The Shores Dec/Jan22-23

NEIGHBORnotable

Julieanne Downey SCS resident for 17 years

Favorite Spot in SCS: Shores Inn, Trax-n-Wax, Madina Restaurant

Occupation: ER registrar at St. John Moross & nursing student March of 2023

Hobbies: Stained glass, attending art shows and festivals, spending time with family and collecting vinyl

Brings Me Joy: Taking my daughter on adventures & attending concerts

Proudest Moment: Purchasing my first home with my fiancé here in SCS. I was raised here and can now raise my daughter in the same great city.

Personal Motto: Be kind and live authentically.

Three Words that Describe Me: Creative, passionate and strong Someone I Admire and Why: My mom is the strongest person I know. She has had an extremely hard life and still gets up every day and gives her all. She is literally the give-you-the-coat-off-her-back kind of person. I’ve watched her do it!

Obstacle I Overcame: Navigating being a new mom, especially during the beginning of the pandemic. It was so isolating and that’s how I came into doing stained glass; it was my outlet!

Twenty-five-year-old Julieanne Downey has many titles mother, fiancé, daughter, stained glass artist, caretaker. “My mom was chronically ill for most of my life,” Julieanne says. “She was diagnosed with Crohn's when I was two. She almost passed away during my senior year of high school.” During that time, Julieanne had been her mother's caretaker for as long as she could remember. “It comes natural to me,” she says.

So, it’s no surprise that Julieanne is heading to Macomb Community College for a nursing degree in the spring of 2023. She is eternally grateful for a lifesaving surgery her mother Barbara Downey received eight years ago. Being by her mom’s side through it all was a catalyst leading her to the medical field.

Many of Julieanne’s momentous occasions seem to center around hospitals. Her daughter Scarlett was born on March 14, 2020, on an ordinary Saturday. By the time they left the hospital, the country was on lockdown due to Covid-19. Julieanne found herself with postpartum depression.

“There’s so much stigma about going through something when it’s supposed to be the happiest time of your life,” Julieanne said. Stained glass, a hobby Julieanne’s mother has enjoyed for 35 years, is what Julieanne turned to as an outlet during that overwhelming time.

“[With stained glass], I can come up with an idea and make anything I want. I have complete control of the colors and size. [This helps] especially when all the factors in your life are out of control.” Julieanne started a business called Scarlett Sky Co. Glass, named after her daughter. She sells her pieces at pop-ups, art galleries or shows like the Ferndale DIY Street Fair.

She and her fiancé Jordan Byars purchased a home in St. Clair Shores in 2021. As a Lakeview graduate, it was important to Julieanne to set down their family’s roots here. She also loves the many positive changes in the city, such as the 9/Mack social district.

“I feel that I had a really good education with Lakeview. And I feel that [the city] is much more diverse and inclusive; it’s constantly evolving. I feel like it’s gotten a facelift.”

TUNNEL OFlights

Blossom Heath’s Free Attraction Open Now Through January 15

BY ANNA SWARTZ

An estimated 250,000 lights will brighten both the Tunnel of Lights display at Blossom Heath Park and people’s spirits this holiday season. In its third year, the attraction has grown in popularity and size since its inception. Last year features such as Santa’s castle and more arches were added, as well as perfect stops for photos such as a Jeep, boat and Zamboni all wrapped in lights. According to St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby, the purpose of the Tunnel of Lights is to bring families together. “It’s only been two years, and it’s creating a family tradition,” Walby says. “At the end of the day, it makes us feel good in our soul that we’ve created this thing that is enjoyable.”

Tunnel of Lights Entertainment Schedule

vision. Bret Steiner, a landscape sales/ estimator for Landscape Services, says about 30,000 lights are used just on the 105 arches alone.

The idea for the arches came from St. Clair Shores resident Brent Skurda, the mastermind behind “Christmas on Eiffel” in Warren. The arches are a prominent feature of that display in Skurda’s former neighborhood, which attracted 15,000 people on the residential street per day at its peak. Walby says they utilized a similar “game plan” as Skurda’s at Blossom Heath. Paul Doppke’s company, Landscape Services, continues to put up every light strand to complete the

The addition of Santa’s Castle last year was a joint effort —St. Clair Shores Hockey Association paid for materials to build the castle, while Stonik Services of St. Clair Shores cut and assembled the castle for free. In early November 2022, when the weather was still oddly warm, the Stonik crew began erecting the castle again. Lights aren’t the only attraction at Blossom Heath right now though. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department oversees programming for the Tunnel of Lights, and just like last year, attendees can expect to find entertainment as well as food trucks on Fridays, Saturdays and some Sundays.

Starting December 3.

In addition, The Christmas Treat, serving hot chocolate with toppings and fresh baked cookies, will set up right next to Santa’s Castle (or inside, if inclement weather), Thursday through Sunday, from 5-8:30 p.m. A portion of the profits will benefit McWarm, a

warming shelter open three days per week November through March at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in St. Clair Shores. Last year, $2,500 was raised at the Tunnel of Lights for McWarm. The Christmas Treat accepts cash and most credit cards.

Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) provides the funding for the Tunnel of Lights. According to Walby, TIFA changed its focus to what it can control revamping an underutilized park. This has benefited both St. Clair Shores residents who enjoy access to the park year-round (including the new dinosaur-themed playground) and surrounding communities who flock to their open-to-the-public events such as the Tunnel of Lights and Farmers Markets. This has also helped the entire Nautical Mile, Walby says. The long-anticipated extension of the Blossom Heath pier, which has always been open to the public, may be complete as early as December.

“One of us is here every day after Thanksgiving,” Walby says, referring to himself and Doppke. “We know people come. It’s been an enormous success. We both enjoy Christmas. Speaking for myself, we were dumbfounded that the people came. They come on Tuesday; they come on Wednesday. They’re coming every day.”

Photo by Dale Verhaeghe

The Shores

St. Clair Shores

Volume One • Issue Five

PUBLISHER

Kimbriel Towar

EDITORIAL

Editor: Anna Swartz

Copy Editor: Patricia Austin Assistant: Mary Ann Simmerer

Contributers: Dr. Jason Banaszak, Ken Gross, Sandra Kravitz, Jimmy Mazzola, Christopher Redziniak, Jeff Rice

DESIGN

Creative Director: Stephanie Zeoli Designer/Web Coordinator: Elaine Nesom

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dale Verhaeghe and Scott Whiteman

SALES

Associate Publisher: Sharon McMillan

Account Executives: LeighAnn Hildinger, Jessica Zachara, Rebecca Reyes

DISTRIBUTION Manager

Support for the Shores

I am overwhelmed by the impact our publication has had on the community. The reader response has been absolutely extraordinary!

We’ve learned that the city of St. Clair Shores is full of incredible people with incredible talents and experiences to share. We want to continue to bring these stories to you. And we need your help to do that. We are your neighbors, boots on the ground, local folks with a love of storytelling.

Please consider supporting your Shores magazine by signing up for a voluntary subscription on our website at getshores.com. If you are a business owner, please call us to hear about the great packages we have to promote your business.

And to all our current advertisers and to those who have shared your stories within our pages, we want to thank you for your ongoing support and trust in us.

Happy New Year!

