NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
Woodward Dream Cruise to celebrate 30 years
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Woodward Dream Cruise is celebrating 30 years of showcasing classic and new cars.
The Dream Cruise will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 16 on a 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue involving nine suburban communities.
Lee Collick, operations manager for the Department of Public Services for the city of Royal Oak and a Cruise Committee member, said that he will be overseeing all the barricading of Woodward, rubbish collection and more.
“The biggest thing we are excited about is this is our 30th year. So, I think everybody, all of the communities that are involved, are all looking forward to the 30th year and celebrating that,” Collick said.
The Woodward Dream Cruise includes vendors, food and more during the duration of the event. Collick said that the majority of the vendors and food options will be the same from previous years.
The Dream Cruise also includes the Performance Park Classic Car Show, which is open from noon to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park at 13 Mile and Woodward. It is hosted by the Michigan Hot Rod Association.
Collick said that in light of the historic milestone, the Woodward Dream Cruise Committee decided to make the logo look vintage.
“We wanted kind of a fun, vintage throwback color for everything. It’s like a neon green — to me it will seem very 90-ish,” he said.
Royal Oak resident Ted Page has been going to the Dream Cruise nearly every year since it began. Page has lived in the Woodward-Coolidge corridor for his whole life.
“I think I have only missed one of all the years. It’s something you live with and either love it or hate it, but I choose to enjoy it,” Page said. “I enjoy it more when there are people coming from out of town who want to take it on.”
CruiseFest parade to bring classic cars back to Berkley
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
BERKLEY — Dream Cruise weekend is approaching once again, and with that comes the annual Berkley CruiseFest Classic Car Parade.
Berkley’s yearly parade will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, on 12 Mile Road. It will begin at Woodward Avenue and end at Greenfield Road.
The Classic Car Parade will feature more than 300 vehicles rolling down the street in view of the residents and visitors to the downtown.
“We’re just excited to continue to bring this parade and event to the city in coordination with the Woodward Dream Cruise as a whole,” Parks and Recreation Superintendent Dan McMinn said.
Outside of the parade, there will be a showing of “A Goofy Movie” at 7:30 p.m. in front of The Neighbor’s Shoppe, 2833 12 Mile Road, music covers from BandWagon and a dance party
See CRUISEFEST on page 5A
Lance Harrison will be bringing his 1965 Morgan Plus 4 Drophead Super Sport to the Berkley CruiseFest Classic Car Parade. Photo provided by Lance Harrison
Cars drive down Woodward while spectators watch last year.
File photo by Donna Dalziel
Meet the Doctor
ELEVATE YOUR HEALTH with ADVANCED HEALING TECHNIQUES
At Hyperbaric Wellness Center, we are dedicated to improving your health through advanced therapeutic options tailored to meet your unique needs. Explore the benefits of our standout services:
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is used for Post Stroke, Parkinsons, Dementia, Cancer, Post Concussion, Diabetic Neuropathy to name a few. HBOT forces oxygen into the tissues and cells of the body to improve healing, increase immunity, and decrease inflammation. Your first session is just $100.
37 years experience in Functional Medicine and Chiropractic Care. State-of-the-art clinic and treatments with friendly and caring staff. Healthcare that is empowering and increases your quality of life.
available in Traverse City 231-421-5213 Grand Rapids 616-608-7547
Hyperthermic Ozone Therapy
Boosts energy and detoxifies the body down to the cellular level. Helps to remove mold, heavy metal and environmental toxins. Improves circulation and cardiovascular function by cleaning the arteries and veins. Stimulates the immune system to speed healing. Experience your first session for $100.
Delve into a personalized approach that addresses the root cause of your health issues, not just the symptoms. Schedule your $100 evaluation today and start your journey to comprehensive health.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
Royal Oak Leprechauns honor hometown baseball legend Bill Freehan
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Leprechauns hosted Bill Freehan Night during the team’s July 22 home game against the Kalamazoo Growlers as a way to honor the local legend.
