A R M I T A G E COLLISION
candgnews.com MARCH 5, 2025 Vol. 23, No. 5
A U T O BODY
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COLLISION
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GLASS
DENT REPAIR • COLLISION REPAIR Certified Technicians • Paint Specialists • Auto Repair Experts
SPOTLIGHT ON FINANCE
STARTS ON 14A
13153 W. Eleven Mile Rd. | Huntington Woods, MI 48070
248.804.1900 armitagemi.com 248.548.8585
RAINSMART REBATES RETURN FOR 2025
Scott Merchant is pictured posing with a 2023 MHSAA Division 1 trophy in his office at Chippewa Valley High School. Merchant is set to coach Bloomfield Hills High’s football program next season.
BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com
See REBATES on page 16A
Photo provided by Scott Merchant
‘BIG-NAME HIRE’
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Bloomfield Hills High School has hired former Lawrence Tech University and Chippewa Valley High School head coach Scott Merchant to be the school’s next football coach. Last week, the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer made his return to high school football official. Merchant takes over a team that went just 1-8 (0-6 in the Oakland Activities Association Blue division) last season and finished last in the OAA Blue.
“I sat in the stands last season as a father,” said Merchant, who helped lead Chippewa Valley to a Division 1 state title in 2018. “My goal is just to come in here and to be a positive contributor. I just want to give these young people the best high school football experience they can have.” One of the biggest factors in Merchant’s decision to apply for the position was the fact that Bloomfield Hills is home. Merchant’s daughter won a soccer state title with See MERCHANT on page 19A
PREVENT TAX FORECLOSURE
E S T A T E
Experience Makes the Difference
HELP IS AVAILABLE
Pam Stoler pam@pamstoler.com 248.840.0044
Outstanding balances for 2022 and prior property taxes must be paid by March 31, 2025.
The Agency Hall & Hunter 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009 AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED FRANCHISE
SPORTS
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
PA M S T O L E R R E A L
BLOOMFIELD HILLS HIGH FOOTBALL MAKES BIG SPLASH WITH SCOTT MERCHANT HIRE
0156-2414
ACT NOW!
248-858-0611
Robert Wittenberg
Oakland County Treasurer
0313-2510
BIRMINGHAM — Residents within the George W. Kuhn Drainage District are eligible to apply for RainSmart Rebates up to $2,000 to put toward sustainable practices, such as planting native trees, rain barrel installation and a rain garden. Not every resident in Birmingham resides in this district. In order to check eligibility, there is an interactive map on the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office website that can help determine whether a resident is in the George W. Kuhn Drainage District. This program is only for new projects. According to Oakland County’s website, the George W. Kuhn Drainage District serves all or part of 14 communities. For more information, visit oakgov.com and search for “George W. Kuhn Drainage District.” The rebates are part of a two-year pilot program. The program’s overall budget was set at $200,000 and was split between two years — $100,000 this year and $100,000 last year.
0198-2416
WE WORK WITH ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES