CROSS COUNTRY CAMPING TRIPS 24A
Teachers settle new contract with Grosse Pointe Public School System
CONTROVERSIAL FORMULA REMOVED AS PART OF AGREEMENT
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
GROSSE POINTES — After months of negotiation, the Grosse Pointe Board of Education reached a contract deal with the Grosse Pointe Education Association — the union that represents Grosse Pointe Public School System teachers — just before students returned to the classroom after Labor Day.
After a tentative agreement was reached Aug. 21, the school board unanimously approved the tentative contract at a meeting Aug. 27 at Brownell Middle School in Grosse Pointe Farms. Taryn Loughlin, copresident of the GPEA, said they presented the details of the deal to their members Aug. 25, with members vot-
See CONTRACT on page 10A
Huge dance numbers, mistaken identity and romance abound in ‘Crazy for You’
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
WOODS — Grosse Pointe Theatre is dusting off a beloved musical to open its 77th season.
The George and Ira Gershwin romantic comedy “Crazy for You” will be staged Sept. 13 to Sept. 21 at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Set circa the 1930s, it’s the story of a wealthy New York banker named Bobby Child — played by Zak Shugart — who’s sent to the old gold mining town of Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a theater that, like the town, has seen better days. Bobby is smitten by the theater owner’s spirited daughter, Polly Baker — played by Catie is 77th tic Sept. High wealthy Child sent rock, like is daughter,
From left, Britta Peele-Spitzer, Kyle Weatherbee, Conner Motzkus, Zak Shugart and Catie Hauff star in Grosse Pointe Theatre’s production of “Crazy for You.”
Photo provided by Grosse Pointe Theatre
Farms Public Safety to purchase new body, car camera system
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
FARMS — The Grosse Pointe Farms Public Safety Department is getting new body and in-car cameras to replace its old system.
During a Farms City Council meeting Aug. 13, Public Safety Director John Hutchins said the city’s current camera system provider, Safe Fleet, was “going the way of all of the other camera manufacturers” and switching to a cloud-based system. He said Safe Fleet will stop supporting the system that the Farms uses in January 2025, necessitating a new system.
The Farms City Council unanimously approved a low bid Aug. 13 from Byron Center, Michigan-based Pro-Vision for $173,642, which includes 35 new body cameras, installation of in-car cameras in nine vehicles, unlimited cloud storage, camera recharging docks and free replacement of body cameras with the latest model after 30 months. Funds for the purchase were included in the Public Safety Department’s budget for the current fiscal year. Pro-Vision was one of three bidders.
Hutchins said the bid from Safe Fleet was substantially higher and didn’t include new cameras, installation
See CAMERAS on page 11A
HAVING A BALL
ABOVE: From left, Tiff, a 3-year-old golden retriever, and Rosie, a 3-yearold Labrador retriever, fetch tennis balls in the Osius Park pool in Grosse Pointe Shores Sept. 3 during Doggie Day, which happens the day after Labor Day when the pool is closed for the season for human swimmers.
TOP: Rosie fetches a couple of tennis balls from the Osius Park pool.
LEFT: Pooches prepare to pounce into the pool.
Photos by Erin Sanchez
HOMEGROWN COFFEE SHOP COMING TO VILLAGE
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
CITY — Starbucks might be moving to a new home in The Village, but coffee lovers will still be able to head to their old haunt for a cup of Joe.
Lucky Detroit Coffee is opening a location in the coming months at 17001 Kercheval Ave. The Grosse Pointe City Council, sitting as the Planning Commission, voted unanimously Aug. 19 in favor of a site plan for the new business, which included approval for outdoor seating and a walk-up window.
Lucky Detroit Coffee owner Chad Buchanan said they’re “trying to activate that outdoor space” by offering outdoor seating.
“We’re trying to give a bright and lively appearance to the building,” Buchanan said.
Laura Haw, a senior principal planner and project manager with the City’s planning firm, McKenna, said the new owners have proposed painting the brick a light color, with dark accents.
“This is already painted brick, so this will be an enhancement,” Haw said.
This will be Lucky Detroit Coffee’s fifth location; the others are in Birmingham, Royal Oak, Detroit’s Corktown district and
Grosse Pointe Park.
The current space in Grosse Pointe Park is a combination barbershop/coffeeshop; Buchanan said it’s too small to house a full café, which is why they were interested in the Grosse Pointe City space.
“We do everything in house,” said Buchanan, noting that they make their own syrups and roast their own coffee beans.
When the City location opens, Buchanan said the Park location will stay open but will likely have more limited hours.
The walk-up window will be on Notre Dame Street, at the far west end of the building, planners said. Because the walk-up win-
dow is new, Haw recommended a license agreement between the city and the business so that the city could restrict hours of operation to make sure the line for the window didn’t cause backups in the public right of way.
“The concern is cars idling and sending somebody to the walk-up window,” City Councilman Christopher Walsh said. “I suspect that could be a problem.”
Buchanan said they plan to direct customers to the municipal parking lot, put up “some really good signage” and train café staff to prevent this.
As one of the conditions for approval,
from page 4A
the council/Planning Commission concurred with the recommendation of the city planners, which states: “The city will monitor the activity at the walk-up window and may, at its discretion, direct the applicant to modify the operation to address any potential impacts.”
Buchanan said customers will have the option of coming inside the business or using the window to place an order. Besides various coffees and teas, the business will
serve pastries, croissants, sandwiches and other light fare.
As to delivering orders, Buchanan said they won’t offer delivery or use delivery apps.
“There’s going to be no worry about outdoor congestion” as a result, Buchanan told the council.
Buchanan said it would likely take about 120 days from when Starbucks vacates the space circa early September to do renovations.
“The building needs quite a bit of love,” Buchanan said.
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
Photo by K. Michelle Moran
This rendering shows what the new Lucky Detroit Coffee in Grosse Pointe City’s Village district will look like.
NEWS & NOTES
6A/ GROSSE POINTE TIMES • SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
LAST DAY FOR PRODUCE
The final Park Farmers Market of the year will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14 in Grosse Pointe Park. The market is located in a city-owned parking lot on the southeast corner of Kercheval Avenue and Lakepointe Street — behind the Corewell Health building — in the city’s Kercheval business district.
Trees available
Residents of the Grosse Pointes can purchase trees at wholesale prices during a community tree sale. Trees for sale are the Eastern redbud for $75, red sunset maple for $85, pin oak for $40, red horse chestnut for $110, Kindred Spirit oak for $120 and white pine for $20. Trees come with planting instructions and a staking kit. Optional tree planting is available for an additional $30.
Orders must be received by Oct. 3. Trees can be picked up Oct. 13 from Neff Park in Grosse Pointe City. For an order form or more information, email GPtrees1@gmail.com or call Seth Krupp at (313) 850-4041. The sale is part of a nonprofit community greening initiative.
Hear from candidates
The League of Women Voters of Grosse Pointe will hold an in-person forum with candidates for the Grosse Pointe Board of Education at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Brownell Middle School in Grosse Pointe Farms. The forum is open to the public and will also be filmed, livestreamed and later posted on the LWVGP’s YouTube channel. Community members can submit questions for consideration for the forum. Questions must be submitted by noon Sept. 16 and must be for all candidates. Questions won’t be accepted during the forum. To submit a question or for more information, visit lwvgrossepointe.org.
NORTH HIRES NEW ADMINISTRATORS
After the sudden departure of all four administrators at Grosse Pointe North High School at the end of the 2023-2024 school year — including longtime principal Kate Murray — the Grosse Pointe Public School System has named several new administrators to fill those roles.
