Avondale Schools seeks $150 million bond issue
‘THERE’S NOT A PERSON IN THIS THAT’S NOT GOING TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THIS BOND’
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — The Avondale Schools district will ask voters to consider a $150 million bond issue when they head to the polls Aug. 6.
James Schwarz, the superintendent of Avondale Schools, said the five-year proposal, if approved, would not change in the current tax rate because of retiring debts. However, residents’ taxes would go down if the measure fails.
“The purpose of the bond is really to take the district to the next level, in terms of our ability to offer the growth and quality of programming that we’ve been on the trajectory for,” he said.
If approved by voters, officials said the $150 million proposal will address projects in six major categories: enhancing school safety and security; updating the learning environment; updating school exteriors and sites; updating mechanical and electrical systems; updating technology; and replacing select furniture, furnishings and equipment.
“It’s for new construction, as well as continued upgrades to all our facilities,” Schwarz explained.
See AVONDALE on page 18A
If the millage increase passes, library officials say new bookmobiles would be put into service for the 70-square-mile service area.
Library
seeks tax increase Aug. 6
LIBRARY DIRECTOR: ‘FOR THIS LIBRARY TO THRIVE IN ITS NEXT CENTURY OF SERVICE, WE WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING’
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS/OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — The Rochester Hills Public Library is asking Rochester Hills voters to consider a millage hike in the August primary election. “What is most apparent to us is that the build-
ing has critical infrastructure needs that will go unmet with the current funding that we have in place,” Library Director Juliane Morian said.
The proposal is for a 0.39-mill tax levy for 10 years. One mill is $1 per $1,000 of a home’s taxable value. The current annual cost for a $150,000 home is $109.50. If the proposal passes, they would pay
See LIBRARY on page 13A
Photo provided by the Rochester Hills Public Library
3A/
Six splash pad shooting victims released from hospital, 2 critical, 1 stable
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Of the nine people injured in a June 15 shooting at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills, six have been released from the hospital, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
A shooter opened fire at the splash pad that evening, firing 36 rounds and injuring nine people from the ages of 4 to 78 before fleeing the scene. Shortly after, deputies said, the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Michael William Nash, was found dead in his Shelby Township mobile home from a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound. A motive has yet to be identified by police.
During a press conference Monday, June 17, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the first three shooting victims had been released from the hospital — a 77-year-old man with an abdominal wound, a 39-year-old woman with wounds to the back and arm, and a 37-year-old woman with a hand wound.
The following day, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported three more victims had been released — a 4-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the thigh, a 42-year-old man with a right knee wound, and a 31-year-old man with a right leg wound.
LOCAL PRIEST WANTS TO MAKE ART, NOT GUNS
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
SOUTHFIELD/ROCHESTER HILLS — Father Chris Yaw, the rector at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Southfield, said he wants to make art, not guns.
“It’s a lot easier to buy a gun in this country than it is to get rid of one, and that’s what we kind of battle, if you will, is that there’s no exit strategy for these things. So what we’re going to do is we’re going to destroy the firearms on-site with high-powered chop saws, and then we are going to use the gun parts to make objects of art with donors who will have an opportunity to get a gift card. They can get art objects made to those gun parts as a ‘thank you,’” Yaw said.
He added that attendees of the gun buybacks would be given gift cards of $200 in exchange for assault rifles, $100 for handguns, and $50 for shotguns and rifles. Attendees also have the opportunity to make artwork such as rosaries, crosses, jewelry and keychains themselves at the “Guns and Crafts” tent. Yaw described the gun demolition presentations as “events of unity, creativity and connection with our communities amidst this terrible plague of gun violence.” This event comes just a few months after the New York Times investigation featuring Yaw revealed that the guns collected at buybacks in Flint and Southfield were not destroyed but were instead recycled and resold.
The first of the gun destruction demonstrations took place June 18 at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Southfield, with a blessing of the chop saws, just days after two mass shootings in Oakland County — in Lathrup Village and Rochester Hills — and a shooting in Detroit.
The Lathrup Village Police Department re-
sponded to a call at approximately 12:20 a.m. June 15 for a shooting with six victims at a house party in the 17000 block of Margate Avenue. The suspect has not been arrested yet. Later that same day, in Rochester Hills, 42-year-old Michael William Nash opened fire at the splash pad at 5 p.m., firing 36 rounds and injuring nine people from the ages of 4 to 78 be-
Photo provided by St. David’s Episcopal Church Episcopal Bishop Bonnie A. Perry blesses one of the six chop saws at the June 18 demonstration.
CRIME WATCH
Stolen car reported
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to Village Circle on a report of a stolen car at 12:01 p.m. June 2. The caller, a 45-year-old woman from Rochester Hills, told police her company vehicle, a white Chevrolet Silverado, was last seen parked and secured at 4 p.m. June 1 on the company’s property.
Upon returning June 2, she discovered the vehicle was missing. The woman believes a 39-year-old male employee may have possibly removed the key from a secured area in the management’s office and taken the vehicle without authorization.
12-year-old student suspended after making threats
ROCHESTER HILLS — The School Resource Officer of Avondale Middle School was made aware of a 12-year-old student making a threatening comment to kill another student at 8:36 a.m. June 5. A student stated that he was asked if he had dated a particular student. He stated that he had, and the other student, 12, of Pontiac, became upset and said she wanted to kill him and the other student who he dated in the past, according to police. The student who made the threats was interviewed by the school administration. She stated that she had said to the other students that she would kill herself if it was true. The student was suspended for the remainder of the year, and a threat assessment was scheduled.
Car reported stolen
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the 1600 block of Bedford Square for a larceny from auto report June 2. A 68-year-old woman from Rochester Hills stated that a 2015 Ram Promaster 3500 had been parked in the same spot from April 1 to June 2 and not moved. The vehicle had not been driven since August of 2023. At 5 p.m. on June 2, the victim noticed the vehicle missing and called to report it.
Man arrested after threatening to kill wife, sons
ROCHESTER HILLS — A resident called 911 to report that someone was threatening to kill residents in the home on Hidden Creek Court at 9:14 p.m. June 5.
The man, 65, of Rochester Hills, was armed with a knife and had firearms in the home.
Occupants of the home barricaded themselves in a bedroom until deputies arrived and took custody of the man without incident. The man was taken into custody for felonious assault and domestic violence and was lodged in the Oakland County Jail.
Man in four-wheeler wanted for fleeing and eluding
ROCHESTER HILLS — A deputy on routine patrol observed a yellow four-wheel off-road vehicle being driven south on Old Perch Road at 7:14 a.m. June 6.
The vehicle was unregistered, and the driver was wearing a helmet.
The deputy activated his lights and siren and attempted to stop the ATV. The driver, a 20-year-old man wearing a blue shirt and a
white helmet, turned his head, looked at the deputy and accelerated away. The driver fled south on Hampsted to Northumberland, then to Crooks Road. The driver accessed the Paint Creek Trail and drove out of sight. A deputy launched a drone, but was unable to locate the vehicle.
Suspected drunken driver arrested
ROCHESTER — Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex parking lot after an intoxicated driver nearly got into an accident at approximately 8 p.m. June 18. Officers located the vehicle in question, as well as the driver behind the wheel, and immediately observed signs of impairment. The driver refused to perform field sobriety tests or take a preliminary breath test. Additional officers spoke with witnesses, who indicated they had seen the driver and vehicle driving through the parking lot and stop. The witnesses stated the vehicle then began to reverse, nearly striking parked vehicles. The driver was placed under arrest and was transported to the station. A search warrant was sought to obtain the driver’s blood. The driver was lodged until sober and was released pending the blood test results.
