6/19/24 Fraser-Clinton Chronicle

Board OKs new Chick-fil-A location amid community pushback

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A group of residents showed their opposition to a new Chick-filA location during a lengthy, well-attended Clinton Township Board of Trustees meeting on June 3.

The fast-food chain, which started opening locations in metro Detroit in 2020, got approval from the board for a location at Romeo Plank Road and Hall Road. The approximately 2-acre site is curSee CHICK-FIL-A on page 26A

Clinton Township will get a Chick-fil-A location at the corner of

and

Township Board of Trustees approved the rezoning and site plan with special use at its June 3 meeting.

COMMUNITY REMEMBERS CARMELLA SABAUGH

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

MACOMB COUNTY — When Matthew Sabaugh was first appointed to the 37th Judicial District Court in Warren in 2008, his mom, Carmella Sabaugh, offered him some sound advice.

“The office is not yours. It belongs

to the people,” she told him. “You are only a caretaker. Try your best to leave it better than you found it.”

Matthew Sabaugh, who is currently a Macomb County Circuit Court judge, is remembering his mother for her love, encouragement, enthusiasm, spirited conversations, tireless work ethic and public service.

Carmella Sabaugh, who spent 24 years as the Macomb County clerk/register of deeds from 1992 to 2016, died on June 8 at the age of 85. She is survived by her former spouse, Richard Sabaugh, and their five children: Richard, Michael, Renee, Jeanine and Matthew. Sabaugh also is survived by 13 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, her

sister Pauline Peterson, and many loving nieces and nephews.

“The outpouring of support and condolences over these past few days has shown us how much Carmella was loved and supported by her community,” Matthew Sabaugh said via email.

“We are forever grateful for that.”

See SABAUGH on page 24A

Sabaugh

Photo by Nick Powers

Romeo Plank Road

Hall Road. The site currently houses a Fifth Third Bank. The Clinton

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SECOND FRONT PAGE

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton Township Board of Trustees had a full house for its June 3 meeting. One of the marquee agenda items during the nearly four-hour meeting was the fate of the township’s wood disposal service.

Earlier this year, the service was discontinued with work crews finishing their final rounds starting May 13. Trustee Tammy Patton has kept the issue alive since the board voted to discontinue it at its Jan. 22 meeting. Patton cast the only vote against discontinuing the service.

In recent months, she was joined by Trustee Dan Kress, who was elected Feb. 27 and started

Township wood disposal service gets reinstated

sitting on the board March 18. The two pushed to have the service returned to its former status at the board’s April 15 meeting where the rest of the board voted to send the issue back to the township’s Budget Ways & Means Committee.

The matter stalled from there. A May 7 Budget Ways & Means Committee meeting was can-

Mural to brighten up pedestrian bridge support columns

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The support columns of the pedestrian bridge at 16 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway are slated to get a splash of color.

Artist Tatum Lorway, who grew up in the township, will create the mural as part of a collaboration between the Detroit Institute of Arts and Clinton Township. Her proposal was approved unanimously by the Clinton Township Board of Trustees at its June 3 meeting.

Clinton Township Trustee Julie Matuzak, who is also on the DIA board, praised the project and was happy to see it go to a local artist.

“I think it’s going to be beautiful,” Matuzak said at the meeting. “The DIA did not give this. It is a reward for voting on the DIA millage.”

Trustee Tammy Patton’s son went to school with Lorway. The trustee praised the artist’s growth over the years and her work on the mural.

“To me, you captured everything,” she said.

“Your work is amazing,” Township Clerk Kim Meltzer said about the artist’s work. “Everything has a meaning with you and it’s very impressive.”

See MURAL on page 25A

Rendering provided by Tatum Lorway

This rendering shows the proposed mural Tatum Lorway is set to make on the support columns of the 16 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway pedestrian bridge.

NEWS & NOTES

Local mental health agencies awarded

MACOMB COUNTY — Last month, Macomb County Community Mental Health presented eight Macomb County-based mental health organizations with 2024 Mental Health Matters Awards.

The awards are designed to acknowledge local organizations that are making a difference in mental health and substance use prevention through their selflessness, advocacy and commitment to delivering care. Honorees were presented with their awards at a ceremony May 23 at the Macomb Community College South Campus in Warren.

The 2024 honorees were:

• Advocate Champion: Lisa Lepine, director of The Arc of Macomb

• Caregiver Champion: Elisha Oakes, parent and advocate

• Provider Champion: Mary Lessard, Belle Meade Residential home manager

• Community Partner Champion: Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp.

• Self-Advocate Champion: Kelly Rebolledo, parent and advocate

• Board of Directors Award: James Friedman, chaplain with Eastpointe Police Department

• Drita Gjokaj Award: Bruce Dunton, program supervisor with Crossroads Clubhouse

• Reducing the Stigma Award: Kevin’s Song

SENIOR CENTER TO GET NEW TREADMILLS

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton Township Senior Adult Life Center is set to get five new Precor treadmills following a unanimous vote from the Clinton Township Board of Trustees on June 3.

The total cost for the equipment is $29,465. The bid was put out through Sourcewell, a national purchasing co-op utilized by state and local governments. The funds come from the senior center’s deferred revenue account from a donation by Paul and Helena Hendrickson.

The treadmills replace equipment that is over 20 years old. Direct Fitness Solutions, the distributor the purchase was made through, will dispose of the old treadmills.

UPDATE ON ‘MUCK’ STUDY

MOUNT CLEMENS — Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller recently delivered an update alongside representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the lyngbya “muck” found along the shores of Lake St. Clair.

The update, provided at the June 6 Macomb County Board of Commissioners Public Services Committee meeting, comes over a year after the county entered into a $200,000 two-year agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to study lyngbya and find out what is causing it to grow in the lake. The “muck” was first reported in the lake in 2010 and has bloomed rapidly between 2015 and 2022. The “muck” is greatly disliked for clogging shorelines and having a foul smell.

Alyssa Eck, an Army Corps research biologist, told the board the algae has been renamed to Microseira wollei (M. wollei for short) and is more closely related to bacteria than a plant.

“It’s a single-celled organism,” Eck said. “On the outside, it has a sheath and sometimes that sheath can have bacteria or fungi or sediment and other things around it.”

Physical removal of M. wollei from an area has been successful in the short term, but the organism has grown back within months. The Army Corps and the county remain committed to determining how the organism grows and how it can be properly managed, tracking nutrients in the water compared to growths and determining if any algicides will work on M. wollei.

In 2024, the Army Corps will conduct further field sampling and develop an adaptive management plan. Miller backed the adaptive management idea, stating M. wollei will not go away and that a single “magic bullet” solution will not emerge.

Miller believes combined sewer overflows are one of the causes behind M. wollei growths.

MSU EXTENSION OPENS SUMMER LAB

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Inquisitive green thumbs, nature lovers and askers of questions, your answers hotline is back. The Michigan State University Extension is opening up its insect and plant diagnostics service to Macomb County residents from June until mid-September.

For a $7 fee, plant and animal samples can be brought to the MSUE lab at 1885 Dunham Road, Suite 12 in Clinton Township from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“We’re very excited to have this service available in Macomb County” said Andrew Cox, director of Health and Community Services for Macomb County, which oversees the MSU Extension department. “Many of the county’s residents are avid gardeners and this service will help to keep their gardens, trees and landscaping looking great.”

Residents unable to visit the lab can call (586) 469-6440 to arrange alternative drop-offs.

The Michigan State University Extension office in East Lansing also offers a variety of options available to help gardeners find answers to their lawn and garden questions such as the Ask Extension online portal, the migarden.msu.edu website and the toll-free Lawn and Garden Hotline at (888) 678-3464, which is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Photo by Brian Louwers

File photo by Dean Vaglia

At Chippewa Valley Schools we inspire and empower students to achieve a lifetime of success. State-of-the-art facilities, tech-enhanced classrooms, and comprehensive instruction ready our learners for the rigors of the 21st century.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

From the moment your child enters school until the day they leave us, CVS is committed to their development and success. We provide a strong, challenging curriculum that ensures college readiness and creates productive, responsible, and caring students who love to learn.

