5/8/24 Royal Oak Review

ROPD focusing efforts to help people with mental health

Efforts explained at new Justice Open House

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — On April 24, residents of Royal Oak were invited to a public open house hosted by the Royal Oak Police Department and the 44th District Court to learn about the practices and initiatives these two organizations currently have in place.

The Justice Open House is the first event hosted by the newly formed Community Engagement Advisory Board, which was appointed by the City Commission.

According to Community Engage-

Judges discuss 44th District Court’s initiatives, programs at Justice Open House — PAGE 3A

ment Specialist Judy Davids, there will be more of these types of events in the future. Police officer Renee Hertz spoke about the Comeback Quick Response Team, an initiative that has been in place since 2023.

The Comeback Quick Response Team, also called “QRT,” is a program in partnership with Families Against Narcotics, or FAN.

The Comeback Quick Response Team is a group composed of a police officer, a peer recovery coach, and a family recovery coach.

Hertz said that the group will show

See MENTAL HEALTH on page 18A

Royal Oak high school student wins Michigan Emmy award

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak High School student

Sam Klonke has won an award in the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Michigan Emmys student production competition.

Klonke came out of the competition with a first-

place win in the category of Sports Story or Segment for his movie called “The Woodward Showdown.”

Klonke is proud of his accomplishment and ex-

See EMMY on page 12A

Photo by Taylor Christensen

LEFT: Royal Oak police officer André Stienke shows the April 24 Justice Open House attendees what the inside of the Police Department’s holding cell area looks like.

Klonke

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SECOND FRONT PAGE

3A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW • MAY 8, 2024

Judges discuss 44th District Court’s initiatives and programs at Justice Open House

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — The 44th District Court, which serves Royal Oak, had the public in the courtroom at the April 24 Justice Open House event to speak about the initiatives that the judges currently have in place.

Judge Andrew Kowalkowski and Judge Derek Meinecke led the discussion and spoke about the Justice 101 Program, Teen Court, Hybrid Drug Alcohol Court and Operation Drive.

On Tuesdays throughout the school year, elementary students from Royal Oak and Berkley are invited to learn about the court system and visit the court in the Justice 101 Program.

See COURT on page 14A

Berkley state representative introduces bill to police excessive noise from modified cars

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A new bill introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives aims to curb excessive noise from vehicles.

The legislation, House Bill 5696, was introduced by state Rep. Natalie Price, D-Berkley, and would “crack down on vehicles intentionally modified to create excessive noise while being used,” a press release states.

Price said the legislation will update the vehicle

code and allow local law enforcement to enforce the current prohibition on modifying a vehicle to cause it to make excessive noise.

According to the representative, one problem found in the code was that there was some language that was considered to be contradictory by the courts that needed to be revised.

“Even though in one point in the vehicle code it says that you can’t modify your vehicle and have it make excessive noise, there was another part where it said that modifications couldn’t be made above a

See CAR NOISE on page 13A

Photo by Taylor Christensen

Judge Derek Meinecke and Judge Andrew Kowalkowski speak to attendees about the initiatives and programs in place at the 44th District Court during the Justice Open House event April 24.

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

A proposed bill in the Michigan Legislature would see increased punishments for car owners if they have modified vehicles that make excessive noise.

Oakland County FC soccer to return to Royal Oak Stadium May 18

ROYAL OAK — Returning for its fourth season in the USL League Two Great Lakes Division, Oakland County Football Club will kick off its 2024 campaign May 18 at Royal Oak Stadium.

The Purple Gang will go head-to-head with Union FC Macomb, a newly formed club based in Utica, at 7 p.m. to start its 14-game season.

Music, bounce houses, concessions and plenty of other game day activities will make their return for the year, as OCFC will host seven contests in 2024.

For more information on the team or tickets, visit oaklandcountyfc.com. — Jonathan Szczepaniak

“Many foot problems in people with diabetes occur when injuries and infections go unnoticed and untreated. Healing can be delayed due to decreased feeling in the feet (neuropathy) and poor circulation. I will evaluate your feet regularly to detect any changes early, before they become a problem. Call me for an appointment and I will work with you to keep your feet healthy.”

