Features

Published January 6, 2016

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Winter is here, whether we like it or not. So why not enjoy some spectacular scenery in the township’s parks, along with some fun activities for the whole family.

“We have a lot of cool things going on,” said Mindy Milos-Dale, Oakland Township parks and recreation director. Along with ice skating and sledding, township parks offer guided bird walks, blow-up planetarium events, a session with a coyote naturalist and training for those who would like to participate in prescribed burns.

Published January 6, 2016

Rochester Post

New PCCA exhibition to showcase members’ work

ROCHESTER — The Paint Creek Center for the Arts will start the 2016 exhibition year off with the center’s “Members Biennial Exhibition,” which runs Jan. 23-March 5.

The PCCA’s adult members were invited to submit work in all mediums to be reviewed by members of the PCCA’s Exhibition Committee for possible inclusion in the show.

Published January 6, 2016

Shelby - Utica News

Officer comes to aid of homeless woman

UTICA — At approximately 1:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, calls to the Utica Police Department for suspicious activity turned into calls for service.

Utica police officer Vincent Ranelli responded to the area of Hall Road and Northpointe Boulevard to check on an individual who was asking drivers for money. The 61-year-old woman was standing on the easement with a sign.

Published January 6, 2016

Shelby - Utica News

‘Take a book, return a book’

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The holidays are at an end, but the giving spirit will continue on in the form of a small community library located in the front yard of one Shelby Township resident’s home.

In April, Pamela Pscheidl stumbled upon a Little Free Library while on a trip to New Orleans with college friends. In October, her family’s own registered Little Free Library stood beside the sidewalk in front of her home in the Spring Lake subdivision.

Published December 31, 2015

West Bloomfield Beacon

Winter Weekends debut with seasonal fun

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Now that it’s officially winter, a new program from the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Department will celebrate the season.

The department is introducing Winter Weekends, which is three different events over separate weekends in January and February.

“We were just looking for ways to get people outdoors,” Parks and Rec Marketing Coordinator Meagan Kurnat said. “Get people outdoors in the wintertime and kind of experience the season and get some people to enjoy our parks.

Published December 31, 2015

West Bloomfield Beacon

Charach Gallery opens new exhibit on human figure

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The Janice Charach Gallery will host a new exhibition beginning Sunday, Jan. 10, focusing on the human body and its figure.

The showcase, titled “Exploring the Figure,” features several artists and their interpretations of the human figure. The gallery is located within the Jewish Community Center for Metropolitan Detroit, 6600 W. Maple Road.

Published December 31, 2015

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Improv, cooking and bears ... oh my.

Shows based on these three topics and more will take center stage this month at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts.

Published December 31, 2015

Warren Weekly

Resident with nerve disorder talks about pain, challenges

WARREN — It wasn’t easy, but Lauren Lilley made it to her high school graduation.

She’d been bedridden at times, in near constant pain since her health really started to deteriorate at age 15. There’d been various treatments and therapies. Opinions from doctors? There were a lot of those. There were many consultations, which resulted in a battery of prescriptions.

Published January 6, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Voters asked to renew nonhomestead millage in March

CLINTON TOWNSHIP/HARRISON TOWNSHIP/MACOMB TOWNSHIP — L’Anse Creuse Public Schools will be asking voters to renew a decades-old nonhomestead millage during the presidential primary in March.

According to Superintendent Jackie Johnston, the millage will not raise the taxes for the average homeowner. Locally, the non-homestead millage is an existing 18 mills levy on second homes, including vacation homes and rental homes, as well as on commercial and agricultural property.

Published January 6, 2016

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

Township seeks support for police, fire millage

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — In March, voters will be asked to support a two-year millage increase of 1.083 mills that will provide taxpayer support for police, fire and general operations within Harrison Township.

The 8.20 millage rate ($8.20 per $1,000 of taxable value) funds the operation of the Harrison Township Fire Department, the Macomb County Sheriff’s contract and the general operating procedures in the township.

