Sterling Heights Sentry

Published February 22, 2016

Miniature pits of despair will soon mar roads and commutes in metro Detroit, but some road officials and experts say they will do what they can to make the season as tolerable as possible.

According to Bob Hoepfner, roads director at the Macomb County Department of Roads, the pothole situation has been about the same as last year, though he added that problems might have arisen a bit earlier due to generally milder weather. Frequent transitions between freeze and thaw damage roads at a faster rate, he explained.

Published February 20, 2016

Parkway students give sandwiches to public safety workers

Students from Parkway Christian School in Sterling Heights recently put the fixings on making sandwiches and doing other activities for International Random Acts of Kindness Week.

According to Connie Marchesi, a biblical studies teacher at the school, high school students recently prepared meals for Sterling Heights police officers and firefighters Feb. 17.

Marchesi is also the coordinator of the school’s Student Leadership Institute, which involves students from the middle school and high school grade levels.

Published February 20, 2016

‘Everyone’s Reading’ in metro Detroit

METRO DETROIT — Book lovers across metro Detroit are invited to experience a communitywide reading program sponsored by public libraries in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties.

Now in its 15th year, Everyone’s Reading promotes community dialogue through reading and discussing the same book. This year’s book selection is “Shanghai Girls,” by Lisa See.

Published February 19, 2016

C & G Newspapers builds a case for something sweet

WARREN — When Tiffany Mullen was 7 years old, Child Protective Services removed her from the Mount Clemens home she shared with her mother.

“My mother was an alcoholic. When she was sober, she was an amazing mom. She was beautiful, kind and loving,” Mullen said. “Unfortunately, addiction got its claws in her, and she was not able to get out of it.”

Mullen was placed in foster care at the Shelter Care facility in Mount Clemens. All she had with her were some personal belongings delivered in a garbage bag through her caseworker.

Published February 19, 2016

Comic-Con, where the fun begins

WARREN — Holy demolition, Batman, the Great Lakes Comic-Con is coming up.

The comic book and toy convention will delight collectors 5-9 p.m. Feb. 26 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 27 inside the Sports & Expo Center at the South Campus of Macomb Community College, 14500 E. 12 Mile Road.

The Great Lakes Comic-Con is an annual comic, toy and collectible event in the metro Detroit area. The goals of the GLCC are to provide a venue for collectors and dealers to get together and buy and sell some of their favorite merchandise.

Published February 19, 2016

Bill aims to name Van Dyke/M-53 portion after firefighter

A bill that would name part of Van Dyke Avenue/M-53 after a firefighter who worked for Sterling Heights was introduced in the state Legislature Feb. 18.

State Rep. Henry Yanez, D-Sterling Heights, introduced the bill to rename a strip of Van Dyke/M-53 — between 14 Mile Road and M-59/Hall Road in Sterling Heights — the Eric C. Post Memorial Highway.

Published February 19, 2016

Council majority votes to reject waste contract bids

A decision last fall to open up the bidding process for Sterling Heights’ waste hauling contract brought back some potentially cheaper rates, but a narrow City Council majority voted to reject the contract bids so it could explore further service options.

Published February 18, 2016

Friday fish fry locations around metro Detroit

Berkley American Legion Post 374
2079 12 Mile Road, Berkley

Published February 16, 2016

UCS diplomas to honor bilingualism

Upcoming Utica Community Schools high school graduates who speak more than one language proficiently may now be eligible to get an extra certification on their diploma.

At a Feb. 8 UCS Board of Education meeting, school board members unanimously voted to attach a Seal of Global Language to high school diplomas for students who can prove they can speak more than one language. Besides the gold diploma seal, additional benefits include a special commencement cord and a notation on the students’ high school transcripts.

Published February 16, 2016

Diverse groups sign up for city Cultural Exchange

Sterling Heights is inviting the public to join a celebration of ethnic differences during its upcoming 2016 Cultural Exchange.

This year, the annual event, which is sponsored by the Sterling Heights Ethnic Community Committee, will return to the Sterling Heights Senior Center March 4.

