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December 31, 2025 candgnews.com Oakland County papers

Southfield’s mural of a goldfinch is located at the Southfield Arts and Activities Building. It is the work of artist Bakpak Durden. Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Novi Mayor Justin Fischer, left, and City Manager Victor Cardenas, far right, pose for a picture with Kazuma Ito, left-center, president of the Nagahama Heroes, and Motoyoshi Ohtsuka, president of Ohtsuka American and Ohtsuka Sangyo Material in September. Photo provided by Justin Fischer

Must-see Murals

SOUTHFIELD, LATHRUP VILLAGE ADD NEW MURALS THROUGH DIA PROGRAM

Novi discussing sister-city relationship with Nagahama, Japan

BY MIKE KOURY

BY CHARITY MEIER

mkoury@candgnews.com

cmeier@candgnews.com

SOUTHFIELD/LATHRUP VILLAGE — The cities of Southfield and Lathrup Village are now home to two new murals thanks to the help of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The unveilings of the two murals took place on Oct. 27 in Southfield and Nov. 13 in Lathrup Village. The murals were made through the DIA’s Partners in Public Art program, which is a collaboration between the museum and local cities to install works of art. “Through the Partners in Public Art program, the Detroit Institute of Arts brings creative experiences into surrounding communities and engages residents in the creation of a mural capturing the spirit of their city,” DIA Community Engagement Programs Manager Ani Garabedian said in an email. “The murals in Southfield and Lathrup Village exemplify this mis-

The city of Novi is currently looking into the possibility of a sister-city relationship with Nagahama in Japan. “It’s similar to Novi in terms of size, and that’s a large part of it. They also don’t actively have a relationship with a community in Michigan,” City Manager Victor Cardenas said. “It’s like you’re at the school dance and you’re trying to figure out if you want to dance together or not.” Mayor Justin Fischer and Cardenas recently visited the city, which is located within Michigan’s sister state of Shiga, during the Midwest Japan Conference, which was also attended by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “We have a very strong relationship with Japan. We have the most Japanese residents living and or residing in Novi for the whole state of Michigan,” said Cardenas. Cardenas said that the sister city would benefit residents by further strengthening the city’s already strong rela-

See MURALS on page 7A

Lathrup Village’s mural, made by Andrea Slomczenski, can be found on the side of City Hall.

See SISTER-CITY on page 4A

C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025

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DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL FOOTBALL COMPLETES PERFECT SEASON WITH D1 STATE TITLE SPORTS

BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com

DETROIT — Detroit Catholic Central defeated Detroit Cass Tech 42-19 on Nov. 30 at Ford Field in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state championship football game. The final score shows a comfortable victory for Detroit Catholic Central, but the first half was much closer until a DCC touchdown before halftime. “We knew, obviously, they were going to be a great team,” Detroit Catholic Central senior lineman Benny Eziuka said. “Defense played great in the first half. Offense was a little slower than we would’ve wanted but got the touchdown before the half.” That momentum carried throughout the rest of the game. The See DCC on page 9A

Detroit Catholic Central players celebrate after a 42-19 state championship victory over Detroit Cass Tech on Nov 30 at Ford Field. For more photos from the title game, visit candgnews.com/galleries. Photo by Erin Sanchez

Detroit Historical Museum opens new Red Wings centennial exhibition BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com

Gordie Howe’s and Steve Yzerman’s retired-number banners hang in the Detroit Historical Museum. Photo provided by Sari Cicurel

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 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 detroithis torical.org.

C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025

from page 1A

tionship with and knowledge of Japan. He said the city also hosts Japanese government officials for about a week each year. During their time here, Cardenas said, they show them how a typical Midwest city government runs. “It’s just being able to provide that kind of environment where when they come here, they have the amenities of home that makes them feel at home when they are across the globe,” Cardenas said. He said that he hopes through this process they can build a relationship where residents will have the opportunity to go to Nagahara to learn about Japanese culture and Nagahara residents will have the opportunity to come to Novi to learn about American culture. “It is very important given the large presence of Japanese population as well as the 70-plus companies that call Novi home, “ Fischer said. “I think it is important for the leader of the city to have that in-home understanding of the culture.” Fischer said that they were able to meet with local and government officials and encourage their businesses in Japan to consider Novi, as well as Oakland County and Michigan, as the premier places to go because of the diverse, hardworking workforce and the large auto industry. Fischer and Cardenas said that they enjoyed the trip to Japan, particularly hearing from so many people who had heard of Novi or who had a connection with the city. “We met with a lot of groups. It was interesting to hear them say to the governor or to County Executive (David) Coulter, ‘Oh yeah, I have visited Novi,’ or ‘I have fam-

ily that has visited Novi’. So, it shows how well respected Novi is in Japan and how well known it is,” Fischer said. “It seemed like every time we turned around, they were talking about Novi.” The relationship between Novi and Japan began in the late 1970s as a result of the expansion of companies within the auto industry, according to Cardenas. “As those companies started to grow, the word kind of got out to come to Novi. I think it’s the safety, the security and the environment that has been built. The infrastructure of restaurants and grocery stores and the Japanese day school Ringo Kai. All of those things kind of play in together, in addition with our partners with the Japan America Society and with the Japanese Business Society, all of those things kind of just play into and build that support and builds the attraction for people to come in and work and live here,” Cardenas said. Cardenas said that during their trip to Japan, they met people with connections to Novi everywhere they went. Novi has an inactive sister-city relationship with Owani in Japan. Cardeans said that the relationship has not been active for a few decades because when the relationship was established, the two cities were both very small. Novi has since grown into a large city, but Owani has not; hence, the relationship became dormant. Cardenas said there is no formal way to his knowledge of ending the relationship with Owani. He said to start a sister-city relationship, they usually start with a friendship agreement and then go on to a sister relationship. There is no set length of time to acquire the relationship, but both cities must be in agreement. “Personally, I’d like to see us establish something within the year, but I can’t say there’s a typical length of time,” Fischer said.

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The Girls Scouts of America Gold Award was given to Rochester High School senior Audrey Henckel, who worked with building administrators to create a Veterans Wall of Honor at the school. The Rochester High School Wall of Honor, which was unveiled on Veterans Day Nov. 11, includes the names of RHS graduates and faculty who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Photos by Erin Sanchez

New Veterans Wall of Honor unveiled at Rochester High School BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

ROCHESTER — On Nov. 11, a day to honor and remember those who have served our country, Rochester High School introduced its new Veterans Wall of Honor. Over the past year, Rochester High School senior Audrey Henckel worked with building administrators and many others in the community to create the display, which recognizes RHS alumni and faculty who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. “I’m very proud of the project and I’m very thankful for

my supportive community,” Henckel said at the unveiling. “I see a lot of my teachers here today and I’m so grateful that I have their support. I think it looks very impressive and I’m so glad it turned out so well.” Henckel’s project earned her a Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of America. “It’s such a unique accomplishment. Only 3,000 girls in the U.S. get the Gold Award, so it really sets me apart,” she said. To earn the award, Girl Scouts must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to complete their project, including identifying an issue, investigating it thoroughly, building a team,

creating and presenting a plan, gathering feedback, taking action, and educating and inspiring others. Henckel’s Gold Award mentor, Patricia Markiecki, said the teen has “worked really hard.” “This is more than I envisioned,” Markiecki said of the Wall of Honor. “She has done a fabulous job.” Rochester Community Schools celebrates Veterans Day each year with special events across the district, including putting flags outside the schools, hosting veterans breakfasts, participating in local parades and more. “Those events always make me proud to be a member

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Murals from page 1A

sion of unique and immersive pieces of art that residents can enjoy for years to come. We thank the communities and the artists, Bakpak Durden (Southfield) and Andrea Slomczenski (Lathrup Village), who worked to bring the murals to life, and for their support and participation.” Southfield’s mural, which features a goldfinch, was created by Durden and is located at the Southfield Arts and Activities Building on the Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road. A goldfinch is a migratory bird, which Southfield Public Arts Commission Chair Delores Flagg said symbolizes going away and coming back better. “Bakpak, who is a well-known Michigan artist, has given Southfield something really special, and that particular piece embodies a lot of beauty and resilience,” she said. “We are a community that’s forever moving forward, going places and instituting new ideas and fresh ideas. So, it’s a stunning mural.” Durden, according to a prepared statement, was honored and excited to partner

