6/20/24 Grosse Pointe Times

CLASS OF 2024

Local teachers demonstrate for new contract before school board meeting

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

FARMS — Well over 100 teachers — many carrying signs — stood outside Brownell Middle School in Grosse Pointe Farms before the June 12 Grosse Pointe Board of Education meeting in a show of unity as they seek contracts for the next school year.

Jackie Shelson, co-president of the Grosse Pointe Education Association — the teachers’ union — said this was the last school board meeting before the end of the school year, and the teachers had yet to see the budget for the 2024 to 2025 school year. The school board was slated, at press time, to vote on the budget during its next meeting June 18, after the June 20 edition of the Grosse Pointe Times went to press.

“This is just a show of solidarity,” Shelson said. “It’s the end of the school year, but we have yet to have a contract again. It’s important for Grosse Pointe to retain these amazing people, and you get that with a fair and equitable contract.”

See

THE HELM AT THE BOLL LIFE CENTER HONORS ITS NAMESAKES DURING PORTRAIT UNVEILING

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

FARMS — Dozens of residents visit The Helm at the Boll Life Center every day, and now they’ll be able to see the couple who made the Grosse Pointe Farmsbased senior center possible.

A portrait of John and Marlene Boll was unveiled during an event June 5 at The Helm. The Bolls’ substantial gift in June 2012 got major fundraising rolling for renovations to transform a historical building at 158 Ridge Road into The Helm.

John Boll Sr. died Aug. 24, 2022, at the age of 93,

See PORTRAIT on page 22A

LEFT: Longtime Helm supporter Marlene Boll, of Grosse Pointe Shores, receives a special photo album from Helm Executive Director Krista Siddall during a June 5 portrait unveiling at The Helm in Grosse Pointe Farms. ABOVE: This portrait of local philanthropists John and Marlene Boll will be displayed at The Helm at the Boll Life Center, a senior center whose renovations were made possible by a substantial donation from the Bolls.

Photos by K. Michelle Moran

Artist’s work speaks to unity and identity

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A Grosse Pointe City artist was among the people selected for the second biennial art event, “I’ll Be Your Mirror: Reflections of the Contemporary Queer,” a series of exhibitions and film screenings that coincide with June as Pride Month.

Carl Demeulenaere, of Grosse Pointe City, has four pieces — “Arcada Triptych,” “Nan Wood Graham and Carla DeWild,” “Pater Noster” and “Betrothed” — that are on view through June 29 at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery on the Wayne State University campus in Detroit. For WSU grad Demeulenaere, the placement seems espe-

cially ideal.

Assembled by the nonprofit Mighty Real/Queer Detroit, the 2024 biennial “I’ll Be Your Mirror” includes more than 170 artists from the LGBTQ+ community — many of national and international renown — at 11 galleries. Participating galleries include the Detroit Artists Market, Scarab Club, College for Creative Studies Center Gallery, the Carr Center and the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens. According to the MR/QD website, this year’s event theme “explores the aesthetic mirroring between art and the viewer to highlight the role of art in achieving personal visibility and social connection.”

New Farms public safety officer is familiar face — and voice — in community

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

FARMS — From the time she was a little girl, Paige Thomas dreamed of becoming a police officer.

The road to her dream has had more than a few bumps and potholes, but she’s finally achieved it. Thomas, 29, a former emergency dispatcher in Grosse Pointe Farms, was sworn in as the department’s newest public safety officer by City Clerk Derrick Kozicki May 15.

“Growing up, I always wanted to meet the police and go into law enforcement,” Thomas said.

She started working as an ordinance officer in Grosse Pointe Park in 2014, when she was just 19, and became a dispatcher in the Farms in 2018. When the department personnel underwent mental health train-

ing so they’d know how to respond to someone they encountered who was experiencing a mental health crisis, it opened Thomas’ eyes to a side of police work where she could see herself making a positive difference.

“I really like that side of law enforcement,” Thomas said. “I think it’s really important.”

Mental health issues often get swept under the rug, especially when it comes to members of law enforcement, Thomas said.

“If there’s something I can do later on in my career helping the people I work with, that’s what I want to do,” Thomas said.

She has an associate degree in pre-psychology from Macomb Community College and plans to get at least her bachelor’s degree — and possibly a gradu-

Grosse Pointe Farms Public Safety Sgt. Timothy Harris pins the badge on the uniform of his wife, Paige Thomas, after she’s sworn in as a Farms Public Safety officer.

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

See DEMEULENAERE on page 10A

Photo provided by Carl Demeulenaere “Nan Wood Graham and Carla DeWild” is one of Carl Demeulenaere’s signature small and highly detailed oil paintings.

See THOMAS on page 5A

Students branch out creatively in Woods Arbor Day poster contest

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

WOODS — Students at schools in Grosse Pointe Woods showcased their artistic talents and knowledge of the important role played by trees in their entries in the city’s 46th annual Arbor Day poster contest.

During a meeting June 3, winning entries from third graders at each of the schools in the Woods — University Liggett School, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School, Ferry Elementary School, Mason Elementary School and Monteith Elementary School — were honored publicly as city leaders and family members looked on.

Woods Mayor Arthur Bryant said they were there “to recognize some wonderful artwork.”

The winners were Anya Bony, of Monteith; Rosalie Nichols, of Ferry; Gwyneth Gwinnell, of Star; Kayden Wise, of ULS; and Lilla Albright, of Mason.

“It is a magical night here in Grosse Pointe Woods,” Community Tree Commission Chair Paul Lechner said. “We have our version of the Met Gala here. We are recognizing the fine artists in Grosse Pointe Woods.”

City officials also admired the student artwork.

“These are beautiful trees,” City Councilwoman Vicki Granger told the students. “And the plan is for (the posters) to go in the calendar.”

The Woods publishes a city calendar each year, so the 2025 edition will feature the 2024 winners.

Lechner said the fact that the Woods is marking its 46th year as

(South eld, MI) e recent buzz around full-body MRI screenings has sparked a lot of debate. While some question this approach, the controversy itself signals an advance in how we think about proactive health. It means we’re not just waiting around for symptoms when it might be too late.

Full body screenings use MRI technology to scan from the top of the head through the pelvis looking for potential abnormalities and early signs of diseases like cancer.

