St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Published July 15, 2015

Mom-to-mom sales offer great deals— if you know what to look for

METRO DETROIT — No two parenting styles are alike. You’ve got your helicopter parents, your attachment parents, your free-range parents — the options are seemingly endless.

But one thing most moms and dads can agree on is that raising a kid ain’t cheap. Learning how to save a few bucks can become an important component of everyday life.

Published July 15, 2015

Senior Brigade warns about home repair scams

METRO DETROIT — ’Tis the season for summer and fall home repairs.

But as homeowners work rapidly to complete projects before the winter months, scam contractors might slip right under their noses.

Published July 15, 2015

Community GiveBack contest provides for others

METRO DETROIT — Leslie McMahon has always had a connection to law enforcement.

Her late father, Arthur Dickinson, was an associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police No. 130 in Ferndale, and her late grandfather, E. Parker Dickinson, was a reserve officer in downtown Detroit.

So it’s fitting that McMahon is the president of the Professional Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) Foundation, a nonprofit organization that donates equipment and training to law enforcement professionals, including K-9 officers.

Published July 13, 2015

Farmers market coming July 26

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Years in the making, a farmers market will soon be a reality in St. Clair Shores, thanks to the work of a resident and her team of volunteers.

Susan Bunte, her husband and four children moved to St. Clair Shores four years ago, although she grew up with family in the city.

“The first thing that I did was try to figure out what kind of community things” there were in the city, she said.

Published July 13, 2015

Coney night supports Special Needs Playground Program

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Recognized as one of the best programs of its kind in the state, it takes a lot of support to keep the Special Needs Playground Program running each year.

And this summer, two events are planned to help defray the cost of the program: the Coney for Kids Dinner Night on July 16 and the Special Needs Golf Tournament on Aug. 5.

Parks and Recreation Director Greg Esler said the Coney for Kids Dinner Night is probably the most important fundraiser run each year to raise money for the Special Needs Playground Program.

Published July 13, 2015

Local woman fighting for awareness of pancreatic cancer

ST. CLAIR SHORES — It’s one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and a St. Clair Shores woman wants to make sure that putting pancreatic cancer on the radar in Washington leads to more positive outcomes like hers for those diagnosed with the disease.

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 10, 2015

Great Lakes water levels reach highest point since 1998

METRO DETROIT — Water levels on the Great Lakes have not only recovered over the past two years, but as of June, they are higher than they have been since the 1990s.

All five Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair have passed their long-term averages as of October of last year — breaking more than a decade of low water levels — and they have continued to rise over time. The measurements come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Environment Canada.

Published July 10, 2015

Aqua Fest returns to Nautical Mile next week

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Pirates, pancakes, pets and more will descend on the Nautical Mile when Aqua Fest returns July 17-19.

With a name that evokes a celebration of the water, events will be scattered along the Nautical Mile, with a wine and beer pub crawl and entertainment at local restaurants kicking off the event Friday night.

Published July 8, 2015

A lot happens in the aftermath of a home disaster

METRO DETROIT — When disaster strikes a home in the form of a fire, storm damage, flooding or unforeseen reconstruction needs, the damage needs to be addressed immediately.

Lt. Scott Trumbo, of the Shelby Township Police Department, said that if the emergency situation requires immediate utility shutoffs, first responders contact the appropriate utility company to mitigate the hazardous conditions.

Published July 8, 2015

Exercising with your pooch can be fun — if you play it safe

METRO DETROIT — You know that itch you’ve had to get outside and burn off some of that extra energy? Well, guess what? Your pooch feels the same way.

Plenty of people have gotten into the habit of not just walking their dogs around the block, but including them in their own exercise regimen. Just like people, pets can definitely benefit from a good workout.

Published July 8, 2015

Suspicious man reported near school playground

St. Clair Shores Police are paying special attention to the area surrounding Harmon Elementary School after two children reported a suspicious man following them home yesterday around 6 p.m.

Sgt. Bill Reiss said that a 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were playing at the playground on Ursuline Street when they noticed a white male in his 40s sitting in a gray older model Chevrolet panel van.

“He didn’t say anything to them or gesture but was sitting in the van, suspicious,” Reiss said. “They took note of it and decided to leave.”

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 7, 2015

Noise pollution is a health issue

METRO DETROIT — Noise pollution could be a contributing factor for cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and hypertension, but regulations are limited to what local municipalities have set up and can enforce.

Richard Neitzel, assistant professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan, said that while most people would think of hearing loss as the first, and possibly only, health impact from noise pollution, there have been a number of studies linking it to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.

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 July 1, 2015

Ride on with caution

METRO DETROIT — Whether people are renting inflatable bouncers for parties or are among the more than 40 million carnival and amusement park-goers, real dangers are mixed in with the fun.

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.