5/23/24 Grosse Pointe Times

DEATH OF WOODS CITY COUNCILMAN

THOMAS VAUGHN IS

‘A TREMENDOUS LOSS’

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

WOODS — Intelligent. Upbeat. Caring. Humble. Successful. Energetic. Family-oriented. These are just some of the words that those who knew him used to describe Grosse Pointe Woods City Councilman Thomas Vaughn, who died May 11 at the age of 68 after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.

“It’s a tremendous loss for our city and for our residents,” said Woods City Councilwoman Vicki Granger, who considered Vaughn a friend and knew him and his family for many years. “I will miss him a lot. I know a lot of other people will, too. He leaves a legacy of excellence.”

Vaughn was appointed to fill a council vacancy in March 2021, but his service to the Woods started in 1983. Among the tasks he took on were serving on the city’s Senior Citizens’ Commission and later the Planning Commission, where he was recognized in April 2021 for 20 years of service.

A native of the Grosse Pointes, Vaughn attended Our Lady Star of the Sea School and Austin Catholic Preparatory School. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with both his Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor degrees and started working for the Detroit of-

See VAUGHN on page 21A

13th

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

WOODS — The 13th annual Community Luncheon — held May 17 at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods — brought representatives from schools, cities, nonprofits and religious institutions together to celebrate someone who holds a special place in

the hearts of many.

C. Suzanne Klein — who was the Grosse Pointe Public School System’s first female superintendent and longest-serving superintendent — was the guest of honor this year. The luncheon was held inside the North High School Library/Media Center, which was just renamed the C. Suzanne Klein Library in her honor.

See KLEIN on page 22A

Thomas Vaughn

During the

annual Community Luncheon May 17, Grosse Pointe Woods Mayor Arthur Bryant presents former Grosse Pointe Public School System Superintendent C. Suzanne Klein with a proclamation from the Michigan Legislature to mark the Grosse Pointe North High School library being named in Klein’s honor.

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

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Pointes to mark Memorial Day with annual remembrance programs

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

WOODS/FARMS — Memorial Day is a solemn holiday set aside to acknowledge those who lost their lives in service to their country, and in the Grosse Pointes, there are two programs on that day that pay tribute to members of the military who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Grosse Pointe Woods’ 42nd annual Memorial Day program will take place starting at 10 a.m. May 27 in the Veterans’ Memorial Parkway Circle of Honor, a large median on Vernier Road near Mack Avenue. It’s open to anyone, not just Grosse Pointe Woods residents, and is sponsored by the Grosse Pointe Woods Historical Commission.

Woods Mayor Arthur Bryant said the event usually draws about 300 to 400 people.

“It’s a very nice small-town event,” Bryant said.

Woods City Councilman Kenneth Gafa — who is the council liaison to the Historical Commission — said this event is well attended and supported by the community.

“It’s a nice event honoring those who served,” Gafa said.

Although some chairs will be provided, attendees are encouraged to bring their own as seats fill up quickly.

The Swing Shift Orchestra under the direction of Lynne Henry will perform. Retired U.S. Naval Nurse Corps Cmdr. Janine L. Maisonneuve will give the keynote address.

“They wanted to highlight women in the service,” Bryant explained.

A cannon will be fired in honor of late Woods resident Mason Ferry, of Grosse Pointe Woods, a U.S. Army veteran and history buff who supported the Grosse Pointe Historical Society and other local nonprof-

Arbor Day student poster contest displays ‘tree’mendous creativity

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

PARK — Students at schools in Grosse Pointe Park once again demonstrated their ability to be thoughtful and creative through entries in the Grosse Pointe Park Beautification Commission’s 2024 Arbor Day poster contest.

The poster contest winners were announced during a May 13 Park City Council meeting.

“I think this is probably the best item on the agenda,” Mayor Michele Hodges said.

The contest is open to fourth graders and students in split third/fourth grade classrooms. This year, organizers said there were 108 entries from a pool of 178 students in seven classrooms at three different schools.

Beautification Commission member Pat Deck, who chairs the contest, said commission members judge the entries blindly — they don’t know who created the posters or what classes or schools they’re from.

Beautification Commission member Pat Deck, who chairs the contest,

LEFT: From left, Grosse Pointe Park Mayor Michele Hodges looks on as poster contest runner-up Cecily Filippone is presented with a city tile by City Councilman Brent Dreaver.

BELOW: Defer Elementary School student Catherine Palmer holds her Arbor Day poster contest entry, which won first place in Grosse Pointe Park’s poster contest this year.

Photos by K. Michelle Moran

Community events to show support to end gun violence

BOARD OF EDUCATION DIVIDED OVER WEAR ORANGE RESOLUTION

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

GROSSE POINTES — Students and community members will be taking a public stand against gun violence in conjunction with Wear Orange Weekend June 7 to 9 and National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which takes place the first Friday in June — June 7 this year.

From 5 to 9 p.m. May 30, Otherworld & Mums Arcade on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe City will host Flowers & Fun, an allorange event with free arcade games, snacks and beverages during which visitors can purchase orange flowers, orange tree ribbons and orange lights for Wear Orange Day.

At 6 p.m. June 6, Grosse Pointe North High School students have organized a gun violence awareness panel discussion that will be held at the Woods Branch of the Grosse Pointe Public Library in Grosse Pointe Woods. Participants will include a member of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s staff and a professor from the University of Michigan Firearm Injury Prevention Department.

Before school starts, at 7:25 a.m. June 7, North students will conduct a Wear Orange sign-waving rally across the street from North on Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods.

Community members are invited to take part in a silent vigil from 4 to 5 p.m. June 7 in front of Grosse Pointe Woods City Hall on Mack Avenue during which they can proclaim whom they’re wearing orange for or honoring.

This is an issue that hits close to home for many in the community. In February 2023, the Grosse Pointe Public School System lost two of its own to a mass shooting on the Michigan State University campus that claimed the lives of North graduate Arielle Anderson, 19, of Harper Woods, and Grosse Pointe South High School graduate Brian Fraser, 20, of Grosse Pointe Park.

Marissa Ford, a junior at North, was one of the students who started a chapter of Students Demand Action at North a few years ago because, as she told the Board of Education at a meeting May 6 at Brownell Middle School, “We were tired of the continuous instances of hearing about school shootings, so we wanted a way to take action.”

She asked the board to approve a resolution in support of Wear Orange Day, as it did last year.

“This year, if you choose to vote against Wear Orange, you are disrespecting the countless victims of gun violence, by choosing to avoid the subject and ignore the public health crisis that exists in our country,” Ford told the board. “Gun violence is the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens in America, and multiple times a year we all have to participate in lockdown drills because of the threats to our safety. Therefore, gun violence is clearly relevant to every single student and teacher in this school district, and officially acknowledging this one day a year is the least that this school district could do to acknowledge this crisis.”

A Wear Orange resolution was in front of the Grosse Pointe Board of Education May 6.

“I’m very impressed that we have local students participating in government this way,” Board member Valarie St. John said.

She said the resolution allowed administrators at each school building to mark the day in the way they felt best suited that school.

“There is no obligation on our staff for this,” St. John said.

Board member Colleen Worden also supported the resolution “100%,” she said.

“This is a really good way of bringing awareness to gun violence,” said Worden, who said she sees the impact of gun violence all the time in her job as a prosecutor.

However, others on the board objected to the resolution.

Board member Virginia “Ginny” Jeup said Everytown for Gun Safety — the organization behind the Wear Orange movement — was “not a bipartisan (organization).”

Everytown for Gun Safety is a grassroots group but does support political candidates who, according to its website, “have demonstrated that they will govern with gun safety.”

“This is a politically charged resolution,” Jeup said. “It brings about no meaningful change.”

Board member Terrence Collins agreed.

“I wouldn’t want a student to feel they’ve done something wrong … if they

Events

don’t wear orange on that day,” Collins said.

He said the district could agree to a resolution “every day” for the many important issues facing young people, such as the increase in drug overdoses.

St. John said the Wear Orange campaign has been championed by students in the Pointes.

“I think it’s dangerous, or not in our purview, to suggest to administrators what the right or wrong thing to do is,” said Collins, noting that National Gun Violence Awareness Day is already a recognized state and federal date.

Collins acknowledged that he worked for a gun manufacturer about 10 years ago.

Board member Lisa Papas said she felt it would be “much more meaningful” to do something in the names of the GPPSS students who were lost to gun violence last year, rather than to approve a resolution that names Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago girl lost to gun violence in 2013. Pendleton’s friends launched the Wear Orange movement in her honor.

“We are living in a time when students are constantly protesting about something. … It’s really losing its meaning,” Papas said. “I don’t think gun violence is something anyone is unaware of.”

She said she “grudgingly” supported this resolution in 2023 but couldn’t do so again this year.

Board President Sean Cotton said “quite a few” parents were uncomfortable with the resolution last year. He said the group behind the Wear Orange campaign is “a very political organization.”

“I’m very much for gun safety,” Cotton said.

St. John said she wasn’t advocating that the school district raise funds for Everytown, and pointed out that the resolution was brought to her by a student.

“Firearms are the leading cause of death

among children in Michigan,” St. John said, adding that students are traumatized by school lockdowns and drills. “This is a way for them to be proactive.”

St. John told Papas she would be happy with changing wording in the resolution to include the names of the local students lost to gun violence. Some on the board were concerned that the Anderson and Fraser families might not want their names on the resolution; St. John said she could talk to them first to find out.

“I’m not interested in amending this resolution,” Papas said.

St. John and Worden voted in favor of the Wear Orange resolution but Cotton, Papas, Collins, Jeup and Board Vice President Ahmed Ismail voted against it, so the resolution failed.

St. John said she would rewrite the resolution for the board to consider during its next regular meeting May 28.

Grosse Pointe Park resident Michelle White spoke in support of a National Gun Violence Awareness Day resolution that the Park City Council unanimously approved as part of its consent agenda May 13.

“I am grateful that you recognized the importance of the tragedy that is gun violence. … It’s a public health crisis,” White said.

The Park’s resolution acknowledges the deaths of Fraser and Anderson, as well as the third MSU student to die in the shooting last year, Alexandria Vernier, of Clawson, whose mother worked at North.

White added that she was disappointed the Park council didn’t declare the first Friday in June as Wear Orange Day, however.

Park Mayor Michele Hodges alluded to the political divide over Wear Orange at the meeting.

“It’s always so challenging to figure out where we as a body should land. … Nobody in this community wants gun violence,” Hodges said.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

Memorial Day

from page 3A

its. Ferry died at the age of 84 in September 2023.

The ceremony typically lasts about an hour, organizers said.

For more information, visit gpwmi.us.

The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a patriotic institution with its annual Memorial Day service, which starts at 10 a.m. May 27 on the back, lakefront lawn.

“On Memorial Day, we pay homage to those whose lives were sacrificed in battle and conflict,” War Memorial President and CEO Maria Miller said in a press release. “To take one day to pay tribute to those that gave so much, is the very least we can do as Americans.”

One special aspect of this year’s program will be the dedication of a Revolutionary War patriots’ marker, which is being donated by the Louisa St. Clair chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

“The marker will be dedicated as we reflect on the sacrifices our veterans have made for us,” Louisa St. Clair Chapter Treasurer Deann Newman, who is also a member of the America 250 Committee, said in a press release. “Memorial Day at The War Memorial is a huge family event that has been going on for so many years. Our community is blessed to have The War Memorial do this.”

dedicated during The War Memorial’s annual Memorial Day service May 27.

Miller said they’re very excited about the marker, which will be on permanent display in The War Memorial’s Veterans Gardens.

Music and a recitation of the names of veterans from the Grosse Pointes who died while in the military will be read during the roughly hourlong event.

DAR State Regent Kelly VanWormer will deliver the keynote address.

Although there’s no admission fee at attend, War Memorial officials ask that people who plan on coming register in advance by visiting the event calendar on The War Memorial’s website, warmemorial.org.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

Photo provided by The War Memorial

GROSSE POINTE CITY LOOKING TO BUDGET FOR LONGER TERM

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

CITY — Grosse Pointe City is hoping to brace for financial challenges in the future by budgeting out further.

City Manager Joseph Valentine proposed implementing a three-year balanced budget this year as a way to prepare for lean times and avoid depleting the unassigned fund balance — aka the city’s rainy-day fund. Valentine said a longer-term perspective “gives you more time” to anticipate needs and make changes.

During a March 18 City Council meeting, Valentine shared financial projections for the next five fiscal years, along with a look at where the city has been financially over the last couple of decades.

“We’re at a point now where we need to make some changes,” Valentine said. “We’re going to have to really reassess how we’re doing things here.”

As budget history shows, the city was on the verge of depleting its reserves multiple times over the last two decades as revenues dipped substantially while costs continued to rise. Valentine said “a lot of hard work” by city staff and administrators enabled the city to balance its budgets and continue to offer

the same services.

City Councilwoman Maureen Juip said it’s easy to say the city can just cut costs, but the city has been doing that steadily for the last 17 years.

Since 2007, the city has reduced its staff by 21 positions, going from about 80 fulltime staffers to about 59; eliminated pensions for new hires; contracted out emergency dispatching services; gotten rid of cost-of-living adjustments for active employees; moved to a higher-deductible health care plan; eliminated pay raises in some years and lowered health savings account contributions from 75% to 50%.

After the Great Recession circa 2008, it took until 2022 for the city to get back to its pre-recession tax revenue collection of 2007 — a 15-year span.

“We knew it was going to be 15 years before we got back to where we were,” City Councilman Christopher Walsh said. “We’ve squeezed the lemon for all the juice we could get, and now we’ve got to consider more dramatic measures.”

Valentine’s suggestions to address declining revenues and rising expenditures in the future included reviewing the city’s fee structure to make sure they’re covering their costs, reviewing project estimates to keep from be-

ing surprised by higher-than-expected bids, and looking at ways to find funding other than the city’s operating levy, which reached its cap in 2016 and has been subject to Headlee rollbacks. Another option is exploring opportunities to share services or equipment with neighboring communities, especially when it comes to big-ticket items.

