NEWSPAPERS Special Edition








BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
NOVI — Actor Mark Wahlberg and Jay Feldman once again took to the green, along with several other celebrities and sponsors, for the Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Network Celebrity Golf Invitational at the Detroit Golf Club June 9. The annual event raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network programming at Corewell Health Children’s and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.
Wahlberg, who is known for his strong Catholic faith, said that he feels that God is calling him to do this and that it is the purpose God chose for him.
“Obviously, it’s always about giving back. I don’t think that I’ve been put in the position that I’m in to for-
get about where I come from and the adversity that I faced as a young person, and so anything that we can do to give back,” Wahlberg said. “So everything that we do is based on being aspirational and telling people that there isn’t anything that they can’t accomplish or overcome despite the hand that they’ve been dealt.”
This year, the event raised $1.3 million, all of which will directly benefit children and their families in southeast Michigan, according to Lamont Yoder, RN, president of Corewell Health Southeast Michigan. Children’s Miracle Network programs help children from birth to 18, Yoder said.
During the event, five local children and their families, who have each endured various trials and tribulations as a result of different health conditions, emphasized the
BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com
BIRMINGHAM — The city of Birmingham’s South Eton Road Bike Lanes project was recently selected to receive a Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Transportation Alternative Program grant of $2,231,297.
TAP grants are federal funds that are given to the state and distributed to large metropolitan planning organizations, such as SEMCOG. For this grant, SEMCOG seeks projects for bicycle and pedestrian facilities and transportation-related stormwater management projects.
City Engineer Melissa Coatta said in an email that the South Eton Road Bike Lanes project will include bike lanes and road improvements from 14 Mile to Maple Road. In addition to the new bike lanes from 14 Mile Road to East Lincoln, the existing bike lanes from East Lincoln to Yosemite will be paved. Additionally, Coatta said the roadway will be resurfaced and there will be sewer improvements and water main replacement.
The total project cost is estimated to be over $5 million.
“The city adopted a multi-modal transportation plan which includes bicycling and locations for implantation in the City,” Coatta said.
She added that the 2040 master plan expands and refines the recommendation from the multi-modal transportation plan.
From fall 2025 through spring 2026, the city will be in the project design phase. Construction — along South Eton, between Maple and 14 Mile — is planned to begin in the summer of 2026. Due to construction during the project, there will be lane closures.
Brian Pawlik, a planner at SEMCOG, said, “When a community like Birmingham can create bicycle lanes by parsing out part of the roadway, reclaiming some of that space for safe mobility, it’s a great advantage, and it’s something that we like to see within those more-developed communities that might not have the space for a full, shared-use path.”
Pawklik later added, “If there is any other community that is interested in funding a transportation-related bicycle and pedestrian project or stormwater project, feel free to reach out to me, because SEMCOG would be happy to help with communities in regards to realizing their goals and visions.”
More information on the TAP grant can be found at semcog.org/transportation-alternatives-program-tap.
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The annual festival dedicated to celebrating vibrant Mexican cuisine is on its way back to downtown Royal Oak for the fourth year.
Taco Fest 2025 will include more than 50 food truck options and nonstop entertainment July 3-6, with some new additions to the fun. The festival will be held on the east side of Main Street between 11 Mile Road and Fourth Street, centered around Centennial Commons and portions of the Royal Oak City Complex parking lots for the first time.
The street festival will be showcasing food, live music, DJs, street performers, contests and a brand-new mechanical bull ride for attendees to enjoy.
“I think one of the fun things that will be a crowd spectacle is the new mechanical bull riding. Watching people enjoy a little Southwestern fun will be great,” said Jon Witz, event producer. “Historically we have hosted 50,000 people a year for this. … We’ve got a great high-value place for families, and for folks that want to enjoy music and good food.”
The main attraction, the tacos, will be crafted by more than 50 food trucks and restaurants. Highlights of the truck lineup this year will include newcomers like The Taco Cartel, Dos Locos Burritos and more.
Xav’s Jammin Caribbean Fusion will be coming back for its sec-
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
FERNDALE — After seven years, Bobcat Bonnie’s in Ferndale announced it would be closing.
The popular downtown restaurant, located at 240 W. Nine Mile Road, made the announcement on social media June 1.
The restaurant ownership said in a prepared statement that they loved being a part of the Ferndale community, while also teasing that another operator will be taking over the space in due time.
“After Corktown *wink*- Ferndale is one of the best neighborhoods in the Detroit area,” the statement reads. “We are so lucky to have been a part of it.”
Bobcat Bonnie’s previously had several other Michigan locations, including in Corktown — the business’s first location — Wyandotte and Clinton Township, though all have since closed over the past year. The last restaurant currently open is in Lansing.