Because Parcells Middle School Principal Sara Delgado was named the new North principal, Jason Wesley was hired as the new principal at Parcells. Wesley, who has 27 years in education, most recently served as an assistant principal for Romulus Community Schools.
Delgado, who worked as a Spanish teacher and Kerby Elementary School principal in the Pointes before becoming the director of elementary instruction for Fraser Public Schools, returned to the GPPSS to take over the reins at Parcells in August 2023.
One of the new North assistant principals is Kevin Shubnell. Shubnell has spent the last eight years of his 18-year education career in the GPPSS, first as a social studies teacher and then as a dean of culture and community. Meloney Cargill, another new assistant principal at North, comes to the district from Clintondale High School, where she taught English and Japanese before becoming an assistant principal and later principal. The new athletic director at North, James Ellis, has coached varsity high school teams in Ferndale, Troy and Berkley, and has most recently served as the assistant principal and athletic director for St. Clair High School.
Pictured are the new team members — from left, Wesley, Ellis, Cargill, Delgado and Shubnell — who were introduced during a July 16 Grosse Pointe Board of Education meeting.
Authors to discuss their works
Bestselling authors David Grann and Mathilda Zeller will take part in the Grosse Pointe Public Library’s annual Authors to the Pointe from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores.
Grann’s book, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” was recently brought to the screen by Martin Scorsese. Zeller, who currently lives in Grosse Pointe City, is the author of “The Revenge of Bridget Cleary” and “The Bee King,” as well as part of the anthology “Never Whistle at Night.”
Tickets cost $35 and include a continental breakfast. This event is sponsored by The Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public Library. For tickets or more information, visit grossepointelibrary.org.
SHORELINE RESTORATION TO BE DISCUSSED
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, invites the community to learn about its shoreline habitat restoration project during a free program from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 14. Registration must be made by Sept. 13 and can be done by visiting fordhouse.org.
LEARN HOW TO WRITE A SHORT PLAY
Develop the skills to turn a story into a 10-minute play during Grosse Pointe Theatre’s Ten-Minute Play Workshop Series, classes that will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 28, Oct. 26 and Nov. 23 at GPT’s office, 315 Fisher Road in Grosse Pointe City.
The classes will prepare participants to pen their own submissions for GPT’s 2025 Ten-Minute Play Festival. The cost for the series is $25 for non-GPT members; it’s free for members.
The festival, now in its 12th year, was the brainchild of GPT member and playwright Mary Lou Britton. The annual contest for entries now draws hundreds of submissions from around the globe.
To register for the three-class program, visit gpt. org and click on Take Ten Play Festival at the bottom of the homepage. Questions can be emailed to playfestival@gpt.org.
Pictured, in a scene from the festival in June, are Jo LeVan and Sal Rubino, who appeared in “Romeo and Juliet, 50 Years Later,” a contemporary take on the Shakespearian play written by Dan Borengasser, of Arkansas.
SEE STORIES COME TO LIFE
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, is hosting the fourth annual Story Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14 on the grounds. Organized with the Grosse Pointe Public Library and ECHO, this year’s event will explore stories from the animal kingdom and include appearances by children’s musician Jim Gill; outdoor educator Kelly Konieczki; Brenda Ban, of Built to Thrive; and the St. Clair Shores Public Library. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for children, or, for Friends of Ford House members, $7 for adults and $5 for children. For tickets or more information, visit fordhouse. org or call (313) 884-4222.
S SATURDAY, , OCTOBER R 5 4:00 0- 9:00 0 PM AT JIMMY JOHN’S FIELD 7171 Auburn Road, Utica, 48317
Photo by K. Michelle Moran
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
and philanthropist who was one of the co-founders of the Grosse Pointe
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
LEFT: John Boll Sr.’s daughter, Kristine Mestdagh, talks about her dad as she stands next to the tree — a tulip magnolia — that was planted in his honor Sept. 5 at Osius Park in Grosse Pointe Shores. John Boll was a Shores resident, businessman
Shores Improvement Foundation. He died Aug. 24, 2022. RIGHT: At left, Grosse Pointe Shores Mayor Ted Kedzierski and, at right, Grosse Pointe Shores Improvement Foundation President Rob Sattler join members of the Boll family — matriarch Marlene Boll, her daughter, Kristine Mestdagh, grandson JT Mestdagh and son-in-law Jim Mestdagh — for the memorial tree planting.
PlansPayment Available
Home Care One Cares For Those In Need
Home Care One Owner Perry Calisi believes in honesty, integrity, and compassion -- and has offered such quality care through his home care business for the past twelve years in Grosse Pointe, St. Clair Shores, and Macomb Township in southeastern Michigan.
Home Care One provides assistance for seniors and patients in their homes, and helps with alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, hospital and nursing home sitting, interim care during hospice, physical and mental disability assistance for children and adults, and people recovering from surgery. Services also include full or part-time and 24hour care services, and daily living activities such as meal preparation, running errands, assistance with bathing, house cleaning, doctor visits and more.
as everything becomes more expensive,” he said. “In my experience, more people have done better living in their home rather than facilities; just by familiarity and independence.”
Perry said he entered the business by hearing that someone needed help.
Perry wants to increase community awareness about how his company offers these personalized services to keep your loved ones living independently at home. Perry added that he and his staff go further than the next by helping clients stay as independent as possible.
“The public should look at home care as a way of staying independent, and in one’s own home --
Full Body MRI Scans: Is Tis Hottest Health Trend Right for YOU?
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“I just set up my own business model for what I would want for my own mother,” he said. “I would want someone honest and compassionate in the house.” Perry said he tries to match his roughly 18 employees’ personality types with patients. “It assures that there is going to be an assimilation of getting along,” he said. Betty, a client, said she is “really lucky” to have caregivers take really good care of her. “I get all that pampering,” she said smiling. “They’ve been with me ever since. I haven’t been let down for anything.”
Betty’s caregiver, Theresa, said Perry cares about his clients and he cares about his employees as well. “He is good about matching an employee with a client, which is nice,” she said. “We all work together. He cares all the way around... that is him in general.”
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Advertorial
Contract
ing electronically Aug. 27-29. Union leaders learned the agreement had passed at around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 29, Loughlin said.
While there were elements of the contract that educators cheered, the daunting process to get there demonstrates how divided the district remains.
“We landed on a deal and we’re happy. … (But) the fact that it was (reached) in the final hours before staff reported was frustrating,” Loughlin said.
Board members were happy to finalize a new contract that they say is good for GPPSS teachers.
“I want to emphasize how much we value the partnership between the board, administration, and the staff,” Board President Sean Cotton said. “This agreement is a testament to our shared commitment to providing the best possible environment for our students and staff. When we come together with respect, understanding and a shared vision, there is nothing we cannot achieve.”
Cotton said the agreement “embodies our shared goal of excellence in education.”
Several board officials thanked GPEA Co-Presidents Loughlin and Jackie Shelson, along with district administrators such as Superintendent Andrea Tuttle and lead administrative negotiator Roy Bishop, deputy superintendent of educational services, for their hard work.
“Dr. Bishop carried the immense responsibility of balancing the complex demands of managerial rights, taxpayer dollars and the needs of our teachers,” Cotton said. “His thoughtful and measured approach ensured that we could navigate these challenges effectively.”
Loughlin said 70% of the GPEA’s membership voted on the agreement, with 97% in favor and 3% opposed. That kind of overwhelming support is unusual, she said.
