Sterling Heights Sentry

Published April 24, 2013

Sterling Heights is on the path to fixing a few of its crummiest streets this year, after the Sterling Heights City Council agreed to amend the city budget.

At an April 15 meeting, the City Council voted 6-0 to conduct an estimated $1.15 million in asphalt resurfacing work on sections of four streets as part of the 2013-14 proposed budget. Councilman Paul Smith was absent at the time of the vote.

Published April 16, 2013

Defense business, city team up to fight vehicle corrosion

As part of a free test run, Sterling Heights officials are trusting a defense contractor to combat vehicle rust.

City officials met with employees of VSE Corp. in Sterling Heights April 11 to draw attention to a plan to potentially help city vehicles resist corrosion.

Greg Bock, a program manager at VSE’s systems engineering division, said he wants to apply his company’s anti-corrosion spray for use in civilian circumstances.

He said he hopes to become the city’s partner in extending the lives of city vehicles while saving taxpayer money.

Published April 10, 2013

Luddites’ latest is a ‘Twisted’ take on acoustic music

After almost 21 years together, the Luddites still haven’t suffered the ubiquitous “creative differences” that have shattered bands less than half their age.

The 11-piece acoustic group will celebrate the release of their fourth CD, “Twisted In,” with a concert starting at 9 p.m. April 13 at PJ’s Lager House. Bass player David Giovannucci, one of the original Luddites from those early days in August 1992 when they started as a five-piece acoustic act, said friendship and mutual respect have kept them going all these years.

Published April 10, 2013

The lesser-known benefit of recycling

In the bin

Come garbage day, most curbside recycling bins are stuffed with paper, plastic and glass bottles, cans, and cardboard, but there’s a whole lot more that can be added to the heap.

Published March 27, 2013

Despite cold temperatures and damaging fungus, local nurseries are getting ready for gardening season

Though spring seems to have lost its way en route to Michigan, it won’t be long before temperatures finally rise and the ground thaws to welcome new plants and flowers into eagerly awaited gardens around metro Detroit.

Just like in fashion boutiques, there will be lots of trends that customers will be clamoring for at their local nursery this year as they plan their landscape design. According to Erma Rhadigan, co-owner of Ray Wiegand’s Nursery in Macomb Township, this year’s most popular bloom choices are going to be bright, warm colors.

Published March 27, 2013

Spring into projects: Seasonal cleaning can include much more

With spring here — at least according to the calendar — many homeowners look to the state of their houses after the long, dirty winter and aren’t happy with what they see.

Carpets are soiled by salty boots; driveways start cracking from the months-long freeze/thaw cycle; and muddy messes are exposed in backyards that will be used for entertaining, come summer.

Now is the time to fix those problems, according to local contractors, before warm-weather fun beckons and the summer home- improvement rush begins.

Published March 22, 2013

Mrs. Macomb crowned Mrs. Michigan

STERLING HEIGHTS — The Heights’ own Laura Zdravkovski was crowned Mrs. Michigan America 2013 March 9, setting the stage for her to compete in the Mrs. America pageant in August.

“This position is very surreal to me,” Zdravkovski said recently. “I’m very honored, and I’m very humbled.”

Zdravkovski, who represented Macomb County in the pageant, said she initially didn’t realize she was named first place.

Published October 30, 2012

Residents want walkway locked after hours

A walkway meant as a convenience has become decidedly inconvenient for homeowners in a neighborhood near 18 Mile and Van Dyke.

Armed with petitions signed by fellow residents of Buckingham Estates, David Lemaux approached City Council earlier this month seeking partial closure of the walkway between 8691 and 8703 Hamilton East, which links his subdivision with a network of condominiums and apartments.

Published August 8, 2012

Capturing summer in a jar

Can do

Eileen Haraminac will teach several upcoming food preservation courses at the Macomb MSU Extension office at 21885 Dunham, Assembly Room A, in Clinton Township:

• Aug. 18: hot water bath jams and jellies.

