8/2/23 C & G Special Edition - Macomb/GP

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AUGUST 2, 2023 candgnews.com

Grosse Pointe and Macomb County papers

‘HE’S A TRUE INSPIRATION’

SHELBY TOWNSHIP MAN, 65, EMBARKS ON AMATEUR BOXING JOURNEY

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Father time has an unpleasant way of rearing its ugly head sometimes, but it also can motivate people to kick off certain projects or adventures that have been weighing on their minds.

So when Shelby Township resident Gary Richard, 65, found out in December of last year that he was going to need cataract surgery, it was all systems go toward something for which Richard has always had a passion.

“I said, ‘After I have cataract surgery, can I box?’” Richard said.

“They said, ‘No, absolutely not. You got a plastic lens in your eye, and you’re more susceptible to retinal detachment after cataract surgery.’ I’ve always liked to live a life of no regrets, so I thought, ‘You know what, I’ve always wanted to compete, I got a year, so let’s do this thing.’”

For the past decade, Richard has been embedded in the world of boxing as much as one can be from home. Working on form with his four bags — a speed bag, a heavy bag, a double-ended bag and an See RICHARD on page 9A

Photos provided by Emily Kot

LEFT: Gary Richard hoists his Midwest Masters Boxing Tournament title belt alongside his daughter, Emily Kot, after earning a decision victory on July 16 in Ann Arbor. ABOVE: The New Way Training Center Family came out to Ann Arbor to support Richard July 16.

New principal to lead elementary school he attended as a student ROSEVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MAKES OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

At the July 10 Roseville Community Schools Board of Education meeting, Joseph Trobaugh was appointed Fountain Elementary School principal.

He attended Fountain as a student.

ROSEVILLE — More than 30 years ago, Joseph Trobaugh was a student attending Fountain Elementary School.

It was where he developed a love for social studies and made friends on the playground.

Now Trobaugh will again walk the halls of Fountain, not as a student, but as an administrator.

At the July 10 Roseville Community Schools Board of Education meeting, the school board voted 5-0 to appoint Trobaugh as the new Fountain principal. Board President Theresa Genest See TROBAUGH on page 14A

C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

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3A/ C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

‘EVERY COMMUNITY ALONG THE WAY HAS JUST BEEN OUTSTANDING’ MILITARY VET RETURNS TO MICHIGAN AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY

BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

CENTER LINE — It was the penultimate day of a journey spanning nearly 1,800 miles, walking on foot from Florida to Michigan, but U.S. Army veteran Jack Huffman didn’t seem tired at all.

Instead, the Center Line man was energized by the many people who came out to support him as he raised awareness for the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund.

“Veterans gave us the ability to chase our dreams. This is a chance to pay that back to them,” Huffman said. “They made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can pursue what makes us happy.”

Huffman, also known as Jax, worked as a helicopter mechanic in the Army. He was greeted by honking car horns and waving American flags as he made his way through Madison Heights July 12.

It was the 61st day of a journey that started in May in Sarasota, Fla., winding through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana before reaching Michigan, averaging 30 miles per day.

Huffman did this while pulling a cart carrying 200 pounds of supplies, sometimes in hot or stormy weather, or through the haze of smoke from wildfires up north.

At night, he would pitch a tent and roll out a sleeping bag, resting in fields, cemeteries, parks and churches. During the day, he would walk against traffic. He did so much walking that he wore the rubber off two pairs of shoes. He said his feet were callused, and his hips purple from

the harness he wore.

In quiet moments, Huffman, a practicing fire performer, would also skillfully twirl a staff.

He kept two 500-watt camping batteries charged, rotating them on a solar panel. He also brought a satellite link, a time-lapse camera, and of course food, water, medicine and other supplies.

He said many motorists would stop and graciously offer anything he needed.

“Every community along the way has just been outstanding, just the generosity and kindness that’s coming from everyone across the See HUFFMAN on page 6A

ABOVE: Jack Huffman, of Center Line, visited Madison Heights July 12 on his journey from Sarasota, Fla., to Rochester Hills. The Army veteran walked on foot to raise awareness for the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund. RIGHT: Huffman was transporting Nikki, a dove who was to be released at the Salute Our Warriors event at Rochester Hills the next day. Nikki is trained to return to her handler’s home after being released.

LEFT: Dereck Coe is a friend of Huffman’s who accompanied him on the final week of his journey.

Photos by Andy Kozlowski

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C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

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SPORTS

Legally blind senior bowls trio of 300 games in Crazy 8s league

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

WARREN — It’s been a summer of 300s for Warren resident Jim Day. Day, 75, who is legally blind, picked up bowling the last two years, competing in the league at his church, the New Beginning General Baptist Church in Madison Heights.

With two years under his belt, the nowseasoned, southpaw bowling veteran found himself competing in a Crazy 8s league at Bowl One Lanes in Troy after friends from his church league talked him into it, and he didn’t disappoint.

A Crazy 8s league allows a bowler to knock down eight pins and it’s considered a strike.

On June 1, Day would set them up and set them down for his first career 300 game, and he said that was a feeling he’d never forget.

“It was a thrill for me to do that,” Day said. “The whole bowling alley knows that I’m legally blind, so everybody started cheering and they announced it over the loudspeaker and everything of what I’d done, and that was a little exciting.”