“It’s very interesting to see how much we’ve been doing with so little,” Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak said. “We’ve been doing it on the backs of the employees.”

Tomkowiak said they’ve been concerned about employee retention and need to restore staffing levels at least somewhat and provide incentives to reward and keep the staff they have.

The city also needs to find a way to save for larger projects and purchases, other than relying on savings from the previous fiscal year.

“At some point, I would like to see a line item in the budget for capital improvements,” Tomkowiak said.

NEWS & NOTES

Community makes holidays happier for youngsters

Grosse Pointe Theatre wrapped up its recent successful run of Disney’s “Newsies the Musical” by donating 10 boxes of toys, crayons, winter accessories such as mittens, and other items collected from patrons for the Old Newsboys’ Goodfellows Fund of Detroit — Detroit Goodfellows. GPT partnered with the Goodfellows for this show by asking patrons to bring items that could be given to children during the holidays, when the Goodfellows assemble gift boxes for local children in need in metro Detroit.

GPT’s black box production arm, the Purdon Studio Theatre, will present Michelle Low’s “String of Pearls” May 31 to June 9 at Christ Church Grosse Pointe, 61 Grosse Pointe Blvd. in Grosse Pointe Farms. The show is about a special set of pearls that opens up possibilities in the lives of the women who have them at different points in time. Four actresses will portray 27 characters in the production. For tickets or more information, call the GPT box office at (313) 881-4004 or visit gpt.org.

Informational meeting scheduled on Grosse Pointe City stormwater work and bond

From 6:30 to 9 p.m. June 6 in the second-floor conference room of the Neighborhood Club, 17150 Waterloo St. in Grosse Pointe City, the community is invited to attend an informational meeting about Grosse Pointe City’s proposed sewer separation project and a related bond proposal on the August ballot. A project overview will be presented at the start of the meeting. City officials and engineers will be on hand to answer questions.

The city hopes to undertake work such as additional sewer separation to protect residents and business from experiencing a repeat of the catastrophic, widespread flooding that occurred in the summer of 2021 after heavy rain.

Voters will be asked during the Aug. 6 primary to approve a stormwater sewer separation and capital improvements bond not to exceed $15 million, payable over a term not to exceed 21 years. The estimated millage that would be levied in 2025 is 1.8894 mills, or $1.89 per $1,000 of taxable value, and the estimated simple average annual millage to retire the bonds is 1.884 mills, or $1.88 per $1,000 of taxable value. Almost 80% of the project cost — estimated at nearly $29 million — would be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, greatly reducing the amount that the city needs to levy.

For more information, visit the city’s website at grossepointecity.org.

GET TECH-SAVVY

The Helm at the Boll Life Center, 158 Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, will offer individual assistance on using smartphones, tablets, e-readers and laptop computers from noon to 3 p.m. June 7. The program is free but participants need to register to meet with a volunteer. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call (313) 882-9600.

REMEMBERING D-DAY

On June 6, the War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day — which turned the tide in World War II as the Allies stormed Normandy beaches in France to wrest back control of the country from Nazi Germany. The grounds will open at 5 p.m. that day for the event, which will start at 6 p.m. and will include remarks from Brig. Gen. Michael Lalor, a live air show over Lake St. Clair, a 1940s-era USO concert by the Detroit Rhythm Society and more. Food trucks will be on-site. Guests can also bring their own food and beverages, but by Michigan law, they cannot bring alcohol onto the campus. Attendees are invited to bring their own chairs as well for this program, which is free but requires advance registration by visiting The War Memorial’s website at warmemorial.org.

Along with this event, The War Memorial is hosting “Rise Above,” a traveling exhibition and immersive mobile movie theater that will explore the obstacles faced by the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots. Presented by the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron, “Rise Above” will be on view at The War Memorial from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 5, noon to 7 p.m. June 6, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 7 and 8. The exhibition is free and open to the public, but the trailer — which is climate-controlled and accessible — can only accommodate about 30 to 40 visitors per short movie showing.

Recital to honor musician

Alyssa Campbell will perform a recital in memory of Derek Arthur Francis — a retired member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and former longtime concertmaster of the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra — at 2 p.m. May 25 at First Christian Reformed Church, 1444 Maryland St. in Grosse Pointe Park. Francis died Sept. 19, 2023, at his home in Grosse Pointe Park at the age of 95. A native of England, he moved to the United States when he joined the Dallas Symphony for one season, after which he became a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He taught violin and viola to hundreds of students at places including Oakland University, Schoolcraft College and in his home.

SPRING FLOWER SHOW HELD

The Junior League Gardeners — a group of Junior League of Detroit members — held a public spring flower show May 16 at the Shore Club Community Building in St. Clair Shores. It was the group’s first such show since before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. According to a press release, the event “represents how friendships, a love for creativity, and a passion for natural beauty can bolster one through challenging times.”

LEARN ABOUT NEW VOTING RIGHTS

The League of Women Voters of Grosse Pointe will host a town hall on new voter rights laws — including early voting and how to sign up to be on the permanent absentee ballot list — at 6:30 p.m. May 30 at The Helm at the Boll Life Center, 158 Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. The meeting will cover the new rights voters have acquired since 60% of the electorate passed Proposal 2 of 2022. This event is free but attendees are asked to reserve a seat by visiting lwvgrossepointe.org.

Photo by Dale Pegg

Photo provided by the War Memorial

CRIME WATCH

Trespassing suspect sought

FARMS — A resident in the 100 block of Lake Shore Road contacted police May 4 after an unknown suspect tried to open her front door the day before.

The resident said that at around 7:30 p.m. May 3, she and her husband were startled when an unknown suspect tried the door handle and rattled the door to see if it was locked. The suspect then reportedly looked in a front window. Unable to open the locked door, the resident said the suspect rang the doorbell and began to talk to himself, saying something that sounded like, “This is one of three.” When the suspect noticed residents in the home, he is said to have spoken to them, saying, “I didn’t know anyone actually lived here.” The suspect told the victims he owned some property in the area but he couldn’t find it, then he left the area and headed toward Lake Shore Road.

The resident told police she didn’t call them immediately because she feared retaliation by the suspect. Police said they checked with the owner of a neighboring home that’s currently undergoing renovation, but the homeowner told them he had just been inside the home and it didn’t appear that anyone else had been in there. The suspect could be facing trespassing charges. Anyone with more information can call (313) 885-2100.

Local officers involved in auto theft ring arrests

CITY — Four officers with the Grosse Pointe City Public Safety Department assisted the Troy Police Department, Michigan State Police and other law enforcement agencies during raids on multiple locations May 15 in an effort to shut down a prolific auto theft ring responsible for numerous vehicle thefts in metro Detroit. Police said “multiple suspects” were arrested during these raids.

Youth arrested after attempted vehicle theft

PARK — Police took a youth into custody after the suspect reportedly attempted to steal a 2017 Kia Soul from the 1400 block of Nottingham at around 7:56 a.m. May 17. A police report states that the suspect was seen smashing the driver’s side window on the vehicle by a witness, who contacted police and gave them a description. Police said the suspect admitted he was trying to take the Kia.

