6/19/24 Woodward Talk

4 with a day of activities, including the city’s parade.

HUNTINGTON WOODS READY TO CELEBRATE FOURTH OF JULY WITH WEEK OF ACTIVITIES

BY

MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

HUNTINGTON WOODS — The city of Huntington Woods is ready to kick off its yearly Fourth of July festivities.

Huntington Woods will begin its annual weeklong Fourth of July celebration on June 25 with over a dozen

BERKLEY CELEBRATES THIRD YEAR OF PRIDE BLOCK PARTY

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

BERKLEY — Berkley is ready to celebrate Pride once again with its annual Berkley Pride Block Party.

The city’s third annual Pride event will take place 1-5 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at Robina Avenue south of 12 Mile Road, on Griffith Avenue south of 12 Mile, and in the city’s parking lots and alleys in that vicinity.

“Both of our Berkley Prides so far were very well received and had a great vibe because they were distinctly Berkley and distinctly had a family focus,” Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Mike McGuinness said. “For our third offering, we are aiming to capture that same Berkley vibe and continue to be a hospitable Pride for all age groups.”

events and ending with its traditional fireworks show. “We’re just a small little community who loves to celebrate the Fourth of July,” Recreation Director Tracy Shanley said. “It was many years ago that it was developed through the Parks and Rec department to do, like, weeklong events and celebrations leading up to the Fourth of July and ending with our parade, concert and

McGuinness said the event saw exponential growth from the first year to last year and organizers are planning for that continued growth and positive enthusiasm into year three.

This includes an increase in the number of food trucks and community resource booths available. There also will be a kids craft tent, teen bingo and other youth activities.

“Many downtown Berkley businesses are ex-

See BPARTY on page 11A

The city of Huntington Woods will kick off its week of Fourth of July events on June 25. The week will end July

File photo by Donna Dalziel

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As school ends, local superintendents discuss past year

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE/BERKLEY — The school years for the Ferndale and Berkley school districts have come to an end, and their respective superintendents are looking back on the year.

Ferndale Public Schools ended its school year on June

7. Superintendent Camille Hibbler, who came into the position a couple of months ago, said the transition from her former role as assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment to superintendent was very impactful and had a lot of domino effects from it.

“I think that we did a really good job of responding and bouncing back and not letting some of the adjustments and shifts of adults impact kids,” she said. “We wanted to make

THURSDAY 6/20 FRIDAY 6/21

sure that it was still the same experience for them. So I think that we did a great job with fostering relationships, with rebuilding relationships.”

In that same thought process, Hibbler felt the district did a good job this year keeping pace with all its goals through that transition.

“Nothing was dropped, nothing was missed, we stayed

THE SMITHEREENS READY TO ROCK FERNDALE AT MAGIC BAG

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — Influential rock band The Smithereens is ready to hit Ferndale once again with a sold-out show in the city.

The Smithereens will be performing June 29 at The Magic Bag, with doors opening at 7 p.m. The rock band that formed more than four decades ago by Pat DiNizio, Dennis Diken, Mike Mesaros and Jim Babjak is known for songs including “A Girl Like You” and “Only a Memory.”

Diken, the band’s drummer, is excited to come back to metro Detroit and Ferndale.

“We really like playing there a lot,” he said. “Detroit always (has) been a great stop for us. The audiences and the energy just can’t be beat. So we really look forward to coming. And The Magic Bag, the vibe there is so happening, and we just always have a ball.”

See SMITHEREENS on page 14A

The Smithereens will be performing a sold-out show at The Magic Bag in downtown Ferndale later this month.

Photo by Mickey Deneher, provided by The Smithereens

from page 3A

on pace and I’m really, really proud of that,” she said. “That just kind of speaks to the collective energy and synergy that we had to keep the ball rolling, for lack of a better word. So I’m really proud of that and that speaks to our team and our team dynamic.”

Hibbler said that there always is an opportunity to improve transparency and timely communication with the community.

“I think that consistency, transparent and frequent communication so that the student and parent experience is the same no matter what building that you’re in, no matter who you’re getting a communication from, I think that’s always the opportunity and we’re always working to get stronger in that area,” she said.

For next year, Hibbler said she’s excited to work on the district’s dynamic planning process.

“We are vetting a facilitator who will lead us through this work,” she said. “Our strategic plan is ending this year. So it’s time for us to look forward to developing a new one. So I’m just looking forward to collaborating with our school community, our wider community and developing a strong plan that will take us through the next, hopefully, five to six years.”

The Berkley School District ended its year June 12. Reflecting on the past year, Superintendent Scott Francis said he’s very proud of the district’s staff members and their work with students and families.

“They create opportunities for students all the time, like having our students sing at Carnegie Hall and providing trips to Washington, D.C., and the Upper Peninsula,” he said. “Just going above and beyond, even providing a long list of clubs for our kids

to participate in, and summer reading programs and support, the wonderful performances, concerts, all the activities that we provide. And it doesn’t happen without our staff and they do a fantastic job with that because they love our kids and care for them.”

