5/31/23 C & G Special Edition - Oakland

NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e Sp

MAY 31, 2023 candgnews.com

Oakland County papers

Metroparks present summer-long Trail Challenge

BY KATHRYN PENTIUK

kpentiuk@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — As promised, the April showers brought May flowers, the sun is here to stay, and Michiganders are rising from hibernation to enjoy the outdoors.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks officials are reminding metro Detroiters that they don’t

EXPL RE

have to travel too far to appreciate the Pure Michigan wilderness. The metroparks offer a range of outdoor activities across 13 parks, and over 400 miles of paved and unpaved trails. These activities include walking, running, hiking, biking, horseback riding, crosscountry skiing, in-line skating, paddling, mountain biking, hand cycling, fat tire biking, and more.

This year, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks invite outdoor enthusiasts and novices alike to partake in the metroparks’ Trail Challenge May 1 to Sept. 30 — with registration up until Sept. 23. Registration costs $25 per person, and each participant will receive a custom water bottle and passport with information on the metroparks. The challenge allows participants to log miles,

enjoy the parks and set trail goals.

Each metropark has a designated Challenge Trail in which there is a signage kiosk where people can log their miles and post selfies to the leaderboard. Each Challenge Trail earns a badge. Once someone has visited three Metroparks, they earn a custom metroparks insulated lunch bag. If they See TRAIL on page 14A

C & G WILL BE FEATURING STORIES ABOUT NORTHERN MICHIGAN DESTINATIONS FOR OUR READERS TO EXPLORE. THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE EXPLORE SERIES.

Aurora Cellars is located outside of Lake Leelanau.

Photo provided by Devon Kessler, Simpson Family Estates

Pictured is Dave Renke’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air.

FROM THE GARAGE TO THE CRUISE LANE

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

Plan a relaxing trip to the Traverse Wine Coast

BY GREG TASKER olfers, sailors and outdoor enthusiasts have long flocked to the wooded hills and crystal-clear lakes around Traverse City, but in recent years, the Cherry Capital has increasingly become a hot spot for casual and even serious wine enthusiasts.

No wonder. Some 40 wineries surround this small, post-

G

card-pretty town, which sits at the base of two peninsulas, each designated as its own distinctive grape-growing region. These wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas are a huge part of the tourism scene in Traverse City, especially in the summer and fall.

What makes this region so special in the vast world of See WINE on page 12A

METRO DETROIT — Dave Renke purchased his first car before he even had a driver’s license.

Two weeks before his 16th birthday, in the spring of 1976, Renke and a few friends were riding their 10-speed bicycles in St. Clair Shores.

When biking through a random parking lot, the group spotted a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. Renke couldn’t take his eyes off the seafoam green beauty. The teenager left a written note on the windshield with his phone number, asking the owner to contact him if interested in selling the vehicle.

See BEL AIR on page 6A

C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

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3A/ C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

Rabbi and Torah Scribe Levi Kagan, from Oak Park, assists Pennie Goldin-Michelin, of Rochester Hills, a member of the Chabad Jewish Community Center in Troy, in adding a letter into the community center’s new Torah scroll at a celebration May 21.

Photo by Brendan Losinski

Woodward noise leads to local action

BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com

BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — As the weather warms up, the police departments along Woodward Avenue are working together to address cruising and vehicle noise.

In the recent Birmingham city manager’s report, Birmingham Police Chief Scott Grewe shared a message to the community about how the department has been handling the traffic on Woodward.

Just as they have in previous years, the Birmingham Police Department has assigned additional officers to target Woodward cruise traffic. In general, higher volumes of traffic are observed on Friday and Saturday evenings.

“Every Friday and Saturday evening we have two officers that are on overtime to work specifically the Woodward traffic issue,” Grewe said.

In addition to these officers, they are pulling one officer from their regular patrol unit that is on See WOODWARD on page 11A

Jewish community center celebrates dedication of its first Torah scroll TROY — The members of the Chabad Jewish Community Center in Troy gathered in celebration May 21 to dedicate the completion of their new Torah scroll.

Torah scrolls are handwritten on

parchment by specially trained scribes and are thus generally both very rare and very revered among the Jewish community. The center in Troy hasn’t had its own scroll since its opening three years ago.

According to Rabbi Menachem Caytak, the director of the community center, the commemoration of a Torah scroll’s

completion is about celebrating Judaism for both this generation and the next, and about bringing families and communities together in joy.

“The centerpiece of a Jewish center is the Torah scroll,” he explained. “The Torah scroll is the Jewish Bible and is handwritSee TORAH on page 9A

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Birmingham and Bloomfield Township are among the police departments that are working towards improving the noise issue on Woodward Avenue.

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BY BRENDAN LOSINSKI

blosinski@candgnews.com

C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

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Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger called the therapy dogs, two bernedoodles and two Australian labradoodles, a “gamechanger” and “culture builder” for the district.

Photos provided by Clawson Public Schools

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Clawson to get therapy dogs at start of new school year

BY MIKE KOURY

mkoury@candgnews.com

CLAWSON — Next year, Clawson Public Schools will be welcoming four new furry friends to the district.

The district will be home to four therapy dogs, two bernedoodles and two Australian labradoodles — one for each of the school buildings in Clawson.

Therapy dogs have been something that Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger has wanted to add to the district since he was hired last year. The dogs were brought in from Mindfulness Therapy Dogs and were picked during Clawson’s spring break a couple of months ago.

Shellenbarger said the dogs will be used to help students in crisis, whether major or minor, such as kids going through friendship or relationship problems or going through a death in the family or suffering from anxiety.

“They’re just very simply there and available for any of those crises,” he said. “We’ll also be proactive with the dogs and have them on a little bit of a schedule to go see classrooms and things of that nature, but they’ll always be there to address and be a resource for students who are in that space of need, of crisis, whether minor or major, related to their mental health and wellness.”

Shellenbarger stated that something like this is a big culture builder in the district.

“Now students who maybe don’t have a lot of positivity in their day or bright light in their day all of a sudden may have that to look forward to, when maybe they don’t have too many things to look forward to,” he said.

We’re hoping to be the ones that can provide that for our kids when their days are not their best, and we can help change that for them.”

The dogs were secured through an Oakland County mental health grant. After finishing training, the dogs will arrive in September.

The district has picked out the host families for the dogs and now is working with local businesses to get suggestions for names.