“Thank you Ferndale for truly changing so many of our lives,” the business said. “And thank you for changing mine- and building my confidence to be myself without wavering. It is so empowering to live in this community.”
Bobcat Bonnie’s owner Matthew Buskard could not be reached for further comment.
Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Jennie Beeker said the city has a strong restaurant scene and it hurts to lose one, as people had a fondness for Bobcat Bonnie’s
“It’s a really tough time, still, for restaurants,” she said. “I know that people are experiencing the challenges of inflation and how they make their budgets, and restaurants are too. So, I’ll always encourage people to visit the places that they want to see more of and support them in any ways that you can, because it makes a difference in those places being available, the staff that work there. So, our restaurant scene is really a livelihood for a lot of people
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ond year. The truck won “most unique taco” during the 2024 festival.
“Last year we received the award for the most unique taco from the customers that weekend,” said Xavier Jaramillo, owner of Xav’s Jammin Caribbean Fusion. “We are actually moving to the main strip this year because of that — we had such a good experience.”
Jaramillo and his team will be offering an array of food that puts a twist on classic Caribbean cuisine.
“We will be offering jerk chicken and shrimp tacos, jerk pork tacos, oxtail empanadas, jerk pork tamales, and lobster tacos,” he said.
Jaramillo said this is the perfect event for his team to showcase its unique offerings and also promote the business, which is going to be opening a restaurant in Ferndale in the next four to six weeks.
“It (Taco Fest) helps us promote our company even more and see people find out what our different flavors are, our take on tacos, our take on Caribbean cuisine, and how we infuse different cultures together,” he said. “It broadens our horizons even more,
and we look forward to continuing. It gives us continual growth.”
Taco Fest will also be bringing back the Jars Cannabis lounge, offering a designated 21 and older area where guests can explore curated cannabis products. The lounge is separated from the main family and food zones.
Staying on theme, the festival is bringing back lucha libre wrestling, taco-eating contests, tequila sampling, artisan vendors and more.
Musical acts will include rock, R&B, alternative, jazz, country and more. Strolling mariachi performers will also be roaming the streets during the event.
Witz said Centennial Commons makes a perfect backdrop for the event.
“We do our best to enhance the culture, we have strolling mariachis, a wonderful mix of Latin-themed music, to go with the cuisine, and we have seen, historically, just people having a great time,” Witz said. “It’s a winning combination for the holiday weekend.”
Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The festival’s hours are 11 a.m. to 11p.m. July 3-5, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 6. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit RoyalOakTacoFest.com or call (248) 541-7550.
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WEST BLOOMFIELD — Drivers are needed to make deliveries for the Meals on Wheels program in West Bloomfield, bringing food to those in need.
The nonprofit provides more than just a meal. For many older adults who are homebound, the delivery drivers also provide friendly human contact on a regular basis.
With summer approaching, more people will be going on vacation. As a result, many of the regular drivers are away and cannot make deliveries, so more volunteers are needed.
“People go out of town a lot, so when they’re gone, then you have to keep on asking the people you already have to deliver (to these routes),” said Candie Hovarter, the outreach director for the Livingston County Senior Nutrition Program and Western Oakland Meals on Wheels. “You don’t want to burn them out.”
This branch of Meals on Wheels services all of Livingston County and much of Oakland County, which includes West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake.
Also included are Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Novi, Southfield and Troy.
See MEALS on page 10A
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in the local community, so we want to make sure that folks are taken care of and that we have these great spaces to enjoy.”
Beeker added that almost everything nowadays is more expensive and that it’s hard to operate a small business. She encourages anyone, if they have the opportunity, to go to a local business and support it.
“It makes so much more of a difference when you spend that in a local or small op-
erating business because they’re supporting employees, often supporting families,” she said. “It’s always an encouragement to try and support what you want to see more of in your community.”
Though she doesn’t know any information about a new business coming to the Nine Mile location, Beeker hopes something can come in and fill the space quickly.
“I think it’s a natural fit in Ferndale,” she said. “It’s a beautiful space. They did a lot to make it very vibrant. … It’s a great space, so it’d be nice to see something come in there soon.”
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importance of the philanthropic event.
Kennedy Shallal, 8, of Rochester Hills, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in December of 2020, at the age of 4. Complicating the harshness of the diagnosis and treatment were the restrictions in place at the time with the COVID-19 pandemic, but Children’s Miracle Network therapy dogs Olive and Millie came to her aid by providing comfort and support as she endured long and grueling chemotherapy sessions.
“Children’s Miracle Network has been a huge help in Kennedy’s treatment, and the programs that they do, especially the dog therapy program, has been huge for her,” said Kennedy’s mom, Cristina Shallal.