Francis said the district’s facilities and spaces, such as its performing arts space, are things that can be improved heading into the next school year.

“We’ll be drastically improving those spaces with the support of the bond,” he said, referring to the $88 million bond that Berkley voters passed last August. “The athletic upgrades that we’re currently making … our main athletic field, Hurley Field, is getting upgraded as we speak with brand-new turf, a new track, and then we have future plans to improve our pool and our outdoor fields and new multipurpose spaces to support the elementary buildings with lunchtime and other uses. That’s something that’s exciting. It’s a need and it’s in motion that’ll be taking place currently and in the near future.”

Francis said the district also will be adding new furniture and technology in the classrooms to help student engagement and learning.

“When students are more comfortable in their learning environment, when they’re with us from approximately 8 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.), that comfort level does have an impact on students. The classroom environment does impact the culture of the room, which impacts learning positively too, as well, and then the new furniture is mobile, which really allows our teachers to use best instructional practices so that they can group students appropriately, quickly, and it relates to how the teacher wants to engage students so that they’re not stagnant or sitting in one place all the time.”

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

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NEWS & NOTES

Feedback sought on park concepts

FERNDALE — Ferndale is looking to hear from residents on potential concepts and ideas for a facility at Martin Road Park.

Ferndale had an open house on June 4 on the topic, but if residents weren’t able to attend, they can share their thoughts in a survey at surveymonkey.com/r/martinroadrecfacility. The city also will hold two more in-person meetings on Thursday, June 27, and Thursday, Aug. 8.

“Please keep in mind that this is strictly a concept survey to brainstorm ideas and understand the community’s wants and needs for an indoor/outdoor recreation space to host limited programming and support park activities,” a news release states.

“Even though our Ferndale Parks & Recreation Department has been diligently working to secure us over $2 million in grant funding, ultimately, the remaining funding source is yet to be determined. If you’d like to learn more about the City’s budget resources, visit bit.ly/2024BudgetResources,” the release continues.

Immigration discussion

HUNTINGTON WOODS — The Huntington Woods Library will be hosting a talk with educator, activist and author Sarah Towle.

The talk will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, at the library, 26415 Scotia Road. Towle will be discussing the country’s “broken immigration system,” that she documented in her debut nonfiction book, “Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands.”

“Family separation and ‘kids in cages’ drove Towle to the US southern border in January 2020 and thus began her journey from outrage to activism,” the library’s website states. “In Crossing the Line, Towle shows how these systems fail everyone — save a few powerful profiteers who benefit from it. Within this web of normalized cruelty, however, Towle finds hope and inspiration in the extraordinary acts of ordinary people who prove, every day, there is a better way.”

For more information, visit huntingtonwoodslib.org.

Oakland County becomes as a Purple Heart County

ROYAL OAK — Oakland County has been designated a Purple Heart County following a unanimous vote by its Board of Commissioners May 22.

Being designated as a Purple Heart County means that Oakland County is being recognized by officials who are honoring men and women who have served and sacrificed for the country.

The Purple Heart is the oldest military medal, awarded in the name of the president and given to service members who have been wounded or killed while serving in the military.

“Designating Oakland County as a Purple Heart County will serve as an acknowledgement of their service and sacrifice and a reminder of the cost of the freedoms that we enjoy,” Garth Wootten, Oakland County Veteran Services division manager, said in a press release.

There are plans in the works to honor this designation through special activities later this year.

For more information about the Board of Commissioners, visit OakGov.com/BOC or call (248) 858-0100.

MRS. ROPERS

ROMP IN FERNDALE

SPLASH PAD OPENS

FERNDALE — Fans of the colorfully-clad Helen Roper from the television sitcom “Three’s Company” paused for a photo at the Ferndale Elks Lodge #1588 on June 8 during a Mrs. Roper Romp Pub Crawl in downtown Ferndale. The character, played by Audra Lindley, was known for her bright outfits, funloving demeanor and wisecracking banter with her more reserved husband, Stanley. The effort is something of a cultural phenomenon. Mrs. Ropers from across metro Detroit and the state of Michigan attended the Ferndale romp. On Facebook, the International Order of Mrs. Ropers group page has more than 24,700 members.

FERNDALE — The Martin Road Park Splash Pad has opened for the summer. The splash pad will operate every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Labor Day, Sept. 2. There is no cost to use the splash pad. The city noted that there were “maintenance and safety measures” that delayed the opening of the pad. For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at (248) 544-6767.

Photo by Brian Louwers

BEHIND THE WHEEL

6A/WOODWARD TALK• JUNE 19, 2024

‘I

love each of them for different reasons’

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Kevin Dombrowski always knows which classic car shows to attend with his wife, Karen.

He keeps track of them on an Excel spreadsheet, and many of the couple’s summer weekends are spent at car events at their favorite Michigan sites.

From metro Detroit to the western side of the state — and everywhere in between — the Dombrowskis can be spotted mingling with the other car buffs during cruising season.

