Fraser roads to get $4M update in industrial park
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
FRASER — The passage of the 2025 budget at the state level netted Fraser funding for an overdue project.
During the appropriations process for the budget, District 11 state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt was able to secure $4 million in funding to repair roads in the Fraser Industrial Park.
“While state revenues may fluctuate from year to year, my commitment to supporting families across District 11 has never wavered,” Klinefelt is quoted as saying in a press release. “Included in this year’s budget are funds for practical yet transformative projects that will help us address long-standing issues and build up our region. By strengthening local infrastructure, we can make our roads safer, water cleaner, and communities more resilient.”
The area’s roads have extensive patching work throughout. However, even that fix is starting to wear away in many places.
In a later interview, Klinefelt said Fraser’s mayor advocated for the project and said the city did not have the money to cover the whole project.
“It’s a huge amount of money,” Fraser Mayor Michael Lesich said.
Fraser gets new full-time clerk, former clerk moves to part-time deputy role
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
FRASER — Fraser has a new clerk, but its last one isn’t going anywhere.
August Gitschlag was sworn in as Fraser’s new clerk at the City Council’s June 13 meeting. Cindi Greenia has stepped down
to deputy clerk. Gitschlag said this arrangement helped for an easy transition.
“The staff here has been nothing but wonderful and accommodating,” Gitschlag said. “We’re banging through all of our responsibilities with no hiccups so far.”
“We’re excited to have him and we know he’s going to do a great job,” Greenia said.
“I think he’s highly qualified and will do a good job to ensure our elections go off without a hitch,” Fraser Mayor Michael Lesich said.
Greenia is changing roles for personal reasons. She is currently running for Richmond Township’s supervisor seat as a Republican. She’s also the township’s treasurer.
If she wins the supervisor election, she said she plans to continue working in the deputy role.
Greenia helped with the hiring process to select the new clerk.
“He’s done this for quite a while and he’s very well versed with everything to do
Photo by Nick Powers
This photo shows a particularly rough section of Commerce Road in the Fraser Industrial Park. The city is set to get $4 million in state funding to put toward the repair of roads like this in the region.
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SECOND FRONT PAGE
3A/ FRASER-CLINTON CHRONICLE • JULY 17, 2024
Back to ‘Bath City’
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — It is Friday, May 17, and Lois Lombardo is in the fight of her life.
The owner of Olympia Salon & Spa on Cass Avenue is trying to work her new water pump in a shed on the other side of the city, but nothing is going right. She flips switches, turns valves and repositions a hose in hope of getting the pump to send its water to the surface.
Suddenly, a breakthrough: The pump roars to life and bathes Lombardo and the rest of the shed with dirt-brown water stink-
See BATH CITY on page 8A
OLD COOKBOOKS HOLD RECIPES, MEMORIES
I’ve been interested in the old, interesting and historical all my life.
I’ve been to Greenfield Village more times than I can count. I’m always stopping by the plaques around historical sites and my clothing style is much more vintage than the things my sisters or friends wear.
ALYSSA OCHSS
aochss@candgnews.com
Real Estate Advertising: Paula Kaspor pkaspor@candgnews.com candgnews.com facebook.com/candgnews @candgnews instagram.com/candgnews
I’ve joked around by lovingly calling myself the young grandma: an old soul, if you will.
My love for cooking and baking goes back as far as my love of history. I remember Saturday mornings spent rolling out biscuit dough on a wooden board called a Nudelbrett, and cold
winter days spent inside baking cookies and breads.
Days before Easter, I spent time making Chrusciki, Angel Wings, with my grandparents, with us kids taking on the task of rolling out the dough and my grandpa handling the hot oil. My grandma taught us the correct way
See COOKBOOKS on page 9A
Image provided by the Crocker House Museum and Gardens
The Park Hotel as depicted on a postcard from the early 20th century. Its location is currently home to the Park Place Towers and a garage housing the old hotel’s well.
Photo by Alyssa Ochss Cookbooks hold memories and generations of recipes for families and friends to enjoy.
Chippewa Valley puts non-homestead millage up for renewal
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Voters in the Chippewa Valley school district will soon be tasked with determining whether a key revenue source will be allowed to continue.
Chippewa Valley Schools has placed a proposal on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot asking voters to allow the district to renew its non-homestead millage. The text of the proposal reads as follows:
This proposal would renew and restore the authority of the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on all property, except principal residences (owner occupied homes) and other property exempt by law, for general operating purposes, which currently expires with the School District’s 2024 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks of up to 1 mill. This authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State.
Shall the limitation on the total amount
of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Chippewa Valley Schools, County of Macomb, Michigan, be increased in the amount of 19 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable annual levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of ten (10) years, 2025 to 2034, inclusive? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $16,500,000 during the 2025 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.
“(The millage rate) will stay exactly as it is now,” Chippewa Valley Schools Superintendent Ronald Roberts said. “So, with nonhomestead properties currently, these 18 mills they pay, and they’ve paid since 1994. A positive vote keeps it in place. It does not raise the taxes of those non-homestead properties. It does not raise taxes on people’s homes. It just remains the way it’s been.”
The millage will only apply to select properties in Clinton and Macomb townships. By definition, the millage will not be levied against owner-occupied homes
but commercial properties such as business properties, rental properties and vacant land. Second homes are affected by the millage, too. Whether residents of rental properties will have to pay the millage is up to individual landlords, though whether such rent-
ers are currently paying the existing millage is the best indicator of future costs.
“In general, I would say this allows the community to maintain a level of funding for the schools without impacting most See MILLAGE on page 22A
Photo by Dean Vaglia
A sign outside of the Chippewa Valley Schools administration building advertises school of choice programs.
Voters in the Chippewa Valley district will determine on Aug. 6 whether the district’s non-homestead millage can continue to be levied.
Macomb County Pride finds new home for fourth festival
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — Set to kick off its fourth annual festival, 2024 Macomb County Pride will be unlike anything that came before it.
Most notably, the event will take place in a slightly new venue this summer. Planned construction around Macomb Place and the Cherry Street Mall will move Macomb County Pride to North Main Street in Mount Clemens on Saturday, Aug. 17 from noon to 6 p.m.
“It will be right exactly where the courthouse is and will be going all the way down,” said Edward McClenney, Macomb County Pride festival committee chair. “Even though downtown has a lot of construction going on and revitalization, we’re going to utilize that long path on North Main Street.”
The move from Macomb Place to North Main Street was announced back at the March 18 Mount Clemens City Commission meeting with trustees voting 6-1 to approve the move. Working together to hold the event despite the expected construction (which has been delayed due to federal funding requiring additional steps before being released to the city) is the latest way the city and Macomb County Pride have worked together.
“It was a really easy process to work with them,” Mount Clemens Mayor Laura Kropp said. “They understand that the little bit of inconvenience that will be this year will be a great outcome for Mount Clemens in the future.”
According to McClenney, the city has worked with Macomb County Pride to provide generators, barricades and security via plainclothes Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
“From the previous years that I have been with the board, Macomb has been very supportive — especially Mount Clemens — of everything that we do,” McClenney said. “Even communities nearby like Sterling Heights, Warren and Eastpointe, all of those different local communities have been supportive in making sure that we have a phenomenal event.”
The temporary closure of the traditional event space in downtown Mount Clemens has affected other summer events in the city, but Kropp sees these shifts as new opportunities to assess how other places in the city can accommodate significant events.
“Mount Clemens is known for having a lot of events in the summer and what we’ve done is sought out other possible locations in downtown, which has actually presented itself as an opportunity,” Kropp said. “The businesses in those other locations — for example, Main Street, Walnut Street and the other parts of Macomb Place that aren’t under construction — all those businesses have felt great that we’re moving the events closer to their establishments and it’s given them an opportunity to benefit from the crowds going to those locations.”
Events like Macomb County Pride will test the viability of hosting events elsewhere in the city and maybe even see events permanently move into the new locations. As for Kropp, she plans to see the results of Macomb County Pride on North Main Street for herself.
“I love it,” Kropp said, confirming her plans to attend this year’s event. “It’s one of my favorite events.”
Along with the shift in location, McClenney made it clear that Pride attendees can expect the events and amenities known from prior years as well as plenty of new attractions.
“We can expect to have our drag queen show as usual, a drag queen story time and various performers of the LGBTQIA community,” McClenney said. “We’re going to have food trucks galore, so different food trucks and vendors are going to be there. We hope that people bring their kids and families out to celebrate … What I’m excited about this year is having a live DJ that is going to be there as an emcee and keeping everyone entertained the entire time that they’re there from live music to mixed music and all types of things.”
The fourth annual festival shows how much the Macomb County Pride organization has grown since it was formed.
“Macomb County Pride really started as sort of a casual conversation between a couple of folks who recognized that there wasn’t a place or time or a way for the LGBTQ community to come together in Macomb County,” said Phil Gilchrist, vice president and a founder of Macomb County Pride. “If you look at some other areas, they have establishments where people go like bookstores or coffee houses or gay bars or there’s other events like Pride festivals in other areas, and we didn’t really see any of that here in Macomb County.”
NEWS & NOTES
Partridge Creek to get more new tenants
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Fitness enthusiasts take note: The Mall at Partridge Creek is set to have something for you. Powerhouse Gym and Dick’s Sporting Goods House of Sport are slated to be the mall’s newest tenants.
The Powerhouse Gym will be unique, taking the large space that formerly housed Carson’s at the mall. House of Sport, according to Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon, will offer equipment for sale and facilities to try it out.
Cannon said, while the final contracts have not been signed, he’s “thrilled” for the new businesses to arrive at Partridge Creek.
“This is a destination type of mall,” Cannon said. “Both ends of the mall now will have entertainment that will bring people to help the smaller retailers who are trying to make a go of it. It’s going to bring a lot of traffic.”
Spencer’s, a store known for its shirts and novelty gifts, is also slated to arrive at Partridge, according to the mall’s website. Other recent tenants at the mall include restaurants HopCat and Andiamo’s Pasta and Chops.
Powerhouse Gym is set to open a location where Carson’s was formerly located.
