STARTS
FORGE NEW PATHS IN THE TRADES
Township awards contract for fire station improvements
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Three fire stations in Macomb Township are set to get over $2 million in improvements.
The Macomb Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a bid at its
April 23 for Quadrate Construction in the amount of $2,064,550. Eight bids were entertained by the township. Construction is expected to start this spring, taking an estimated 154 days to complete.
A letter from Macomb Township Fire Chief Bob Phillips details the improvements that are to be made to fire stations No. 2,
No. 3 and No. 4. Station No. 2 will receive the bulk of the improvements with a 720-square-foot addition and 8,160 square feet of renovations. Stations No. 3 and No. 4 will get insulation improvements in their existing walls.
Trustee Ronald Papa questioned if operations would need to be moved during the
renovations. Phillips said that operations will continue out of Station No. 2 but, due the scale of construction, some operations will need to shift to temporary facilities.
“The living area, the sleeping quarters, the kitchen, bathroom and everything is included in part of the renovation,” Phillips
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Macomb Lutheran North student Jack Kropp will be continuing his athletic career at Adrian College for bass fishing.
On March 11, Lutheran North high school held its annual college athletic signing day. Among the softball, football, and volleyball players was Kropp, who was wearing an Adrian College bass fishing team sweatshirt.
“People are surprised when we talk about it, that that’s a thing,” Kropp’s mom, Laura Kropp, said. “It’s not common.”
Kropp signed his letter of intent that day and is now a part of an exclusive group of bass fishing team high school commits.
“It’s been really cool,” Jack Kropp said. “I’ve wanted to go (to Adrian) for a while. I know that this program is highly regarded in this scene.”
Photo provided by Laura Kropp
Jack Kropp signs a letter of intent for Adrian College on March 11 next to his family.
‘We’re
important, we matter’
Sterling Heights, Warren enter into Arsenal Alliance agreement
BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — The mayors of the two largest cities in Macomb County have signed an agreement aimed at growing the defense industry, an industry officials referred to as a national asset.
Mayors Lori Stone, of Warren, and Michael Taylor, of Sterling Heights, signed a $500,000 agreement April 16 between their cities.
See ARSENAL on page 12A
Our next edition will come to homes May 15. Stay current by
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — On a cool late March morning, one of Shelby Township’s newest residents stumbled his way out of bed.
Murray the opossum, resident of the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center and a local celebrity of note, lives a life unlike that of his peers. He lives in a bespoke enclosure built by a local Eagle Scout for the nature center’s prior resident opossum and sleeps within an artificial tree,
receiving artfully crafted meals. Though Murray was born without eyes, the only thing slowing him down from his breakfast of kale — a personal favorite — and vegetables is his own strength to push through the morning grogginess and be on his way.
Despite the relatively lavish living arrangements, not much separates Murray from the possibly hundreds of thousands of other opossums in the metro Detroit region. Conversely, Murray and all those other opossums have a lot more in common with kangaroos than the ro-
Opossums: Michigan’s misunderstood marsupial
dents some may say opossums resemble.
“Opossums are Michigan’s only marsupial — in fact, the only marsupial found in North America,” said Elizabeth Schultz, nature center coordinator. “Marsupials are any mammals where mom has a pouch where she carries her babies, called ‘joeys.’ They’re kind of like Michigan’s kangaroo.”
Michigan tends to be in the upper range of where opossums are found because they are not particularly suited for cold weather. Opossums have been in
After a long sleep, Murray the opossum gets his bearings outside of his tree-shaped home in Shelby Township’s Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center.
BELOW: An appreciator of his morning kale, Murray the opossum’s diet at the Shelby Township BurgessShadbush Nature Center is an omnivorous mix of greens and meats to mimic the natural diets of Michigan’s opossum population.
Photos by Dean Vaglia
See OPOSSUMS on page 10A
Photo by Brian Wells
Mayors Lori Stone, of Warren, and Michael Taylor, of Sterling Heights, signed a $500,000 agreement April 16 between their cities, aimed at growing the defense industry in the area.
cept for a few times a year in which it opens for charity events.
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
BRIGHTON — The Lingenfelter Collection, in Brighton, is a private car collection that pays tribute to America’s love for the automobile.
Owned by Ken and Kristin Lingenfelter, the collection is closed to the public, ex-
Car fans, start your engines because it’s time for the Lingenfelters’ annual Spring Open House. The Lingenfelter Collection will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3. While there is no set cost to attend the family-friendly event, visitors are asked to make at-will donations at the door. Money raised from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society. Neither tickets nor reservations are required. See LINGENFELTER on page 20A
Photo provided by Ken Lingenfelter
Ken, pictured, and Kristin Lingenfelter will hold their annual Lingenfelter Collection Spring Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3 at 7819 Lochlin Drive in Brighton. At-will donations taken at the door will benefit the American Cancer Society.
Trees offer many benefits to residents and the local ecosystem
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Trees play an important role in our natural habitats and urban areas. With Arbor Day having taken place April 25, here are some ways you can start your tree-planting journey.
Cyndi Ross, restoration manager at Friends of the Rouge, suggests planting native tree species. She said there are species of trees that have adapted to urban areas and are more successful. At Friends of the Rouge, a nonprofit that is dedicated to the restoration of the Rouge River, they plant trees such as red maple, swamp white oak and more. A flowering tree they plant is the Eastern redbud.
“It blooms before the leaves come out so that you really get that striking pink,” Ross said about the Eastern redbud.
When planting trees for the first time, it’s important to remember where service lines and utility lines are in a yard. Ross said to always look up for lines. She said some of the smaller trees will work under conditions where power lines are high above.
Ross said the most common mistake people make when planting a tree is planting it too shallow or too high.
“You want to plant it level with the ground around it,” Ross said.
