City announces 20 South Main purchase agreement
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — The city of Mount Clemens announced on June 27 it had entered into a purchase agreement with Oakland University for its Anton/Frankel Center campus at 20 South Main Street. The city intends to purchase the build-
ing pending a 60-day due diligence period, after which it intends to convert 20 South Main into a new City Hall and station for the city’ Fire Department.
Plans to move City Hall have circulated for around five years as redeveloping the waterfront has been one of the city’s strategic goals. There was also a 2017 estimate that showed renovating the City Hall at 1
Crocker Boulevard would cost “millions,” according to Mayor Laura Kropp. Knowing the university had offered the city 20 South Main in the past, news of changes with Oakland University’s Macomb County presence led to city officials taking their shot at the building.
“We had heard that Oakland was going to cease operations at its Mount Clemens
facility at 20 South Main,” Kropp said. “I inquired with some folks who were involved in that original deal to see if maybe that would be feasible to start looking at an opportunity … I knew that there were plans that had existed at some point, some renderings that showed City Hall would fit there. The opportunity presented itself and we acted.”
See PURCHASE on page 13A
Bold colors, unique canvases at Art Center solo show
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — The first floor of the Anton Art Center is now playing host to an artist’s debut at the gallery.
“A History of Dreams: Paintings and Objects by Michael Ross” features a collection of works by Ross, a curator in Highland Park who got his first formal training at Oakland University.
“That’s when I learned some of the basics of
FAR LEFT: Works from Michael Ross adorn the first-floor gallery of the Anton Art Center. NEAR LEFT: Michael Ross. Images provided by Anton Art Center
SUMMER TROLLEY NIGHTS
Thursdays in July & August
Starting July 10 • 5PM – 11PM
Cruise the Nautical Mile in style!
Enjoy a FREE Trolley Ride with convenient stops at all your favorite restaurants and Blossom Heath. Whether you're grabbing dinner, meeting friends for drinks, or just soaking in the summer vibes — we’ll get you there! Your summer nights just got better.
Township board receives, files treasurer’s report
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On June 23, the Harrison Township Board of Trustees voted to receive and file the township treasurer’s 2024 annual report in a 5-0 vote.
Trustees Dean Olgiati and David Bratto were excused for the meeting.
Harrison Township Treasurer Lawrence Tomenello presented the item. He went through several sections of the township’s finances including taxes from school districts, banks and financial institutions.
He called it a “pretty good report.”
The presentation showed the township invested around $3.5 million in its general fund and earned interest of $173,903. Tomenello said sweep account activity came in at $6,900,000. The total amount of interest earned among all accounts is $810,568.
In 2024, the township levied $28,887,006.83 in school taxes, $7,246,925.51 in Macomb County taxes and $12,532,842.57 in local taxes with a total amount of taxes levied coming out to $48,666,774.71. Tomenello said the township collects nothing for general operations.
Tomenello said when he first joined the township in 2020, there were a number of special assessment districts that the township funded internally. The amount went from around $1.3 million in 2021 to $588,312.16 in 2024. Tomenello stated this is about two-thirds of the way to claiming the money back. According to documents, the SAD “burden” will continue through 2030.
Tomenello said they have two bonded special assessment districts with an outstanding principal balance of $839,160.45.
See REPORT on page 10A
CHIPPEWA VALLEY GRAD EARNS GIRL SCOUTS’ HIGHEST HONOR
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Few people who join the Girl Scouts of the USA ever achieve the prestigious Gold Award. Madalynne Honeycutt of Clinton Township has made herself a member of this rarified sorority.
One of 13 Girl Scouts to achieve the Gold Award this year in southeastern Michigan, Honeycutt’s award caps off a long career with the organization by building a lasting resource for her community.
Following in the footsteps of her mother, Honeycutt joined the Girl Scouts while in elementary school.
“My mom was a Girl Scout as a child and she was like, ‘How about you try Girl Scouts,’” Honeycutt said. “Throughout my Brownie and Junior years, I was in a troop, and we had fun activities together. It got a little bit difficult when I got to middle school. When you get to that age level, not too many girls continue after elementary school.”
While the numbers of Honeycutt’s troop began to dwindle, she was faced with continuing with the Girl Scouts or joining her peers to seek other pursuits. She decided to remain with the Girl Scouts by becoming a “Juliette” — a Girl Scout who operates independently of a troop. Taking its name from Girl Scouts
See HONEYCUTT on page 10A
Madalynne Honeycutt of Clinton Township poses for a photo with her Gold Award certificate, signed by Girl Scouts of the USA President Noorain Khan and CEO Bonnie Barczykowski.
Photo provided by Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
NEWS & NOTES
Macomb County Public Works wins award
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Infrastructure projects by the Macomb County Public Works Office that will reduce combined sewer overflows by a total of 75% have earned national recognition.
That’s one of three initiatives by the department that have received a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.
Under the direction of Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, the NACo has also recognized the public works office’s use of drones and artificial intelligence to inspect sewers and the office’s digitization of documents in order to improve service and efficiency.
“We’re honored to receive these awards not only for the recognition by NACo, but we’re especially proud that the public is benefitting through the effectiveness and cost savings of programs that protect the environment, infrastructure and save millions of dollars,” Miller said via press release.
The NACo Achievement Awards program is a noncompetitive awards program recognizing innovative and effective county government programs that are judged on their own merits and strengthen services to residents.
Summer Discovery Cruises return to Lake St. Clair
MOUNT CLEMENS — MSU Extension, in partnership with Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority and Michigan Sea Grant, announced the 2025 cruise schedule for the popular Summer Discovery Cruises program on June 25. The cruises are an educational on-boat experience that connects participants to the Great Lakes and the professionals that work to conserve them.
“We’re happy to be able to offer the Summer Discovery Cruise program again this year” Andrew Cox, Macomb County Department of Health and Community Services director and health officer, said via press release. “It’s a fun, educational way to experience the wonders of Lake St. Clair in Macomb County.”
Passengers can take part in a number of two-hour cruises on the lake covering subjects such as the birds of the lake, the Great Lakes fur trade, Great Lakes science, shipwrecks on the lake, lighthouse tours and more. Cruises will depart from and return to the Lake St. Clair Metropark North Marina on select dates from July 11 and Aug. 9, with departure times at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Those interested in learning more about MSU Extension’s Summer Discovery Cruise program or Great Lakes literacy are encouraged to contact Angela Scapini, Michigan State University Extension Sea Grant extension educator, at scapinia@msu.edu.
Harrison Township receives clean audit
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Harrison Township recently received an unmodified opinion on its 2024 audit. This is the highest assurance that it is a clean audit. Their auditors, Rehman Robson, also found no material weaknesses in the audit.
Waterfront Park open for visitors
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At the Harrison Township Board of Trustees meeting on June 23, Township Supervisor Kenneth Verkest announced that Waterfront Park is now open for residents to visit. Verkest asked that visitors stay off the grassy areas because it is still growing. Residents can contact the supervisor’s office for pavilion information and questions at (586) 466-1445. The full list for the Concerts in the Park series has also been posted on the township website at harrisontownshipmi.gov.
“Many foot problems in people with diabetes occur when injuries and infections go unnoticed and untreated. Healing can be delayed due to decreased feeling in the feet (neuropathy) and poor circulation. I will evaluate your feet regularly to detect any changes early, before they become a problem. Call me for an appointment and I will work with you to keep your feet healthy.”