The Shores Magazine (313) 882-0702 getshores.com editor@getshores.com

The Shores Magazine is published six times per year by Towar Productions, 19803 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher and Editor. The Shores Magazine reserves the right to reject any advertising. Follow us: Facebook.com/shoresmag @shoresmag

Dave Colton, Mary Ann Simmerer Cover Photo by Dale Verhaeghe

ALL IN A DAY’S

work

SCS Senior Center Cook Marti Marques

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Birthday Lunch

It’s a Tuesday in early October, and a line is snaking out the door of the St. Clair Shores Senior Center’s multipurpose room for the 11:30 a.m. meal. Most in attendance are regulars. Everyone is excited, because today is special. Marti Marques, who has run the kitchen at the center for the last 14 years, has prepared the monthly birthday lunch. Trays are filled with breaded pork chops, roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables, applesauce and a glass of milk. The food looks attractive, like something your mother or grandmother used to make.

"I’m looking forward to my birthday meal in December,” says Lucille Chirco, 91, who eats at the center about four times per week. Chirco is a retired nurse and impressed with the way Marques serves healthy, balanced meals. “Sometimes as seniors, we don’t eat right. They only charge $5. Where can you eat for that?” Chirco is referring to the $5 donation requested for those over 60 and the $6 donation for those under 60.

Jo Anne Kaminski, a retired mail carrier, comes to the center each week to enjoy Marques’ meals. She doesn’t particularly enjoy cooking for herself.

“In the evening, I’ll make myself a sandwich or something light,” Kaminski says. “[Coming here] saves a lot on grocery bills.”

It’s clear that the members don’t just like Marques’ food, though. She has a magnetic personality that draws people in.

“Marti’s upbeat and positive,” says Calvin Chun, a Clinton Township resident. “She remembers your name.”

The boisterous Belinda J. Marshall, who loudly sang along with the Happy Birthday song while she found a seat, adds: "Baby, Marti is a 5-star cook, and she is beautiful inside and out.”

Like Feeding Family

Marques grew up in St. Clair Shores, graduated from Lake Shore High School and married her high school sweetheart Steve Marques. Married at 21, she lingered in the area for a decade before moving to the small town of Richmond, Mich. Since the Senior Center wasn’t built until 1985, she never knew of its existence until she took the job at the center. She has always loved to cook and calls it “the perfect fit for her.”

“I grew up in an Italian family, my father’s side, and my grandma had holidays and big parties in her basement,” Marques says. “So, every day [at the center] is like cooking for your family party.”

“When I first started it was all about the meal,” Marques says. “Now I think, what a marvelous place for people to come. They care for each other, and they look out for each other.” Marques prefers to call those who come to the center “friends,” not members. At 61, she considers herself a fellow senior.

One-of-a-Kind in Macomb County

According to Senior Center Coordinator Matt Hubinsky, the center participates in the Meals on Wheels Program through Macomb County but is the only place to have an on-site chef. (Chef, however, is a title that Marti dismisses, preferring something more approachable, like her. She settles on “cook.”) Assistant Cooks Carol Giardini and Carol Baecke help Marques in the kitchen on alternating days.

For those over 60 who dine at the center, the Meals on Wheels program reimburses $2.96 per person. Also, all proceeds from the popular apple pie fundraiser each September go back into the meal program, helping the center purchase food and supplies throughout the year.

Marques also keeps costs down by completing all the grocery runs herself, making trips to places like Gordon Foods, Sam’s Club, Joe Randazzo’s Fruit & Vegetable Market and BJ’s Wholesale Club. She considers herself a thrifty person and since diners must sign up ahead of time, she knows exactly how much to buy for each meal. A dietitian from the county approves the menu, ensuring appropriate nutritional value. Marques changes up the menu often, offering “what their wife or mom used to cook” and traditional dishes from a variety of ethnicities.

Photo by Scott Whiteman

MARTI IS A COOK, AND SHE BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT.”

Not Your Grandma’s Senior Center

Marques thinks of her workplace as a “fun, friendship center,” not simply a place for seniors. In fact, membership at the center is open to age 50 and up, and both St. Clair Shores residents and non-residents can join.

“It’s lively and fun with a good, energetic feeling,” Marques says of the vibe. “It’s not what you’re thinking; it’s not just playing cards. I’ve been here long enough that I can tell you with honesty that I have seen a change.” She credits Hubinsky with doing a “fantastic job” as coordinator.

Euphoria

Despite cooking the lunchtime meal each weekday at the center, Marques never tires of it. A house full of friends and family enjoying their food and good conversation she calls this “euphoria.”

She also enjoys creating stained glass, a hobby she learned at 18 or 19 from an adult education class at Lake Shore.

Marques and her husband have three children (Lexi, Jackie, Joey), three grandchildren and three more on the way: “You feel like you won the lotto. Of course, you love each other, but to like each other, that’s a different thing.”

In this phase of life, Marques feels blessed to see her children from a different perspective: “What you don’t bargain for is to see your child love another, their love for their child. What you're seeing is magical. It’s all the things that you felt, and now you can view it.”

Doggone Good

Marques says the last 14 years at her job have felt more like eight. Why? Simply, she’s happy.

“I feel very content,” Marques says. “Every day is pretty doggone good. I’m really, truly being honest...I’m grateful I can do it.”

MARTI MARQUESFavorites

Music Genre and Artist: Christian and Cory Asbury

Movie: The Holiday Podcast: Joel Olsteen podcast Hobby: Stained glass Place You’ve Traveled: Portugal

Food: Italian Holiday: Thanksgiving Spot in SCS: Senior Center

Marti Marques passes out pumpkin pie during the October birthday lunch at the Senior Center. In the foreground: Lucille Chirco, left, and Jo Anne Kaminski are regulars who enjoy Marques’ lunches.

Photo by Scott Whiteman

Marques Family Photo courtesy of Marti Marques

OPTIMIST CLUB st. clair shores

Spreading Holiday Cheer to the Community’s Youth

BY ANNA SWARTZ

“By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves.”

This is the Optimist International mission statement that the St. Clair Shores Optimist Club has been living out in the community every day for the past 30 years. At the nucleus of their work is to serve the children, says SCS Optimist Club President Debbie DePape.

At perhaps no other time of the year is their work more visible than during the holidays. The club teams up with Junior Optimists to serve hot chocolate and donuts at the city’s Tree Lighting, hosts a Santa’s Station at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum, holds a collection drive for Macomb Foster Closet and delivers bikes to 12 elementary-age children in need.

Santa Station will be held on December 10, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Attendees can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and snap a photo. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided by the museum, which is located behind the St. Clair Shores Public Library at 22500

E. Eleven Mile Road. This event is free

for both residents and non-residents. “We’re seeing the same families coming through that were [once] the children,” DePape says. “Now their children are the children.” This is no surprise, as Santa Station has been a holiday tradition for 28 years. Even in 2020, when many similar activities were canceled, Santa was in a parking lot waving to the children in passing cars.

The collection drive for Macomb Foster Closet will be held from December 5 through 9, from 8:30 a.m.-Noon, at 23500 Masonic. Items such as new and gently used clothing, backpacks, suitcases, diapers and toys are possible donations. DePape, who before her retirement served as executive assistant to Lakeview Superintendent Karl Paulson, remembers when donations were dropped off at the Lakeview Administration building.

DePape recalls residents telling her: “I can’t do much, but this makes me feel like I’m giving back." That made everything worthwhile, she says. Not only were they serving the children, but they were providing an avenue for the citizens to give back.

All donations from the drive along with blankets made at the two No-Sew Blanket Making Parties that took place in November will be taken by Optimist Club members to the Macomb Foster Closet.