Driver caught on the road with suspended license
ROCHESTER — An officer on patrol in the area of University and Oak observed a red minivan traveling eastbound with a loud defective exhaust at 12:30 p.m. June 20. The officer conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, who admitted to having a suspended license. The driver was placed under arrest and was transported to the station for processing. The driver was later released with a citation.
Man caught with suspended license
ROCHESTER — An officer performing selective enforcement in the area of Main and Second saw a green GMC pickup truck with a cracked windshield at approximately 9:55 a.m. June 21.
The officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, who did not have his license on him. It was determined that the driver had a suspended license. The driver was placed under arrest, transported to the station for processing and released with a citation.
— Mary Beth Almond
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from page 3A
fore fleeing the scene and shortly after was found dead in his Shelby Township mobile home from a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound. A motive has yet to be identified by police.
On the same day in Detroit, one woman was killed and four people were injured from an act of gun violence, and the suspect has not been arrested yet.
Three days later, the gun destruction event drew in a crowd of 20-30 local clergy in orange for Gun Violence Awareness Month. Bishop Bonnie Perry from the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan did a blessing of the six chop saws at the event, which will be used at six more gun buyback destruction demonstration events across metro Detroit this year in partnership with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and other local churches:
• July 13, St. David’s, 16200 W. 12 Mile Road in Southfield, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Aug. 3, Nativity church, 21220 W. 14 Mile Road in Bloomfield Hills, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Aug. 24, Church of the Messiah, 231
E. Grand Blvd. in Detroit, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Sept. 28, All Saints, 71 W. Pike St. in Pontiac, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Oct. 5, St. Andrew’s, 5301 Hatchery Road in Waterford, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Nov. 9, St. Aidan’s, 1679 Broadway in Ann Arbor, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Yaw did a demonstration at the event using one of the chop saws.
“They’re really high-powered for this purpose. They cut rebar, they cut high density pipe, and as a result, they really don’t shed a lot of sparks. You can actually handle the metal right afterward; the metal doesn’t really get hot, so you can take them into the guns and crafts place immediately and make artwork out of them.”
Yaw added that destroying the guns on-site is possible because they do not technically take charge of the weapon. The owner of the gun is present throughout the entirety of the destruction of the weapon.
“These events will not only meet important social needs like safety and community building,” Marcia Gershenson, Oakland County commissioner, stated in a press release, “but the act of transforming weapons used for harm into something beautiful testifies to our ability to change and transform our societies.”
Karen Reynolds, a Moms Demand Action Leader, who has been a Rochester Hills resident since 1983, was also in attendance at the event. Moms Demand Action is a national organization that fights for public safety measures and policies to protect people from gun violence throughout the United States. Reynolds joined Moms Demand Action’s North Oakland group after a friend from church inspired her to get involved, but following the Oxford shooting in 2021, Reynolds upped her involvement. Now, she’s done everything from marching to appearing in articles and placing ribbons around downtown Rochester for gun violence awareness in June. As a longtime Rochester Hills resident, she said, “It’s heartbreaking, truly, truly heartbreaking. And every chance I’ve had to talk about this in the last week and a half since the shooting happened at the splash pad, I just go off on my soapbox, because the more people understand about this, the more upset they can be that they can work towards a solution reducing gun violence is the goal. We don’t have to use a gun to solve every problem in the world. It’s not appropriate. I have no problem with guns that are used for hunting. Responsible gun use is what Moms is all about.”
Reynolds is also a member of End Gun Violence Michigan, an anti-gun violence group with the mission to “pass common sense gun violence prevention laws in Michigan that will save lives.’
Reynolds believes that a response to gun violence is necessary.
“Prayers help, but we just all have to get involved and do whatever each person can to reduce gun violence,” she said. “There’s so many marches going on around the state this month. Let people know that using guns for violence is not acceptable. It was kind of amazing to me that, yes, there were three events last weekend, including the one in Rochester, but the one in Rochester, because we are a fairly white community, was the only one that made the national news. Too often, the Black and brown community is just excluded from the news, and they are the ones that are suffering even worse than us, and I’m heartbroken. How much more heartbroken are the other communities?”
For more information on St. David’s gun buybacks, visit stdavidssf.org.
To learn more about Moms Demand Action, visit momsdemandaction.org.
To learn more about End Gun Violence Michigan, visit www.endgunviolen cemi.org.
Shooting
from page 3A
At press time, three victims remained in the hospital — A 30-year-old woman with wounds to the thigh and buttocks, an 8-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the head, and his 39-year-old mom, with wounds to the abdomen and leg. While the 30-year-old woman was considered stable at press time, Bouchard said the boy and his mom remained in critical condition.
The 8-year-old boy, according to Bouchard, has made “amazing progress,” thus far.
“The beauty, sometimes, of youth is they’ve got strength and resilience in their little bodies,” Bouchard said. “He seems to be doing well, but there are still a lot of challenges ahead.”
Although police did not identify any of the shooting victims by name, four Sheriff’s Office-verified GoFundMe accounts have provided more details about nine of the victims in an effort to raise funds for medical expenses.
Three of the victims — the 4-year-old boy, the 8-year-old boy and their 39-year-
old mother — were identified as members of the Bebout Family on a GoFundMe website created by Tiffany Holcomb, the boys’ aunt, which was verified by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
“This family has gone through things that no family should ever have to face,” said Bouchard.
Two other victims were identified as Micayla and Eric Coughlin on a GoFundMe created by family friend Noel Wakul. The GoFundMe account, which was verified by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, said the couple sustained a total of seven gunshot wounds while trying to shield their 2-year-old and 4-year-old daughters from the gunfire. The couple, according to the GoFundMe, have started physical and occupational therapy for their injuries.
Danielle Iafrate, 39, the wife of a Rochester Hills city employee, was also injured in the shooting, with gunshot wounds to the arm and back while reportedly carrying her 7-year-old child away from danger. She was identified on a GoFundMe created by Michael and Sarah Stan, who are close friends of the family. This GoFundMe site was also verified by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
Another person wounded in the shooting is Richard Schumborg, 77, according to a GoFundMe created by family friend Tara Forgue and verified by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Richard took his 8-year-old granddaughter with him to the splash pad that day. While the granddaughter was unharmed, the GoFundMe states Richard was shot twice in the abdomen and once in the thigh.
Karina Aguiar Jacoud, 37, was shot in the hand, and her husband, Carlos, 42, was shot in the knee while shielding their son, according to a GoFundMe organized by their friend Monica Marchezani and verified by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Carlos underwent knee surgery, and Karina underwent hand surgery. Both have injuries to several parts of their bodies, according to the site.
During the press conference, Mayor Bryan Barnett, who wore a light blue and green ribbon pinned to his lapel in recognition of the tragedy, said the city of Rochester Hills has partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester for a citysponsored fund, run by the Community Foundation, to provide an additional safe space for the community to donate to the
Peek Inside Your Health: Full Body MRI Screenings Unveil Silent Issues Before Symptoms Arise
(South eld, MI) Full body MRI clinics have gained national attention lately, as TV personalities publicly share their personal full body scan experiences. One actress credits the scan for saving her life after doctors dismissed her unexplained pain for months. After various tests, including a CT scan, had “unremarkable” results, the pregnant actress became her own advocate, searched out a full body MRI clinic and discovered she had pancreatic cancer. anks to early detection the tumor was removed successfully.
As a general rule, when symptoms occur related to cancer, it usually has progressed to stage three or four. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screenings only cover about 29% of cancers with 71%
occurring outside of where doctors are able to screen. However, full body MRI scans can detect cancer in every organ from the top of the head through the pelvis and can detect it very early.
