walk out so much lighter,” Yamamoto said. “(HPH) won’t be for everyone, but I think there are people out there it can help.”

Lees said that people interested in learning more should first visit the national website, helpingparentsheal.org, to see if it feels right for them. If they then want to attend the in-person group in Madison Heights, they can email her for more information at hphmadisonheights@ gmail.com, or call or text her directly at (248) 376-5035.

Call Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at (586) 498-1046.

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Job Training/Education

MOMS & RETIREES:

PIPEFITTER APPRENTICESHIP

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The JATC for the Pipefitting Industry and Pipefitters, Steamfitters, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service Local Union #636 of the United Association will be accepting applications for our Construction Apprenticeship beginning Monday, June 10th, 2024, through June 27th, 2024. Application days and times will be as followed: Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 PM. Saturday June 15th, 2024 and June 22nd, 2024 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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Pollinator garden workshop: Also taste honey and lavender lemonade, 6 p.m., Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, registration required, (248) 547-5535, facebook.com/CityofHP

MAY 15

Baking presentation: Hear from Lisa Ludwinski from Sister Pie in Detroit, also pastries and activities, 6 p.m., Hazel Park District Library, 123 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-4095, hpmlibrary@gmail.com, hazel-park.lib.mi.us

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Used book sale: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Madison Heights Public Library, 240 W. 13 Mile Road, (248) 588-7763, madison-heights.org/library

MAY 25

2024 Madison Heights Memorial Day Parade: 10 a.m., starts near Cowan Avenue and John R Road, then heads north to 11 Mile Road, then east to Madison High School and concludes with memorial service on football field, volunteers and participants needed, (248) 588-1200, information@madison-heights.org, madisonheightsparade. org

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num Ave. in Madison Heights), July 11 (Madison Heights Civic Center Park, 360 W. 13 Mile Road) and July 25 (Red Oaks Nature Center), facebook.com/hpdlibrary

Fun Fridays: Games, crafts, snacks and movies, 3 p.m. every Friday, Hazel Park District Library, 123 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-4095, hpmlibrary@gmail.com, hazel-park.lib.mi.us

Senior card playing: Noon-3 p.m. every Monday and Thursday, Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, (248) 547-5535, facebook.com/CityofHP

Book clubs: Novels & Neighbors (focuses on range of viewpoints and life experiences, 6 p.m. every second Tuesday of month), LitWits (general club for avid readers, 7 p.m. every third Monday of May, July, September and November) and Golden Bookworms (for ages 50 and older, 1:30 p.m. every fourth Tuesday of month), Madison Heights Public Library, 240 W. 13 Mile Road, madison-heights.org/library, (248) 588-7763

Social clubs: Ham Radio (7:30-9 p.m. every second Wednesday of month), Stitch & Knit (4-6 p.m. every first Thursday of Month), Lego/ Pokémon (6:30-7:30 p.m. every first Tuesday of month) and various book clubs, Hazel Park District Library, 123 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-4095, hpmlibrary@gmail.com, hazel-park.lib.mi.us

Hazel Park Garden Club: Workshops and events include Trellising (May 8), Beekeeping 101 (May 22), Organic Weed Management (June 12), Herb Gardening (June 26), Irrigation and Rain Barrels (July 10), Rain Garden (July 24), Harvesting and Biological Insect Controls (Aug. 14), Fruit Tree Pruning and Berries Care (Aug. 28), Harvest Festival Potluck (Sept. 11), Beekeeping 102 (Sept. 25), Composting (Oct. 9), Vermicomposting (Oct. 23), Putting the Garden to Bed (Nov. 13), and Bug and Bat Houses (Nov. 27), noon, Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, facebook.com/HPBeautification, (248) 546-7000

Speaker Series: Hear from bestselling authors and thought leaders, topics are “A Murder Mystery, Family Story, & Love Letter to Strong Women Everywhere” (7 p.m. May 8), “Asian American Representation in Literature” (7 p.m. May 21), “For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet” (2 p.m. June 3), “Psychological Thrillers and the

(2 p.m. July 30), Madison Heights Public Library, 240 W. 13 Mile Road, registration required, (248) 588-7763, libraryc.org/ mhlibrary/upcoming Farmers markets: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 27, Public Parking Lot #6, 660 N. Old Woodward Ave. in Birmingham, www. ALLINBirmingham.com/FarmersMarket

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 19, June 9 and 23, July 14 and 28, and Aug. 11 and 25, Clawson City Park, 1080 N. Custer Ave., cityofclawson.com

• 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 26, corner of East Third and Water streets in Rochester, www.downtownrochester mi.com/farmers-market

• 7 a.m.-1

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes