Melvindale man allegedly plotted mass shooting at TACOM
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
WARREN — A former Michigan Army National Guard member from Melvindale is accused of planning a mass shooting, which was set for May 13, at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command in Warren.
Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, planned to carry out the attack for the terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), according to a May 14 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“ISIS is a brutal terrorist organization which seeks to kill Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F.
See ARREST on page 5A
Congratulations, Mr. Miller
By Alyssa Ochss
aochss@candgnews.com
WARREN — With a career spanning about 30 years, Warren Mott High School Band Director Erik Miller — or as I knew him, Mr. Miller — touched the lives of countless students. It’s why around 30 alumni with varying backgrounds, degrees, families and career choices all came together to honor him in an alumni band.
Over the course of a month and a couple of weeks, we practiced three pieces of music all with a connection to Miller, and even a new piece written with Miller in mind. At the first practice, my nerves were on end. Admittedly, I was scared — scared of how we’d all react to seeing each other once again, some of us with a decade or more since we sat as students. But as soon as we
See MILLER on page 30A
With a career spanning around 30 years, Erik Miller, band director at Warren Mott High School, touched the lives of many students.
Alumni of all ages and professions came together to play at a concert to honor Erik Miller, the retiring band director at Warren Mott High School.
Photos by Erin Sanchez
SECOND FRONT PAGE
3A/
Council passes budget with amendments
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
WARREN — The Warren City Council unanimously approved, with some changes, the city’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget at the council’s May 13 meeting.
“While we’ve worked diligently and responsibly on this budget, we acknowledge that no budget is ever flawless,” Council Secretary Mindy Moore said. “Unforeseen needs may arise and when they do we encourage departments to bring forward appropriation requests. As always, council will give thoughtful consideration to all reasonable proposals.”
Warren Mayor Lori Stone presented her proposed budget at an April 14 event at the Warren Community Center. Stone’s budget presentation focused on fiscal responsibility, addressing aging infrastructure, respecting the hard work of city employees and getting additional grant funding for city projects.
“Going into 2024, we can all agree that Warren’s elected leadership inherited a bit of a dysfunctional budget process,” Stone said. “Together, we worked really hard to rebuild trust, mutual respect and successfully restored this process.”
She touched on obtaining a loan from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to replace the city’s wastewater incinerator, uses for revenue obtained from the nationwide opioid settlement and Warren’s commitment to public safety.
“All we care about is what’s in the document,” Moore said about the presentation. “Our work starts when we sit down with the department heads.”
The mayor’s budget was sent to the council, which held a series of hearings in April. In the hearings, council went over the minutiae of allocated funds with explanation from each department’s head. While the budget has been approved by council, the final budget with council’s adjustments has yet to be published by the city. It’s set to be released in early June, according to Lafferty.
“It went very well,” Moore said about the process. “This council works very well together, and it was very, very smooth. It’s a lot of work. When you’re looking at drilling down to $450 million, it’s very time-consuming.”
Councilman Jonathan Lafferty co-chairs the budget committee with Moore.
“It takes many hours of dedication outside of the meeting on a Tuesday night to pass the budget,” Lafferty said. “There are hundreds of hours behind the scenes.”
Lafferty said one goal for the current budget, following last year’s budget audit, was to get closer to realistic anticipated spending. The audit, conducted by Plante Moran, identified that Warren came $31.1 million under budget last year.
Center Line students know which way to ‘turn’
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
CENTER LINE — It’s never too early to put yourself on the right path.
That is exactly what Peck Elementary third grader Nathaniel Carter is doing. As a new student this year, staff noticed his low self-esteem, his struggle to create peer relationships and how he couldn’t concentrate in class.
“In October, we sat down with his mom and implemented a game plan, which totally turned Nathanial’s life around,” teacher Josephine Leone said.
Carter has become a very responsible student who checks in each morning with staff, attends daily reading intervention and greets Leone every day with a hug or fist bump.
“Nathanial has begun making friends and I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard him speak negatively about himself,” Leone said.
Carter was one of 13 Center Line Public School students who received Turn Around awards for the 20242025 school year. A ceremony, along with breakfast, was held May 21 inside the Center Line High School media center. Family members were invited to attend.
District Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Shannon McBrady created the Turn Around program several years ago. The awards are presented every year to students in grades K-12 who have overcome obstacles to improve their grades, behaviors and social skills. Teachers, counselors, principals and support staff employees nominate the students.
See TURN AROUND on page 11A
Photos by Maria Allard
The 13 Center Line Public Schools Turn Around award recipients and those who nominated them attended the ceremony May 21 inside the Center Line High School media center.
TOP RIGHT: Peck Elementary teacher Josephine Leone congratulated third grader Nathanial Carter. Behind them is Peck Principal Meghan Evoy. BOTTOM RIGHT: Center Line High School educator
Laura Phy Daly, left, became emotional when honoring senior Madelin Hoover with her Turn Around award.
Arrest
from page 1A
Gorgon, Jr. in the release. “Helping ISIS or any other terrorist organization prepare or carry out acts of violence is not only a reprehensible crime — it is a threat to our entire nation and way of life. Our office will not tolerate such crimes or threats, and we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in terrorism.”
Said is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device. Each charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to the release.
The arrest came from the efforts of two undercover FBI agents who Said attempted to recruit for the attack. The court filing details the prep work for the alleged attack planned for May 13.
“…Said provided assistance to the attack plan he originally devised — one that he believed would result in the death of many American citizens — including operational reconnaissance and surveillance of TACOM, including through the use of an aerial drone; providing ammunition and magazines Said understood would be used during the attack, including ‘armor piercing’ ammunition; training regarding the use of a firearm and construction of Molotov cocktails that Said understood would be used during the course of the attack; and planning, guidance and military expertise with respect to execution of the attack,” the court filing states.
Said was caught planning for the attack, according to the court filing. The undercover agents and Said went to a preselected location near TACOM on May 13, dressed in black clothing, to launch a drone that would provide advance surveillance before the attack.
“The FBI in Michigan is unwavering in our mission to safeguard the American people, particularly our brave service members who risk their lives to defend this nation,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “In strong partnership with the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force will relentlessly identify, disrupt, and bring to justice anyone who attempts to carry out violent attacks against the United States and its territories.”
Said joined the National Guard in 2022, according to the court filing. He did his basic training at Fort Moore in Georgia and, after completion, reported to the Michigan Army National Guard Taylor Armory. He was discharged around December of last year.
“The arrest of this former Soldier is a sobering reminder of the importance of our counterintelligence efforts to identify and disrupt those who would seek to harm our
The criminal complaint sworn to in federal court on May 13 includes this screenshot image, which investigators said shows Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, in front of an ISIS flag.
nation,” Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command, said in the release. “I commend the tireless work of our special agents and FBI partners who worked together to investigate and apprehend this individual. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to prevent similar incidents in the future. We urge all Soldiers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to their chain of command, as the safety and security of our Army and our nation depends on our collective efforts to prevent insider threats.”
Warren Mayor Lori Stone issued a statement about the arrest and the investigation.
“This is a chilling reminder that the threat of terrorism is not confined to distant battlefields — it can emerge from within our own communities,” Stone said, later adding that TACOM was “...one of our nation’s premier military logistics facilities.”
Stone’s release thanked the FBI and Army Counterintelligence Command for their efforts to thwart the attack. She added if residents “see something, say something,” echoing the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s slogan, which was eventually acquired by Homeland Security, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“This case underscores the persistent threat of domestic radicalization and the critical importance of vigilant counterterrorism efforts,” Stone said in the release. “It also highlights the continued need for collaboration between law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and local communities to identify and disrupt violent extremist plots before they can be carried out.”
Photo provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office
NEWS & NOTES
Skate park slated to open in July
WARREN — Warren Parks and Recreation Director Anthony Casasanta gave a brief update on the new skate park at the Warren City Council’s May 13 meeting.
“If everything goes right, the weather’s right and everything else is in the right line, we hope to open up in July,” Casasanta said at the meeting.
“That is terrific,” Councilman Jonathan Lafferty said at the May 13 meeting. “It is quite the talk of the town. It doesn’t matter where I go, people are asking about it.”
Lafferty, who is the council’s ex-officio on the Parks and Recreation Commission, said discussions about the park date back to 2022. Lafferty said, in previous talks with former Parks and Recreation Director Dino Turcato, that the city should do something substantial and suggested a skate park. During this time, Lafferty’s daughter was interested in skateboarding, and he would take her around to different parks in the area.
