LEFT: The Chaldean Community Foundation’s “phase one” project to construct a fourstory apartment complex is already underway just a bit to the south along Van Dyke. The CCF’s latest proposal, which the City Council discussed July 16, is being called “phase two.” ABOVE: This rendering shows what the Chaldean Community Foundation’s “phase two” apartment proposal might look like.
BY ERIC CZARNIK eczarnik@candgews.com
A proposal that city officials say could add around 80 rent-controlled apartment units in the north Van Dyke Avenue corridor faced a temporary impasse due to a 3-3 tied Sterling Heights City Council vote at a July 16 meeting.
The vote was to consider the Chaldean Community Foundation’s proposal to build a mixed-use planned unit development on around 2 out of 10.34 acres of land at 43934 Van Dyke Ave.
The address, located on Van Dyke Av-
enue’s east side, north of Riverland Drive, used to be the site of the former Riverland Amusement Park, according to Sterling Heights senior economic adviser Luke Bonner. City officials say the property is in a floodplain area.
This is not the first time the CCF has planned apartments in the north Van Dyke corridor. The foundation already has a “phase one” four-story apartment complex under construction just a bit southward, and it expects that project to be complete in 2025. The latest proposed apartment project is considered phase two.
The city says it has acquired the 10.34
acres and closed on the purchase in early 2023 by spending around $640,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds. As part of an associated purchase agreement, the city would sell a part of the land to the developer — CCF Development Grillo Limited Dividend Housing Association LLC — for around $60,000, or $30,000 per acre, Bonner said.
While the developer would at one point during the development process take liability for the entire 10.34 acres, it would eventually give the city around 8 acres back, Bonner said. The city could then keep that land as open or recreational space, or for trailway
amenities, according to Sterling Heights City Planner Jake Parcell.
Parcell said the city’s Master Land Use Plan originally designated the property as office, park or open space, but he added that the city’s 2021 North Van Dyke Avenue sub-area plan says the land could be used for multifamily residences.
He also said the proposed apartment complex on that site would contain an estimated 80, possibly 82, one- or two-bedroom units, with each unit being around 750 to 900 square feet in size. Balconies or patio space would be incorporated into the design,
Election Day : August 6
Vote Early: July 27 - August 4
From a young age, my parents taught me that the American Dream is made of opportunity, hard work, and determination. As an assistant prosecuting attorney, I understand the importance of listening to people while leading with compassion and a rm sense of justice. As a public service attorney, I took on clients turned away by others. I will always put the residents of District 57 rst to make sure Michigan has an economy that works for all of us. As your representative in Lansing, I will:
• Support small businesses, create good paying jobs and protect workers’ rights
• Make healthcare, prescription drugs, mental health, and addiction services affordable
• Safeguard reproductive healthcare
• Protect our democracy
• Lower costs for seniors
• Support our local police and re ghters
• Invest in public education funding and teacher salaries
• Expand access to affordable childcare
• Preserve green spaces
• Keep our water and air clean
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
He needed something to light his competitive fire, and bodybuilding was the answer.
Throughout his years at Sterling Heights Stevenson High School and Hope College, Royal Oak resident David Clark’s sole focus was being an athlete. A two-sport athlete in football and track, Clark, a 2017 Stevenson graduate,
See CLARK on page 17A
ABOVE: Lia Lomasney, 9, of Sterling Heights, operated Lia’s Lemonade Stand July 20 to help raise funds to provide clean drinking water for individuals in Guatemala.
LEFT: Sterling Heights Police Department officer Nick Bruno was among those who paid a visit to Lia’s Lemonade Stand July 20. Funds from the stand will be donated to Integrity International, a nonprofit that helps provide clean drinking water for people in Guatemala. Residents can donate to the cause of providing clean drinking water for people in Guatemala by visiting integrityint.org/donate.
Police were notified July 12 that a suspect at Target, 2310 Metropolitan Parkway, scanned an applesauce container while allegedly trying to steal Cat & Jack belts and candy. The value of the stolen merchandise was $16.39, police said. The suspect was apprehended and cited for third-degree retail fraud.
Police investigated a July 15 report of a customer at a bank in the 36000 block of Van Dyke Avenue allegedly being a nuisance to workers and other customers. Police found the suspect and said she was “emotional” and that she wanted to make a wire transfer but was told she had to have an appointment.
According to bank staff, the woman yelled at them that they weren’t nice and that they didn’t have God in their lives. The bank also said the woman started pestering cus-
tomers and causing them to leave.
Police said they told the woman to make an appointment at nearby bank branches, and then she left.
Police said a heavy-set woman between 5-foot-8 and 6 feet tall with long black dreadlocks reportedly grabbed a cellphone charger July 15 from a business in the 5000 block of 19 Mile Road before running off with it.
Police said that when a worker followed the suspect, the suspect allegedly put her hand under her shirt and threatened, “Go away or I’ll hurt you.” No weapons were visible, staff reportedly said.