Sign of the times
Path over Clinton River completes nonmotorized trail loop
The new path spans from the township’s Civic Center to George George Park. Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon highlighted one improvement in particular.
“Widening Cass Avenue and the bridge over the river for automobile traffic was a game changer, and now the vision for a safe route for pedestrians is complete,” Cannon said.
The path completes the township’s trail loop. Someone riding a bike could now travel on Romeo Plank to Budd Park, hook up with the Don Green Way Nature Trail to Canal Park, connect with Clinton River Road to the new path, head east through George George Park, travel back through the Arboretum and back to the Civic Center.
The project was funded by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments via a Transportations Alternatives Program grant through the state.
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Photo by Nick Powers
Photo by Nick Powers
Photo provided by the Clinton Township Communications Department
From left, Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon, Department of Public Services Supervisor Mary Bednar, Clerk Kim Meltzer, Trustee Tammy Patton, police officer Joe Biggers and Trustee Mike Keys celebrate the nonmotorized bike path spanning from the Civic Center to George George Park.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A new biking and walking path, dedicated June 26, connects parks in the township.
Clinton Township resident arraigned in connection with double shooting
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A Clinton Township man was arraigned July 9 in connection with a shooting that left one dead and one critically injured.
Corey Deyshaun Cook, 24, allegedly shot his mother, Yolanda Cook, 49, and his 27-year-old brother July 5. His mother was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother is currently on life support at a local hospital, according to police and the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
Following the shooting July 5, Corey Cook went to the Clinton Township Police Department to report the shooting, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. He was detained and officers reportedly found the mother and brother when performing a welfare check.
Corey Cook was charged with firstdegree murder, which carries a life sentence without parole. He is also charged with two
counts of felony firearm, a two-year mandatory felony, and assault with intent to murder, a potential life felony.
He was arraigned in 41B District Court in Clinton Township by Magistrate Ryan Zemke. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Sierawski appeared at the hearing to argue for the highest possible bond. Zemke set bond at $1 million cash or surety.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 22 in the court of Judge Carrie Lynn Fuca.
“Our office is committed to seeking justice for the victims and their family,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a press release. “We will ensure that the accused is held fully accountable for this alleged premeditated act of violence.”
At press time, Cook’s attorney, Robbie D. Lang, had no comment about the case.
Man fatally shot, another stabbed in separate incidents at apartment complex
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Two violent incidents happened at the same apartment complex, in the area of 16 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway, around the July 4 holiday.
Man is killed
A man died following a shooting on July 4 at the Peachtree Apartments.
At 12:45 a.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired at the apartment complex. One man was found dead at the scene.
The man was later identified as Jaret Mays, 35, on social media.
Mays worked as a nurse and owned a shoe cleaning business called SHOElution. He also was an actor. He was set to be in an upcoming independent film called “Caught in the Crossfire.”
The person who called in the shooting did not see a suspect and was not able to give a description, according to a police report of the incident.
A candlelight vigil was held for Mays in Detroit, at the corner of Lenox and Linville, on July 6.
Those with information on the shooting can contact the Clinton Township Police Department at (586) 493-7839.
Woman arraigned after allegedly stabbing boyfriend
A Clinton Township woman was arraigned in 41B District Court July 5 on charges of allegedly stabbing her boyfriend at his home at the Peachtree Apartments.
Jennifer Marie Hayes, 29, allegedly stabbed her boyfriend July 3. He’s expected to recover from the injuries, according to a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
Hayes was charged with assault with intent to murder, which is a felony that carries up to a life sentence. She also faces an aggravated domestic violence charge, a misdemeanor that carries up to a one-year sentence. She was arraigned July 5 by Magistrate Ryan Zemke in 41B District Court in Clinton Township. Hayes’ bond was set at $250,000 cash or surety only.
“Domestic violence needs to stop,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a press release. “Violence has no place in our community.”
Hayes’ attorney, Sherman Abdo, did not provide a comment at press time.
Hayes is set to appear in 41B District Court July 15 for a probable cause hearing in front of Judge Sebastian Lucido.
EXPIRES: 8/31/24
EXPIRES: 8/31/24
EXPIRES: 8/31/24
Hayes
Cook
Bath City
ing of rotten eggs, a scent that hangs in the air for the next hour. From the senses alone, it is hard to believe anyone could find value in extracting such a liquid, but Lombardo knows what she has. It is the reason she came to Mount Clemens, and it is the key to how she plans to revive the century-old industry that put Mount Clemens on the map.
Welcome to Bath City
Mount Clemens is known as Bath City, or at least it is to its residents. Anyone trying to hunt down the signs of a citywide bathing industry have to look hard to find anything beyond baked-in echoes to verify this odd claim to fame, and even then, all they have to work with is a preserved pump in Clemens Park and a historical marker on the east side of Select Specialty Hospital. For something that the city clings to as its identity, the lacking modern footprint of the bath industry almost seems inscrutable. But in some ways, it is fitting that an industry that began as a boom would leave so little behind.
In the 1870s, speculators came to Mount Clemens on the hunt for oil. Their drills found murky liquid beneath the city, but not the sweet crude they hoped for.
“We did not have oil, but we did have some amazing mineral water that had so many different minerals in it,” said Beverly Bishop, a Crocker House Museum docent.
The Original was opened in 1873 by physician Henry Taylor, who capitalized on the interest kicked off by local flour mill owner Dor Kellogg, who attributed his cured eczema to bathing in the water in 1870, and by physician Abner Hayward, who prescribed baths to patients with rheumatism. As word spread of the city’s healing waters, more bathhouses sprung up and more people came seeking treatment. With recommendations calling for people to regularly bathe in the waters, guests would book nearly monthlong stays in local hotels, prompting the creation of a hospitality industry featuring restaurants, big bands, symphonies, theaters and other things to keep the guests entertained throughout their stay.
And if the idea of a month-long hotel stay featuring daily spa visits and regular entertainment sounds expensive, that is because it was. Bishop says it cost 75 cents to take a bath in 1913, or about $24 when adjusted for inflation. Add in the costs of the hotel stays and nightly shows and the ideal Bath City visit begins to snowball into an expensive endeavor.
“It was kind of ritzy, and you had to have a whole 21 days of vacation time,” Bish-
Mineral composition of the water
The top eight most common minerals in Mount Clemens mineral bath water, measured by grains within one gallon:
• Sodium chloride, 5713.7
• Calcium chloride, 4678.8
• Magnesium chloridem 2406.8
• Potassium chloride, 468.9
• Calcium sulfate, 91.1
• Magnesium bromide, 71.1
• Sodium sulfate, 40.6
• Ammonium chloride, 10.3
— Source: Mount Clemens 175th anniversary pamphlet, published by the city in 1993 and provided by the Crocker House Museum & Gardens
op said. “So I would say it would have been a higher class (activity), but anybody could sign up for it.”
Key to the rise of the bath houses was the city’s rail connection and proximity to Detroit. That allowed Mount Clemens to capitalize on the resource and gain the clientele and popularity that eluded other communities with mineral water springs that were simply too remote.
“We were lucky because there were trains that came from New York City across to Detroit and then we had spurs that went straight up to Mount Clemens,” Bishop said. “Thomas Edison was really one of the first people working that spur in 1859 and it was like a hub just above Detroit, and much nicer than Detroit was at the time … Midland tried to do that, but nobody could get there because there were no trains. They had to go overland by buggy and there were no roads for cars when they came in, so Midland went the pharmaceutical route and Dow Chemical ended up using the mineral water for their purposes.”
An exact count of how many bathhouses existed is hard to determine. The nature of the industry meant many of the houses would pop up and go out of business fairly quickly with the only solid evidence of a bath’s existence being advertisements and whichever ledgers and letters have been preserved from over 100 years ago. A 1993 pamphlet about the industry printed for the 175th Mount Clemens anniversary places 11 baths within the city’s limits, including the Saint Joseph Sanitarium, now known as Select Specialty Hospital.
Ownership of bath houses was fairly diverse, with Black resident George Hutchinson opening the Eureka on Welts Street near Clemens Park, a decision believed to be attributed to a 1905 news story about a Black university graduate being refused ser-
Cookbooks
from page 3A
to slice the fine dough and if we were using too much or too little powdered sugar. The more powdered sugar, the better. It should have come as no surprise to anyone in my family when I started frequenting estate sales, I started collecting recipe boxes and vintage cookbooks. What started as four or five recipe boxes from an estate sale near Alpena turned into a hobby of collecting the old spiral-bound cookbooks from churches, cultural centers and other clubs.
I love seeing the recipes made with love and hard work by grandparents, new moms, husbands of the ladies of the groups and even pastors printed in the books. Depending on what year they were made, the words were either typed by typewriter or on a computer. It’s interesting to see how times have changed and how trends have come and gone, how society learned through the ages and the new knowledge found every decade was depicted in their recipes. The oldest cookbook I have is a University of Michigan alumni cookbook from 1938. The recipes called for lard and liver — items rarely used in my own kitchen.
But the reason I love collecting cookbooks are the memories attached to them.
I’ve been going to St. Blase Catholic Church ever since I was young. I started singing in the choir as a young tween and eventually graduated to the older choirs where I more often than not played my flute in the back with my fellow flutists or by myself.
At an estate sale I visited in the spring, I found a cookbook from the parish. I interviewed Mary Dumm, pastoral associate, about the cookbook from spring of 2000. She said that she and the Rev. Randall Philipps, known as Father Randy throughout the parish, were not yet at the church when the cookbook was created, but they were there for the second cookbook in 2006.
When she opened the cookbook, she immediately recognized many of the names including one parish member who she calls one the biggest bakers.
“She brings us stuff every weekend,” Dumm said.
Dumm said the cookbooks are printed as fundraisers and the parish doesn’t host a lot of fundraisers by itself.
“(The year) 2000 was a big year so they collected the people’s recipes. For 2006, we were going to Rome,” Dumm said. “And so, to offset the cost for choirs to go sing for the
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Holy Father, one of the fundraisers they did was a cookbook.”
Dumm also said there were a lot of the same people who contributed to both cookbooks. She sees some of the same people who contributed around the parish.
