7/23/25 Farmington Press

FAMILY TIES DRIVE LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS

Faithful dog leads ‘Rookie of the Year’ to finish line

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — Samantha LaLonde, 29, a Farmington Hills native and graduate of Harrison High School, was named “Rookie of the Year” in the 2025 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race by finishing with the best time for

the first-time mushers.

Words paint a picture at Farmington Hills exhibit

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — Words and art combined during Farmington Hill’s inaugural Literary Art Exhibit at Farmington Hills City Hall June 25.

A musher is the rider who controls the sled. Samantha completed the race in 12 days and 14 hours.

Her parents Jim and Sally LaLonde, of Farmington Hills, were in Alaska from the start of the race through when she crossed the finish line in March.

See LALONDE on page 6A

The writers wrote and read aloud their original literary pieces while standing next to the visual art that inspired their words. The art is exhibited throughout City Hall.

“The city of Farmington Hills really treasures the arts,” said Karla Aren, artist liaison and host of the event. “When we moved into this newer building and it was expanded, there was a possibility of buying art … from one place, but we decided we wanted

See EXHIBIT on page 8A

WEST BLOOMFIELD MAN CHARGED IN ALLEGED CRIME RING

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A local man stands accused of participation in a crime ring fraudulently purchasing and reselling drinks.

Sean Allos, 54, of West Bloomfield, was arraigned before Judge Christopher Blount on June 23 in Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court. Allos is charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony, and eight counts of receiving and concealing stolen property worth more than $1,000, a five-year felony, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

See ALLOS on page 15A

Local chamber to recognize community members for positive impact

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce will recognize individuals making a difference in their community at an upcoming award ceremony.

The 17th annual Key to the Township Awards will begin at 8:30 a.m. July 30 at Wabeek Country Club. The awards recognize individuals or groups that live, work or play in the greater West Bloomfield area and that have made a positive impact on the community, according to Suzanne Levine, the chamber’s executive director.

See CHAMBER on page 14A

More than just fresh produce

ABOVE: The Farmington Farmers Market is located at 33113 Grand River Ave in Farmington, open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., now through November. The venue features all sorts of vendors. BOTTOM LEFT: The artists at the market make a variety of items, such as jewelry crafted from acai berry seeds and avocado pits.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Many attendees enjoy the market as a place to gather on the weekend for shopping, entertainment, food, or simply watching the crowds.

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Man screams profanities

FARMINGTON — Around 10:30 p.m. July 12 in Shiawassee Park, Farmington Public Safety officers found a 44-year-old man screaming profanities.

After an investigation, the man was determined to be intoxicated and had an open container of alcohol and was cited for this violation.

The alcohol was thrown away and the case was forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Grill catches fire

FARMINGTON — Farmington Public Safety officers were dispatched to the 24000 block of Liberty Hill around 6:00 p.m. July 13 for a structure fire.

After officers arrived, they located an outside grill and propane tank that was on fire threatening the home. Officers extinguished the fire and removed the propane tank. The tank had an activated pressure relief device away from the structure.

There were no injuries or damage to the property.

If you have information about these or other crimes, contact Farmington Public Safety at (248) 474-4700.

— Gena Johnson

LaLonde

“I’ve been through all kinds of emotions, from being very proud to nauseous and all the feelings in between,” Sally said about her feelings watching her daughter race.

Sally and Jim took solace in the fact their child was doing what she loves to do.

“A lot of times, I prayed,” Sally said of how she handled anxiety.

Jim said, “We experience all the emotions from being proud parents — amazed, relieved. It was just very cool.”

He described seeing their daughter reach her goal as “surreal.”

Samantha described her mindset going into the race.

“My first and foremost goal was to finish the race, and I am happy with it,” she said. “Then my second goal was to get ‘Rookie of the Year.’ I’m so happy and proud of the dogs.”

She started the race with 16 dogs, as did all the mushers. She ended the race with nine dogs.

Veterinarians are at every checkpoint and evaluate the dogs. If a dog is hurt or there is a concern that continuing the race will cause physical damage to the dog, it is taken out of the race. Other dogs cannot take their place. Dogs can only be eliminated from the race but not added, Samantha explained.

The race was initially slated to begin in Anchorage, Alaska, but due to the mild winter, there was no snow, so the race was moved to Fairbanks, making this year’s race 1,128 miles compared to the usual 1,000 miles.

Samantha’s team of dogs included her dog Gibbs, 3 and a half years old. The 15 other dogs were borrowed from six-time decorated Iditarod winner Dallas Seavey.

“The dogs can cover about 100 miles a day with rest in between. It takes about four and a half to five hours of runs to go 40 miles,” Samantha said.

The rest time is part of the race.

“That’s where strategies come in. Those veteran teams who have done the race before may take shorter rests, and it also depends on their dogs.” Samantha said.

