TRUMP ANNOUNCES NEW SELFRIDGE FIGHTER MISSION
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — During a stop in Macomb County on April 29, President Donald Trump announced that Selfridge Air National Guard Base would receive a new mission with 21 “brand new” F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets.
Announced at Selfridge alongside state and federal officials to an audience of Michigan National Guard members and press, the F15EX jets will replace the aging and outgoing A-10 Thunderbolt II jets as the base’s offensive mission. The planes are expected to arrive at the base in fiscal year 2028, according to the Department of Defense.
“Well, I guess they think we’re going to save this place,” Trump said to begin his speech at the base. “And you know what? They’re right. A hundred percent right. We’re going to save it and make it better, actually.”
Finding a new fighter mission for the base to replace the A-10 mission has been a priority for Michigan officials in recent years. The state switched its focus to securing an F-15EX mission for the base in 2023 after failing to secure an F-35 Lightning II mission.
U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, described the F-15EX as “the airframe (Selfridge officials) saw the highest likelihood of gain-
AS CITY PLANTS TREES, RESIDENTS PUSH TO PRESERVE CANOPY
See FIGHTER on page 10A BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI
akozlowski@candgnews.com
Meanwhile, a group of residents stand united around saving a centuries-old chinquapin oak that is slated for destruction so new apartments can be built.
TREES on page 20A
STERLING HEIGHTS — Officials in Sterling Heights recently celebrated the planting of 200 new trees, the first of 15,000 that will be planted during the next several years, as funded by last fall’s “Pathway to Play and Preservation” millage.
See
Sterling Heights officials examine a tree being planted at an event kicking off the city’s residential reforestation initiative April 23.
Photo by Brian Wells
NEWS & NOTES
Fundraiser 5K run/walk to benefit Friends of Foster Kids
STERLING HEIGHTS — The Philip S. Killoran Chapter of the National Honor Society at Sterling Heights High School will hold its fourth annual 5-kilometer Family Run/Walk May 17 at the high school, 12901 15 Mile Road. The run/walk is for all ages and abilities. Strollers are welcome. Please keep pets at home. The race is professionally timed. Race brackets range from age 10 and younger up to 70-plus. Registration and payment are held online through Eastside Racing Company at eastsideracingcompany.com and RunSignup.com.
Check-in will begin between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. with the event beginning at 10 a.m. There will be door prizes, a live disc jockey, food, face painting, a vendor showcase yard, lawn games, photo opportunity stations, and maybe a celebrity announcer.
Proceeds raised will benefit Friends of Foster Kids. FoFK was founded by Theresa Toia, whose daughter was a caseworker in the state’s foster care system. Toia works with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to help foster children in southeastern Michigan who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect.
The goal is to raise over $10,000. Community members who would like to partner with the chapter can send an email to shhs.psk.nhs@gmail.com or call (586) 825-2700 extension 14217. Put “5K” in the subject line or mention “5K” in the voicemail. For more information about Friends of Foster Kids, go to friendsoffoster kids.org.
AAA offers safety tips for National Bike Month
METRO DETROIT — In observance of May is National Bike Month, AAA – The Auto Club Group is reminding residents of the importance of safety for cyclists and motorists.
In a press release issued May 1, AAA said 1,166 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes and an estimated 49,489 bicyclists were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2023.
AAA’s safety tips for bicyclists:
Wear a helmet. Helmets, when worn properly, are up to 85% effective in protecting the head and brain in the event of a crash.
Follow the rules of the road. Obey traffic signals, signs and lane markings. Ride on the right side of the road, never against traffic.
Be visible. Ride where drivers can see you. Do not ride on the sidewalk. Wear bright colors during the day, reflective gear in low light conditions, and use head and taillights at night. Make safe choices. Do not wear headphones while riding. Keep both hands on the handlebars, except when signaling. Keep both feet on pedals.
Watch for pedestrians. Pass pedestrians with care by first announcing “on your left” or “passing on your left” or use a bell.
AAA’s
safety tips for motorists:
Stay alert. Always scan ahead, center, left, and right for bicyclists, especially at intersections and during turns.
Give space. Allow at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist. Be patient. Avoid honking or aggressive driving near cyclists. Remember, they have the same rights to the road as vehicles. Be cautious near children on bikes. They are often unsteady and unpredictable.
SHOWTIME
STERLING HEIGHTS — Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts will present “Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy” at 7 p.m. May 16-17 and 2 p.m. May 18. The WCS Performing Arts Center is located inside Sterling Heights High School, 12901 15 Mile Road. The play is recommended for middle school students and older.