“Obviously, they’ve aged 23 years since they did it,” Dumm said. “But a lot of them are still here and some have passed and some, I know, have moved on in life. You know, they’ve moved north, they moved away for work.”
Before my family came to St. Blase, when I was around 12 or 13 years old, my dad’s family went to the parish when he was a kid. My family’s name is on one of the windows enclosing a small courtyard saying that they contributed to the church.
Dumm said it’s been interesting to see families grow up over the 21 years she’s been there. She said that they started marrying those they’ve baptized.
“It’s kind of fun to watch it all transition from one piece of life to the other,” Dumm said.
Dumm said there are a few recipes that have carried over from the 2000 cookbook to the one printed in 2006.
“What’s interesting as I look through these recipes is how they present an era or a way of cooking,” Dumm said. “There are
things in here that I would never think to make in a certain way.”
Dumm said they would absolutely put out another cookbook if the times called for it.
“I watched how they did in 2006, it’s a lot of work to put it together,” Dumm said. “It would have to be an event that would be worthy of it.”
Around the same time I joined the kid’s choir at St. Blase, I joined the Carpathia Club’s Kindergruppe, a German folk dance group for kids, celebrating the heritage of club’s members. Through this group I’ve met many lifelong friends, and we grew up together.
I’ve known Monica Forest, a club member, and her daughters since I joined the group and Forest knew my dad long before that. My dad grew up dancing in the club’s groups for kids and teens, which was different from many of his peers growing up in the 80s.
The Carpathia Club also published cookbooks: one in 2001 that’s been on a shelf in my basement for a very long time, and one in the 1980s that Forest let me borrow. They were both created and published by the club’s Frauengruppe headed by Ierene Dietz, the current group leader.
See COOKBOOKS on page 13A
Bath City
vice by the city’s baths. Julia Miller Thome operated the Monroe Hotel and Plaza Bath House after her brother, Fred, died in 1923. Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, several Jewish New Yorkers made the trip to Mount Clemens, took ownership of bathhouses and built a Jewish community in the city. Mount Clemens was the Bath City, and everyone wanted their share as either a bather or an operator.
The tradition continues
Lombardo, who wanted to carry on the bathing tradition, was attracted to the mystique of the medicinal Mount Clemens waters in 1998.
“I had always wanted to own a salon and spa,” Lombardo said. “I had no experience in owning a business, but this was my dream, and I was very drawn to Mount Clemens. I grew up in St. Clair Shores, but I had always heard about Mount Clemens’ history with the baths and the hotels, and I thought Mount Clemens was where I was supposed to be. I just knew it.”
Lombardo opened up the Olympia Salon & Spa — a name derived from one of the major baths of the peak era — originally on Main Street, keeping mineral baths as part of her offerings from day one. Being the only bath house in town was novel for Lombardo’s Olympia as the industry was well dead by the turn of the millennium. While the rise of pain medication is attributed as one of the reasons for the industry’s decline, Bishop knows the exact day the fate of the baths was sealed: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929.
“When the stock market crashed in 1929 and we went into a severe depression, they started closing down baths and hotel rooms because they couldn’t rent them,” Bishop said. “People weren’t coming up. They didn’t have disposable income. Everybody was looking for different ways at that time, and that was the big demise. Oct. 29, 1929, was the death knell for Mount Clemens.”
World War II necessitated a shift to manufacturing in Mount Clemens, with industry quickly overtaking hospitality, all while bath houses were left with dwindling patronage. Owners would leave their failing houses to rot, letting fires consume buildings and run off with the insurance payout. Fewer and fewer bath houses and wells remained in operation. Some wells were filled and capped with concrete. Others were built over and rendered inaccessible. Virtually all of them were made inactive by the 1970s.
“When the smell evaporated from
Mount Clemens, you knew it was gone,” Bishop said. “Up until then you knew it was there and that bath continued, so it definitely continued though the 1960s — and then it was done … It went from 1930-1960 limping along, and then it ended; the smell went away.”
One well, however, survived the decline. The Park Hotel’s well, once controlled by businesswoman Julia Miller Thome, changed hands over the years before landing in the control of Susan Gans. Born in Detroit and a retail broker in the BirminghamBloomfield area, Gans acquired the Park well in the 1990s and used it to build the Vitl Waters skincare products company.
Gans held her cosmetic products to a high standard, requiring the significant use of the mineral water as an ingredient in her products due to the medicinal legacy of the water. Lisa Saylor, former Vitl Waters director of sales, says a major cosmetics company tried to buy out Vitl from Gans, but the sale was called off at the last minute when the contents of the products were in question.
“It was a pretty significant deal, and when it got right down to a couple days before they were closing on a deal, the one question she had been asking them was how much of the water they were going to be putting into each product,” Saylor said. “They had delayed an answer and eventually came down to the end, and they answered they were going to put a drop from a dropper (into each product) and put Vitl Waters on the label, and she turned down a deal that could’ve changed the business. She said no because she understood the value and the impact of what this product had done for people, and she wasn’t willing to tarnish the name because someone else thought it would be a good idea to put our name on something nobody was going to feel a difference in.”
Gans and Lombardo were close colleagues. Olympia Salon & Spa — which moved in 2007 to a building at 117 Cass Avenue that is from the city’s bath era and resembles the original Olympia — bought water from Vitl for use in its mineral baths, which consist of a 50-50 mineral-to-tap water combination. When Gans died in 2022, Lombardo was the most obvious choice to take over the company and the deed to the Park Hotel well.
“It’s been very exciting for Lois to take over, especially because she had a longstanding relationship with Sue and with Vitl Water,” Saylor said. “She understood the benefits, which I think is why there is so much value in the fact that she is picking up the torch and keeping it going, because they really are great products, and the history of the
THERAPEUTIC SALT ROOM
with clerking,” she said. “He wasn’t going to need a lot of training. He was going to be able to hit the ground running.”
The position itself is nothing new to Gitschlag. He was the clerk in Hamtramck for eight years and, most recently, was Clawson’s clerk for three years. He said he applied to the post in Fraser around the same time he took the Clawson gig in 2021.
“It seemed there was a lot of turmoil at the time,” he said about why he didn’t take the position in Fraser then.
As for long-term goals, Gitschlag wants to look at the city’s charter and see if a commission can be set up. He’s also looking at a “total overhaul” of the city’s zoning ordinance.
Gitschlag, a Michigan State University alumnus, started out in politics working for U.S. Rep. David Bonior. When Bonior retired, Gitschlag went on to work in Macomb County’s elections department in 2002. The part he enjoys most about being a clerk is the excitement, spontaneity and the interactions with the public.
“I love working with people,” Gitschlag said. “I love teaching people about the election process. I love it when people call with questions because they see so much stuff on TV and get overwhelmed by the election noise. I love chatting with them with a smile and explaining how things really work. I get a kick out of that.”
The August primary has gone well so far according to Gitschlag and Greenia.
“Smooth as can be, no issues at all,” he said. “After the August election is concluded, I’ll be the only clerk in the state to run an election with all three voting machines in the state: Dominion, Hart and the ES & S.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Screenshot taken from Fraser City Council meeting broadcast Fraser City Clerk August Gitschlag is sworn in by Cindi Greenia, the city’s previous clerk, at a June 13 Fraser City Council meeting.
Man shot at following road rage incident
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A man driving a Chrysler Town and Country minivan was shot at by the driver of a red GMC SUV July 5. The incident happened while the drivers were traveling eastbound on 19 Mile Road near Hayes Road.
This all stemmed from road rage, the Town and Country driver reportedly told police. The driver reportedly changed lanes and was pursued by the shooter at a high rate of speed. The shooter then tried to use a maneuver to spin out the van. The Town and Country driver showed a middle finger and the suspect threw an unidentified object at his van. When the Town and Country driver threw water on the suspect’s SUV, the van driver heard a loud sound. He was not able to identify the suspect.
The man who was shot at was the only occupant of the vehicle and was not injured during the incident. The police report states that a bullet hole was found on the rear passenger seat. Those with information can contact the Clinton Township Police Department at (586) 493-7856.
— Nick Powers
Cookbooks
from page 9A
Forest is a new member of the group, and she said the club relied on the ladies.
“They did all of the Kipful baking for festivals and all the strudel baking for events,” Forest said. “If we had a banquet, the ladies were the ones that baked the torten that were served.”
Forest said she guesses that the cookbooks were printed because they got so many requests for the recipes served at events. She recalled a walnut torte served that had a walnut sponge cake and chocolate mocha buttercream.
“It’s famous, right? So tell me how many thousands of times they got requested for that recipe?” Forest said. “So it’s in here.”
The recipes are passed down through generations of families.
“People who don’t even know their history of that region say, ‘Oh, my gosh. My grandmother made that cookie. We called it a Kipful,’” Forest said.
She went on to explain that when she heard the word Kipful she pictured a savory bread roll shaped like a crescent, but the person was talking about a nut cookie. She said a friend of the family said that her grandmother used to make the cookies.
“It was from her oma, right, and they didn’t even realize it’s such a cultural, regional recipe,” Forest said.
Sometimes, grandparents cook with measurements that aren’t precise. A lot of times it’s “a little bit of this and a little bit of that.” Forest said there is a little bit of that shown in the cookbook.
“Because they’re trying their best, they’ll say, ‘OK, a half a cup plus two tablespoons and a teaspoon,’” Forest said. “Because they’re trying to get it (right).”
She added that the recipes could differ due to humidity and that there are descriptions such as “until it looks like oatmeal” or “until it looks right.” Forest found that they were right as she was making the recipes.
For some people, the recipes are one of the memories they have of their grandparents.
The future generations are carrying on the recipes in the club, Forest said. She also said it’s one of the things that’s hard to do digitally.
“I can look something up on Pinterest and it looks beautiful, and I can try,” Forest said. “But it’s different, then, when you go to an event and a lady brings these fabulous cookies and you talk about it. It’s like, it connects you so much more than a picture and a telephone.”
I think of collecting these recipe books as collecting pieces of the people who created them. I don’t know what their life was like, but I get to see a little slice of it through the recipes they create and the ones they shared so future generations can carry on their traditions.