With a team of young dogs, she wanted

to give her dogs the rest they required.

Resting for the musher can mean sleeping on the side of a trail in a sleeping bag with the dogs. Or at some checkpoints, there are buildings where mushers enjoy the quiet, sleep, get warm and eat.

“We are racing 24/7,” Samantha said.

Veterans warned her that she might become sleep deprived.

“I wish I would have believed them,” she said.

In addition to training physically, which she does while she is training the dogs, she trained herself to make good decisions while being sleep deprived to protect herself and her dogs.

Veterans also advised her about the emotional highs and lows she would experience during the race, which she did.

A high came when she did a run across the bay.

“It was incredibly beautiful. The dogs were extremely excited. I was just having a good day in the sun,” Samantha said. “Weather made a huge impact.”

A low came when the weather was windy. She was leaving the second to the last checkpoint at White Mountain and came across a silt storm, which to Samantha is rare in the winter. There are usually blizzards.

Silts are a granular material that comes out of a body of water. They were blowing in the air and the winds were high, which blew away the trail markers. Samantha had navigation, but the map was not working.

“You can rely on navigation,” Samantha said. “But you can also rely upon the dogs.

“Gibbs was hooting and hollering and wanted to go, while the other dogs just sat, so I put him in the lead,” she added.

Gibbs ran in a particular direction and Samantha trusted him.

“I truly think that’s how we found the trail. She sniffed out the scent of the other dogs that went through before us,” Samantha said.

Gibbs led the sled and brought the team in with the best finish of all the rookies.

After the race was over, Samantha’s parents’ anxiety turned to exuberance.

“I wasn’t nauseous anymore,” Sally said. “My baby girl is as tough as nails.”

Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.

Artists return for West Bloomfield show

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Now in its 22nd year, the Orchard Lake Fine Art Show will return to West Bloomfield this weekend.

Event hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 26 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 27. Parking is free behind Corewell Health Medical Center, 6900 Orchard Lake Road. The show spans several blocks along the road.

There will be nearly 130 artists specializing in a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, watercolor, drawing, clay, glass, wood, mixed media, fiber, digital, jewelry and more.

Debbie Binder, a West Bloomfield trustee who serves as the township clerk, said she looks forward to the event.

“The Orchard Lake Fine Art Show is a beautiful opportunity to bring residents together, along with inviting others to visit as we showcase West Bloomfield Township,” Binder said.

Those in attendance can look forward to seeing new talent.

“We have a lot of new artists that don’t participate in other Michigan shows,” said the show’s owner and producer, Patty Narozny.

Among the artists this year are Agnes Rathonyi, working in mixed media, as well as glass artist Scott Bayless and woodworker Michael Karonias.

Bayless, who lives just outside of Chicago, has been working with renowned glass artist Charles Lotton and his family since 1996. This is the only Michigan show in which he participates.

“It is a high-quality show,” Bayless said. “All the work is good stuff.”

Bayless has exhibited here since 2007, after Narozny met him at a show in Phila-

ART on page 19A

Exhibit

to have art from our citizens, so there was a call for art. We got a lot of Farmington Hills residents who were really into art.”

The city kept collecting more art. Every two years, there is a call for artists to display their work at City Hall and the Farmington Hills Community Center, also known as The Hawk. If the piece is sold, the artist gets 100% of the proceeds but is asked to keep their work on display for the duration of the two-year period.

The Farmington Area Arts Commission, which is comprised of Farmington and Farmington Hills residents, was looking for ways to get literary art involved.

“This is a new component. The literary art is new for the public arts program, and we just want to get more people involved to shine a light on our writers in the community,” Aren said.

Lynn Fernandez, who has been writing since she was child, wrote and read a poem titled, “Frozen Memory.” It was inspired by artist Pamela Alexander’s painting “Dancing

on Ice.”

“I think writing is painting with words, so it combines beautifully,” Fernandez said.

Growing up in Michigan inspired Fernandez.

“When I looked at this, all I could see was an ice pond,” she said. “In my family, when you’re 2 years old, you put on a pair of blades.”

She wrote about her memory of skating on an ice pond as a child.

“Ice shavings in a whirl. Arms pulled in tight, perfecting my twirl,” an excerpt reads. “Long hair flying back, cold wind on my face. Strength in all my limbs gliding with grace. That skater is still within me when lakes’ waters freeze, she performs effortlessly.”

Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich was delighted with attendance at the event and the city’s commitment to the arts.

“What is really special in our city is we truly believe in art. This (City) Council has been working really hard to incorporate public art into more and more of what we’re going to be seeing in our city,” Rich said.

Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.

CANDGNEWS.COM

FREE CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS

Comfort bears donated to local police

FARMINGTON HILLS — Farmington Elks Lodge #1986 proudly delivered 30 comfort bears to the Farmington Hills Police Department July 11 to help children in crisis.

This was initiated by the Elks Lodge after learning about similar programs in other communities.

“We’re honored to support the officers of FHPD in their important work,” said Exalted Ruler Rick Bowes. “It’s amazing how something as simple as a teddy bear can bring comfort to a child during a crisis.”

FARMINGTON HILLS — Nationally certified child car seat technicians from the Farmington Hills Fire Department will assist community members at a free car seat inspection Sunday, Aug. 10. The inspections will take place by appointment at Fire Station No. 3, located at 29260 Grand River Ave.

“We know that proper car seat installation can drastically reduce injuries to children in the event of a car crash, but it can be confusing to properly install a car seat since every vehicle is slightly different,” said Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that properly installed car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by approximately 70% for infants and 50% for toddlers.

Appointments must be confirmed by Friday, Aug. 8. To register for a free child car seat inspection appointment, email fdevents@fhgov.com.

POSTCARD COLLECTION

ORCHARD LAKE VILLAGE — The Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society will host an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 at the Orchard Lake Museum, located at 3951 Orchard Lake Road. The free event will include a special presentation of vintage postcards starting at 2 p.m. The museum’s permanent exhibits will also be available to peruse, with information on local history and culture.

VEHICLE THEFT AWARENESS MONTH

METRO DETROIT — July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, and AAA said that drivers can take proactive steps to protect their vehicles.

More than 850,000 vehicles were stolen nationwide in 2024. AAA encourages drivers to lock their vehicles, stow valuables out of sight, and park in well-lit areas.

Never leave spare keys inside the vehicle. Also be sure to keep all personal items and other valuables out of sight.

Use steering wheel or brake pedal locks to deter would-be thieves. Apply theft deterrent decals and install audible alarm systems for an additional layer of security.

Enable smart key functions and consider fuse cut-offs or kill switches to make the vehicle more difficult to steal. Fuel pump or starter disablers and the use of wireless ignition authentication also help. Some systems also employ telematics, which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner, and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

ABOVE: Chris Harris, fourth from right, and his daughter next to him, help carry on the family business of Midas Auto Service and Tires that Chris’ dad, Gil, started in 1990 with encouragement from Gil’s wife, Patricia.

Photo provided

LEFT: Randy Booden, right, opened B&B Collision in Royal Oak with his dad Bill Booden July 1, 1977. One year later, Randy Booden’s sister Wendy Tomassi, center, joined the family business and keeps the operation running smoothly as office manager. Although not a family member, Randy Booden credits manager Nick Olsowy, left, for “making his life so much better.”

Photo by Liz Carnegie

FAMILY TIES DRIVE LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — When Bill Griffin, who owns Griffin’s Neighborhood Auto Clinic in Farmington Hills, injured his back in 2009, he was unable to work for a period of time.

The shop had only been open for two years, so his younger brother, Tom Griffin, stepped in to handle the business until Griffin got back on his feet.

“Had it not been for my brother the shop would have failed,” Griffin said.

Griffin’s Neighborhood Auto Clinic, located at 23905 Freeway Park Dr., offers many services. Talented staff members offer auto repair; suspension, steering and alignment; cooling system and engine repair;

Praise In Te Park Set For July 27— With Music, Worship And Family Fun!

Another Way Pregnancy Center (AWPC), a nonproft organization based in Oakland County, is inviting the community to gather for an evening of worship, fun and support for local families in need. Praise in the Park, a brand-new event, takes place Sunday, July 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Shiawassee Park in Farmington.

Te highlight of the evening is a free concert by fve-time GRAMMY®-nominated singer/ songwriter Brandon Heath, who takes the stage at 5 p.m. Known for chart-topping songs like “Give Me Your Eyes” and “See Me Trough It,” Heath brings a powerful message of hope and faith.

“Tis is our frst time doing something like this,” said AWPC Executive Director Jennifer Trevathan. “We wanted to create a space where the community could worship together, have fun and get to know the heart of our ministry.”

Although free, registration is encouraged! Everyone who registers online at awpcfriends. org/events prior to the event will receive a 50% of coupon to Farmhouse Cofee & Ice Cream (valid through Aug. 31, 2025).

Guests are encouraged to bring a new baby item—diapers, wipes, baby food or other

essentials—to donate to families served by AWPC.

Tere will be kid-friendly activities such as a bounce house, face painting and games, exciting giveaways and prizes, local vendors and food trucks ofering a variety of local favorites onsite. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets to ensure comfortable seating.

AWPC has been serving the community over 40 years, ofering free and confdential pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting support, fatherhood mentoring and baby supplies to families navigating unexpected pregnancies. In 2024 alone, the nonproft recorded more than 3,500 client visits.

“We’re here to walk alongside women and families—not just in a crisis moment, but throughout their parenting journey,” Jennifer said. “Praise in the Park is a way to celebrate what God is doing in our community and raise awareness of the support we ofer.”

Another Way Pregnancy Center is located at 28552 Orchard Lake Rd., Suite 300, in Farmington Hills. For more information or to schedule a tour, call (248) 939-5900 or visit awpcfriends.org.

brake services and more on everyday cars as well as classic cars and hot rods.

Family ties are a main reason why Griffin’s Neighborhood Auto Clinic has been a success. Along with his brother’s help, Griffin’s two daughters, Kelsey and Hannah, worked at the front counter of the shop after school. Doing clerical work and running for parts were among their many responsibilities. They also had to remember working with their dad came with boundaries.

“When you’re here, I’m your boss and not your dad,” he reminded them.

His daughters are now married with their own families and careers and no longer work at the shop. Their presence is missed, and their hard work over the years added to the growth of the family business.

SAPPORO HIBACHI STEAKHOUSE

Sapporo Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi is probably best known for...its hibachi lunch and dinner meals of course. But customers know that Sapporo is much more than that, from its daily specials to its recently expanded menu.

e restaurant opened in 2017 and has been known for its great take outs ever since. Owner Jenny Wu has more than three decades of experience in running successful takeout restaurants and managing a catering business, regularly providing food for the meetings hosted by various departments at the University of Michigan, and worked closely with the Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels in providing food for the seniors in our community.

Nabeyaki Udon is a Japanese noodle soup dish that includes a poached egg, chicken, Japanese vegetables, seaweed and 2 pieces of tempura shrimp.  Like other noodle soup dishes, it can be ordered with Ramen instead, an authentic Japanese

creativity and a unique avor pro le.

Hibachi o erings include numerous types of meat, seafood, tofu and vegetables.  For those couples who are celebrating a special event, or are simply very hungry, may want to consider the Sapporo Extreme for Two people.  It includes all of the meats, seafood with hibachi rice, noodles and vegetables, and even lobster and let and more.

Sapporo meals are full of avor from sushi to hibachi to salads and soups.  Wu and her sta have added recently to their menu Ramen noodle soups and special sushi appetizers and rolls.  For example,

One of Sapporo's most popular appetizers is the Crab Rangoon, which can be an appetizer or part of a light lunch or comes with the Teriyaki dinner meals. Sapporo's chefs have also created a new batch of special sushi rolls that o er

"We are best known for our steak, so that's our best seller but really we're known for our wide range of menu options."

Wu said. "We like to o er new menu items so people can come in and enjoy something new even if they've been here before"

Everyday there can be a celebration at Sapporo Hibachi Steakhouse because guests celebrating an important event in their lives such as a birthday or a

graduation will also receive a free gift along with their meals.  Guests without a speci c reason to celebrate can still save with an Early Bird Discount of 10 percent o .  Seniors 65 and over and veterans can also save 10 percent o menu prices anytime.

Plus, patrons can enjoy unique happy hour specials weekdays from 2:305:30pm and lunch specials before then.  Customers who haven't been to Sapporo in several months may also notice that the restaurant has undergone some interior remodeling work to lighten colors, increase space and provide a more relaxing atmosphere for all.

e restaurant is open seven days a week from noon to 9:30p.m. for dining in or takeout service.  Wu promises that all takeout will be properly packed so that hot food stays hot and cold food remains cool.

Wasabi Novi family and sta has joined Sapporo under one management. Please call 734-266-0888 or visit  sapporolivonia.com to learn more.

$5 Hot dog meals available starting at 6:30 pm. All Concerts start at 7 pm and will be held outdoors

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

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

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

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

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

John P. Jacobi, OD, FCOVD, FIALVS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“They did bring a good element to the shop and a little more of a draw. They played an integral role in building the company,” Griffin said. “We were one big family working here.”

His ex-wife also was heavily involved in the family business and Griffin said she deserves much of the credit for helping to build Griffin’s Neighborhood Auto Clinic. For many years, Griffin, an Automotive Service Excellence master certified technician, worked for other people and used that experience to open up his own garage. He likes the variety the business brings.

“Every day is a different day,” Griffin said. “You never know what you’re going to do from day to day.”

‘I’d do it again in a heartbeat’

Family bonds also added strength at B&B Collision, located at 919 South Main St., in Royal Oak.

On July 1, 1977, Randy Booden and his father, Bill Booden, went into business together. They had both been working for different car dealerships and when Bill asked his son if he wanted to start a family business, Booden told him, “You bet.” They took their passion for cars and created B&B Collision, a family-owned auto repair facility offering a number of services including collision repair. Nearly 50 years ago, Royal Oak looked a lot different than it does today.

“It was a ghost town,” Booden said.

But the Boodens settled on Main Street because of the other auto-related businesses they neighbored with, including a transmission shop and a radiator store. B & B Collision employs a number of experienced and highly-trained certified technicians. The state-of-the-art repair facility, managed by Nick Olsowy, uses high-tech equipment.

One year after B&B Collision opened for business, they recruited Booden’s sister, Wendy Tomassi, to work as the office manager. Even on their busiest days, they are able to separate the work they do from their personal lives. Depending on each person’s strengths, the family members took on different roles.

“I guess just being familiar with the other person, you know how to work with them,” Booden said. “We knew how to leave the shop and leave the work here. Outside the shop, we didn’t talk about business. What we talked about was family.”

But working with family also brought challenges.

“We have our differences of opinion. We were able to work it out,” Booden said.

“We can put everything out on the table, sit there and yell at each other, and 10 minutes later we’re fine. You can move forward.”

The trio worked together for many years until Bill retired. He passed away in 2008, and Booden and Tomassi carry on his legacy.

“He’s the one who taught me to be the person I am today,” Booden said. “I love it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Family bonds

Gil Harris opened up a family business when he found himself unemployed in 1990. He and his wife, Patricia, attended a franchise show and a new career was born when Gil opened Midas Auto Service and Tires at Eight Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Warren 35 years ago.

“I didn’t know anything about the automotive world,” Gil said. “I knew how to deal with people.”

He worked 60- to 70-hour weeks, determined to make sure the business was profitable. Patricia encouraged her husband all along.

“She was confident in me. She was all for it. I was scared to death,” Gil remembered. “You put every ounce of your money and security into others’ lives and hope and pray like hell that it works.”

The gamble paid off because the family, including their son, Chris, was able to open four different Midas locations over the years with several highly skilled staff members. That first year, Gil was named National Rookie of the Year for Midas.

With support from Patricia and Chris, Gil eventually sold two of the shops and continues to operate two locations: 2995 E. Big Beaver Road in Troy, and 41300 Garfield Road in Clinton Township.

“I actually enjoy what I do,” Gil said. “It was a learning process. The franchise (representatives) helped. I know how to hire people that have anything to do with cars, oil changes to air conditioners, changing engines. I had to be able to provide security in their jobs. That’s what we do. My wife did the financial part, and I operated the hiring. I’m very happy.”

Currently, Chris is the general manager of the family franchise. He got his start running the Detroit location and fit right in with the automotive world. Gil is “mostly retired” and Patricia is “fully retired.” They are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Working together proved positive for the Harris family, including Chris’ children.

“We always got along. We got along very well,” Gil said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have some issues along the way. We sit down and work through the issues and come to an agreement on what needs to be done. It’s not always easy. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Everyone has to find common ground.”

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Chamber

This year, there are five Community Excellence Awards. The recipients include:

• Joe Barbat, founder and CEO of Prime Concepts Detroit, receiving the Business Person of the Year Award.

• Shawn St. Andre, with Community Financial Credit Union in West Bloomfield, receiving the Spirit of Community Award.

• Ahmad M. Yasin, with Skin4U Med Spa, receiving the Health and Wellness Award.

• Shanna Johnson, regional president of the West Bloomfield Henry Ford Hospital, receiving the Leadership Award.

• Eava Sokana, a marketing strategist, content creator and brand builder receiving the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

“These people are very embedded in our community, and we haven’t honored them before,” Levine said. “So, there is a great interest in making sure that we recognize them for everything they do to make sure our community thrives.”

St. Andre, who has been with Community Financial Credit Union in West Bloomfield since November, has spent a decade working in the financial industry. He has worked with some of the larger banks and said that he was humbled to be selected for the award.

In moving from a larger bank to a credit union, St. Andre said, “I really wanted to go small so I could think bigger for the people around me. … I was looking for a place in my career where I could exhaust myself doing work for my community.”

He and his team have funded STEM lab kits for area schools, partnered with Haven Homes to help those experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault, and promoted art programs for youth in marginalized communities.

“Big grand gestures are really, really nice, but the small consistent things are what actually build people up on a daily basis and help the community be a better place,” St. Andre said.

He once helped a woman who lost her home, had poor credit and had high credit card debt. It started when a real estate agent came to her home and offered to buy it. She sold her home but couldn’t find a new one to purchase. As a result, her family had to rent in the interim, which cost more than her original house. The rental was smaller than their previous home and most of her belongings were put in storage, which was another monthly expense. She exhausted her savings and racked up credit card debt and was no longer eligible to buy a home.

St. Andre’s team reorganized her debt at a lower interest rate. She was able to save up the necessary funds, and she is now in her dream home.

The chamber also recognizes the Chamber Member of the Year. This year’s recipient is Kay A. Fossett, a multi-unit team leader at Block Advisors. This is an award given by Levine to someone who has assisted her in her role as executive director, helping the chamber to thrive.

“I made the decision based on who has contributed the most to our chamber board,” explained Levine.

Fossett has been a member of the chamber since 2016 and has volunteered as its treasurer for the past four years.