Tyler, age 52, lost his grandfather to lymphoma, so when the results of his full body MRI highlighted enlarged lymph nodes in his chest it gave him concern. “I felt completely healthy, but I wanted to be proactive so I did the scan. My results were concerning, so I saw an oncologist who ordered additional testing.”

e controversy comes from MRI body scans producing false positives. ese ndings are eventually proven

a Tree City USA — a designation that must be earned from the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation — is “a testament to the leadership in this community.”

New Tree Commission member Kate Colborn — who took the seat occupied by her late husband, Ted Colborn — continued her husband’s tradition of pre-

senting each of the winners with a proof version of a quarter that features the image of a child planting a seedling. Ted Colborn died Sept. 30, 2023, at the age of 83. The Tree Commission conducts the poster contest and other activities that encourage and foster the city’s canopy, including a memorial tree dedication.

e Whole-Body MRI Debate: Are Doctors Missing Something?

to be benign. Critics claim that false positives create unnecessary worry for people and needless follow up tests.

Tyler says he would rather be safe than sorry. “I hear some doctors on TV saying not to do full body screenings, but why wouldn’t you? It’s about taking control of your health and being proactive. I had some follow up tests to make sure I don’t have cancer – big deal. But what if it turned out to be cancer? en it’s caught as early as possible, and without this scan I never would have known until it was too late!”

Proponents of MRI full body screenings say that false positives should not outweigh the bene ts, stating that early detection is key to easier treatments and better outcomes.

“Early detection saves lives,” says Ryan Ringold who leads the MRI full body screening center in South eld, called Bionicc Body Screening. His father, the late Dr. Ringold, founded the company after battling cancer – twice. “My father

became short of breath one day and discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs inside of him. He endured brutal treatments and never wanted to see others su er because of late detection,” says Ryan.

MRI does not replace annual physicals nor routine screenings like a colonoscopy or mammogram. Although, it may be surprising to learn that routine screenings only cover 29% of cancers and 71% of cancers occur in other areas.

“ is is an additional tool to be proactive. MRI can reduce the enormous blind spot where cancer may be silently growing. ere are no routine screenings for areas like the pancreas, liver, brain, chest or abdomen,” says Ringold. “My father was oblivious to hundreds of tumors growing inside his body and his story is not unique. You rarely hear of someone getting diagnosed with stage one pancreatic cancer because nobody knows until they have symptoms. By that time, it’s almost always stage

four.”  In addition to tumors, MRI can detect hundreds of abnormalities like brain aneurysms, MS, fatty liver and spinal disc disease to name a few. “It’s quite remarkable,” Ringold adds.

Robert B. credits his scan to saving his life. A full-body MRI caught the kidney tumor his CT scan missed. “I consider it a lifesaver,” he says. Stories like these highlight the power of MRI body screenings.

For a limited time, you can request a $200 o coupon when you visit their website at BioniccBodyScreening.com. Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC.

0324-2425

The debate over full-body MRIs heats up as some doctors criticize the scans, while others quietly get them done.

Winners of Grosse Pointe Woods’ annual Arbor Day poster contest pose with members of the Woods City Council June 3.

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

Thomas

ate degree — in that subject.

The Farms was eager to hire Thomas as a public safety officer, after seeing her work ethic and drive as a dispatcher.

“She’s a solid employee,” Deputy Public Safety Director Andrew Rogers said. “We can’t be prouder to have her join the PSO ranks. There’s not a doubt in my mind she’ll be successful.”

Thomas’ daughter, Becca, will turn 4 in November. Despite her lifelong desire to become a police officer, she debated about whether she should stay in dispatching.

“For a while there, I battled with what I wanted to do,” said Thomas, who wasn’t sure if she should go on the road as a public safety officer.

But then, while working full-time and juggling motherhood, she completed her associate degree sooner than expected and realized she could do it. Going part-time as a dispatcher, Thomas finished the Macomb Community College Fire Academy circa November 2023 and graduated from the MCC Police Academy May 10.

Family, Farms officials and fellow officers were among those on hand to see Thomas take the oath of office. Among them was her father, Patrick “Nino” Thomas, who’s also a familiar face in the community: He’s the retired superintendent of public works in Grosse Pointe Park and now works as the supervisor of water and sewer in Grosse

Pointe City. He’s proud of his daughter, but admitted he was apprehensive about her going into police work because of the dangers of the job.

“I never thought she’d become a police officer,” Patrick Thomas said. “I was kind of against it when I first heard about it. … But she’s surrounded by a lot of good officers.”

They include her husband, Farms Public Safety Sgt. Tim Harris, who has been with the department since June 2006. The couple met at work and got married in August 2023.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Harris said. “Since I’ve met her, this has been a dream of hers.”

He’s been impressed by Thomas’ strength and drive, even in the face of obstacles, including a health challenge and surgery to correct it.

“I couldn’t be prouder of her,” Harris said. “This is something she’s wanted as long as I’ve known her.”

The couple are raising Harris’ teenage sons from a previous marriage, along with their young daughter. Because Harris is a supervisor, he and Thomas won’t be scheduled on the same shift.

Like Rogers, Harris is confident Thomas will make a great public safety officer.

“I’m excited to see where she goes with her career,” Harris said. “I know the type of person she is and how passionate she is. She’s invested in this community.”

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

Care

Home Care One Owner Perry Calisi believes in honesty, integrity, and compassion -- and has offered such quality care through his home care business for the past twelve years in Grosse Pointe, St. Clair Shores, and Macomb Township in southeastern Michigan.

Home Care One provides assistance for seniors and patients in their homes, and helps with alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, hospital and nursing home sitting, interim care during hospice, physical and mental disability assistance for children and adults, and people recovering from surgery. Services also include full or part-time and 24hour care services, and daily living activities such as meal preparation, running errands, assistance with bathing, house cleaning, doctor visits and more.

as everything becomes more expensive,” he said. “In my experience, more people have done better living in their home rather than facilities; just by familiarity and independence.”

Perry said he entered the business by hearing that someone needed help.

Perry wants to increase community awareness about how his company offers these personalized services to keep your loved ones living independently at home. Perry added that he and his staff go further than the next by helping clients stay as independent as possible.

