NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
SELFRIDGE PLAYS HOST TO HISTORIC AIR RACE
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On the morning of March 6, six F-22 Raptor jets of the 1st Fighter Wing took off from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia on a mission nearly 90 years in the making.
Their target: Selfridge Air National Guard Base, an airfield located just off the shores of Lake St. Clair. Their goal: victory at all costs.
So began the 2025 edition of the Mitchell Trophy Air Race, a long-dormant test of speed and skill that traces its very beginnings to the Selfridge and the origins of United States air power.
“The race is an honor to our historical 1st Pursuit Group home — Selfridge Air National Guard Base — and the Mitchell Trophy Air Race actually began at Selfridge in 1922,” Tech. Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster of the 1st Fighter Wing said.
Named after the brother of military aviation advocate Billy Mitchell, the first Mitchell Trophy air races served as tests of speed and skill for the 1st Pursuit Group. According to a state-
TOP: An F-22 Raptor of the 94th Fighter Squadron takes off from Selfridge Air National Guard Base on March 6. Pilots from the 94th, 27th and 71st squadrons flew into Selfridge as part of the Mitchell Trophy Air Race, a historic trophy first awarded to Selfridge-based units in the 1920s and 1930s, now revived as a cross-country training mission for the 1st Fighter Wing. ABOVE: Members of the 94th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base celebrate winning the 2025 running of the Mitchell Trophy Air Race on March 6. The race saw pilots from the 1st Fighter Wing navigate their way
to Langley.
Macomb County nonprofit shines light on plight of foster kids
BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com
MACOMB COUNTY — Through no fault of their own, kids in foster care grow up without the love of a parent or familiarity of a home. Many bounce from place to place, rejected by their caretakers.
“I had one girl who was moved 62 times between the ages of 12 and 18,” said Theresa Toia, founder of Friends of Foster Kids, a nonprofit in Macomb County. “When they’re placed, if the family feels it’s not a good fit, they can just request they’re removed. And after they turn 12, they’re far less likely to be adopted — those kids may never find a permanent home environment.”
Without anyone to guide them, those aging out of the system find themselves greatly disadvantaged in life. Countless studies show a correlation between time spent in foster care and homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse, early parenthood and mental health issues.
Macomb County
from Langley to Selfridge Air National Guard Base and back
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster, 1st Fighter Wing
Theresa Toia, founder of Friends of Foster Kids, surveys a room that is full of gowns and accessories for prom.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
BELOVED K-9 RETIRES AFTER 8 YEARS ON THE FORCE
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
HARPER WOODS —Getting adjusted to retirement can be hard for anyone, but it’s even harder when you don’t yet understand you’re retired. That’s the case for Harper Woods Public Safety Department K-9 Kaiser, who still wants to head to work when he sees his handler put on his uniform.
“He’s ready to go. He wants to go,” said Harper Woods Public Safety Sgt. Steve Johnson, Kaiser’s handler. “He has to be told to stay when I’m walking out the door. It’s going to take time before it settles in and he realizes this is the new normal.”
Kaiser’s retirement was celebrated during a party organized by the nonprofit Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society in his honor March 14 at the AMVETS Center in Harper Woods, where the beloved German shepherd was able to see many of his supporters one final time. His last day at work was Feb. 23, and his official retirement day was March 3, when he was honored by the Harper Woods City Council for his service. At 9 1/2 years old — he’ll turn 10 Oct. 29 — it was time for him to start this new chapter in his life. The average working life for a dog is about seven to 10 years, Johnson said, and while Kaiser is still relatively healthy, arthritis in his lower back has slowed him down a bit.
“Now with his age, the last few tracks over the last
Mott classmates return to their
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — On March 8, 1974, four Mott High School students went out on the town for a night of pinball and teenage antics.
When they got hungry, they stopped at the White Castle on Dequindre Road just south of 12 Mile Road to munch on sliders and down Coca-Colas.
“We gathered here on little stools looking out the window,” Piechura recalled of that initial ritual.
