11/24/25 Woodward Talk

Ferndale police sever partnership with Flock Safety cameras

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — The city of Ferndale’s relationship with Flock Safety cameras has come to an end.

The Ferndale Police Department released a statement on social media Nov. 13 that, after reflecting on feedback from the community, it was ending its partnership with Flock.

“The Ferndale Police Department aims to balance ethical standards with community expectations while equipping investigators with effective tools to solve crime,” police stated. “The Department will provide updates to the public as new information becomes available. Thank you to the Ferndale community for sharing your voice.”

The decision comes after conversations and meetings that the city and police have had on whether to continue working with Flock and use its auto-

See CAMERAS on page 5A

will look to continue using automated license plate readers in the city by finding another partner to use its

Suspect arrested in Ferndale bank robbery

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — A 68-year-old Detroit man was arrested for allegedly committing an armed robbery at a bank in Ferndale earlier this month.

On Nov. 14, Ferndale police arrested Alvin Myron Murray for allegedly robbing a bank on Woodward Avenue several days prior. Police believe Murray also robbed banks in multiple other cities.

According to the Ferndale Police Department, officers responded to an alarm going off at approximately 1:10 p.m. Nov. 11 at First Merchants Bank, located at 22635 Woodward Ave. It was here where Murray allegedly gave a teller a note demanding money. Murray received $400 and walked out of the bank, according to police.

As police arrived and began interviewing people on the scene, Detective Lt. Dan Kuzdzal said they were informed that Murray also was believed to have committed armed robbery at a bank in Ann Arbor on Nov. 7.

Police were able to obtain a warrant from Oakland County to arrest Murray. Ferndale worked with neighboring jurisdictions to help track him, including the Ann Arbor and Southfield police departments, and the Oakland County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force.

“We were monitoring our Flock cameras, and it was last Thursday, Nov. 13, where Mr. Murray’s ve-

See MURRAY on page 6A

Local cities ready to start season with holiday events

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

OAKLAND COUNTY — Local cities are ready to light up their downtowns for the holiday season.

Ferndale, Berkley and Pleasant Ridge each have Christmas and holiday events coming up soon, whether it’s a visit from Santa Claus, a parade or lighting a tree.

Santa’s tour of Ferndale will begin in Wilson Park, where he’ll be from 1 to 1:15 p.m. He’ll then travel to Geary Park and meet with people there from 1:30 to 1:50 p.m. Finally, Santa will make his way to from

Ferndale will be hosting its annual Santa at Schiffer event from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Schiffer Park.

See HOLIDAY on page 6A

Numerous local agencies involved in search for Border Patrol escapee

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

OAKLAND COUNTY — Multiple local police agencies were involved in responding to an arrest and later escape of an individual from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

An arrest made by the Border Patrol was caught on video and made its way around social media on Monday, Nov. 17. The video showed a Border Patrol agent who

had used a Taser on a woman and placed her in the back seat of a vehicle in Oak Park. This occurred after a man who was in handcuffs reportedly had escaped and run away from the scene.

The incident originated in Huntington Woods, where the Public Safety Department pulled over two individuals, a man and a woman, for driving 20 miles over the speed limit, according to Director Andrew Pazuchowski, who also said the female driver was not licensed and the vehicle had no in-

surance.

“When they were running on LEIN, Law Enforcement Information Network, she had warrants for the Border Patrol,” Pazuchowski said. “They responded and they also, through their ways of identification, I think a face recognition device they used, they had documents of who he was. He had false documents on him, too, the passenger. So, they’re familiar with both of them. Bottom line is they had warrants for both, and they took them both without incident in our

town. They were fine. We got them released to them and they left.”

The warrants in question were a deportation order for the woman signed by a judge and a detainer for the man.

After the Border Patrol took the two away, at some point there was an incident that took place in Oak Park where an officer was assaulted, the man escaped police custody in handcuffs, and the use of the Taser took place.

CRIME WATCH

Police arrest drunken driver

BERKLEY — A 35-year-old Wichita, Kansas, man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at 11:48 p.m. Nov. 11 near West 12 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway.

According to the report, police noticed the man driving his vehicle in an unusual manner, including hitting and driving over curbs. Upon making contact with the driver, the officer reportedly noticed the driver had slurred speech, smelled of intoxicants, and had slow and “uneasy” movements in the car.

The man performed poorly on sobriety tests and refused to take a breath test, police said. He was arrested for OWI. Police stated that the man also resisted and tensed his body during the arrest to make it harder to place him into the patrol vehicle. The man was said in the report to have acted belligerently while in custody and to have made derogatory comments to officers. He at some point did take a breath test, police said, giving a result of 0.124% blood alcohol content.