SAFE & SECURE

Students learn best when they feel safe and secure. Our Safe Schools, Strong Schools bond improvements fund essential security enhancements district wide. School guard glass, emergency alert systems, security cameras, and improved locks and door systems ensure our students feel safe at school.

CTE PATHWAYS

At CVS, we’re committed to preparing students for post-high school success. Our award-winning Career and Technical Education program is launching students into high-paying careers. With 15 comprehensive pathways to choose from, we support all our students’ diverse interests.

DEDICATED EDUCATORS

Our learning community would be nothing without our tremendous teachers and support staff, who feel like family. They all help to create a warm, inspirational learning environment in which your child will feel at home. Our teachers share a clear focus to ensure an outstanding classroom experience for every student.

CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY

A close-knit school community is one of our biggest assets. We believe parent involvement and community support are key to student success. Parents and families volunteer, attend meetings, conferences, and extracurricular events throughout the school year to show students they care.

FINE ARTS

Fine arts programs give learners the chance to explore their passions. Our students receive local, state, and national awards in the arts. With classes in art, photography, music, band, choir, theater, and more, we’re igniting students’ creativity.

ATHLETICS

Athletics at CVS are an essential part of learning cooperation, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership - qualities that last a lifetime. They make players into community leaders and teach them how to strive for a goal, handle mistakes, and cherish growth opportunities.

BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM TAKES OFF IN L’ANSE CREUSE

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — It was a hit with students, a hit with teachers and a hit with administrators, and it is coming to a L’Anse Creuse school near you.

The Positivity Project, a social-emotional learning program that focuses on teaching students how to build positive relationships through improving character, was introduced to Emma V. Lobbestael Elementary School in Harrison Township for the 2023-2024 school year.

“The Positivity Project is a character traits program that has 24 traits that basically are just good traits that everyone should acquire as a person, and it is a year-long project,” said Beverly Polega, the principal of Lobbestael Elementary. “It is a year-long project, and each week there’s a different character trait.”

Taught to students in kindergarten and grades first through fifth, Polega found out about the Positivity Project while trying to find a single social-emotional learning program for the school.

“We have bits and pieces we were using from a variety of (social-emotional learning programs,) and we wanted something more

consistent to be able to focus on everybody having the same training and implementation of it,” Polega said. “As a team we explored a few different ones, and then a staff member that had experience with this in another district brought it to us. I took it to the staff, and they were interested in exploring it.”

Staff members were initially hesitant about the new program but eventually got on board with it.

“When we first started, people were scared that it was one more thing we were having to do,” said Lora Ellis, a Lobbestael Elementary third grade teacher. “A few of us had gone to a seminar for a day with a school that was doing (the Positivity Project) and it really kind of opened our eyes, and we reassured the other teacher that, ‘Hey, it’s all right there for you. You’re not having to create lessons, and it’s all just natural things you want in your classroom anyway.’”

Positivity Project lessons integrate seamlessly into established schedules. Discussions about the trait of the week are had during the first part of the day before integrating the trait into any and every aspect of the class.

“Whenever it comes up and it applies, we kind of incorporate it,” Ellis said. “Or, if the kids notice something, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, they were using bravery,’ or, ‘They were

using (an) other people matter mindset,’ so it has really influenced them a lot.”

The influence on students is twofold. First, teachers have noticed behavioral shifts in students as a result of the program.

“I have seen a vast change in my students choosing the calm route,” said Jessica Willinger, a resource room teacher. “We have a ‘calming corner’ in our classroom, which has been in our classrooms for years now, but they’re actually using it more this year because of the Positivity Project. They’re like, ‘I’m going to choose to be calm,’ and, ‘I’m

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going to choose to show self-control,’ and they do. Their choices on their big emotions that are about to come out are better. It’s just a better choice that they are making, and the change is phenomenal, actually, coming from a resource room teacher who is usually putting out fires.”

Students have also expressed support for the program. A survey of students and staff by L’Anse Creuse Public Schools reported that more than 80% of students supported the project, while anecdotes from teachers See BEHAVIOR on page 8A

“Let

Two current trustees square off for treasurer spot

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Democrats Tammy Patton and Mike Keys will face off for Clinton Township’s treasurer position in the August 6 primary. The two candidates currently serve on the Clinton Township Board of Trustees.

A press release announcing Patton’s candidacy states she’s concerned with “transparency and fiscal responsibility.”

“I am honored to run for the position of Treasurer and excited for the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and prosperity of our community,” Patton said in the release.

Keys’ press release emphasized fiscal responsibility and transparency, too, adding his past experiences managing budgets.

“I am excited to announce my candidacy for Township Treasurer,” said Keys in the release. “With my experience in governmental finance and community advocacy, I am committed to ensuring sound financial management and fostering inclusive devel-

opment initiatives that benefit all residents of Clinton Township.”

Current Township Treasurer Paul Gieleghem, who is also a Democrat, said while he’s not formally endorsing anyone, he is planning to vote for Keys.

Keys and Patton have often been on opposite sides of issues.

Patton has been a bipartisan member of the board, occasionally voting with its more conservative members: Supervisor Bob Cannon, Trustee Dan Kress and Clerk Kim Meltzer. One recent example of this is the vote to award Andiamo Pasta & Chops one of the township’s Class C liquor licenses.

Trustee Julie Matuzak and Keys vocally opposed the license going to the restaurant chain and were joined by Gieleghem in the final vote. Patton broke ranks and voted to award the license, which led to its approval.

Another recent example was Patton’s vote in favor of Dan Kress for township’s Election Commission. The vote bumped Matuzak off the commission in order to keep the balance of members from different

See TRUSTEES on page 25A

Dear Neighbor,

A PROVEN LEADER

I’m Reverend Dr. Rodney Tolbert Sr., and I’m running to be your next Clinton Township Trustee. I began my journey serving our nation in the United States Naval Service in June 1980. During my career, I served onboard the USS Tripoli during Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Desert Slash, earning multiple medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal and the Naval Good Conduct Medal with a Bronze Star. I completed my naval career at the Pentagon, working under the command of General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

After my military service, I founded Strategy for Effective Living LLC to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life through assistance with housing, employment, and spiritual enlightenment. In the eight years since moving to Macomb County, I’ve become a dedicated community leader, serving as Senior Pastor of Liberty Missionary Baptist Church of Pontiac, Michigan, and in various leadership roles, including the Macomb County Veterans Treatment Court and the Clinton Township Economic Development Corporation. Now, I’m seeking your support to continue serving our community. Please vote for me, Rev. Dr. Rodney Tolbert Sr., on August 6, and let’s work together to ensure a bright future for Clinton Township.

Priority Waste to take over residential contracts from GFL

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — The lime green trucks picking up refuse in your neighborhood will soon be yellow.

Green For Life Environmental, the waste management company that has contracts with many municipalities in metro Detroit, recently sold the residential trash collecting assets to Priority Waste. News of the sale hit social media before GFL was able to put out its official statement.

“Social media got ahead of the process,” said Matt Allen, Priority Waste’s director of public relations and government affairs.

Metro Detroit communities will change over on July 1. Residents of these communities will still be able to use their GFL bins. Garbage collection dates will remain the same. The July 4 holiday will still cause a one-day delay of service. Allen said those who are having issues with GFL should continue to contact them until July 1. GFL will retain its commercial contracts.

“This sale encompasses assets and collection operations within Oakland, Washtenaw, Livingston, Macomb, Genesee, and Wayne Counties,” John Addison, GFL General Manager for Wayne, stated in a letter to employees. “It includes the transfer of contracts with 75 municipal customers as well

Behaviorfrom page 6A

show how that support manifests during school hours.

“We had our final send-off Positivity Project assembly, and one of the fifth graders came up to me saying, ‘Mrs. Willinger, I’m so sad that middle school doesn’t have the Positivity Project.’ And I said, ‘You know what, you don’t need them to have the Positivity Project. You can go and spread what you learned this year.’ The kids look forward to it. On the day that a teacher doesn’t do the Positivity Project, it’s like the world has ended. They are so distraught that we aren’t doing the Positivity Project because they love it and they’re learning so much about themselves and others.”

