1/21/26 C & G Special Edition — Macomb/Grosse Pointes

NEWSPAPERS Special Edition

St. Clair

Shores to host Aqua Freeze jan.

23-24

BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Aqua Freeze is back with fun, music and beautiful ice sculptures for patrons to enjoy.

The event this year is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 23 and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson Avenue.

St. Clair Shores Parks and Recreation Event Director Henry Bowman said there will be ice sculptures, a horse-drawn carriage sponsored by First State Bank, live music and more.

Bowman said the fire and ice show will take place on Friday night featuring an ice chimney sponsored by Z’s Pub. The Orbitsons will also play music.

On Saturday, bands will play all day and, Bowman said, the headliner will be Black Mountain Sons. Michael Agnello Jewelers is sponsoring the city’s 75th Diamond Jubilee sculpture.

“It’s going to be something very interesting to see,” Bowman said.

The event is free to attend for guests.

Bowman said there will be miniature golf holes set up around the ice sculptures. He said he is excited for the event.

“It’s one of my favorite events,” Bowman said.

Councilwoman Linda Bertges said in an email that eventgoers should bundle up and join them in one of St. Clair Shores’ “most beloved winter traditions.” She said it is the perfect mix of ice and fire, laughter, community, spirit and pure Michigan charm.

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JANUARY 21, 2026 Macomb County and Grosse

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

STERLING HEIGHTS — A Sterling Heights High School student recently was acknowledged for the actions he took when he helped a stranger during a medical emergency.

On Dec. 18, the school’s resource officer Duane Casbar presented junior Kyle Bailey with a challenge coin for his quick thinking when he stopped to help a man who was involved in a car crash.

This is the first time a student has received a challenge coin. Several staff members, Warren Consolidated Schools Superintendent John Bernia, and Kyle’s family — dad Kevin, mom Tracey, and sister Katelyn — attended the brief ceremony. challenge coin for his quick thinking when he stopped to help a man who was involved in a car

Sterling

See BAILEY on page 10A

Sterling Heights High School student recognized for heroic actions

SIMULATION PROGRAM ‘FUELS’ STUDENTS’ CAREER PATHS

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

ROSEVILLE — Roseville High School students recently experienced what it would be like to be an X-ray technician, construction manager, disaster response coordinator and more during a virtual reality simulation program held Dec. 12.

The program, in which students explored career opportunities, was part of Macomb County’s Fueling the Talent Pipeline initiative, which is designed to connect industry with local schools. The goal is to expose students to a variety of careers and to prepare them for the workforce with jobs offered by local companies.

The virtual reality simulation program was made

possible with a $100,000 grant awarded through Emerge, Huntington Bank and Macomb County Outreach. The company Emerge, for instance, provided the simulation equipment for the experience, including floor mats, joysticks and headsets.

The interactions gave students the chance to experience different jobs. They maneuvered the joysticks to complete different tasks of the chosen career to simulate. The joysticks allowed the students to use different simulated tools and to pick up various objects as they would on a real job.

“All day they’ve been learning about potential careers in Michigan,” geometry teacher Sean LaForge said. “There are a lot of opportunities for kids that are going

Warren looks to add home repair, down payment help program

BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com

WARREN — Homeowners in the city of Warren may soon be able to receive assistance for home repairs or down payments thanks to a program approved by the City Council.

At their Dec. 16 meeting, council members discussed creating a special revenue

fund that would use $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to the city to help Warren residents repair their homes or receive income-based assistance toward a down payment on a new home. Qualified homeowners could receive up to $25,000 for repairs under the proposal.

“This is something that probably should have had a press release and a big fanfare about, because I think this is one of

the most positive things that’s happened in the city for years,” Council Secretary Mindy Moore said. “We wanted to make people’s lives better, and I think this will do it.”

At the meeting, Moore said besides using ARPA funds for infrastructure and other projects around the city, they wanted to use it to help Warren homeowners. The idea resurfaced during conversations about the city’s budget.

Moore said the grants would be used for foundational repairs, such as electrical problems or porch repairs.

“Porches are a huge problem in some areas of town,” she said. “Everybody that’s walked door-to-door knows that. It’s a problem for our police and fire. This is a way to get things like that done.”

Before a grant would be handed to

The secrets to their success

NEW BUSINESS OWNERS TALK ABOUT PLANNING, GROWTH AFTER YEAR ONE

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — When starting a business, entrepreneurs think about all aspects that will make it successful: daily operations, building a customer base, hiring employees, managing cash flow, city zoning ordinances and much more. After navigating over the hurdles, making it through the first year feels like a milestone.

‘The biggest challenge has been getting the word out’

Bricks & Minifigs Novi, located at 49881 Grand River Ave., in Wixom, opened Sept. 21, 2024. In that first year, the store owners learned a lot about what worked and what improvements can be made.

“I think what got us through is our positive attitude and amazing customers,” said Cara Suksi, who created the store with her husband Kevin. “We have so many repeat customers. They’re so supportive. They take part in some of our events

we’ve done. It’s hard to walk in our store and not have a huge smile on your face.”

Bricks & Minifigs Novi is every Lego fan’s dream.

“We sell everything Legos. We sell new and boxed Legos. We sell bulk Legos including bins,” Cara said. “Legos are made well. They don’t lose their value. They always fit together.”

The Suksis own Bricks & Minifigs Novi with two other partners: Cathy Drapeau, who is Cara Suksi’s mother, and Sean Krabach. Everyone took on different roles to make the store a success.

Kevin, who still works his full-time job outside the family business, takes care of the finances for Bricks & Minifigs Novi and assists with the inventory. Cara handles the marketing, events and birthday parties. Krabach is responsible for the inventory, and Drapeau was put in charge of human resources. Cara and Kevin’s teenage son Jack also helps out, along with a group of dedicated staff members.

Kevin always had an interest in Legos. Cara said he’d buy

Bricks & Minifigs Novi, located at 49881 Grand River Ave., in Wixom, opened Sept. 21, 2024. The store sells all things Lego, and owners are enjoying getting to know their customers while offering products that are popular with the clientele.

Business

and sell them online, and one day suggested they open up their own Lego store. Along with sales, Bricks & Minifigs Novi buys and trades all Lego products.

Because of Kevin’s hobby, the Suksi already had a lot of inventory to stock the store. It was a long process to open the business. The Suksis traveled out of state to meet with the Lego CEO and founder. They also completed a week of training. They were required to give a presentation as to why they wanted to own such a business and also spent a few days working in the company’s flagship store.

“It was pretty intense,” Cara said. “It’s a risk. The biggest challenge has been getting the word out. People are still finding us for the first time. Every market is different. What sells in one market may not sell in another market.”

The owners continue to come up with new ideas as the business grows. Bricks & Minifigs Novi, for instance, will participate in National Lego Day on Jan. 28. Cara suggests customers check on the store’s social media pages — Facebook, X and Instagram — for updates.

page 4A everything with me.”

is a new business owner. In the summer of 2025, she opened up her own business, EverCare Home Health, to provide non-medical home health aid to families. The

health care services throughout metro Detroit.

“Star Wars” is probably the biggest seller. The botanical flower themes, superheroes, “Lord of the Rings” and Friends sets also are popular. Cara said that many people come in to build their own creations or sometimes find missing pieces from a set they already own.

‘I knew I had to keep going’

In the summer of 2025, Mariah Moore fulfilled a longtime ambition of opening up her own business called EverCare Home Health. The virtual office is located in Bloomfield Hills and provides home health care services throughout metro Detroit.

Moore always had an interest in helping others. She started caregiving when attending Ferris State University. After graduating from college in 2011, she worked for Child Protective Services in Michigan but also continued with caregiving on the side. At first it was to make extra money, but then Moore discovered how much she enjoyed working as a caregiver.

“I worked for different agencies in metro Detroit,” Moore said. “I knew I loved it.”

She eventually left CPS. In 2023, the budding entrepreneur decided it was time to open up her own home health care business. She wasn’t sure how to get started but met a mentor who offered a number of tips to help in the beginning. Moore paid attention to every detail to make sure she was on the right path to opening EverCare Home Health.

“She taught me how to do it from beginning to end,” Moore said. “She went over

That included putting together a business plan, setting policies and procedures, and registering as an LLC business. EverCare Home Health offers a number of nonmedical services including dressing, bathing, companionship, light housekeeping, and transportation for doctor’s appointments and running errands. Currently, Moore has 10 caregivers on staff and four clients. One strategy Moore uses to find new clients is to pay a company for referral leads.