Driver crashes into restaurant

FERNDALE — A woman accidentally drove her vehicle into the front of a Ferndale business at 3 p.m. Nov. 12.

According to the Ferndale Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Red Olive Restaurant, 750 W. Nine Mile Road.

Police stated that they found that a Detroit woman in her 70s had accidentally accelerated forward in her car, jumped a curb and drove into the Red Olive. Officers reported that there was some structure damage to the vestibule of the business and some windows that had been shattered as a result of the crash.

There were no injuries reported to any of the customers inside the restaurant, nor the driver of the vehicle.

— Mike Koury

Escapee

from page 3A

Attempts to reach a representative from the Border Patrol were unsuccessful.

The Border Patrol placed a dispatch call to neighboring agencies at around 3:50 p.m. about the male suspect running in the area of 10 Mile Road and Roanoke Avenue. Among the responding agencies were police officers from Berkley, Huntington Woods and Pleasant Ridge.

Pazuchowski said Huntington Woods only acted as a perimeter and posted by the Detroit Zoo in case the suspect backtracked and ran on foot across the highway from 10 Mile and Roanoke.

The Berkley Public Safety Department released a statement that it also assisted with establishing a perimeter to help with the apprehension effort.

“Our department did not take any further action related to this specific situation beyond providing perimeter support,” the statement reads. “It is important to note that BDPS personnel were not involved in the original arrests and had no contact with the two individuals or with USCBP; therefore,

we do not have additional information regarding that incident.”

Berkley also stated that it “routinely collaborates with surrounding local, state, and federal agencies in providing mutual aid across police, fire, and EMS operations.”

“We understand and respect the concerns expressed by members of our community, and we remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals we are sworn to protect and serve,” the statement reads. “We will continue to work cooperatively with other agencies while upholding all legal obligations and acting in the best interest of our community.”

Pleasant Ridge Police Chief Rob Ried responded to the call from the Border Patrol. He said the search included the use of a drone and K-9 unit, but as of the night of Nov. 17, the man was not found.

“The reason Pleasant Ridge got involved at all was they were at Roanoke and 10 Mile, and he was last seen running eastbound at that point. So, I went over there because if you’re running eastbound, you’re a few hundred feet from Pleasant Ridge,” the chief said.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

Cameras

mated license plate readers. The ALPRs used by Ferndale capture images of license plates to detect whether the vehicle is involved in an investigation and if police should proceed with a traffic stop.

Ferndale installed over a dozen Flock cameras in February 2024, when the city was involved in a pilot program to decide if working with the company brought positive results.

The Police Department detailed in a meeting this past September that the cameras did help yield results in several high-profile cases, including shootings and homicides.

The issue with Flock that many in the city had was its use of data collection and how its policies violated Ferndale’s own policies on ALPRs, in terms of not sharing information with federal agencies.

In June 2025, Flock changed its policy so that searches related to immigration and abortion were prohibited systemwide, and image sharing is granted if there is an exact plate hit when participating in a nationwide network search. Because Ferndale was opted into a national lookup, another agency that also was opted in could access the city’s network and look anything up as long as it had a plate number. This brought concern from residents on what could be accessed by these agencies.

Capt. Casey O’Loughlin said the national lookup being turned on when it wasn’t supposed to be was a concern with Flock, and it’s his understanding that the department didn’t know they had done that.

A representative from Flock Safety could not be reached for comment at press time.

O’Loughlin reiterated Police Chief Dennis Emmi’s words about the department’s belief in the importance of ALPR technology.

“The department had put a year and a half into studying the technology, picking a vendor, implementing a program, building a policy, and then it took months just to get things installed,” he said. “There’s quite a process. You have to get permits from MDOT (the Michigan Department of Transportation) for certain roads. So it was a lengthy process. It took a lot of time, a lot of hours, and once it was up and running, it proved helpful in some very important investigations.”

The plan was for the city to hold multiple conversations with the community on its relationship with Flock, leading to a vote by the City Council on Nov. 24, where the council would decide whether to continue with the company.

However, the community meeting on Nov. 13 began with Emmi announcing that the department was severing its relationship with Flock, basing the decision on everything from its pilot program to conversations with Ferndale staff, City Council and community members.

“I am still an ardent supporter of ALPR technology in terms of investigating crime in 2025,” Emmi said. “This is standard technology used across the country, internationally. All of our neighbors are using some type of ALPR technology. So, we really do want to focus and pivot the conversation to the use of this technology in our community as we try to improve the safety and solve crime in our community.”

Mayor Raylon Leaks-May was surprised when she first learned that information could be shared with other agencies, as

she had been told that there would be no access to other community agencies to be able to utilize that information without the city’s permission.

“I didn’t like that,” she said. “I was starting to feel not as confident about utilizing the ALPR service through Flock after that because I felt that (if) things could happen without my knowledge like that, the Police Department’s knowledge like that, then it’s probably not a company we wanted to go with. However, the Police Department’s decision to end that contract with Flock was actually theirs … and I wasn’t upset about it. I think that the community was bringing up all kinds of information and concerns regarding having a relationship with the company. And I found that even I started to have some concerns with having a relationship with that company.”

Mayor Pro Tem Laura Mikulski said she had been leaning against continuing the partnership with Flock before the Police Department’s decision.

“Flock is a very powerful tool, but it didn’t align with our ALPR policy,” she said. “Our ALPR policy had stated that

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we wanted to make sure that anybody that we were sharing our data with, we had an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with them and that they aligned with kind of our stance on how ALPRs are used, and unfortunately it came out during this whole process of having conversation with council and having a conversation with the public that Flock had shared our data nationally, and that means that we were sharing our data completely in violation of our stated policy that was adopted by council and had been vetted and approved by our police force. So, it was a real gut punch, and I think that Flock could be a beneficial tool, but the unfortunate reality is, as a partner, they weren’t a good partner.”

The city has been looking into a new ALPR system. One company name that has come up is Axon, which provides the Police Department’s body cameras and in-car cameras.

A discussion and possible vote on a new ALPR system was scheduled for the City Council’s meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24, at City Hall, 300 E. Nine Mile Road.

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Schiffer Park at 2 p.m., where the kids in attendance can get a photo with St. Nick.

“We are excited because we’re having alternative activities for folks to do,” said Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Jennie Beeker. “We’ve got pictures that will be available with Santa. We’re going to have some other just family photo opportunities. We wanted to make sure that it’s inclusive for families and adults and anyone really; whether you celebrate with Santa or not, you’ve got a place to come and celebrate in downtown Ferndale.”

At Schiffer Park, kids will be able to write letters to Santa, partake in a s’mores station and make crafts with help from the Ferndale Parks and Recreation Department.

Beeker said they’ll be working on having different photo stations for Santa at Schiffer to make the visits for the kids special.

For Beeker, holding events like Santa at Schiffer is important because they make experiences available for people, whether the visitors to Ferndale’s downtown are there to spend money or not.

“We are always cognizant that it can be difficult for people over the holidays, like trying to find where to go, where to spend, and we want to make memories available for people for free in Ferndale,” Beeker said. “We do prioritize making events accessible for everyone, and we use it as an opportunity to showcase our downtown. So, we always are

encouraging folks, if you can shop local and small this holiday season, please do so, because that makes such an impact for those dollars going back into your community. It makes those shops able to stay open for the rest of the year and to keep that vibrant downtown that we all enjoy for 365 days a year, and then especially in the holiday season.”

Over in Pleasant Ridge, the city will be hosting its tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at Memorial Park near City Hall, 23925 Woodward Ave.

Berkley will see the return of its Holiday Lights Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6. Organized by the Berkley Holiday Lights Parade Committee and the Berkley Junior Women’s Club, the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. at 12 Mile Road and Bacon Avenue and continue down 12 Mile to Coolidge Highway, where it will end at the gazebo at City Hall, 3338 Coolidge Highway.

At City Hall is where Berkley’s annual tree lighting ceremony will take place, led by Santa after he rides in the parade. Before the parade takes off, there will be activities in the downtown starting at 1 p.m. This includes a petting zoo, cookie decorating, a warming station and a s’mores station.

Berkley Director of Communications Caitlin Flora said the parade always has been a great kick off to the holiday season

“It’s just a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and enjoy the start of the holiday season,” she said. “There is going to be a holiday market (on North Griffith Avenue) with some vendors. So, that will be really cool to see, too. … it’s just a really fun and special time for everyone.”

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

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Murray

from page 1A

hicle started hitting on neighboring Flock cameras,” Kuzdzal said. “We had a task force go out and locate Mr. Murray, where he was actually located in Southfield. He was taken into custody without incident at 12 Mile and Southfield Road.”

Kuzdzal said that Murray allegedly committed a bank robbery in Mount Clements the same day he was arrested. When he was detained, police said they also found evidence related to the Ferndale robbery.

“The same articles of clothing that Mr. Murray was wearing when he committed the robbery in Ferndale, that clothing was located inside that vehicle,” Kuzdzal said.

Murray was arraigned on Nov. 14 in the 43rd District Court on one count of felony bank robbery. He was given a $250,000 cash or surety bond, no 10%, and was scheduled to appear next in court at 1 p.m. Nov. 24.