“Sister Act,” based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, centers around a disco diva named Deloris Van Cartier. When she witnesses a murder, she is put into protective custody in a convent. She finds herself at odds with Mother Superior and uses her gift of music to inspire her fellow nuns. For tickets, visit wcskids.com.
Nature event scheduled this summer
STERLING HEIGHTS — The Sterling Heights Nature Center will have monthly events this summer as part of its Nature Explorers Homeschool Program. The topics will include pollinators, environmental conservation, reptiles and amphibians. The activities are hands-on and interactive.
“Pollinator Paradise” will be held from 2-4 p.m. June 10. “Conservation in Action” will be held from 2-4 p.m. July 8. “Cold Blooded Creatures” will be held from 2-4 p.m. Aug. 12. To register, go to sterlingheights.gov.
Arc of Macomb hosting golf outing fundraiser
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On Friday, May 30, The Arc of Macomb County is hosting a golf outing at Hickory Hollow Golf Club in Macomb Township.
Proceeds from the outing directly support The Arc’s mission to provide services, resources, and advocacy that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, learn and work in the community of their choosing.
“This outing is more than just a great day on the course — it’s an opportunity to drive real impact for people with disabilities in Macomb County,” Lisa Lepine, executive director of The Arc of Macomb County, said in a press release. “We’re incredibly grateful for the businesses and individuals who come out each year to support inclusion, empowerment and opportunity.”
The outing will feature 18 rounds of golf starting at 9 a.m., a continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, raffles and giveaways, hole contests and sponsorship opportunities. For more information and registration, go to arcservices.org/golf.
Photo provided by Jennifer Huyghe
Court is in session at Grissom Middle School
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — “All rise,” bailiff Tyrese Vance-Anderson directed as the “State of Oregon versus Langley Parker” trial got underway during third hour in the Grissom Middle School media center.
The eighth grade students held a mock trial April 30 under the guidance of social studies teacher Brendan Roosa, who served as judge. Parker, portrayed by Alex Shamoon, was charged with manslaughter in the second degree after playing a joke on Terry Weaver, played by Aalanah Matthews, and her mom Jackie Weaver, who “died” of a heart attack after the prank.
“Remember, a lot of it is about how you present your evidence, not only what is your evidence,” Roosa reminded the students. “Members of the jury, your duty today will be to determine whether the prosecution proves the defendant caused the death of Jackie Weaver. The defendant is innocent until proven (guilty) beyond reasonable doubt.”
Grissom is part of the Warren Consolidated Schools district. All of Rossa’s classes held their
See GRISSOM on page 8A
ABOVE: The eighth grade students hear both sides of the case during a mock trial April 30 in the media center.
TOP LEFT: Grissom Middle School teacher Brendan Roosa listens to student Amaya Ullah give testimony during the mock trial.
BOTTOM LEFT: Elia Yousif, right, acted as the courtroom sketch artist during the mock trial. He is joined by Tristan Gracia, left, who portrayed a juror. Photos by Liz Carnegie
Grissom
from page 6A
own mock trials, and local media was invited to view the third hour proceedings.
“They’ve been working so hard on their academic skills,” Roosa said.
The trial began when prosecuting attorney Phat Le — representing the State of Oregon — and his cohorts Meerna Bahry, Andreanna Baba and Artest Qari made opening statements.
The defense team was composed of Daniel Shuten, Chanel Alsabti, Jayden Butrus and Pat Troung. A number of witnesses took the stand. During the third hour court date, Elia Yousif served as the sketch artist.
“Someone died. It all started on May 2 in an alleyway in Oregon when Parker decided to throw that zombie prank, terrifying unsuspecting passerbys,” Le said. “As Terry Weaver and her mother Jackie Weaver turned around and saw the mob of zombies caught on their heels, they began to run in panic causing the devastation of Terry’s ankle as she tripped due to the immense fear she was in.”
Parker owns a web-based reality show that produces interactive scenarios designed to entertain. The actors are trained. Terry Weaver broke her ankle during one of Parker’s productions.
“Langley Parker showed no remorse as he let out a chuckle,” Le said. “At the conclusion of this trial you will find that Langley Parker is responsible for Jackie Weaver’s death because he was neglectful of human safety.”
During the defense team’s opening arguments, Alsabti told the jury members that all the necessary precautions were in place during Parker’s prank. She said the prank was harmless, that there was “nothing dangerous about what he did,” and there was no way he could have known Jackie Weaver had a heart condition.
“Parker is not guilty and should not have to go to jail when the situation was completely up to chance and out of his hands,” Alsabti said. “If Langley was truly guilty, this would have been an open-andshut case. If the slightest doubt of guilt remains in your head, trust your judgement because you know just as well as I do that Langley Parker is not guilty.”