The only challenge is deciding which car to take: the 1960 Chrysler Imperial, the 1965 Buick Riviera or the 1947 Ford Coupe. When Kevin purchased each vehicle, he didn’t want the cars to sit in the garage. The idea was to get out and drive them as much as possible.

“It’s about the cars, but it’s really about the people,” Kevin said. “You meet all sorts of interesting people.”

“It’s a really good group of people,” Karen agreed.

Cruisin’ Hines in Westland, the Mount Clemens Cruise and Greenfield Village’s Motor Muster in Dearborn are among the many car shows for the Shelby Township residents. Vicksburg and St. Ignace also are regular haunts. Many times, Kevin and Karen take leisurely drives along scenic back roads instead of main highways to get to or from their destinations.

“We take the country roads. With the sun going down, it’s so nice and relaxing,” Karen said. “It takes the hectic out of the city. You’re floating down the country roads.”

Each car is special in its own way. For starters, the Ford Coupe is just like the one Kevin’s dad had when he was a child.

“He passed away in 1981 when I was 7,” Kevin said.

ABOVE: Every summer Kevin and Karen Dombrowski, of Shelby Township, attend car shows in metro Detroit and across the state with their 1960 Chrysler Imperial, left; 1965 Buick Riviera, center; and 1947 Ford Coupe.

FAR LEFT: Kevin Dombrowski has always been a fan of classic cars with fins, including his 1960 Chrysler Imperial

NEAR LEFT: One feature of the 1965 Buick Riviera are the hidden headlights. Photos by Erin Sanchez

Cars

Kevin holds on to plenty of underthe-hood memories, including the times he played junior mechanic helping his dad, Tony Dombrowski, doing upkeep on the Coupe.

“I would work on the car with him. Then we would go to car shows,” Kevin said. “As a kid, I remember bouncing around in the back seat. The suspensions back then didn’t have shocks.”

Kevin had his dad’s car for many years and was in the process of having it restored. However, too many obstacles got in the way, so Kevin bought a Coupe that looked just like his dad’s. He even kept some of the original parts as a momento.

“The intent of the car is still there,” Kevin said. “When I see it, my dad is still there.”

Because his father spent so much time tinkering with the Ford, it was jokingly named “The Mistress.” Keeping with tradition, Kevin’s orangish-red Ford Coupe also has taken on the same moniker.

“I love each of them for different reasons. The Ford reminds me of my dad,” Kevin said. “In the sun, you see the orange.

In the evening, it looks more red.”

“It’s a hot rod,” Karen said. “You feel every little bump.”

“The Riviera is such a pleasure to drive. You just get in the car and go. The other thing that I like about the Riviera, it’s everyone’s second-favorite car,” said Kevin, describing how car enthusiasts who grew up with either Chrysler, Ford or GM often stick with those models when they become adults.

“The Riviera welcomes everyone. It’s like the girl next door. You don’t see them as often. That, to me, was one of the things that was sort of special.”

For Kevin, the Imperial — with its Alaskan white exterior — is a throwback to his “favorite era of cars of the late ’50s and early ’60s.”

“The big fins and the chrome, I’ve always been in love with that style of car,” he said.

Kevin first spotted the Imperial a couple of years ago at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site in Shelby Township. He knew the gentleman, Bill, who owned it and said, “If you ever think about selling that car, just remember me.” About a year later, Bill sold it to Kevin.

“He’s always buying and selling,” Kevin said.

Kevin brought the Imperial home Dec.

22, 2022, right before a snowstorm. There was just enough time for him and Karen to rearrange the garage to fit in their new 18 1/2-foot automobile that is 6 inches wider than most cars.

Kevin said the original owner of the Chrysler Imperial is a woman who lives in New Jersey. He’s tried to get in touch with her, but hasn’t been successful yet.

“She owned the car until 1979 and then she sold it to a dealership,” he said.

For Karen, the Riviera is her favorite of the three.

“It rides like a dream,” she said. After being at a car show all day, she likes to fall asleep in the passenger seat on the way home. “It floats down the road at 55 (mph).”

Each car attracts a different crowd.

“The ’47, it’s the older, gray guys. The Riviera draws a very different niche of peo-

ple. Many people don’t know the Riviera. It’s a rather uncommon car. It’s the perfect balance between muscle and luxury,” Kevin said. “The Imperial draws women. It oozes luxury and extravagance. It is a challenge to drive because it is so large.”

Kevin is a member of the Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club, which meets at 7 p.m. every Friday at Gratiot Coney Island, 28560 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville. All are welcome.

“It’s a growing club,” Kevin said. “We’re always talking about getting out and driving.”

The Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club is accepting registration for the second annual Track Day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Ubly Dragway. For registration details, text or call Kevin at (586) 822-7968.

Fourth

from page 1A

fireworks. We always say that with the parade, half of the community is in the parade while the other half is watching the parade.”