The suspect apparently left in a black Ford Flex. Police said the business declined to pursue charges, but doesn’t want the suspect to ever come back.
A man reportedly parked his burgundy Chrysler 300 at an apartment complex in the 12000 block of Ina Drive, near Maple Lane Drive and 15 Mile Road, during the after-
noon of July 14 and returned hours later to discover it stolen, with shattered glass where it had been parked.
The victim said the vehicle had been locked, and he still had the keys. Also inside the vehicle was a pearl cross that had been hanging from the vehicle’s front mirror, a black backpack, a white work helmet, work tools and work boots, police said.
Police said they were investigating and looking for surveillance footage.
A man told police that on the morning of July 16, he parked his vehicle outside Lowe’s in the 2000 block of Metropolitan
Parkway, near Dequindre Road, and started to walk to the store when a male suspect in a vehicle asked for directions to Costco.
After the suspect reportedly gave the victim fake costume jewelry and a $100 bill, a woman accompanying the suspect put a necklace she had around the victim’s neck while allegedly stealing the victim’s goldchained necklace with a reddish jade pendant. Then the pair of suspects drove off in a black SUV, police said.
Anyone who has more information about these events or general suspicious happenings is encouraged to call the Sterling Heights Police Department at (586) 446-2800.
— Eric Czarnik
BY ERIC CZARNIK eczarnik@candgnews.com
The U.S. Department of Labor has been working to make its case that a co-owner and operator of four Leo’s Coney Island franchises allegedly failed to pay workers for overtime.
On July 15, a preliminary injunction was issued in the case Su v. Sterling Ponds Plaza LLC et al, which is in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division. The individual defendant named in the suit is restaurant franchise coowner and operator Kyriakos “Ken” Vlahadamis.
Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie A. Su accuses Vlahadamis of not paying employees what they should’ve been paid –specifically overtime wages on labor beyond 40 hours per week. The department says Vlahadamis allegedly kept overtime hours documented on separate timecards that were then allegedly shredded.
The Labor Department specified that this case only affects four restaurants — which are located in Sterling Heights, Clarkston, Livonia and Dearborn — and not the other Leo’s Coney Island franchises statewide, which it estimated at over 70 total.
In a press release, the department also said that in 2018 the federal court already forbade Vlahadamis and Leo’s Coney Island in Sterling Heights from violating the Fair Labor Standards Act in the future by not complying with payroll or overtime responsibilities. “Our investigations have found that, despite agreeing to comply with a 2018 court order forbidding him from future federal wage violations, Ken Vlahadamis was again denying his employees their full wages by refusing to pay overtime and keep required payroll records,” Timolin Mitchell, the U.S. Department of Labor’s wage and hour division district director in Detroit, said in a statement.
“His actions and refusal to follow the law are harmful to the hard-working employees who are being shortchanged by his illegal actions.”
Government officials say they sought a temporary restraining order from the court July 8. Following that, a July 15 consent
preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Judith E. Levy, does a few things.
The injunction demands that the defendant parties keep and preserve “adequate records” of workers’ hours and wages from July 8, 2021, until now. The order also demands that the defendant parties not communicate with workers over matters pertaining to the case without a written disclaimer making clear that any communications are voluntary, and that the employer can’t retaliate for the decision to choose or refuse to communicate.
According to the injunction, the parties “disagree whether the willful destruction of timecards occurred,” and the injunction adds that agreeing to the injunction’s demands does not mean that the defendants admit to wrongdoing or liability.
In an email, Maureen Rouse-Ayoub, an attorney for the defense, called the Department of Labor’s press release “inaccurate.”
“Mr. Vlahadamis, Leo’s Coney Island Defendants and the Department entered into a Stipulated Court Order agreeing to comply with the Fair Labor Standard (Act’s) requirement,” Rouse-Ayoub said. “The Court did not hold a hearing and there has been no Court determination that Mr. Vlahadamis or the Leo’s Coney Island Defendants have engaged in any violations of the law.”
The attorney said the defendant parties voluntarily entered the preliminary injunction order solely to quickly move the matter forward so that the investigation can take place. She said that “includes the opportunity for Mr. Vlahadamis and Leo’s Coney Island to establish that they did not engage in the conduct alleged in the complaint.”
Rouse-Ayoub added that the defendants deny shredding timecards, deny failing to pay overtime, deny the labor secretary’s allegations of wrongdoing and deny violating a previous consent judgment.
“Mr. Vlahadamis and the Leo’s Coney Island Defendants intend to vigorously defend against these baseless allegations,” she said, later adding, “Mr. Vlahadamis and Leo’s Coney Island Defendants look forward to proving that the allegations are false, that they value and respect their employees, and comply with applicable laws.”
Find out more about the U.S. Department of Labor by visiting dol.gov.
