Parents of Lamphere High School students appreciate new speed radar but continue to push for stronger safety measures.
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ROCHESTER HILLS TOXIC CLEANUP
Thanks to a $75 million grant, the city is working on a revival effort for nearly 680 acres of contaminated land. p18
WHERE SMALL BUSINESS IS BIG
Local merchants in Rochester get by with a lot of help from organizations whose mission is to champion.
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Zekelman Holocaust Center
Exhibits focus on survivors as unique human beings
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WELCOME TO THE NEXT
In a world loud with problems, this team of enterprising journalists made it their mission to listen for the people fixing them – the innovators, the risk-takers and the everyday heroes who are building better communities – one solution at a time.
TheNext was built by students in the Solutions Journalism capstone course at in the Journalism and Media Studies program at Oakland University. The immersive, writing-intensive course is designed for those who are tired of doomscrolling and ready to look beyond what is broken – for stories like the next ways to clean up toxic waste, the next ideas for championing local merchants and the next path to moving immigrants through an academic experience that works. These stories come from our backyard. They are about neighbors, teachers and public servants who are turning problems into progress.
Students in this course are acolytes of the Solutions Journalism Network – a global movement embracing a shift in journalism that focuses on rigorous reporting about how people are trying to solve problems and what we can learn from their successes and failures.
Learn more about Cal Terry, CeCe Stevens, Chelsea Bossert, Tony Varchetti, Ryan Craig, Madison Janabet, Adrian Jimenez Morales and Brenda Vataj on page 28.
– Holly Shreve Gilbert JMS 4120 Instructor and Solutions Coordinator
New speed radar
Lamphere High School safety fix may need some extra-curricular support
From isolation to inclusion
Pontiac High School builds a new model for Hispanic student success
Personal history
Holocaust Center renovation puts survivor stories at the forefront
Local love and live sales
The City of Rochester has a unique blueprint for helping small businesses thrive
Clearing the air (and the land)
Rochester Hills fights back against toxic past with a $75 million cleanup grant
Battling hunger
One meal at a time, Flint’s North End Soup kitchen serves to alleviate food insecurity
Youth groups and mental health
Local youth groups are helping teens fight mental health struggles by fostering community fellowship
Saving lives
The Alliance’s SAVE-A-LIFE station initiative in Oakland County is reducing overdose fatalities.
Cover photo courtesy the Zekelman Holocaust Center
Special thanks to Richard Rose, whose generosity and vision made TheNext possible.
SLOW THE RACE FOR A SAFER FUTURE
Speed radar signage near Lamphere High School improved traffic safety but officials and residents call for more solutions
Story and photos by CAL TERRY
Photo illustration by Mads Eneqvist on unUnsplash
Parents of students at Lamphere High School in Madison Heights have long been concerned about traffic safety issues, according to Rodney Thomas, the school’s principal.
To address these concerns, the State Department of Public Services installed a speed radar sign near the school on 13 Mile Road last November. While the impact of the sign hasn’t stopped speeding transgressions completely, it has made a difference.
“When we heard we were adding a speed radar, I said ‘in the 22 years I’ve been a law enforcement officer, you’re telling we’re now just adding one?’” said Madison Heights Police Chief Brent LeMerise. The chief said that speed radars were installed in residential areas where schools are located.
“It wasn’t just Madison Heights parents raising issues,” LeMerise said. “It was the fact that everywhere in Michigan had the same problem. The bigger issue is the fact that these weren’t set up beforehand. But now that they are, we’re seeing a difference in controlling traffic.”
A daily risk for students on 13 Mile
To better understand the importance of the addition of this speed radar, the Madison Heights Police Department conducted a traffic study using data collected from speed radar devices in place. During the first two weeks of adding the Lamphere radar the officers recorded 65% of vehicles exceeding the posted 25 mph school zone limit, with a majority of the drivers
reaching speeds of 40 mph or more. During the morning, in which many students and family travel to Lamphere, an average of 200 vehicles was shown to have passed through the area.
“You know, the percentage a few months ago was over 70%. You’d think that’s a small improvement but consider how many cars drive on this street daily.” LeMerise said. “Any percent lower than the one from yesterday is an improvement.”
The police gather this data using the radar sign’s built-in tracking system, which logs vehicle speeds without issuing citations. The information is stored and analyzed to detect trends of speeding behavior. This allows officers to see displaying time-stamped records of vehicle speeds, wanting to help with any community concerns.
People will be people
While community service officials acknowledge that the sign is helpful, some parents of the students who attend the schools feel that additional measures such as flashing lights, speed bumps, or the presence of the police, whose station happens to be on the same street as the school, would add to the benefits.
“The radar sign was a big step forward, but without actual help from our friends in blue, the sign’s only useful when people choose to follow it,” said Laurie Geralds, a longtime resident of Madison Heights who is deeply involved in community service and volunteering. “The last thing I need to hear about is my niece getting into an
accident with these speeders. It’s not a people will be people case when lives are on the line.”
Speed radar utility
Speed radar signs are signs along the road that are used to detect a car’s speed and display it on a digital screen. This screen will either flash or change colors if the driver is exceeding the limit. This is an idea to control driver’s habits of speeding through zones in spaces where multitudes of people cross.
Often placed in areas with high foot traffic or near schools and residential zones, the signs are part of a strategy to address speeding, a problem in urban areas nationwide. By offering immediate feedback, which happens to be the numbers that list your current speed, they encourage safer
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The radar sign was a big step forward, but without actual help from our friends in blue, the sign’s only useful when people choose to follow it.”
– Laurie Geralds Madison Heights resident
Speed radar in front of Lamphere High School
Speed radar signs are electronic displays that detect and show a vehicle’s speed in real time.
How is data collected?
Radar Technology: The sign emits radio waves that bounce off passing vehicles, calculating their speed.