Following the 2023-2024 school year at Lobbestael Elementary School, the decision was made to continue the Positivity Project there and begin teaching it at Donald J. Yacks Elementary School, also in Harrison Town-

as 70,000 homeowner’s associations and subscription residential customers.”

Allen said talks for the acquisition began earlier in 2024. The Detroit transition to Priority Waste from GFL happened earlier in June. In Sterling Heights, the company is about a month into its changeover. According to Allen, the transition in both communities has gone well so far.

The Fraser City Council unanimously gave approval for the city manager to sign a letter of assignment with Priority Waste at its June 13 meeting.

At the meeting, Fraser Mayor Michael Lesich questioned if the approval was needed. Fraser City Attorney Donald DeNault explained that the city’s contract with GFL has an assignment clause. This allows GFL to sign things over to Priority Waste. According to DeNault, if the city had a good reason, it could have switched over to a different waste management company.

“Typically, most communities are going to have to approve it,” DeNault said.

Hundreds of GFL employees impacted by the switch will be terminated, though they will be able to reapply for their jobs with Priority Waste.

“Our understanding is that Priority intends to extend offers to the majority of employees, as it will be imperative to maintain continuity of service,” Addison stated in the letter.

See WASTE on page 26A

ship. The new school year will also see new aspects of the project come into play including community service field trips and projectspecific outreach to parents and guardians.

“What we’re looking at is the program is to expand and do more community service projects, and also there’s a parent component where you do parent nights and you can do some training with the parents to get them more exposed to it and understanding it,” Polega said. “That’s what we’re looking at for next year, as well as there are different extension activities that can be done. We kind of did the basics of it this year.”

With the success they have had with the Positivity Project, Lobbestael teachers have high hopes for what the project will do for Yacks Elementary and are excited for next year.

“I’m excited for next year because now that the kids have heard the language, they’ve heard the traits, (and) they’re familiar with it, I feel that it is just going to grow and it’s going to get stronger,” Ellis said.

Heard caps untouchable track career at Chippewa Valley

Team takes runner-up at D1 states

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — It’s been an indescribable high school track career for Clinton Township Chippewa Valley senior Shamar Heard, but he ended it the only way he knew how.

A four-time Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state champion and a state qualifier every season entering this year, Heard, a University of Tennessee commit, had a resume already recognized as one of the most accomplished track athletes in Michigan.

But on June 1 at East Kentwood High School, in his final state finals race, Heard figured he might as well add to his already solidified legacy.

“For the school season, it was really preparing for U20 (Nike Outdoor Nationals), and I wanted to go out with a bang for Michigan because I truly believe that we won’t see another person like me for some time,” Heard said. “I hope we do because it would be great for the state of Michigan because people don’t look at us like a high school heavy track state like Florida, Georgia and Texas.”

Heard delivered on his promise with state titles in the 200- and 400-meter while teaming up with seniors Chris Estell, Aaron Franz and Noah Morris to win the state title in the 4x400 relay, leading Chippewa Valley to its second straight state runner-up finish. Heard, Morris, and Estell also competed alongside sophomore Will Jones-Terrell in the 4x200 relay to finish state runner-up, earning all-state honors.

Jones-Terrell was the only underclassman to be part of an all-state relay team for Chippewa Valley with its senioronly group taking the state title, but Chippewa Valley head coach Terry Wilson said he delivered this season when the team needed him.

“Will earned his spot,” Wilson said. “He got thrust into that spot at a competition out in Farmington. He had

been running good 200 times before that. Him coming off a knee injury his freshman year, we were still working on that through the season. I didn’t feel comfortable with him taking the baton, so we put him at the first leg because it’s the easiest leg to learn, and he ran a really good split at that relay. Everybody felt confident in him from that point on, and he fed off that confidence. Once he showed them he could run, they kind of took him under their wing a little bit and gave him pointers on how to run the race.”

Morris turned in an individual all-state performance in the 200-meter with an eighth-place finish while Estell fell just short with a ninth-place finish in the 400-meter. Junior Kennedy Gatlin (100-meter) and Mia Barnett (100-meter hurdles) qualified for states on the girls side.

Chippewa Valley’s senior group completely revitalized the track and field program in its four-year tenure.

The first season together, the group took 28th at states with a hunger to improve and show others Chippewa Valley is more than just a football school.

By 2022, the Big Reds were the third-best team in Division 1 track and field behind Heard and his 100- and 200-meter championship wins.

As a member of the football team up until his senior year, Heard said a primary focus of his throughout his high school career was helping Chippewa Valley track and field receive the same type of recognition the football team carries.

From his freshman season to now, Heard said it’s a newlook program.

“It’s completely different,” Heard said. “We were a really good football school and good basketball program, and now we have solidified that we can also have a good track program as well. Track needs more attention. That was really the main goal. I just wanted track to be a thing that people enjoy watching.”

You don’t just replace a senior group like this overnight, but Jones-Terrell, junior Eric Thomas Jr., junior Jailen Thomas, and freshman Duayne Johnson-Joplin, all state qualifiers this year, will take it upon themselves to continue what the seniors started.

They have massive shoes to fill, but it’ll be more about

the talented returning athletes finding their own footing and building their own legacy, rather than trying to replicate the graduating group.

“They (the seniors) did a lot for our school and a lot for our program,” Wilson said. “Honestly, we’ll never be able to replace them.”

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Clinton Township Chippewa Valley senior Shamar holds up the state championship sign around his teammates on June 1 at East Kentwood High School.

Photo provided by Chippewa Valley Athletics

Grants net playground equipment for Clintondale schools

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Clintondale’s elementary schools are getting some updated playground equipment courtesy of grant funds.

The first set of equipment opened June 5 at Rainbow Elementary. First graders ran through a crepe paper ribbon to christen the new equipment.

First grader Mason Reid said he enjoyed running through the ribbon for the ceremony and liked the colors of the equipment, which is blue and green, compared to the old red and yellow equipment.

“All of it, everything is fun,” Reid said about what he liked best.

First grade teacher Hajra Khatri, who is Clintondale’s Teacher of the Year, said the update was needed. She said her students were excited to use it as they watched it being built, especially the rock wall and merry-go-round.

“My class is very honored to be the first set of kids to enjoy the playground,” Khatri said.

The playground equipment hadn’t been updated since 1993, according to Clintondale’s Director of Communications Alexandra Hichel.

The funds for the updates come from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III grant funds awarded to the school district. The grant is available through

the Michigan Department of Education. According to the state’s website, the grant addresses the lingering issues schools face from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant covers the cost of all the playground equipment, totaling $509,000. Each set of playground equipment, which is for kids 2-12 years old, is $147,000.

Rainbow also received an additional smaller playscape for children 2-24 months. The additional cost brings Rainbow’s total to $192,500. The extra equipment is to accom-

modate Rainbow’s transition to an early childhood center. Students from Rainbow will be attending McGlinnen Elementary School for fall classes.

Clintondale Board of Education Vice President Felicia Kaminski said a few words after the first batch of equipment was opened.

“We’re looking forward to many years of laughter and fun here at Rainbow,” Kaminski said.

Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.

Rainbow Elementary first graders use their new playscape for the first time on June 5.

Photo by Nick Powers

The P Promise

Life is hard enough right now. Everyone, we mean everyone, is feeling the economy. We know there’s a lot on your plate. On top of everything else, some of you have dental problems; a broken tooth, lingering pain, or not the greatest smile. You would love to do something about it, but well, there are so many other things.

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Mark D. Berman, D.D.S.

SPOTLIGHT ON SENIOR LIVING

RON TEASLEY:

SOME CALLED HIM ‘SCHOOLBOY,’ MOST CALL HIM MR. TEASLEY, EVERYONE KNOWS HIM

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

Growing up, Lydia Teasley couldn’t comprehend the importance of her last name, and who could blame her?