Call Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at (586) 498-1058.
Put
STERLING HEIGHTS — Christian Financial Credit Union announced in July that, through its Bathanti-D’Agostino Memorial Scholarship program, it bestowed scholarships to two students who attended Sterling Heights high schools.
Those students are Kyler Maiorana, who graduated from Parkway Christian High School, and Shekinah Willis, who graduated from Sterling Heights High School. According to the credit union, the two students each received $1,000 out of the total $15,000 the credit union awarded to 15 high school seniors this year.
Learn more about Christian Financial Credit Union by visiting www.christianfinancialcu.com.
Ford Motor Co. announced July 18 that it would add an estimated 50 more jobs at its Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights in order to boost the manufacturing of F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks.
In a statement, state Sen. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills, was delighted at the news.
“Ford’s added investment into its Sterling Axle workforce will not only add quality job opportunities for the people of Metro Detroit but also encourage growth to our local economy,” Webber said. “This is encouraging news for Michigan’s workforce, which includes a legacy of autoworkers who rank among the best in the world.”
Sterling Axle won’t be the only North American plant that will gain from Ford’s decision to make more F-Series Super Duty trucks. Other plants in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, Canada, will also see more jobs or overtime, the automaker said in its press release.
“This investment will benefit Ford, our employees in Canada and the U.S., and especially our customers who want and need Super Duty for their lives and livelihoods,” Ford Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra said. “It is fully consistent with our Ford+ plan for profitable growth, as we take steps to maximize our global manufacturing footprint, and our investments will have a fast payback.”
Learn more Ford Motor Co. news by visiting media.ford.com.
The Sterling Heights Public Library, 40255 Dodge Park Road, will host a 6 p.m. Aug. 7 presentation on the Detroit area’s suburbs, including those in southeast Oakland County. The “Dividing a District” author talk presentation will touch upon the communities’ history and the influences of zoning, legislation, desegregation and more.
Admission is free, and the program is intended for library patrons age 17 or older. Learn more by visiting shpl.net and clicking on “Programs” or by calling (586) 446-2665.
The Sterling Heights Police Department, 40333 Dodge Park Road, is inviting families and the general public to its annual National Night Out event 5:30-8 p.m. Aug. 7 in its parking lot.
Officers will present police vehicles and equipment as well as talk about programs like Citizens on Patrol, the Community Emergency Response Team and the Neighborhood Watch.
Admission is free. Learn more by visiting sterlingheights.gov and typing “National Night Out 2024” in the search bar, or call (586) 446-2800.
In addition, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office will hold its inaugural Countywide National Night Out event, complete with display vehicles and special units in attendance, 5-7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway in Sterling Heights. Admission is free, and food may be bought at the event. For more information, call (586) 469-7198.
As you prepare to cast your
check out our
guide and
next
on the candidates running for local and national office at www.candgnews.com, “Elections.”
Sterling Heights registered voters may participate in early voting for the Aug. 6 primary election 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 27-Aug. 4 at two early voting locations – the side entrance of the Sterling Heights Community Center, 40250 Dodge Park Road, or the Chaldean Community Foundation, 3601 15 Mile Road. City officials are reminding residents that ticket splitting, or voting for multiple parties’ candidates, is not allowed during a primary election. Learn more about the election by visiting sterlingheights.gov/vote or by calling (586) 446-2420.
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Editor: Annie Bates | (586) 498-1071 | abates@candgnews.com
Reporter: Eric Czarnik | (586) 498-1058 | eczarnik@candgnews.com
Sports: Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com For retail ad rates: Dan Carroll | (586) 498-1024 | dcarroll@candgnews.com Karen Bozimowski | (586) 498-1032 | kboz@candgnews.com
Classifieds: For ad rates (586) 498-8100 Legals and Obits: (586) 498-1099
Automotive Advertising: Louise Millar | (586) 498-1054 | lmillar@candgnews.com
Real Estate Advertising: Paula Kaspor | (586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — The 12 C & G Newspapers staffers who were recognized in the Michigan Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and the Society of Professional Journalists-Detroit Chapter’s Excellence in Journalism awards walked away with a total of 23 honors.
Both awards are held annually, and the winners were recently acknowledged for their work in 2023.
Maria Allard, a staff writer for the Warren Weekly and the Eastsider, won first place in the news enterprise reporting category of the Better Newspaper Contest for “Warren resident, World War II vet becomes centenarian.” Allard took third place and honorable mention, respectively, in the feature story category for “Warren couple embodies everlasting love” and “Student acts after bus incident, brings classmates to safety.”
“I love being a writer, and it’s nice to be included alongside my colleagues,” Allard said.
Mary Beth Almond, staff writer for the Rochester Post, was recognized in the breaking/spot news category in both the Better Newspaper Contest and the Excellence in
Journalism awards, taking second and third place, respectively, for “Oakland Township woman arraigned on charges in fatal hitand-run crash.” She also took third place in government/news reporting of the Better Newspaper Contest for “Rochester skates forward with plans for outdoor skate park.”
