9/11/24 Royal Oak Review by C & G Newspapers

Royal Oak memorializes Hamer, Finch and Wilkins family through park and sculpture

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — In the mid-1800s, Royal Oak became home to African American freedom seekers Henry Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer.

To help preserve and celebrate their memory, the city of Royal Oak has created Hamer Finch Wilkins Park. The park is planned to be a place for sanctuary, according to Hamer descendant Lakeesha Morrison, and will showcase a statue of Elizabeth Hamer in the middle of the park.

The statue will be unveiled at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at Hamer Finch Wilkins Park at 1800 Beechwood Drive.

The Hamers were born into chattel slavery, Henry Hamer in 1816 and Elizabeth Hamer in 1824, and had been bought and sold until they became the property of Henry Bruce Jr., of Covington, Kentucky.

On the night of Aug. 27, 1856, the Hamers slipped

OPENS TO STUDENTS AND STAFF

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

CLAWSON — A brand new school year is upon students in Clawson Public Schools, which also marks the opening of a brand-new elementary school building.

After 10 months of construction, the new Clawson Elementary School is open for students. The school, which

NEW CLAWSON ELEMENTARY BUILDING

was converted from the 100-year-old Clawson Middle School, replaces the two former elementaries, Schalm and Kenwood.

From flooring, paint, infrastructure and the cafeteria to the gym, media center and expansion of the front office space, Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger said everything is new.

“Quite literally, every aspect of the building is brand-

As part of the construction, Clawson Elementary School has a new media center.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

The Review is one of 21 bi-weekly publications produced by C & G Newspapers, a family-owned company serving residents in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties since 1981. We deliver our papers to more than 571,000 homes in 45 communities via direct mail.

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SECOND FRONT PAGE

3A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW • SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

Stagecrafters production of ‘Rent’ creates sense of family between cast and crew

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — The Stagecrafters Main Stage is preparing for its production of “Rent,” the iconic 1996 musical that showcases the importance of acceptance among peers.

“Rent” will be performed from Sept. 13 to Oct. 6 at The Baldwin Theater on the Main Stage at 415 S. Lafayette Ave. in Royal Oak.

Taking place in 1996 New York City, “Rent” follows the lives of a group of people for a year who are living under the shadow of HIV and AIDS. The characters go through several struggles, both as a group and individually. As the show continues, the group goes through a journey of acceptance, learning and forgiveness.

The cast and crew of “Rent” at Stagecrafters had to experience their own turmoil after the unexpected death of 36-year-old Justin Alesna on Aug. 18.

Alesna was preparing to play the role of Angel, a character who has a big role in the story of “Rent.”

Arts, Beats & Eats event organizers pleased with 2024 turnout

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — Arts, Beats & Eats 2024 brought roughly 310,000 people to the streets of downtown Royal Oak from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. The event brings together businesses, musi-

cal performers and artists from all over the world each year on Labor Day weekend to end summer with a bang.

Event Producer Jon Witz said that this year attendance was down around 10% overall. However, Witz still thought the iconic festival was a roaring success.

“We’re really happy with the turnout, and the vibe and the fact that we had no major incidents,” he said.

Witz said that though attendance was down from last year’s 400,000 people, the event had some great turnout for new aspects of the event.

Photo provided by Bureau Detroit

The unexpected death of 36-year-old Justin Alesna, pictured at left, on Aug. 18 caused grief among the cast and crew, who felt they had lost a family member. Alesna was preparing to play the role of Angel, a character who has a big role in the story of “Rent.”

from page 3A

“The art fair seemed really steady. We expanded our emerging artist program, and then we also added dueling pianos into the art fair from 526 (Main), right here in Royal Oak,” he said. “Those were really well received. Then we also had live tattoo art. We thought the activity in the art fair was really strong.”

Artist Shelly Knupp, from Dayton, Ohio, was at the fes-

tival for the second year in a row selling her artwork. Knupp is the owner of Through the Fire, Fused Glass Creations LLC, and creates jewelry and fused glass sculptures.

“It’s kind of a crazy way to choose to live,” she said. “But it’s very gratifying to be able to be creative for a living.”

Knupp said she was interested in the different musical acts that were going to be playing, which ultimately convinced her to apply for a spot in the art fair.

Knupp said her experience at Arts, Beats & Eats was really long, but rewarding.

“You commit as an artist, you commit from your signup to be here from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. all four days,” she said.

Another well-received part of the event was the array of entertainment acts that the Detroit Institute of Arts provided. This year that included Revolution Chinese Yoyo, Detroit Puppet Theater, String Theory Theater, and more.

“These are higher-end family acts that were curated by the Detroit Institute of Arts and were just a really welcomed new addition,” Witz said.

See FESTIVAL on page 7A

Photos by Erin Sanchez

LEFT: The band Brothers From Another Planet plays the main stage at Arts, Beats & Eats Aug. 30. ABOVE: Dwayne Ross, chef with Table No. 2 catering, based in Detroit, cooks the restaurant’s classic fine dining cuisine.

NEWS & NOTES

OAKLAND ELEMENTARY INVITES COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS

ROYAL OAK — Oakland Elementary school is celebrating its 100th anniversary and will host a celebration later this month.

The event is called “Oakland Through the Ages — 100 Years of Excellence,” and will showcase the school’s history.

The celebration will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Oakland Elementary School, 2415 Brockton Ave. in Royal Oak.

The event is free to the public and will include demonstrations of the school’s history, self-guided tours showcasing the renovations and additions to the school, performances by the ROS Jazz Band, and more.

“Oakland Elementary has proudly served our community for 100 years, and we are excited to welcome everyone to this momentous occasion,” Jason Taylor, principal of Oakland Elementary, said in a press release.

For more information, visit the Royal Oak Schools website at royaloakschools.org.

CLAWSON GETTING READY FOR CLAWS ‘N’ PAWS

CLAWSON — The Clawson Chamber of Commerce will host the 18th annual Claws ‘N’ Paws walk/jog, pet adoption and pet fair event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at Clawson City Park, 935 N. Custer Ave. Clawson.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own pets for the walk, which is 2 miles long. The walk or jog will be benefiting the Clawson Chamber of Commerce.

Check-in for the walk will be from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and the walk will begin at 10 a.m. After the walk, there will be pets available for adoption, a raffle and a 50/50 drawing. Prizes will be awarded to winners at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit clawsonchamber.org/c-n-p2024-overview.

WOMAN’S CLUB COLLECTING FOOD DONATIONS FOR BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK

ROYAL OAK — From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 28, the Royal Oak Woman’s Club will be participating in the 2024 National Day of Service.

The club will be collecting food items to provide to the Royal Oak Schools’ Blessings in a Backpack.

Items needed include: canned fruit and vegetables, canned tuna and chicken, ramen noodles and soups, juice boxes, fruit snacks, macaroni and cheese, small boxes of cereal, pudding cups, hot cocoa, single oatmeal packets, and angel hair pasta.

Donations can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Royal Oak Woman’s Club at 404 S. Pleasant St. in Royal Oak.

