

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP —
In a dimly lit gymnasium inside Francis A. Higgins Elementary School on May 30, fifth grade students fueled by orange juice and sugar cookies celebrated the end of their school year in only the most exciting way possible: simulating the real estate market. Equipped with slideshows and miniature homes of their own design, the students of Brooke Niskar’s class in the L’Anse Creuse Public Schools district are upselling their peers’ parents on the opportunity to take home their final elementary school project. Yet this is not some elaborate lesson in
business studies or anything of the sort, but the final step in a months-long STEM education project turned fundraiser for one of Macomb County’s most notable educational institutions — STARBASE One, located on the premises of Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
“I really like it,” Kate Luplow, a fifth grade student in Niskar’s class, said of the auction fundraiser. “I was nervous for it, but it turned out really well.”
For those lucky enough to have attended it, STARBASE One is the field trip to end all field trips. The first-in-the-country nonprofit education center has combined science, technology, engineering and math-
Higgins Elementary fifth grade students Bryce Sampier, left, Christian
and
their solar home project. The students’ class auctioned off their solar home projects to raise money for the Selfridge-based STARBASE STEM education program.
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — With Memorial Day done and passed, there were several particularly summery agenda items that came before the Macomb Township Board of Trustees on the evening of May 28. From top to bottom the matter that came up the most
was the maintenance of the township’s sidewalks. A public hearing was held, and approval was eventually granted for the maintenance of sidewalks in the southwest of the township — north of Hall Road, east of Hayes Road, south of 22 Mile Road and west of Romeo Plank — with trustees awarding Luigi Ferdinandi & Son Cement Co. a $853,400 contract to perform the work.
STARBASE on page 17A See TRUSTEES on page 13A
Sidewalks in the southwest of Macomb Township will be subject to repairs soon after the Board of Trustees approved a $853,400 sidewalk maintenance contract at its May 28 meeting.
At Chippewa Valley Schools we inspire and empower students to achieve a lifetime of success. State-of-the-art facilities, tech-enhanced classrooms, and comprehensive instruction ready our learners for the rigors of the 21st century.
From the moment your child enters school until the day they leave us, CVS is committed to their development and success. We provide a strong, challenging curriculum that ensures college readiness and creates productive, responsible, and caring students who love to learn.
Students learn best when they feel safe and secure. Our Safe Schools, Strong Schools bond improvements fund essential security enhancements district wide. School guard glass, emergency alert systems, security cameras, and improved locks and door systems ensure our students feel safe at school.
At CVS, we’re committed to preparing students for post-high school success. Our award-winning Career and Technical Education program is launching students into high-paying careers. With 15 comprehensive pathways to choose from, we support all our students’ diverse interests.
Our learning community would be nothing without our tremendous teachers and support staff, who feel like family. They all help to create a warm, inspirational learning environment in which your child will feel at home. Our teachers share a clear focus to ensure an outstanding classroom experience for every student.
A close-knit school community is one of our biggest assets. We believe parent involvement and community support are key to student success. Parents and families volunteer, attend meetings, conferences, and extracurricular events throughout the school year to show students they care.
Fine arts programs give learners the chance to explore their passions. Our students receive local, state, and national awards in the arts. With classes in art, photography, music, band, choir, theater, and more, we’re igniting students’ creativity.
Athletics at CVS are an essential part of learning cooperation, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership - qualities that last a lifetime. They make players into community leaders and teach them how to strive for a goal, handle mistakes, and cherish growth opportunities.
BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — A celebration of Polish food and culture is returning to Sterling Heights later this month.
Now in its 43rd year, the American Polish Festival will bring a mix of Polish bands,
local music, folk dancers, arts and crafts, and Polish/American cuisine to the grounds of the American Polish Century Club June 20-22.
“We’re very excited to be hosting our 43rd annual Polish festival,” Festival Chair Arnie Beller said in a statement. “We’ve had
Our next edition will come to homes June 26. Stay current by visiting candgnews.com.
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller released a statement on June 5 criticizing the office of Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash over its response to a state agency about recent discharges into the Red Run.
On April 29, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy sent a letter to the Oakland County Water Resources Commission about a sanitary sewer overflow that occurred at the Red Run on April 3. The agency’s letter required the commission to provide information about the April 3 overflow, an evaluation of operating procedures at the George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin that could affect overflows and provide a corrective action plan to prevent further overflows. The third request included four specific requests about what the plan needed to include: hydraulic modeling of the sewers, evaluation of the capacity limitations and restrictions of the overflow chamber and
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — After nearly an hour and a half of discussion June 3, the township’s Planning Commission approved a site plan and special land use request for a new Sheetz gas station at 23 Mile Road and North Avenue.
The approval to redevelop the site on the southeastern corner of the intersection comes with conditions, including building some kind of shield to block lights from affecting neighboring residences. Sheetz intends to demolish the existing pharmacy building on the property and replace it with a gas station and convenience store. It is Sheetz’s third approved location in Macomb Township, and the third such gas station/convenience store to be located at that intersection after the Mobil at the northwest corner and the Chillbox currently under development at the old BP gas station site at the southwest corner.
Members of the public speaking during a public hearing for the special land use request criticized the plan for the intensity of a gas station with a drive-thru, how the station would affect competition in the area and complaints about the number of gas stations on the corner.
One person was escorted out of the meeting by Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
LANSING — On July 3, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Dakota High School teacher Kelly Heberholz as the 2025 winner of the Michigan Lottery’s 2025 Educator of the Year award, which comes with a $10,000 prize.
“Congratulations to Kelly Heberholz for her well-deserved recognition as the Michigan Lottery’s Educator of the Year,” Whitmer said via press release. “For over a decade, Kelly has brought her A-game to the classroom, teaching students at Dakota High how to love science and work together to solve problems. She is an exceptional campus leader, helping to pull together school-wide events that connect students to the community. I’m so grateful for educators like Kelly who not only prepare the next generation for the rest of their lives but also embody values every day that we should all aspire to live up to.”
Herberholz teaches science and is currently an administrative team intern at Dakota High School in Macomb Township, part of the Chippewa Valley Schools district. Herberholz earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Michigan State University and has taught at Dakota for the past 12 years.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 21, the Friends of Macomb Township announced the names of its 10 scholarship recipients for 2025.
Recipients are residents of Macomb Township who plan to pursue some kind of post-high school education. They received $1,000 to put toward their education.
Recipients are Alivia Abraham, Isabelle Card, and Ariana Heugh of Dakota High School; Sophia Kelch and
Joseph Yoo of L’Anse Creuse North; Mackenzie Kruk of Lutheran High North; Maria Raciti of Henry Ford II High School; Luke Jablonski of De La Salle Collegiate; Marko Marzolf of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Kaylee Zuk of New Haven High School.
“(Friends of Macomb Township) was happy to receive 32 excellent valid applications from Macomb Township students from February 1 through March 14,” Gary Cynowa,
Friends’ scholarship committee chair, said via press release. “It made our judges’ job quite difficult in determining the best ten from so many good ones. Each judge individually read and evaluated all 32 applications. We feel confident and grateful that the future of our community and this state will be in the hands of such capable young people.”
For more information about the organization, visit friendsofmacombtownship.org.
a
time at the Michigan Fantasy Fest June 14-15
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Fantasy and reality will meet in St. Clair Shores at this year’s Michigan Fantasy Fest.
Aubrey Meade, an organizer, said she has an entertainment background including opera and stilt walking. She said she loves outdoor events such as Renaissance festivals and concerts which inspired her to create her own event.
“I think the performance aspect and how fun these events are and how I guess how many performances there kind of are around the grounds and things, that was really interesting to me, and I’ve always wanted to organize bigger events,” Meade said.
Miranda Marshall, another organizer, also has a background in performance and theatrical displays. She said she has done performances with Mead and that they have been friends for a long while. She has also worked at many different pop culture conventions and has taken part in game design.
“Both of us really just loved fantasy in general and so while working on another project we had mentioned like this would be something that would be perfect for both of us to do, that we’re both really into, that would utilize both our skillsets,” Marshall said. “And we’ve been having a lot of fun.”
Many different vendors, performers and food options will be at the festival. A few notable performances include mermaids swimming in a tank, a stilt walker and stage performers. Meade said they have over 100 merchants with different items for sale including jewelry, body care, henna, face-painting and wands.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 14 and June 15. It will be held at
See FANTASY on page 10A
The Lakeside Aviators 11U baseball team took first place at the Armed Forces Classic May 18 at Macomb Corners Park in Macomb Township. The Aviators defeated four opponents in the nine-team bracket, including the Macomb Mavericks, 9-8, in the title game. The roster comprises Alex Turner, Andrew Kaiser, Charlie Cox, Flynn Bullinger, Jonathan O’Neill, Matthew Tapert, Patrick Crane, Sylas Davis, Victor Michaels and Vincent Stanza. The team is led by head coach Rick Stanza and assistant coaches Brian O’Neill, Paul Cox, Tim Bullinger, Alex Turner and Josh Kahn.
Someone, somewhere, reading this right now is thinking you wrote this for me. And you’re right, we did. You’re the one who just can’t bring yourself to pick up the phone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman, a man, a black belt in karate, or 90 lbs. soaking wet. You’re scared, embarrassed and just overwhelmed. We can help, we’re positive we can. We know the pain you experienced wasn’t just “in your head.” We will not lecture you and most certainly won’t make you feel “bad” about whatever is going on. No blame, no lectures, just the rst step on getting back your smile and health.
from page 3A
short-term and long-term corrective action implementation plans to eliminate overflows.
The office’s response was made on May 29 via a letter signed by Chief Engineer Evagelos Bantios. Bantios’s responses about the modeling of the sewers and the evaluation of the overflow chamber’s capacity limitations were as follows:
“Concerning Item No. 3a and 3b, we have not seen areas of high infiltration and inflow in the system from the local communities,” Bantios said via email. “Nor have we seen capacity limitations or restrictions or other impacts that may cause the hydraulic grade line to overtop the overflow chamber in the Dequindre Interceptor with the (George W. Kuhn Drainage District) system.”
Regarding the short-term improvements, Bantios said the commission would “store as much flow as possible” in the system ahead of heavy weather events and “continue to discharge through the (George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin)” under the impression that this will allow for more storage in the Dequindre Interceptor for backwater and reverse flow. Regarding longterm plans, Bantios said the Oakland County Water Resources Commission would work with the Great Lakes Water Authority “to determine how the GLWA system interacts with the (George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Basin) system to see what improvements can be made to either or both the GLWA and (George W. Kuhn Reten-
tion Treatment Basin) systems” and that it would implement any improvements later.
“The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s response shows a total lack of concern about what Oakland County discharges into the Red Run Drain and the damages these discharges do to our environment,” Miller said via press release. “After years of sanitary sewage overflows, and only after constant demands by Macomb County that state regulators do something, their response is that they’ll continue to discharge but they’ll look into it. That is NOT a corrective plan.”
Miller’s recommendation would be to build a larger retention basin or upgrade old infrastructure. She called on EGLE to require a definitive plan for improving the infrastructure as a requirement for renewing Oakland County’s discharge permit.
“If EGLE allowed them to actually do what Oakland County is suggesting, the end result would be more discharges by Oakland County into Macomb County and more flooding because the Red Run doesn’t have the capacity to handle even more during large rain events,” Miller said. “At a time when EGLE is involved in studying flooding in southeast Michigan, I can’t imagine that EGLE would approve of their response.”