Data logging: Many radar signs store speed data, which can be used for traffic studies and enforcement decisions.
Time-stamped records: Some models record the date and time of each speeding event, helping officials track trends.
Do speed radar signs reduce speeding?
Immediate Effect: Drivers may slow down when noticing the flashing numbers telling them to slow down.
Long term Impact: The amount of people that ignore speed radars increase over time.
Limits – Radar signs do not issue tickets, allowing people to get away with these misgivings of breaking the speed limit.
No roundabouts?
Roundabouts slow traffic with their weird road placement, reducing the need for speed monitors. High risk roundabouts use red-light cameras or speed cameras instead.
Radar signs work best on straight roads where speeding is more common.
– Cal Terry
SLOWING THE ROLL
Slow down radar: A speed monitor at the entrance to downtown Auburn Hills alerts drivers as they approach the busy area
FROM PAGE 5
driving habits without the need for constant police presence.
While this does urge drivers to slow down on their own, without actual enforcement, the effectiveness of these signs is mixed.
“It’s a crying shame people often drive through these signs, not worrying about any of the kids nearby,” said LeMerise. “While some drivers adjust their speed momentarily, others ignore the signs completely.
Some ignore
While speed radar signs are common in school zones and areas such as Auburn Hills’ downtown district, they are notably absent in roundabouts.
Roundabouts are designed to slow down vehicles naturally, allowing drivers to wait for people to take the round turn around towards their exit. It’s
road design without the need for any active monitoring, since vehicles are not made to conduct turns at such high speeds.
“If you look at downtown areas, radar signs work well because they provide immediate feedback in straight-line traffic,” LeMerise explains. “In roundabouts, it’s a different kind of speed control. One that relies more on the road and the cars around you.”
Is the speed radar enough?
The speed radar on 13 Mile Road may help to reduce the speed at which traffic flows, but is it doing enough to keep students safe? The data presented by the Madison Heights Police Department suggest that speeding will and perhaps always be a widespread issue, with constant complaints of people having to report their near-miss collisions. Without enforcement,
some still have issues with the sign, seeing it as a display rather than a tool to aid.
The State Department of Public Services talked to the Madison Heights Police Department and City Hall members, reviewing potential upgrades to school zone safety, which could include:
Flashing lights on speed limit signs to increase invisibility during the morning and nighttime hours.
Speed bumps to physically force drivers to slow down.
More frequent police patrols during peak school hours such as the hours between 12-6 pm.
For now, the city is relying on drivers to make the right choice when they see the radar sign flash their speed. But for Principal Rodney Thomas, more needs to be done.
“I don’t want to wait until one of my students gets hits before we take stronger action,” he says.
HISPANIC SUPPORT TRANSLATES TO STABLE GRAD RATES
Even when needs outpace planning, eight bilingual tutors contribute to academic success for students at
In the last three years, Pon-
tiac High School’s Hispanic population grew from 49% to almost 70%, outpacing the school’s English Language Development (ELD) resources. Nonetheless, holistic academic approaches and community partnerships ensured that the entire Hispanic class of 2024 graduated. In 2025, the challenge is still up.
“We get new students into May, they just continue to come,” PHS Principal, Teni Clark-Franklin said. “We have more Spanish-speaking students than we have monolingual English-speaking students.”
students just call them by their first name. Miss Brenda, as the students call her, highlights this as a sign of respect and fondness.
“We are mentors, that is our flag, that’s what we are for the kids,” Brenda Guadarrama, a PHS bilingual paraprofessional said after two years of teaching math to Hispanic students. “Imagine arriving at a place where you don’t speak the language, but seeing people like you who can speak it, that could learn it, who are in school — it’s inspiring.”
classes.
“We are at the cusp of trying to educate the whole spectrum,” Clark-Franklin said. Translating written content, hiring bilingual staff, and continuously collaborating with community partners are a few strategies to achieve that goal — Paraprofessionals are the key.
Understanding students’ stories
JIMENEZ MORALES
With 27 years of experience in the City of Pontiac School District, Clark-Franklin quickly realized the need to accommodate the new majority of teens who couldn’t communicate in the classrooms. She characterized her strategy as “all hands on deck,” collaborating with the school district, teachers, parents, community members and most importantly, students.
Eight bilingual tutors for 300 students
Legally, they are bilingual paraprofessionals, at the district level they are tutors, but the Spanish-speaking
In the classrooms, Guadarrama helps Spanish monolinguistic teens pass pre-calculus, geometry and algebra. She focuses on ensuring that students digest the class content while also practicing their English skills.
Integrating paraprofessionals
Educators use the WIDA, the World-Class Instructional Design & Assessment, to test all immigrant students and check if they qualify for language assistance. Scores are divided into six levels, with the first two requiring classroom assistance, while levels three and four are developing students who benefit from English as a Second Language
Clark-Franklin recalls that on a survey three years ago, many of the Hispanic parents in the community said they didn’t feel welcomed at PHS. Encouraging phrases in Spanish have decorated all the hallways but Clark-Franklin recognized that was a mere band-aid in the wounds some of the families were carrying.
“When you’re talking to the students and they explain their travel to get here, we realized that we had to put some things in place to help students deal and process the trauma they have gone through,” Clark-Franklin said.
La Casa Amiga, a local nonprofit, organized workshops for students and their families to access mental health resources with continuity. PHS also hired a full-time bilingual counselor with a
background in mental health to help students and their families daily.
“The counselor helped bridge school and home because now we have someone that can speak to parents in their native language,” Clark-Franklin said, emphasizing the counselor’s key role in ensuring attendance.
“A small percentage of students did not come to the United States to go to school, they came to work,” Clark-Franklin explained.
“So trying to convey that ‘no, you can’t do what you came to do, because you got to do these laws’ is hard, so they’re not engaged. They don’t want to participate, they have poor attendance, they find any excuse not to go.”
Sonia Nieske, ELD coordinator and teacher with 20 years of experience at PHS, works closely with the bilingual counselor, paraprofessionals and students to better understand the families’ needs.
“The fact that [bilingual paraprofessionals] are coming full-time is really good because we can cover a lot of different things,” Nieske said. “We are able to cover classes, to keep in touch with the families and see what the problems are, what the needs are. Could be transportation,
could be backpacks, etc ...”
Attendance and WIDA test-taking metrics show the work in progress of these collective efforts. Students still need mentors to pursue educa tion after high school
Nieske’s team works yearround to ensure monolingual Hispanic students can attend classes and focus on learning instead of surviving. Both she and Clark-Franklin recognize that even though graduation rates have flipped from 57% to 75%, they recognize they aren’t where they want to be yet.
Nieske is working on in creasing her bilingual parapro fessional team with part-time positions, while Clark-Frank lin advocates for a heritage class in which Hispanic students can read and write in their native languages about their cultural role models.
“The need that I see is to bring more opportunities for these kids to go out and see what’s out there for them,” Nieske said, kicking off spring break with a post-secondary education presentation and a cultural event for her ESL students.
“As long as they feel wel comed, that’s all you need to start, “ Nieske said.
“I used to have a sign that said ‘a smile doesn’t have any language,’ all they need to begin is a smile.”
The tutoring team works yearround to ensure monolingual Hispanic students can attend classes and focus on learning instead of survival.
NOT TRANSLATING
Guadarrama clarifies that her job is not to translate geometry lectures or precalculus assignments although she gladly helps with that her job is to teach students math.
MORE THAN JUST TRANSLATING GUADARRAMA
“When they hired me, the ESL director was looking for someone who had a background in mathematics, to help students,” Guadarrama recalls. “He asked for a translator who knew math and I told him ‘I won’t translate, I’ll make sure the students learn math ’”
BLACKERBY
Shannon Blackerby, a geometry teacher with whom Guadarrama works closely, echoes the intentional teaching approach. “I believe in education for everyone, I’m not going to dumb it down [for Spanish-speaking students],” Blackerby says “My job is to teach math and perseverance ”
DEFINING MOMENT
The paraprofessional recalls helping a student who struggled with math because he wasn’t taught the basics of negative numbers to understand algebra She worked with the student throughout the school year until he changed his apathy for math class into a passion for numbers
PRESERVING HISTORY
The Zekelman Holocaust Center changes the narrative
by CECE STEVENS
Story and photos
As the remaining Holocaust survivor numbers dwindle, the question becomes: will their legacy live on? For survivors who settled in Michigan, the Zekelman Holocaust Center (HC) ensures that the lessons of history and survivor testimony stand the test of time.
The HC underwent a substantial six-month renovation in 2023. “[The] renovation aligned with our current teaching of pedagogy with a focus on survivor stories as a means to increase visitor opportunity to relate to stories of real people in an emotional way,” says Gabriella Burman, director of marketing and communications.
Their previous timeline exhibit showcased artifacts and a snippet of a quote by Russian author Leo Tolstoy; their new timeline exhibit greets visitors with a multimedia presentation on Judaism, the Jewish experience, and oral accounts from Holocaust survivors.
Updating the narrative of the Holocaust for a new generation was a driving force behind this renovation. “We don’t want you to simply memorize facts; we want you to hear stories,” Burman said.
Providing survivor testimony allows visitors to empathize with each individual as a unique human being and not a statistic.
Holocaust survivor David Bergman, “was brought over by relatives who were living in New York,” said Burman “He stayed with them for a little while but was then placed in an orphanage in Cleveland. He moved to Michigan as an adult.”
His story is one of many
Michigan-based Holocaust survivor stories you can listen to at the museum.
His son, Rabbi Aaron Bergman says “he [his father] was very committed to the legacy of never again, that was his whole life.”
Since the 2016 – 2017 school year Michigan has required education on “but not limited to the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide.”
“The board of a school district or charter school must ensure that its social studies curriculum for grades 8 to 12 includes a combined six hours of age – and grade – appropriate instruction,” The Public Act 170 of 2016 reads.
In 2020 Echoes & Reflections conducted a survey where they polled “1,500 post-secondary students enrolled in four-year colleges and universities in the United States.”
The point of the survey was “to explore the relationship between Holocaust education in high school (in all forms, not exclusively Echoes & Reflections resources) and subsequent student attitudes and behaviors on US college campuses.”
The results demonstrate two things, first “that positive outcomes of Holocaust education not only reflect gains in historical knowledge but also manifest in cultivating more empathetic, tolerant, and engaged students more generally.” Second, “exposure to Holocaust survivor testimony as an element of respondents’ Holocaust education is strongly associated with numerous positive outcomes in early adulthood.”
ON
Nazis utilized mass media to indoctrinate the German population with antismetic and racial hygiene concepts as explained in this HC exhibit
“We don’t want you to simply memorize facts; we want you to hear stories.”
– Gabriella Burman Director of Marketing and Communications Zekelman Holocaust Center
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM EDUCATES THROUGH SURVIVOR TESTIMONY
FROM PAGE 11
Additionally, the Echoes & Reflection survey found that “students with Holocaust education report having greater knowledge about the Holocaust than their peers and understand its value.”
The survey also found that Holocaust education increases likelihood of recognizing antisemitism (27% more likely), standing up against discrimination (20% more likely), and preventing similar events (21% more likely).
Moreover, “students who learned about the Holocaust through survivor testimony show higher critical thinking skills and greater sense of social responsibility and civic efficacy.” Lastly, “the use of video or in-person testimonies of survivors recounting their lives and accounts of their experiences during the Holocaust— stood out as having the most significant positive impact on students.”
The HC’s target audience are middle school and high schoolers, so the demonstrated results further support their decision to place survivor stories at the forefront.
