Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Published June 13, 2011

ETO fundraises, rotary gives for camp experience

EASTPOINTE — The Senior Housing Commission’s Valentine’s Day Dance is a resident favorite, but it has one drawback — there are way more women than men, leaving many of the senior ladies without anyone to dance with.

Well, until this year that is, when three of the teen boys from the Eastside Teen Outreach group showed up to woo the older gals on the dance floor.

That’s where the Eastpointe Rotary Club first met the outreach group.

Published June 1, 2011

Sights and sounds of summer

Combine talented artisans, good food, live entertainment and a little sunshine, and you have the makings of a great summer festival.

Beginning in June, such events are plentiful in metro Detroit. Here’s a sampling of just a few popular festivals that residents won’t want to miss this summer.

June 11-12
Clay, Glass and Metal Festival — downtown Royal Oak
In Royal Oak, one of the first big events of the season is the Clay, Glass and Metal Festival June 11-12.

Published May 24, 2011

Exhibit memorializes Michigan soldiers killed in Vietnam War

ROSEVILLE — The wall lists 2,654 men by name, rank, service and city. The books that line the table in front of it offer insights into just 2,200 of them with some detail on who they were, but mostly about how they died.

The men listed are Michigan soldiers who were killed or missing in action during the Vietnam War.

The wall is a part of a traveling exhibit that memorializes the soldiers lost in the war and honors their service to the county with descriptions of their responsibilities during the war.

Published May 18, 2011

Pride swells during ‘Michigan Week’

Yes, Michigan.

This week is for celebrating, for embracing all the state has to offer. It’s Michigan Week, held annually since 1954. So raise your hand, point to your favorite spots in the state, and reflect. Whether it’s taking a fall color tour, hitting the links, lounging on the beach, crossing the Mackinac Bridge or heading downtown to catch a Red Wings game, there’s much to love about Michigan.

For many, it’s the lakes that cause residents to swell with pride.

Published May 11, 2011

Seniors defy stereotypes

Picture a typical senior residence and images of bingo, arts and crafts, and green Jell-O might come to mind.

Walk into a modern retirement community, though, and you may be more likely to see seniors playing video games, heading out with a travel group or performing a sun salutation in yoga class.

Today’s senior living communities are not the stale, dreary places stereotypes make them out to be.

Published April 19, 2011

EDHS graduate is ‘unleashed’ in comedy, hypnosis show

EASTPOINTE — “It feels so great to be here,” performer Kevin Lepine said from Las Vegas last week. “I’m living my dream as a Vegas headliner. It’s been a blast.”

For the past year, the 1993 East Detroit High School graduate has wowed crowds at the Harmon Theater inside Planet Hollywood in “Hypnosis Unleashed.” Every Thursday evening, the Sin City showman brings brave audience members on stage to perform funny antics while under his hypnotic spell.

Published March 25, 2011

Financial guru now a county asset

ROSEVILLE — Heartfelt messages from council members and city administration were shared at a recent council meeting as Roseville prepared to say goodbye to the dedicated employee whose financial expertise has helped keep the city afloat in a turbulent economic climate.

Pete Provenzano was, until March 25, the city controller for Roseville. On March 28, he started a new job as the director of finance for the county.

County Executive Mark Hackel appointed Provenzano to the position a few months ago but the deal was made final March 24.

Published March 9, 2011

Bookworms building bonds

Sticking your nose in a book doesn’t have to be a solitary activity, as more and more avid readers are banding together to share in their common interest.

Book clubs are ever present in today’s society, with readers young and old joining groups offered in their communities and forming their own tight-knit circles.

Published March 9, 2011

Dogs thrill at annual Cobo shows

DETROIT — A 209-pound Newfoundland rolled onto his back in the middle of an aisle at the Detroit Kennel Club Dog Shows, held at Cobo Center March 5-6. He milked every pat he got from passers-by charmed by his gentle demeanor and fluffy brown coat.