Clawson Athletic Director and high school Assistant Principal Kelly Horne will be taking in one of the dogs. Horne said the families will undergo training for a day in September to prepare them to care for the dogs.

“Obviously a therapy dog is a working dog. And so there’s work time and then there’s playtime,” she said. “So when the therapy dog comes with me to work, you know, she’s going to be working, but then we can bring her home and she can have playtime too. So there is a difference between just a family dog and a working therapy dog.”

Both Shellenbarger and Horne saw firsthand how helpful therapy dogs can be after the death of high school graduate and Michigan State student Alexandria Verner in February.

Therapy dogs were brought in from neighboring districts to help students with their grief.

Horne, Verner’s basketball coach, said seeing how the dogs helped people hit home hard for her.

“That’s probably the main reason that I want to be one of those therapy dog hosts — because I saw the effect it had on the kids after a tragedy that we went through,” she said.

Shellenbarger said the impact the dogs had on everyone during that time was on a level that he’d never seen before.

“It was just so impactful that that really drilled home (that we) need to have these dogs in our district,” he said. “We could not be happier about where we’re heading with this program for our district. It is truly a gamechanger.”

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In September, Clawson Public Schools will be getting four therapy dogs, one for each of its buildings, to help students in crisis.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

Ferndale Pride adds attractions with expanded footprint downtown FERNDALE — The next Ferndale Pride will be the largest one yet.

The 13th annual Ferndale Pride festival will be held on Saturday, June 3, in the city’s downtown. The event will be held from

12:30 to 10 p.m. and its footprint — its biggest ever — will cover West Nine Mile Road between Woodward Avenue and Livernois Street, portions of Planavon and Allen streets near West Nine Mile, and parts of the parking lots near Planavon and West Nine Mile.

The theme for this year’s Ferndale

Pride, Event Director Julia Music said, is “celebrating queer joy.”

“We just really wanted to encapsulate what we think Ferndale Pride is, which is just a very happy, happy day,” she said.

The festival, presented by LIV Cannabis, will feature more than 200 vendors, as well as musical performances and other per-

formers. The children’s area is back as well with a rock climbing wall and art projects.

New to Ferndale Pride is the baby feeding area, which will have lactation experts available for assistance, and there will be electricity for those who need to pump. There also will be Reading with Royalty, which will

See PRIDE on page 14A

MOTOR CITY COMIC CON DRAWS FANS, ARTISTS AND FAMILIES

Hodson, of Grosse Pointe, shows his illustrations at Motor City Comic Con in Novi May 19.

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

People from all over the country converged upon the Suburban Collection Showplace May 19-21, many in costume, for the opportunity to be themselves and enjoy the company of like-minded folks at the annual Motor City Comic Con. MC3 offers a vast array of opportunities and experiences for event attendees, including the opportunity to meet and take photos with celebrities (for an additional fee) and comic artists; experience HADO, an augmented reality sport; interact with “Ghostbusters,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Star Wars” groups; view various animes; and shop at numerous vendor booths for comic- and anime-themed merchandise.

“My husband, myself and our daughter are all just huge nerds,” attendee Caitlin Bridges, of Oak Park, said with a laugh. “We love ‘The Hobbit,’ ‘Harry Potter,’ spooky stuff, comics — my husband has probably thousands of comics.

We’re just big fans of a lot of this stuff, so we come every year.”

Bridges said it is her “love of fun” that brings her and her family to Comic Con year after year. However, the best part of Comic Con for her these days, she said, is seeing her 4-year-old daughter Aayla’s reactions to all the activities. She said it’s “priceless.”

“When she sees the characters, she is just elated and it’s just heartwarming to see that. That’s my favorite part now,” Bridges said. “And just how wonderful everybody is with the kids, really making it special for them.”

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

This year’s show featured the Ghostbusters Detroit and the Great Lakes Ghostbuster Coalition, “Beetlejuice” and “Star Wars” cosplay groups. Many guests came in costume as their favorite characters from anime, “Star Wars,” Marvel and many others.

Deborah Taylor, 18, of Roseville, came to the con dressed as her “fursona,” “Spork,” a black, white and hot pink dog. According to Taylor, a “fursona” takes its characteristics, such as favorite foods, things it likes and how it acts, from its human counterpart. “‘Spork’ is me, but a dog. A pink and white and black dog,” she said of her character.

Taylor said she has been coming to MC3 since 2020, along with many of her friends, and described the event as “a big family.”

“I feel welcome here, more than in other places,” she said.

“Con spaces feel more safe than, like, anywhere else, because we all like the same stuff pretty much. Everybody that’s here is weirdos,” she stated with pride. “It’s like a big family. Like the cosplay community, comics — it’s like a giant family.”

Taylor said she liked the large variety of vendors this year.

She said the show seemed to have expanded this year, and she liked that organizers added a lot of games.

2023

See COMIC CON on page 13A

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

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Bel Air from page 1A

Dave Renke, on the right, and his brother Ron, left, pose for a photo with the car during its restoration.

Photo provided

by Dave Renke

rent colors. While many maintenance upgrades have been completed over the years, “I tried to keep the car with the original look,” he said.

Renke took the Bel Air with him when he and his wife, Rosemary, moved to Sterling Heights, and it’s still with the couple, who now reside in Macomb Township. Renke’s interest in cars dates way back to the days when he and his friends would take apart their bicycles. Renke eventually moved on to cars by buying and selling several different models, including a 1975 Fiat Spider, a 1969 AMC Javelin, a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass and a 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix over the years.

“He always had a different car in high school,” Rosemary recalled.

According to Renke, because of his love for restoring older cars, Rosemary has “gra-

ciously” given up a parking spot in their garage for the past 30-plus years for the Bel Air. “It’s too nostalgic. It’s a part of who he is,” Rosemary said. “Cars are a part of your life.”

In time, Renke’s dad had a change of heart and made Renke promise to never sell the Bel Air. “Seems he became very fond of it over the years, just as I have,” Renke said. “And I plan to keep the car and hope to pass it to someone in my family down the road.”

The Renkes’ four daughters also are big fans of the Bel Air. Three of their daughters are married, and the car was on-site and photographed with each couple at all three weddings.

“They have fun memories of it,” Renke said.

Renke often takes his ’55 Chevy to many of the local car cruises and shows, including the Woodward Dream Cruise and the Lakeside Mall Circle Cruise-In on Monday nights in Sterling Heights. One fun event is the Berkley car parade the Friday evening before the Dream Cruise on Saturday.