A goldfinch was chosen for the mural because, as a migratory bird, it represents people’s migration to and from Southfield. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

with the DIA and Southfield on the project. “I spent many formative years frequenting Southfield,” Durden stated. “After carefully considering community feedback, I’ve developed a design that celebrates both the area’s natural environment and people’s migration to Southfield while embodying the

community’s spirit.” Lathrup Village’s mural of a colorful tree was created by Andrea Slomczenski and is located at City Hall, 27400 Southfield Road. Slomczenski said in a prepared statement that the mural wasn’t just a celebration

of art, but it also was a celebration of community, culture and the “unique architectural charm that defines Lathrup Village.” “I’m incredibly honored to be a part of the Lathrup Village project in collaboration with the Detroit Institute of Arts,” Slomczenski stated. “My goal was to create a piece that feels rooted in place, evoking both pride and connection for residents and visitors alike. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this vibrant city’s visual story.” City Administrator Mike Greene said that a mural of this kind is relatively new for Lathrup Village, as the city has not had one before. “They haven’t done something of that magnitude,” he said. “This is hopefully the start of something special in Lathrup.” Greene added that, since City Hall is the only building that Lathrup Village owns, any future murals would need to be made in partnership with private businesses. “It is something we are open to,” he said. “For me, (the mural is) kind of that wonderful example of what happens when creativity and community come together. So, this lets us reflect on the unique spirit, pride or vibrancy that makes Lathrup Village a special place to be. So, for me, it’s just kind of giving the city a chance to express itself.”

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025

Novi man has elaborate action figure collection BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

NOVI — Thano Karimalis, 51, of Novi, has developed an extensive and elaborate collection of action figures over the years. Karimalis’ collection goes from floor to ceiling and takes up an entire room in his home. The action figures range from G.I. Joe, Batman, Superman, anime characters and even the Muppet Babies. He said he has no idea how many action figures he has and does not keep a written inventory of them. “I collect mainly Marvel, G.I. Joe and Star Wars,” Karimalis said. “There’s some random stuff in there. There’s some HeMan, not a lot. There’s some Ninja Turtles, but not a lot. There’s some Power Rangers, but only, like, one shelf, and then random stuff like the Terminator, you know, a lot of ’80s characters.” Karmalis said he purchases characters that he cares about and doesn’t base his purchases on their collectible value. “Just because they make a figure, if it’s not like a character that I care about, then I don’t want to probably get them. Usually, I go to characters I know the backstory, like Superman, Batman, Spiderman. Stuff like that. If there’s little obscure characters, I just don’t get them. I only get what I like,” he said. “But there are people out there who are completists and they’ll get the whole line of stuff, which to me is just a waste of money. Where are you going to put them?” He said he got into action figures as a

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child. He said there weren’t many kids to play with in the area at the time, so he just started collecting for about 15 years. Karimalis resumed collecting action figures at 30 and purchases a few new figures each month, primarily from online sources. He said he does enjoy going to conventions but has found the best deals to be online. His favourite place to purchase figures is bigbadtoystore.com , but he does shop at Target and Walmart occasionally. “I got rid of all the stuff that I collected when I was younger, that I grew up with, so I could concentrate on the 1/12 scale,” he said. He said that collecting the 1/12 scale figures by lines like Hasbro and Mattel provides him more bang for his buck, and the size allows him the space for a larger collection. Kamimalis said he customizes his collection from time to time. “If there is a character missing in a collection that the company hasn’t made yet, I’ll try and customize that character,” he said. “Sometimes you can find the head online, and you’ll have to make a body for it with just different parts from other figures. So, it kind of, like, makes the character you want.” He said that there are thousands of collectors out there like him and many of them will talk through social media and meet at conventions. “But my group is small. I have one friend who is interested in this kind of stuff, and then I know a guy who goes to a bunch of cons and stuff,” Karimalis said. See COLLECTION on page 9A

Photo by Charity Meier

Thano Karimalis sits with his dog, Missy, and displays his favorite action figures in his massive collection.

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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025

DCC from page 3A

23-point margin of victory is the largest in a Division 1 title match since 2020. “In the second half, the defense started forcing some turnovers and the offense started pouring it on,” Eziuka said. “It just became a whole team effort to get the win.” After back-to-back undefeated regular seasons, the expectations surrounding Detroit Catholic Central were high, and have been high for more than a calendar year. However, the team didn’t allow the hype to weigh on the players. “This team is just different. … We knew we were going to be good and we knew we were going to be the best,” Eziuka said. “We didn’t let anything phase us. We were confident but didn’t get cocky about it. … We had one goal in mind.” The goal was to win the state title, and that’s been the goal for each of the last two years. “We had a lot of seniors from last year reaching out and encouraging us. … They should’ve gone out with a state title,” Eziuka said. “We really wanted to do it for them because they really brought our program back to what it’s supposed to be: The best program in the state.” The 2025 championship was a rematch of the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 semifinals, where Detroit Cass Tech beat Catholic Central 17-14 before going on to win the Division 1 title. “We believed we were a better football team than them last year,” Detroit Catholic Central head coach Justin Cessante said. “We thought if we played them five times last year that we