“I think it exemplifies that there are things in this contract that were really great for our members,” Loughlin said. “It is an excellent contract. It is a contract that I am proud of. The numbers reflect that.”
But once again, a deal couldn’t be reached before teachers returned to work. Loughlin said the last contract expired Aug. 15. GPPSS teachers went back to work Aug. 27, she said.
Students were back in class Sept. 3.
After last year’s troubled talks — during which dozens of teachers and administrators left for positions elsewhere — Loughlin said the union “tried to be proactive” by starting
bargaining in April this year instead of May. They also filed for mediation early, in June, she said.
“We saw the writing on the wall,” Loughlin said.
Loughlin said the mediator attended three of their bargaining sessions, including the last two in August, and “was beneficial” in helping them to resolve some issues.
Once again, the district saw a substantial loss of educators as contract talks dragged on all summer. While some were due to retirements, Loughlin said the most recent data they’ve been able to get from the district shows that more than 50 teachers left the GPPSS this year.
One of the biggest differences in this contract was the removal of the formula. Loughlin said the formula was instituted about 12 years ago, to the outrage of staff.
“The formula essentially gave the board permission to cut staff salaries in order to get the fund balance back to 10% or higher,” Loughlin said.
If the fund balance rose above roughly 15%, she said staffers would get a bonus.
“That only ever happened once,” Loughlin said.
What was infuriating to staff about the formula was that it penalized district employees for financial decisions made by the school board.
“How is it fair that the board gets to cut our salaries when staff has no say in how the money is spent?” Loughlin asked.
As a result, Loughlin said they greeted the demise of the formula as “a really big win.”
“This formula had become a source of contention and division,” Cotton said. “In contract law, there must be a meeting of the minds for an agreement to work. When that understanding is lost, the agreement ceases to serve its purpose. By removing the formula, we have taken a critical step toward healing those divisions and moving forward with a contract that fosters unity rather than discord.”
Other board members agreed.
“I’m very encouraged by this contract,” Board member Lisa Papas said. “Fundamentally, I never believed that teachers should … have to pay the price for (a declining fund balance). I fought to have the formula taken out … but there was no support for it.”
Board member Colleen Worden agreed with getting rid of the formula, but disagreed with Papas’ recollection about no one else wanting to eliminate it.
“I also ran (for the board) four years ago on rescinding the formula. … I’ve always believed it’s (a source) of strain, stress” for the
teachers.
“I support this contract,” Worden continued. “I support our teachers. I always have. I’m thrilled they won’t have this hanging over their heads anymore.”
Another aspect of the contract that teachers are happy about is the increase in personal paid time off from two days to four days. Loughlin said last year was the first time teachers had any personal paid time off.
“The problem with what we had before was there were a lot of restrictions,” Loughlin said.
For example, she said 50% of the teachers live in the district, but if they wanted to accompany their child on a school field trip, they couldn’t do that before because they couldn’t use a sick day for that purpose. With the paid time off, they can.
All teachers get 12 individual leave bank days under this contract, Loughlin said. Two are personal business days, four are personal paid time off and six are individual leave days, which are sick days or days a teacher can take to care for their own sick child.
After making improvements to maternity leave last year — six weeks for a natural birth and eight weeks for a C-section — Loughlin said they negotiated an increase in paternity leave this year, from what had been 10 days to 15 days now.
“Our goal is to make our contract family-friendly so we can attract teachers,” Loughlin said.
There are now also caseload limits for ancillary staff — speech and language pathologists, social workers, special education resource rooms, teacher consultants and clinical fellowship assistants. Loughlin said these staffers will now receive more compensation if they have to handle more than a certain number of students, which should help the district attract people to fill these positions.
Class-size language for teachers was updated for the first time since 1975, so
Loughlin said teachers will be compensated if class sizes exceed specific numbers, which acknowledges the work they do and the attention given to each student.
This is a two-year contract, which Loughlin said was the norm for the GPPSS until last year, which was only a one-year deal. She said most other districts have threeyear contracts.
“I think it provides stability for staff,” said Loughlin, noting that teachers know what their salary will look like over the next two years. “Bargaining does deteriorate relations with administration because it’s combative. Having multiple year (contracts) allows us to forge a positive relationship with administration and hopefully not be so contentious.”
It also benefits the district and union financially in that neither side has to shell out as much money for legal representation during bargaining if contracts are for a longer term.
Because the formula was part of the other contracts the school board had approved earlier this summer with its other unions, Board member Terry Collins proposed removing it from those agreements as well, recognizing its unpopularity. The board voted unanimously to remove the formula language from the other contracts, which cover administrators, clerical and plant staff. The agreements with the other three unions are also for two years.
Loughlin said educators are grateful for the morale boost they received from the community, with some local residents even providing food and snacks on bargaining days.
“We want to thank the community for their support throughout the process of getting this contract,” Loughlin said. “We are incredibly appreciative of everything the community did to support us.”
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
Cameras
or unlimited storage. Because of the rising costs associated with Safe Fleet, he said the city sought bids not only from it but also two other “very well-known companies in law enforcement” that provided these systems, one of which was Pro-Vision.
“Pro-Vision provided the best value for the money,” Hutchins said.
Seven years ago, when the department asked for a more powerful server, officers were downloading and burning camera footage to Blu-ray Discs, Hutchins said. At that time, he said, many major law enforcement agencies — including the Michigan State Police — were apprehensive about the security of cloud-based storage.
“We’ll continue to maintain the discs and the server for as long as we have to, as long as we can,” Hutchins said.
City Councilman Lev Wood asked about data storage problems in the cloud, such as hacking and software issues.
“I guess I’m concerned about the security,” Wood said.
Hutchins acknowledged that concern.
“So were we, which is why we didn’t go to (a cloud-based system) seven years ago,” Hutchins said. “We have not been presented with anything problematic (in the systems now). … Obviously, things have improved.”
As to why Pro-Vision’s bid was about $50,000 to $60,000 lower than that of the two other firms, Hutchins said it’s a newer company — launched 12 years ago — and it’s trying to establish itself. Hutchins said the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department acquired the Pro-Vision camera system in 2021 and “they’ve been very happy with
the cameras.” He said more than 80 other departments in Michigan use Pro-Vision as well.
“We’ve heard a lot of good things about them,” Hutchins said of Pro-Vision.
Another benefit to Pro-Vision, said Hutchins, is the fact that they were the only one of the three bidders based in Michigan, so if there are issues with equipment, it will be easier and faster to get things fixed or replaced.
The Farms and Grosse Pointe Woods are the only departments in the Pointes that issue every officer in their departments a personal body camera, Hutchins said, noting that the other departments have common cameras that are used by multiple officers. He said giving all officers their own cameras provides greater accountability. The animal control and parking enforcement officers in the Farms also have their own body cameras, Hutchins said.
City Councilman John Gillooly, an attorney who represents a number of municipalities, said “just about every case” he sees these days involving law enforcement uses a cloud-based camera system. He said there are “strong assurances” this footage can’t be accessed by just anyone.
“It’s pretty sophisticated these days,” Gillooly said.
Hutchins said after roughly 120 days, body and car camera footage will start to automatically delete, unless it’s tagged, in which case it’s preserved forever. He said not all footage needs to be saved indefinitely, such as some routine traffic stops.
Deputy Public Safety Director Andrew Rogers said the new cameras are expected to arrive by the beginning of next year.
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra 2024-2025
Wednesday, October 9, 7 p.m. OKTOBERFEST
German Food & Beer Tasting
Tompkins Center
14920 Windmill Pointe Dr. Grosse Pointe Park
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Our Lady Star of the Sea 7:00 p.m.
467 Fairford, Grosse Pointe Woods
Sunday, October 24, 2024
Grosse Pointe War Memorial 7:00 p.m.
32 Lake Shore Dr. Grosse Pointe Farms
Preconcert talk Davis Glo (WRCJ) 6:15 p.m.
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 2
Saint-Saens, Cello Concerto
Marcy Chanteaux, Cello ~ DSO, retired
Copland, Billy the Kid
Anderson, Sleigh Ride • Coleridge-Taylor, Christmas Overture • VaughanWilliams, Fantasia on Greensleeves
Humperdinck, Exerpts from Hansel & Gretel • Anderson, A Christmas Festival
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Our Lady Star of the Sea 3:00 p.m.
467 Fairford, Grosse Pointe Woods
Preconcert talk Davis Glo (WRCJ) 2:15 p.m.
Sibelius, Andante Festiva
Chopin, Piano Concerto no. 1
Ethan Mihaescu, Piano
Wagner, Selections
Prelude to Act 1 of Lohengrin
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
Prelude to Act III & Bridal Chorus
Entry of the Gods into Valhalla
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Grosse Pointe War Memorial 3:00 p.m.
32 Lake Shore Dr. Grosse Pointe Farms
Preconcert talk Davis Glo (WRCJ) 2:15 p.m.
Bach, Suite no. 1
Mozart, Violin Concerto no. 4
Schumann, Symphony no. 4 in d minor
Greg Staples Violin, DSO
SUBSCRIPTIONS
SEASON
SUBSCRIPTION $70
SENIOR
SUBSCRIPTION $50
Marcy Chanteaux
Ethan Mihaesu
Striplin, Conductor
Grosse Pointe Franchise Expert Approaches 23 Years of Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed
Have you contemplated business ownership, but lacked direction on how to get started? Good news: You have a neighbor that can help! Mark Cory with FranNet of Michigan, has been guiding aspiring entrepreneurs toward successful franchise ownership since 2002. With a track record of excellence, Mark has played a pivotal role in helping hundreds of clients fnd great-ftting franchise opportunities, and many of those clients have become multiple-unit owners and top performers in their chosen systems.
FranNet offers consulting services on a no fee, no obligation basis to individuals committed to starting their own businesses. Mark works with over 300 franchise companies in a variety of industries. His approach is to profle the client utilizing a proprietary online Entrepreneur Profle tool, and then a face-toface consultation to establish a Business Model based on individual preferences, personality, transferable skills, business and personal goals, and budget. He then recommends appropriate franchise concepts for the client to investigate, and coaches them through the research and decision process. Mark is independent of the franchisors and is solely focused on getting the
client what they desire, with affordability and safety.
Mark’s dedication to his clients is refected in his impressive list of accolades from FranNet, including the “Rising Star” award in 2002 and multiple “Commitment to Excellence” and “Top Performer” awards throughout the years. With knowledge of a vast array of franchise business models, Mark excels at matching clients with
businesses that align with their interests, goals, and resources. Additionally, Mark has practical experience in franchise operations. FranNet is a franchise system itself, and Mark owns the franchise rights for Michigan. He also owned a Little Caesars franchise in Emporia, Kansas, from 2010 to 2019 in partnership with his brother.
Although Mark can place clients nationwide, he’s especially proud of his Grosse Pointe clients, two of which are highlighted here:
Ken & Amy Kish of Grosse Pointe Park own and operate a franchise of Floor Coverings International, the #1 rated fooring company in North America. For the past two years they have been helping customers choose the best fooring solution for their project. With their Mobile Showroom full of over 3,000 samples and an in-home consultation, customers can select anything, including hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate, carpet or tile. The Kish’s provide a full-service experience and seamless process, including sales, installation, furniture move, subfoor work and trim work. For more information call 313-884-8145 or visit metroeastdtw.foorcoveringsinternational.com.
According to Ken Kish, “If you are interested in owning your own business, I highly recommend you contact Mark. He is very professional, follows up well, and is easy to work with. Mark took time to get to know my interests and skills so he could provide options that best ft. This is the second franchise I purchased through Mark and each experience was outstanding.”
Blaise & Liz Liederbach of Grosse Pointe Park recently invested in a franchise of Sir Grout, an expert provider of residential hard surface restoration and maintenance. They specialize in working with tile, grout, and stone. Sir Grout’s goal is to revive residential hard surfaces back to their original beauty. To accomplish this, they offer a variety of services for each hard surface type, proudly implemented in a quick, convenient, and
cost-effective manner. For more information, call 248707-1943 or visit sirgroutgreaterdetroit.com.
Blaise commented, “Mark Cory is an expert in his feld. If the thought of owning a business excites you, you owe it to yourself to give him a call. He is extremely professional, diligent, and knowledgeable and will always put your interests frst.”
For Cory, helping clients achieve their dreams of business ownership and enhancing their lifestyles is not just a profession, but a passion. His extensive experience and personal commitment make him a trusted guide for those navigating the path to franchise success. Feel free to reach out to Mark for more information that can help you determine if business/franchise ownership is a path worth exploring for you. He can be reached at 313821-5060, mcory@frannet.com, frannet.com/mcory or calendly.com/markcory.
Mark Cory
Amy & Ken Kish
Blaise Liederbach (right) and lead technician, Sam
It’s not as exciting as an addition, a new pool or even fresh new siding, but insulation is your home’s rst line of defense against temperature extremes.
at means it’s also protecting your wallet. As utility costs continue to rise, e orts to keep your living space warm in the winter and cool in the summer are in nitely more e cient with the proper insulation installed correctly by a professional.
e professionals you need are Sparks & Sommers Insulation Co. ey’ve been in the insulation business since 1957 and specialize in blown-in insulation, ventilation optimization and home temperature e ciency.
“We have our own crews. We have our own equipment. We have our own trucks. ere are very few insulation companies in the area that don’t sub anything out. We do it all in-house,” said Rick Sparks, owner of the fourth-generation company. “We’re the oldest company around. We take pride in what we do. We don’t do a lot of advertising. It’s mostly word of mouth. People know what we do, and that’s kept us busy making warm friends since 1957.”
Sparks said insulation is probably the one thing you can pay to have done to your home once that if done properly will last a lifetime. It will o er a lifetime of protection from the cold, it will keep your home comfortable in the summer and it will save you money on your utility bills every month.
“ ere’s really nothing else that you could do to your home that’s going to be time-tested like that, especially something that’s going to pay you back every month of the year, when you insulate,” Sparks said.
Sparks & Sommers uses the latest tools, including thermal imaging, to nd the weak spots in your home’s insulation armor and correct any issues, ensuring peak energy e ciency.
“Everything we do, we stand behind,” Sparks said.
e company serves customers in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
To inquire about an insulation consultation, call (586) 779-9525. For more information about Sparks & Sommers Insulation Co. and the services the company provides, go to sparksandsommers.com.
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 pollinators remain under threat from habitat loss,
Photo provided by Daniela Lucia Garza
WORLD WAR II, KOREA VETERAN TURNS 100
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — In 1924, Calvin Coolidge was the president, the Washington Senators claimed the World Series over the New York Giants, purchasing alcohol was a felony and William Szypa of Hamtramck was born on Aug. 31.
Now 100 years to the good since that last day of August 1924, Szypa is still at it. His life has taken him across metro Detroit and the world, saw him serve in two wars and build a family.
“It’s a long journey, I’ll tell you that,” Szypa said.