“The public should look at home care as a way of staying independent, and in one’s own home --

“I just set up my own business model for what I would want for my own mother,” he said. “I would want someone honest and compassionate in the house.” Perry said he tries to match his roughly 18 employees’ personality types with patients. “It assures that there is going to be an assimilation of getting along,” he said. Betty, a client, said she is “really lucky” to have caregivers take really good care of her. “I get all that pampering,” she said smiling. “They’ve been with me ever since. I haven’t been let down for anything.”

Betty’s caregiver, Theresa, said Perry cares about his clients and he cares about his employees as well. “He is good about matching an employee with a client, which is nice,” she said. “We all work together. He cares all the way around... that is him in general.”

For more information call 313-409-0120 or go to http://www.homecareone.net/.

from page 3A

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

Grosse Pointe Farms City Clerk Derrick Kozicki swears in new public safety officer Paige Thomas May 15 outside the fire bay.

NEWS & NOTES

HEAR THE BELLS TOLL

Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 16 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, invites the community to its annual summer carillon recital series, which will take place each Tuesday in July starting at 6:30 p.m. The concerts, which will be about 45 minutes long and take place rain or shine, will be played on the church’s carillon, a set of 48 bells. They can be listened to on or near the church property. Those who’d like to listen from church property are welcome to bring a picnic dinner. This year, visitors will also be able to purchase ice cream from a Captain Kool Ice Cream truck before and during the recital. So that attendees can see the carillon player’s hands and feet activating the bells via a keyboard, a closed-circuit TV screen will be available. The concerts are free. For more information, call (313) 882-5330.

Garden sponsors sought

There’s still time to sponsor a garden in Grosse Pointe Shores this year. A few planters and planting areas remained available at press time. For more information, call Shores City Hall at (313) 881-6565.

Ford House offers outdoor summer concerts

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, will be staging outdoor concerts this summer, starting with the upbeat traditional jazz, hip-hop and funk sounds of the Gabriel Brass Band at 7 p.m. June 28. The high-energy Killer Flamingos will perform at 7 p.m. July 19. At 7 p.m. Aug. 9, the Dave Hamilton Band will play a tribute to Motown. Carinspired songs from movies and television will be the theme for the Michigan Philharmonic’s concert at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23. For ticket prices and more information, visit fordhouse.org or call (313) 884-4222.

TREASURER TAKES OATH

New Grosse Pointe Woods Treasurer/Comptroller Steven Schmidt shakes hands with City Clerk Paul Antolin June 3 at City Hall as, from left, Schmidt’s wife, Amanda Palmer, and 6-year-old son, Reid Palmer, look on.

VETERAN TO GIVE BOOK TALK

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Doug “Odie” Slocum will discuss his book, “Violent Positivity,” during a free program at 6 p.m. June 27 at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms.

A former fighter pilot and commanding general of the 127th wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Slocum will talk about his people-centric approach to leadership and a 35-year career in which he innovated programs for safety, suicide prevention, resiliency and more.

“People can expect to hear leadership lessons learned over 35 years,” Slocum said in a press release. “I had some absolutely fantastic opportunities to take care of people in my career. My book is the story of how I got in the position to do that and how it all came about.”

Registration for the talk is requested and can be made by visiting warmemorial.org.

ATTORNEY RECOGNIZED FOR CAREER

Robert Graziani, of Grosse Pointe Shores, who is with the firm Howard & Howard, was one of only 30 Michigan-based attorneys this year named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame during a luncheon April 26. In his more than 40-year career, Graziani has worked with national and international clients. He represents and counsels private and insurance companies on coverage matters.

A former member of the Grosse Pointe Shores Village Council, former Shores village clerk and former Shores Planning Commission member, Graziani remains active in the Pointes as an executive leadership board member of the nonprofit Full Circle Foundation, which provides opportunities for those with special needs to learn the skills needed to work and live independently. He is also involved with Special Olympics.

THURSDAY 6/27

Graziani

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

The Helm has so many ways to get together with friends. From adventures around town, to movies and BBQs, and even lively card games, we help people meet up and have a good time. Friends, pals, buddies, or besties — we’re committed to bringing people together. Visit us online or in person and see all the ways The Helm is there on your journey of staying social and active.

Let’s take ourselves to summer school

To learn the enduring power of racism in the U.S. requires acknowledging how deeply embedded it is in the first place. That’s not easy to do because much of it is deliberately hidden. But not completely. The Jim Crow Museum, based at Ferris State University is dedicated to helping expose racism, past and present. OVERCOMING HATEFUL THINGS, a powerful traveling exhibit from the museum is open through the end of July. It’s at 1001 W. Fort Monday-Saturday on the downtown campus of Wayne County Community College.

CITP took a field trip there recently and we highly recommend it. One participant, a nine-year-old elementary student, left a comment that put it well. She wrote in part, “Racism is bad because Black people are people too and it’s not fair that they have to suffer.”

Another resource is available from our friends at Source Booksellers and at Next Chapter Books. They carry the newly published graphic edition of LIES MY TEACHER TOLD ME by James Loewen and Nate Powell. It’s an excellent primer on how U.S. history textbooks are slanted to perpetuate white supremacist ideology. Learn more about Change is the Pointe, scan the QR code to visit our Facebook page.

Paid for by Grosse Pointers Saja Barnes, Mary Anne Barnett & Frank Joyce, Joe Corrado & Sunanda Samaddar Corrado, Kathy Fulgenzi, Elisa Gurule, Jim Jacobs, Clarence Jones, Jackie Kalogerakos, John Kalogerakos, Moira Kennedy-Simms, Elizabeth McQuillen, Donna Miller, Beth Pellegrini

State Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, meets with members of Grosse Pointe North High School’s chapter of Students Demand Action June 6.

Revised gun violence resolution not considered by school board

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

WOODS — In a top the rust orange shade of a fallen autumn tree leaf, Mary Fraser, of Grosse Pointe Park — mother of slain Grosse Pointe Public School System graduate Brian Fraser — addressed the Grosse Pointe Board of Education May 28 on a painful topic she knows personally.