“We frequently receive letters from teachers and students attesting to the impact of their visit. Overwhelmingly, visitors report that they feel empowered by their learning and will take action to create a kinder world,” Burman says.
Anthropologist Catherine M. Cameron and John B. Gatewood conducted research
This HC exhibit underscores the importance of standing up to injustice
that indicated “visitors at today’s sites no longer come with much or, sometimes, with any historical knowledge.”
Some may view this as a deterrent. Director of Education Katie Chaka Parks is not among them.
“Quite frankly, I don’t need people to have a PhD in Holocaust history when they walk through our museum. I need them to walk out caring about the people that it happened to and caring about potentially stopping antisemitism today as a result,” Parks says.
One of the many visitors to the HC is Ms. Garrett. She visited the museum with her daughter who is currently receiving her mandated Holocaust education.
“It’s been 28 years since I last visited the HC.” While a fan of the new exhibit, she describes her most recent visit as “harrowing due to the current United States political
climate.”
While survivor testimony is invaluable it is not without limitations. David Bergman’s testimony is different than survivor Erna Gorman’s as they each had a different experience with the Holocaust.
In his testimony, Bergman paints a vivid picture for his audience by describing what his family went through during the Holocaust. Which included his family being lured out of their home under false pretenses, having been informed that they needed to move to Hungary to work, and a document implying they could return home after the end of the war.
In her testimony Gorman shared her fears about antisemitism and its continued prevalence in society on July 12, 1989..
According to the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education it is important to note that “they [survivor testimony]
are first person accounts of individuals who experienced the Holocaust from a particular –often limited – vantage point.”
“Their accounts are based on traumatic events, usually experienced during childhood or adolescence, and are generally recounted as fragments or as series of anecdotes within a broad chronological framework,” the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education says.
Survivor testimony is not a substitute for the required historical context needed to understand the Holocaust. It is a way for people from different generations to empathize with each individual as a unique human being and not a statistic.
As Holocaust survivor Michael Weiss who settled in Michigan after fleeing to the United States says, “What happened to the Jews in the Holocaust never happened before. And we have to remember it.”
There was no nationwide opposition to antisemetic views, including in Michigan; a fact explored in this HC exhibit
Photo courtesy Zekelman Holocaust Center
FROM COFFEE TALKS TO HOLIDAY LIGHTS
CITY OF ROCHESTER BOOSTS SMALL MERCHANTS
Story by MADISON JANABET
Ever wonder what the best networking method is for business owners? Turns out the answer is speed dating. At least that’s what the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce has come to discover.
Every month, the Chamber hosts “Coffee Talk” where local business owners have the opportunity to connect and network. This event has become a staple for the Chamber, and became the segway into numerous community events.
Between the Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Rochester businesses are standing tall against the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the likes of large retail stores.
Small businesses are a vital component of today’s economy. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, small businesses account for 43.5% of America’s Gross Domestic Product.
While Oakland County is jam-packed with lively cities fueled by small businesses, one of the most recognizable is Rochester.
Founded in 1817, Rochester has quickly become a destination spot in Southeast Michigan. Home to more than 350 shops, restaurants, salons and professional services, the city offers something for everyone. With 85% of Rochester businesses being owned by independent merchants, the success of small businesses downtown is essential to not only city officials but residents in the city as well.
According to the Small Business Association of Michigan, the state is
Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce board meeting
continuing to track downward in terms of small business growth and vitality since the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizations including the Chamber of Commerce and DDA are dedicated to the success and longevity of local businesses.
These organizations not only work to combat the post pandemic effects, but also allow businesses to stay competitive against online retailers. In fact, commercial vacancies are at an all-time low downtown thanks to various events and networking opportunities provided by the Chamber and DDA.
The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that provides leadership and resources to its members to advance business development. Members of the Chamber consist of local business owners in the Rochester area, including both small businesses and nationally recognized corporations.
The Chamber hosts free events and networking opportunities for members to interact and learn from other entrepreneurs in the area. Along with the infamous “Coffee Talk”, events including “Biz & Brews” and “Midday Mix & Mingle” occur monthly to encourage business owners to be active in the community.
“Everybody has their own niche, what makes someone successful is getting their face out there,” said Nicol Condon, Chamber of Commerce membership engagement director.
Condon emphasized how vital these events are to keeping businesses on the map. Through the numerous monthly events held by the Chamber, business owners have the chance to learn, advertise and grow.
Chamber members are also given the opportunity to advertise in the weekly
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Aerial view of downtown Rochester Farmer’s Market, which runs each year from May through October
Photos courtesy of Rochester DDA and Chamber of Commerce
The Home Bakery Detroit Lions-themed 2024 Christmas display in downtown Rochester
LOCAL MERCHANTS GET BY WITH HELP FROM ‘FRIENDS’
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electronic newsletter sent to over 4,100 subscribers. Members can also utilize the Chamber’s social media pages.
With over 10,000 followers across Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, the Chamber will share advertisements and job postings on their social media pages for a small fee.
With these vast resources available, Condon urges business owners to put themselves out there. Business owners have the tendency to “work in their business, not on their business,” said Condon. In terms of development and longevity, it is crucial for business owners to capitalize on networking opportunities.
The Rochester Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was founded in 1982 and has been dedicated to enhancing the downtown district. The DDA is responsible for Rochester’s most popular events and festivals.
The DDA hosts over 25 events a year, most notably including the Rochester Farmers’ Market and the Big, Bright Light Show. These events are “economic development tools to bring visitors to town,” said Taylor Knuth, DDA marketing coordinator.
The main goal of the events is to bring people downtown. By increasing traffic, they are increasing awareness of small businesses.
The winter season, in particular, is critical to business revenue downtown. Featuring their most well-known event of the year: The Big, Bright Light Show.