She went on to say to open the roots of the tree when it’s wrapped in burlap or in a pot.
“I wouldn’t be super aggressive, but you’re not going to harm them if you gently pull them apart a little bit, and that will help them grow outward instead of continuing in that spiral of the pot or the ball they were growing in,” Ross said.
Jennifer Lau, master gardner at English Gardens in Royal Oak, said most things are fine to plant at this time of year. However, some vegetables would not be suitable for planting until the ground gets a bit warmer.
Lau said gardening is not as hard as people think and everyone can do it.
She said residents need to have access to water for the trees they plant when they are newly established, and they need to place some mulch around them.
See TREES on page 21A
Fishing
from page 1A
Kropp isn’t just committed to any old college for fishing: He’s committed to the 13th-ranked bass fishing team in the country and the highest ranked collegiate team in Michigan, according to the Association of Collegiate Anglers rankings on April 11.
All of these accomplishments and accolades are from a student who wasn’t able to fish competitively at one point because his high school didn’t have its own fishing team.
After nearly two years without being able to fish competitively, Jack Kropp’s life changed when his family went to the Detroit Boat Show and met one of the founders of New Wave Angler Initiative.
“They do private lessons for kids for fishing, but then they also try to connect kids so that they fish in tournaments when (the kids) don’t have schools (fishing teams),” Laura Kropp said. “They really helped us get connected… We kind of fell on this.”
The New Wave Angler Initiative was founded by Caleb Taylor and is operated by him and Nick Marsh. Marsh is a former Adrian College angler, and Taylor is a current assistant coach at Adrian.
“They’re really a feeder organization for Adrian’s program,” Laura Kropp said. “And Adrian is the only school in the nation that has won Major League Fishing and Bass Master championships. Adrian is one of the top schools in the country for bass fishing.”
The opportunity may have come seemingly out of nowhere, but Jack’s passion and talent for fishing has always been prevalent.
“I learned about (Adrian’s fishing team) when I was maybe in sixth grade. They do summer camps, and I attended one of those camps,” Jack Kropp said. “Then as I got closer to thinking about college, (Adrian) was really the only name I knew.”
Jack has had a passion for fishing his entire life, and now his passion has turned into a rare and unique opportunity to get an education and compete. It’s a full circle moment for the Kropp family.
“I’m always thinking about it, even when I’m not doing it,” Jack Kropp said. “It’s taken over. I love it.”
It’s a sport that you have to be extremely committed to if you want to be great at it. The Kropp family has had a lot of early mornings and will go to an event days in advance in order to prepare properly.
“Well, it starts weeks ahead. We like to leave two days early, that way you can get up there and get ready for the morning,” Jack Kropp said. “Then we have one practice day, scouting everything out. Then, the morning of, we wake up at 3 in the morning to go get fuel and everything,”
Tournament day itself is an experience like no other, and it is one of the things that got Jack hooked on the sport.
“For all of us, we’re excited,” Jack Kropp said. “It’s intense, not nervous, but I’m ready to go.”
Ultimately, his dream of fishing at the next level has come to fruition thanks to the support of his family, coaches, NWAI, and most of all, his passion for the sport.
“Jack has always been super passionate about it and super excited about it,” Laura Kropp said. “If he’s not fishing, he’s watching fishing videos or reading about it. Everything’s fishing.”
Jack Kropp will compete in events throughout the summer.
Visit www.nwai.org to learn more about New Wave Angler Initiative.
Call Sports Writer Scott Bentley at (586) 498-1090.
Photo provided by Laura Kropp
Jack Kropp posing with a fish he caught. Kropp plans on participating in several events and tournaments this summer.
Someone, somewhere, reading this right now is thinking you wrote this for me. And you’re right, we did. You’re the one who just can’t bring yourself to pick up the phone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman, a man, a black belt in karate, or 90 lbs. soaking wet. You’re scared, embarrassed and just overwhelmed. We can help, we’re positive we can. We know the pain you experienced wasn’t just “in your head.” We will not lecture you and most certainly won’t make you feel “bad” about whatever is going on. No blame, no lectures, just the rst step on getting back your smile and health.
CALENDAR
MAY 3
Free Comic Book Day: All ages can choose up to two comics, also games, crafts and “Star Wars” activities, noon-3 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
Derek Dexter Memorial 5K: 3.1-mile run/walk at 8 a.m., Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Township, proceeds benefit students who ran cross country and/or track in high school and are entering college for engineering, derekdexter5k.com
MAY 4
All Mopar Car Show and Swap Meet: Free event presented by North Oakland Mopar Muscle, food and beverages for purchase, held rain or shine, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (awards at 2 p.m.), Packard Proving Grounds, 49965 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, www.north oaklandmoparmuscle.com
Ewok & Run: 5K benefits Teacher’s Pet (pairs at-risk youth with hard-to-adopt shelter dogs to teach kids character traits), 9 a.m., River Bends Park, 5700 22 Mile Road in Shelby Township, teacherspetmi.org/ ewok-and-run
‘Star Wars’-themed concert: Macomb Symphony Orchestra performs on “May the Fourth Be With You”
day during 50th anniversary season, 3 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, read about MSO at candgnews.com
MAY 5
Motor City Famous: Learn about celebrity homes, graves and locales in Michigan, 6:30-8 p.m., ClintonMacomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 2265083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
MAY 5, 8 & 10
‘Hairspray’ auditions: Presented by RWB Theatre Company, open casting for ages 8 and older, 6:30-9 p.m. May 5 and 8, and 10 a.m.-noon May 10, callbacks at 1 p.m. May 10, Anita’s Elite Dance Studio, 37360 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights, visit www.onthestage.tickets/rwb-theatre-company-llc for rehearsal and performance dates
MAY 7
Ecology and Landscaping with Native Plants: Presented by founder of Plants for Ecology Brendan Nolan, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
MAY 10
Mother’s Day 5K: 1-mile fun run at 9:30 a.m. and
See CALENDAR on page 21A
SURVEY SAYS
UTICA — Trinity Lutheran Church, 45160 Van Dyke Ave., is hosting a “Family Feud” event at 5 p.m. May 3 to benefit the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) program. “Family Feud” will feature a live version of the popular game show, a silent auction and strolling food. Tickets are $10 each. Half of the proceeds will benefit IVC.