Miller’s statement included an overture to Nash, calling on him to join her to lobby state and federal legislators to provide more funding and resources for infrastructure improvements.
Sanitary sewer overflows from Oakland County have been blamed for solid waste entering the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
from page 6A
the Cpl. Walter F. Bruce VFW Post 1146, located at 28404 Jefferson Avenue. There will be food available for purchase. Admission is $10 for those 12 and older and $5 for those younger than 12. Parking is available at the post, but there is an overflow parking lot on Saturday at Lakeshore Presbyterian Church, located at 27801 Jefferson Avenue.
Eventgoers can dress up in cosplay or Renaissance and fantasy-inspired garb, Meade said, but it is not required to attend the event. There will also be merchants there who will be selling clothing items inspired by the Renaissance and fantasy.
Performers will wander the festival, Meade said, interacting with guests and taking photos with them.
This event is family friendly with things available for both adults and children.
“If you have kids, you don’t have to be worried about coming in because all the programming is designed to be kid friendly but it’s also a space for adults that just want to come in and enjoy some time, too,” Meade said.
No real weapons are allowed inside the event.
“At the Renaissance faire, some people will try to bring swords and stuff like that. Obviously, we’re not encouraging that,” Meade said.
She does encourage people to bring sunglasses and sunscreen. Marshall said the
rules are the same as any other public space.
“Just being respectful to other people,” Marshall said. “As people in the community say cosplay isn’t consent so stop and ask people if they’d like to take a picture with you so that they’re able to kind of pose and you both get a good picture.”
Outside alcohol is not allowed inside the event, but there will be adult beverages at the post for people to buy on Saturday.
Both Meade and Marshall are excited about the festival.
“Miranda and I have talked about doing an event like this forever and we’ve done so many other theatrical events. I think this is the first time we really focused on making it a marketplace, too,” Meade said.
She said she’s also happy that the event is held in St. Clair Shores.
“When we talked about it, we were like, ‘What kind of area doesn’t have that experience yet that’s local?’” Meade said. “Because not everybody can go to Holly to go to a huge festival, but they want to do something kind of close by, and so St. Clair Shores really is the perfect place for it.”
Marshall added that they’ve had this date set for over a year.
“It has been quite a journey, so we’re really excited to see it come to fruition,” Marshall said.
Tickets can be purchased at shorturl.at/ qLOzQ or at the door. They take cash and cards, but there is a surcharge for any credit card transactions for tickets.
Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Vacation season is here, and while you’re packing your bags, don’t forget about your pet’s plans.
Nearly all pet owners at some point are left wondering if they should board their pet, or ask a trusted friend or relative to take care of them?
Sarah Ignash, who owns All American Pet Resorts in Roseville, said one advantage of boarding your dog instead of having a friend or relative check in is that your dog will be with trained professionals who can prevent a dog from getting loose.
“I’ve actually had quite a few people where people who don’t normally take care of dogs, somebody comes to the front door, they just open it wide and the dog goes running out, or they drop the leash when they’re on a walk,” she said. “Boarding is secure.”
Before selecting a boarding facility, Jim Blau, with Mid-Michigan K9 Academy, said it’s important to know who you’re leaving your dog with.
“You want someone that’s going to make sure all the dogs there are vaccinated, including yours,” he said.
Ensuring the dogs are vaccinated can help to prevent health problems, Blau said. He also said owners should choose a facility that does regular health checks, and that allows dogs time to be out of their cages.
Blau stated that because a facility might cost less than others, it doesn’t mean that it might be better for the dog.
“You save 10 bucks a night or 20 bucks a night and went to a cheaper facility and they use bleach instead of the more expensive, pet-friendly cleaning agents, and so your dog comes back with rashes, or they don’t check all the immunizations,” he said.
Blau also urged pet owners to visit the facility and do a walkthrough before agreeing to board your pet there.
“(Owners) can use their own eyes, and they can use their own judgment,” he said. “Is this some place where they would want their dog to stay?”
See PETS on page 15A
Dog owners, like anyone, have busy lives. As a result, finding the time and a reliable expert to groom a family’s lovable friend can be a time-consuming task.
That’s why Macomb Township resident Faith Height is bringing the grooming to her customers as part of her brand-new business, The Doggy Detour.
Height has been grooming dogs of all sizes and breeds full-time for nearly five years and recently purchased a large van that she has outfitted for the specific purposes of grooming dogs wherever they may be — at customers’ homes, work, the park — in her service area.
Height’s mobile dog-grooming business offers three packages for residents of north and northwestern Macomb County and northeastern Oakland County in communities including Clinton Township, Macomb Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Shelby Township,
Washington Township and more.
Prices for a full grooming package including a bath, blow dry, brushing, nail filing, and ear cleaning and plucking can range anywhere from $110 to $200 depending on the type of breed and size of the dog. A full grooming also comes with a bandana for male dogs and a bow for female dogs. Height can post photos of the newly groomed dog on social media while tagging the owner if desired.
Other packages include a face, feet and fanny grooming and a bath and brush for slightly lower costs. Most grooming procedures can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. Height is able to groom most dogs that weigh less than 100 pounds.
“It really depends on the type of dog and their behavior,” Height said. “Some dogs like Huskies may not like water. Small dogs often can cause the biggest challenges. Short-hair dogs like a Lab require less work than a German shepherd.”
Grooming is a labor of love for Height, who has maintained a love for dogs her entire life. She grew up
with Sophie, a Maltese who was just a few months older than her. The business owner still calls Sophie the “love of her life” nearly a decade after Sophie died. She also spent many years with Zoey, a Yorkie mix and another member of her family.
Height believes that a good dog groomer maintains close attention to details.
“You really have to have that attitude in this business,” Height said. “I like to take my time and make sure that there isn’t one thing that is out of place (after a grooming).”
She’s experienced many interesting grooming stories over the years. Occasionally a dog will even fall asleep during part of her grooming session.
“I guess that means they like it,” Height said with a laugh. “It’s super cute. Those
are fun moments to capture.”
Height also provides additional services like teeth brushing, a blueberry facial, and paw and nose balm specially made for dogs for anywhere between $5 and $10. Discounts of 10% are available for first-time customers and second-time customers who post a Google Review.
Best of all, getting a mobile grooming is great for dogs with anxiety who hate car rides or dogs who are seniors, Height said. It’s a much better option for many dogs compared to a stationary grooming.
Learn more by visiting thedoggydetour. com or call Height to schedule an appointment at (586) 2325168.
from page 1A
Trustees also approved new policies and procedures regarding the maintenance of sidewalks. Following up on last year’s revision to section 16-25 (sidewalks and pathways) in the township code of ordinances, the new policy lays out how residents will be informed about how their property’s sidewalk is damaged, what steps they can take to have it repaired, what standards and regulations sidewalks must adhere to and more.
Last but not least, township officials approved beginning the design work required to carry out the township’s 2026 pathway gap closure program.
“We’re looking at filling in some gaps in this program along Heydenreich (Road) from Hall (Road) to 21 (Mile Road), Card Road from 22 to 23 (Mile roads) and then there’s a few gaps on Tilch Road from Hall to 21 and a little area on East View Drive that extends off of Tilch Road,” Assistant Township Engineer Crystal Kozak said. “We’re also going to look at doing the engineering on the east side of Fairchild Road south of the railroad tracks to Hall Road.”
The 2026 program has an expected total project cost of $1.08 million.
The Parks and Recreation Department had several items come before the board that received approval. First up and approved was the first phase of renovations to the Macomb Corners Park restrooms. Coming at a cost of nearly $74,000, the work will be handled by Winstar Construction. The maintenance is timed to be between baseball and soccer seasons but will require a bit of adjustment to scheduled park activities.
“We want them to start on (July 7) because it’s between baseball and soccer season,” Parks and Recreation Director Sal DiCaro said. “It says 4-6 weeks. They think if there’s no complications, they can have it done (in) four weeks. We will have portajohns, obviously, on phase one and we’ll move the Roscoe event to phase two. Other than the daily (activity) at the playscape, we won’t have the harder (activities) out there.”
Following that, trustees approved the purchase of a new water slide for the aquatic center at a cost of $306,000. The waterslide is provided by Splashtacular and will replace the original Splashtacular water slide installed in 2004.
Documentation in the board meeting packet from Splashtacular indicates the project is estimated to take 3-4 weeks to complete.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Contact Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045, and you
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
David Royce was a kid in 1969 when the movie “Easy Rider” was released.
His favorite part of the film was the custom-built Harley-Davidson Panhead chopper motorcycle, “Captain America,” that Peter Fonda’s character, Wyatt, rode across the country.
David owned a Schwinn StingRay bicycle at the time. But whenever he gazed at promotional posters of “Easy Rider,” he wished for his own motorcycle with similar features.
Now he’s “racing with the wind” because David finally has his own replica of Fonda’s “Easy Rider” motorcycle. He and his son, Grant, custom built their own “Captain America” electric bicycle.
“It was a boyhood dream,” David said. “It’s a tribute to the chopper movement.”
It took the Rochester Hills duo
about 2 1/2 years to make the electric vehicle from scratch. A lot of planning went into it. During the process and with various materials, the guys created a few prototypes before completing the final version of the electric bicycle.
The e-bike is equipped with many modern-day safety features, including front and rear hydraulic disc brakes. David and Grant installed an electric motor in the rear hub to assist with the pedaling.
Each part of the bike serves a purpose. Two batteries help make the e-bike run. A larger battery is for propulsion, which David said is the pedal assist. A smaller battery operates the LED lighting system, which includes glow lights of different colors. The e-bike features fishtail exhaust pipes, and David even purchased a starsand-stripes helmet like Fonda’s “Easy Rider” character. The license plate reads “Grant’s Garage.”
Grant, 17, is an avid bicyclist. He was a member of the Rochester Unit-
ed Mountain Bike Racing Team while in school. The Rochester High School senior graduated last month and will now be a coach for the team. David knows quite a bit about working with machinery. His first career was as an aircraft mechanic. He eventually went back to school and earned a mechanical engineering design degree.
Building their own “Captain America” e-bike chopper required the pair to enroll in several classes at Maker Works in Ann Arbor, where they became skilled in woodworking, welding and more.
“We both did a little bit of everything. We had to cut and weld and design each piece,” Grant said. “I think it was a really good interpretation of the concept my dad had. I think it turned out really well.”
While building the bike, the father and son frequented salvage yards to look for motorcycle and car parts, which Grant described as “very in-
See BIKE on page 18A
from page 12A
Ignash also said pet owners should look for a boarding facility that is staffed 24 hours. Having staff overnight can help in case of an emergency, she said.
“Most places don’t tell you that they leave at maybe 8 p.m. and don’t come back until 6 a.m.,” she said.
Once a boarding facility has been se-
Boarding your pet with a professional company, such as All American Pet Resorts in Roseville, is a safe, secure option for vacationgoers.
lected, Ignash said many boarders will want to get to know your dog and its history, which can help the staff know how to keep it happy and relaxed.
“You didn’t tell your dog that you were going on vacation. Your dog has no idea why they’re there,” she said. “So we’re doing the best we can to keep your dog happy and calm and giving them lots of pets, lots of attention.”