For a long time, full body MRI scans were available only in select areas outside of Michigan, requiring expensive ights like in Vancouver or California. However, this changed when a facility opened in South eld, making these screenings available to Metro Detroit residents.
“Our advanced MRI screening can detect cancers very early when they are as small as a pencil eraser and are more easily treatable. If cancer goes undetected, however, it can grow into stage three or stage four with di cult treatments. We can also identify hundreds of conditions
such as brain, abdominal, chest, and groin aneurysms,” stated the founder of the South eld clinic called Bionicc Body Screening.
victims. A link can be found at rochesterhills.org/rhstrong, which includes all the verified GoFundMe pages.
Although the splash pad was closed at press time, Barnett said the city plans to reopen it sometime in the future.
He also noted that the city’s Festival of the Hills fireworks show, to be held June 26, would continue as planned under the guidance of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
“This issue won’t define us, but our response will,” Barnett said.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 — formally known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Those who may need help supporting a loved one through a difficult time can also call or text 988.
For more information about mental health care resources and support, the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Mondays-Fridays 10 a.m.10 p.m. Eastern Time at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org.
For more information about the city’s response, visit rochesterhills.org/rhstrong.
Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
MRI full body screenings are safe, non-invasive and emit zero radiation. Book in July to save $450.
e primary focus of Bionicc Body Screening is to deliver peace of mind, o ering a comprehensive and detailed imaging of the body’s internal structures. e ultimate hope is for excellent health. However, in the event that something is detected, the advanced screening aims to catch any potential issues at their earliest stages. is approach o ers the best opportunity for successful treatment outcomes, should the need arise.
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Save $450 this Independence Day when you book a full body MRI appointment for the month of July. Learn more now by visiting www. BioniccBodyScreening.com ( is is a limited time o er.) Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC.
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NEWS & NOTES
New waste hauler coming to Rochester Hills as GFL sells contract to Priority Waste
ROCHESTER HILLS — GFL is in the process of selling all of its southeast Michigan municipal contracts to Priority Waste. Rochester Hills administrators said they were not notified of this sudden change until recently, adding that they are in the process of vetting the new company.
Staff said the city will hold the new hauler responsible for all terms of the current contract. Residents will not incur additional costs, and all pre-paid bills will transfer to Priority Waste. If you have received a bill from GFL or have an unpaid bill, you may continue to use your GFL portal for payment up until July 15.
As the city gets additional information, it will share it on Facebook and Nextdoor, in the city newsletter, and at rochesterhills.org/trash.
Rochester-Avon Historical Society presents ‘ A Walk on Walnut’ historical walking tour July 10
ROCHESTER — Join the Rochester-Avon Historical Society for a summer walking tour at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10. Rochester’s Walnut Boulevard once played host to seven churches within a twoblock stretch. Walk and hear the incredible stories of these buildings and the residents that called Walnut home. Meet at the northwest corner of Second and Walnut streets, 203 Walnut.
The event is free for RAHS members. Nonmembers are asked to consider a $5 suggested donation at the start of the tour. Registration is required. Register online at www.rochesteravonhistoricalsociety. org/events, by sending an email to rahsupdates@gmail.com or call (248) 266-5440 and leaving a message.
The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm presents Wet and Wild Wednesdays
ROCHESTER HILLS — Every Wednesday in July, slide over to the museum for some summer fun noon-2 p.m. July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Visitors will find musical entertainment, two huge slip and slides, a Rochester Hills fire truck, a foam machine for little kids, wading in Stoney Creek and water activities sponsored by the Clinton River Watershed Council. No registration is required. The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm is located at 1005 Van Hoosen Road in Rochester Hills. The cost is $5 for the public ages 2 and older, and free for museum members.
COMMON GROUND TO SUPPORT THE ROCHESTER HILLS COMMUNITY
ROCHESTER HILLS — In the wake of recent violent events in Rochester Hills and other local communities, Common Ground’s Resource and Crisis Hub and 988, the Michigan Crisis and Access Line, teams said they are prepared for an expected increase in calls.
Crisis-trained specialists are ready to speak with callers confidentially 24/7/365. Call 800-231-1127 or 988. Teams are available by phone at (800) 231-1127; in person at the Resource and Crisis Center, 1200 N. Telegraph, Building 32E, Pontiac; online at commongroundhelps. org for services and resources; and by phone, text or chat at 988.
Downtown Rochester’s Sidewalk Sales kick off July 18
ROCHESTER — Back in its 69th year, downtown Rochester’s Sidewalk Sales will kick off on Thursday, July 18.
Presented by Chief Financial Credit Union, Sidewalk Sales will run 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, July 18, and Friday, July 19, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
“Downtown Rochester’s Sidewalk Sale weekend holds a special place in our hearts at Chief Financial Credit Union,” Vice President of Business Development Ashley Chambers said in a press release. “Our team thrives on engaging with our community and sharing our enthusiasm for being an integral part of the Rochester landscape. Make sure you swing by our booth for a thrilling Superhero experience and some fantastic prizes. We can’t wait to see you there!”
Kids can take part in a craft daily noon-3 p.m. in front of 429 Main. On Friday night, get movin’ and groovin’ for the return of Dancin’ in the Street on West Fourth Street 6-10 p.m.
The Explorers Club invites kids of all ages to go outdoors and explore everything the community has to offer through adventures. Kids can pick up their free Explorers Club Kit during Sidewalk Sales at the Downtown Collaboration Studio, located at 431 Main St. Continue the fun on Saturday, July 20 with Movies in the Moonlight, and the showing of “Wonka.” Movies in the Moonlight is located in the parking lot at the corner of East Third and Water, one block east of Main. The movie lot opens at 7 p.m., and movies begin around 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.DowntownRochesterMI.com or call (248) 656-0060.
Common Ground provides a continuum of services, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a 24/7 Resource and Crisis Hub, a Virtual Behavioral Health Urgent Care, a Resource and Crisis Center, the Victim Assistance Program, support groups for suicide and homicide survivors, and mobile response units serving Oakland and Genesse counties.
ROCHESTER — Rochester Christian University will host the Fletcher-Shinsky Golf Classic to raise money for student scholarships on Tuesday, July 16, at Cherry Creek Golf Course in Shelby Township.
Tickets cost $200 per person and $150 for RCU alumni. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, a continental breakfast, a lunch and a dinner buffet, and RCU merchandise. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Hole sponsorships are $250, and other sponsorships are also available.
Since 1980, the Fletcher-Shinsky Golf Classic has been one of the institution’s annual fundraisers. The classic is named in honor of Milton Fletcher, the sixth president of the university, and coach Bill Shinsky, professor, coach and athletic director at RCU. For more information, go to rcu.edu/golf.
Downtown Rochester Bike Tour
ROCHESTER — Join the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm’s Downtown Rochester Bike Tour to visit some fascinating locations throughout town 7-8 p.m. July 18. Meet at Rotary Gateway Park, near the library’s west side parking lot. Guests will check out a cemetery, local houses and churches, and will hear about famous men and women from town. Registration required. The cost is $20 for the public or $15 for museum members. To register, visit www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms.
C & G NEWSPAPERS KEEPS IT IN THE FAMILY
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
For anyone curious about what the “C” and “G” in C & G Newspapers stands for, here is the answer. The “C” represents Charlotte, and the “G” is for Gil. Charlotte and Gil Demers 45 years ago created the family-owned business C & G Newspapers.
The husband-and-wife team ran the company from their St. Clair Shores home with two papers: the Shores Shopper, a monthly advertiser first published in December 1977, and the Warren Weekly, with its inaugural issue Aug. 20, 1980.
Gil definitely found his calling selling advertisements to local businesses, which included restaurants, mom-and-pop shops, car dealerships, medical offices, educational institutions and more.