Cooking is a way I show my love to my friends and family and to have the opportunity to share in their recipes is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
After the second or third time making Chrusciki with my grandmother, she asked why we needed to cook with her if we already had the recipe. When I heard these words, I thought it wasn’t about the recipe itself, but the time spent with her that truly mattered.
Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
VOTERS TO CONSIDER PRIMARY CANDIDATES, MILLAGE RENEWAL
In the Chronicle’s coverage area, voters will select candidates for various offices in federal, state, county and local primary elections on Aug. 6. Voters in the Chippewa Valley Schools district will also be asked to consider an operating millage renewal. Candidates were asked, in 75 words or fewer, to state their top goal(s) if elected. If a candidate went over the word limit, (…) replaces the rest of the answer. (I) indicates the candidate is an incumbent. The answers are printed verbatim except where material is omitted due to personal attacks or items we know to be false or that are blatant misrepresentations. Candidates running unopposed during the primary election appear listed by name and party only. Those candidates will be afforded an opportunity to submit a candidate profile prior to the general election in November.
U.S. Senate
Two candidates are running for the Democratic nomination and four candidates are running for the Republican nomination to compete for one six-year term in November.
Democrat
Hill Harper Age: 58
Occupation: Actor, Author, Activist Municipality of residence: Detroit
For how long: 8 Years
Online campaign information: www.hillharper.com/
Education: Harvard Law School J.D. Cum Laude, 1992
• John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University M.A. with Honors, Public Administration,1992
• Brown University B.A. Magna Cum Laude, Economics/Sociology (Valedictorian) 1988
• US Marine Corps OCS, Platoon Leaders Class 1, Honors Graduate, Quantico, VA 1986
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: As your U.S. Senator, my top goals would be ensuring universal healthcare for every American, safeguarding reproductive rights for all, enacting common sense gun reform to enhance public safety, reducing car insurance rates to ease financial burdens, increasing funding for education to improve our schools, and passing the PRO Act to protect workers’ rights and strengthen unions. These priorities reflect my commitment to creating a fairer, healthier, and safer society for everyone in our state.
Democrat
Elissa Slotkin
Age: 47
Occupation: U.S. Representative (MI-07) Municipality of residence: Holly
For how long: Grew up in Michigan; I now live on my family farm Online campaign information: elissaslotkin.org
Education: Cornell University - College of Agriculture and Life Science, Bachelor’s Degree and Columbia University - School of International and Public Affairs, Master of International Affairs
Previously and currently held elected offices: U.S. Representative (Formerly MI-08, now MI-07 due to redistricting):
Top goals: My number one priority is to make it easier for Michiganders to get into the middle class. Michigan invented the middle class by maintaining a strong union presence and making investments in small businesses. We can keep people there by reducing healthcare costs, putting Americans on the path to homeownership and making more critical items in America. I am committed to restoring the national standard set by Roe, and ensuring voting rights for every American.
Republican Justin Amash
Age: 44
Occupation: Lawyer and small business
owner
Municipality of residence: Cascade Charter Township
For how long: 20+ years in Cascade. I’ve lived my whole life in Michigan. Online campaign information: www.justinamash.com
Education: A.B., Economics, University of Michigan; J.D., University of Michigan Law School
Previously and currently held elected offices: U.S. Representative, 2011-2021; Michigan State Representative, 2009- 2010
Top goals: My priorities are to follow the Constitution, protect everyone’s rights, uphold the Rule of Law, restore representative government, read the bills, stop governing by emergency, balance the budget, defend economic freedom, end the forever war, and oppose the surveillance state.
The ballot proposal listed below mirrors the language on file with county elections officials.
Republican Sherry O’Donnell
Age: 62
Occupation: Physician/ Business owner private medical practice
Municipality of residence: Stevensville; Berrien County
For how long: 24 years
Online campaign information: Docsherry2024.com
Education: Bachelor Degrees in Biology and Chemistry/Minor in Psychology-Hastings College, NE
Doctor of Osteopathy: College of Osteopathic Medicine OK State University: Tulsa, OK
Ministerial Certificate: Biblical studies: Victory Bible Institute, Tulsa, OK
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: Securing the Borders and Inflation
Failure to secure our borders has many consequences. It jeopardizes public safety and national security. It is worsening our inflation. It also diminishes the value of citizenship in our nation.
Dr. O’Donnell has been to the border and is endorsed by Tom Homan, former director of I.C.E under President Trump.
We must enact a balanced budget and stop reckless spending and entitlements. Dr. O’Donnell signed the “No New Tax” pledge
Republican Sandy Pensler
Age: 67
Occupation: Manufacturer and economist. Owner of Pensler Capital and Korex Companies
Municipality of residence: Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
For how long: No answer given. Online campaign information: sandypensler.com
Education: Sandy worked his way through Yale University where in just four years he earned a B.A. in Chemical Engineering, a B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in
Economics – receiving high honors in all degrees. He received his law degree, with honors, from Harvard.
Previously held and currently held elected offices: No answer given.
Top goals: Restore moral direction to our decision making. Spend only on what we need not on what we want. This will reduce the deficit, inflation and interest rates. Rely on market mechanisms and competition to solve problems rather than government directives. Support decisions based on merit not skin color or creed. In foreign policy, weakness begets aggression. Stop funding terrorists if you do not want terrorism. Stop illegal immigration stone cold -no benefits except for legals.
Republican Mike Rogers
Age: 61
Occupation: Candidate for U.S. Senate, Army Veteran, Former Congressman, State Senator, and FBI Special Agent.
Municipality of residence: Brighton, MI
For how long: Nearly 50 years Online campaign information: rogersforsenate.com
Education: Adrian College and the University of Michigan
Previously and currently held elected offices: U.S. Representative (2001-2015), Michigan State Senator (1995-2000)
Top goals: Families are struggling under the current administration and are desperately in need of relief from the high costs of gas and groceries. As a Congressman, I earned a reputation as someone who got results for Michiganders by working across the aisle, and in the Senate, I’ll bring my experience to slash inflation, lower the cost of living for families, and secure our southern border to stop the flow of crime and deadly drugs.
Harper
Slotkin
Amash
O’Donnell
Pensler
Rogers
Election
U.S. House of Representatives District
10
Five candidates, including one write-in candidate, are running for the Democratic nomination and one candidate is running for the Republican nomination to compete for one two-year term in November.
Democrat
Emily Busch Age: 52
Occupation: Running for office full time after 30 years working in the business sector doing sales and leading professional development initiatives
Municipality of residence: Village of Oxford, Oakland County
For how long: I’ve lived in Oakland County for 30 years
Online campaign information: emilyformichigan.com
Education: B.A. in Biology, Indiana State University; M.S. in Management, Strategy & Leadership, Michigan State University
Previously and currently held elected offices: n/a
Top goals: My son ran for his life from a school shooter, so for me, keeping our families safe and standing up for our rights is personal. In Congress, I will fight for your kids just as hard as I do my own, fight for commonsense gun safety solutions, protect abortion rights, safeguard Social Security and Medicare, lower costs, and make our economy work better for Michigan families.
Democrat
Carl J. Marlinga Age: 77
Occupation: Attorney (retired Judge)
Municipality of residence: Sterling Heights
For how long: 44 years
Online campaign information: www.marlinga4congress.com
Education: Graduate University of Michigan Law School, 1971; Graduate University of Detroit, summa cum laude, 1968. Previously and currently held elected offices: Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney, 1985-2004; Macomb County Probate Judge, 2013-2017; Macomb County Circuit Court Judge, 2017-2022.
Top goals: I have four goals: (1) Protecting our Great Lakes. I oppose drilling for oil in Lake St. Clair and I want to increase
the budget for the EPA. (2) Easing the cost of living. Big Oil and the OPEC countries cannot get away with gouging us at the gas pump. (3) Defending women’s rights, including reproductive health care. (4) Saving Democracy. Every vote should count, and the electoral college should be abolished.
Write-in Democrat
Rhonda Powell
Age: 54 years old
Occupation: Nonprofit Director
Municipality of residence: Mount Clemens
For how long: 23 years
Online campaign information: www.Write-inRhondaPowell.com
Education: BA Community Service, Siena Heights University, MS Human Service, Capella University
Previously and currently held elected offices: N/A
Top goals: Rhonda Powell is a native of Macomb County, a proven leader and advocate for people of the 10th Congressional District, that Washington continues to leave behind. She will fight to ensure pre-K for all children, affordable housing, broad investment in small business development and will help working families not just get by but get ahead. Use the power of the Pen for Change in District 10 and write RHONDA POWELL in!
Democrat
Tiffany Tilley
Age: 47
Occupation: Realtor
Municipality of residence: West Bloomfield
For how long: Two years.
Online campaign information: www.tiffanytilleyforcongress.com
Education: Rochester College (Rochester University), I received a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Communications; University of Detroit Mercy I received an MBA geared towards finance and international business. Previously and currently held elected offices: I am currently a statewide elected official representing Michigan. I ran in 2018 on the democratic ticket for the State Board of Education receiving almost 1.8M votes. I serve as the Co-Vice President on the Board.
Top goals: Our top priorities are WEE:
Women’s Rights, Education, and the Economy.
Women’s Rights: Ensuring equal pay, reproductive rights, and protections against gender-based violence.
Education: Investing in quality and affordable education for all, reducing class sizes, equitable funding, increasing access to early childhood programs, and increasing support for teachers as well as support staff.
Economy: Promoting job creation, ensuring fair wages for all workers, supporting small businesses with grants, loans, capital funds, and earned tax incentives.
Democrat
Diane Young Age: 59
Occupation: Fiduciary Financial Planner and small business owner
Municipality of residence: Warren
For how long: 7 years
Online campaign information: www.dianeyoungforcongress.com
Education: Stony Brook University - B.A. Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: My top goals for congress are protecting Social Security and Medicare by fully funding both programs, fighting rising costs and inflation, defending reproductive freedom by enshrining Roe v. Wade into law, combating climate change by creating more investment opportunities in clean energy; and streamlining our tax code to give middle class families a break and make big corporations pay their fair share.
Republican
John James (I)
Running unopposed.