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes Oakland County Football Club midfielder Jack Streberger, a Grosse Pointe Woods native and returning veteran for the Purple Gang, fights to keep control of the ball from a swarm of Lansing City players during OCFC’s home opener in 2023.

Teen charged following car chase on Woodward Avenue

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — A 17-year-old Chesterfield Township resident is facing a felony charge of fleeing and eluding police following a car chase that took place at around 7:35 p.m. April 20.

After a Royal Oak police officer observed a person driving recklessly on Woodward Avenue in the area of 13 Mile Road, the officer attempted to stop the vehicle.

The chase began when the officer activated his lights; instead of stopping, the driver left the scene at high speeds in his white Chrysler 300.

According to a press release, the driver “changed directions several times along Woodward Avenue” and then crossed 14 Mile Road into Birmingham.

In an attempt to stop the chase, a Birmingham police officer deployed a tire deflation device, which caused both of the Chrysler’s passenger-side tires to deflate.

“The key moment in the case was that a Birmingham officer was able to successfully deploy the tire deflation device,” Royal Oak Police Lt. Richard Millard said. “Which slowed him down and ultimately we were able to take him into custody to get charged.”

Although the two tires were flattened, the in-

dividual reportedly continued to try to flee police through a residential neighborhood in Birmingham.

The ordeal concluded when the individual went back onto southbound Woodward Avenue, where he was stopped and taken into custody near Normandy Road and Woodward, according to the press release.

Millard said that the Royal Oak Police Department is prepared for these situations and is constantly on the lookout for any threats of dangerous driving situations.

“We have officers out there looking for dangerous driving, reckless driving, careless driving and speeding,” Millard said. “We have zero tolerance for that kind of dangerous driving.”

Officials said that the driver had a 19-year-old female passenger in the car at the time of the chase, but she has since been released following an investigation. She was reported as uninjured in the press release.

The juvenile driver was being held at Oakland County Children’s Village, where he is charged with third-degree fleeing and eluding police, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $1,000 fine. If guilty, the individual’s license will also be suspended for one year. He will be tried as a juvenile.

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

Happenings

Photo provided by Lieutenant Richard Millard

The Chesterfield Township teen who police said was driving this Chrysler 300 makes one of several changes in direction on Woodward Avenue.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

6A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW • MAY 8, 2024

MAY 9 & 16

Conversations on Race: 6-8 p.m., Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, free but registration required, tinyurl.com/conrroyaloak

MAY 10

Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra: Last concert of season, 8-9:45 p.m., Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington, royaloakorchestra.com

MAY 11

Walk for Justice: Fundraiser for Salvation Army’s free legal aid clinic, also family-friendly activities and silent auction, 8 a.m., Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, register at walkforjustice.org

MAY 16 & 18

CAMEO Quilters Guild: Learn techniques to “rescue” old and vintage quilts May 16 and hear from quilt pattern maker May 18, both 7-9 p.m., Clawson United Methodist Church, 205 N. Main St., cameoquilters. org, (248) 544-4504

MAY 18

Detroit Concert Choir: Performance titled “The Mystical Power of Music,” 7:30-9 p.m., St John’s Episcopal Church, 26998 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak, (313) 882-0118, dcc@detroitconcertchoir.org, www. detroitconcertchoir.org

Plant and seed swap: Hosted by Good Earth Gardeners of Michigan, 9-11 a.m., Hunter Community Center, 509 Fisher Ct. in Clawson, (248) 589-0334, cityofclawson.com

MAY 19

Michigan Kidney Walk: Fundraiser for National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, also free food and drinks, giveaways, music, kids area, 50-50 and prize basket raffle, stage performers, and more, 8:45 a.m., Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, register at kidneywalk.org/detroitzoo

MAY 25

Nature walks: 10 a.m., Cummingston Park, park and meet at intersection of Torquay and Leafdale, and 2 p.m., Tenhave Woods, park at Marais/Lexington lot and meet at Lexington entrance, both in Royal Oak, romi.gov/411/Nature-Walks