Three weeks later, he’d do it again on June 22, and for one final curtain call, he’d finish off the month of June with his third 300 game on June 29.

Day credits his teammates and friends for assisting him in lining up his shot and making sure he safely made it to the lane to bowl.

So, what does Day exactly see when he’s looking at the pins?

“When it’s my turn to bowl, all the pins are up there and all I see is a white box,” Day said. “I don’t see individual pins. I just see white down there, and that’s how I bowl. If I leave one standing, they’ll tell me where to stand to throw the ball. It’s not very often that I pick up a spare.”

Day has had vision issues all his life, especially in his right eye as a child that he described as a “lazy eye.”

Born with cataracts, Day went through seven cataract surgeries from age 7 to 14 in hope of correcting the problem.

By 2007, glaucoma would become a major issue for Day, as he underwent two glaucoma surgeries and two cornea transSee DAY on page 11A

TOP: Warren resident Jim Day, 75, who is legally blind, picked up a trio of 300 games in a Crazy 8s bowling league back in June of this year.

Photo provided by Tom Owczarek

ABOVE: Day’s friends made sure to capture the special moment with a photograph.

Photo provided by Jim Day

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NEWS & NOTES

5A/ C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

LOCAL FOURTH GRADER WINS PAGEANT, SEEKS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

GIFT SHOP ARTISTS GET SPOTLIGHT AT ANTON CENTER ART MARKET SHOW

MOUNT CLEMENS — Artists whose work graces the Anton Art Center’s gift shop will have their works on full display until Aug. 26 during the Art Market Art Show.

“This show is our first exhibition and competition for our participating Art Market artists,” said Stephanie Hazard, the Anton Art Center’s exhibitions manager. “The artists that participate in the gift shop were invited to participate in a juried show.”

A total of 21 Art Market artists represented across 40 works were juried by Janet Almstadt-Davison, an artist and former art teacher with degrees from Olivet College, Oakland University and Wayne State University. She is also a member of numerous art societies. Artists come from around Michigan and range from working artists to people involved in various Anton Art Center classes. The Anton Art Center is open for regular business hours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public, and the center is accessible for those in need of mobility assistance.

Yardeners to host 30th annual garden tour

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The St. Clair Shores Yardeners are hosting their 30th annual garden tour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5.

In an email, Laurel Fowler, a member of the Yardeners, said the tour will feature eight gardens including the St. Clair Shores Community Garden, the St. Clair Shores Senior Activity Center’s raised garden beds, a business and the gardens of five private residents. Yardeners and master gardeners will be available in their gardens to answer questions.

This is a self-guided driving tour with some walking, the email said. The cost for the tour is $5 for each adult and free for children younger than 12. Maps are available for purchase at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum on the day of the tour and are included in the ticket price. There are no advanced ticket sales.

Fowler said in an interview there is no group meeting and people can visit the gardens at their leisure.

Registration, ticket sales and map distribution start at 9 a.m. at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum behind the library at 22500 E. 11 Mile Road.

“We promise lots of great ideas and just a lovely way to spend the day visiting with the gardeners and their gardens,” according to the email.

New D2A2 Frequent Rider Passbook available

SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN — On July 10, the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan announced its new D2A2 Frequent Rider Passbook Program.

The discounted pass program offers savings for commuters traveling between Detroit and Ann Arbor on the D2A2 bus route. D2A2 is a pilot commuter bus service connecting Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Starting immediately, passengers can purchase a passbook containing 50 one-way trips for the price of $100, offering bus rides as low as $2 each way. The program offers a 60 percent decrease in cost per ride compared to purchasing each ticket individually.

In addition to the new 50-ride passbook, the RTA will continue to offer a book of 10 one-way trips between Detroit’s Grand Circus Park and Ann Arbor’s Blake Transit Center for $50. All passes are valid for one year, starting from the selected date. They are nonrefundable and must be utilized by the person named in the transaction.

To purchase a travel passbook, commuters are required to create an account or log into their existing account on the D2A2 website. It is recommended that passengers always log into their account to make travel pass reservations, where they can manage bookings seamlessly.

To purchase a travel passbook, commuters are required to create an account or log into their existing account on the D2A2 website at d2a2.com. For any inquiries or assistance, call (517) 333-0400 or send an email at info@ michiganflyer.com.

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Photo provided by Shantinique James

Maliya James, 9, of Clinton Township is National American Miss Michigan Jr. Pre-Teen.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Maliya James, 9, of Clinton Township, will represent Michigan at a top-level pageant this fall after winning the National American Miss Michigan Jr. Pre-Teen pageant on July 8.

“We just went with positive energy,” said Shantinique James, Maliya’s mother. “We went with smiles. Even if there were pageant moms not smiling at us, we just said go and spread positive energy and that’s what she does. I’ve never met a soul that was so positive and so loving.”

Taking place in Columbus, Ohio, alongside the Ohio pageant, Maliya’s crowning of Miss Michigan Jr. Pre-Teen qualifies her to compete at the National American Miss pageant in Orlando, Florida in November. Along with winning the main crown, Maliya took first place in the “Miss Personality,” best resume and art contest categories. It is her first year competing in pageants.

Outside of pageants, Maliya has been active in dancing, originally receiving lessons in ballet before taking up jazz dancing. She placed second in High Point Virtual Academy’s spelling bee and is a Girl Scout. She loves animals and volunteers with Rejoyceful Animal Rescue when her schedule allows.