IVC, headquartered in Roseville, provides support to older and disabled adults who are struggling to remain safe and independent in their own homes. IVC works throughout Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties to recruit, support and train volunteers who share their time and skills with neighbors in need.
For tickets or to donate silent auction items, visit ivcinfo.org or call (586) 757-5551.
Knights of Columbus host car show for seventh year
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — For the seventh year, the Knights of Columbus will put on a classic car show to benefit veterans.
The Remember & Honor Car-Truck-Motorcycle Show will take place May 25. The event features opportunities to support local charities. This year, those who come can support Wreaths Across America. Hamburgers, hot dogs and breakfast sandwiches will be available for attendees.
If you want to show off your ride at the event, you’ll need to pay a $15 registration fee. That fee is discounted $5 before May 17. Proceeds from the registration benefit the Lt. Wood – Cpl. Reid Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6691 in Fraser. Last year, the event raised $1,660.
The Geezers, a cover band, will play the event for the third year. The group volunteers its time to play the event.
The John F. Kennedy Knights of Columbus in Clinton Township is located at 33320 Kelly Road.
Sound the Alarm program Volunteers needed
METRO DETROIT — The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to help them distribute information for its Sound the Alarm program from April 26 through May 17. Sound the Alarm is a fire safety education drive in which the Red Cross promotes its installation of free smoke alarms, which are provided year-round. Go to soundthealarm.org/michigan for more information.
Macomb Community College and the University of Michigan sign transfer agreement
MACOMB COUNTY — On April 15, Macomb Community College and the University of Michigan announced a new transfer agreement for a dental hygiene master’s degree.
The articulation agreement will offer an accelerated online Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program. The Accelerated Online Associate of Science to Master of Science in dental hygiene pathway provides a three-year option for transfer students who have completed or are completing an associate degree in dental hygiene and want to advance their education.
The online pathway is designed for part-time study and begins in the fall semester of 2025. To enroll, students must have an associate degree from Macomb with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better; graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited dental hygiene program; current local anesthesia and nitrous oxide licenses; and a current dental hygiene license to practice in the U.S.
For applicants in the program, 60 dental hygiene credits and 24 general education credits will transfer from Macomb. Students will then need to complete 54 credits at U of M. In addition to transferring to Michigan, students may concurrently take courses and access advising and other services at both institutions.
File photo by Nick Powers
Opossums
North America since prehistoric times and found suitable habitats in the millennia that followed. As ancient forests have given way to farms and urban development, opossums have weathered the changes by focusing on scavenging as their main mode of living.
“They have a really important role in our ecosystem,” Schultz said. “They’re kind of like our trash cleanup crew. They go around and they find the dead animals or rotting foods and they’ll eat them. They’ll catch live food, too, but they’re not the best hunters. They’re not going after people’s chickens or anything. Sometimes, they might get into a coop and go after the eggs, but they’re not very fast (and) not the brightest of animals, so really, they’re just finding dead things to eat.”
The omnivorous diet of opossums means they can virtually eat any organic material they come across. At Burgess-Shadbush, Murray’s meals often include a balance of greens and meats, the latter ranging from cat kibble to whole prey like mice and chicks. In the wild, this means they’ll eat anything they come across that is not too hard to pin down — including residential trash, which
is where many Michiganders run into them.
“A lot of times people tell me they open their back door, and they see an opossum, and it opens its mouth wide, and it hissed, and they were so scared, and they ran back inside,” Schultz said. “And I always tell them that is exactly what the opossum wants! They’re all about intimidation; they would never actually come after you. They would open their mouth, they hiss, and they try to just be super scary looking.”
Should an opossum fail to scare predators away, the scavenger turns to the second trick in its acting repertoire — playing dead.
When in the throes of danger, the toothy thespians get overwhelmed, faint and begin oozing a foul-smelling liquid from their mouth and butt to dupe predators into thinking they’re diseased so they move on.
The “acting” can last for around 10-15 minutes before the opossum regains consciousness and resumes its scavenging.
Ironically, given the scented ooze trick, opossums are fairly resistant to diseases. They have too high of a body temperature to become infected by rabies, though they can still carry the virus.
Opossums are constantly on the go to scavenge — even joeys begin scavenging as soon as they fall off their mothers, no learning required — and that regularly brings
them around to residential areas. While they pose minimal threats to humans and pets, their presence can be unwanted. An opossum will leave an area quickly if they cannot find any food, so the best way to avoid them knocking on your door (or rather getting into your trash bags) is to not give them a reason to bother.
“They’re not trying to be harmful; they’re not trying to attack anything. They’re just trying to find food and move on,” Schultz said. “If you don’t want an opossum in your backyard, make sure you’re covering all food sources, you’re not leaving cat food out (and) the dog food is covered. They’ll even-
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tually move on. Just have patience.” With human society providing so many good food sources for opossums, it is all too common for interactions between humans and opossums to turn lethal. Drivers striking opossums crossing the road, opossums getting caught or poisoned by rodent traps and pets of humans, like cats and dogs, attacking wandering opossums have all led to many situations where opossums become injured and, if left alone, die. Cynthia Russ, owner of the Motor City Possum Rescue and a Michigan Department of Natural Resources certified rehabilitator, says she receives about
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Fire station
from page 1A
said. “So, according to the contractor, their schedule is right at the start to demolish that portion.”