He was among thousands of dogs of countless breeds that were also doing their very best to woo the public — in between competitions, that is.

Published March 7, 2011

March is Reading Month emphasizes fun in books

EASTPOINTE/ROSEVILLE — There’s a month every year when characters from books come to life at local elementary schools across the country.

It’s that time of year again: March is Reading Month is under way, and locally, schools in Eastpointe and Roseville are having a blast with a number of activities.

Published March 2, 2011

Film festival celebrates Michigan-made movies

BIRMINGHAM — Celebrities, local actors and movie buffs will come together during the first annual Uptown Film Festival to celebrate an event organizers say will showcase the best films made in Michigan over the past year.

Established this year by leaders in the Michigan film industry, the Uptown Film Festival is a two-night celebration of productions created entirely or in part in the state to recognize the Michigan film industry.

Published February 23, 2011

Help for a furry friend

Although spring is nearly a month away, “kitten season” is gearing up this month, meaning that local shelters may soon be filled to the brim with fuzzy faces needing good homes?.

But until they can find their forever family, help is needed to nurture the babies in their first few weeks, making sure they get the care they need to become good pets.

Published February 16, 2011

Putting the ‘heart’ in community theater

It’s a special group, the Heart of the Hills Players. There is one major qualification for taking part: You’ve got to love making people smile.

You also have to be over the age of 50. The organization is the largest community theater group in the region comprised solely of seniors.

Melanie Lee of Warren, who said she’s a “very vigorous 78-year-old,” feels that joining the group over a decade ago was one of the best decisions she’s ever made.

Published February 2, 2011

Niedermaier sworn in as new fire chief

EASTPOINTE — Eight months after he became acting/interim fire chief, Bob Niedermaier was sworn in as Eastpointe’s fire chief at a Jan. 27 ceremony attended by colleagues, city officials, family and friends.

Acting City Manager Randy Altimus swore him in. “Before I swear Bob in, I want to publicly thank him for taking on the role of acting chief,” Altimus said.

Published February 1, 2011

Love and learn

Asked to reveal words of wisdom after 50 years of marriage, Ed Lewandowski was quick to reply in exactly the way his wife, Sharon, predicted.

“I don’t have any wisdom,” he quipped. “I’m married.”

But contrary to his claims, the St. Clair Shores resident and his wife, along with other local couples, recently shared some of what they’ve learned along the way as they’ve faced life’s challenges —together.

Published February 1, 2011

Good buy … or money pit?

The right neighborhood. The right price. The right layout, lot and size. It’s the perfect home — or not.

There are a number of major issues that could be lurking under the cosmetically pleasing surface of a home, many of which can be very costly.

That — and liability issues on the seller’s end — is why getting a home inspection has become an essential part of the home-buying process since the late 1970s nationally and the early ‘80s in Michigan, according to Jon Ormiston, president of All Points Inspection in Rochester.

Published January 19, 2011

Michigan hotspots provide cold-weather fun

Hibernating is for the bears.

Winter weather doesn’t have to force us to stay indoors and under the covers, counting the minutes until spring. As the flakes fall, Michigan offers healthy opportunities statewide to get out and enjoy the season, with activities from cross-country skiing and snowmobiling to ice fishing.

Published January 19, 2011

With or without warning tag, snow ordinance still in place

EASTPOINTE — City officials announced that while Eastpointe’s snow removal ordinance is still in place, they will no longer warn repeat violators in advance of a contractor removing the snow for them.

The ordinance requires businesses and homeowners to remove snow from all city sidewalks that border their property. Previously, properties in violation of the ordinance were tagged with an orange sticker, warning them that they had 24 hours to remove the snow, or the city would remove it, and they would be fined. Then, a red tag would announce the fine.

Published January 5, 2011

Housing market trending toward recovery

“Tough” is an understatement when describing the local housing market since 2005.

The ripple effect that unemployment and the ensuing foreclosure crisis has left — and is expected to continue leaving — an unprecedented number of homes on the market, crippling home values and sales across the state.