“She always makes sure our finances are in order. She goes over the bookkeeping records every month, even during tax time when I’m sure she’s quite overwhelmed,” Levine said. “I am so appreciative — and so is our chamber — for all her hard work. I wanted to make sure she was recognized and honored for what she does.”

Fossett said she was humbled to be chosen for the award.

“I enjoy what I do. I enjoy being involved with the chamber. I enjoy being the treasurer and reporting on our financials, keeping us all on track,” Fossett said. “It’s second nature to me. … I was very surprised that I was chosen, and I’m very pleased that I was.”

Levine said this year’s awards are unique because of the large number of nominations the chamber received. There were about 30 nominees.

This is the first Key to Township awards since the coronavirus pandemic. The last time the awards were held was in 2019.

Anyone could nominate a person or group that works, plays or lives in the area. They had to give examples of how these people were contributing, Levine explained.

“It was a rigorous process,” she said. “I think it was difficult for the committee to come up with some of the winners. Hopefully, next year when we do this again, we will look at some of the previous nominations for consideration.”

The selection committee is made up of

business owners and chamber board members, and their identities are kept private.

“We try to do it in a way that is respectful. There are criteria they go through,” Levine said. “We want this to be totally based on merit and on the amount of the nomination each person gets, so it is fair and equitable.”

Levine said the awards aim to recognize the “unsung heroes” in the community. It started off as a dinner at Shenandoah Country Club and has since evolved into its current breakfast format.

Charlie Langton, anchor and legal

analyst at Fox 2 Detroit, will be the master of ceremony at this year’s program. He has hosted before.

“If you’ve ever seen him in person, he is quite dazzling,” Levine said. “We’ve always had a different host, but he seemed to be one who added the most pizazz.”

Levine added: “This is just a fabulous opportunity for the community not to just honor these people, but to network and to meet some of the people they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to connect with.”

For more information, call (248) 6263636 or westbloomfieldchamber.com.

According to court records, Arthur Jay Weiss is Allos’ attorney. Weiss was not available for comment at press time.

According to Nessel, Allos reportedly purchased energy drinks below market value with the intent to resell them. Officials say the alleged crime ring was fraudulently reselling energy drinks totaling thousands of dollars in value.

The discovery was made after authorities began investigating an alleged food stamp operation in January 2023, where data from 8,000 electronic benefit transfer cards were illegally reproduced using personal information stolen primarily from residents of California.

The phony cards were then used at a Sam’s Club in the metro Detroit area to purchase energy drinks that would then be resold for profit.

“Organized retail crime remains a growing threat to our communities and local businesses,” Nessel said. “Our FORCE Team continues to work with law enforcement and retail partners to investigate and prosecute these coordinated schemes. My office remains committed to dismantling these criminal operations and holding perpetrators accountable.”

“FORCE” is an acronym that stands for Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement. The FORCE Team and the Organized Retail Crime Unit were established by Nessel in January 2023 to target criminal organizations that steal from retailers to repackage and sell for profit.

According to court records, Allos remains out on bond awaiting a pre-trial hearing set for 12:30 p.m. Aug. 14 before Judicial Officer Darnella D. Williams-Claybourne.

Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069. Allos from page 3A

CANDGNEWS.COM

Life is full of ups and downs. But together, we can overcome any obstacle. Rise to any challenge. And fght any battle.

Contact Staff Writer Maria Allard at

or at (586) 498-1045, and you could be featured in an upcoming Behind the Wheel. For more stories, visit candgnews.com/news/auto or use the QR code.

Travel back to the late 1970s in a Volkswagen Westfalia

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Setting up camp inside Dawn Bols’ Volkswagen Westfalia camper bus T-2 is like entering a time machine that dates back to 1979.

The sage-green van also is a reminder of the Michigan camping trips that Bols took as a child with her family, often to Wilderness State Park near Mackinaw City.

“It was like heaven to me playing with the kids on the beach,” the Harrison Township resident said. “It was so fun.”

Many of those family vacations were spent traveling in one of her dad’s Volkswagen vehicles. The first Volkswagen was not a camper bus, but the family still traveled in it and camped in tents.

Bols’ dad, Brian Bukantis, was always a fan of the Volkswagen bus and also owned a T-3 model in which the family did camp. The camping trips eventually stopped, but they still traveled up north via Volkswagen to a chalet in Houghton Lake, even in the wintertime.

“We used to freeze in the back,” Bols said. “My brother used to hog the little air vent in the back.” And it was a tradition for Dad to play music from Frank Zappa during every ride.

“It’s always a fond memory for sure,” Bols said. When Bols was 15, her dad took a break from driving Volkswagen buses. He eventually got back into the Westfalia’s driver’s seat. After Bols’ mom, Betty, died, Dad purchased the sage-green 1979 Volkswagen Westfalia camper bus T-2. He often cruised with his buddies at different local events, including the Woodward Dream Cruise and the Shorewood Kiwanis Club of St. Clair Shores Harper Charity Cruise. Bols is now the owner

See VOLKSWAGEN on page 17A

“Because it’s in such good shape, I want to preserve it,” she said.

of the Volkswagen Westfalia camper bus T-2.