To Lydia Teasley, her father, Ron Teasley, was a renowned basketball and baseball coach at his high school alma mater, Detroit Northwestern High School, compiling numerous Detroit Public School League and district championships across both sports.

Ron Teasley was also the first African American student to play basketball, the first African American team captain, and the second African American to play baseball for the high school.

It wasn’t until elementary school when she first reaped the rewards of the Teasley name by being able to have complete freedom in gym class.

“I got to do anything I wanted to do,” Lydia Teasley said. “I thought, ‘Oh wait, this is pretty cool.’ I still didn’t really understand it, but as I got older, that would happen a lot. I would go somewhere and people would say, ‘Teasley? Like Ron Teasley?’ Then the person is going crazy telling me how he was my coach or my teacher. He was this or he was that. I thought, ‘Oh, this is pretty cool.’”

Ron Teasley, 97, is much more than a former coach in the dugout or faculty member in the school, and one quick internet search could speak a thousand words about his achievements.

One of three surviving members to compete in the original 1948-era Negro Leagues alongside Willie Mays and Bill Greason, Teasley accomplished just about every feat a baseball player could imagine.

Teasley’s life contains memories with some of the most prolific people across sports, including racing Jesse Owens, hitting a triple off Satchel Paige, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and conversing with the likes of Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Jackie Robinson, Buck Leonard and other Negro League legends.

Growing up around the game

Like most young ballplayers growing up, Ron Teasley had a player he idolized. The only issue was being able to see him play live.

AS AN ICON

Ron Teasley suited up for the Carman Cardinals from 1949 to 1950, hitting around .300 and making the All-Star team, but the league never received the proper recognition of MLB scouts.

“When I was young, my father wouldn’t take me to a Tigers game because of segregation,” Teasley said. “I didn’t go to any Tigers games when I was young, but I used to listen to the Tigers games on the radio. My favorite player was a player by the name of Charlie Gehringer, who was a second baseman. He was an outstanding player. He was my hero.”

Baseball was the epicenter of the Teasley household, with six children all invested in the sport, and even his older sister sported the nickname “Babe Ruth” because of her baseball prowess growing up.

“They talked a lot about baseball, and sometimes my father would go to Chicago to watch what they called the Negro League All-Star Game,” Teasley said. “There was a lot of talk about it (baseball), and my father and I would play catch. My brothers and sisters all played baseball. After that, I joined the junior baseball program in Detroit. I became very successful.”

The earliest memories for Teasley began at Hamtramck Stadium, where his father would take him to watch the Detroit Stars play, but Teasley said he was also more focused on playing with rocks under the See TEASLEY on page 21A

Photo provided by the Teasley family

WUJEK-CALCATERRA & SONS: Round-the-Clock Compassion since 1913

With 15 licensed funeral directors, totaling 350 years of combined experience, Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons is uniquely qualifed to bring peace and comfort to grieving families in their time of need. And these aren’t ordinary funeral directors. Each one was specifcally sought out by the Wujek and Calcaterra families based on their individual talents and expertise.

Licensed funeral director Dominick Astorino, managing director at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, is honored to be a part of this exceptional team. “My colleagues and I are career professionals,” stated Astorino. “Most of us have been with Wujek-Calcaterra for over 20 years. We are dedicated to our career in a long-standing way.

“We also have an excellent collection of younger funeral directors. As the embalming professor at Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science, I have taught many of them. I see their potential from the frst day I meet them and watch them develop.”

Tese devoted individuals represent a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds. Tey have formed enduring relationships with local families and the community. Tey are familiar with the neighborhood churches and have worked alongside their pastors. Tis allows them to connect with all types of families, putting them at

ease at a most difcult and overwhelming time.

Furthermore, their compassion isn’t strictly confned to business hours. Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons is one of the few funeral homes in the area where there is someone present 24/7.

According to Astorino, “We have never taken a day of since opening our original location in Detroit back in 1913. Christmas, holidays, brownouts, the worst snow storms – there has always been someone here to pick up the phone. We treat our families the way we would like to be treated. Tey never have to talk to an answering machine, and they know their loved one is never lef unattended.”

In addition to the 15 funeral directors, there is a support staf of 35 capable and compassionate individuals to complete the team at Wujek-Cacaterra & Sons. “We can serve all of our families, giving them everything they need – much like a personalized concierge.”

From preplanning to afercare services, Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons is available seven days a week, 365 days a year. Tey ofer two welcoming locations: 36900 Schoenherr Road in Sterling Heights, phone (586) 588-9117; and 54880 Van Dyke Avenue in Shelby Township, phone (586) 217-3316. For more information, visit wujekcalcaterra.com or follow Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons on Facebook.

AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services (formerly called the Area Agency on Aging 1-B) is offering an effective and fun workshop for older adults who want to get healthier.

Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less is a free 15-week program led by a registered dietitian nutritionist. It is designed to give participants the tools to get healthier by helping them to think differently about eating and exercise.

make better choices,” says Jeannine Roach, MSA, manager of Health Promotion at AgeWays.

The Workshop Includes:

• Information about why behavior is important for weight loss/maintenance

• Practical strategies for adopting healthy behaviors

“This program isn’t about losing weight necessarily; it’s about educating and motivating people to live a healthier life, live more mindfully and

Free, Online Weight Loss Program for Ages 60+ Join a Free Online Weight Management Program!

•Track your progress

An online portal allows you to see how you're doing at any point in your journey. If you need to borrow a laptop, ask us.

•One-on-one support

Registered dietitians are trained to engage and empower participants inside and outside of class.

• A short physical activity break

• Suggestions for living mindfully

• Guided discussion of strategy for the week

Participants will have access to one-on-one coaching with the nutritionist throughout the 15 weeks and will be able to measure their progress on the Eat Smart online platform.

Proven Health Outcomes

Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less has a good track record. According to its website, 70% of participants have maintained or lost even more weight

six months after classes ended and 16% saw their blood pressure fall within normal range.

Research backs up the effectiveness of synchronous (real-time) online weight loss programs that include mindful eating strategies.

A study published in the journal Obesity in 2016 found that people who completed a 15-week, synchronous web-based weight management program lost significantly more weight than a control group and kept it off for at least 6 months. Their body-mass index also fell.

Flexible Schedule

Participants are expected to commit to the evidence-based program, which is held each week by Zoom. Each participant can choose the class time that works best for his or her schedule. Lunchtime, late afternoon, and evening classes are available to accommodate work schedules and time zones.

Get Started

After registering, participants will

get a welcome kit mailed to their home that includes an Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less program workbook, a mindful eating journal, and measurement guidelines. They also may order a ‘perfect attendance’ T-shirt in whatever size they think they’ll need once the workshop is finished.

“If you’re not fully invested in making a change in your life, this is not going to be for you,” Roach says. “You get tools and materials and one-on-one support that is invaluable.”

Register Today

Call today to register for Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less. Part of the process is a screening to determine readiness and commitment to the program. Once you are registered, you will receive a voucher code for the Eat Smart website to provide access to the program. For those who do not have internet access, AgeWays may be able to lend you a laptop computer. Call 833-262-2200 or email wellnessprograms@ageways.org to get started.

•Interactive and motivational

Surveys show that the vast majority of participants are very satisfied with the program and would recommend it to others.

•Evidence-based

Research shows that Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less is successful in helping people reach their lifestyle goals.

Jeannine Roach of AgeWays

Selfridge Open House and Air Show soars to new heights

LEFT: An F-4U Corsair, piloted by Lou Herschel of Navy Legacy Flight, flies alongside the F/A-18 Super Hornet of the United States Navy West Coast “Rhino Demo Team” at the Selfridge Open House and Air Show on June 9.

RIGHT: The field at Selfridge offered attendees the best seat in the house no matter where they sat.

LEFT: A United States Customs and Border Protection team demonstrates an interception of an illegal border crossing using patrol cars, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and dog Yoda, dubbed the “fur missile,” at the Selfridge Open House and Air Show.