That night, the teenagers — Rick Piechura, Walt Bigorski, Thomas Huegien and Dave Lamberti — made a pact to meet at 6 p.m. every March 8 at the same White Castle for dinner and friendship.
All four kept their promise, and for 51 years the “March 8th Club” has met for a meal every year since 1974. And since that time,
year or so, his stamina has (been reduced),” Johnson said. “He still has the mindset to do it, but his body has taken a toll.”
Johnson, who was promoted to sergeant in April 2024, joined the Harper Woods Public Safety Department in April 2013, after about three years with the Highland Park Police Department. Early on, he expressed interest in starting a K-9 program in Harper Woods.
“I was always a dog lover, and I knew police dogs were some of the highest trained and most loyal,” Johnson said. “I knew there was a lot of work involved, but the reward was invaluable.”
Johnson approached GPAAS to see if the nonprofit might be willing to raise funds to cover K-9 program costs, such as veterinary care, food, equipment and a specially outfitted K-9 vehicle — all expenses the city would have otherwise had to come up with at a time when money was already tight.
GPAAS, which opened an animal shelter in Harper Woods in 2012, created a legal agreement with the city of Harper Woods circa 2015 that enabled GPAAS to hold fundraisers for the Harper Woods K-9 program. GPAAS Executive Director Corinne Martin said GPAAS would then turn over money raised to the city to cover costs associated with having a K-9.
“For me, it’s been an incredible journey having an opportunity to work with a K-9, to see their intelligence,
‘castle’ for annual reunion
Harper Woods Public Safety Department Sgt. Steve Johnson is accompanied by K-9 Kaiser, who recently retired.
Photo by K. Michelle Moran
In 1974, the March 8th Club began meeting once a year for dinner at the White Castle on Dequindre Road just south of 12 Mile Road in Warren.
Photo by Maria Allard
ment from Selfridge’s 127th Wing of the Air National Guard, six pilots commanded open-cockpit biplanes in a five-lap race over a 20-mile-long course marked by pylons. Lt. Donald Stace was the first pilot to complete the 100-mile challenge, claiming the first Mitchell Trophy on Oct. 14, 1922. Mitchell Trophy races ran until 1936.
Nearly 90 years since the race’s last running, much has changed with American air power and the participating units. The United States Air Force is now its own branch of the military. The 1st Pursuit Group that formed the initial base of competitors has become the 1st Fighter Wing and moved to Virginia. It upgraded from biplanes to the state-of-the-art F-22. With a glass cockpit, supersonic capabilities, radar-absorbing surfaces, beyond-visual-range combat capabilities and supermaneuvrability, the F-22 is a far cry from the wood and canvas biplanes that made up Selfridge’s early fleets.
The rules of the air race have changed as well. Instead of laps around pylons that dazzle spectators, the race now tests pilots’ abilities to take off, land, navigate in the air and ready their aircraft with minimal support. The roster of competitors has remained the same with six planes in teams of two representing the 1st Fighter Wing’s three component squadrons — the 27th, 71st and 94th Fighter Squadrons — with one pilot tasked with carrying out the challenges and the second serving as support.
“Our wing’s intent with this is that 1st Fighter Wing airmen will face adversities that are resourced and determined to disrupt our techniques, our tactics and procedures at all phases of combat,” ColemanFoster said. “Our airmen must be able to execute effective combat operations in dynamic environments that lack information and time; that is an overarching item that we try to stress ourselves on when it comes to training and preparing for doing what we need to do.”
The training nature of the modern air race means this edition was no spectator affair. While pilots from Langley often dazzle crowds with the F-22 Demonstration Team, the air race was strictly business with only a limited heads-up given to the public via social media.
Upon receiving their orders at Langley, the teams had to inspect, arm, fuel and launch their jets for the sprint to Selfridge. Once the pilots navigated their way to Selfridge without outside support, the main pilot was tasked with running two miles
across the base in freezing temperatures and 30 mph winds to the Selfridge Military Air Museum to add their name to the guest register while the second stayed behind to inspect and refuel the jets.