Quadrate has worked with the township before on basement projects. It is currently working on the remodeling of the South East Regional Emergency Services Authority building in Roseville and Roseville’s south fire station.
While it did not put in the lowest bid out of the eight, it scored the highest when reviewed by a team consisting of Phillips, Township Supervisor Frank Viviano, Department of Public Services Director Kevin Johnson, Deputy Fire Chief Adam Munro and Mark McPartlin from the township’s engineering firm Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick. The lowest bid was from Vesta Homes Inc. at $1,632,784. One of the eight bids was incomplete. The project is included in the township’s current capital improvements budget.
“We have $2.5 million budgeted for the total project, which includes all the soft costs, architectural and the design,” Phillips said. ”So we should still come in under budget.”
Geotechnical services approved for Lucido Park
Trustees unanimously approved $42,566 in geotechnical services by Professional Service Industries, Inc. for Lucido River Park at the meeting.
Land Development Director James Van Tiflin said that the township is currently in the process of obtaining a grant to help with the installation of a boardwalk and pathway at the park.
“We would have to move on to design in order to facilitate that as quickly as pos-
sible, assuming that the township was to receive this grant,” Van Tiflin said.
Following questioning by Viviano, Van Tiflin said the project was necessary for work to be done at the park, even if the grant funding fell through. Later, Van Tiflin said the work shouldn’t go stale over time.
“What they’re really looking for is what’s the ground like where the supports for the boardwalk would go, what kind of ground is it in so they can design the supports for the foundation properly,” Van Tiflin said.
Van Tiflin said the geotechnical work would need to be done in July or August due to wet weather conditions. If they hesitate, he said it could cause the project to be delayed by a year.
“Based on the site accessibility, drilling can commence within approximately three to four weeks after receipt of authorization to proceed, weather permitting,” a letter from PSI about the work states. “The final report will be provided within six weeks of written authorization.”
Recreation Center receives cardio equipment
Cardio equipment totaling $149,630 was purchased by the township for its recreation center.
Trustees approved the 31 pieces of exercise equipment with a unanimous vote. Parks and Recreation Director Salvatore DiCaro, Jr. states in a letter that the equipment includes treadmills, ellipticals, steppers and bikes. The township had a savings of $24,567 with buybacks from previous contracts.
There were four bids for the equipment that the township received. The purchases come from three different vendors: Direct Fitness Solutions provided 13 items, Design 2 Wellness provided six items, and 12 items came from All Pro Fitness.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Photo by Nick Powers
Macomb Township Fire Station No. 2 is in line for improvements after a unanimous vote from the Board of Trustees on April 23.
Arsenal
The initiative is being called the Arsenal Alliance. It aims to build on the strong defense industry already present in Macomb County by driving development, job creation and retention.
Taylor said the agreement is a partnership between the two cities that will make one of the biggest industries in Macomb County even stronger.
The two cities are natural partners, being that they’re so similar and share a border, he said.
“It’s long past time that we collaborate on more issues like this for the benefit of our people and for the betterment, really, of the nation,” he said.
The agreement, Taylor said, will take funding from Sterling Heights and Warren to create a joint venture to support the contractors that are already there while also helping to find new government contracts through the Department of Defense.
“This is not a competition,” Taylor said. “We’re working for the betterment of the entire region.
Stone said the partnership is meant to show a strong commitment to defense and is meant to be celebrated. It continues to build on a legacy started before World War II, she said.
“Our region has long been known as the Arsenal of Democracy, a title earned through the determination, ingenuity and industrial power that helped win World War II,” she said. “This legacy continues today.”
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, who also spoke at the event, said the defense industry in the county isn’t just a regional asset, but a national asset.
“We are making things here that protect those who protect us,” he said.
Taylor said the timing of the agreement is good because of the current state of the national economy.
“The global economic situation right now is chaotic,” Taylor said. “The national economy is chaotic, so this is the best time for us to be undertaking an initiative like this. To put a statement out and say Macomb County, Sterling Heights and Warren, we’re important, we matter.”
Call Staff Writer Brian Wells at (248) 291-7637.
Photo by Brian Wells
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor and Warren Mayor Lori Stone present a signed agreement between the two cities April 16 at the Defense Corridor Center for Collaboration and Synergy in Sterling Heights.
SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN IN BUSINESS
BREAKING BARRIERS
WOMEN FORGE NEW PATHS IN THE TRADES
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
Monroe resident Traci Longenbarger has been breaking barriers for women in the trades for a decade now, working as a female carpenter.
Longenbarger is a business agent for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, a union that represents 14,000 carpenters and millwrights across Michigan. She also serves as a part-time instructor for the International Code Council’s Contractor/Trades examination program, and is a career correction specialist, which grants her the opportunity to speak at career fairs and schools.
She is also a Sisters in the Brotherhood point of contact, which is a mentoring group for women in carpentry.
Having gone from Dundee, Michigan, to Hawaii right out of high school, to South Dakota and then back to Metro Detroit, Longenbarger worked a variety of jobs, from carpet cleaning to corrections in the sheriff’s department, to a 10-year career in security.
After she was let go from her security position, Longenbarger started over again at age 34.
“We had a shift in management. I got fired. So here I am, 30-something years old, 10 years I worked in that field. I was devastated,” she explained.
After a year of struggling to make ends meet, an encounter with her dad’s neighbor led her to find a new passion.
“I went and visited my parents back in Dundee. My dad does what old guys do, and they work out in their yard, and they talk to their neighbors,” Longenbarger said. “I went home that day and my dad’s like, ‘Hey, you should go talk to the neighbor.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know who your neighbors are anymore. I’m not going to go talk to some stranger. No.’ He’s like, ‘No, you’re going to go talk to this guy.’”