“You can park your car at the cemetery, get out and can talk to people. You drive down 12 Mile. The crowd is cheering. You feel like a celebrity,” Renke said. “You usually get a thumbs-up or a wave. People come to you and say, ‘My dad had a car like that.’ Everyone is very friendly.”

The most mileage the Bel Air gets are the drives to Port Austin for its annual Carfest. As he prepares to retire soon, Renke hopes to enjoy his vintage vehicle “even more with family and friends.”

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“It was a 210 model, two-door post with a six-cylinder engine and an automatic Powerglide transmission,” Renke remembered.

When he got home, the phone rang and on the other end of the line was the Bel Air owner, who made an offer to sell the car for $800. An excited Renke told his dad, who wasn’t so sure it was a good deal.

“Why do you want to buy an old car like that?” he said.

But Dad gave the OK for Renke to use the money he earned from his paper route to buy his first-ever set of wheels. Renke has always been a fan of the Tri-Five Chevy models, which refers to the 1955, 1956 and 1957 Chevrolet automobiles, including the Bel Air and Nomad.

“I always thought they were very cool and was glad I bought it,” he said. “If you look at the ’54 Chevy, it was more rounded. In ’55, they made a big change to the body style. In ’55, you could get more color options.”

For many years, Renke’s teenage purchase sat in his parents’ Warren garage.

“I didn’t start enjoying it until the late ’80s and early ’90s,” he said. “I was always saving up enough money so I could buy the next part.”

Prior to that, Renke and his friends spent many nights in the garage restoring the Bel Air. “It originally had a six-cylinder, and then we put a V-8 engine in it,” Renke said. “There was more power. I found an original 265 V-8 Engine and had it rebuilt.”

In the late 1980s, the Bel Air got a new look when Renke’s cousin painted it India Ivory and Gypsy Red, which remain its cur-

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

C & G reporters win 10 journalism awards TROY — At the Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2023 Excellence in Journalism Awards May 15 at the San Marino Club in Troy, four C & G staff writers won 10 awards in various categories.

C & G Newspapers competes in the Print Class C category, which is for non-daily newspapers, magazines and trade publications.

Allard Almond Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond won first place in the Breaking/Spot News Reporting category for the story “Workers with propane torches may be ‘primary cause’ of fire at Oakland Hills Country Club.” Almond also won first place in the Education Reporting category for the story “Local school districts grapple with teacher shortages.” In the Explanatory Story category, Almond won second place for “Banquet halls, hotels rebound after mandated closures.”

Koury Moran Almond also won second place in the Open-Government Reporting category for the stories “Parents call on RCS staff, board to resign amid lawsuit and social media monitoring” and “More than 700 sign Change.org petition to ‘Restore Pride in Rochester Community Schools.’”

Staff Writer Maria Allard won second place in the Feature Reporting category for the story “Walking in a winter wonderland.” In the General News Reporting category, Allard won second place for “Alabama family travels to Shores to donate hair to Wigs 4 Kids.”

Staff Writer Mike Koury won first place in the Open-Government Reporting category for the story “LGBTQ community, supporters call for Berkley councilman’s resignation.”

Koury also placed fourth in the General News Reporting category for the story “Loved ones remember Judge Jamie Wittenberg.”

Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran won first place in the General News Reporting category for the story “Give back by giving your old furniture a new home.” Moran also won first place in the Consumer/Watchdog Reporting category for the story “Kroger agrees to new fence, window displays for Village store.”

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

8A/ C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

JUNE 1-4

Summer concerts/performances

Birmingham Village Fair: Entertainment, rides, music and food, 2-10 p.m. June 1, noon-11 p.m. June 2, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. June 3 and noon-9 p.m. June 4, Shain Park on Merrill Street, facebook.com/BirminghamFair

Beverly Hills 7 p.m. June 2 (One Foot in the Groove), July 14 (Danny D and the Vagabonds) and Aug. 4 (Bob Mervak), Beverly Park Pavilion, 18801 Beverly Road, villagebeverlyhills.com

JUNE 2

Dream Night: Free evening for families of children living with chronic or terminal illnesses and/or disabilities, 6-9 p.m., Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, apply at dzoo.org/dream23

JUNE 2-4

Spring carnival: 3-10 p.m. June 2, noon-10 p.m. June 3 and noon-8 p.m. June 4 , Madison High School, 915 E. 11 Mile Road in Madison Heights, skerbeck.com

JUNE 3

Ferndale Pride: LGBTQAI event featuring 200-plusvendors, two stages, 10 food trucks, drag story time and more, 12:30 p.m.-2 a.m., various locations downtown, ferndalepride.com 5K Run & Walk: 8 a.m. (registration at 7 a.m.), Older Person’s Commission, 650 Letica Drive in Rochester, fundraiser for OPC’s Meals on Wheels program, opcseniorcenter.org

JUNE 3-4

Art on the Grand: Juried fine arts and crafts show, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. June 3 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 4, held along Grand River Avenue in downtown Farmington, artonthegrand.com, also inaugural Farmington Author & Book Festival the first day, kickstartfarmington.org/ fab-fest

JUNE 9-10

‘First Date’: Romantic musical at 8 p.m. June 9 and 2 p.m June 10, Avon Players, 1185 Washington in Rochester, avonplayers.org

JUNE 10

Walk for Miracles: Benefit for Corewell Health’s Beaumont Children’s, includes refreshments and snacks, cape and medal, access to exhibits and more, participants encouraged to dress as superheroes, 8-11 a.m., Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, register at beaumont.org/walkformiracles

JUNE 10-24

Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival: Local performances in Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township, greatlakeschambermusic.org, (248) 559-2097

JUNE 16-18

Opa! Fest: Featuring Greek cuisine and spirits, folk dancing, marketplace, cultural events, cooking demonstrations, children’s play area, live entertainment and more, 4-11 p.m. June 16-17 and noon-8 p.m.

