8/20/25 Journal

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Police millage renewed in township vote

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Voters in Clinton Township decided on Aug. 5 to renew the Clinton Township Police Department’s millage for 2026-2035.

“There was a lot weighing on getting this renewal, so having this pass at such a large percentage shows us that we have a lot of support from the community,” Clinton Township Police Chief Preston Susalla said. “We already knew we had a lot of support from the community, but this just reinforces it, so it definitely makes us feel good knowing that we have the community support and that we’ll have the funding to provide the protective service that the community has come to expect and deserves.”

About 15% of Clinton Township’s registered voters participated in the single-item special election by returning absentee ballots or voting in-person on Aug. 5, with the Macomb County Clerk’s Office reporting 7,972 voters in support of the millage and 4,729 voters against it unofficially as of Aug. 6. In-person early voting was waived by the township board, with Township Clerk Kim Meltzer citing costs as the reason.

See MILLAGE on page 8A

OVER HALFWAY DONE, MACOMB PLACE BUSINESSES STILL SUPPORTED

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MOUNT CLEMENS — Closing a major street and parking lot for a summer-long construction project may seem like a death knell to local businesses, but the reality appears to be different.

The Downtown Revitalization Project in Mount Clem-

ens, which aims to create a new atmosphere for the city’s shopping corridor with a curbless Macomb Place and an updated New Street parking lot, has kept cars away from much of the city’s downtown since late March.

Despite the decrease in vehicle traffic directly to the area, businesses have reported strong customer traffic while city events continue to draw large crowds. Michelle Weiss, Mount

MACOMB PLACE on page 14A

CRIME WATCH

Suspected urination in public

MOUNT CLEMENS — On Aug. 3 at around 12:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 30 block of Crocker Boulevard for a disorderly person report.

Deputies spoke with a business owner in the area, who told them a 68-year-old Mount Clemens man urinated in his parking lot. While the business owner was taking a break from mowing the lawn, he saw the Mount Clemens man pull into the parking lot, step out of his car and begin what the store owner believed to be urinating on the pavement. The owner took pictures of the man’s license plate and noticed a “wet spot” on the pavement.

Security camera footage of the lot showed a man pull into the parking lot and move his hands around his midsection, but no urinating was noticed.

Deputies visited the man’s home and spoke with him over the phone, but the man said he hadn’t left home in a week due to a COVID-19 infection.

Abandoned theft

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On July 23 at around 6:30 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Metro Towers to investigate a vehicle break-in.

Deputies examined a Dodge Charger that had its passenger window smashed open and, upon further inspection, had wires pulled out from behind the glove box.

The owner, a 47-year-old Harrison Township man, said nothing was stolen from the car. A deputy told the man that he believed the vehicle itself was targeted for theft. Deputies recommended the owner

buy locks for the pedals and steering wheel, and to place a tracker on the car.

Stolen car

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On July 22 at around 6:20 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 24000 block of Lusia Drive for a stolen vehicle report.

Deputies spoke with a Harrison Township woman who said she parked her Dodge Challenger in her designated spot around 4 p.m. the prior afternoon and that it was last seen around 9 p.m. She discovered the car was gone when tried leaving for work.

The woman said her car was locked, that she had both sets of keys with her and that she was up to date on payments.

The car was spotted by a Flock camera at around 12:40 p.m. at the corner of Harper Avenue and 15 Mile Road and later spotted in Highland Park about an hour later.

Jet Ski jacked

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On July 21 at around 5:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 39000 block of Lakeshore Drive for stolen vehicle reports.

A resident in the area noticed someone earlier in the day hitch up and steal a Jet Ski and trailer from one of the homes. Deputies spoke with the owner of the Jet Ski and the trailer, a 24-year-old Harrison Township man, who said he left the keys to the Jet Ski in a storage compartment. He said he did not give anyone permission to take the trailer and Jet Ski.

— Dean Vaglia

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ing on Aug. 11. The developer wanted to create attainable housing duplexes at 24629 and 24645 Old Shook Road.

Trustees deny creation of attainable housing district

BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — In a 6-0 vote, the Harrison Township Board of Trustees rejected the creation of an attainable housing district after a public hearing on Aug. 11.