When she took the stand, Terry Weaver talked about how Parker terrorized the family, including when she and her mom thought they saw a ghost during one of Parker’s productions. At the site of it, her mom collapsed.
“I have had multiple run-ins with the
“Attorney” Pat
defendant. I am tired of walking down the street and being afraid that something might happen to me or someone I love,” Weaver said. “Langley Parker takes pride in scaring people half to death and feels no remorse about what happens to them.”
Parker took the stand in his defense.
“I’m an artist at work. There is nothing dangerous in any of my productions and I take a lot of care to make sure no one is harmed,” said the defendant, who shut his production down after he heard of Jackie Weaver’s death. “If I knew she had any kind of medical vulnerability, I never would have let her near the set. It was a tragic accident.”
Other witnesses who testified included Lucas Muscus as Sgt. Lee Strad, Avery Mitchell played by Violet Smeenk, Amaya Ullah as Drew Watson, and Yousif Sto as Jesse Brice.
It took the jury two days to study the evidence before they reached a verdict. By the end of the day May 1, they were deadlocked. Jury deliberations continued May 2, and after much discussion, the jury found Parker guilty with manslaughter in the second degree.
Before the trial began, the students prepared for their parts by reading various materials about the legal system and submitting applications for their roles as lawyers, witnesses, jury and news reporters. One aspect of the activity was reading 10th grade level material. The students also studied the Bill of Rights, the jury system, and the importance of conducting group work, filling out applications and professionalism.
Students indicated why they thought they were a good fit for the role in which they applied, and one strength and one weakness they would bring to the role. They also shared their current social studies grade and GPA. The participants received recommendations from their Grissom teachers, and wearing business casual attire during the court proceedings was mandatory.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
Truong questions a witness in the trial of the State of Oregon versus Patrick Langley.
President Donald Trump delivers an announcement before members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on April 29. Trump said the base would receive 21 F-15EX fighter jets in the coming years, fulfilling a goal of Michigan officials to maintain a fighter mission after the A-10 Thunderbolt II is retired.
Fighter
from page 1A
ing” and worked to get additional funding for F-15EX production into a draft version of the 2024 federal budget. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was in attendance to greet Trump when he arrived at Selfridge on April 29, pledged to fund a northward expansion of Selfridge’s runway and approved a $13 million allocation to do so in the state’s 2023 budget.
“Since day one, I’ve been laser-focused on securing a new fighter mission at Selfridge and supporting the brave service members who step up for our communities every day,” Whitmer said via press release. “I appreciate the President’s partnership on this new fighter mission that will protect jobs and show the world that Michigan is the best place to pioneer the next innovations in national defense. Because of our tireless work with partners on the ground in Macomb County and on both sides of the aisle, the future of Selfridge is bright, lasting and secure. I’ll keep working with anyone to get things done on the kitchen-table issues and make a real difference for Michigan families.”
Local officials were quick to applaud the announcement with both Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, a Democrat, and Macomb County Public Works Commis-
sioner Candice Miller, a Republican from Harrison Township, releasing statements of support.
“This is the best possible outcome, better than either F-16 or F-35,” Miller said via press release. “The F-15EX is a refurbishment of the F-15, a major overhaul/upgrade that just entered the active inventory in 2024, so it will be around for a long time, and it is an extremely important mission. It can be configured for air-to-air or air-toground operation … With the F-15EX, plus the KC-46s that are in the pipeline for us, the Michigan Air National Guard will be playing a major role in national defense for decades.”
Hackel’s comments in a press release reflected the bipartisan nature of the campaign to bring a new fighter mission to the nearly 110-year-old base.
“It’s fitting that a coalition of this size and scope rallied around Macomb County to help uplift Selfridge,” Hackel said. “This effort went beyond partisanship, and united us in the mission to protect our hometown airbase. I want to personally thank President Trump, Governor Whitmer, the servicewomen and servicemen at Selfridge and all of our military and civilian partners who were engaged in these conversations.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Photo provided by Michigan National Guard
HOMES
14A/MAY 14, 2025
STERLING HEIGHTS SENTRY
EVERYTHING CAN BE COMING UP ROSES FOR PROACTIVE GARDENERS
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — They’re beautiful, symbolic and have been immortalized in poems and songs, but even seasoned gardeners can express trepidation when it comes to roses.
As one gardening pro recently observed, “They are fussy.”
Still, that doesn’t mean that gardeners should avoid this legendary bloom.
Monica Sabella is a rosarian, horticulturist and greenhouse specialist who takes care of the roses at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. During an April 8 presentation on rose care, she said there are three main categories of roses: old garden roses (sometimes called antique or historical), wild roses and modern garden roses. Sabella said old garden roses — which have been around since before 1867 and only bloom once per year — “are not as diseaseresistant and not as hardy” as modern roses; modern roses are the ones most common in stores today.