“I wanted a skate park that could be applicable to multiple levels of skill and capability,” he said. “You can’t just have one that’s big bowls and hops and ramps that only the bigger kids can do. Everyone has to start somewhere, and you can grow with this park.”
A Facebook post from the Warren Parks and Recreation Department states that the concrete skate park, dubbed Eckstein Skatepark, spans three acres. Eckstein Park is located near the intersection of Chicago and Mound roads. This will be the city’s first skate park.
Casasanta said the Eckstein Skatepark will be the fifth largest in the United States and the largest in Michigan.
“The size and scale of it will not only be a local draw, but a statewide draw,” Lafferty said. “You are going to see national competitions and national attention drawn to our skate park. This is going big.”
Warren Concert Band puts on Mother’s Day Concert
WARREN — The Warren Concert Band put on a concert on May 11 for Mother’s Day at Warren Woods Middle School Auditorium.
The WCB has had a spring showcase with band students every year since 2017. This year stood out since the event happened to take place on Mother’s Day, according to the program’s director Jeremy Duby. Flowers were given out to the mothers in attendance.
The performance features renditions of Morton Gould’s “American Salute,” Gene Milford’s “Heart of Gold March,” Robert W. Smith’s “A Mother’s Hymn,” “Lincoln” arranged by Jay Bocook and Norman Dello Joio’s “Scenes from the Louvre.”
This year marks the Warren Concert Band’s 53rd season.
Waterlogged
RIGHT: Angela Scupini, Michigan Sea Grant, instructs Messmore Elementary students, from Utica Community Schools on how to fish according to Michigan regulations at the Backyard Bass station. On May 13, fourth and fifth grade students from Roseville Community Schools, Eastpointe Community Schools, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools and Utica Community Schools attended the Lake St. Clair Water Festival at the Center Campus of Macomb Community College in Clinton Township.
Warren Garden Club holds silent auction at meeting
WARREN — The Warren Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on June 11 featuring a silent auction.
“Members will furnish the auction items which may include gardening items including garden decor, household items, etc.,” a press release from the group states.
The meeting runs from 6-8 p.m. at the Warren Community Center, located at 5460 Arden Ave.. The meeting is open to the public and free to attend. Desserts and refreshments will be available at the meeting.
“We would love to meet other gardening enthusiasts or anyone looking for an enjoyable night out,” the release states.
“Gardening advice and new and interesting hints are shared at each meeting.”
LEFT: Dort Elementary students, from the Roseville Community Schools, maneuver obstacles at the Salmon Run station. The station shared information about humanmade obstacles salmon face during their life cycle. Obstacles faced by the salmon included turbines, fishing charter boats and fish ladders.
donors honored
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On April 30, the Macomb Community College Foundation held its “2025 Celebration of Donors and Scholarship Recipients” at the Lorenzo Cultural Center on the college’s Center Campus with about 200 donors, students and college representatives in attendance.
The event gave college officials the opportunity to recognize the donors who fund many scholarships and programs that support students.
During the last fiscal year — July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024 — more than $600,000 in scholarship funding was awarded to approximately 600 Macomb students. Twelve new scholarships were announced at the luncheon. This year’s keynote speakers were Michael Moton and Paul Thacker.
Moton is the recipient of the Barton Malow Scholarship and Internship award and works at General Motors. Thacker, professor emeritus, business administration, is a longtime donor and worked at Macomb for 50 years. Thacker established the Paul B. Thacker Business Administration Endowed Scholarship and the Paul B. Thacker Information and Technology Endowed Scholarship.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
Photo by Liz Carnegie Macomb
Three students charged after gun recovered at school
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
CENTER LINE — After a police investigation conducted by the Center Line Public Safety Department, three Center Line High School students are facing charges after one of them allegedly brought a handgun to school May 13.
On May 14, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office issued a press release stating that three students were charged in the incident. Two students were charged with lying to police, a high-court misdemeanor (felony) punishable up to two years, and with violating a weapons-free school zone, a misdemeanor punishable up to 93 days.
The third student was charged with the following crimes: receiving and concealing a weapon, a felony punishable up to 10 years; carrying and concealed weapon, a felony punishable up to five years; lying to police; and a weapons-free school zone violation.
The names of those charged were not released due to their ages.
On May 14, a preliminary hearing before Macomb County Juvenile Court Referee Michael Gibbs was held for the third student. He waived his preliminary hearing, and his bond was denied. The student was ordered to remain in the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center, the press release states.
The other two students are scheduled to have preliminary hearings at a later date.
“We take gun possession in a school very seriously. Such conduct in schools not only endangers the safety of the students and faculty, but it also disrupts the entire educational environment,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said. “Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all
students and faculty, and we will vigorously pursue all available charges to stop such behavior.”
On May 13, Center Line Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Haynes issued a letter to the school community. He said that a parent contacted the high school office and shared that their child viewed a photo of a student in a restroom with what appeared to be a handgun.
Administrators immediately contacted Center Line Public Safety, and the high school was placed on lockdown. The student in the photo was identified and apprehended. During the investigation, other students were interviewed and found in possession of a handgun. The lockdown lasted about 50 minutes.
On May 14, Haynes issued a second letter to follow up on the incident. He reiterated that a student brought a handgun to school. He also said that during the lockdown local police, administrators and staff interviewed multiple students, which resulted in the location of the handgun. Reports that two guns were recovered in the high school were inaccurate, Haynes said.
“One student brought a handgun to the high school. Multiple students met up in a restroom and took pictures with the gun. All of those individuals were apprehended, taken into police custody, and will be prosecuted for their role in yesterday’s incident,” Haynes said.
In the second letter, Haynes also said that part of the district’s emergency response plan is to inform parents of major events in a timely manner. While he tries to supply enough information to families so that they understand what occurred and how the district responded, specific details are left out so as not to interfere with police investigations.
Clerk denies ballot initiative restricting marijuana facilities
NOT ENOUGH VALID SIGNATURES SUBMITTED, CLERK SAYS
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
WARREN — A petition that would have restricted marijuana dispensaries in Warren has been denied, following a review by Warren City Clerk Sonja Buffa’s office.
“After a thorough examination, the City Clerk’s Office determined that the petition did not meet the required threshold,” Buffa said in a statement. “The submitted petitions contained 252 fewer valid signatures than necessary, and therefore, does not qualify for placement on the ballot in the upcoming regular election.”
Had the initiative been approved by the clerk, it would have allowed Aug. 5 election voters to change the number of marijuana facilities in approved areas of the city from “unlimited” to “0.”
“The petition aimed to prohibit marihuana retail facilities within the City of Warren, in accordance with Section 6 of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act,” Buffa said in the statement.
The ballot initiative, driven by the group “Warren Citizens for Common Sense,” would have altered a recent change to the city’s ordinance. This amendment was passed with a 5-2 vote at the Warren City Council’s March 25 meeting. It removed the Warren Medical Marihuana Review Committee’s ability to award licenses and vested it with the city’s Building Department and its Construction Board of Appeals.
The usage of “unlimited” in the ordinance was the source of controversy for many during the lengthy public comment portion of the March 25 meeting. The city council pushed back on this characterization at the meeting. The changed ordinance allowed for “unlimited” marijuana dispensaries in areas with particular zoning.
Businesses could only appear in industrial areas zoned as M-1, M-2, M-3 or M-4, according to Warren City Council Attorney Jeff Schroder. Facilities also need to be 500 feet from a residential lot line, religious institutions, planned unit developments and
parks or libraries. They also need to be 1,000 feet away from schools or playgrounds.
“If you’ve been told it’s unlimited, that it can go anywhere in your neighborhood, you were misinformed,” Schroder said at the March meeting. “But, in today’s climate, it’s not that surprising that something like that could happen.”
Before and after the meeting, 501(c)(4) nonprofit Michigan Deserves Better distributed fliers throughout Warren warning of the dangers of “unlimited” marijuana facilities in Warren.
After the March meeting, Warren Citizens for Common Sense began collecting the signatures required to bring the issue before voters, according to the group’s representative Joe Munem. The petition was filed on April 29. This was the deadline to file in order to put the item on the ballot for the Aug. 5 election. A press release from the group claimed the petition had 3,200 signatures. Buffa had 14 days to determine if the signatures for the ballot initiative were legitimate.
“Under Michigan law, such a petition must include at least 2,504 valid signatures, which represents five percent (5%) of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election by qualified electors in Warren (MCL 333.27956(1)),” Buffa’s statement said.
Munem did not respond to a request for comment on behalf of the group at press time.
Yearslong lawsuit dismissed
At the Warren City Council’s May 13 meeting, Schroder said the 2019 lawsuit that spurred the March 25 ordinance change, Pinebrook Warren, LLC et al. vs. City of Warren, had been resolved.
