NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
after the A-10 Thunderbolt II is retired.
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 F-15EX 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 gaining” and worked to get additional funding for F-15EX production into a draft version of the 2024 fed-
Positive reaction rolls in after Selfridge announcement
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On April 29, President Donald Trump announced a mission with 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets that will replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
Though the planes are not set to arrive until fiscal year 2028, Harrison Township residents are happy with the announcement and what it might mean for the base.
Harrison Township Supervisor Ken Verkest said he thinks it’s good news.
“It’s the result of a lot of people’s efforts, but I believe the governor played a big role in working to get the runway revision funded; extension, I should say,” Verkest said.
He went on to say the mission helps to ensure that the base stays open.
Verkest thinks the base is in very good condition with a current refueling mission and a fighter mission planned.
“I can’t remember when we didn’t have a fighter mission at the base as a lifelong resident,” Verkest said.
Other things that have occurred at the base include upgrades in security and investments in fuel delivery operations.
“I think the base is in good shape, but having a future knowing that, I think it’s fiscal year ‘28, these planes are scheduled to arrive, it’s a signal that between now and then the federal government continues to invest in the base to keep it current and viable,” Verkest said.
Macomb County and Grosse Pointe
Photo provided by Michigan National Guard
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
Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township will soon have a new missing, with 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets planned for deployment in 2028.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Water-themed crosswalk mural is
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
GROSSE POINTE CITY — Something “fishy” happened last week in The Village — but it’s a good thing.
On May 8, a group of about 40 Girl Scouts from Defer Elementary School in Grosse Pointe Park volunteered their time
and creative skills to paint a water-themed crosswalk mural on Notre Dame Street, near the exit for the parking structure. The Scouts hailed from Troop 77458 — made up of third graders — and Troop 78081 — consisting of fourth graders. The project was intended to make crossing the street safer for pedestrians. Posterity Art & Framing Gallery owner
Historical marker dedicated at VFW Bruce Post
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
ST. CLAIR SHORES — On May 1, the St. Clair Shores Historical Commission, members of the Cpl. Walter F. Bruce Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1146 and guests unveiled a new historical marker.
According to an email from the chair of the commission, Jerry Sielagoski, the post can trace its origins back to Halfway, Michigan in 1924. It went inactive in 1926, was revitalized in 1927 and once again went inactive in 1929. In 1934, four men thought there should be a vet-
erans organization in St. Clair Shores and, after several meetings, submitted their charter on Aug. 31, 1934. These men were Bill Randall, Joe Dendoven, Leo Delo and Charlie Pasters, the email states. The post was initially named “St. Clair Shores” but was renamed in 1935 after the first member of the post, Walter F. Bruce, died in November 1934.
Last year, the post celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Sielagoski said the first thing the commission did was approach the post and talk to its commander, Randy Shafer. He also talked to the VFW of Michigan as well as the national office.
“We were debating exactly whether this post number actually existed previously, how many times, when did it start, when did it end,” Sielagoski said. “And we contacted the national office and obtained all that information.”
A residential marker and a public marker are different. With the residential program, those who would like to date their home have to submit an application. The public markers are through the city. Sielagoski said it was interesting going through all the information.
“We enjoy that tracking down of information and
See MARKER on page 4A
Girl Scouts from Defer Elementary School in Grosse Pointe Park paint a crosswalk mural in The Village May 1.
Each Girl Scout was able to paint one of the fish using Main Street Grosse Pointe colors. Photos by Erin Sanchez
Marker
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putting the story together and sharing it with our community,” Sielagoski said.
Shafer said he’s excited about the marker and that it was a good experience working with the Historical Commission. It took around six to eight months to gather all the needed information.
“As Paul Harvey said, now we know the rest of the story,” Shafer said. “They found out some things. He read off some things that I didn’t realize.”
Some archived papers were housed at the post.
Shafer said they’re happy to be there at the location on Jefferson Avenue, north of 11 Mile Road. He hopes the post continues
on for more years and that they’ll be there for a long time.
“We have a lot of new members, lot of younger members, joining that served in Iraq and Afghanistan and Korea and some other conflicts,” Shafer said.
With over 800 members, Shafer said they are still the largest post in Michigan. However, membership has gone down since Shafer joined 25 years ago.
“Just trying to maintain it and have a nice safe place for veterans to be and mingle and have camaraderie,” Shafer said. “And also, we enjoy sharing our property and our building with other nonprofits and people in the city and the nearby communities. It’s almost like an unofficial community center here.”
The post is located at 28404 Jefferson and the marker is placed in the front of the building for residents and others to view.
Photo by Erin Sanchez
Veterans pose for a picture in front of the new historical marker at the Cpl. Walter F. Bruce Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1146.
REACHING FOR THE STARS
CHATTERTON PLANETARIUM DEDICATED TO JAMES EDOFF
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — In the spring of 1969, James Edoff had just graduated from Kalamazoo College with biology and mathematics degrees, and began looking for a teaching position when he interviewed in the Fitzgerald Public Schools district.