ONGOING

Farmers markets: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, also antiques and collectibles 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, 316 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak, (248) 246-3276, more on Facebook

• 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

Judson Center exhibit: Historical timeline, artifacts, photographs and art celebrating local nonprofit’s 100th anniversary, on display 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until May 30, Royal Oak Historical Society Museum, 1411 Webster Road, royaloakhistoricalsociety.com

Harmony United Chorus: Open rehearsals for men’s Barbershop-style group, 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday, choir room at Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave., greaterdetroit.org

Monthly book clubs: Find meetups for horror fans, kids, LGBTQIA+ and more, Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, (248) 246-3700, romi. gov/1532/library

• Wednesday Afternoon Book Club meets 1-2 p.m. every third Wednesday, Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, facebook.com/BlairMemorial Library, register at clawsonlibrary@gmail.com

Bingo: 12:30-1:30 p.m. every first Friday of month, Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais Ave. in Royal Oak, (248) 246-3900

Widowed Friends breakfasts: 9:30 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesday of month, The Avenue Family Restaurant, 31253 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak, RSVP to Marilyn at (248) 543-1018

MAY 9-12

‘Silent Sky’: Performance by Stagecrafters, 8 p.m. May 9-11 and 2 p.m. May 12, Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in Royal Oak, stagecrafters.org

Health workshops: For chronic pain, high blood pressure and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, beaumonthealth.digitalsignup.com

ADHD meetings: Hosted by CHADD of Eastern Oakland County, for adults and parents, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Zoom, see schedule on chadd.net/chapterevents/527

Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups

Photo by Bureau Detroit

NEWS & NOTES

Shrine’s student council receives National Gold Council of Excellence Award

ROYAL OAK — The student council of Shrine Catholic High School received an award naming it a National Gold Council of Excellence from the National Association of Student Councils.

The National Association of Student Councils is supported by its parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

The student council received this award for its leadership and dedication to service and activities that “improve the school and community,” according to a press release.

Shrine Catholic High School said in the press release that it is the only school in the state of Michigan to have received this award.

A student council must meet criteria to receive the award; basic requirements include a written constitution, regular meetings and a democratic election process.

A student council must also take initiative to create a better environment in and out of school.

Some events that Shrine’s student council has hosted include; pep rallies, adopting local families for Thanksgiving dinners, adopting students at a local school for Christmas, and more.

“It is an honor to be the only high school in the state of Michigan recognized for this prestigious award,” Amanda Schubeck, student council adviser, said in a press release.

Clawson celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

CLAWSON — The Clawson Parks and Recreation Department is putting together a youth orchestra concert to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at 4 p.m. May 19.

The event will be held at the gazebo next to the Blair Memorial Library at 416 N. Main St. In the chance that it rains that day, the concert will move into the City Hall community room at 425 N. Main St.

This celebration will feature a performance by the Korean Youth Orchestra of Michigan, which will share its talents and culture through music.

For more information, contact Assistant Director of Recreation and Senior Services Lisa Ball at lball@ cityofclawson.com or (248) 589-0334.

Financial Empowerment Arts Contest winners announced

ROYAL OAK — Oakland County public high school students were asked to participate in an art contest to raise awareness about managing personal finances and making informed decisions about money.

The winners and honorable mentions were announced May 2 by Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg, who partnered with Oakland Schools, Flagstar Bank and the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency for the contest.

Students, family members, teachers and friends attended a private event at the Flagstar Bank Headquarters in Troy May 2. There were 22 winners and honorable mentions.

“The exceptional talent and creativity showcased by the student artists are awe-inspiring and reflect the importance of financial empowerment,” Wittenberg said in a press release.

A total of 144 students participated in the contest from 17 different high schools. The art represented various mediums including drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, video and illustration.

Students competed in categories arranged by grade. Ninth grade student Aiden Brock, of Royal Oak High School, won first place among all ninth graders for his piece. Natalie Browning, of Royal Oak High School, won second place among ninth graders, and Robyn Toenniges, of Royal Oak High School, earned an honorable mention among ninth grade students.