Macomb County Public Works Director Candice Miller, right, and Operations and Flow Manager Vincent Astorino pose with a drone used for sewer inspections. Photo provided by Macomb County Public Works
The Clinton Township Board of Trustees voted on June 23 to replace the roofs of the Williams Log Cabin, and the 1880s Moravian Hall located outside of the township offices in the Clinton Township Historical Village Museum.
Trustees approve projects, accept attorney fee increase
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Meeting for roughly an hour and a half on June 23, the Clinton Township Board of Trustees signed off on several projects around the township at its final meeting of the month.
Trustees awarded Kanga Roof a $56,025 contract to replace the roofs on the Williams Log Cabin and the 1880s Moravian Hall, located in the Clinton Township Historical Village Museum between the township offices and the Clinton-Macomb Public Library’s main branch. Kanga’s bid was the lowest of the five evaluated, which ranged to $182,300 at the highest. The project was budgeted for $100,000.
“We’ve worked with Kanga Roof before, as well as the building department is familiar with them and we both recommend that they’re acceptable,” Department of Public Services Director Mary Bednar said.
Moravian water mains
Trustees awarded Boddy Construction Company, Inc. of Port Huron a $1.18 million contract to carry out water main improvements throughout the township.
The project consists of replacing a 6-inch water main on Moravian Drive between the Clinton River and Cass Avenue, relocation and replacement of 6-inch and 12-inch mains under Cass Avenue between Belleview Street to Callendar Street and extending an 8-inch water main on Belleview Street with a connection to the Moravian Drive water main.
The work is expected to impact the flow of traffic along Moravian Drive where the mains will be accessed, and the roadway will be repaired.
“They’re going to have a detour, potentially, on that one section, but the actual bypass lane that is there is going to be fully replaced,” said Scott Chabot, senior project manager with consulting firm Anderson, Eckstein, and Westrick. “The water main, given its limited right-of-way width, that portion (where) we’re installing the water main — at least the bypass itself — is going to be replaced with new asphalt.”
Bednar expects the new mains, made from plastic, to last around 50-75 years. The ones being replaced, made of metal, are 6568 years old at time of replacement.
Joy Park parking lot
Amendments to the Joy Park parking lot improvement project were approved by the board.
The change in the project’s work scope includes the addition of 96 concrete parking blocks, Steiner Building roof and perimeter draining improvements, installation of a 20foot cantilever gate and the installation of geogrids in poor soil. The changes increase the project’s cost by over $41,000, setting the final cost at $1.06 million.
Attorney fees
Trustees voted 5-2 to accept changes to the fee structures by township-retained law firm York, Dolan & Tomlinson, P.C.
The firm requested to have its monthly retainer fee raised from $27,900 to $30,000 per month and set its hourly rate while working on township-related litigation to $190 per hour.
Trustee Bruce Wade and Township Clerk Kim Meltzer voted against the increase.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Bus: 586-263-7500
courtneyseibold.com
Photo by Dean Vaglia
State Supreme Court rules on county charter cases
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
LANSING — On June 16, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled against Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel in two cases about the powers of the county executive under the Macomb County charter.
First, the court ruled in favor of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, requiring Hackel to grant the commission’s director of legislative affairs real-time, readonly access to the county’s financial management software for budgeting purposes. Access was first requested in 2017 and written into the general appropriations ordinance for fiscal year 2018, though Hackel never granted this access.
Penned by Justice Elizabeth Welch, the court found Hackel must grant the access based on “the plain language” of the fiscal year 2018 budget and remanded the case back to the circuit court.
The court found Hackel must grant the access based on “the plain language” of the fiscal year 2018 budget and remanded the case back to the circuit court.
“We thank the Supreme Court for its thorough opinion and respect its decision,” Board Chair Joe Sabatini said in a press release. “The Supreme Court recognized the Board’s valid ordinance requirement that the Board be provided accurate and timely financial information. With that information, the Board looks forward to working together with the County Executive for the common goal of accountable and efficient government for the citizens of Macomb County.”
The court ruled in favor of Macomb
County Prosecutor Peter Lucido regarding his desire to have external counsel. The Macomb County Board of Commissioners appropriated $42,500 to the Prosecutor’s Office in the fiscal year 2024 budget for “contract services,” which Hackel vetoed on Dec. 8, 2023, and the board overrode on Dec. 14, 2023. After attempting to contract with five law firms in January 2024, Lucido began proceedings against Hackel. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Lucido, and Welch wrote the order concurring with the appellate court on the grounds that the county charter “does not impose any limits on the purpose for which independent legal counsel can be retained using public funds.”
“The Court has again sent Mr. Hackel a clear message that he cannot rule like a king, and his abuse of power must end,” Lucido said in a press release. “These are historic decisions that protect Macomb County taxpayers and the integrity of justice in our county.”
Andrew McKinnon, deputy Macomb County executive, said the rulings were a matter of seeking clarification about the executive’s limits in the county charter.
“(The court cases were) an avenue to clarify what the charter means and to give us clear direction on how we move forward with the charter and with our responsibilities and what the board’s responsibilities are,” McKinnon said.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
LEFT: Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido. CENTER: Board Chair Joe Sabatini. RIGHT: Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.
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.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
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.
SAFE & SECURE
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.
CTE PATHWAYS
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.
DEDICATED EDUCATORS
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.
CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY
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
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
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.
DISCOVER GLEN ARBOR
EXPLORE
Feature Series
BY GREG TASKER
The following is part of C & G Newspapers’ feature series about Northern Michigan destinations for readers to explore.
GLEN ARBOR — If you’re looking for a classic summer vacation in Michigan — the kind where water, woods and whatever are available at your will on any given day — look no further than Glen Arbor on the Leelanau Peninsula.
While this town of about 700 year-round residents swells in the summer, Glen Arbor still manages to invite relaxation. No wonder. Glen Arbor is surrounded by the woods and hills of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and lies on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan — so there’s ample opportunity for beach time, hiking and biking, and kaying and stand up paddle boarding.
And much, much more.
Wander along M-22 through Glen Arbor and you’ll discover boutiques, T-shirt shops, art galleries, outdoor outfitters, and welcoming cafes and restaurants.
Like any resort town, businesses come and go. And then there are those like Art’s Tavern that become part of the landscape and evoke memories for generations of families who summer in Glen Arbor.
Art’s Tavern has been around for some 90 years and is throwback to another era, welcoming tourists and locals alike, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner almost every day of the year. Staples like burgers and tater tots and a rotating selection of Michigan craft beer and other ales keep customers coming back.
The dining room is pretty much as it has always been: college sports pennants blanket the ceiling, old photos line the walls, and a streamlined jukebox awaits to play your favorite tunes. It’s an anomaly — cash or check only — in an era of Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Glen Arbor is the home of Cherry Republic, the purveyor of all things cherry in Northern Michigan and beyond. It’s well worth a visit to its small, tidy campus, where you can shop for chocolate-covered cherries, jams and salsa or sit outside and sip a cherry-infused beer or eat a slice of heavenly cherry pie.
Another iconic Up North brand — M22 — has a presence in Glen Arbor as well. You’ll find T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, bags and other
ABOVE: Glen Arbor Wines, located on Lake Street, is a popular place to sample wine varieties.
LEFT: The Mill Glen Arbor includes a riverside cafe, restaurant and guest house.
RIGHT: Up North brand — M22 — has a big presence in Glen Arbor. Photos by Greg Tasker
Glen Arbor
branded items at this location on its namesake road. Unlike the company’s other stores in Traverse City and Suttons Bay, the Glen Arbor location boasts a wine tasting bar. You can sit outside on the patio for a glass of locally made red or white wine or step inside the store for a flight.