“Never in my worst nightmare did I think I would be standing up in front of the school board tonight talking about my son being the murdered victim of a gunshot,” Fraser said of her only son, who was killed in a mass shooting at his college, Michigan State University, on Feb. 13, 2023. “He was not in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was at MSU, working in the union in the back kitchen, making sandwiches. Someone with a gun who was deranged came in, fired three bullets, one of which went through my son’s head and killed him instantly. … These are things that happen and they should never have happened, and I’m here to tell you I hope that none of you ever have to firsthand witness it occurring, but it’s a reality and we can’t put our heads in the sand and pretend like it’s not happening. … Nothing that you do is going to bring my son back, ever. How-

ever … as our leaders, I think it’s important that you stand up and say this is important to us and we want to make a difference. Just teaching these kids how to hide under their desks is not going to make a difference.”

Fraser’s comments came in the wake of the board’s decision not to recognize Wear Orange Day, an event that coincides with National Gun Violence Awareness Day the first Friday in June — June 7 this year. Students from the Grosse Pointe North High School chapter of Students Demand Action had asked the board to approve a resolution in recognition of Wear Orange Day, but the resolution failed by a vote of 5-2 May 2, with board members Valarie St. John and Colleen Worden voting in favor of it and board President Sean Cotton and board members Ismail Ahmed, Terrence Collins, Virginia “Ginny” Jeup and Lisa Papas voting against it.

Some of the board members who rejected the resolution did so citing several reasons, including concerns that the organization behind the Wear Orange movement was partisan. That organization, Everytown for Gun Safety is a grassroots group but does support political candidates who, according to their website, “have demonstrated that they will govern with gun safety.”

Photos provided by office of Kevin Hertel

Demeulenaere

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” follows a successful series of art shows in 2022 that coincided with the 50th anniversary of Detroit Pride.

“Progress in social acceptance isn’t solely achieved through legislation alone,” said patrick burton, of Detroit, curator of “I’ll Be Your Mirror,” in an email interview. “It relies on artists, writers, and great thinkers to humanize what Queer people are and what Queer culture is and then take a step to show it. Amidst the backdrop of over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ (legislative) bills, pervasive discrimination, and violence persisting in 2024, this exhibition has never been more vital. Many of the featured artists convey a sense of urgency, viewing the event as a crucial platform for celebrating Queer identity and offering a lifeline to those in need.”

Demeulenaere’s work — which has included installations, jewelry, paper, painting and drawing — aims to unite rather than divide. His artworks, which are often quite small, are highly detailed and intricate, with a narrative underpinning and fine details that yield more information upon thorough scrutiny.

“With Carl’s paintings, besides the wonder, the exquisite technique of realism shines through the paintings and drawings,” said Laura Makar, gallery manager of the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, in an email interview. “The details create a further connection with the viewer, forcing you to pay attention to every aspect of the work. The viewer must spend time with each piece to understand the story, but also to fully appreciate the time and aesthetic decisions that went into the creation process.”

chological experience,” Makar said. “The eyes and the body language of the portraits become a strong focal point. Through their gaze, a connection is made between the artwork and viewer, emphasizing the curatorial direction, ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror.’ Your presence becomes part of the work, and you can’t help but wonder who you are to the individual.”

Burton has known Demeulenaere since the 1990s, when Demeulenaere — a former model and actor — appeared in some of burton’s performance art pieces at 1515 Broadway in Detroit. Demeulenaere said he’s grateful burton included him in the first event two years ago and again this year. Burton said Demeulenaere is an important figure in art.

lenaere said. “Symbolism and metaphor are probably the most important to me.”

The shows at the Jacob Gallery and elsewhere give artists like Demeulenaere a chance to share their creative visions and to be heard and seen.

Demeulenaere uses stippling to blend his colors, creating what he said is the “hyper-realistic” quality of even his pencil drawings, which look like they could be highly pigmented photographs.

“In my paintings and my drawings, I don’t want to see lines,” Demeulenaere said.

His work harkens to classical art, albeit with a 20th and 21st century twist, in that his subjects aren’t exclusively white and include members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Demeulenaere said he’s always been inspired by “the richness of tonality when you look at a Flemish painting and it looks like they could come to life. The Northern Renaissance has always been a huge influence” as well.

Makar said Demeulenaere’s pieces in the exhibit add realism to a show that is otherwise largely abstract.

“Carl’s artwork illustrates a strong psy-

“Carl Demeulennaere has humanized Queer culture and individuals, bridging the gap between perception and reality,” burton said. “Through personal visibility expressed in his art, he has cultivated understanding and empathy within our communities.”

Embracing his identity as a gay man wasn’t easy for Demeulenaere, who didn’t come out to his friends until he was about 27 and didn’t tell his parents about his sexual orientation until shortly before his mother’s death from cancer in 1990. His family was supportive, but he said he faced bullying when he was younger.

“When I started out in the early 1990s, the challenge was to face myself, reconcile who I am with my Christianity, and then putting myself out there — my perspective on family — on the American family — on history, on racial relationships and the concept of gay marriage,” Demeulenaere said.

At the same time, Demeulenaere said he doesn’t want to “hit people with a sledgehammer” with his work.

“Artwork is about subtlety,” Demeu-

“‘I’ll Be Your Mirror: Reflections of the Contemporary Queer’ highlights the role of art within today’s visual culture, pinpointing and reflecting important events, history, community, but also commenting on current cultural topics,” Makar said. “Visitors will be impacted by the exhibition and have been impressed by not just the quality and quantity of work, but content. The exhibition brings hope, inspiration, and beauty, but also dialogue. Having this exhibition on the campus at WSU, but also in Detroit, provides opportunities to meet artists on a national level, but also new ways of working to express who you are.”

Makar said the exhibition has brought people together and creates a sense of community. That was one of burton’s goals in putting all this together.

“I’ll Be Your Mirror: Reflections of the Contemporary Queer transcends being just a showcase of LGBTQ+ art; it serves as a beacon of unity, fostering dialogue and understanding among diverse audiences,” burton said. “Moreover, it provides LGBTQ+ youth with positive representations, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.”

The Elaine L. Jacob Gallery is located at 480 W. Hancock St. on the WSU campus. For more information, call the gallery at (313) 993-7813 or visit waynestategalleries.org. For more information about the other exhibitions and programs presented by Mighty Real/Queer Detroit, visit mrqd.org. Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

My approach, using advanced treatments, personalized care, and a commitment to saving limbs and lives, offers a new horizon for those afflicted with chronic foot wounds. If you or someone you know is navigating the challenges of foot wound care, the opportunity to transform this struggle into a story of healing and hope is within reach. Call me for an appointment today.

