2/28/24 C & G Special Edition — Oakland

NEWSPAPERS Special Edition

“everyone

statement on the theater’s website, themapletheater.com.

The Maple Theater closes its doors

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Maple Theater in Bloomfield Township has permanently closed its doors.

Theater managers Jon and Lauren Goldstein announced the closure Feb. 5, thanking “everyone who bought a ticket, ate a meal or worked a shift” in a statement on the theater’s website.

“Being able to operate a theater in our own community was one of the great privileges of our lives,” the Goldsteins said in a statement.

The Goldsteins, of Cloud Nine Theater Partners, also released a more detailed statement announcing the closure on social media.

“Our lease has expired, and after months of difficult deliberations, we have decided that it is time to end our run as operators of this wonderful institution,” the statement reads. “We have been honored to be stewards of the Maple Theater and appreciate all the support and patronage from the community for the past 12 years.”

The Maple opened in 1977 as the Maple 1-2-3, showing independent, art and foreign films.

The Goldsteins — who took over The Maple in 2012 — said the

Artistic ‘Conversations’

ABOVE: Boisali Biswas speaks about her work during the opening reception of “Conversations in Fiber,” an art exhibit at Southfield City Hall featuring nine female artists. The exhibit will be on display until Apr. 30.

ABOVE: “Gilden Snowden” is a quilted portrait by April Anue Shipp.

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes Maple Theater managers Jon and Lauren Goldstein announced the closure Feb. 5, thanking

who bought a ticket, ate a meal or worked a shift” in a

LEFT: Shipp shares the inspiration behind her piece “The Water Returned Him” during an opening reception.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

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Leprechauns strike gold with offseason revamp, join prestigious league

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — By the luck of the draw, metro Detroit baseball fans hit the jackpot as the Royal Oak Leprechauns are going to be putting on a show like you’ve never seen from them before heading into the 2024 season.

Previously part of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, the baseball club followed the rainbow to greener pastures ahead of their upcoming campaign, joining the Northwoods League this season.

Northwoods is recognized as one of the largest organized baseball leagues in the world with more than 340 players advancing to the Major League Baseball level, including former Detroit Tigers Curtis Granderson and Max Scherzer. Royal Oak will be the fourth team in Michigan to compete in the Northwoods League with Traverse City, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo all sporting teams.

The jump from Great Lakes to Northwoods isn’t just one small leap, but a franchise-altering move, according to Leprechauns general manager Mark Sackett.

“The big thing is Northwoods is up to 26 teams, they cross three time zones, they’ve sent over 340 guys to the major leagues, their ESPN contract and their contracts with Rawlings and EvoShield,” Sackett said. “It’s just amazing. We’re not stepping up one level, we’re stepping up about five levels to be part of the Northwoods League.”

PLAY BALL!

Royal Oak Leprechauns players from the C & G Newspapers coverage area with their hometowns: Andrew Abler (Novi), Jack Boike (Bloomfield Hills), Jack Coulter (West Bloomfield), Gabe Jones (Sterling Heights), TJ McAllister (St. Clair Shores), Parker Picot (Rochester Hills), Jarren Purify (Grosse Pointe Woods), Stephen Ruhle (Royal Oak) and Ryan Tyranski (Birmingham).

It’s difficult to begin to describe how this season will differ from past years, as everything about the Leprechauns approach from marketing and entertainment to fielding a team has shifted.

Aside from competitive baseball, expect a show when you take your seats at Memorial Park.

Similar to something you’d see at Comerica Park for a Tigers game, each inning will have entertainment with the chance of an attendee winning a gift card to one of the many local businesses providing their support this season. Fans can also expect to see a field goal setup where fans can practice kicking field goals, a bounce house, and a guess-your-speed game where contestants will look to guess their velocity on their pitches as a radar gun tracks it.

The concessions will offer burgers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs along with a continued partnership with

See LEPRECHAUNS on page 4A

Bipartisan bills seek FOIA reform, increased transparency in state government

BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com

SOUTHFIELD — Michigan is one of two states where the governor’s office and lawmakers are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

The law, established in 1976, states that people “are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and public employees, consistent with this act. The people shall be informed so that they may fully participate in the democratic process.”

Sens. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, and Ed McBroom, RVulcan, said they are striving for more.

