9/12/24 Macomb Township Chronicle by C & G Newspapers

SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS STARTING ON 14A

STEPPING WITH PURPOSE

Local

firefighter

walks to fight cancer

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A walk down the street is a trip. Walking across the state is a statement.

For six years, Joe Warne of Macomb Township has made this very statement, walking from Macomb Township to the Grand Rapids area. This walk, the #walkfortheRED, serves as the fundraising tentpole for Warne’s nonprofit, Neighbors United. The organization raises

See WALK on page 12A

Joe Warne, Neighbors United president and a Macomb Township firefighter, listens to a speaker at the #walkfortheRED kickoff event at Macomb Township’s Station 2 on Sept. 5. Warne began the statewide walk after learning cancer is the leading cause of firefighter deaths.

Proponents say ECCA will expand education choices for families

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

WARREN — As the new school year started, a press conference was held Aug. 28 at Regina High School where attendees discussed a federal bill that supporters say would give parents more choices for their children’s education.

Bill No. 531, titled the Educational Choice for Children Act or ECCA, was introduced last year and is currently under review in the Committee on Ways and Means.

Proponents of the bill include the Invest in Education Coalition, U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, and Beth DeShone, executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project. All attended the press conference. Invest in Education Coalition advocates at the federal level for legislation so K-12 parents can choose the best school or education service for their children.

“The design of this bill is basically to ensure that families who face obstacles and barriers at the state level will be able to access the resources they need to broaden the array of educational options available to them,” said Greg Brock, a senior advisor with the Invest in Education Coalition.

Bill No. 531, if passed, will fund K-12 scholarships through private donations that cover essential elements including tuition, tutoring and special needs services for public, private, charter and homeschooled children.

“This Educational Choice for Children Act is such an exciting opportunity to change the dynamic here in Michigan and provide families with supplemental support for their children’s education,” DeShone said. “This legislation would allow families to pay for things like tuition, tutoring and many other educational enrichments they desperately need to set their children on the best path for a successful future.”

See

Photos by Dean Vaglia

Bagpipers and drummers lead the first mile of Neighbors United’s 2024 #walkfortheRED down 21 Mile Road on Sept. 5. The walk covers 140 miles across the state of Michigan.

Professional Profiles ComParison

Peter J. Lucido Opponent

Current Legal Practice Employment

Currently serving as the elected Macomb County Prosecutor since 2020.

Currently unemployed.

Legal Practice & Management Experience

• Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Macomb County, managing over 70 attorneys and 75+ legal support staff handling more than 60,000 legal actions during the last 4 years.

• Restored integrity & competency in one of the most corruptly run Prosecutor’s Office in the history of Michigan.

• Private practice attorney & founder of a Macomb County based law firm defending rights of individuals, families and seniors for over 35+ years.

• Litigated hundreds of cases in Macomb County Courts.

• Represented thousands of clients in Macomb County.

• Member of the Macomb County Bar Association, 40 years.

• Over 36 years as licensed attorney.

• Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, 3 years.

• Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, 6 years.

• No top-level experience managing a County Prosecutor’s Office or a private law firm.

• No experience fighting corruption in a Prosecutor’s’ Office.

• Never litigated a case in a Macomb County.

• Never represented a client in a Macomb County Court.

• No membership in the Macomb County Bar Association.

• Less than 10 years as licensed attorney.

Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Firsts

• First Conviction Integrity Unit.

• First Hate Crimes Unit.

• First Warrant Appeals Unit.

• First Major Crimes Unit.

• Hired most women attorneys during a four-year term.

• See web site for complete list.

NONE

Awards for Legal Practice in Macomb

• National Association of Counties County presented 26 awards to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office during Prosecutor Lucido’s tenure.

• See web site for complete list.

State Legislative & Public Policy Experience

• Served 2 years in the Michigan Senate, and 4 years in the Michigan House of Representatives.

• See web site for complete list.

Personal Legal Record

• Never arrested or charged with a crime.

NONE NONE

• Criminally charged in Ann Arbor (Case # 08W186476).

Civic & Involvement in Macomb County

• Macomb Hall of Fame Inductee.

• Macomb Community Correction, Board Member.

• Macomb Care House, Board Member.

• Current or past member of more than 10 non-profit and community organizations based in Macomb County.

• See web site for complete list.

• President of less than 2 years old nonprofit organization that co-sponsored a public event at Warren City Hall in June of 2024 during which children were exposed to sexually explicit materials and sex toys according to a July 8, 2024 report in the Macomb Daily newspaper.

Small Business Ownership & Job Creation

• Founded one of Macomb County’s largest independent law firms.

• Founder & former Publisher of Macomb Now Magazine.

NONE

Peter J. Lucido went to Lansing to make law. Now, Peter is home working to end the corruption in Macomb County.

Under Pete’s leadership, he has activated a “Public Corruption & Ethics Unit” at the Prosecutor’s ofce, because justice demands it!

Tuesday, November 5th

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.

Trustees approve garden center event sign age

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The north side of 22 Mile Road will look a bit busier over the next few months after the Macomb Township Board of Trustees approved a special event permit for Deneweth’s Garden Center at the Aug. 28 board meeting.