According to the 43rd District Court, Murray did not have an attorney at press time.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

13650 E. Eleven Mile Rd. Warren, MI 48089

NEWS & NOTES

FIRE MARSHAL RETIRES

FERNDALE — The city of Ferndale recognized and honored Fire Marshal Dennis Barr as he retired from his job Oct. 23 after 25 years of service.

According to a news release, Barr joined the Ferndale Fire Department on Sept. 9, 2000. He later became a sergeant on April 15, 2015, and was promoted to fire marshal in January 2020.

The city credited Barr as instrumental in enhancing fire prevention, life safety education, code enforcement, and the community’s overall well-being. This is in addition to his mentorship of many firefighters and public safety professionals.

“The Ferndale Fire Department thanks Dennis for his expertise, dedication, big personality, energy, humor, and the heart he brings to every situation,” the news release states. “He has left a lasting impression on colleagues and the community. Everyone recognizes his strong commitment to the department. Congratulations, Dennis, from all of us at the City. We wish you the best in your retirement. You will be missed.”

FERNDALE BUYS AMBULANCE

FERNDALE — The Ferndale City Council approved the purchase of a new ambulance for $391,788 at its Nov. 10 meeting. According to city documents, the call volume for Fire Department response has steadily increased each year, which has created a need for a second ambulance at Fire Station No. 2.

“With response time and community coverage priorities, a fleet to support staffing at both stations is instrumental,” the city stated in the documents.

The city currently has three ambulances, but it plans to sell one that has close to 100,000 miles on it and put the funds toward the purchase of the new one. The estimated resale value of the ambulance is approximately $50,000.

BerkBuster launches at library

BERKLEY — The Berkley Public Library held its launch event Nov. 14 for its new BerkBuster attraction.

The library recently redecorated the media room of its building with the theme of a Blockbuster video store. The reimagining of the media room, made possible by the Friends of the Berkley Public Library, has the aim of attracting more people to visit and use the library.

According to the library, more than 200 people attended the launch event.

BERKLEY HOSTS FOOD DRIVE

BERKLEY — The city of Berkley is hosting a donation drive in partnership with the Berkley Cares Food Pantry. The city is accepting through Dec. 20 unexpired, nonperishable food and toiletry donations at any municipal building or the Vibe Credit Union. For more information about the food pantry, visit berkleycaresfoodpantry.com. People who seek to donate are asked to drop off any items in a plastic or paper bag, not loose cans. Anyone with questions can contact the city at communications@berkleymi.gov or by calling (248) 658-3333.

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARITIES & NONPROFITS

Seeing Beyond Limits: How Dr. John Jacobi Helps Patients Thrive With Low Vision

ones’ faces, and even drive in some cases.”

Low vision doesn’t mean the end of independence—and it certainly doesn’t mean the end of hope. At Beyond Low Vision in Novi, Dr. John Jacobi is transforming lives by helping patients with vision loss regain the ability to do the things they love.

Groups

work to ensure there is

‘No Child Without a Christmas’

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — The holiday season is upon us, and families all over are preparing for the next few months of fun, food and gifts. But some families are wondering how they are going to pull it off for their children.

To help, local charities and nonprofit organizations come together each year to supply families in need with gifts and food for the holiday season.

For the 31st year, the Troy Police Department is hosting “Operation Blue Sleigh,” a program aimed at helping families in need

in the Troy area have the best holiday ever.

Officer Greg Pokley, with the Troy Police Department, said that the team is helping 41 families this year.

Pokley said that 95% of the families selected are identified through the school system and can include kids who are on the free lunch program, or those that teachers know need help the most. The other 15% are chosen by road patrol officers who notice families in need.

“Operation Blue Sleigh encompasses our gift card drive, Shop with a Cop, and then adopt a family,” Pokley said. “This year I have 41 families and that number keeps go-

Low vision is a condition that glasses, surgery, or standard medical treatments can’t fully correct. It can make reading, driving, watching television, or recognizing faces nearly impossible. For adults with macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or other serious eye diseases, it can feel like the world is slowly slipping away.

Dr. Jacobi’s mission is to stop that slide— and restore more than just sight. With more than 35 years of optometric experience and advanced training in low vision rehabilitation, Dr. Jacobi is one of the only low vision specialists in Michigan who offers customized visual solutions using advanced optics like high-powered magnifers and miniature telescopes built into glasses.

“Most people with low vision have been told ‘nothing more can be done.’ That’s simply not true,” says Dr. Jacobi. “With the right tools and strategies, we can help patients read again, watch TV, see loved

John P. Jacobi, OD, FCOVD,

As a Fellow of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, Dr. Jacobi provides detailed functional vision assessments to understand how each patient’s unique condition affects their daily life. Then, he designs personalized low vision systems— specialized devices and glasses tailored to help them meet real-world goals.