They said they want to increase transparency in Michigan’s government with the introduction of Senate Bills 669 and 670.

Moss and McBroom have served together in the Michigan House since 2015. They said the proposed bills aim to provide residents and journalists with improved state government transparency by allowing the public to request records from Michigan lawmakers and the governor’s office.

According to a press release by the Michigan Senate, SB 669 and 670 differ from past efforts. This new approach includes the Legislature in FOIA, instead of creating a separate open records act for the state House and Senate. The bill sponsors have reformed SBs 669 and 670 with newly added input from the office of the majority leader and the Senate Business Office.

On Feb. 7, the Senate Oversight Committee held a meeting for Moss and McBroom to share their testimonies on the bills. During the meeting, concerns were expressed that the bills contain special exemptions for the Legislature and governor’s office that are too broad and should be amended before moving forward.

The same day, House Bills 5422-5427 were introduced by House Republicans. This bill package would implement a set time frame for governments to produce records. It would increase fines and penalties for public bodies that fail to comply with FOIA requests and support individuals’ ability to take civil action when the government withholds information. It aims to hold government officials accountable by creating an open government commission of mixed political parties and media entities to review FOIA requests regarding the state Legislature and governor’s office. The commission would investigate complaints, issue binding opinions and impose penalties.

“The reality is that there is a Michigan problem here because of the lack of disclosure and transparency from the Leg-

Royal Oak Leprechauns fans fill the stands to cheer on their team during a game last year.

Photo provided by the Royal Oak Leprechauns

Leprechauns

Tania’s Pizza and Ray’s Ice Cream. The Leprechauns will also have their liquor license as well, offering frozen alcoholic drinks.

“Going from ‘I’m going to a ball game,’ it’s so much more, and the league expects it to be so much more,” Sackett said.

The Leprechauns, a nonprofit organization, expect to have almost 10 games this season on ESPN+ with four cameras surrounding the park — in the outfield, along the right and left field lines, and behind the plate.

With potential national media comes field renovations to Memorial Park, which continue to be a topic of conversation.

The additions of the brand new turf infield, dugouts, scoreboard and media deck were just the beginning stages of a continued partnership between the Leprechauns, the city of Royal Oak, and team president and New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu, a Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice graduate.

Sackett said the team has spoken with the Royal Oak City Commission about additions of hospitality suites down the right and left field lines, outfield hospitality suites in left field, a production and media broadcast booth, and potentially a new backstop for more efficient viewing behind the plate.

Sackett said the city and LeMahieu have been more than gracious with their support for the team.

“He’s (LeMahieu) the one that’s really lent us the money to do this, and it is a loan because he doesn’t want to put his money into something and let it go to waste. He’s put about $350,000 into the field, and we’ve put in about $200,000 into it, and we want to put another $100,000 into it.”

From a talent standpoint, manager Jonathan Vance, entering his second season as manager, will have no issue fielding a competitive club with a plethora of hometown talent gracing the roster.

Packed with Division 1 collegiate baseball players, Vance said the roster reflects the type of competition that fans can expect from other Northwoods teams.

“It’s more so guys in the Great Lakes are trying to get their feet wet and learn what college baseball is all about and what it takes to compete at that level, whereas guys in Northwoods have established they can compete at the college level and are try-

ing to learn what it takes to be more of a professional-type player,” Vance said. “With 72 games in 76 days or whatever the exact math is, it’s going to challenge you in some way. You have to learn how to prepare your body to play every day.”

Eligible players must have college eligibility, be a senior in high school committed to play college baseball, or be a recently graduated pitcher with plans on playing at the next level. Players can sign on to play the first or second half of the season, or can commit to playing the full year.

For local players, it’s the perfect setup to not only play in front of a hometown crowd, but hone in on their craft in the meantime.

“I’m really excited,” Novi native and right-handed pitcher Andrew Abler said. “I’m also just excited to play in the summer where it’s warm and you’re with your boys. I know a handful of people on the Leprechauns, and they’re all great guys. I’m really excited to spend the summer with them.”

Abler, a freshman pitcher at Harvard University, led Novi High School to a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 State Championship last year.

The Leprechauns also added another MHSAA state champion in Clemson University freshman and shortstop Jarren Purify, a 2021 state champion with Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett who recently made his collegiate debut for Clemson.