Part removed

PARK — Two unknown suspects are said to have removed the catalytic converter from a vehicle while it was parked in an alley behind a residence in the 1200 block of Wayburn Street at around 12:35 a.m. May 15. Police said the victim reported hearing a power saw and witnessed the two suspects fleeing the scene in a minivan. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Cleaning person accused of fraud

CITY — A 28-year-old Taylor woman was arrested in the area of Charlevoix Avenue and Rivard Boulevard during a traffic stop at 9:30 a.m. May 15. Police said the suspect used her work as a cleaning person — which gave her access to people’s homes — to commit identity theft and credit card fraud crimes. At press time, police said charges were pending against her.

Reportedly intoxicated driver facing felony

FARMS — A 33-year-old Ann Arbor man is facing a possible charge of operating while intoxicated, third offense — a felony — after he was found by police to be drunk behind the wheel in the area of Mack Avenue and Roland Road at 12:45 a.m. May 16.

Police said the driver was speeding and swerving when they pulled him over, and he smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and had slurred speech. The driver denied having consumed any alcohol that evening and told police he was heading home to Ann Arbor from his job in Rochester. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.25% in a preliminary breath test — more than three times the legal limit — and was arrested for OWI. Police said they discovered multiple empty White Claw cans strewn about the vehicle’s interior when they inventoried the vehicle’s contents prior to impounding it.

Fraud alleged

FARMS — A 46-year-old Grosse Pointe Park man is said to have defrauded a Grosse Pointe Farms man. According to a report filed with police May 6, the Farms man hired the suspect to build a new deck for him and paid him a deposit of $1,300 via Venmo on May 4, 2022. The Farms man told police that the suspect originally told him the full cost for the job would be $2,400. However, the Farms man said the suspect has failed to do any of the work. The Farms man said the suspect emailed him twice — in December 2022 and May 2023 — to apologize for the lack of progress and explain that he hadn’t been able to complete the work because of

deaths in the family, child care challenges and vehicular problems. The Farms man said he hasn’t heard from the suspect since then and all efforts to reach the suspect have been fruitless. Police said the suspect could be facing larceny by conversion charges.

Vehicle damaged during larceny attempt

FARMS — Sometime between the hours of 10 p.m. May 11 and noon May 12, an unknown suspect is said to have broken out the left front window on a light blue 2014 Chevy Malibu and rifled through the interior contents of the car while it was parked in the 400 block of Fisher Road. The victim told police nothing appeared to have been stolen. Anyone with more information can call (313) 885-2100.

Vehicle thefts reported

WOODS — Two vehicles were recently reported stolen from the North Lot of Ascension St. John Hospital. Between the hours of 6 p.m. May 12 and 4 p.m. May 13, someone stole a 2023 Chevy Camaro. Between 7:12 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 17, someone stole a 2018 Dodge Durango, which the victim noticed was missing when she looked out a hospital window. Anyone with more information about either of these incidents can call (313) 343-2400.

Window broken

FARMS — An unknown suspect is alleged to have broken a basement window on a home in the 400 block of Allard Road sometime before the damage was noticed by the owner at around 2 p.m. May 3. The victim told police none of the other windows or doors appeared to have been tampered with and there were no signs that anyone

had entered the home. A nearby resident with surveillance cameras on his house captured footage of an unidentified SUV or van parked near the victim’s home between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. May 1. Anyone with more information can call (313) 885-2100.

Bike taken

CITY — An unknown suspect is said to have stolen an unlocked purple and teal Trek bike while it was parked in the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue in The Village. Anyone with more information can call (313) 8863200.

Erratic motorist found to be intoxicated

FARMS — A driver who was seen traveling 18 mph on Lake Shore Road near Moran Road — where the speed limit is 35 mph — was pulled over in the area of Lake Shore Road and Beacon Hill at 11:53 p.m. May 3 after police said she kept speeding up and slowing down, swerved in her lane and almost hit the curb multiple times. The driver, a 35-year-old Southfield woman, reportedly smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. Police said she told them she hadn’t consumed much alcohol that evening but failed field sobriety tests told a different tale; in one, when asked to pick a number between 21 and 19, police said she at first stated 85 and then stated 12. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.16% — twice the legal limit — in a preliminary breath test and was arrested for operating while intoxicated. While inventorying the contents of her vehicle prior to impounding it, police said they found two empty half-pints of Patron under the passenger seat.

— K. Michelle Moran

e Whole-Body MRI Debate: Are Doctors Missing Something?

BEHIND THE WHEEL

12A/ GROSSE POINTE TIMES • MAY 23, 2024

Do you own a vehicle with an interesting history?

Contact Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045, and you could be featured in an upcoming Behind the Wheel. For more stories, visit candgnews.com/news/auto or use the QR code.

Dodge Super Bee 1970 creates a buzZ

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — If you were to dig into Mike Mazelis’ vehicle history, you’d find someone who, at one time, had an interest in off-road trucks.

“I was always going out into the mud and mud-bogging and things like that,” he said. “I was always breaking the truck. Every time I’d come back, I’d have to fix something new.”

Eventually, the Warren resident switched gears and found a new pastime: muscle cars. In 2008, while perusing Craigslist, Mazelis found out about a 1970 Dodge Super Bee for sale in Hazel Park. He decided to check out the car, but when he did, it didn’t look like much.

“It was just a shell. There’s nothing on it but wheels. There’s no interior, there’s no engine,” he said. “The engine, transmission and all these boxes were just next to the car.”

Even though he “didn’t have any tools or knowledge” of restoring the car, he purchased the vehicle anyway.

“Everybody’s like, ‘How are you going to do this?” Mazelis, 51, said. “‘How are you even going to put this car together?’”

Mazelis learned from friends, watched YouTube videos and did plenty of reading to learn how to build the Super Bee.

“I spent almost every day of two years to get the car on the road, learning as I went, buying tools as I went,” Mazelis said. “A lot of trial and error.”

He made the car his own, including the sublime green paint job and addition of comfortable seats.

“It’s got a five-speed manual transmission in there. It had an automatic before. I added the wheels that I wanted. I added some suspension upgrades. That’s a custom hood that’s on there. It’s a steel hood with a fiberglass scoop,” he said. “I’m still modifying, adding parts,

See SUPER BEE on page 13A

When Warren resident Mike Mazelis found his 1970 Dodge Super Bee in 2008, “It was just a shell.” Mazelis created the Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club on social media. The club meets at 7 p.m. every Friday at Gratiot Coney Island, 28560 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville.

Photos by Maria Allard

Super Bee

from page 12A

One change Mazelis recently made was the engine.

“The car had a 440 six pack in it. That was getting pretty tiring,” Mazelis said. “I recently put a 512 cubic inch stroker engine in there, so it makes 650 horse (power). At least 600.”

Mazelis’ main goal was to drive the car as much as possible. During the summer, most Sundays are spent cruising Lake Shore Drive with his wife, Stacy; daughter Alaina, 15; and son Evan, 11. They’ll stop for lunch somewhere or grab an ice cream.

“It’s a special thing. It’s just quality time,” Mazelis said. “I like being able to share it with my family, driving around and going places.”