“I got it a couple years ago after my dad passed away,” Bols said.

Bols has taken good care of the vehicle, which has about 130,000 miles on it. The interior — with a warm, checkered decor — is all original. The vehicle has different components, including a comfortable sitting area with a table that swings out for meals. The two front seats swivel around to face the back of the vehicle for conversation. The retro ride is equipped with a sink, a holding tank and can be hooked up to running water.

When camping, the Volkswagen Westfalia can sleep four people. The rear bench seat folds down to make a bed for two. The pop-up roof lifts off to become a two-person bed when opened. But sometimes a little help is needed.

“It’s not the most comfortable sleeping arrangement,” Bols said. “We usually put an extra mattress down.”

The Westfalia has curtains that can be drawn shut to get a good night’s sleep, and Bols added some special touches to give the van a late 1970s vibe. Her husband gave her a handheld radio to display next to a clock radio. Bols also found a 1978 Coleco Football Electronic Quarterback handheld game, and a friend passed on a handheld Merlin electronic game — first made by Parker Brothers in 1978 — that feel right at home inside the bus.

While cruising and camping are fun, Bols prefers just to take the van to local car shows.

Another reason is because the vehicle doesn’t gather much speed when on the road. It only drives about 55 mph. To alert other drivers, Bols placed a magnet on the back window that reads “Slow moving vehicle.”

“It’s a stick shift. It’s a smooth ride but there’s no power steering,” Bols said. “Getting used to driving it is a little bit of a challenge.”

The camper bus draws plenty of attention from onlookers. Many comments about the vintage vehicle come from people in their 20s.

“I always get peace signs out the windows and people honking,” Bols said.

Bols sometimes brings the bus to the monthly car shows from 5 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Sanders Chocolate and Ice Cream Shoppe, 23770 Hall Road in Clinton Township. At the last Sanders car show, the employee pick of the month was the Volkswagen bus.

“I was shocked,” said Bols, adding that she received a bag of candy for the recognition.

She also won an award last month during Eastpointe Cruisin’ Gratiot, a five-day event that ended with a car show and cruise June 14. Again, she was surprised. She didn’t plan to attend the Eastpointe event, but her brother, Doug Bukantis, invited her, and at the last minute she decided to go.

An annual pastime has been heading up to Port Crescent State Park, in Port Austin, during the Halloween season for its annual fall harvest. It’s something the family did with Dad, who got into the spirit of the holiday by becoming “Skull Man.” He’d wear a skull mask and cape to greet trick-or-treaters

through a fog machine that he set up. The bus was also decorated with skeletons and spider netting, and the tradition has continued.

According to the website autobarnclassiccars.com, Volkswagen began production of the Type 2 Microbus in 1967. Manufac-

turing continued through 1979, and there were many configurations of the Type 2 model.

“It was dubbed the Bay-Window Microbus with a one-piece windshield, sliding side door and a total of eight elongated windows for great visibility,” the website stated.

“A second opinion changed the course of my care.”

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page 7A

delphia.

“She was going around looking for people to come and do the (Orchard Lake show),” Bayless said. “I gave it a try, and it did well for me.”

Bayless described his pieces as three-dimensional floral designs. His signature piece is a calla lily design. He said his detailed orchid design has also been quite popular.

“I’m trying to make things that look like real flowers encased in the glass,” Bayless said. “I guess the orchids would be my favorite pieces.”

“I’m not somebody who is trying to put meaning into anything,” he added. “I’m trying to make pretty things that people enjoy.”

Terri Brody Elenzwieg is an artist and juror who judges the work of the artists before allowing them into the show. She has worked with Narozny for decades.

“I tell Patty, yes, let this one in, (or) no, that one is not doing his artwork,” she said.

She said there have been incidents when someone would import art from China or Africa and then try to pass it off as their own original work, requiring Brody Elenzwieg and Narozny to carefully discern authentic pieces from inauthentic ones.

“Patty works hard to provide a growing variety of price points while ensuring all artwork is original and artist-produced,” Binder said.

The show is suitable for all ages. There will be a youth art competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13, judged at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 27. Their work will be put on display,

and the winners will receive cash prizes.

According to Narozny, the program teaches kids how to make money with their art, encouraging them both as aspiring artists and budding entrepreneurs.

Among the schools involved are Steinway Gallery Arts Academy, Doherty Elementary, West Bloomfield Middle School, Sheiko Elementary, Knudson Elementary (Waterford), Forest Elementary, Melrose Park Elementary, Scotch Elementary and Alexander Elementary.