“The city is now out of litigation for the first time in five and a half years,” Schroder said.
Schroder confirmed that the case had been dismissed in the Michigan Supreme Court on April 30 and in Macomb County Circuit Court on May 9. He said the circuit court case was dismissed with prejudice and without costs, interest or attorney fees.
“The legal fees were over a million dollars and it wasn’t accomplishing anything,” Schroder said. “You’ve inherited this mess and helped clean it up, so thanks to the council and all the parties that worked with us to resolve it.”
Warren City Council Secretary Mindy Moore thanked the attorneys who represented the city in the yearslong court proceedings.
“We truly, truly appreciate what you did,” she said. “Mary Michaels thank you, and Andrea Pike. It’s been a long time coming and I’m so glad it’s over, thank you.”
The changing ordinance in March attempted to address accusations of favoritism by the Warren Medical Marihuana Review
Committee. The committee was under scrutiny for alleged favoritism and a lack of transparency.
Schroder said the City Council achieved its goal to get the Pinebrook cases dismissed.
“We get to move on, the lawsuit is dismissed,” he said. “Hopefully we can put all of this behind us, which was our goal.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
INJURY?
Dr. Plomaritis is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with advanced fellowship training, including experience treating complex shoulder, knee and sports-related injuries. His orthopedic Surgical experience began as an associate Professor with the orthopedic department at Wayne State University and the unique opportunity to care for several professional and collegiate athletic organizations. Dr. Plomaritis has served as the orthopedic surgeon for Wayne State University for over a decade and has also treated the Detroit Red Wings, the Carolina hurricanes and the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario hockey league. In addition, he has also served as the orthopedic surgeon and consultant for the U.S. figure skating Association and the U.S. National Strong man competitors.
department at Wayne State University and
Rotator Cu
Injuries
The unique components of this orthopedic subspecialty practice include a detailed comprehensive examination including stateof-the-art imaging studies which facilitate the most accurate diagnoses, coupled with patient’s specific needs o er the highest potential for favorable outcomes.
Treatment plan includes:
1. Orthopedic subspecialty physiotherapy
2. The use of Biogenic materials to enhance tissue healing
3. Surgical intervention which includes minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to more extensive procedures
The clinic accepts most insurance plans and o er private pay options, including cases related to automobile accidents and workers’ compensation.
Dr. Steven T. Plomaritis
Turn Around
from page 3A
“I appreciate all the teachers, counselors and social workers that came out this morning that saw something in a student and chose to acknowledge them here today. Teachers, I appreciate everything that you do. Your love for your students is evident,” McBrady said. “Students, I hope you feel loved. You’ve done a great job working and trying and failing and trying again and succeeding. We’re very, very proud of you.”
Crothers Elementary fifth grade student Cali Edgerson found herself in the middle of school drama last year while in fourth grade teacher Brandy Wright’s class. After a while, she found the drama “sometimes comes with its own challenges,” Wright said. So, Wright and Edgerson had many conversations about focusing on her goals, tuning out the drama and believing in herself. Edgerson took those discussions seriously.
“What I’ve seen this year is a young woman who has truly grown,” Wright said. Edgerson is now a student in Angelina Robb’s class and continues to make strides.
Roose Elementary social worker Ruth Paster-Davis recognized fifth grader Joseph Kratz. Paster-Davis read a statement from Principal Andrea Kennedy, who couldn’t make the ceremony.
“At the start of his journey at Roose, Joe faced challenges with behavior and selfregulation. He had a hard time regulating his emotions and behavior once he became upset,” Paster-Davis said. “However, through perseverance, reflection and a commitment to personal growth, Joe, along with a lot of help from his amazing and extended family, has worked really hard and has demonstrated a lot of growth. Today, he is a role model for younger students and is a valuable member of our safety patrol.”
CLHS Assistant Principals John Grob and Klaressa Howery honored junior Olivia Copeland for her resilience, determination and growth.
“I never thought I would be here. I’ve always struggled with school so it’s really awkward for me to be getting an accomplishment in school,” Copeland said. “So being here, I’m giving myself a real big pat on my back. I would like to thank Ms. Howery. I would like to thank Ms. (Jennifer) De Smet for my love for writing. She provided me with many notebooks throughout the years. And I would like to thank Mr. Grob for listening to my drama, and Mr. (Jason) McKay.”
Crothers kindergartener Zakari NashHudson, Roose third grader Evalynn Rice, Roose fifth grader Jace Lollar, Wolfe Middle
left, honored junior Olivia Copeland with the Turn Around award.
School eighth graders Promise Jackson, Daniel Prochowski and Drew Summers, Academy 21 junior Milea Kostrzewa, Academy 21 senior KayLianna Cornell and CLHS senior Madelin Hoover also received Turn Around awards at the ceremony.
Reggie Harris, founder and owner of Shuga-Me Desserts, was the keynote speaker. Each award winner took home a cake from his company. The Academy 21 program was created several years ago as a hybrid virtual learning environment for high school students that had not been successful at Center Line High School.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
Photos by Maria Allard
Roose Elementary fifth grade student Jace Lollar was happy to receive the award. TOP: Center Line High School Assistant Principals John Grob, right, and Klaressa Howery,
Science experiment will blast off this summer
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — A group of eighth grade Middle School Mathematics Science Technology Center students are working on a class project that is out of this world.
Under the direction of earth science teacher Kristy DePolo, the 14 (MS)2TC students have worked since January to build a scientific payload device that will venture on a suborbital flight this summer.
The team, known as World 50, is one of 60 teams from across the U.S. selected as winners in the NASA TechRise Student Challenge (2024-2025), “Exploring Forces That Harm the Atmosphere.” The scientific payload they built will soon launch on a NASA-supported test flight aboard a high-altitude balloon.
World 50’s experiment is designed to investigate pollution in the air. The team’s homebuilt payload will measure the concentration of particles in the air and collect data confirming the levels of ozone, methane and other gases in the atmosphere. A payload — contained within the launch vehicle — is a valuable spacecraft delivered into space.
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge is designed to empower teams of sixth to 12th grade students to design, build and launch experiments on NASA-supported test flights. Winning teams were awarded $1,500 to
See SCIENCE on page 25A
ABOVE: World 50 is one of 60 teams from across the U.S. selected as winners in the NASA TechRise Student Challenge 2024-2025 “Exploring Forces That Harm the Atmosphere.”
NEAR LEFT: Middle School Mathematics Science Technology Center (MS) 2TC eighth grade students, left to right, Lucas Leeds, Nadir Khalid, Nazia Miah and Tina Nguyen work in class on making the scientific payload device.
FAR LEFT: Pat Truong, left, and Alen Pedic had to do a lot of problem-solving to make the project work.
Photos provided
“This budget represents a concerted effort to align our anticipated spending to be closer to what we’ll actually see at the end of the fiscal year,” he said.
Lafferty said that this may result in more amendments during the year, but that it’s preferable to underspending.
In its adjustments, the council attempted to answer concerns of increased overtime spending, particularly for the city’s police and fire departments.
“To address this, we have increased their overtime allocations to more realistic levels, but we also expect concerted efforts from both departments to improve management of these costs,” she said. “In the Police Department, understaffing continues to drive excessive overtime. In the fire department, required training and daily personnel absences are contributing factors.”
The city added a new Fire Department training officer role to help mitigate the overtime issues in the department.
The city is also making efforts to improve hiring at the Police Department. Moore estimated that the department has about 30 vacancies. Stone said in her budget presentation that the city was looking to add an online portal to improve hiring in the city. Moore said the city’s appointment of Human Resources Director Jared Gajos last month should help get the vacancies filled. The city had been without a permanent HR director for a year and half, according to Moore.
Outside of police and fire, the council aimed to reduce overtime spending.
“It’s changing the culture in the city that those dollars are not always going to be there,” Lafferty said. “They shouldn’t be relied upon for day-to-day operations. Those are the exception. It’s not supposed to be the standard.”
Following the city’s changing marijuana
ordinance, it’s expecting increased revenue.
“...We are anticipating $1.2 million in new revenue from licensing fees for recreational marijuana dispensaries, which is being incorporated into this budget,” Moore said.
Lafferty said this is the expected amount through the permitting and licensing of those businesses. State revenue sharing, based on the number of shops, is also a part of this figure.
The library’s budget was scaled back. Part of this was due to new positions for a library location that has not been built yet, according to Moore. Oksana Urban, the library’s current director, is set to retire. Once this happens, Moore said the positions can be revisited. Four library positions had a wage reduction from what was requested.