One of his most powerful tools is the miniature telescope lens system, which can be added to glasses to magnify and enhance central vision. For patients with macular degeneration or advanced glaucoma, it can make the difference between watching a grandchild perform in a school play—or just hearing about it later.

Beyond his work with older adults, Dr. Jacobi also helps younger patients living with congenital or acquired visual impairment. His practice is fully devoted to low vision, and he works closely with other eye doctors across the state to bring his services to more people in need.

“Every case is different,” says Dr. Jacobi. “I’ve helped a 12-year-old read her favorite books again, and I’ve helped a 99-yearold get back to doing crossword puzzles. That’s the power of low vision care.”

Appointments with Dr. Jacobi are available in Novi, and an east side location may open soon based on demand. He also offers phone consultations and is happy to speak with referring optometrists or ophthalmologists.

If you or someone you love is struggling with vision loss, don’t give up. Beyond Low Vision may be the answer.

“Low vision care is not about what you’ve lost,” Dr. Jacobi says. “It’s about what we can help you get back.”

Groups

ing up every year.”

During the Shop with a Cop portion of the program, officers take the kids through Walmart and buy the kids a gift with a $100 gift card provided by Walmart.

“We have 41 families and 41 sponsors, generous, generous sponsors, throughout the city of Troy,” he said. “That can include businesses or just residents in Troy that want to donate to families in need.”

Sponsors of the program essentially adopt a family in need. The families send Pokley a wish list which he then sends over to the sponsors.

“I recommend (to the sponsors) sending roughly $100 per person that is in the family. I divide the families into small, medium, and large so that way the sponsors can pick what size they want, because it will give them an idea of what their budget will be,” he said.

Once all of the gifts are collected from the sponsors, the Troy Police Department hand delivers the gifts to the families at home on Dec. 22.

“We get a bunch of police cars, and we have some large vehicles that are blue, and

we load up the vehicles and deliver them to each house that morning,” he said. “The officers get a kick out of that. They love doing that.”

During this time the Troy Police Department is also accepting donations, including money and gift cards. He said they recommend grocery store gift cards.

“We know that the kids, sometimes their best meal is when they are at school, and over the holidays, when they are on break, they don’t get that same food,” he said. “So we ask for grocery store gift cards, and we provide those families with gift cards as well as the sponsors providing the gifts.”

‘No Child Without a Christmas’

In St. Clair Shores, the Goodfellows have been providing holiday help for 99 long years, according to president of the St. Clair Shores Goodfellows organization, Mike Cook. The Goodfellows motto is “No Child Without a Christmas.”

Each year, the Goodfellows gather volunteers to sell newspapers on city street corners and collect food donations from the surrounding schools.

The newspaper sale is always on the first Saturday in December, which this year is Dec. 6. Volunteers fill the streets from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. selling newspapers for donations.

With the money collected from the newspaper sale, Goodfellows volunteers purchase food and gift cards.

Schools around St. Clair Shores also collect nonperishable items to donate, according to Cook. That food is then put into food baskets that are delivered by volunteers to needy families in the St. Clair Shores area.

“We collect nonperishable food through the holidays and then we have a help line that needy families can call and request help, and we interview those families and for every child under the age of 16 we give out a gift card so that parents can go buy Christmas presents for the kids,” he said. “Along with that on Christmas Eve morning, we take the food that was collected by all of the schools and deliver that to the needy families on Christmas Eve morning.”

Cook said that the food baskets even include turkeys to ensure the families have a full Christmas meal.

“We want them to have everything they need for a Christmas dinner so we go out and purchase turkeys so they have turkeys and stuffing and cranberries and all of the good stuff to go along with it, so they can have a nice Christmas dinner,” he said.

Cook said that prospective families that need Christmas help can call the Goodfellows hotline at (586) 980-0400. They start

taking calls the day after Thanksgiving.

Being such a big part of these families’ lives is a heartwarming experience according to Cook, who has been with the Goodfellows for around 38 years now.

“Everybody deserves to have a nice Christmas. All children deserve to have a nice Christmas. It’s heartwarming when we can show up at someone’s house on Christmas Eve morning and bring them food and bring them the things they need, you know, maybe for some reason, they are less fortunate that year,” Cook said. “It doesn’t mean they are bad people, or they have had issues. Something has happened in their life that they need help. They may have lost their job, had an injury, they may have been hospitalized for something. So they have had an event in their life that they need assistance. And if we can help them just to brighten their day a little bit, it makes it all worthwhile.”

For more information about the Troy Police Department, go to troymi.gov. For more information about Goodfellows organizations in metro Detroit, go to detroit goodfellows.org.