It’s been seven years since the club branched out to help the Foster Closet. According to DePape, over 900 children in Macomb County are in the foster care system, and the children typically carry just a pillowcase stuffed with whatever belongings they can grab. The Foster Closet is available for foster families to gather necessary items at no cost.

Many other events flood the calendars of the club's 40 members throughout the entire year, including the assembly and delivery of a week’s supply of food for 12 St. Clair Shores families. The food was delivered the Sunday before Thanksgiving and always includes a complete holiday meal. This year St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church donated space for them to organize and box the food.

DePape and SCS Optimist Vice President Dave Martin, both South Lake High School graduates, have volunteerism in their blood. They first met while participating in the South Lake Mom and Dads Club. This was in 2000, when Martin’s son and DePape’s youngest daughter graduated from high school. That same year, they both joined the Optimist Club. Currently, DePape is also a member and treasurer of Shores Network for Action & Prevention (S.N.A.P.), the city's anti-drug/antialcohol coalition. Martin has also been involved with the Lac Ste Claire Fine Art Fair Committee and the Miss St. Clair Shores Scholarship Program for many years.

“It all evolves around doing things for the kids,” Martin says. “That’s why I’ve stayed so active and so much alive.”

For more information about the Optimist Club, go to Facebook and search for Optimist Club of St. Clair Shores or email Debbie DePape at deb216@aol.com

VETPet

Veterinary Urgent Care

Semi Urgent

(Scheduled within 24-48 hours

• Vomiting ( < 3 times)

• Acute diarrhea without vomiting

• Straining to defecate

• Witnessed ingestion of foreign body (not sick)

• Straining to urinate or blood in urine (dog or female cat)

• Small wounds/lacerations

• Broken toenail

• Coughing without affecting breathing

• Eye squinting/eye discharge

• Limping

Not Urgent

(Scheduled within one week)

BY DR. JASON BANASZAK

Not all veterinary emergencies are created equal. A pet that is actively bleeding or uncontrollably vomiting is in far more critical condition than one that is sneezing or battling an ear infection. Here is a helpful table with a list of common illnesses and the urgency in which a pet should be seen by the veterinarian.

True Emergency

(Seen ASAP or taken to ER)

• Breathing difficulty

• Collapse

• Unable to walk

• Straining to urinate ( male cat)

• Active seizure (more than two in 24 hours)

• Severe trauma (hit by car, animal bites)

• Profuse bleeding • Snake bite

• Trying to vomit without anything coming up for several hours • Swollen abdomen

• Persistent/severe vomiting • Visualized toxin ingestion • Allergic reaction

Urgent

(Scheduled within 24 hours)

• Not eating for more than 24 hours

• Known foreign body ingestion, ill

• Aggressive coughing with or without distress

• Trouble during labor

• Two or more seizures in 24 hours

• Diarrhea with vomiting and/or anorexia

• Mild trauma (small laceration not actively bleeding) • Witnessed ingestion of rat bait

• Itchy skin

• Chronic weight loss

• Chronic illness with no recent change

• Redness to eyes, ears or skin

• Hair loss

• One seizure with full recovery

Dr. Jason Banaszak is the Medical Director at VCA St. Clair Shores. He earned a B.S. in Biology at the University of Findlay in 2000 and graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. He enjoys spending time with his wife Cindy, and three children Abby, Owen and Jackson, as well as their two dogs – Violet, a Pitbull, Penny, a Great Dane and a guinea pig named Peanut Butter. Dr. Banaszak is an avid baseball fan, enjoys coaching youth baseball and football, as well as mentoring new veterinarians.

Make

Pet Famous

Nola & Capone Zeoli

Frankie & Linda Nesom

Ziggy Austin

Roxy Hildinger

Nolan & Maggie Mae Simmerer

&

Don’t Let the Cold Weather Dampen Your Fitness Routine

BY JEFF RICE

As challenging as it may seem, you can still exercise effectively in the winter. Of course, joining a gym is the first thought. There are, however, other modalities. Mall walking can be a great approach. To make it effective, you can count the steps it takes to fatigue using your pedometer, smartphone or smartwatch. You can also download an app such as Google Fit to track steps. Once you have fatigued, mark the spot and try to beat that next time.

Dancing classes and/or dancing is another excellent form of exercise. Dancing represents a fun interactive environment to build new friendships, pick up a new hobby and stay fit. If you

have a significant other, taking a couples class can be a great way to make time for each other and build connection through a shared experience.

Another great option is purchasing a weights set. Many online providers offer free programs to implement strength training and cardio that can be used from the comfort of your own home. Plenty of exercise movements do not require weights such as push-ups, body squats, chair dips, lunges, planks and wall-sits.

During the pandemic, even more home fitness options became available. Options such as the Peloton, or similar stationary bikes, allow the consumer access to evolving programs that keep

the home exercise option exciting. Consider combining this type of option with body weight movements to achieve optimal results.

It is challenging enough to stay consistent with nice weather. Adding the obstruction of poor weather doesn’t have to complicate things. Try the suggestions above and don’t risk losing all that hard work and progress during the winter months.

Jeff Rice is the owner of MAC GYM in St. Clair Shores, Fraser and Mt. Clemens. He is an International Sports Science Association certified personal trainer and a 22-year industry veteran. You can contact Jeff at (586) 218-7933 or Thegymjt@gmail.com

BUSINESS spotlight

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Asmall used car lot and body shop in Warren, Mich. in the mid-1970s is where the Gagliano family’s love of the automotive industry began. One of the older siblings, John Gagliano, was 18 years old when he was offered the business by the previous owner.

“[He had] more ambition than money,” recalls Robert Gagliano of John. “The siblings worked in the business as kids, pushing brooms, washing cars. As we got older and more involved in the business, we decided to focus on growing the collision repair business under the Collex Collision Experts brand. We grew to 20 locations, 15 in Michigan and five in southwest Florida, before we sold the company in 2014.”

Acquiring Three Dealerships

Too young to retire, the Gaglianos went back to their roots and looked for opportunities in the automotive retail business. They purchased Don Gooley Cadillac in St. Clair Shores in 2016, Merollis Chevrolet in Eastpointe in 2017 and Alfa Romeo of Lakeside in Macomb in 2020. The Genesis Collision Center is also located in St. Clair Shores. These all fall under the umbrella of Genesis Automotive Group, and siblings Robert Gagliano, Grace Lopez and Richard Gagliano are co-owners.

Robert Gagliano says that these three acquired dealerships were underperforming with poor customer satisfaction scores. He’s proud that after some re-education, process changes and more, that all three locations are successful. Gagliano gauges this by two markers especially meeting or exceeding their retail sales index (selling the expected number of makes/models for their dealership locations) and customer satisfaction (determined by data from surveys).

The second is key for Gagliano: “We should make [customers] thrilled with what is the second largest investment for most people,” he said. “It should be a rewarding, exciting experience.”

Buy a Car from Your Couch

“I was a consumer six years ago,” Gagliano says. “I didn’t want the experience I had when I was buying cars from

dealers. I can close on a house in 15 minutes, but I gotta be at a dealership for three hours? So, there was a push to streamline this process.” At any of the Genesis locations, customers can spend as little or as much time as they’d like in the dealership or none at all. DocuSign, online credit applications and more allow customers to complete what is typically stacks of paperwork from the comfort of their couch. Not to mention, a minimum of 20 images of their

Owners of Genesis Cadillac, Collision Center Have Deep Roots in Automotive Industry

pre-owned and new vehicles can be viewed online. Prices are placed at fair market value, so there’s no guessing or haggling about the final cost.