Tenth grade student Annie Zhao, from the International Academy East, won first place in her class. Eleventh grade student Sophia Karras, from Rochester Stoney Creek, won first place in her class. Twelfth grade student Jessica Wong, from Troy Athens High School, won first place in the senior category.

First place winners received a prize of $1,000, second place received $750, and third place received $500. Honorable mentions also received a prize of $100.

The art will be displayed in the Oakland County Treasurer’s Office for a year after the contest, or on the website for people to view at oakgov.com/government/oakland-county-treasurer-s-office.

Photo provided by Oakland County Treasurer’s Office

Ninth grade student from Royal Oak High School Aiden Brock wins first place in the freshman category for his piece, “Faber Est Suae Quisque Fortunae,” in the 2024 Financial Empowerment Arts Contest.

ROYAL OAK PARTICIPATES IN NO MOW MAY

ROYAL OAK — It was declared at the April 22 City Commission meeting that Royal Oak will be participating in No Mow May for the third time since 2022.

No Mow May is an initiative of the Bee City USA organization that encourages communities to protect bees to help the environment.

Refraining from mowing all May will allow for grass and dandelions to grow to help pollinators.

The action of designating Royal Oak as a Bee City USA affiliate for the third year was presented to the commission by The Bee Tweens, originally a group of nine middle schoolers who live in Royal Oak.

The group has been working together since the summer of 2021 to educate Royal Oak residents about the importance of pollinators.

The majority of the group is now in high school, and it continues to spread awareness.

No Mow May is an optional program, and those who do not wish to participate do not need to.

For more information visit romi.gov/1689/No-Mow-May.

Royal Oak Historical Society to present D-Day program

ROYAL OAK — June 6, 1944, is a day that changed history, and the Royal Oak Historical Society is going to be focusing on that day this Friday, May 10, during a special speakers program presentation.

Jim Craft, a historian with a diverse background of education and experience, will be presenting about D-Day at the Royal Oak Historical Society Museum.

Craft has a bachelor’s degree in history from Oakland University, and a master’s in history from Wayne State University. He has also been a teacher, researcher, author, lecturer, curriculum designer, curator and historical commissioner.

According to a press release, Craft’s specialty is in 19th century America, and he is currently writing a series of short history books.

Craft will also touch on the “dramatic campaign in northern France that concluded with the closing of the Falaise Gap on August 21, and the near total destruction of the German army in Normandy,” according to the press release.

The presentation will be taking place at 7 p.m. at the Historical Society Museum, 1411 W. Webster Road. Tickets cost $15 and the program’s capacity is limited to 50 people.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or at royaloakhistoricalsociety.com/shop/ols/products/d-day.

cited to have some recognition of both his name and video production abilities.

“It feels really good to win the Michigan Student Production Award. I didn’t really expect it when I was working on it, but I was very proud of the video and hoped to get some recognition from getting it out there in the public,” he said.

His movie documents the fierce rivalry between the Royal Oak Ravens and Berkley Bears during the football season.

Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick recognizes the effort and dedication Klonke has for video production.

“We have so many talented students in Royal Oak Schools, and I’m thrilled that Sam’s piece is receiving this prestigious award,” she said. “We are very proud of his accomplishments, and we know this is just the first of many special things coming his way as he seeks an education and future profession in communications.”

Two videos produced by two different students were submitted for the 2024 competition. One was Klonke’s video, and the other was previous 2023 Emmy award-winner Dakota Hendren.

Hendren created a video titled “Drag Queen Story Time is Latest LGBTQ+ Rights Battle,” which was nominated for an Emmy but did not win this year.

Royal Oak Schools Multimedia Specialist Jaret Grisamer is Klonke’s supervisor for his co-op class and thinks

that Klonke’s award is well deserved.

“Sam puts a lot of hard work into everything he does,” he said. “I feel great, being there and being a part of Sam’s mentorship in the video production world, but really 99% of the credit goes to him, and 1% goes to me and my comrades.”

Michigan Student Emmy nominees are up against other nominees from high schools across the state of Michigan.

Klonke’s love for video production began when he took his first video class at ROHS his sophomore year. The years following he continued to participate in school video production, helping out with the morning news, broadcasting sports events, and even starting his own podcast.