“He was a very personable guy,” daughter Karen Bozimowski said. “He knew everybody. He could talk to anybody.”
Eventually the Demers’ five children — Bozimowski, Jeff Demers, Gregg Demers, Keith Demers and Suzanne Badalamenti — came to work for him. They all started “on the road” selling advertising to neighborhood retailers, securing their own accounts with establishments that trusted them. The kids learned the value of hard work and the importance of helping their customers. Gil died in 2019, and Charlotte retired several years ago.
C & G Newspapers serves metro Detroit residents with 19 biweekly publications delivered to more than 571,000 homes via direct mail. The direct-mail system, rather than subscriptions, proved successful right away, not only for Gil but for his advertisers.
“He knew they were reading it because the advertisers got great response because we went to every home,” Jeff Demers said. “There wasn’t anything like that in St. Clair Shores.”
“That was the difference. No one else did that,” Gregg Demers said. “The thought was that a small business only could draw from so far. Let’s go to every home right around your store, and that will get them
See FAMILY on page 11A
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
The Demers Family, from left to right, includes Karen Bozimowski, Suzanne Badalamenti, Gregg Demers, Keith Demers and Jeff Demers.
Family
the best response.”
Mr. C’s Deli in St. Clair Shores was their first advertiser. An advertisement for Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, located at Hoover and Common roads, was in the first-ever Warren Weekly
“He still advertises today, every issue,” Suzanne Badalamenti said.
Gregg Demers, though, felt the publications needed more and came up with the idea to add editorial content with news stories that covered local city government, education, crime, human interest stories, sports and features events happening in the readerships’ own backyards.
A family affair
At one point, the Demers family was able to open up an office located on Nine Mile Road, east of Van Dyke Avenue, in Warren.
Then the family members began adding more newspapers in Macomb County, including the Eastsider, the Fraser-Clinton Chronicle, the St. Clair Shores Sentinel, the Sterling Heights Sentry, the Journal, the Macomb Township Chronicle and the Shelby-
Utica News
Over in Oakland County, the Demers publish the following papers: the MadisonPark News, Troy Times, the Royal Oak Review, the Rochester Post, the West Bloomfield Beacon, the Southfield Sun, the BirminghamBloomfield Eagle, the Farmington Press, the Novi Note and the Woodward Talk.
The company also has a long-standing Wayne County paper: the Grosse Pointe Times. In 1997 C & G Newspapers moved to 13650 11 Mile Road in Warren.
There are 65 employees in the company who work in different departments. The team consists of salespeople, journalists, editors, graphic designers, photographers and an administrative staff. The newspapers are built right at the C & G office and then are sent to an outside company for printing.
With readers patronizing the advertisers, they are supporting family businesses in their own communities. To keep the business thriving, each family member has different responsibilities.
“Each one of us has our own area of responsibility,” Jeff Demers said. “Then we meet regularly. We talk about ‘what’s going on in each area.”
The Demers said the best aspect of running the family business is working together. They also appreciate the dedication of their staff members.
“The employees are just great,” Gregg Demers said.
While many newspaper entities have ceased to exist because of digital media, C & G Newspapers still continues publishing print editions.
“That comes down to the mail,” Keith Demers said. “We don’t rely on subscriptions.”
“We still believe in our product as a direct-mail community newspaper going to every home,” Gregg Demers said.
C & G Newspapers also evolved electronically with its website, www.candgnews. com, and a social media presence on Facebook and X. The company has contests every month where readers can win gift cards and other prizes from local advertisers. The family is always looking for new opportunities.
‘The Demers were always kind and fair people to me’
The brothers and sisters want to give their employees a sense of family so staff members feel welcome coming to work each day. They, too, know the importance of providing their workforce with the supplies they need to get their jobs done, including everything from office equipment to moral support to the occasional social event.
A majority of staff has remained with the company 10, 20 or 30 years.
“What has always mattered to me the most about C & G is that they are unbiased. … We don’t have an agenda of any kind. We just want to be as factual and fair as possible,” said editor Annie Bates, who began wit h the company 25 years ago. “In our little corner, the Demers want us to do it right. In the beginning of my career, everyone asked me what my next step was. It was assumed you wanted a bigger outlet,” but that wasn’t what appealed to Bates. “C & G … remembers the goal a lot of media outlets seemed to have forgotten, which is to listen and be as fair as you can.”
Graphic designer Kathy Calvisi is a loyal employee who found her niche when she was hired in 1990. Working in the company’s art room designing ads gives her the chance to be creative.
“It’s held my interest,” Calvisi said. “It’s something different every day.”
The Demers accommodated Calvisi when she needed to tend to her family, such as picking up her children from school when they were growing up.
“With a flexible schedule I have the ability to take care of my family,” Calvisi said. “They’re fun people and they treat us good.”
Tues.-Fri. 3-6pm & Thurs. All Day
& Sat. 8-10pm • Sat.-Sun. 3-5pm
Music in the Meadows sets the tone for summer in township parks
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — The beat is on in Oakland Township parks this summer.
The 17th annual Music in the Meadows series, hosted by the Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Department, kicked off June 16 and will continue to supply free Friday night concerts July 19 and Aug. 16 in township parks.
Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Recreation Director Mindy MilosDale said she thinks it’s “one of the best local concert series around, as far as concerts in the parks.”
“We started this series under the auspices of a (Detroit Symphony Orchestra) musician advising us, and we still have advisors that are associated with the DSO. Because of that, they help us pick out the best musicians for our series — they’re experts of this — and so, we always get a high-quality of musicianship, and we have a very diverse onset of concerts,” Milos-Dale said.
Former township residents Dave and Ann Strubler, who currently serve as the music advisors for the series, first brought the idea for the series to township officials around 17 years ago. Ann, a retired violinist with the DSO, and her husband pitched the idea of holding three “high-caliber” free summer concerts, which the township welcomed.
“The main distinctive feature of this particular concert series has to do with the quality of musicians that we bring in,” Dave Strubler said.
The couple sends out a survey to residents each year to see what types of music they’re interested in hearing at the series.
“We found that people were interested in big band and that people were interested in Motown — both of these are new to what we’ve done in the past,” added Dave Strubler. “We try to please our audience that’s coming and find what they want and what they need, but also find the highest quality, so we
pay more to get that level of quality.”
The series has since grown in popularity, drawing an average of 300-500 people per show.
The 2024 concert series will continue at 7 p.m. July 19 with classical music from the Beaumont Brass Quintet at Cranberry Lake Park, 388 W. Predmore Road in Oakland Township. Formed in 1989, the quintet is named for Michigan State University’s Beaumont Tower — an iconic carillon tower located on campus. The Beaumont Brass has performed throughout Michigan and the midwest, presenting concerts and clinics in public schools, university concert halls and churches. People can arrive early, between 6 and 6:45 p.m., for tours of the 16-acre Cranberry Lake Farm Historic District — located within the 213-acre Cranberry Lake Park — which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The following month, to wrap up the series, crowds can enjoy Motown music from the Motortown All-Stars at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Road in Rochester. Organizers say the Motortown All-Stars are a dynamic lineup of world-class vocalists and musicians assembled from the ranks of the Temptations, the Contours and the Miracles. The vocalists have each performed with Motown legends on stages around the world.
The gates open at 5 p.m. for concertgoers who want to arrive early to set up their blankets and folding chairs and enjoy an evening picnic. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted.
The free concerts are funded through the Oakland Township Parks and Recreation Department fund, which is supported by tax dollars.
In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held at Rochester Christian Church, 4435 N. Rochester Road. Call (248) 6514440, ext. 299, on the day of the event to verify the concert location.
Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
an additional $58.50, for a total of $168 annually, according to the library’s website.
Although the costs to run the library have risen over the years, Morian said, the library’s millage has not changed since it was approved by voters a century ago, in 1924.
The 1924 millage that was passed by the then-residents of Avon Township was for 1 mill in perpetuity — which means it does not have to be renewed. However, the library did not levy that entire mill until 1978, because the Headlee Amendment came in. In a nutshell, Headlee requires a local unit of government to reduce its millage when annual growth on existing property values is greater than the rate of inflation, according to the Michigan Municipal League.
As the library looks forward to its next century of service, Morian said it is apparent to the library board that delivering a 21st century library experience with a 20th century millage is no longer sustainable.
“The building is more than 30 years old, and we are operating off of the same millage that was approved back in 1924. The operational dollars have not increased since then,” she said. “We’re proud of the fact that we’ve been able to live within our means for 100 years, but we feel it is important for the voters to understand that, for this library to thrive in its next century of service, we would need additional funding and additional investment from the community.”
The Rochester Hills Public Library began in 1924 as a 1,700-square-foot building for a population of 3,870 and has
evolved into a nearly 75,000-square-foot building with over 1,100 visitors daily. It issues 553 new library cards on average each month. The library circulates 1.5 million items annually, and staff said they have seen demand for electronic materials such as e-books and e-audiobooks grow 20% in use over the last year. Meeting and study room use has also risen, resulting in 10,049 reservations in 2023, and 3,900 reservations in the first four months of 2024.
The library serves residents of Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township. While all three municipalities pay tax money — 1 mill — to operate the library, the communities of Rochester and Oakland Township do not have a vote on the library board, since they contract with the library for services.
In Rochester Hills, the 1 mill is currently levied at 0.7353 mills due to the Headlee rollback. The new millage asks for an additional levy of 0.39 mills for library funding for 10 years.
“It’s essentially 39 cents per $1,000 of taxable value on your house, which would bring the total levied amount to 1.12 mills,” Morian said. “The current rate of 0.7353 is in the bottom five of our region of local support for libraries, so there are only five libraries that pay a lesser millage rate than the citizens of Rochester Hills do.”
Rochester and Oakland Township contract with the library for service and have annual contracts based on the millage rate for Rochester Hills residents. If voters in Rochester Hills approve a new millage, library staff said a proportionate request would be made to these communities.
“Recognizing the uniqueness of how RHPL operates, the Board of Trustees works collaboratively to build consen-
See LIBRARY on page 14A
Rochester Hills Library Millage Proposal
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property within the City of Rochester Hills, County of Oakland, Michigan, be increased by $0.39 per thousand dollars (0.39 mills) of the taxable value on all taxable property in the City of Rochester Hills for a period of ten (10) years, beginning in the year 2024 and ending in the year 2033, inclusive, as new additional millage for the purpose of providing library funds for the Rochester Hills Public Library? It is estimated that 0.39 mills would raise approximately $1,724,195 when first levied with the December 1, 2024 levy.
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Photo provided by the Rochester Hills Public Library
The additional funding would allow the materials budget to expand and program offerings to increase, according to library officials.
Library
from page 13A
sus among all stakeholders, especially from the contract communities, and has devised a formula to propose equitable library funding based on a per capita fee,” Library Board President Melinda Deel said in a statement.
Library officials said that, if approved, the millage would generate an additional $1,724,195 in funding for the library.
The additional investment of property tax revenue and the updated contracts, Morian said, would allow the materials budget to expand to over $1 million annually, with priority given to popular materials and ebooks. Sunday hours would be added yearround, program offerings would increase, building renovations would begin — with a possible new café — the building would obtain greater Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, the roof would be replaced, the heating and cooling systems would be modernized, and new bookmobiles would be put into service for the 70-square-mile service area.
“Our library is thriving in terms of demand and volume and foot traffic, and we want to be able to meet the needs and
expectations of our community members,” Morian said.
If the millage does not pass, library staff said funds normally used to expand and develop material and service budgets would need to be rerouted to fund critical infrastructure repairs in the next 10 years — like
a new roof and updated HVAC systems. Budgets for new items, electronic materials and special services would be cut, limiting availability and increasing wait times. Staff and operating hours may also be reduced, the community bookmobile would not be able to return to a full-service bookmobile that allows for patron browsing and a larger collection, and the 23-year-old early literacy bus may not be replaced, eliminating service to 24 local preschools.
“At the end of the day, the building will persist, and it needs to be maintained like any commercial building, and those expenses, we will have to figure out how to fund them in our budget, and they will have to come at the expense of some soft portions of the budget that have more flexibility, but regretfully, that’s what the patrons will feel, in
terms of materials, programs and services,” Morian added.
Cost reductions and cuts have been enacted at the library since 2010, Morian said, and include freezing staff wages for three years and reducing or eliminating staff positions, benefits, and health care plans. The library has cut back budgets for supplies and specialized consulting, deferred critical updates to infrastructure and furnishings, managed major projects and updates with internal teams, and downsized the community bookmobile to a utility van with abbreviated services when the used vehicle became too costly to repair.
For more information, visit www.rhpl. com.
Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
Spotlight on business...
Genisys Credit Union increases Genius High Yield Checking rate to 6.75%
Auburn Hills, MI. - June 04, 2024 - Members of Genisys Credit Union are receiving a rate increase on their Genius High Yield Checking Account. In an e ort to give back even more to their members, the credit union is increasing the account’s annual percentage yield (APY) from 5.25% to 6.75% as of June 01, 2024.
“With in ation impacting everyone’s budget, Genisys is fortunate to be in a position where we can give back to our members. is rate increase is our way of saying thank you to our members for your continued trust and loyalty,” said Jackie Buchanan, President and CEO of Genisys Credit Union.
Genius Checking is a high-yield, personal checking account that pays cash dividends on account balances up to $7,500 and debit reward points on purchases. e account requirements are simple: no initial deposit or minimum balance requirement, enroll in e-statements, and use your Genisys Debit Mastercard® 10 times a month for purchases of $5 or more, excluding ATM transactions.
Since launching their Genius High Yield Checking account, the credit union has helped members earn more on their money. In 2023, they paid out millions in annual dividends and members redeemed 296 million debit reward points. eir Rewards Debit Mastercard®, allows members to enjoy items such as travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more using points. Genisys believes that nancial health should be attainable for everyone; Genius Checking is a way for members to maximize their earnings while using their money on everyday needs. “We welcome everyone to join us and enjoy the bene ts of Genius Checking,” said Buchanan.
For additional information, visit: genisyscu.org/genius
DIA’s Inside|Out returns to Rochester
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
ROCHESTER — You don’t have to travel to Detroit to enjoy the masterpieces of the Detroit Institute of Arts this summer.
For the next five months, a number of art reproductions will be on display in downtown Rochester via the art museum’s Inside|Out program.
Now in its 15th year, the Inside|Out program brings high-quality reproductions from the museum’s art collection to life in the streets, parks and public spaces.
The program, according to Julie McFarland, the DIA’s executive director of public affairs and engagement, is all about making art accessible for residents of Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
This year, 11 DIA reproductions have been placed around Rochester — including at Rochester Mills Beer Co., the Rochester Hills Public Library, The Meeting House, The Home Bakery, Municipal Park, the farmers market, the Rochester Corner Bar pocket park, Lytle’s Pharmacy, the pocket park at Walnut and West University, the Royal Park Hotel, and the OPC Social and Activity Center.
“We’re thrilled to bring Inside|Out to Rochester and invite residents to explore, discover, and appreciate the beauty of these artworks in their own backyard,” McFarland said in a statement.