The excitement will kick off before the season even begins, as the Leprechauns will be the sponsoring partners for the Royal Oak St. Patrick’s Day parade, which hasn’t taken place since 2020.

With the new league and added entertainment, expect Memorial Park to be rocking this summer.

“We know about the excitement we have, and then we’re seeing the excitement in our community partners,” Sackett said. “We also see the city is supporting us, so we see a very, very high ceiling. We just got so much we want to do at that park, and it’s going to positively affect the Royal Oak community and the baseball community in Royal Oak, Beverly Hills, Birmingham and Clawson. That’s what we’re excited about.”

The Leprechauns will open the season with a home game on May 27 as the season stretches from May to August.

For more information on the Leprechauns, visit northwoodsleague.com/royaloak-leprechauns.

Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.

& NOTES

RESIDENT CELEBRATES 101 YEARS

BIRMINGHAM — Birmingham resident John Dolan celebrated his 101st birthday Jan. 30.

Dolan was born in Harper Hospital in 1923. He went to Redford High School and Michigan State University before he enlisted in the Army to serve in World War II, and he served in the 26th Infantry Division under Gen. George Patton as a combat infantryman.

Upon his return, he graduated from the University of Michigan. His first family home was on Eton Road in Birmingham. In 1965, he relocated to Chicago, where he started a publishing career, but he moved back to Birmingham in 1974, where he has remained. He has five children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Dolan is a recent cancer survivor who overcame lymphoma through six rounds of chemotherapy and antibody therapy.

Dolan is a big fan of the Detroit Tigers and Lions. He regularly walks to stay active and enjoys having a glass or two of red wine with dinner. He celebrated his birthday at Autumn House Bloomfield Hills.

LEGO FESTIVAL TO COME TO NOVI

NOVI — Brick Fest Live, a festival that showcases all that can be done with Legos, will hit the Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi, March 2-3. The event is modeled as a family event and features hands-on attractions and activities to “inspire, educate and entertain” with Lego bricks, according to the show’s website. Tickets range in price from $20 to $40 and can be purchased online at brickfestlive.com.

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s hockey players took part in the second “Pink in the Rink” hockey event Feb. 10 at the St. Mary’s Athletic Complex. The event was held in support of pediatric cancer charities, with St. Mary’s taking on Birmingham Brother Rice.

Players hold “I SKATE FOR” signs. Those who attended the game also had an opportunity to provide support, with proceeds going to pediatric cancer research and blood cancer research.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Photo provided by Autumn House Bloomfield Hills

Bills

from page 3A

islature and governor’s office in this law. And so it’s elevated through the Flint water crisis and other successive issues that were unique to Michigan,” Moss said. “I am proud to have raised these early alarms on this to the point where people know what you’re talking about when you say ‘FOIA’ in Lansing and ‘FOIA reform.’ And so we’re, hopefully, on the last leg of a very long journey of getting this done.”

“The growth and persistence of support for more transparency in our state government shows how much the public expects and demands us to pass this legislation now,” said McBroom in a statement. “Having laws requiring openness of our government actions and records is a statement of our values in this government of, by, and for the people: it is their government and they must have the right and tools to hold it accountable. In these times of skepticism and cynicism toward our government and elected leaders it is imperative we seek real reforms to empower the citizens and show our faithful execution of our oaths to them.”

Theater

from page 1A

pandemic had “huge effects” on independent art house theaters.

“We are proud that we stayed open and continued to serve people during such a crazy time. We worked hard to try to return to pre-pandemic attendance. And while there were tangible glimmers of hope, we are unable to make the financial commitment necessary to keep The Maple a first-class establishment,” they said in a statement. “Anything less would tarnish what we worked so hard over these years to

Main Office: 13650 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48089 • (586) 498-8000

Editors:

Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com

Annie Bates | (586) 498-1071 | abates@candgnews.com

David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com

Sports: Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com

Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com

Classifieds: For ad rates (586) 498-8100

State Rep. Tom Kuhn, R-Troy, was joined by Republican Reps. Jaime Greene, Donni Steele, Mark Tisdel, David Martin, and Alicia St. Germaine in introducing their plan, which would create the Open Government Commission to oversee FOIA requests and appeals.