BELOW: A SPAD 5744, a World War I fighter plane, is on display for guests at the Selfridge Open House and Air Show. The SPAD was once the oldest plane in the Selfridge Military Air Museum’s collection before the acquisition of a Curtis JN-4 “Jenny.” The JN-4 is currently being restored after a rough landing ended the rare plane’s air show touring career.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

ABOVE: Pilot Lou Herschel sits in a parked F-4U Corsair on the Selfridge Air National Guard Base tarmac.

RIGHT: The United States Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team performs in F-16 Fighting Falcons at the Selfridge Open House and Air Show at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.

Michigan has a home care workforce CRISIS.

Thousands of people with disabilities and older adults can’t find home care workers to provide the services they need to remain in their homes and communities. It’s a crisis driven by low wages, limited access to training, and the fact that home care workers have been denied a voice at the table to strengthen and improve the care they provide.

That’s why we’re urging our legislators to pass Senate Bills 790 and 791, The Home Help Caregiver Council Act, NOW.

This legislation would help people who need services connect with qualified home care providers, strengthen the workforce by creating a public authority, and provide the opportunity for home care workers to have a strong voice through their union.

Together with home care workers, people with disabilities, seniors, and fellow advocates, we support home care workers’ right to a union, we support the right of people to choose to live with dignity at home, and we can make Michigan a place where everyone can thrive in their homes and communities.

stands.

That was until he grew into the sport through the junior baseball program. A walk outside the local recreation center one day would be life changing.

“One day I came out of the recreation center and I looked across the field and saw some men playing baseball,” Teasley said. “I said, ‘I think I’ll just go over there and join them.’ So I went over there and started chasing foul balls. I was 13 or 14 years old, and they were nice to me and told me, ‘Why don’t you come around and practice with us?’ So I started practicing with them.”

The men playing baseball weren’t just average joes taking in a game of pickup, but rather experienced ballplayers, some former Negro League players, who were double the age of Teasley, taking him under their wing and showing him the beauties of the game.

If someone wasn’t able to make it to the game, Teasley would be thrown into right field as a boy surrounded by grown men, earning the nickname “Schoolboy” from his older teammates.

“They usually put me in right field hoping nothing would be hit my way,” Teasley said. “I really think about those fellas, because they taught me a lot of life lessons. They meant a lot to me.”

Creating a baseball legacy

On the collegiate circuit at Wayne State University, Teasley, a Southfield resident, became the first player to ever hit above .400, still holding the single season record with a .500 batting average.

Teasley was a standout basketball and

baseball player for the Tartars (now Warriors) before joining the U.S. Navy in 1945 with tours in Saipan and far Pacific areas from 1945 to 1946.

Once he returned home, he picked up right where he left off, dominating his opponents on the baseball field, so much so that the Brooklyn Dodgers caught wind of it and offered a tryout in Vero Beach, Florida, to Teasley and Detroit native Sammy Gee from Miller High School.

Upon his arrival to Vero Beach, Teasley exchanged pleasantries with Dodgers infielder Jackie Robinson, widely known for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.

Teasley spent two weeks before being assigned to the Dodgers minor league affiliate, the Olean Oilers of the PennsylvaniaOntario-New York League, but was promptly cut despite impressive numbers early on.

“When I was in the Dodgers organization batting .270, that wasn’t good enough,” Teasley said. “They released me. I never could understand that. I was actually leading the league in home runs when they released me. It’s something you always think about, no matter how old you are. You think about that, you know? What did they expect of you?”

Instead of being discouraged, Teasley continued his professional baseball career in the Negro Leagues as a member of the New York Cubans, but the league would soon become a picking ground for the MLB following the signing of Robinson, who played in the Negro Leagues in 1945 with the Kansas City Monarchs, in April 1947.

With Robinson’s performance came plenty of eyes looking for the next talent in the league, and the inevitable downfall of the Negro League began as teams were gutted, their best players departing for MLB clubs.

Robinson was the face of the broken color barrier, and with the title came plenty of scrutiny and racial discrimination towards him, but Teasley said the opinion of Negro League players towards Robinson’s signing began to split down the middle.

“We had a couple thousand players playing in the league, and then they were taking our best players,” Teasley said. “Then the owners were backing out. Some of the players were suggesting, and even the owners as well, that we have an all-Star team of Negro League players and put them in the league, but that was turned down. They didn’t want to do that. The players were coming and going quite a bit.”

Many players like Teasley, moved north to the Mandak League in Manitoba and North Dakota.

Teasley suited up for the Carman Cardinals from 1949 to 1950 in the league, hitting around .300 and making the AllStar team, but the league never received the proper recognition of MLB scouts.

The league had a solid fanbase, but Teasley said the fans provided a different game day environment than what he was accustomed to.

“I can recall one game where I was playing third base and I made a double play where there was one player running to third base and another returning to third base, and I tagged each one of them out, and the fans were just quiet,” Teasley said. “There wasn’t that much of a reaction. I thought, ‘Wow.’ They enjoyed the game, and it turned out quite well.”

Life outside the dugout

Teasley would turn to factory work after the 1951 season and head back to Wayne State, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical

education in 1955 and joining the Detroit school system soon after. He earned his master’s of administration degree in 1963.

Life postbaseball was everything Teasley could’ve dreamed of, spending time with his wife of 71 years and high school sweetheart, Marie Teasley, who passed away in 2020, and raising their three children: Lydia, Ronald and Tim.

Marie Teasley was a writer and editor for the Michigan Chronicle newspaper for 25 years, taking after her father, who was the first African American to own and publish a newspaper in Hannibal, Missouri.

“She was an outstanding journalist,” Ron Teasley said. “She started out when she was 7 years old because her father owned a newspaper in Missouri, the home of Mark Twain.”

In true love story fashion, Ron Teasley was his wife’s photographer when they would go to events, which included the controversial 1986 Goodwill Games in Russia.

The Goodwill Games were brought to the forefront after the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Russia and Russia boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in California.

An array of political issues surrounded the games itself, with certain countries being banned from competing.

“The first thing that struck you when you landed (in Russia) was there were no people at the airport,” Teasley said. “There’s nobody but guards. In this country, airports are jammed. There, there was nobody. The guards searched you, and we were detained for about a half an hour or so before we were even allowed to come into the country.”

The Teasleys today

from page 3A

celed. It finally came up at the committee’s morning meeting on May 16, which was packed with people in favor of keeping the service. Department of Public Services Supervisor Mary Bednar presented four different options at the meeting. The committee agreed that Bednar should present the options to the full Board of Trustees on June 3.

While the service was discontinued, chipping was still available in emergencies determined by the township’s emergency manager.

Also, with or without the township’s additional chipping service, wood disposal is still available. Green for Life, a waste management company contracted by the township, is able to pick up limbs if they meet certain requirements. The contract will shift to Priority Waste starting July 1, though Director of Public Relations & Government Affairs Matt Allen said the company will continue GFL’s current services. According to the township’s website, limbs must be cut down to 4 feet in length. These can be tied into bundles not exceeding 50 pounds or they can be put in a 32-gallon container marked as “compost.” Branches from private contractor work are not part of that collection. The branches are picked up on regular trash days.

At the June 3 meeting, Bednar tweaked the four options based on feedback from the Budget Ways & Means Committee meeting. The options presented included sticking with the discontinuation, providing the service from May 1 to Sept. 30 for subdivisions (or May 15th through Aug 31st to include main roads), chipping with a fee from April 1 to Dec. 1 and providing two seasonal cleanups. Bednar’s presentation outlined the challenges of keeping the service in its previous form. The service cost $299,200 in 2023. Looming costs totaling $600,000, over a five-year period, were projected to replace aging equipment.

During public comment at the meeting on June 3, eight residents weighed in on keeping the service. All wanted the service to continue, though some were open to keeping it in a truncated form.

Larry Flis, a retired veteran and a Clinton Township resident for 50-plus years, said the May 7 storm showed the need for continued chipping in the township. Despite a final round of chipping, Flis said his property was overlooked and the branches are still in his yard.

“We need the chipper,” Flis said. “I’m a 100% disabled veteran. I have trouble walking across the street to get the mail now. I’ll

tell you what, getting to be 78 years old is a pain.”