“There were four positions that were given a $17,000 raise and that sort of raised some red flags to me and that’s something we need to look at,” Moore said.
“The reclassification of those positions is inappropriate for an outgoing director to make sweeping changes to the organization of the library,” Lafferty said. “Those decisions should be left to the incoming director upon that person’s hiring by the (library) commission.”
Spending requests from the Tax Increment Finance Authority and Downtown Development Authority were removed, according to Lafferty.
“We zeroed out a number of their line items because we simply did not agree with the direction of or the lack of information that surrounded their requests,” he said.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
SPOTLIGHT ON CHARITIES & NONPROFITS
Food pantries, lunch programs help fill summertime meal gaps
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — As the school year ends and the second year of the Michigan School Meals program nears completion, C & G Newspapers looked across metro Detroit to see what food programs are available to bridge the food insecurity gap during the summer.
The Michigan School Meals program provides free breakfasts and lunches to all students from pre-K to 12th grade during the school year, according to the Michigan Department of Education’s website. Without this program, what will students do for meals?
Among the programs that fill this void are the United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s Meet Up and Eat Up, several programs at Forgotten Harvest, and local food pantries, including one offered through Heritage Church, in Sterling Heights.
Meet Up and Eat Up
Meet Up and Eat Up is a food program offered throughout the state. It provides free meals for children 18 and younger or anyone with a disability 26 and under, according to Madelyne Wright, assistant director of nutrition services for the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, which facilitates the program in Pontiac.
The program does not mandate enrollment, specific documentation, or eligibility requirements.
“This eliminates the burden of administrative paperwork,” said Wright.
The idea is to begin the Meet Up and Eat Up program as soon as the kids are out of school.
“So the kids don’t have any gaps in nutritional support,” Wright said.
This year, the Meet Up and Eat Up program through OLHSA is slated to begin June 16. Food trucks will visit apartment complexes, schools and day camps.
The need keeps growing in the community, according to Wright.
“We keep breaking records,” she said.
“Last summer, 2024, we served about 50,000 meals between mid-June until lateAugust. The summer before that (2023), we served 40,000 meals.”
“We get a massive turnout for food,” Wright added.
Meet Up and Eat Up works to meet the demands of the community.
“If we go to a mobile site and there are 100 people waiting for food and the vendor only made 50 meals, we’ll come back and serve the rest of the 50 people,” Wright said.
“We always make sure to serve everyone.”
Meet Up and Eat Up programs are offered in other communities throughout
The Forgotten Harvest mobility market is fully stocked and ready for guests to select what they want.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
MONDAY MALLS
Two trips each day | Max. 13 passengers/trip
MONDAY HIKING
Two
Transportation scheduler determines your time slot, depending on where your home pick-up is located in the city. You must return on your scheduled time.
The lunch programs start June 23 and go through Aug. 29.
Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. For a detailed list of locations go to unitedwaysem.org/resources/meet-up-and-eat-up.
For volunteer opportunities at Meet Up and Eat Up in Pontiac, call (947) 957-4599.
Forgotten Harvest
In 2024, Forgotten Harvest fed 474,637 children, according to Christopher Ivey, marketing and communications director for the nonprofit. As of mid-May, it had fed 358,682 children so far in 2025.
If the trajectory continues, this year’s numbers will surpass last year’s numbers.
The need is increasing, according to Ivey.
“All of the food we rescue is distributed free of charge without any real questions asked,” Ivey said.
They only ask generic questions for the purpose of analytics to determine the organization’s impact on the community, according to Ivey. Those questions include where the persons served live, where they are coming from and the makeup of their household — children, adults and seniors.
The summer programs include a youth snack program distributed through the Detroit Public Library. There are 12-15 summer pantries that still run throughout the schools and mobile distribution.
“So if the family is in need of food, they can still go back to a location that is familiar to them,” Ivey said.
With 40 pantry partners, Forgotten Harvest runs a subsidized summer lunch program in addition to the Forgotten Harvest Summer Lunch Program where they will do about 100,000 lunches communitywide, according to Ivey. In addition, they are the lunch partners to Metro Youth Day on Belle Isle July 9 where they will do an additional 3,000 lunches.
Last year there were 29 sites where Forgotten Harvest distributed food throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
“We’re working to expand that list,” Ivey said. “Or at least working to confirm we have that many pantry partners again.”
Forgotten Harvest has a mobility market, which is a food pantry on wheels. It goes to various neighborhoods throughout Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. There is also a truck on their Oak Park Forgotten Harvest campus. Guests are allowed to go in and select what they want.
According to their website, the mobility markets are open Monday through Saturday except for holiday weekends.
For more information about their programs and a schedule of their mobility market, go to forgottenharvest.org/find-food/
Heritage Church
While most food pantries are not open on the weekend, the Heritage Church food pantry is only open on Saturdays.
Drivers pull up and are given a shopping list, where they check off items they want. Volunteers bag the groceries and deliver the groceries to the car.
Although anyone in need can come and get food assistance, they have a program for parents with special needs children.
“Because the child is challenged, they (their parents) are pulled out of their work and they can’t make ends meet,” said Candi James, the pantry manager. “We don’t know who they are, but we have it set up. We will bless them with whatever we have.”
Heritage Church is located at 44625 Schoenherr in Sterling Heights. The pantry is open Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The program started more than a decade ago and has grown as the needs of the community have grown.
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
City Council receives pushback for deeming bar a public nuisance
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
WARREN — Members of the community spoke out against the Warren City Council’s previous decision to deem a bar a public nuisance.
Those in favor of keeping Motor City Sports Bar & Grill open spoke during the public comment portion of the City Council’s May 13 meeting.
“For over a decade Motor City Bar and Grill has not just been a place to grab a drink, but a gathering spot for neighbors and friends,” resident Amelia Vicente said. “It provides a sense of community in an age where social connection can be scarce. The establishment has fostered an environment of inclusivity and a place of celebration.”
The bar is located on Mound Road near Eight Mile Road. The council unanimously voted to start the process of classifying the bar as a public nuisance, following discussion by council members and law enforcement at an April 22 meeting. The discussion touched on the 253 calls to the address by police in three years and showed videos of
patrons gathering outside the bar and cars parked in the nearby neighborhood.
In a previous Warren Weekly article, Motor City Sports Bar owner Maria Nuculaj pushed back on these accusations. She cited signage and said the bar was investing thousands of dollars in security. Nuculaj said the bar’s other location, in Hamtramck, did not receive the same kind of attention. Part of the trouble, according to Nuculaj, is social media rumors.
“I feel like my business is being harassed,” she said after the April meeting.
Following that session, City Council attorney Jeff Schroder said the request would be referred to the city attorney’s office and a nuisance action would be filed in circuit court. The city would need to show that the business has been a problem for it to be shut down, though the bar’s owner could act to resolve the issues before it gets that far.
Schroder clarified the council’s vote in an interview after the May meeting.
“I don’t think they want to go to court and shut them down,” Schroder said. “I think that was designed to get their attention and to get them to come to the table and solve these problems.”
Community activist Oliver Gantt came to the Warren City Council meeting in support of the Motor City Sports Bar.
“This is not how government is supposed to work. You don’t ambush small business owners without notice,” Gantt said. “You don’t threaten someone’s livelihood without giving them a chance to respond, as is the case here.”
Nuculaj was at the meeting. When she attempted to cede her three-minute public comment to Gantt, Council President Angela Rogensues said this would be a violation of the meeting’s rules. Nuculaj did not speak at the meeting.
Near Gantt, a man had on a shirt that read “Hey Mindy Moore ‘REALLY,’” referring to the council’s secretary. Moore brought the item to the council’s April meeting. One of her comments in particular drew attention.
“Maybe the owner wants to change what sort of music he plays, what kind of place it is to alleviate these problems,” Moore said at the April meeting. “If not, I think we have to shut them down…Somebody’s go-
ing to get hurt really bad one of these days. Somebody’s going to get run over or worse.”
Gantt addressed that at the lectern.
“Let’s be honest. That wasn’t about music, was it? That was about race,” Gantt said. “That was about who you think belongs here and who doesn’t. The patrons of this establishment are predominantly Black. They support the business. They support this community, and they deserve the same respect and protection as any other group in this city.”
Moore, in an interview after the May meeting, said her previous comment referred to the now-closed Hot Rock Sports Bar & Music Cafe. Hot Rock, infamous for an early 2000s altercation involving the rapper Eminem, was in a similar situation as the Motor City Sports Bar. Moore said by changing the format, the bar avoided being shut down.
“They didn’t have the same problems with the older crowd that they did with the younger crowd,” she said.