“All of our state government needs to be subject to FOIA requests, plain and simple,” said Kuhn, R-Troy. He said a “lack of transparency and accountability is completely unacceptable. Our plan allows for added public oversight of all government and increases penalties for non-compliant public bodies.”

Stacey LaRouche, the press secretary for the governor’s office, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer “believes that state government must be open, transparent, and accountable to taxpayers. She is the first governor in state history to voluntarily disclose personal financial information, income tax returns, travel records, and public calendars online.”

For more information on SBs 669 and 670, visit www.legislature.mi.gov and search ‘669’ and ‘670’.

For more information on House Bills 5422-5427, visit www.legislature.mi.gov and search ‘5422’ and ‘5427.’

build. Like any good story, we don’t know how The Maple Theatre’s tale will end. We just know we have reached the end of our chapter.”

The closure follows the loss of Royal Oak’s Main Art Theatre in June 2021 and Cinema Detroit leaving its Midtown Detroit location in June 2023.

The statement said the theater has made an agreement with Emagine Entertainment to honor its Elite Memberships with a complimentary one-year Emagine Extras membership, noting that outstanding gift cards can be exchanged with an Emagine gift card at the Birmingham 8. Details are available on the Maple’s website.

For retail ad rates: Karen Bozimowski | (586) 498-1032 | kboz@candgnews.com

Legals and Obits: (586) 498-1099

Automotive Advertising: Louise Millar | (586) 498-1054 | lmillar@candgnews.com

Real Estate Advertising: Paula Kaspor | (586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com

‘Thorns’ pays homage to vintage way of filmmaking

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK— Director and writer Douglas Schulze paid homage to the early stages of cinema by creating his newest movie, “Thorns.”

“Thorns” was entirely shot in Michigan at the Motion Picture Institute in Troy and in the Upper Peninsula.

Schulze is a Detroit native who lives in Royal Oak. He is most well-known for his work on 2015’s “The Dark Below,” 1992’s “Hellmaster” and 2002’s “Dark Heaven.”

“For 25 years I have had a film institute in Troy, and I am a Royal Oak resident,” Schulze said. “My day job is to run the institute with 20 other industry technicians and professionals, and we teach a curriculum and a program.”

“There is so much soundstage space,” he said. “On the weekends, I indulge in my lifelong hobby and passion for filmmaking, and that’s where ‘Thorns’ was largely filmed — on the stage of MPI.”

Using editing, the crew would put the shots together from the Upper Peninsula and soundstages of MPI to make it seem as if this was all shot in one place.

The idea stemmed from his love and fascination with the era of cinema that did not use CGI, taking inspiration from films like “Hellraiser,” “The Thing,” and “Alien.”

“Sometimes I wish I could time travel back there,” Schulze said. “So I thought, ‘Why not make that my next movie?’”

The film also features Doug Bradley, a horror icon who played Pinhead in the 1987 movie “Hell-

RIGHT: Doug Bradley takes a photo with a fan wearing a shirt that features Bradley’s Pinhead character from the “Hellraiser” movies at the “Thorns” red carpet premiere at Emagine Royal Oak Feb. 17. ABOVE: Director Douglas Schulze speaks to the audience at Emagine Royal Oak Feb. 17 during the Q&A session held before the red carpet premiere of “Thorns” with Doug Bradley, broadcaster Jay Towers, and Emagine CEO Anthony LaVerde.

Photos by Donna Dalziel

See THORNS on page 9A

Thorns

from page 8A

raiser,” but his experience in the “handmade props” department neither pushed him to accept the job nor made him question taking it.

Bradley said he did not even know prior to speaking with Schulze that the movie “was a retro homage to movies of the ‘Hellraiser’ period.”

“I was only judging the script on its own merits, same as I would any other script that has come to me,” he said.

Eighties horror movies often use “trickery” in their films to create a sense of realness when they utilize special effects, according to Schulze and Bradley.

“CGI is a magnificent tool, and it enables filmmakers to do things that otherwise would simply not be possible,” Bradley said. “It repeats itself; you almost feel like you see explosions in movies and you think, ‘I think I saw you in another movie.’”

He also mentioned that CGI is perfect, and it does not make mistakes.

