11/25/25 Macomb Township Chronicle

Parks and rec fees updated by board

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

COUPLE WINS FREE WEDDING FROM MACRAY HARBOR / 8A

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Macomb Township Board of Trustees voted to lower fees associated with the township’s parks and recreation offerings at the board’s Nov. 12 meeting. Township Clerk Kristi Pozzi was absent.

The first set of fees to be updated were those for the dog park at Pitchford Park. Memberships for residents were lowered from $40 with $30 renewals to $25 with $15 renewals. Nonresident memberships were lowered from $56 with $46 renewals to $50 with $30 renewals. Memberships for recreation center members were lowered from $25 with $15 renewals to just $10 to cover the key fob replacement with no-cost renewals.

“We will be changing to a rolling membership to the dog park,” Parks and Recreation Director Salvatore DiCaro said. “All memberships will be valid for one year from the date of purchase. In addition, a dog park membership will now be included in the rec

See TRUSTEES on page 14A

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

There are not many traditions that have been running for 50 years, but the Mount Clemens Santa Parade is one of them.

Expected to step off on Saturday, Nov. 22, after the Chronicle went to press, Parade President Erik Rick says parade planners aimed to bring the same fun and cheer attendees have come to expect from the past half decade of holiday festivities.

Santa Parade good as gold for 50th running

“I don’t think anything will (be different this year), and I think that’s the beauty of it,” said Rick, who is a Mount Clemens city commissioner and an experienced volunteer of the parade.

“It’s not supposed to. It’s supposed to be a continuation of a decades-long tradition. The lineup looks like it will be comparable to prior years … It’s a great milestone to hit, but also (the Santa Parade is) the kind of thing that’s going to keep going for another 50 years no matter what. So we’re just celebrating the milestone and continuing on.”

SECOND FRONT PAGE

Food pantry established at Fox Elementary

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — With the cost of food going up and inflation on people’s minds, students at one Chippewa Valley school will soon be able to get food they need regardless of the economic situation at home.

A food pantry is being established at Fox Elementary School. The idea to set up the pantry came from Denise Mansfield, owner of the Mansfield Insurance Group and a parent of former Fox Elementary students.

“She reached out to us and wanted to know if we had any need for students with this grant that they were able to apply for,”

Fox Principal Frank Bellomo said. “(Mansfield) wanted to know if there was a need for a food pantry that we would keep here at school for students that had a need for snacks and different food items that they might not have the availability to bring from home. I had told her that we always have kids that might not have a snack or

See FOOD PANTRY on page 11A

BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com

MACOMB COUNTY — Since taking the bench in 2011, Macomb County Chief Judge James Biernat has been involved in a number of memorable cases.

In 2013, he saw a jury find Daniel Daniels guilty of physically and sexually abusing his two daughters. And in 2023, he saw a jury reach an almost $10 million settlement against Henry Ford Macomb Hospital after a jury found that a 41-year-old woman died after her surgical wound infection wasn’t properly treated by a doctor.

“That stood out because I’ve never had a jury award almost $10 million, and I don’t think there has been a jury verdict in Macomb County over $10 million,” Biernat said.

Biernat also recalls presiding over the case of “The Backpage Murders,” a series of killings committed by James Brown in Macomb County in 2014.

Brown killed four women he met through an adult website, backpage.com, and stuffed their bodies into car trunks. The trial, Biernat said, took over a month. In the end, Brown continually refused to attend the sentencing.

NEWS & NOTES

Compiled by Dean Vaglia and Maria Allard

HOLIDAY LIGHTS, GIVING IN MACOMB TOWNSHIP

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Those looking to get into the holiday spirit have plenty of options for things to do in Macomb Township.

Macomb Township Parks and Recreation is hosting the annual Holiday Tree Lighting & Afterglow on Friday, Dec. 5. Set to start at 6:30 p.m. in the township’s municipal complex along Broughton Road, the event will feature caroling, refreshments, live reindeer, the arrival of Santa Claus to the township and much more. The event is free to attend.

Those in the giving spirit can donate to the Macomb Charitable Foundation’s toy drive. The foundation aims to help children living at or below poverty level in Macomb County by providing food, clothing, personal care items, rent/utility assistance, vehicle repairs, educational assistance as well as personal and spiritual mentoring.

There are five toy drop boxes around the township: Macomb Township Recreation Center (20699 Macomb Street), Fire Station No. 1 (19925 23 Mile Road), Fire Station No. 2 (17800 21 Mile Road), Fire Station No. 3 (47711 North Avenue) and Fire Station No. 4 (16820 25 Mile Road).