would’ve beat them four. … But we didn’t prove it the day we needed to prove it.” Cass Tech and DCC are two of the best and most historic programs in Michigan. Both teams were undefeated going into the final and have a combined nine Division 1 titles just since 1999. “We talked all year that we wanted Cass Tech in the state championship,” Cessante said. “We didn’t want an easy way out. We wanted everyone to be at their best and healthy so that we can go out there and see who the best football team is.” It’s safe to say that Catholic Central was the best football team in the state in 2025. A 14-0 record, state title, a Catholic League Central Division title over Division 2 state champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and blowout performances seemingly every week. In fact, the 42-19 state title game was the closest game the team played all postseason. “We have a football team with a lot of really good football players,” Cessante said. “The offense was the most explosive offense, statistically, in Catholic Central history, and our defense lived up to our tradition of the ‘Brick Wall’ defense.” Catholic Central has now had back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and is poised to be one of the best teams in the state again in 2026. “One thing is how you handle success. Don’t forget the process of what got us here,” Cessante said. “That’s playing for something bigger than yourself. The bottom line is, we’re going to get back to work.” This is Detroit Catholic Central’s 11th state title since 1978, and according to the school, is the program’s 15th in its history. This is the first DCC football title since 2009 and is Cessante’s first as head coach of the team.

Collection from page 8A

He said he does have a few pieces that are worth some money. He said that they never are valued at more than $400, but most figures go for about $30. He said that he has a couple of Wonder Twins figures that are worth $250, as they are rare. He said that on average he spends about $1,000 to $1,500 a year. “It’s not an expensive hobby. It really isn’t,” he said. He said that the figures often will go up in value within a year as they are no longer being made. Karimalis’ mother, Pat, said that she is very impressed with her son’s collection and shocked. She said she had no idea that he had that extensive of a collection. She said that she knows his collection is at least three times bigger than when she last saw it. “I think it is amazing. It’s from the ceiling to the floor. He sets up new things all the time and I don’t know how he finds the room to put up all that stuff, you know?” she said. “But he loves it.” Kamalis can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at Thanokarimalis.

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Audrey Henckel stands next to United State Sen. Gary Peters, an alumnus of Rochester High School, as he points to his dad’s name, Herbert Peters, under “Army.”

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from page 6A

of this community, and I’m deeply proud of the veterans in our area,” RHS Principal Josh Wrinkle said. “I’m especially proud that we celebrate this Veterans Day by putting in place a permanent fixture of those veterans celebrations in Rochester High. Military service is a special part of our 142-year history of this school, and this wall is a special honor of those who paid that ultimate commitment to their country.” The Wall of Honor is located in the walkway above the media center, and RCS Deputy Superintendent Neil DeLuca said the area is a central hub of the high school. “This Wall of Honor pays tribute to Rochester High School veterans and also serves to help educate future generations of the value of their service,” he said. Joshua Beukema, assistant principal of Rochester High School and a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, said the tribute represents an appreciation for the impact RHS graduates and staff have had throughout history in protecting liberties. “Getting to work with Audrey on this project was one of the proudest moments of my career thus far,” Beukema said at the unveiling. “Not only was it an extremely rewarding effort, it allowed me to learn more about the people who make up our great Falcon family and their tremendous dedication to our country.” The research took nearly a year to complete and Henckel says she anticipates adding additional names to the over 350 currently on the wall as the word spreads. “We had old yearbooks from the 1940s

that had names of the World War II veterans, so we started collecting names from that,” she shared. “I keep getting more input and more submissions, so it’s an ongoing, growing list.” U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, an Eagle Scout and an RHS alumnus who attended the unveiling, is featured on the Wall of Honor to recognize his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “Every name on this wall tells the story of someone who bravely answered the call to protect our democracy and our American way of life,” Peters said. “It is an honor for me to be recognized alongside my father and the countless courageous men and women who have helped defend our nation. This new Wall of Honor will ensure that future generations of Rochester High School students remember the heroic service and sacrifices made by members of their own community.” Peters’ father, Herb Peters, is recognized on the wall for his service as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army in France during World War II, following the invasion of Normandy. Peters’ father also graduated from RHS and was a teacher at Rochester Community Schools for more than 30 years. Another name on the wall is retired RHS teacher and coach Hal Commerson, who helped to fund the project and assisted in gathering many of the names on the monument. Commerson served in the Marine Corps from 1968-1970 and Vietnam in 1969. “It’s fantastic that it’s in this hallway, because kids go by this every day — it’s a great space for it,” he said of the project. For more information, call the school at (248) 726-5400.

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