Some customers opt to have vehicles delivered to their home or office, without ever stepping foot in the dealership. Others want the traditional experience. Whatever they choose, Gagliano says he and his staff enjoy watching someone obtain either their first car or moving up to that “nicer, bigger, newer, faster vehicle.”

Top Workplace & Giving Back

Genesis Automotive has been honored as a Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press for the last four years in a row. The results are tallied from detailed surveys filled out by employees (about 120 work across all their locations).

“The Genesis Team is a group of the most amazing people in the automotive industry; they love what they do and really enjoy making people happy with the experience,” Gagliano says.

In addition to priding itself on being an awardwinning workplace, Genesis likes to stay connected to the community by giving back. Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Haulin’ for Heroes (benefiting veterans), Bottomless Toy Chest and Pickups for Paws (food/supplies for pets) are just some of the causes Genesis supports.

EATS TREATS&

BY SANDRA KRAVITZ AND JIMMY MAZZOLA

It’s that time of year again a winter chill is in the air. This means that we are decorating for special holiday events, and we feel the excitement and anticipation of coming together for memorable celebrations.

What better way to celebrate than with a delicious holiday coffee drink, whether heading out to your favorite coffee destination or making these heartwarming drinks for your family at home.

Some of our favorites are pumpkin crème latte, peppermint mocha and chocolate macchiato. These are perfect to share with your favorite coffee and chocolate lovers. We have included one of our favorite coffee recipes to share at home.

Pumpkin Crème Latte

Ingredients

3/4 cup pumpkin puree 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 tablespoons brown sugar Espresso coffee or other strong brewed coffee Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients except for espresso into a sauce pan. Stir together until smooth and all ingredients are combined. Warm up puree mixture on medium to low heat.

2. Placing 1-2 tablespoons of puree in a cup, add an espresso shot on top of the mixture; stir together until smooth.

3. Steam milk (or microwave, or heat on the stove) and pour over espresso and pumpkin mixture.

4. Gently mix together. Milk will be a warm caramel color.

5. Top latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

Siblings Sandra Kravitz and Jimmy Mazzola own the popular Cheesecake Shoppe & Cafe in St. Clair Shores. Sandra and Jimmy, along with master baker Kim Knuth, have been collaborating their business and baking efforts to perfect the community’s favorite desserts and coffee drinks. The Cheesecake Shoppe & Cafe specializes in custom cakes, cupcakes and tartlets for all of life’s special occasions.

Above: (L-R) Genesis Automotive Group Co-owners Richard Gagliano, Robert Gagliano and Grace Lopez

Photo by Scott Whiteman

Left: The Genesis Cadillac dealership in St. Clair Shores has been under construction in recent months.

Photo by Scott Whiteman

(L-R) Master Baker Kim Knuth with Co-owners Jimmy Mazzola and Sandra Kravitz

UNITED FORsupport

Resident & Community Join Forces to Relieve Humanitarian Crisis

BY ANNA SWARTZ

“Within weeks of it starting, people brought well over $1.8 million to this house,” says Pate while standing in his garage. “Every dime went to Ukraine.” Inside the garage are posters that read, “We Stand for Peace” with an outline of the wartorn country and “Stop War in Ukraine.”

Like Nothing

He’s Ever Seen

Stitching for a Cause

Tony Pate's house on Doremus in St. Clair Shores is easy to spot. The driveway is flanked by large flags, one Ukrainian and one American. And deep inside his garage is an unusual item, a heavy-duty sewing machine. He utilizes it to make life-saving tourniquets for injured Ukrainian soldiers. This is done by sewing together double-faced Velcro, a strap made from nylon webbing and a cotton strap. Other 3D printed plastic components with fiber resin are made by high schools locally and nationwide. This is one of the many ways Pate is involved in supporting Ukraine. He merged his relief efforts with a Michigan nonprofit corporation called United Support for Ukraine, which along with its affiliates, has provided 700 tons of medical support and humanitarian aid.

Community Support

Pate, whose wife Lyudmila Pate is Ukrainian, sprang into action the moment war broke out overseas. It all started with items such as medical supplies and monetary donations being dropped off at their home. Even today, each day brings at least one box of donations delivered by mail or dropped off by a community member on Pate’s doorstep.

“I just saw an absolutely horrible thing that was going on, and I was in a position where I could actually help,” Pate says. “I honestly believe that this has a very high risk of developing into a genocide or a World War III type scenario, and if there’s anything I can do to help stop that, I'm going to do it.”

Pate previously served as an infantry officer in the United States Army, but he’s never seen anything like what’s happening in Ukraine during his numerous trips there this year to deliver necessary supplies. He describes areas of the country that are “completely devoid of human life,” exhausted and scared women and children crowded at borders, and “the slaughter of civilians like we’ve never seen.”

How Support for Ukraine Is Helping

United Support for Ukraine focuses on humanitarian aid (medicine, wheelchairs, hygiene items, clothes, toys); general charity (pet food and supplies, tactical medicine items, hospital supplies, vehicles and protective gear); and transportation (collecting SUVs to deliver humanitarian aid).

The organization has provided 100,000-150,000 uniforms, boots and cold weather gear for civilians and soldiers. Pate has delivered catheter needles to a children’s hospital that had been reusing theirs for three days straight. Once at a

UKRAINE

border crossing, Pate received permission from guards to pass out 1,000 chocolate eggs stuffed with tiny toys to weary refugee children. Donated vehicles have transported urgent supplies to the front lines. Their Hamtramck facility fills individual first aid kits (IFAKs) and backpacks with necessary medical supplies such as bandages, gauze wrap, medical tape and, of course, tourniquets. Two facilities in Ukraine also serve the same purpose.

Pate Honored by Ukrainian Government

Pate scrolls through his phone, each picture and video a touching or sobering story. He stops at a video showing a field surgeon holding up one of his tourniquets. Pate translates: “The stick is strong, the best he’s ever used. The quality is fantastic...He also says, you can tell this is made with love.” Some of the stories, like this one, make Pate smile; others make him cry.

Pate’s own story is now interwoven with the many people he cherishes in Ukraine. In honor of his service, Pate received the equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the U.S. from the Ukrainian government several months ago. He is the 68th person to receive this honor since the beginning of the war.

For more information about how to support United Support for Ukraine, go to unitedsupportforukraine.org.

SCS Resident’s Travels to Poland is Humbling, Necessary Work

AFacebook post is what started it all. St. Clair Shores resident John Schrage saw that St. Clare of Montefalco parish in Grosse Pointe Park was requesting volunteers for a trip to Poland to assist refugees. He immediately inquired and had 24 hours to decide. Two weeks later, he and 17 others were on their way. This was the first of two 10-day trips to Poland, one in April and the other in June.

“It was one of the most humbling and life changing experiences of my life absolutely heart breaking, emotional and surreal,” Schrage said. The refugees came to Poland with the clothes on their back and one or two shopping bags. The hardest thing, says Schrage, was hearing the stories of each refugee. A woman dealing with breast cancer, another with a broken leg, all with broken hearts.

“Kindness and compassion are a universal language,” says Schrage, who is thankful for the Google Translate app, or simple smiles or hugs, that helped provide strong connections with the refugees that they met on their journey.