State House of Representatives
District 60
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one two-year term in November.
Democrat
Shelly Fraley
Running unopposed.
Republican
Joseph Aragona (I)
Running unopposed.
State House of Representatives District 61
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and three candidates are running for the Republican nomination to compete for one two-year term in November.
Democrat
Denise Mentzer (I) Running unopposed.
Republican Russ Cleary Age: 23
Occupation: Congressional Aide/Caseworker
Municipality of residence: Sterling Heights
For how long: 23 years
Online campaign information: www.russcleary.com
Education: High School: Paul K. Cousino High School, 2018
College: B.S., Michigan State University, 2021
Previously and currently held elected offices: NA
Top goals: Securing Manufacturing Jobs: We must invest in manufacturing jobs in the State of Michigan, specifically in the 61st State House District. We must engage in pro-business policies, fight against EV mandates, and continue to strengthen the Arsenal of Democracy.
Protecting Our First Responders: As crime continues to rise, our investment in first responders continues to drop. We must ensure that we prioritize these investments.
Republican
Robert Wojtowicz Age: 62
Occupation: Self-employed small business owner
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: Lifelong Macomb County Michigan resident Online campaign information: www.Robert4Mi.com
Education: trade school and degree/certifi-
Busch
Marlinga
Powell
Young Tilley
Cleary
Election
page 15A
cation after college
Previously and currently held elected offices: Chippewa Valley School Board
Top goals: Transparency is nonexistent, our government budget/spending is out of control, our schools are a mess and our children are suffering, Michigan and our country has a serious problem with illegal immigration and election integrity needs to be addressed and some serious questions need to be answered.
Republican
John Grossenbacher
Age: 43
Occupation: IT consulting
Municipality of residence: clinton township For how long: 9 years but oakland and Macomb 32 ish years
Online campaign information: johngfor61.com
Education: Associate in Applied Science
Associate in Liberal Arts
Previously and currently held elected offices: No answer given
Top goals: As a Christian, husband, father, business owner, and longtime resident, I understand our community’s challenges. My guiding principles are commitment and service, values often forgotten in politics. Michigan needs problem solvers who relate to people, work within budgets, and address challenges effectively.
My goals include protecting parental freedom in schools, supporting law enforcement to combat the fentanyl epidemic, reducing wasteful spending, and opposing use tax devices on cars
State House of Representatives
District 62
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one two-year term in November.
Democrat
Michelle Levine-Woodman
Running unopposed.
Republican
Alicia St. Germaine (I)
Running unopposed.
Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Christina Hines
Running unopposed.
Republican
Peter J. Lucido (I)
Running unopposed.
Macomb County Sheriff
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and three candidates are running for the Republican nomination to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Anthony Wickersham (I)
Running unopposed.
Republican
Terence Mekoski
Age: 59
Occupation: Retired
Municipality of residence: Shelby Township
For how long: 3 years
Online campaign information: mekoski.com
Previously and currently held elected offices: Fmr. MI State Representative 36th District
Top goals: To serve as a Constitutional Sheriff to assign more patrol deputies to protect Macomb County’s borders, attack human sex trafficking organizations, expand the Narcotic Enforcement Task Force to address the opioid/fentanyl epidemic. Implement a school liaison officer in all Macomb County schools to protect our children and implement a Sheriff’s Posse with retired law enforcement, former military, additional reserve deputies and trained citizens to protect Macomb County in the case of a critical incident.
Republican Eddie Kabacinski
Age: 50
Occupation: RETIRED / DISABLED
MILITARY COMBAT VETERAN
Municipality of residence: CITY OF WARREN
For how long: 20 YEARS SINCE 2003
Online campaign information: www. ekabacinskicommittee.wixsite.com/eddie
Education: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION COURSE, MILITARY POLICE INVESTIGATOR COURSE, PRIMARY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE, MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ENFORCEMENT, UNITED STATES ARMY MILITARY POLICE ACADEMY, CITY OF INKSTER POLICE ACADEMY, PHYSICAL SECURITY AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION TACTICS - LAWTON SCHOOL. Previously and currently held elected offices: FORMER CITY OF WARREN 5TH DISTRICT COUNCILMAN
Top goals: IT IS MY INTENTION TO SERVE AS CONSERVATIVE SHERIFF UNDER YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITED REPUBLIC. I WILL APPOINT TERENCE MEKOSKI AND SCOTT BUDNICK AS SHERIFFS. WE WILL SERVE UNITED TOGETHER. I WILL ADHERE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR INALIENABLE GOD GIVEN RIGHTS TO UPHOLD, SUPPORT, AND DEFEND YOUR FREEDOM AND LIBERTY UNDER YOUR FEDERAL AND MICHIGAN CONSTITUTIONS. I WILL NOT INFRINGE ON YOUR RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. I WILL HONOR OUR SANCTUARY COUNTY STATUS.
Republican
Scott Budnick
Age: 53 years old
Occupation: Police Officer Municipality of residence: Macomb County Resident, Macomb Township For how long: Homeowner built my house 8 years ago, and I have lived all my adult life in Macomb County Online campaign information: Scottbudnickforsheriff.com
Education: 2014 Union Institute and University, Bachelor of Science (Law Enforcement Management)
2000 Macomb Community College, Associate Degree (Law Enforcement)
2012 Macomb Community College, Associate Degree (General Studies)
2018 Macomb Community College, Certificate (Law Enforcement with Police Academy)
2019 Macomb Community College, Certificate (Homeland Security)
Previously and currently held elected offices: I have never run nor held any elected office in the past, I am not nor have I ever
been a politician.
Top goals: My top priority is putting an armed officer in every Macomb County school, both private schools and public schools. This is non-negotiable, our children will be protected.
Second is our border. I will cooperate with Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist with the capture and removal of criminal illegal aliens, human smuggling, and drug enforcement.
Third is protecting our senior population against those who attempt to commit criminal acts against them.
Macomb County Clerk and Register of Deeds
Two candidates are running for the Democratic nomination and three candidates are running for the Republican nomination to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
David Adams Age: 55
Occupation: Public School Teacher
Municipality of residence: Bruce Twp. For how long: 10 years
Online campaign information: No answer given.
Education: M.A. Linguistics, Oakland University, B.A. Secondary Education, Wayne State University,
Previously and currently held elected offices: I have never run for or held an elected office before
Top goals: As a candidate for Macomb County Clerk I can promise the citizens of Macomb County that I will work tirelessly to provide efficient service to all citizens regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnic background, socioeconomic status or political ideology. I will always thoroughly vet all potential applicants to the clerk’s office for their integrity and commitment to service for the people of Macomb County.
Democrat Steve Fleck Age: 44
Occupation: Artist / Rideshare / Small
Business Owner
Municipality of residence: Eastpointe
For how long: over 12 years
Online campaign information: sjfleck.com
Education: College Degree / Central
ELECTION on page 17A
Wojtowicz
Grossenbacher
Mekoski
Kabacinski
Budnick
Adams
Election
Michigan, Eastern Michigan & Oakland University
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: Securing the Election, Extending election times and availability, & a Timely Election. Hiring more staff and having more volunteers. Working to get laws passed that will make it easier to vote and creating campaigns to get more people to vote. Working for the people.
Republican Kristi Dean
Age: 59
Occupation: UWM in Pontiac (United Wholesale Mortgage)
Municipality of residence: Shelby Township
For how long: 20 years
Online campaign information: No answer given.
Education: PhD
Previously and currently held elected offices: Macomb Community College Trustee
Top goals: Holistically observing the current business processes and identify any bottlenecks create/develop work arounds to streamline and look for cost savings for the office and taxpayers of Macomb County.
Republican Anthony G. Forlini (I) Age: 62
Occupation: Macomb County Clerk, Register of Deeds
Municipality of residence: Harrison Township
For how long: 37 years
Online campaign information: http://www.anthonyforlini.com/
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Western Michigan University
Previously and currently held elected offices:
• 2004-2010 Harrison Township Supervisor
• 2011-2016 Michigan
State Representative for St. Clair Shores, Harrison Township, Clinton Township, Macomb Township
• 2020-Present Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Top goals: Four years ago my goal was to provide great customer service. Today you get a real person that is knowledgeable that picks up the phone-no voicemail. Long customer wait times have all been eliminated, most services take just minutes. Future goals 1) Perform the greatest upgrade in our history to the Register of Deeds search capabilities. 2) Upgrade election night reporting. 3) Complete the process of properly storing county records.
Republican
Jackie Ryan
Age: 62
Occupation: Self Employed
Municipality of residence: Sterling Heights
For how long: 26 years
Online campaign information: Ryan For Macomb (Facebook)
Education: Accounting and Business Degrees
Previously and currently held elected offices: Precinct Delegate
Top goals: As Macomb County Clerk, my Top Goals are to Serve the Families of Macomb County (not be a county store) “The People’s Clerk” keeping their records low-cost, accurate and secured; provide election integrity for the Voters in Macomb County by using “We The People’s” system of hand counting, proof of citizenship and one day voting; provide a website for all Candidates/Proposals before the election to increase voter participation and “People’s Audit” every election.
Macomb County Treasurer
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Matthew T. Churchwell
Running unopposed.
Republican
Larry Rocca (I)
Running unopposed.
Macomb County Public Works
Commissioner
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Kevin Higgins
Running unopposed.
Republican Candice S. Miller (I)
Running unopposed.
Macomb County Board
support — as a student working on a Masters degree in counseling — I see the value in greater understanding of one another.
Republican
James M. Perna (I)
District 7
of Commissioners
Two candidates are running for the Democratic nomination and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Frank Borsellino
Age: 52
Occupation: Security protection and business owner
Municipality of residence: Years 8
For how long: Clinton Township
Education: high school diploma
Online campaign information: bankonfrank2024.com coming soon
Previously and currently held elected offices: I have not held any previously elected offices.
Top goals: My goal is to make sure all citizens are treated and represented fairly.
Democrat
Edlira Sako
Age: 44
Occupation: Teacher
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 12 Years
Online campaign information: www.facebook.com/VoteSako
Education: Attending: Wayne State University Masters (MA) Counseling Psychology Wayne State University, Bachelor of Arts (BA) — Dual Majors in Psychology and Political Science, with Honors. University of Tirana, Albania, Bachelor of Arts (BA) — Political Science and Government.