The first events will take place on Tuesday, June 25, with a Great American Baby contest, with prizes for children 9-24 months dressed in patriotic attire, at 6 p.m.; a penny candy sale from the city’s teen council at 7 p.m.; and a family night with activities and bounce houses from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All events will be at Burton Field near Nadine and Henley avenues.

The next events will be Saturday, June 29, with a pancake breakfast 9-10:30 a.m. at the Gillham Recreation Center, 26363 Scotia Road, and a Float a Boat contest at 9:30 a.m. at the Aquatic Club, 26325 Scotia Road, for ages 6 and older, where contestants make boats out of cardboard, plastic containers and duct tape. Registration is required by June 27.

The city’s Run, Walk, Boom event will be the following day, Sunday, June 30, featuring a milelong run/walk at 8:15 a.m. and a 5K run/walk at 8:45 a.m.

A boxed lunch for people ages 60 and older will take place from noon to 1:45 p.m. Monday, July 1, at Hassig Senior Park near 11 Mile and Scotia roads. A tie-dye and foam blaster event will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, at Burton Field. An outdoor games day will take place at 5:30 p.m., followed by a pet pageant at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, at Burton Field.

The Fourth of July festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with Huntington Woods’ parade,

which will start at Salem and York roads and end at Burton Field. Following the parade, a hot dog roast will be held at 11 a.m., as well as the presentation of civic awards and a speech from Mayor Bob Paul.

A concert will take place 7-9 p.m. with The Love Junkies at Burton Field. The day will end with the fireworks show at Rackham Golf Course, 10100 W. 10 Mile Road, starting at 10:05 p.m.

City Commissioner Jules Olsman said the Fourth of July is the biggest celebratory day of the year for the city.

“It just involves the entire community,” he said. “It is nostalgia. It’s simply the oldfashioned Fourth of July, the way people perceive it to be and the way they like to celebrate it. I mean, this is probably one of the few holidays where people in our city plan to be home for the Fourth of July versus going up north or going somewhere else for the long holiday weekend. It’s the one day of the year that I think that many, many people plan around being home and invite guests over to watch the parade and participate in.”

The baby and Float a Boat contests are for residents only. Those events, along with the pancake breakfast; Run, Walk, Boom; boxed lunch; and pet pageant require registration.

Registration can be done at recreation. hwmi.org, and people with questions can contact help at hwrec@hwmi.org or by calling (248) 541-3030. For more information on the events, check out the summer 2024 edition of Huntington Woods’ Hometown Herald under the city’s government tab on its website at hwmi.org.

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

The Huntington Woods Fourth of July Parade will start at Salem and York roads and end at Nadine Avenue and Scotia Road at Burton Field. File photo by Donna Dalziel

Party

from page 1A

panding their hours and opening or staying open, so that way visitors can have a really upbeat experience in our downtown,” he said.

McGuinness also noted that The Wedding Shoppe is sponsoring an area for people to get married or get their vows renewed at the event.

Wedding Shoppe Manager Haley Guyot said the business also will be providing discounts on finishing touches for the wedding, if needed, such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets and veils.

“(Owner) Michelle (McFarland) is always happy to give back to the community, and this was kind of our way of seeing us being a part of that and really helping out to make sure everyone can get married and have all the finishing touches they need for their look and everything,” Guyot said.

The block party will end with a color explosion at 5 p.m., where kids and families can toss colored powder into the air in celebration of Pride.

“Positive reception from Berkley residents for Berkley Pride has been really grati-

fying, and that’s what’s driving the offering in the first place, is community members coming together, volunteering and making it happen,” McGuinness said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of and to support.”

For more information on the event, visit downtownberkley.com/berkley-pride.

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

CRIME WATCH

Police stop stolen vehicle, arrest driver

BERKLEY — A 24-year-old Detroit woman was arrested at 2:56 p.m. June 7 near Woodward Avenue and Lincoln Drive for allegedly stealing a vehicle.

According to police, they received a notification of a stolen vehicle, a white Ram truck out of Southfield, from a license plate reader. After pulling over the woman, police said she told them that she rented the vehicle but didn’t make a payment. The woman’s license also wasn’t valid, and there was a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle.

The woman was arrested at the scene. Police said they conducted a search of the vehicle and found unknown pills, believed to be codeine, in a bottle.

Police arrest 3 women for liquor theft

BERKLEY — Three women were arrested for second-degree retail fraud at 7:12 p.m. June 8 on West 12 Mile Road.

Police stated in a report that three women stole four half-gallons of liquor from a Marathon gas station and fled in a black minivan. The total value of the liquor was $635.96. The minivan was located in Southfield. The suspects reportedly fled into Detroit, but the suspects — a 29-year-old Detroit woman, a 38-year-old Detroit woman and a 27-year-old Detroit woman — were arrested.