The eye-catching vehicle has been featured in many shows, including Detroit Autorama. The farthest trip he’s taken in the Super Bee was an 11-hour drive to Wisconsin for a car show.

Looking to connect with other car buffs,

Mazelis created the Twisted Axle Car Club on Facebook and Instagram in 2013. At first, 30 people joined the group, and then 70 car enthusiasts came aboard. After a while, the pages went global as they reached car owners in Germany, Australia and Canada.

“Now it’s 50,000 people,” Mazelis said.

From that, Mazelis started the Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club on social media. He also has a presence on social media with Dynamic Detroit Mopars on Facebook.

“A lot of these people became my best friends. The car community’s just great, always trying to help each other out,” Mazelis said. “Metro Detroit is very diverse. You have all different kinds of cars, all cars that span decades. It’s just a very rich culture that we have here.”

The Detroit Area Only Twisted Axle Car Club meets at 7 p.m. every Friday at Gratiot Coney Island, 28560 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville. All are welcome. Car enthusiasts are also encouraged to check out the website twistedaxlemotorsports.com.

13650 E. Eleven Mile Rd. Warren, MI 48089

Photo by: Lori Hannon

Park to roll out new sidewalk replacement program this summer

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

PARK — As the weather warms up and people spend more time outdoors, sidewalk problems start to take center stage.

Whether it’s walkers, parents pushing strollers or young children on tricycles or bicycles, uneven, broken and cracked sidewalks can lead to stumbles or falls which can, in turn, lead to injury. Grosse Pointe Park’s Department of Public Works hopes to address this issue by restoring an annual sidewalk maintenance program.

“What we’re trying to accomplish is to establish a work maintenance schedule,”

DPW Director Tom Jenny said at a May 13 Park City Council meeting.

He said the Park hasn’t had a sidewalk program in roughly a decade. Jenny said their program will mirror what Grosse Pointe Woods has been doing for years and will emphasize eliminating trip hazards.

“It’s something to get walkability back in the city,” said Jenny, noting that the program will also help to protect plow trucks from damage. “It just would make it much safer.”

The city is being divided into five districts, with each district being tackled once every five years. For the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, District 1 will be the focus; it covers properties south of Jefferson Avenue from Bedford Road to Lake Court South and north of Jefferson from Yorkshire to Cadieux roads.

Sidewalk slabs will be marked for replacement if they exhibit at least one of several concerning defects, including having cross slopes greater than 2%, exhibiting cracks larger than 3/8 of an inch in width, having spalling or scaling where more than 75% of the surface is deteriorated and having holes larger than 2 inches and/or deeper than a quarter of an inch. If these defects are caused by city-

owned trees or utilities, the city will cover the cost of slab replacement. Otherwise, that cost will fall to the homeowner.

The council unanimously approved a low bid from Roseville-based Luigi Ferdinandi and Son Cement Co. for $145,368. The bid is an estimate; the final cost will be based on the number of sidewalk slabs in District 1 that need to be replaced. Jenny said the city has set aside $170,000 in the budget for this program.

“We got a very favorable bid,” Jenny said.

Mayor Michele Hodges said this is an issue that residents have been asking about.

“This is clearly something that we hear a lot about,” Hodges said.

She added that making these repairs protects the city from legal liability.

“It’s a great program,” City Councilman Martin McMillan said. “I’m glad we’re bringing it back. It’s needed. There are so many trip hazards.”

Homeowners who’d like to have additional slabs replaced for aesthetic or other reasons can take advantage of the bid price, which is approximately $250 per sidewalk slab/flag. Jenny said a slab is typically about $600.

“The $250 (price) is a great deal,” McMillan said.

Homeowners can also hire their own contractor to replace the slab or slabs marked by the city but will need to do so within 20 days of being notified about the need to replace their sidewalks.

Jenny said the work will be done between the start of the new fiscal year on July 1 and the beginning of the school year after Labor Day. Once the contractor starts, Jenny said, the city has been told the contractor should be able to complete District 1 in about two weeks if the weather cooperates.

Posters

“Once again this year, the efforts were very inspiring and outstanding,” said Deck, who has served on the Beautification Commission for about 37 years.

All of this year’s winners came from the same classroom at Defer Elementary School.

The first-prize winner was Catherine Palmer, who used colored pencil and black ink to create her drawing of a large tree with deep roots and flowers in the background. It also included a quote from Warren Buffet: “Someone is sitting in the shade today because of a thoughtful person that planted a tree long ago.”

“When it’s really hot in the summer, you need a lot of shade,” Palmer explained of her design and the quote she incorporated into it.

Palmer said her poster took about three to five days to create.

“We were all noticing the intricate detail in the tree,” City Councilman Brent Dreaver told her. “It’s really beautiful.”

Hodges agreed.

“Keep making a difference in the world,” Hodges told Palmer. “We’re proud of you.”

There were also two runners-up, both of whom prominently featured butterflies in their designs.

Maria Bourdane’s poster was done in crayon and metallic marker.

“When I always think of trees, I think of trees giving life to other things,” Bourdane said.

The second runner-up was Cecily Filippone, whose poster — drawn in marker —

From left, Grosse Pointe Park Mayor Michele Hodges presents Defer Elementary School student Maria Bourdane with a certificate and city tile for being a runner-up in the city’s annual Arbor Day poster contest.

included many bright butterflies, a bird and a bunny.

“I’ve always loved maples,” Filippone said. “When I think of trees, I think of how we need them to breathe.”

This marks the Park’s 41st year as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA.

“I believe it’s (at) platinum level,” Deck said. “Very few cities get to that level, so it’s quite an honor for Grosse Pointe Park.”

Deck thanked Park officials, teachers, principals and others for their support of the contest. She also thanked the local business community, as contest entries are displayed not only at City Hall but in businesses throughout the Park.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

DOWNTOWN ST. CLAIR SHORES

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

ABOVE: Volunteers and staff at Spaulding for Children help make a past holiday party at First Baptist Institutional Church in Detroit a great time for foster children and families. RIGHT: Volunteers assist at the dessert table during a past Spaulding for Children holiday party for foster families at First Baptist Institutional Church.

FOSTER CARE MONTH HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR LOVING HOMES, SUPPORT FOR FOSTER CHILDREN

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Around 10,000 children in Michigan are currently in foster care, but the need for loving homes remains constant.

Foster mom Michele Austin decided to open up a foster closet in her own home in 2013 to give other foster families access to items that she knew foster kids needed.

“When my very first foster child came to me, he didn’t have anything, so I started talking to family and friends and opened up the closet in my home to help other foster families,” she said.

The closet grew by leaps and bounds, and in 2018 the Oakland County Foster Closet opened as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and expanded into an office building. Today, the Oakland County Foster Closet, a nonprofit based in Farmington Hills, offers supportive services, supplies and aid to children in the

foster care system and to those in crisis situations at no cost.

“We offer all of the basic essentials that kids need in life: hygiene items, clothing, socks, underwear, school supplies — everything that they would need, and we do that absolutely for free for our foster kids and for low income,” she said.