For more information, visit rowc.org/events.

CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY FINANCIAL HOSTING TOY COLLECTION THEMED “TODDLER TOY BOX”

ROYAL OAK — Each year during September’s Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Cornerstone Community Financial hosts a themed toy collection to benefit patients at DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

For 2024, the credit union’s ninth annual theme is the “Toddler Toy Box,” which is focused on supporting the youngest and most vulnerable patients in the hospital.

To fill the Toddler Toy Box, credit union members and community members are urged to purchase and donate from online wish lists available with Amazon, Target and Walmart. The lists are curated by a team at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

The items available start at less than $5. After the purchases, the Cornerstone Community Financial team will match every purchase, item-for-item, automatically doubling every donation.

The goal is to donate at least 500 new toys to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan locations in Detroit and Troy. The toys will go to infant and toddler inpatient units, playrooms, waiting areas, and patient gift closets.

Links to the gifts and descriptions of gifts are available at ccfinancial.com/toybox. The donations will go until Sept. 30 and are online 24/7.

TONS OF TRUCKS AT ZOO

ROYAL OAK — On Sept. 14, the Detroit Zoo will not only have animals to view and enjoy, but trucks as well.

At the Tons of Trucks event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees will have the chance to learn about different trucks from the zoo, local police and fire departments, construction companies, and more.

Interested zoo patrons can explore different vehicles by touching and climbing inside while learning about the vehicles from different advocates from the zoo and local officials.

Along with the immersive experience, there will be face painting, fresh smoothies and snacks available for purchase.

Safety pups will also be in attendance, and there will be an opportunity to get photos with a zoo mascot.

Tickets are currently available at detroitzoo. org/events/tons-of-trucks and must be purchased in advance. For nonmembers, tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for kids. The tickets also include zoo admission.

Tickets for members cost $3. Members can also get early access to the exhibit from 9 to 10 a.m.

SPOOKY SPAGHETTI NIGHT OCT. 24

ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Woman’s Club will be hosting a Halloween-themed spaghetti dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the clubhouse located at 404 S. Pleasant St. in Royal Oak.

This is an all-you-can-eat event, but participants must be willing to spend $8-12 depending on age.

There will be spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, drinks and desert provided. Proceeds will go to support the Woman’s Club scholarship awards to students in the community.

For more information visit rowc.org/events.

HOMES

6A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

TURN GARDENS INTO POLLINATOR HAVENS

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A garden can be more than a patch of beautiful landscaping. It can be a lifeline for nature.

Pollinators — insects and animals that carry pollen from plant to plant, allowing plants to reproduce — can find pollen and dine on nectar from any variety of flowers. By planting a pollinator-friendly garden, expert green thumbs and gardening first-timers alike can provide a space that allows pollinator species to flourish.

“When you talk about pollinator plants, you’re talking about ones that provide really good sources of pollen and nectar,” Caitlin Splawski, Michigan State University Extension consumer horticulture educator, said. “Pollinators can range anywhere from ants to flies to bees and wasps to butterflies, and they all have different requirements for what they need. Generally insects require pollen for protein and require nectar for carbohydrates.”

Planting pollinator gardens serves an important purpose for the health of pollinator insect species. While the invasive and domesticated honeybee tends to serve as the poster child for pollinators in danger, Michigan’s native pol-

linators remain under threat from habitat loss, pesticides and diseases. Planting to their needs can help these species.

Before planting anything, MSU Extension educator and entomologist David Lowenstein recommends getting a feel for the suitability of your plot.

“If you want to help pollinators, hopefully you have an area that gets five or more hours of direct sun, because there’s not a lot of plants that are attractive to pollinators that do well in full shade,” Lowenstein said.

Keeping a diversity of blooming times allows for pollinators to have food sources all year. Flowers such as asters will bloom in the fall, while perennials like butterfly weed and wild geranium will bloom in the spring and summer.

The MSU Extension plant search tool — which can be accessed at canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/plant_facts/plant-search-tool — can help gardeners find native plants based on shade, soil moisture, blooming time and location within Michigan.

Planting certain pollinator-friendly flowers is not the only way a garden can benefit pollinators. When managed properly, gardens can serve as homes and egg-laying spots.

See POLLINATOR on page 19A

A pollinator garden at a Rochester Hills home features the following plants: purple love grass, cardinal flower, showy goldenrod, New England aster, butterfly milkweed, Joe Pye weed, purple coneflower, northern blazing star, black-eyed Susan and foxglove beardtongue.

Photo provided by Daniela Lucia Garza

Vegas performer returns to Comedy Castle

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK/EASTPOINTE — Kevin Lepine is living his dream while others are sleeping right through it.

For the past 14 years, Lepine has entertained audiences with his live show, “Hypnosis Unleashed — The Vegas Hypnosis Show,” in Las Vegas, the last three years at the Canyon Club inside the Four Queens Casino in downtown Vegas.

The 1993 East Detroit High School graduate is returning to his roots for one night only. The hypnotist/comedian/magician will perform Sept. 24 at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, located at 310 S. Troy St. in Royal Oak. Showtime will be 7:30 p.m. Comedian Kara Coraci will open the show, and then Lepine will entertain with a 75-minute performance that unveils his special flair of comedy and hypnosis. The show is for audience members 18 and older.

“It’s such an incredible compliment they bring me back year after year,” the performer said. “It’s so cool to be able to go back home.”

Early in his career, Lepine honed his skills

at the Comedy Castle.

“It’s home,” Lepine said. “That was my gym where I went to work out being funny. I’d watch my heroes perform. It is hallowed ground for me.”

During his show, Lepine selects several volunteers from the audience to be part of the act. While on stage, he puts them under a hypnotic spell to get them to perform in various skits that promise to entertain.

“I turn huge guys into Vegas showgirls or we celebrate couples that have been married for years,” he said. “I’ve turned people’s shoulders into the most comfortable pillows.”

Other scenarios could be making the participants think napkins are $100 bills or watching them sing like superstars.

“You never know what someone is going to do. That’s what makes the show so much fun. I’m looking for people to immediately act on what I’m saying,” he said. “It’s always something different and unique. The audience is engaged as well. It’s fun and interactive all the way through the show.”

He vows not to embarrass anyone.

See HYPNOSIS on page 11A

Festival

from page 4A

Witz said that the attendance at the House of Dank installations went up by 20% from last year. This included both Dank Way and Dank Land, which was good in his opinion.

House of Dank promoter Olivia Mac said that the experience at the festival was great and she had an awesome time representing the House of Dank.

“It’s really cool; you get to meet a lot of different people,” she said.

The threat of weather was something Witz thinks played a factor in the lower numbers, saying that on Friday night, because there was a chance of rain, some of the musical acts were affected.

After Friday, Witz said, attendance went up.

“Cheap Trick was packed to capacity, Chevelle, Gin Blossoms, Dustin Lynch, Keith Sweat all performed really well,” he said. “Especially on Sunday and Monday when the temperatures moderated to the mid-70s, I mean, the festival was just running at full capacity.”