Clinton Township Kiwanis taking part in ‘Wreaths Across America’

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton Township Kiwanis Club is taking part in Wreaths Across America by laying wreaths on the graves of veterans at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township on Saturday, Dec. 13.

One of the largest Wreaths Across America events in Michigan, the Dec. 13 event will have Brig. Gen. Leah Voelker, base commander of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, serving as the keynote speaker. State Rep. Joe Aragona, R-Clinton Township, will emcee.

Those looking to support the event by funding wreaths can reach out to Kerry Jantz at (586) 610-3511 or Barry Burnham at (586) 703-4435.

PAC-MAN is out for blood

METRO DETROIT — The video icon PAC-MAN is helping the American Red Cross. The nonprofit organization has teamed up with Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., to recruit blood donors. Anyone who donates blood until Dec. 7 will receive a classic pair of Red Cross x PAC-MAN socks and a one-of-a-kind PAC-MAN Gashapan collectible, both while supplies last.

Donors of all blood types are needed. To make a blood donation, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call (800) RED CROSS. See RedCrossBlood.org/PACMAN for additional details.

PAC-MAN is celebrating its 45-year anniversary this year.

Clinton-Macomb Township Public library hosting December events

CLINTON TOWNSHIP/MACOMB TOWNSHIP — For a final time in 2025, the Clinton-Macomb Public Library is hosting events across its three branches throughout the month of December.

The month kicks off at the South Branch, located at 35679 South Gratiot Avenue in Clinton Township, with a lesson in using Ancestry Library Edition to make family trees on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. The South Branch will also play host to Santa Claus on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

The North Branch, located at 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, will host family yoga on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m.

The Main Library, located at 40900 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, will host a winter-themed playtime program for toddlers and preschoolers ages 2-5 and their caregivers on Monday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. Teens and tweens are also invited to the Main Library for a winter lantern craft project on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. and a retro game night on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. For the full list of events at all CMPL locations, go to cmpl.org.

Donating blood takes about an hour, including talking to a health official about your medical history to ensure you are a good candidate. Blood transfusions are given to patients in a wide range of circumstances, including serious injuries such as car crashes, surgeries, child birth, anemia, blood disorders, cancer treatments and more.

Through the end of November, the Red Cross is providing free A1C testing, commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes. The test measures an individual’s blood sugar level over the past three months. While no fasting is required for the test, blood donors should eat a nutritious meal ahead of their appointment. To receive A1C results, donors must make a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation and have not received an A1C result with their donation in the past 12 months.

MICHIGAN RESIDENTS TRAVEL FOR TURKEY

DEARBORN — According to AAA, more than 2.6 million Michiganders are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday period, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. This marks a 1.4% increase over last year and sets a new record for Thanksgiving travel in the Great Lakes State.

AAA predicts about 2.3 million Michigan residents will travel by car and 224,600 will travel by airplane. Around 80,000 people will reach their destination by other means, including bus, train or a cruise.

According to INRIX, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the most congested travel times before Thanksgiving. Heavy traffic is expected all day Sunday as travelers return home. AAA recommends leaving early and staying alert for construction, crashes, or weather delays. Remember to slow down and move over for emergency responders and stopped vehicles.

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights.

Police: Program to curb domestic violence showing results

BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com

WARREN — Four months after first announcing it, the Warren Police Department is seeing success in an initiative aimed at combating domestic violence in the city.

The initiative, called Operation Cycle Break, aims to reduce the number of domestic violence calls by enhancing victim safety, streamlining the justice process and ensuring greater offender accountability.

Officials said the initiative is built on four key pillars: victim protection and empowerment, swift justice and deterrence through understanding consequences, making resources accessible and creating pathways for change, and holding offenders accountable and preventing further harm.

In a Nov. 18 press conference, Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins said the department has seen progress thus far.

“Four months into this program, we are already seeing significant and positive changes that reflect our dedication to protecting victims, holding offenders accountable and making this community safer,” Hawkins said.

According to research conducted by Wayne State University, which has partnered with the department in the program, domestic violence has dropped by nearly 7% compared to previous years, Hawkins said. See VIOLENCE on page 7A

Detroit Historical Museum opens new Red Wings centennial exhibition

BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com

DETROIT — The Detroit Historical Museum opened the Detroit Red Wings at 100: Becoming Hockeytown exhibition to the public on Nov. 20.

The exhibition features artifacts from the Detroit Historical Society’s collection, the Red Wings’ archives and from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“It’s an honor to see a century of Red Wings history brought to life at the Detroit Historical Museum,” Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing Asia Gholston said in a press release. “Every decade has its own defining moments, and this exhibit gives our fans a special opportunity to celebrate the passion, pride, and legacy that have defined 100 years of Red Wings hockey.”

Detroit Red Wings at 100: Becoming Hockeytown will occupy parts of the City of Champions Gallery, the New Motor City Showcase and the Detroit Artist Showcase. The exhibition filling three different galleries at the museum is unique and highlights the team’s extensive history.

Visitors will see memorabilia and photos from Olympia Stadium and Joe Louis Arena, information and artifacts from players in Red Wings history, and history related to the team’s earlier names — the Detroit Falcons and the Detroit Cougars. There are also interactive parts of the exhibition, including flashing Joe Louis Arena lights and

This Border Cities Arena program is from 1925. The Cougars would eventually move to Detroit and later be renamed the Red Wings. the sounds of the organ from Olympia Stadium.

Detroit Red Wings at 100: Becoming Hockeytown will be on display all season long. The Detroit Red Wings were an integral part in the development of the new exhibit, according to the press release from the Detroit Historical Society. The museum parking lot is available for $10 a day.

For more information on tickets, hours and the Detroit Historical Society. Visit detroithistorical.org.

Call Sports Writer Scott Bentley at (586) 498-1090.

Violence

from page 5A

Hawkins said 259 domestic violence offenders have been through the program since its inception, of which 64% were taken into custody the same day as the incident. He added that less than 5% of offenders have offended again, marking a 57% decline in recidivism.

“What that means is that the rate of retraumatization has dropped dramatically,” Hawkins said.

As part of the program, following an arrest, offenders are being arraigned sooner — usually within one day of arrest — according to 37th District Court Judge John Chmura.

Additionally, as part of their bond, defendants are required to undergo counseling.

“I think it’s having an effect,” Chmura said. “I’m noticing at the pretrial that it’s changed the demeanor of a lot of the defendants. It’s often the case, the defendants would have a defiant attitude. Their attitude was, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong. The problem is with the complaining witness, not with me. Back off. Leave me alone.’”

That attitude, Chmura said, seems to have softened.

“They’re starting to understand that the problem is with them. The counseling is

starting much earlier and it’s having an effect on plea negotiations,” he said.

Sharma Davenport, president and CEO of Turning Point Macomb, a nonprofit that supports victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, said the program was a long-overdue initiative. Since the beginning of the program, she said, survivors are treated with “dignity.”

“Survivors are protected every step of the way, which is why you are now seeing more survivors that are willing to come forward and press charges. Survivors tell us they feel safer, they feel seen, they feel supported,” she said.

Hawkins said the idea for the program came out of the department’s desire to do something transformative.

“We wanted to have a program that went beyond the reactive and went beyond the symbolism, which are very important, and it’s very important that departments continue to do that. But we wanted a program that could yield some substantive benefits, some tangible benefits, some things where we can actually make an impact in actually breaking the cycle,” he said.

While officials touted the program’s success, a report compiled by Wayne State University’s Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice showed areas that needed improvement, particularly in the number of cases dismissed.

See VIOLENCE on page 18A

HOMEMADE SPECIALS

DAILY

CONGRATULATIONS!

BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Through hardship and long distance, this couple has stayed together. The icing on the cake? They won a free wedding at MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township.

Haley Grooms and James Pratt, who goes by Riley, were informed they won the wedding around six months ago and have been planning for their Nov. 21 wedding date ever since.

A press release tells their story.

Grooms worked three jobs while completing a degree at the University of Michigan. The release stated she faced extreme financial and personal hardship when she met Pratt.

“After losing her late partner in a tragic accident, Haley never imagined she would love again — until a chance encounter with James rekindled her hope,” the release stated. “Their relationship has since endured long deployments, time apart, and countless sacrifices, yet their devotion never wavered. When James proposed on their anniversary at the Detroit Riverfront, the couple began planning their dream day — only to be met with the news of another deployment just months later.”

MacRay Harbor partnered with Elite Wedding Co., Viviano Flower Shop, Christine’s Cakes and Pastries, and Ackerman & Co. to give the couple a wedding. Kelli Matthes, MacRay Harbor sales manager, will officiate the wedding.

See WEDDING on page 12A

COUPLE WINS FREE WEDDING FROM MACRAY HARBOR, IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMPANIES

thank all of

the

Please accept my very special holiday thank you from me and my devoted sta

Yours for

Santa Parade

from page 1A

Santa’s route through the city was expected to go down Main Street starting from Church Street and moving north to Clinton Street. Leading Santa in the procession were a planned 90-plus groups including the Mount Clemens Fire Department, Macomb County government officials and the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, marching bands from around the region and various Scouting troops, civil organizations, veterans groups and more. Those looking to meet with the man in the red hat were asked to head to the municipal Market Street green parking lot, located near Main Street and Clinton Street, after the parade.