The artwork will be on display in Rochester through October.
Editor: Annie Bates | (586) 498-1071 | abates@candgnews.com
Reporter: Mary Beth Almond | (586) 498-1060 | malmond@candgnews.com
Sports: Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
“It’s a great opportunity for the public to have a reason to walk around town and explore areas that they might not normally go to, but most importantly, it’s a great art education in a fun manner,” said Rochester Downtown Development Authority Marketing Coordinator Taylor Knuth.
This year marks the first time the DIA’s Inside|Out program has included a trail, with an installation directly along the Clinton River Trail, stretching across multiple communities.
Melinda Hill, the president of the Friends of the Clinton River Trail, said the Friends group is excited to be selected for the 2024 program, which will allow them to unveil “Art on the Trail” this summer.
“We are constantly striving to improve the trail user experience, and as we celebrate the trail’s 20th anniversary, what better way to do it than by adding some wonderful pieces of art from the DIA,” she said in a statement. “These art installations are the cherries that top our celebration, and trail users will be delighted to experience the DIA Inside/Out program.”
In addition to experiencing Inside|Out in their communities, residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties always receive free admission to the DIA.
For a complete map of artworks and locations in Rochester, visit downtownroch estermi.com/dia-insideout.
Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
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HOMES
TIPS THAT CAN HELP KEEP PETS CALM DURING FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, pet owners need to be mindful of their animals’ anxiety. Elaborate fireworks displays, although beautiful to human eyes, for animals, especially dogs, can bring a vast amount of fear and tension.
“It’s best to please not take your pets to fireworks displays,” said Heather Robertson, a veterinarian at Animal Emergency Center in Novi. “I do think it freaks them out, some of them, and it’s more stress to them.”
Joanie Toole, chief of the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, said that on average at least 20 dogs come through the shelter who have run away from home after getting scared because of fireworks.
To help keep dogs calm during the festivities, Robertson recommended keeping them away from windows and doors. She suggested having things turned on that create more pleasant sounds, such as music or the television.
“Keep them in an area of the house where you can hang with them, you can chill with them if you want to. But, like, if you are going downstairs to the basement, have on music, have on the TV. Or if there’s, like, the exhaust fan in the bathroom is pretty loud or the laundry room or something like that, turn those fans on to go ahead and kind of deaden the noise,” Robertson said.
She suggested getting the animal acclimated to this type of location and scenario prior to the fireworks, so that the location is just another place to go and not equated to scary noises outside.
Pet stores also offer an array of different things to help keep dogs calm. This includes a large variety of calming treats, toys and even “ThunderShirts.” According to the company website, thundershirt.com, the ThunderShirt “applies gentle, constant pressure to calm all types of anxiety, fear, and over-excitement issues.”
“You put it around the dog and it kind of gives, like, a coddling feeling,” said Sarah Hanscom, general manager of Pet Supplies Plus in Royal Oak.
Along with music or background noise, Hanscom suggested using various toys and dog puzzles that involve treats to keep dogs occupied and thus distracted from the noise of the fireworks.
“Keep them somewhat occupied,” Hanscom said. “As occupied as you can. I realize that when a dog is scared, a dog is scared, but try and give distractions.”
However, in some cases an animal’s anxiety is just too high and pet owners should go ahead and take their pets to the vet. Robertson said that in some cases veterinarians prescribe either one of two sedatives, trazodone and acepromazine. Trazodone is most commonly used for separation anxiety or the dog who needs to be kept quiet at home.
Robertson said that people have to remember that they can’t just start the medication at the time of the fireworks. She said that it takes time for the medication to kick in and for the animal to get acclimated to it. She said that the medication should be started the day before the event, or at least that morning. Trazodone in particular is something that can be given every eight hours. So she said the dog would be able to get the medication the morning prior to the event and then again in the afternoon or evening so that it would be completely in the dog’s system.
“I think too many people try to give things too late and then they are like, ‘It doesn’t help. It doesn’t help.’ Well, no. You’re behind the eight ball because it takes time for things
to kick into their system and what have you,” Robertson said.
She said she would recommend that people not wait until the holiday to contact their vet about these issues. She said they should contact their vets now and prepare and start medication ahead of time.
Dogs that run away during events such as fireworks are typically picked up by local police departments. Cmdr. Jason Meier, of the Novi Police Department, said they don’t usually have a lot of issues with lost dogs in Novi, even during the Fourth of July holiday.
“If we do come across them, we take them to the vet to see if they are chipped first. If they are chipped, we can return them to the owner; if not, we hold them on-site until the next day when animal control can pick them up,” Meier said.
ABOVE: The Festival of the Hills firework show lights up the sky June 26 at Borden Park in Rochester Hills. BELOW: Joey Radio and DJ Paul Martindale keep the energy at the stage on high before the start of the 2024 Festival of the Hills firework show June 26 at Borden Park in Rochester Hills. The crowd danced, sang and jumped around, not wanting the music to end.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
Avondale
from page 1A
According to the ballot language, residents would pay an estimated 1.37 mills in the first year of the bond and an estimated 4.19 mills per year after that. One mill is $1 per $1,000 of a home’s taxable value.
“The estimated computed millage rate required to be levied to pay the proposed bonds may change in the future based on changes in certain circumstances,” states the ballot language.
The district’s proposal is to keep the debt millage rate at 7.3 mills, the superintendent said. If the proposal fails, district officials estimate the debt millage rate would decrease to 5.93 mills for the 2025-2026 school year. This would be a $205 reduction in tax bill for a homeowner with a $150,000 taxable value home. With no bond passage beyond 2025-2026, the rate would continue to drop steadily until the debt is fully paid off in 2047. District officials estimate that the debt millage rate would decrease to 4.60 mills for the 2026-2027 school year. This equates to a $405 reduction in tax bill from the current 7.3 mills rate.
The largest expenditure is the new construction of an early childhood center — proposed for the corner of Waukegan and Squirrel.
“That’s where the former administration offices used to be. Those were demolished close to 15 years ago now. The district has held on to that land since that point in time for a future use, and that future use has come,” said Schwarz.
The district, he said, is in “desperate need” of an early childhood center because there is no more space within the district to accommodate the demand for preschool programs.
“We are full, and we have a waitlist, and that’s been the case for a couple of years now. … Couple that with the governor and the
Legislature’s discussion about offering universal free 4-year-old preschool in the state. If that passes, it will be starting in the fall of 2027, and that would nearly double the amount of preschoolers eligible for our programming. If we don’t have the space now to accommodate the need, how in the world are we going to be able to accommodate the need when that could potentially double?” he said.
However, in a 4 a.m. June 27 budget deal, the state decided that a family will only qualify for a free preschool spot if they are at or below 400% of the federal poverty line. Using 2024 federal poverty numbers, a family of four with an income of up to $124,800 could qualify. Families that earn more than that could still qualify for free preschool if Great Start Readiness Program providers have additional open spots.
The district said that with a dedicated preschool center, the preschoolers would be
See AVONDALE on page 19A
AVONDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT BOND PROPOSITION
Shall the Avondale School District, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, to pay the cost of the following projects to create a modern learning environment for students and for health, safety, security, energy conservation and other purposes:
• Erecting, completing, equipping and furnishing a new early childhood center;
• Erecting an addition to R. Grant Graham Elementary School and remodeling, equipping and reequipping, furnishing and refurnishing school buildings and additions, including for modernizing instructional, fine arts and theater spaces, playgrounds and other facilities and erecting, equipping and furnishing a transportation maintenance facility;
• Acquiring, preparing, developing and improving sites for school buildings, including athletic fields, playgrounds and other facilities and the purchase of school buses;
• Acquiring and installing technology equipment and technology infrastructure, including for health, safety and security, in school buildings and other facilities?