The Ford House has 16 rose beds, with 30 to 50 roses in each, Sabella said. She said they include wild roses, tea tree roses and climbing roses.
Floribunda roses are the most popular and easiest to grow, and they don’t need to be pruned often, Sabella said. They include Knock Out roses, which she called “very, very low maintenance” compared to many other varieties.
“Roses are really not as difficult as people make them seem,” Sabella said. “They are just needy.”
George Papadelis, owner of Telly’s Greenhouse and Garden Center in Troy and Shelby Township, knows a lot about roses — the Troy location grows about 4,000 of them in more than 100 varieties, although roses can be purchased from either location.
“First and foremost, they should be planted in full sun, or as much sun as you can get them,” Papadelis said. “The more sun, the better.”
There should be more organic material in the soil than clay, Papadelis said.
Sabella echoed that sentiment, saying
gardeners should plant roses in a balanced mix of sand, silt and clay.
“For soil, you want something that’s very loamy,” Sabella said.
Papadelis said roses are hard to grow in containers.
“You should always dig a big, beautiful hole for a big, beautiful plant,” Papadelis said.
Location is important as well. Sabella advised against planting roses beneath large trees that might block sunlight, and she also said gardeners should avoid planting roses near anything with a large root system, like a tree or lilac. Because of aphids and other pests, she said roses should be planted away from vegetable gardens as well.
For northern climates like Michigan’s, Papadelis said grafted roses should be planted with the bud union — a knob or knot at the base of the upright canes — 2 to 4 inches below the soil. Own-root roses should be planted 2 inches deeper than that.
To protect grafted roses over the winter, Papadelis said gardeners should put extra soil over the crown of the plant in November or December. This step doesn’t need to be taken with own-root roses, he said.
Fertilization is another critical step to growing healthy roses. Sabella said that around Mother’s Day is a good time for the first session of fertilization.
“It’s important that a rose gets fed and that you protect it from disease and you protect it from insects,” Papadelis said.
He recommends a three-in-one granular product such as Rose-Tone, an organic product which is sprinkled on the ground about three to four times per season, or roughly every six weeks.
Pests like aphids can be blasted off roses with a hose. Japanese beetles, which emerge in June, should be hand-picked off the plants and dropped in soapy water. Neem oil will take care of destructive thrips, which Sabella said look like lice, although gardeners will likely need to make multiple applications. Diatomaceous earth is an effective tool against flea beetles, which Sabella said tend to emerge in late June and mid-September. Horticultural oil should be sprayed on scale during the “crawler” or
nymph stage, Sabella said.
Green lacewings, which can be purchased online, are a beneficial insect that Sabella said will eat pests like aphids.
Fungicide, insecticide and pesticide can be used as needed, but Sabella warns that some of these products also kill beneficial insects.
Sabella said gardeners should start by watering their roses twice a week, preferably in the early morning, before dawn; that gives the leaves time to dry before nightfall. Hand-watering is better than overhead watering because in the latter, the leaves get
wet and this can lead to bacteria or fungus growth, she said.
Papadelis said roses can be planted at any time but will need more frequent watering if they’re planted in the hotter part of summer.
Telly’s Greenhouse has a rose care guide on its website. To see more tips and recommendations, visit tellys.com and under the drop-down homepage menu, select Plant Care Guides and then Telly’s Rose Care Guide.
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
ABOVE: Bright pink Earth Song hybrid tea roses bloom at the entrance to the Ford House rose garden.
LEFT: Among the hybrid tea roses in the Ford House rose garden are the sweet-scented apricot Serendipity, front, and the vibrant pink Aunt Honey roses behind them.
Photos provided by the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
Museum
The museum, located at 250 W. Pike St., opened in May 2024 with phase I of its installation. Just a year later, organizers will open the second phase of the museum on May 17, and the public is cordially invited to the “Phase II Fanfare” event.
The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a car cafe kickoff that will include free coffee, doughnuts and cider. Car buffs who drive classic Pontiac, Oakland and GMC brands are welcome to showcase their models on the museum grounds as space allows.
The museum will open at 10 a.m. with “Phase I” admittance prices. At noon, the event will switch gears with guest speakers and a ribbon-cutting to officially open phase II of the museum. From 1 to 5 p.m., the public can enjoy live music outside, and food will be for sale.
“We want people to be proud of what happened in Pontiac. We want to attract heritage tourism to Pontiac,” said Connolly, a retired automobile engineer. “There was a lot of wealth accumulation in Pontiac at one point in time. It happened because of manufacturing prowess and science and technology.”