Speaking of wine, be sure to check out Glen Arbor Wines on Lake Street, just a block from Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Bay. The tree-shaded patio is an inviting spot to chill and sample wines made especially for the business by a private winemaker. A bocce court and lawn games make it all too easy to linger.
Lissa Edwards Martin, who opened the wine store and art gallery several years ago after a decades-long career in journalism, has a long family history in Glen Arbor. Her parents purchased the property decades ago and her grandparents once ran a restaurant around the corner on M-22. She spent her childhood summers here — swimming in the bay, floating in a tube on the Crystal River and hiking the dunes.
“I remember Glen Arbor as a dusty town back in the 1960s,” says Martin, who walks the block to the beach nearly every day to marvel at the water’s ever-changing colors. “It’s mostly a tourist town now but I’m happy to share Glen Arbor with people who appreciate it. It’s truly a magical place.”
At the town’s northern end, The Mill, a landmark along the meandering Crystal River, is creating its own magic. Shuttered as a grist mill some 80 years ago, the recently renovated 19th century structure now serves as a cafe, restaurant and gathering spot. The eateries offer seasonal and regionally sourced fare and freshly baked pastries. Guest rooms are available in the adjacent Queen-Anne style miller’s house.
Step inside for coffee or to look around and you’re likely to run into Corey Smith, the general manager, who encounters the curious nearly every day. “So many people have either been traveling to the area for gen-
erations or haven’t been for decades. These people are surely curious to see The Mill after our restoration,” he says.
Most people are delighted. Don’t be surprised if the great room, with its exposed post and beams and variety of comfortable sofas, chairs and tables, entices you to stay awhile, play board games and cards or chat with locals and visitors.
“The work completed here is a feat of its own caliber. Not only has our team been thoughtful of the historical preservation, but also we have created a space that the local community is able to interact with on a daily basis,” Smith says.
Although Glen Arbor is spread along M-22 and side streets, it’s easy to walk around. If you prefer two wheels, pop into The Cyclery, Glen Arbor’s only full-service bike shop, for a rental. You can venture farther afield, cruise scenic roads or make your way to the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, one of the region’s premier bike trails. The paved, multi-use trail passes through the national park, stretching 22 miles from Empire to Bohemia Road to the north, running parallel to the lakeshore.
The Crystal River snakes through Glen Arbor on its way from Glen Lake to Lake Michigan. Need to cool off? Rent a kayak or stand up paddle board at Crystal River Outfitters and slip in the river for a leisurely two- to three-hour paddle. The river is slowmoving and shallow, which makes it accessible to the whole family.
Or save exercise for another day and check out the River Club Glen Arbor, which opened just a year ago. The well-manicured three-acre park offers mini golf and plenty of outdoor seating for food and drinks and live music. River Club serves a variety of Michigan craft beer, cider and wine, as well as margaritas and cocktails.
On a recent afternoon, I met some friends there for drinks. We lounged in chairs along a bend in the river, watching kayakers and stand up paddlers mosey by. With Bob Seger songs playing in the background and Michigan wine and beer in hand, it felt like a classic summer day in Michigan.
Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer.
The River Club Glen Arbor includes the Caddy Shack, a miniature golf course.
Photo by Greg Tasker
Honeycutt
founder Juliette Gordon Low, Juliettes have access to the full resources of the Girl Scouts while working with adult mentors; in Honeycutt’s case, her mother served as her effective “troop leader.” Remaining with the Girl Scouts allowed Honeycutt opportunities like visiting the General Motors Design Dome and getting to take part in programs at Camp Hawthorn Hollow.
“I always wanted to be a leader growing up,” Honeycutt said. “I always wanted to show and give back to the community, and I knew that Girl Scouts was an opportunity to show my power and worth.”
Honeycutt’s Juliette status allowed her to continue working toward achievements within the Girl Scouts, chief among them being the Gold Award. Comparable to the Boy Scouts of America’s Eagle Scout rank, the Gold Award is achieved by only around 5% of eligible Girl Scouts. Much like how Eagle Scouts are required to complete a project in their community, Girl Scouts seeking the Gold Award must complete a “Take Action” project in their community that targets an issue the Scout cares about and can be continued by community members once they have completed the project.
Honeycutt, pulling from her own experiences, decided to tackle the matter of sexual harassment education as her “Take Action”
Report
from page 3A
The general fund across the board, Tomenello said, was around $14,000,000.
Tomenello said they work with nine banks or financial institutions for investments, pensions, day-to-day checking and more. The main bank account is through JP Morgan Chase.
“In 2023, all JP Morgan accounts were converted to hybrid accounts,” Tomenello said. “Simply this means they are a combination of interest and service credits.”
The service credits are activated for a portion of the year, Tomenello said, and they activate them until they have enough credits to cover bank fees.
“Once the amount of the service credits that we need to cover all of our costs have been reached we go to complete interestbearing accounts,” Tomenello said.
The township collects taxes from the L’Anse Creuse school district, Macomb Community College and the Macomb In-
project. Honeycutt had direct experiences with sexual harassment during her time in middle and high school, describing sexual harassment as “very common and obvious” while at Chippewa Valley High School.
“A lot of people didn’t want to speak up about it,” Honeycutt said. “They’d just push it away like it’s not a big deal or that it’s not going to hurt, but I could see it going on in the hallways. I could see it going on online and in classrooms, but nobody was really aware that they were doing sexual harassment … I saw it happening around the school and I knew it wasn’t right, and I wanted to make a difference, so other people didn’t have to go through what I had to go through.”
Daniel Lawrence, the Chippewa Valley High School counselor Honeycutt worked with on the project, says instances of sexual harassment tend to be kept private by affected students and that “each situation was taken seriously and addressed” when brought to the attention of councilors.
Work began on the project shortly after Honeycutt achieved the Silver Award in 2021. Jan Robertjohn served as Honeycutt’s mentor during the project, helping her remain on track as she conducted research.
“The statistics were kind of crazy,” Honeycutt said. “I didn’t realize how many people don’t report (sexual harassment) or speak up about it.”
Honeycutt’s finished project, titled “Stand Up, Speak Up, Report,” took the form of a PowerPoint presentation that goes
termediate School District, going at $4 per parcel. Tomenello said they use this money to collect, create and send bills out as well as to manage all the accounts.
The library is a part of the township charter and manages its own funds, but the treasurer’s office handles all their investments.
“We actively invested over $2 million in 2024 of library funds,” Tomenello said.
In 2023, they activated a sweep account for the general fund and in 2024 they changed the water and sewer fund to a sweep account. Tomenello said all of their working capital accounts are invested in sweep accounts.
Township Supervisor Kenneth Verkest said there was a lot of good news in the report.
“(I’m) certainly excited about the various income streams generated through the multiple investment methods,” Verkest said. “We appreciate the effort of the treasurer’s office to make our money work for us.”
Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
over the definition of sexual harassment, the various forms it takes, how it can reported and addressed, as well as providing contact information for support organizations. As the project’s sustainability is a key part of the “Take Action” project, Honeycutt’s presentation will continue to be used by Chippewa Valley counselors to help discuss sexual harassment. Lawrence said the project will be shared with other councilors.
“When you work with the community, that’s when you can make impactful change because they buy into what you are doing,” said Robertjohn, a volunteer Gold Award mentor with the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. “They can see the value of it and then want to continue it. (Honeycutt’s project) will continue after she’s done at the high school, and I do understand that it’s possible
some of the other school districts she contacted … could also use it in the future.”
As for Honeycutt’s life as a Gold Award recipient, she is currently enrolled at Macomb Community College and intends to transfer to either Kettering University or Oakland University for a mechanical engineering degree. She hopes one day to work for NASA.