She said many of the people who reached out to her to complain about the bar
are Black. Moore said the complaints were made by both residents and former employees.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with race,” Moore said. “This is all about wanting our neighborhood to be nice. Some people have said that they thought things weren’t too bad until they started with the DJ. I don’t know what that has to do with anything at all, but that’s what they said. A former security guard said he wouldn’t go in there for a thousand dollars an hour.”
Former City Council candidate Jerry Bell called out council for its treatment of the bar, saying the council should’ve brought the owner in before the bar was declared a public nuisance. He said the bar has cameras, signs and adequate parking to prevent the issues discussed by the council. Bell also said they’d be willing to build a wall, which was suggested by Warren Police Capt. Paul Houtos at the April meeting.
“I had to talk to this business owner on Sunday to hear her crying about you guys,” Bell said. “Shame on you all. You should have went out and did your homework Min-
dy, and you didn’t. You let us down.”
Bell said the council secretary was too attached to the issue.
Moore said she remembers another venue that was eventually closed down after council deemed it a public nuisance. Araden Hall, which functioned as a hub for social gatherings according to Moore, was shut down on Eight Mile prior to the trouble with Hot Rocks.
According to previous reporting from the Warren Weekly, the trouble at Araden Moore ranged from allegations of disturbing the peace to shootings, stretching back to at least 2003. Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Diane Druzinski ordered the venue shut down after a shooting on Jan. 1, 2006, left 27-year-old Anthony McCommons dead. Two others were injured.
Moore said she doesn’t claim to know how Motor City Sports Bar & Grill can solve its problems.
“I don’t know if the owners of the bar can do anything or not,” Moore said. “If they can’t do anything, then you’ve got to shut them down because I don’t know what the answer is. I just know one other place figured out what they can do to stop the calls.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Church calls out council over blight enforcement at meeting
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
WARREN — Leaders of the Harvest Time Christian Fellowship feel the church and its food pantry are being unfairly targeted by the city of Warren, while city inspectors contend they are just enforcing the blight ordinance.
Harvest Time, which is located on Nine Mile Road near its intersection with Van Dyke Avenue, will celebrate its 34th year in the community this September. Over 6,000 people are provided with food each month, according to Pastor Curtiss Ostosh. The pastor and other members of the church attended the Warren City Council’s May 13 meeting to criticize the city’s treatment of the church and explain how much the food pantry outreach means to the community.
“Shame on you, shame on the city, shame on the people that are running this,” Ostosh said at the meeting.
Department of Public Services Director David Muzzarelli explained the city’s actions in an emailed statement. It was ordered that Harvest Time had to resolve its blight issues by April 19, following an order from Macomb County Circuit Court. The city gave an additional two weeks to comply, according to Muzzarelli. On May 8, the city’s zoning and blight departments carried out the court-ordered action to confiscate items at
the church.
“These actions are not taken lightly,” Muzzarelli stated. “However, they are necessary to uphold the rule of law and ensure the health, safety, and quality of life for all members of the community.”
Ostosh said the city confiscated a refrigerated truck, a van, an 18-foot trailer, two lawn mowers, pallet jacks, milk crates, bread trays and parking cones. He estimates the value of the items to be over $30,000. The items were impounded by the city at press time. Ostosh said he’s tried to reach out to Mayor Lori Stone and hasn’t received a response.
Eight speakers spoke in favor of the church and the services it provides at the May 13 meeting. One of them was Corey Sarkission, who said he grew up in poverty and had food insecurity while growing up in Mount Clemens. His father struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder as a veteran, eventually taking his own life. He said his mother worked hard to provide for the family, utilizing local food pantries that mostly gave canned goods. In 2024, Sarkission was homeless, though he eventually got a house in Warren. His grandma suggested he volunteer at Harvest Time.
“Once I came to Harvest Time my life changed completely and it’s never been the same since,” Sarkission said. “I ended
Photo by Nick Powers
Pastor Curtiss Ostosh speaks about blight enforcement at his church, Harvest Time Christian Fellowship, at the Warren City Council’s May 13 meeting.
Warren man pleads no contest to killing roommate, hiding body
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
WARREN — A man charged with killing his roommate in 2023 pleaded no contest to the charges against him in Macomb County Circuit Court on May 19.
Donald Dawan Renfroe, 26, shot and killed James Wilkins in their Warren apartment, according to a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s office. Darius Glenn, 29, allegedly assisted Renfroe with hiding Wilkins’ body. Warren police reported Wilkins missing on June 9, 2023. Five months after the incident, detectives found evidence of the shooting at the apartment. Glenn provided evidence that guided police to the body. Glenn testified against Renfroe at a preliminary exam on April 26, 2024, as part of a plea bargain.
Wilkins was 27 years old when he was killed. A 2023 press release from the Warren Police Department describes Wilkins as a “loving” father and football coach. His body was found in a “remote area” in Oscoda Township near an access road. The search was a collaborative effort by the Michigan State Police, the Oscoda Township Police and Fire Department and U.S. Park Service.
“The area was very desolate and covered with thick brush and trees,” the release states. “With the assistance of an MSP cadaver dog, investigators located the area where Wilkins’ body was buried.”
Renfroe pleaded no contest to seconddegree homicide, a felony punishable with
life or any number of years in prison, in front of Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Servitto. He also pleaded no contest to tampering with evidence, a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; concealing a death, a felony that could carry a five-year prison sentence; and a felony weapons charge, which carries a two-year mandatory consecutive sentence.
“Mr. Wilkin’s life was cut short in the very dwelling that should have been his safe place,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in the release. “My office stands as the voice of the victim to bring justice to this horrible act that stole this victim’s life and destroyed a family.”
Jeffery A. Cojocar, Renfroe’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.
Renfroe’s sentencing is set for July 7.
Glenn is currently facing charges of tampering with evidence, a 10-year felony; concealing the death of an individual, a fiveyear felony; and accessory to a felony after the fact, a five-year felony.
He’s set for a final pretrial hearing in Macomb County Circuit Court on June 4 before Servitto.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
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Renfroe
Church
from page 22A
up finding my wife through Harvest Time. I ended up finding work through Harvest Time and now that I’m on a steady path to becoming successful. I just give glory to God and I’m thankful for all the people, the hardworking volunteers at Harvest Time. I plead with you that you work with us more, please.”
Celestine Lim stepped up to the lectern to speak in favor of the church.
“Stop wasting Warren city taxpayers’ money in harassing an outstanding church… that feeds at least 6,000 people every month coming from different cities,” Lim said.
The church’s pantry is still operating, according to Ostosh. Harvest Time is part of a program called Link2Feed, which tracks all of its donations. He said the pantry hasn’t closed since Harvest Time opened, serving an area of Warren he said is particularly in need. Harvest Time does not have a payroll,
and its efforts are driven by volunteers.
“We’ve never shut down for one day, ever,” he said.
When food goes bad at the pantry, Ostosh said it gets sorted and disposed of in a dumpster or it gets donated to a farmer. Ostosh said items are picked up every day or every other day by the farmer, who uses it for animal feed or composting. Harvest Time utilizes sealed barrels for the composting, though the city confiscated 13 of these 55-gallon drums. Recyclables — like cardboard — are turned in to the city, according to Ostosh.
Ostosh said how the church’s work was praised by former Mayor Jim Fouts and has never had issues with the city in the past. He said Fouts’ successor, Stone, has a different view on religious worship in the city. He claimed this is the source of Harvest Time’s problems.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that this is religious persecution,” he said.
There could still be room to fix its issues with the city.
RISING STARS ACADEMY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2025-2026
BUDGET
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on June 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at 23855 Lawrence, Center Line, Michigan, the Board of Education of Rising Stars Academy will hold a public hearing to consider the District’s proposed 2025-2026 budget. The Board may not adopt its proposed 2025-2026 budget until after a public hearing. A copy of the proposed 2025-2026 budget is available for public inspection during normal business hours at 23855 Lawrence, Center Line, Michigan. This notice is given by order of the Board of Education.
Charisse Cossu-Kowalski Secretary, Board of Education
“Harvest Time Church is welcome to submit a new site plan for consideration,” Muzzarelli stated. “As with all applicants, any proposal will need to meet the City’s
zoning and property maintenance standards before approval is granted.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
CITY OF CENTER LINE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 6:30 P.M.
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2025
The City of Center Line has received an application for a proposed conditional rezoning from M-1 Light Industrial Zone to B-1B Van Dyke Corridor District Zone for 7300 Bernice, parcel # 13-21-276-023.