Harrison Township Supervisor Kenneth Verk-

est was excused for the meeting.

According to items attached to the meeting’s agenda, the proposal was brought forward by the G4 Limited Housing Development Authority LLC. The developer wanted to create attainable housing duplexes off of Old Shook Road. It would contain two parcels identified as 24629 and 24645 Old Shook.

See HOUSING on page 4A

PRICES, FINES SET FOR RESIDENTIAL PARKING

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

MOUNT CLEMENS — How much would you pay for parking?

As of the Aug. 4 City Commission meeting, the cost to freely park your car on the street can be as high as $2,000 in one Mount Clemens neighborhood. That $2,000 is the cost of an annual nonresident parking sticker for the residential streets between Clinton River Drive and Gratiot Avenue with parking stickers for residents and hanging tags for their guests available free of charge. A $100 fine is assessed to any car parked in the area without a pass.

Unanimously approved by city commissioners, the fines and fees serve as a tool to stop United States Postal Service workers from using the residential streets for parking during their shifts. Mayor Laura Kropp says the post office has since arranged a deal with a local nightclub for parking, though the city has no hand in that arrangement. The full area where a pass is required for parking includes Robertson Street between Gratiot Avenue and Clinton River Drive, Clinton River Drive between Robertson Street and Gratiot Avenue, Beyne

See PARKING on page 11A

Housing

These duplexes would have been part of the Attainable Housing Facilities Act.

“The Attainable Housing Facilities Act (known as the Attainable Housing Exemption), 2022 PA 236, provides a tax incentive to owners of rental housing property of not more than four units to enable renovation and expansion of aging facilities and assist in the building of new facilities,” the agenda item indicated. “An Attainable Housing Exemption Certificate (AHEC) entitles the facility to exemption from ad valorem real property taxes for a term of 1-12 years as determined by the local governmental unit.”

The plan was to provide a tax exemption for five years. The petitioners also received a grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Gina Hensley, one of the petitioners, said the project began last fall with a goal of encouraging the construction of new rental units.

Two residents participated in public comment in opposition of the item. C. William Bardill wanted to know why the applicant would get a tax exemption. He also brought up additional concerns.

“To me this is a slippery slope in that whole area and I’m totally against this,” Bardill said.

He went on to say the applicant already received two “mulligans.” He also said people move to Harrison Township to raise the standards.

“I don’t believe people move out here to get it lowered down to have this in our neighborhood” Bardill said.

Jim Senstock said he investigated the area and the grant. He stated the grant would reportedly be for around $260,000. He asked what the petitioners intend to spend on the duplexes.

“It sounds to me like they’re getting close to at least a third and possibly half off what it costs to build those two buildings,” Senstock said.

He also said the tax reduction is not acceptable and asked why the township wouldn’t offer it to residents.

“But you’re not offering that to the residents, you’re asking us to subsidize this guy so he can make a profit,” Senstock said. “So he can make a profit going forward for five years and that’s not acceptable.”

Daryl Gapshes, the other petitioner, said the intentions are good and that they are asking for the tax exemption because they have to offer lower rates.

“No developer would step up to the plate, (that) I know of, and do this,” Gap-

shes said.

He said later in the meeting the area is in an opportunity zone and that the duplexes will not be Section 8 housing or subsidized housing.

“This is going to be beautiful units that are going to be marketed to someone who is earning a good salary and can afford this, that can move into this area and afford a brand-new home for $1,300 a month,” Gapshes said.

He also said if they didn’t have the grant, the project wouldn’t move forward. The original plan when the petitioner bought the land was to make individual homes. However, it was zoned for RM-1 which is for multiple units.

Township Clerk Adam Wit said the duplexes would be for those in low to moderate income brackets under the last census. He also said it has been a vacant parcel for a long time.

Harrison Township Treasurer Lawrence Tomenello laid out the numbers, stating they would be shorting the schools and the township services.

“Are we willing to give up almost $9,000 for fire and police over five years,” Tomenello said. “In addition, no other Macomb County municipality has granted this designation to date.”

He went on to say he doesn’t think the argument that a little bit of taxes is better than no taxes is a good one.

Many other trustees voiced their concerns about the duplexes with Trustee Liza Brown stating there’s already a lot of housing in Harrison Township.