The interview went well, but there was something that came up he didn’t expect. Educators wanted to know if the young graduate could operate and teach in the district’s planetarium at Chatterton Middle School.
“I wanted the job so badly, I said, ‘Yes, I’ll be glad to,’ having never seen one or been in one before,” Edoff said.
So when he left there, he grabbed an encyclopedia to learn about planetariums and soon became the district’s premier planetarium teacher. He made many updates over the years, and his name was synonymous with the planetarium, which recently went through more improvements through funding from the 2019 $46.7 million bond issue.
On May 7, a ceremony was held at Chatterton to dedicate the Dr. James D. Edoff Fitzgerald Planetarium. His wife, Guri; son, Erik; daughter, Heather, and their spouses, and Edoff’s five grandchildren were in attendance. The district also presented the educator with his own star map.
May 7 also marked the 100th anniversary of the first planetarium’s opening at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany.
“In my first year I was actually teaching in the high school,”
PLANETARIUM on page 7A
Once
ABOVE: Updates to the Dr. James D. Edoff Fitzgerald Planetarium were made possible through funding from the $46.7 million 2019 bond issue. Attendees at the May 7 dedication ceremony at Chatterton Middle School had the opportunity to see the new Dr. James D. Edoff Fitzgerald Planetarium. LEFT: Fitzgerald Public Schools Interim Superintendent Laurie Fournier, left, presents retired Superintendent James Edoff with his own star map May 7. Photos by Erin Sanchez
Planetarium
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Edoff said. “I was greatly involved in the development of the (Chatterton) planetarium, which was under construction at the time. Who would have thought 50 years later I would be involved in the reinvention of the same planetarium only with new, wonderful and state-of-the-art equipment.
“I am really truly honored and grateful for this recognition and the celebration of a long continuing history of the planetarium. Words are not enough,” Edoff said. “I want to sincerely thank the Fitzgerald Board of Education, staff, the community and business members that made this possible. I am also especially happy to share this event with family, friends, colleagues, and business personnel. I am going to take this opportunity to reminisce.”
During the dedication, Edoff shared funny stories about what it was like to “teach 30 to 50 students in the dark.” He served in different capacities in the district, including superintendent from June 1991 through Sept. 2024.
“We are here to honor a man for his tireless dedication, a man that transformed
complex astronomical concepts into accessible and engaging stories for our students. A man who made the impossible seem possible, the distance seem near, and the most abstract tangible,” district Interim Superintendent Laurie Fournier said. “Dr. James Edoff showed us the study of stars is not just about memorizing constellations and planetary orbits. It is about understanding our connection to the universe and our responsibilities to it.
“For 35 years, Jim didn’t just simply teach astronomy. He ignited a passion for discovery, a sense of wonder and a profound respect for the universe and our place within it,” Fournier said. “He motivated students and engaged their minds within his lessons and teachings.”
Many of Edoff’s former students attended the dedication, including Scott Bryson, Andy Brenz and Bill Oliver. They remember a teacher who was always willing to stay after school to help students with their academics, and who liked to play the Moody Blues while in class.
“He cared. I can’t say enough good things about him,” Oliver said.
“He made science fun. It can be dry and boring,” Bryson said. “He could be funny, super serious, smart, gregarious. He did the sci-
ence fairs. You would be hard pressed to find anyone to say anything negative about him.”
Another memory was the time in which the district teachers did exploratory activities that took them out of their comfort zone.
Edoff once directed the play “Oliver” and it took nearly two years to pull it off.
“He got me out of my shell,” said Oli-
ver, who played Artful Dodger in the stage production.
During the ceremony, Board Treasurer Judy Furgal and Michael Malone, principal at PARTNERS in Architecture, PLC, in Mount Clemens, provided remarks about Edoff. Warren Mayor Lori Stone presented him with a proclamation.
BEHIND THE WHEEL
Pontiac Transportation Museum gears up for its ‘Phase II Fanfare’ event
MUSEUM PAYS TRIBUTE TO PONTIAC’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
PONTIAC — Walking into the Pontiac Transportation Museum is like spending time in your grandfather’s pristine garage as a kid.
The museum is a leisurely walk back in time that pays tribute to the car manufacturers and assembly line workers who made everything from 19th century carriages to late ’60s GTOs in Pontiac-based automobile plants. That includes the Oakland Motor Car Co., Pontiac Assembly, the Pontiac Tractor Co. and GMC.
Memorabilia tells the city’s auto history, vehicles from different decades are on display, there’s a section dedicated to 50 years of Pontiac coach buses, visitors can view interactive videos, and much more. Volunteer docents are available to answer questions and take guests on museum tours. There’s also a gift shop that sells T-shirts, baseball caps, glassware and stickers.
“Our scope is basically wheel vehicles in Pontiac, either engineered here or manufactured here and or both. Forty-seven companies were here over time. We live in southeastern Michigan. Everybody is related to somebody that worked in the auto business,” said Pontiac Transportation Museum Board Chair Terry Connolly, a Rochester Hills resident. “The nice thing about opening the museum is people walk up almost every day with a box of stuff. You find some artifacts in there that are just amazing that people kept.”