The amount of money that this year’s Arts, Beats & Eats event raised has not yet been released, but will be released in mid-October, according to Witz.

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

Community Choice Credit Union truly lives up to its name by actively supporting local communities and assisting the small businesses in the area with their banking needs.

“Since we are smaller than many of the larger nationwide banks, we can provide personalized service that meets members where they are—not only guratively but literally,” said Eastpointe Member Center Manager Brooke Bieber. “Our nancial representatives have the autonomy to come to their place of business if their schedule doesn’t permit them coming to us. Our representatives will talk with owners and their team members about the bene ts of choosing Community Choice, and o er solutions tailored to their speci c business needs and challenges— and also address the concerns that may impact their peace of mind. Our representatives can even open accounts on their behalf, right there at their place of business.”

Community Choice also has a strong digital presence and o ers all the digital solutions that larger banks do, including solutions that save money, generate revenue, conserve time and enhance convenience.

“Our small business accounts are ideal for companies with a few employees, requiring just a $500 minimum balance and providing

Community Choice Credit Union Helping small businesses achieve their dreams.

100 free transactions per month,” Bieber said. “We also provide a comprehensive suite of treasury management services, such as merchant services for debit or credit cards, payroll solutions and lending opportunities.”

Unique to Community Choice, and unlike many other credit unions and banks in the area, they are cannabis-friendly. “ is means we can assist employees who earn their income from cannabis-related businesses like dispensaries or grow facilities with their banking and lending needs. We even o er a dedicated Choice Cash service that ensures compliance with Michigan’s cannabis regulations so our members can operate worry-free.”

By supporting segments of the community that are often underserved by traditional banks, Community Choice not only aids in the success of small or cannabis-related businesses but also contributes signi cantly to the broader economic vitality of the area.

Moreover, understanding how to establish a solid nancial foundation can be challenging for both small businesses and individuals.

To meet this challenge, in mid2023, Community Choice Credit Union launched Choice Map, a complimentary nancial management tool aimed at guiding members toward making sound decisions and achieving their nancial goals.

“We take great pride in o ering Choice Map to assist our members

in their wellness journey and help them achieve the life they desire,” Bieber said. “Most importantly, our wealth management tools can help them ensure they’re not losing the money they’ve spent all those years earning.”

e tool o ers access to a personal nancial plan created by a certi ed team member, along with a suite of user-friendly tools avail-

and everything else that we do for our communities,” she continued. “We also have a scholarship foundation that awards $100,000 each year across metro Detroit to graduating seniors and those pursuing skilled trades and continuing education.”

able through their mobile app. Members can check their credit score, set savings targets, create a budget and more.

Bieber added, “Choice Map is an e ective resource for families, couples and individuals aiming to establish a secure nancial future and reach their savings goals.”

“I love that we are helping small businesses achieve their dreams,

Community Choice Credit Union has 22 member centers located across the state of Michigan, including such metro Detroit communities as Eastpointe, Warren, Roseville, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills and more. It o ers comprehensive mobile banking services online or via its app from anywhere in the world.

Visit www.communitychoicecu.com to learn more.

Park

away in the night to the Underground Railroad. Elizabeth Hamer was pregnant at the time.

Morrison said that for the past four years, she and her father, Keith Wilkins, worked to figure out a way to memorialize the perseverance of their ancestors.

They lived for a few years in Ontario, and by June 1860, the Hamer family had moved to Royal Oak Township where they settled and became the first Black pioneers of Royal Oak. The Hamers had six children. Henry Hamer died in 1899 and Elizabeth Hamer died in 1913. One of their children, Elmira Hamer, married Matthew Finch in 1885. One of Elmira and Matthew Finch’s children, Bessie Finch, married Harold A. Wilkins in 1921.

Wilkins passed away in late 2020, but Morrison said she continued to work toward their shared goal. That goal led to the creation of Hamer Finch Wilkins Park in 2022.

“There were talks of how we can acknowledge and show appreciation to my ancestors who had contributed a lot to our community,” Morrison said. “We wanted to bring light to their journey and their story, their accomplishments.”

Hamer Finch Wilkins Park has a triangular shape, each side representing one of the three family names. It includes a peaceful

from page 1A See PARK on page 11A

Run Golf Club - Luncheon

Image provided by the city of Royal Oak Hamer Finch Wilkins Park, located at 1800 Beechwood Drive in Royal Oak, near Crooks Road and Walnut Avenue, is going to be the site of the Elizabeth Hamer memorial statue created by Detroit sculptor Austen Brantley. The statue, shown at the center of the park in this rendering, will be revealed at an event at the park at 2 p.m. Sept. 23.

Hypnosis

from page 7A

“It’s a party. If I make you feel good on stage, everyone feels good,” he said. “I try to make sure they all have fun with it. I get to make people laugh. That laughter is fantastic.”

Lepine wasn’t always laughing though. He overcame many obstacles and struggles, including being bullied, to chase the spotlight. He chronicled his journey in his book, “Deep Into My Eyes: From Victim to Vegas Headliner,” released last year and available at amazon.com.

And he loves the Vegas vibe. In October, he’ll mark 3,000 shows in Sin City. He cites Mike Hammer of “Mike Hammer Comedy Magic” and Fielding West as some of his influences. Plus, he’ll always have a soft spot for the Amazing Johnathan, a Detroit-born comedian and magician who died in 2022.

“I get to work with a lot of fantastic people,” he said. “We’re always coming up with new ideas. I’m still learning.”

While in the Detroit area this month, Lepine will be a presenter at the Michigan Hypnosis Conference 2024 scheduled for Sept. 20-22 at the Hollywood Casino at Greektown in Detroit. He is also scheduled to receive an award.

“We’re giving him an award for his contributions on and off the stage in the field of hypnosis,” said Dan Goyette, CEO of the Michigan Hypnotherapy Guild. “I saw his show in Vegas. It was a good show. He’s a great talent. He’s a good guy and a master of stage hypnosis. I’m looking forward to having Kevin here at the conference.”

Visit comedycastle.com for tickets to “Hypnosis Unleashed — The Vegas Hypnosis Show.”

Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.

Park

from page 10A

and reflective garden. There are walkways, benches, landscaping and education components that tell the story of the city’s early Black pioneers.

“I think it preserves the generations of names (Hamer, Finch and Wilkins), but also preserves the memory of each generation,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a big community gathering place to remember a pioneering family.”

The park is located only a mile away from where the family originally lived.

“The location preserves their memory, because a mile down the road is where the homestead is, which is still within the family,” Morrison said. “As we speak, we are the longest landowners in Royal Oak. So that preserves a sense of belonging because a mile down the road is the homestead and the park is a reflection of it.”

In the center of the park will be a statue of Elizabeth Hamer, created by Detroit sculptor Austen Brantley. This will serve as the focal point encapsulating the meaning behind the creation of the park.

Brantley was recruited by the city to create this sculpture because of his reputation for creating historical sculptures to go in parks across Detroit.

