Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Published March 12, 2012

New gourmet popcorn, snack shop offers good times for all ages

EASTPOINTE — While many people were home watching the Academy Awards on Feb. 26, some residents and city officials in Eastpointe were at a red carpet event of their own: The private grand opening of Big Top, a new gourmet popcorn and snack shop in East Brooke Commons at Nine Mile Road and Gratiot.

Published March 12, 2012

Eastpointe buys two new ambulances

EASTPOINTE — Council unanimously approved the purchase of two ambulances at the March 6 regular meeting.

The ambulances, purchased through Life Star, will replace two older ones that have long been a drain on the city’s pocket book.

In a memo to council, Assistant City Manager Randy Altimus said that he met with officials from the Fire Department regarding the two current ambulances.

Published March 12, 2012

Fundraiser a success, market will open in May

EASTPOINTE — After a successful fundraiser and lots of support from the community, the Eastpointe Enhancement Commission’s Eastpointe Farmers Market is almost ready to open.

“Our goal was to raise $1,000, and we did,” said Councilman and EEC member Ron Laforest.

The group raised a total of $1,100 at its Cloverleaf fundraiser on Feb. 28, but Laforest said the thing the group is most happy about was the turnout.

“The nicest part, though, was to see the unity in the community and all the support,” Laforest added.

Published March 7, 2012

Self-esteem is critical for today’s youth

Bullying hurts.

It can make someone feel small, rejected, disrespected, stupid, ugly, unloved and unimportant.

While not a new concept — the bullies and bullied have been around for years — it seems to have entered a new realm as an alarming number of youth have responded to bullying in more dramatic ways than society has been accustomed to. Suicide. Violence. Murder.

Published March 6, 2012

Local heroes help save man’s life, keep kids safe

ROSEVILLE — In a pair of separate incidents last month, two different Recreation Department employees were recognized by police and fire officials for their quick responses to potentially dangerous or fatal situations.

On Feb. 11, during kids open gym at the center, a man dressed in camouflage clothing began approaching children and offering them candy. When he was asked to leave and refused, Adam Just, a building supervisor, called the police and kept watch on the man until help arrived.

Published March 6, 2012

A sample of chili with a taste of community

EASTPOINTE — With a mix of businesses, organizations, city officials and residents all mingling in one place, the annual chili cook-off in Eastpointe on Feb. 25 was a great event for networking.

Published March 6, 2012

Election officials early to rise on primary day

ROSEVILLE — It’s 5:30 a.m. Feb. 28 and Rich Steenland has already been at the office for an hour when his phone begins to ring.

He answers — his tone, polite but stern.

Before he hangs up, his cell begins to chirp. He ends one call and goes to the next. Before he even says hello, the desk phone rings again. This time his deputy clerk and right-hand woman, Jennifer Gamarra, answers.

It’s going to be a busy day. Election days always are.

Published March 6, 2012

After 32 years, Truman bids Roseville adieu

ROSEVILLE — It was a standing-room-only event when friends, family and co-workers gathered in Erin Auditorium Feb. 28 for Steve Truman’s retirement party.

Truman had been with the city for 32 years when he announced his pending retirement as city manager last November, and the crowd that filed in to wish him well offered a good representative mix of that more than 30-year span.

Published February 29, 2012

State officials pay tribute to Eastpointe’s finest

EASTPOINTE — At a steak and shrimp dinner hosted by the Eastpointe Lions Club last week, state officials offered a special thanks to some very important groups in the city.

State Sen. Steve Bieda and state Rep. Harold Haugh, both Democrats, attended the Eastpointe Lions Club annual fundraiser Feb. 17 to pay tribute to the Lions Club and Eastpointe’s Police and Fire departments.

The tribute was initiated by Bieda’s office in Lansing.

Published February 29, 2012

Dog heaven

DETROIT — Prep your paws for a whole lot of petting as the annual two-day celebration of all things dog arrives March 3 and 4 with the annual Detroit Kennel Club Dog Shows at Cobo Center.

More than 2,000 dogs representing 167 breeds will be on hand to interact with the public, demonstrate their skills and compete for top prizes.