“I hope with having my Gold Award, I can inspire other, younger Girl Scouts to aim high and go big because it is well worth getting your Gold Award,” Honeycutt said. “At the end, you will be so proud of yourself that you were able to accomplish the highest award you can get in Girl Scouts, and anybody can do it if they put their mind to it.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
BEHIND THE WHEEL
11A/ JOURNAL • JULY 9, 2025
Do you own a vehicle with an interesting history?
Contact Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045, and you could be featured in an upcoming Behind the Wheel. For more stories, visit candgnews.com/news/auto or use the QR code.
There’s nothing ‘middle’ of the road about these cars
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — There is a large group of micro/mini car owners nationwide who meet occasionally to bond over the unique vehicles they own.
They travel across state lines for activities geared toward quirky cars, funny stories and camaraderie.
Jim Golomb, of Northfield, Illinois, is one such car buff. He just organized the fourth annual Meet in the Middle Micro Car/Mini Car 2025. Micro/mini car owners from Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico and more trailered their vintage vehicles and met up June 20-21 in Macomb County.
Marty and Marybeth Abramson, for instance, made the trip with their 1971 British Bond Bug all the way from Niagara Falls, New York. Jeff Lane, of Nashville, Tennessee, brought three mini cars along for the ride. Lane felt right at home with the other micro car fanatics: he owns the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville.
A microcar usually has three or four wheels with an engine smaller than 700 cubic centimeters. Types of microcars include bubble cars, cyclecars, Invacars, quadricycles and voiturettes.
Meet in the Middle was supposed to kick-start with an outdoor barbecue June 20 at Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield Township. However, because of unpredictable weather, the group brought the hot dogs and potato salad indoors to the Tru by Hilton Hotel in Chesterfield Township.
The June 21 agenda was to tour Stahls Auto Museum in Chesterfield Township, drive over to Selfridge Military Air Museum in Harrison Township, and have dinner at the Sugarbush Tavern in Chesterfield Township. The parade of cars also headed to Sanders Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppe in Clinton Township Friday night.
“I’m glad to be here among friends. This is what it’s all about,” Golomb, 75, said. “I grew up in Saginaw and my family worked for General Motors. Cars were my thing. I enjoyed them. I like unusual cars.”
Golomb can’t get enough of his 1955 Messerschmitt.
“It’s a two-seater. There’s a front and back seat. What I like most is sharing the cars with other people, letting kids see them and letting adults see them,” he said. “They’re
TOP RIGHT: The Amphicar, designed by Hans Trippel, is a vehicle that operates on land and water.
ABOVE: John Golomb, of Northfield, Illinois, poses with his 1955 Messerschmitt. He coordinated the events for the micro/mini drivers.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Marty and Marybeth Abramson, of Niagara Falls, New York, brought their 1971 British Bond Bug to the fourth annual Meet in the Middle Micro Car/Mini Car 2025.
by Patricia O’Blenes
fun. They’re unique. They’re different.”
Golomb also owns a 1957 BMW Isetta and a 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom One.
One reason for the Brandenburg Park barbecue was so that a small group of local Amphicar owners could make a splash in Lake St. Clair. That fell through, but International Amphicar Owners Club members still met up with the group at the hotel.
The Amphicar, designed by Hans Trippel, operates on land and water. According to the website rarehistoricalphotos.com, the Amphicar was manufactured in West Germany and first appeared in the U.S. at the 1961 New York Auto Show. The website states the Amphicar’s engine was mounted at the rear of the vehicle, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. On the water, the same engine drives a pair of reversible propellers at the rear with a second gear lever engaging forward or reverse drive.
Fraser resident Chuck Reiner, 70, owns a 1968 blue Amphicar.
“It’s all my wife’s fault,” he joked. “She saw an Amphicar at the Woodward Dream Cruise.”
His wife, Deanna, thought it would be the ideal vehicle to take up north.
“I did end up finding one. I take it to a lot of car shows whenever possible and on Lake St. Clair. You can seat two people in the front and three people in the back,” Reiner said. “On water, it felt very unnatural at first. You’re driving your car into the water. After you’ve done it a couple times, it feels enjoyable. It takes forever to get up to speed. We go on all kinds of rivers, lakes, all over the place in different states.”
The Reiners trailer the car to Florida in the winter to meet other IAOC members for some water time.
“We have members throughout the country and throughout the world,” Reiner said.
Other IAOC members Tom Hurley, of Fair Haven, and Jeff McKeown, of Chesterfield Township, attended Meet in the Middle. McKeown has a 1964 Amphicar he takes out often with his significant other, Sandra Shenduk. McKeown morphed into owning the vehicle after his uncle sent him a photo in one.
“It’s just awesome. We get together in the summer and go to Lake St. Clair. We can travel in the shallow areas and by the bays and hang out with the boaters and go swimming,” McKeown said. “Little kids love it.”
“We get so many people stop what they’re doing and take a picture of the car,” Shenduk said.
Rumor has it that even singer Uncle Kracker once snapped a photo of them. Harsens Island in St. Clair County is a favorite spot for Shenduk, and McKeown has even medaled at the Algonac boat show. Not content with just owning one vintage model, McKeown also has a 1948 Crosley wagon.
Hurley said he purchased his 1964 red Amphicar from George Gray, an announcer from “The Price Is Right” who also hosted the “Weakest Link” game show.
Although the Amphicar “doesn’t go very fast, everyone loves it. Everyone is waving at you. Everyone is looking at you,” Hurley said. “I’ve swam out of it. The first time driving it was a little scary. We’ve been to Lake Michigan. We trailer them and go all over. Just putzing along, it’s relaxing to me.”
His wife, Deanna, thought it would be “It’s just awesome. We get together in the travel
Photos
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
IMMIGRANTS THRIVE IN BUSINESS, SHARE AMERICAN CULTURE
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — The United States of America is the melting pot of people and cultures: a nation built on the dreams of people who came here from around the world, often to escape persecution.
Three business owners in C & G’s coverage area recently took the time to share their stories of how they found their dream through hard work, determination, and dedication in America.
‘If you apply yourself, you can make it’
Johnette Eggert, owner of Elite Bridal and Donate a Gown USA Int’l in Farmington Hills, came to the U.S. 30 years ago to escape the civil war in her native Liberia.
“I think it was the best decision they made for me,” Eggert said of her parents’ decision to bring her to the U.S.
She said she knows Africa and recalled seeing people get lined up and slaughtered in Liberia. She said people from Africa would be grateful just to be here in the U.S. and to have the chance to obtain their dreams.
“It’s America, and the whole world fits in America. America is a big enough light. You go to Liberia, and people would give anything in the world to come here. Even if they’re sleeping on the street, they know that they can go to the church and get food. You can go and get a job. If you apply yourself, you can make it,” Eggert said.
She said entrepreneurship runs in her blood. Her parents founded the Richard M. Nixon Academy in 1965, a private school in Liberia for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Eggert said she believes education is the key to success for anyone. She also strives to help provide food to the community by donating to Cares in Farmington Hills.
Through the bridal shop, Eggert said she hopes to help local youth continue their education by providing scholarships. She also wants to support the schools her parents started in Liberia, where a teacher makes $25 and a principal, $75.
It was her father’s kindness and generosity to those less fortunate that ultimately spared his life in Liberia. Eggert’s father, John Woolu, worked for the Liberian government and was on a hit list. However, the hitman who was assigned to assassinate her
Johnette Eggert came to the U.S. from Liberia 30 years ago. She said owning a business was a dream of hers after working as a substitute teacher in Madison Heights and hearing girls say how they wished there was an affordable store where they could shop for high-end dresses.
Photos by Charity Meier
Mariana Steganha said she and her husband, Rodrigo, decided to look into franchising their own Biggby Coffee business after the birth of their second child. Since coffee is such an important part of Brazilian culture, they thought it was the perfect type of business to get involved in.
father recognized him and recalled how he had fed him as a young boy, when his family was homeless. So instead of killing him, he took her parents to the border, where they were able to return to the U.S.
Eggert said the business was a dream of hers after working as a substitute teacher in Madison Heights for many years and hearing girls repeatedly say how they wished there was an affordable store where they could shop for high-end dresses.
“I had a dream and for months and
The Mount Clemens City Commission agreed to the purchase agreement with Oakland University at its June 2 meeting, which included a $1.5 million price tag, a $25,000 down payment and the 60-day due diligence period. City Manager Gregg Shipman stressed that these two months or so are critical to actually closing the sale.
“The only real way we’re going to know is to get in there and look at everything,” Shipman said. “Do a complete inspection of the building, look at the condition of the building and then you can come up with a determination for the cost of the buildout. The preliminary numbers show that it’s feasible and it fits in the budget, but that’s really the stage that we’re at right now going forward.”
Pending inspections, the current plans call for adding three apparatus bays to the south of 20 South Main for a relocated Mount Clemens Fire Department. Plans to have the fire department in 20 South Main along with the city have been present since the university first offered the building, and Shipman said having a single building for government services is a cost-savings measure seen throughout the municipal world.
“That’s the trend you’re seeing now,” Shipman said. “Instead of separate buildings for municipal offices, your fire station (and) your police station, you’re seeing now that they’re combining them under one roof and really it’s cost savings.”
The Oakland University Anton/Frankel Center, located at 20 South Main Street, may be the next Mount Clemens City Hall and Fire Department headquarters.
As of now, many details about the move are in an outline stage. Shipman expects to begin requesting design proposals for 20 South Main as soon as the due diligence period is successful, followed almost immediately by a request for construction proposals. The city manager targets 2027 for the beginning of construction and a potential movein date as early as later that year or in early 2028. Funding for the move has so far been covered by $2 million in earmarked state funds, which will also be used to cover initial engineering and construction costs to retrofit the building for municipal use. The city plans to work with Macomb County and the office of state Rep. Denise Mentzer, DDistrict 61, to secure more funding throughout the move and future developments at the current municipal site.
Once the city is able to move its offices and the fire station to 20 South Main, the plan is to convert the land into a mixed-use residential and commercial development while leaving space for public use along the Clinton River waterfront. The city is currently looking for partners for this aspect of the project. Other aspects of the site such as the continued maintenance of the fire department mural are also being considered.
Kropp first officially announced the city’s intentions to move City Hall downtown at the 2024 State of the City address in October. Shipman made reference to the waterfront redevelopment aspect on July 30, 2024, following the demolition of the motel at One North River Road.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
NOTICE
Photo by Dean Vaglia
oil painting and the way to use oil paints and what you can do,” Ross said. “One of the most valuable things I learned was stretching my own canvases.”
After stepping away from visual arts for about a decade to pursue music and other work, Ross found himself compelled to give painting another go around 2010.
“I always had these ideas in the back of my mind as far as what sort of paintings I wanted to make, and so I was always sketching these things out,” Ross said. “At some point I — I couldn’t tell you the exact genesis of it — I was like, ‘Oh, yeah. I’ve kind of gotten away from painting.’ I went and picked up a new batch of oil paints and supplies and went right to it.”
Learning how to stretch canvases at OU has become a notable part of Ross’ works, as many of his paintings twist and bend around
Business
from page 12A
months, I kept thinking about the dream, and I kept thinking about the vision, and what I would hear the students say about how they wished they had a place that was fancy and had a set up that wasn’t like a thrift store, but still be getting a resale item that was high end, and I was like, ‘I can do that.’ And here it is,” she said.
‘The feeling of brightness and happiness was the first feeling I had’
Jenny Wu, who owns three Chinese restaurants, came to the U.S. as a child in 1981 to escape political turmoil in her native China. Her family was labeled as traitors to the country by the Communist Party.
“There was a lot of changes. I noticed the streets were brighter. The streetlights just made it seem like America was really beautiful,” Wu said of her initial impression of America. “Back in the day in China wasn’t like how it is now. They didn’t allow people to have lights or have anything really. The streets were always dark at night. So that alone, just entering into the United States, the feeling of brightness and happiness was the first feeling I had.”
She said initially, a language barrier caused her family to struggle with employment for a while. She said they only came to the U.S. with approximately $30 and two suitcases. Eventually, her mom started one of the restaurants Wu owns with a friend in or-
the unconventional canvases he builds.
“I’ve been working a lot with these geometric shapes and forms, things like that, and it occurred to me that I could make the actual surface of the painting be part of the painting itself and reflect what’s contained therein,” Ross said. “Making the canvases is part of the work for me, especially with these oddly shaped canvases and multi-canvas pieces and finding interesting ways to make them fit together.”
The sheer size of Ross’ work and depth of his back catalog came as a unique benefit for AAC Exhibition Manager Stephanie Hazzard, who combined her curation experience with Ross’ to fill out the first-floor gallery.
“(Ross) works on paper, on canvas, on panels and also on three-dimensional objects that he’s painted, as well as ceramic pieces that he’s painted,” Hazzard said. “He has a style that he’s placed onto shaped twodimensional items and three-dimensional items, and composing them into one cohe-
der to help her godson get a green card. However, her mom, a pianist, did not really care for the stress of the restaurant business, and her mom’s godson didn’t care for it, either. So Wu, who had gone to school at the University of Michigan for organizational studies, which incorporates business with psychology, ultimately took over the business and expanded it. At one point, she owned four restaurants across metro Detroit: JJ Crab House and Lucky Kitchen, in Ann Arbor; Sapporo Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi, in Livonia; and her largest one, Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse, in Novi. After 13 years in Novi, she closed the restaurant this year but still maintains her other locations.
Wu said she has faced some challenges as an immigrant business owner over the years, especially when there was the SARS epidemic, which originated from Hong Kong.
“SARS was a big challenge for me. A lot of people didn’t want to come eat Chinese food,” said Wu. “Also, back in 1993 when I started it, a lot of people saw Chinese food as really unhealthy. So yeah, there’s always challenges.”
‘This is something that, at one point, my kids can be part of it’
Mariana Steganha co-owns the Biggby Coffee franchise location in Lathrup Village with her husband, Rodrigo.
Originally from Brazil, she came to the U.S. with her husband, who had a temporary work assignment in 2016. She said he was offered a full-time position with his company in the U.S., and ultimately, they ended up staying stateside.
sive show is my job to make sure there is an appropriate flow of the pieces that complement one another … He had brought in lots to choose from and because of the size of the pieces, which are very large, we were able to utilize the entire floor for one show.”
Hazard says it has been fun working with Ross on deciding which of his works go on display and where they will be placed throughout the gallery.
“We like to work with a lot of different artists and curators, and Michael has a special background as both an artist and a curator, and as a muralist,” Hazzard said.
“He works on a very large scale as an artist on lots of different surfaces … It’s fun to work with someone who also does similar work in a gallery on another side of town, so he has experience with the curating part. It was great to work with someone new to the space as well.”