“Elizabeth Hamer, she was an escaped slave, and what I really liked about the sculpture is that Lakeesha and the city of Royal Oak, they let me still have my own say on the sculpture,” he said. “I was able to have creative freedom and artistic license.”

Brantley said that he studied the history of Elizabeth Hamer at the Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum, where he was provided with documents about the Hamer legacy. He also pulled inspiration from African American culture. From there he was able to decide on how he wanted to portray her in sculpture.

“This sculpture shows her as a queen mother, and that’s something that’s a title that you get in Africa, as someone very important in your tribe,” he said. “I wanted to convey that she still had African roots, and it was something kind of contemporary in the way I decorated her with shells and different African dormants.”

Morrison said she has seen the sculpture grow since it was clay and that she is very pleased with how it turned out.

“I absolutely love it. I feel like when I saw it for the first time, it gave me a sense of calmness. I could even see myself in the sculpture,” she said. “This piece, it honestly looks like my father in a way, so it reminded me of my ancestors.”

She said it instilled a sense of pride in her for hardworking Black women and the African American community as a whole.

Morrison hopes that the park can provide a sense of peace and teach all who come through about Royal Oak’s original Black pioneers.

“I hope it provides fellowship information on one of the first Black pioneering families that achieved the ultimate goal in life, which is freedom,” she said. “They were able to establish a living for generations to come after them. So, I hope it provides the community a sense of fellowship.”

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

Galloway & Hommel, LLP Opens in Royal Oak

After more than 21 years as a co-owner and founding member of Galloway and Collens, LLC, attorney T. Scott Galloway has started a new venture and, along with attorney Brian D. Hommel, formed Galloway & Hommel, LLP in Royal Oak. Te new frm is focused on real estate law and has extensive experience with real estate litigation, mediation, boundary line disputes, real estate brokerage law, commercial and residential transactions, property management law, and commercial lease negotiations.

“It is an interesting time in real estate. Property owners, investors, managers, and buyers face many challenges, and we are well positioned to help them in this time of change” said Galloway, majority partner of Galloway & Hommel, LLP. “Settlement of the National Association of Realtors class action litigation has altered the way real estate agents are compensated. Our team, with decades of experience helping buyers of residential real estate, can assist buyers in a cost-efective manner while providing excellent service and advocacy on their behalf.”

Galloway, a Pleasant Ridge, Michigan resident, has practiced law since 1994 and is a member of the Real

Galloway & Hommel, LLP

916 S. Main Street, Suite 100

Royal Oak, Michigan 48067

Phone: 248.574.4450

GallowayHommel.com

Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the current chair of the Oakland County Bar Association Real Estate Committee. He is active in the Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors (GMAR) and the BirminghamBloomfeld Women’s Council of Realtors. Troughout his career, Galloway has repeatedly been recognized by his peers as a top real estate attorney in DBusiness, SuperLawyers, and Leading Lawyers magazines. Realtors have also recognized Galloway’s service to their profession by repeatedly naming him strategic partner of the year and elevating him to positions of leadership within their organizations.

A member of the State Bar of Michigan since 2019, Hommel joined Galloway at his prior law frm. As an associate attorney, Hommel practiced real estate law and has signifcant experience working with property management companies and resolving real estate title issues for his clients. In his fve years as an attorney, Hommel has quickly made a name for himself and is recognized as one of the area’s best real estate attorneys by DBusiness magazine and a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers magazine.

“With fewer homes on the market, we are seeing a trend of people improving their properties rather than moving. Often the construction process reveals property encroachments and boundary line disputes,” said Hommel. “We regularly work with our clients to resolve these issues through negotiation or litigation. Our experience, knowledge and passion, combined with attentiveness to our client’s needs, explain why our names are regularly mentioned when someone has a real estate challenge.”

Tose seeking real estate legal services can contact Galloway & Hommel, LLP by phone at 248-574-4450 or visit the law frm’s website, www.GallowayHommel.com for more information.

T. Scott Galloway Attorney

Brian D. Hommel Attorney

NOXX Cannabis on Woodward Now Open

PLEASANT RIDGE – Michigan’s premiere cannabis shopping experience has arrived in Oakland County.

On Aug. 24, NOXX Cannabis on Woodward celebrated the grand opening of its newest dispensary on the border of Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale, in a beautifully renovated space formerly home to Hertz.

NOXX o ers an unmatched selection of deli flower, edibles, concentrates and vape products with deep discounts through a unique in-person and online shopping experience. The recreational cannabis dispensary carries more than 50 strains of deli flower for discerning patrons to experience at the counter, free from mylar packaging. This retail presentation allows customers to actually see and smell the bud they’re buying before they make a purchase. And when they’re ready to buy, customers can mix and match products in various deli pricing tiers, which, of course, o ers a chance to try more of a variety. Deli flower grams start at just $3.

Pricing is another selling point at NOXX, which leverages the power of sales through its locations in the Grand Rapids area to secure the best products in bulk for its warehouse and pass along the savings to its customers.

NOXX has so many deals available, it created an industry-leading online interface that allows customers to ﬁlter those by product category,

brand, strain, weight, potency and price.

Through its rewards program, NOXX o ers exclusive beneﬁts to shoppers at each of its Michigan dispensaries, including NOXX Cannabis on Woodward. Customers can earn up to 30% o their ﬁrst purchase, 50% o any eighth on their second purchase and 50% o any product (excluding ounces) on their third purchase.

Woodward’s ﬁrst dispensary features ample parking, curbside and express pickup, and will soon o er free home delivery.

One of the brand’s core values is inclusivity. In fact, the signature “NOXX” character was created to embody acceptance, and the brand stands judgment-free in a world where nearly every one of us — and the cannabis industry — has been unfairly judged at some time.

“We are thrilled to bring NOXX and our brand’s values to Oakland County on Woodward,” NOXX Chief Marketing O cer Laura Hufschmidt said. “This is our fourth location in Michigan. We actually have three dispensaries in Grand Rapids, and now we are excited to ﬁnally be able to come to the east side of the state.”

NOXX Cannabis on Woodward is located at 23622 Woodward Ave., just south of 10 Mile Road, on the border of Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale. The dispensary is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

To shop NOXX products online, go to noxx.com. For more information, stop in the dispensary or call (248) 206-7134.

Noxx Showroom

Noxx Exterior

Noxx Showcase

CAR CRUISERS DRIVE INTO THEIR LANES

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — If there is a car cruise in town, chances are Gary White is there.

Last month, the Warren resident made the rounds at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Oakland County and Cruisin’ Hines in Hines Park in Wayne County.

“I’ve done the Woodward cruise every year since it started. I started that with my sons,” White said. “Hines Park is always moving. You very seldom see a traffic jam.”

He’s also a regular at the Ukrainian Cultural Center car show on Tuesday nights in Warren, and Sandbaggers on Wednesday nights in Center Line.