Capt. “Marbro” of the 27th Fighter Squadron, identified by his callsign, was the first to mark their name in the register, followed by Lt. Col. “Devil,” commander of the 94th Fighter Squadron. “Devil’s” time at the museum was prolonged by shaking hands with about 20 bystanders before making his way back to the flight line. This, however, would prove no more than a speedbump for “Devil” and teammate, Capt. “Rizz,” as the team took off from Selfridge and became the first duo to make its way back to Langley, claiming the Mitchell Trophy for the 94th Fighter Squadron.
The air race was not the first time F22s have been to Selfridge — the demonstration team served as the headlining act for the base’s 2022 air show and open house — and 2025 is a pivotal time for Selfridge to play host to a contest for advanced fighter aircraft. While the 127th Wing’s refueling mission seems secure after the arrival of new KC-46A Pegasus tanker planes, the A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter mission has yet to find a suitable replacement once the planes are no longer part of the Air Force’s arsenal. Attempts to bring an F-35 Lightning II mission to the base have borne no fruit with Selfridge being passed up to host a foreigncustomer training academy in 2023, and base supporters have since turned to finding other ways of attracting a replacement fighter mission to the base. Members of Michigan’s congressional delegation have been campaigning for a F-15EX Eagle II program to be stationed at Selfridge, and the state has allocated $13 million to expand the base’s runway to the north in hopes of attracting a fighter mission.
“The opportunity to showcase Selfridge’s capabilities during the Mitchell Trophy Air Race is a testament to the enduring fighter mission that’s been here for more than a century,” Brig. Gen. Matthew Brancato, commander of the 127th Wing and Selfridge Air National Guard Base, said via press release. “As the largest Air National Guard installation in the United States, Selfridge is equipped to handle the most advanced aircraft and weapons systems in the military fleet.”
Plans for future runnings of the Mitchell Trophy Air Race remain up in the air at press time.
Comedy shows to benefit families coping with childhood cancer
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
WARREN — Laughter can help pull us through the most difficult parts of life. A comedy benefit is being planned that organizers hope will provide some levity and help families dealing with the strain of childhood cancer.
The nonprofit Comedy 4 Cancer’s One 4 The Road show will raise funds for families dealing with childhood cancer March 29. All proceeds from the event go toward helping families.
JD Marshall, Comedy 4 Cancer’s founder, knows the importance of laughter as a parent of a child who died from cancer.
“I like that we are able to give families an escape from reality with the shows,” Marshall said. “I think that was the biggest reason I wanted to do them because comedy was my escape, sitting in hospice for that long. Every once in a while, I would watch something to laugh to keep from crying.”
Comedians Jeremiah Goldmain, Darren Lewis, Paul Pipitone, Craig McGaughey and Bill Smith will be performing at the event. While the show benefits families, the material might not be suitable for every member of the family. Marshall said all the comedians have been in previous shows.
“For me, it was a no-brainer getting them,” Marshall said.
Marshall recognizes the difficulties for families who travel to get care for children who have cancer, sometimes traveling
out of state for the right care. Marshall said he knew he would get involved in fundraising at some point following his experience with his daughter. He saw families where a parent needed to take time off of work to care for their child.
“We just kept hearing stories about how many families were struggling financially,” Marshall said. “It’s just something that doesn’t get a lot of coverage. Then again, who thinks of children having cancer? Most people identify with it from the TV commercials. It’s not until you live it that you start realizing it’s not as rare as people think it is. That was the inspiration behind it.”
Comedy 4 Cancer started in 2015, eight days before Marshall’s daughter, Stephaine, went into hospice. Stephaine was a comedy fan. Prior to her death, she had the opportunity to spend 20 minutes with Gabriel Iglesias.
“She said the best day of her life was meeting Gabriel Iglesias,” Marshall said.
Every year, Comedy 4 Cancer does a benefit to celebrate Stephaine’s life. Over the years, Marshall estimates that the charity has raised over $900,000.