Call Staff Writer Brian Wells at (248) 291-7637.
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
FRASER — Fraser High School will be hosting one of the largest high school wrestling camps in the state on June 14 with an impressive lineup of coaches and leaders running the event.
The camp is completely free to sign up for and will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a full day of learning from experts in the field.
The event will be run by the United States Marine Corps Sports Leadership Academy and will also teach life and leadership lessons to the participants, along with the day of wrestling.
Fraser High School wrestling coach Kyle Tucker will be in attendance, along with wrestling coaches from all over southeast Michigan. At press time, there were 25 coaches signed up to help run the camp.
See WRESTLING on page 20A
JUNE 14
Tons O’ Trucks: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Seneca Middle School, 47200 Heydenreich Road in Macomb Township, facebook.com/macombtwpparksandrec
JUNE 16
Learn about animals: Presented by Dan the Creature Man, intended for ages 4-11, 2 p.m., Clinton-
from page 3A
second- and third-generation families coming every year for all of the music, fun, food and crafts.”
According to a press release, this year’s craft show will feature over 50 different crafters displaying their works. Additionally, each day will feature a number of performances from different artists as well as different activities, including traditional Polish dance performances throughout each day, a Pierogi eating contest and a Polka Mass at noon Sunday.
This year’s festival will also feature three Polish beers, including one that was brewed specifically for the festival, as well as domestic beers and Polish and premium spirits, according to the press release. There will also be American food available.
“Our trademarked Polish nacho and Polish egg rolls are the best anywhere, and this year we will have new comfort food items on the menu at the Kielbasa Kafe,” Beller said.
Leonard Palermino, general manager of Century Banquet Center, which hosts
Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, register at (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
JUNE 19 & 24
Rock N Read: Stories, songs and games, bring blanket and lunch, 10 a.m. June 19, Waldenburg Park, 19225 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township, and 10 a.m. June 24, Macomb Corners Park, 19449 25 Mile Road in Macomb Township, (586) 226-5083, cmpl. libnet.info/events
the event, said the festival is an important way for the Polish community to reminisce about its culture while also being able to share it with newer generations.
“We like to keep our newer generation informed, to share the upbringing that we had and the culture that we had by passing that to the next generation,” he said. “One way to pass that is to show, by example.”
For the American Polish Century Club, Palermino said the festival is a way for it to honor its commitment to its members and the community by promoting Polish heritage.
“It’s nice to know that we’re part of the succession of traditions and culture that we’re passing on,” he said.
The 43rd annual American Polish Festival and Craft Show is being held June 2022 at the American Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane, in Sterling Heights. Admission costs $5 per person and anyone under 17 is free. Free parking and shuttles can be found at the Career Prep Center and Sterling Heights High School.
For a complete schedule of events, visit americanpolishfestival.com.
Call Staff Writer Brian Wells at (248) 291-7637.
Once I get the right diagnosis for the cause of your heel pain, I will provide you with a tailored treatment plan, which outlines exactly how we can fix your heel pain and keep you free from future foot pain. If you are ready, call me for an appointment to start your journey back to normal life, free from heel pain.
from page 1A
ematics education with a hands-on, fun experience for grade schoolers since 1991.
As the name suggests, STARBASE One takes its theme after space exploration. Students get to explore a full-scale recreation of the International Space Station’s Destiny lab module, learn how to program robots by trying to get a rover across a simulated Martian landscape, dine under a re-creation of Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 capsule at the Milky Way Cafe and try their hand at technologies like 3D printing and computer-aided design software.
A common highlight of a STARBASE One excursion is a chance to take a seat in the facility’s space shuttle nose simulator. Students and teachers alike rave about getting to experience a takeoff from the retired space plane’s cockpit, as well as getting a front-row view of docking with a space station and trying their luck at gliding the shuttle back down to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Even with all the space paraphernalia and simulators, STARBASE Director Rick Simms says it is the nonprofit’s team of educators that make the experience as unforgettable as it is.
“They are so dynamic, and they really engage the students,” Simms said. “They’re
very attentive to the students because we have all different kinds of kids that come through here. Everybody learns at a different level, and our teaching staff is very adaptable at working with all these different students.
To me, that’s really what makes (STARBASE) memorable; that human connection that they’re having with our teaching staff.”
STARBASE funding at risk
Free for schools to visit so long as they
‘If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?... Let us not love with words...but...actions.’ (1 John 3:17-18)
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provide transportation to and from Selfridge, Simms says a typical STARBASE
One engagement takes place over 25 hours, spread across five weeks. But when Niskar’s class visited this winter, the Higgins Elementary fifth graders had their STARBASE adventure cut short after the fourth week.
STARBASE One lost its funding.
Though starting at Selfridge with a W. K. Kellogg Foundation grant and volunteer help from base personnel, STARBASE has
since become a Department of Defensefunded program with over 80 programs located across the United States and the territories of Puerto Rico and Guam. Despite its nationwide reach and a broad mission to teach more students about STEM-related subjects, Simms says the STARBASE program has fallen off the nonbinding presidential budget recommendations since the Obama administration and has required legSee STARBASE on page 22A
teresting.” The handlebars, for instance, are from an old Harley-Davidson they found.
“We had to make adapters to go inside the handlebars to accept these,” David said. “A really fun part of the project was adapting motorcycle stuff to a bicycle application and adapting old stuff to new technology. We traipsed over a lot of old motorcycles that were scrapped out.”
The e-bicycle can go as fast as 25 mph. The bike will travel about 20 miles after it is charged. It’s a single-seater, but aesthetically it’s made to look like a two-seater.
“The seat on the back is more just for looks,” Grant said.
The bike did have some professional work done.