Previously and currently held elected offices: I am a first time running candidate for County Commission District 7
Top goals: People’s daily lives are impacted by county level decisions. Satisfying citizens needs, facilitating effective governance, emphasis on open communication, mutual respect, and responsible spending is essential. My top three priorities are: road repairs through the County Department of Roads, investment in water and sewage infrastructure - including recreation and safe drinking water, and mental health
Running unopposed.
Macomb County Board of Commissioners District 8
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democratic to appear on the ballot for this four-year term in November. No Republicans filed to run for this office.
Democrat
Antoinette Wallace (I)
Running unopposed.
Macomb County Board of Commissioners District 10
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democratic to appear on the ballot for this four-year term in November. No Republicans filed to run for this office.
Democrat
Harold Haugh (I)
Running unopposed.
Clinton Township Supervisor
Two candidates are running for the Democratic nomination and two candidates are running for the Republican nomination to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Paul Gieleghem
Age: 54
Occupation: Treasurer, Clinton Township Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 53 years
Online campaign information: paulgieleghem.com
Education: Graduate Clintondale High School, Associate of Arts, Macomb Community College, Bachelors of Arts, Wayne State University
Previously and currently held elected offices: State Representative, 1999-2004; County Commissioner, 2005-10; Chairman, Macomb County Board of Commissioners, 2009-10; Clinton Township Trustee, 2012-16; Clinton Township Treasurer: 2016 -present. Top goals: We deserve a Supervisor who works every day to bring people together and
Fleck
Dean
Forlini
Ryan
Borsellino
Sako
Gieleghem
Election
solve problems. As an experienced public official, with a 99.6% attendance record at all regularly scheduled board meetings, I’ll listen to our residents, and then mobilize our workforce and resources to expand our neighborhood parks, fight for road funding, revitalize our commercial districts, and serve all of our residents; so our community grows in a way that leaves no one behind.
Democrat
Kenneth Reiff
Age: 63
Occupation: plastic injection molder and owner of Clinton River Vending
Municipality of residence: Clinton township
For how long: 28 years
Online campaign information: N/A
Education: assorted classes at Macomb Community College but no degree pursued Previously and currently held elected offices: N/A
Top goals: Improve relationship between public servants and residents. Make township board nonpartisan to make township work better for the people. Require annual inspection of vape businesses plus new restrictions. Improve roads and parks. Require all millage votes to be in November of even numbered years, no more sneak thru February or May votes on milages already rejected by voters. Listen to and act on residents’ concerns. I want to be the voice of all township residents.
Republican
Noah J. Cannon
Age: 25
Occupation: Small business owner
Municipality of residence: Clinton Twp
For how long: 25 Years
Online campaign information: www.noahforsupervisor.com
Education: Chippewa Valley High School
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: My main priorities are to support our local small businesses, enhance township offerings to residents and to make sure that we are as transparent as possible for our residents and to have an “open door” policy to hear the concerns of our residents and make sure that as your elected officials we are working for your benefit.
Republican Vicki Wolber
Age: 54
Occupation: Retired; self-employed consultant
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: almost 6 years; moved here in August of 2018
Online campaign information: electvickiwolber.com
Education: BBA, Walsh College; State Certified Professional Emergency Manager (PEM)
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: People need to feel safe, secure and comfortable where they live, work and visit in the Township. With 32 plus years of public safety knowledge and expertise, I will put safety first, mitigate risk and ensure that our first responders are well trained, equipped and provided competitive compensation. I also want the Board to operate in an organized and civil manner, with open and honest discussion where people are treated kindly and with respect.
Clinton Township Clerk
One candidate is running unopposed as a Democrat and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Carol Shumard Diehl
Running unopposed.
Republican
Kim Meltzer (I)
Running unopposed.
Clinton Township Treasurer
Two candidates are running for the Democratic nomination and one candidate is running unopposed as a Republican to compete for one four-year term in November.
Democrat
Mike Keys
Age: 31 years
Occupation: Senior Analyst, Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 31 years
Online campaign information: www.votemikekeys.com
Education: Central Michigan University,
Bachelor’s Degree; Government Finance
Officers Association, continuing education
Previously and currently held elected offices: Trustee, Clinton Township Board, elected 2020 and 2016
Top goals: If elected, I will streamline processes and increase transparency and communication so residents understand how taxpayer dollars are collected, invested, and disbursed. I also aim to build stronger relationships with nonprofits, businesses, banks, and investment firms to ensure prosperity and financial health for Clinton Township. As a Board member, I will continue my record for making policies which increase transparency and accountability and which support the strong Democratic values that residents expect, respect, and value.
Democrat Tammy T. Patton Age: 53
Occupation: U.S Army Veteran, Clinton Township Trustee, Owner of Small Businesses, CEO and Owner of Team Patton Outreach Non-Profit
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 20 years
Online campaign information: www.tammypattonfortreasurer.com
Education: Harvard Kennedy School of Education: Executive Certificate in Public Leadership, Certificate in Women and Power, Certificate in Public Narrative, and Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
Previously and currently held elected offices: Clinton Township Trustee
Top goals: As an invested taxpaying Clinton Township property owner for 20 years, I know people want to know where our taxes are going, and that they are spent responsibly. This is the right of every taxpayer. As Treasurer, transparency will be the top priority. I will concentrate on financial responsibility and Leadership. This is the glue that holds our township together and moves us forward.
Republican Mike Aiello
Running unopposed.
Clinton Township Board of Trustees
Six candidates are running for four Democratic nominations and four Republican candidates are running unopposed in the primary to compete for a total of four four-year terms in November.
Democrat
Jason Davidson Age: 45
Occupation: Sales Manager
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 30 Years
Online campaign information: No answer given
Education: BBA – Walsh College
Previously and currently held elected offices: Clintondale Board of Education (2002-2020)
Top goals: As a candidate for Clinton Township Trustee, I am committed to advancing service equity, enhancing non-motorized transportation options, advocating for equitable road funding from the county, and driving economic redevelopment, including the revitalization of Groesbeck. Together, we can build a community that prioritizes accessibility, fairness, and sustainable growth for all residents.
Democrat Shannon King Age: 43
Occupation: Talent Acquisition / Human Resources Leader, Co-owner of a Small Business
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: Since 2018
Online campaign information: www.voteshannonking.org
Education: Some college coursework at Wayne State University, De La Salle High School
Previously and currently held elected offices: Secretary of Chippewa Valley School Board (current)
Top goals: Enhance transparency and promote community engagement: Utilize canvassing, town halls, and surveys to ensure residents’ voices are heard and involved in decisionmaking. Boost the local economy: Support small businesses and create partnerships between
Reiff Cannon
Wolber
Keys
Patton
Davidson
King
Election
educational institutions and local industries to provide job opportunities for both residents and students. Improve infrastructure and promote sustainability: Focus on repairing and modernizing infrastructure while promoting environmental sustainability to create a vibrant and inclusive community for all residents.
Democrat
Julie Matuzak (I) Age: 69
Occupation: Retired/Part-time Office Manager
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: No answer given Online campaign information: www.juliematuzak4clintontwp.com
Education: BA, Grand Valley State University (William James College)
Previously and currently held elected offices: Clinton Township Trustee, Macomb County Commissioner
Top goals: Examining each budget, program and department to make sure we are providing services in the most efficient, cost effective and ethical manner possible. Continue pushing for more transparency in township business. Provide more services and programs to residents in locations other than the Romeo Plank township center campus. Increased economic development in the Gratiot and Groesbeck corridors. Fight for more road funding.
Democrat
Iona Means Age: 61
Occupation: Retired-Macomb County Department of Roads - over 30 years of service
Municipality of Residence: Clinton Township
For how long: Lifetime resident
Online campaign information: Iona Means for Clinton Township Trustee on Facebook Education: Graduate of Clintondale High School and complete courses at Macomb Community College
Previously and currently held elected offices: Former Clintondale School Board Member
Top goals: If elected as Trustee, I will bring
energy and a strong Democratic voice to the Board. With my history of service to Clinton Township, and career experience working for the Macomb County Department of Roads, I plan to help capture state and federal funding for local road projects and work on a balanced, strategic economic development plan. My priorities also include voting for investments in neighborhood parks and expanding programs for both seniors and youths.
Democrat
Rodney Tolbert
Age: 62
Occupation: Pastor
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 9 years
Online campaign information: https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=61557174584900
Education: Doctorate
Previously and currently held elected offices: Macomb County Delegate - District 8 - Clinton Twp, MI
Top goals: My vision and focus is to work on and accentuate the positive qualities of Clinton Township. This will be done with a common-sense approach. By forming strong partnerships with entities that have the ability and willingness to assist Clinton Township is reaching its goals. I will remain committed to choosing people over politics.
Democrat
Diane Zontini
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired Vocational Educator, Retired Owner & Operator of a Vocational Academy 26 years
Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 41 years
Online campaign information: Diane Zontini For Clinton Township Trustee (Facebook)
Education: Lake Shore High School Grad, Licensed Vocational Educator, Licensed Cosmetologist
Previously and currently held elected offices: Nonelected appointment to Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education Trustee
Top goals: We need to continue to eliminate unnecessary government spending. We need to take advantage of state and fed-
eral money for road construction projects. We need to reinstate our chipping services for our residents. We should have a Town Hall meeting to discuss the substandard local roads and defining what options the residents have in fixing their streets.
We need to address the areas in the township where homeowners are dealing with a rat infestation.
Republican
Dan Kress (I)
Running unopposed.
Republican
Vito Strolis
Running unopposed.
Republican
Bruce Wade
Running unopposed.
Republican
Derek Wilczynski
Running unopposed.
Judge of Probate CourtNew Judgeship Position
Three candidates are running for one six-year term.
Jevona C. Fudge
Age: 47
Occupation: Deputy Chief/Assistant Prosecutor in the Family Division Municipality of residence: St Clair Shores For how long: 2 Years Online campaign information: www.jfudgeforjudge.com
Education: Juris Doctor
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: I am running for Probate Judge to continue my work as a public servant for all communities.