“The journalists at C & G Newspapers work tirelessly to provide essential coverage of important community news and I’m extremely proud to be a part of that,” Almond said.
Page designer Jason Clancy was awarded first and second place by the SPJ for his page one designs. First place went to the July 26 edition of St. Clair Shores Sentinel, while second place went to the Feb. 22 edition of the Royal Oak Review.
“I enjoy coming up with creative designs that help entice readers to pick up our papers,” Clancy said.
Gena Johnson, a staff writer for the Warren Weekly, took first place in the MPA’s government/education news category for “Michigan Supreme Court won’t hear term limits case involving Warren mayor.”
“Working as a reporter at C & G News-
papers has been a joy having my fingers on the pulse of community journalism,” Johnson said.
Andy Kozlowski, staff writer for the Madison-Park News, won two Excellence in Journalism awards. The first award was first place in the consumer/watchdog category
for “Ex-contractor sentenced in Madison schools bribery case,” and the other award was first place in the explanatory story category for “Wild Wings continues mission to rescue birds in need.” The judges said, “Love this story. It gives good and vital information
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — It didn’t take long for David White and Dan Heming to become friends for life.
From the moment they met in 1968 as student naval aviators in the U.S. Navy, they formed an immediate bond when stationed in Pensacola, Florida, and Meridian, Mississippi.
“He was in another squadron. We were flying the same airplane, a T-34. It’s a primary trainer,” White said. “He was going through his battles to get the grades to move forward, and so was I. It’s a pretty rigorous environment.”
White, a Michigan State University graduate, and Heming, a University of Michigan graduate, lost touch for a while after leaving the service, but soon reconnected.
“I was out at the Pontiac Airport after we both left the service, and there he was,” White, of Bloomfield Township, said. “This was about 1972, and the bond was re-created instantly.”
Sadly, Heming died a few years ago at age 76.
“We went through some really tight situations together. He saved me from falling off the side of a mountain one time. We’ve had some really on-the-edge experiences, and it built a bond,” White said. “It’s the purest measure of friendship. When I think of him — a very generous man.”
Over the years, both men married and started families, but they continued their friendship, often cruising in Heming’s 1956 Austin-Healey. The British sports car maker was established in 1952 through a joint venture between the Austin division of the British Motor Corp. and the Donald Healey Motor Co. Many of Heming and White’s leisure drives in the Austin-Healey were in Milford.
See AUSTIN-HEALEY on page 15A
“We’d just look around, have a coffee, get waves from people,” White said. “Sometimes we’d go out to the state parks. We were bikers and hikers at the time. Two good friends that would just enjoy the day.”
White also remembers traveling to Wisconsin when the car was going through an engine modification.
“We went on the ferry and across the lake. I remember the first test drive we took. The car hadn’t been completed. The guy that was working on it said, ‘Hey, take it for a drive,’” White said. “We’re hauling down the road somewhere in Wisconsin. He was pushing it to the limit and I was going, ‘Whoa, whoa. You’re going a little too fast for me.’ We finally got back to the garage. As he was getting out of the car, he pulled up on the steering wheel and it came right off it. We both went, ‘Holy smokes.’”
Heming owned an Austin-Healey while in college but sold it when he entered the Navy. Years later, he bought the 1956 AustinHealey, which “brought back memories of his college days and also some of the things that happened in the Navy,” White said.
Heming’s friendship also left an impact on White’s wife of 54 years, Ann White.
“There were a lot of late evenings on the patio in the back and a fair amount of Scotch,” Ann White said of the pair.
“And cigars,” White said.
White is now taking care of the AustinHealey. When Heming died a few years ago, he willed the car to his Navy pal. It took White some time to get used to the idea of having the car. At first, he didn’t want to drive the convertible because “it was Dan’s car.”
“It sat in his garage for quite a while after he passed away,” Ann White said. “It took Dave a while to make it OK in his head.”
But he has since carried on Heming’s love for the automobile. A novice to the Austin-Healey, White learned everything he could about the car, “from servicing the vehicle to the right fluids you use.” When he first brought it home, Ann White drove very closely in front of White, who was following in the Austin-Healey.
“I hop in the car, start the car up and I’m driving from Milford to Birmingham,” White said. “And it’s getting dark.”
White then turned on a switch he thought were the headlights, but nothing happened.
“I can’t even turn the headlights on,” he said. “We finally got home. It took me another day to figure out the English have a way of pulling it out and then turning it to the right. I thought I had done that, but I apparently didn’t.”
The restored vehicle is a 100-6 twoseater roadster model. The classic car has a 6-cylinder engine paired with an upgraded 5-speed manual transmission. It is paired in what White calls a “mesmerizing custom green/blue exterior, gleaming chrome with the impeccable condition of luxurious black upholstery interior. A true gem in every sense.”