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

Artist Carl Demeulenaere stands next to “Pater Noster,” one of his works now on display at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery on the Wayne State University campus.

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Resolution

The board had been expected to take up a more general resolution acknowledging National Gun Violence Awareness Day at its May 28 meeting.

During the portion of the meeting when the May 6 regular meeting minutes were to be approved, St. John noted that the minutes indicated the board’s willingness to consider an alternate version of the gun violence awareness resolution she presented at the May 6 meeting. She observed that there was no place on the May 28 meeting agenda for the board to vote on a revised resolution.

Cotton refused to entertain St. John’s request, stating, “This is a time to make corrections to the minutes.”

“I’m not allowed to speak because you don’t like what I’m saying?” St. John asked him.

“No,” Cotton responded. “We have important business (to conduct).”

Fraser wasn’t the only resident to speak to the school board May 28 on the gun violence resolution issue.

“I think it’s shameful. … We are all community members who are responsible for the (safety) of these kids,” Michelle White, of Grosse Pointe Park, said.

Lauren Kaled, of Grosse Pointe Woods, co-founder of the North chapter of Students Demand Action, expressed disappointment.

“Every day I walk into the school I call home … and hope I will be able to walk out,” Kaled said. “Only in America do students run away from bullets at their graduation ceremonies. … We are kids, but we are taking action. You are adults — when will you?”

Some school officials responded during

Editor: David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com

Reporter: K. Michelle Moran | (586) 498-1047 | kmoran@candgnews.com

Sports: Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com

their comments at the end of the meeting, including Papas, who told Fraser, “My sincere — just — sadness and heartbreak over the loss of your son. I can’t imagine the pain.”

Worden, a prosecutor, spoke directly to Fraser as well.

“As a member of law enforcement, I know gun violence has touched so many lives,” Worden said. “I’m very sorry that our board did not recognize this very simple resolution that recognizes what an epidemic gun violence is.”

Grosse Pointe Public School Superintendent Andrea Tuttle addressed Fraser at the end of the meeting and also spoke with her privately afterward.

“There’s no words, but know that you were heard tonight,” Tuttle told her. “We all have the choice to wear orange. I’m going to wear orange.”

North students, along with community members, held events including a gun violence awareness panel discussion during Wear Orange Weekend June 7-9.

On June 6, state Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores — whose district includes the Grosse Pointes — met with member of North’s Students Demand Action group.

“I was humbled to meet with young advocates from Grosse Pointe North High School today to learn more about their experiences and discuss ways we can work together to build safer communities for all who call our state home,” Hertel said in a press release. “Their dedication, tenacity, and hope — even in the face of inaction from leaders who are supposed to represent their interests and look out for their well-being — is inspiring. I look forward to continuing our partnership as we strive to create a future free from gun violence.”

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

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GPCRDA to save money by switching insurance carriers this year

K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

CITY — Switching insurance carriers is going to save thousands for the Grosse Pointes-Clinton Refuse Disposal Authority.

The GPCRDA Board convened a special meeting June 6 in Grosse Pointe City for the purpose of evaluating quotes from their current insurance provider — the Michigan Municipal League Liability & Property Pool — and another provider, the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority. The board voted 4-0 in favor of MMRMA’s quote, for an annual premium of $8,186.

The MML’s premium, by contrast, would have been $16,076.

GPCRDA Board members Tom Jenny and Heather Toutant were unable to attend the special meeting.

“I’ve had good experiences with MML, but it’s hard to pass up that rate,” said CPA Lynn Gromaski, who handles the finances for the GPCRDA.

Gromaski said she decided to ask MMRMA for a quote this year just to be able to compare its rates with those of the MML.

“They’re another good municipal insurance company that I’ve had experience with

in the past,” Gromaski said of MMRMA. “And they were able to increase our coverage for cybersecurity, which we wanted.”

GPCRDA Board Chair Peter Randazzo praised Gromaski’s initiative in seeking a second quote.

“We’re getting increased cybersecurity and paying almost half the premium, thanks to the hard work of Lynn here,” Randazzo said after the meeting.

The maximum amount of cybersecurity coverage in the MMRMA proposal was 20 times that of the MML proposal.

The board needed to schedule a special meeting because its current insurance policy

is slated to expire June 30 and it doesn’t have another regular meeting until July 16, when it will meet in Grosse Pointe Park.

The GPCRDA had been a member of the MML’s liability and property pool since 1993. The GPCRDA handles trash disposal for the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods. Meetings alternate among the member communities.

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

13650 E. Eleven Mile Rd. Warren, MI

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

FARMS — Kids and seniors bonded over the universal thrill of yelling “bingo” and picking out prizes June 6 at The Helm at the Boll Life Center in Grosse Pointe Farms.

In what has become an annual tradition, second graders from Sarah Neely’s class at Maire Elementary School in Grosse Pointe City were paired with senior partners to play bingo.

“We’re trying to do more intergenerational programming,” Helm Executive Director Krista Siddall said. “It benefits our seniors in health outcomes and our kids in socialization and knowledge. It benefits our community because we’re raising kids that have an understanding of our history and respect for their elders and teaching them to be compassionate adults.”

Siddall said the smiles on the faces of the kids and the seniors said it all.

“They’re learning to work together,” Siddall said.

Neely said she started doing this about 15 years ago, when The Helm was known as Services for Older Citizens and it was housed in the Neighborhood Club, just around the corner from Maire. She said they used to do this several times a year, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become an annual event. The students also write letters during the year to Helm seniors.

“When I started it, I called it ‘Partners in Time,’” Neely said of her play on the phrase, “partners in crime.” “It actually winds up being the perfect combination. The kids like to help people. The seniors like to help them.”

The students — accompanied by Neely and some parent chaperones — still walk to meet up with the seniors, but now that

journey is about a mile, so they were grateful to have a pleasantly warm and sunny spring day for it.

The kids emerged with more than a colorful new Beanie Baby — the prizes for the students.

“I think it increases their empathy for others,” Neely said. “It also roots and connects them to the community. It opens up their mind to what a friend can be. … It’s really enriched the lives of both the children and the older citizens in our community.”