— Mike Koury

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

The Berkley Pride Block Party will return for its third year on June 23 to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

HOMES

12A/JUNE 19 , 2024

WOODWARD TALK

BASEMENT FLOODING:

HOW TO COUNTER MOTHER NATURE AND PREPARE YOURSELF FOR DISASTER

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — For some homeowners, the sight of a rain-filled forecast is enough to fill them with dread because of a potential disaster.

Residents’ pages on Facebook are filled with people going back and forth to see who else had their basements flooded by a storm and to assist each other with names of companies who could help ease an awful situation.

It’s a fight against Mother Nature, who will come out on top in most of the bouts, but it’s important to understand your area, what might make your area susceptible to basement flooding, and how you can defend yourself against a potential flood.

“Most of the homes in Grosse Pointe, St. Clair Shores, and other older cities, their sewers are made out of a different material,” Mike Kish, owner of Motor City Plumbing and Drain in Roseville, said.

“It’s ‘crock pipe’ we call it. It’s a clay ceramic kind of pipe,” Kish said. “The thing is when they built these houses in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, they really just butted these pieces up every 2 or 3 feet, they threw some tar around it or maybe a little rubber seal, and they laid it that way. The problem is the tree roots grew right through that little section. Every 2 to 3 feet, you have a joint that the tree roots can go through in this old crock pipe. Up in Macomb and in newer houses, we use a different material such as PVC, and PVC is basically 10-foot length, and with the glue and primer that we do use, it melts the pipe together.”

On the east side, specifically for St. Clair Shores and the Grosse Pointes, Kish said the city infrastructure is aged and hasn’t been repaired, but multiple factors also add themselves into the mix.

Kish, who’s been a plumber for 30 years and services Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, said newer houses have an advantage in another area when compared to older homes.

“A lot of the new houses have sump pumps,” Kish said. “They have their sewer that goes out and a sump pump, so they have two different lines. The sewers in Grosse Pointe, St. Clair Shores and other older

homes, we call it a combined system, so your sewage and your rainwater both go out in the same pipe. When it storms and you’re using stuff, you’re overloading that pipe sometimes if you got a small blockage in there.”

When it’s not Mother Nature wreaking havoc, it’s nature in general that could be the key cause of basement flooding.

“The big thing really is tree roots,” Kish said. “There’s these trees, and every house has it. People don’t maintain it. Nobody calls and says, ‘Hey, I think I want to maintain my drain and get it snaked out,’you know? People are starting to do that, and that’s what people really need to start doing. They need to start having their drain looked at with a camera and having it snaked out before the big rain or the big storm. We can stick a camera in there and see the condition of the pipe. You have to be proactive.”

Kish said various signs of potential backups can be slow draining, gurgling sounds or water residing by your floor drain in the basement.

Options to combat drain issues are periodic snaking of the drain; hydro jetting the drain, which is basically a snake on steroids that offers more of a five- to seven-year solution; or digging up the sewers to install polyvinyl chloride pipe for a more permanent fix.

If an issue does arise, the restoration process begins to combat any bacteria, extract the water and develop a game plan for the future.

“What we do is we send out a technician — once the call comes in — to go out and meet with the customer to assess the situation and figure out exactly where the water is coming from,” Bryan Graham, project manager for Advance Restoration in Clinton Township, said. “We work in collaboration with a plumber to figure out how to get the water out. … Once we remove the water, any drywall or carpet padding that the water touched, because it’s contaminated water, we have to remove all that stuff. Once we remove everything down to the bare shell, anything that the water has touched we give what’s called a ‘biowash.’ We use an anti-microbial spray in an extraction process where we apply the anti-microbial with hot steam and extract the water back up. That helps kill any bacteria that may be present from the water. Once we do a biowash, then we

can set our equipment. We do a calculation based on the cubic footage of the affected areas and the ratings on our dehumidifiers will determine how many fans and dehumidifiers need to be set. It’s usually a three-day drying process.”

Advance Restoration has been in business for 14 years and services Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair and other surrounding counties to help homeowners identify the issue causing the basement flooding; help restore contents in the basement such as furniture, clothing, documents and more; and assist with a complete reconstruction of structural damage, water damage and other issues.

Through his experience with customers and being in the business for 18 years, Graham said there’s one piece of advice he gives

to all his clients.

“The worst part about it is most homeowners don’t understand when they pay for their (insurance) policy that they may not even have the coverage for those sump pump failures, and those who do typically have a very low capped coverage between $5,000 and $10,000,” Graham said. “You look at somebody who may have renovated their basement and put $40,000 into it in building materials and their contents, and then they have a $5,000 cap and find out they don’t have that coverage until that happens. It’s a very disappointing situation to have to explain to the customer that they’re not covered. Paying out of pocket, especially postCOVID, for services is expensive.”

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

Shutterstock image

ARTS, BEATS & EATS ORGANIZERS PROMISING EXCITEMENT FOR THE 2024 FESTIVAL

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — The nationally recognized festival Arts, Beats & Eats is preparing for the 2024 end-of-summer celebration, and organizers of the event have announced new initiatives and entertainment that they expect will make this year one to remember.