White often takes the car out for drives on Saturday and Sunday mornings. He’s met up with a local Austin-Healey group a few times. He also likes to drive the English car through Bloomfield Hills, sometimes with his wife by his side.
“There are some neat roads that go on forever. I drive it just for the pure pleasure when I can,” said White, who misses his friend. “I thank him every time I drive.”
During his lifetime, Heming became a commercial pilot for USAir. He also flew for Roger Penske. White worked in advertising, started his own marketing company and also is a published author of two books — “Tall Air” and “True Blue” — under the name D Stuart White.
on how to handle baby birds that have fallen from their nest.”
“The stories couldn’t be more different: One was a public corruption case I investigated, and the other was about helping baby birds,” Kozlowski said. “But I believe each has an impact. That’s the best part of journalism.”
Charity Meier, staff writer for the Novi Note, earned honorable mention in the feature story category for “An extraordinary ‘ordinary’ life” in the Better Newspaper Contest.
“I am pleased to have been able to share the knowledge, insight and humor of Wilbur Bigelow,” Meier said. “He turned 101 recently and is someone we can all learn from.”
K. Michelle Moran, staff writer for the Grosse Pointe Times, walked away with six awards between the two organizations. She won two first-place awards in the Better Newspaper Contest: one for her spot news story, “Friends, family remember Arielle Anderson and Brian Fraser,” and a public service award for “Kroger agrees to new fence, window displays for Village store.” Moran also received second place in both the Better Newspaper Contest and Excellence in Journalism awards for the local and community news story, “Grosse Pointe Shores considering breed ban after violent dog attack.” She took third- and fourth-place honors, respectively, in the Better Newspaper Contest and the Excellence in Journalism awards for “Fire guts nearly 100-year-old home in Grosse Pointe City.”
“It’s always a tremendous honor to be
recognized by your colleagues,” Moran said.
Alyssa Ochss, staff writer for the St. Clair Shores Sentinel, took home second place in the feature reporting category of the Excellence in Journalism awards for the story “Making the paranormal more normal.”
Kathryn Pentiuk, staff writer for the Southfield Sun, won second-place honors in the Excellence in Journalism awards for environmental reporting in her story, “‘Forever chemicals’ found in Rouge, Huron River fish.”
Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak won first- and third- place honors, respectively, in the sports reporting category of the Excellence in Journalism awards for “Girls flag football league introduced in Michigan” and “Fernsler’s ‘poised’ performance leads Novi to first state title.”
Excellence in Journalism first-place awards were shared by Clancy and photographers Patricia O’Blenes and Erin Sanchez for a feature page design about local graduates in the June 21 edition of the Eastsider.
The Michigan Press Association was founded in 1868 and promotes the power of print and the public’s right to know.
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. Established on April 17, 1909, at DePauw University, the organization was formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi before adopting its current name. The organization is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and promoting high standards of ethical behavior.
6:30pm-8:30pm
revolved his life around two things — sports and the gym.
Clark was a gym rat to the fullest extent and credited Stevenson for developing his passion for working out.
“Stevenson actually got me working out in the first place,” Clark said. “I started working out as a freshman, and I kind of got addicted to the gym. I was working out every single day all the time. I was working out with seniors and juniors that were bigger than me and stronger than me, but I just wanted to work. I wanted to improve and I wanted to get better. That was always my mindset, especially when it came to the physical aspect of sports and lifting.”
Once sports were no longer in the picture after college, Clark’s constant time in the gym was more so for his job as a personal trainer at Pulse Fitness in Pleasant Ridge rather than working towards a goal for himself.
Bodybuilding became an answer, but it never seemed to be the answer Clark was looking for until now.
“The concept of bodybuilding was that
I wasn’t going to be able to run, jump and be athletic anymore, so I was really focused on athletic training and stuff that I was used to,” Clark said. “Fast forward to last year, I have a co-worker who won Mr. Ohio in 2021, and he was telling me that I have a great physique and that I have what it takes. I was considering it and thinking about it, but I was leaning more towards not doing it because I was used to being athletic and wanting to stay athletic and doing athletic movements, but at the same time, when I worked out at the gym, and I work at a gym, so I’m always in the gym, I was just working out without a goal, since I didn’t have sports anymore. Bodybuilding gave me that goal to work towards in the gym and gave me a goal to achieve.”
On June 15 at the NPC Natural Michigan State Championships in Ypsilanti, Clark achieved his goal as he took first in the Men’s Classic Physique category, which focuses on how defined and symmetrical the muscles are.
It was Clark’s second show ever after finishing in third a week prior in an open show.
“It felt good, but it didn’t really hit me at the moment,” Clark said. “I wouldn’t say I was expecting it, but I was confident in my ability of where I would place. It felt good,
especially when it sunk in and I could sit back and say that I won.”