After growing up in Hamtramck, Szypa joined the U.S. Navy and served during World War II.
“During the war, I was in a destroyer escort squadron and my job was to go out and depth charge and try to kill as many German submarines as I could,” Szypa said. “They were torpedoing our ships that were going overseas with supplies. We were in the North Atlantic patrol, and we would go after these German submarines that were torpedoing our ships.”
Szypa’s service extended into the Korean War, where he served as an electrician on a training ship in the Caribbean Sea.
“We had a small carrier, a 500-foot,” Szypa said. “We took them out around Cuba, Guantanamo Bay, in that area, and we would train these pilots on landing on a small ship in the ocean. We were in the training war. These pilots had just graduated from the training schools and only knew how to land on land, and landing on land is awfully different from landing on a 500-foot runway. A land runway is probably 10,000 feet or so.”
After the war, Szypa returned to Michigan and looked for work. He tried his hand at manufacturing and other roles but found himself coming back to electrical work in due time.
“I met some friends, and they had some jobs in the Detroit electrical inspection bureau,” Szypa said. “They gave me a helping hand because I had a few odd jobs where I worked with Dodges (and) I worked on the assembly line, and I did not care for that line of work. I figured I’d change over to the kind of work that I liked.”
Szypa built a career as an electrician, working up to become the chief electrician for the city of Hamtramck and as a journey-
man electrician teacher at South Lake High School in St. Clair Shores where he taught for 15 years. He married his wife Stella in 1950 and had six children together. Stella died in 2004.
“My wife died 20 years ago and time kind of passed by after that,” Szypa said. “It seemed like before that I was more sociable. I was alone after that.”
Throughout his life, Szypa has been a devoted Catholic. He regularly attends Mass in Hamtramck and has received two letters from Pope Francis congratulating Szypa on his 99th and 100th birthdays. The Pope’s letters hang on his wall.
Still the owner of a home in Hamtramck, Szypa has lived in Mount Clemens at Meadows Assisted Liv-
ing for three years. It was in Mount Clemens on Sept. 3 where fellow Meadows residents were joined by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido and Mount Clemens Mayor Laura Kropp to celebrate Szypa’s 100 years of living. The centenarian received a quilt, blankets and numerous certificates recognizing his service and life.
The Sept. 3 celebration was not the only part of the festivities surrounding Szypa’s 100th. The Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hamtramck held a special mass on Sept. 1 for Szypa where he was blessed by the priest and a party was held on Aug. 31 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
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
free from heel pain.
William Szypa, a centenarian and veteran of two wars, blows out birthday candles at a celebration in Mount Clemens on Sept. 3. Szypa was born on Aug. 31, 1924.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
The Parable of Betty and Herb
One of our white members was reminiscing recently. He remembered the trauma of the time when, as a young man, an AfricanAmerican woman and child joined his family. One of his parents was accepting. The other wasn’t.
Betty thought the family should be welcoming and loving. Herb was frightened and angry. Sounds like Grosse Pointe to us. Our neighborhoods and our schools were once all white. Not anymore.
Some of us are delighted with the diversity. Betty. Others not so much. Herb.
The bitter Herbs organize to make things the way they used to be. Since they are powerful, they often get what they want. Even so, we believe they are on the wrong side of history.
If you are a Betty or maybe just curious, please join us on September 25 at 6:30 PM. We will be at Next Chapter Books, 16555 E. Warren Detroit 48224. Orlando Baily will be facilitating a conversation with Tracie M. McMillan, author of THE WHITE BONUS. Perhaps you saw her recent essay in the Detroit Free Press, I thought my parents moved to Holly for the schools. Scan the QR code to the right to register!
Jacobs, Clarence Jones, Jackie
Moms create School Buddy to help children transition to school
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgenews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP/NOVI —
The transition from home to school is often difficult for young children. Many tear up or cling to their parents and guardians and refuse to go into the school.
Two sisters, Callie Moylan, of Novi, and Carrah Wilczynski, of Macomb Township, put their heads together and came up with a solution to this challenging situation that they faced as moms — a transition item. And thus School Buddy was born.
School Buddy is a small stuffed toy that children can put into their backpacks to go with them on adventures where their parents can’t, such as at school or swimming practice. The child is taught that their school buddy is new to the world, really wants to go to school or practice, and needs someone to show them around. However, School Buddy has rules and must remain in the child’s backpack throughout the school day.
“It’s not something that is meant to be out; it is just something to help get them through the doors of a place they can learn and grow,” said Wilczynski.
The School Buddy Adventure Support Set was inspired by Moylan’s Daughter, Kinsley, who had difficulty transitioning back to school at the Novi Early Childhood Center after Thanksgiving break in the fall of 2021. Moylan said that dropping off her daughter was getting more and more difficult and she had debated possibly taking her out of school, but really didn’t want to do that. Moylan said she would talk to her sister, who works as an occupational therapist in a school setting, and that Wilczynski suggested Moylan buy Kinsley a transition item. Moylan said she gave her a small stuffed bunny and explained to her that the bunny was her new buddy and she needed to show it around school and the world. Moylan said it worked beautifully.
“I’ll never forget seeing her walk into school with her buddy in her backpack with, like, a whole new level of confidence,” Moylan said. “She wasn’t focused on hanging onto my side or my husband’s side. She was more focused on helping her buddy. So she walked in with a little more pep in her step.”
After seeing how well this worked for her daughter, Moylan was inspired, and with the encouragement of her husband and the help of her sister, they came up with a story and activity book and worked with a designer to create a School Buddy plush toy for kids. The story and activity book helps parents explain to their children what their role is in helping show their School Buddy the world.
“We saw that repetition is key, so a lot of the activities help children learn the story, remember it, and then there’s activities that make it a part of their every day,” said Wilczynski.
The book features a caregiver checklist with some strategies to help parents introduce School Buddy. It also includes an area for kids to name it, a letter to the child from School Buddy, and an area for kids to record with stickers the types of adventures they go on, as well as several other activities.
The book also provided a space for the two moms to showcase their children’s artistic sides. Doodles done by Moylan’s four children and Wilczynski’s two children can be seen throughout the book.
This is the first school year that the sisters have been able to promote School Buddy. They said they have had people across the country purchase it, and it seems to really work. Moylan said they had a friend buy one for their child who is very timid, and the child took to School Buddy so well that he didn’t even look back on the first day.
“It’s amazing, because I feel like all kids love to help. They like to feel empowered, so when they are so focused on helping this buddy, their fears start to fade away,” Moylan said.
School Buddy can be purchased online at SchoolBuddyStory.com. It runs $32.99 plus tax and comes with a choice of a pink/ purple stuffie or a blue/green stuffie and the activity book. The sisters are offering free shipping with the code BACK2SCHOOL through the end of September.
“We are so excited to introduce our School Buddy Adventure Support Set in hopes to help ease children’s fears, provide comfort and encouragement, and increase their confidence as they go to school and on other life adventures,” Wilczynski said.
Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.
ABOVE: Sisters Carrah Wilczynski, of Macomb Township, left, and Callie Moylan, of Novi, show the School Buddy Adventure Set they created to help young children transition to school life.
LEFT: The School Buddy Adventure Set includes a book and a choice of a pink or blue School Buddy plush toy.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
CRIME WATCH
Vehicle taken
PARK — A white 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen from the 15500 block of Mack Avenue at 7:18 a.m. Sept. 7. A surveillance camera captured the incident, which police said shows a newer model silver Dodge Durango with tinted windows pull up next to the Jeep, after which the suspect pushes the Jeep by hand and then uses the Durango to push the Jeep out of the area. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.