Maliya is looking for additional ways to volunteer around the area. Please email shantiniquejames@ gmail.com about any volunteering opportunities.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

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Huffman from page 3A

country,” Huffman said.

His final destination was Rochester Hills the next day, where he would participate in the annual Salute Our Warriors event by the FWSF. He was also transporting Nikki — a dove who would be released with 100 other birds at the event, as a symbol that veterans are heard. It’s a tradition that dates back to World War II, when homing pigeons were used to deliver messages.

“She’s been holding up well,” Huffman said, as Nikki cooed softly in her crate. “Her handler checked her, and said she’s actually gained weight. Here I’m losing weight, and she’s gaining weight. But birds know the way home. If she happened to get out, she’d make it home well before I did.”

There would also be many birds released later that day at Wilkinson Middle School.

But first, Huffman met supporters waiting for him near Madison High School, at The Telway hamburger restaurant at 11 Mile and John R roads. From there, he walked to Fire Station No. 2 on John R, where a crowd chanted “USA” and one man yelled, “Way to go, Jax!”

Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, presented Huffman with a $1,200 check from community businesses, benefiting the FWSF. She also gave him a key to the city. To top it off, Huffman was hugged by his mother.

“I think this is great — a great cause,” Grafstein said earlier, while walking down 11 Mile Road. “My dad was a veteran. He fought in World War II. Everyone is connected to a veteran in some way, and this brings awareness to all of that. When I found out Jack was going to be in our city, I jumped on the chance to do something.”

This wasn’t the first time Huffman had undertaken such a journey. In 2019, he walked nearly 3,000 miles from California to Georgia, raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

His walks inspired his friend Dereck Coe, of Royal Oak, who accompanied him on the last week of his journey, meeting him downriver outside of Saline. Coe recently lost a grandfather who served in the Korean War. They’ve known each other for years, and both have sons who attended school together at Oak Ridge Elementary in Royal Oak. “Walking is such a great way to process your emotions, anything you got going on,”

Coe said, leaning on two walking sticks near the high school. “It’s a chance for reflection, getting yourself back in a balanced state. Jack told me the emotional journey he’s been on, and I was at the same point in my life. Everyone is always trying to find answers.

“I was pushed to my limit yesterday, and I’m right back to walking today,” he added. “It just goes to show that you can get back up and persevere. There’s no end to it.

You just keep going.”

As Huffman met supporters at The Telway, another veteran stood outside in a bright red shirt emblazoned with the FWSF logo. He was Chris Cornelius, the organization’s co-founder.

Cornelius said that veterans have a wide range of needs, and 97% of all donations to FWSF go directly to the vets, the rest covering the organization’s operational expenses.

“We recently got a call from a veteran who was using T-shirts as diapers for his kids. And that’s just one scenario,” Cornelius said. “Other needs can be baby food, or someone’s deployed and something happens in the house, like an air conditioner goes out or a hot water heater stops working. We’re an all-volunteer organization, and we’ve kept true to our mission that most of the money

we get goes to the veterans. And if we can’t help them directly, we look at other organizations and funds around here that can help.”

Veterans can apply for assistance at fwsf. org. Donations can also be made on the website.

The festivities concluded at Wilkinson Middle School, with the release of dozens of homing pigeons trained by Kenneth Moore of Clinton Township. He said the birds can find their way back to his house anywhere in a 400-mile radius.

He presented Huffman with a certificate from the American Racing Pigeon Union, honoring him and “Nikki Bird” for positive recognition for veterans and homing pigeons.

“What I see on the news every day, about the world we live in, well, it’s kind of chaotic right now. But then I see Jack, he starts walking, and people come out of nowhere for him. And by the time he got two states in, I’d seen a completely different America — an America united way more than we are led to believe,” Moore said.

“There’s all this political stuff out there, but none of that mattered. So many people, so many walks of life, came out to thank him for what he was doing,” Moore said. “I was See HUFFMAN on page 7A

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C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

Huffman from page 6A

in his earpiece when he was talking to people, and they’re asking him how he’s doing, if he needs a ride, turning their cars around to feed him, to give him drinks. It was just amazing.”

Lenea Renshaw, the owner of Miss NeNe’s Child Care Center, was at Wilkinson with a gaggle of preschoolers. They fawned over the birds, and treated Huffman like a superhero.

“The most important thing is we just recently had the Fourth of July, so we talked a lot with the kids about America, and how it’s the most special place we’ll ever have in our hearts,” Renshaw said. “And so, as free

people — all of us — we want to support the military as much as we can, and of course the essential workers, too. And what this man Jack has done is simply unbelievable.

“My own husband is a Marine veteran from Vietnam, so this hits really close to home for me,” she said. She also noted her soft spot for the birds, having raised pigeons herself. “The kids were just ecstatic seeing the birds.”

Ultimately, she hopes the good vibes of the day will stay with people and serve as a reminder that Americans are like a family that share more in common than not.

“There’s so much trouble in today’s world,” Renshaw said. “If all of us could just have kindness, live in the moment, be gentle and love each other, we would all be so much better off.”