Connie Harris, of Roseville, one of the seniors, said she loved “everything” about playing bingo with the children.

“They’re wonderful kids,” Harris said. “They’re sweet, too.”

Senior Ethel Wilson, of Detroit — who was on a hot streak, winning multiple rounds of bingo — was even more enthused about being with the youngsters than about going home with an armful of prizes.

“I enjoyed it,” Wilson said. “It’s the best.”

The students had a great time, too.

Walt Miller, 8, discovered that his senior partner was a fellow resident of Fisher Road.

“I liked playing with Brian,” Miller said. “He was really nice. I liked learning about him.”

There’s a lot of tension on social media among the generations — Gen Z vs. the Millennials, the Millennials and Gen Z vs. the Baby Boomers, etc. — but none of that was evident at The Helm.

“We want it to be a win-win where we’re bringing our joy and they’re bringing their wisdom,” Neely said. “It’s a great situation.”

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

Students from Maire Elementary School team up with local seniors June 6 at The Helm at the Boll Life Center in Grosse Pointe Farms to play bingo and win prizes.

Photos by K. Michelle Moran

HOMES

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 ser-

See FLOODING on page 23A

Meet the Class of 2024

ABOVE: Sloane O’Neill performs “Both Sides Now,” written by Joni Mitchell, during Grosse Pointe North High School’s graduation ceremony June 3 on the North campus.

LEFT: The Grosse Pointe North Class of 2024 watches as fellow graduates cross the stage.

BELOW: Meredith Bayus delivers North’s commencement address.

ABOVE: Rheya Dixon raises an arm after giving a powerful performance of “I Believe” during North’s graduation.

LEFT: The Grosse Pointe South High School Class of 2024 leaves the building headed for the commencement ceremony on the front lawn June 6. RIGHT: South’s newly minted graduates engage in the annual cap toss at the end of the ceremony.

PHOTOS BY PATRICIA O’BLENES

ABOVE: Isabella Haindl, South’s senior class president, gives her address titled, “‘No’ is Not the End.” BELOW: South graduates turn their tassels.

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CRIME WATCH

Vehicle thieves break into park

PARK — Unknown suspects are said by police to have cut a hole in the Windmill Pointe Park fence in order to steal a red 2000 Chevrolet Sierra and a Bandit Industries woodchipper from the parking lot between the hours of 10 a.m. June 9 and 7:45 a.m. June 10. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Surveillance footage shows vehicle theft

PARK — A red Dodge Challenger with front end damage was seen on surveillance footage following a black 2009 Dodge Challenger after it was stolen from the street in the 800 block of Balfour Road at 6:15 p.m. June 12. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Detergent thieves slip away

WOODS — A pair of suspects are said in a police report to have stolen two large bottles of laundry detergent from the CVS store at 20460 Mack Ave. at around 5 p.m. June 10. Police said one of the suspects returned to the store and stole several additional smaller detergent bottles before both suspects left the scene in a red GMC pickup truck. Anyone with more information can call (313) 343-2400.

Suspect sought in larceny from vehicle

CITY — At around 6 p.m. June 15, an unknown person was seen fleeing from a vehicle parked in the 18000 block of Mack Avenue, where police said the suspect had stolen a bag of items that included an estimated $30 in change, vehicle documents, keys and work identification. The suspect is said to have fled northbound into Detroit. Anyone with more information can call (313) 8863200.

Trailer taken

PARK — An unknown suspect or suspects are said to have stolen a dump trailer from a home in the 800 block of Notting-

ham Road between the hours of 10 a.m. June 13 and 9 a.m. June 14. The trailer had an Apple AirTag on it, so it was tracked and recovered from a Detroit home by the Grosse Pointe Park Public Safety Department. An investigation was ongoing at press time. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Vehicle stolen with key

PARK — Police said an unknown suspect stole a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek from the driveway of a home in the 1000 block of Devonshire Road between 8 p.m. June 13 and 9:45 a.m. June 14. Police said the victim had left a key fob inside the vehicle. Using an app, police were able to track the vehicle to a location in Detroit, where they recovered it. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Vehicle stolen from hospital lot

WOODS — A gray 2015 Chrysler 300 was stolen from the Ascension St. John Hospital parking lot — where it was parked near row K — between the hours of 11 p.m. June 11 and 7:30 a.m. June 12. The victim said the vehicle was locked and he still had the keys. Anyone with more information can call (313) 343-2400.

Lawn equipment taken

WOODS — An unknown suspect or suspects are said to have stolen a leaf blower, bush trimmer and string trimmer from the bed of a pickup truck while it was parked in the 200 block of Stanhope Street between 12:30 p.m. and 1:24 p.m. June 13. The victim told police the equipment’s total value was roughly $1,700. Anyone with more information can call (313) 343-2400.

Valuables removed from vehicle

PARK — Police said an unknown suspect took a gray laptop computer, Panasonic audio recorder and digital tape measure from an unlocked vehicle while it was parked in a driveway in the 600 block of Westchester Road between the hours of 11:10 a.m. June 9 and 8:30 a.m. June 10. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Change taken

PARK — An unknown suspect is said to have stolen an estimated $5 in change

from a vehicle that was unlocked and parked in the driveway of a home in the 1100 block of Buckingham Road between the hours of 8 p.m. June 11 and 9:12 a.m. June 12. Anyone with more information can call (313) 8227400.

Bike stolen

PARK — Someone stole an Army green Schwinn Beach Cruiser bike from the backyard of a residence in the 1200 block of Maryland Street between the hours of 10

p.m. June 11 and 9:30 a.m. June 12. Anyone with more information can call (313) 8227400.

Another bike stolen

CITY — At around 6:20 p.m. June 15, an unknown suspect is said to have stolen an unlocked, dark gray Giant mountain bike from the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue in The Village. Anyone with more information can call (313) 886-3200.

— K. Michelle Moran

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Foundation contributes thousands to schools

The nonprofit Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education announced last month that it was giving $105,601 in grants to Grosse Pointe Public School System programs and initiatives for its spring 2024 grant cycle. The 24 grants include gifts through the foundation’s traditional biannual grants program, along with Social Emotional Encouragement and Development, or SEED, grants, which go toward programs for student mental and emotional well-being. Grants are distributed to every school and across age levels, benefitting literacy, science, fine arts and more.