For Christmas help from the St. Clair Shores Goodfellows, call (586) 980-0400. Donations can be made at any time at the St. Clair Shores Goodfellows, located at 26700 Harper in St. Clair Shores.

HOMES

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS SHARE

TIPS TO PREPARE FOR A HOME INSPECTION

MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A home inspection — which can bring attention to major issues in a house that the buyer can request that the seller repair before closing — is an essential part of the buying and selling process that ensures buyer satisfaction and safety.

As a seller, the idea of one’s home being inspected might be daunting — especially knowing that the report directly impacts the sale. Cleaning and fixing simple repairs are some of the ways that sellers can prepare for their inspection to help minimize the issues.

A local real estate agent and a local inspector shared insights on how sellers can best prepare for an inspection to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.

Ensuring

access and decluttering

A seller can try to eliminate surprises during the inspection by evaluating all areas of the house — even the ones that are hard to reach.

For example, attics are a place that many sellers might not regularly go to, which can result in an unpleasant surprise if an issue is found during an inspection.

“My No. 1 tip is for the seller to go up into their attic and make sure there isn’t any moisture up there, because that can be an expensive thing on a home inspection if the buyer wants it all remediated,” said Michelle Carey, a Clinton Township real

See INSPECTION on page 11A

LEFT: A home inspection can uncover major and minor issues in a house, such as water damage, mold, termites and more.

BOTTOM LEFT: Make sure the home is clean so the inspector can access all the necessary areas for the home inspection.

BOTTOM RIGHT: It is important to declutter a home so inspectors can access the attic, furnace, electrical panel and other key areas of the home.

Inspection

estate agent from Century 21.

President and CEO of Home Inspection Professionals Kevin Stripling said it is also important that the attic is accessible. For homes where the attic access is in the garage, it is ideal for cars to be parked elsewhere.

“Keep in mind that we have to go into the attic. So attic access-wise, we like it when the closets are cleared out so we can set the ladder up and we can go up inside the attic areas,” Stripling said.

In addition to attics, Stripling said it is important to make sure that clutter is cleared from all important areas such as furnaces, hot water heaters and crawl spaces. Before an inspection, a seller can ensure convenient entry into all parts of the house by tidying up clutter.

Though the seller is not usually present for a home inspection, the buyer usually is

present. Even though the buyer has already put in an offer, it is important to keep up the positive image of the home for the buyer. A seller should make sure the house is as clean as it was when it made its first impression on the buyer.

“Just as you would for a showing of your home, have it looking really good and clean, because the buyers come for the home inspection. … It is important for the house to be looking its best, because you don’t want the buyer to come and all of a sudden, it doesn’t look as good as it did when they wrote the offer,” Carey said.

Another important tip from Stripling is to make sure pets are caged or kenneled. Even though he said they try to be cautious and keep the doors closed, it is possible for pets to accidentally get out during an inspection.

It can be exciting when a house goes under contract; however, the inspection is an important step in securing the sale. Before packing boxes, a seller should think about how to prepare ahead of a home inspection.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

12A/ WOODWARD TALK • NOVEMBER 24, 2025

NOV. 29-30

Yule Witches Market: Free event with 15-plus local artisans, makers and crafters, food, and meet-andgreet and photos with Krampus, noon-7 p.m. Nov. 29 and noon-5 p.m. Nov. 30, Boston Tea Room, 1220 Woodward Heights in Ferndale, (248) 548-3830, bostontearoomevents@gmail.com, bostontearoom.com

DEC. 1

Origami Club meetup: For all skill levels, 5:30 p.m., Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, register at berkleymi.gov/libraryevents

DEC. 4

Holiday Magic Marketplace: Includes dozens of crafters and vendors, live entertainment, and free cookies and cocoa, 4-9 p.m., also visits with Santa, 6:30-8 p.m., Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, romi.gov

DEC. 13

Holiday concert: Performance by Encore Chorus (LGBTQIA+ affirming vocal group features tenor and bass singers of all gender identities), 7:30 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 143 Albany St. in Ferndale, encorechorus.org

Handmade Holiday Market: Presented by Great Lakes Artisan Markets, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Brown Iron

Brewhouse, 30955 Woodward Ave., Suite 510, in Royal Oak, glartisanmarkets@gmail.com

ONGOING

Art exhibits: Group show highlights 18 local artists’ interpretations of autumn, on display 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and noon5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays until end of November, Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-2504

• “In Search of Quietude” features interpretations of heads and figures by Paula Zaks, on display 1-5 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays (except Thanksgiving and Black Friday) until Dec. 23, Woods Gallery at Huntington Woods Public Library, 26415 Scotia Road, woodsgallery.org

Ferndale Community Concert Band rehearsals: New and returning members meet from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, band room at Ferndale Middle School, 881 Pinecrest Drive, performances scheduled for Dec. 14, March 29 and May 3, FCCB seeking clarinet, oboe, bassoon and percussion players, (313) 549-9244, info@fcconcertband.org, fcconcertband.org

Ferndale Senior Group: Meets 11 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesdays of month, Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, (248)

To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own event, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.