According to Community Relations Director Bridget Doyle, dozens of cultural and ethnic backgrounds have been represented at the Cultural Exchange, where visitors become acquainted with the world’s food and customs.

Published February 16, 2016

Sterling Heights history book is in the making

In preparation for its semicentennial celebrations in 2018, Sterling Heights recently agreed to a deal with a book publisher to take a retrospective look at the city’s half-century of history.

During a Feb. 2 meeting, the Sterling Heights City Council unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement between the city and a publishing firm to produce a book about Sterling Heights’ history. The deal was passed in the council’s consent agenda.

Published February 15, 2016

Ford shows its stuff, and materials at auto show

In order to build a car, you need the right materials. And over at Ford Motor Co.’s exhibit at last month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, some of the automaker’s toughest, lightest and most sustainable materials shared the spotlight with its new, upcoming vehicles.

Some displays showed sustainable materials that Ford says it is using or testing in vehicles. It says algae foam is being tested as an alternative to oil-based foams. It also says using soy foam cuts down on the company’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Published February 12, 2016

Library bookstore undergoes renovation

The Sterling Heights Public Library will soon have more in store for its patrons after closing the book on the remodeling of its Friends Used But Sterling Bookstore.

According to the city, library officials plan to shut down the bookstore Feb. 11-15 for remodeling. The bookstore will reopen Feb. 16, and staff will offer cookies and hold a special sale in which red-dotted books only cost $1 per bag, according to the city.

Published February 10, 2016

County honors third-graders for eco-themed calendar art

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Macomb County third-graders who have a second-nature knack for art were recently honored for their contributions to an environmentally themed calendar.

The Macomb Intermediate School District gave out awards Jan. 28 for its 2016 Environmental Art Competition, including awards for its 2016 Environmental Calendar Contest. According to organizers, the contest’s purpose is to create artwork that demonstrates the importance of green living and recycling.

Published February 9, 2016

Ike to tell Ariel’s tale with ‘The Little Mermaid’

Eisenhower High School students are looking “under the sea” for theatrical inspiration.

The school’s performing arts department will present its latest musical, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” March 4-6.

Published February 9, 2016

Sterling residents ramp up preparations for Autorama

Sterling Heights residents are steering their plans toward making their vehicles ready for show at the 64th annual Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama.

The hot rod show will run Feb. 26-28 at Cobo Center in Detroit. Autorama is affiliated with Championship Auto Shows Inc. and the Michigan Hot Rod Association.

Event organizers said visitors can expect to see more than 800 vehicles on display ranging from hot rods and custom vehicles to motorcycles and trucks.

Published February 9, 2016

City instructed to change sign ordinance

In order to conform to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the city of Sterling Heights should take steps to amend its sign ordinance, according to the city’s legal counsel.

During a Jan. 26 special meeting on strategic planning, city officials discussed a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, and its ripple effects on municipal law.

Published February 8, 2016

Tech and algorithms push transportation innovation

Whether it’s through ride-sharing or computer assistance, the future of innovative transportation was revealed a bit more at last month’s North American International Auto Show.

At the Ford exhibit, Patrick Ellis, who handles Ford’s connected vehicle research, explained a little about a ride-sharing shuttle service that his company is currently testing out in beta.

The concept, branded as Go Ride Intelligent Shuttle, is being developed as a mobility option for people in urban environments who otherwise might not have access to a car.

Published February 5, 2016

Economic plans focus on industry, Lakeside

The future of Lakeside Mall and an upcoming Sterling Enterprise Park were two of the big economic development issues that city officials discussed during a recent strategic planning session.

At a Jan. 26 meeting, Sterling Heights City Council members listened to economic development objectives through presentations by the city’s economic development consultant, Luke Bonner, and City Development Director Denice Gerstenberg.

Published February 3, 2016

City, chamber look for sharp Sterling Edge nominations

A partnership between the city of Sterling Heights and the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry is poised to be a boon to some local businesses.

Organizers are already laying out the groundwork for the fifth-annual Michigan Week Business Expo and Sterling Edge Awards Luncheon, which will take place May 18 at the Wyndham Garden Sterling Heights hotel, on Van Dyke Avenue.