Freehan, who played 15 years for the Detroit Tigers and made 11 All-Star Games, was raised in Royal Oak and played baseball at Memorial Park throughout his youth. He died at age 79 in 2021.
“(Freehan) went to Shrine elementary school. … He had these deep roots to Royal Oak,” Royal Oak Historical Society Director Judy Davids said. “And we were just so tickled that Pat Freehan (Bill’s wife) drove all the way down from the Petoskey area by herself. She’s 84, so for her just to be there (was great).”
Several members of the Freehan family joined Pat at Memorial Park to see the displays and billboards put up to honor Bill.
“Our little display is very hometownish, and the family was just fine with that,”
Davids said. “They were touched; I was really pleased.”
The displays are a perfect ode to the history of Freehan and the city of Royal Oak. There’s a sign outside the park now that describes his roots in the city and highlights the famous home run that Freehan hit as a child. The home run is something of baseball lore in Royal Oak, and there’s now a decal on the ground where the society believes his home run landed.
Legend has it that Freehan was just a young teenager and hit the home run more than 400 feet, which cleared the concession stand in left field and rolled all the way onto 13 Mile Road. The home run is something that seemingly everyone who’s played at Memorial Park has heard about, and now it’s forever immortalized.
“We can tell by aerial photographs where the old concession stands were, so we believe that’s approximately where it landed,” Davids said. “The thing that we heard most from fans at Memorial Park was about
See FREEHAN on page 4A
ABOVE: A Bill Freehan cutout stands outside of Memorial Park on July 22 when the Royal Oak Leprechauns honored the 11-time all-star who played 15 years with the Detroit Tigers.
NEAR LEFT: Fans read Memorial Park’s Bill Freehan billboard. FAR LEFT: Bill Freehan’s grandson, Blaise Salter, prepares to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Leprechauns’ July 22 game.
LAWRENCE TECH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE INCLUDES PROMOTIONS FOR EVERY HOME GAME
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
SOUTHFIELD — Lawrence Technological University in Southfield recently released the school’s 2025 football schedule.
The university will host five home games for its team this fall, and along with a hopeful season on the field, the program will also host a multitude of promotions.
Lawrence Tech’s season will kick off at 7 p.m. Sept 6 against Indiana’s Marian University. Not only will there be excitement surrounding the team under the lights, but it will also be Faculty Appreciation Day.
The second home game of the season will take place at 1 p.m. Sept. 13 against Indiana’s Saint Francis University and will also celebrate Community Day.
Lawrence Tech’s homecoming will be at 3 p.m. Sept. 27 against Saint Xavier University, the team’s Cancer Awareness Game will be on Oct. 25 against Taylor University, and the season will wrap up with Senior & Alumni Day on Nov. 15 against Defiance College.
The school is also offering season tickets for the first time,and is already seeing fans in the community signing up to see the school play this year. For more information on the Lawrence Tech football season, visit www.ltuathletics.com.
The Lawrence Tech football team runs onto the field before kickoff last season.
Photo provided by Blake Schalm
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
Dream Cruise
from page 1A
Page said that the way the cruise brings people together and provides classic car lovers a chance to show off their babies is the reason why it has lasted for 30 years, and continues to be a staple in the metro Detroit area.
“You see people my age playing like kids with their fixed-up cars. I really enjoy the atmosphere and the excitement that the people have, and enjoy watching the cars. I’m not one of the people who goes out to Woodward and sits in a lawn chair, but I do enjoy seeing the cars, and seeing the people so enamored with their vehicles and how well they take care of them,” Page said. “They look forward to this event all year long, so they can bring their cars out and show them off.”
The Dream Cruise brings nearly a million visitors a year, according to the Woodward Dream Cruise website, woodward dreamcruise.com.
Because of the large attendance, Chief Michael Moore, of the Royal Oak Police
Freehan
from page 3A
this home run that Bill Freehan hit as a kid. … There were a lot of people that were definitely excited.”