June 18, Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 760 W. Wattles Road in Troy, opafest.org

JUNE 17

Madison Heights Juneteenth Celebration: Live music

FARMERS MARKETS

Birmingham 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 29, Public Parking Lot 6, 660 North Old Woodward Ave., ALLINBirmingham.com/ FarmersMarket Clawson 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, and Aug. 13 and 27, Clawson City Park, 935 N. Custer Ave., cityofclawson.com Farmington 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays until Nov. 4, Riley Park, 33113 Grand River Ave., www.facebook.com/ FarmingtonMarket

Rochester 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays until Oct. 28, corner of East Third and Water streets, (248) 656-0060, downtownrochestermi.com Royal Oak 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, also antiques and collectibles 8 a.m.3 p.m. Sundays, food truck rally 4-9 p.m. every second Wednesday of month through August and 4-8 p.m. September-October, and concerts 4-9 p.m. June 14, July 12 and Aug. 9, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, ROFM on Facebook, (248) 246-3276 Troy Farmers Market: Open 11

a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays June 16Sept. 29, also food trucks June 16-July 7, Jeanne M. Stine Community Park, 241 Town Center in Troy, (248) 524-1147, facebook. com/TroyMIFarmersMarket Walled Lake 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays through October, Public Safety Campus, 1499 E. West Maple Road, walledlake.us Waterford Township Spring flower days, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 4 and 11, Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, www.facebook.com/ OaklCounty FarmersMarket

by Smoke Jones Detroit Band, food trucks, vendors, educational exhibits, kids’ activities and more, noon-6 p.m., Civic Center Park, 360 W. 13 Mile Road, free admission and parking but donations welcome, madisonheightsjuneteenth.com

JUNE 21

School’s Out Celebration: Face painting, bounce houses and giveaways starting at 6 p.m, live music at 6:30 p.m. and movie at 8:15 p.m., Civic Center Park, 360 W. 13 Mile Road in Madison Heights

JUNE 30-JULY 4

Royal Oak Taco Fest: Featuring more than 50 taquerias and eateries, four stages of live entertainment, kids zone, lucha libre wrestling and more, 4-11 p.m.

June 30, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. July 1-3 and 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

July 4, east side of Main Street between 11 Mile Road and Fourth Street, royaloaktacofest.com

ONGOING

ON THE STAGE ‘Singin’ in the Rain’: Presented by Stagecrafters, select dates until June 25, Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette Ave. in Royal Oak, (248) 5416430, stagecrafters.org ‘Kinky Boots’: Select dates June 3-17, outdoor Greek Theatre behind St. Dunstan’s Playhouse, 400 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Hills, www.

StDunstansTheatre.com

Michigan Fine Arts Competition: Exhibit runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays June 16-Aug. 17, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, 1516 S. Cranbrook Road in Birmingham, bbartcenter.org/2023-mfac

‘The Inheritance’: “Epic, two-part gay play” inspired by novel “Howards End,” select dates until June 11, Ringwald Theatre at Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center, 290 W. 9 Mile Road in Ferndale, theRingwald.com

Rochester Grangers: See live “base ball” game featuring teams using equipment, uniforms and rules circa 1870s, 1 p.m. June 24, July 22 and Aug. 5, and 6 p.m. June 21, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, rochesterhills. org/musprograms

‘Noises Off’: Select dates until June 25, Meadow Brook Theatre on Oakland University campus, Wilson Hall, 378 Meadow Brook Road in Rochester, mbtheatre.com

Oakland County FC: Semi-professional soccer, home games June 3 and 10 and July 1, 8 and 16, Royal Oak High School Stadium, 1500 Lexington Blvd., www. oaklandcountyfc.com

‘John & Jen’: Presented by new professional group The Inspired Acting Company, July 7-9, 14-16 and 21-23, 1124 E. West Maple Road in Walled Lake, inspiredacting.org

Farmington Hills 7 p.m. June 15 (Farmington Concert Band), June 22 (Bernadette Kathryn & The Lonely Days Band), June 29 (Maria Montoya), July 13 (Jai Ho Indian Music Night), July 20 (Hawk Talent Showcase featuring campers and music students), July 27 (Farmington Concert Swing Band), Aug. 3 (The Groove Council), Aug. 10 (Mollywop Jams) and Aug. 17 (Farmington Chorus), Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road, starsinthepark.live/ concerts Novi 6-8 p.m. June 13 (Killer Flamingos), June 20 (Audra Ray), June 27 (Rust), July 11 (Detroit Retro Society) and July 18 (Eat It Up Trio), Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk, 44175 W. 12 Mile Road, twelvemilecrossing.com Rochester • 7-9:30 p.m. June 22 (Kimmie Horne), July 13 (Dave Bennett), July 27 (Collision Six) and Aug. 10 (Ben Sharkey), Garden Tent at Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, also cash bar and self-guided tours, reservations required, meadowbrookhall.org • 7-9 p.m. June 30 (Dave Bennett Quartet) and July 14 (Mark Blomsteel) at Bear Creek Nature Park, 740 W. Snell Road in Rochester, and Aug. 11 (The Rose Quartet) at Cranberry Lake Park, 388 W. Predmore Road in Oakland Township, oaklandtownship.org • 7:30-9 p.m. June 15 (Rochester Community Concert Band), June 22 (David Thomas Co.), June 29 (Raputa, J Geils tribute), July 6 (La Compagnie), July 13 (Jello Shots), July 20 (The Hackwells) and July 27 (Rochester Symphony), Rochester Municipal Park, 400 Sixth St., facebook.com/ musicintheparkdowntownrochester Walled Lake 7–9 p.m. June 21 (Downriver Dan), June 28 (Surf-Zup), July 12 (Sound Station), July 19 (Detroit Social Club), July 26 (One Ton Trolley), Aug. 2 (Weekend Comeback) and Aug. 9 (Harmonized Steel), Hiram Sims Park, 1299 Quinif Drive, walledlake.us

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

from page 3A

ten by a Jewish scribe on parchment. It takes over a year to finish. When it is finished, it is a tremendous celebration, because it shows us passing the torch to the next generation and continuing to inspire the children, teens and young adults of the community in this tradition.”

The celebration took place in Riverside Park in Auburn Hills. Caytek said that they wanted to hold a sizable commemoration in public to bring the Jewish community of the area together for the event, but also to publicly spread happiness and positivity for such a joyous occasion.

“Everyone gets a chance to write a letter in the Torah. They each assist the scribe in writing a letter. Then there is a short ceremony with some speeches. We finish by blocking off the street and dancing with the Torah and invite the community into the Jewish center. It’s all about joy, because religion and Judaism are meant to bring joy to our hearts and joy to our community.”

Dmitriy Feldman, a community center member from Sterling Heights, said that he has felt that feeling of joy and community since joining the Chabad Jewish Community Cen-

ter, and he said he felt it anew with the dedication of the new Torah scroll.