My top goals as a newly elected Probate Judge would be to assist in addressing the high volume of cases in a timely manner, promote equal access to justice, attentively and compassionately listen to the facts of each case and apply the law fairly, work with mental health professionals to assist families care for their loved ones.
Aaron J. Hall
Age: 35
Occupation: Chief of the Probate Unit at the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Municipality of residence: Clinton Township
For how long: 5 years in Clinton Township,
34 years in Macomb County. Online campaign information: HallForProbateJudge.com
Education: University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (J.D.), Oakland University (B.A.) with Honors.
Previously and currently held elected offices: N/A
Top goals: As a cancer survivor, I understand firsthand the importance of peace of mind to families navigating the challenges of caring for their loved ones. As Judge, I will modernize the technological infrastructure of the Macomb County Probate Court. This will provide a better experience for the public and faster results. Mental illness petitions, protecting the disabled and seniors, and safeguarding family assets while upholding estate wishes are issues too important for needless delays.
Benjamin A. Schock
Age: 48
Occupation: Probate and Elder Law Attorney
Municipality of residence: Macomb Township
For how long: 10 years (lifetime Macomb County Resident)
Online campaign information: www.schockforprobate.com
Education: Macomb Lanse Creuse High School North, Michigan State University, B.A in
Political Science Pre Law, Michigan State University College of Law
Previously and currently held elected offices: None
Top goals: As a Judge, I would continue protecting seniors and vulnerable individuals from abuse. I will look to use the role of judge to further protect susceptible individuals. I have over 18 years of probate court experience, under both the Estates and Protected Individuals and Mental Health Codes. I am deeply committed to serve Macomb County as a fair, honest, dedicated and impartial probate court judge; ethically upholding the principles of justice, integrity, and compassion.
See ELECTION on page 20A Schock
Matuzak
Means
Tolbert Zontini
Fudge
Hall
Bath City
from page 11A
well is so amazing. It’s like nothing else in the world.”
Standing in the Park well’s modest and sulfuric-scented shed on a May afternoon, Lombardo goes over the situation she’s in. Just across Park Street looms the Victory Inn Motel, which will be demolished soon for a new 101-unit apartment complex. It is in the ruins and soon-to-be rubble of the Victory Inn that Lombardo sees an opportunity.
“What my vision is at this point is I’m going to be looking to expand and create an actual soaking experience here on this lot, where they can go back to soaking in the black, murky water right from the well like they did back in the late 1800s and early 1900s,” Lombardo said. “What I’m planning is a smaller type setup. A little bit more rustic, not huge and elaborate. It would be more back to the rustic experience of soaking in the water. It’s me having a larger addition built on this garage and making it into a place that people could come soak in.”
Her plan to effectively revive a long-dead industry is nothing short of idealistic and will certainly take a great effort, but may not entirely be a moonshot. After all, the land is already zoned for commercial use. Time will tell whether Lombardo is successful at establishing a dedicated bath house in the 2020s, but Saylor believes it is possible.
“I think that people are always in a hurry to do the next big thing, and then lose sight of what was working before,” Saylor said. “I think that there is a large group of people now that are wanting to get back to what is natural, and I think this will be something that is very exciting. I think it will be an exciting thing for the city of Mount Clemens and for the people that will benefit from the water.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Roads
from page 1A
“It’s very long overdue and much appreciated.”
The $4 million would lessen the burden, but would not cover the cost of the whole project according to Klinefelt.
“We’re just putting a small dent in it,” Klinefelt said. “I was just thrilled to help them out. I feel some of these older urban communities have really struggled to maintain roads that are really important to them. I’m pretty excited about this project.”
Fraser City Manager Elaine Leven said the engineering estimate for the project would be over $16 million. The city’s engineering firm Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick would carry out the project. Lesich said that there have been preliminary conversations about using funds the city has saved for the project. Diverting funds to it would have to be approved at a future meeting. Lesich said there is no set date for this.
“Per our engineers, it would need a complete reconstruction,” he said.
The project has been a source of controversy in the past. Last year, funding was proposed through a special assessment district. According to previous reporting in the Chronicle, business owners went to a June 8 meeting to speak out against taxing residents to fund the project. After a hearing of the public at the City Council meeting on Aug. 10, 2023, the tax funding for the project fell by the wayside.
Following the additional funding from the state, and utilizing money the city has banked, Lesich said it would reduce potential taxation on commercial businesses in the area.
“It would cut it in half probably,” he said. “If we were to propose something to complete the rest of the project, it would be far less than $800 a foot.”
Leven said she anticipates that there will probably be discussion about it at the City Council in August or September. Leven said, depending on the funding, a portion or all the roads could be reconstructed in the area. Federal funds and money banked by the city could be in play, according to Leven. She said the project is unique because of the traffic volume and weight.
“It’s not like doing a typical residential street,” Leven said.
In a Facebook post, the mayor said he hoped to get bidding started in the spring of 2025 and shovels in the ground by next summer.
“I’m just excited that this is how we’re choosing to use the money: on critical infrastructure, on projects that are really going to be transformative for these communities,” Klinefelt said.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Election
from page 19A
Chippewa Valley Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal would renew and restore the authority of the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on all property, except principal residences (owner occupied homes) and other property exempt by law, for general operating purposes, which currently expires with the School District’s 2024 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks of
up to 1 mill. This authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State. Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Chippewa Valley Schools, County of Macomb, Michigan, be increased in the amount of 19 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable annual levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of ten (10) years, 2025 to 2034, inclusive? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $16,500,000 during the 2025 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.
page 5A
Casual conversions turned into an effort in 2019 to organize a 2020 festival, but Gilchrist said, “Some other things kind of got in the way of that.”
Efforts were redirected toward registering Macomb County Pride as a nonprofit, getting plans in place for a 2021 festival and getting involved around the county. Now four years and three festivals down the road, the volunteer-led organization has been able
to support smaller events throughout the year and operates a Discord server.
Gilchrist has seen a high level of support from people, organizations and businesses throughout Macomb County in his time with Macomb County Pride. Anecdotally, he recounts how business owners have been eager to get inclusivity stickers that were being passed out at prior Prides in Mount Clemens.
“It was a really interesting thing because when you talk about getting support from a community, like a business community for example here, and you don’t always know who is going to be outwardly supportive like
that,” Gilchrist said. “But to see so many of the downtown businesses really interested in participating — not just putting up a sticker but being present, putting up decorations, really welcoming people into their stores during the festival — it’s really an incredible thing to experience. So I think that there is a lot of support around here for the LGBTQ community, I just think that it’s not always very spoken or visible.”
Even still, Gilchrist knows there is always more work to be done. Eastpointe, which was the first community in the country to recognize Pride Month in 2019,
failed to recognize it in 2023 due to a 2-2 city council deadlock; the council approved a recognition resolution on June 4 this year with a 4-1 vote. Other communities like Sterling Heights have adopted perpetual Pride Month resolutions.
Vendors, performers and potential sponsors interested in getting involved with Macomb County Pride’s upcoming festival can reach out to edward@macombcoun typride.com or visit macombcountypride. com/pride2024.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Millage
from page 4A
owner-occupied residential properties,” Clinton Township Treasurer Paul Gieleghem said.
School districts are required to levy non-homestead millages as a consequence of Proposal A of 1994. The proposal exempted real and personal property taxes for school use and tasked the legislature to come up with a new funding method. The legislature’s new funding sources were a 2% increase to sales tax for the School Aid Fund, a 6-mill tax applied to all properties, a 0.75% real estate transfer tax, increasing the cigarette tax and the ability to levy up to 18 mills on nonhomestead properties.
“To receive full funding for your district, you have to have this non-homestead millage election every so often,” Roberts said. “You can go to this millage for 20 years. We’ve always, in this district, gone for it every 10 years. When you look at how districts do this across the state, they’re kind of different on when they have it, but you always need to have this non-homestead millage in place in order to receive full funding for your students.
Roberts says the funds received through
the millage are used throughout the district and that a rejection of the renewal would lead to serious cuts to programs across the district.
“If we were forced to reduce by almost $18 million, you just start cutting a lot of programs,” Roberts said. “That’s athletics, that’s CTE (career technical education), that’s any kind of health service we have in our schools, our school resource officers … Cuts to custodial services. All those things that surround a classroom are things that surround a classroom are things that you would have to consider cutting.”
Residents across the district have voted to uphold the non-homestead property millage in the past. In 2014, over 68% of voters (21,369) voted to maintain the operating millage versus 31.7% (9,939) who voted against it.
If the proposal were to fail, Roberts says the district would try again in November.
“This is something that you need to keep putting before the voters and you put it out there until you can pass it, just because of the devastation it would cause to the school district,” Roberts said.
Residents with questions about the millage proposal can call (586) 723-2000.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Providing the TOOLS to SUCCEED.
The Chippewa Valley Schools
Operating Millage RENEWAL
on the Tuesday, Aug. 6 ballot would:
✓ NOT cost homeowners one penny in taxes and ONLY be paid by owners of rental properties, secondhomes, commercial properties and businesses.
✓ Support career-technical instructors, teachers and support sta to help prepare students for in-demand, good-paying jobs, including in the skilled trades.
✓ Support school safety o cers, school counselors, social workers, health services sta and food service workers essential to student success.
is millage renewal would NOT cost homeowners one penny in taxes.
CVS has a proven track record of scal responsibility, transparency and accountability, regularly receiving clean annual audits by Plante Moran.
If passed, all funds from this millage renewal will be required to undergo an annual independent audit and be publicly disclosed on the district’s website.