“Every grant cycle brings fresh excitement for all of the wonderful things happening in our district that the GPFPE is able to support and enhance,” GPFPE grants Co-Chair Kathy Fisk said in a press release. “The depth and breadth of this spring’s grant recipients illuminate the many ways our teachers and administrators are working to support our students and create an inspiring and inviting learning environment for all of our students.”

Former Girl Scout returns to Mackinac

Carol Austerberry — née Hicks — returned to Mackinac Island to mark the 50th anniversary of Girl Scouts serving as the Mackinac Island Honor Guard June 15-17. Austerberry was a 14-year-old freshman at Grosse Pointe South High School and a member of one of the original troops to serve on the island in 1974.

“We knew we were special,” Austerberry said in a press release. “It was important to us to do it perfectly because we wanted to make sure other Girl Scouts would get the opportunity to do it after us.”

— K. Michelle Moran

Get In The Loop

Contract

from page 1A

Last year, the board and the union didn’t reach an agreement until Aug. 17 — two days after the old contract had expired, and less than two weeks before teachers were supposed to report to work Aug. 29. As talks dragged on all summer, dozens of teachers and several administrators left for other positions before the contract was settled.

As teachers, in matching red T-shirts, marched into the board meeting, their clapping nearly drowned out Board President Sean Cotton as he recited meeting rules for attendees and speakers.

District residents — some of whom wore red to show support for the teachers — called on the board to ink a new contract as soon as possible, before teachers left for positions elsewhere. In the current climate, there’s a shortage of teachers and administrators, meaning they can usually find jobs elsewhere in the region.

“Please pay our teachers a living wage,”

Grosse Pointe Woods resident Sarah Schro-

Portrait

from page 1A

but his wife of 68 years, Marlene, was in attendance for the portrait unveiling, joined by several of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“We were very happy with the way it turned out,” Marlene Boll said of The Helm. “It’s just a joy, seeing all of the people enjoying it. … It’s helped so many people.”

The three-story building — estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 square feet — opened as the new home for what was then known as Services for Older Citizens following renovations in June 2013.

The Helm started out as Services for Older Citizens in 1978. For decades, it didn’t have a permanent home, instead occupying space in school buildings and, for 10 years, the Neighborhood Club in Grosse Pointe City. Helm Executive Director Krista Siddall said the board in 2007 began looking for a building they could call their own. Henry Ford Health agreed to a low-cost, 30-year lease of the building at 158 Ridge, which had once been a residence for nurses.

“However, the building had been empty for years and needed a lot of work,” Siddall said. “John and Marlene Boll saw our vision. … If not for the Bolls and their commitment, we would not be here today.”

Their gift didn’t end with that dona-

In matching red T-shirts and carrying signs, a large group of Grosse Pointe Public School System teachers gathered outside Brownell Middle School June 12 to show their desire to get a new contract soon.

eder said.

Grosse Pointe Park resident Maurya Kay, who teaches in a different district, called for support of Grosse Pointe Public School System teachers as well.

“Your job is to nurture by attracting the best teachers and leaders, not drive them away,” Kay told the board.

Kay was among several residents who expressed alarm about the departure of all four of Grosse Pointe North High School’s top administrators at the end of this school

tion. Siddall said the Bolls have continued to support The Helm every year.

The Helm offers health and wellness classes, individual counseling with social workers on a range of issues, a medical loan closet, socialization opportunities and much more to the seniors in the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods. It receives some government and other grants, including Community Development Block Grants, but is otherwise solely supported by donations.

Installing the portrait of the Bolls just made sense to Helm officials.

“The Boll family has done so much, not only for The Helm, but for the entire community,” Helm Development Director Liz Johnson said.

Lisa Mower Gandelot, of Grosse Pointe Farms, who serves on The Helm board, said the Bolls “have been so wonderful to our metropolitan community and even the country” through their extensive philanthropic work. She said the role played by The Helm is evident every time she visits.

“What I love most about The Helm is coming in and seeing the joy on people’s faces,” Gandelot said.

The Helm’s home has a long and important history in the community. Formerly known as the Newberry Nurses Residence, the building was designed by well-known architect Raymond Carey and once housed about 20 nurses who worked at the neighboring former Cottage Hospital, which is

year — Principal Kate Murray, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Michelle Davis, Assistant Principal Geoffrey Young and Assistant Principal Katy Vernier. Only Vernier — who succeeds Walt Fitzpatrick as the principal at Kerby Elementary — is staying with the district.

Because of a decline in students — from 6,424 in the 2023 to 2024 school year to a projected student count of 6,333 in the 2024 to 2025 school year — the proposed budget is looking at reducing teaching

staff from the current figure of 479 to 461. GPPSS Superintendent Andrea Tuttle said that reduction “is primarily due to attrition” and really amounts to one layoff and some reductions in full-time equivalent staff. She said the district’s student/teacher ratio is expected to be 14/1 in the coming school year. That’s down from a ratio of 13/1 in the 2023 to 2024 school year, but Tuttle said it’s still below the state average of 17/1. She said the student/teacher ratio includes support staff and counselors, not just teachers.

The proposed budget doesn’t include any program or extracurricular cuts and, district leaders say, retains almost all the staff. It also includes step raises and a 1% salary increase. However, Tuttle said it will require the use of about $1 million in fund balance, which will reduce the fund balance to about 8.8%.

“Our salaries and benefits are competitive and continue to be competitive,” Tuttle said during a report to the board on the budgeting process June 12.

Cotton said the proposed budget reflects the district’s commitment to students and staff.

now operated by Henry Ford Health. The primary donor for the building was Helen Newberry Joy. Construction was completed in 1930, and a grand opening took place June 10, 1930.

Kristine Mestdagh, one of John and Marlene Boll’s daughters, remembered being with her parents when they first toured the building, before renovations began. Her father, who worked in construction, saw the challenge ahead.

“He saw the construction needs of this

building,” Mestdagh said. “He said, ‘This building needs a lot of TLC.’ He paused and said, ‘Mar, I think we can make a difference.’”

Mestdagh said The Helm is a place where people can ask for help “while experiencing compassion that protects their dignity.”

Mestdagh said she hopes The Helm remains “a place of belonging” for generations to come.