The Leprechauns, who play in the Northwoods League, a summer league for college baseball players, had a huge turnout for the July 22 game and had Freehan’s grandson, Blaise Salter, throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the game.
“We want to be more ingrained into the city and the fabric of things. We want to be that team,” Leprechauns Director of Media & Public Relations Mark Stowers said. “Be a successful team and have a lot of people come out and have a lot of fun.”
Events like this help solidify the relationship between the team and the community. The Leprechauns are having a good season on the field and continue to host fun events.
Despite the fact that the story of Freehan’s home run has been told across multiple
Department, said it’s important to know the rules and stay vigilant during and after the event.
“For us, the No. 1 thing is, it’s an alcohol-free event. We have zero tolerance for any alcohol consumption at the event. So that goes, obviously, for anybody that’s driving in the cruise, but spectators as well,” Moore said. “Another thing is we are on the lookout for dangerous driving. We want people to enjoy the cruise, but we want to encourage people to drive in a safe manner. So, we are going to be out enforcing any dangerous driving that we do observe.”
Moore continued to say that people need to be aware of the increase in traffic and pedestrians near the roadways during the duration of the cruise.
He also wanted to remind spectators that the median of Woodward is for law enforcement only; no spectators are allowed to sit on the median during the weekend.
The Woodward Dream Cruise is a free event to both cruise and watch. Those who are not driving a classic car are being asked to stay out of the two right lanes nearest to the curb. For more information visit woodward dreamcruise.com.
generations, some people didn’t believe it. Although Freehan wasn’t one to boast about the story, Freehan’s son-in-law, John Salter, said Freehan told him it was real. The Leprechauns wanted to help make this more than an urban legend.
“We wanted to do something so that this legend would actually become a fact,” Stowers said. “That’s a big thing and that generation that’s leaving us, so we wanted to honor that and keep that story out there, and keep that fact alive.”
The event was a great opportunity to celebrate one of Royal Oak’s most famous and talented baseball players, while also getting people out to Memorial Park to cheer on the next generation of athletes.
“I think there was just an overwhelming sense of hometown pride, and one of our own made it really big,” Davids said. “And we’re not going to let people forget about (Freehan).”
The Leprechauns final regular season home game was on Aug. 5, after press time, and the regular season will end on Aug. 9. Royal Oak is pushing for a playoff spot in the final week of play.
CANDGNEWS.COM
CruiseFest
from the Tri-Community Coalition.
The CruiseFest has been running as long as the Dream Cruise, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. McMinn said nothing surprises him in terms of the kinds of cars he sees drive in the parade, but this is the Motor City, so anything can show up.
“I don’t think I’m ever super surprised by anything, because people love their cars here and the classic car owners … they look at their cars in a very special way,” he said. “The variety of cars is always up there and it’s always nice to see a little bit of everything. So it’s just a good time if you’re a car enthusiast.”
Berkley resident Lance Harrison will be bringing his 1965 Morgan Plus 4 Drophead Super Sport to the parade this year.
The Morgan has been in Harrison’s family since 1969, and he’s been its owner for the last 20 years. The car brand has a long connection to Harrison’s family, dating back to his father.
“My dad raced Morgans when he was younger,” he said. “He had four or five dif-
ferent ones and he came across this one. And this is just a very rare model.”
“The car meant a lot to my dad,” he continued. “It means a lot to me. Like I said, it’s a pretty rare version of the car. I think there’s maybe as far as that year, I think there’s three of them in existence at this point.”
Harrison said he’s brought the Morgan to most of the CrusieFest parades, where he does notice it gets a good amount of attention.
“It’s a really unique-looking car,” he said. “It’s yellow with black fenders, but it kind of looks like something out of ‘The Great Gatsby’ or something. It’s got swooping fenders and real sleek body lines.”
Harrison said he doesn’t take the car on the road too often, but he does bring it out in the lead up to the Dream Cruise.
