NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e Sp
October 22, 2025 candgnews.com
Macomb County and Grosse Pointe papers
State house bill would support foster animals
Meet the inspiration for World War II memorial’s Rosie the Riveter statue
BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI
ROYAL OAK — The image of Frances Mauro Masters, 103, of Chesterfield Township, will be immortalized as the symbol of the Greatest Generation’s homefront workers when a bronze statue made in her likeness as a Rosie the Riveter will be added Nov. 11 to the Michigan World War II Legacy Memorial in Royal Oak. Mauro Masters, better known as “Rosie Fran,” grew up in Detroit during the Great Depression. As one of five children born to Italian immigrants, she was taught the value of hard work to support not just herself, but her family. When she graduated from high school in 1940, her first priority was to find a job to help support her family. While working at a local grocery store and taking night courses to learn to use a comptometer, Mauro Masters learned of a job at the Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant. “I had two brothers in the service, and my future husband, he joined the Marines at 17, and I thought, ‘I want to work to help win the war,’” she said of her reason to apply. Mauro Masters and her two sisters, Angeline and Josephine, were all hired on the spot for the plant. She said they all worked in different departments, as they were not allowed to work together. “Out of the three of us, I was the only riveter. They worked in small parts, but I was the only riveter,” Mauro Masters said. “I worked in small parts for the
akozlowski@candgnews.com
LANSING — A bipartisan bill proposed by state Rep. Mike McFall aims to provide financial relief for those who foster animals. If approved by the state Legislature, House Bill 5063 will provide a $50 credit per animal fostered for a minimum of seven days, with another $50 for every 30 additional days of fostering, for up to five animals per year. The program would begin with the 2026 tax year and adjust the credit annually for inflation. Verification would be required from qualifying nonprofits or municipal shelters. “I’m a big animal lover, and I follow on social media a lot of rescues and local shelters, and I see constant calls for fosters because they’re overflowing with animals,” said McFall, D-Hazel Park. House Bill 5063 is co-sponsored by state Rep. Joe Aragona, RClinton Township. It was developed in collaboration with Michigan Humane and aims to shore up support for foster homes. Proponents say with the cost of living rising, more people are being forced to choose between paying their bills and keeping their pets, increasing the need for foster families. In addition, there are situations where people are temporarily unable to care for their pets due to medical emergencies, domestic violence or other circumstances. In such cases, many have sought relief through Michigan Humane’s Safety Net program, which finds foster homes for pets until their owners are ready to home them again. The demand for the program has been high. In the first half of 2025, Michigan Humane’s program received 441 inquiries about the service. But due to the limited availability of homes able to accept animals on short notice, only 42 pets from 21 families were fostered. “There are two angles here,” McFall said. “We’re trying to help relieve some of the foster needs for shelters and rescues, but also there’s a huge need for temporary fosters for people who still want their animal, but they need someone to take care of it briefly for them. “I’m sure families would much rather keep the pet while using See ANIMALS on page 4A
FRANCES MAURO MASTERS IS 103 BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
See MAURO on page 6A
TOP: Fran Mauro Masters, 103, aka “Rosie Fran,” pictured here at her Chesterfield Township home Oct. 10, worked as a riveter in the Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti during World War II. BOTTOM: Mementos and tributes are displayed on the wall. Photos by Patricia O’Blenes