Worker arrested for embezzlement
CITY — An 18-year-old Detroit woman who worked at a store in the 300 block of Fisher Road was arrested Sept. 4 for allegedly stealing money from the register on two occasions while she was working. Police said the woman, who was a cashier, has confessed to the crime.
Check fraud under investigation
PARK — A Grosse Pointe Park business owner filed a report Sept. 3 with police after an unknown suspect is said to have cloned one of the business’ checks and tried to reissue it for an amount in excess of $19,000. Police said their investigation was ongoing at press time.
Stolen vehicle recovered
WOODS — Sometime between 9 p.m. Sept. 7 and the morning of Sept. 8, police said an unknown suspect stole a 2019 Dodge parked in front of a home in the 19000 block of Raymond Street. The victim told police he had recently purchased the vehicle.
Detroit police said they had recovered the same vehicle from a location on Seven Mile Road at 7 a.m. Sept. 8. Nothing appeared to have been taken from inside the vehicle and it wasn’t damaged, police said.
Porch pirate steals
Detroit Lions jerseys
PARK — Some Detroit Lions fans in Grosse Pointe Park won’t be able to cheer on their team in style for now. An unknown suspect is said by police to have swiped a package containing four Lions jerseys from the front porch of a home in the 15000 block of Windmill Pointe Drive between 3:34 p.m. Sept. 4 and 11:30 a.m. Sept. 7. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.
Larceny from vehicle reported
WOODS — A resident in the 1500 block of North Renaud Road contacted police after seeing an unknown person inside his vehicle via a security camera, according to a police report filed Sept. 6.
The footage showed the suspect leave the area on foot; the victim discovered credit cards missing from the center console. The victim’s vehicle was unlocked at the time. Anyone with more information can call (313) 343-2400.
Driver gets stuck
CITY — Police were called to the parking lot of The Village Kroger store at around 5 p.m. Sept. 3 about a driver who had driven over a parking block. Police said the motorist — a 38-year-old Detroit man — was taken into custody after he was found to be intoxicated. According to a police report, his blood alcohol level was 0.326% — approximately four times the legal limit. He’s facing a charge of operating while intoxicated.
— K. Michelle Moran
Hauff — but she immediately doesn’t like him. Determined to win her affection, Bobby — a dancer at heart — concocts a plot to produce a show at the theater in order to save it. He disguises himself as Bela Zangler, the moody Hungarian producer behind New York’s hugely popular Zangler’s Follies, and brings in his friends from the Follies for the Deadrock show, but when the real Zangler shows up in town, hijinks and a case of mistaken identity ensue.
Conner Motzkus, of Grosse Pointe Park, plays Zangler, who travels to Deadrock in pursuit of the dancer he loves.
“He is a big personality,” Motzkus said of Zangler. “He’s very high or very low.”
Don Bischoff, of Clinton Township, a fan of classic American musicals, is directing “Crazy for You.”
Bischoff said this is a show he has wanted to do for several years, but it needed a large auditorium like the one at North’s performing arts center.
“The problem is, it’s such a huge undertaking,” Bischoff said. “The dances are big. The sets are big. The costumes are big.”
It also has a 31-member cast, he said.
“What’s crazy is how many big dances there are,” Motzkus said, noting that these include elaborate tap numbers. “It’s really exciting to watch.”
Ballroom and ballet numbers are included as well.
“It’s really just candy for your eyes,” said Britta Peele-Spitzer, of Grosse Pointe Park, who plays Irene Roth, Bobby’s spoiled, seductive and frustrated fiancée. “There’s so much to look at.”
Bischoff said they tried to stay “as true to the original choreography as possible.”
Many of the dancers have been rehearsing four days a week, three hours a day, to prepare.
Peele-Spitzer, who was in GPT’s “9 to 5 The Musical,” is having a blast playing Irene.
“Irene is a very confident woman,” Peele-Spitzer said. “I find her very fun to play. … She is not afraid of her sexuality. She expresses herself.”
The score includes songs like “I Got Rhythm,” “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” “Embraceable You” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
“It’s the American songbook, mostly,” Bischoff said.
If the songs sound familiar, that’s because they’ve been performed by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.
“They speak to timeless themes of love and loss and longing and wishing things could be different,” Motzkus said.
This isn’t the first time Bischoff has worked on “Crazy for You.” He also choreographed a 2010 production at Grosse Pointe North. Sara Shook, who played Patricia Fodor in that production, is reprising the role for this show. Cast members in the North production occupying behind the scenes roles now are Kristina Kamm-Mardlin, as the apprentice director, and Olyvia O’Donnell, as the properties manager.
GPT last staged “Crazy for You” in 1996, when it was directed by GPT member Marie Boyle Reinman, of Grosse Pointe Farms. She’s back for this production as the vocal director.
Peele-Spitzer said “Crazy for You” is “just a light-hearted escape,” and others involved in the production agree.
“This one’s just fun,” Motzkus said.
The Grosse Pointe North High School Performing Arts Center is located at 707 Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. For tickets or more information, visit gpt.org or call (313) 881-4004.
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
Do you own a vehicle with an interesting history?
Contact Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045, and you could be featured in an upcoming Behind the Wheel. For more stories, visit candgnews.com/news/auto or use the QR code.
24A/ GROSSE POINTE TIMES • SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
CAMPING TRAILS FROM THE DUSTY ROADS OF THE SOUTHWEST TO THE ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK
In this week’s Behind the Wheel, Staff Writer Maria Allard shares memories of the camping trips across the country she took with her family as a kid. The photos were taken in slide form in 1979 when the family traveled out West.
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — It was my first road trip, but I was a baby and don’t remember it.
At 6:15 a.m. on July 26, 1970, my family left our Warren home for a camping trip. The odometer read 40,313 miles and my parents had $497 in cash, plus a credit card. Destination: the California coast.
Every summer my parents, two older brothers and I camped. We’d load up, pile into our Plymouth station wagon and head for the open road with an atlas and state maps guiding us. This was before GPS. Altogether, we camped in 48 states — never made it to Alaska or Hawaii — and parts of Canada.
My dad would have lived in a campground all year if he could. Me, ugh, I hated camping. It was torture: the bugs, no room for my bike, and I missed my friends back home. But the worst part was no TV. That would be equivalent to being without an iPad or cellphone in today’s world.
Each vacation was planned out. We’d go out West, down South or just eastbound and down. We’d drive everywhere: big cities, the country, back roads, major highways. To pass the time, I read Mad Magazine and stayed on the lookout for Volkswagen Beetles.
I might have liked camping if we traveled in a cozy motorhome or shiny Airstream trailer. The first family trailer was basically a box on wheels. By the mid-1970s, my parents purchased a 1972 Apache pop-up trailer. It wasn’t one of those easy ones you crank and all the work is done. This trailer required all five of us to put it up and take it down. We’d all hold different poles and pieces of canvas until it was up. It always took forever.
My least favorite campgrounds were the primitive ones. But there were plenty of campgrounds we stayed at that had it all: a pool, game room, movie night, snack bar, laundromat, and gift shop. The KOA’s were always nice. Sometimes we’d end up at a state park.
With each camping trip — from the mid-1960s through the late 1980s — my parents kept a journal, which I still have. They jotted down the date, mileage, which city and state we were in, the weather, what time we awoke, and people we met. My parents also wrote brief paragraphs about the places we visited. For instance, during our 1974 trip to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon, we ran into boxing legend Joe Louis at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
RIGHT: I believe this is Newport Beach, California. I loved the beach and still do.