“I feel like if that meeting never happened, I don’t know how far I would’ve went with this,” Marshall said.
Marshall said losing a child was the “lowest point” of his life.
“It’s like anything that happened before that is now just
See COMEDY on page 9A
Photo provided by JD Marshall Gabriel Iglesias, left, and JD Marshall pose for a picture with Marshall’s daughter Stephaine.
Foster
Forced out into the world upon reaching adulthood, they’re left to fend for themselves without any relatives to help them. Many don’t know how to buy groceries, Toia said, let alone manage their bank accounts, credit score, documents, a lease, or a job to pay the bills.
“The tragedy is there is so much instability in their lives. Even the caseworkers they know growing up are always changing, moving into different positions,” Toia said. “There’s such a huge turnover in employment of caseworkers, which I’m sure is due to stressors — all the pressure put on them by government reporting, and what they see and have to do.
“As a result, many older children form behavioral issues and end up in facilities,” she said. “Just imagine having all this shoved down your throat as a young adult. That’s why so many age out. They figure they will have a better shot out there trying to make life on their own. So, they go to court and apply for emancipation — that’s becoming a free adult person, as early as 16 years old. But they still don’t know how to live independently.”
‘The statistics are staggering’
According to the National Foster Youth Institute, about 50% of the homeless population has spent time in foster care. About 25% of youth who were in foster care at age 17 and surveyed at 21 said they had been homeless at some point in the last two years.
Those aging out of the system are at highest risk. Up to 36% of them become homeless during the transition to adulthood,
per the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.
Disruptions to education are also common — the result of constantly readjusting to new homes or schools, and trying to process the stress and trauma that comes with it.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, just 71% of youth who were in foster care at age 17 earned their high school diploma or GED by 21, compared to nearly 90% for the general high school population.
Another study by the KIDS COUNT Data Center showed that 20% of youth in foster care at 17 and surveyed at 21 had not earned an educational degree, diploma, certificate or license of any kind.
Young people with foster care experience are also more likely to become early parents compared to their peers. Around
22% of those in foster care at 17 and surveyed at 21 had welcomed a child in the last two years, compared to 6% for the general population, according to KIDS COUNT.
The same research group found that just 56% of youth in foster care at 17 were currently employed part-time or full-time at 21. They also found that 16% of young adults with foster care experience have been incarcerated in the last two years.
Another study, by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that nearly 20% of state prisoners and nearly 10% of federal prisoners have spent time in foster care.
Substance abuse is another issue. A study by the Journal of Adolescent Health showed youth in foster care were twice as likely to engage in illicit drugs, five times as likely to be drug dependent, and up to four times as likely to have other substance use
disorders.
“The statistics are staggering,” Toia said. “Things need to change.”
Spreading happiness and hope
It was right after Christmas in 2005 when Toia’s daughter Jessica — then a caseworker for foster kids in Macomb County — made a fateful observation.
“She told me that for the second year in a row, due to the economic downturn, none of the kids in her caseload received anything for Christmas. And I said, ‘Oh my god, Jessica, that can’t happen.’ She said, ‘What are you going to do, Mom — buy them all a gift?’ And actually, we tried to do just that. My friends and I decided to sponsor children and build them a Christmas,” Toia said.
For that first holiday season in 2006, Toia and company arranged gifts for about 50 kids.
“I went to drop off those stacks of gifts at the county, so the caseworkers could bring them to the children, when the supervisor wished there were more parents like us. I said we’ll just do this every year, and that’s when I was told these weren’t even all the ones in the county — there were almost 900 that year. So we knew we had to change things,” she said.
What began as an operation out of Toia’s home quickly expanded into its own location in Sterling Heights, and recently Shelby Township where it continues today. Friends of Foster Kids filed for nonprofit status in 2008 and was approved in 2011.
In addition to the Christmas gifts, the group manages Hats Off To Grads, a program that provides older foster kids with furniture, appliances and other items for their
Once
Theresa Toia, founder of Friends of Foster Kids, second from left, meets with her “angels,” as she calls her volunteers.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
home, as well as any supplies they may need for school or work.