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Motor City Rockers to hold cheer auditions for 2024 season

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

Kirk Gibson smiles as he speaks with the media June 27 at the Kirk Gibson Foundation’s office in Birmingham.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

KIRK GIBSON BUILDING A NEW LEGACY IN FIGHT AGAINST PARKINSON’S

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Kirk Gibson’s legacy as a player is prestigious across the baseball world.

Through memorable World Series home runs with both the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Dodgers that cause adults to reflect with an “I remember when” type of nostalgia, Gibson’s MVP season in 1988, two World Series titles, and even a 2005 Wheaties breakfast cereal box commemorating Gibson’s walk-off home run in the 1988 World Series illustrate the impact he’s had on the sport.

Now, he is forging his legacy in a different area with another team that Gibson

FRASER — Making a splash in their inaugural season at Big Boy Arena, the Motor City Rockers hockey team is looking to elevate the fan experience for the 2024 season.

The Rockers are introducing the Motor City Rock Stars cheer team, which will be holding auditions from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 19 at Big Boy Arena.

“Candidates will learn choreography once they come in and register, and then they will come in groups of three and they’ll have a chance to showcase their style in a freestyle round,” Rock Stars Cheer Director Samantha Pitlock said.

“They’ll have a chance to perform the choreography they just learned for the judges as well, and the judges are looking for technique, showmanship, energy and passion.”

The Rock Stars are looking for 8-10 cheer team members, and the audition will be assessed by a panel of four experienced judges with backgrounds in collegiate, NFL, USFL and NBA cheer experience.

The position will be a paid, part-time position, and cheer team members will be expected to try out each season. The Rock Stars will be fully involved in the community and the Rockers’ fan base throughout the season.

“They will be community ambassadors, and they will dance on the concourse,” Pitlock said. “I know it’s at an ice arena, but they won’t be dancing on the ice at all.

They’ll be dancing on the concourse. They’ll take photos with fans and be actively involved in community events, and they’ll perform on the concourse as well.”

Pitlock was previously a part of the Detroit Lions cheerleading team and danced all four years on varsity at Ann Arbor’s Father Gabriel Richard High School. Pitlock’s sister, Jenna Lanzetta Piroli, is the director of cheerleading for the USFL’s Michigan Panthers.

For more information about the Rock Stars and their upcoming audition, follow their instagram page at @motorcityrockstars for updates.

See GIBSON on page 11A

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE FOUNDATION: • Strike out Parkinson’s: Come relive the last Detroit Tigers’ 1984 World Series win from 6 to 9 p.m.

Aug. 20 at Bowlero Lanes & Lounge in Royal Oak. The evening will include a 1984 World Series panel featuring Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell, Goose Gossage and more. There certainly will be some conversation on that iconic at-bat, Gossage versus Gibson.

“He’s (Goose) cool,” Gibson said. “He’s gonna dish it out. He’ll probably brag about the 10 times he struck me out. I got some s— for him.”

Tickets cost $250 each while sponsorships start at $2,500 for the event. Visit kirkgibsonfoundation.org to purchase tickets.

• The Kirk Gibson Golf Classic: The golf outing is currently sold out, but the silent auction will be open to the public with various items available to bid on. The outing has raised more than $1.3 million over the past six years to fund programs for people living with Parkinson’s. For more information on the silent auction, visit kirkgibsonfoundation.org.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

Richard from page 1A

uppercut bag — three times a week, Richard was his own version of Mickey Goldmill.

Just to get a feel for being hit, Richard and his buddies would spar in a padded area in Richard’s basement.

But once the hourglass flipped enough sand for one full year, Richard was determined to get some amateur bouts under his belt, so he registered with USA Boxing as a fighter, with his doctor’s approval of course.

“I want to get as many bouts in as I can before the clock runs out, and then I can say, ‘Hey, I did this and I have no regrets about that; it was fun while it lasted,’” Richard said.

As of now, Richard has two bouts to his name with a perfect 2-0 record, earning one knockout.

Richard earned his first win June 10 with a third-round KO in Sugar Grove, Illinois, a non-USA Boxing event, and followed up that performance with a decision victory on July 16 in Ann Arbor. Each fight is with a fighter within 10 years and 10 pounds of Richard, and they compete in three rounds of up to two minutes.

Richard said the difficult part of heading into his first fight was simply being in the uncharted territory of an actual boxing match, but his first amateur tuneup would be against one of his familiar sparring partners, Patrick Startt.

Startt and Richard were able to set up a bout together at Rocky’s Dojo in Sugar Grove, and it was just the mix of confidence and comfortability that Richard needed for competing in USA Boxing events.

“I sparred with him, and I kind of knew his style,” Richard said. “The unknown is what’s always most frightening.

I’ve gone skydiving, and the unknown was what scared me more than anything. Once you do it, it’s, ‘Oh, that was really thrilling,’ but nothing bad happened and it was really cool.”

While Richard had enjoyed his usual training routine of the last decade, he finally was able to devote time to a training center, which he’d been unable to do while raising a family.

Looking to sharpen his skill set, Richard found a home at New Way Training Center in Shelby Township, where he impressed coaches immediately.

“Honestly, he’s a true inspiration,” New Way owner Bobby Curtis said. “I’m 44 years

old, and I’ve been doing this a long time, and I say all the time that I hope when I’m 65 years old that I can have his energy, his outlook and his mindset. He’s just a phenomenal human being.”