Being a part of the co-op program, Klonke has a unique opportunity to produce video for ROHS. Essentially, he is doing an internship while in high school.

“I got the opportunity to be a co-op student, media worker, for the school district,” he said. “So I make different highlight videos for sports teams or different student spotlights or different videos related to the school district.”

Klonke’s winning production “The Woodward Showdown,”’ is inspired by a TV show called “Hard Knocks,” a reality sports documentary television series following different football teams.

“I was really wanting to do something behind the scenes for the football team here at the high school,” Klonke said. “So I decided, hey, let’s do a ‘Hard Knocks’ type video for the football team here.”

The idea of a behind-the-scenes video quickly changed when Klonke saw the real interest in the battle between the two teams.

“It kind of turned into more of, wow, this is a huge ri-

valry,” he said. “Berkley versus Royal Oak, the Woodward Showdown, the battle between Woodward and stuff like that.”

His video includes shots of the big game, practice, and interviews with students and staff. Klonke said he couldn’t do it without the help of his peers and mentors.

Klonke is a member of the football team himself, so he enlisted two fellow senior students to help film practice and the game.

“I just thought of all of the people that helped me work on it,” he said. “My teacher, Mr. (Mike) Conrad; my boss, Jaret; and the two filmers, which are also seniors this year, Maggie Lynch and Joshua Godoy.”

Klonke is looking forward to continuing his broadcasting career at Michigan State University, where he is going to be studying at the School of Journalism.

Photos provided by Amy Murphy

Sam Klonke, middle, with his Royal Oak Schools co-op supervisor, Jaret Grisamer, left, and his film production teacher, Mike Conrad, right, attends the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences award ceremony April 28.

Car noise

from page 3A

certain decibel level,” she said. “That was interpreted that then you would need to have very specific devices to measure decibel levels, and out on Woodward with all the various vehicles, it was really impractical for our officers to be able to measure that.”

Price said the code didn’t get rid of decibel limits, because those are able to be measured in very controlled environments.

“It’s required that the manufacturers, the dealerships, they are doing those measurements, and we are not changing that path, but in terms of modifications to vehicles, we made it so that that language did not apply,” she said. “We’re just talking about modifications that create excessive noise are now going to be clearly illegal, as we believe that code was intended.”

Adam Bernard, president of the Detroit chapter of the Lambda Car Club, said the club doesn’t have an official position on the bill, but understands where the bill comes from.

“When the windows are open, when the weather’s out, I can hear it all. I do appreciate the rumble of a nice V-8 or V-12, but yeah, there’s some stuff out there that is out of hand,” he said. “To be honest, I have the same issue. It’s great that people enjoy their music. I don’t need to hear it at 140 decibels coming out of the windows either. So, you know, I think people can enjoy their music inside their cars. But I certainly understand. … It’s not just even, you know, going down Woodward. I can sit outside Starbucks in Birmingham and hear people revving their engines just waiting at a stoplight. So, it’s something that’s not confined to a major thoroughfare. So, I can understand the interest in going after (the excessive noise).”

Bernard did state that some vehicles do come out of the factory already pretty loud, which he hopes law enforcement can be educated on.

“I know there are some engines out there that come pretty loud out of the factory. I’m not a sound engineer. So from that standpoint, it could be challenging,” he said. “If you have a Volkswagen Golf, for example, those don’t come out of the factory very loud, but I know you can buy hardware that can make them sound really intimidating. So, I think part of it would be educating the police force. It’d be awful if somebody who bought a vehicle

See CAR NOISE on page 17A

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The program engages the students by preparing them prior to seeing a court case. This is to help them understand better what they are about to see and why they are learning about it, according to Meinecke.

Meinecke said that he wants to create a safe environment for the students to see that he is just a human being himself.

“The more that they can see someone in different professions look like them and act like them makes it more attainable for them,” he said.

Meinecke said that every Royal Oak and Berkley fifth grade student will go through the Justice 101 program. There have been 27 classes so far.

The Teen Court program was the second program discussed. This program is a collaboration between the 44th District Court and the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Teen Court is a juvenile diversion program for first-time offenders involved in misdemeanor offenses, according to romi. gov. Kowalkowski is the sit-in judge for this program.