A Public Hearing shall be held before the Planning Commission on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of Center Line Municipal Building, 7070 E. Ten Mile Road, Center Line, Macomb County, MI 48015. Written comments may be fled with the City Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the public hearing date. This notice is in accordance with Article XI. Changes and Amendments of the City of Center Line Zoning Ordinance. Dennis E. Champine City Manager/Clerk
Published in Warren Weekly 05/28/2025
CENTER LINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2025-2026 BUDGET
0385-2522
Published: Warren Weekly 05/28/2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
0006-2522
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing has been scheduled and will be conducted by the Board of Trustees of the Center Line Police and Fire Retirement System on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the City of Center Line Municipal Building, 7070 E. Ten Mile Rd., Center Line, to consider the fscal year 2024 Retirement System budget. A copy of the proposed budget is available at the Center Line Municipal Building for public inspection. Center Line Police and Fire Retirement System Fund
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on June 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., at 26400 Arsenal, Center Line, Michigan, the Board of Education of Center Line Public Schools will hold a public hearing to consider the District’s proposed 2025-2026 budget. The Board may not adopt its proposed 2025-2026 budget until after a public hearing. A copy of the proposed 2025-2026 budget, including the proposed property tax millage rate, is available for public inspection during normal business hours at 26400 Arsenal St., Center Line, Michigan.
The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. This notice is given by order of the Board of Education.
Published: Warren Weekly 05/28/2025
Dan Taylor, Secretary
0183-2522
CITY OF WARREN
NOTICE OF PUBLIC APPEAL HEARING
Notifcation is hereby being provided that the Hearing Offcer for the City of Warren has determined that a dangerous condition exists in violation of the Code of Ordinances and has ordered abatement of such condition on the described property. A formal notice has been posted on the property itself.
The property is described as:
Legal Description: 21065 DOEPFER – (13-32-380-017), Lot 61, SUPERVISOR’S PLAT NO. 4, as recorded in Liber 17, page 28 of Plats, Macomb County Records.
Condition: Severely dilapidated home (appears to be on a slab with block), attached block garage 462 sq. ft. and debris.
In order to provide an appeal from the decision and order of the Hearing Offcer, the City Council has scheduled a public appeal hearing.
This hearing will be held as follows: Time: 7:00 p.m.
Date: June 10, 2025
Place: Warren Community Center Auditorium City Council Chambers 5460 Arden Warren, Michigan 48092
The City Council has the authority pursuant to the Code of Ordinances Section 9-171 thru 9-174 and 9-182 to approve/ disapprove/modify the decision of the hearing offcer.
Any person with a disability who needs accommodations for participation in this meeting should contact the Warren City Council Offce at 586-258-2060 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to request assistance.
Published in Warren Weekly 05/28/2025
0249-2522
SONJA BUFFA WARREN CITY CLERK
Science
build their experiment. The students also received support from advisors from Future Engineers, which hosts online challenges for K-12 students.
“I am so proud of my students and honored to be part of TechRise for 202425,” DePolo said. “I am grateful for the help from Future Engineers. Without them I could not provide a learning experience like this for the students.”
The class was broken down into small teams of students and each group was responsible for one component of the project. That included wiring, coding, soldering, mounting and presenting the project.
“We put different sensors in it,” Nadir Khalid said. “Air quality, ozone sensor, methane sensor, particulate sensor.”
Khalid said the different sensors will be able to detect the pollutants in the air. Lucas Leeds said the data will be sent to a Metro M4 device.
“The M4 organizes data and sends it to an SD (secure digital) card,” Leeds said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll find more pollution.”
The device is scheduled to be in orbit for a minimum of four hours at 70,000 feet. Travel time is also set aside. The payload will collect data on the way up but not on the way down, DePolo said.
To participate in the program, the students stayed after school every Monday for several weeks to receive virtual lessons from Future Engineers.
“We told them our proposal and our idea, and they told us how to make it possible,” Emma Mize said.
There was a lot of trial and error to see what would and wouldn’t work.
“The mentors would explain to us what needs to happen,” Leeds said. “My team had to do a lot of problem solving.”
“Some of us had to learn to solder,” Na-
zia Miah said.
“I think this was a good opportunity for us all. Aside from technology, it gave us workable communication skills we wouldn’t get elsewhere as a team,” Alen Pedic said. “Sometimes teammates disagree. Sometimes they have challenges to overcome, especially if you want to pursue a STEM career.”
Some students thought about what it would be like to go into space. Tina Nguyen pictured a lot of darkness. Other students involved in the project were Easton Bourgeois, Angela Franco, Nuzhat Hussain, Lucas Muscas, Robert Perkowski, Liam Stanley, Daniel Shuten and Pat Truong.
The (MS)2TC was developed in an effort to create an innovative environment to foster excellence and vision in teaching, learning and discovering the relationships of mathematics, science, technology and society. Courses cover several subjects, including geometry, biology, interdisciplinary studies, calculus and physics. The students attend school for a half day at the Butcher Educational Center, in Warren, and then attend the other half of the day at their home school.
2025-26
SCHOOLS OF CHOICE
Unlimited Openings for Grades K - 10
Eastpointe Community Schools is pleased to offer Schools of Choice openings for non-resident students who live in Macomb, Wayne, Oakland, St. Clair and Lapeer Counties.
C & G Newspapers publishes 21 papers in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties:
Main Office: 13650 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48089 (586) 498-8000 facebook.com/warrenweekly @candgnews candgnews.com
Editor: Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com
Reporters: Nick Powers | (586) 498-1059 | npowers@candgnews.com
Maria Allard | (586) 498-1045 | allard@candgnews.com
Sports: Scott Bentley | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com For retail ad rates: Lisa Armitage | (586) 498-1078 | larmitage@candgnews.com Karen Bozimowski | (586) 498-1032 | kboz@candgnews.com Legals and Obits: (586) 498-1099
Classifieds: For ad rates (586) 498-8100
Automotive Advertising: Jeannine Bender | (586) 246-8114 | jbender@candgnews.com Real Estate Advertising: Paula Kaspor | (586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle • Farmington Press • Fraser-Clinton Township Chronicle • Grosse Pointe Times • Macomb Township Chronicle Madison-Park News • Mount Clemens-Clinton-Harrison Township Journal • Novi Note • Rochester Post Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider Royal Oak Review • Shelby-Utica News • Southfield Sun • St. Clair Shores Sentinel • Sterling Heights Sentry Troy Times • Warren Weekly West Bloomfield Beacon • Woodward Talk • C & G Special Edition (Grosse Pointe/Macomb Co.) • C & G Special Edition (Oakland Co.)
Visit eastpointeschools.org for application and information. Completed applications must be submitted in person at the administration center or to the school of your choice (listed below), and will be accepted until August 28, 2025.
Crescentwood Elementary, Gr. K-5 14500 Crescentwood, (586) 533-3200
Forest Park Elementary, Gr. K-5 18361 Forest, (586) 533-3300
Bellview Elementary, Gr. K-5 15800 Bell, (586) 533-3100
Pleasantview Elementary, Gr. K-5 16501 Toepfer, (586) 533-3400
Eastpointe Middle School, Gr. 6-7 24701 Kelly Road, (586) 533-3600
Eastpointe Middle School, 8th Grade Academy 15501 Couzens, (586) 533-3700
Eastpointe High School, Gr. 9-10 15501 Couzens, (586) 533-3700
Photo provided
Nuzhat Hussain and Angela Franco work on the presentation portion of the project.
RETRO RIDES REV UP LOCAL CAR SHOWS
FUN TIME CRUZERS FIND NEW LOCATION
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — “This is quite a group. I was here last week. There were 374 cars,” Shelby Township resident Tom Konicki said. “There are quality cars here. Cars that are so rare. Beautiful cars.”
Konicki was talking about the Fun Time Cruzers, back on the road for another season of hot rods, muscle cars and vintage vibes. For almost 20 years, the Cruzers met at Lakeside in Sterling Heights. When the mall closed last year, it put the brakes on their weekly car shows.
Start those engines because the group found a new home from 4 to 8 p.m. every Monday until September at NAPA Auto Parts, located on Van Dyke Avenue, north of 21 Mile Road, in Shelby Township. President Ken Savage said it took nine months to find a new location.
It all began in 2005 when Savage’s son worked at Lakeside Mall and a store owner wanted to start a weekly classic car show. He recruited Savage and his son to help, but after a year, he left the group. Savage kept the Cruzers’ motor running.
“When I began, there were just 50 cars. It started going more and more. I have 600 cruise emails now,” said Savage, a Shelby Township resident who owns a Grabber Blue 1970 Ford Mustang convertible.