Longenbarger’s dad introduced her to his neighbor who was in the MRCC union, and the rest is history for her. She explained that it was difficult when she first started out and that it was a hard field to break into because it was predominantly male.
“It was hard in the beginning. I would call places to try to get hired. They would say no because I’m a woman; I’m
See TRADES on page 19A
AAA-MICHIGAN BUGG AND ASSOCIATES: BUILDING SUCCESS
ON HARD WORK, FAITH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Lisa Bugg’s journey from independent insurance agent to co-owner of a AAA Entrepreneur Agency began with faith, tenacity and a desire to help others succeed.
She earned the entrepreneur agent designation in 2020—a title that’s di cult to obtain because candidates must pass multiple exams and undergo rigorous background checks.
“As the only AAA Entrepreneur Agency in Chester eld, we serve the population of Michigan with life, annuity, home, auto, RV and motorcycle insurance, as much of our business is conducted online and over the phone,” Bugg said. “AAA is the leading motor club group in North America, with 60 million
members in the United States and Canada.”
Bugg said she owes much of her success to her spiritual foundation. “I meditate on scripture daily, especially Joshua 1:8 and Colossians 3:23,” she added. “ ose verses tell us that we should work as if we are working for the Lord. at’s what guides me in serving others.”
As a certi ed John Maxwell mentor—trained in Maxwell’s principles of servant leadership—Bugg uses her platform to empower women in business. “A lot of women are afraid to take chances or start something new,” she said. “I mentor women, especially stay-at-home moms who want to try parttime work. God gave me the ability to coach and encourage others.”
With a true servant’s heart, Bugg is committed to supporting her community through entrepreneurship training, helping survivors of domestic abuse through Covenant Christian Church International and serving on the board of the
Philippine American Community Center of Michigan to uplift fellow minorities in business.
“Weekly entrepreneurship seminars are currently in the works, and we hold monthly meetings for women who have been abused or battered,” she said. “If someone knows a woman in need, we have a program to help her heal, grow and become a blessing to the community.”
Bugg’s agency also represents MEEMIC (Michigan Educational Employees Mutual Insurance Company), a wholly owned subsidiary of Auto Club Insurance Association, which is part of AAA. “We have insurance products tailored speci cally to the needs of educators and school employees in the community,” she said.
AAA-Michigan - Bugg and Associates is located at 46640 Gratiot Ave. in Chester eld. For information or for a policy review, call (586) 333-4221 or visit https://locator.acg.aaa. com/mi/chester eld/aaa-insurance-bugg-and-associates
LISA BUGG
ABOVE: Traci Longenbarger poses at a site early in her carpentry career.
Photo provided by Traci Longenbarger
LEFT: Paige Sornig poses next to a pipe she constructed during a timed exercise in a mechanical class.
Photo provided by Paige Sornig
Krystin Whitford, D.M.D., always knew she wanted to be a dentist. “I had a positive experience in the dental chair, and by middle school, I was committed to it and stuck with it,” she said.
at early decision led to a steady career—after becoming a dentist in 2013, she developed a diverse skillset, through continued training and mentorship. Dr. Whitford is now part owner with longtime colleague Dr. Frank Ru no. e desire to balance her career and personal life has now become a successful reality, with 100% support from her husband and children.
“Having a career and family was always important to me, and I knew I needed an identity outside of my home,” Dr. Whitford said. “I made the decision as a mom to always be present at home for my family and, as a doctor, to be present at the o ce for my patients. is sometimes involves
altering my schedule both ways—to accommodate concerts and parades, or when a patient may need to be seen. My advice to accomplish this is to write down your priorities and nd a career that ts into the life you want to build for yourself.”
Her story isn’t just about balancing personal and professional roles—it’s also about trusting her own abilities.
“Having faith in myself and my abilities has carried me through,” she said. A member of several professional dental organizations, she has completed extensive training in implant placement, sleep apnea and Botox.
Ilissa Schutzbach, D.D.S., who has joined the practice, echoed that sentiment. “Science was always my favorite subject, so combining the fact that I’m a detail-oriented perfectionist with a desire to help people made dentistry my perfect career choice,” she said. Dr. Ilissa began her training at Michigan State University and obtained
her dental degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. She has continued her training with clear aligner programs and is currently attending extensive implant courses. “Work/life balance is also important as I advance my career and plan my upcoming wedding in the fall,” said Dr. Ilissa.
Both dentists credit continuing education and cutting-edge technology with helping them grow professionally. e practice provides a full range of dental services, from routine care and teeth whitening to implants, root canals and sleep apnea treatment. Dr. Whitford and Dr. Ilissa are passionate about using advanced technology— including digital X-rays, 3D imaging and same-day crowns—to deliver e cient, high-quality care.
Mentorship is central to the practice’s culture. Dr. Whitford praised Dr. Ru no for his guidance and said she is now paying it forward. “It’s important to support the next generation,” she
explained.
Dr. Ilissa added, “We’re such a team here. I have the best support system— mentors who are constantly rooting for me and pushing me to grow. ey care about my well-being, not just my work, and that’s something I hadn’t experienced before.”
“ e best part of our practice is that we are super diverse,” Dr. Whitford added. “ e eld is constantly changing and evolving, looking for more e cient, more comfortable ways to improve oral health and to maintain our teeth for longer. We have moved toward a strong emphasis on implant dentistry in our practice to help bring the most state-of-the-art options for tooth replacement.”
Ru no & Whitford Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is located at 16792 21 Mile Rd. at Gar eld in Macomb. For more information, call (586) 2631200 or visit fru nodds.com.
S:9.5"
S:10"
T:10"
Trades
a liability. It was really hard to get my foot in the door back then,” Longenbarger said.
She said all it took was one “yes” amid all of the “noes” to build the confidence that she needed to break out as a woman in the trades.
When Longenbarger first started out in carpentry 10 years ago, she only had two other women in her apprenticeship program that she rarely saw because their classes were on different days.
“That stigma is still out there, that women shouldn’t be out there in the field doing the work but it’s changing. It has changed so much in 10 years,” Longenbarger said. “Back when I came in, and I’m lucky, I had a few incidences that happened to me, but I held my ground. I knew who I was. I stood up for myself, and I had great guys working around me and saw me for the hard worker I was.”
Now, in her current role, Longenbarger gets to encourage and inspire other women in the trades.
“I get to go to high schools to talk. I get to talk at career fairs, women’s events, anywhere that they give me the opportunity to chat about our facility and our career and our opportunities that we offer,” she said. “I am so more than proud to do that, because the MRCC has given me so much, and I’ve given them as well. It’s a give-and-take relationship, but I get so much out of it.”
Third-year Ferris State University construction management student Paige Sornig always knew that she didn’t want a desk job.
“I like the idea of getting to see the project being built, and helping people, especially with newer buildings,” Sornig said.
As a Rochester Adams High School student, she was granted the opportunity to attend Oakland Schools Technical Campuses during her junior and senior years, where she caught a glimpse at the construction program.
Paige Sornig worked as an intern for Barton Malow. She is pictured pouring concrete driveways for Habitat for Humanity homes in Detroit.
She shared that after touring Ferris State, she was hooked because it was like OSTC “on steroids.”
She said there was some apprehension expressed by some family members and friends when she chose this field.
“My own mom, at first, she seemed kind of against it,” she said. “But I think the more she looked into it, and the more I talked to her about it, she definitely opened up a lot more. And now she even was like, there’s no other job she could see me doing.”
As she heads into her final year at Ferris, she is interested in pursuing entertainment construction, which includes sites like amusement parks, stadiums and venues.
She added that she also likes the idea of building schools.
“Last year, I built a school in Detroit, and I had a parent come up to me, and they were just crying,” Sornig said. “They were like, ‘Thank you for making the school safer for my kids. I feel so much more comfortable and confident with them going here. It means a lot, and it especially means a lot that you’re a female, because I was telling my daughter, ‘Girls can do anything,’ and she saw you and she was like, ‘Whoa, Mom, look at her.’”
Longenbarger and Sornig encouraged other women to find a trade that they enjoy if they’re interested.
“I like to stress to women coming in, we are a sisterhood, and it is a brotherhood, but sisters coming into this, there’s more than one position. You can work with other women. It doesn’t have to be you versus them, like, it should be us united working together,” Longenbarger said.
For more information about the MRCC, visit hammer9.com.
To find out how to apply for a carpentry apprenticeship, visit buildmifuture.com.
For more information about Ferris State’s construction management program, go www.ferris.edu/CET/construction-man agement.
Call Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk at (586) 498-1070.
Photo provided by Paige Sornig
Lingenfelter
from page 4A
“Cancer has touched everybody at some point,” Ken said. “I lost my father, Charles, and my sister, Karen, to it. This is a way to help the American Cancer Society.”
Attendees can view the whole collection, which includes 150 Corvettes, muscle cars, exotic European models and race cars. The collection is spaced out in three rooms that measure about 30,000 square feet. The Spring Open House not only raises money for a worthy cause, but it kicks off cruising season for car buffs.
“This is kind of a celebration of being able to get their favorite cars out. It’s actually very fun. People can come in and we’ll lead them to the collection,” Ken said. “Car enthusiasts love this museum. There’s something for everybody. We get a lot of young kids.”
The Ferrari and Corvette models seem to be the crowd favorite. Spectators can also view late ’60s and early ’70s muscle cars, among other unique styles. Ninety percent of the collection is the Lingenfelters’ with 10% owned by friends displaying their vehicles.
Ken’s wife, Kristin Lingenfelter, will
be at the open house. She is such a sports car enthusiast that she races in regional and national events with the Sports Car Club of America and the National Council of Corvette Clubs. In 2022, the racing competitor was named NCCC Rookie of the Year in the Michigan Region.
“She tried it out once and fell in love with it,” Ken said.
Ken is the owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, which offers engine building, engine and chassis tuning components, and installation for most GM vehicles, “with a large presence of Corvettes,” Ken said.
In 2008, Ken acquired Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, founded by his distant cousin John Lingenfelter. The company’s headquarters is located in Brighton where the annual Spring Open House will be. Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has two more locations: a build center in Wixom, and a build center in Decatur, Indiana.
“We build race cars as well, and we also build performance engines,” Ken said. “Many times (customers) want the engine rebuilt to get the performance.”
Recently, Ken joined the National Corvette Museum Board of Directors as an at-
See LINGENFELTER on page 22A
LOCAL RELIABLE SERVICES
Calendar
from page 8A
3.1-mile race/walk at 10 a.m., Parkway Christian School, 14000 Metropolitan Parkway in Sterling Heights (enter off Schoenherr Road), runsignup.com
ONGOING
Widowed Friends events: Breakfasts at 10 a.m. every third Friday of month, Dimitri’s Opa! Restaurant, 50875 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Liz at (586) 801-4536, widowedfriends.com
• Breakfasts at 10 a.m. every fourth Monday of month, Amore’s Grill, 53100 Gratiot Ave. in Ches-
Trees
from page 5A
Trees know when winter is coming due to the decreased amount of sunlight and naturally protect themselves, Lau said. But winter also freezes the ground until around May when temperatures get warmer. People are often eager to start planting when the air temperatures get warmer.
“Well, the air temperature is warm, but it takes a minute for everything to thaw underneath,” Lau said.
One of the goals of the Friends of the
terfield Township, RSVP to Liz at (586) 801-4536, widowedfriends.com
• Lunches at 1:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of month, Moni’s Restaurant, 16600 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, RSVP to Sue at (586) 549-1041, widowedfriends.com
• Games from 1:30-3:30 p.m. every first Thursday of month, bring snack to share, Ss. John and Paul Parish, 7777 W. 28 Mile Road in Washington Township, optional dinner afterward, text Ellen at (586) 489-2569, widowedfriends.com
United Shore Professional Baseball League: Select Thursdays-Sundays May 16-Sept. 6, Jimmy John’s Field, 7171 Auburn Road in Utica, uspbl.com
Rouge is to improve water quality in the Rouge River as well as beyond the watershed. Ross said what people do on the land affects water quality because of underground sewer systems and other things. Trees can act as a natural filter for water, as they take in a lot of it in their roots. The water is transpired in the atmosphere and Ross said it stabilizes rain.
Some benefits of trees include shade and habitats for animals including pollinators. Ross said even oak trees provide a habitat for pollinators.
“People think of flowers, and that’s great, but trees provide so much,” Ross said.
Opossums
a dozen calls a week during the mating seasons of late winter and early spring.
When injured opossums are brought to her Ferndale-based mammal rehabilitation operation, Russ says opossums are some of the easier to handle animals she treats.
“They’re not as aggressive,” Russ said. “Most of the time they’ll hiss at you and show all their scary teeth, but they don’t lunge or chase you. I’m more nervous about handling squirrels than I am anything, because they’re so quick and they can puncture your hand. (Squirrels) can crack a walnut with their teeth, so they can easily break your finger. But opossums are pretty docile. They look scary, way scarier than they are.”
When a dead opossum mother is brought to her, the goal is to get the joeys out of their pouch and onto bottled milk. Once grown to about a half pound, the joeys are released and returned to the wild. In rare cases when an opossum may be unfit to be returned to the wild, it is possible they may be relocated to wildlife centers such as Burgess-Shadbush, as was the case with Murray.
Ways to avoid needlessly tempting the fates of opossums include not littering so they are not attracted to roads, slowing down to give opossums a chance to flee if one is spotted while driving and covering rodent traps so opossums are less likely to get caught by them.
“I feel like people just have to learn to coexist and understand that (opossums) are not a threat,” Russ said. “They’re not go-
Lingenfelter
from page 20A
large member. Ken’s dad was a General Motors executive, so he’s always had an interest in high-performance cars. His favorite car is the 1963 split-window Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. He first spotted the sports car when he was 10 years old, and years later bought one of his own.
“It was so exotic and profound. It’s such a great design. It’s a sports car that is very fun to drive,” Ken said. “I love Corvettes more than any other car. It’s an amazing product built by GM.”
The Lingenfelter Spring Open House has raised more than $392,000 for the American Cancer Society since 2016. The American Cancer Society funds cancer research, provides support and access to care for all cancer patients, and continues its work to prevent, find and treat cancer.
ing to hurt your dog. They’re not going to hurt your cat. They’re not going to attack anything because they’re not aggressive and they’re actually beneficial.”
Schultz expects the opossum population of Michigan to remain well all things considered, given their scavenging nature and the wide availability of food sources across the region. However, she notes that opossums are likely to serve as an indicator species regarding problems elsewhere in the ecosystem.
“They eat a lot of amphibians, frogs and toads, so if we’re not being careful and there’s pollution in water that affects the frogs and amphibians and even fish, that could affect the opossums,” Schultz said. “Another thing to consider is that there is a lot of fear in southeast Michigan about coyotes, but coyotes keep the opossum and raccoon populations under control. Areas that have too many opossums and raccoons will actually have fewer birds, studies have shown, because both eat bird eggs. As we continue to grow the many suburbs around here and expand our cities, just making sure we’re acknowledging that there are other animals out there. They don’t want to have anything to do with us. They’re just trying to survive.”
Though opossums are not known to be particularly friendly, Murray and other animals can be visited at the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. More information about the nature center can be found on shelbytwp.org under the “government,” “departments” and “parks and recreation” tabs.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
“Each year we are blown away by the generosity of the car enthusiast community,” Jenni Beamer, senior executive director of the American Cancer Society in Michigan, said in a prepared statement. “The American Cancer Society is grateful to the Lingenfelters for this amazing opportunity that raises critical funds for our work right here in Michigan to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.”
Attendees at the spring open house will have the opportunity to pick up a free colorectal cancer screening kit on-site. Trinity Health Michigan will distribute the kits and provide educational materials and information about colorectal cancer screening at the event.
The Lingenfelter Collection is located at 7819 Lochlin Drive in Brighton. There is also a retail store on-site. For more information, visit the Lingenfelter Collection Spring Open House on Facebook.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
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Custom-Painting, Commercial/Residential, Interior/Exterior. Drywall-Repair,Paper Removal,Carpentry. *WillBeatAnyOther ReasonableEstimate! 35yrsexp.Sen.Disc.Ins. CC-Accepted/References. 586-722-8381
(586)795-8122
ChrisCronin Painting& StainingInc. Professionalquality. Interior-exterior. Power-washing, decksealing.Insured, References.Free-Est. MC/VI/DC/AXaccepted.