Schrage spent much of his first trip with a small group providing care for the daily arrivals of refugees: unloading a truck from France at 4:45 a.m., with over 250 boxes of donated supplies, toiletries, baby strollers and car seats. They cleaned, organized donated supplies and clothes and played with children. They also purchased large amounts of women’s and children’s clothing, suitcases, medicine and groceries.

During Schrage’s second trip to Poland, he and others helped paint, build a deck and handle other tasks to prepare a new refugee facility that had been purchased by the archdiocese. As of August of this year, the archdiocese had 10 buildings within about an hour and a half from the southernmost part of Poland.

Schrage is grateful for his time in Poland and was overwhelmed to see support pouring into Ukrainian refugees from citizens from all around the world. Yet, he knows we need to continue to show up for the Ukrainians. “It’s important not to become numb,” Schrage says. “If you’re watching the evening news [about Ukraine], the next blurb is Brittany Spears getting married. If nothing more, we need to be aware, we need to pray, and if you’re able, support them in whatever fashion.”

A soldier wearing a backpack from United Support for Ukraine

Photo courtesy of Tony Pate

(L-R) Scott Lowell, John Schrage and Sean Motley

Photos courtesy of Larry Alley

SIX MONTHS ON THE appalachian

SCS Resident Seeks Adventure, Solace in the Mountains

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Filling a Void

“When you get clean, you definitely have a gap in your life, a void... You gotta have something to fill that time,” says St. Clair Shores resident Larry Alley on why he is drawn to exhilarating experiences. He has sped on his Harley down mountain roads named The Dragon and Hell Bender, skydived on his 50th birthday, and cliff dived in Hawaii, Arizona and Tennessee. So, when he told his wife Lori that he was going to hike the Appalachian Trail, she replied: “Of course you are, that’s what you do.”

Fifty-three-year-old Alley recently celebrated 21 years clean from cocaine and alcohol, and he doesn’t take that lightly. According to him, statistics for the Detroit area indicate that two out of 100 addicts stay clean.

Coping with Loss

But while the rush of an adventure lured Alley, more than that led him to seek out a six-month, 2,194.3-mile hike from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. He lost his sister to cancer. Two buddies died of Covid. He himself was hospitalized for four days to receive treatment for Covid, and then he spent four to five months recovering from Covid pneumonia.

“Life is short, man,” Alley recalls thinking during that time of tremendous loss. One way to cope and clear his head was becoming a thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. This is someone who puts on their pack at the start and keeps it on till the end. This type of hiker stays on the trail other than a trip into town every five to eight days to replenish supplies, fix any equipment, shower, grab a good night’s sleep and most importantly, a large meal.

Hiker Hunger

Alley recalls visiting a nice restaurant in Front Royal, Virginia and ordering a 16 oz. ribeye steak dinner complete with mashed potatoes, veggies and bread, as well as a large brick oven pizza. He astonished the waitress by eating every morsel. This made sense, as he was burning up to 5,000 to 7,000 calories per day while hiking an average of 18-24 miles daily (less when the terrain was quite steep). This large appetite is referred to as hiker hunger.

It’s important to note that hikers are not supposed to live off the land and forage, which is why these trips into town are necessary. Due to the large number of hikers, Alley says, wildlife who live near the trail would be left without enough resources.

Hikers try to keep their base weight to about 20 pounds. This includes the bare necessities such as extra clothes, food, a mat, tent and an optional stove (which Alley decided to bring). Alley says his base weight was about 25 pounds, while he met some hikers who boasted packs as light as 12 pounds. The key, he said, was to pack calorie-dense foods such as bagels and fully cooked bacon, which provide energy.

Down South to the Mountains

While Alley had never previously completed anything more than a day hike, he has spent his whole life going south from Detroit to the mountains. His relatives hail from Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee. He has 120 acres down in the mountains, his great grandparent’s original homestead.

“I saw the trail my whole life...I’ve always been a believer. If somebody else can do it, I can do it.”

While Alley was hiking alone, which is common for those on the Appalachian Trail, he met plenty of new friends along the way. As is tradition, no one gives out their real names on the trail and goes by nicknames. Alley was dubbed Alley Cat. The name stuck after an interviewer for The Weather Channel’s YouTube channel referred to him as such. Others he hung out with went by names such as Krinkle, Dreamer, Tunes and Trainwreck. The names are a way of “leaving the world behind,” Alley says.

Hikers utilize an app called FarOut, Alley explains. Phones are put in airplane mode, work off GPS and power banks are used to charge them. The app allows hikers to leave comments about essentials like the availability of water

trail

LEGAL TIPSSmart

Credit Card Debt is Financial Cancer

‘Everybody Wants to Quit’

Alley faced a significant challenge 80 miles in: he blew out his knee. Specifically, his IT band that extends down the outside of the upper leg was causing him problems. His wife thankfully works in orthopedics and sent him a brace.

“Everybody wants to quit,” Alley says. “It’s just not normal. You think...why am I climbing this mountain because there’s another mountain behind that one. You can think of 100 reasons why you should quit. But I couldn’t think of a single one that would [actually] make me quit.”

Summiting After Six Months

Alley hiked on, through 14 states, with what he called his “tramily” or trail family. Alley spent his 53rd birthday on August 24 in Caratunk, Maine hiking with someone from France, others from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Georgia. As the longest hiking-only trail in the world, it attracts people from across the globe. Alley met people from countries such as South Africa, Germany, New Zealand and England.

Of the 5,000 who have attempted the Appalachian Trail so far this year, says Alley, about 700-800 have finished. About one in five make it to the end. Alley summited with 13-14 of his friends on September 7, 2022. He had started his journey just over six months prior on March 1, 2022.

“I’ll forever be grateful,” Alley says. “I’m glad I was able to summit and finish and complete it. It’s a hell of a thing. Explaining it is hard...You just have to experience it.”

BY KEN GROSS

With inflation, we’ve seen the average credit card interest rate soar from 14.5% to 22% the highest rate in history! Presently, the Federal Reserve rate is 3.25%, and the prime rate is 6.25%. By contrast, in 1980, the average credit card interest rate was 17.3%, but the Federal Reserve rate was 11.5% and the prime rate was 15%.

If credit card interest rises proportionately, we will see rates that are double the 22% average rate. My instincts are that average rates will soon rise and cap at 29.5% for preferred credit, but subprime borrowers will see rates well into the mid 30% range. Late fees will also increase, and the credit card companies will trim available credit rapidly on accounts that miss payments or on borrowers who are close to tapping out available credit. The same scenario occurred during the Great Recession, but during this misery we did not have the high interest/inflation factor.

If you owe $50,000 on credit cards and rates rise to 30%, your annual interest cost is $15,000. However, you are paying this with after-tax dollars. If you are in a 25% tax bracket, you will need gross income of $20,000 to pay the $5,000 of taxes to net $15,000 for the credit cards. If your gross income is $100,000, 20% of your income is going to pay interest. Allowing this situation to persist for five years costs you $100,000, and $200,000 for ten years. Carrying credit card debt is financial cancer. It grows and kills your financial future. This is a major problem for many, and it is going to skyrocket. The takeaway do not allow yourself to fall into the credit card trap, but if you do, find an exit plan. It is not about your credit score. It is about your financial future.

Ken Gross is the managing shareholder of THAV GROSS PC. The firm has been assisting Metro Detroiters with tax, financial and business problems for 40 years. Watch Ken and co-host Brian Small’s Law and Reality TV Show Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on TV 20. You can contact them at 888.235.HELP (4357).

sources. “White blazes” (six-by-two-inch paint markings) on trees, he said, also keep hikers on the right path, although it is still possible to get lost.

