C&G Newspapers

Published July 21, 2015

Birmingham native wins Miss Oakland County title

BIRMINGHAM — Seaholm High school alumna Kaitlyn Krizanic has competed in a whopping 15 pageants. She never took home a title until she entered the one contest that mattered to her the most.

“I’m Birmingham born and raised,” said the newly crowned Miss Oakland County. “This is where my heart lies.”

Published July 21, 2015

Remembering the ‘Capitol Crawl’

METRO DETROIT — This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

It might seem like common sense to ensure that people with disabilities have access to businesses, employment, transportation, government facilities and other everyday amenities. But making that common sense the law of the land was a long, uphill battle. Or, if you ask political advocate Elizabeth Bauer, who joined the fight for the ADA, it was more of an uphill crawl.

Published July 20, 2015

Concours d’Elegance celebrates over a century of rides

From hearses dating back to the 1890s to the luxury cars of today, a full sampling of vehicular history will be presented to the public at the upcoming 37th annual Concours d’Elegance of America on July 26.

The Concours d’Elegance, which used to be held at Meadow Brook Hall at Oakland University, is now located at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth.

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Published July 17, 2015

Hospice of Michigan to hold day camp for grieving children

METRO DETROIT — Grieving the loss of a loved one can be a lonely experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes connecting with others who have also experienced a loss can aid in the healing process.

That’s the idea behind Camp Good Grief, a free one-day camp for children who have lost someone near to them. Run by Hospice of Michigan, this year’s camp will be held Friday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at YMCA Camp Ohiyesa, 7300 Hickory Ridge Road in Holly. The camp is for kids ages 8-17.

Published July 15, 2015

S.S. Columbia Project seeks memories of Boblo boat

METRO DETROIT — Although the S.S. Columbia no longer calls River Rouge home, her legacy remains.

Built in 1902, the steamboat sits at a remarkable 216 feet long and 60 feet wide, and is powered by a 1,200-horsepower, triple-expansion steam engine.

She was designed to carry more than 3,000 passengers.

The S.S. Columbia transported hundreds of thousands of people from Detroit to Boblo Island from the time of her birth until the death of the amusement park in the early 1990s.

Published July 15, 2015

Put fun on your bucket list this summer with Oakland parks

A bucket list is typically defined as a list of experiences or goals one hopes to accomplish in their lifetime.

Oakland County Parks and Recreation is scaling that theme down a bit with its new bucket list: a number of activities that county residents should take advantage of outside at local parks before the warmth of summer falls away.

Published July 13, 2015

Summer clearance season can serve up hot dealership deals

Following the course of the calendar, local dealerships’ summer clearance season typically marks the transition of “out with the old, in with the new” as far as vehicle models are concerned.

According to some local auto dealers, many dealerships start trying to move the current model year’s inventory in the summer in order to make room for the next year’s model. In this case, that means selling off the 2015 models in anticipation of the arrival of 2016 ones.

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Published July 12, 2015

Intersection still tops ‘most dangerous’ lists

MACOMB COUNTY — Data collected from the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Reporting Unit placed the intersection of Groesbeck Highway and Cass Avenue at the top of Macomb County’s most dangerous lists.

The bustling intersection that resides in both Mount Clemens and Clinton Township ranked No. 1 for the most accidents involving vehicle damage, and No. 1 for the most reported injury or fatality crashes in 2014.

Published July 8, 2015

Local volunteers recognized by county board

MACOMB COUNTY — More than 60 volunteers from throughout Macomb County were honored by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners on June 25.

In order to be recognized, volunteers were required to donate at least 150 hours toward organizations throughout the county and region.

“As we all know, volunteers are the heart of our community. Contrary to many aspects of our lives, volunteers do not have to do anything. Instead, they offer their time, their talent and their resources because they want to help others,” board Chair David Flynn said during the event.

Published July 6, 2015

Help your car stand the heat

When temperatures climb into the 90s and triple digits, prepared drivers with properly maintained cars are less likely to lose their cool.

According to Al Laity, service director at Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge, auto owners should make sure that they or a qualified mechanic check several car components in order to keep the vehicle humming through the summer.

First of all, to prevent the car engine from overheating, make sure the cooling system is in good shape. Check the condition of the engine’s belts and hoses.