LEARN MORE about the Chippewa Valley Schools
Operating Millage RENEWAL at chippewavalleyschools.org.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
JULY 18
Sweet Treats and Sweet Rides: Cars on display, music and in-store specials, 5-8 p.m., also Aug. 15 and Sept. 19, Sanders Chocolate and Ice Cream Shoppe, 23770 Hall Road in Clinton Township, (586) 464-5372
JULY 18-21
Fraser Lions Club Carnival: Beer tent and food vendors, carnival rides and midway, vendor show, and live music July 18-21, also cornhole tournament July 20, and parade, drum line performance and fireworks July 21, Steffens Park at 14 Mile and Garfield roads, see times and band lineup at facebook.com/FraserLionsClubCarnival
JULY 24
Spaghetti dinner: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. (or until gone), continues every fourth Wednesday of month through October, Lt. Wood-Cpl. Reid VFW Post 6691, 17075 Anita Ave. in Fraser, (586) 294-1450
JULY 26
Candy from around the world: Teens (grades 6-12) can taste test and rank sweet treats, 3:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public LibrarySouth Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 226-5073, cmpl.org
JULY 29
Build and race Mario Karts: For ages 7-12, costumes encouraged, 3 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 226-5073, cmpl. org
ONGOING
Farmers market: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 10 and Sept. 14, John F. Kennedy Knights of Columbus Council #5460, 33320 Kelly Road in Clinton Township, (586) 610-2990
Summer Sounds: Concerts run 5-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3-6 p.m. Sundays, and 3-6 p.m. Labor Day, The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, see band lineup at www. shoppartridgecreek.com
Ford Macomb Hospital, includes yoga July 17, 24 and 31, and Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 9-9:45 a.m., The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, facebook.com/themallatpartridgecreek, (586) 416-3849
Monthly book clubs: Presidential Book Club (every first Monday) and Mysteries & Munchies (every second Thursday), both 6:30-7:30 p.m., Fraser Public Library, 15260 15 Mile Road, (586) 293-2055, fraserpubliclibrary.org
Crafts and games: Craft-making for adults and older teens, 6-7:45 p.m. every third Thursday of month, and board games for all ages, 5:30-7:45 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Fraser Public Library, 15260 15 Mile Road, (586) 293-2055, fraserpubliclibrary.org
Widowed Friends breakfasts: 10:30 a.m. every second Monday of month, Big Boy, 16880 Hall Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471
• 10 a.m. every third Friday of month, The Pantry, 44945 Morley Drive in Clinton Township, RSVP to Loree at (810) 335-2096
Men overcoming loss of partner/spouse: Meetings 6-7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of month, virtual and in person, Hospice of Michigan, 39531 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, wlawton@hom. org, (586) 263-8514
Bicycle getaway fails
GROSSE POINTE CITY — A 34-year-old Detroit man was arrested after he reportedly stole multiple bottles of alcoholic beverages from The Village CVS store at 4:20 p.m. June 20 and fled the scene on a bike. Police arrested the suspect as he was making his getaway. They said he was facing possible charges including retail fraud and resisting and obstructing police.
Suspects sought in clothing theft
GROSSE POINTE CITY — Two unknown suspects reportedly stole $1,078 worth of clothing from The Village Lululemon store in the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue at around 5:07 p.m. June 23. Police said the suspects ran from the store with the stolen goods and were last seen heading westbound on Kercheval in a red Chevy Cruze.
Man arrested for disrobing
GROSSE POINTE CITY — Police took a 26-year-old Detroit man into custody after he was reportedly seen removing his clothing in the 600 block of Cadieux Road at around noon June 20. Police said the suspect — who’s expected to face charges including indecent exposure and disturbing the peace — was also found to be urinating in public. A 28-year-old Detroit man who was with the suspect at the time was arrested as well after police said they discovered that he was driving with a suspended license.
Stolen car tracked
GROSSE POINTE PARK — A 2017 Chevrolet Impala was stolen from a driveway in the 1200 block of Three Mile Road between the hours of 10 p.m. June 18 and 6 a.m. June 19. Police said the owner had the keys at the time. Police were able to use a tracking system on the vehicle to find its location on Haverhill Street in Detroit, where they recovered it. Police said it appears the Impala was stolen by being pushed by another vehicle.
Vehicle theft thwarted
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Two unknown male suspects are said by police to have been seen in the act of trying to steal a Kia Soul while it was parked on the street in the 1400 block of Wayburn Street at around 11:16 p.m. June 17. According to a police report, the victim saw the suspects break a window on the vehicle and get inside it. The victim told police that she yelled at the suspects, who she said fled on foot. The suspects are said to have damaged the steering column in an attempt to take the Kia.
Purse removed from vehicle
GROSSE POINTE PARK — An unknown person is said by
block of Pemberton Road between the hours of 5 p.m. June 14 and 8 a.m. June 15. Police said they recovered the purse nearby, but the cash was missing.
Stolen vehicle recovered
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — A 39-year-old Highland Park woman learned from the Farms Public Safety Department that the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer she had bought for $1,550 from a man through Facebook Marketplace was a vehicle that had been reported stolen. The woman who bought the vehicle came to the Farms because she had been unable to get the vehicle title from the seller; she said when she tried to register the vehicle with the Secretary of State’s Office, she was told she would need a vehicle information number inspection/verification to acquire the title, which is why she brought it to the Farms.
Police said the VIN plate was scratched and had the wrong type of rivets, and the federal label, tire label and service parts label were all missing. However, police could see a different VIN number underneath some adhesive. The hidden VIN number came back to a 2003 Trailblazer that had been stolen out of Waterford Township on June 4, 2024. Police said the suspect who sold the vehicle to the woman had been arrested multiple times before for motor vehicle theft. The suspect is a 33-year-old Detroit man.
Vehicle stolen
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — A black 2021 GMC Yukon was stolen from the parking lot of a private club in the 200 block of Country Club Drive between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. June 15. The victim told police that he had parked toward the south end of the lot. He said he had left the Yukon unlocked with the keys inside. Police checked surveillance footage of the lot and saw a silver Chevrolet Camaro convertible with no license plate enter the parking lot after the victim. An unknown male suspect exited the Camaro and began checking vehicles in the lot. A second male suspect is said to have also gotten out of the Camaro. Police said that after this happens, the missing Yukon is seen leaving the lot, where it meets up with the Camaro and both vehicles exit together.
Trespasser warned GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Police were called to the Shell gas station at Mack Avenue and Moross Road at 6:08 p.m. June 17 about a man who had reportedly taken a pop and doughnut and only paid $1.97 in change for $3.97 worth of food. The worker said the business wasn’t seeking retail fraud charges against the suspect — they just wanted him to be told he was trespassing and shouldn’t return.
a 52-year-old Detroit man, eating a doughnut on the front porch of a home in the 400 block of Allard Road. Police said the suspect is homeless, has a mental order, was known to be violent and had 19 previous contacts with the Farms Public Safety Department for larceny, trespassing and breaking into a motor vehicle. In addition, police said he’s a suspect in a double homicide in Detroit. The suspect was given a trespassing warning and sent away from the area.
The same suspect was found sitting inside a vehicle in an automotive service business in the 18000 block of Mack at 1:22 p.m. June 15. Because the suspect had been found sleeping inside an unlocked vehicle in that same parking lot June 12, police arrested the man for trespassing June 15.
Man charged with assault, resisting arrest
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 11:37 a.m. June 9, Shelby Township police officers responded to the area of 21 Mile and Schoenherr roads for a mental health call.
A dispatcher updated the responding officers that the mother of a 32-year-old man was the caller. The mother stated that her son was suffering from a mental health issue and was now carrying a handgun in a case inside his garage, according to police.
The mother reportedly was able to get out of the house. Police said that officers made contact with the man and were able to get him into custody before he was able to injure himself or others. The 32-year-old man was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation, according to police. The investigators ended up charging him with domestic assault and resisting arrest.
Police arrest man for outstanding warrant
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 8:11 p.m, June 19, an officer from the Shelby Township Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the area of Shelby and 21 Mile roads. Upon making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, the officer was able to obtain identification from all who were inside the vehicle. Police said that one passenger gave several incorrect names and information to the officer. The passenger later gave the correct information, which led police to find that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The man was placed under arrest for the warrant and turned over to the correct jurisdiction for the warrant.
Fraud report made
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 6:35 p.m. on June 18, a report was made about a case of fraud that occurred in the 20000 block of Beaconsfield Avenue.
A 68-year-old man came into the police station stating that he was a victim of fraud. He reached out to Amazon Prime Video to watch a soccer game. The repre-
amount of $250 each to verify he was a real person. The man bought the gift cards and sent pictures of them to the suspect.
Vehicle theft report made
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 8:36 a.m. on June 18, a report was made about a vehicle theft that occurred the same day at 5:09 a.m. in the 19000 block of 10 Mile Road.
A 47-year-old woman stated she left the residence with her husband at around 3:40 a.m. to deliver Amazon packages. When she arrived back at around 8:40 a.m., she saw the passenger window to her vehicle broken out. The minimal video footage she had showed a vehicle at her residence at approximately 5:09 a.m. The officer was unable to figure out what kind of vehicle it was. When he arrived, the officer observed that the passenger window was broken and that the lower dashboard on the passenger side was removed with some electrical components hanging out.
Fleeing and eluding report made
ST. CLAIR SHORES — Police reported a case of fleeing and eluding at 2:12 a.m. on June 12 at Harper Avenue and Nine Mile Road.
An officer saw a vehicle at a gas station that was wanted for fleeing previously and also a felony assault of a police officer in Warren. When it left the station, it started at a high rate of speed and increased its speed when the officer put on the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights. A pursuit ensued and ended when the suspect, an 18-year-old man, stopped on Violet Street and fled on foot. The suspect reportedly ran through a couple of nearby properties and caused damage before he surrendered.
The man was handcuffed and patted down before being secured in a scout car without incident. The passenger, a 21-year-old man, stayed in the vehicle and was ordered out, patted down and taken into custody without incident. The driver admitted to stealing the vehicle out of Port Huron but did not say anything else. The passenger was released from custody at the St. Clair Shores Police Department pending investigation, and the driver was transported to the Macomb County Jail for lodging.
Macy’s shoplifter tries to steal jewelry STERLING HEIGHTS — Police investigated a June 13 shoplifting report at the Lakeside Mall Macy’s, in the 14000 block of Lakeside Circle. According to staff, a male suspect tried to leave with two women’s jewelry items collectively valued at $56, but he was apprehended. Police cited the suspect for third-degree retail fraud, and the suspect was banned from returning to the store.