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 wag-
LEFT: Pontiac Transportation Museum Board Chair Terry Connolly, of Rochester Hills, reads a map that shows the location of the former Pontiac auto plants.
Photos by Patrica O’Blenes
ABOVE AND LEFT: The Pontiac Transportation Museum, located at 250 W. Pike St., opened in May 2024. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The public is welcome to attend.
BELOW: Through car displays and artifacts, the Pontiac Transportation Museum tells the story of the city’s contributions to the automobile industry.
Mural
Michelle Boggess-Nunley said she and other adult volunteers prepped the crosswalk that morning by painting waves, dots and white fish on the pavement. The scouts then spent time in the afternoon applying colorful designs to the plain fish, using a special acrylic paint made for masonry.
“We were trying to draw attention to the crosswalk, make it safer for families to use,” Boggess-Nunley said. “Also, it serves as public art and a great way to involve our local youth.”
Cindy Willcock, executive director of Main Street Grosse Pointe, said studies show painted crosswalks are 50% safer than ones only denoted with a sign.
“I think we’re always looking at ways to bring public art into The Village, but also looking for ways to make it safe, and painted crosswalks increase safety,” Willcock said.
They originally planned on adding the decorative crosswalk to the intersection of St. Clair and Kercheval avenues, but with St. Clair undergoing reconstruction in that area, Willcock said they realized the mural would get destroyed.
Grosse Pointe City Mayor Sheila Tom-
Selfridge
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eral 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
kowiak was on hand to watch the mural unfold.
“I’m so excited about this,” Tomkowiak said. “It will be interesting to see if it makes people slow down.”
Painting a crosswalk in an area not on Kercheval has benefits beyond beauty and safety, since there are other Village businesses on side streets and at the back of some buildings.
“It really helps to bring awareness and highlight areas that aren’t on Kercheval,” Willcock said.
Alivia Parhan, 9, a fourth grader from Grosse Pointe Park, was looking forward to painting a fish.
“I’m excited about showing my art skills and my art designs,” Parhan said.
Grace Malefyt, 10, a fellow fourth grader, said she was looking forward to painting “a creative fish from my own design.”
She said she had never done anything like this before.
The Scouts were divided into two groups, with one group painting at a time.
Third grader Ainslie Tremblay, 8, of Grosse Pointe Park, painted a purple moon on her fish, which also featured red, yellow and teal sections.
“This fish was inspired by my dream fish,” Tremblay said. “I tried to make it look
Macomb County Public Works Commissioner 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-to-ground 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.”
cheerful.”
Some of the artists had different goals.
“It has red stripes to look fierce, like a tiger,” said third grader Aggie Dunn, 8, of Grosse Pointe Park, of her fish.
Charlie Rossi, 8, a third grader, applied colorful patterns to her fish, which she painted yellow.
“I was trying to do a pretty fish you never actually see in the water,” Rossi said.
Tomkowiak called the mural “a very clever way to slow traffic.”
“I’ve seen it done in other communities and I’m delighted to see we’re doing it here,” Tomkowiak said.
Boggess-Nunley said they would be putting a sealer on the crosswalk. While she said it might need some maintenance if any of the paint chips, she said they believe it
should last for at least a couple of years.
“We’ll keep it looking nice,” BoggessNunley said.
Cara Rossi, troop leader for Troop 77458, said this is a service project for the Scouts.
“One of the elements of Girl Scout law is to make the world a better place,” Cara Rossi said. “We thought this was a great project. And the girls love art.”
She said she was happy to hear that the mural would remain in place for at least the next couple of years, so the Scouts could see it whenever they visited The Village.
Tomkowiak said she’d like to see murals like this at all The Village crosswalks.
Willcock agreed.
“Hopefully, if this is a successful project, we’ll do more,” Willcock said.
Museum
ons, 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.
Reaction
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Verkest said part-time and full-time personnel at the base tend to live in the area.
“Some of the new folks that are assigned to this F-15 (mission) may be in the area,” Verkest said.
He went on to say personnel who worked with the A-10 could move elsewhere.
“I don’t think it has a big impact on the community,” Verkest said. “The real important thing is keeping the base alive. If the base were to close, that would have a really big impact.”
Lisa Zarzycki, a Harrison Township resident, said she’s very excited.
“I love that they finally figured out what they were going to do and that they were able to cross the aisles and come up with a solution because it’s been going on for a long time,” Zarzycki said.
She’s been a resident since 2016, and she said there has been activity at the base before.
“There’s always jets going over. There’s helicopters,” Zarzycki said.
Many of her family members served in the United States military and she said they are in tune with what goes on at the base. She believes it will help Harrison Township, the state of Michigan and the country.
“It’s a great source of income for people and for the community, so absolutely,” Zarzycki said.
Though things won’t start ramping up at the base for a little while, Zarzycki believes there will be some preparation that will take place before everything starts happening.
Jeff Majchrzak, a Selfridge Golf Course pro shop employee, said they are enthusiastic about the announcement and that it means a lot to the community.
“There’s nothing better than the sound of freedom,” Majchrzak said in a phone call.