The annual debt millage required to retire all bonds of the School District currently outstanding and proposed pursuant to this ballot is expected to remain at or below 7.30 mills which is an estimated -0- mill increase from the debt millage levied in 2024. The estimated millage that will be levied to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is 1.37 mills ($1.37 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage that will be required to retire each series of the bonds is 4.19 mills annually ($4.19 per $1,000 of taxable value). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of refunding, is not more than twenty-five (25) years.
If approved by the voters, the repayment of the bonds will be guaranteed by the State under the School Bond Qualification and Loan Program (the “Program”). The School District currently has $64,625,000 of qualified bonds outstanding and $0 of qualified loans outstanding under the Program. The School District does not expect to borrow from the Program to pay debt service on these bonds.
The estimated computed millage rate required to be levied to pay the proposed bonds may change in the future based on changes in certain circumstances.
(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for teacher, administrator or employee salaries, repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses.)
Photo provided by Avondale Schools
Decades-old playgrounds at the elementary level would be replaced under the $150 million bond proposal Avondale Schools voters will consider.
Avondale
from page 18A
moved from their current spaces in the elementary buildings, creating more space for classrooms when that larger level of students matriculated through the district.
“It would also allow us to expand for additional special education classrooms,” Schwarz said. “Right now, we don’t have space to accommodate that need, so alleviating that space in the elementaries by pulling those preschoolers out to a preschool center would allow us to add additional rooms to accommodate more special education.”
An addition to R. Grant Graham Elementary School to add four classrooms is another large project that would be covered under the bond. The building is currently at capacity with 440 students enrolled, and Schwarz said projections plan for a continuation of those rates for the next 10 years.
“We’ve had 50 students enrolling in the last two weeks of summer for the last two years, so that’s an influx of residents into that building as those neighborhoods are turning over to new families,” he explained. “We need to add some additional classrooms so that we can lower some of the class sizes in that building. That’s our building with the highest class sizes currently because of the space limitations.”
The third major construction project covered under the bond would be an expansion on the district’s transportation facilities to allow for a maintenance garage for washing and bus repairs within the district.
At the high school level, science labs would get a refresh, along with the athletic fields.
“We have science labs at the high school that are 40-plus years old with bunsen burners that don’t work and very well-used furniture, cabinetry and table tops, so this would really upgrade all of that,” said Schwartz.
The elementary schools would get allnew playgrounds.
“We have playground equipment that is decades old, in many cases, which are not (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant by today’s standard,” Schwarz said.
The bond would also support upgrades to technology equipment and infrastructure; safety and security; heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems; and remodeling and re-furnishing school buildings throughout the district.
“In many cases, our furniture is 30-plus years old and falling apart — we have student desks that are falling apart. We have teacher desks falling apart. We have cabinetry that’s falling apart due to age. So this would help do a complete overhaul of new furniture into
the district,” Schwarz noted.
Board of Education President Terry Lang said the school district developed this bond proposal after a thorough assessment of school facilities, input from the school staff, and input from members of the community through a community survey and a series of focus panels.
“I am confident that this proposal reflects what the community members want for their school district, and I am pleased that we will be able to address all these projects with no increase in the current tax rate,” Lang said in a statement.
The ideas that really fed this bond were from the community, Schwarz said.
“There’s not a person in this that’s not going to get something out of this bond — if you’re a staff member, if you’re a student, if you’re a community member. There’s something in this for everybody,” he said.
The school district is planning informational meetings, social media posts, and a variety of mailings on the bond proposal. For more information, visit the school district’s website at http://www.avondaleschools. org/2024-bond. The document also outlines all the planned projects for each school and facility within the district.
Residents of Avondale School district are encouraged to share their thoughts about the bond proposal by taking a brief survey at http://www.research.net/r/ASDbondproposal.
For more information, contact Superintendent James Schwarz at james.schwarz@ avondaleschools.org or (248) 537-6000.
Bridge Michigan contributed to this report. Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
20A/ ROCHESTER POST • JULY 1, 2024
JULY 8
Stroller Walk: Nature sensory adventure, 10-11:30 a.m., Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Road in Rochester, oaklandtownshipparksrec@gmail.com
JULY 10
Historical walking tour: Rochester-Avon Historical Society presents “A Walk on Walnut,” 6:30 p.m., meet at northwest corner of Second and Walnut streets, registration required, (248) 266-5440, rahsupdates@ gmail.com, rochesteravonhistoricalsociety.org/events
BBQ for veterans: Also spouses, food prepared by OPC Culinary Team, music by Golden Belles, 11 a.m.noon, OPC Social & Activity Center, 650 Letica Drive in Rochester, registration required, (248) 656-1403, OPCcenter.org
JULY 11
‘Midnight: Detroit and the Underground Railroad’: Presentation at 7 p.m., Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road in Rochester, open to RHPL carholders and registration required, (248) 656-2900, calendar.rhpl.org
JULY 12
‘Britain’s Finest - The Complete Beatles Experience’: Fundraiser for Meadow Brook Theatre, includes strolling dinner with tasting portions and beer/wine at 6 p.m., also silent auction, raffles and 50-50, then tribute concert at 8 p.m., Meadow Brook Theatre on campus of Oakland University, 378 Meadow Brook Road in Rochester, mbtheatre.com
JULY 16
Fletcher-Shinsky Golf Classic: Scholarship fundraiser for Rochester Christian University, includes continental breakfast, 18 holes with cart, lunch and buffet dinner, registration at 8 a.m. and shotgun start at 9 a.m., Cherry Creek Golf Club and Banquet Center, 52000 Cherry Creek Drive in Shelby Township, rcu.edu/golf.
JULY 18-20
Sidewalk Sales: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. July 18-19 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 20, Main Street and side streets
in Downtown Rochester, also daily kids crafts from noon-3 p.m. at 429 Main St. and signup for Rochester Explorers Club at 431 Main St., (248) 656-0060, downtownrochestermi.com/sidewalk-sales
JULY 19
Dancin’ in the Street: Live music by The Keynote Sisters from 6-6:45 p.m. and SpaceCat from 7-10 p.m., also Taste Fest featuring local restraurants from 6-10 p.m., West Fourth Street between Main and Walnut streets in downtown Rochester, (248) 656-0060, downtownrochestermi.com/dancin-in-the-street
JULY 26
Fireflies: Learn about and catch them, also make firefly action figure and toast s’mores over campfire, 8:30-10 p.m., Cranberry Lake Farm, 388 W. Predmore Road in Oakland Township, oaklandtownshipparksrec@gmail.com
ONGOING
Wet and Wild Wednesdays: July 3 (juggler Crazy Craig), July 10 (musician and storyteller Beverly Meyer), July 17 (magician and comedian Jason Abbott), July 24 (magician Gordon Russ) and July 31 (musician Kevin Devine), also two slip and slides, foam machine, water activities and more, noon-3 p.m. Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, rochesterhills.org/museum
Farmers market: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays until Oct. 26, corner of East Third and Water streets in Rochester, downtownrochestermi.com/farmers-market
Movies in the Moonlight: July 20 (“Wonka”), July 27 (“The Super Mario Bros. Movie”) and Aug. 3 (“Barbie”), 8:30 p.m. (lot opens around 7 p.m.), corner of East Third and Water streets in Rochester, downtownrochestermi.com/movies-in-the-moonlight
Summer in The Village of Rochester Hills: Live music for adults and kids at Festival Park, food trucks and exotic bugs/doughnuts events at Fountain Park, and yoga next to Von Maur and Eddie Bauer, select times and dates until Aug. 31, also art fair July 27-28 at Festival Park, 104 N. Adams Road, see details at thevorh.com
NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST FOR THE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2024
ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Public Accuracy Test for the August 6, 2024 General Election is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 400 Sixth Street, Rochester Michigan.