“The most challenging part was finding clients in the beginning. No one was calling. It was disappointing,” she said. “I knew I had to keep going. It took about two months to find my first client. It seemed like it was never going to happen.”

Moore makes sure to get to know the clients and their families to find out what the needs are. Some clients receive short-term care while others need long-term care. One client is receiving care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I stay involved so families feel comfortable contacting me,” she said. “We have to make sure the caregivers are reliable.”

While Moore is “glad my company is a little bit smaller,” she does have plans to expand in the future. She would like to add more 24/7 clients and offer medical care. She knows the hard work involved in operating her own business, and she is willing to put in the time.

“I want to continue to grow, and I still want to be able to have good relationships with each family,” Moore said. “I never thought I would have my own company. Focusing on my company full time is the most rewarding part. I truly enjoy it. I am doing what I love.”

WAYNE STATE TO HOST BORN IN DETROIT BASEBALL CAMP SPORTS

BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com

DETROIT — Registration is open for all four sessions of the Born in Detroit Baseball Camp that will be held at the Wayne State University athletics campus on Jan 31 and Feb 7.

The sessions will be broken up by position and age and will all take place at Harwell Field and the Doris J. & Donald L. Duchene Sr. Athletic Facility.

“This event is a great opportunity for our programs to connect with the motivated participants and empower them by providing both educational and impactful experiences that will help their development and carry over to their high school and youth baseball seasons,” Wayne State University head coach Ryan Kelley said in a press release. “Our dedicated coaches, staff, team and partners like Born in Detroit help make this opportunity come together.”

Sessions one and two will focus on pitching development and will be held on Jan 31. Session one will be for ages 8-13 and will take place from noon to 2 p.m., and session two will be for ages 14-18 and will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The pitching development sessions will focus on arm care, strength and conditioning education, drills and bullpens. Partici-

pants will also have the opportunity to work with current Wayne State University baseball players and members of the Wayne State coaching staff, who will also lead classroom instruction.

Sessions three and four will focus on hitting and offensive development and take place on Feb 7. Session one will be for 8- to 13-year-olds and will be held from noon to 2 p.m., and session four will be for ages 14-18 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Wayne State will provide detailed hitting instruction; strength, speed and flexibility education; instruction on the mental aspects of hitting; and base running drills. According to Wayne State’s press release on the camp, participants can anticipate a high volume of repetitions in a fun atmosphere hosted by Wayne State players and staff.

“The baseball camp at Wayne State is an extraordinary opportunity for Born IN Detroit to support our city’s youth and foster the development of the next generation of players.”Anthony Tomey, co-owner of Born in Detroit, said in the press release.

Tomey was a standout pitcher who played for Detroit Catholic Central and Eastern Michigan University before being drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 30th round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft. He then played minor league baseball for the Tigers and Dodgers organizations until 2008.

on Jan 31 and Feb 7.

BELOW: Wayne State University baseball players and coaches speak to participants during a Born in De-

“We’re honored to help young athletes build their skills and confidence on the baseball field,” Tomey said in the release.

The Born in Detroit brand was trademarked in 2015 by brothers Michael and Anthony Tomey, and brothers George and Alex Bourkoulas. The brand has officially

licensed apparel for the Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons as well as a handful of local colleges.

All participants will receive a Born in Detroit T-shirt. The cost for each baseball session is $75. Register for sessions at WayneState Baseball Camps.com.

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Honest and Aff ordable Auto Body Repair Services

Program

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a resident, the home would be inspected, Moore said.

“We’ll be inspecting all the homes to see what needs to be done. There might be homes that it’s not worth putting in the money, and we just couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t be enough,” she said.

Homebuyers can also receive up to $25,000, Moore said, and oftentimes lenders will contribute up to $10,000. Councilman Johnathan Lafferty said this is because of the Community Reinvestment Act.

“The banks are required to participate, and there’s certain thresholds that are established per community, and banks are obligated to fulfill those,” he said.

Some of the requirements to qualify for the grant would include making sure the buyer is able to make the payments once the house is purchased. They might also be required to attend training on topics such as budgeting and maintenance, Moore said.

Moore added one of the plans outside of the program is to work with building trades to provide education.

“We need to do that in the city now,

not just for this program, but we need better education for property maintenance and things like that,” she said.

Lafferty added that a program like this might help prevent homes from being demolished due to poor upkeep.

“We’ve talked, how many times, if only this person had put a roof on this particular home 10 years ago, we wouldn’t be here today demolishing a home because the home wasn’t properly weatherized. And it’s a program like that, with sufficient funding, (it) can save those homes from ever going down the abatement path,” he said.

Councilman Dave Dwyer added that the program might also help to cut down on the number of rentals in the city.

“It encourages people to go out and buy a home, and I believe it will reduce the rentals that we currently have in the city,” he said. “So I think that’s definitely a good thing as well.”

Councilman Henry Newnan called the program both “tremendous” and “exciting.”

Council members voted unanimously to approve the request. Additionally, they also voted unanimously to approve the program for a two-year period, with the option to extend it to four years.

Simulation

into certain fields. It’s something different for the students.”

A total of 24 simulation options were available to try out, including industrial machinery mechanic, certified nursing assistant, electrician, accounting, computer numerical control machining, 3D printing technician and more. The event was set up inside the school’s Lower Flex Learning Center, and students attended one session each, which lasted one class period.

Tenth grade student Cash Defour tried out the crime scene investigator and plumber roles during the experiment.

“This was really fun,” he said. “I feel you can learn a lot about what jobs you can experience in life.”

The crime scene investigator and ultrasound technician were two fields that attracted the attention of 10th grade student Kyla Wilson.

“I liked that one,” she said of the ultrasound technician tasks. “You had to check someone’s liver and kidneys.”

Wilson thought the job simulation activity was helpful.

“I think it’s good, especially for people that may not know what they want to do,” she said. “They try to see what they like.”

Before they tried out the simulation, the students listened to a presentation from Jennifer Weot and Dan Rochon, of the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development.

“You’re going to work for a very long time,” Weot said. “It’s so important you like what you do. If you don’t like what you’re doing, you’re not going to last.”

According to the presentation, the following industries will gain the most economic growth in Macomb County in the coming years: automotive and mobility; aerospace and defense; automation and robotics; distribution and logistics; and food and agriculture.

“This is where the majority of your jobs are right now,” Woet told the students.

“These are the things that make us unique from most other places around the country,” Rochon said. “When we talk about getting a good job that has a lot of meaning, these are the five key ones.”

Weot and Rochon also shared details about information technology jobs in Macomb County in the next five years. More skilled workers will be needed in IT, including software developers, computer systems analysts, and computer and information systems managers.

In the next five years, more employees will be needed in health care. According to the presentation, there were 8,078 home health and personal care aides in 2025, and 9,503 will be needed by 2030, an increase of 17.6%. There also will be a 3.6% increase in dental assistants with 1,348 in 2025 and 1,397 in 2030.

Macomb County’s Fueling the Talent Pipeline initiative is scheduled to be at a number of schools this year.

Late forester’s legacy keeps growing

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

GROSSE POINTE CITY — The work of the late Brian Colter — the forester for Grosse Pointe City, Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Park — can be seen throughout the communities in the trees he planted over the last three decades.

But one of Colter’s final gifts to the community can now be found inside Grosse Pointe City Hall. A segment of tree trunk from a more than 250-year-old white oak on Washington Road killed by a windstorm on July 26, 2023, that Colter carefully sliced out and finished occupies a specially made stand. City Councilman Seth Krupp, the council liaison to the city’s Urban Forestry Commission, said Colter called the trunk slice “a cookie,” and it shows the tree rings that trace the tree’s age — it’s older than the United States. Working with local historian Katie Doelle, Krupp said they overlaid the cookie with dates of important historical events in Grosse Pointe City over the past 250 years.

The cookie was unveiled to the Grosse Pointe City Council during a meeting Dec. 15.

Colter had created a similar historical display using a cookie from a very old tree in Grosse Pointe Park after it came down many years ago. It remains on view at Park City Hall.

Colter died at his Grosse Pointe Park home March 15,

2025, at the age of 57.