Ross’ idea toward art is that what one sees in it is shaped by the experiences of the beholder and hopes that his show leaves a
Steganha said that after the birth of her second child, they decided that a traditional 9-5 job was not something that was suitable for her anymore. They decided to look into franchising their own business. Steganha said their neighbor is the area representative for Biggby franchise locations and asked if they were interested in opening one. Since coffee is such an important part of Brazilian culture, they thought it was the perfect type of business to get involved in.
“My husband thought it was a good idea to own a business and long term, we would have more time for our family, too,” Steganha said. “This is something that, at one point, my kids can be part of it.”
They opened the franchise in November 2024. She said she really has enjoyed getting to know the community through the business.
Like Wu, Steganha said that the biggest challenge she had when coming to the country was the language barrier. She said her husband spoke the language well, but she didn’t. She did, however, have a foundational understanding of the written language and was able to learn it by submersion with her first job in the U.S.
“I got to learn how to communicate. I had to face challenges like talking to people over the phone, especially angry customers, with some delayed orders, for example. So you know customer service, so I was the first one to take the heat,” she said. “So that brought me a lot of experience. For me, when I’m here at the cashier talking to people, that’s something that I really appreciate because it’s how everything started for me when I started
good impression on visitors.
“A lot of what I do, I try to make it a positive viewing experience,” Ross said. “In choosing color palates and forms and things like that. Without planting too much of a seed in someone’s mind as they’re looking at the work, I like the idea of it having a calming effect on the viewer. It depends a lot on what the viewer is bringing to it, but I hope it makes people feel good.”
Running from June 28 to Aug. 16, “A History of Dreams” is one of two solo shows going on at the Anton Art Center. The other exhibit, “Suzanne Guimond Wilson: Glass Art,” showcases the Roseville-based artist’s stained-glass work on the second floor from July 8 to Aug. 23.
The Anton Art Center is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Metered parking is available. For more information, go to theartcenter.org.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
my career path.
“I like that, and people get curious and say, ‘Hey, where are you from? I noticed your accent,’ and we start to get to know each other,” Steganha said.
She said getting to know the community and her staff is her favorite part of owning the coffee shop. She said she has learned a lot from both her customers and her staff.
Wu has been in the restaurant industry for years and said that her Novi customers have continued to frequent her Livonia locations. Eggert and Steganha, who recently opened their businesses, said that they just want people to know they exist.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
15A/ JOURNAL • JULY 9, 2025
JULY 12
Visit from The Reptarium: 1 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse St. (Suite A), (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
JULY 14
Shark Day: Includes games, crafts and photo opportunities, 1-4 p.m. for children and 2-4 p.m. for teens, Clinton-Macomb Public Library - Main Branch, 40700 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, (586) 226-5020, cmpl.libnet.info/events
Widowed Friends breakfast: 10:30 a.m., Big Boy, 16880 Hall Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471, widowedfriends.com
JULY 17
Medicare 101 educational seminar: Presented by Medicare Learning Services, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, also held Aug. 14, Sept. 18 and Oct. 28, registration required, (586) 465-0588
JULY 19
Parkway car show: Also face painting, food, bounce house, 50-50, music and more, noon-3 p.m., Oakmont Parkway, 36725 Utica Road in Clinton Township, (586) 792-7231
After-hours game night: For teens in grades 6-12, snacks provided, 6 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, register at (586) 226-5073 or cmpl.libnet. info/events
Lakeshore Ukulele Strummers concert: Hear hit songs, also snacks and refreshments, 1 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse St. (Suite A), (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
JULY 25
Comedy-magic show: Features entertainer Cameron Zvara, 10 a.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - Main Branch, 40700 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, register at (586) 226-5030 or cmpl.libnet.info/ events starting July 11
JULY 26
Electronics recycling: 10 a.m.-noon, Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse St. (Suite A), see list of accepted items at htlibrary.org/events, (586) 329-1261
See ‘The Prince of Spanish Guitar’: Benise celebrating 25 years of world music and dance, 7:30 p.m. (VIP experience at 5 p.m.), Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
Family tree research: Free genealogy resources for adults, 11 a.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, register at (586) 226-5073 or cmpl.libnet.info/ events starting July 12
JULY 27
Widowed Friends lunch: 1:30 p.m., Olga’s Kitchen, 43201 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to Esther at (586) 264-1939 by July 27, widowedfriends. com
JULY 31
Fungi of Michigan: Presentation by expert with Q&A at end, 6:30-8 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse St. (Suite A), registration preferred, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
ONGOING
Farmers markets: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through November, City Park & Ride Lot, 141 N. River Road, mcfarmersmarket@gmail.com, (586) 493-7600, mountclemensfarmersmarket.com
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13 and Oct. 11, John F. Kennedy Knights of Columbus Council #5460, 33320 Kelly Road in Clinton Township, (586) 610-2990
Uptown Friday Night Concert Series: Hear Tom Bartelmay (funk, fusion and jazz) July 11, Creedence (Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute) July 18 and Strictly Fine (funk and soul) July 25, all 7-9 p.m.,
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
stage on North Walnut Street in Mount Clemens, performances continue Aug. 1-Sept. 12 on Macomb Place in front of O’Halloran’s Public House, downtownmountclemens.org/events
Summer Sounds: Free concerts from 5-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 3-6 p.m. Sundays until Aug. 31, also 3-6 p.m. Sept. 1 (Labor Day), Center Court at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, see lineup at shoppartridgecreek. com/events
Summer Concert Series: Hear Stone Blossoms (classic rock) July 13, Brad Stuart (country) July 20, Gridiron & Friends (party) July 27, The Best of Billy & Elton (Billy Joel and Elton John tributes) Aug. 3, Velvet Steel (top 40 rock and pop) Aug. 10, Vinyl Rockit (party) Aug. 17, Taylor Tucky (country) Aug. 24, and Larry Lee & the Back in the Day Band (funk, R&B and soul) Sept. 1, 6:30-9 p.m., Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Township, metroparks.com/lake-st-clair-metropark
Book Break at the Beach: Stories, songs, experiments and activities, 11 a.m. Mondays until Aug. 11, playground pavilion at Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Township, presented by Harrison Township Public Library and Nature Center, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
Wellness Wednesdays: Free weekly fitness classes sponsored by Henry Ford Health, includes zumba July 9 and yoga July 16-Aug. 27, 9-10 a.m., Center Court at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, shoppartridgecreek.com/events
Monthly car shows: 5-8 p.m. July 17, Aug. 21 and Sept. 18, Sanders Chocolate and Ice Cream Shoppe, 23770 Hall Road in Clinton Township, (586) 4645372
• Cars and coffee, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 26 and Aug. 23, Pleasantrees (former Gibraltar Trade Center), 237 North River Road in Mount Clemens, more on eventbrite.com
Social groups: Find meetups for yoga, knitting and
crocheting, babies, kids and teens, book clubs and storytime, Lego and more, Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse St. (Suite A), (586) 3291261, htlibrary.org/events
Mount Clemens Optimist Club meetings: 7 p.m. every second Wednesday of month, Mount Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Ave., (586) 321-2073
Men overcoming loss ofpartner/spouse meetings: 6-7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of month, virtual and in person, Hospice of Michigan, 39531 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, wlawton@hom.org, (586) 263-8514
Live entertainment: 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Great Baraboo Brewing Co., 35905 Utica Road in Clinton Township, (586) 792-7397, greatbaraboo.com
• 4 p.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Octopus’s Beer Garden, 152 North River Road in Mount Clemens, (586) 221-1531, see band lineup at octopusbeergarden.com
Take Off Pounds Sensibly: Weight-loss group for ages 7 and older, includes education, ideas, recipes, accountability, support and prizes, confidential weigh-ins at 5:30 p.m. and meetings at 6 p.m. every Tuesday, Tucker Senior Center, 26980 Ballard St. in Harrison Township, contact Barb at (586) 549-2925 or tbreardon@comcast.net
Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less: Virtual 15-week program presented by AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services and led by registered dietitian nutritionist, free for first-time participants ages 60 and older, register at (833) 262-2200 or wellnessprograms@ageways. org, tinyurl.com/agewaysworkshops
Health workshops: Hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups
WASHING&PAINTING COMPLETEDECK MAINTENANCE PowerWashing,Repairs, Stain/Paint, House/Soft Washing,HousePainting FreeEst./Insured WearetheDeckDoctors! 586-463-9564 marathonpowerwash.com 586-755-3636 Dr.Electric AffordablePrices! Father&Son MasterElectricians Same-Day-Service! All-Residential-Wiring, ChangeFuseBoxto CircuitBreakerPanel, Troubleshooting,Backup GeneratorTransfer Switch,License#6109094 SenDisc.V/MC/Lic./Ins.