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Published July 2, 2015

Stay safe, healthy during summer weather

METRO DETROIT — Ah, the lazy days of summer.

That means afternoon dips in a pool, camping trips, outdoor activities and bonfires to close out the night.

But with the onset of summer, it’s important to remember the various ailments that can arise from a day of fun in the sun. Local doctors have several tips for children, adults and senior citizens to help them stay safe and healthy.

Published July 2, 2015

‘In the end, we were an army’

METRO DETROIT — In a landmark decision June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry — a successful outcome for one of the largest civil rights movements in recent history.

The ruling will reverse laws in 13 states that still ban same-sex marriage, Michigan included. Same-sex couples will now be able to marry in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia.

Published June 30, 2015

Increase energy efficiency to save money this summer

With summer heating up, local experts offered advice to save money on energy bills by maximizing efficiency in the home.

“There’s a lot of very simple measures to be more energy-efficient that don’t have to cost a lot of money,” Consumers Energy spokeswoman Deb Dodd said. “You don’t necessarily have to buy new windows or (energy-efficient appliances).”

One measure, Dodd said, is a programmable thermostat, which can reduce air conditioning costs while a home is unoccupied.

Published June 30, 2015

A pain in the neck … and head, and eyes

The fellow in the cubicle next to you has been coming in each morning with red, tired eyes. He’s rubbing his throbbing temples throughout the day and always has a stash of Ibuprofen on hand.

There’s a good chance your cube pal isn’t an all-night partier, but rather, a daily sufferer of seasonal allergies. And he’s not alone. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, as many as 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in the United States are affected by nasal allergies.

Published June 29, 2015

Know your limits when it comes to speed

The urge to hurry can put a driver at risk of a speeding ticket or even a traffic accident. But even if a speed limit seems like an inconvenience, there is often a carefully considered reason behind the numbers, according to road and safety experts.

According to a document from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning called “Establishing Realistic Speed Limits,” speed limits are designed to keep all drivers as safe as possible while staying within realistic boundaries of “reasonable and proper” public driving habits.

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Published June 27, 2015

Teen academies foster student learning

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Although their eyes were stinging a bit and the smell wasn’t the most appealing, Rochelle Niemiec and Justin Updyke got the job done.

The pair chopped up a tray full of onions on the morning of June 23 as they prepared a delicious lunch from scratch alongside their classmates in the culinary/pastry arts summer teen academy at Macomb Community College’s Center Campus.

Every summer, the school offers a number of week-long academies in different fields to give local teenagers the opportunity to explore various careers.

Published June 24, 2015

Local nonprofits dive in to set record, save lives

METRO DETROIT — After the YMCA helped set a Guinness World Record last year for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson, you’d think they’d take a year off.

Think again.

Last week, the nonprofit teamed up again with World’s Largest Swim Lesson — a coalition of national water safety experts and trainers — to try to set the record for the world’s largest swim lesson in 24 hours. Currently, Team WLSL holds the Guinness record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson, with 36,564 participants in 22 countries around the world.

Published June 22, 2015

16 fall in massive Medicare fraud sweep

METRO DETROIT — Sixteen people around metro Detroit have been charged in what the federal government is calling the largest Medicare fraud takedown in history.

Nationwide, 243 arrests were made as part of the investigation, including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals for their alleged participation in schemes to defraud Medicare of $712 million through false billings. The investigation also led to the suspension of a number of health care providers.

Published June 22, 2015

GM, local dealership plan new investments in Warren

A stretch of Van Dyke Avenue in Warren is seeing signs of redevelopment as General Motors and a local dealership have committed to investing in the area.

In May, GM announced that its Warren Technical Center in Warren is poised to undergo an estimated nine-figure investment toward renovation and expansion.

GM spokesman Dan Flores said the automaker opened the Tech Center in the 1950s, and it has served as a core hub of vehicle development and design as well as research and development.

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Published June 19, 2015

Officials gather for State of Lake St. Clair

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — With the Pride of Michigan floating in the background, local officials and business leaders touted the impact that the lake continues to have on the local economy during the second annual State of Lake St. Clair address on June 10.

County Executive Mark Hackel said Macomb County’s Blue Water Economy initiative is the reason for numerous accomplishments since its inception in 2013.