544-6767 (ext. 503), jeannie1111@comcast.net

Monthly book clubs: Find meetups for kids, science fiction, graphic novels and more, virtual and in person, Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, also groups which meet off site, see full list at fadl.org/upcoming-events, (248) 546-2504

• Find meetups for teens and adults, Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, berkleymi.gov/ libraryevents

Birmingham-Ferndale Stamp Club: Meets 6 p.m. every first and third Tuesdays of month (fellowship at 5:30 p.m.), Birmingham Next, 2121 Midvale St., birminghamstamp.club

Wild Lights: Nighttime strolls include 500-plus displays and millions of LEDs, also pop-up performances and music, Santa photos, seasonal drinks, eats and sweet treats, and more, select times and dates until Jan. 4, Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, detroitzoo.org/events/wild-lights

Royal Oak Holidays: Free outdoor activities held each weekend until Dec. 21, downtown Royal Oak and Centennial Commons, see themes and schedule at royaloakholidays.com, read story at candgnews.com

Ice skating: Open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays,

noon-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon-11 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays until Jan. 4, The Rink at Royal Oak in Centennial Commons, 221 E. Third St., therinkatroyaloak.com

MI Options Medicare Assistance Program: Get free unbiased counseling during enrollment period (ends Dec. 7), one-on-one appointments available by phone, virtually or in person, (248) 262-0545, find locations at ageways.org/calendar

Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less: Virtual 15-week program presented by AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services and led by registered dietitian nutritionist, free for first-time participants ages 60 and older, register at (833) 262-2200 or wellnessprograms@ageways. org, tinyurl.com/agewaysworkshops

Health workshops: Hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan

Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups

ADHD meetings: Hosted by CHADD of Eastern Oakland County, for adults and parents, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Zoom, see schedule on chadd.net/chapterevents/527

AMISH FURNITURE

AROUND MICHIGAN

An AMISH LOG HEADBOARD AND Queen Pillow Top Mattress Set. Brand new-never used, sell all for $375. Call anytime, 989-923-1278.

AUCTION

Visit Bid.SherwoodAuctionServiceLLC. com often for online auctions. Current auctions include antiques, flat trailers, tools, kitchenware, shop tools, outdoor gear, more. Don’t miss the Maurer live farm auction! Questions? Call Sherwood Auction, 1-800-835-0495.

Huge Firearms Online Auction. Bidding open. 1,200+ New, used, collector guns, ammo, knives, accessories. Bid Anywhere anytime @JohnPeckAuctions.com. Shipping available. Ofices In Gladwin & Charlotte. Selling guns? Call John Peck 989-345-4866. Michigan’s premier gun auctioneers Since 1979.

Discover hundreds of vintage and antique clocks and watches + 1000’s of parts—most need repair or restoration. To view and bid go online, BidItMi.com. Estate Auction Experts of Michigan, 313-600-5451.

Visit NarhiAuctions.com for our November consignment auctions. Featuring vehicles, tractors, log splitter, tools, vintage earthenware jugs, Model A parts, license plates, toys, knives, and much more! Need an auction? Call 810-266-6474.

Published: November 24, 2025

BUILT RITE POLE BUILDINGS Statewide. Prices starting at - 24x40x10 - $18,300.00. 30x40x10 -$20,400.00. Erected on your site. Call for price not shown on any size building or go to www.builtritepolebuildingsmi.com. Or call 989-259-2015 or 989-600-1010 or 989-324-0035.

BUSINESS SERVICES

METAL ROOFING regular and shingle style, HALF OFF SPECIAL COLORS! Lifetime hail asphalt shingles. Vinyl siding. Licensed and insured builders for 40 years. AMISH CREW. 517-575-3695.

MATTRESSES

Adjustable Bed Brand New with mattress. Made in U.S.A, in plastic, with warranty. Retail Cost $3,995.00 sacrifice for $875.00 Call for showing or delivery: DanDanTheMattressMan. com. 989-923-1278

MISCELLANEOUS

Amish-built mini-cabins starting at $5,295. Made in Michigan! We deliver statewide. Call 989-832-1866. MyNextBarn.com.

AMISH-built storage sheds starting at $2,500. We deliver anywhere in Michigan! Call 989-832-1866. DanDanTheMattressMan.com.