“With handmade effects, accidents happen. Jean Cocteau said that the mistakes and accidents are where poetry is born,” Bradley said.

Schulze did not want to spoil the movie magic used in “Thorns,” but he did say there were some instances of trickery used to create this movie.

“Dan Phillips served as the main makeup artist on set. He would just show up and have these wild ideas, and then the task was how we would shoot it,” he said.

“We had to ask ourselves how we would use editing, camera angles, and sound effects to make the audience think they are seeing something real.”

According to a press release, “Thorns” has gotten “rave reviews,” from film festivals including Sitges, Brigadoon Festival, FrightFest in London, Monsters of Film, and was the closing night film at the New York City Horror Film Festival. “Thorns” will be showing at select Emagine Theaters beginning on Feb. 23. The film will be shown at Emagine Royal Oak, Emagine Canton, Emagine Novi and Emagine Rochester Hills.

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

Village Players present ‘The Cemetery Club’

BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com

BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Village Players are performing “The Cemetery Club,” by Ivan Menchell, March 8-24.

This is the story of three Jewish widows who regularly visit their husbands’ graves at the local cemetery. However, once Sam, a man visiting his late wife’s grave, enters the picture, friendships are threatened, and romance is sparked.

“The Cemetery Club” is what director Russell Boyle called a “dramedy.” It deals with serious issues of loss and falling in love, but these emotional themes are paired with humor throughout the play.

Boyle was reunited with Ron Otulakowski, the director of his high school freshman and sophomore shows, for the production.

Otulakowski directed theater at Cass Technical High School in Detroit for 43 years. Once he retired, he remained active in the community theater scene.

“It was so exciting that not only was I reconnected with somebody who saw a light in me and brought it out, but he also was such a good actor, and he ended up being the perfect actor for that particular role,” Boyle said.

Boyle emphasized that Otulakowski earned the role based on his talents and his compatibility with the role of Sam.

Boyle’s lifelong friend Andrea KrassMcDonald is the assistant director of the production. The two met while attending Wayne State University about 32 years ago.

“We really bounce off each other creatively,” Boyle said. “We both come from the same school of acting, so we have a similar language when it comes to addressing the cast.”

Boyle said he has been impressed with how well the cast has connected with their characters and one another.

“I kind of forget that we’re doing a play when I see the artists up there doing their thing,” Boyle said. “I feel like when people come to see, the audience, they’re gonna feel like they’re in the living room, hanging out with old friends. And that’s the spirit of the play, because it is about friendship first and foremost.”

For some of the actors, this production is just like hanging out with old friends. Bloomfield Hills residents Sue Chekaway, playing Lucille, and Sally Savoie, playing Ida, have both been a part of the Birmingham Village Players for many years. In a production of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” they played sisters.

“We have a lot of fun, but we definitely get the job done,” Savoie said.

Savoie said they are constantly heightening each other’s performances by giving back and forth to each other while portraying their characters.

“It makes it a very comfortable place to be when you have to play friends onstage and you respect and trust the person, just like you would a good friend,” Chekaway said.

Chekaway has spent a lot of time thinking about the character Lucille. She is reprising the role after 16 years.

She said that while Lucille is one of the most humorous characters in the play, she has a lot of depth to her as a heartbroken woman.

“Comedy is pretty much my forte, but with this role, I get to do some dramatic acting, like cry onstage and things like that,” Chekaway said. “It’s very fulfilling for an actor to get to do all of that in one character that they’re playing.”

Macomb Township’s Sandy Mascow is also reprising her role, as Doris, originally playing her with the Fenton Village Players in 2015.

Savoie said there are three new actors to the Village Players in this play.

“The Village Players is a very open and welcoming group, and I just would love everyone to understand that,” Savoie said. “We welcome everyone, and we kind of call ourselves a family.”

This performance is presented with the support of their Red Carpet Sponsor of the Season, Ameritax Plus of Berkley.

The public can see the show at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays March 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23, and at 2 p.m. Sundays March 10, 17 and 24.

To reserve $25 tickets, call the box office at (248) 644-2075 or visit birmingham vil lageplayers.com.

Photo by Paul Manoian Photography Sally Savoie, Sandy Mascow and Sue Chekaway play three widows in the Birmingham Village Players’ production of “The Cemetery Club” weekends March 8-24.