Published December 30, 2015

Rochester Post

Watershed council to host annual winter stonefly search

ROCHESTER — The Clinton River Watershed Council is looking for volunteers who aren’t afraid to make a splash in local waterways to help search for stonefly larvae next month.

The winter stonefly nymph — one of the most sensitive of all aquatic macroinvertebrates that lives in local rivers and streams — is most active in January, when the water temperature is very cold and there is still plenty of leafy debris on the river bottom for stoneflies to forage on.

Published December 31, 2015

Troy Times

Scout awarded for preventing large-scale blaze in forest

Despite what his father, Michael, said, Troy resident Dane Howlett, then 13, knew that the ground fire they came upon in Michigan’s Au Sable State Forest in April was not something they could put out themselves.

Dane is a Boy Scout with Troop 1034, and his father, Michael, is scoutmaster. Dane attends Seaholm High School.

Published December 29, 2015

Sterling Heights Sentry

Drivers asked to reverse common parking habit

AAA Michigan has some advice for drivers to keep in the back of their minds when deciding how and where to park.

The auto association is now saying that motorists should back into parking spaces because it is safer for them and others when it is time to leave. According to AAA, parking lot accidents make up around 14 percent of crashes that end up with a claim.

Published December 30, 2015

Royal Oak Review

Seven adopted and counting

ROYAL OAK — Organizers of the Make My Christmas Merry holiday pet adoption event are calling it a success, and the official count of forever homes is still growing.

Event organizers said about 100 people came through the shelter’s doors on Saturday, Dec. 19, and four pets went home that day with their new families in time for the holidays.

“We had so many people in and out, and it was just amazing how many people we had,” said shelter volunteer Pamela Wilson.

Published December 30, 2015

Shelby - Utica News

Library book club celebrates its 30th year

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — After launching in 1985, the Shelby Township Library’s Afternoon Book Club is still going strong.

Published December 29, 2015

Shelby - Utica News

Mother, son receive new home

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — On Dec. 19, dozens of volunteers and friends gathered at a newly renovated home in Shelby Forest Manufactured Home Community to witness the moment when Barbara and Jonathan Sokolyk first laid eyes on their wheelchair-accessible residence.

Their reaction: tears from Barbara and a wide grin from Jonathan, as his favorite superhero, Spider-Man, performed flips and tricks around him.

“It’s been a journey,” Barb said as she stood in the home’s foyer. “God bless everyone.”

Published December 30, 2015

Warren Weekly

Center Line selects ‘Light Up the Sky’ winners

WARREN — Members of the Center Line Beautification Commission tasked with surveying the city’s most well-lit holiday homes and businesses weren’t disappointed on Dec. 20.

“We were out there for like three hours last night,” said Janice Ornsten, the commission’s treasurer, who sits on the subcommittee for the annual “Light Up the Sky” holiday lights contest. “The houses were so beautiful. It was really hard deciding.”

Published December 27, 2015

C&G Newspapers

‘There are so many opportunities’

MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb Community College’s Most Distinguished Graduate for the fall 2015 semester, Alexander Witan, had a message for his peers.

“You guys have the tools to go out there and put your personal mark on the world,” Witan said. “There are so many opportunities.”

Published December 23, 2015

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

Doctors offer tips for staying healthy through flu season

MOUNT CLEMENS — Local medical experts say the flu wreaked havoc in Macomb County last season, affecting thousands and sending many to the hospital, flooding local emergency rooms.

The key to staying healthy this flu season is being keen to the symptoms and avoiding spreading the infection.

Registered nurse Kellee Necaise, infection prevention coordinator at McLaren Macomb Hospital, is an expert in the practice of preventing the infection and spread of communicable diseases, which especially includes the flu.

Published December 23, 2015

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

Ring in 2016 in The Clem

MOUNT CLEMENS — There will be no shortage of things to see and do in downtown Mount Clemens on New Year’s Eve.

The 22nd annual Macomb County New Year’s Eve Gala will kick off at 4 p.m. with a Children’s New Year’s Eve in Never Never Land event hosted by Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinker Bell and the Fairy Godmother.