“They (the teens) have admitted re-

• Drunk Driving

• Divorce, Custody Support & Parenting Time

• Bankruptcy

• Drivers License Restoration

• Personal Injury

• Criminal

sponsibility that they committed this act but entered into an agreement with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office to divert away from the juvenile court system,” Kowalkowski said.

Defendants have committed misdemeanors such as alcohol/drug offenses, disorderly conduct, curfew violations, vandalism, retail fraud, and sending explicit photos by text or social media, according to romi. gov.

Kowalkowski explained that the defendant will face a jury of their peers, after a “student defense attorney” and “student prosecutor” ask the defendant questions. Adult mentors also assist the students during this process.

“Just like a real jury, they deliberate and make a decision, come back out, and they will make a recommendation on what the sentencing should be,” Kowalkowski said.

Sentences for these cases could involve community service, an apology to their parents or friends, or whatever the jury comes up with that seems appropriate to Kowalkowski.

The next program discussed was the Hybrid Alcohol/Drug Treatment Court, or HADTC.

HADTC is a voluntary program available to those suffering from drug or alcohol

• Wills, Estates, Trusts & Lady Bird Deeds

addiction to “address and reduce substance abuse problems among participants,” as stated in the HADTC handbook.

This treatment program is intense, as explained by the judges, but it is well worth the dedication.

“That is the beauty of this program, is that there is evidence behind it and it works,” Kowalkowski said. “The state has done countless studies, there is a best practices manual, and that is what this is modeled after.”

Participants are sentenced to a 24-month probation term, which includes four phases each lasting four months. The phases include multiple steps to be completed before the person can move to the next phase.

“The best way to enforce that is through a monitoring program, which requires drug and alcohol testing, support group meetings, therapy, and obtaining a sponsor in phase one,” Kowalkowski said.

Kowalkowski said participants are also asked to write a series of reflection essays that communicate to the court that they are starting to internalize the lessons throughout the program.

Programs such as this have shown the two judges that change is possible, no matter how “far gone” an individual seems.

Meinecke reflected on his own personal experience with a family member who suffered from alcohol addiction.

“I learned right out of the gate that it affects everybody, and that the stakes are high, but people can come back,” Meinecke said.

The final initiative presented was Operation Drive, a program developed by Meinecke in March of 2016 to help individuals regain driving privileges.

“I will tell you we have been making a tremendous difference here at the 44th District Court,” Meinecke said. “We’re now close to 1,600 licenses restored in eight years.”

People who are in this program are likely to have a revoked license, suspended license or have never obtained a license, according to the Operation Drive handout presented at the open house.

“The goal is to work with people that come into our court system for traffic misdemeanors and get them a valid license,” Meinecke said.

The best way for residents to learn about future events similar to the Justice Open House is to sign up for the city’s weekly e-newsletter at romi.gov/eblast.

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

HOMES

ARBORIST OFFERS ADVICE TO HELP TREES FLOURISH

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

With benefits like providing shade and improving property values, it’s no wonder many homeowners add trees to their property. But there’s a lot more to choosing and maintaining a tree than picking one out based on appearance alone.

Brian Colter, who’s certified by the International Society of Arboriculture and is the urban forester for Grosse Pointe City, Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Park, has been planting and caring for trees for more than three decades, and he shared his expertise during a residential tree selection and maintenance program organized by the Farms Beautification Commission April 23 at Pier Park in the Farms.

Among his tips: Before planting, look up. Colter said homeowners need to consider the size of the tree at maturity.

“Don’t plant a large-growing tree under utility wires,” Colter said.

He said taller trees should be planted at least 35 feet from utility lines.

When mulching around the base of a tree, create a doughnut shape, not a volcano shape, because that’s not healthy for the tree, as it can rot the trunk and prevent water and nutrients from reaching the tree’s crown.

“You don’t want mulch against the trunk of the tree,” Colter said.

Like real estate, one key to a healthy tree is location, location, location.