On Aug. 28, White brought his 1941 Plymouth Deluxe Coupe to Macomb County for the annual Shorewood Kiwanis Club of St. Clair Shores Harper Charity Cruise. Girlfriend Betsy Spence accompanied him. Amid the tires screeching on Harper, the

BOTTOM RIGHT: John Marino, pictured at the steering wheel, brought his 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 convertible to the annual Shorewood Kiwanis Club of St. Clair Shores Harper Charity Cruise Aug. 28. A number of family members and friends joined in, as did a family pet, a dachshund named John. TOP RIGHT: Gary White, of Warren, takes his 1941 Plymouth Deluxe Coupe to various car shows every week.

horns honking to celebrate the occasion and a live show from local cowboy rockers the Orbitsuns in the background, the pair enjoyed the evening. The event also raised money for local charities.

“The people here are great. You can cruise around,” White, 72, said. “I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on the car today.”

White bought his brown-and-beige model two years ago.

“It’s one that I happened to run across,” the car buff said. “I liked the two-tone.”

He did some work on it to make it road ready.

“I changed all the exhaust on it and I changed up the engine. Things like that,” he said. “We drive the car anyplace we want to go.”

White takes his car out every week, often with Spence by his side. In the early days of the Woodward Dream Cruise, White built his own car, a 1948 Chevy aero sedan. White described the aero sedan as a fastback.

See CRUISERS on page 17A DO YOU OWN A VEHICLE WITH AN INTERESTING HISTORY?

Photos by Maria Allard

CRIME WATCH

Car stolen

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 8 p.m. Aug. 23 and 10 a.m. Aug. 24, an unknown person stole the complainant’s 2023 Alfa Romeo in the 1300 block of Vinsetta Boulevard, near West 12 Mile Road.

Golf clubs stolen out of car

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23 and 8 a.m. Aug. 24, an unknown person stole the complainant’s golf clubs from the complainant’s unlocked car in the 800 block of Oakridge Avenue, near Woodward Avenue and Catalpa Drive.

Someone steals purse at hospital

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Aug. 26, an unknown person stole the complainant’s purse from Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital at 3601 W. 13 Mile Road.

Business sign spray-painted

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 10 p.m. Aug. 21 and 8 a.m. Aug. 22, an unknown person spray-painted the complainant’s business sign in the 2500 block of North Vermont Avenue, which is in the general area of 13 Mile and North Campbell roads.

Purse stolen from car

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 7:45 a.m. Aug. 28, an unknown person stole a purse from the complainant’s car at the Shell Gas Station at 735 S. Main St. — Taylor Christensen

Rent

from page 3A

“It has been a really emotional time for us, but this has been a huge part of the transformation of our cast,” Director Emilie Florkowski said. “There was an instant connection between the cast, and it just felt like a big family. With Justin passing, it felt like we lost a family member.”

Florkowski said that the loss of Alesna was one that took a toll on everyone in the Stagecrafters community, and beyond.

“If you Google him, or look him up on Facebook, you would be amazed at the amount of people that knew him, he was a big dancer, and he was active in so many different communities,” she said. “The spread of his friendship was amazing. He would light up the room, and he would brighten everyone’s day. He was a breath of fresh air.”

Alesna’s death did not stop the show, according to Florkowski. Instead, it fueled the creative nature of the cast members, who worked even harder in Alesna’s memory.

“I’ve enjoyed the experience, aside from the tragedy, immensely — the excitement that they (the cast) bring to rehearsal as they research their characters and bring ideas,” she said. “It has really been awesome.”

One of the members of the cast, Andrew Martin, is particularly excited to play Roger Davis, a struggling musician who is HIV positive. The character plays a huge role in the production.

This will be Martin’s first time performing with Stagecrafters, and the first time he is performing in a theater production in around 20 years.

“I was in theater when I was in high

school, but I graduated in 2005, and it just kind of took a back seat for me,” he said. “So the last couple years I was in bands and all of that stuff and enjoyed the performing aspect of things, but never had the opportunity (to go back to theater).”

Martin said that “Rent” is what influenced him to audition.

“Ultimately, what did bring me back to performing in the theater was this production of ‘Rent.’ It was a big part of what my theater crew did when we were in high school,” he said. “It was a very prominent musical at the time.”

Playing Roger Davis had been a dream of Martin’s, who said that he can relate easily to the character’s quirks and characteristics.

“I was in some rock bands in and out of high school. Roger is the rocker of the show, and he is often a misunderstood individual and a lot of his characteristics resonate with me,” Martin said. “He is a little bit of a rigid character, and I felt like I could really bring that out of me to play this part. There are a lot of parallels between myself and Roger.”

Both Martin and Florkowski said that they hope people can go and see “Rent” and leave feeling a little bit more accepting of others.

“The show really encompasses individual authenticity and finding out who you are as a person, or finding yourself in your own little journey,” Martin said. “With the music and the story behind it, it’s a show about allowing yourself to feel, which is something we are almost programmed not to do in today’s society.”

Tickets and more information on the production of “Rent” can be found at stagecrafters.org.

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

In Memory of David

Kenworthy

This gentle man entered my life years ago as a caring, sensitive, creatively artistic, warm and refreshingly receptive individual who was poignantly demonstrative and sweetly aglow with robust, ebullient and vibrant energy!

As a youth he’d been an enthusiastic and lively musician in his school band and then began his own as a guitarist, enthralled with the opportunity to strum this instrument with other young lads enraptured thereby throughout the remainder of his adolescence. He was later equally proud of his professional career as a sought after fnish tile setter, stellar in his acumen as he worked for decades with tremendous assiduity, alacrity and dedication, his productions truly remarkable to behold.

His exuberance was punctuated via forays to meadows, woodlands, pastures and streams -- a master fsherman AND bowman, thoroughly exhilarated therein.

Yet I hasten to add that though an accomplished “hunter”, he simultaneously and spontaneously admitted without a hint of embarrassment that he’d chosen to watch his potential “targets” walk quietly away -- so tenderly touched and wholly moved by their supremely natural / intrinsic grace.

His wish to ensure his family’s well-being was extraordinary / palpable and his arms were as strong as his heart in reaching out to each with profound passion / compassion.

His dialogue with Michael and Paul, his beloved brothers, was frequent, flled with commitment, camaraderie and joviality as they shared their delicious / favorite meals during holidays and otherwise, gleefully immersed in a myriad of memories replete with the special moments that signifed and was true signature of how special their hours together.

David remained undaunted by adversity and the enormous loss therein, ever earnest in his drive, not only to survive, but thrive, prevailing against all odds with (4th stage) lung CA for 7+ years -- moving with grit and incredible fortitude far beyond the 24 month prognosis most expect with this diagnosis.

Even as he faced such a devastating / fatal illness, his unwavering faith in the “Lions” and his crescendoing excitement / utter delight in the wake of their more recent, innumerable successes was unabashed, his love for this Detroit football team profound, his JOY in life itself, COMPARABLY SO! His Final words of Resounding LOVE as he was enroute to the hospital for the last of a multitude of emergency STAT RXs, Was Testament To His Undying Hope, Fervent Optimism And Deep Desire to Forge Ahead Into FOREVER With Each of His Signifcant Others Inside Him And HE Within Our HEARTS, As Well.

