St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Blues rocker Laith Al-Saadi will perform July 31 in a drive-in concert at the Macomb Center for Performing Arts in Clinton Township.

Published July 29, 2020

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts to host drive-in concert

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Audiences might know Laith Al-Saadi from watching him perform at venues around the state, or maybe fans will recognize him from season 10 of “The Voice” on NBC.

Smoke billows up from fires on two boats at Michigan Harbor July 28.

Published July 29, 2020

No injuries reported in St. Clair Shores boat fires

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Witnesses described hearing a “boom and a whoosh” as a 22-foot Bayliner pulled away from Ken’s Marine Service at Michigan Harbor and burst into flames, according to St. Clair Shores Fire Chief James Piper.

Becky Skates, of Royal Oak, dropped off many bags of plastic for recycling at the SOCRRA Recycling Drop-Off Center after making an appointment July 24.

Published July 28, 2020

SOCRRA re-opens recycling drop-off center, by appointment only

METRO DETROIT — For the past four months, eco-conscious consumers have been stockpiling their paper, cardboard, glass and plastic containers while SOCRRA’s Recycling Drop-Off Center was closed due to COVID-19.

Published July 28, 2020

Beat the summer heat

METRO DETROIT — Seemingly endless weeks of hot, steamy weather along with a few intense storms have dramatically increased the use of air conditioning, and at times, cut power altogether this summer.

Lynne Smyles reads from one of her Michigan History Nightmares books at a Lakeview Public Schools elementary a few years ago. She completed the final volume in 2018.

Published July 27, 2020

Former teacher-turned-author puts spin on history

CLINTON TOWNSHIP/ST. CLAIR SHORES — Some teachers never stop educating. Just ask Lynne Smyles.

Published July 24, 2020

Despite creativity and support, St. Clair Shores businesses struggle through pandemic

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Payroll protection plans, streamlined processes for outdoor seating permits and stimulus packages have all tried to take the bite out of the economic slump brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but some local business owners say it’s not enough.

On July 15, Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds Fred Miller, left, and Macomb County Director of Elections Michael Grix took delivery of a shipment of personal protective equipment to be used by local municipalities in the 343 voting precincts for the Aug. 4 primary election.

Published July 24, 2020

St. Clair Shores, Macomb County clerks prepare for upcoming elections

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Mary Kotowski has been the clerk in St. Clair Shores for more than two decades, and in that time she has never issued as many absentee ballots as she has in 2020.

The Tax-Increment Finance Authority is investigating working with a design company to determine improvements to the fishing pier at Blossom Heath Park.

Published July 24, 2020

TIFA looks to redo fishing pier at Blossom Heath Park

ST. CLAIR SHORES — High water levels are causing damage to the shoreline along the fishing pier and lagoon at Blossom Heath Park, but the Tax-Increment Finance Authority is looking to work with the city on repairs and enhancements.

After the July 10-11 rainfall, 26.8 million gallons of treated combined sewer overflow was discharged from the Chapaton Retention Basin. Other retention basins in Macomb and Oakland counties also discharged into drains that lead to Lake St. Clair.

Published July 24, 2020

Debate continues over treated combined sewer overflows into Lake St. Clair

MACOMB COUNTY — When a record rainfall of more than 2 inches hit the metro Detroit area July 10, it caused basements to back up, streets to flood and local utilities to retain — then treat and discharge what couldn’t be retained — combined sewer runoff into Lake St. Clair.

Published July 24, 2020

St. Clair Shores approves Hazard Mitigation Plan

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Explaining that the plan is a way for the city and Macomb County to prepare for disasters, Fire Chief James Piper was before St. Clair Shores City Council July 20 to ask it to adopt the 2020-2025 Macomb County Hazard Mitigation Plan as its own official plan.

Published July 24, 2020

Experts warn seniors to be wary of scammers

METRO DETROIT — Senior citizens are a favorite target for many scammers, and they have plenty to watch out for both from criminals and from unscrupulous businesses who seek to take advantage of them.

Published July 24, 2020

County, local clerks prepare for upcoming elections

MACOMB COUNTY — The COVID-19 pandemic is not stopping county and municipal clerks from properly preparing for the Aug. 4 primary election.

Published July 23, 2020

Experts brace for problems as eviction and foreclosure moratorium ends

METRO DETROIT — On April 1, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order was to last until June when it was extended to last until July 15.

Published July 22, 2020

Lights, a door and a good connection are key to working from home

METRO DETROIT — Across the United States, about 5 million employees work from home at least half of the time, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey. That number has likely been pushed higher now — at least temporarily, but in some cases permanently — by a shift in the way companies do business in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buses drop off students for the first day of class at Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology during a past school year.

Published July 21, 2020

Pediatrician group, district, governor talk about school plans

METRO DETROIT — One group of professionals is hoping students will head back to school in the fall, despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

Published July 21, 2020

Shades of Pink fundraiser moves from zoo to Zoom

METRO DETROIT — The nonprofit Shades of Pink Foundation, which provides temporary financial assistance to breast cancer patients, had three weeks to produce a virtual evening of entertainment, fundraising, celebration and support.

Published July 20, 2020

MHSAA announces plan to start fall sports

METRO DETROIT — The Michigan High School Athletic Association announced July 17 its plan to start fall sports as scheduled.

Published July 17, 2020

Museum quality artwork comes to St. Clair Shores

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Although museums, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, are reopening their doors to visitors, St. Clair Shores residents don’t have to travel far from home to see several pieces right in their neighborhood.

Published July 17, 2020

Shores schools using dog days of summer to prepare a roadmap for fall

ST. CLAIR SHORES — It’s officially summer vacation, but school administrators locally and throughout the state are using the time not to take a break, but to prepare for as many contingencies as possible for the next school year.