Each year, businesses on the downtown strip line their storefronts with Christmas lights from top to bottom. The 1.5 million Christmas lights has led Rochester to become a winter destination in Michigan. An estimated 30% of yearly revenue for downtown businesses comes during the Christmas season, Knuth said.
In fact, commercial vacancies are at an
all time low of 2% to 3% due to the economical effects of The Big, Bright Light Show.
The extensive social media presence of the DDA is another resource available to businesses. With over 45,000 follows on Facebook, and nearly 20,000 on Instagram, social media has become a fantastic avenue for advertisement within the community.
“Social media is a great engine for us in terms of featuring businesses at different times,” said Jenna O’Dell, DDA events coordinator. The DDA utilizes their platforms to advertise the downtown businesses.
Business owners downtown have used the online exposure to their advantage. With most of the businesses having social media pages of their own, these engines have aided in increasing revenue. In particular, the use of live sales has been monumental for stores like Hello Fancy Boutique.
Knuth explained how owner Bridget Smith utilizes Instagram to promote and sell clothing through presenting new arrivals live and allowing customers to make purchases from the comfort of their home. While social media has proven beneficial for most, the new age technology seems out of touch for more seasoned business owners. O’Dell said that some of the older businesses are hesitant to join the online community. While these stores may not have their own social media pages, the DDA still utilizes their platforms to promote all downtown merchants.
The efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and DDA aid in keeping Rochester businesses on the map. As O’Dell said, “When one business has success, all of our businesses find success.”
More than 1.5 million lights illuminate the annual Big, Bright Light Show.
The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce and Rochester Downtown Development Authority host numerous events and networking opportunities throughout the year
Infographic by MADISON JANABET
TOXIC LEGACY NO MORE
The
clean-up in progress for Legacy Apartments on Hamlin and Adams Road
After decades of contamination, Rochester Hills begins $75 million project to clean and redevelop polluted land
Story and photos by RYAN CRAIG
When faced with the issue of contamination, there is no time for procrastination.
Kicking the can down the road leaves future generations with the burden of the cleanup. By the mid-1990’s, the city of Rochester Hills could not kick the can of contamination any further; it was time to pay the piper.
In September 2023, the city received a $75 million grant allocation from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for the remediation and redevelopment of nearly 680 acres of contaminated land
The grant is only applicable in two areas: landfill area A, which is made up of nine parcels of land totaling 109 acres and covers Adams and Hamlin Roads. Landfill area B, includes 93 parcels of land that is equals 570 acres, stretching from East Hamlin Road to Dequindre Road along with Adams and East Avon Roads as well.
The land is currently underdeveloped due to the contamination from landfills since 1951, which produce harmful contaminants such as methane, arsenic, and benzene.
The city and their partners, EGLE, will
continue using certain strategies such as passive gas management systems to properly ventilate the area of contaminants like methane, as well as installing a hydraulic barrier to redirect contaminants like arsenic from reaching the surface. This barrier was used during the recent cleanup and development of the Legacy Apartments in Rochester Hills starting in 2019.
The impact of contaminants is life threatening to those exposed. When methane levels are too high, it reduces the amount of oxygen in the air, causing respiratory issues due to polluted air quality.
According to the World Health Organization, arsenic found in drinking water can cause skin lesions, cancer, cardiovascular disease, as well as diabetes. The WHO also reports that benzene exposure can be deadly, causing “extensive hemorrhages” that have been observed in fatal cases, as well as the development of cancers like leukemia.
Methane is the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant and greenhouse gas that causes “over one-million premature deaths per year” according to the UN Environment Program.
In April 2000, a Rochester Hills home located adjacent to Stan’s Trucking Landfill, caught on fire due to the buildup of methane in their basement. Fortunately, there were zero injuries, but the damage was done.
Further investigations conducted by EGLE, found that four other homes had high levels of methane in their basements. They then deemed the levels “dangerously high”.
The levels reported by the Waste Business Journal were as high as 50-to70 percent in one landfill owned by the Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority.
Answering the call to action
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has performed reviews in areas of Rochester Hills since 1979. But since 2001, The EPA has specifically reviewed the J&L Landfill superfund site on Hamlin Road in Oakland County every five years.
The J&L landfill is a 17-acre site located one mile from the Clinton River. The site was mined for gravel and sand until 1951, when it was then used to deposit waste from steel manufacturing for nearly 30 years until it was filled in 1980.
The landfill site had approximately 455,000 cubic yards of waste deposited there, largely from steel slags and electric arc furnace dust, which are both toxic contaminants.
The EPA’s goal is to analyze the implementation, as well as the performance of a selected remedy in order to determine if the remedy is and will continue to be protective of human health and the environment.
In November 2002, the Rochester Hills Brownfield Authority was established to “promote the redevelopment and investment in brownfield properties in the city.”
According to the EPA, a “brownfield property” is where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
The Legacy Apartments inside and out
ROCHESTER HILLS AWARDED $75M GRANT FOR TOXIC CLEAN-UP
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
After years of legislation and outlining the areas of remediation, it was time for action on the ground. Vent tops were installed in 2006, in an attempt to properly vent out the methane being produced.
The original vent tops worked initially, but would eventually need to be changed by 2011, due to “settling causing shifting” in various locations, as well as erosion from weather conditions which prohibited the vents from properly ventilating, according to the EPA’s five-year review that year.
“Methane takes the path of least resistance, if you give it a place to go it will go there,” Michigan Brownfield Coordinator Daniel Gough said. “It’s not impossible to mitigate, you just have to do it. Not neglect it.”
By the next year, new passive vent turbines were installed, along with a passive gas management system that replaced the old vent tops with new ones that can capture methane and heat it up through a combustor. This generates electricity and allows for the proper ventilation of the area.
During the EPA’s latest review of the site from May 14 2020-February 10 2021, the EPA found consistently low readings as measured in percent methane. Seven of the eight vents, as well as five of six gas probes “produced readings between zero-to-one percent methane during the reporting period.