Running from Aug. 30 to Oct. 31, the event is for the center’s end of season “Fall Fun Fest.” The special event approval allows the center to place four to six flags and additional signage along 22 Mile to promote the garden center’s fall items and events taking place there on weekends.

“The special event is longer than what we would typically allow, which is why we need board approval for this,” Macomb Township Planning Director Josh Bocks said. “Really, the only thing this is affecting, the only thing that is triggering it as a special event, is they have some extra signage out front.”

Trustees approved the request unanimously. Deneweth’s Garden Center is located at 16125 22 Mile Road.

Street lighting SAD

“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

See SZYPA on page 27A

Trustees also approved a street lighting special assessment district for the fourth phase of the Stillwater Crossing Site Condominium development.

“This is the latest phase of this particular development,” Macomb Township Land Development Director Jim Van Tiflin said. “They’ve gotten to the point now where DTE has given us the estimate, they’ve deposited the money with the township, and we need to move forward with setting up a special assessment district so we can pay DTE’s bill through the special assessment.”

The assessment will pay for streetlights in the fourth phase of the Lombardo Homes development consisting of units 190-273, covering the streets Burgeon Drive, Maple Leaf Drive, Mooring Drive and Savory Drive. Documentation in the meeting packet puts the total contribution from Lombardo Homes to the SAD

Photo by Dean Vaglia

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.

Choices

from page 1A

If signed into federal law, the ECCA will allow individuals and corporations a new tax credit after 2023 for charitable contributions to tax-exempt organizations that provide scholarships to elementary and secondary school students. Beneficiaries must be members of a household with incomes not greater than 300% of the area median gross income and be eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school.

According to the bill’s language, it excludes from the gross income of taxpayer dependents any scholarship amount for the elementary or secondary education expenses of eligible students. It also prohibits governmental control over scholarship granting organizations.

Anthony J. de Nicola, chairman of the Board of Invest in Education Coalition is a Michigan native who grew up in the Albion area and attended Catholic school, as did his three children. He would like to see other families have the same opportunity if they choose.

James, who co-sponsored the bill, said it would expand education freedom by providing $10 billion in annual tax credits made available to taxpayers to fund textbooks, tuition, supplies and equipment. Math and reading scores and student mental health are among his concerns.

“Mental health issues are skyrocketing because there’s hopelessness running rampant among generations who do not see a brighter future. A quality education is a basic civic right and we must fight to protect it,” said James, a graduate of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills. “I believe every child regardless of ZIP code or income should have the

opportunity for success. I firmly believe that when you give parents a choice, you give children a chance. We have to return power to the people and get money down to the lowest level so teachers can do their jobs.”

Sterling Heights parent Michelle Smith has a first- and second-grader who attend a private Christian school, but it is a sacrifice financially.

“The most important thing we can do as parents is give our kids the best start. We have no issue necessarily with public schooling but for us what felt right was making sure our kids grew up in a faith-based environment,” she said. “This bill would be an excellent opportunity for other families who might not be able to afford to send their kid to a private school to have that opportunity.”

Eastpointe Community Schools Superintendent Christina Gibson, however, is not in favor of the ECCA and believes vouchers — whether as direct payments or tax credits — do not correlate with improved student outcomes.

“Vouchers primarily serve to save money for wealthier families, rather than addressing the broader needs of all students,” she said in a statement. “Studies have shown that voucher systems can have a more detrimental impact on student performance than significant disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.”

Gibson has reached out to James’ office to express her concerns.

“Instead of competing for students, we should be united in advocating for our children by supporting communities and strengthening public education,” Gibson said. “What we know works is placing highly qualified, well-trained, and well-compensated teachers in front of students. The primary beneficiaries of voucher systems are often families who already have their children in private schools.”

SUNRISE BREAKFAST

MONDAY-FRIDAY

Photos by Maria Allard

LEFT: U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, said the Educational Choice for Children Act, if passed, would provide $10 billion in annual tax credits to taxpayers to fund textbooks, tuition, supplies and equipment for public, private, charter and homeschooled students. RIGHT: Greg Brock, a senior advisor with the Invest in Education Coalition, addresses attendees at the press conference Aug. 28 at Regina High School in Warren.

NEWS & NOTES

OUR NEXT EDITION WILL DELIVER TO HOMES SEPT. 26

INVASIVE PLANT TREATMENTS UNDERWAY

MACOMB COUNTY — It is tall, green and grows really mean.

Phragmites, better known as the common reed, are known to grow along ditches, waterways and roadsides. Not only can they obstruct views with their height and density of growth, but an invasive phragmite variant can crowd out native plant and animal species.

To cut down on the hazards posed by phragmites, the Lake St. Clair Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area in partnership with the Macomb County Department of Roads, has begun phragmites treatment sprayings around the county. Sprayings will take place in Clinton Township, Harrison Township, Shelby Township and Chesterfield Townships along with Sterling Heights and other areas.

For more information about phragmites and invasive species control in Macomb County, contact (248) 504-4315 or cisma@macombgov.org or visit lakestclaircisma.com.

DINING WITH DISASTERS

MOUNT CLEMENS — The Crocker House Museum & Gardens is presenting a mealtime discussion about disasters at The Engine House at 309 Cass Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 1-3 p.m.

The talk will discuss notable disasters throughout Mount Clemens history including floods, fires, crashes, cyclones and all kinds of calamities.

Tickets are $25 for museum members and $29 for nonmembers. Visit crockerhousemuseum.org for more information.

Macomb Township resident charged with child abuse

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A crash that closed down 21 Mile Road has led to child abuse charges against a Macomb Township man.

Michael Shaway was arraigned on Sept. 4 by Judge James Verploeg in the 41A District Court in Shelby Township on two counts of substance abuse possession and one count of second-degree child abuse. Shaway is alleged to have crashed a Ford F-150 traveling northbound in a single car wreck near the intersection of 21 Mile Road and Tilch Road on Aug. 30.

An unrestrained juvenile was in the truck and transported to the hospital in critical condition. As of Sept. 4, the juvenile was in critical but stable condition at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak.

Shaway was treated for non-life-threatening injuries on Aug. 30 and remains at the Macomb County Jail, with bond set at $50,000. Shaway pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. A probable cause conference is scheduled for Sept. 17 and a preliminary examination is scheduled for Sept. 24.

Shaway’s attorney, James T. Bowden, did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Selfridge Museum to unveil restored warplane

HARRISON TOWNSHIP —On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Selfridge Military Air Museum will unveil its restored World War II-era FG-1D Corsair fighter plane.

A 10-year project to satisfy a United States Marine Corps request to have the plane in presentable shape, the Corsair features a paint scheme based on ones used by a unit that fought in the Philippines and was stationed on Grosse Ile.

Members of the public interested in seeing the plane need to contact info@selfrdigeairmuseum.org in order to apply for entrance into the active Selfridge Air National Guard Base complex. Vetting forms must be submitted at least one week before visiting.

MSGCU ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FOR ITS GRANT PROGRAM

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union is accepting applications for its Classroom Cash Grants program, which provides grants up to $750 for educators to bring an innovative project to life.

Approximately 60 teachers will receive grants this year.

The 2024 application period is open through 5 p.m. Oct. 4. Michigan teachers can submit their project ideas on ClassroomCash.org. After the application period closes, community members are encouraged to vote for their favorite projects from Oct. 16-26 using the Classroom Cash Grants website, with options to vote via email or text. The projects with the most votes will receive grants and winners will be announced in early November. The 2023 program gathered more than 108,000 votes from local community members hoping to see their favorite ideas win.

The program is open to public, private, parochial, and charter school teachers. Applicants who previously received a grant or submitted a project may reapply with a new learning experience for their classroom.

Applicants do not have to be an MSGCU member to enter, but winners must become a member to receive their grant.

Shaway

Students must be at least 18 years old (as of July 1)

Students must show a driver’s license, Michigan ID, passport, or U.S. visa and MI proof of residency at registration Visit Facebook.com/UCSESL or Facebook.com/UCSAdultEducation for more information

Hackels to co-chair Anton Center ArtParty

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MOUNT CLEMENS — ArtParty is back with dining, drinking, mingling and merriment, all supporting the arts in Macomb County.

Approaching what will be its 33rd edition, the Anton Art Center is hosting its annual ArtParty fundraiser from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19.

“The theme of the event is Starry Night, based on (Vincent) Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night,’ and we are partnering with Axalta, whose color of the year is also Starry Night,” said Matt Matthews, executive director of the Anton Art Center. “It’s a beautiful black with blue and silver flecks, and we’ll be celebrating under the starry night of the tent in the parking lot.”

Beyond the mingling that accompanies the ArtParty festivities, attendees will be able to take in live music, witness a mural be painted throughout the evening, and observe weaving and pottery demonstrations, among other amenities. Attendees are welcome to wander the art center itself to shop in the Anton Art Market and peruse its galleries, currently showcasing its Annual Artists Choice Show on the second floor and the Michigan League of Handweavers’ 22nd Biennial Fiber Exhibit on the first floor.

ArtParty has always been known to reel in important guests, and Macomb County’s first family — County Executive Mark Hackel and his wife, Tracie Hackel — will serve as honorary co-chairs.

“Co-chairs because my wife Tracie is definitely more artistic,” Mark said. “She’s more crafty and creative. She’s an Irish step dancer

so she has more of a connection to art by being more artistic in many ways. She agreed to co-chair with me.”

Having attended ArtParty events in the past, the co-chair and executive are well prepared for the evening ahead.

“The food that they have on display from all over the Mount Clemens area is always a fan favorite, but the music and the more important part (is) the people that gather for the event,” Mark Hackel said. “It’s an incredible turnout of people throughout the entire community. It’s not just your who’s who; it is everybody. It happens to be people from all walks of life there to enjoy that moment and engage with one another.”

Someone who will need to prepare themselves is Mathews, as this will be his first ArtParty as the Anton Art Center’s executive director.

“I am excited to experience it,” Mathews said. “I am not sure exactly what to expect, but I know it’s a lot of fun. It gets great feedback. It is an incredibly important event in the community, and so I am excited to go and introduce myself as the executive director of the art center, but also excited to just experience it and make sure I have a good time as well. Everything I’ve heard about it is just how fun it is and how it’s a celebration of not only the art center and the arts, but also Macomb County.”