Patton pushed back on several parts of Bednar’s presentation, advocating for the service to be restored in its previous form.

“When I look at my tax bill, I know people say it’s high, but I look at it and see I’m getting my tree chipping. I’m receiving fire, police, EMS. I know those things are there,” Patton said. “It might not seem like a lot for some people who have the money, who can pay for theirs. I really don’t.”

She went on to say two of her sons live in the township because of the amenities. She said she’d negotiate making up the difference in other places in the budget, but wanted its full restoration.

“Taking it away? I just couldn’t see doing that as a taxpayer,” Patton said.

Kress also pushed back on several parts of the presentation but said he’d consider having the service run for six months.

Supervisor Bob Cannon acknowledged the packed meeting but said the audience members only represented a fraction of the township.

“You’re representative of a part of the township, but there are a lot of people who are not represented here that also have an opinion that weighs upon this board,” Cannon said.

Trustee Julie Matuzak said, while she isn’t against chipping, that every service the township provides should be examined to see if it makes financial sense.

“I do really have a problem with anyone coming in front of us about any service that says to me, ‘We have to keep doing something the same way we’ve always done it because that’s the way we’ve always done it,’” Matuzak said.

Kress made a motion, which was seconded by Patton, to reinstate chipping from May 1 to September 31. Instead of selecting one of Bednar’s options, Kress clarified that his motion was to bring back chipping for six months on all roads. This was a break from all of the options. In the original presentation, the time would need to be shortened to May 15th through Aug 31st to make chipping on all roads budget neutral.

This motion was amended by Treasurer Paul Gieleghem and replaced by the two season pick-up option Bednar presented. Gielegheim’s amended motion was voted down by Matuzak, Patton, Kress and Trustee Mike Keys. Once this happened, Kress’ original six-month motion came back up.

Despite their reservations, the board unanimously approved Kress’ motion to applause from the audience.

Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.

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Sabaugh

A trailblazer in Macomb politics

Sabaugh was a presence in local politics for decades. After marrying Richard Sabaugh in 1960 and starting a family, she became a trailblazer for women in the workplace. The Democrat was first elected to the Warren City Council in 1975, serving one fouryear term. She was then elected as Warren’s city clerk in 1979 and as Macomb County’s clerk/register of deeds in 1992.

With a genuine desire to help others, she is credited with using technology to modernize the Macomb County Clerk’s Office to make it more efficient. She also spearheaded registration efforts to encourage people to vote, regardless of party affiliation.

“Her motto was, ‘Your vote is your voice!’ She believed the best democracy was through maximum participation. Carmella was a bright woman who wanted to help her community with the challenging issues of the time,” Matthew Sabaugh said. “Public service was her true calling. As Warren City Clerk and later Macomb County Clerk, her name is on countless birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates. Through all the significant milestones of our lives, Carmella was right there.”

She even once opened the clerk’s office on the weekend to help a constituent get married.

“She built the Sabaugh name and made

us all proud. To this day, whenever I meet people, it is still most often Carmella they remember when they hear my last name,” Matthew Sabaugh said. “She was on a firstname basis with countless friends and neighbors. Carmella made friends everywhere she went. I remember her as a loving mother who would do anything for us and always challenged us to be our best.”

Growing up on Sutherland Avenue in Warren, Matthew Sabaugh remembers the family home “often filled with the hallmarks of grassroots campaigning: stuffing literature, canvassing, sign building and spirited discussions and debate.” He said it was his dad who encouraged Carmella to run for public office.

“She was charismatic, hard-working and kind of a pioneer in the idea of woman having the right to run for office,” former Warren Mayor James Fouts said. “I think she made a great impact upon the population, particularly when it comes to voting for a woman in a major office.”

Fouts attributes getting elected to the Warren City Council in 1981 to Sabaugh.

“I was an unknown candidate when I ran. No one hardly knew me, and she endorsed me and I think that played a very significant role in my election back in the early 1980s,” Fouts said.

‘She certainly had an impactful life’

Although they belonged to different political parties, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice S. Miller, a Republican, and Sabaugh became good friends when, in 1992, Sabaugh ran for county clerk, Miller

“It’s super important, and it also turns out to be fun, because the questions they ask me are just hilarious, but they’re interested,”

ran for Macomb County treasurer and Mary Chrzanowski ran for a seat on the bench in Macomb County Circuit Court. All three were elected and would occasionally meet for breakfast or lunch.

“We just hit it off and got along very well. She was a remarkable woman. She had high energy and was very organized,” Miller said. “She was very creative and innovative. She certainly had an impactful life. She was an excellent public servant. She certainly will be missed.”

Something state Sen. Paul Wojno, DWarren, noticed about Sabaugh when they both worked at Warren City Hall during the Mayor Ronald Bonkowski administration in the 1980s was how friendly she was with all the employees.

“She really liked to communicate with people. She really got to know everyone in City Hall from the department heads to the office clerks,” Wojno said. “She wanted to know what was going on in everyone’s personal lives. She was so down to earth. She really loved people. We always had a friendship and working relationship.”

Wojno and Sabaugh connected again when he became the Warren city clerk during Sabaugh’s tenure as the Macomb County clerk.

“With the local clerks, she was very supportive of what we did,” Wojno said. “She was probably the most well-respected county clerk in the state of Michigan. Carmella was great to work with. She was always accessible and had a great staff.”

Each time she ran for office, Sabaugh would be out on the campaign trail talking to people and listening to their concerns.

“On Election Day, she was always out at the polls,” Wojno said. “She really enjoyed interfacing with the constituents in Warren. She cared about seeing individuals in her role as in the City Council and county clerk.”

Warren City Treasurer Lorie Barnwell crossed paths with Sabaugh many times over the years.

“For me, watching her innovations in the County Clerk’s Office was very significant. She was such an important figure,” Barnwell said. “She blazed the way for a lot of women not just in Warren but in the county.”

Barnwell said Sabaugh worked to make the community feel more connected to the Macomb County Clerk’s Office.

“She had a drive to offer the best customer service,” Barnwell said. “Sometimes, there’s a fear in government of technology and moving things forward. She thought outside of the box. She won all kinds of awards for what she was able to accomplish. Her reputation in the community was bar none.”

Aside from politics, Barnwell saw Sabaugh as a woman who was “an outstanding parent.” She never missed an opportunity to talk about her family.

“Her kids and grandkids were her everything,” Barnwell said. “She was so devoted to those kids and grandkids.”

Miller echoed that.

“She was very family-oriented,” Miller said. “For her, it was family first.”

The Sabaugh family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 23 at the WujekCalcaterra funeral home, 36900 Schoenherr Road, in Sterling Heights.

Lydia Teasley knows the prominence of her last name, and her kindergarten students at Dorothy Montessori School in Oak Park also get to share in the knowledge.

Each February, Teasley instructs her students on the Negro Leagues, reading books, playing baseball outside or playing hot potato around the classroom.

She’ll show the children a video of her father talking about his playing days, but at such a young age, Lydia Teasley said, it’s difficult for the children to comprehend the importance of the Negro Leagues and how long ago it was.

She especially found this to be true when her classroom watched the Detroit Tigers opening day game, and students asked her if her dad was playing or not.

It’s innocently hilarious, and Lydia Tealsey said it means a lot to her to pass the meaning of the game and her father’s impact on to her students.

Lydia Teasley said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, your dad played baseball?’ I’ll tell them all the history of what happened, and I think they get it a little bit. I think they’re more interested in how to play, so I’ll take them outside and teach them some skills myself. It means so much to me to be able to talk about my dad and for them to see him on the video. It just brings it to life, and they can appreciate the history.”

Even at 97 years old, Ron Teasley is a busy man, but he prefers it that way. Whether it’s taking walks to the park, watching any baseball he can, or playing Wii bowling, Teasley stays active.

The Tigers have called upon him several times to throw out the ceremonial first pitch during the times the former Negro Leagues were celebrated, trading in their traditional home uniforms for the Detroit Stars uniforms.