The city has maintained low methane levels through the use of innovative technologies like methane monitors, that shine infrared light through a sample of air, where molecules of methane absorb specific wavelengths of light. This allows the monitor to measure the concentration of methane, based on how much light has been absorbed.
“I think we have done far more than anyone has ever anticipated,” Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett said. “This
is not a process you can predict from the beginning.”
The city is not out of the woods quite yet. In the same EPA review from 2021, groundwater monitoring exceeded Michigan standards for inorganic compounds found in the water such as benzene, arsenic, and lead at all nine monitoring locations on the eastern side of the site near Dequindre Road.
Close, but no cigar
Since being elected in 2006, Mayor Barnett has worked for the city to receive funding from the state of Michigan to help combat issues such as groundwater and soil contamination.
“Securing a $75 million grant just for our community to be able to handle these types of issues was a huge allotment of money for a single community.” Mayor Barnett said.
The process to receive funding from the grant has some setbacks, as it is up to the owners of the contaminated land to seek out funding from the grant. If they are negligent the pollutants can spread into other areas over time.
“We have owners that we just simply can’t get in touch with” Rochester Hills Director of Planning and Economic Development Sara Roediger said, “part of our effort is getting out there and connecting with the property owners to inform them of these resources available.”
Roediger and her team vet applicants for the grant, along with the property owner’s future intentions with the land once remediated. The team’s goal is to turn the contaminated land into properties that can create more wealth for the city.
Another difficult roadblock for the team is one as old as time: Money. Even with a grant of $75 million.
“It is ultimately just a start,” Roediger said. “One property alone could use all of the funds; we have to pick winners and losers to maximize the benefits.”
“Securing a $75 million grant just for our community to be able to handle these types of issues was a huge allotment of money for a single community.”
–
Bryan Barnett Mayor of Rochester Hills
Bryan Barnett
Sara Roediger
The Legacy Roediger pointed to the expense of the development of the Legacy Apartments in Rochester Hills, where AKT Peerless, an environmental service company, was contracted to remove every speck of contaminated dirt and replace it with fresh clean soil to the estimated tune of $18.6 million.
“The property was full of contamination and not suitable to build on,” Gough said. “We saw no other choice but to approve it for cleanup.”
The cleanup consisted of splitting the land between two parcels, titled “A” and “B”, where a total of 66,873 cubic yards of contaminated soil was found between the two parcels.
A new passive ventilation system was installed below all residential buildings in parcel A, with long-term maintenance and operation plans put in place to ensure levels never get out-of-hand.
In parcel B, a 1,400-foot hydraulic barrier was installed around the landfill, altering the natural flow of groundwater to prevent the migration of contaminants into the soil. Additionally, a two-footthick clay cap was placed over the top of the landfill area, which contains the contaminants instead of having to dump them elsewhere.
The project is set to be completed in July 2025, with 359 luxury units located on 22.5 acres of land on the northeast corner of Adams and Hamlin Roads in Rochester Hills.
“The opportunity to clean a site and return it to taxable status while creating jobs along the way is what is important,” Barnett said.
“It will have a massive impact on the local economy, it is a huge win for the city.”
Toxic cleanup: a timeline
1994 - EPA signed a Record of Decision on June 30, 1994, which outlined the remediation components for the site landfill.
1997 - EPA signed a Record of Decision on September 30, 1997, which outlined the remediation components for the site groundwater.
1998 - EPA issued a second Unilateral Administrative Order on June 5, 1998, requiring the Ling-TemcoVought Steel Company to prepare the remedial action for the groundwater remedy.
2000 - A residence located adjacent to Stan’s Trucking Landfill caught on fire due to a buildup of methane gas in the basement. This occurred in April of 2000, fortunately no injuries occurred.
2001 - EPA begins first five-year review of the J&L landfill site in Rochester Hills.
2002 - A public water supply main extension along Dequindre Road and a total of five private well abandonments were completed in August of 2002. Rochester Hills Brownfield Authority established.
2006 - Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) takes over performing the site activities from Operation and Maintenance (O&M).
2011 - Implementation of new gas vent turbines, replacing the old gas vent tops. The new tops are capable of capturing methane, heating it up which generates electricity.
2013 - The landfill access and
perimeter road were upgraded to a crushed concrete aggregate.
2015 - A Declaration of Restrictive Covenant and Grant of Environmental Protection Easement was recorded on March 26, 2015, restricting the use of land and groundwater underlying the site, assuring the integrity of the landfill and other remedy components. Prohibiting activities that could cause further contamination. On June 19, 2015, the site achieved the Sitewide Ready for Use designation.
2016- The EPA’s fourth five-year review of the J&L Landfill site.
2018- Brownfield Plan approved for Legacy Apartments at corner of Hamlin and Adams.
2019- The Legacy Apartments project in Rochester Hills begins at corner of Hamlin and Adams. Starting with the 66,873 cubic yards of contaminated soil found on the land.
2020/2021 -Results for seven of the eight vents and five of the six gas probes produced readings of 0-1% of methane.
2023 – In the Fall of 2023, the city of Rochester Hills received a $75 million grant from the Michigan Department, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to help the assessment, monitoring, and remediation of potential environmental issues that may be associated with these properties.
2025- The Legacy Apartments project in Rochester Hills aims to be completed in July. Packed with 359 luxury units.
ONE MEAL AT A TIME
Flint’s North End Soup Kitchen seeks to help alleviate food insecurity Story and photos by BRENDA VATAJ
The North End Soup Kitchen in downtown Flint serves lunch, and dinner — a beacon of hope for many low-income families. It provides not only meals but also a safe space in a world where violence and uncertainty are commonplace.
The kitchen has had a mission to be an ongoing solution for the food insecurity in Downtown Flint. Since its opening in 1982 it’s open seven days a week and has been a vital source of nourishment for the Flint community.