Tickets to ArtParty are available at theartcenter.org/artparty starting at $80 for single tickets and $150 for two. Funds raised support the Anton Art Center’s programming.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

The Anton Art Center will host its 33rd annual ArtParty fundraiser from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Photo by Dean Vaglia

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 because he and his brother, John, own Paisano’s Restaurant in St. Clair Shores, which their grandfather started in 1955.

LEFT: 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.

BELOW: Gary White, of Warren, takes his 1941 Plymouth Deluxe Coupe to various car shows every week.

Photos by Maria Allard

Walk

from page 1A

funds to help firefighters diagnosed with cancer, which is the leading cause of firefighter deaths.

“We really wanted to bring some light to it, so that propelled us to walking across the state the first year,” Warne, president of Neighbors United, said. “After meeting all of the firefighters and learning that our own captain in Macomb Township has leukemia is what made this a yearly event.”

A firefighter for the Macomb Township Fire Department himself, Warne began walking in 2019 after learning his captain was diagnosed with cancer. Ever since that first walk, the event has continued to grow with many people joining him for the first miles of walk from the Macomb Township Fire Department’s Station 2, on 21 Mile Road. Firefighters and other supporters join the walkers as they pass through towns.

For the 2024 walk, Warne and over 20 fellow walkers. All have been touched by cancer’s devastating effects on the fire service, and they walked from Station 2 to Cascade Township Fire Department Station 2 from Sept. 5-8. The walkers’ itinerary included overnight stops in White Lake, Howell and Portland. The trip is around 140 miles.

Neighbors United supports firefighters with cancer by providing them with money. Warne has a “no red tape” policy about the funds, allowing firefighters to use the money at their discretion based on their situation.

“We let them use it for whatever they want, but most of the time it’s for treatment, medical equipment, bills and if they need a

vacation with their family because they’ve only got so much time left, they can use it for that, too,” Warne said.

Being based out of Macomb Township has led to many of Neighbors United’s supporters and funding sources being local, but the organization’s reach is as far — if not farther — than the walk’s 140 miles. Opening remarks and ceremonies at Station 2 in Macomb Township on Sept. 5 included a roll call of firefighters who have died, covering 20 people from 18 departments across the state including Ashley, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Hillsdale, New Haven, Roseville, Southfield and St. Clair Shores. Families of the firefighters honored were presented with gifts from Neighbors United.

Donations to Neighbors United were presented during the morning festivities as well. Suburban Ford donated $21,190 and the Thrilla Gives organization donated $5,000. The donations will go on to make up part of the over $500,000 Neighbors United gives to firefighters. Funds are presented to firefighters at an annual banquet.

“Last November, I had the privilege to attend the banquet where Joe presented the checks to the families that they had raised the funds for, and to say that it was a life-changing event is absolutely true,” Macomb Township Fire Chief Robert Phillips said during the opening ceremony. “To hear the stories of families, to hear the impact that Joe has made, the commitment that he makes every single day throughout the year and to provide them with some assistance to help was an amazing thing.”

Neighbors United can be found online at walkforthered.com and at facebook.com/ neighborsunitedmi.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

Photo by Dean Vaglia

Joe Warne, Neighbors United president and a Macomb Township firefighter, speaks at the #walkfortheRED kickoff event at Macomb Township’s Station 2 on Sept. 5. The kickoff event featured the presentation of donations to Neighbors United and the presentation of memorials to the families of firefighters who have died.

Someone, somewhere, reading this right now is thinking you wrote this for me. And you’re right, we did. You’re the one who just can’t bring yourself to pick up the phone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman, a man, a black belt in karate, or 90 lbs. soaking wet. You’re scared, embarrassed and just overwhelmed. We can help, we’re positive we can. We know the pain you experienced wasn’t just “in your head.” We will not lecture you and most certainly won’t make you feel “bad” about whatever is going on. No blame, no lectures, just the rst step on getting back your smile and health.

EPA provides details on Goo Smoke Shop cleanup

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — All that’s left of the Goo Smoke Shop is rubble and twisted metal. This was the backdrop for the Environmental Protection Agency as it held a press conference on Aug. 27. The event provided details about the agency’s cleanup at the site since the smoke shop’s explosion.

Sean Kane, the EPA’s on-scene coordinator for Region 5, said the agency did a half-mile reconnaissance of the footprint of the explosion site in order to stabilize it following the March 4 blast. Items from the explosion were taken back to the site and sorted, and any hazardous materials were identified. Disposal of the items started in May.

Kane said the agency recovered nearly 4,000 compressed gas cylinders of nitrous oxide, three 55-gallon drums of lithium-ion batteries and 30 intact cans of ultra-refined butane. He said these items were taken away for proper disposal. Safety is key for the EPA as the cleanup continues and investigators continue to search through debris, according to Kane.

“Nitrous oxide is not flammable, but it’s an oxidizer,” Kane said. “So if you have an oxidizer next to a flammable (material),

which is ultra refined butane, it’s just like going to a hospital when they say don’t smoke, there’s oxygen. It’s the same thing here. If there’s an ignition source, there’s always a potential threat that it could set off another fire.”