Nelson and Diane Jackson were tapped to serve as the grand marshals this year. An educational power couple celebrating their own 50th anniversary this year, both are graduates of Western Michigan University and Wayne State University. Nelson worked across Mount Clemens Community Schools as an ombudsman and held various principal positions, including at Mount Clemens High School. Diane worked as an educational consultant for pre-college programs for the University of Whitewater-Wisconsin from 1997-2007 and was an educator in the city for 37 years with roles at Christian Clemens Elementary School, Washington Junior High School and Mount Clemens Middle School.

Theresa McGarity, a parade volunteer and a city commissioner, said her husband was tutored by Diane after she caught him trying to escape detention.

“They took the time out (to help students),” McGarity said. “It wasn’t just go to school, teach the kids and go home. They

spent their summer helping the students excel.”

Parade preparation is a year-long effort for volunteers. Work begins as soon as the parade ends.

“The putting away of one parade is the beginning of the next parade,” Rick said.

And while most of the year involves core volunteers meeting and fundraising, the execution of the parade heavily relies on volunteers. There are a variety of roles for volunteers typically falling either on the operations side or being a character marching in the parade. Rick himself has more experience on the operations side, leaning on experience managing amphibious landings in the Navy to order the parade’s floats and marchers. However, he also has experience as a marcher.

“I’ve only done a costume once and it was an interesting experience,” Rick said. “The kids love it, but just when you get to the end and you think you have a chance to take a break, that’s when kids then surround you and want to play and get pictures and whatnot. For any costume volunteers, it’s worth knowing that marching in the parade is part of it, but at the end of the parade sometimes there’s more fun to be had as well.”

While having a part in making sure a storied local tradition continues on has been rewarding for Rick and others, his favorite part of the volunteering experience is getting to see those personal, magical moments that happen before and after things kick off on parade day.

“I know where Santa gets ready for the parade, and I’m not going to say where,” Rick said. “And I know one little kid knocked on the door to that location … and the door opened, and Santa leaned out and put his

SANTA PARADE on page 19A

Ati’s Jewelry Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence

Ati’s Jewelry is proudly celebrating 25 years of serving the community with exceptional craftsmanship and value. Truly wholesale, Ati’s omits the middleman to pass savings directly to the public. Specializing in custom design, their award-winning designer brings European craftsmanship to every piece, ensuring each creation meets your complete satisfaction. All design and repair work is expertly done in-house. As a licensed buyer of precious metals, Ati’s pays top dollar for scrap gold and can even transform it into a stunning new piece. Owner Sandra loves working with the public and continually supports local fundraisers and charities. At Ati’s, customers are treated like family. Visit them at 42337 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township, or call 586-266-3722.

0313-2548

Food

food throughout the day and that we could definitely find a use for that.”

The grant Mansfield was able to apply for and secure was a $2,000 grant from Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies, which Mansfield Insurance Group is an agency of.

“Michigan Farm Bureau has a huge food insecurity initiative as part of our mission as a single-state insurance operator, and we feel very strongly about food insecurity,” Mansfield said. “Being such a big agricultural insurance company — I think we insure 84% of the agriculture in the state — we have a strong tie to food.”

With Michigan Farm Bureau providing grants for starting community food banks and Mansfield maintaining a connection with Bellomo, the idea of using the insurer’s grant in the community fell into place. The need for such a resource became only clearer as the federal government shutdown, which was not a factor when Mansfield began pursuing the grant, saw federal employees furloughed and federal food assistance programs dry up.

“I firmly believe that at a basic level our bellies should be fed,” Mansfield said. “You can’t pour from an empty cup, and children are some of our most vulnerable, so I feel if I had the ability to help, I wanted to. I feel strongly as a commitment, as someone who protects families in the community through proper insurance, it just falls in line with my mission of making sure the community is

strong. Whether it’s auto insurance, life insurance or filling the belly, I have a unique opportunity to go the extra mile.”

The $2,000 grant is intended to fund the food pantry for its first year. Along with buying the food that will be available in the pantry, the major capital expense that the grant will cover is buying a small refrigerator to expand its available items beyond shelfstable packaged foods.

“One thing (Mansfield) and I had talked about was the idea to have some items that could possibly be refrigerated,” Bellomo said. “(We are) trying to find items for kids that are snacks but also that are healthy for them, too, during the day.”

It is early days for the Fox Elementary food pantry — as of mid-November there has yet to be a room in the school dedicated to the pantry — but school faculty already have an idea of what they need. Bellomo asks anyone in the community that is willing to donate food to bring healthy, prepackaged food to the Fox Elementary front office.

With $2,000 already in hand to get the food pantry going, Mansfield intends to apply for additional Michigan Farm Bureau grants to fund the pantry as long as possible.