“They always say the right tree in the right place, and most of us don’t really know that,” said Pat Deck, of Grosse Pointe Park, a longtime member and former chair of her city’s Beautification Commission. “I think that’s pretty critical.”

That means considering the amount of sunlight the tree will get and whether it has room to grow in the spot where it’s planted.

Before planting a tree, residents should call Miss Dig toll-free at 811 so they don’t accidentally hit or sever underground utility lines.

“As important as it is to look up, you also have to consider what’s underground,” Colter said.

Watering trees — especially those that are newly planted — is the most important thing people can do to keep them healthy. Colter said standard lawn irrigation isn’t adequate for trees, as it doesn’t encourage the roots to grow deep underground.

“Right after planting a tree, you want to saturate it,” Colter said.

Climate is a consideration as well. Colter said Michigan is now in the same hardiness zone that the Carolinas were in, in 1994. That means some trees are more prone to pests than they were 30 years ago, because those pests can survive the winter. But, it also means that species like crepe myrtle can also now be planted here, he said.

Pines provide year-round greenery but are also among the tallest trees.

“Pines are fine, but not as street trees,” Colter said. “It’s an obstruction for the line of sight.”

There are three pines native to Michigan: white,

See TREES on page 19A

ABOVE: All trees need water, especially newly planted ones like this one that was planted last spring with help from students at Maire Elementary School in Grosse Pointe City.

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

LEFT: Taller trees like these shouldn’t be planted underneath or near utility lines, as broken limbs and toppled trees can disrupt power and other utilities during a storm or high winds.

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

CRIME WATCH

Cash and watch stolen during car break-in

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 2 p.m. April 18 and 5 a.m. April 19, an unknown person smashed out the passenger-side window of the complainant’s vehicle and stole cash and a watch in a parking structure at 514 S. Lafayette Ave.

Sunglasses stolen

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 9 p.m. April 18 and 2:16 a.m. April 19, an unknown person smashed the driver’s side window of the complainant’s vehicle and stole two pairs of sunglasses in a parking structure at 300 S. Lafayette Ave.

Bowling bag stolen from unlocked car

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

Two cars broken into

ROYAL OAK — Two complainants reported that between 7 p.m. and 9:41 p.m. on April 19, an unknown person smashed the passenger-side windows of the complainants’ cars and rummaged around in the vehicles at the Emagine parking structure on North Main Street.

Two separate cars rummaged through

ROYAL OAK — Two complainants reported that between 10 a.m. and 9:31 p.m. April 19, an unknown person smashed the window of the complainants’ vehicle and rummaged through the car at a parking structure on East Eleven Mile Road.

— Taylor

Christensen

Car noise

from page 13A

out of the factory got pulled over. Now of course, if you’re sitting at a stoplight and you’re revving it just to make noise, maybe that is a problem.”

Penalties for violating the code would be increased. The bill, if passed into law, would increase the penalty for a first-time offense from $100 to $500. Any subsequent offense would cost $1,000. The bill, introduced at the end of April, has since been referred to the Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Committee.

“We all know and love the Dream Cruise in our area. The Woodward Dream Cruise is a fantastic tradition, and we see coming out of that culture that people can cruise very responsibly and respectfully and in wonderful ways that our communities love,” Price said. “I think as a result of the Dream Cruise, that there is a level of showmanship that comes along with that. Some people choose to modify their vehicles in order to create excessive noise and maybe don’t realize what an impact that is having on the people who live around the area.

“We also see those impacts of the cruise not only during the designated week, cruise week, but spilling over throughout the summer. Even again as it’s warming up now, Woodward is a destination for folks to come in and show off their vehicles. So yes, I do believe that it is a problem out on Woodward and in our surrounding communities, but I’m not gonna say it’s the only area in the state where that is a problem. I have colleagues from all over the state expressing support for this update because they know that this will help their local law enforcement as well,” she continued.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

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Mental health

up to homes of those affected by substance use to provide resources for the individual suffering from substance use, and the family.

Once in the home, the team will provide connection to treatment services, peer and family recovery coaching services, harmreduction services, and referrals to other community resources to the individual and family members, according to comebackqrt. com.