When asked if the materials found at the site surprised him, Kane responded “yes and no.”

“Sometimes things like this happen where things go under the radar,” he said.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been conducting a forensic investigation at the site. Kane said the EPA will be working with all agencies, including local law enforcement, on the investigation.

Kane explained that typically, the EPA would do a site assessment before investigators come in. The Goo Smoke Shop cleanup has been different, and the agency has had to do this “on the fly,” because worker health and safety are “paramount.” The EPA will not be going underground at the site and will be monitoring air quality, according to Kane.

The agency will continue to remove potentially hazardous items and will eventually clean up the remaining debris. Kane projected 100 on-site working days for the cleanup,

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The Environmental Protection Agency held a press conference on Aug. 27 to provide an update about its cleanup of the March 4 Goo Smoke Shop explosion.

SHELBY CABINETS OFFERS THE FINEST CRAFTSMANSHIP, QUALITY

You can buy a variety of cabinets from a national big-box home improvement chain, but you’ll never ﬁnd cabinets to match the quality of those made by the specialty craftsmen right here at home in Shelby Township.

Shelby Cabinets has been making your home’s dream spaces a reality with the ﬁnest cabinetry since the mid-1970s.

“Our cabinets are all handcrafted — that’s hands on, custom made and tailored to the needs of our customers,” said Nino LoChirco, of Shelby Cabinets. “They’re not mass produced. They are locally made in Michigan. All of the components are handcrafted in the shop.”

LoChirco said the big-box cabinet factories outsource much of the work and typically buy doors and drawer boxes from different manufacturers across the country or around the world.

The expert cabinetmakers at Shelby Cabinets make everything in-house, which ensures quality control of the products and complete satisfaction on every job.

Shelby Cabinets was founded by LoChirco’s father and uncle, who still serves as a principal of the company.

“When you buy from us, you’re buying everything from the manufacturer,” LoChirco said. “You’re not buying from a dealership. We get the raw wood. We get the raw sheet goods. At the end of the day, the cabinets we sell you are made to your speciﬁcations. Our quality can go head-to-head with and exceed that of the major brands, with all the latest ﬁnishes that are the industry standard.”

That includes soft-close doors and hinges, and dovetail drawer boxes.

Shelby Cabinets are available in sizes over 3-inch increments. They’re hand-sanded and made from a variety of wood species

including white oak, red oak, alder and maple.

All of the design work is done using a CAD system in consultation with the customer.

LoChirco said Shelby Cabinets are face frame cabinets, which is something other manufacturers are shying away from.

“It’s a cabinet that is structurally better than a frameless cabinet,” LoChirco said.

“We can build you a $400 vanity, or we can build you a $200,000 cabinet job from A to Z,” LoChirco added. “Bookcases, entertainment centers, vanities, workstations. All of it is made right here in our very efﬁcient shop.”

The Shelby Cabinets showroom is located at 4701 25 Mile Road in Shelby Township. To schedule a consultation, call (248) 651-8155. For more information, go to shelbycabinets. com.

Bobcat Bonnie’s at Partidge Creek closes

BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Bobcat Bonnie’s shut the doors at its Partridge Creek location for the last time on Aug. 25.

Bobcat Bonnie’s Owner Matt Buskard left a post on Facebook late Sunday night announcing the closure.

“We could give a million negative reasons as to why we are here but there’s no point!” stated Buskard, who said he wanted to focus on the positives.

The gastropub chain came to The Mall at Partridge Creek in February 2020. It replaced Max and Erma’s at the mall.

“The timeline for us taking over accelerated a lot because they wanted out quickly- so we moved fast to secure the space- and more importantly the staff,” Buskard stated. “We got lucky- inheriting an amazing group of humans- led by one of the best humans I know and am lucky to call a friend.”

Buskard throughout the post expressed his gratitude to the community.

“With an enormous amount of love and gratitude- thank you! This isn’t good bye forever, just good bye for now,” Buskard stated, capping the sentence with a

heart emoji.

Gift cards for Bobcat Bonnie’s can still be redeemed at other locations, according to the post.

Bobcat Bonnie’s currently has eight restaurants: Lansing, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Toledo, Ypsilanti, Ferndale, Grand Rapids and Wyandotte. It started in 2015, opening its first location in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. It’s named after Buskard’s grandma Bonnie who, according to the company’s website, often worked a Bobcat Co. front loader while doing farm work. Buskard also owns both the Fly Trap and Scout Vester restaurants in Ferndale.

The Facebook post from Buskard drew over 100 comments with most expressing shock and sadness over the closure.

“Sad to see this as I know some of the challenges you faced in this location,” Brandon Pisarski stated in the comments.

“Wishing you success as you move on. I enjoyed my time working at Bobcat, being one of those M & E transfers! Couldn’t have been more welcoming and accommodating, especially during Covid.”

Buskard did not respond for additional comment beyond the Facebook post at press time.

Photo by Nick Powers

The Bobcat Bonnie’s at The Mall at Partridge Creek location closed in late August following a post on Facebook.

23A/SEPTEMBER 12, 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 pollinators 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/native plants/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 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.

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

Spring-breaking news! Now is the time to book your next trip

You can’t wait until the cold winds blow to start planning your next escape to the sun and sea on a beach or a cruise ship.