Curtis, who founded the gym in 2011 alongside his wife, Izi, and Sunshine Ross, has been training Richard with Kahmel Makled, a top-10 ranked cruiserweight in the country and Detroit Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion.

Richard said that even though there’s an age gap between him and his coaches, the chemistry with them is all he could ever ask for.

“He’s (Makled) a younger guy in his 20s, and we just connect,” Richard said.

“We’re always on the same wavelength. I come in to work out and he puts on classic rock. It’s just a blast working out with these people. They’re very encouraging.”

Along with the sense of his irreplaceable personality, Richard’s time at New Way has elevated him into a much more fluent boxer in the ring. So much so that he’s going strike-for-strike with boxers less than half his age.

“Gary’s been progressing as a technical boxer,” Curtis said. “He had some of the basics down, but there’s some of the bad habits

that come along with not training enough with a trainer and doing things on your own. Over the past three or four months, he’s made the biggest improvement. I’m talking about him getting in there with some of my kids who are 21- or 22-yearolds with multiple national tournaments and national boxing fights under their belt, and he gets in there and goes toe-to-toe with them.”

Even after Richard’s boxing days are over, he said he still plans to make New Way a part of his weekly routine, along with his morning walks and musical performances for senior citizens. Richard, who’s been a musician since he was 14 years old as part of a band with his brother, is still performing the classic hits of the 1940s and 1950s to his senior audiences utilizing his guitar, vocals and kazoos, and he credits his music career as a reason for his strong lung capacity while boxing.

He’s a man of many talents, but he’s not a man of regret, and when his final bout is all said and done — no date was set at press time for another bout or for cataract surgery — Richard can check boxing off his list.

“I’m in the best shape of my life, and to be able to say that at 65 is saying something,” Richard said.

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Five Utica Community Schools students took the stage at the 2023 World Irish Dance Association International and World Championships this past April. Pictured, from left, are Hailey Jacobs, Emma Mullett, Meagan Mullett, Taylor Patterson and Kaylee Wallace.

Five UCS Irish dancing students compete internationally SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA/ STERLING HEIGHTS — Five Utica Community Schools students took the stage in Ireland in April for an international competition with their dance studio, Shannon Irish Dance Academy & Company.

At the 2023 World Irish Dance Association International and World Championships, dancers from around the world gathered for the annual competition to compete in solo and team events at different levels.

Taylor Patterson, a freshman at the Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies, said there was a lot of work leading up to the event.

“We have been preparing for a really long time and it was really hard to balance school and dance,” she said in a press release.

Patterson said she loved the experience of it.

“It was amazing to see all these people from around the world who love Irish Dancing and see them on stage. I really loved going to the competition with my family. They have been amazing in supporting me and getting me to where I am today. Winning for them was an amazing feeling — it was like wow,” she said in an email to C & G Newspapers.

Patterson said that she trains six to seven days a week for four hours each day, but the hard work paid off as she was named the 2023 U15 Champion.

“It was amazing — going into it, I really wanted to win. I knew how much effort I put into it, so by winning I accomplished

something that I worked really hard for,” she stated in the press release.

“The dancers are all my best friends; they are like a second family. Watching them succeed made me even happier than winning myself,” Patterson said in the release.

The five UCS students who competed at the 2023 WIDA International and World Championships were Emma Mullett, a second grader from Morgan Elementary; Hailey Jacobs, a fourth grader from Graebner Elementary; Meagan Mullett, a seventh grader from Malow Junior High; Kaylee Wallace, a ninth grader from Eppler Junior High; and Patterson.

Jacobs, who is now going into fifth grade at Graebner Elementary, said it was cool having the opportunity to dance on a huge stage in Killarney, Ireland. Also, she said it was fun competing against dancers from different countries.

“I got to Irish dance in Ireland and I’m Irish,” she said.

Autumn Jacobs, Hailey Jacobs’ mom, said via email that her daughter worked really hard leading up to the competition and has not slowed down after the event.

“It takes a lot of practice, determination and the ability to not let your nerves get the best of you once those bright lights are shining just on you. She was able to stay poised, perform her choreography and have fun. The Shannon Irish Dance Academy team camaraderie was exceptional. They all encouraged each other and helped each other whether they thought they did their best or not. For her to be awarded second place International Champion U10 brought me to tears,” she said.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

Gibson

Day

will undoubtedly leave his mark on.

“He played baseball for so long, and then he just moved from one team to another — the Parkinson’s team,” Cameron Gibson, Kirk’s son, said. “He’s their fearless leader.”

Gibson’s inspiring journey with Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis in 2015 has been paved with every ounce of work and dedication that the Kirk Gibson Foundation has put forth toward Parkinson’s, and the efforts and its volunteers are only growing each year.

The foundation, which was founded in 1996, originally provided college scholarships to a male and female student at both Waterford Kettering, where Gibson graduated and his father worked as a math teacher, and Clarkston High School, where his mother taught theater and speech. After his diagnosis, the foundation, which still provides scholarships, switched gears to focus on funding and supporting the Parkinson’s community, establishing the name of Team23 in honor of Gibson’s jersey number.

“What helps us is more help, more con-

plants that his body rejected.