Indeed, My DEAR David, I Love The Vitality And Radiance You EXUDED The ENTIRETY Of Your Living Years!! THANK YOU For Inviting Me Into Your AMAZING And Ever So PRECIOUS World! I Surely DO LOVE YOU -- And ALWAYS WILL!!

Dana Ellen (MacMillan,

Once I get the right diagnosis for the cause of your heel pain, I will provide you with a tailored treatment plan, which outlines exactly how we can ﬁx your heel pain and keep you free from future foot pain. If you are ready, call me for an appointment to start your journey back to normal life, free from heel pain.

My Dear David Kenworthy Memoriam:

Cruisers

from page 14A

The fastback features a car body style in which the roofline slopes continuously down at the back.

“When I built the car, I found it for $500. I took it completely apart and rebuilt the whole car,” he said. “With help from my friends, it took me seven months. I had it for 20 years.”

He passed his love for cars onto his sons, Willis White and Gary White II, who are now grown.

“My son Gary has a 1947 Pontiac coupe,” White said. “He drove it on Route 66 all the way to Arizona.”

Other car enthusiasts made their way around different car shows this summer, including John Marino, who is the owner of a 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 convertible. The car had already been primed for painting by the previous owner when he bought it last fall. Marino, 65, stripped the car down to bare metal.

The St. Clair Shores resident made a plan to restore the Coronet, anticipating it would take five years. But after working on the car each day for two hours at a time, he

finished everything in just five months.

“When I bought it, I made a long list of everything that needed to be done. I tried to finish things off the list every day with shortterm goals,” Marino said. “I’m happy with it. It’s been photographed a lot. It gets a lot of compliments.”

Marino has always had a passion for working on cars.

“It’s in my blood,” he said.

At age 15, his first car was an Opel model that his dad brought back from Italy. He’s been tinkering under the hood ever since. He’s known to buy inexpensive cars, fix them up and sell them.

“Every car I’ve had, I’ve had to do something to it,” Marino said.

Marino, too, was at the Harper Charity Cruise with a number of family members and friends. They spent the evening together as automobiles of all styles decorated the avenue. The cruise ran from Old Eight Mile Road to Bayside Street near 11 Mile Road.

“This is my favorite cruise. We just have a blast,” Marino said. “I like to go to any car cruise where I can drive.”

If the Marino name sounds familiar it’s because he and his brother, John, own Paisano’s Restaurant in St. Clair Shores, which their grandfather started in 1955.

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

Please join Michelle O’Hara, Director of Advance Planning at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, for a thoughtful discussion about the many benefits of early funeral and cremation planning.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH | 6:30 P.M.

Sterling Heights Senior Center, 40200 Utica Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48313

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH | 12:OO P.M.

Ike’s Restaurant, 38550 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights, MI 48312

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10TH | 12:OO P.M.

Green Burial Seminar @ Loui’s Pizza, 23141 Dequindre, Hazel Park, MI 48030

Please RSVP to 586-731-2411 as seating is limited and meals will be served.

Visit sullivanfuneraldirectors.com and like us on Facebook to get up-to-date information on events!

School

new in some capacity,” he said. “When you have a 100-year-old building, obviously, you know there’s some aspects of it that need to be freshened up, and we’ve done that, really, soup to nuts. It’s every instructional space, every classroom is brand-new, from technology to the chairs and seats that the kids are going to be sitting in, bathrooms in all of our first floor classrooms.

“At the end of the day, a school is for kids to learn and it’s our job to provide them with what we can, and when we have the opportunity, because of our community and their support, to provide our students with the most state-of-the-art instructional environments that we possibly can, which we have done. That’s the most spectacular piece of the whole project,” he continued.

The new school was made possible through two bonds that were approved by voters, a $55 million bond voted on in 2021 and a $25 million bond in 2023.

Though construction took place over the last year, the process to get a new elementary school had been ongoing since 2020. Shellenbarger credited the community, especially through the bond votes, for getting the district to this point.

Shellenbarger said he’s relieved that they were able to get to opening day for the students and staff.

“We have deadlines and we have things we need to serve to our kids and our staffs, and when you’re talking about redoing parking lots and playgrounds and all of these things that are dependent on things like weather and rain and mother nature, you can be filled with a little bit of anxiety related to deadlines, but we’re fortunate to have great partners through the construction process that have helped us meet every deadline and deliver exactly what we promised our residents and school community that we would,” he said.

S SATURDAY, , OCTOBER R 5 4:00 0- 9:00 0 PM AT JIMMY JOHN’S FIELD

Clawson Public Schools was able to have a couple of open houses before the official opening to show off the new school to the community. Shellenbarger said the building was received well.

“To hear the parents talk about and see the smiles on their face and how beautiful and sharp and clean everything is, that’s not something we’ve been able to say in my six years here just because of the age of our buildings and the condition,” he said. “It is unique for us because that’s not always what we get structurally here in our school district. Now that we have it, we’re fortunate.”

Heidi Swift-Smith has her child, fifth

grader Aubrianna, as a student in the elementary school this year.

Swift-Smith, who attended the old middle school herself, said she wouldn’t have recognized that it was the same building.

“I was familiar with it back when I was in middle school and then my older daughter was in there for middle school. It had reallyaged, yellow-looking brick and the hallways were kind of dark, and I walked in there, and it was bright and light and cheerful and I was shocked at how different it looks,” she said.

Swift-Smith said while the other elementary schools were nice, they were short on space for what they needed and couldn’t ac-

commodate half the population that the new elementary school is able to accommodate.

“I like that the younger kids are on the first floor and the older kids are on the second floor. It kind of separates them a little bit,” she said. “As somebody who was born and raised in the community, we were sad to see the other elementary schools go, because we have a sentimental attachment, but when you’re thinking about the long term implications and what is best for the current population of kids, I think it’s an amazing building for them. And so I think once they get into the swing of the new school year, I think it’s going to work well for them.”

7171 Auburn Road, Utica, 48317

Among the new features at Clawson Elementary School is this art room.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Pollinator

from page 6A

“Bees can live in one of two places,” Lowenstein said. “They can live in the soil or they can live in a cavity: rotting logs or the old stems of plants. If you have the space in the garden, leaving a small corner or area a little messy or undisturbed can provide a space that a bee might be able to nest within. If you have some old logs or stems that you’ve cut, they can take advantage of those holes and nest within them. Some people put what’s called ‘bee condos’ in the garden; it’s sort of a house with holes drilled within its wood that cavity-nesting bees can nest in. That’s something you can find at stores or you can make yourself if you drill holes within the wood that are varying diameters from about the size of a dime to 1/16 of an inch in diameter.”

Keeping gardens watered helps plants stay healthy, but nothing is more harmful to the goals of a pollinator garden than spraying it with pesticides.

“Spraying plants during bloom, whether it’s with a pesticide or herbicide, is not recommended because pollinators are only going to visit plants that are flowering, and you don’t want to create toxicity for a bee if it visits a plant that has been sprayed with a pesticide,” Lowenstein said.