“Of course, it will rely on the need and the support of the elementary to keep it stocked,” Mansfield said. “This will be our first go-around with them, and we’re excited to see how far we can take it. I don’t intend to stop being able to help support them, but this is our first-year initiative.”

Fox Elementary School is located at 17500 Millstone Drive in Macomb Township.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

CALENDAR

NOV. 26

Family jigsaw puzzle contest: Compete in teams of two to six (one must be adult), award for first place, 11 a.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, registration required, (586) 226-5050, cmpl.libnet. info/events

DEC. 5

Holiday concert: Performance by Symphonia Chorale,

Wedding

Pratt has been in the United States Navy for around seven years. He and Grooms said they met at a bar. Pratt got a ride from Grooms, and she said he was begging for her phone number and told his friend he was going to marry her.

“I didn’t know her name,” Pratt said. “I think I might have said maybe one, two sentences to her the whole night, but when we got in there something in me knew.”

Grooms said she and Pratt are the same person in different genders.

“We do everything together,” Grooms said.

They bowl together and go everywhere together.

“We really are each other’s biggest teammates, biggest supporters,” Grooms said. “If you find me, you find him.”

Pratt said he had a “deer in the headlights” moment when he found out they won the wedding. Grooms said she started crying, stating it’s not something that usually happens to her.

“I’ve never experienced so much joy, and it was really overwhelming,” Grooms said.

Grooms said her dad cried when he found out about the free wedding. It’s a big

7:30 p.m., Bethel Church of the Nazarene, 51850 North Avenue in Macomb Township, rehearsals held 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church, 246 Benjamin St. in Romeo, concerts continue Dec. 7 and May 1 and 3, symphoniachorale.weebly.com, mcintyrejkm@yahoo.com

DEC. 7

Santa Cruise: See parade of vehicles decked out in lights, 5:30 p.m., route map available as event nears, macomb-mi.gov/830/santa-cruise---light-parade

To view more events and to submit your own, visit candgnews.com/calendar.

deal for her whole family as her grandparents are nearly 90 years old. She didn’t think they’d be there for her special day.

Pratt said he’s excited to see Grooms walk down the aisle while Grooms is excited to dance the night away. Pratt and Grooms also said they’ve taken dance classes for months to surprise their friends and family with a choreographed first dance.

Grooms said their story is one of resilience.

“It really shows that love can find you in some really unpredictable places, and never give up, not just on yourself, but on relationships, and push through because there’s always going to be a light at the end of the tunnel,” Grooms said.

She went on to say even when you think you’re not deserving of love, there will be someone out there who will prove you wrong. Pratt said they’ve been together almost three years.

“We’ve had over long distance, the hard conversations and the high-stress situations, but we always knew we were each other’s rocks throughout,” Pratt said.

Grooms advised couples to not go to bed angry.

“That’s just a recipe for disaster,” Grooms said. “Trust and communication is huge. I mean, don’t stress over small things because they’re not going to matter in five, 10 years from now.”

Maybe even a week or two, Pratt added.

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Biernat

from page 3A

“He was literally afraid of the victim’s family. It was the only time I can think, especially in a capital case, where the defendant refused to show up at sentencing,” he said.

Biernat was elected as a judge in 2012. In 2015, he began serving as chief judge after former Chief Judge John Foster retired. Since 2016, he has been reappointed as chief judge every two years.

Since then, Biernat has overseen massive renovation projects, including moving all of the county’s circuit and probate courts into one downtown location.

“When I first became chief in April of 2015, we were in the process of a massive, multimillion-dollar building project, which I helped usher in,” he said. “And bringing all the probate judges down here into the one building, along with building out all the archaic structures we had here and helping to finish our downtown campus, so to speak.”

He has also seen the addition of other courts, such as the sobriety and mental health courts.

On Nov. 14, Biernat was reappointed as chief judge by the Michigan Supreme Court.

“It is my honor to once again be appointed chief judge of these Macomb County courts,” Biernat said in a statement.

As the chief judge, in addition to maintaining a docket he said is about 90% the size of his fellow judges, he oversees the staff that manages the court system.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t have a docket,” he said. “I still have trials.”

Biernat also serves as the chief judge for the Macomb County Probate Court and the 42nd District Court in New Baltimore and Romeo. With his reappointment, he will also begin serving as chief judge in the 38th District Court in Roseville, though he won’t be added as a judge until it gets approved by the state’s House, Senate, and governor, and the Eastpointe City Council.

Looking ahead, in addition to finding room to add another judge in Eastpointe, Biernat is also looking to also find more space to expand the probate court.