Arts, Beats, & Eats is hosted by Soaring Eagle Casino Resorts and presented by Flagstar Bank.

The four-day event will be returning to downtown Royal Oak on Labor Day weekend from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

In 2023, Arts, Beats, & Eats event brought in an estimated 345,000 people to the streets of Royal Oak and generated more than $386,000 that was donated to local charities. Since the event began in 1998, the festival has raised more than $7 million.

At a press conference June 12, Executive Director of Marketing at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort Raul Venegas unveiled the new logo for the event. Designer Kelsey Mendez created the logo.

The logo pays homage to the original 1998 poster with a guitar, fork and paintbrush image to represent all three aspects of the festival.

“The new Arts, Beats & Eats logo is a perfect illustration of what is the core of the Arts, Beats & Eats experience,” Venegas said.

Along with the new logo, a commemorative poster was revealed, created by professional artist Julie Roth, who was a “best in show” recipient at the 2023 Arts, Beats &

Eats juried fine art show.

This year, the Detroit Institute of Arts said it will be adding inclusive and cultural music acts to the kids’ stage that will “captivate and educate young minds,” according to a press release.

“We are going to deliver more engaging entertainment in programming that families across this region can enjoy and immerse themselves in,” said Julie McFarland, executive director of public affairs and community engagement at the DIA. “The kids stage will feature over 50 performances across the festival.”

House of Dank will be returning for its second year after making national headlines last year by being the first cannabis company to participate in an event like Arts, Beats & Eats.

In 2023, the House of Dank had its own area where people could buy and con-

sume cannabis at the event.

The new Arts, Beats & Eats logo was revealed at a press conference June 12 in Royal Oak. The design pays homage to the original logo from 1998.

cannabis industry.

“There are all sorts of jobs up and down this industry,” DiLaura said. “Baker College is on the forefront of this. This year they are announcing their certificate program, where they have started teaching cannabis-specific classes.”

With the continued collaboration between Kroger and Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, the festival will have three PLC students, Torrence Jackson, Micah Shumake and Joe Cazeno III, creating a mural during the event.

“They had a lot of eyes on them last year for what they were going to deliver and how it was going to be done,” Jon Witz, event producer, said. “And they overdelivered and also brought us one of the most creative activations we have ever had.”

Mike DiLaura, chief corporate operations and general counsel at House of Dank, said that the company has planned more game-changing experiences for the 2024 event.

“We have Dank Land, we have Dank Way, two of our amazing activations,” DiLaura said. “Inside of our Dank Way this year we are going to be scheduling some special celebrity smoke sessions.”

DiLaura announced HOD’s collaboration with Baker College, which has recently begun a cannabis program dedicated to teaching students about professions in the

This year marks the 11th Family Days event, which occurs on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, where hundreds of children and young adults who have autism spectrum disorder receive a one-day pass to enjoy the festival at no cost.

Family Days is presented by Corewell Health, an official sponsor of Arts, Beats & Eats, in collaboration with the Judson Center and the Ted Lindsey Foundation Hope Center.

“Royal Oak is this incredible backdrop to host 300,000 people in a safe and secure way,” Oakland County Commissioner Dave Woodward said. “I mean, this is an internationally recognized event that is truly remarkable.”

The 2024 Arts, Beats & Eats festival will be open 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 1; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2. For more information, including about tickets, visit artsbeatseats.com.

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

Photo provided by Judy Davids

Smithereens

from page 3A

The Smithereens will have a deep catalog of songs to pick through for the show, which Diken said they try to tailor to each city in which they perform. Diken also noted that the band currently is working on new material and plans to record a new album that will be out next year.

“Every city, we find that people go for the same material that we like to present, which we’re fortunate that we have a number of records that were pretty successful,” he said. “So people like to hear what we call the hits, and then there’s plenty of album tracks that we like to sprinkle in there as well.”

Along with original founders Diken, Mesaros and Babjak, the trio will be performing with guest lead singer Marshall Crenshaw, who grew up in Berkley.

Crenshaw has been a rotation lead singer for the band with Gin Blossoms lead singer Robin Wilson since the death of DiNizio in 2017.

“Marshall was always a friend of ours, and he even played on our first album,” Diken said. “He played some keyboards, and we opened shows for him back in the early ’80s. We felt like he was a member of our extended family. … And Robin, we didn’t know that when we met him, we didn’t realize that he had been such a big fan of ours when he

was growing up and forming bands in the Tempe, Arizona, area. The Smithereens were very influential to a lot of young musicians that were playing around those parts.

“When Pat DiNizio passed away, it was never our inclination to look for anybody that can imitate him or look like him, or no soundalikes,” he continued. “We were hoping we can continue with somebody who can interpret the music, and we found out with both of these great vocalists.”

The Magic Bag has been able to host The Smithereens at its venue for the past couple of years. Director of Marketing Willy Wilson said that they’ve been a great band to have, and it’s especially cool to have a hometown musician like Crenshaw performing with them, too.

BERKLEY ART BASH

“We’re happy to have them here,” he said. “They’re one of those bands that you just like to see. They’re all wonderful people, they put on a great show and everyone goes away happy at the end of the night. You know, they’re a little sweaty, their ears are ringing a little bit, maybe they had a beer or two too many, but they’ll walk away and be talking about this show for the next six to eight months, about how great it was.”

The Smithereens have been around for 44 years since their beginnings in the 1980s in New Jersey. And Diken said none of their longevity and success would be possible without their fanbase.

“It really is down to the audience,” he said. “We coined a phrase some years ago, ‘If you don’t mind staying, we don’t mind

playing.’ You know, I’m sure any entertainer would tell you that. You go where people dig what you do. I say this with no sense of schmaltz or anything, but we couldn’t do this without our audience. We just couldn’t do it. So it’s really up to them if they want us back or not; they let us know. And certainly we feed off their energy, too, at the show. If they’re having a great time, we’re gonna have a great time.”

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

LEFT: Solar light flower ornaments by Xtremetals catch the eyes of fairgoers at the Berkley Art Bash.

RIGHT: Rae Smith holds up a pair of her original hand-painted earrings that she was selling at the Berkley Art Bash.

LEFT: Jerry Lubiarz, left, owner of Commish Originals, helps Berkley residents Stephen Atkins and Sasha Santoyo pick out a Father’s Day gift June 8 at the Berkley Art Bash.

Photos by Liz Carnegie

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

JUNE 19 Jazz on Juneteenth: Part of Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Mongers’ Provisions, 3127 12 Mile Road in Berkley, greatlakeschambermusic.org

JUNE 23

Berkley Pride Block Party: Kids tent, teen lounge, photo opps, activities, vendors, food trucks, music and more, 1-5 p.m., on Robina and Gardner avenues south of 12 Mile Road and in municipal parking lot in between, facebook.com/berkleypride

Summer Sounds: Presented by Ferndale Community Concert Band, 3 p.m., Martin Road Park, 1615 E. Lewiston Ave., free but donations appreciated, fcconcertband.org

JUNE 25

Author talk: Sarah Towle discusses immigration system as documented in nonfiction book “Crossing the Line,” 6:30-8 p.m., Huntington Woods Library, 26415 Scotia Road, (248) 543-9720

ONGOING

Farmers markets: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays until Oct. 31, South Robina Avenue at 12 Mile Road in Berkley, (248) 658-3353, berkleyfarmersmarket.com

‘Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors’: 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, and 3 p.m. Sundays, until July 1, Ringwald Theatre at Affirmations LGBTQIA+ Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, theringwald.com

Art exhibits: See animal paintings inspired by Pop Art movement, open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays July 1-Aug. 30 (closed July 4 and Sundays), reception 6-8 p.m. July 11 with talk by Pleasant Ridge artist Michael Crane at 7 p.m., Woods Gallery at Huntington Woods Public Library, 26415 Scotia Road, woodsgallery.org

• “Pottery and Prints” features works by 40 metro Detroit artists, exhibit open noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, noon-9 p.m. Fridays, and 1-5 p.m. Sundays until June 28, reception 2-4:30 p.m. June 23, Lawrence Street Gallery, 22620 Woodward Ave. (Suite A) in Ferndale, lawrencestreetgallery.com

Birmingham & Ferndale Stamp Club: Meets 6-8 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of month, fellowship at 5:30 p.m., NEXT Senior Center, 2121 Midvale St. in Birmingham, birminghamstamp.club

from hotel

BIRMINGHAM — Officers were dispatched to a hotel in the 100 block of Townsend for a reported theft on May 13 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

A witness informed hotel personnel that he had seen a woman with two males take a small brass lion’s head that was affixed to the hotel’s front wall and walk toward a vehicle parked on Henrietta Street. Officers observed the lion’s head in the vehicle’s front passenger seat. Two men returned to the vehicle, and officers stopped them at Henrietta and Merrill. After initially denying knowing the woman or how the lion had ended up in their vehicle, the men admitted that she is a business associate and that she had taken the lion after they all had dinner in Birmingham that evening.

The vehicle’s owner, a 46-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, was charged with concealing stolen property. The woman, a 43-year-old from Bloomfield Hills, said that she had seen the lion’s head on the ground and picked it up. She was charged with larceny.

Expired license plate check results in arrest

BIRMINGHAM — An officer traveling northbound on Woodward noticed expired license plate tabs on a vehicle around 8:30 a.m. May 14.

A check of the vehicle’s registration found a felony warrant for the arrest of its registered owner on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Police arrested the suspect, a 23-year-old South Lyon man, and transferred him into the custody of the Michigan State Police.

Police investigate school bomb threat

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Someone going by the name “Alex” called the West Bloomfield Police Department around 7 a.m. May 20 and said that he had placed a bomb at West Bloomfield High School, according to a press release.

Police were immediately dispatched to the school and began to investigate, the release states.