Travel Time Vacation & Cruises has you covered.

“ is is a good time for people to book their travel for the end of the year and also for next year,” said Je rey Leonardi, a travel sales professional and the owner of Travel Time Vacations & Cruises.

Leonardi has been booking winter and spring break getaways, annual trips and vacations of a lifetime for his clients for 28+ years. He knows how to do it, and when to do it.

“For people who wait until the last minute, they think they’re getting a really good deal on a cruise. When you take a look at the whole

picture, the air travel at the last minute could be more than the cruise,” Leonardi said. “It’s good to book these in advance. I will always nd the very best deal for everyone.”

ose who wait to book not only risk losing the best price. ey risk losing the chance to go at all.

“For example, for Alaska, now is the time to book for next year, because it was all sold out last year,” Leonardi said.

He said he’s putting together a group deal with Royal Caribbean for an Alaskan Cruise in 2025.

“And the Caribbean tends to sell out as well for spring break season. It’s the best time, the best weather. It’s incredible in the winter and in

the spring, as it’s past hurricane season,” Leonardi said.

When you book with Travel Time, Leonardi is your booking contact and your only contact. He personally takes care of everything, so all you have to do is relax on vacation.

Travel Time Vacations & Cruises o ers its clients the world, including a trip to “Southern Italy & Sicily” (see below) from April 27 to May 9, 2025.

To inquire about booking your next trip through Travel Time Vacations & Cruises, call (586) 323-6100. For more information, visit 586travel.com.

Armada

• Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road, blakefarms.com/orchard-cider-mill

• Blake’s Big Apple, 71485 North Ave., blakefarms.com/big-apple

Bloomfield Hills

• Franklin Cider Mill, 7450 Franklin Road, franklincidermill.com

Commerce Township

• Long Family Orchard and Farm, 1540 E. Commerce Road, longsorchard.com

Highland Township

• Bonadeo Farms, 1215 White Lake Road, bonadeofarms.com

Holly

• Diehl’s Orchard & Cider Mill, 1479 Ranch Road, diehlsorchard.com

• Mitchell Farm, 3500 Mitchell Road, mitchellfarm.biz/index.html

Lake Orion

• Yates Cider Mill at Canterbury Village, 2375 Joslyn Ct., yatescidermill.com/canterbury-village

Northville

• Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill, 714 Baseline Road, northvillecider.com

Ortonville

• Ashton Orchards, 3925 Seymour Lake Road, michigan.org/property/ ashton-orchards

Rochester

• Rochester Cider Mill, 5125 N. Rochester Road, rochestercidermill.com

Rochester Hills

• Yates Cider Mill, 1950 E. Avon Road, yatescidermill.com

Romeo

• Hy’s Cider Mill, 6350 37 Mile Road, hyscidermill.com

• Stony Creek Orchard and Cider Mill, 2961 W. 32 Mile Road, stonycreekorchard.com

• Westview Orchards & Cider Mill, 65075 Van Dyke Ave., westvieworchards.com

South Lyon

• Blake’s Lyon Township, 61475 Silver Lake Road, blakefarms.com/blakes-south-lyon

Washington Township

• Big Red Orchard and Cider Mill, 4900 32 Mile Road, bigredorchard.com

• Verellen Orchards, 63260 Van Dyke Ave., verellenorchards.com

CIDER MILLS IN OAKLAND AND MACOMB COUNTIES

Szypa

from page 3A

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 journeyman 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

from page 3A

at around $82,615.

A public hearing about the assessment was held during the meeting with no members of the public providing input. Lombardo Homes’ website says the development is opening this winter, and a map showing available units indicates a future phase of development.

Fire HVAC units

A new air conditioning and heating controller is coming to Macomb Township Fire Department Station 3.

Purchased through Syenergy Engineering of Rochester Hills for about $4,460, the con-

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 Living 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.

troller interfaces between the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit hardware and software. Department of Public Works Director Kevin Johnson says the units will be able to work with the current HVAC systems and any new HVAC units and software purchased for the fire station.

Planning Commission meeting rescheduled

The Tuesday, Oct. 15 Macomb Township Planning Commission meeting was rescheduled one week back to Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Election training sessions utilizing the board’s meeting room are the cause for the rescheduling.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

Macomb Foundation honors new Hall of Fame inductees

BY KARA SZYMANSKI kszymanski@candgnews.com

UTICA — The Macomb Foundation celebrated its 2024 Macomb Hall of Fame inductees Aug. 15 at the Palazzo Grande Banquet and Event Center in Shelby Township.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductee list included Capt. Luke Clyburn, of Nobel Odyssey Foundation; The Holsbeke family, of Holsbeke Construction; Michael Schodowski, of shelving.com; David Tirsell, recognized as a “Global Impact Volunteer”; and Dorie Vázquez-Nolan, of Care House.

The honorees were recognized for their exceptional commitment to building the local community. Their corporate, civic and philanthropic leadership over the years exem-

plifies the highest standards of achievement, according to the Macomb Foundation.

The Macomb Hall of Fame honors individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to improving the economic, family and community life of Macomb County. The induction ceremony included a grand reception, dinner and entertainment.