“Are we that jam-packed that we need to have this?” she asked.

Trustee Dean Oligiati asked why the petitioners are asking for a tax break and Gapshes responded that the incentive was written in accordance with the grant. He also said they are getting the tax break to hopefully break even in five years.

“We’re partners with them for five years,” Gapshes said. “So we’re committed, they’re committed and in five years the grant is forgiven, and the tax abatement would go away.”

Trustee Brian Batkins said he said he gets the need, but the township doesn’t have a general fund, and he doesn’t think they can ask the community to pay.

For more information about this item, go to the Harrison Township website at har risontownshipmi.gov.

Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.

TRUSTEES APPROVE NEW COMMISSION APPOINTEES

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton Township Board of Trustees made five commission and committee appointments at its meeting on Aug. 11.

Trustees approved William Rucker and Rick Adlen to fill two open spots on the Planning Commission. Rucker comes to the board with experience in utilities and as a Little League umpire.

“Even though I am not a state licensed engineer, I have worked my butt off to get the position I am in today,” Rucker said. “I have held various jobs in infrastructurebased (roles) that have allowed me to work on a professional level with engineers. I believe that this expertise gives me a good handle on how utilities and planning should come along in township projects.”

He added, “I think my skills would, for this committee, bring real-world input to (projects) to cut costs, avoid delays and just to make sure our decision making as a whole is community based.”

Alden comes to the board as a resident since the 1960s with experience in the Clinton Township Police Department and the township’s Planning Department.

“I find myself with a lot of time on my hands now and I would like to join the Planning Commission,” Alden said. “I think I have a well-rounded understanding of things

and would like to keep this community — which is one of the best in the state — moving forward.”

LaVette York, Melissa Rintz and Cye Bittner were approved unanimously to fill three of the eight vacant spots on the Prince Drewry Park Advisory Committee. Bittner was the only applicant who chose to speak at the meeting.

“I’ve lived in the community for 20 years, right pretty much behind Prince Drewry Park, and I thought it would be something I could do to help maintain or improve the neighborhood and the community,” Bittner said. “The park itself, my kids play there all the time. I just thought it would be something I could offer to do.”

The Planning Commission terms are for three years and expire on Nov. 30, 2027. The Prince Drewry Park Committee terms are for two years and expire on June 30, 2027.

Ordinance votes

Trustees also voted on two ordinances, the first of which was the approval of an ordinance to waive fees when the township is its own contractor on township projects. It was previously brought before the board with support from the Building Department.

The second vote was for the annual codification of ordinances and resolutions.

“As a clerk my expectations are always higher than the turnout, but 12-15% is about the norm on a special election,” Meltzer said. “When I saw the social media information out there (about the election) I thought we might get more than that; I thought we were looking more closely to a 20% turnout, but that did not happen.”

The run-up to the election saw some confusion regarding the language of the ballot initiative. While the millage would maintain the 2.3766 mills rate currently set for the department’s services, language in the ballot initiative made it appear as though the rate would increase due to it technically being an increase from 0 mills once the current millage ends. This led to media and door-todoor campaigns from the township to raise awareness of the details, ultimately paying off with support from about 63% of participating voters.

“We had a pretty robust campaign of going door to door talking to voters and residents,” Susalla said. “We were getting a lot of positive feedback from those interactions, so that also helped to reinforce the confidence in getting this thing passed.”

The $9.6 million expected to be raised annually from this millage covers about a third of the township’s police budget. Had it not passed, officials across the township would have needed to look into service cuts.

“We have a lot of resources here that we’re able to provide such as school resource officers, K-9 officers, we have a drone program, we have a public relations team, a full-time detective bureau, evidence techni-

cians, accident reconstructionists,” Susalla said. “We have a lot of things that we’re able to provide to the community because of the funding that we have, and that’s why we have such a high level of service that we provide. If we didn’t have the funding for that obviously we wouldn’t be able to have those types of resources, and it would significantly impact what we are able to provide in a negative way.”

The Aug. 5 election was notable for being a first for both the township and Police Department. It was the first township-wide election under the new precinct map for the township, with trustees voting in February this year to reduce the precincts from 42 to 20 and the number of Election Day voting sites from 23 to 19. For Susalla, a 23-year Clinton Township Police Department employee, it was his first major undertaking since being sworn in as chief of police in June.