“It just progressively got worse after that,” Day said. “I had a doctor in Ann Arbor out of Michigan medicine, and they were going to put a plastic lens in with the cornea and cover it with a plastic lens, but I went through all the procedures and then COVID hit, so all that had to be put on hold. I went back and started all over again and got all the procedures and everything, and the doctor called and told me that I had so much scar tissue that he couldn’t even tell me if I was going to get any more sight back, so he told me to accept what I have and go on because he didn’t think it would benefit me to do that.”

While his left eye struggled with losing 70-75% of its sight, Day said the one positive thing is that the bad eye all his life has now become his reliable one — his right eye.

Day had to sell both of his classic cars, which were a 1947 Ford coupe and a 1966 Mustang, but he still gets to enjoy his classic car shows, walk his goldendoodle, Charlie, maintain his garden and spend time with his wife, Roberta, of 55 years.

“I have enough sight to get around, but I don’t have enough sight to read print, so I have to have a machine to do my reading,” Day said. “I still have to wear glasses, too, so I get around pretty good compared to other people. I don’t want to complain too much because no matter how bad a person has something, there’s always somebody worse off.”

Day was also elected trustee at his church, which he’s attended for over a decade.

He’s a figure in his church community, and now he’s a figure on the bowling scene as well, and he’ll look to continue his bowling success into his church bowling league, which starts in August.

As great of a bowler as he’s turned himself into, Day’s friends say he’s even more impressive as a person.

“He would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it, and even if he needed it more,” said Rick Walker, Day’s friend of 30-plus years.

from page 4A

from page 8A

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Kirk Gibson and Steve Annear, the managing director of the Kirk Gibson Foundation, discuss the foundation’s future efforts. tributions from others, and more donations and time and resources so we can lift more people up and keep it going,” Gibson said.

Because it’s 2023, the foundation is motivated to complete a set of goals for this year as it continues to grow into its new office in Birmingham.

Steve Annear, the managing director and board member for the foundation, said there are two main goals this year that the foundation is focused on accomplishing.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023 /12A

EXPL RE Stargazing in northern Michigan C & G NEWSPAPERS WILL BE FEATURING STORIES ABOUT NORTHERN MICHIGAN DESTINATIONS FOR OUR READERS TO EXPLORE.

BY GREG TASKER NORTHERN MICHIGAN — If you’ve missed recent chances to see a dazzling display of Northern Lights in northern Michigan, don’t fret. There’s still plenty of opportunities to see spectacular celestial shows up north this summer.

As home to one of Michigan’s three international dark sky parks, as well as the base for night ferry cruises and kayak excursions (nearby), the Straits of Mackinac are an ideal location for stargazing — from land or water.

The darkness of the night sky near the Straits of Mackinac is rare in the heavily populated eastern United States, where upward views often are obscured by light pollution. While communities on either peninsula create a sky glow along the horizon at night, the top of the sky remains clear.

Mary Stewart Adams, a star lore historian who narrates Night Sky Cruises for Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry every summer, finds the straits a special place not only because of the darkness, but also because of the confluence of unique geographical features, including two of the five Great Lakes.

Imagine standing on the top deck of a Shepler’s ferry while anchored below the center point of the majestic Mackinac Bridge — marking the border between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron — looking west at Lake Michigan.

“When you get to the center point of the bridge, you can catch the sun setting and the moon rising. It’s quite the experience taking all of this in,” said Adams, who hosts the weekly public radio program and podcast “The Storyteller’s Night Sky.” “For me, it’s such an experience of what Michigan is all about — land, water, sky, bridge and people. … It’s so iconically Michigan.”

Begun several years ago, Shepler’s Night Sky Cruises are extremely popular and tap into a growing phenomenon around the globe — people wanting to experience starry nights and celestial occurrences. For many passengers, much of the cruise’s appeal stems from Adams, who narrates the voyage through the straits.

“She does a great job narrating and sharing information about the stars that most people don’t know,” said Sarah Carter, who is group sales and cruise coordinator for Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry. “This is not the kind of cruise where you sit back and someone just narrates in the background. It’s interactive.”

Passengers are free to move around the top deck. Adams brings along a music playlist of songs that make reference to the moon, sun or something about the night. The playlist includes everyone from George Gershwin to Eric Clapton. Passengers are handed maps of the night sky when they board; on the back are lyrics to a song.

“There’s a point where everyone sings together — we joke about when was the last time you were out on the Straits of Mackinac, singing to the sky,” she said. “When you die, you regret the things you didn’t do … so let’s belt See STARGAZING on page 13A

The Straits of Mackinac are an ideal location for stargazing — from land or water.

Photos privided by Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry

Stargazing from page 12A

out the song because we are here.”

For those who prefer paddling, you can join Adams on “Star Gazing and Star Lore” trips hosted by Woods & Waters in Les Cheneaux Islands. Adams said paddlers will glide through quiet bays to watch the night skies.

The tours were inspired by a similar event Adams was hired for last summer.

“It was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had,” she said. “The night was perfectly calm. The water was like glass. It’s remarkable when a Great Lake is that still.

You could see the Milky Way in the water. It was like paddling in the stars.”

For those who prefer to watch the skies from land, Headlands International Dark Sky Park is ideal (Headlands was the first in Michigan; the other international dark sky parks are Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Cass County and Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in the Upper Peninsula). That distinction is given to places that offer unspoiled night-sky viewing.