“My family were some of the first members of the community center. We didn’t belong to anything before the center opened, but got involved through Menachem’s help, and it has been absolutely amazing,” said Feldman.

“With the background that I came from, I was never really part of the Jewish community, and I was never part of any religious organization, and this gives me a real sense of belonging. It’s great to have something on the east side for those of us who live out here.”

Pennie Goldin-Michelin, of Rochester Hills, was another community center member who took part in the commemoration, and she said being able to take part in its creation was very moving for her.

“This is like a once-in-a-lifetime experience to get so close to the Torah and to share this with an actual Torah scribe. It’s absolutely fabulous,” she remarked. “The Torah is the holiest object in the Jewish religion. This is why, in the Sabbath prayer service, while the Torah comes around, we touch our prayer book to the scroll and kiss it.”

She stressed what a precise and sensitive process the creation of such a scroll can be, which is one of the reasons why the completion of one is so important.

“This is a major experience to actually see

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the Torah be written letter by letter by a scribe, because they have to write it panel-by-panel and letter-by-letter,” said Goldin-Michelin. “If there is a mistake made, they have to scrap the entire panel.”

Caytak was inspired by famed Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, also known as the Lubavitcher Revve, who stressed love for every human being and the importance of community and accepting them without judgment. Caytak described him as the greatest rabbi in modern history. It was an attitude he said he wanted to bring to the event.

“Every time we read from the Torah, which is every Saturday and every high holiday, it’s the whole community being represented,” he said. “Gathering together for a celebration like this is sort of unprecedented” for their community center. “It’s strengthening and growing our local community.”

His hope is that this will continue the Troy-based community center’s efforts to provide a gathering point for the local Jewish community.

“Everyone seemed to think that east of Woodward, there was no Jewish community, that the Jewish community all lived around Bloomfield, West Bloomfield and Southfield, and we are saying today that Judaism is here and alive and growing east of Woodward,” Caytak said. “I hope the Jewish person that

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may feel isolated and may not feel they can join with the Jewish community, that they know they have a place.”

Those in attendance at the event said it was an immensely happy moment and one that many felt was personally touching.

“I think (the addition of the Torah scroll) is a huge step for the local community and the community center. To have our own is amazing. We had to borrow one before. This is a big step to grow to this point,” said Feldman. “I was able to write a letter in the Torah. Not having much of a religious background, a lot of these experiences are new to me, so this was a very huge steppingstone for me personally to do that.”

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K E E W E H T F O RIME C • K E E W E H • CRIME OF T

K E E W E NEWSWORTHY H T F O CRIME INCIDENTS REPORTED TO LOCAL POLICE, AS COMPILED BY C & G REPORTERS

Laser light jeopardizes helicopter

MADISON HEIGHTS — Trooper 2, a Michigan State Police helicopter, was in flight at 9 p.m. May 16 when it was struck by a green-colored laser, which was reportedly later traced back to an address in Madison Heights. A male suspect in the 26700 block of Osmun Avenue was arrested and a laser device was located on his person.

“It is a crime, both federal and state, to point a laser at an aircraft,” Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said in a prepared statement. “We are fortunate that no one was hurt (and that) the aircraft didn’t crash in this incident.”

He added that the suspect, 44, was transported to the Metro North Post, processed and released pending prosecutor review.

Package taken from Jeep

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown suspect broke the sunroof on a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee while it was parked in the 32000 block of Concord Drive between 5 p.m.

April 21 and 3 p.m. April 24.

Packages belonging to a 30-year-old Madison Heights woman were stolen.

An investigation was ongoing.

Former employee warned not to return to market

WEST BLOOMFIELD — An employee of a business was terminated from employment due to allegedly making threats to fellow employees at 2:40 p.m. April 28.

The employee was contacted via phone by the West Bloomfield Police Department and given a trespass warning to not return to the market.

Cellphone hack drains bitcoin

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — On May 9, Bloomfield Township police took a fraud report from a resident in the 4000 block of Pine Tree Trail.

The victim said his personal cellphone was hacked through a SIM swap -- a removable card that stores data -- and $204,024.15 worth of bitcoin had been withdrawn from his Coinbase account. The case was under investigation.

Bank card stolen from ATM

BIRMINGHAM — On May 2 at 10:06 a.m., an officer was dispatched to take a fraud report.

The victim, a 62-year-old woman from Birmingham, reported that she had left her bank card in the exterior drive-thru ATM at Comerica Bank. Witnesses reported a vehicle pulled up to the ATM after the victim left, and the suspect used the woman’s

card to withdraw $500 from her bank account.

Comerica Bank refunded the victim $500, and the victim canceled her debit card. An investigation was ongoing.

Residents caught dumping illegally

FARMINGTON — Police officers were dispatched to a local business on Grand River Avenue for a report of illegal dumping at 12:44 p.m. May 4.

Officers learned that the business owners had observed two subjects throwing items into their Dumpster without permission. Officers were able to track the responsible individuals to a local residence, where the culprits were educated on illegal dumping laws.

Stolen moped pulled over

FARMINGTON — At 7:41 p.m. May 5, a Farmington officer conducted a traffic stop on a moped that did not show a valid registration sticker.

During the investigation, the officer discovered that the driver had provided the officer with a false name.

Officers ran the vehicle’s vehicle identification number through the Law Enforcement Information Network and learned that the moped had been stolen in Lansing. Officers confirmed with Lansing police that the moped had been stolen. The driver was arrested for showing a false ID to a police officer, as well as receiving and concealing stolen property.

Shoplifter arrested

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, a 32-year-old Detroit man stole more than $340 in groceries from a Kroger store in Hazel Park around 8:50 p.m. May 1.

He was arrested and the stolen goods were recovered roughly a half-mile away.

Police were investigating.

Lost wallet found by fellow shopper

NOVI — A woman filed an online police report after her wallet was stolen from a handheld shopping basket at an unidentified store between 6:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 2. She had placed the wallet in the basket while she shopped. She told police she put the basket down several times but never walked away from it, but she did turn her back away from it multiple times. The woman said she didn’t realize the wallet was missing until she went to check out.

The dark blue wallet contained her driver’s license, $55 in cash, credit cards and five miscellaneous gift cards worth $228.25. Police advised

her to cancel all her cards that she lost and to call the three major credit bureaus and report the cards as stolen. The woman said none of the cards had been used.