The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the program and tabulators that will be used to tabulate the results of the election counts the votes in the manner prescribed by law.
Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact the City Clerk’s Of ce.
Lee Ann O’Connor, City Clerk City of Rochester Michigan
www.rochestermi.org
400 Sixth Street, Rochester, MI 48307
248.651.9061
Published: 07/01/2024 Rochester Post
0084-2427
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
Music in the Park: Free concerts 7-8:30 p.m. July 4 (Roots Vibration, reggae), July 11 (Sheila Landis, blues), July 18 (Jello Shots, classic rock) and July 25 (Rochester Symphony), Rochester Municipal Park, 400 Sixth St., kiwanisofrochester@gmail.com, facebook. com/musicintheparkdowntownrochester
Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve: Ages 6-11 can learn about dinosaurs (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 8-11), bugs (1-4 p.m. July 12-15), reptiles and amphibians (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 15-18) and plants (1-4 p.m. July 15-18), also all-ages Conservation Campfire events featuring s’mores and talks about copperbelly
water snakes (6-8 p.m. July 17) and Indiana bats (6-8 p.m. Aug. 14), plus Story & STEAM(for ages 3-5, 1011 a.m. every second and fourth Friday of month) and Nature Tales Classic (story, snack and craft for ages 3-5, 10-11 a.m. every third Thursday of month), 333 N. Hill Circle in Rochester, dinosaurhill.org
Rochester Grangers: Live “base ball” games featuring teams using equipment, uniforms and rules circa late 1800s, 6:30 p.m. July 11, and 1 p.m. July 20 and Aug. 10, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, rochesterhills.org/ musprograms
This notice is given pursuant to MCLA Section 211.51 of State law to all residents of the City of Rochester qualifying under Section 211.51 (2) (a), for deferment of the payment of their summer tax bill.
Those homestead taxpayers who are totally and permanently disabled, blind, paraplegic, quadriplegic, at least 62 years of age (by Dec. 1 of prior year), an eligible serviceman, eligible veteran, eligible widow, and whose TOTAL household income for the prior tax year was $40,000 or less may qualify for the deferment of payment of their summer tax bill.
If you are eligible, ll out the Application for Deferment of Summer Taxes (Michigan Department of Treasury Form 471) and return the completed and signed form, along with a copy of your Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credit Claim MI1040CR for tax year 2023, to City of Rochester Treasury, 400 Sixth Street, Rochester, MI 48307. Application must be filed with the City of Rochester Treasury no later than September 15th.
For further information please contact City Hall at 400 Sixth Street, Rochester, MI, 48307, 248-733-3700.
Published: 07/01/2024 Rochester Post
0006-2427
NOTICE OF REGISTRATION FOR THE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2024
ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN
TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that any quali ed elector of the City of Rochester who is not already registered, may register to vote at the of ce of the City Clerk; the of ce of the County Clerk; a Secretary of State branch of ce, or other designated state agency. Registration forms can be obtained at mi.gov/vote and mailed to the City Clerk. Voters who are already registered may update their registration at www.expressSOS.com .
The last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk is Monday, July 22, 2024
After this date, anyone who quali es as an elector may register to vote in person with proof of residency (MCL 168.497) at the City of Rochester Clerk’s Of ce, located at 400 Sixth Street, Rochester, MI 48307 at the following times.
• Regular business hours: Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Election Day, Tuesday, August 6, 2024 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City of Rochester will be voting on:
• United States Senator
• Representative in Congress 10th District
• Representative in State Legislature 55th District
• County Executive
• County Prosecuting Attorney
• County Sheriff
• County Clerk and Reister of Deeds
• County Treasurer
• County Water Resources Commission
• County Commissioner 5th District
• Judge of Circuit Court 6th Circuit Non-Incumbent Position
• Delegate to County Convention – Democratic Party
• Delegate to County Convention – Republican Party
Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact the City Clerk’s Of ce.
Lee Ann O’Connor, City Clerk City of Rochester Michigan
Published: 07/01/2024 Rochester Post
houseForRentIncluding Kitchenettew/Essentials, FurnishedBedroom, Bathroom,Patio,Private Entrance,FreeParking onPremisesandWi-Fi. *NoPets/PartiesPlease* Call/Text 313-461-8485
Toys, Antiques & Collectibles,
Glassware & Pottery, Tools, Outdoor Items, Furniture, Jewelry, Primitives, Cast Iron, Plus Much More! Over 1400 Lots!! Items Located At: Rowley’s Auction Service 124 S Lk Pleasant Rd. Attica, MI 48412 (Just North of I-69, Exit# 163) Preview
Starting Monday, July 8 @ 10 AM - 4 PM Closing process begins Wednesday, July 10 starting @ 8 PM.
AUCTION
AROUND MICHIGAN
Weddle Estate Online Auction bid now through July 9. Shop tools, 5k watt generator, antiques, gun stocks, cast iron pans, cigar boxes, vintage signs, ammo, much more! Visit Bid. SherwoodAuctionServiceLLC.com. Call 1-800-835-0495.
Ballard Estate Online Auction, now through July 10. Bid anywhere, anytime @JohnPeckAuctions.com. John Deere tractor, tools, lawn/garden, more! Selling or need an auction? Call John Peck 989426-8061. Ofices Charlotte & Gladwin
Johannesburg Online Auction, July 18, 8-4 p.m. International tractor, tree equipment, boats, 1976 Olds Deta 88, anvil, power tools, household items, collectibles, more! CrydermanAuctions.com to view catalog, other auctions. Call 586-784-8890.
BUILDINGS
BUILT RITE POLE BUILDINGS Statewide. Prices starting at - 24x40x10 - $18,300.00. 30x40x10 -$20,400.00. Erected on your site. Call for price not shown on any size building or go to www. builtritepolebuildingsmi.com. Or call 989259-2015 or 989-600-1010.
BUSINESS SERVICES METAL ROOFING regular and shingle style, HALF OFF SPECIAL COLORS! Lifetime hail asphalt shingles. Vinyl siding. Licensed and insured builders for 40 years. AMISH CREW. 800-983-0462.
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inTown, 2-bdrm,1-bath, newlydecorated,
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Roofs: 1-888-718-1856
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Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-877-691-4117
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Help Wanted General
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Brick Work
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Carpentry
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Cement
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POBLETECEMENT
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CEMENT-IT
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STEVEʼS CONCRETE COMPANY
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Cleaning Service
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Decks/Patios
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Electrical
BEST-Price-Period Licensed/Insured. Additions,Remodels, Basements,Kitchens, 30-yrs.-experience. Callforfree-estimates. Open7-daysaweek 24/hrs-day. HotchkissElectric 586-291-3143 Lic.#6211028
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Electrical
CASTLEELECTRIC
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Gutters
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Handyman Services
***AAA HAULING*** JUNKREMOVAL
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Cement
Landscaping & Water Gardens Home Improvement
STYLELINE REMODELING COMPLETE,QUALITY, CustomKitchenand BathroomRemodeling, Framing&Finish Carpentry, ReferencesAvailable SeniorDiscounts Call586-354-7549
586-610-1209
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Home Repairs
EXTERIOR REPAIRSLLC. Since1999 Roofing,Siding, GuttersandMore! Reliable Ask,WeMightDoIt! FREEESTIMATES 248-242-1511
Kitchens/ Cabinets/ Countertops
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Landscaping & Water Gardens
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DOLL'S
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Painting
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Painting
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2BROTHERS
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Plumbing
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