Both programs start by collecting information such as the recipient’s first name, gender, age, ethnicity — since young girls often like to have dolls that look like them, Toia said — clothing sizes, favorite color, whether any siblings were placed with them, and any special needs, as well as their interests and hobbies. The recipients also share three wishes.
The sponsors are asked about their preferences and price range, and then a match is made. The sponsor delivers the items to the Friends of Foster Kids site in Shelby Township, and the group takes it from there, ensuring the gifts reach the recipient, wherever they may be.
For the kids, the Christmas program can be the highlight of their year, Toia said. And for the adults in Hats Off To Grads, the donations can be life-changing.
“Some of them are moving into a career they’ve already started working in, like one man who was going to be a bricklayer and was asking for items like steel-toed shoes, knee pads, specific trowels he needed, 5-gallon buckets. Or the young lady who was going into nursing school who needed non-slip nursing shoes, scrubs, a stethoscope. There were specific things they needed and couldn’t afford, and this allowed them to pursue their careers,” Toia said.
‘You want to do more’
Amy Sheehan began volunteering with Friends of Foster Kids about 15 years ago. She started out wrapping gifts, and later
coordinated fundraisers and applied for grants.
“Once you’ve done one thing, you want to do more — you see the need and the effect it has, and you just naturally gravitate,” Sheehan said.
She said donations are critical.
“It makes a huge difference for us. Unlike a widget shop, we don’t build anything to sell, so we have to rely on the generosity of others, whether it’s someone dropping off coats or running a fundraiser on our behalf,” Sheehan said. “We rely on the goodwill of people to help the kids.”
Currently, Friends of Foster Kids has more than 6,000 names on its email list and more than 1,000 volunteers lined up to wrap gifts. Its social media presence includes Facebook and Instagram. Supporters can also donate items through the organization’s wish list on amazon.com.
There are other ways to help as well. Toia described how an orthodontist donated his time giving a girl braces that cured her migraines caused by misaligned teeth. The group has CPAs who help young adults budget and file taxes. There are even lawyers who volunteer to watch the courts and help teens resolve any legal issues they have.
“We’re currently building a mentoring team, recruiting individuals from the community to use their skills to benefit the foster kids directly,” Toia said. “We’re trying to help the foster kids gain all of the life skills they need moving forward.”
To sponsor a child for the Christmas program or Hats Off To Grads, or to inquire about joining the mentoring team or other ways to help, call (586) 307-4438, or email info@friendsof fosterkids.org. To donate, mail checks made payable to “Friends of Foster Kids” to 51341 Celeste Drive, Shelby Township, MI 48315. More information is available at friendsoffosterkids.org.
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office to host crime victim symposium
MACOMB COUNTY — The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Victim Rights Unit will be presenting “Kinship, Connecting, and Healing for Crime Victims: A Community Resource Symposium,” a special event designed to provide support and resources to crime survivors. The free symposium will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11 at the Mount Clemens Public Library, located at 150 Cass Ave. in Mount Clemens. A complimentary lunch will be provided in a supportive environment where attendees can connect with professionals and peers. No registration is required to attend. For more information, call Heather J. Morman at (586) 469-5675.
Puppy Parade coming back next month
UTICA — April is national prevention of cruelty to animals month. Utica will observe the month with its annual Puppy Parade from 2 to 4 p.m. April 26. Pets of all ages are welcome. The parade will begin at Grant Park and end at Pioneer Park Dog Park.
There will be a food truck, vendors, a bounce house, the Eisenhower High School marching band and special guests.
— Kara Szymanski
We’re never done making health care better.
the intuitiveness, watching them train — it’s made me a better trainer myself and taught me things about dogs I didn’t know,” Martin said. “It’s something I will carry with me forever.”
Kaiser was born in the Czech Republic in 2015 and was selected by Johnson at a training facility in America in October 2016, when he was about a year old. Johnson could see Kaiser’s drive, even as a puppy. After training with Johnson, Kaiser officially joined the Public Safety Department in January 2017.