On May 10, the woman informed police that her wallet had been returned to her. She stated a female shopper had placed the wallet in between her front door and screen door shortly after the initial incident, with a note. The shopper explained that she did not trust the store employees and decided to drop it off instead.

The owner of the wallet stated she does not use the front door, which created the delay in finding the wallet. All contents were present except for the cash.

Woman tasered after noise complaints bring police to party

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the 1600 block of Bedford Square for a noise complaint from a loud party at 12:59 a.m.

April 23.

Deputies spoke with the lessee, a 23-year-old from Auburn Hills. Deputies were called back out to the location a second time on the same loud party complaint and witnessed a large party spill out into the hallway.

Fights ensued between people attending the party, but deputies were able to de-escalate several of the altercations. At that time, a fight broke out between a 22-year-old from Pontiac and a 21-yearold from Pontiac. Deputies attempted to separate the two females, who continued to fight around and over deputies. Police had to deploy a Taser to gain control over one of the females. Both were then taken into custody.

The two females were issued citations, and one of them was treated by the Rochester Fire Department, was transported to the Oakland County Jail for processing and was released pending further investigation. The apartment lessee was also issued citations.

Woman suspected of retail fraud tries to flee

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to a store in the 3600 block of Market Place Circle on a retail fraud in progress at 10:47 p.m. April 25.

The 30-year-old Pontiac woman was known to the store’s loss prevention. She had loaded a shopping cart full of alcohol and was at the selfcheckout scanning items and pretending to pay with her phone.

Loss prevention believed the woman had a

look out in the parking lot waiting for her exit, and they then informed police that she had ditched the shopping cart and fled the store.

Deputies detained her for investigation, but she attempted to flee across the parking lot, to no avail.

Further investigation revealed that she was wanted on a warrant for retail fraud, second degree, in the 52-3 District Court.

Once apprehended, she complained of medical issues. The Rochester Hills Fire Department transported her to the hospital, where she was cleared and transported to the Oakland County Jail.

Student attacked by 3 classmates

SOUTHFIELD — A student at a school in the 24000 block of Garner Street reportedly was jumped by three students in a locker room at 3 p.m. May 9.

Prior to the attack, the student observed some girls at school arguing and fighting, according to a police report. The victim stated that she had attempted to stay out of the drama but then began receiving harassing texts from one of the girls claiming that she wanted to fight her.

On May 9, the victim was in the locker room when three girls allegedly jumped and assaulted her multiple times, and the victim’s phone was allegedly stolen by the girls. The incident was recorded, and video shows one of the girls running toward the victim, grabbing her by her hair and assaulting her.

The victim is then held down while the other two girls begin to assault her as well. The victim was eventually able to get up and flee the locker room.

The three girls were identified, and the investigation was ongoing.

Cars targeted by thieves

TROY — Several Troy residents were targeted by an unknown suspect or suspects stealing parts from their vehicles in recent weeks.

Sometime between 3 p.m. April 30 and 7:59 a.m. May 1, the driver’s side rear wheel of a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was stolen in the 1900 block of Hempstead Street.

On May 1, between 12:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., the driver’s side front wheel was stolen from a 2023 Ford Focus parked in the 2800 block of Saratoga Street.

The license plate from a vehicle parked outside its owner’s home in the 4000 block of Three Oaks Boulevard was stolen at some point between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. May 4.

Police were investigating and had not indicated whether they think the crimes may be linked.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

Woodward from page 3A

duty to also assist on Woodward Avenue. Other officers will be patrolling over areas of Birmingham, as regularly scheduled, and will participate in enforcement activity on Woodward when they are not working on other areas of the city.

Bloomfield Township puts out two vehicles every weekend on overtime from the time the weather breaks until around October.

“We want people to be able to enjoy their evening, but we also want people to be safe,” Bloomfield Township Police Chief James Gallagher said.

The police chiefs said the Woodward traffic became a greater issue for the community during the pandemic. While they would get routine traffic at certain parts of the summer, they noticed a shift a few years ago.

“When COVID hit and people didn’t have much to do, Woodward was very busy all summer long, and it seems like that behavior and activity has stuck since then,” Grewe said.

Local police departments and municipalities have been working with state representatives.

“We are limited by what state law permits us, especially for the noise,” Gallagher said. “Our laws and the way they are written on the books today make it very difficult to enforce the sound from these cars.”

According to Grewe’s message in the City Manager report, the Birmingham Police Department contacted state representatives in the fall of 2022 and provided a suggested change in state law giving the police an enforcement tool to address the issue of noise from vehicles, as well as seeking support from the county.

Grewe was joined by police chiefs from Royal Oak and Ferndale, who supported the request.

Bloomfield Township held a meeting with agencies

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along Woodward Avenue, as well as with the Michigan State Police, Oakland County commissioners, state representatives and other local leaders April 19 to discuss reckless driving along the Woodward corridor. This meeting was in response to the recent fatal drag racing accident.

In the city manager’s report, Grewe reported that over the weekend of Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, officers wrote 67 tickets and arrested an intoxicated driver as additional Woodward traffic detail officers worked 5 p.m.midnight.

To provide additional funding for Woodward enforcement patrols, the Birmingham Police Department has also applied for grant funding from the Office of Highway Safety Planning.

The Birmingham Police Department is located at 151 Martin Street and can be contacted at (248) 530-1800. The Bloomfield Township Police Department is located at 4200 Telegraph Road and can be contacted at (248) 433-7755.

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from page 1A

wine? Location. The moderating waters of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay enable winemakers here to grow familiar European grapes, including chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir, cabernet franc and others. The warm waters protect against late spring and early fall frosts.

Also worth noting is that the region lies along the 45th parallel, the same latitude as famous wine areas such as the Piedmont region of Italy and the Rhone Valley and Bordeaux in France.

Traverse City makes for an easy weekend visit from metro Detroit. To make the most of a visit to the Traverse Wine Coast, as the region has dubbed itself to the wine world, it’s best to do some planning. Hours and tasting procedures vary from winery to winery.

Designated trails on each peninsula can help navigate options. You can also hire a driver for group or personal tours, as many of them are very familiar with the wineries, including their selection of wines, tasting procedures and more.

It used to be that you could show up at any winery unannounced and enjoy a sampling of wines. Since the pandemic, however, many wineries require reservations; it’s best to check before your visit. Many of them also offer only flights of wine or wine by the glass.

“Planning is essential for visiting the wineries because there are so many to choose from,” said Nicholas Hartmann, managing director of the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, representing about 20 wineries.