There are bits of history throughout the museum that highlight all kinds of vehicles made in the city: carriages, sedans, station wagons, sports cars, convertibles, 18-wheeler trailers, medium-duty trucks, pickup trucks, and buses. Inside the museum is a 1908 Pontiac High Wheel Runabout, a 1912 Flanders Colonial Electric, 1968 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air II, 1940 GMC pickup truck, the very last Pontiac 2010 G6 sedan and more.
“Pontiac had 80% of the transit market in the whole United States for about 40 years,” Connolly said. “The Department of Justice didn’t take kindly to that and took
GM to court for about 10 years and said, ‘It’s a monopoly, you’ve got to break it all off.’ So GM sold it all off, but most of the transit buses in the United States were built in Pontiac.”
Also on display are Whizzer motorbikes, which ran on gasoline and became popular during World War II.
“Gas was rationed, and women began working at plants,” Connolly said. “They all bought Whizzers” to get to work. The Pontiac manufacturing plants also supplied vehicles during World War II, including DUKWs, antiaircraft guns, armored cars, torpedoes, parts for tanks and landing craft and artillery ammunition.
In another site, volunteers placed two cars next to each other that represent the beginning and end of manufacturing in the city: a 1927 Landau sedan and a 1982 Grand Prix. Guests might also spot the 21-foot 1986 Vixen recreational vehicle on exhibit. Only 587 models were produced in 19861987 at the Vixen Motor Co.; they really didn’t generate much interest.
“My assessment is it was too expensive for its market in the mid-’80s because you could buy a bigger motorhome for the same amount of money,” Connolly said. “These were built right next door to where the Silverdome used to stand.”
The Pontiac Transportation Museum was built inside the former Crofoot Elementary School. Private donors have funded the museum along with support from the city of Pontiac’s Arts and Culture American Rescue Plan Act grant of $250,000. Since opening last year, the PTM has welcomed about 5,000 guests from 16 countries and nearly every U.S. state.
A list of admission prices is on the PTM website at pontiactransportationmuseum. org/visit. Information regarding donation opportunities also is available on the website. School groups are welcome for tours.
Congrats Graduate
George Gjokaj
Stevenson
High School 2025
Georgie, we’re so proud of you! Keep chasing your dreams and lighting up the world with your smile and spirit. MSU 2029 Go Green!
Love, Mom, Dad, Rick & Nana
from page 16A
Through car displays and artifacts, the Pontiac Transportation Museum tells the story of the city’s contributions to the automobile industry.
Photo by Patrica O’Blenes
Trees
The tree is among the largest of its kind in Michigan and possibly older than the United States, according to state certifiers.
The residents have formed a website, sterling-oak.org, where a petition to save the tree can be found. At press time, the petition had roughly 2,300 signatures. The group and its allies support new plantings but want more done to preserve the existing canopy.
“The city of Sterling Heights is putting in all these tiny trees, and here’s this large, beautiful tree that’s been here for ages — it’s just not the same replacing it,” said resident Kathleen Bileti.
“I understand how sometimes new developments need to go around trees, but that’s an extra expense worth making,” she said. “They knew that tree was there before they got the property. To just cut it down now would be crazy. This is not a throwaway world.”
Evan Little is an arborist certified in Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. The TRAQ program is managed by the International Society of Arboriculture.
“I often refer to these kinds of trees as ‘landmarks’ due to their size, age and value. I would definitely consider this chinquapin to be a landmark — and a historic one, for that matter,” said Little. “We could plant 200 new trees today, but in our lifetime, we won’t see them doing what this chinquapin already does today.”
‘Meadow in the sky’
The chinquapin oak stands in a flood plain on the east side of Van Dyke Avenue, south of Canal Road and north of Riverland Drive, next to Henriksen’s Golf and down the street from Zap Zone. Estimates put its age at nearly 270 years old, based on a species-specific formula by the ISA.
The nonprofit Michigan Botanical Society certified the tree as part of its Michigan Big Tree Survey, confirming its species and measurements. The tree is 88 feet tall and 14 feet around at breast height, with a crown spread of 84.5 feet — the seventh largest of its kind in the state.
“The cool thing about mature trees is they’re like a mother to all the surrounding trees and wildlife,” Little said. “You may have heard of the mycelium network — an underground fungal network uniting all trees, where they communicate with each other with their roots and send nutrients to each other. If one tree needs a bit of nitrogen because of loss during a storm, the surrounding oaks can send nitrogen to that tree. And large mature trees like this chinquapin pro-
A historic chinquapin oak starts to bloom in Sterling Heights. A group of residents is trying to save the ancient tree from being cut down to make way for apartments.
vide so much.”