“If that new space is in the bill, that could be in the building we’re in, or a new building, so that would be the new project in the future. Where is probate going to go, what space does probate need right now, how can we accomplish it, because of course, Macomb County is growing,” he said.

Call Staff Writer Brian Wells at (248) 291-7637.

Trustees

from page 1A

center memberships. Those memberships will be valid as long as the rec membership remains current. All this will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.”

There are currently 429 resident and 97 nonresident dog park memberships for the park.

Following the dog park changes, trustees approved lowering the rental costs of the building at Lucido River Park from $425 to $300 for residents and $475 to $375 for nonresidents. The changes in rental costs were made so the building is more accessible to residents.

“One of the reasons Sal and I discussed this over the last six months or more (was because) the rental of Lucido Park or any of our facilities was not intended to be a moneymaker, but just to offset the cost of having those assets available to the township and residents,” Township Supervisor Frank Viviano said. “Being able to lower the cost, we think, will give more people access to it and more rentals will happen, and we’ll still offset what we believe our costs will be by allowing it to be rented.”

The maximum capacity of the building has increased from 44 to 85 people.

Fire Department purchases

Several purchases were approved for the Macomb Township Fire Department, two being scheduled and two being emergency purchases.

For the scheduled items, trustees approved the purchase

SMART TOILETS

and installation of security cameras and workout equipment for Station No. 2, the combined purchases totaling over $60,500. Station No. 2 is being renovated, and both purchases are tied to the renovation.

For the emergency purchases, a transmission replacement on the Squad 1 Ford F-550 apparatus costs just under $11,555 while the Engine 1 apparatus is in the shop for a $12,343 head gasket repair. Squad 1 was returned to service on Nov. 3 while Engine 1’s work is expected to be completed by Nov. 14.

Purchasing policy update

Trustees unanimously approved updates to the purchasing policy that increased the cost thresholds for various procedural waivers or requirements. One example is that the township supervisor is able to approve purchases up to $10,000 without sending it to the Board of Trustees. The prior limit of $8,000.

The increases were made in order to account for inflation. Annual reviews for the purpose of making inflationrelated increases were approved with the new policy.

CRIME WATCH

Fraudulent purchase

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Nov. 4 at around 5:45 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 54-year-old Macomb Township woman who believed she was hacked.

The woman was informed by American Express that an $844 order for a tablet computer was made on her account, but she did not make this purchase and believed a store employee was trying to defraud her.

The woman wished to press changes if a culprit was found.

Fraudulent phone bill

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Nov. 2 at around 3:10 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 22300 block of Homestead Drive for a fraud report.

Deputies spoke with a 42-year-old Macomb Township woman who received a $472 bill from Verizon Wireless despite not having an account with the company. She believed someone stole her identity and opened an account with four lines in her name. Verizon customer service told her to file a police report.

GPS tracker

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Oct. 31 at around 5:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 37-year-old Macomb Township man about a GPS tracker placed on his vehicle.

The man was shopping at a liquor store on Hayes Road when he received a notification that a GPS tracker had been placed on his car. He called deputies to report the tracker, which he believed was placed on his car by someone who wanted to steal his $6,000 wheels.

Fraudulent phone call

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Oct. 31 at around 4:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a Macomb Township couple that were targeted for fraud.

Deputies were told by a 72-year-old woman that she received a series of phone calls that claimed she had a $900 fraudulent transaction. The caller asked for a Social Security number and phone account information, which she provided. Soon after, a new phone line was opened on the account and around $11,000 in fraudulent transactions were performed.

The couple wished to press charges.

— Dean Vaglia

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SPOTLIGHT ON CHARITIES & NONPROFITS

Groups work to ensure there is

‘No Child Without a Christmas’

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

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 going up every year.”

Groups

from page 16A

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.

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

According to the report, of the 259 offenders that went through the program in the four months, 28% of the cases were dismissed.

“The high dismissal rate among DV

cases points to a need for strong victim-prosecutor coordination to support cooperation through the court process,” the report states.

The report also states that 44% of offenders had prior arrests for violent behaviors, and 30% had access to weapons.

Hawkins said the data is not leading to any changes in the program yet, but that it is allowing the department to refine its approach.

“We’re not making any changes to our program at this point, but what it has done is raise our awareness, particularly with our lethality assessments,” he said.

While the report showed areas that needed improvement, Hawkins said he hopes the program can serve as a model for other communities.

“I’m hoping that others are watching.

DR. MEGAN BERGERON, DPM

I’m hoping that other police departments, both within the state of Michigan and outside of the state of Michigan, are watching what’s happening here and seeing how we’re saving lives and breaking this generational cycle of violence in families,” he said. “I truly believe that once they see what we’re doing, that this will become a model for other police departments.”