“I don’t really go out on Woodward during the Dream Cruise too much, because it’s kind of crazy. If I do, it’s a short jaunt. I’ll take the back roads up to Catalpa and just come down to 11 Mile,” he said. “(CruiseFest is) a great way for somebody to see a lot of cars without 1,500 mini vans mixed in with them. … The CruiseFest process is put together fairly well. They do a good job of hosting it.”
Modern additions fire up Chevrolet Fleetmaster Coupe’s vintage ride
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — David Watson wanted to buy a classic car that represented the year of his birth: 1947.
The St. Clair Shores resident looked around but didn’t find one made that year. He got as close as he could, though, by purchasing a striking 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Coupe. He bought the car in 2004.
While the white vintage vehicle — with the decorative purple and blue flames — is 77 years old, Watson had it modernized over the years at local shops.
“When I got it, it was all white. I had the flames painted on it,” he said. “I put the rims on it.”
If you look under the hood, you’ll see the motor of a 1991 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z.
“It’s just a modern engine. It’s fuel-injected,” Watson said. “It has a digital dash, power steering, power brakes, power windows, and a custom interior. It’s an automatic. All the shiny parts are stainless steel.”
Other updates were completed to keep the car running smoothly. The transmission was rebuilt, air conditioning was added, and there also is a power antenna and a power trunk.
See COUPE on page 7A
ABOVE: David Watson, of St. Clair Shores, had the purple and blue flames added to his white 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Coupe.
LEFT: Watson’s favorite place to take the retro vehicle is Eddie’s Drive-In in Harrison Township. He’s even wearing an Eddie’s Drive-In T-shirt in this photo.
TOP RIGHT: The coupe has the motor of a 1991 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z.
BOTTOM RIGHT: The interior was custom-made. Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
So he could play music, an AM/FM radio and a compact disc player were installed. And “breaker one nine,” the car has a citizens band radio that works, although Watson doesn’t use it.
The ’48 model does not have any door handles but rather shaved doors. The shaved doors were a popular trend that gave cars a smooth look.
Perhaps you’ve come across the car around town. One spot Watson likes to take the coupe on a regular basis to is Eddie’s Drive-In in Harrison Township, which has a classic car show from 4 to 8 p.m. every Sunday during the warmer months.
“That’s my favorite place to go,” Watson said.
Watson sometimes shows up to the weekly car shows from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores, and to the Friday night car shows from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Walter F. Bruce Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1146, also in St Clair Shores. He made it to the Eastpointe Crusin’ Gratiot car show June 14 at Eastpointe High School.
“There’s somewhere to go every day,” the car buff said. “People wave and they give you a thumbs-up.”
He also comes across people whose dads or grandpas once owned a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Coupe, which generally sparks conversations. Watson’s car gets around, as it was featured in the background of a commentary video for the 2008 Clint Eastwood film “Gran Torino.” Watson used to go to Kalamazoo for the Street Rod Nationals, which he said was great for meeting other car enthusiasts.
“The newest car that could get in was a ’48,” Watson said. “Anywhere from 1925 up to ’48.”
Watson has always been into cars.
“When I was 15 years old, I started working on cars. I would go to people’s houses. The first car I ever worked on was a 1953 Buick convertible. A straight-A car, three speeds on the column,” he said. “My neighbor gave it to me. He said, ‘Here, it doesn’t run. You can have it.’ At that time, there was nowhere to donate them. You just took it to the junkyard. This was in ’62.”
Watson found a Buick book and discovered it was the coil causing problems for the convertible.
“I put a coil on it and I gave it back to him,” said Watson, who found a new pastime fixing cars in the neighborhood. “I got really busy. I couldn’t do it anymore. Too many cars at the house.”
At age 21, while working for Chrysler, Watson bought his first car, a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Price tag: $2,850.
“It was a ’69, but I bought it in December of ’68. We were making, I think, $3.40 an hour,” Watson said. “The car payment was $100 a month, but I paid $1,000 a year for insurance in 1969, which was a lot of money then; it’s a lot of money now. The first year, I put 30,000 miles on that car. I just went everywhere. My mother would pull her hair out because at the time there were no cellphones and no way to track you.”