Embarking on any new journey can be difficult, but Clark was lucky enough to have his friend and coworker Jake Chandler by his side to guide him through the process.
A bodybuilder himself, Chandler has competed in competitions since he was 17 years old after his grandmother, who also competed in fitness competitions, got him into working out when he was 12.
Chandler, who is a bodybuilding coach, said he understands the struggles his clients tend to face, so he was able to give Clark pointers early on.
“When we first started off, I just wanted to make sure his head was in the right place and kind of give him some expectations on what to expect,” Chandler said. “It’s one thing to get lean for the summer and lose a couple extra pounds of body fat, but when you’re going for a bodybuilding show, you’re getting yourself to sub-6% body fat levels. I told him right off the bat that this was going to be a very intense version of what we have our clients do.”
What was the meal plan looking like for Clark? Well, more of the same every day for roughly three months.
“It was the same exact thing every sin-
gle day, pretty much,” Clark said. “I got it memorized for real. I’d have two eggs, 200 milligrams of egg whites, 40 grams of oats, and 75 grams of blueberries for breakfast. That was meal one. I’m not the biggest fan of eggs, so I’d combine the egg whites, the oats, the blueberries, and put some protein powder in and add banana to make a little shake and eat the two eggs separately. Meal two was 6 ounces of chicken and asparagus, and meal three was 6 ounces of chicken and asparagus, and then, like, 200 grams of rice. Meal four was beef and rice, and then I had a shake, so I had four meals plus a shake every single day.”
The workout routine wasn’t anything new for Clark, but it was more detailed, as opposed to an explosive workout routine.
Chandler said the routine focused on certain parts of the body each day with increased cardio each week.
“It’s kind of a combination of everything,” Chandler said. “We usually separate the cardio and the lifting. The lifting is very hypertrophic based, so you’re doing anything from 6-12, or even 20, rep ranges, and you have a variety of rep ranges in there. It’s mostly weight training and isolating certain muscle groups. Instead of a full upper day or
See CLARK on page 19A
BY ERIC CZARNIK eczarnik@candgnews.com
The city of Sterling Heights once again came together this summer to throw its biggest party of the year: the Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair.
Sterling Heights Community Relations
Director Melanie Davis discussed some of the new things that visitors could see at this year’s event, and some of this year’s unique happenings will have implications beyond the festival days.
For instance, Davis announced that, starting July 22, the city would have “Sterling swag” city-themed apparel for sale. Some of the available shirt designs, printed by WolfDog Printing, include the names of Sterling Heights and Dodge Park, while other shirts incorporate the city logo or an abstracted roadmap design.
The merchandise was expected to make a public debut at Sterlingfest too, and WolfDog expected to have an on-site presence there, she explained.
“This is just a way to celebrate the launching of that brand-new spirit store,” Davis said.
“In the future, we’ll have other things other than apparel. For right now, we’re starting with apparel, but the goal is to push out additional items like, you know, mugs and water bottles and things of that nature on that store.”
Davis said Lakeside Out of the Box Ventures LLC, which owns the Lakeside Mall property, will pitch a tent at Sterlingfest to build excitement for the upcoming Lakeside City Center, which will replace Lakeside Mall.
Davis said the display is expected to include a vintage photo booth, a bike path naming contest, and invitations to sign up and keep updated on Lakeside news.
“Part of it is to recognize and appreciate, I guess, the nostalgia factor that we all have for Lakeside Mall,” she said. “But the other part of it is to really get excited about what’s coming next, what the future of Lakeside Mall will be … as Lakeside City Center.”
Davis added that the tent will invite people to upload images of themselves at Lakeside Mall, or from the vintage photo booth.
“When they collect all those images of people from our community, they are going to use them to create a sort of mosaic and use that as fence wraps for when the construction begins over at Lakeside City Center, because
they want to acknowledge the fact that this is so important to the community, and the community is a big part of what Lakeside City Center represents,” she said.
At a July 16 Sterling Heights City Council meeting, the Sterling Heights City Council accepted corporate sponsorship contributions for Sterlingfest — $20,000 from Lakeside Out of the Box Ventures LLC and $15,000 from Stellantis.
City Manager Mark Vanderpool called Sterlingfest “our marquee event,” adding that “we will have well over 100,000 people descending on the grounds here in Sterling Heights.”
As usual, music lovers had a packed schedule of bands and music genres to pick from. On Thursday evening, Dodge Park’s main stage was scheduled to feature two tribute bands based on Taylor Swift and the Spice Girls — Taylor’s Story and Simply Spice, respectively — followed by a brand-new drone show.
The next evening, singer-songwriter Carly Collura was scheduled to open for
See STERLINGFEST on page 19A
from page 17A
a full lower day, you’re breaking things into body parts. You might have one day where you’re training chests and another day where you’re training arms or quads, and maybe a fourth day where you’re training your back
from page 18A
country singer John Michael Montgomery. On Saturday evening, classic rock band Beyond Eleven was slated to open for rock band Night Ranger.