STAYING

PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY fit

Class Offerings are Good for the Body and Mind

BY ANNA SWARTZ

From Tai Chi to Line Dancing

Did you know that the St. Clair Shores Senior Center offers endless opportunities for residents and nonresidents alike (age 50+) to maintain a healthy lifestyle? Currently, 13 wellness classes take place at various times on weekdays, while the newly installed pickleball courts and newly formed Walking Club provide extra options during warmer months. Swimming, as well as a water fitness class component for those who want to participate, is available weekly at South Lake High School.

“All of our fitness classes are designed for anyone new or seasoned in the activity,” says Senior Center Coordinator Matt Hubinsky. “It truly comes down to our instructors who are flexible in making sure our members feel welcomed on their first day or 100th day of attending a class. The members are also helpful in welcoming new attendees and including them in their fitness group. Along with exercising, there’s a great benefit in the socialization and comradery that comes with the groups that gather here.”

While all the classes are popular, Hubinsky says the busiest classes are Silver Sneakers and Chair Yoga.

“With all our other offerings Tai Chi, Line Dancing, Zumba, Chair Exercise, Hatha Yoga our goal is to appeal to every one of our members and give them something they enjoy participating in.”

SilverSneakers

Five, four, three, two, one. “Summertime Blues” blasts from the speakers in the Senior Center’s multipurpose room. Close to 40 attendees for the day’s SilverSneakers class are holding tight to brightly colored balls while instructor Carolyn Bradt tells them to pass the balls between their

legs, then toss and catch them. Countless exercises involving these streaks of pink, yellow, orange and blue improve hand/eye coordination and more.

Bradt’s voice is soothing and cheerful: “Are we warm? Have we hustled?” she asks, as “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” plays in the background. Then she asks the most important question: “How you doing?” The men and women in the class call out numbers. The goal, Bradt, says is around a five or six.

The second segment of the class focuses on free weights, and Bradt says that no heavier than three pounds is recommended. The third and final segment involves resistance bands, which “are more challenging than free weights, even though they don’t look like much.”

Throughout the entire class, Bradt is having a constant conversation. “Oh, that was hard, holding that weight there, wasn’t it?” and “Feels good to shake it out a little bit...I like to make you dance.”

SilverSneakers is a class offered nationwide that focuses on strengthening muscles and increasing range of movement for daily life activities. Often a chair is used for seated exercises or standing support.

“You target areas that you don’t realize; it keeps you flexible,” says Nancy Grillo, who enjoys attending the class. “The very first time I came to one was right after I had back surgery. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt after the very first class.”

SilverSneakers class

Photo by Scott Whiteman

Socializing is Good for You, Too

As with all the classes at the Senior Center, socializing is a key component that contributes just as much to the wellbeing of attendees as exercising. Bradt, who teaches SilverSneakers three times each week at the center, says talking and joking is part of every class.

“It’s a great community,” she says about the center. “I fell in love when I first came in. A lot of them really are like family to me.” A St. Clair Shores native, Bradt knows some of the attendees at her classes from the now-closed Lakeshore Family YMCA.

To find the latest schedule of fitness classes, pick up a copy of the Senior Center’s current newsletter by stopping by the center at 20100 Stephens or go to scsmi.net/727/Bimonthly-Newsletter

IMPROVEMENThome

COZY UP YOUR HOME THIS WINTER

BY CHRISTOPHER REDZINIAK

The cold winter months are when we focus on checking off the to-dos inside our home. Before you potentially become overwhelmed by tackling a large project in your limited space, try starting with the little things that take smaller amounts of time and still bring great satisfaction. If you haven’t already, check for draft culprits throughout the house. Doors and windows could be letting precious heat escape and cold seep in. Weather stripping, securing window locks and checking for gapping caulk will help solve this issue. Fixing caulk may need to wait until spring when the temperature rises again, but taking a few moments to locate the gaps could save you money on heating costs. Also, check your attic and basement for gaps and holes. As winter starts to seep in, so will the friendly and not-sofriendly critters. While you are exploring above your head, see how the insulation levels are faring. Sixteen inches is your goal to keep your home toasty in the winter and cooler in the summer. Services are available for blow-in insulation and should be done by a professional. Organize and declutter. You could start with a spare room, closet or sections of your basement or attic, to keep the task manageable. Organizational services are available all year round, and nothing makes your home feel cozier than ridding yourself of years of clutter that hasn’t seen the light of day. Dumpster and bulk removal services are available to take away your old stuff, and handy helpers can assist by hauling items away. Also, in case you haven’t done so lately, change those batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Go through and make sure lightbulbs are tight and in working order at the same time.

Christopher Redziniak is a co-owner of Red Baron Enterprises, LLC, serving Southeastern Michigan, and is a second-generation handyman. He is active in working within our community, encouraging and supporting other familyowned businesses in the area.

SilverSneakers class

Photos by Scott Whiteman

HAPPENINGS shores YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TUNNEL OF LIGHTS

Now through January 15

Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson

For the third consecutive year, Blossom Heath will be St. Clair Shores’ most popular destination during the holidays. Enjoy walking through 105 colorfully lit arches, seeing Santa’s castle and other festive lit-up areas perfect for family photos. This event is free and open to the public. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available for purchase Thursday through Sunday 5-8:30 p.m.; a portion of all proceeds benefit McWarm (a warming center open November through March at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in St. Clair Shores). For details about entertainment, see page 4.

HOLIDAY MARKET

Sunday, December 11, Noon-8 p.m

Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson Shopping from 3-8 p.m. Jeff Cavataio at 5 p.m. Santa Claus from 5-6:30 p.m. Food trucks and beer area. Tunnel of Lights after dark.

SELINSKY-GREEN HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The museum is located behind the St. Clair Shores Public Library, 22500 Eleven Mile Road.

The Farmhouse will be closed after December 17 and will reopen on Wednesday, January 4. All the museum events listed are free and open to residents and nonresidents, with no registration required, unless otherwise specified.

Parlor games

Wednesday, December 7, 1-4 p.m

Museum staff and volunteers will teach and play parlor games that were played during the late 1800s.

Optimist Club Santa Station

Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Children will meet Santa and Mrs. Claus inside the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. Photo taking is welcome. This is a free event. Attendees can also enjoy a “Twelves Days of Christmas” outdoor scavenger hunt, which will begin December 10 and be left up through January 5.

Make a Christmas Ornament

Wednesday, December 14, 1-4 p.m.

Museum staff and volunteers will help children make a Victorian ornament to take home.

Marzipan, Mincemeat and Music

Saturday, December 17, 1-4 p.m.

Museum staff and volunteers, while dressed in period clothing, will be baking pies and tarts with the prepared mincemeat that was started in November. Traditional marzipan candy making will be demonstrated. The recipes will be cooked upon a wood/coal fired cook stove that was manufactured in the late 1800s. (This is only a demonstration. No food will be given to the public to eat due to food handling laws.) Carols will be played upon the parlor pump organ.

Welcome the New Year Saturday, January 7, 1-4 p.m

Stop in for a New Year welcome in our cozy farmhouse warmed up with the kitchen’s cook stove. Enjoy cooking and needle craft demonstrations.

Museum Selfie Day

Wednesday, January 18, 1-4 p.m.