“Checking with a winery ahead of time can save you the disappointment of showing up to find out they’re full because reservations are required.”

Visiting wineries, he adds, is “the best way to relax and enjoy this beautiful region.”

Traverse City is an ideal staging area for a wine weekend. There are plenty of hotel options and the downtown boasts a vibrant shopping district and top-notch restaurants.

The city is also home to a winery, Left Foot Charlie. The winery grows grapes on both peninsulas and offers an impressive selection, including riesling, pinot blanc and chardonnay. The winery is located in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, a former state hospital that is now an entertainment complex with boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. The winery’s Barrel Room provides a more intimate wine-tasting experience with charcuterie options.

Old Mission is the narrowest and busiest of the two peninsulas, largely because it’s

so close to downtown Traverse City and a strip of waterfront hotels. Vineyards share the pastoral landscape with tidy apple and cherry orchards, along with unparalleled views of Grand Traverse Bay. One of the first wineries along the peninsula’s main road is Mari Vineyards.

The Italian-style tasting room and winery look like it was plucked from Tuscany and dropped on the hills of Old Mission. The Italian architecture is a clue to the wine being poured inside. Mari is known for growing Italian varietals, including teroldego, nebbiolo and refosco, not so common in these parts. Their growth is aided by the use of “hoop houses,” metal hoop structures draped in plastic. By the way, Mari is owned by the family featured in the reality series “The Curse of Oak Island,” which follows treasure hunters on the island off the shore of Nova Scotia.

Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery is an ideal place to enjoy a glass or flight of wine on the deck, which overlooks vineyards and Grand Traverse Bay. Standout wine options include pinot blanc, sauvignon blanc and cabernet franc. Not to be missed is the frosé, a frozen rosé. You can top the concoction with a small pour of your favorite wine.

Stroll the secret garden to pick lavender in season and browse a selection of lavenderinspired products.

For an overnight option, consider Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn. The well-appointed rooms evoke the styles of a French chateau. Overnight guests receive a bottle of wine and complimentary wine tastings. A gourmet breakfast is served on a patio overlooking vineyards and Grand Traverse Bay. Cap an afternoon on Old Mission with a stop at the historic Mission Point Lighthouse at the peninsula’s tip. The 1870 lighthouse is open for self-guided tours.

The much larger Leelanau Peninsula lies west of Traverse City and is home to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The national lakeshore is a must-see and makes for an easy stopover before heading to wineries. Climb dunes or take a drive up Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for panoramic views of Lake Michigan.

North of Sleeping Bear, on Route 22, Good Harbor Vineyards is one of the peninsula’s oldest wineries and pours favorites like riesling, chardonnay and pinot grigio. Its sister winery, Aurora Cellars, is outside Lake Leelanau. Known for its red wines (like blaufrankisch and cabernet franc), the winery includes a renovated 19th century farmhouse that is open to overnight guests.

At Shady Lane Cellars, you can sip alfresco in a tasting pavilion with a furnished patio and outdoor fireplace. Top choices here include gruner veltliner, pinot gris and

Photo provided by Traverse City Tourism

One of the first wineries along the Leelanau Peninsula’s main road is Mari Vineyards.

Franc ‘n’ Franc, a blend of cabernet franc and blaufrankisch. Eight miles from Traverse City, this property was once a 100-acre fruit farm. Be sure to step inside the tasting room, a restored 100-year-old fieldstone chicken coop.

South of Suttons Bay, the Inn at Black Star Farms, which includes a winery, boasts upscale accommodations in a Kentuckystyle estate home. The inn is set amid 160 acres and boasts 10 classically furnished guest rooms. Besides the winery, the proper-

ty includes a farm-to-table bistro, an equestrian facility and hiking trails. The tasting room menu boasts an expansive selection of dry and sweet wines and spirits. Be sure to try the dry riesling, chardonnay and the dry reds.

Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer and works part-time at a winery on the Leelanau Peninsula, Verterra Winery.

He highly recommends visiting the winery’s Leland tasting room or vineyard, The Ridge at Verterra, just south of Northport.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

Comic Con from page 5A

The games were brought in by Mike Castro, owner of Nebula Amusements, a mobile entertainment company based in Lapeer.

One of the main attractions this year was HADO AR — an augmented reality sport that allows participants to play a dodgeballtype game with orbs in an augmented reality world. Castro described the orbs as being “‘Dragon Ball Z’ style.”

“It’s essentially anime dodgeball meets sci fi,” he said.

According to Castro, there are only three companies with HADO AR in the U.S. The other two are in Florida and Nevada.

“I love seeing people play (HADO AR) in cosplay. At any con I go to, they’ve never seen it before, because no one’s brought it to this part of the country,” said Castro. “I want to add value to places I go.”

Castro said anybody can play regardless of physical disabilities. He said that Nebula Amusements will do its best to adapt and find a way so that all customers can play the game.

“It’s all about the experience,” said Castro. “I want everyone to have an awesome experience, because comic cons are an escape. If you are an adult doing a job, most people hate

their job to an extent. They get to go on a vacation, and you lose all that stress. You’re a kid again having fun, and I want to give that experience to adults. When you’re a kid and you come to a place like a comic con, the world is huge. The world is big. Oh, my God, this is amazing and I want to add to that.”

The event also showcased the work of multiple comic book writers and artists, such as Dominic Riggio, of Birmingham, owner of Mess Bucket Comics, and artist Erik Hodson, of Grosse Pointe, owner of the Dreaded Dinosaur brand.

Riggio creates comic books that integrate sports, including hockey and wrestling, into the comic world. Some of his books feature actual sports heroes, such as Darren McCarty, as an owner of a fictional team. Riggio said he plans to bring McCarty with him for the fall Motor City Comic Con to sign copies of his book, “The Darren McCarty Life Story Comic Book.”

He said he originally wanted to write film scripts, but the cost to break into the industry was just too much. However, comic books have always been a passion of his and offered him a more cost-effective way of breaking into the writing industry 11 years ago. “I’m really glad I did (start writing comic books). It’s been very rewarding,” said Riggio.

According to Riggio, who has been com-

ing to MC3 for many years, this year’s con offered a “strong celebrity lineup” with guests such as Michael Rooker, of “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame. According to Riggio, Rooker is the “MVP of any comic convention” and is “amazing.” Riggio recalled an event he was at in Indiana, where Rooker found out it was a young fan’s birthday and sang “Happy Birthday” to her over the event’s PA system.