About 2 miles west of Mackinaw City, the Headlands is open day and night and

hosts stargazing programs throughout the summer. It’s also a great place to explore on foot — there are 5 miles of well-groomed trails amid acres of old-growth forest. The Dark Sky Discovery Trail features indigenous artwork and regional photography that interprets humanity’s relationship to the night sky over the centuries and across cultures.

Adams, the founder and former director of the Headlands International Dark Sky Park, encourages do-it-yourself stargazing wherever you can find dark skies. She suggests becoming familiar with a park or landscape before visiting at night. Find the name of a constellation or star and figure out when it is in the sky and build your experience around that. You can do research about what it means, where it comes from.

“It can sound simple, but this kind of thing has an affirming quality to it,” she said.

“It can directly connect us to our past, to the past of all humanity. There’s not a single culture that doesn’t have a single star lore that tells people who they are.”

Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer. Greg’s articles focused on northern Michigan travel will appear in C & G Newspapers during the summer.

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Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry has three night cruises left this season. They include Midnight Meteor Showers on August 11, 12 and 13. For more information and ticket prices, go to Shepler’s Night Sky Cruises.

C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

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COMMUNITY

CALENDAR AUG. 2

Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra: Final performance of 70th season, 7 p.m., on Lakefront Terrace at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, gpsymphony.com

AUG. 5

Kid-to-Kid Sale: Noon-2 p.m., Shelby Township Activities Center, 14975 21 Mile Road Garden Tour: Presented by Yardeners of St. Clair Shores, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., registration and maps at Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum behind St. Clair Shores Public Library, 22500 11 Mile Road, (586) 415-7110, scsyardeners@gmail.com Picnic: Hosted by Macomb Elk’s #2292, includes food, games, raffles and kids activities, noon-8 p.m., 25950 Schoenherr Road in Warren, (586) 771-8550

AUG. 5-6

Belle Isle Art Fair: Featuring 100 juried artists, food trucks, beer tent and more, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 5 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 6, Belle Isle State Park, 1 Fountain Drive in Detroit, belleisleartfair.com

AUG. 6

Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise: Noon-5 p.m. from 14 Mile Road to Harrington Blvd., also activities in parking lots of McLaren Macomb and AMC Star Gratiot 15, ctgratiotcruise.com

music by Momford & Son at 6:30 p.m. and showing of “Minions: The Rise of Gru” at 8:15 p.m., Civic Center Park, One City Square Drive in Warren, parkitforfun.com

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 446-2700, sterling-heights. net/1631/Splash-Pad

Park It - Family Fun Nights: Starts at 6 p.m., live music by The Groove Council at 7 p.m. and showing of “DC League of Super-Pets” at 9:30 p.m., Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, parkitforfun. com

AUG. 19

Sweet Treats and Sweet Rides: Cruise-in events from 5-8 p.m. Aug. 17 and Sept. 21, also music and prizes, Sanders Chocolate and Ice Cream Shoppe, 23770 Hall Road in Clinton Township, sanderscandy.com

AUG. 11

AUG. 23

Warren Old Village Cruisers: 5-8 p.m., also Sept. 8, First United Methodist Church, 5005 Chicago Road in Warren

Candlelight/open-air concerts: Tribute to Queen and more performed by Kalkaska String Quartet, shows at 7 and 9:15 p.m., doors and cash bar 30 minutes before, The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, warmemorial.org/eventcalendar

Rockin’ Roll In Cruise Nights: 4-7:30 p.m. select Thursdays until Sept. 7, Stahl’s Auto Museum, 56516 North Bay Drive in Chesterfield Township, stahlsauto. com

Ted Nugent: With guest Hillbilly Vegas, 7:30 p.m., Michigan Lottery Ampitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metroplotan Parkway in Sterling Heights, (586) 2689700, freedomhillamphitheater.com

AUG. 26

AUG. 10

AUG. 12-13

Firebase Chesterfield Vietnam Reenactment: Sponsored by Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society and Chesterfield Historic Village, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 12 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 13, battles at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., 47275 Sugarbush Road in Chesterfield Township, facebook.com/FirebaseChesterfield

AUG. 15

GM founder lecture: Learn about Billy Durant, 3 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, registration required, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.org

AUG. 17-20

Chic & Unique Vintage Market: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Packard Proving Grounds, 49965 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, chicanduniquemi.com

GreekFest: Authentic food, music, dancing, taverna, kids activities and more, 4-10 p.m. Aug. 17, 4-11 p.m.

Aug. 18, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Aug. 19 and 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Aug. 20, Assumption Cultural Center, 21800 Marter Road in St. Clair Shores/Grosse Pointe Woods, www.assumptiongreekfestival.com

AUG. 8

AUG. 18

Park It - Family Fun Nights: Starts at 6 p.m., live

tent, yoga, craft and specialty vendors, kids stage and games, pet adoption, movie, cornhole tournament, and more, 5-9 p.m., Warren City Hall, One City Square, cityofwarren.org/events

Friday Fun Nights: Food trucks and ice cream, beer

Trobaugh from page 1A

and Treasurer Matthew McCartney were absent.

Trobaugh’s official first day with the district will be Aug. 14.

“I’m looking forward to meeting everybody,” he said. “I love talking to people and getting to know who they are. I’m coming back to a place I value. It’s such a privilege to come back, give back and pay it forward.”

Trobaugh’s parents still reside in his childhood home, located just two blocks from Fountain. Since the appointment, Trobaugh has visited his alma mater.