While the tree has stood near the Clinton River since the time of the Founding Fathers, and is healthy, its final days may be at hand. The Chaldean Community Foundation is planning to build 82 apartments there, after the city approved the plan and sold the land last year.
The property where the chinquapin stands, located at 43934 Van Dyke Ave., spans about 10.5 acres. The plan is for the front 2 acres to be developed, which in its current form would require the tree’s removal. The plan also requires a cut-and-fill operation where the wetlands would be dug up, moving earth to raise the front 2 acres out of the flood plain. The 8 undeveloped acres would then be deeded back to the city.
The CCF is also working on another complex two parcels south on Van Dyke Avenue, expected to be completed in July. The CCF purchased 10 acres there, built 135 apartment units on 3 acres, and donated the other 7 acres back to the city to expand the greenway and park on the other side of the wetlands.
Martin Manna, the CCF board president, said his organization is trying to be mindful of the environment.
“We understand the concerns of the residents … and always strive to be good neighbors,” Manna said in a statement May 4. “The new development is still in the planning phases. As such, we are looking at options aimed at preserving nature, including the implementation of some 15 acres of trees and greenways.”
Little, the arborist, said much would be lost if the chinquapin is destroyed.
“Along with feeding and helping other trees, that chinquapin slows down wind, regulates temperature and manages stormwater runoff,” Little said. “I think we also overlook how important large trees are as a food source for pollinator species like bees. You may notice all the flowering trees right now. Well, a mature tree is like a meadow in the sky. It provides food and habitat for bees
NEXT MEETING DATE: July 9,
and other insects, and birds and squirrels.
“New trees are smaller and don’t flower the same since they will need years to establish themselves,” he said. “So, a large mature tree like this chinquapin plays a very important role in the ecosystem.”
‘We are all interconnected’ Sterling Heights originally purchased the property for $640,000 using federal
Geoffrey P. Gariepy, Chairperson Ed Kopp Gerald Rowe, Vice Chairperson Nicole McGill Brandy Wright, Secretary Parmpreet Sarau
Nathan Inks Pashko Ujkic Paul Jaboro
Photo by Mark Graf
City workers rake the soil around a freshly planted tree at the April 23 event.
Photo by Brian Wells
See TREES on page 21A
Trees
funds through the American Rescue Plan Act. The City Council then voted 5-2 to sell the property to the CCF for $60,000 in August 2024.
Voting in favor of the development were Mayor Michael Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Sierawski, and fellow council members Barbara Ziarko, Michael Radtke and Henry Yanez. Voting against it were council members Deanna Koski and Maria Schmidt.
Each was contacted for this story, but none responded by press time.
Officials have described the development as a way to address a shortage of affordable living options in the city. Tenants at the apartments would qualify based on income.
When asked for the city’s perspective, Melanie Davis, spokesperson for City Manager Mark Vanderpool, pointed to a previous statement.
“When unavoidable impact occurs, such as tree removal, we rely on our robust tree preservation ordinance to create the necessary land use balance by requiring the developer to replace any ‘landmark’ trees removed with new trees, inch for inch. Because of our tree preservation ordinance, if this tree ends up requiring removal, the developer will be required to replace it inch for inch with roughly 20 new trees,” the statement said.
“We remain committed to smart, sustainable growth — investing in green spaces, tree-planting initiatives and thoughtful community design that ensure progress and preservation,” the statement continued. “Change is never easy, but working together, we can build a community that remains welcoming, vibrant and environmentally responsible.”
On April 23, city officials gathered at the corner of Serra and Koper drives near Dequindre and 14 Mile roads for the planting of 200 trees — the first of 15,000 new neighborhood street trees that the city will plant during the next several years. The trees are funded by the “Pathway to Play and Preservation” millage that voters approved in November 2024.
“Planting trees isn’t just about adding beauty — it’s an investment in the future of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michael Taylor, in a separate statement. “Tree-lined streets make our community more vibrant, improve air quality and provide a cooling effect. They even help slow traffic for enhanced neighborhood safety. Every tree we plant today helps strengthen the connections between our environment, our homes, and our shared pride in the future of Sterling Heights.”
Sara Dionne is a resident of Sterling Heights. She supports planting trees but cautions against using it as an excuse to treat the current canopy as disposable.
She thinks of the role that mature oaks play as “keystone species” supporting ecosystems. She also thinks of the long-time residents who helped build Sterling Heights, and who grew alongside its trees.
“We see it with our older adults and our older trees, where they’re taken for granted and we don’t see the wisdom and impacts of them being here. I love that so many are standing up to fight for these trees,” Dionne said. “Nature will flourish, if we allow it. We need more affordable housing, yes, but we also need to protect our land. We all need the same air, the same soil — the same foundation. We are all interconnected.”