Cristina Shallal said the dog therapy program helped by giving her daughter something to look forward to during her treatments and made it easier to get Kennedy out the door and to treatment.
“Whenever she would have to come in for treatments, we would align it with Olive’s visits and it made such a huge difference in just, like, her demeanor, being able to interact with the nurses, not fighting us on everything, not screaming — the whole hospital could hear her when she was going through treatments, So Olive just sitting there made such a huge difference.”
Cristina Shallal said Olive would cuddle up to Kennedy and sit with her while she was undergoing treatment.
Kennedy has been in remission since April of 2023 and is expected to be in total remission in 2026. Her love and appreciation for the Children’s Miracle Network therapy dogs were on full display during the
golf outing, as she could be seen hugging and playing with them.
“Therapy dogs make such an amazing difference, especially for kids,” Yoder said. “Some of these kids and families are scared the first time that they heard ‘cancer,’ and the dogs really help these kids get through some of the toughest days and weeks of their lives.”
Mila Sikes, 10, of Sterling Heights, spent her first 135 days of life in the neonatal intensive care unit after being born 16 weeks premature. During that time, Mila was aided by equipment provided by CMN, such as preemie-sized pressure cuffs, breathing cannulas, and devices to treat retinopathy. As a result, she was able to overcome the multiple challenges she faced as a result of being a micro-preemie, including bradycardia, bronchial pulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy, nephrosis, a congenital heart defect and a brain bleed. Today she is a healthy, spunky and energetic kid who enjoys telling her story and helping CMN as a Miracle Kid.
Miracle Network Celebrity Golf Invitational at the Detroit Golf Club June 9.
event to tell their story to bring awareness and help other families who may be in need of CMN’s services.
“To me, this event is a powerful steppingstone to helping families in need,” she said. “You never know who may need the help or what child is going through what. So, it’s a very good opportunity just to create awareness to other families who may need that help. That help is there if needed.”
Over the years, Braylen and Rylee have gotten to know Wahlberg through the event and his work with CMN. They lovingly refer to him as their BFF (best friend forever) and said they were excited to see him this year, as they hadn’t seen him in two years. Wahlberg was not able to attend last year’s event due to his film schedule.
“I guess it makes me feel special (to be called a Miracle Kid),” Mila said. “When I raise money for kids, it kind of makes me feel good.”
Everett LaBrash, 2, of Sterling Heights, made his second appearance at the event. Everett was born prematurely, at just over 31 weeks, which resulted in some issues with his lungs. He developed pneumothorax and had to be placed on a ventilator. During his long hospital stay, Everett’s parents, Alex and Marianne LaBrash, were able to utilize foldout furniture, which was provided to the hospital by CMN. Today Everett is actively reaching all his milestones.
Fran Watson, of Southfield, has attended the event for the last four years. She is the 2024 recipient of the Alma Wahlberg award. Her children, Braylen, 13, and Rylee, 11, have receptive and expressive language disorder, which resulted in speech delays. CMN was able to provide her children with speech therapy, and today they both love to talk. Watson says she enjoys coming to the
“It’s very sweet,” Wahlberg said. “Especially to see Rylee and her family, knowing her for many years now, and watching her thrive, it’s amazing.”
Patrick Rugiero, owner of The Roman Village and Antonio’s restaurants, has been an event sponsor for the last five years. He said that it is a great cause with a lot of need.
“It’s heartwarming to see, and as I always say, we need more of this and we need more people involved, because there is so much need in our communities,” Rugiero said.
“Being part of this event each year and seeing the support and generosity of so many people is so inspiring. Knowing that the money we raise is helping children and their families with programs and vital equipment makes this all worthwhile. We will continue to strive to raise more money each year to be able to support those families in need,” Jay Feldman, chairman/CEO for Feldman Automotive and Mark Wahlberg Automotive Group, said in a press release.
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — 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 Sting-Ray 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 stars-and-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 United 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.”
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While building the bike, the father and son frequented salvage yards to look for motorcycle and car parts, which Grant described as “very interesting.” 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. 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.”
Hot meals are delivered Monday through Friday to homebound seniors ages 60 and older. This is the only criteria, Hovarter said. The program is not based on income. Some recipients are in their 90s, while others are more than 100 years old.
For some, Meals on Wheels is their only food source, noted Hovarter. In addition to their hot meal delivered on Friday, they also receive frozen meals so they have food for the weekend. The program remembers folks during the holidays and delivers hot meals on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well.
Volunteers can choose their own schedule.
“We like for the volunteer drivers to commit to a day,” Hovarter said.
The volunteer schedule is flexible and is based on the volunteer’s availability. They can commit to a single day every week or every other week, or whatever their schedule allows.