There will also be live musical performances, as well as a variety of food and drinks.

“Sounds good to me,” said Brody Elenzwieg.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

JULY 23

Learn about dangers of synthetic drugs: Hear from Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren, Oak Park Police Director Steve Cooper and Oakland County Undersheriff Timothy Willis, community forum moderated by former WXYZ Channel 7 investigative reporter Ronnie Dahl, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, (248) 796-5582, cityofsouthfield.com

JULY 25-27

‘Now.Here.This.’: Musical-comedy about four friends dissecting science of themselves while in natural history museum, 8 p.m. July 25-26 and 2 p.m. July 27, The Inspired Acting Company, 1124 E. West Maple Road in Walled Lake, (248) 863-9953, inspiredacting. org, read story at candgnews.com

JULY 26

Kids fishing day: Farmington Area Optimists Club provides rod and reel, stocked tackle box, live bait, in-person demonstrations and how-to-videos, for ages 4-16, hour-long sessions available 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Founders Sports Park, 35500 W. Eight Mile Road in Farmington Hills, register at tinyurl.com/fhnckidsfishingday725

JULY 26-27

Orchard Lake Fine Art Show: Nearly 130 juried artists expected, also Youth Art Competition and live entertainment, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 26 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 27, 6925 Daly Road in West Bloomfield, hotworks.org

JULY 27

Praise in the Park: Benefit concert for Another Way Pregnancy Center, hear live music by Brandon Heath, also bounce house, food trucks, vendors, giveaways and more, 4-7 p.m., Shiawassee Park, 32515 Shiawassee Road in Farmington, free but bring new baby item (such as diapers, food or wipes) and register at awpcfriends.org/events

JULY 28

Hear Farmington Concert Band: 7-8 p.m., Sundquist

Pavilion in Riley Park, 33113 Grand River Ave. in Farmington, fcbmusic.org

Golf fundraiser: Benefit for Hospitality House Food Pantry, 18-hole scramble includes cart, breakfast, lunch and dinner, drink ticket, “Beat the Celeb” competition with former Detroit Tigers catcher Lance Parrish, prizes, live auction, raffle and 50-50, 9:30 a.m., Edgewood Country Club, 8399 Commerce Road in Commerce Township, hhfp.org

AUG. 1

Garden and Tea Party: Try native and planted herbs in tea or as snacks, also nature crafts and activities, 6:30-8 p.m., Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, registration required, (248) 231-8471

AUG. 2

Highland Games: 176th event hosted by St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit, features Highland dancing, pipes and drums, heavy athletics, tug-of-war, kids area, Scottish animals, living history presentations, live music, whisky tasting, vendors and more, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., also Ceilidh (Scottish party) for adults at 5-11 p.m. Aug. 1, Greenmead Historical Park, 20501 Newburgh Road in Livonia, highlandgames.com

AUG. 2-3

MiAnime: Meet voice actors Zach Aguilar, Alexis Tipton, Katelyn Barr, Tia Ballard, Sonny Strait, John Swasey, Jad Saxton, Luci Christian, Justin Cook, Brittney Karbowski and Kent Williams during Michigan Anime Convention, also cosplay contests, fan panels, workshops, video gaming, car show and more, 9 a.m.6 p.m. Aug. 2 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 3, Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi, michigananime.com

AUG. 5

Health & Housing Summer Fest: Free expo for Oakland County residents, includes health, breastfeeding and housing resources, backpack giveaway and raffle, vision screenings, exams and glasses for ages 4-21, dental screenings for kids entering kindergarten, vaccine clinic for all ages, opportunities to enroll in

WIC, nutrition and home-visiting nursing, and health screenings and basic ear exam, also bounce house (must wear socks), splash pad and playground, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Normandy Oaks Park, 4234 Delemere Blvd. in Royal Oak, (800) 848-5533, oakgov.info/ hhsfest

AUG. 6

Duck Race & Family Fun Day: Purchase rubber ducks to race thousands of others along river, top five finishers receive prizes, event also includes family-friendly activities, live entertainment and photo opportunities

with giant inflatable duck, 3 p.m., Shiawassee Park, 32515 Shiawassee Road in Farmington, money supports CARES of Farmington Hills (helps local families in need), caresfh.org/duckrace

AUG. 8

Full Moon Fridays: Take night hike and observe nocturnal animals, 9:30-10:30 p.m., Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, registration required, tinyurl.com/fhncfullmoonfrisummer25, (248) 231-8471

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VKPERFECTPAINTING

Interior/Exterior

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Painting

FARR'SPAINTING

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NEBOPAINTING

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MASTER PLUMBER

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Plumbing

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WATERWORK Plumbing.com

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Roofng

PREFERRED

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CHERRY CONSTRUCTION

Powerwashing

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Professional Services

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MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC.

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Tree Service

DAVE'STREE&SHRUB

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ELITETREE SERVICE

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