“The paint job was done at a professional place,” David said. “There’s some purchased parts — the tires, the fenders. The batteries are purchased.”
David and Grant also have another ebicycle, so they often go riding together on both vehicles in good weather. David loves to cruise to downtown Rochester and one stop is always O’Connor’s Public House.
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He also rides “Captain America” to work, a 4-mile commute from home. The unique bike always starts a conversation. Many people initially think it’s a motorcycle.
“Everywhere we go, we get all kinds of compliments from people. It’s so much fun. Every day people yell, ‘What a cool bike,’” David said. “The prime one had to be I was riding to the gym and I had the glow lights on for the evening. The high school boys working at the burger place stuck their heads out of the drive-thru and yelled, ‘Dude, that thing is awesome.’”
David remembers his first cruise on the bike.
“It was wonderful. It was a great feeling,” he said. “First I rode it on pedals, and then I rode it with electric-motor assist. It was very smooth.”
David, an Air Force veteran, said “it was very special” to tackle the project with his son.
“He was very attentive. He was very patient in taking these classes while we meticulously went through every safety precaution. I do believe he learned a lot,” David said. “There are some skills you just can’t learn online, like when you’re operating the mill to cut away metal. You have to feel that with your hands. You can’t teach that on YouTube or LinkedIn or anything else.”
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MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 29 at around 11:10 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 49000 block of Frances Drive for a fraud report.
The caller, a 30-year-old Macomb Township woman, told deputies she received a text message in April claiming to be a job offer. The sender also claimed the woman could receive $850,000 if she deposited $2,000 into a bank account.
The woman allowed the sender access to her bank account, where he took $36,200 over the course of a month. The woman made fraud claims with her bank and the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 29 at around 9 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 50000 block of North Avenue for a hit and run crash.
Deputies spoke with a 70-year-old Emmett man who said his car was struck by a white truck that tried passing him on 23 Mile Road. After they made contact, the truck turned around and left the scene.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 26 at around 9:10 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the intersection of 21 Mile and Garfield roads for a traffic collision.
At the intersection, deputies made contact with the occupants of a heavily damaged Honda CRV in the intersection and the driver of a damaged Toyota Tundra. The
Toyota driver, a 53-year-old Macomb Township man, said the Honda struck his car by running a red light. The Honda driver, a 28-year-old Macomb Township man, confirmed the Toyota driver’s story.
Both drivers and passengers from the Honda were treated by the Macomb Township Fire Department at the scene with the Honda occupants being taken to hospitals for further treatment. The Honda driver was cited for the accident.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 21 at around 10:30 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Ray Wiegand’s Nursery to discuss a fraud case.
An employee of the nursery told deputies that the store had been scammed out of $1,500. An order for three trees was carried out earlier in the month but was recently reported as fraudulent by the holder of the card that made the order.
The employee provided deputies with a USB drive containing footage of the order being picked up.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 20 at around 4:10 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 49000 block of Mustang Drive for a property theft report.
Deputies spoke with a 32-year-old Macomb Township woman who said a backpack containing two laptops was stolen from her husband’s car. She believed the bag was taken either while he was at a hospital or while the car was parked outside their home.
No security camera footage was available for review and the car showed no signs of damage.
— Dean Vaglia
MOUNT CLEMENS — On May 22 from noon to about 1:30 p.m., nurses and support staff held an informational picket outside of McLaren Macomb Hospital.
Organized by the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 40, the picket aimed to raise awareness of the union’s desire for higher staffing levels and “highlight the hospital’s union-busting tactics, stalled negotiations, inadequate pro-
posals and abusive regressive language, along with retaliation on our members’ rights,” according to an email from OPEIU Local 40.
“McLaren Macomb has always been a community hospital,” Dina Carlisle, OPEIU Local 40 president, said via press release.
“This is our reputation. These are our family members, our patients and our friends. We’re trying to do what’s best for our community, not just McLaren’s pocketbook. The
LANSING — While warm weather may be the sign to ditch the pants for shorts and button-ups for tees, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging Michiganders to take steps to protect themselves from tick bites.
According to a press release from the DNR, tick-borne diseases are on the rise and Lyme disease cases here have increased 168% over the last five years.
“Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent
from page 16A
Along with all the coaches, Olympic bronze medalist Myles Amine and three-time Southern Conference champion Taye Ghadiali will be present to guide the wrestlers. Amine went to Detroit Catholic Central High School before a great wrestling career at the University of Michigan, and Ghadi-
ongoing unfair labor practices — such as direct dealing, regressive bargaining, refusing to bargain in good faith and targeting our members — must stop. We are fighting for our rights and for the safety of everyone who comes through our doors.”
McLaren Macomb president and CEO Tracey Franovich stated that McLaren hopes to reach a contract with the union.
“Our goal is to establish a contract for each group that is beneficial to both parties, and we are committed to that outcome,” Franovich said via press release. “As negotiations continue, our hospital leadership and physicians remain focused on patient safety, and the bargaining process has not compromised that focus. However, the union has
chosen to conduct an informational picket, which is within their rights.
“McLaren Macomb has earned recognition for quality patient care and remains committed to providing the highest quality care to the community we serve. Our team members work diligently every day to improve clinical outcomes and maintain a safe environment for care. The current union activities will not distract our team from this dedication to our patients. We are hopeful that we will reach mutually agreeable contracts in the very near future. Until that time, our focus will continue to be serving the patients who come to our hospital and entrust us with their care,” Franovich said.
— Dean Vaglia
tick-borne diseases,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services chief medical executive, said via press release. “If you find a tick attached to your body, promptly remove it. Monitor your health, and if you experience fever, rash, muscle or joint aches or other symptoms, or if you suspect a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours, consult with your medical provider.”