IF YOU HAD KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY AND SUFFERED AN INFECTION between 2023 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800535-5727

REPWANTED forestablished,growing company.Opportunityfor advancement,friendly workenvironment, experiencenotnecessary, sewingskillsaplus. Fulltime.Sundaysoff. Starts@$15.00/hr. Benefitsavailable. Inquireinpersononly @JanetDavisCleaners, 27607Woodward, Berkley HELPWANTED Full/Part-Time, Eastpointe OilChange, EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN, MustHaveExperience!! Applyinperson: 17830E.9MileRd. Eastpointe,orOnline www.twinsoil.com

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Brick Work

MOUTON'S MASONRY

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Bathrooms

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Brick Work

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Carpet Cleaning

CARPET

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Chimney Service

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Electrical

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Dr.Electric AffordablePrices! Father&Son MasterElectricians Same-Day-Service! All-Residential-Wiring, ChangeFuseBoxto CircuitBreakerPanel, Troubleshooting,Backup GeneratorTransfer Switch,License#6109094 SenDisc.V/MC/Lic./Ins.

CASTLEELECTRIC

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PREPARE forpoweroutagestodaywithaGeneracHomeStandbyGenerator.Actnowtoreceivea FREE5-Yearwarranty withqualifyingpurchase. Call1-855-773-8191 todaytoscheduleafree quote.It'snotjustagenerator.It'sapowermove.

Fence Service

PLATINUMSERVICES

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Gutters GUTTERS &WINDOW CLEANING INSURED TOMMICOLI 313-656-9402

Handyman Services

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Handyman Services

HANDYMAN Extraordinaire! Doesalljobs,anysize, whenyourhome needsabestfriend. Licensed&insured. CallGeorge 248-515-5158

Hauling & Waste Removal

***AAA HAULING*** JUNKREMOVAL Wehaulitall!Demolition Big&Small,Residential/ Commercial,Rubber WheelDumpsters-10,15, 20-Yards,Clean-outs, ConstructionMaterial, Small-Moving,Appliances,Furniture&More! Free-Est.Sen/Mil/Disc. 586-360-0681 ucallwehauljunk.com

BURLYGUYS JUNKREMOVAL removesANYTHING! Appliances,furniture, basementcleanouts, hoardersallwelcome! CallorText 248-224-2188

Painting

Home Repairs

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Landscaping

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Lawn Maintenance

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586-792-3117

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ANYONE'S PAINTER

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PEAKPAINTING

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2BROTHERS PAINTING

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FARR'SPAINTING

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(586)229-4267

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MARATHONPOWER WASH&PAINTING •INTERIOR•CABINETS

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PAINTING

Plumbing

AA4DABLEROOFING

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SILVERSMITHROOF MAINTENANCE $225•MinorShingle ReplacementSpecial $88*GutterCleaning Residential/Commercial WeAcceptAll MajorCreditCards Over30-yrsexp. FamilyOwned 248-707-4851

MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC. BuildingValueEveryday 586-436-9600 Licensed/Insured Since1965 Servicing-Roofing, Siding,Basement, Bathroom,Kitchen Remodeling,Decks& AllYourHome ImprovementNeeds.

Tree Service

WATERWORK Plumbing.com •DrainCleaning •SewerCamera •WaterHeaters •SumpPumps •BackflowTesting 248-542-8022 SameDayEmergency ServiceAvailable Reliable/Experienced License#8003885 Professional Services

586.524.6752

ANDY'SPLUMBING

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Lic.#8109852

PLUMBERSCORP 586-217-9002

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EAPLUMBING ANDDRAIN

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CONSUMER Cellularthesamereliable,nationwidecoverageasthe largestcarriers.Nolongtermcontract,nohidden feesandactivationisfree. Allplansfeatureunlimitedtalkandtext,starting atjust$20/month.For moreinformation,call 1-866-306-6243

PREFERRED

BROTHERSROOFING

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BERGBROS.LLC. “FullyInsured, HighlyReferred.” SeniorDiscounts Tree-Removal,Stump Grinding,Tree-Trimming, Hedging,Shaping, Emergency-Service Residential/Commercial Free-Estimates (586)262-3060

DAVE'STREE&SHRUB 30%-FALLSPECIAL Insured,Emergency StormDamage, Large-TreeRemovals, Leaves,Gutter-Cleaning, Trimming,Stump-Grinding,Season-Firewood (100acord)30YrsExp. (586)216-0904 davestreeandshrub.com

ELITETREE SERVICE

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Interior/Exterior Wood&DrywallRepairs MoldRemediation FreeEstimates CertifiedMoldInspector 248-345-3308 farrsmoldremoval.com