As a young adult, Watson cruised Woodward Avenue. Maverick’s Drive-In, Big Boy and the Totem Pole on Woodward were regular hangouts.
“You would go and mingle,” he said. “You could cruise then and people would pull over and stop. You could talk to them.”
The Road Runner was like a second home.
“I slept in the car out on Woodward more than I slept in my house. You get tired, too far to drive,” Watson said. “I had police wake me up, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ I’m in the back sleeping.”
Touting the delights of Holland Feature Series
BY GREG TASKER
HOLLAND, MI — There’s no shortage of sandy shores or charming beach towns along the Lake Michigan coastline.
Ask any avid Michigan beach goer to share their favorite sunbathing spot or lakeside town and they’ll likely have a favorite or two.
Lately, I’ve been touting the delights of Holland, a spiffy, handsome community more famous for its colorful tulips and Dutch heritage than its beaches and resort amenities. At least that’s what I thought.
Imagine my surprise late last summer when I ventured beyond the Lake Michigan beaches to explore downtown Holland and discovered much more than a beach town. Holland’s tree- and flower-lined streets are home to upscale shops, al fresco dining, public art and much more.
Holland’s vibe may be a bit more sophisticated than that of other beach communities along Lake Michigan, but it’s no less welcoming.
You could spend long afternoons apres-beach browsing Holland’s nine-block downtown, where you’ll find everything from men’s and women’s clothing to home accents and gifts to Dutch souvenirs. Beach towels and chairs, and T-shirts — staples of any beach town — are less prominent here.
Maybe that’s because Holland’s beaches are a short drive away. The city doesn’t sit on the shores of Lake Michigan but on the shores of Lake Macatawa. Neighborhoods border the 1,700-acre inland lake, which connects to the great lake by a channel.
Downtown Holland impressed me for many reasons: the mix of architecture styles from the late 19th and early 20th century, including examples of Italianate, Late Victorian and Renaissance Revival; a vibrant, walkable downtown and the one-of-a-kind retailers who add to the sense of being somewhere beyond Michigan.
This is not a beach town that rolls up the sidewalks in the off season. In the winter, an underground heating
Once I get the right diagnosis for the cause of your heel pain, I will provide you with a tailored treatment plan, which outlines exactly how we can fix your heel pain and keep you free from future foot pain. If you are ready, call me for an appointment to start your journey back to normal life, free from heel pain.
See HOLLAND on page 9A
ABOVE: New Holland Brewing Co. is a popular downtown spot to check out beer and dining selections. TOP LEFT: For more than a century, Fabiano’s Candies has been selling homemade chocolates, fresh roasted nuts and nostalgic candy. TOP RIGHT: Located in beautiful and historic downtown Holland, the Holland Farmers Market is open to the public 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Photos by Greg Tasker
system — known as Snowmelt — melts the snow and ice on downtown streets and sidewalks. It’s the largest municipally run snowmelt system in North America.
Downtown shopping
Stores like the Holland Clock Company and Nelis’ Dutch Village add European charm. The Holland Clock Company sells handcrafted German clocks, beer steins, nutcrackers, and ornaments. Nelis’ Dutch Village offers a huge selection of Dutch gifts, Delftware, souvenirs, imported foods and snacks, and, yes, wooden shoes. You can also sample some 20 Dutch cheeses and have your wooden shoes personalized. The aisles at Out of the Box are lined with toys, puzzles, board games and more.
There are, of course, familiar resort town shops, peddling iconic Michigan summer staples. They include Cherry Republic for all things cherry, and Kilwins for chocolate, fudge and ice cream. They share the streets with locally based food purveyors like Crane’s in the City, well-known regionally for its various fruit pies. The family-owned shop on Eigth Street also sells sandwiches,
salads and other desserts. The Holland Peanut Store, run by the same family — the Fabianos — for more than a century, is a sweet treat for all ages, selling homemade chocolates, fresh roasted nuts and nostalgic candy.