The preliminary investigation concluded that there was no credible threat.

Detectives researched the phone number the caller used when calling in the bomb threat and learned the number was linked to several similar incidents around the country over the last two months.

Ex-tenant suspected in break-in

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 9 a.m. May 11 and 9 a.m. May 15, a former tenant had broken into the complainant’s apartment

being evicted.

Urn stolen in family dispute

SOUTHFIELD — After a dispute with another family member, a resident noticed that between 8 p.m. May 20 and 7 a.m. May 21, a relative’s urn was removed from the home on Russell Street.

Boyfriend returns to empty home following eviction

SOUTHFIELD — A man who had moved in with his girlfriend’s family on Lahser Road returned May 22 to the home to find that the residents had been evicted and the family members had taken his TV, clothes, PlayStation 5 and laptop.

Victim loses around $30,000 in pop-up message scam

TROY — On May 15, at 10 a.m., a resident on Round Tree Drive reported she had been using her computer when a pop-up message appeared telling her that the computer was locked and to call the provided phone number for Microsoft Security.

The victim called the number and spoke with an unknown suspect, who told her that the computer had been hacked and that her bank account had been compromised.

The suspect was able to convince the victim to withdraw $24,900 from her credit union and convert the money to bitcoin using a bitcoin machine. The victim was then instructed to go to Nordstrom, purchase $10,000 in gift cards, and provide the numbers on the card to the suspect, which she did.

At that point, the victim realized it was a scam and notified her credit union, but she was informed it was too late to recover the funds.

Inebriated woman apprehended while parked in front of private drive on highway

TROY — While on patrol around 1:57 a.m. May 9, officers observed a 2024 Mazda CX30 with its hazard lights on parked on the right shoulder of Stephenson Highway, near East Maple Road, blocking a private drive.

Upon speaking with the 38-year-old driver from Mexico City, Mexico, officers noted that her eyes were glassy and there was a strong odor of intoxicants emanating from her. Police said she performed poorly on sobriety evaluations. A preliminary breath test showed a result of a 0.225% blood alcohol content.

She was arrested and issued a citation for operating with a blood alcohol content of 0.17% or more.

unregistered weapon, Adderall

TROY — Officers initiated a traffic stop at 12:35 a.m. May 11 near Rochester and Wattles roads for the driver of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado for multiple traffic violations.

Upon speaking with the driver, a 29-year-old man from Royal Oak, officers noted his eyes were glassy, his speech was slurred, and there was an odor of intoxicants emanating from his person. The driver was asked to perform several sobriety evaluations, and officers noted he performed poorly. He submitted to a preliminary breath test, with a result of a 0.170% blood alcohol content.

During an inventory search of his vehicle, officers located a loaded handgun in a holster and a loaded spare magazine, both underneath the center console. The gun was unregistered, and the driver was found to not have a concealed pistol license.

In lock-up, several pills that were identified as Adderall were located in a plastic bag in the driver’s jacket pocket.

The case was turned over to the Detective Bureau for appropriate warrants.

Wallet stolen at Home Goods

TROY — A victim reports that, on May 5, between 2:30 and 2:50 p.m., an unknown suspect stole her wallet from her purse while she was shopping in the Home Goods store at 624 John R Road.

While shopping, a female approached the victim and asked for advice about purchasing a product. The victim now believes this may have been an attempt to distract her while her wallet was stolen.

Multiple fraudulent charges were subsequently attempted on the victim’s credit cards at various locations at a local mall.

Woman accused of assault at party

FARMINGTON — Around 10 p.m. May 22, a woman went to the police station to report an assault that allegedly took place May 12. The woman told police that a 54-year-old woman had struck her in the back with a log for use in a bonfire at a party.

Officers spoke with the suspect, who denied the allegation. The case was forwarded to the city attorney for review.

Cash snatched from purse

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown person stole $2,700 from the purse of a 71-year-old Madison Heights resident while the purse was in a shopping cart. The incident occurred at a business in the

5:30 p.m. April 27. An investigation was ongoing.

Tractor-trailer taken MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown person stole a tractor-trailer from a business in the 32000 block of John R Road sometime between noon May 18 and 3:30 a.m. May 19. Police were investigating.

Student to be assessed after drawing pictures of guns in school

ROCHESTER HILLS — The school resource officer at Avondale Middle School was made aware of some drawings by a student that concerned school staff at 2:30 p.m. May 1. The school resource officer gathered further information and discovered the drawings were of firearms. The school counselor interviewed the student, a 14-year-old boy from Auburn Hills, while the SRO stood by. The student stated that the firearms he sketched were concepts for video games. The student’s parents were called to the school. The father stated there were no firearms in the home. A check showed no firearms registered to the father. The father advised that his child had an evaluation coming up for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder. The student was sent home for violation of the school code of conduct and was advised that he could not return to school until a threat assessment was completed.

Drone helps find lost man

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies became aware that a man was disoriented/lost and in medical distress at 1:04 a.m.