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Santa Parade

from page 10A

lips in a ‘shush’ motion so that little child could keep his secret. If you’re not a volunteer you’re not going to see those moments or hear about them. Knowing that we’re all part of this tradition that makes moments like that for hundreds of Mount Clemens kids is pretty fun.”

Santa first made his way down Mount Clemens’ Main Street in 1975. The man from the North Pole came to Bath City in order to visit Prieh’s Department Store, journeying into town upon a lone float. Mr. Claus returned in 1976 and from then until the 2000s, the parade cemented itself as a core part of the Mount Clemens civic calendar. It was helped along in major part by First National Bank in 1989 and Mount Clemens General Hospital in 1994, both coming in to sponsor and organize the budding tradition.

The parade’s future came into doubt in 2006 when the hospital pulled its sponsorship. A campaign was launched to save the parade, and since then it has been handled by groups of volunteers operating with some kind of charitable partner. This year, the parade is organized with the Downtown Development Committee Foundation — the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority’s charitable arm — while registering with the state and federal governments to form a nonprofit parade organization. This year’s presenting sponsors are the Mount Clemens Lions Club and JARS Cannabis. Other parade sponsors include local clubs and businesses within the greater Mount Clemens area.

“We have lots of floats and a lot of the same people who

have supported us through the years; the car clubs and the dance studios and the ice arena with their Zamboni and the figure skaters, and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus,” DDCF Treasurer and Parade Sponsorship Coordinator Michelle Weiss said. “I’m just grateful that people find value in not just putting it on but supporting it … The kids look forward

to it (over) generations. We have families that came when they were little and now, they’re parents and grandparents, and it means a lot to them to come here.”

For more information about the parade and its history, go to mountclemenssantapa rade.com.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

rue Thanksgiving comes from the heart.”

The Wujek and Calcaterra families wish you a Thanksgiving flled with blessings and surrounded by the ones you love. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful families in this community who have chosen us to serve them. We are humbled by your trust.

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EASTPOINTE — Police officers were dispatched at around 1:40 p.m. Nov. 4 to DeRonne Hardware in the 18000 block of East Nine Mile Road on a report of retail fraud.

Officers were advised that two men had entered the store and helped themselves to more than $5,000 in merchandise before fleeing the scene.

Video of the suspects was provided to police.

Patrol officers, detectives and members of the Eastpointe Special Investigations Unit were able to locate the suspects the next day, Nov. 5. Both were arrested and a search warrant was conducted at their Detroit residence. Most of the stolen merchandise was also recovered, police said.

Charges were pending following a review by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

Larceny from auto

EASTPOINTE — At around 9 a.m. Oct. 31, police officers were dispatched to the 16000 block of Sprenger Avenue to investigate a larceny from auto complaint. Their investigation reportedly revealed that an unknown person had stolen a handgun from the center console of a black Ram truck.

Dumping reported

ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 3:09 p.m. on Nov. 4, a complaint was made about alleged dumping in the 3000 block of Country Club Drive.

The officer spoke to a 78-year-old man who is the president of the neighborhood association. The man stated they’ve had residents on several occasions view a 34-year-old man dumping large amounts of garbage in the building’s dumpsters. The suspect is a former resident.

The man had photos of the suspect and was advised to keep them. The officer also advised the man and any tenants to call the police if they see the suspect continuing the behavior.

Check fraud reported

ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 5:43 p.m. on Oct. 24, a report was made about a case of check fraud in the 21000 block of Greater Mack Avenue.

The officer spoke with the victim, a 64-yearold woman, who stated she noticed her checking account was overdrawn. Around $620 was missing. A photocopy of a check showed the same amount was cashed out in a check addressed to an individual she doesn’t know. The signature was reportedly fraudulent, and the check was cashed in July.

The woman needed a police report so the bank could conduct its investigation.

Man caught stealing from store

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A police officer was dispatched to 8200 Van Dyke Ave. for a subject who was caught stealing at 8:51 p.m. Oct. 31. The loss prevention officer said he recognized the subject from a previous theft from a couple of days ago and was now watching him in the store, selecting items and passing all points of sale without offering to pay for the items. Between a couple of days ago and today, police said the man took more than $250 in merchandise and was to be charged with two counts of third-degree retail fraud.

Vehicle strikes home

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Officers were dispatched to the Shelby West mobile home park, near 22 Mile Road and the Van Dyke Freeway for a vehicle that struck a home on Cranberry Court at 4:38 p.m. Nov. 6. Witnesses said a woman left the area after the crash. The woman was located and admitted to having been drinking alcohol prior to driving, police said. The officers conducted a roadside sobriety test prior to arresting her for operating while intoxicated. The woman had two prior operating while intoxicated arrests, according to police.