Christopher Holsbeke II, of Holsbeke Construction, talked about the honor of being an inductee in the Hall of Fame.

“The Holsbekes were blessed to be inducted not only as Holsbeke Construction, but as a family,” he said.

Vázquez-Nolan, CEO of the Macomb County Child Advocacy Center Inc. — Care House of Macomb County,

said she was so honored to be selected for induction into the Macomb Hall of Fame.

“I am not originally from Macomb County but have lived here since 1999. With most of my family and friends living elsewhere, it took some time to acclimate to our new home in Macomb Township and to become involved in the community. After working for Care House since 2001, and becoming the executive director in 2007, I definitely feel invested in the community and the children and families we serve,” she said.

She said that receiving this recognition really brought home to her that she is part of this community and feels very proud to call Macomb Township and Macomb County home.

from page 14A

which started Aug. 19. Security personnel are at the site when work isn’t being done. The estimated cost of the cleanup is $2.5 million, though this could change depending on what’s found during the process.

“We’re going to be ramping up after Labor Day with more personnel on-site,” Kane said. “Be patient. It’s a work in progress. We have to proceed accordingly. It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon.”

The March 4 explosion left one person, 19-year-old Turner Salter, dead. Goo Smoke Shop was located near the intersection of 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway.

Noor Kestou, the owner of the business, currently faces an involuntary manslaughter charge that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Kestou has a probable cause hearing in 41B District Court with Judge Sebastian Lucido on Oct. 28.

In a previous interview, Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said he’s glad the cleanup is finally underway and urged

residents to stay away from the site.

“It is still a site we don’t want people to get hurt at,” Cannon said. “There are dangerous objects there. We don’t know everything that’s underneath. The EPA, while they’re cleaning this up, has to make sure the air is clean. They have to make sure everything is good for the neighborhood. We don’t want debris falling all around.”

S SATURDAY, , OCTOBER R 5 4:00 0- 9:00 0 PM AT JIMMY JOHN’S FIELD 7171 Auburn Road, Utica, 48317

New members of the Macomb County Hall of Fame Chris Holsbeke II, left; Raymond Holsbeke, second from left; Chris Holsbeke, third from left; Capt. Luke Clyburn, third from right; Dorie VázquezNolan, second from right; and Michael Schodowski, right, pose for a photo with Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido and President and CEO of the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce Kelley Lovati Aug. 15 at the Palazzo Grande Banquet and Event Center in Shelby Township.

Photo by Erin Sanchez

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

https://forms.offce.com/r/dRj5cFa3bC

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

WORLD

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!

Looking for that signature piece or design element to take any interior space to the next level? Look no further than Consign Couture Interiors & Inspiration.

Now celebrating three years on 18 Mile Road in Clinton Township, Consign Couture founder Rosemarie Baldwin said she wanted to create a personalized shopping experience offering consignment pieces, builder’s model merchandise and new furniture, home decor and oneof-a-kind gifts.

“When you come into my store, it’s somewhat of a treasure hunt,” Baldwin said. “The store is flled with national name brands, all at amazing prices. It’s perfect for very

savvy consumers who really know their brands.”

Baldwin spent 35 years in retail and was a vice president of visual merchandising and marketing for national retailers. She said she wanted to put that national experience to work at the local level.

At Consign Couture, you’ll fnd new high-end home decor items from brands including Uttermost — accent pieces, vases, statues, furniture and tables. Merchandise in the store on consignment bears famous brand names, including

West Elm and Pottery Barn.

“We’ve curated a selection of stylish and unique items, perfect for refreshing your space and treating your loved ones,” Baldwin said. “We have an extensive collection of funky items if you’re looking for something that makes a big statement in your decor. I love to enhance atmospheres, to tie rooms together and help designers make a bold statement.”

Baldwin said she’s already looking forward to the weeks and months ahead, and the interior

design inspirations that will change with the seasons. “What I’m really excited about is celebrating the fall season and a spectacular holiday season ahead,” she said. “I will be selling seasonal holiday things such as different lighted orbs, beautiful garlands, holiday candles, decor pieces, pillows and throws.”

Consign Couture Interiors & Inspiration is located at 16989 18 Mile Road in Clinton Township. For more about the shop and its wares visit consigncouturemi.com.

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FOR 41-A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE SIERAWSKI Asst. Prosecuting Attorney PAT

Five Things You Need to Know About Pat Sierawski

Pat Sierawski is Experienced

Pat Sierawski has served his entire legal career as an Asst. Prosecuting Attorney for Macomb County as Chief of the Internet Crimes Unit, Chief of the Human Trafﬁcking Unit, Chief of the Environmental Crimes Unit and Deputy Chief of the Juvenile Division. He has handled thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases.

Pat Sierawski is Trusted

Pat Sierawski has already earned the endorsement of Public Works Commissioner Candice Miler, Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, Prosecutor Peter Lucido, Treasurer Lary Rocca, Chairman of the County Board Don Brown, Supervisor Rick Stathakis, Mayor Mike Taylor and Mayor Gus Calandrino. Also endorsed by Justice David Viviano and over 50 Elected Ofﬁcials and Judges.