“It’s just been a magical place for so many people,” Mestdagh said.

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

Photos by K. Michelle Moran

Kristine Mestdagh and her mom, Marlene Boll, stand next to a portrait of John and Marlene Boll that will be displayed at The Helm at the Boll Life Center.

Flooding

from page 16A

vices 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.

Summer Nutritional Meals

Beacon Elementary Campus

19475 Beaconsfield • Harper Woods MI 48225

Summer Nutritonal Meals

TWO LOCATIONS

June 17, 2024-Aug 1, 2024

Monday - Thursday & Friday June 21

Breakfast 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM • Lunch 11:00AM - 1:00 PM

Closed Wednesday, June 19th (Juneteenth) and Thursday, July 4th (Independence Day)

EAT

WELL

Beacon Elementary Campus

Free Breakfast and Lunch will be served to all children 18 Years or Younger.

The Nutritonal Food Service aligns with Summer Programing sponsored by the Harper Woods School District.

Summer Nutritonal Meals will be offered to all children even if they do not partcipate in Summer Programs.

Harper Woods Secondary Campus

20225 Beaconsfield • Harper Woods MI 48225

Summer Nutritonal Meals

June 17, 2024- Aug 1, 2024

Monday - Thursday & Friday June 21

Breakfast 7:30 AM - 8:45 AM • Lunch 11:00AM - 1:00 PM

Closed Wednesday, June 19th (Juneteenth) and Thursday, July 4th (Independence Day)

Harper Woods Secondary Campus

Free Breakfast and Lunch will be served to all children 18 Years or Younger.

The Nutritonal Food Service aligns with Summer Programing sponsored by the Harper Woods School District.

Summer Nutritonal Meals will be offered to all children even if they do not partcipate in Summer Programs

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is available in languages other than English. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW • Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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Heating & Cooling

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JUNE 27

Book talk: Free event hosted by Veterans Committee, retired Brig. Gen. Doug Slocum discusses “Violent Positivity,” 6 p.m., The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, warmemorial.org

ONGOING

Farmers market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays until Sept. 14, parking lot on the southeast corner of Kercheval Avenue and Lakepointe Street in Grosse Pointe Park

Music on the Plaza: Free outdoor concert series, 7-8:30 p.m. June 20 (M1 Jazz Collective), June 27 (Mainstream Drive), July 11 (Detroit Made Band), July 18 (BandWagon)

and July 25 (Planet D Nonet), corner of Kercheval and St. Clair avenues in The Village business district in Grosse Pointe City, www.facebook.com/ thevillagegrossepointe

Teen Leadership Council: Meetings for grades 9-12 every first Wednesday of month, pizza and snacks provided, 6-7 p.m., Grosse Pointe Public Library - Woods Branch, 20680 Mack Ave., grossepointelibrary.org, (313) 640-4775

Book clubs: Nearly a dozen hosted by Grosse Pointe Public Library at various branches, restaurants and on Zoom, more at grossepointelibrary. org/book-clubs

Art classes: 10:30 a.m.-noon every first and third Tuesday of month for seniors, 6-8 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of month for veterans, The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, (313) 881-3454, grossepointeartcenter.org

‘Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971’: Works focus on films, filmmakers, actors and studios, on display until June 23, Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, dia.org

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

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.

Fight broken up

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Officers who were transporting someone to Ascension St. John Hospital for a psychological evaluation at around 1:50 a.m. June 1 sprang into action when they encountered a crowd of approximately 15 to 20 people outside the emergency room who police said appeared to be fighting and threatening to shoot each other. Helping Detroit police, officers from the City worked to diffuse the tense situation.

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.

Stolen vehicle suspect sought

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Police were looking for the person who stole a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox from a driveway in the 1900 block of Vernier Road sometime between the night of May 31 and 6:56 a.m. June 1.

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.

Bike missing

GROSSE POINTE PARK — An orange Giant Stance mountain bike was stolen from outside a garage in the 1100 block of

p.m.

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.

Damage to property reported

ST. CLAIR SHORES — A property damage report was made after an incident on May 16 in the 19000 block of Ridgemont Street.

An officer spoke with the victim, a 51-year-old woman, who stated her tenant, a 59-year-old man, advised her that an air conditioning unit was not working. When the HVAC company checked it out, they told her it was damaged by potential thieves and the water and power lines to the unit were cut and irreparable.

The unit was not removed from the ground. The victim was unsure of when the damage occurred and stated this might be the first time the tenant tried using the air conditioner this year.

Furniture theft reported

ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 7:37 a.m. on May 28, a report was made about a larceny that occurred in the 22000 block of Lanse Street.

An officer spoke to the victim, a 53-year-old man, who stated that his patio furniture valued at $2,000, was stolen. He left the location from May 22 to May 27. The day of the report, he noticed his patio furniture, a table and four chairs, was missing. He has insurance and video but stated the video did not capture the suspects.

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 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.

Vehicle flees police

EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, Eastpointe police officers on May 17 attempted to stop a gray Dodge Challenger and a white Dodge Charger that were driving together, citing civil infractions. Police initiated contact with them in the area of Gratiot Avenue and Toepfer Drive.

The driver of the Charger reportedly cooperated and pulled over upon being signaled by police. The driver of the Challenger, however, allegedly decided to flee. The driver of the Charger was issued civil infractions and released, while the driver of the Challenger was located a short time later and taken into custody, and the vehicle was impounded.

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office was going to review the case and possibly issue charges against the driver of the Challenger, a 22-year-old man from Detroit.

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-in-law’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.

Suspects reportedly steal woman’s wallet, spend $1,700

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — An officer from Shelby Township was dispatched to the 14000 block of Hall Road for a larceny complaint at 7:27 p.m May 7. The officer met with a woman who stated that while she was

shopper and a female shopper offering to help her. The victim stated that after a short conversation with the couple, she noticed that her wallet was missing from her purse. The Shelby Township Police Department detective bureau heard the call and responded to the Mall at Partridge Creek, because in similar incidents that had taken place in Shelby Township, the suspects had gone to Partridge Creek with stolen credit cards. The detectives just missed the suspects, as they reportedly had used the credit cards at the mall to charge $1,700. The detective bureau was continuing to investigate this incident.

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

Men

Alcoholic beverages stolen from gas station