Getting started with a pollinator garden can be daunting, but Splawski encourages anyone interested in helping pollinators to give it a go.

“If someone is new to gardening, it’s always a good idea to start small,” Splawski said. “Don’t bite off more than you can chew in a single season, and just doing a small amount in your garden is still better than nothing. Set yourself up for success by starting small and don’t be afraid to dive in. Gardening is a lot of trial and error, so don’t be afraid if something doesn’t work out.”

Resources are available to help anyone looking to plant their own pollinator gardens. The MSU Extension has numerous pages on growing for pollinators at pollinators.msu.edu while the Rochester Pollinators group sells seeds and provides resources through its website at rochesterpollinators.org.

Invites

Alumni and the Community to a Very Special Celebration!

Oakland Through the Ages: 100 Years of Excellence

Join Royal Oak Schools on Friday, September 20th at 6 p.m. to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Oakland.

Oakland Elementary School is located at 2415 Brockton, Royal Oak.

In celebration of this milestone of 100 years, the event will feature the history of Oakland, tours, food and most of all FUN!

Check out the line up of happenings:

School Jazz Band Performance

• Angel Wings Art display created by students

Time Capsule-- We’ll be adding items!

Capsule--

Proclamations • Food

Car from 1926

Candy through the ages

Selﬁe station with props from the decades... And more!

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SEPT. 11

Community Wellness Expo: Hosted by Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, features interactive stations, resources, kids corner and Narcan training, 4-8 p.m., Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, (248) 221-7101, achcmi.org

SEPT. 12

Unmentionables: Interactive and expert-led panel discussion about incontinence, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction, 6-8:30 p.m., Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, 3711 W. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak, corewellhealth.org/unmentionables

SEPT. 14

Garden party: Outdoor games and tours, plus doughnuts for sale to support future events, presentations, exhibits and artifacts preservation, 2-5 p.m., Clawson Historical Museum, 41 Fisher Court, (248) 588-9169, historicalmuseum@cityofclawson

SEPT. 19

Nightfall at the Hall: Fundraiser includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music and silent auction, 6-9 p.m., Meadow Brook Hall on campus of Oakland University, 350 Estate Drive in Rochester, (248) 364-6200, meadowbrookhall.org/nightfallbenefit

SEPT. 20

Oakland Elementary School’s Centennial Celebration: Food, history demonstrations, tours, performances, alumni meetups, proclamations and more, 6-8 p.m., 2415 Brockton Ave. in Royal Oak, oakland. royaloakschools.org

SEPT. 20-22

Funky Ferndale Art Fair: More than 140 juried artists and authors, 4-7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 22, west of Woodward Avenue on Nine Mile Road, www. funkyferndaleartfair.com

DIY Street Fair: Bands, artists, crafters, breweries, wineries, distilleries, restaurants, food trucks, businesses, nonprofits and more, 6 p.m.-midnight Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-midnight Sept. 21 and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 22, east side of Woodward Avenue between Nine Mile Road and East Troy Street in Ferndale, ferndalediy.com

VIEW MORE! Visit candgnews.com/ calendar or use this QR code

SEPT. 21

Claws N’ Paws: Bring furry friends to 2-mile walk/jog, plus pet adoptions, raffles, 50-50 and more, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Clawson City Park, 935 N. Custer Ave., clawsonchamber.org/c-n-paws-2024-overview

Identity theft presentation: Hear from KeyBank financial wellness consultant, 10 a.m., Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, (248) 588-5500

SEPT. 28

Clawson Fall Festival: Hayrides, live music, artisan market, food trucks, kids activities, nonprofit booths, cider and doughnut tent, bake sale, and Clawson Fire Department’s bonfire event, 3-7 p.m., Clawson City Park, 1080 N. Custer Ave., (248) 589-0334, parksrec@ cityofclawson.com

Mushroom walk: Led by Royal Oak Nature Society, 10 a.m., Cummingston Park, park and meet at intersection of Torquay and Leafdale, romi.gov/411/Nature-Walks

Food drive: Supports Blessings in a Backpack, requested items include (but are not limited to) canned fruits and vegetables, juice boxes, fruit snacks, small boxes of cereal, pudding cups, Ramen noodles and soups, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., drop off at Royal Oak Woman’s Clubhouse, 404 S. Pleasant St., (248) 246-3066, contactrowc@gmail. com, rowc.org/events

SEPT. 28-29

Birmingham Street Art Fair: Featuring 100 artists, silent art auction to benefit Common Ground, art activities, live music and food, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 28 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29, located in and around Shain Park, 270 W. Merrill St., birminghamstreetartfair.com, givebutter.com/c/bY3iFr

SEPT. 29

‘No Balls’ Comedy Ball: Fundraiser for Michigan Animal Adoption Network and Canine Companions Rescue Center, presented by Pet Supplies Plus Bloomfield Hills, featuring comedian Dave Dyer and emcee Jay Towers, cash bar, buffet dinner, raffles and auctions, and adoptable puppies, 12:30-5 p.m., Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St. in Royal Oak, (586) 914-1623, marieskladd@yahoo.com, nbcb.weebly.com

WANT TO SEE YOUR OWN EVENTS ONLINE & IN PRINT — FOR FREE?

With the same link, click and sign in using your Google or Facebook information, or easily create a CitySpark account.

Input the details, upload a photo and select “Review Changes,” then “Submit and Finish.” Events should appear online within 2 hours, and will appear in print as space permits. There’s no limit as to how many you can submit.

Walk to fight Huntington’s disease: 10 a.m. (registration 9:30 a.m.), Memorial Park, 31050 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak, michigan.hdsa. org/events/team-hope-walk-detroit-mi

Lung Force Walk: Untimed 1.5-mile stroll through Detroit Zoo, 8:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. check in), 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, lungforce.org/detroit

SEPT. 30

For the Love of Crazy Quilting: Resident shares experiences as author, writer and quilter, 6:30 p.m., Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, (248) 588-5500

ONGOING

Farmers markets: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, also antiques and collectibles 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, 316 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak, (248) 246-3276, more on Facebook

Car shows: 4-8 p.m. Mondays through October, Old Port Family Restaurant, 278 E. 14 Mile Road in Clawson, (248) 588-2660

Harmony United Chorus: Open rehearsals for men’s Barbershop-style group, 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday, choir room at Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave., greaterdetroit.org

Monthly groups: Find book clubs for horror fans, kids, LGBTQIA+ and more, Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, (248) 2463700, romi.gov/1532/library

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For questions, email calendar@candgnews.com

Medication goes missing

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Aug. 13, a resident told police that after a gathering at their home with more than 40 people they noticed that several medications were missing.

No suspects were identified.

PayPal scam shows fake phone number on internet search

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Aug. 13, an officer was dispatched to the 5400 block of Fairway Court to take a fraud report.

The resident reported having received a potentially fraudulent email about a PayPal charge.

The resident searched for a customer service number and reportedly called a fraudulent one by mistake.