This observance is not just about taking a picture of the museum, but it is also a reminder of that moment, and all the experiences that occurred throughout the visit. The Selinsky-Green Farmhouse is a beautiful place to take a selfie. We welcome you to take a photo while seated in the parlor or at the dining table in this 1870s farmhouse.

Sewing Saturdays

Last Saturday of the month, January & February, 1-4 p.m. Museum volunteers will demonstrate a variety of needle crafts. We welcome you and your children to learn how to sew a variety of hand stitches.

ST. CLAIR SHORES PUBLIC LIBRARY

The library is located at 22500 Eleven Mile Road. Take & Make Craft

New crafts available starting December 5 & January 2

Children ages two and up can have fun with a Take & Make craft activity each month. Bags containing supplies and instructions can be picked up during Library hours from a bin inside the Youth Services Room, while supplies last.

Genealogy Presentation: The Records of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Family

Thursday, December 8, 6:30 p.m.

Most genealogy lectures focus on a particular type of record or research methodology such as family records, church and civil records, census research, land records or military files. This presentation by James Jackson follows one well-known pioneer family through their travels “Out West” and examines the many records that were generated and left behind - just like with your family. Learn how to broaden the records search for genealogical records through the story of pioneer icon Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. This presentation is free and open to the public.

Drop-in Activities & Crafts

Thursday, December 28, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Children of all ages and their adults are invited to drop in to the Gilstorf Meeting Room for some fun activities such as make-and-take crafts, LEGOS, puzzles and board games. Contact the Youth Services Department for more information: (586) 771-9020 or SCSYouth@libcoop.net.

AQUA FREEZE

January 14, Noon-9 p.m.

January 15, Noon-6 p.m.

Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson Live music, petting zoo, craft beer tent and more. For more details, go to Facebook.com/st.clairshoresparksandrecreation

STEPPING BACK IN TIME

Meet Jerry Sielagoski, St. Clair Shores Historical Commission Chairperson

Jerry Sielagoski’s love of history began during childhood at his grandmother’s kitchen table on Detroit’s lower east side. He was hungry, not just for the food she cooked or harvested from her garden, but for knowledge about their Polish ancestry. Sielagoski wanted to know everything What were his grandmother’s siblings like? Were they older, younger? Tall, short? She always answered his questions in Polish. To this day, he’s held on to his ability to read and understand the language. He’s also never stopped asking questions about his own heritage and about the city in which he lives.

This persistent curiosity is an inherent quality for someone who has served as the St. Clair Shores Historical Commission’s chairperson since 2007. He joined the group in 1996, later serving as its secretary and vice chairperson before taking on his current role.

Preserving the City’s History

“I feel that I have an obligation to ensure that the stories and images of people, buildings and places that have played a significant role in defining the history of our community are preserved,” Sielagoski said.

Throughout his tenure, the Historical Commission has completed milestones that do just that with other likeminded goals on the horizon. The city historical marker program has placed almost 10 markers at sites and structures that played a significant role in the development of the city. The first was placed at Kyte Monroe Memorial Playfield in 2015, and others included locations such as the Davis Block at Eleven Mile and Harper and Van’s Used Cars at Little Mack and Harper.

Similarly, the residential/business marker program allows for long-standing structures to be recognized. The program was launched in 2011 and allows owners of

homes or commercial structures built in 1951 or earlier to apply for a marker. The year 1951 was chosen, Sielagoski says, because it’s the year St. Clair Shores became a city.

Future Goals

Looking ahead, the six-person-strong Historical Commission plans to continue overseeing renovation work on the SelinskyGreen Farmhouse Museum. For instance, this would include repairing the structure’s cedar shake roof, gutters and front porch.

Other goals include digitizing Muskrat Tales (a publication of the Historical Commission) for easy access to residents; placing plaques in city parks that explain the history of their namesake and origin; transferring oral histories from the 1970s through the 1990s from cassette tapes to digital media; and expanding the Historical Commission’s photograph collection with focus on neighborhoods in St. Clair Shores from the 1930s to the 1990s.

When History and Engineering Collide

With Sielagoski’s staunch support of history, his career as an electrical engineer at Stellantis, formerly Chrysler, may at first seem like a contradiction. Yet the same methodical, problem-solving approach used in engineering can be adapted to genealogical and historical research. Dissecting the past also requires precision, much like Sielagoski’s role as a lead safety engineer at work. “I would guess that some of the others on the Historical Commission might see me as a hard-nosed perfectionist and, admittedly, I am,” Sielagoski says. “It is essential that we are accurate in recounting the past so that we maintain credibility and purpose. I guess this is where career and history overlap for me. For example, an inaccurate safety analysis of an automotive system could potentially result

Jerry Sielagoski conducts a recent St. Clair Shores Historical Commission meeting. Courtesy of John Cilluffo, St. Clair Shores Historical Commission

in an unaddressed hazard. So, it’s imperative that you get it right. For me, the same goes for history...it’s either accurate or it’s not.”

Beyond the Commission

For Sielagoski, history isn’t simply a fascination that stops with the commission and his family’s genealogy. He is a member of the West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society and has written articles for their newsletter. His Polish roots also took him back to St. Hyacinth Parish in Detroit, where he is both a member and the parish historian. Founded in 1907, it is the same parish where his Polish grandparents were married in 1915. His language skills prove useful, as most of the parish publications prior to World War II were written in Polish. A few of his contributions include writing the parish history for the 100th anniversary jubilee book in 2007, occasionally conducting historical tours of the church and serving on the Parish Council.

Following a 10-week training program, he also served as a weekend docent at the Detroit Historical Museum for three to four years in the early 1990s. He especially loved the Streets of Old Detroit on the lower level, opening the various stores and quizzing groups of visitors on newly gained information. He recalls favorite temporary exhibits, “Feelin’ Groovy: America in 1969” and “Remembering Downtown Hudson’s.”

Sielagoski is a docent at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum, as well, although he hasn’t been active in that capacity for quite some time. He was trained by Madeleine Reeder, who was the museum curator when he became a docent in the early 1990s.

Never one for idle time, Sielagoski also spent two decades involved with the Friends of the St. Clair Shores Public Library, serving on the board since 1993 and as its president from 1995 to 2012.

History is About the People

Sielagoski has been married to his wife Susanne for 46 years. The couple has three daughters and 10 grandchildren. Sielagoski happily wears the title of family historian. He recently conducted a cemetery tour so family members could see the grave sites of relatives, including some who died of childhood diseases that are more treatable today. “For me, discovering history is about sharing the recollections of the people who have shaped and lived through it,” Sielagoski says. “History is about the people, not only the famous, but the ordinary people, as well; their challenges and accomplishments, and the impact and influence that events and circumstances have on our lives. It is not so much the study of what was, it is the reason for what is and why it is. “I consider myself fortunate in having the opportunity to serve with all my fellow Historical Commission members, and those with whom I have served in the past. I am thankful for the many years of friendship and collaboration that we have shared together, for all the good times and especially for the sense of pride that we share in everything we accomplish...and we’re not done yet.”

To get in touch with the St. Clair Shores Historical Commission, send an email to historicalcommission@scsmi.net

In Collaboration with the St. Clair Shores Historical Commission

(L-R) Jerry Sielagoski, the late Theresa Bertolini and Chris Vitale at a Historical Commission dedication ceremony for the residential marker placed on Bertolini’s home. Courtesy of John Cilluffo, St. Clair Shores Historical Commission

St. Clair Shores Historical Commission Chairperson Jerry Sielagoski, left, and Mayor Kip Walby with the Davis Block city marker Courtesy of John Cilluffo, St. Clair Shores Historical Commission

TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTALhealth five ways

And Why We’re So Overwhelmed in the First Place

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Linda Archibald, LMSW, recently left her 22.5-year career as a Macomb County school social worker to step into a full-time role as a therapist in her private practice in St. Clair Shores. The reason? She couldn’t meet the demand with part-time office hours. Across all age groups, she says that anxiety is the number one reason people show up in a therapy office.