Fun Time Cruzers posts musical photo slideshows available on YouTube. Every week, Savage — with help from other members including Jerry Benoit, of Chesterfield Township, and Dave Gmerek, of Clinton Township — holds an awards ceremony with local businesses as sponsors. Categories range from
See CAR SHOWS on page 27A
BELOW: The Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society Museum will host a classic car show from 9 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of every month through Oct. 18. The event is open to all classic car fans with no fee or preregistration. The museum is located at 16600 Stephens Road in Eastpointe.
LEFT: Warren resident Paul Gutkowski, owner of a 1968 Mercury Cougar, pictured, invites cruisers from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday to Sandbaggers Sports Bar and Grill, 25615 Van Dyke Ave. in Center Line.
Photo provided by Paul Gutkowski
Photo by Liz Carnegie
Car shows
from page 26A
“Coolest Cruze 2025” to “Best Original/ Restored Cruzer” to “Best Corvette.” At the May 19 event, Madelyn Upleger won “Best Orphan Cruzers” for her 1999 Plymouth Prowler.
“That means they don’t make it anymore,” said Madelyn, who attended the weekly show with husband Dale Upleger.
Dale once owned the Prowler but gave it to Madelyn when he purchased a 2022 Chevrolet Corvette C8.
“She loved it and she didn’t want to sell it,” Dale said. “OK, we’ll keep it.”
“I always wanted a Prowler,” Madelyn said. “We saw them at a car show, and I fell in love with it.”
Both cars garner a lot of attention when on the road.
“I think it’s because of the color,” Dale said. “It draws the eye to it.”
The Rochester Hills couple, who have three children and two grandchildren, have been married 64 years.
For more details about the Fun Time Cruzers, call (586) 260-3459 or check the website at funtimecruzers.com.
There is at least one classic car show every night in metro Detroit where chrome shines and engines purr. Here is a list of other weekly and monthly car shows that we know of in the C & G Newspapers coverage area.
Mondays
• Jimmy’s Tavern behind the National Coney Island, located on Van Dyke Avenue north of 12 Mile Road, in Warren. It begins at 11 a.m. and it lasts all day.
• Lumberyard Pub and Grub, 26700 Schoenherr Road in Warren, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Tuesdays
• The Ukrainian Cultural Center, 26601 Ryan Road in Warren, from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Cruisers also will spin their wheels at the Ram’s Horn at Garfield and Utica roads from 5-8 p.m.
Wednesdays
• Classic car owners can drive into Sandbaggers Sports Bar and Grill, 25615 Van Dyke Ave. in Center Line, from 5 to 8 p.m. Organizer and Warren resident Paul Gutkowski, owner of a 1968 Mercury Cougar, said the car show brings in anywhere from 25 to 45 car owners each week.
“We just hang out, look at all the other cars and get to know each other,” Gutkowski said.
Gutkowski also runs the Pauly G’s Car
Cruis’n Page on Facebook, where he lists various car shows happening in the area. Check the page for more car shows not listed in the C & G Newspapers guide.
Thursdays
• Car enthusiasts will mingle from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Big Boy restaurant located on West Maple Road in Troy.
• Beginning in June, antique automobiles will line the pavement at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, 21201 E. 13 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores, from 5 to 8 p.m.
• The Stahl’s Automotive Collection at 56516 N. Bay Drive in Chesterfield Township will hold cruise nights from 4 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, minus the third Thursday of the month.
• Culver’s, located at 66227 Van Dyke Ave. on the Romeo and Washington Township border, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Fridays
• Weekly car shows at the Walter F. Bruce Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1146, located at 28404 Jefferson Ave. in St Clair Shores, will begin in June. The events will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in the back of the facility, between the building and Lake St. Clair.
• Twisted Axles will meet from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lucky Leprechaun Pub, 32456 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville.
Saturdays
• Gearheads can get an early morning fix from 7 to 10 a.m. at Parking at Pasteiner’s Cruise-In at 33202 Woodward Ave., one block north of 14 Mile Road, in Birmingham.
• The Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society will hold monthly car shows from 9 a.m. until noon on the third Saturday of the month. The museum is located at 16600 Stephens Road in Eastpointe.
Sundays
• Eddie’s Drive-In, 36111 Jefferson Ave. in Harrison Township, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Charity drive
• For more than 30 years, the nonprofit Friends of Mount Clemens has organized the Mount Clemens Cruise in downtown Mount Clemens at the center of Main Street and Market Street. Money raised has provided Kroger gift cards for families in need and helped many charities, including the city of Mount Clemens Santa Parade, Turning Point, the Mount Clemens Lions Club and the Macomb Food Program. This year’s two-day Mount Clemens Cruise is set for June 6-7. This year’s event will feature a car cruise, awards, live entertainment and special attractions. For a complete schedule of events, visit mountclemenscruise.com.
HOMES
COMPOSTING CAN BENEFIT THE GARDEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Two master gardeners from Michigan State University Extension recently shared their expertise on composting and gardening during presentations at the Bloomfield Township Public Library.
Imagine food rotting away in a garbage can and then being transported to a landfill, or intentionally disposing of food scraps to enrich the soil. Which sounds better?
Composting describes the intentional way of disposing of organic waste to enrich the soil.
Michigan State University master gardener Sara Covatta presented “Helping to Demystify and Normalize Composting in Michigan” at the Bloomfield Township Public Library April 22. She defined compost as a dark, crumbly material with an earthy smell that is produced by the natural decomposition of organic materials. Compost is a living soil amendment. Microbes do all the work to break down the materials.
Some composting enthusiasts have suggested having a container to collect food scraps in the kitchen and store it in the freezer. After a week or month of collecting, see how much has been collected. From that, determine what size compost bin is needed.
To start composting, Covatta recommended collecting vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and egg shells.
Use a carbon source, such as fall leaves, in the compost bin. Stockpile the leaves that fall from the trees in the autumn. Store the leaves in an enclosed container by the compost bin. Covatta suggests that whenever adding to the compost bin, add the leaves. This prevents odors and breaks down the food properly.
If the center of the composting pile is dry, add water and turn the pile.
If the pile is damp and will not heat up, this is due to a lack of nitrogen, according to Covatta. Mix in a nitrogen source such as grass clippings.
“Despite my efforts, there are people who are not going to backyard compost,” Covatta said in a subsequent interview.
According to Covatta, people are unnecessarily afraid of composting.
“Municipalities, businesses, schools are sometimes afraid to add food scrap collection, but their fear is really misplaced,” Covatta said. “Because if the thought process is you’re going to attract rodents by having a food scrap collection when you’re already putting it in the garbage, that’s really not a very rational thought process.”
Composting food scraps produces dividends.
“We really truly have to start looking at food scraps as a resource and an extremely valuable resource that is not waste,” Covatta said. “It allows us to make a really valuable product.”
According to Covatta and other master gardeners, soil with compost improves plant growth, reduces soil erosion, benefits soil structure, and allows soil to retain more water and nutrients.
Every 1% increase in organic matter can result in up to 20,000 gallons more water held in the soil per acre, according to the presentation. The presentation said that healthy soils have high water-holding capacity.
“Composting is awesome,” Michigan State University Extension advanced master gardener Louise Sloan said. “I am making free fertilizer to enrich my yard.”
In her presentation, “Working with Your Garden, Not Against It,” April 29, she focused on soil, light and labels.
Sloan referred to the soil as the foundation of the garden.
“If we don’t take care of our soil, our plants aren’t going to do well,” Sloan said.
She categorizes Michigan as having “great soil,” and the soil in its yards are a “precious, precious commodity.”
According to Sloan, only 10% of the earth has growable or arable soil.
She recommends getting a soil test of the area in which one plans to plant. A sample can be mailed to the Michigan
State University Extension. Visit shop.msu.edu/products/ soil-test-mailer for more information.
The results of the soil test will include the pH of the soil, which indicates the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. A pH of 7 represents neutrality of the soil. Numbers below that represent increasing acidity levels, while numbers above 7 indicate increasing alkalinity. According to the Michigan State University Extension soil testing website, a pH of 6 to 7 is optimal for nutrient availability for plant growth.
“There are 18 nutrients that are really important that help plants live,” Sloan said. “If you already have it (those nutrients), you don’t have to add it, but if it (soil) is deficient, you will want to add it.”
According to Sloan, compost can be added to the top of the soil. Let water and Mother Nature work it in the soil without tilling.
Light is integral to any garden, and every plant has a different need for light.
Sloan suggests looking at the various locations across one’s yard throughout the day and in different seasons. A south-facing yard gets the best sun, according to Sloan. The north side of the home is generally going to be cooler and not have as much light.