Krupp said Colter was responsible for planting “the beautiful sycamores” on both sides of Jefferson Avenue in the city.

“As you look around and see the trees in our community, those were the work of Brian and others who came before him,” Krupp said. “He had a huge impact on this community.”

Colter started working for the City shortly after the Urban Forestry Commission was established in 2016.

Krupp referenced a Greek proverb that reads, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”

“I think Brian’s work really embodied that,” Krupp said.

The cookie displays another famous tree quote, which Krupp said was Colter’s favorite: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

In a move that would have made Colter proud, the community’s tree fundraising program, ReLeaf of Grosse Pointe, has an ambitious goal for planting more trees this year.

“We are launching a pretty significant capital campaign (in 2026),” Urban Forestry Commission Chair Rick Whitney said.

The Urban Forestry Commission is hoping to raise about $65,000 to plant 250 trees in the city this year, he said. That number was chosen because 2026 is the 250th birthday of the United States gaining independence from England.

See COLTER on page 10A

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“We wanted to make it a little special,” Casbar said. “We see so much evil and bad things in the world. We wanted to do something good.”

Kyle thanked everyone for the recognition. The high school student was returning home last fall from a hunting trip with his dad in Concord, Michigan, when they spotted an injured motorist on the ground. The wounded man was not breathing and did not have a pulse.

“We saw somebody lying in the road. It was a two-lane road surrounded by cornfields,” said Kevin, who is a battalion chief with the Bloomfield Township Fire Department. “Nobody was rendering aid.”

So Kevin and Kyle, who is a lifeguard and knows CPR, quickly began life-saving measures and started CPR. The pair revived the man’s pulse and continued life-saving measures until the ambulance arrived, which took about 20 minutes. Sadly, the injured man didn’t make it and died at a local hospital.

“We did everything we could do for him,” Kevin said.

“That does not diminish what Kyle did. In law enforcement and emergency services, we understand that we cannot control the outcome, only our response,” Casbar said. “Kyle’s response was exactly what we hoped for anyone in that situation — courage, compassion and action. Kyle didn’t have to stop, he didn’t have to get involved. But he

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chose to act and, in doing so, he demonstrated maturity and character well beyond his years. Kyle, your actions reflect the values we strive and teach to protect, looking out for others, stepping up when it matters, and doing the right thing when it’s difficult.”

Kyle is the first Sterling Heights High School student to receive a challenge coin.

“He acted without pausing and with a ton of courage,” Kevin said. “He took control of the scenario and helped run the scenario with me.”

Kyle said he knew what to do after watching his dad work as a firefighter over the years.

“He’s a great leader in the Fire Department,” he said.

The challenge coin initiative was implemented in an effort to build positive reinforcement between law enforcement and students. The Sterling Heights Police Department, Warren Consolidated Schools and Utica Community Schools collaborated to develop the challenge coin.

One side reads “Sterling Heights Police,” and the flip side reads “School resource officer more than officers, mentors and allies” with the UCS and WCS logos.

“It’s to acknowledge students who go above and beyond for extraordinary behavior,” Casbar said. “As a school resource officer, I see a lot of our students in many different situations. Most of the time I see them learning, growing and figuring out who they want to be. Every once in a while I get the privilege of recognizing a student whose actions really stand out.”

Here, you can enjoy the perfect balance of independence and support, with more opportunities to connect, fewer daily responsibilities, and a truly carefree lifestyle. And for those who need a helping hand, assistance is always close by.

• Spacious, pet friendly apartments

• Life enrichment opportunities and Forever Fit programs

• Chef-prepared meals with local flavors

Whitney said that this past summer, the Urban Forestry Commission surveyed the city for city-owned spaces that could use trees and determined there was a need for about 500 more trees.

“We want no one to have to wear a hat unless it’s cold out,” said Whitney, referring to creating an overarching tree canopy across the city.

Those who want to support the 2026 initiative can send checks to the nonprofit City of Grosse Pointe Foundation; Krupp said checks should be made out to the foundation but should read ReLeaf Fund in the subject line.

Donations can be dropped off at City Hall or mailed to City of Grosse Pointe Foundation, 17147 Maumee Ave., Grosse Pointe City, MI 48230.

For more information or to make a donation online, visit grossepointecity.org.

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