Pat Sierawski Respects Veterans

Pats’ Grandfather served in World War Two in the Paciﬁc at the Battle of Okinawa and received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. Father ﬂew C-130’s in Operation Desert Shield/Storm and received Air Force Air Medal. Twin brother currently serves as a Major in the Marine Corps and was deployed twice to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pat Sierawski is Highly Trained

Pat Sierawski is a graduate of Saint Lawrence School, De La Salle Collegiate High School, University of Michigan with a BSA in Political Science and received his Juris Doctor Degree from Wayne State Law School.

Sierawski Equals Service

Pat’s Father, Chief Judge of the 41-A District Court, Stephen Sierawski has served the people of 41-A District Court for over 25 years. Chief Judge Sierawski served over 20 years in the United States Air Force. Pats’ mother, Mayor Pro Tem of Sterling Heights, Liz Sierawski has served as Mayor Pro Tem for the past eight years. Pats’ twin brother, Anthony Sierawski, has served over thirteen years in the United States Marine Corps.

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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

Glow Run 5K: Benefit for The Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation, route includes River Bends Park and Jimmy John’s Field, also mile run at ballpark, 7:40 p.m. start (5:30 p.m. registration), 7171 Auburn Road in Utica, www.cassiehinesshoescancer.org/event/13th-annualglow-run-5k

SEPT. 19

Senior Fun Festival: Free health screenings and wellness information, community safety and awareness resources, raffles and giveaways, and more, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Lorenzo Cultural Center on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garﬁeld Road in Clinton Township, macombgov.org/departments/senior-services/ senior-fun-festival

TayTay Dance Party: Tribute hosted by The DJ Swiftie, 7 p.m., Macomb Center for the Perfoming Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garﬁeld Road in Clinton Township, macombcenter. com, (586) 286-2222

SEPT. 20

Crafts on the Clinton fundraiser: Features nine local breweries and wineries, art, food and live music, proceeds support Clinton River Watershed Council’s programs/initiatives to protect Clinton River and Lake St. Clair, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Farmers Market Pavilion at Dodge Park,

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

40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, must be 21 or older, crwc.org/ crafts

SEPT. 21-22

Festival of the Senses: Art festival with specialty food vendors and local entertainment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Clinton Township Civic Center, 40700 Romeo Plank Road, (586) 286-9336, clintontownship. com/378/Festival-of-the-Senses

SEPT. 22

Superdrew Family Extravaganza: Benefit for local charities and children fighting cancer, includes bounce houses, petting zoo, entertainment, food and more, noon-4 p.m., Knights Park & Pavilion, 11541 21 Mile Road in Shelby Township, superdrewfoundation.org

SEPT. 23

Fall celebration: Teens (grades 6-12) can try apple and pretzel dip bar and autumn drinks, plus make seasonal crafts, 6 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, registration required, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.org

Macomb Fall Senior Expo: Connect with dozens of organizations specializing in assistance and care, also free health screenings, prizes, giveaways and refreshments, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., The Palazzo Grande, 54660 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, (248) 524-4868, seniorexpousa.com

SEPT. 27

IVC charity golf outing: Supports Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, includes continental breakfast, 18 holes, lunch, steak dinner, refreshments, auctions and prizes, 11 a.m. shotgun start (9:30 a.m. check-in), Cracklewood Golf Club, 18215 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, (586) 757-5551, ivcinfo.org

SEPT. 28

North Gratiot Cruise: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., includes two routes from Hall Road to 23 Mile Road, also 5K at 9 a.m., parade at noon and awards at 4 p.m., parking lot of Value City Furniture and Kohl’s, 50400 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, plus craft fair from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Chesterfield Community Center, 48400 Sugarbush Road, cruisegratiot. 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.

Plant exchange: 11 a.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 2265082, cmpl.org

SEPT.

4300 Main Park Drive in Shelby Township, alsofmichigan.org

SEPT. 30 Michigan Central Station: Learn about revival by Ford Motor Company after 30 years and future of historic site, 7 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, registration required, (586) 226-5040, cmpl.org

ONGOING Macomb Motivators Toastmasters Club: Meets 6:30-8 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of month, St. Isidore Church, 18201 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, www.6104644.toastmastersclubs.org

Widowed Friends events: Breakfasts 10 a.m. every fourth Monday of month, Amore’s Grill, 53100 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Loree at (810) 335-2096

• Lunches 1:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of month, Moni’s Restaurant, 16600 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, RSVP to Joanna at (586) 777-4651

Ostomy peer support group: Meets 2-3 p.m. every third Sunday of month, Northside Church, 25600 23 Mile Road in Chesterfield Township, ostomyinfo@yahoo.com, ostomysupport-macomb.org, (586) 765-8976

Bereaved Parents of Macomb Support Group: Meets 7-9 p.m. every first Thursday of month, Washington Senior Center, 57880 Van Dyke Ave. in Washington Township, neilflyer@yahoo.com, (248) 425-2999

Washington Art Guild: Learn about art, listen to demonstrators and speakers, practice art in workshops, and exchange ideas, meets 6:30-9 p.m. every first Monday of month, Romeo Community Center, 361 Morton St. in Washington Township, washington-art-guild.homestead.com

For questions, email calendar@candgnews.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.

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.

Larceny