The QRT will go out around four times a month, according to Police Chief Michael Moore. He said it is dependent on how many overdose cases get called into the Police Department.

Sgt. Brian Buckley presented the next initiative, the Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT. This program is in partnership with the Oakland Community Health Network to assist individuals who are in a mental health crisis.

Law enforcement, mental health professionals and individuals who live with mental illness or addiction disorders make up the Crisis Intervention Team, according to oaklandchn.org.

“It is an innovative first-responder mod-

el of police-based crisis intervention training to help persons with mental disorders and/ or addictions access medical treatment rather than place them in the criminal justice system due to illness-related behaviors,” according to oaklandchn.org.

To be a part of the CIT, officers must go through 40 hours of training, according to Moore. There are currently 26 officers who are certified at the ROPD.

Moore said that the Royal Oak Police Department will be hosting CIT training available for all Oakland County officers May 6-10 at the Royal Oak Police Department.

The final initiative discussed is a brandnew program that has yet to begin called the “Co-Responder Program.” The first year of this program will cost the city zero dollars, according to Moore, because of a grant through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The program is designed after the partnership between OCHN and the communities of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township and Birmingham, as stated by Moore.

The Co-Responder Program will bring in certified clinicians to work alongside law enforcement to assist during mental health crisis situations, providing mental health resources when needed.

“When somebody is in crisis, or there’s

an emergency, the first people that are called are law enforcement. And sometimes we are just not equipped to fix or solve the problem at that very moment,” Moore said. “I think this is going to save lives.”

The department is in the last phases of the interview process according to Moore, and he is hoping for two clinicians to join the force.

It was also mentioned at the open house that these clinicians understand the risks of working alongside officers and will be trained on the dangers of the job upon being hired.

Clinicians will be equipped with a radio, car and indication that they are a social worker, not to be confused with a police officer or bystander, according to Moore.

Implementing mental health-related initiatives is new to all police departments, as admitted by Moore, but he said that a program like this will help to change not only the lives of the community, but the officers’ lives as well.

Moore said police officers face terrible things every day, and with the added help of the clinicians, they can begin to open up about their own personal struggles.

“Way back in the day, police officers did not talk about feelings,” Moore said. “It turns out, that’s horrible for you.”

“The thing is, if we aren’t well mentally,

and physically, then how are we going to help? So, the added benefit to these clinicians is, once we welcome them into our family, they become our clinicians, and they can help us out,” he said.

The best way for residents to learn about future events similar to the Justice Open House is to sign up for the city’s weekly enewsletter at romi.gov/eblast.

Trees

from page 16A

jack and red, Colter said. Austrian pine commonly gets fungus, and he also cautions against Scotch pine — also known as Scots pine — as it’s susceptible to pine wilt and other disease and pest problems.

Some of the small trees Colter recommends include tree lilac, hornbeam, redbud and staghorn sumac.

Colter said oaks are good shade trees, and the Michigan State University Extension lists white, red and bur oaks as native to Michigan. However, because of the concern over oak wilt — which hasn’t yet been found in metro Detroit but is common in northern parts of the state — Colter warns against planting too many oaks, in case it spreads here. People should refrain from bringing firewood home from northern Michigan as well.

“Buy your firewood locally … because you could (otherwise) be bringing in (the oak wilt) tree fungus that’s underneath the bark,” Colter said.

Trees to avoid for reasons including health and pest issues include Callery pear (also known as Bradford pear), tree of heaven, silver maple and black locust.

Trees should only be pruned when dormant and should never be topped, Colter said. Homeowners shouldn’t remove more than 25% of the foliage during the growing season and should avoid using wound paint. Colter said the branch collar should always be left intact.

When in doubt about pruning, Colter said people should consult with a certified arborist.

As to when to plant a tree, Colter said fall and spring are equally good times.

Although Colter gave his presentation in the Pointes, Grosse Pointe Farms Assistant City Manager Derrick Kozicki said his advice was applicable regionally.

“These issues are being dealt with in every community in southeast Michigan,” Kozicki said of pests, diseases and other concerns that impact urban forestry.

To find an ISA-certified arborist in Michigan, visit asm-isa.org.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

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