LEFT: My family spent a day in Tijuana, Mexico. We drove from our camping site in southern California.
“He said ‘I want to shake hands with these little ones,’” Mom wrote. “When we told him we were from Detroit, he said, ‘Say hello to Detroit for me.’ He looks good.”
Even though camping wasn’t my thing, I loved traveling. The trips that really came alive for me were California in ’77 and ’79, Virginia Beach in ’78, and our 1980 journey through Toronto, Montreal, upstate New York, New York City and Atlantic City.
On off-road days we’d go somewhere: a museum, a tour, a hall of fame, a historic site, a landmark, a cathedral or a ballpark. My parents made sure to have one amusement park on the itinerary.
Another great thing was meeting kids from all over. We’d visit each other’s campsites, swim or play pool in the game room. If I had to pick a favorite spot or two, it would be the eastern and western shorelines. There was nothing like being on a Pacific Ocean or Atlantic Ocean beach. I still long for swimming with the waves while smelling saltwater in the air.
The Virginia Beach, Virginia, campground stands out. It was huge with so much activity. Every morning a man drove through yelling “Doughnuts, fresh doughnuts!” from a truck, and every time I went into the game room, Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler would belt out “It’s a Heartache” on the jukebox.
When we experienced car trouble in a small West Virginia town, the only mechanic was out for
TOP: One of our stops on our way to California. I See
TOP: One of our stops on our way to California. ABOVE LEFT: The 1972 Apache pop-up trailer was how we saw the country many times.
ABOVE
Photos provided by Maria Allard
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 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. 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
ABOVE: 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. LEFT: Gary White, of Warren, takes his 1941 Plymouth Deluxe Coupe to various car shows every week.
Photos by Maria Allard
because he and his brother, John, own Paisano’s Restaurant in St. Clair Shores, which their grandfather started in 1955.
Pollinator
from page 17A
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.
“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
Camping
from page 24A
the day. Stuck, we set up camp somewhere. As dusk fell, the mechanic found out about us and invited my brothers and me back to his house to stay overnight with his wife and kids. His large family reminded me of “The Waltons.” They were so kind. We sat around the kitchen table, had snacks and talked. It was the first time I ever had Country Time lemonade.
I always remember where I was Aug. 16, 1977, when news broke that Elvis Presley died at his Graceland mansion in Memphis. We were getting ready to go to the San Diego Zoo while Dad sat at the picnic table listening to his handheld Panasonic radio.
“Elvis died,” he said, looking up at us.
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.
On our way home, we stopped in Memphis. Fans mourning the singer’s death gathered on Elvis Presley Boulevard. Dad picked me up so I could see Graceland. This was before it was open to the public. The house looked big and so far away in the distance.
My parents are no longer living. I am so glad they took us on all those trips. We saw so much: the Liberty Bell, Mount Rushmore, Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Redwood National Parks, Dealey Plaza in Dallas where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the prairie dogs in Montana, Fisherman’s Wharf, Dollywood, Bob Evans’ original farm in Ohio and more.
A neighbor with two kids bought the trailer at my parents’ estate sale. I hope they got out of it as much as I did. I would not trade the experience for anything. I wish I could do it all over again.
0230-2437
UNIVERSITY LIGGETT HIT
HARD BY COUNTRY DAY RUN GAME, FALLS 44-7
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett junior quarterback Nikkos Davis releases the ball during a matchup against Detroit Country Day on Sept. 7 at University Liggett High School. Davis would tally University Liggett’s lone score on a rushing touchdown as Country Day would defeat University Liggett 44-7.
LEFT: Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett junior running back Pierre Walker II carries the ball. The University Liggett offense cooled down in the 44-7 loss after scoring 28 in a win over Detroit Denby a week prior.
BELOW: Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett senior wideout Marvin Hartfield attempts to make a grab during University Liggett’s 44-7 loss to Detroit Country Day on Sept. 7 at University Liggett High School. University Liggett will look to rebound on Sept. 13 when it travels to face Hamtramck.
LEFT:
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
SENIORS matter.
For nearly 50 years, The Helm has been at the forefront of senior care in the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods. Help us continue providing programs that keep our seniors happy, healthy and vital. Show the senior citizens in our community they are valued and integral to the fabric of the Pointes and Harper Woods. Learn more on our website: helmlife.org/senior-services-education/
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
SEPT. 12
Hate Crimes Telephone Town Hall Event: Learn about what they are, how to report them, resources available for victims, community involvement and ask hosts Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido and Hate Crimes Unit Chief Patrick Coletta questions, 7 p.m., register at macombgov.org/hate-crimes or (586) 466-8722
SEPT. 12-15
Metro Boat Show: Find boats, cruisers, yachts, personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and more, plus hear live music, meet Paws, tour Pride of Michigan and cruise on Spirit of Lake St. Clair, 1-7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and 13, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sept. 14, and 11
a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 15, Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Township, boatmichigan.org
SEPT. 14
Project Hope 5K and Pray: Walk/run at 9 a.m. (registration at 8:15 a.m.), also Eucharistic adoration from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Mass at 4 p.m. and dinner at 5:30 p.m., St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Church and School, 16231 Charlevoix Ave. in Grosse Pointe Park, proceeds benefit local woman and family in fight against cancer, (313) 7017404, projecthopeofmichigan.com
Farmers market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., parking lot on southeast corner of Kercheval Avenue and Lakepointe Street in Grosse Pointe Park, parkfarmersmarket.com
SEPT. 14-15
Lac Ste. Claire Fine Art Fair: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, 32400 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, sararosemelby@ymail.com, (586) 298-2788, facebook.com/LSCFAF
SEPT. 15
Salsa Dance Party: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with food, live music, salsa lesson and dancing, 4-10 p.m., The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, warmemorial.org/ eventcalendar
SEPT. 21
Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Run: 5K and 10K runs, 5K competitive
VIEW MORE! Visit candgnews.com/ calendar or use this QR code
walk, 5K wheelchair race, 1-mile fun run and 5K leisure walk, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Grosse Pointe Farms Pier Park, 350 Lake Shore Road, course map and registration at grossepointerun.com
SEPT. 22
Carriage House Vintage & Antique Pop-Up Market: Also coffee and light pastries, plus cash bar, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, warmemorial.org/ eventcalendar
SEPT. 26
Back to School Bash: Dance for middle schoolers, includes drink and snack, prizes for most stylish, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, warmemorial.org/ eventcalendar
ONGOING
‘Crazy For You’: Presented by Grosse Pointe Theatre, 8 p.m. Sept. 13-14, 2 p.m. Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18-19, 8 p.m. Sept. 20, and 2 and 8 p.m. Sept. 21, Grosse Pointe North High School’s Performing Arts Center, 707 Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods, (313) 8814004, gpt.org/crazy
Autumn Landscape Guided Tour: 11 a.m. Tuesdays- Sundays Sept. 24-Oct. 31, then 10 a.m. until Nov. 10, Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, fordhouse.org/events
Nooks & Crannies: Guided tours of private staircases, hidden spaces and more, 1 and 3 p.m. Tuesdays- Sundays Sept. 25-Nov. 10, Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, fordhouse. org/events
Teen Leadership Council: Meetings for grades 9-12 every first Wednesday of month, pizza and snacks provided, 6-7 p.m., Grosse Pointe Public Library - Woods Branch, 20680 Mack Ave., (313) 6404775, grossepointelibrary.org
CLASS REUNIONS Mount Clemens High School — all alumni: 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, www.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
Police assist with getting drunken moviegoer to leave
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police went to a movie theater in the 44000 block of Mound Road, near Dobry Drive/M-59, Aug. 9 upon hearing that an intoxicated man wouldn’t leave. According to cinema staff, a man was sleeping in one of the top rows and, using vulgar language, told off staff who woke him up and tried to get him to head out.