The closet is currently in dire need of hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion toothbrushes, toothpaste and more.

“We’ve seen a significant amount of need, because people are really struggling right now,” said Austin.

The Oakland County Foster Closet also has many volunteer options available, including one-time, once-in-a-while, and weekly opportunities for individuals and groups. For more information, call the Oakland County Foster Closet (248) 419-4487.

“It’s a really fulfilling type of volunteer-

Photos provided by Spaulding for Children

ing because you’re seeing the impact and feeling the impact,” Austin said.

May is Foster Care Month, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel said she is thankful for the thousands of families across the state who have already opened up their hearts and homes to care for youth in foster care, but she said more foster families are needed to provide temporary care while the state works to reunify kids with their parents.

“There continues to be a need for more foster families to provide stable and safe family homes for children of all ages in the state’s care,” Hertel said in a statement.

Many foster children have been victims of abuse and neglect, and officials say they need a nurturing environment until they can be safely reunified with their parents or — in a smaller number of cases — until they can find adoptive homes if it’s not safe for them to return home.

In Michigan, the first step to becoming a foster parent is contacting a “foster care navigator” — experienced foster parents

who can answer questions, help individuals find an agency that’s right for them, assist families with the foster home licensing process and provide guidance along their journey to becoming a foster parent. A foster care navigator can be reached at 855-MICHKIDS or www.Fcnp.org.

Spaulding for Children — a private, nonprofit child welfare agency located in Southfield — was established in 1968 to find permanent and safe families for children.

Spaulding for Children President and CEO Melissa Jenovai said there is an increased awareness of the need to search out relatives for foster children in Michigan.

“If we can’t prevent them from coming in, we know the next best place for them to go would be with a relative,” she said. “We have put a lot more effort into searching for those relatives up front, and the outcomes tend to be much greater for children and youth who are placed with their kinship families — there’s more stability, and there are better mental health outcomes for those kids.”

But, oftentimes, kids who enter the system don’t have a family member available, so the need for nonrelative foster homes remains constant.

Youth Mental Health First Aid: Training adults to save young lives

“It can take a person, on average, seven years from the time they inquire about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, all the way up until the point that they decide to take that step and become one,” Jenovai noted.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides foster families a daily rate to help with the care of foster children based on the age and needs of the child. Foster families also receive a semi-annual clothing allowance, and many families qualify for reimbursement for the costs of day care, according to state officials. Children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid, which pays for medical, dental and mental health care.

Spaulding for Children offers monthly online orientation classes for those interested in becoming a foster or adoptive family. In June, orientation sessions will be held 6-7:30 p.m. June 12 and 1-2:30 p.m. June 20. Register by contacting Stacey Oakes at (248) 443-0300 or soakes@spaulding.org, or visit www.spaulding.org.

“Coming to an orientation does not commit you to anything. It really just helps you to learn about the need, and maybe if you decide this isn’t something for you, then you can encourage others to reach out and

provide support or learn about it to eventually become an adoptive or foster parent,” Jenovai said.

Those who aren’t ready to become a foster or adoptive parent can still offer support to foster children through monetary donations to organizations dedicated to helping those in the system, volunteering during an event and more.

“We really believe that the more opportunities that we involve the community in and offer our families these positive experiences that in turn helps offset some of the trauma that our kids and families have experienced over the years. The more positive events we can have, the better outcomes we hope to be able to provide with our kids and our families,” Jenovai said.

To learn more about foster care, visit Michigan.gov/HopeforaHome.

Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.

Cynthia Jackson Director of Training & Education

Bird-watching teaches patience, offers relaxation

BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Bird-watching takes patience and precision, but it pays off in the end for those looking to learn more about the magnificent creatures that fly and capture the perfect shot.

Rosann Kovalcik, a bird-watcher and birding expert from Grosse Pointe Woods, said a high school biology teacher at Lake Shore High School started a bird-watching club. A member of that club lived down the street from her and they enjoyed the hobby together. She was 16 years old at the time and now she is going to be 70.

One of the things she loves most about birding is the diversity she sees in the birds she encounters.

“Not only different species but within the species you can see how there’s the differences between how males and females act and the different habitats that they favor based upon what their food sources are and their nesting habits,” Kovalcik said. “So yeah, I really love the diversity of it.”

She also loves how she can enjoy the hobby anywhere she goes.

“You can be anyplace in the world and there’s going to be birds there to watch, pretty much,” Kovalcik said.

Kovalcik has seen around 4,000 birds over her years of bird-watching. Though most of the time she watches birds in her backyard, Kovalcik also leads bird walks at the Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, and she visits her cottage near the Sleeping Bear Dunes as well.

Kovalcik said she recommends others get involved in bird-watching.

“It’s known to lower your blood pressure, calm you down, put you in touch with the important elements of the out of doors that just make you (a) more peaceful and calm person,” Kovalcik said.

She added that bird-watching also keeps a person sharp.

“As we age and we want to do something that keeps our brains fired, it’s a good one,” Kovalcik said. “You know you get your binoculars out, you’re looking at something, what is this, what clues am I looking for. It’s like a great game.”

Kovalcik said she saw the popularity of bird-watching increase during the COVID-19 pandemic and most of the people who got into it stayed with the hobby.

“Many people took up birding and being out of doors, so it happened both at homes and on the trails,” Kovalcik said. “It’s

hugely popular now. There’s many Facebook pages that are devoted to it. It’s definitely seen a big uptick.”

Jack Padley, a bird-watcher and photographer from New Hudson, said he tries to photograph as many birds as he can in a year.

“And then my sister and I look at the photos and the ones that I don’t know what they are, she’s always there to tell me what they are,” Padley said. “I just love being able to go out into nature and walking around and finding birds.”

Padley has filmed and photographed different birds in their natural habitats such as woodpeckers pecking at trees and herons when they’re fishing. He also said he has seen birds when they are born in the spring and has watched them grow up over the course of the season.

“So I’m more into the photography bit of it than actually knowing what each bird is,” Padley said.

Padley started photographing birds in 2018 when he retired from C & G Newspapers. He uses his cellphone to take photos which he says takes quality pictures.

“My sister kind of got me into it and I started going out and, you know, taking photos while I was walking around in Kensington Metropark and other places,” Padley said.

Padley was able to keep up his birdwatching hobby during the pandemic since it was out in nature. He said there weren’t many people around and he didn’t have to wear his mask. His favorite place to go birdwatching is Kensington Metropark.

“The other parks are good places too, but Kensington is my favorite,” Padley said. “They have nature trails. They have one that’s called Wildwings and there are plenty of birds out there. And the birds are so used to the humans that they’ll land on your hands and eat bird seed right out of your hands and stuff.”

Padley added the birds will chirp at bird-watchers to feed them. He takes his grandchildren out to the park, and they get a thrill waiting for birds to jump on their hands.

So far, Padley has taken pictures of around 40 species of birds. The bird he would love to take pictures of are wood ducks, but he says he would need a better lens.

“That would be great, I’d love to see their nest up there and baby wood ducks,” Padley said.

Padley said he loves that the hobby teaches him to be patient and that it’s very

relaxing. He recommends others get involved in the hobby.