The unknown suspect or suspects allegedly conned the resident out of thousands of dollars by stating that there was a problem with the resident’s computer.

Motorcyclist reportedly hits 130 mph before arrest

ROYAL OAK — A motorcyclist was arrested in Royal Oak Aug. 8 after allegedly speeding at more than 130 mph on Interstate 94 and 100 mph on Interstate 75. The Michigan State Police had tried to stop the motorcyclist and reportedly tracked the motorcyclist from the sky in a helicopter and took a video of the whole incident. The incident began on I-94 in Dearborn near the Wyoming Avenue exit and ended when the driver pulled into downtown Royal Oak and Royal Oak police were able to pull him over.

Customer damages inside of Mobil gas station

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 13, a customer became irate and damaged multiple shelving units at the Mobil gas station on Woodward Avenue.

Apartment resident finds door lock tampered with TROY — A resident on John R Road reported that on Aug. 2, around 5:45 p.m., his lock was messed with when he briefly left his apartment to take out the trash. When he returned, he discovered an unknown suspect had squeezed superglue into the deadbolt lock of his door, rendering it inoperable.

Sewer drain cover stolen from park

TROY — A city employee reported that, between Aug. 3 at 10 p.m. and Aug. 4 at 7:30 a.m., an unknown suspect stole a sewer drain cover from the parking lot of Brinston Park, located at 2250 Brinston St.

Books stolen from municipal campus

SOUTHFIELD — Between 10:30 p.m. Aug. 9 and 3:19 p.m. Aug. 10, miscellaneous books were taken from a rolling cart left unattended in the city complex at 26000 Evergreen Road.

Resident observes break-in while out of town

SOUTHFIELD — While a resident was out of town, she saw a break-in at her home.

At 2:20 a.m. on Aug. 10, the victim reported seeing through her security cameras an unknown individual enter the back door of her home in the 17000 block of Roseland Boulevard.

Man scammed while trying to buy speaker

NOVI — A man was scammed out of $377 after he attempted to buy a Bose Bluetooth speaker from someone online Aug. 17. The man sent the seller the money via Cash App and was told that the speaker would be coming from Grand Rapids. However, he never received it and the seller blocked him online. At the suggestion of police, the man contacted his bank, but he was told he could not be reimbursed, according to the report. He reportedly did not want to pursue a court case and told police he was just going to take it as a “lesson learned.”

Vape pens stolen during Dream Cruise

BIRMINGHAM — Police were dispatched at around 10 a.m. Aug. 17 to a parking lot in the 34600 block of Woodward Avenue that had been rented by a tobacco shop for a special event during the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The event manager reported that multiple vape pens and possibly other items were stolen from a display table by at least one person who jumped the fence overnight.

Two hired security guards reportedly discovered the unknown people in the event area near the display table. An investigation was ongoing.

Suspects wait for police to leave, steal clothing

BIRMINGHAM — An officer was dispatched to a clothing store in the 100 block of South Old Woodward around 7 p.m. Aug. 13 for a retail fraud. The store manager reported that two females in their mid-20s had entered the store while police were there investigating a theft that had happened 30 minutes earlier. The suspects walked around the store until officers left, and then they began creating piles of merchandise. One suspect left the store, and moments later, the other suspect ran out the door with a pile of clothes valued

vehicle recklessly drove away, heading north on Old Woodward. An investigation was ongoing.

Drunken man crashes car trying to flee from police

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A 31-year-old man from Bloomfield Township was arrested after reportedly crashing his car fleeing from police while driving drunk with no license.

Bloomfield Township police were dispatched to a possible drunk driver in a white Toyota Tacoma heading north on Telegraph, from Lone Pine Road, at approximately 12:50 a.m. Aug. 17.

Officers saw the car on Telegraph, near Square Lake road, and attempted to stop the vehicle, which was reportedly crossing over all lanes of traffic and traveling at speeds over 100 mph. As the suspect neared Humphrey Avenue, police said, his vehicle struck a curb, drove over the center median into the southbound lanes, drove into a ditch, and then crashed into a tree. The suspect, who exited the vehicle, was ordered to the ground by officers, but reportedly took off running. He was taken into custody shortly after and reportedly smelled of intoxicants. He had a small baggie of pills on him that police suspect to be oxycodone.

A breath sample taken at the Bloomfield Township Police Department reportedly showed a 0.153% blood alcohol content.

The driver was arraigned at the 52-1 District Court and was charged with second-degree fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing, operating while intoxicated and driving without a license. He was issued an $8,000 bond.

Three men arrested after stealing clothes

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department was dispatched to Dick’s Sporting Goods, 2105 S. Telegraph Road, for a retail fraud in progress at approximately 3:30 p.m. Aug. 17.

Information was provided that two men had entered the store, stolen several items of clothing, and left without paying. Officers arrived at the scene and were flagged down by several witnesses, who informed them that the suspects had fled southbound on Telegraph in a black Nissan with heavy front-end damage.

Additional officers located the vehicle traveling south on Telegraph Road, near Maple Road, and initiated a traffic stop. Three male passengers were identified, and 55 articles of stolen clothing, totaling $2,755, were recovered from inside the vehicle. All three individuals were taken into custody for retail fraud. The report was forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Parking spot disagreement leads to assault charges

FARMINGTON — On Aug. 8 at approximately 8:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 32000 block of Grand River Avenue for a report of an assault and battery.

When officers arrived, the suspect, a 56-year-old man, had fled the scene, but witnesses were able to copy down the license plate of the suspect vehicle.

A 27-year-old man reported that he and the suspect had had a disagreement about a parking spot. The suspect then assaulted him and fled, according to the police report.

Officers were able to locate the suspect from the license plate, and he was arrested and cited for assault and battery.

Juveniles apprehended

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, police were dispatched to the area of East Harry Avenue and Merrill Avenue at around 1 a.m. Aug. 16 to investigate a report about three male subjects walking in the street wearing masks.

When police arrived, the three subjects started running. Police were able to apprehend two of them — both were 14-year-old juveniles from Hamtramck and Detroit. There were no reported thefts, and the two juveniles were turned over to their parents.

Also on Aug. 16, at 2:30 p.m., a resident in the 1700 block of East Harry reported that sometime between 6 p.m. Aug. 15 and 7 a.m. Aug. 16, someone entered his unlocked vehicle and stole a 9 mm handgun, along with some cash. The vehicle had been parked in front of the victim’s home.

Around 2:30 p.m. the next day, Aug. 17, a postal worker walking his route observed a gun on the front lawn of a home on East Jarvis. The gun was loaded with ammunition and next to its holster. The postal worker called the police. The gun was verified as the one that had been reported stolen.

The case was being investigated to determine the identity of the third juvenile who ran from police and whether any of the subjects were involved with the theft of the gun.

Customer caught stealing from store ROCHESTER — An officer was dispatched to a local business for retail fraud that had occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. Aug. 10. The business reported an item had been stolen by a customer who concealed it on their person. The officer made contact with the suspect, who returned the item. The suspect was issued a citation for a court date after the business indicated that it wished to pursue criminal charges.