The Sterling Heights City Council next meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 inside City Hall, located at 40555 Utica Road in Sterling Heights.
ple of all ages. It involves inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds and exhaling for four seconds, which can be done several times in a row.
“It helps a lot with people who are feeling stressed,” Mischra said. “It helps you to focus in that moment on the task that you are doing.”
Getting up from the chair or couch can help, too.
“I also recommend moving around,” Mischra said. “If you are at a workplace and you feel that tension in your back and your head, walk around the building for 10 minutes. If it’s possible to be outside, that’s the best thing to do.”
While walking, she said a person can also practice deep breathing for an additional calming effect.
Mischra said positive affirmations, such as, “I’m going to have a good day,” and having a positive conversation with yourself — speaking to yourself in a positive way, instead of a negative or critical way — can be helpful as well, whether these conversations and affirmations are said aloud or silently.
Mischra advises people to spend at least 10 minutes each day practicing mindfulness and meditation; she said guided meditation is especially good for people who aren’t used to meditating and there are guided meditation videos on YouTube and apps like Headspace and Calm that can assist newcomers.
We are often our own harshest critics, so Mischra said she asks patients to list three positive things from their day.
“It helps to be gentle to yourself and reflect on your day,” she said.
The mind-body connection is powerful. Mischra and Mansour both said they ask patients about their diet and sleep habits.
Sugar, caffeine and water intake, for example, “can contribute to emotional stressors,” Mansour said.
For better sleep, Mischra said people should turn off their TV and avoid looking at devices like their phone or laptop at least 45 minutes to an hour before they go to bed. Limiting stimulants like caffeine and sugar before bed is critical as well.
“Following good sleep hygiene habits helps to combat stress,” Mischra said.
Stress might seem like an insurmountable mountain to climb, but it can be done.
“If you put in the work, you will see that success,” Mansour said.
Whitmer
from page 7A
— I know that’s the case — but Michiganders elected both of us twice, just two years apart, and I know from looking at this room that you all expect us to get things done.”
Speaking to reporters after the speech, Whitmer said her primary goals when meeting Trump were to secure jets for Selfridge and federal aid or funding for northern Michigan communities ravaged by a lateMarch ice storm. She had not yet received word from Washington on the aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Bipartisan collaboration was the theme through the rest of the governor’s speech, which moved from the Selfridge runways to Macomb County’s roadways. As part of her pledge to “fix the damn roads,” Whitmer highlighted the completion of the Innovate Mound project and the ongoing Restore the Reuther work. Now in its final phase, sections of Interstate 696 will be closed between Lahser Road, Dequindre Road and the interchange with Interstate 75 from 2025-2027.
Whitmer mentioned the need to find new revenue sources and make cuts in order
to fund roads in the future, and called upon the audience to help find a solution to this issue.
“We can’t put all of this on the backs of hardworking Michiganders. Businesses also benefit from strong, reliable roads and we all need to be part of the solution,” Whitmer said. “It’s a simple equation: Fewer potholes means fewer delays, means safer roads, means more predictability and certainty in a world that feels very uncertain in many ways. So, when it comes to fixing our roads and bringing Michigan manufacturing back, every voice in this room matters.”