Besides the main stage, Sterlingfest had a jazz stage and a “Suds ‘n’ Sounds” pavilion stage, each with a lineup of musicians and bands. An additional stage for kids featured music, clowning, juggling, magic and animal demonstrations.
For the art side of the festival, an esti-
and hamstrings. The cardio is separate from the workout. Once you finish your lifting, you’re either getting on the stairs, the bike, or the treadmill and doing another workout on top of what you did.”
Only two shows in and already a first place finish to his name, Clark said he plans to compete in more competitions in the future.
mated 100-plus art vendors were reportedly registered to set up shop. Meanwhile, attendees could pick up some books at the scheduled July 27 Local Author Book Sale outside the library.
Learn more about Sterlingfest by visiting sterlingfest.info.
Check out the online Sterling Heights apparel shop by visiting wolfdogstores.com/ about-3.
Find out more about the Lakeside City Center by visiting sterlingheights.gov/2069/ Lakeside-City-Center.
Call Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at (586) 498-1058.
from page 1A
and the building would also contain firstfloor retail space, he said.
The apartments’ monthly rents are supposed to accommodate residents within 30%-80% of the area median income, Parcell said. According to CCF President Martin Manna, monthly rents will range from $795 to $1,100, and he explained that “this isn’t really Section 8.”
“What this is, more or less, is rent control,” Manna said. “So we will not be raising rents – (the Michigan State Housing Development Authority) doesn’t allow that. That’s part of the requirements of the loan. It’s only adjusted for the cost of inflation.”
In June, the Sterling Heights Planning Commission recommended the project’s approval 7-0, with two absences.
“This is really a very transformational plan to revitalize this corridor of the city,” Parcell added. “This area up here is a unique blend of industrial properties and retail ability that could stand for revitalization through new people in the area that can benefit from recreational amenities that will be there to reside within the city of Sterling Heights – live, work and play and shop in the city of Sterling Heights.”
During public comment, more than a dozen public speakers addressed the council on the topic, and they either shared concerns or opposition over the proposal, with most complaints dealing with potential flooding or traffic issues.
Some residents, including some who said they live near the proposed development, explained that they have seen unprecedented flooding on properties near the Clinton River, and some believed that apartment development only aggravates the situation.
“Currently, this land is absorbing water and slowing its release into the Clinton River,” resident Patricia Sutton said.
“The proposed development is going to seal that land with concrete impervious surfaces that will send storm runoff even more quickly into the Clinton River, overwhelming it and increasing the flood risk … to areas even further downstream like Riverland (Woods) Apartments, which already has a flooding problem.”
When the City Council deliberated, some members also weighed concerns over flooding and possible traffic increases.
Mayor Pro Tem Liz Sierawski said one reason she opposes the proposal is that it contradicts one of the objectives of the city’s November millage proposal, which is raising revenue to acquire and preserve open land in the city.
“This is what I see, is that we’re asking
you (residents) to give us more money to maintain and to purchase more green space, and we’re selling off what green space we have,” Sierawski said. “So to me, that is not only a contradiction … it’s a dishonesty. And so I don’t feel that that is something that I can support.”
When council members asked City Engineer Brent Bashaw about whether new apartments could contribute to flooding in the area, he denied that and attributed the flooding to heavier rain events and environmental changes.
“We’re getting more heavy rain events than we’ve had in the past,” Bashaw said. “These 100-year rain events are happening every 10 years, it seems like now.”
Mayor Michael Taylor said he sympathizes with residents who have flooding issues, but noted that “the water is high everywhere” due to frequent rain.
“It’s not something that has to do with the Chaldean Community Foundation’s building,” Taylor said. “This is a phenomenon that’s happening throughout metro Detroit, and frankly, throughout the country that … weather is becoming more extreme and more extreme and more extreme. And that is the reality of it.”
Officials said the project would be reviewed by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority as well as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
Taylor said he trusts the experts and regulatory agencies to review the project and to only approve it if it abides by their guidelines. He praised the proposal for helping make housing more affordable, and he also didn’t believe that supporting the proposal is being hypocritical in terms of the November millage proposal’s intentions.
“It’s a 10-acre parcel, and 8 acres of it is going to be dedicated to public green space, which is exactly what the community has been saying they want,” Taylor said. “So to me, it’s an elegant compromise. It’s a compromise all across the board.”
When it was time to vote, Taylor, Councilman Michael Radtke and Councilwoman Barbara Ziarko voted yes. Sierawski and councilwomen Maria Schmidt and Deanna Koski voted no. Councilman Henry Yanez was absent.
According to Taylor, the issue should return to the council table Aug. 7. Should the “phase two” CCF apartment project be approved, the developers aim to start work in late 2025 and finish by late 2027, according to a timeline presented by city officials.