“Our days are, especially when you, are so hustle-bustle that you’re always busy or you’re paying too much attention to your phone or watching too much TV,” Padley said. “And this actually gets you out walking in nature and just seeing the beauty that God created in all these creatures.”

Kovalcik warns people to not disturb bird nests while birding and to respect their dwellings. She also said not to disturb roosting birds such as owls.

“During the daytime, when owls are roosting, because obviously they’re awake at night, in the daytime is when they’re roosting or sleeping,” Kovalcik said. “You don’t want to approach too closely to disturb them because then their sleep cycle is disturbed. It uses up energy that they wouldn’t need to have used up. And if you flush them on accident, smaller owls can actually get eaten by a larger predator.”

Kovalcik said it’s a good idea for those just getting into bird watching to join field trips through local groups. Macomb Audubon Society, Oakland Audubon Society and the Detroit Bird Alliance offer field trips. She also welcomes beginners at her bird walks at the Ford House.

“It is a good place to get going and to have people explain them to you,” Kovalcik said.

She also recommends folks hang up feeders and watch birds in their yards. Kovalcik personally has seen around 139 species in her yard.

The website for the Oakland Audubon Society is oaklandbirdalliance.org. The website for the Macomb Audubon Society is macombaudubon.net. The website for the Detroit Bird Alliance is detroitbirdalliance. org. The website for the Ford House to find the bird walks is fordhouse.org.

Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.

fice of the Dykema law firm in 1980, where he spent the next 44 years until his recent retirement. Routinely ranked as one of the top lawyers in Michigan and the United States, he was a member of Dykema’s Corporate Finance Group and served as co-chair of its mergers and acquisitions group until 2023. Vaughn received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Corporate Growth of Detroit during its ninth annual mergers and acquisitions awards event May 6 at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.

“(He’s) one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known — very smart, very hardworking, a man of great integrity,” Granger said.

Grant Gilezan was not only a neighbor of Vaughn’s, but also a longtime Planning Commission colleague, friend and fellow law partner at Dykema.

“Tom was just a stellar corporate law practitioner, and he was just a pillar of our Detroit office,” Gilezan said. “Regardless of what your (field of) practice was, he’d be willing to help and mentor.”

Despite his dedication to his job and clients, Gilezan said Vaughn was extremely devoted to his family as well.

“Nothing lit that guy up (like) … talking about his family,” Gilezan said.

Granger remembers Vaughn’s familyoriented nature as well.

“When the kids were smaller, you’d see the whole family riding bikes to the park,” Granger said.

Gilezan said Vaughn was a man of integrity, humility, passion and tremendous energy.

“Despite the crush of the loss, it is very easy to celebrate (his) life,” Gilezan said.

Mayor Arthur Bryant said Vaughn maintained his upbeat nature, even as he quietly battled cancer.

“He was a very successful guy in his role as a lawyer,” Bryant said. “He was also very good on council. He was a person who got into the details and worked through the problems.”

City Councilman Todd McConaghy bonded with fellow attorney Vaughn, whom he considered a friend as well as a colleague. He said Vaughn had a great eye for detail.

“Tom was a very astute attorney,” McConaghy said. “He brought his skills as an attorney to the council, and the city is better for it.”

Grosse Pointe Park City Councilman Martin McMillan served on a Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, or SEMCOG, board with Vaughn.

“What a perfect gentleman and a tremendous guy,” McMillan said of Vaughn during a May 13 Park City Council meeting. “There aren’t many Tom Vaughns in the world. He’s truly going to be missed.”

Vaughn’s death is the latest tragic loss for the Woods in recent years. Former Mayor and Councilman Robert Novitke — who served the city for more than 40 years and for whom the municipal complex is now named — died in March 2021 at the age of 74. Former Councilman George McMullen — whose seat Vaughn was named by the council to fill — died in December 2020 at the age of 63, after his own battle with pancreatic cancer.

Vaughn is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patti Krausmann-Vaughn, their four children — Catherine Vaughn-Gillman, Cecilia Forinash, Patrick Vaughn and Audrey Vaughn — as well as six grandchildren and five siblings. His funeral was held May 20 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Grosse Pointe Woods. Instead of flowers, his family requested donations to any of the following: Grosse Pointe Woods Foundation, The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s or Regina High School.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

“It came as an amazing surprise and I’m not sure I really believe it,” Klein said before the lunch of learning the library was being named for her. “There’s so many parts of this district that (still) feel like home.”

Klein served as superintendent from 1996 until her retirement in 2011. She had a long and distinguished career with the GPPSS, starting as a developmental preschool teacher in 1970. She served as chair of the Teacher/Consultant Department from 1978 to 1984, assistant principal of Pierce Middle School from 1985 to 1986, assistant principal of Parcells Middle School from 1986 to 1987 and principal of Pierce Middle School from 1987 to 1990. She became a central office administrator when she was named director of instructional services, a post she held from 1991 to 1994. Klein was assistant superintendent for instructional services from 1994 to 1995.

New GPPSS Superintendent Andrea Tuttle, who is only the second female superintendent in the district, called Klein “a pioneering force in Grosse Pointe education” and a “legendary superintendent” as she read from remarks that North Principal Kate Murray had been slated to deliver; Murray was unable to attend the luncheon.

“Looking back over the years, I was very fortunate to come here,” Klein told luncheon attendees. “I grew up professionally here. … Children were valued (here). I knew I had come to the right place.”

Kerby Elementary School Principal Walter Fitzpatrick — who’s retiring from the GPPSS June 30 after 30 years in the district — said Klein made a lasting impression on him after their first encounter.

“What I am so impressed about Dr. Klein is, I met her once and talked about my family, and the next time I saw her she remembered all of their names and asked about them,” Fitzpatrick said.

He said he has since tried to model that behavior.

A number of current and former Board of Education members were on hand, including John Steininger, who was the board president during Klein’s last two years as superintendent.

“Anybody that can put in 11 years of solid governance deserves all they can get,” Steininger said. “I can’t tell you what a pleasure it was to work with her. She has the ability to bring a semblance of order to almost any chaotic situation.”

Former Board of Education President Joan Dindoffer — who served on the board during Klein’s full tenure — also praised her

leadership.

“Suzanne was our very own Mary Poppins — practically perfect in every way,” Dindoffer said. “She brought continuity to the district. Many of our superintendents were here for a year or two. Suzanne was able to bring consensus and guide us. (She made) sure that the main thing was the main thing — that we stayed focused on what is important.”

Many others also quoted Klein’s affection for keeping “the main thing” at the forefront.

“Teaching and learning is the main thing … and it’s the only thing in this organization,” Klein said of the school district. “This is a district that cared deeply about education and learning.”

In a video montage, community leaders from the district and even Klein’s adult son and daughter shared their thoughts about her, with many describing her as wise and compassionate. Her love for the color purple was among the observations.

Her son, Andrew Klein, recalled attending plays, football games and other school functions with his mother.

“In doing so, I got the greatest gift of all, which was seeing her in action,” Andrew Klein said.

Retired GPPSS deputy superintendent for business and operations Christian Fenton — who spent about six months as interim superintendent until Tuttle was appointed — worked during Klein’s tenure.