Published February 20, 2012

Students give time, creativity and whole lot of heart to shelter animals

ROSEVILLE — A group of students at Reach Academy meets weekly after school to help make the lives of shelter animals a little better.

They don’t donate their time in the shelters, though. Instead, they make lasting gifts for the animals housed in them. Last semester, it was fleece blankets for dogs. This semester, it’s kitty forts and cat boxes.

Published February 14, 2012

‘I’m not really an artist; I’m a storyteller’

ROSEVILLE — The brightly woven canvases on display at the Roseville Public Library this month are much more than just colorful pieces of art — they’re stories.

They’re forgotten stories of how slaves rose up against adversity to create an identity when society was determined to keep them from having one.

They’re the stories Roseville resident Virginia Bryant-Hernandez grew up listening to her father tell and the stories of her people that were passed down from generation to generation.

Published February 3, 2012

Chester Berry seniors still stuck, but remain in high spirits

EASTPOINTE — Immobile seniors living in the upper levels at Chester Berry Manor in Eastpointe were still stranded in their homes as elevator repairs continued last week.

The elevator has been out since Jan. 24, when during an annual load inspection, it was discovered that one of the pistons was leaking and rusted. The piston was removed Jan. 30 and work continued as scheduled through press time.

Published February 3, 2012

Program on compassion reaches students, parents

ROSEVILLE — At a Jan. 31 assembly, students at Eastland Middle School in Roseville got a small lesson in recent history and learned a lot about compassion and kindness.

“Rachel’s Challenge is all about the life of Rachel Scott, who was the first student killed during the Columbine shooting in 1999, on April 20,” said speaker Bill Sanders. “After she died, her family found six diaries that she had left, and they were just amazed and overwhelmed with the wisdom they found in those diaries.”

Published January 31, 2012

Local plastic modelers club turns a solo activity into group fun

EASTPOINTE — They meet once a month to show off their latest projects.

They trade tips, share techniques and offer feedback.

They’re a club — the Warren chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society — and at monthly meetings, their work is appreciated, not just for the outcome, but the time and detail that went into it.

For many members, though, they’re more than just a club — over the years, they’ve become more like a brotherhood, a group of old pals, always there to welcome each other with a friendly smile.

Published January 25, 2012

Keeping the faith in school

Public schools keep religion out of the forefront of education, but many parents want to see religious education, traditions and beliefs at the center of their child’s learning environment.

Those parents can choose schools that keep faith the focus.

Religious schools take several steps to ensure faith ideals are conveyed inside and outside the classroom, including daily religious services.

Published January 23, 2012

Local store sells Polish folk art for a cause

EASTPOINTE — Tucked away in the basement of an office building at Stephens and Gratiot, the little Polish folk art store isn’t often busy.

Most days are pretty quiet with only a handful of longtime supporters and a few local dance groups making up the majority of customers.

The volunteers who keep this place running love it when customers do stop in, but even on days when there are none, they keep pretty busy.

Published January 18, 2012

State of the City remains optimistic in tough times

EASTPOINTE — Eastpointe held its annual State of the City address during a luncheon sponsored by the Eastpointe-Roseville Chamber of Commerce Jan 9 at Eastpointe Manor.

Despite tough economic times, speakers at the luncheon remained optimistic about the city’s future while telling the story of its struggles.

Mayor Suzanne Pixley spoke first.

Published January 11, 2012

The story of Owney the Mail Dog

Long before Lassie and Rin Tin Tin stole the hearts of Americans everywhere, there was Owney the Mail Dog.

He wasn’t a television star — he predated TV, actually — but he saw fame across the country and was met with news photographers almost everywhere he went — and he went a lot of places.

Published December 19, 2011

REDI-helped bakery brings custom cakes and treats to Roseville

ROSEVILLE — It’s a new bakery in a remodeled ice cream parlor. The décor is clean, yet inviting, and the sweets that line the shelves of the display counter add a splash of color that stands out against the black-and-white checkered floor.

Here, the cakes and cupcakes look as good as they taste. Some of them could be straight out of a Dr. Seuss book with brightly colored, smooth fondant finishes topped with edible flowers, colorful swirls, crumb sprinkles and more.

But this isn’t one of those fancy designer bakeries.