Restaurant scene
Holland’s restaurant scene is diverse, with many eateries offering alfresco dining along the city’s main downtown thoroughfare. You’ll find everything from traditional American and pub fare to deep dish Chicago pizza to Asian and Mexican offerings.
I especially enjoyed the tapas at Poquito. The star of the meal was the 36-hour braised beef short ribs served with crispy brussels sprouts; tangy Rioja jus enhanced the flavor of beef so tender it fell apart.
One lazy afternoon, I popped into New Holland Brewing Co., a downtown staple, to check out the beer selection. Full Circle, a Kolsch-style ale, one the craft brewer’s legacy brands, quenched my thirst after a long day on the beach.
No visit here would not be complete without sampling Dutch-influenced fare. For traditional tastes, try a klompen cake (a buttermilk pancake-like treat) or saucijzenbroodjes (Dutch sausage rolls) at the two locations of deBoer’s Bakkerij (bakery).
Breakfast was so filling, I never made it back to sample other “Dutch Stuff” on the lunch menu. “A Taste of the Old Country,” a combination of a croquette, a pig in a blanket, a cup of pea soup and a slice of Dutch mild gouda cheese — sounded tempting.
Dutch heritage
In the spring, Holland transforms into a floral paradise, as more than 5 million tulips bloom in the gardens and parks, celebrating its Dutch heritage. One of the best venues to enjoy the tulips is Windmill Island Gardens. By summertime, of course, the tulips are long gone but the gardens remain well worth a visit. The gardens are replanted with annuals after tulip time. You’ll see dozens of varieties in themed beds. The well-manicured gardens are also home to Tour De Zwaan, the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the country. The windmill still turns and grinds wheat into flour. From the top of the five-story windmill, you can take in views of the 36-acre park.
Stop at De Klomp Wooden Shoe & Delft Factory to buy a pair of traditional wooden shoes or Delftware pottery with its distinctive blue designs.
The beaches
And then there’s the beaches, which
drew me to Holland in the first place. The primary beaches are Holland State Park and Tunnel Park, both on Lake Michigan and a short drive from downtown. There are other beaches, of course, but either of these is a solid choice for a summer day of sunshine, sand and water activities.
Tunnel Park is located north of the state park and is named after a tunnel that cuts through a dune to reach the expansive, sandy shoreline. The park also has a playground, a dune climb and a dune stairway that leads to scenic views of Lake Michigan.
The 142-acre Holland State Park boasts beaches on both Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa. Kayak, canoe, and standup paddleboard rentals are available at the Macatawa Boathouse. At the park pavilion, Beachplace Cafe and Shop rents chairs, umbrellas, beach wagons and volleyballs. The cafe serves standard beach fare — burgers, fries and more, and the gift shop stocks sunscreens, inflatable beach toys, snorkels and masks.
Downtown Holland may create the sense of being worlds away, but the beaches — especially Holland State Park with its views of the iconic Red Lighthouse — will remind you of exactly where you are.
Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer.
Michigan Family Physician Diagnosed with Late-Stage Cancer After Experiencing is One Symptom
(South eld, MI) It’s a terrifying reality: a life-threatening illness could be silently developing inside your body, completely undetected by routine check-ups. By the time symptoms appear, especially cancer, the disease is often advanced, limiting treatment options.
LATE DETECTION
is agonizing truth was personally experienced by Dr. Warren Ringold, a respected family physician and the visionary behind Bionicc Body Screening. He shockingly discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs, only after experiencing shortness of breath. His brutal treatments and subsequent brain tumor recurrence ignited a profound mission: there had to be a better way to nd serious conditions before they became critical.