“Having (Rooker) here and other guests — they always do a good job here. I’m excited for what this weekend’s going to bring,” Riggio said May 19.

“Everybody is here for the same thing,” said Dan Carr, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Hodson’s agent. “(MC3) is very family-oriented.

It’s a nice sense of community. There’s plenty to do. You hope that everybody makes it all the way around (the entire event). It’s quite the setup.”

Hodson continues to create beautiful artwork despite scleroderma, which caused his joints to stiffen and fuse in awkward positions. He said his artwork has gotten better despite his illness. He takes classic comic book characters and does an homage to them by fusing them with wrestlers. Hodson is the artist featured in Riggio’s series, “Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Kilted Avenger.” He also draws numerous anime characters and spoofs of characters such as “The Little Merk Maid”

which he describes as a parody of “The Little Mermaid” where she is out for revenge.

“Find something that you have ambition and passion for, because sometimes that’s the only thing that’s going to keep you going when the disease or illness is hard, or when it’s just too much, when you keep failing over and over again,” Hodson said. “I’ve been through several failures, but those are steps to success — not reasons to quit. But you got to have that passion for doing this to keep you going.”

MC3 also featured multiple celebrity guests in multiple fandoms such as Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning from “Home Improvement,” Tony Danza from “Who’s the Boss,” Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and Zack Aguilar, the voice behind Tanjiro Kamado in “Demon Slayer.”

A kids area offered entertainment including balloon artists, slime-making and crafts. Children could also participate in a scavenger hunt during the con.

“It’s a quality show. It’s not some dinky little hotel-type show,” said artist Robert “Rak” Kraus, of Akron, Ohio, who has been coming to MC3 since its inception. “It’s fun.”

MC3 will return for its fall edition Nov. 10-12. For more information, visit motorcity comiccon.com.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

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Pride from page 5A

Trail from page 1A

visit all 13 metroparks, they receive a 2024 metroparks annual vehicle pass, which is a $40 value for residents living in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. For nonresidents, the value is $45.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks Marketing Specialist Hilary Simmet explained that the idea was born out of a community survey that was conducted last year in which they asked what programs and activities metroparks visitors were looking for. One of the common responses they received was the desire for some form of a walking club.

“We had a committee and brainstormed about opportunities and what we could do.

We wanted to create some kind of trail challenge, but we wanted to make sure that there was an added incentive or something that made ours a little bit different than other trail challenges,” Simmet said.

Simmet stated that between the 13 metroparks, there’s something for everyone.

Her personal favorite is a tossup between Indian Springs and Huron Meadows, because they have fewer recreational amenities and focus more on getting back to nature with their trails. “It’s just nice to be able to go out there and connect with nature.”

Simmet added that the Huron-Clinton Metroparks have kayak and canoe liveries at Lake St. Clair, Oakwoods and Delhi, connecting with Hudson Mills and Dexter-Huron for those looking to get out on the water and log their miles that way.

For avid mountain bikers, Simmet rec-

ommended Stony Creek as, within the last few years, they’ve added trails specifically for mountain biking, which are also handcycle accessible on two of the loops.

Though Simmet asserted that all the metroparks are kid-friendly, Lower Huron might be the most appealing because of the brand-new space-themed playground and the Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center, with two waterslides and a lazy river.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks Ambassador Erika Culey’s favorite of the metroparks is Willow. Culey stated that it holds a special place in her heart.

“That’s one that I grew up going to when I was a kid. My parents would take me to the metroparks, and we would bike through it every single Saturday. I think it’s just the nostalgia that gets me.”

Culey became a Metroparks Ambassador after seeing applications on Instagram last year. She knew she’d be right for the role because of her love for the parks. As part of her role, she posts monthly on ways she’s getting outside and enjoying the parks.

Culey describes herself as an “avid biker” and is excited to see other bikers out on the challenge trails with her. Her advice for those who aren’t familiar with the metroparks is to start getting out there.

“Find a metropark closest to you. You can do the daily pass, and then you can always cash those in for the annual pass.

And really, all the trails are easily accessible.

They’re paved. So pretty much anyone can access them,” Culey said.

For more information on the Trail Challenge, visit www.metroparks.com/trail challenge.

LAKEVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS 27575 Harper Ave. St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR Lakeview Public Schools will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year at a special meeting of the Board of Education beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, to be held at the Wheat Educational Campus, 27575 Harper St. Clair Shores, MI. Board action on approving the proposed budget is expected to occur on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting which begins at 7:30 p.m., also held at the Wheat Educational Campus. Copies of the proposed budget will be available by appointment for public inspection through contact with the Superintendent’s Office beginning at 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Please contact the Lakeview Public Schools Superintendent’s Office at (586) 445-4000, ext. 2501, for information on reviewing the Budget proposal material.

Robbyn Martin Secretary Board of Education Published: C & G Newspapers Grosse Pointe/Macomb County Special Edition 05/31/2023

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Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

The Metroparks Trail Challenge kiosk at Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township is conveniently located in front of the nature center.

feature four drag queens and kings reading in the children’s area. The readings will start at 2 p.m. and end at 5 p.m.

The expanded footprint, which added about 40 vendors, also added extra space for stage reading.

“It’s quite a bit bigger for us,” Music said.

“We are kind of constricted because Ferndale is divided by a state highway, and also the way our streets build out, we are kind of constricted to a small area. So we got creative in how we laid things out and opened up a parking lot.”

Mayor Melanie Piana said her favorite part of going to Ferndale Pride each year is feeling the joy of the whole atmosphere being at the event and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community openly and safely.

“I like all of it. All of it makes the whole event exciting and a fantastic experience,” she said. “Last year’s Ferndale Pride, between the

weather and just being around people after the pandemic, was just such a joyous occasion, and I just love being there around everybody, walking around experiencing everything, but the music, the people, the costumes and the vendors — it’s just quintessential Ferndale.”

Piana also said there’s reason to celebrate with the signing of an amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act this year, which added protections for LGBTQ+ persons.

“So much more to be joyous about in the state of Michigan, but we still need to do a lot of hard work with making sure everybody’s represented across the United States,” she said.

Free parking will be available for the event through a Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation shuttle service. It will run every 10 minutes from noon to 10:45 p.m. and will be located at Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest Drive, and the Gerry Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois St. For a list of Ferndale Pride events and more information on the festival, visit fern dalepride.com.

C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • MAY 31, 2023

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