Ways to prevent tick bites include using insect repellent, wearing long clothing, performing daily tick checks and bathing or showering as soon as possible after coming in from outdoors.
For more information visit Michigan.gov/Lyme. If ticks are discovered, send pictures to MDHHS-Bugs@ Michigan.gov for identification help.
ali graduated from Warren Fitzgerald before attending Campbell University. This year, Ghadiali will transfer to the University of Michigan and wrestle as a graduate transfer.
The camp was a success last year and is on track to have more participants this year. The camp is for high schoolers ages 14-19. To register for the free event, visit usmcsports.com/register.
Call Sports Writer Scott Bentley at (586) 498-1090.
THOSE HONORED INCLUDED:
Sheriff’s Star Award: Project Manager Crystal Montagne
Command Officer of the Year: Sgt. Eric Holmes
Deputy of the Year: Deputy Bret Sypniewski
Corrections Deputy of the Year: Corrections Deputy Philip Camus
Dispatcher of the Year: Dispatcher Cidnee Schramm
Employee of the Year: Fiscal analyst Julie Patterson
islators, namely Michigan’s U.S. Senate delegation of Sen. Gary Peters and the retired Sen. Debbie Stabenow, to get STARBASE back onto the federal budget.
But as Higgins Elementary students were visiting STARBASE One in the early spring, Congress was failing to pass a budget. The budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year had been delayed since fall 2024 and while stopgap funding was made available through continuing resolutions, the nature of the resolutions means only so much funding is made available. STARBASE was seeking $60 million in the 2025 budget, but the Senate was only willing to give the program $20 million, and the Department of Defense comptroller ran with the $20 million budget number.
“What that meant was, as they kept extending the continuing resolution, for our sites here in Michigan, funding ran out on Feb. 7,” Simms said.
Michigan’s three STARBASE programs ran out of federal funds on Feb. 7, leading to educational staff being furloughed and the indefinite closure of the programs — the first-ever such closure in STARBASE One’s 34 years.
The closing and the loss of the STARBASE One trip struck Niskar’s students hard, but not just because they lost out on their year-defining field trip.
“STARBASE was a great experience for us, and we wanted other kids to have that same experience,” Luplow said. “We really just wanted the future fifth graders to have the same experiences.”
As Niskar recalls, the progression of some curriculum items was not going as quickly as she expected, which meant the big project of building a solar-powered home was at risk of being dropped due to time constraints. However, the 27-year veteran teacher made the decision to adjust the lesson plans to bring the home project, which was originally part of the math curriculum, in as a catch-all STEM project to close out the school year.
“I knew we weren’t going to get to (the solar home math unit) because the end of the school year was coming up, but it looked and sounded so cool that I didn’t want to pass it up,” Niskar said. “I decided to squeeze it in … it really did capture all of the science, technology, engineering, mathematics. My boyfriend actually is an engineer, and I had to ask him for some help at some points.”
The project, which was “extremely involved” in Niskar’s words, saw students group up and try building a scale-sized home that would retain the most energy when ex-
posed to sunlight. Work for the project included testing the heat-absorption of different materials and paints, becoming adept at reading thermometers, developing different kinds of solar collectors, trying out different insulation materials and performing other experiments in order to build the toastiest home possible. Size of the homes mattered as the area of windows was tied to how big the homes were.
“We actually did the measurements of the windows,” fifth grader Sam Sherrill said. “The total dimensions of the windows had to be exactly 1/8th of our house’s total dimensions.”
Students were given leeway in how they chose to design and build their homes. Sherrill said his group built a sunroof into their design.
Niskar planned to have the students present the homes to their fellow students at the end of the year, but then students in the class had an idea. Luplow presented the idea of auctioning the projects off to parents like they were real homes, while peer Noah Kodra jumped in with the idea of donating the raised funds to STARBASE One. The ideas won the support of the students, and Niskar got the word out to parents that an “open house” was scheduled for Friday, May 30. Before the day would arrive, students would also write letters to legislators asking them to support restoring funding to the STARBASE program.
“It was attempting to free STARBASE and try to get other children to experience it,” Kodra said.
And by the time the homes were sold, the parents came through by raising $1,170 for STARBASE.
Along with anticipating how excited the students would be once they found out the final raised amount, Niskar was proud to know the students had taken the initiative to develop and put on the fundraiser.
“For me, that’s more important than anything else,” Niskar said. “I teach the kids the curriculum, but for me it’s more important that they leave my classroom as good human beings. They came in as good human beings, but they got even better with their empathy and their kindness, so for me that was the most important (thing) of all, that they could help others.”
Niskar believes the students’ experiences visiting and fundraising for STARBASE will follow them throughout their educational careers.
“I think that they’re going to remember this more than anything else, quite honestly,” Niskar said. “I think it already has inspired kids to possibly one day become involved with a STEM profession of some sort.”
By the time the fundraiser was held, STARBASE One was already back in opera-
tion. Funding for the program was restored in April after Congress passed another continuing resolution, leading to students across the region once again making memories at the Selfridge-based nonprofit.
But Simms has not ceased finding funds to support STARBASE’s survival.
Simms says the goal of STARBASE is to operate as though it is going to continue forever — the program is already booked full for the 2025-26 school year.
“We always look ahead that we’re going to be in full operation, because we do not want to make an assumption … and not schedule people right now,” Simms said. “We want to hit the ground running come the start of the school year and get the classes out here first thing in September.”
Along with running as though there’s no end in sight, Simms and the STARBASE team
are working to add more funding streams. A fundraiser at a Buffalo Wild Wings was held in Chesterfield, a golf outing is planned to take place this summer on the SANGB golf course, and the program is working with a grant writer to apply for funding. Several state legislators toured STARBASE One earlier in the year, and Simms said the program is in conversation with state and federal legislators about future support.