He’s also made a trip with his family to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in

Kansas City, Missouri, to speak and sign autographs, and is involved in the Negro Leagues Family Alliance, which was founded by families of former players.

Lydia Teasley said her father is a popular man at the meetings because he’s able to tell stories to the families of Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Josh Gibson, Walter “Buck” Leonard, and many other players about their loved ones.

Ron Teasley’s passion for baseball is immeasurable, but it doesn’t compare to the impact he’s made on others around him as a player, a coach and teacher.

Lydia Teasley continues the impact with the Ron and Marie Teasley Foundation, which aims to assist students in metro Detroit through scholarships, mentorships and training.

A person like Ron Teasley should always be reminded of what he brought to the game, and Lydia Teasley said she and her siblings always try to do just that.

“I just want to have him keep talking about all the great things he’s done,” Lydia Teasley said. “I never want him to stop talk-

ing about that.”

Call Stff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.

Trustees

from page 7A

parties. It would give the commission a representative from both sides of the aisle with Meltzer, who is a Republican.

“Although we’re both Democrats, we do have different priorities,” Keys said.

Patton looks at collaboration as a strength. Throughout her career, she mentions working with people from government to education to veterans organizations.

“To be successful, you have to build relationships with other treasurers, other board members, banks, investment advisors, and so on,” she said in a statement.

Gieleghem said a knowledge of financial markets is helpful when creating an effective investment strategy for the township within the confines of state law, specifically Public Act 20. He said that this act outlines

Mural

from page 3A

For Lorway, the project brings her back to the place where her career as an artist began.

“My first mural was at Chippewa (Valley) High School on their softball field,” Lorway said. “It’s really fun to come back to the township for one at this scale.”

Patton encouraged Lorway to submit a proposal for the mural. Following the approval of the township board, the mural was OK’d by the DIA’s board of directors. The mural will go on two sets of columns on either side of the bridge.

Lorway is currently the 2D and 3D art foundations teacher at Romeo High School. Since Lorway has the summer to work on the project, she said it’ll probably come together quickly. She estimates about two weeks, depending on the weather.

Lorway has been an artist all her life.

“When I was really young, I started drawing and my parents caught on,” said Lorway, who graduated from the College for Creative Studies in 2022. “They put me in lessons.”

Lorway said Chippewa Valley teacher Wendelin Wilson was a catalyst in her career as an artist. She said the teacher took her under her wing.

“She’s been my mentor ever since,” Lorway said.

The idea for the mural came to Lorway fairly quickly. She drew on her experience growing up in the community as well as input from the residents from a survey. From these sources, the Clinton River became a focal point of the project.

what investments a municipality can make with treasury funds.

“It can only be the safest investments, but they still come with some risk,” Gieleghem said. “Therefore, you need to be able to balance risk.”

Keys, who is currently a financial analyst for Oakland County, recognizes the importance of the public act and how it has shifted. He said he ultimately wants to continue building off the foundation Gieleghem has laid.

“For a long time, it was seen as you can only invest in these very long-term investments because they’re safer,” Keys said. “Whereas, over the last ten years I would say, counties and municipalities have amended that policy. I’ve worked with them to do that to allow for more short-term investments that bring a larger yield to the township in a safe way.”

See TRUSTEES on page 26A

“Thinking that the Clinton River is one of the main things that this township really surrounds, it came pretty quickly,” Lorway said.

In the meeting, she said she kept the detail to a minimum to dissuade drivers from staring at it too closely at the busy intersection. The bed of rocks in the flowing river represent the community members of Clinton Township, according to Lorway.

“I wanted to have different shapes, sizes, colors,” Lorway said. “That way they can actually make up how diverse our community is around here. The people are the ones who hold the form of the city, so I wanted to be inclusive of everyone within it.”

Arrowheads are also included among the rocks to reference the Native American history in the township.

“Something that, in more detail, the pedestrians could see rather than just the cars,” she said. “I added those scattered within just as a nod toward that rich history.”

The water itself also carries meaning.

“The flow of the actual water in the river was supposed to be symbolic of the strength and the spirit that our township has,” Lorway said.

This is the largest project Lorway has been commissioned to make so far.

“I’m just really thankful for it,” Lorway said about getting the chance to do the mural. “I think it’s a really great thing that Clinton Township and the DIA are working together on. A lot of the residents know that that area has been pretty gray for a long time. The opportunity to be included on a project like this is really exciting.”

Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.

Chick-fil-A

from page 1A

rently home to a Fifth Third Bank. Chickfil-A representative Justin Lurk said the 5,109-square-foot building would feature 81 parking spaces, three bike racks and an outdoor patio.

A petition, signed by 267 residents, aimed to block the new development. Some came to the May 23 Planning Commission meeting to voice their concerns. The commission deadlocked with a 4-4 vote to deny, bringing it to the Board of Trustees.

Residents who attended the commission meeting, and even more residents, showed up to express similar views on June 3. One strongly came out in favor of the restaurant but the majority of the residents who spoke (a total of nine) came out against it.

Daniel Ewing, a resident in the Rivergate subdivision that would be impacted by the new Chick-fil-A, was critical of the development. Ewing mentioned being a former Chick-fil-A employee and not having a personal grudge against the company.

Trustees

from page 25A

Patton cites her military service in the U.S. Army as the key to her adherence to protocols, such as those laid down by the state.

“Treasury work must follow the criteria laid out in PA20 (Michigan Public Act 20). My military experience enhanced my understanding of and ability to adhere to protocol. Something that is ingrained in me and carries forward in my everyday life,” Patton said in a statement.

Patton emphasizes that her unique experience would make her a successful treasurer.

“Much of this is about leadership skills, NOT technical skills,” she stated in the release. “My business and military experience have provided me with ample opportunity to demonstrate leadership whereas my competitors may not have those experiences.”

Gieleghem said it’s important for a treasurer to know how state law works.

Waste

from page 8A

Allen said the company is working to make the transition a seamless process so there are no interruptions in service. He said the company has bought approximately 500 pieces of equipment from GFL. This equip-

“That location is not good,” Ewing said. “As a Chick-fil-A value holder, I value their values. It’s not a good location for families. It’s not a good location for you to bring brand recognition because there are going to be problems with traffic. There are going to be problems with people. There are going to be problems caused by this location.”

“Don’t we have enough businesses?” Rivergate resident Constance Leonard said. “It’s corporate greed. Leave the neighborhoods alone. I don’t want to sit on my beautiful deck, on a home I pay outrageous taxes for, and smell chicken.”

“It’s just a bad idea,” said Gerry Miller, president of the Rivergate subdivision.

Lurk, with attorney Bob Kirk, gave a detailed presentation about the benefits of the location. Lurk gave a history of the company in Michigan, specifics of the development and presented a traffic study (with input by one of the Fishbeck study’s authors, Jill Bauer) to show its safety.

“Based on the analyses performed as part of this study, the development of the Chickfil-A site will have minor impacts to the surrounding roadway network,” the study’s conclusion states. Though, it does recommend

“You have to be able to read, understand, interpret and comply with state tax laws,” Gieleghem said. “A lot of statutory compliance in this job.”

He said a working knowledge of how things work at different levels of government is also a key part of the position.

“Having strong, collaborative relationships with both the finance department and public works will allow me to understand how to invest in a manner that ensures the funds are available when we need them,” Patton said.

Keys is also comfortable working with different layers of government to be successful.

“Not just familiarity inside of policy, but also working with those departments that have to administer that policy,” Keys said. “Whether it be the treasurer’s office at the county level or the actual administrative departments under the executive.”

Whoever wins in August will face off against Mike Aiello, a Republican, in the general election. Aiello is running uncontested in the Republican primary.

ment will be assessed by Priority Waste in the coming months.

“We’re going to do an overhaul of their fleet,” Aleen said. “It’s a very deliberative process. We’re going to overhaul, rebuild, evaluate each one based on age and hours of running time.”

GFL did not respond to requests for comment at press time.

reconfiguring traffic signals in the area.

Trustee Dan Kress questioned who paid for the traffic study.