Whitmer ended her remarks by telling businesses that the state had their backs in creating an easier, less-uncertain economic environment and asked them to help “build a future of this state that we can all be proud of, we can all drive in and we can all brag about.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
MAY 14-16
‘Festival of the Arts’: Highlights about 400 pieces by Warren Consolidated Schools students, on display 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave., facebook.com/warrenconsolidatedschools
MAY 14
Shelby Township Fine Art Society meeting: 6:30-9 p.m. every second Wednesday of month SeptemberJune, Shelby Township Activities Center, 14975 21 Mile Road, (586) 243-2056
Warren Garden Club meeting: Steve Duchene of Macomb County Public Works Department discusses hundreds of open and closed drains in county, 6 p.m., Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave., (810) 656-6490
MAY 16
Blood drive: Noon-6 p.m., St. Malachy Catholic Church, 14115 E. 14 Mile Road in Sterling Heights, schedule appointment at redcross.org
MAY 22
Medicare 101 seminar: Presented by Medicare Learning Services, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, also held June 26, registration required, (586) 465-0588
MAY 25
Widowed Friends movie and lunch: Show and time TBD, AMC Forum 30, 44681 Mound Road in Sterling Heights, also lunch TBD, RSVP to Pat at (586) 2952804 by May 21 (leave phone and email in message), widowed friends.com
MAY 26
Sterling Heights Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade: Ceremony features remarks from grand marshal and World War II Navy veteran John “Jack” Jones and others, 9 a.m., City Center courtyard between Police Department and City Hall, 40555 Utica Road, then parade, 10 a.m., starts at City Center parking lot and
travels south on Dodge Park Road, (586) 446-2470, sterlingheights.gov/713/memorial-day-parade
MAY 28-29
Calling all Twelves: A Salon Special Showing: View and drive 1932-1939 Packard Twin Six and Twelve automobiles, open to public from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. May 28 and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 29, Packard Proving Grounds, 49965 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, (586) 739-4800, packardprovinggrounds. org/2025salon
MAY 30
‘Broadway Bangers’: Hear PRISM Chorus perform musical theater hits of last 25 years, 8 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter. com
MAY 30-31
Church yard sale: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Crossroads Community Church, 2690 Auburn Road in Shelby Township
JUNE 5
North Flicks: Movie night for adults, watch Best Picture nominee “Breaking Away” (1979), 6-8:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 226-5080, cmpl.libnet.info/events
JUNE 6-8
‘Clue: On Stage’: Presented by St. Clair Shores Players, 7:30 p.m. June 6, 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 7, and 4 p.m. June 8, Anita’s Elite Dance Studio, 37360 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights, facebook.com/groups/ scsplayers
JUNE 7
Packards & Pints: Beer, wine and cocktail samples, live entertainment, tour historic cars and buildings, food for purchase, and more, 7 p.m. (VIP at 6 p.m.), Packard Proving Grounds, 49965 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, packardsandpints.com
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.
Set the PACE 5K: 9 a.m. for runners and 9:15 a.m. for walkers, Stony Creek Metropark, 4300 Main Park Drive in Shelby Township, all proceeds benefit PACE Southeast Michigan (provides all-inclusive health care services to low-income older adults in region), runsignup.com, read story at candgnews.com
JUNE 12-14
Community Yard Sale: Inaugural event includes 100 registered units in townhouse, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Village Square Cooperative, 45510 Kensington St. in Utica, also look for signs for other sellers at homes throughout city June 13-14
ONGOING
Upton House Museum tours: Visit 1860s Michigan Historical Landmark, 1-4 p.m. every Wednesday and second Sunday of month, 40433 Dodge Park Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 446-2495, sterlingheights. gov/789/upton-house-museum
Widowed Friends dancing: Doors at 6 p.m. and music from 7-10:30 p.m. Tuesdays (except May 27), American Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane in Sterling Heights, RSVP to Liz at (586) 801-4536, widowedfriends.com
Book clubs: Meetups for teens, early birds, those who want to snack and chat, others who want to discuss books they own, and new book and movie discussions, Sterling Heights Public Library, 40255 Dodge Park Road, (586) 446-2665, sterlingheights. gov/2136/library
Northern Toastmasters meetings: 6:30 p.m. every second and fourth Monday of month, Leo’s Coney Island, 33577 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights, (248) 828-7481, samcrowl@comcast.net
Wellness Wednesdays: Free fitness classes presented by Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, includes Latin dance cardio May 28-July 9 and yoga July 16-Aug. 27, 9-9:45 a.m., center court area at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, facebook.com/themallatpartridgecreek, (586) 416-
3849, henryford.com/calendar
United Shore Professional Baseball League: See Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns and Westside Woolly Mammoths on select Thursdays-Sundays until Sept. 6, Jimmy John’s Field, 7171 Auburn Road in Utica, (248) 601-2400, uspbl.com
Dodge Park Farmers Market: 3-8 p.m. Thursdays June 5-Sept. 25, Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, find special events, live music lineup and more at sterlingheights.gov/1236/dodge-parkthursdays
Health workshops: For hypertension, diabetes, pre-diabetes and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups
Art exhibit and sale: Presented by Shelby Township Fine Art Society, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through May 27, upper level of Shelby Township Municipal Building, 52700 Van Dyke Ave., (586) 2432056, read story at candgnews.com
Weekend Unwind: Free concert series runs 7-10 p.m. Fridays June 6-Sept. 5, Memorial Park next to Utica Public Library, 7530 Auburn Road, see band lineup at cityofutica.org, read story at candgnews.com
Feeding Time: Learn about and see what animals eat, 1-2 p.m. Saturdays, Nature Center at Stony Creek Metropark, 4300 Main Park Road in Shelby Township, metroparks.com/events
Open mic nights: Hosted by Shelby Music Society, 7 p.m. every second Saturday of month (doors at 6:30 p.m.), Shelby Township Activities Center, 14975 21 Mile Road, shelbymusic society@yahoo.com
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