CASTLEELECTRIC 586-634-1152 (directcellphone#) Panelupgrades, generators,hottubs, 220lines.ALLSERVICE Licensed&Insured Dependable,quality work! License#-6111359 PREPARE forpoweroutagestodaywithaGeneracHomeStandbyGenerator.Actnowtoreceivea FREE5-Yearwarranty withqualifyingpurchase. Call1-855-773-8191 todaytoscheduleafree quote.It'snotjustagen-
586-323-0755 *”STEVE'S SEAMLESSGUTTERS” Made&installedonthe spot.5”&6”Gutter Cleaning.Treetrimming, exteriorpainting, powerwashing. 586-778-3393 586-531-2111 GUTTERS &WINDOW CLEANING INSURED TOMMICOLI 313-656-9402
1AQuality MaintenancePlus Skilledand HandymanServices, Specializesin PaintingandFlooring, HomeProjectsand Repairs. Office-248-636-7917 Ron-586-329-9276 3Sons HandymanService 586-888-9031 Electrical,Plumbing, HVAC,Minor/Major Repairs,AnySizeJob. FreeEstimates 10%Discount AA4DABLE HANDYMAN HomeImprovement, Tile,Hardwood-Floors, Kitchen/Bath-Remodeling, Plumbing,Electrical, Painting,Hauling,Cleanouts,AnyHomeRepairs, FreeEst.30%Disc. AllMajorCC'sAccepted. 586-822-5100
GOLDENBUILT CONSTRUCTION Additions,Garages, Roofing,Siding,Basements,ConcreteWork, Foundations,Driveways, PorchesandSidewalks. Over40YrsExperience Licensed/Insured 586-948-4764 Home Improvement ALLTIMATE OUTDOORSERVICES Fencing,Concrete, Porches,Masonry Repairs,Steps,Railing, HandicapRamps, Yard-Drainage,Grading, Patio's,Retaining-Walls &MuchMore. FREE-ESTIMATES 586-719-1202
Home Repairs
EXTERIOR REPAIRSLLC. Since1999 GUTTERCLEANING LEAFGUARDS Roofing,Siding, Gutter,Repair.Reliable Ask,WeMightDoIt! FREEESTIMATES 248-242-1511
Kitchens/ Cabinets/ Countertops MR.BACKSPLASH ·CUSTOM BACKSPLASHES ·CUSTOMKITCHENS ·COUNTERTOPS *Granite*Quartz* ·CustomBathrooms ·TILEREPAIRS *FREEESTIMATES* 586-552-5416 mrbacksplash.com Landscaping & Water Gardens
ALLTIMATE OUTDOORSERVICES DrainageSystem Professionals Big/SmallJobs, Yard-Drainage,Grading, Sod/Seed,Retaining Walls/Walkways/Patios, Senior/Military-Discounts Credit-Cards-Accepted Free-Estimates 586-719-1202
DOLL'S LANDSCAPING SPRINGCLEAN-UPS! Shrub&Tree-Trimming, Planting,Removal.Mulch, SodInstallation,Pavers, Garden/RetainerWalls, PorchSteps,Raise Backyards/DrainTiles, Powerwashing/Sealing, Seeding,DebrisRemoval 586-634-0033
SUPREMEOUTDOOR SPECIALISTS SodRemoval,Lawncare, Landscaping,Pavers, Walls,Shrub/Tree Trimming/Removal, Mulching,Power-washing Sprinklers.FreeEst. 586-727-3924 supremelandscaping michigan.com
Lawn Maintenance 2025SPRING 586-260-5218 Commercial/Residential *Landscaping *Decks *SpringClean-Ups *LawnCutting *LicensedFertilization *Aerating&Thatching VisitFacebook: BrightHorizonServicesInc.
586-489-9226
Don s LawnService -LawnCutting -Edging -Aerating -PowerRaking -Bush&TreeTrimming -Sod Since1979!
Repairs,Remove Wallpaper,Repairingand StainingDecks,Power washing.Free-Estimates.
TREBOR HANDYMANLLC. SoffitandFasciaRepairs, DeckStaining/Sealing, Interior/ExteriorPainting, Sheds/Foundations, PressureWashing, Insulation,Sealing, 10%off,Free-Estimates. 586-354-4910
586-463-8394
TerryʼsLawn Service •ShrubTrimming •Lawn Maintenance
Painting
586-792-3117
PETE'SPAINTING SPRINGSPECIALS! 10%OFF Specializing inVacantHomes, Great-Rooms,Deck Staining&WoodenFence Repair,Interior/Exterior, Residential/Commercial. SeniorDiscount, Free-Estimates,Insured.
PAINTING GPC MASTERPAINTER PLASTER&DRYWALL Restoration/Insurance Projects, Wallpaper Removal/Carpentry, 30-yrsLicensed, BBBA+ SeniorDisc/FreeEst. 586.899.3555(Cell) 248.566.6460(Office)
(586)229-4267
AmericanPainting Residential/Commercial •Interior/25YearsExp. •PowerWashing •Insurance•Drywall •PlasterRepair •DeckRepairs•Cleanouts•HomeRepairs •SeniorDiscounts
PEAKPAINTING Custom-Painting, Commercial/Residential, Interior/Exterior. Drywall-Repair,Paper Removal,Carpentry. *WillBeatAnyOther ReasonableEstimate! 35yrsexp.Sen.Disc.Ins. CC-Accepted/References. 586-722-8381
2BROTHERS PAINTING
CompleteInterior/Exterior WoodRepair, Powerwash, Free-Estimates CallFrank 248-303-5897 ReferencesAvailable
STEVE'SCUSTOM PAINTING
586-350-1717
Since1985 ProfessionalQuality, Neat,MeticulousPrep, Drywall/PlasterRepair, Interior/Exterior, Insured,References, Free-Estimate, 10%SeniorDiscount.
(586)795-8122
ChrisCronin Painting& StainingInc. Professionalquality. Interior-exterior. Power-washing, decksealing.Insured, References.Free-Est. MC/VI/DC/AXaccepted.