“This was paid for by the developer,” Bauer said.

“And it came out favorable to them?” Kress asked.

Bauer shrugged but didn’t respond.

Lurk said the scope of the study was agreed upon by the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Macomb County Department of Roads. Kirk added that companies typically do not move forward with a development if a traffic study is not favorable.

“These are important and they’re usually right on,” Kirk said of the study.

Cannon said he has no personal interest in the restaurant but said stopping the restaurant from taking the location would open the township up to a lawsuit. He said a

similar thing happened when Walmart came to Clinton Township initially.

“If we don’t pass this, they will take us to court if they choose and they will win,” Cannon said. “How can you have two gas stations and a fast-food restaurant and say, ‘You can’t put another fast-food restaurant on the other corner?’ You cannot do that. it’s not good planning.”

The rezoning for the property from B-2 (community business) to B-3 (general business) was unanimously approved by the board. The special use and site plan approval for the property was the more controversial piece. Kress, Trustee Mike Keys and Trustee Julie Matuzak voted no, while Township Clerk Kim Meltzer, Supervisor Bob Cannon, Trustee Paul Gieleghem and Trustee Tammy Patton voted yes.

Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.

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music and in-store specials, 5-8 p.m., also July 18, Aug. 15 and Sept. 19, Sanders Chocolate and Ice Cream Shoppe, 23770 Hall Road in Clinton Township, (586) 464-5372

JUNE 22

NERF Mobile Games: Program for ages 6-11 a.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 226-5072, cmpl.org

Community Bazaar & Resource Event: Music, food trucks, vendors, activities, giveaways and more, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Conquerors Church, 34375 S. Gratiot Ave., (586) 372-6045, conquerorschurch@gmail.com, www. conquerorschurch.org

JUNE 25

Vision Network Sessions: Offered by Macomb Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, learn about offerings at Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 10 a.m.-noon, Clinton Township Senior Center, 40730 Romeo Plank Road, (586) 286-1580, mlbpd@cmpl.org, cmpl.org/mlbpd

JUNE 26

Spaghetti dinner: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. (or until gone), continues every fourth Wednesday of month through October, Lt. Wood-Cpl. Reid VFW Post 6691, 17075 Anita Ave., (586) 294-1450

JUNE 28

Senior Wellness and Retirement Expo: Free door prizes, giveaways and gifts, health and wellness screenings, prescription drug disposal, seminars, vendors, refreshements, photo booth and admission, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, clintontownship.com/162/Senior-Center

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Ducklings saved GROSSE POINTE CITY — Officers were called to the 300 block of St. Clair Avenue at around 7 a.m. June 1 after someone noticed that several ducklings had fallen into a storm drain and couldn’t get back out. Using a pike pole and a basket, officers were able to safely retrieve the ducklings and return them to the custody of their worried mother.

Vehicle stolen, recovered GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Sometime between the hours of 9 p.m. May 28 and 12:45 p.m. May 29, an unknown suspect is said to have stolen a 2024 Ford Escape from a driveway in the 600 block of Peach Tree Lane. The victim told police the vehicle was unlocked and the key fob was left inside it. Police said they recovered the missing vehicle in Detroit.

Resident scares off larceny suspect

GROSSE POINTE PARK — A resident in the 600 block of Lakepointe Street is said to have startled a larceny suspect when the resident spotted the suspect going through the interior of the resident’s vehicle — which was unlocked and parked in the driveway — at around 4:31 a.m. May 30. The victim told police he called out to the suspect, who fled the scene. The victim said a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses worth $100 were missing from the vehicle when he checked to see if anything had been taken.

Retail fraud reported

ST. CLAIR SHORES — On May 24, a report was made about a case of retail fraud that occurred in the 23000 block of Harper Avenue.

An officer made contact with the manager of the establishment, a 40-year-old woman, who stated she had to make a police report about stolen merchandise for her corporate office. The theft occurred on April 28 between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Two pairs of Beats headphones as well as two pairs of Bose headphones were stolen. The total value of the stolen merchandise was $1,200.

Investigators advised the manager that there was clear video evidence of the theft occurring. The manager was present during the theft. She told the officer the store’s loss prevention investigators could email the video to detectives.

Larceny at English Gardens

EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, Eastpointe police officers were dispatched to English Gardens on Kelly Road at around 10:40 a.m. May 19 to investigate a larceny that occurred the night prior. Police were told that three men arrived in a black Ford F-150 pickup truck that night, loaded up

‘Celebrate the USA’: Picnic from 3-5 p.m. and music by international cruise ship entertainer Paul Ritchie at 6 p.m., also Michigan Traveling Fallen Military Wall on display, Unity East Church, 23057 N. Nunneley Road in Clinton Township, (586) 783-1546, uecmich@gmail.com

JUNE 30

Run Drugs Out of Town 5K Run/Walk: Fundraiser hosted by Families Against Narcotics, also vendors, music, ceremony and more, 10 a.m., starts at new location at Jimmy John’s Field, 7171 Auburn Road in Utica, (586) 4388500, familiesagainstnarcotics.org/rundrugsoutoftown

ONGOING

Farmers market: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 13, Aug. 10 and Sept. 14, John F. Kennedy Knights of Columbus Council #5460, 33320 Kelly Road in Clinton Township, (586) 610-2990

Monthly book clubs: Presidential Book Club (every first Monday) and Mysteries & Munchies (every second Thursday), both 6:30-7:30 p.m., Fraser Public Library’s temporary location, 15260 15 Mile Road, (586) 293-2055

Crafts and games: Craft-making for adults and older teens, 6-7:45 p.m. every third Thursday of month, and board games for all ages, 5:30-7:45 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Fraser Public Library’s temporary location, 15260 15 Mile Road, fraserpubliclibrary.org

Widowed Friends breakfasts: 10:30 a.m. every second Monday of month, Big Boy, 16880 Hall Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471

• 10 a.m. every third Friday of month, The Pantry, 44945 Morley Drive in Clinton Township, RSVP to Loree at (810) 335-2096

Men overcoming loss of partner/spouse: Meetings

6-7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of month, virtual and in person, Hospice of Michigan, 39531 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, wlawton@hom.org, (586) 263-8514

the truck bed with numerous flower pots and left the scene. Later in the morning, they returned, jumped the fence and reportedly stole clay pots along with other gardening items.

Man attempts to break into home SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 1:25 p.m. May 7, Shelby Township police were dispatched to the 50000 block of Timbers Edge Drive, near 25 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue, for an attempted home invasion report. The caller stated she responded to her home for an alarm that was going off. At the time of the alarm, nothing suspicious was found. Later that day, the caller stated that a neighbor had video surveillance of a male suspect attempting to enter her home. The video shows that the male was not able to gain entry into the home. The case was turned over to the Shelby Township Police Department detective bureau for follow up.

Altercation occurs SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 2:12 p.m. May 7, an officer responded to the area of Dequindre Road and Benedict Lane for a possible assault. A male caller had left the home and was in the area waiting for officers to meet with him. The man had visible marks on his face, police said. The man stated that he had gotten into a verbal and physical altercation with his mother-in-law. The man reportedly had arrived at the mother-inlaw’s home uninvited. The mother-in-law reportedly advised police that the man came to the home and caused issues. No parties wanted to press charges, and police said that all parties were separated.

Kia stolen, recovered in Detroit STERLING HEIGHTS — Police investigated the theft of a white Kia Optima that reportedly happened May 10 in the 2000 block of 15 Mile Road. Police said they talked to the vehicle owner, who reportedly had parked the car by a restaurant before it disappeared.

Police later learned that the vehicle was impounded after being found May 11 on Goddard Street in Detroit The vehicle’s tires were all stolen, the taillights were taken off and the ignition was damaged, police said.

Men seen fighting, ‘rolling around’ STERLING HEIGHTS — A witness reported two men fighting and “rolling around on the ground” on the northwest corner of Van Dyke Avenue and 14 Mile Road May 19, police said. Police said they checked the intersection’s vicinity around 10 minutes later and didn’t spot any combatants.