Learn more about the Chaldean Community Foundation by visiting chaldean foundation.org.
23A/ STERLING HEIGHTS SENTRY • JULY 31, 2024
AUG. 6
Countywide National Night Out: Inaugural event promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, 21 law enforcement agencies expected, 5–7:30 p.m., Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway in Sterling Heights, jennifer.putney@macombcountymi.gov
AUG. 16-17
Woodward Dream Cruise: Officially held 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 17, participating cities along 16-mile radius of M-1 include Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and Pontiac, more events for both days at woodwarddreamcruise.com
AUG. 20
Roller Nights: For skates, skateboards and bikes, also music and food trucks, 5-8 p.m., Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, also Sept. 10, sterlingheights.gov
ONGOING
Farmers market: 3-8 p.m. Thursdays until Sept. 26, also food trucks, vendors and special events including Park It Family Fun and Movie in the Park (“Super Mario Bros. Movie”) Aug. 8, Pet Parade Sept. 5, Market Fit Sept. 12, Oktoberfest Sept. 19, and Touch
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own event, visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
A Truck Sept. 26, Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, sterling-heights.net/1236/DodgePark-Thursdays
Music in the Park: 7 p.m. Aug. 1 (Rockstar, ’80s rock), Aug. 8 (Planet of Fun, rock/dance), Aug. 15 (Your Generation, party band), Aug. 22 (Family Tradition Band, country rock) and Aug. 29 (Square Pegz, ’80s), Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, facebook.com/dodgeparkthursdays, (586) 446-2700
Concerts at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre: Aug. 10 (Lamb of God, Mastodon, Kerry King and Unearth), Aug. 11 (Tedeschi Trucks Band and Margo Price), Aug. 16 (Bush, Jerry Cantrell, Candlebox and Bones UK), Aug. 17 (Cody Jinks and Tanner Usrey), Aug. 20 (Lindsey Stirling, Walk Off The Earth and Nya), Aug. 21 (Omar Apollo and Malcom Todd), Aug. 22 (Deep Purple and YES), Aug. 24 (O.A.R., Fitz and The Tantrums), Aug. 25 (The Roots, Arrested Development and Digable Planets), Aug. 31 (Wallows and Benee), Sept. 13 (Jon Pardi, Priscilla Block and Meghan Patrick), Sept. 15 (Falling in Reverse, Dance Gavin Dance, Black Veil Brides, Tech N9Ne and Jeris Johnson), Sept. 17 (Judas Priest and Sabaton), Sept. 20 (Clutch, Rival Sons and Fu Manchu), Sept. 21 (Conan Gray and Maisie Peters), Sept. 25 (The National, The War on Drugs and Lucius) and Sept. 30 (Meghan Trainor,
Paul Rusell and Ryan Trainor), Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway in Sterling Heights, 313presents.com
Upton House Museum tours: Visit 1860s Michigan Historical Landmark 1-4 p.m. every Wednesday and second Sunday of month, 40433 Dodge Park Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 446-2495, sterlingheights. gov/789/Upton-House-Museum
Splash pad: Noon-8 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 446-2711 (weather hotline), myshpr.net
Widowed Friends dancing: Doors at 6 p.m. and music from 7-10:30 p.m. Tuesdays, American Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane in Sterling Heights, RSVP to Victoria at (586) 566-7936
Northern Toastmasters: Meets 6:30 p.m. every second and fourth Monday of month, Leo’s Coney Island, 33577 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights, (248) 828-7481, samcrowl@comcast.net
Health workshops: For ovarian cancer support, diabetes prevention, nutrition education and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, beaumonthealth. digitalsignup.com
Birmingham Groves High School Class of 1984: 40-year reunion events include brunch at Beverly Park, Tigers game, tour of school’s new outdoor athletic facilities, and stay and celebration at Somerset Inn, Aug. 1-3, myevent.com/ grovesclassof84
Cousino High School Class of 1969: 55-year reunion, classes of 1967-1971 also welcome, 7 p.m. Sept. 6, Roger’s Roost, 33262 Schoenherr Road in Sterling Heights, RSVP to Larry Wilk at lwilk@comcast.net
Mount Clemens High School - All Alumni Night: Cash food and refreshments, 5 p.m. Sept. 13, Rec Bowl, 40 Crocker Blvd. in Mount Clemens, contact Ron Hiestand at (586) 463-6386 or drron82@yahoo.com with questions
Osborn High School Class of 1974: 50-year reunion includes dinner and open bar, 6-11 p.m. Sept. 20, Blossom Heath Inn, 24800 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, osborn1974.com
Grosse Pointe North High School Class of 1974: 50-year reunion includes cash bar, food stations, photo booth and GPN gift, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, 788 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, also casual gathering 7 p.m. Sept. 20, WaterMark Bar and Grille, 24420 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, grossepointenorth1974.com
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