“Coming into this job (getting the millage renewed was) priority number one because of the significant impact that the millage has on our budget, so I tackled it head-on” Susalla said. “Being employed here for the past almost 23 years, I’ve done other millage efforts — new millages and renewals — and we have a very good team here of employees that have also been involved in past campaigns, so I was familiar with it and that gave us all confidence.”

“Everybody at the department worked as a team as we always do to see its success, and it was definitely a relief from my point of view leading this department to get this under our belt. Now we can look forward to the future of this department,” Susalla said.

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

NEWS & NOTES

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On Aug. 7, 16 state legislators from Macomb County called on Apple to reconsider its decision to close its Apple Store at The Mall at Partridge Creek.

The letter, addressed to Apple’s Cupertino, California headquarters, cites population demographics and the local business environment that supports the store and other businesses at Partridge Creek.

“Over the last 15 years, Macomb County has experienced one of the most sustained population growths in the state,” the letter states. “From 841,350 residents in 2010 to more than 875,000 today, the region is one of few locations in Michigan — and the midwest — that are actively growing. Clinton Township alone where the mall is located has seen explosive growth, rising from 79,580 in 2010 to nearly 100,000 residents today. This growth reflects a unique sense of vibrancy and demonstrates a thriving suburban community.”

The letter states the Apple Store was one of the first businesses to open at The Mall at Partridge Creek. The mall opened in 2007.

“Thank you for your consideration, and for the years of service you have already provided our community,” the letter says. “We ask you to continue your investment in a stable, growing community in the heart of Macomb County.”

TIME TO ‘SPARKLE’

METROPARKS ROLLS OUT NEW WATER SAFETY EQUIPMENT

METRO DETROIT — Even with summer wrapping up, HuronClinton Metroparks announced on Aug. 5 it is adding throw bags, rescue boards and equipping parks police with LUCAS devices in order to improve water safety at all of its parks.

“With new life-saving equipment like the rescue throw bags and rescue boards, the public is better equipped to respond quickly and effectively in emergencies,” Metroparks Chief of Police Michael Reese said via press release. “These tools can truly mean the difference between life and death. The addition of the LUCAS devices then assist our officers in better responding to emergencies at the scene. Collectively, they represent a major step forward in our work to prevent drownings and protect lives across the Metroparks.”

The lifesaving equipment is paired with Metroparks’ “Everyone in the Pool” initiative, which aims to limit drowning by providing free swimming and lifesaving lessons. Over 1,900 people have attended lessons this summer.

“Too many families in our region have experienced the heartbreak of losing a loved one to drowning and we’re determined to change that,” Metroparks CEO Amy McMillan said in a press release. “From free swim lessons to life jackets at every beach and now new life-saving equipment for our officers, we’re taking real, proactive steps to protect every visitor. Everyone deserves to feel confident and safe when they step into the water and we’re working every day to make that a reality.”

METRO DETROIT — The Sparkle Network will again hold its Dress Into A Dream homecoming dress sale for high school students by providing new and gently-used homecoming dresses for $10 each.

There are dresses of all sizes and lengths for homecoming dances and special occasions. For the first time this year, the organization will have separate pants, tops and skirts in limited sizes for $5 each. All proceeds will benefit the Prom Closet Project Tour 2026,

which provides prom dresses to local high school students. The following Dress Into A Dream dates and locations have been confirmed:

Aug. 22-23 at American House East 1, 17255 Common Road in Roseville. Time: 3-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Aug. 24 at Front Door Housekeeping, 11255 Hall Road Unit #104 in Utica. Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Aug. 29 Meadowbrook Center for Learning Differences, 811

MACOMB TEEN RECEIVES ECOLOGICAL AWARD

SAN FRANCISCO — On Aug. 11, environmental nonprofit Action for Nature announced Macomb Township 16-year-old Nethanya Fonseka as one of 15 recipients of its 2025 International Young Eco-Hero Award.

Fonseka received the award for her work through Plant It Forward, her organization that has been responsible for planting over 860 trees, supporting the Macomb Township Heritage Garden and backing a microforest project in Warren.