“There’s an immense satisfaction in helping people,” said Ruth Dziuba, who has
been a volunteer driver for nearly five years. “And you’re only doing two and a half hours a week. It’s not hard or difficult to do.”
Dziuba enjoys seeing how the recipients improve. She has seen residents go from using a walker to using a cane and then walking without assistance.
“That’s really encouraging,” she said.
In addition to the meals, the program gives seniors some company and assesses them so they can stay in their homes. Hovarter said aging in place is the preferred option.
“You can certainly feel you’ve done a good deed,” she said.
The assessing process is simple, according to the director.
“Just talking to them, making sure they are coherent and everything is good,” she said. “Once you remove a senior, especially, from their home, it’s really disruptive to them. … When the seniors are moved, they don’t get it. They wonder where their kitchen or bathroom is.”
On the rare occasion when she thought the seniors were not OK, Hovarter called an emergency contact or the local police to conduct a wellness check. As it turned out, the senior was asleep and didn’t hear the
door, or in other cases was out with family.
Most drivers are met at the door when they deliver the meals. There may be times when they are asked to bring in the food, put it on a bed tray set up in the living room, or place the food in the refrigerator so it can be had later. Some drivers call ahead of time so that the recipient can move their pets first.
“I have never had any concerns,” said Dziuba when asked about how she felt entering a stranger’s home. “I can’t think of a time when anybody was ever rude, ever, in all my time.
“The people I meet (are) always pleasant and happy to see me,” she said. “Partially because I bring them food, but also because they need to talk to somebody, and it’s just really nice to have that contact with people.”
Dziuba said she’s scared that funding might be cut from the program.
“I know that at times we provided breakfast, as well as lunch. And I’m worried that Meals on Wheels needs financial support from the community too,” she said.
The food is prepared in the Meals on Wheels office in Brighton and then brought to the West Bloomfield Department of Recreation, where the drivers pick up the meals.
Hot meals are in insulated bags, while
a cooler is provided for storing milk and returned to the recreation center once the deliveries are complete.
There are about a dozen stops on each route. The stops are put in order of their location to prevent the drivers from going back and forth. The drivers are also provided with an iPad to help them navigate the route. They can also download an app on their phone.
Volunteers undergo a background check, training and orientation. It takes about a week for the drivers to get started.
Those interested in becoming a Meals on Wheels driver for West Bloomfield can visit the website mealsonwheelsmi.org or call (810) 632-2155. The same number and website can be used to request assistance or make a donation.
Farmington and Farmington Hills residents looking for a Meals on Wheels delivery can contact (248) 473-1825 for more information.
Star Lincoln in South eld boasts a 55-year history of family tradition and celebrating the work of fathers throughout the dealership. Started by Hoot McInerney in 1970, Hoot passed the dealership on to his son’s Bob and Jim in 2015. Grandson’s Ryan McInerney (Executive Manager) and Patrick Leonhard (Sales Manager), both fathers themselves, also play signi cant roles in the family business.
Star Lincoln currently employs 25 fathers in their sales, service, parts and administrative departments.
Star’s newest celebrated father, General Sales Manager, Tom Brown, typi es Star’s continued motivation of being a “family-focused” business since day one; from employees to customers.
part of accomplishing that goal.”
Brown, a graduate of the esteemed Vehicle Operations Program at Northwood University, has 6 children of his own. He started working for the McInerney family for over 16 years at Oakland Dodge in Madison Heights from January 1994 - February 14, 2010 when it closed its doors. With over 31 years experience in the car business, Brown has assisted over 1000 customers and friends buy brand new vehicles.
“Being a father of 6 children, I have learned to be patient and listen, more than being aggressive to make the sale. A great sales experience is more about caring and helping.”
e strong family connection shared between the Star Sta and Metro Detroit continues with Star’s current motto and ethos, “ e Star Treatment”.
I’ve gotten to know the entire McInerney family over the last 31 years. e best part about working for them is that they care about you as a person. ey give you a great work environment. If you purchase a vehicle at Star Lincoln, you will become part of the family - just like I feel.”, Brown continued.
“I have helped many folks buy their very rst car to a senior 85-yearold customer from Warren buy their next car, as I can recall. I love the satisfaction of personally assisting someone take ownership of a new vehicle they have been dreaming about for years and being
Star Lincoln has been serving the area for 55 years now, come see why and experience the Star Treatment. Star will celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday, June 15 alongside their customers. Stop by Star Lincoln to receive that “fatherly experience”. Celebrate your love for your Ford or Lincoln and schedule your in-person or mobile service appointment at Hoot McInerney’s STAR LINCOLN. Visit: www. starlincoln.com or in person at 24350 W 12 Mile Rd. South eld MI 48034. Call 248-354-4900 Monday–Friday 8am-6pm.