“It brought a ton of memories back,” he said. “I remember lining up outside before school and talking to friends.

I learned to play basketball in the gym through Parks and

Woodward Dream Cruise: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. from Ferndale to Pontiac, look for route map and scheule of events at www.woodwarddreamcruise.com

Golf outing: Hosted by Eastwood Odd Fellows, 1:30 p.m. shotgun start (12:30-1 p.m. registration), Cracklewood Golf Course, 18215 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, (810) 343-1098 or (734) 260-0554

ONGOING

‘Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited’ and ‘Detroit Gives Black’: Both on display until Aug. 27, Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., detroithistorical.org Diaper drive: Hosted by Right to Life of Michigan’s Macomb Educational Resource Center, all sizes (especially 4-6) needed, drop off all month at 27417 Harper Ave. in St. Clair Shores, (586) 774-6050, MacombRLM@rtl.org 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 ‘Celebrating 120 Years of Art in Detroit’: Exhibit featuring Detroit Society of Women Painters, select dates until Aug. 12, Anton Art Center, 125 Macomb Place in Mount Clemens, theartcenter.org, dswps.org Dodge Park Splash Pad: Noon-8 p.m. Mondays and

Recreation. It was a really fun time.”

He wants Fountain to be “a place kids want to come to.”

“Some of my goals are to build relationships and really support the teachers,” Trobaugh said. “With our political climate, I think teachers need support more than ever. When they feel valued and heard, they can do their jobs more effectively. That carries over to the students.”

Coming from Lakeview Public Schools, Trobaugh recently earned his doctorate with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

“One of my goals is to bring awareness to that,” he said.

After speaking with district Superintendent Mark Blaszkowski, Trobaugh also wants to work on cutting down on absenteeism. The 1998 Roseville High School graduate has been in education for 18 years, including teaching fourth/ fifth grade accelerated social studies and English language arts. Trobaugh, too, has been a summer school reading in-

Downtown Social District: Live music, food trucks, street games, vendors, dancing and more, 5 p.m.midnight Aug. 12 and 26, Sept. 9 and 23, and Oct. 14 and 28, along Greater Mack Avenue between Nine Mile Road and Nine Mack/Cavalier drives in St. Clair Shores, scsmi.net/social-district Music on the Lake: 7-8:30 p.m., July 26 (Captain Fantastic, Elton John tribute), Aug. 2 (Joey Vee Band), Aug. 9 (Air Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet tribute) and Aug. 16 (Sunset Blvd.), Veterans Memorial Park, 32400 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, scsmi. net/307/Events Car shows: 4-8 p.m. Fridays until Aug. 25, VFW Bruce Post #1146, 28404 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, also DJ, BBQ and 50-50 drawings with some money helping local organizations and veterans, no pets allowed, call Duane at (586) 707-3615 • 4 p.m.-dusk every Thursday until Sept. 28, St. Margaret of Scotland, 21201 13 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores, (586) 909-4700

To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.

structor and a tutor for Brainspring, a company specializing in teaching students with reading disabilities.

When Trobaugh learned about the principal position at Fountain, he applied. Something that motivated him was meeting with Blaszkowski while working on his doctorate.

Trobaugh felt the superintendent’s ideas, values and vision aligned with his own. Trobaugh and Blaszkowski’s paths had crossed before; the superintendent was once his science teacher.

“The thought of coming back to my childhood school shaped a lot of things for me,” Trobaugh said. “It was a nobrainer. It was kind of meant to be.”

Growing up, the new administrator had a big brother vibe to him.

“I just remember the younger kids gravitated towards me,” Trobaugh said. “I always had a knack for being able to relate to kids.”

C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

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C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • AUGUST 2, 2023

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Catching Cancer Before It’s Too Late

Early Cancer Detection Made Possible: Michigan’s First MRI Total Body Screening Clinic Now Open in Southfield, Pioneering Symptom-Free Diagnosis.

I’ll never forget the words of a patient who recently completed a total body cancer screening with me: ‘Doc, you saved my life!’

Despite having no symptoms, we discovered a tiny tumor lurking and growing inside of him. Without early detection, the mass could have silently grown into late-stage cancer, leading to excruciating treatments and a potentially dire outcome.

Thanks to the power of early detection, cancer was discovered before it was too late. It’s moments like these that are precisely why total body screening saves lives. As a general rule, when someone presents to the doctor with a symptom related to cancer, they are usually at stage III or stage IV. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screening tests that are covered by insurance companies only cover about 29% of cancers. The other 71% of cancers occur in areas where doctors are unable to screen, and insurance companies will not pay for screening. This is where Bionicc Body Screening in Southfield can save lives.

I am Dr. Warren Ringold, and last month marked the fifth anniversary of the day my life changed forever.

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My personal stage IV cancer journey has been long and rugged.

My tumor eventually was recurrent in my brain after an initial seven months of chemotherapy. I have been extraordinarily lucky. After being told that I would live only two months without treatment on my brain, I was fortunate enough to become patient number one in a new drug study and I have been in remission 5 to 8 times longer than expected.

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The irony is that these cancers start out very small, and they are very treatable at this stage. They are usually stage one and can be seen in

every organ of the body, including the dreaded pancreas. While screening for cancer, we can also find many other things that need to be treated or watched, such as brain, abdominal, chest, and groin aneurysms.

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