Over his career, Kaiser participated on more than 500 calls for service in Harper Woods and the Grosse Pointes — which have a mutual aid agreement — as well as neighboring cities including St. Clair Shores, Detroit, Eastpointe, Roseville and Warren. His successful tracks led to multiple arrests, including a suspect who fled from police and was hiding under a box truck in 2018.
“We would have never found him if not for the dog,” Johnson said. “Even as a handler, I was confused about why (Kaiser) was trying to pull me under the truck.”
Where the suspect had hidden, he wasn’t visible to the officers looking for him.
In 2019, an intoxicated female driver who had fled on foot from an accident scene was found in a ditch with Kaiser’s help. During a 2021 track for a robbery suspect, Kaiser located a stolen wallet discarded by the suspect. While assisting another department in 2021 following a carjacking, Kaiser found a bag and a weapon that the suspect had attempted to hide in an overgrown alley, Johnson said.
Tom Price, a retired St. Clair Shores Police Department K-9 handler whose dogs were the late Axe and then Maz, trained with Johnson and Kaiser for many years.
“He’s had some great finds,” Price said of Kaiser. “He’s been a pillar of the community. … I’m very happy Kaiser’s going out with a bang.”
Price was also impressed by Johnson, who he said has the patience and intelligence to be a good handler.
“He’s a phenomenal cop,” Price said. “As a dog trainer, he’s great — he’s one of the best.”
The years with Kaiser have flown by, and going to work without him has been a challenging adjustment for Johnson.
“It’s been the best job in the world and before you know it, the career with the dog is at the end,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who became a trainer himself at the facility where he and Kaiser trained, is interested in becoming a handler for a new dog, should the city decide to get one. Being a dog handler is an around-the-clock responsibility because the handler has to care for the dog at home as well as at work, but handlers like Johnson say it’s worth it.
“Although it was a lot of additional work, it ended up being one of the best jobs I could have ever had,” Johnson said. “There’s a good feeling when you’re called to assist in any kind of tracking because you know other departments are relying on you and your training and tracking (skills) to find a bad guy or to find a missing child.”
Martin said there’s about $47,000 left in K-9 funds raised by GPAAS, which Harper Woods could use to acquire a new dog — something she said would be wonderful for the community.
“They’re a great tool, not only helping with crime (fighting), but also with community relations and deterring crime and keeping people and officers safe,” Martin said.
Kaiser provided a bridge between the Public Safety Department and the public, a way for residents to connect with the officers. Johnson said he did “countless demonstrations” with Kaiser at schools in Harper
Woods and the Grosse Pointes.
“Still today, I run into some kids who remember Kaiser from an assembly,” Johnson said.
As a puppy, Kaiser had had limited contact with adults and none with children, but he has since been socialized with people of all ages and is a friendly dog.
“It’s been very rewarding, seeing a bunch of kids playing in a neighborhood and they see the K-9 truck and they get excited,” Johnson said, recalling often stopping on these occasions so the children could see Kaiser and pet him.
“He’s just always happy,” Johnson said. “He’s a very cheerful dog.”
Except, that is, when it comes to his cherished red Kong ball. The ball — Kaiser’s reward after working or training — is some-
thing he doesn’t give up easily, Johnson said. Johnson and his wife, who live in New Baltimore, have a 9-year-old daughter and twin 5-year-old sons. Kaiser has a strong bond with all the kids, but especially with Johnson’s daughter, who was only a baby when he brought Kaiser home and who became the first child the dog got to know. Johnson’s wife also has a cat, but he said Kaiser and the cat “don’t pay any attention to each other.”
Johnson still does some training with Kaiser to keep him busy and keep his mind active. But otherwise, he’s just a pet these days.
“He’s just living at home,” Johnson said. “He’s going to vacation with the family a few times this summer and enjoy a relaxing retirement.”
a blur,” he said. “You’re never going to unsee that image. It’s sad for anyone to have to deal with it. It’s literally the most heartbreaking thing that’s happened in my life.”