Always On the Go, Always Reachable What has caused this anxiety? In addition to the pandemic, Archibald credits a fast-paced society where we never take time to unwind.

“People are overscheduled, perhaps keeping busy to avoid feeling our feelings,” Archibald says. “We’re always on the go.”

In addition, technology has forced us to be “at everyone’s beck and call 24/7; we feel that need to respond.”

Comparison on Social Media

Comparison is another common issue, leading to poor body image and low self-esteem. With the widespread use of social media, adolescents are especially susceptible. Archibald has noticed social media’s role in leading to youth’s depression, relationship conflict, low self-esteem, poor body image and sometimes eating disorders. “Social media is a beast we can’t seemingly avoid; [it] has its benefits and burdens,” says Archibald, who

has one daughter in high school and another in college. “A parent can monitor and access what they are taking in; it’s ever-changing. We need to stay on top of that...There are many

Five Ways to Enhance Your Emotional Well-Being

Focus daily on these areas:

1. Expressing GRATITUDE through a mental list, journaling or verbal/ written expression to others.

2. Finding and doing at least one thing that brings you JOY.

3. CONNECT with others in person, via phone or text.

4. MOVE your body for at least 30 minutes each day through a sport, play, walking, dance or exercise.

different monitoring systems. Getting kids to check in phones at nighttime can be helpful.” Adolescents can handle social media well with the appropriate limits and boundaries.

Challenges for Adults

According to Archibald, the top issues facing adults are anxiety, marital/relationship conflict, life/ work stressors, depression, medical problems, financial stressors, self-esteem, family issues, anger management, grief and loss, panic attacks and substance abuse. With such a range of challenges, is it possible to feel more balanced in the present moment? Archibald tasks her clients with a simple to-do list (as seen in the next column) that can make a big difference.

5. LET GO of what doesn't serve you. This could be related to physical items such as waste or clutter or abstract items such as guilt, self-doubt or resentment.

And, sometimes seeking out a licensed therapist is an important step in facing life’s challenges and improving mental health. According to Archibald, the best way to find a therapist is through word of mouth, psychologytoday.com, a Google search, workplace assistance programs or school support staff/officials. An insurance company can also offer a list of providers in your network, she says. “The simplest and cheapest form of therapy is to breathe,” Archibald says. “Especially in these fast-paced, unpredictable and trying times, taking the time to unwind, relax and de-stress is of utmost importance to building emotional tolerance and enhancing overall wellbeing.”

BACH BEATLESto

Lakeshore Ukulele Strummers

Bring Joy to the Local Music Scene – and Its Members

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Wednesday afternoons are the highlight of Patricia Marchioni’s week. This is when she, along with about 20 other musicians, picks up a ukulele for two hours of practice. She came to the Lakeshore Ukulele Strummers with no musical knowledge; she didn’t even own a ukulele. Fellow member Ron Masino, known for his love of both acquiring and giving away ukuleles, offered an instrument to Marchioni.

“You can’t be sad when you’re singing and playing; you just can’t,” said Marchioni, who joined the Strummers about one year ago. “I just love it.”

The atmosphere at the group’s practices and performances is joyful, warm and comforting like being wrapped in a big hug. And, so, it makes sense that Marchioni and many others in the group look forward to each week’s practice of strumming and singing. The members place importance on fun over perfection, and they welcome new members regardless of their experience level. In fact, more than 10 joined the group without ever having played the ukulele.

"With this many people, if you screw up, nobody notices,” says Strummers Leader Sue Goeddeke, as her fellow Strummers erupt in laughter. “And they are on strict orders not to make a face if they do screw up.”

Founding members Pat Ihrie and June Taylor, who live in Grosse Pointe Woods and St. Clair Shores respectively, previously traveled to Garden City for a monthly ukulele group. It was Taylor's idea to officially start the east side group in 2019, and Ihrie was able to secure Lake Shore Presbyterian Church as a rehearsal space. Ihrie is a member of the church and is grateful, along with the rest of the group, that the church doesn’t charge them a dime. At first, the group met in the church’s basement, but they quickly outgrew the space and now practice in the spacious light-filled atrium.

“They serenade us every week,” says the Rev. Adam Grosch of Lake Shore Presbyterian. “They have such a large repertoire, [which shows] their breadth and depth and love for music.” Goeddeke jokes that they play “everything from Bach to Beatles.”

Member John Bennett says the group practices primarily using two song books, “The Daily Ukulele” with 365 songs to choose from and a leap year edition with 366 songs. He shares a song list from one of their performances, and it

includes nostalgic tunes such as “Que Sera, Sera,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and “Edelweiss,” a favorite of Bennett’s.

A highlight performance for the Strummers was a 500-person crowd and standing ovation at Wahby Park for the Chamber Music Concert Series this summer. They’ve already been asked back for 2023. The Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum, located behind the library, hosted them at a Tea in the Garden event. Other performances at local libraries, nursing homes and places like the American House on Jefferson in St. Clair Shores keep their schedule full.

Their next performance will take place on Saturday, December 10 at 2 p.m. at Lake Shore Presbyterian Church during a Christmas service featuring the Strummers, choir, modern praise band and a kids’ pageant.

After the December performance, the group will be spending their Wednesdays preparing for the summer of 2023. This year, their concert theme was “Trip Around the World with Dolly.” Dolly is in reference to the 1964 Broadway musical, “Hello, Dolly!” which is also the name of the cheerful song that begins each performance. In 2023, Goeddeke says, the theme will be “Dolly Falls in Love.”

“As a group, we really enjoy performing for the community,” says member Anita Sohaski of St. Clair Shores. “I feel we bring our joy, our laughter, our music, our song. We bring joy to a lot of people. They ask us where we’re going next. We have groupies coming out of it. It’s a fantastic club. Best thing I ever did, I’m really enjoying it.”

To check for future concert dates, go to facebook.com/ groups/2016818595373166

AROUND TOWN snapshots

APPLE PIE WEEK AT THE SENIOR CENTER SCS CENTRAL FIRE STATION

(L-R) Matt Hubinsky, Bill Maiuri, Sue Zanoni and Dian Shier allowed Shores Magazine a quick portriat after selling apple pies to the public. The sale of the apple pies help fund the Seniors Luncheons for the year.

Jayden Rosario

(L-R) Izzy Wallace, Miss St. Clair Shores, and Grace Hanke, Miss St. Clair Shores Outstanding Teen

(L-R) LTTom Bench helps Lillian Bedore with the firehose as she is spraying the fire targets on the mock burning house.

ROCKIN’ THE SHORES

BOURBON, BREWS & BBQ

SKELEBRATION

Bottom

Top Right: Bernadette Kathryn, lead singer of the band Bernadette Kathryn and the Lonely Days Band

left: Mike Lawler of Unbeelievable Honey

Photos by Scott Whiteman

Guitarist Shane Kott of the band Vulgara performers from Rock and Roll Prep School

Vultures of Culture

Mary Ellen Studio of Dance dancers