FULL BODY MRI SCANS
Dr. Ringold founded Bionicc Body Screening in 2022, establishing Michigan’s rst MRI full body screening center. His purpose was to empower individuals with groundbreaking insights into their health through advanced body screening
technologies. Today, his son, Ryan, passionately carries on this mission and understands the urgency: “We all know someone who awoke with an unexplained symptom and discovered they had stage four cancer. Once you have symptoms, cancer is usually advanced,” he states. “My father never wanted another person to su er from late detection. He wanted to save lives.”
71% OF TUMORS GROW UNDETECTED
While annual physicals are important, they have critical limitations. Standard screenings only detect about 29% of cancers, leaving a staggering 71% to potentially develop undetected in other areas of your body. Bionicc Body Screening o ers a comprehensive solution. Proactive full-body MRI screenings provide an unparalleled picture of your
internal health, going beyond traditional checkups. State-of-the-art MRI technology can detect tumors as small as a pea, along with aneurysms, stroke risk, and hundreds of other conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. ese comprehensive scans image your head through the pelvis. MRI scans are safe, noninvasive, and emit absolutely no radiation. And, crucially, they are available without a doctor’s referral.
A LIFE SAVED
Mark B. was initially skeptical, but his proactive screening revealed a 3 cm lung mass that tested positive for cancer. He credits the scan for saving his life after three-fourths of his lung was removed. e fee for a full body MRI is an investment in your health and wellbeing, but the true cost of delaying could be far greater. Schedule your scan today.
TIME OFFER Visit BioniccBodyScreening.com to download a free Welcome Information Kit and $200 savings o er.
Ridgedale Players to present ‘Spring Awakening’
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
TROY — The theater group Ridgedale Players has announced its next play.
The rock and folk musical “Spring Awakening” will be performed Aug. 15-17 at 205 W. Long Lake Road. Showtimes are 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors.
Featuring music by Duncan Sheik, and a script and lyrics by Steven Sater, the show is based on the play of the same name by Frank Wedekind. It’s a coming-of-age story focused on a group of teenagers in Germany during the 19th century as they come to terms with their sexuality and identity during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
The mature tale also explores the roles that parents and other adults can play — for better or for worse — in guiding teens through this phase of life.
“The adults don’t help, and multiple kids don’t survive,” said Lauren Neuwirth, the play’s director at the Ridgedale Players. “It’s pretty heavy and still poignant. There are systemic issues and the cycle of abuse, but there’s a message of finding the love you have with your fellow people.”
The plot unfolds from the perspective of different children but mainly focuses on the characters of Melchoir Gabor, Moritz Stiefel and Wendla Bergmann as they grow and
Photo by Liz Carnegie
try to survive in a society that doesn’t always support them.
“There are themes of suicide, child abuse, sexual content, trauma,” Neuwirth said. “(These themes are) really important … and people should do their homework before the show.”
Melchior is played by Lliam Hamilton-Kraft. The character is described as a researcher whose experiments are a
form of rebellion against a repressive society. This is Hamilton-Kraft’s first show with the Ridgedale Players.
“I hope people are persuaded that learning is not wrong and feelings are not bad through this show,” Hamilton-Kraft said.
Moritz is played by Chase Williams. The character is a friend of Melchior’s and is very anxious, quiet and troubled. Williams has done other shows before with his high school, but this is his first time performing in community theater.
“I hope people walk out more openminded,” Williams said.
Wendla is played by Analisa Thomas. Wendla is a naive and trusting girl who is curious about the world around her and has an attraction towards Melchior. This is also Thomas’ first show with the Ridgedale Players.
“The show is very different from other Broadway shows, and I hope audiences will be having important conversations,” Thomas said.
The cast has been rehearsing the play since June.
“Rehearsal has been pretty smooth,” Neuwirth said. “We hit the ground running with music to start and we’re very lucky. The cast all came in great. They take notes, learn the dances, and develop and grow on the show’s foundation.”
“Everyone is excited,” Neuwirth added. “With locals, it’s a well-known show and a bold choice in a good way.”
For more information, visit ridgedaleplayers.com.
The Ridgedale Players have been rehearsing for their August musical, “Spring Awakening.”