“Without question — and I mean this sincerely — by far she was the best boss I ever had,” Fenton said.

Klein always knew that the district — even during difficult times — was a unifying force.

“Dr. Klein once told me the school system is the one thing in the Pointes that holds all of us together,” said Alicia Carlisle, one of the organizers of the luncheon. “It’s the one thing that connects us all.”

And, indeed, the district encompasses not only all of the five Grosse Pointes — with the exception of a roughly two-block section of Grosse Pointe Shores that’s located in Macomb County — but also a portion of Harper Woods.

Grosse Pointe Woods Mayor Arthur Bryant presented Klein with a proclamation from the Michigan Legislature — signed by House Speaker Joe Tate and state Sen. Kevin Hertel — in honor of the library naming. Attendees were treated to music by the Full Circle Choir and the North Choir.

Tuttle said the North library was renovated and expanded last year thanks to bond proceeds and gifts from the community.

“It’s wonderful,” North Librarian Amanda Pata said of the library being named

for Klein. “She represents a lot of the things that make Grosse Pointe what it is now.”

Klein may no longer be working in a school district, but she continues to leave her imprint on educational leaders of the future. She’s an associate professor and the director of the Galileo Institute for Teacher Leadership at Oakland University, where she trains superintendents and sometimes school principals. She has a doctorate in psychology and education from the University of Michigan.

“It’s been interesting to see her transi-

tion into a professor,” said Steininger, who still occasionally meets Klein for lunch.

Sometimes it was tough sharing his mom with the district, but Andrew Klein beamed with pride as he talked about her and the positive impact she had on the district as well as her own children.

“This is… an award in recognition of her life’s work,” Andrew Klein said.

Following the luncheon, a community open house was held at the library.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

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Handyman Services

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Removal

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Heating & Cooling

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CALENDAR

MAY 27

Memorial Day ceremony: Music, remarks and reading of names of Grosse Pointe residents who died while serving country, 10-11 a.m., outdoor by “Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge” sculpture at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, warmemorial. org/eventcalendar

MAY 31-JUNE 2

Detroit Grand Prix: Held on streets in downtown Detroit, full schedule at detroitgp.com

JUNE 2

Eastside Catholic Eucharistic Procession: 2.5-mile walk along Lake Shore Road, starts with exposition at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church (157 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms) and ends with benediction and fellowship at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church (467 Fairford Road in Grosse Pointe Woods), 1 p.m., bit.ly/ EastsideEucharisticProcession2024

JUNE 6

D-Day ceremony: 80th anniversary event featuring USO-inspired concert by Rhythm Society Orchestra, CAF Rise Above traveling exhibit (telling stories of Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots) and food trucks, 6-7:30 p.m., outdoor by “Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge” sculpture at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, free but registration required, www.warmemorial.org/ eventcalendar

JUNE 13

Yarn Up Knitting and Crochet Club: Meets 1-2 p.m., Grosse Pointe Public Library - Ewald Branch, 15175 E. Jefferson Ave. in Grosse Pointe Park, grossepointelibrary.org

JUNE 16

EyesOn Design: Automotive design exhibition from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., private eyes brunch from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and award ceremony at 1:30 p.m., Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, fordhouse.org/events/eyeson-design

JUNE 24

The Helm golf fundraiser: Check-in and lunch at noon,

Promising Artists exhibition: Featuring 100 artists from 19 local cities, works on display through June 7, The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, grossepointeartcenter.org

32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, grossepointeartcenter.org, (313) 881-3454

‘Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971’: Works focus on films, filmmakers, actors and studios, on display until June 23, Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, dia.org

Health workshops: For chronic pain, high blood pressure and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, beaumonthealth. digitalsignup.com

Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/ support-groups

Suspect vanishes after overpayment

GROSSE POINTE CITY — A 21-year-old Detroit man is being sought for the crime of larceny by conversion after he reportedly refused to return overpayment after he was accidentally overpaid by a business in the 600 block of St. Clair Avenue.

According to a police report, the suspect was hired to work for $15 an hour at the business, but the payroll company administering the paychecks is said to have paid him $1,500 an hour instead, resulting in him receiving $16,000 for his first paycheck. The business owners called him to fix the error, but they said he stopped returning their calls and didn’t show up for work again. Police said the investigation was ongoing.

Suspects arrested in armed robbery

GROSSE POINTE CITY/PARK — A 22-year-old Detroit man and a 25-year-old Detroit man were arrested in Grosse Pointe Park May 3 after they were reportedly involved in the theft of multiple pieces of lawn equipment from landscaping trailers, including an armed robbery May 1 in Grosse Pointe City that resulted when a worker confronted one of the suspects in the act and the worker said the suspect pulled a gun on him. Police said the suspects committed several larcenies in Grosse Pointe City and Grosse Pointe Park before they were apprehended.

Cat held hostage

GROSSE POINTE PARK — A 62-year-old Grosse Pointe Park man was arrested April 30 after he reportedly found a cat that his neighbor owned and had reported missing, but he refused to return the cat. The suspect reportedly showed the victim that he had the missing feline but wouldn’t give it back. Police went to the suspect’s home but said he wouldn’t turn the cat over to them, either. The suspect was eventually persuaded to turn the cat over to an animal clinic, after which it was reunited with its owner. Police said the suspect was cited for larceny and disorderly conduct.

Sunglasses stolen GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A woman in her late 20s to early 30s is accused of stealing a $405 pair of Prada sunglasses from a business in the 19000 block of Mack Avenue at around noon April 26. Employees told police the suspect has stolen from the store on three previous occasions.

Fraud reported ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 3:22 p.m. on April 26, a report was made about an alleged case of fraud that occurred on April 23 in the 22000 block of Revere Street. The victim, a 69-year-old woman, came into the

police station and stated she was defrauded out of $4,000 dollars. She contacted a number on her TV screen who she thought was Hulu. She was reportedly instructed to buy gift cards worth approximately $4,000.

Once the woman had the gift cards, the suspect stated they needed to prove who she was and the woman allowed them to access her phone via an app they told her to download. They helped the woman to create an Apple Pay account where more money was transferred through Zelle.

Police subdue blade wielder outside Fuddruckers

STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they went to Fuddruckers, 40955 Van Dyke Ave., April 19 after hearing that someone with a hatchet or ax was acting disorderly.

Police said they found the man outside and confronted him, but he allegedly did not follow multiple orders to drop his weapon. The suspect also threatened to harm others and himself, police said.

Police said they subdued the man with a “lessthan-lethal weapon” and then apprehended him.

The Sterling Heights Police Department praised the officers’ performance in a Facebook post.

“The individual who was clearly suffering from mental illness was transported to the hospital for a mental petition,” the department said.

Man evicted from market for insulting, swearing at woman

STERLING HEIGHTS — Police went to a supermarket in the 43000 block of Schoenherr Road April 19 upon hearing that a man allegedly swore at a woman without cause. The man then reportedly followed the woman down an aisle and insulted her and called her an evil woman.

Police said they found the man after he left the store, and he allegedly confirmed that he