John Manse, the director of the North End Soup Kitchen mentioned that food insecurity is an issue but the soup kitchen has an ongoing solution.
“We serve 150 people hot meals and 200 people sack lunches ” everyday which consists of sandwiches made in house.
Serving the community also comes with some costs, the meals that are served cost $2.50 per person every day that reaches about $350,000 to $400,000 annually, Manse said.
Meal plans are created daily. Inventory is checked out everyday and the chef gets creative with the food that is ordered.
“The food is ordered through vendors like Moffett and Flint Provision which are local food vendors,” said Manse.
The kitchen welcomes donations as well. Manse said that several local restaurants like KFC, Red Lobster, Starbucks and Olive Garden pitch in by donating products like mash potatoes, deep fried shrimp and biscuits.
Besides food donations, the kitchen also receives clothing, blankets, and hygiene items from people that are willing to donate in the area.
“Annually there were 3,761 volunteers helping the north end soup kitchen,” said Manse. The number can vary because it is not always steady.
With the good of the service there are a few bumps on the road
Rob Johnson, a long time security guard at the North End Soup Kitchen, mentioned that not everyone who comes to eat is homeless but they are still in need of help.
Soup kitchen hopping – when an individual eats a meal in one soup kitchen then goes to another nearby in the same day – can be a problem.
Volunteers at the soup kitchen await guests on a Saturday morning in April
Above, Guests shop for free school supplies, clothes and hygiene items; below, the welcome area
Members of the soup kitchen or kitchens around the area do not have direct information if anyone is homeless or low income because that calls for digging into personal information.
They calculate homelessness through the homeless shelter.
“Ten or 15 percent are actually homeless that come into the soup kitchen we check through the data check annual report,” said Manse.
“We stay aware through giveaways if soup kitchen hopping is happening, and share the data around the community” said Manse.
Despite these challenges, the North End Soup Kitchen remains a critical resource in Flint. For many, it is not just a place to receive a hot meal but also a source of inspiration and redemption. Debby Wright, a temporary volunteer at the kitchen said she understands the need.
“I’ve been in that position, but I turned my entire life around 13 years ago,” Wright said. “I am drug-free, and I come here two times a month to give back to the community.”
The soup kitchen serves 150 hot meals and 200 sack lunches everyday.
Services are made possible with the help of thousands of volunteers.
CHURCH YOUTH GROUPS WORK TO FOSTER HUMAN CONNECTION
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
WYouth ministry outreach helps anxious teens and adolescents find path out of mental health crisis
Story by TONY VARCHETTI
Photos courtesy N.O.W. Youth Ministry at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish
ith recent studies painting a bleak portrait of the mental health landscape for adolescents in the U.S., local youth groups are making headway in the battle by presenting opportunities for teens to connect with a community that affords them a safe space to explore their identities.
According to Kevin Spizarny, a therapist in Southfield, youth groups offer an outstanding arena for anxious adolescents to make meaningful connections, and see real growth in facing their mental struggles.
“I’ve found that a youth group can be really helpful for social anxiety,” Spizarny said recently, “it’s an opportunity to practice skills for joining groups, starting conversations: [a] youth group is a perfect testing ground. It’s a really safe way to practice – it’s outside of school and family, so it gives them an opportunity to make mistakes and try new things.”
Spizarny’s findings are echoed by the observable positive impact being made by local youth groups, such as N.O.W. (Navigating Our World with Christ) at Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights. Heidi Pope, the head of the that program, said in an interview that the group is specifically designed to foster human connection.
Pope emphasized the program’s no-cellphone policy as one method put in place to bring about interpersonal
experience and combat the isolation and disconnect many teens feel in a world that is increasingly online. While she was quick to highlight the potential benefits of youth groups for teen mental health, she also cautioned against the temptation to view these groups as a quick-fix to the problem.
“I think there’s a benefit to youth ministry, helping with that [social anxiety], but it’s not like a magic thing that happens overnight.” she said. “It’s consistency. Consistency for the no-cellphone policy being implemented, and consistency from the teen to keep showing up and practicing those social skills.”
As inspiring as it may be to hear about the positives from the leaders in the field, perhaps more compelling are the personal testimonies of people who have graduated from such youth group programs. Evelyn Siekierski is one volunteer for the parish youth group aiming to pass along the meaning and connection that she received from her own experiences with youth group communities.
“As a kid I was always a little bit of a loner and an outcast,” she said, “but within the community of the youth group… was the perfect environment to draw me out of the shell of insecurity I’d been hiding in for most of middle school.
“…I am dramatically less afraid of just about everything
that terrified me in high school, and I’m certain I wouldn’t have been able to get here if it wasn’t for the people I encountered through youth ministry.”
Siekierski is passionate about the effects that her youth group experience has had on her development, and, as it turns out, she is far from alone in the sentiment, as the feeling seems to run in common with multiple other volunteers for the program, who cited the positive impact they had received in their own life as part of their motivation to volunteer.
“I would say it helped me voice some things that I would otherwise have kept to myself,” said Scarlette Suchland, another volunteer at the parish. “[It] really helped me with making conversation with people, since that was always something I struggled with before.”
Lucas Dailey is another volunteer for the church who credits his sense of community and development to his experience in the youth group.
“It’s just something that really helped shape who I am, and I wanted to pay that forward to the next generation.” said Dailey. “I know what it meant to me, and I want to be able to give that to other kids too. I formed so many meaningful relationships there, and I honestly can’t imagine what my life would look like if I hadn’t had access to that community aspect it provided.”
Teens work to solve puzzles at a N.O.W. Halloween night event
OAKLAND COUNTY SAVE-A-LIFE STATIONS
REDUCING OVERDOSE FATALITIES
Statistics show that access to Naloxone is having a positive impact on the drug abuse problem in Oakland County
Story by CHELSEA BOSSERT
AI generated photo illustration by Dee from Pixabay
The Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities (The Alliance,) announced recently that preliminary data for Oakland County from Jan. to July 2024 showed a 26.1% reduction in overdose fatalities compared to 2023 in that time period, and a 19.7% reduction in non-fatal overdoses, compared to 2023.