Damage to car reported after being egged

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A police officer was dispatched to the area of Ryan and Hamlin roads for a destruction of property report at 9:39 p.m. Nov. 4.

The victim said that while he was driving down the road, he heard a loud bang on his vehicle. When he pulled over, he noticed what appeared to be a raw egg that had been thrown at his vehicle. When the victim washed off the egg, he noticed damage to the left pillar of his vehicle. There were no suspects at the time of the police report.

Stolen car

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Oct. 14 at around 5

a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 52800 block of Harmony Drive for an auto theft report.

Deputies were told by the caller, a 40-year-old Macomb Township woman, that the car was stolen overnight and last seen parked on the street around 7:30 p.m. the night before. The woman’s 43-year-old husband told deputies he noticed the car was stolen at around 4:30 a.m.

The couple wished to press charges if a suspect was found.

Stolen license plate

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Oct. 14 at around

were called to the 17900 block of Red Oaks Drive for a larceny report.

Deputies spoke with a 31-year-old Macomb Township man who worked in Shelby Township. At around 4 p.m. the day before, the man noticed his license plate was stolen from his car. He said the theft most likely occurred in Shelby Township.

Damaged decoration

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Oct. 20 at around 6 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 49-year-old Macomb Township woman about damaged garden decorations.

At around 5 a.m., the woman discovered the severed head of her Ms. Frankenstein lawn decoration when she had stepped outside of her home in the 23100 block of Inwood Drive for a cigarette. The woman was unsure about who did the damage.

Suspect makes smooth getaway

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Police were looking for an unknown man who is said to have stolen an estimated 12 bottles of EOS lotion — valued at about $160 — from The Village CVS store at around 9:40 p.m. Oct. 27.

Retail fraud suspect sought

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Around closing time at 11 p.m. Oct. 29, an unknown man between 40 and 50 years old is said by police to have run into The Village CVS store, grabbed an estimated $100 worth of merchandise and fled from the store without paying.

Caregiver suspected of stealing from senior GROSSE POINTE PARK — A person described as a trusted 58-year-old female caregiver was suspected of making an estimated $1,700 worth of withdrawals and unauthorized charges against the accounts of a Grosse Pointe Park senior whom the suspect was working for, according to a police report filed Oct. 30. The suspect was facing possible charges including identity theft and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device.

Vehicle broken into GROSSE POINTE WOODS — In what police believe might have been an attempt to steal the infotainment system — a crime that has happened repeatedly to Ram vehicles in metro Detroit in recent weeks — an unknown suspect smashed the rear driver’s side window on a Ram truck while it was parked on the street in the 1700 block of Bournemouth Road between the night of Oct. 28 and 9:29 a.m. Oct. 29,

ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAMMING CONTEST UNDERWAY

METRO DETROIT — Detroit-area Planet Fitness franchisees, EPIC Fitness Group and Impact Fitness Group, and the Detroit Red Wings have again teamed up for its third annual Shut Out Bullying contest, offering one school or youth organization $10,000 in funding for anti-bullying programming.

The contest opened Nov. 2 and concludes at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 21. Educational institutions and youth organizations throughout Michigan serving students in grades K-12 are invited to apply by completing a short entry form and answering questions about their current or proposed bullying prevention initiatives. The 2026 winner will be honored during a special on-ice presentation on Jan. 18, 2026, prior to the Red Wings vs. Ottawa Senators game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. For full contest details, eligibility requirements, and the application form, visit DetroitRedWings.com under the Fans contest page. A direct link to the contest page can also be found here: DetroitRedWings. com/ShutOutBullyingContest.

Future movie makers sought

METRO DETROIT — Emagine Entertainment and Folktellers Studios have partnered to invite young readers to bring stories to life on the big screen in a storytelling and literacy initiative that blends reading, imagination, and movie magic. The program invites students to dive into Josef Bastian’s award-winning seven-book series, “Excerpts from an Unknown Guidebook.” After reading the books, participants will create their own three-minute movie trailers inspired by the series’ characters, worlds, and themes. Folktellers Studios and Emagine will distribute program kits and connect with classrooms and community groups across the region to make the program accessible to as many young storytellers as possible. The program is open to elementary and middle school aged students and to educators, schools, and community organizations in Michigan. Program registration began Nov. 3 at folktellersforliteracy.com.

was missing from the vehicle. Wallet taken GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A wallet was removed from the console of an unlocked vehicle while it was parked in a driveway in the 900 block of North Brys Drive between the night of Oct. 27 and the

Suspicious circumstances reported MOUNT CLEMENS — On Oct. 16 at around 8:40 p.m.,

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