Comedy 4 Cancer also provides monthly gifts for children facing cancer, according to their interests, Marshall said. He said the organization has provided about 900 gifts since it started.
Comedy 4 Cancer is the live event offshoot of A Mission of Love, which provides emotional support for families coping with cancer, along with the financial help. A Mission of Love started in 2014.
“Through the biggest tragedy of my life, the one triumph I have is meeting some of the greatest people,” Marshall said. “On this journey we’ve met celebrities, we’ve met
kids that are stronger than any human being you’ve ever met.”
The event will take place from 7-10 p.m. March 29 at the Knights of Columbus hall at 22040 Ryan Road.
Comedy 4 Cancer will have another benefit, One Last Laugh, at 6 p.m. April 12 at UAW Local 228, 39209 Mound Road in Sterling Heights. The event, which happens each April near the date Stephaine passed, will be the last event for the nonprofit in its current form.
Marshall said the April event caps off 10 years since he lost his daughter, making it the right time to make a change.
“My last show on April 12 is not me walking away from the charity at all,” Marshall said. “It’s exactly the opposite; it’s going for bigger and better and letting somebody else run the comedy shows.”
For more information about both events, go to comedy4cancer.com.
CANDGNEWS.COM
Reunion
more club members have joined. No matter what is going on in their lives, the guys make time for their annual White Castle meetup.
The group last gathered March 8, 2025. Approximately 25 guys showed up at the fast-food restaurant for conservation, burgers and a celebratory cake. The marquee outside even read “Happy March 8th.”
“It started as a joke. Now it took on a life of its own,” Bigorski said. “It feels very comfortable. Just to be around them, it’s like an old pair of shoes.”
“We’re trying to make it a national holiday,” Piechura said.
In honor of their tradition, White Castle staff gave the “regular customers” their meals for the same price it cost them in 1974. For 98 cents each, they dined on three hamburger sliders, French fries and soft drinks.
Restaurant officials also created a commemorative cup dedicated to the bunch. Another tradition is the T-shirts Lamberti designs each year for the group. This year’s emblem paid homage to Area-51 in observance of the group’s 51st anniversary.
Sadly, one of the original members was missing: Huegien, who died several years ago.
“It’s been a while now,” Bigorski said. “We still talk about him.”
“Tom was a great guy,” Piechura said. “He had been with us since junior high. A really big music guy.”
Life was somewhat carefree five decades ago.
“We didn’t focus too much on the future,” Bigorski said. “It was more about hang-
ing out and spending time with each other.”
“Richard Nixon was president, and the Vietnam War was still on,” said Mario Cardillo, 73, who connected with the group through his wife Mary, who attended Mott. “I kind of married into the family. My first year was in 1987.”
The restaurant also went through some changes over the years, including adding a drive-thru window.
Although March 8 is their big day, the guys keep in touch throughout the years with cellphone calls and emails. They’ve been to family weddings and “the life stuff that just connects you,” Bigorski said.
Some of the gang now live out of state. If they can’t make it in person for the reunion, the rule is they must call and check in. John Malaker, 67, who resides in Florida, did just that.
“I try to make it every other year,” said Malaker, who graduated from Mott in 1976. “We’ve known each other for 50 years. It’s a blast. It’s not like we’re friends; we’re family.”
Three years ago, Bob Baron, 67, attended his first March 8th Club gathering.
“I showed up seeing people I hadn’t seen since high school graduation,” the Warren resident said. “I’m glad to see the same people I graduated with.”
“In the fifth year I became a member,” Tommy Ross, 66, said. “This is fun.”
“It’s a beautiful thing,” Cardillo said.
While White Castle is the reason the March 8th Club began, dinner was not the only item on the menu. The group spent the whole day together. The fun began with breakfast at the Kerby’s Koney Island in Bloomfield Township. Then it was time for an indoor Frisbee activity Al Kettinger organized. After their White Castle meal, it was off to the Cadieux Cafe in Detroit for feather bowling and more camaraderie.