While this set of preliminary data is a good starting point, the full set of data paints a much more complete picture. In the full calendar year of 2024, compared to 2023, there has been a 37.6% percent reduction in fatal overdoses, and an equally as promising 13.3% reduction in non-fatal overdoses as well.
The reason for these shrinking figures? According to The Alliance, it is due to a life-saving overdose prevention drug, Naloxone (a.k.a. NARCAN) being widely available and uniquely distributed in Oakland County through SAVE-A-LIFE stations.
Steve Norris, Director of Overdose Prevention and Recovery Support at The Alliance, explained tht the alliance is the overdose education and Naloxone distributor for all of Oakland County.”
“The Alliance of Coalitions is an umbrella company, we have 21 different preventive coalitions across Oakland County. [They] deal with everything from alcohol to nicotine to marijuana in the schools, drug prevention education, misuse of prescription pills — so on and so forth,” Norris said.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone or NARCAN,
“Let’s just answer in the most simple form, that human life is precious, and every life is worth investing time and energy into.”
– Steve Norris Director of Overdose Prevention and Recovery Support at The Alliance
methodically placed them throughout Oakland County in areas of concentrated drug use. The stations are placed in convenient spots in the area where the medication is easily accessible.
“We went from about a distribution of A little under 700 doses of Narcan a month to over 5000 doses a month throughout the county because of that increased access to that reversal agent,” Norris said.
These SAVE-A-LIFE stations include Naloxone (a.k.a. Narcan,) testing strips for lethal opiates, fentanyl and xylazine, as well as safety guides.
Making it personal
This program and these procedures have produced incredible results for the county, however, not everybody knows someone who is struggling with these issues directly, so why should these findings affect them?
“Let’s just answer in the most simple form, that human life is precious, and every life is worth investing time and energy into,” Norris said. “The impact that they have when they’re in the midst of their struggle, and the way that affects locally, their families and their communities is absolutely devastating.”
according to their official website, is “a pure opioid antagonist indicated for emergency use to reverse known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or severe central nervous system depression.”
One would use Naloxone while someone is experiencing a fatal or non-fatal overdose. — according to a guide from the University of California – by inserting the tip of the nasal spray in the person’s nose and pushing on the plunger. In other words: it can potentially save a life.
This life saving medicine is often out of reach or inaccessible to those who are in the midst of an opioid overdose, but Norris and his team at The Alliance have developed a solution that works for the community.
According to Norris, The Alliance uses “SAVEA-LIFE” stations and has
An interactive map of where the stations are located throughout Oakland County and beyond can be found at alliancemi.org/overdose-prevention/save-a-life-stations/.
Evidence based practice
In order to achieve their goals, The Alliance holds a meeting once a month where they review an overdose case and collaborate with Oakland County health officials, in order to see where treatment and prevention can improve in the area.
“We’re looking at all this information that’s available to us, whether it’s through our HIDA partners, DEA, law enforcement, epidemiologist, medical examiner, to really understand the scope of where drugs are being used, how it’s being used in our community, so that we can target that information to those areas specifically and make sure that we’re highly effective in the way that we disseminate information and materials,” Norris said.
This issue of drug overdoses and substance abuse within the local community is one that is very personal to Norris, who has struggled with addiction in the past.
“I was addicted to a lot of things, including opiates, for a long period of time, until I was 40. I found sobriety. At the age of 40, I dedicated my life to not only my own recovery journey, but also the service of other people,” Norris said.
The job is not done
SAVE-A-LIFE stations and the use of Naloxone has become widespread thanks to groups like The Alliance’s tactics.
According to a pair of 2024 online surveys by Jacobson and Powell, looking at both the general population and those who have or currently are experiencing opioid addiction, 46.2% of the first group of people surveyed “reported having heard of naloxone and correctly identified it as a drug to reduce opioid overdoses.”
THE NEXT TEAM
CHELSEA BOSSERT
is the Editor in Chief of The Oakland Post, serving from summer 2025 to fall 2025. She is passionate about the arts scene in Metro-Detroit and has contributed to publications such as UPTIGHT magazine and the Oakland County Times. She hopes to continue her work as a media critic in the future.
CECE STEVENS
is a senior majoring in history and journalism. He enjoys writing about historical events and solutions to historical problems. The article contained in this magazine, forced him out of his comfort zone and he hopes you enjoy reading it as much as he enjoyed writing it.
RYAN CRAIG
is a third-year journalism major with a minor in film. He loves old films and he’s a huge fan of the Chicago Bears.
MADISON JANABET
is a senior at Oakland University majoring in journalism with a minor in public relations. Following her graduation in the summer, she plans on returning to Oakland to pursue her bachelor’s in diagnostic sciences with a focus in sonography.
CAL TERRY
is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in creative writing. He enjoys writing stories and poems and often walks on bridges to enhance his imagination.
TONY VARCHETTI
Besides being the handsomest man ever to live, a visionary poet of surpassing talent, and the world’s foremost wordsmith of the English language, Tony is also a senior majoring in journalism at Oakland University. Some of his hobbies include living, laughing, loving, and writing about himself in the third-person.
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
is a journalism student at Oakland University pursuing an investigative journalism career in Latin America. From southern Mexico to the northern Metro Detroit area, Adrian’s constant change of schools, languages, and plans has led to a love for transformation. Thus, journalism has been the perfect fit between consistent writing and a passion for experiencing the unknown.
BRENDA VATAJ
is a fourth-year journalism student with a passion for writing and change starting in the Albanian community. She hopes to take her journalism degree and continue her career in the field of law.