Published June 26, 2012

Doctor’s orders: Read daily

Heart: steady. Ears: clear. Temperature: normal.

Yet, all of the plush patients present at a June 18 Teddy Bear Clinic at Lakeside Mall appeared to require a similar remedy: more reading.

So declared Cindy Macks, Erin Miller and Carla Hardies of Reach Out and Read Michigan, who performed “checkups” with great fanfare on young visitors’ teddy bears, horses, puppies and other plush friends as part of Lakeside’s recently launched Monday Fun Day program.

Published March 28, 2012

Banking on the ‘Bucket Bracket’

Necessity, the adage declares, is the mother of invention.

Surveying his cluttered garage years ago, then-Sterling Heights resident Chris Mazzola certainly recognized the necessity, and the invention followed: the Bucket Bracket, a device that fastens to the wall to suspend 5-gallon pails at an angle for simple storage.

“I had junk in my garage — it drove me nuts,” said Mazzola, a carpenter of 25 years who relied on pails to hold virtually everything. “You couldn’t see in the buckets. I was stacking them on top of each other.”

Published March 21, 2012

Lawmakers, animal advocates seek legislation to stop puppy mills

As pet lovers snuggle up with their furry friends, many may not think about where their animals came from before they found them listed online or at a pet store. But the Michigan Humane Society estimates that 99 percent of pet store puppies are bred by large-scale breeders, or puppy mills, some of which are known for their cruel and inhumane treatment of animals to maximize profit.

Published March 14, 2012

A whiskey slamming, beer guzzling good time

An electronic sign on the wall reads “10 days, 14 hours, 15 minutes and 4.32 seconds.”

“That’s the countdown until the end of my life,” laughed Melisa Valentine, 25, of Ferndale, a bartender at the Blarney Stone Pub in Berkley.

She’s kidding of course. The countdown marks the time left before St. Patrick’s Day, the annual holiday many celebrate by bellying up to the bar. But for those tasked with handling the crowds and their beverage orders from behind the bar, it’s a far different experience.

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 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 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 December 22, 2011

The end of an era for Riverland Kroger

“Thank you for calling your friendly Riverland Kroger store,” the automated voice answering the phone chirps now.

But come Jan. 7, 2012, that friendly store will be no more.

After several decades, Kroger plans to close its location in the Riverland Plaza shopping center, at Riverland and Van Dyke, south of Hall Road.

Dale Hollandsworth with Kroger corporate communications called it a “last resort” decision that’s been mulled for several years, and with the current lease expiring, it’s finally being executed.

Published December 20, 2011

Ethnic Community Committee names 2011 Diversity Distinction winners

Flip on WNZK 690 AM in the early afternoon and you may hear the voice of Sterling Heights resident Nick Najjar, speaking in Arabic about everyday issues.

“We talk about laws. We talk about real estate — talk about everything that’s important in the community,” said Najjar, who emigrated from Iraq 30 years ago. “That’s our job, to educate the community, because we have a lot of newcomers. They don’t know the rules and regulations of this country.”

Published December 14, 2011

Crafter gives back after health crisis

After Shelby Township crafter Margie Conn waged a successful battle against breast cancer, she decided to use her skills to help others.

“I had to give back,” she said. “I got involved with Relay for Life. I am always looking for a way to contribute.”

The winner of the first C & G Newspapers Holiday Craft Contest, Conn received 245 votes for her repurposed cigar box, decorated with keys and memorabilia. Crafting the decorative storage boxes involves weeks of work layering paints and resin.

Published December 7, 2011

Have yourself a merry Michigan Christmas

Looking for a few more gifts on your holiday shopping list? Choosing a Michigan-made item or purchasing from a small, local business can be a win-win — recipients get to unwrap something unique, while shoppers help boost Michigan’s economy.

“If we’re going to make an impact with our dollars, this is the biggest impact we can have — at this time of the year,” said Lisa Diggs, founder of Buy Michigan Now.