C&G Newspapers

Andy Kozlowski

C&G Staff Reporter – Madison-Park News

Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski covers Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Madison District Public Schools, Lamphere Public Schools and Hazel Park Public Schools for the Madison-Park News.

Published March 18, 2011

Madison - Park News

Hazel Park receives SAFER grant

HAZEL PARK — With budget shortfalls forcing many cities to consider cuts to core services, such as police and fire, cities will take aid wherever they can find it.

Hazel Park has one such opportunity, though officials say whether they can use it will depend on whether the police/fire millage is approved by voters May 3.

Published March 18, 2011

Madison - Park News

Hazel Park, Ferndale talk merging fire departments

HAZEL PARK — The dialogue to find service sharing opportunities continues in Hazel Park and Ferndale, where the two cities are eyeing the possibility of consolidating their fire departments into a single millage-funded fire authority.

But even if such a proposal came to fruition, voters wouldn’t see it on a ballot this May or November, said Hazel Park City Manager Ed Klobucher.

“It will take at least a year, and any consolidation proposal would have to be approved by the voters in both communities,” Klobucher said.

Published March 8, 2011

Madison - Park News

Madison Heights holds preliminary budget workshop

For the third year in a row, Madison Heights held a budget proposal workshop seven weeks earlier than usual, trying to find a fiscally sound balance between service and sacrifice at a time when cuts are hard — and finding where to make them even harder.

Concerns were raised about the heavy reliance on reserves should the library millage and/or Headlee override fall through, and should labor union concessions fail to deliver.

Published March 4, 2011

Madison - Park News

Colon cancer fundraiser asks people to ‘save the booty’

MADISON HEIGHTS — Life was just beginning for Jenny when it was taken away.

The Oak Park resident was 22, married two months to the man who’d been her friend since she was 13. So young and so in love — but cancer, ever horrible, didn’t care.

Such is the tragedy that befell Jenny — full name Jennifer Amber Robacker-Bazinet — when her stage 4 colon cancer ended in death. Born Nov. 15, 1987, she passed Oct. 30, 2010, a life all too short, but one that touched the hearts of those around her.

Published March 4, 2011

Madison - Park News

Committee seeks support for Memorial Day Parade

MADISON HEIGHTS — When the crowds came out for the Memorial Day Parade last year, they did so with more than the usual patriotic fervor.

The city had cut parade funding due to a tough budget, so businesses and residents privately raised money to rescue the event. As such, spirits were high — it was truly the people’s parade.

Published February 28, 2011

Madison - Park News

Coalition helps ‘the homeless, the helpless and the hurting’

HAZEL PARK — There’s a new force for good in the neighborhood.

Over the past few months, volunteers from all sectors of the city — church, civic, government, school and nonprofit — have been building a database-driven coalition of services to meet the needs of Hazel Park and its residents.

It’s still growing, but the hope is it will become a reliable safety net for residents.

Published February 28, 2011

Madison - Park News

New executive director starts at Chamber of Commerce

MADISON HEIGHTS/HAZEL PARK — The Madison Heights/Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce has a new person in charge — and with it an injection of young blood.

At 21 years old, Shelby Township resident Alan Horn has been hired for the full-time position of executive director, responsible for bringing together local businesses under the chamber banner, and in doing so, helping them all with professional networking, educational opportunities, member-to-member discounts and more.

Published February 28, 2011

Madison - Park News

Mural contest now under way

HAZEL PARK — Do you have a creative side and a paintbrush handy? The Hazel Park Arts Council is looking to tap local talent — both inside and outside the city — for pieces with themes relevant to Hazel Park and its history as part of the first annual Hazel Park Mural Contest.

Published February 23, 2011

Madison - Park News

Police/fire proposal raised to 9.8 mills to offset state cuts

When Gov. Rick Snyder presented his 2012 executive budget and 2013 projected budget Feb. 17, Hazel Park City Council called an emergency meeting in response to proposed cuts to state revenue sharing, voting to offset it by raising the five-year police/fire millage proposal from 7.8 mills to 9.8 mills, cutting the average taxpayer’s tax bill savings from lower property taxes to only $18.

Published February 21, 2011

Madison - Park News

Two suspects charged in slaying of Hazel Park teen

Two Detroit men have been apprehended in the murder of Jonathan Clements, 19, of Hazel Park, who was fatally shot and robbed in front of his aunt’s home in the 23000 block of Crossley around 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

The first suspect, believed to be the one who shot Clements, is 23-year-old Alexander D. Lyons. He was arraigned before Magistrate James Patterson in Hazel Park 43rd District Court the evening of Feb. 18 on charges of homicide/felony murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Published February 16, 2011

Madison - Park News

Church renders aid to sister synod in Africa

MADISON HEIGHTS — Far away in East Africa, on the shores of the Indian Ocean, is the nation of Tanzania, wherein lies the district of Mbulu.

Here the landscape is harsh, the hardships many. Located just south of the equator, Tanzania alternates between a dry season with periodic droughts and food shortages, and a rainy season in which deforestation causes flooding.

Published February 16, 2011

Madison - Park News

Career fair seeks to match employers, job seekers

Finding a job in today’s economy can be like finding a needle in a haystack. And even for employers, finding the right employee can be hard with so many applicants to sift through.

Looking to stack the odds in everyone’s favor, the Oakland Macomb Job Hub 2011 will bring together companies with job openings for professionals in Southeast Michigan, including at least six local companies.

Published February 16, 2011

Madison - Park News

Resident seeks to start Madison Heights time bank

MADISON HEIGHTS — It’s a common scenario these days.

Rachel Reyst-Carroll, 37, is a Madison Heights resident and mother of four. She works part time as a research consultant at Janet Ray & Associates, but currently is not working enough to make regular pay, and as such is drawing unemployment.

Like many in the down economy, much of her time is spent trying to make ends meet. So there’s less opportunity — and money — to get other things done.

Published February 16, 2011

Madison - Park News

‘The Oscars of hotrods’

Published February 16, 2011

Madison - Park News

Hazel Park teen shot to death in Craigslist deal

Two people met in front of a home in the 23000 block of Crossley. One was looking to buy a phone. Two gunshots were heard, and the seller disappeared. The buyer lay on the ground, dying.

That’s what happened Feb. 15, when Hazel Park police received a 911 call around 7:30 p.m. The caller reported the victim lying in the snow, groaning in pain. Emergency personnel arrived and found the victim had been shot in the upper torso. He was taken to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, where he died from the injury.