MASTER PLUMBER
Sewer&DrainService. Remodeling,Repairs, NewInstallations. FreeEstimates SeniorRates. 35+yrsexp.CallPaul 248-904-5822 Lic.#8109852
MOTHER’S DAY
Powerwashing
AJʼsPRESSURE CLEANING& SEALCOATING
•StampedConcrete(removemilkyorcloudyfilm)
•ExposedAggregate
•BrickPavers(resanding)
Website: ajspressure cleaning.com 586-431-0591
586-757-4715
AABSOLUTE PLUMBING FamilyOwned Since1990 CompletePlumbing Repairs
Sewer/DrainCleaning SeniorDiscounts, Licensed/Insured Lic#-8216443
APEX
PLUMBERSCORP
586-210-0903
35-YearsExp.Seniors/ Military/Multi-TaskDisc. Free-Est.•DrainCleaning
•PlumbingRepairs/ Fixtures•SumpPumps/ WaterHeaters.Lic/Ins. apexplumbers corporation.com Lic#8111771
EAPLUMBING ANDDRAIN FullServicePlumbing. DrainCleaning,Sump Pumps,WaterHeaters, Leaks,Disposals, CameraInspections, BackflowTesting andMore. 586-477-7777 License#803020312
WATERWORK Plumbing.com
•DrainCleaning
•SewerCamera •WaterHeaters •SumpPumps •BackflowTesting 248-542-8022
SameDayEmergency ServiceAvailable Reliable/Experienced License#8003885
Professional Services
CONSUMER Cellularthesamereliable,nationwidecoverageasthe largestcarriers.Nolongtermcontract,nohidden feesandactivationisfree. Allplansfeatureunlimitedtalkandtext,starting atjust$20/month.For moreinformation,call 1-866-306-6243
Roofng
PREFERRED
BROTHERSROOFING
•FullTear-off•Recover •ShingleRepair •Leak's•AllRepair
•Flat-Roof•TourchDown
•SeamlessGutters& GutterGuards
Senior/Military-Discount Upto20%Off 586-944-8898
AA4DABLEROOFING
Hurry&SaveBig-$$$! SPRING-SPECIALS Upto30%-Off!!!
Roofing/Siding/Gutters, All-Leaks/Repairs, Residential/Shingles/ Commercial-FlatRoofs/Torch-downs 30yrs-exp.CC'saccepted. 586-822-5100
CHERRY CONSTRUCTION
Roofing,Gutters,Cement, RefinishingHardwood Floors,NewHomes, Remodels,Additions, Doors,Windows, Fencing,Decks, Kitchens,Bathrooms. 586-291-2647
ACROSS
1. T. Rockwell’s “How to Eat Fried ____”
6. Pro football org.
9. Tea servings
13. Relating to axis
14. Gershwin or Levin
15. Break of day
16. Repeat, in music
17. Red Cross bed
18. Arm bones
19. *Mother ____, personifcation of physical world
21. *Mother ____, fctional dog owner
Roofng
SILVERSMITHROOF MAINTENANCE
$225•MinorShingle ReplacementSpecial GutterCleaning Residential/Commercial WeAcceptAll MajorCreditCards 30-yrsexp.FamilyOwned 248-707-4851
MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC.
BuildingValueEveryday 586-436-9600
Licensed/Insured Since1965
Servicing-Roofing, Siding,Basement, Bathroom,Kitchen Remodeling,Decks& AllYourHome ImprovementNeeds.
Tree Service
BERGBROS.LLC.
“FullyInsured, HighlyReferred.” SeniorDiscounts Tree-Removal,Stump Grinding,Tree-Trimming, Hedging,Shaping, Emergency-Service Residential/Commercial Free-Estimates (586)262-3060
DAVE'STREE&SHRUB
25%-SpringSpecial. Insured,Emergency StormDamage, Large-TreeRemovals, Mulchinbeds/spreading, Trimming,Stump-Grinding,Season-Firewood (100acord)30YrsExp. (586)216-0904 davestreeandshrub.com
ELITETREE SERVICE
"Bringing30yearsof experiencetoyourdoor!" Treetrimming, removals&stump grinding.Insured&FREE estimateswithfairprices! FirewoodForSale 586-756-0757
23. Opposite of hence 24. Sleeveless garment
25. Money source
28. Golfer’s destination
30. Pass, as time
35. “Metamorphoses”
poet
37. *The Beatles: “Mother ____ comes to me”
39. “The Goldbergs” sibling
40. Unacceptable, to a baby
41. Alpine singing
43. Resembling wings
44. Fill with optimism
46. Fill to satisfaction
47. Orion’s ____
48. Like funereal atmosphere
50. Lice eggs
52. Morse code dash
53. Remainder of a cigarette
55. Before skip and a jump
57. *Mother of ____, a.k.a. Daenerys Targaryen
61. *Mother ____, Missionaries of Charity founder
64. PassÈ
65. Stir or fuss
67. Add together
69. Anomie, alt. sp.
70. Decompose
71. Very angry
72. Puppy sounds
73. “____ no evil, hear no evil”
74. Tennis-affected joint
DOWN
1. Took place
2. Yoked team
3. Capital of Latvia
4. Kind of ray
5. Cast-off skin
6. French Riviera city
7. “To” follower
8. Wood turning device
9. Tulip starter
10. Leo’s Karenina
11. ____ gum, food
additive
12. Put metal to the pedal, p.t.
15. Diffcult to detect
20. With ample space
22. Employ
24. Green and lush, as in trees
25. *Mother ____, investigative journalism nonproft
26. Convex molding
27. Twofold
29. Cambodia’s neighbor
31. A in UAE
32. Heaped
33. Famous Teatro alla ____
34. *Mother ____, personifcation of planet
36. Shower with affection
38. Abominable snowman
42. River in Hades
45. Personify
49. *Mother Superior is the
Former Russian leaders
*Mother of ____, a.k.a. nacre
June 6, 1944
Raja’s wife
On the surface
Emeralds and rubies
Carrying bag
Hunk of something
Female forest ruminant