ANDERSON
Painting&Carpentry
CompleteInterior/Exterior Services.Plaster/Drywall & WaterDamageRepairs Wood-Staining.Wallpaper Removal.Kitchen/Cabinet Refinishing,Insured/References.Free-Estimates 586-354-3032 248-974-4012
ANYONE'S PAINTER
Interior/ExteriorPainting Commerical/Residential PressureWashing, DrywallRepairs, DeckStaining, FreeEstimates,Insured. Call586-921-3654
NEBOPAINTING
ServiceAllYearRound
Interior/Exterior WeMakeIt EasierForYou, AllNeedsAreMet! FreeEstimates Call 248-953-7807
VKPERFECTPAINTING
Interior/Exterior SpecializesinKitchen &Bathroom CabinetPainting. Drywall/Plaster/Repair Free-Est.26YearsExp. CallBill 313-433-9400 586-746-9846 vkperfectpainting.com
MASTER PLUMBER
Sewer&DrainService. Remodeling,Repairs, NewInstallations. FreeEstimates SeniorRates. 35+yrsexp.CallPaul 248-904-5822 Lic.#8109852
586.524.6752 ANDY'SPLUMBING 33+YearsExp.Lic/Ins. CallUsToday ForAllYour PlumbingNeeds!! ServingThe Tri-County-Area 10%/Senior/Military/ Discounts Lic#-8004254
Plumbing
WATERWORK Plumbing.com •DrainCleaning
EAPLUMBING ANDDRAIN FullServicePlumbing. DrainCleaning,Sump Pumps,WaterHeaters, Leaks,Disposals, CameraInspections, BackflowTesting andMore. 586-477-7777 License#803020312
ALLWASHEDUP POWERWASHING SPRINGSPECIALS! Weofferpowerwashing&
AA4DABLEROOFING Hurry&SaveBig-$$$! SPRING-SPECIALS Upto30%-Off!!! Roofing/Siding/Gutters, All-Leaks/Repairs, Residential/Shingles/ Commercial-FlatRoofs/Torch-downs 30yrs-exp.CC'saccepted 586-822-5100
MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC. BuildingValueEveryday 586-436-9600 Licensed/Insured Since1965 Servicing-Roofing, Siding,Basement, Bathroom,Kitchen Remodeling,Decks& AllYourHome ImprovementNeeds.
CHERRY CONSTRUCTION Roofing,Gutters,Cement, RefinishingHardwood Floors,NewHomes, Remodels,Additions, Doors,Windows, Fencing,Decks, Kitchens,Bathrooms. 586-291-2647
SILVERSMITHROOF MAINTENANCE MinorShingle ReplacementSpecial, Re-Roofs,Tear-Offs, Flat-Roofs, AllInsuranceWork, Residential/Commercial WeAcceptAll MajorCreditCards 248-707-4851
586-944-8898
Poetic “through”
Latin dance
“Buffalo ____, won’t you come out tonight...”
61. Kids’ building block 62. Altitude, abbreviated
Like a fox
Water carrier
1. Staff symbol 2. Zoo sound 3. Gumbo pod 4. Separate grain from chaff
Kitchen caper
MOUNT CLEMENS — On June 8 at around 6 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to McLaren Macomb Hospital for a theft report.
A hospital security officer played surveillance footage for the deputies showing a male suspect entering the kitchen at around 4 a.m., making a meal on the grill, putting food into a bin and taking the food to a room on the second floor before leaving.
No staff members recognized the suspect or knew how he got into the facility.
Splash pad spat
MOUNT CLEMENS — On June 6 at around 7:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Shadyside Park for an assault report.
The caller, a 47-year-old Clinton Township woman, said a child spat on her child at the splash pad. The woman went over to the other child’s guardian and told her what happened. The guardian then began yelling at the Clinton Township woman, telling her she should use corporal punishment on her child and poked her on the forehead.
The Clinton Township woman reportedly indicated that she wished to press charges against the guardian.
Barricaded gunman draws
SWAT response
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On June 4 at around 10:40 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 27000 block of Riviera Drive in Harrison Township for a disorderly person. The suspect, a 41-year-old Harrison Township man, was allegedly intoxicated, destructive and threatened to shoot the caller.
Upon arrival, deputies learned that the suspect and a child were inside the residence. As they attempted to establish a perimeter, deputies spotted the man holding a gun and heard a gunshot-like sound. Deputies used the patrol vehicle PA system to issue commands for the suspect to exit the residence, which he did not comply with.
The county’s tactical team was activated and responders were able to retrieve the juvenile from the residence. They took the suspect into custody without further incident. The suspect was lodged in the Macomb County Jail.
Attempted stereo robbery
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On June 4 at around 2:20 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 38000 block of Middle Pointe Court for an attempted larceny from auto.
Township man who said someone broke into his car and tried stealing its radio. Glass was found around the car, while the radio housing was pried open and several wires were unplugged.
A doorbell security camera was found in the area but the footage did not provide additional information about the incident.
Drunken driver arrested after driving into ditch
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Shelby Township police officers were dispatched to the area of 23 Mile Road and the M-53 ramp for a vehicle in the ditch at 8:03 p.m. June 15. The sole occupant of the vehicle reportedly said he was cut off by another vehicle, causing him to run off the road. Upon talking with the driver, an officer observed indicators that suggested the driver had consumed alcohol, according to the police report. Police said the driver admitted to “having a couple of beers” earlier in the day. After a series of roadside sobriety tests, the driver was placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated, according to police. The driver was transported and lodged at the Shelby Township Police Department until he was sober.
Hundreds of dollars in liquor stolen
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — An officer was dispatched to CVS, 15121 24 Mile Road, for a retail fraud at 5:15 p.m. June 16. Upon the officer’s arrival, he met with the store manager, who said he observed on surveillance video five suspects in the store select more than $330 worth of liquor and leave the store without paying for it. The suspects drove away in a Dodge Durango. Detectives were investigating.
Car stolen
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A police officer was dispatched to the 46000 block of Jonathon Circle, near Dequindre and Auburn roads, for a stolen car at 7:44 a.m. June 11. The owner of the vehicle said her 2020 Nissan Altima was gone from the parking lot when she woke up that morning. The owner stated she last saw her vehicle at 11:30 p.m. June 10. Detectives were investigating.
Abandoned bag
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On June 6 at around 9:30 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the intersection of 22 Mile Road and Beacon Square to investigate a suspicious item.
A passerby notified deputies about a backpack left on the median separating Beacon Square. Deputies opened the gray-and-black backpack to find
clothing.
No identifying documents were found in the bag, and deputies stored the bag in an evidence locker.
Bad check
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On June 5 at around 2:55 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the Michigan Educational Credit Union on Hayes Road for a fraudulent check report.
A 53-year-old Detroit man reportedly entered the credit union and attempted to cash a $1,700 check. As the check was being processed, staff was notified the man’s account had a history of fraudulent check activity. As employees tried to get more information, the man fled the credit union, leaving his check and ID behind.
Marketplace scammer
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On June 5 at around 2:10 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 21000 block of Rome Drive to speak with a 21-year-old Macomb Township man about a fraud report.
The man attempted to buy a Nintendo Game Boy Color device and two games from a 29-year-old New Baltimore man through Facebook Marketplace. The seller claimed he no longer lived in Michigan and would mail him the items if he was paid $80 through Venmo.
After being paid, the New Baltimore man did not respond to requests for mailing updates, and a search of the man’s account by the Macomb Township resident revealed a history of people claiming the New Baltimore man to be a scammer.
The Macomb Township man wished to press charges.
Bomb threat suspect arrested
GROSSE POINTE CITY — Police took a 35-yearold Detroit woman into custody at around 12:50 p.m. June 10 after she allegedly left a post on X, formerly Twitter, threatening to bomb a doctor’s office on the second floor of the Neighborhood Club. Police said the building was evacuated, searched and cleared, and no explosive device or any other suspicious object was found. Police said after they identified the suspect and arrested her, she confessed to making the threat on social media. She was facing a charge of making a bomb threat, police said.
Door damaged GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A couple who live in the