Police said they roused the sleeping man and told him he had to go, and then the man allegedly stumbled and fell. Police gave the man a preliminary breath test, which reportedly resulted in a 0.399% blood alcohol content. The police and fire departments arranged his hospitalization, the report concluded.
Dog groomer makes, cleans up mess at park ballfield
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police heard a complaint Aug. 11 about a man who was grooming his dogs at the baseball facilities at Donovan Park, 11550 Clinton River Road, and leaving big tufts of dog hair on the baseball diamond. Park staff had reportedly told the man to refrain from doing this before.
Police met with park staff and the dog groomer, and the latter reportedly agreed to pick up the hair and dispose of it rather than blow it around with a leaf blower. Police witnessed the man cleaning up the area and then left.
Restaurant evicts man for trying to swipe tip jar
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police went to a restaurant in the 5000 block of 17 Mile Road, near Mound Road, Aug. 11 upon hearing that a male suspect had tried to steal a tip jar. According to the report, there was a disagreement about the man’s food, and he wanted to get new food.
Although staff said they offered a half-off discount for food, the man reportedly said the business wouldn’t return his money, leading to the alleged attempt to take the tip jar. The restaurant reportedly declined to press charges, but the man was ordered not to return.
Shoplifting suspect found with narcotics
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police investigated a shoplifting report Aug. 9 at Target, 2310 Metropolitan Parkway, near Dequindre Road. A female suspect was searched, and police reportedly found suboxone strips and some sort of pills, for which the suspect allegedly lacked a prescription.
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‘Archi-Texture’: Exhibit by members of Scarab Club photography group FOCUS, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily until Sept. 20, The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, (313) 881-3454, grossepointeartcenter.org
Art classes: 10:30 a.m.-noon every first and third Tuesday of month for seniors, 6-8 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of month for veterans, The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, (313) 881-3454, grossepointeartcenter.org
Health workshops: For ovarian cancer support, diabetes prevention, nutrition education and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, beaumonthealth.digitalsignup.com
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/ support-groups
Book clubs: Nearly a dozen hosted by Grosse Pointe Public Library at various branches, restaurants and on Zoom, more at www.grosse pointelibrary.org/book-clubs Grosse Pointe Community Chorus: Rehearsals from 7:30-9 p.m. every Tuesday, Grosse Pointe North High School, 707 Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods, holiday concert scheduled for Dec. 8, (313) 580-5965, grossepointecommunitychorus.org
For questions, email calendar@candgnews.com
retail fraud as well as possessing narcotics.
Juvenile allegedly shoots person with gel blaster gun
STERLING HEIGHTS — A male juvenile was accused of shooting a gel blaster gun at people in the area of Cherry Creek Lane and Ryan Road during the afternoon of Aug. 11. Police said a caller had been shot but refused medical treatment.
Police checked the vicinity, including Ryan Road, Dobry Drive and Apple Blossom Drive, but couldn’t find the suspect.
Property damage reported on I-94 and 12 Mile Road
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 6:50 a.m. on Aug. 8, a report was made about property damage on Interstate 94 at 12 Mile Road.
An officer reportedly observed black spray paint with an anti-Israeli message on a concrete privacy wall separating the homes on Hughes Avenue from eastbound I-94. The graffiti was found in three separate sections.
The officer took pictures of the graffiti and had dispatch notify Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Transportation for removal.
Felony assault reported on Harper Avenue
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 7:41 a.m. on Aug. 7, a felony assault report was made in the 31000 block of Harper Avenue.
An officer spoke with the victim, a 26-year-old man, who stated he was assaulted with a car after a nearly physical altercation. The victim and the suspect, a 52-year-old man, were waiting to donate blood when the suspect bumped into the victim. They got into a verbal argument and the manager, a 62-year-old man, told them to leave and denied their donation that day.
Outside, the two squared up to start fighting and the manager stated he placed himself in-between them, de-escalating the confrontation.
Once the suspect was in his car, he asked the victim which bus stop he was going to and drove off.
The victim stated he was walking to the bus stop when the suspect tried to strike him multiple times with his vehicle. He evaded the vehicle multiple times prior to falling over. He was struck in the left arm. The victim was evaluated for injuries, and he refused transport to the hospital.
Officers canvassed the area with no results.
Upon reviewing the videos from the blood donation center, officers were able to determine who the suspect was and what vehicle he drove.
Running vehicle stolen
GROSSE POINTE CITY — An unknown thief is said to have stolen a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox while the victim left the vehicle running and empty while she went into a restaurant in the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue in The Village at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 to pick up a carryout. When the victim left the restaurant, her vehicle was missing.
Car taken
GROSSE POINTE PARK — A black 2007 Chrysler 300 was stolen from the 1100 block of Maryland Street between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Aug. 25. Police said this vehicle was stolen without the keys inside.
Vehicle with keys stolen
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Sometime between 9 a.m. Aug. 25 and 5 a.m. Aug. 26, an unknown suspect is said to have stolen a vehicle from the 1900 block of Van Antwerp Street while the keys were left inside. Besides the vehicle, the suspect got away with the contents that were left inside, which included a laptop computer, a purse, credit and debit cards, a Michigan driver’s license and a passport.
Gun removed from vehicle
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A loaded 9 mm Glock pistol was stolen from a vehicle that was parked — and possibly left unlocked — in the driveway of a home in the 2000 block of Allard Avenue between the hours of 4:30 p.m. Aug. 22 and 9:45 a.m. Aug. 23. Police said there were no signs of forced entry at the scene.
Meal thieves spotted GROSSE POINTE CITY — A 21-year-old Detroit man and a 30-year-old Detroit man allegedly stole a meal awaiting delivery from a restaurant in the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue in The Village at around 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20. According to a police report, the suspects entered the restaurant and asked the cashier for water. When the cashier was getting water for them, the suspects are alleged to have taken someone else’s meal, which was valued at $59. Police said the suspects were spotted in the area days later, at which time they were cited for larceny and released in conjunction with this incident.
Larceny suspects sought GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Unknown young male suspects are being sought by police after a couple of larcenies from automobiles in the 300 block of Ridgemont Road in the early morning hours
she was awakened by her dogs and got up to see that two unknown males were rummaging through her unlocked vehicle at around 5:41 a.m. Aug. 14. The victim said she yelled at the suspects, who ran toward an awaiting gray midsized SUV, possibly a Lincoln, that fled the scene northbound on Ridgemont toward Chalfonte Avenue. She said the suspects left her driver’s side door open but didn’t appear to have taken anything. In a second incident, the suspects are said to have entered an unlocked vehicle and stolen two phone chargers and one battery booster/charger, valued at a total of $55.
Vandal sought
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — An unknown suspect is said to have drawn male genitalia on two brick wall pillars on the property of a home in the first block of Beverly Road between the hours of 7 p.m. Aug. 14 and 7 p.m. Aug. 15. The victim wasn’t sure if he might have been targeted because he has a rainbow flag on his home.
Larceny attempted GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Sometime between the evening of Aug. 19 and 9 a.m. Aug. 20, an unknown suspect is said to have broken into a vehicle while it was parked in a driveway in the 1700 block of Severn Road.
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