The east side will have the morning sun, which is generally cooler than the west side, which has sun exposure from midday to sunset.
Don’t be fooled by the sunlight in the winter, when no leaves are on the trees, and put in tomato plants or other plants that need full sunlight where there will be shade once the trees have full foliage. According to Sloan, it will be a disaster.
When buying plants, look at the plant label that comes with it, which indicates how much light and water the plant needs to thrive, and follow the label, Sloan suggested.
Whether composting or gardening, finding good information is key. For more information visit canr.msu.edu/ home_gardening and canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/tip_ sheets.
LEFT: Read the labels of each plant and know how much sun exposure and water it needs to thrive. CENTER: Beautiful flowers can enhance any yard, but before planting, master gardeners suggest having a soil sample tested. RIGHT: Compost is defined as a dark, crumbly material with an earthy smell that is produced by the natural decomposition of organic materials. Photos provided by Michigan State University Extension
from page 1A
got started, it was like we never left in the first place. We made jokes, practiced the music and helped each other out with some of the musical language we may have forgotten.
From a young age, I knew I wanted to follow my sister’s footsteps and participate in band. In fifth grade, I picked up a flute lent to me by my cousin and started my journey. No matter how hard it got in school, I always reminded myself that high school band was the end goal. I stared in awe at the students in their maroon marching uniforms with matching yellow and white capes knowing that someday I, too, would stand there. Most of all, I heard stories from my sister about how great Miller was and all the fun they had while under his direction.
James McLennan, a former student, said he had an older brother who was in the band program and that’s where he met Miller. McLennan said Miller always gave him the nickname “Eager McBeaver” since he’s always excited to participate in things. McLennan has learned a lot from him.
“He’s very unique. There’s really nobody like him,” McLennan said. “I’ve known a lot of music teachers, and nobody is quite like him.”
McLennan said the idea of an alumni band was thrown around for several years and that two years ago they put the plans into motion. This process included commissioning a song for Miller to commemorate his final year as a teacher at Warren Mott. It proved a challenge since McLennan and a select few others didn’t want Miller to know and the number of alumni participating in the concert was still up in the air. The piece was written by Andrew David Perkins, a composer from Michigan who had worked with Miller before.
The alumni band played at the Warren Mott band program’s spring concert on May 14. Our names were listed in the program as well as the year we graduated. It’s scary to think the last time I walked Warren Mott’s halls as a student was 10 years ago. Time certainly seems to speed up once you become an adult with bills and responsibilities my high school brain could barely grasp.
Miller didn’t know about the alumni band until McLennan told him, and Miller called it incredible.
“I think what it tells me is that you and others that have been a part of this program still have that connection and I think that’s what’s special to me,” Miller said. “It’s like you didn’t just leave high school and kind of forget everything you did here.”
McLennan is also a music teacher, and he was inspired by Miller to take that career path. Over the years, McLennan looked to
Miller for help in his career and was even allowed to direct some of Miller’s classes when he was still learning.
“I graduated high school eight years ago, so I’ve spent more time with him as a peer and a colleague than I did as a student,” McLennan said. “Whether it was me feeling like I didn’t know how to solve some kind of problem with my students or with something at university he would even just open the door and let me come in and work with his kids so I can kind of work out any problem I was having.”
He said nobody else would be willing to do that. He said he and a lot of others wouldn’t have done the alumni band without him.
“A lot of music teachers retire, and people don’t gather like this,” McLennan said.
Miller said the last year has been bittersweet and quite hard in an emotional aspect. Over the course of his career, he said, he’s learned a lot more from students than he ever thought he would and that he has given more of himself. He also said he learned about the administrative side of things and so much more.
“I don’t know, I just learned a lot about myself, which probably wouldn’t happen if I wasn’t teaching,” Miller said.
When you have siblings who came before you, it’s a given that teachers and even students will compare you to each other. With family members in administration, that’s even more true. I’ve heard it all: “You’re her sister, aren’t you?” Or “Do you do this the same?” Or any other set of comparisons.
But Miller didn’t do that. He didn’t compare me to my two sisters or vice versa. We were our own individual people, not a trio with the same personalities and set of skills.
Miller said when a new student from a set of siblings joins the program, he has to figure them out first because what works for one sibling may not work for another.
“Even though they may be from the same family, they’re still … they’re different,” Miller said. “I’m always kind of very aware of that. They may be different than the person that was here before them.”
Raven Ross, a former student teacher of Miller’s, said if it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have her career. She explained that when she was a student teacher around 10 years ago, she didn’t have a placement. A supervisor called Miller for a favor and told her to go meet him.
“I walked into the band room, and I remember seeing everybody and being nervous, but it worked out,” Ross said. “And so, quite literally, if he didn’t say yes, I would have no idea where I would be.”
Since her days as a student teacher, Ross has helped as a trumpet instructor at Mott and has seen her students grow up.
As I sat on that stage, the lights glaring
down on us and dressed in our best, all the nerves from the first practice melted away. My heart still leapt in my chest looking at the sea of eyes staring at us, but I was ready for the performance to honor a man who meant so much to me and to all of us sitting on stage. Halfway through the last song, I felt tears coming on, but I held it together.
Miller said he wants his students to keep the music in their lives.
“First of all, it’s good for the mind. Second of all, it helps to let you see things in the world differently having that connection,” Miller said.
He also said to keep in touch with others.
“I think that’s the beauty, too, of music. It’s a family and I just ask students to keep that going even when they leave here,” Miller said.
Miller had a long and storied career filled with inside jokes, pranks, tears and lessons that will last a lifetime. My band experience was unique and unforgettable with him as my teacher. He pushed me to become better every day, and I enjoyed my time under his direction. Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with different Broadway shows with huge musical numbers and heart-wrenching storylines. But my love for music truly started in Mr. Miller’s classroom.
McCarver Mechanical Heating & Cooling receives 2025 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation
McCarver Mechanical Heating & Cooling is a recipient of the 2025 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, presented by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. The award recognizes McCarver’s role in the rehabilitation of the Harry and Lucy Gordon House in Detroit, where it seamlessly integrated a modern SpacePak heating, ventilating and cooling system while preserving the home’s historic integrity. “This project reflects what we love to do — combining modern comfort with historic charm,” owner Chris McCarver said.
Founded in 2010, McCarver Mechanical serves metro Detroit with expertise in heat pumps; small duct, high velocity systems; boilers; ductless mini splits; and whole-house generators, with a focus on quality, integrity and customer care. Learn more at mccarvermech.com.
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Paint plant prowler MOUNT CLEMENS — On April 16 at around 7:50 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Axalta paint factory at 400 N. Groesbeck Highway to investigate a man pounding on and damaging cars in the parking lot.
Deputies encountered a 23-year-old Hazel Park man who reportedly admitted to it “immediately” when asked if he was the one pounding on cars. He was detained, read his rights and did not speak further with deputies.
Deputies then spoke with a security guard who initially spoke with the 23-year-old near the front of the building. The Hazel Park man was trying to enter the factory and told the guard he was from “homeland security.” He demanded to be let into the factory, said he was looking for dead children and informed the guard, “You are all going to hell.”
The guard then called 911 and returned to his patrol car. The guard observed the man trying to open various cars around the lot. The man then tried to open the guard’s car door, punched and spat on the window, broke the mirror and made threats.
The Hazel Park man was taken to the Macomb County Jail.
Thief takes dessert
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 8:06 p.m. on April 29, a case of retail fraud was reported in the 25000 block of Harper Avenue.
An 18-year-old woman was working the counter at a business when the suspect walked in. He indicated he wanted a full cheesecake, and she grabbed it for him. As soon as the cheesecake was on the counter, the suspect took it without paying and drove away in a silver vehicle.
The employee indicated that she told the suspect he had to pay, but he ignored her and continued through the door. The owner, a 41-year-old man, had video surveillance and he gave the still shots to police.
The cheesecake was valued at $69.96.
Police arrest drunken driver
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 9:43 p.m. April 20, police officers from Shelby Township were dispatched to the area of West Utica and Ryan roads for a be-onthe-lookout for a possible drunken driver in the area.
An officer observed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The officer met with the driver who advised that he did not speak English, according to police. The officer was able to translate and explained the reason for the traffic stop. After a series of field sobriety tests, the driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated. The driver was processed and lodged at the Shelby Township Police Department until he was sober and could be released.
Ransacked car
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On April 11, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies met with a 73-year-old Harrison Township woman about a theft at her home. At around 8:45 a.m., the woman walked out to her car and noticed items that were
Truck bed on fire