“This is a community asset that has been here for 34 years,” Simms said. “To lose that I think would be a shame because all of the knowledge that we have guarded over these years and the delivery of a very highquality STEM program would go away, and that wouldn’t be something that’s available to the community anymore.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043
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Clinton Township man sentenced to 40 years for sex crimes
DETROIT — On May 16, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced Stephen Gentry, of Clinton Township, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for creating images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
Gentry, already a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children on Feb. 12. His recent crimes came to light after the FBI learned that he was distributing images of child sexually abusive material that he created. An FBI search of Gentry’s home found evidence supporting the alleged offenses.
United States District Court Judge Terrence Berg’s sentence for Gentry includes a lifetime of supervised release upon leaving prison. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Alsaden, Tara Hindelang and Christopher Rawsthorne.
Scheming mail
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 13 at around 5 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke to a 32-year-old Macomb Township woman about a suspicious person in her neighborhood.
The witness reportedly saw a woman placing envelopes in mailboxes in the 16000 block of Via Montella. Inside the envelopes were a “$500 gift card” and a QR code that linked to the website of a known pyramid scheme.
Deputies recommended that the woman contact the Federal Trade Commission.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 13 at around 3 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Meijer at 24 Mile Road and Hayes Road for a retail fraud report.
The store’s loss prevention staff and management informed deputies that a 33-year-old Detroit man left the store without paying for over $360 worth of alcohol and other items.
A records search of the man showed he had three prior retail fraud convictions.
A state warrant authorization for retail fraud was completed and the store representatives indicated they wished to press charges.
Drunk driver in denial
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On May 11 at around 4:40 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Wellington Valley and 24 Mile Road for a car crash.
wide turn at the intersection and T-boned another car.
Deputies noted the odor of intoxicants on the man and that he appeared to have trouble with his motor functions. The man told deputies he was returning from a golf outing and denied drinking any alcohol. He refused to take field sobriety tests and, before taking a breath test, told deputies he “knew he was going to fail.”
The man reportedly registered a 0.36 blood alcohol content level and was taken to jail.
Stolen motorcycle
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On May 6 at around 3:10 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were sent to the 37000 block of Willowood Court for a stolen vehicle report.
Deputies spoke with a 25-year-old Harrison Township man who said his KTM motorcycle was stolen. He first noticed the motorcycle was gone when he returned from work.
The man did not have any suspects in mind and no cameras were in the area to document the theft.
Cycle swiper
MOUNT CLEMENS — On May 4 at around 4:17
a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to an apartment in the 20 block of Dickinson Avenue to speak with a 28-year-old Mount Clemens man about his stolen bike.
The man rode his bike to Fast Eddie’s Bar & Grill on Crocker Boulevard the night before, placing it by the rear door with a fake lock before going inside. He saw the bike from the bar during the night, but discovered it was missing around 2 a.m.
He did not see anyone steal the bike and had no suspects in mind.
Parking lot arrest
MOUNT CLEMENS — On May 2 at around 4:10 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 300 block of Cass Avenue for a report of property damage in the parking lot.
At the scene, deputies discovered a 65-year-old Macomb Township man had struck four cars while attempting to leave the lot. The Macomb Township man was observed to be uneasy on his feet. He reportedly agreed to take field sobriety tests.
Following the tests, the man reportedly submitted a breath test with a 0.153 blood alcohol content result. The man was arrested.
Pepper spray assault
MOUNT CLEMENS — On May 2 at around 12:40 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were
Deputies spoke with a 42-year-old Warren man, who said he was pepper sprayed by a 46-year-old Mount Clemens man in the park after telling him to shut up.
Deputies located the Mount Clemens man behind 170 Northbound Gratiot Ave., where he admitted to pepper spraying the man because he believed the man was going to assault a woman he was with.
Deputies arrested the Mount Clemens man.
Welfare check
MOUNT CLEMENS — On May 1 at around 4:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Park Place Towers for a welfare check on a resident.
A neighbor told deputies that the resident in question, an 85-year-old woman, had not been answering her door. Deputies entered the apartment and discovered the woman on the floor in her kitchen, next to a chair she appeared to fall out of.
The woman was transported to a hospital by Medstar.
Man defrauded of $101
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 8:10 p.m. May 7, a police officer from Shelby Township was dispatched to the lobby of the Police Department regarding a fraud report. The victim stated that he had been attempting to contact Amazon in an attempt to return some purchased items. The victim stated he searched online for the number for Amazon and thought he was speaking to a representative. The representative advised the victim to download an app on his phone that gave the representative full access to his phone. Once the representative had access to the phone, he asked the victim to send him pictures of his credit card and driver’s license. At the time of the police report, the victim was out $101. The victim later found out that the number he had was not the correct number that went to Amazon. The case was turned over to the detective bureau for follow-up.
Property damage reported on Pleasant Street
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 10:03 a.m. on May 16, a report was made about property damage in the 22000 block of Pleasant Street. The victim, a 59-year-old woman, stated she got home at around 2 p.m. on May 15 and didn’t see any damage to her vehicle. When she went out the next morning, she noticed damage to her vehicle as well as a broken cinderblock on her lawn. The residence next to her had a brick wall divider between the plaza and the victim’s residence and it was possible the
found in the area.
Retail fraud reported on Harper Avenue
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 11:09 a.m. on May 17, a report was made about a case of retail fraud that occurred in the 22000 block of Harper Avenue. The officer spoke to the manager of a business, a 49-year-old woman, who stated two women paid for some items, but not all of the items in their overflowing cart. Among the items stolen were ribeye steaks and bags of shrimp. What they did pay for totaled out to $19.49. The vehicle the women drove was found in Harper Woods.
Larceny