“Nethanya is a true changemaker,” Kathi Piepenbrok, mentor and master gardener, said in a press release. “She has galvanized city officials, courageously won over the support of difficult city councils, and earned the donations and support of many organizations. Adults and youth alike have a lot to learn from her.”

Fonseka was selected as a second-place winner of the International Young Eco-Hero Award by a panel of independent judges, including experts in environmental science, biology, and education. For the past 22 years, Action For Nature has recognized 360 Eco-Heroes from 40 countries and 39 U.S. states.

Oakwood Drive, Suite 303, in Rochester. Time 3-7 p.m.

Aug. 30-31 T-Tech Solutions, 1172 E. Big Beaver Road in Troy. Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Sept. 3 at Romeo High School, 62300 Jewell Road in Romeo. Time: 4-8 p.m. Students do not have to go to Romeo to participate. Everyone who signs up for a dress must fill out an application ahead of time by going to sparklenetwork.org and clicking the Dress Into A Dream icon.

Parking

from page 3A

Street from Kibbee Street to Rohns Street, Meadle Street from Kibbee Street to Clinton River Drive, Meadle Court, Diehl Drive, Clinton River Court and Rohns Street.

Residents in the affected area were sent a letter informing them of the coming need to have passes on their vehicles, though the letter did not state how to get the passes and tags.

“The next step (after approval) would be to create the signage, create the passes and the hang tags (and) get the information out to the public on what they need to do to comply with this,” City Manager Gregg Shipman said. “If for some reason a resident should get a ticket in error, that would be waived.”

Shipman told commissioners that the zone would take “at least a month to get in place” between installing signage and getting the actual passes created.

Passes will be obtainable through the treasurer’s office, with residents able to pick up “as many (passes) as they say they need” according to Shipman. Passes will be valid for one year.

Mayor Laura Kropp proposed doing an event in the area to promote the passes to make it easier for residents to obtain them.

Rose walk partnership

With the Mount Clemens Beautifi-

Millage from page 6A

Given unanimous support on its first vote and set for second vote at the board’s next meeting, the ordinance codifies two resolutions and nine ordinances passed between July 8, 2024, and May 5, 2025.

Budget ways and means broadcasts

Trustees voted 4-3 along party lines to

cation Commission and Historical Commission working together to develop a rose walk, the City Commission has approved an agreement to have local nonprofit Advancing Macomb serve as a fiduciary partner for the project.

The rose walk, set to be placed along southbound Gratiot Avenue between the Anton Art Center and Cass Avenue, will pay homage to the city’s historic rose-growing industry. The walk also intends to honor incarcerated Japanese American citizens who relocated from concentration camps during World War II to work in the city’s rose nurseries. With the commissions looking for donations to help with the project and the city’s own payment systems only being suitable for fixed amounts, the agreement sees Advancing Macomb handling the receiving and distribution of donations along with assisting the project in finding grant funding.

Commissioners unanimously approved the partnership, though Commissioner Barb Dempsey found the agreement being six pages long mind blowing.

“That’s our standard boilerplate agreement that’s been prepared by numerous attorneys,” Advancing Macomb Executive Director Phil Gilchrist, said.

The rose walk is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

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

move the Budget Ways and Means Committee’s meetings to the board chambers, located in the Robert J. Cannon Civic Center, in order to make the meetings easier to broadcast. Meetings for the advisory committee are held at 9:30 a.m. on the first (and third, as needed) Tuesday of a given month.

Members include Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem, Clerk Kim Meltzer, Treasurer Mike Aiello and Trustee Julie Matuzak.

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

HUMAN ELEMENT CONSIDERED A BENEFIT AT LOCAL SHOPPING PLAZAS

BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — For those who have active roles in various business spaces in the metro Detroit area, shopping plazas can provide some benefits for in-person shopping as opposed to buying online.

A survey conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers notes that there are around 115,000 shopping centers in the U.S. with nearly 90% being small, neighborhood and convenience store centers. Also, about 83% of Americans visit a shopping center at least once a week and 20% go to a shopping center more than 10 times a week.

According to statistics compiled by CapitalOne Shopping, American consumers spent $5.927 trillion in retail stores and $1.337 trillion online in 2024, though this value does not account for seasonal adjustments.

The Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce works with major retail centers around the Maple Road/Telegraph Road, Telegraph Road/Square Lake Road, and 13 Mile Road/Southfield Road intersections, around both east and west ends, as well as the Adams Square Shopping Center. The plazas feature a combination of local retail stores, restaurants and chain stores.

Chamber President Joe Bauman says the

See PLAZAS on page 13A

ters. The business manages the Tech Plaza at 12 Mile Road and Van

as well as other centers in Detroit and Dearborn, among other locations. ABOVE: The BirminghamBloomfield Chamber of Commerce works with major retail centers in its area, including the Adams Square Shopping Center on South Adams Road, south of Maple Road and east of Woodward Avenue. The plaza features a combination of local retail stores, restaurants and chain stores.

Plazas

personal service of in-person shopping may be more appealing than the convenience of online shopping.

“There is a much greater chance you are going to be satisfied with your purchase when you can see and feel it before you buy it,” Bauman said in an email. “And if a problem does occur, it is much more likely to be resolved if you have established a relationship with the local retailer.”

“There is no denying the level of competition being brought by these massive, online retailers. But there are still plenty of people who want to deal with another human rather than a computer screen,” Bauman added.

At Petzold Enterprises, Tom Petzold and members of his family manage a portfolio of neighborhood shopping centers. The business manages the Tech Plaza at 12 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Warren as well as other centers in Detroit and Dearborn, among other locations. His grandfather started the business in the 1960s.

“We try to focus on being in ... central(ly) located, convenient locations,”

Petzold said.

“We are a small family business, and we have shopping centers that we lease out to a combination of tenants, some of whom are small family businesses like us and others are more corporate,” he added.

In terms of the comparison of in-person shopping versus online shopping, Petzold says the positivity of the staff and the environment are really important to the consumer experience.

“When you think about when you’re creating a shopping center, one thing I’ve learned is that one of the constituencies that you’re competing for is the staff that work inside the stores and when I say that I mean you want to make your shopping center attractive, safe, inviting and even a place that someone could be proud to go to work,”

Petzold said. “Like, it’s clean and you attract better personnel that work in the stores when you build a better shopping center and that ultimately benefits the customer to have the best people in the stores.”

Scott Marcus owns two locations of a franchise called Restore Hyper Wellness, one of which is located in a strip area at 643 S. Adams Road in Birmingham. The other is located in Northville. The business offers wellness services like intravenous fluids,

cryotherapy, compression therapy, red light therapy and a hyperbaric chamber.

Marcus has had the locations for about four years. He says the Birmingham location is the busiest but that both spots are fairly busy.

“For us it feels like the parking is excellent, so that’s definitely great for us because people come in and out and want ease of access,” Marcus said. “So for us it’s a great spot.”

Because the business offers health services, there is not a huge concern about online business affecting them. The products have to be delivered in person.

“Because most of what we do is therapytype services, so not something you can do online,” Marcus said. “You know, if someone wants to do cryotherapy for instance, that’s a cold chamber for three minutes. They’re not going to be able to buy something on Amazon to do that.”

The Golden Fig Gallery of Fine Arts and Antiques is located in the Adams Square Shopping Plaza in Birmingham, at 725 S Adams Road, No. 170. It is an art gallery that offers a wide variety of artworks and antiquities that has been in business for over 30 years.

“I did shows for contemporary artists,

but I didn’t find that was working as a business model for me, so I moved into just vintage art and pretty much everything in the gallery is old and most of the artists have passed away,” owner Ron Povlich said.

Povlich works with a wide variety of older and younger customers. He previously did online sales before but, due to the cost of shipping and other sales factors, he found that it was not profitable.

“This is a very funny market,” Povlich said. “You can’t tell online if something is real. I mean, it can look like a painting but in fact when you get it, it’s either a print, a very good lithograph print laid onto a canvas, embellished with clear paint strokes to make it look like a real painting, whereas people who come in here, they really want to put their hands on it and see it and know what they’re getting.”

Call Staff Writer Sarah Wright at (586) 498-1068.

Macomb Place

from page 1A

Clemens Downtown Development Authority coordinator, points to the Made in Michigan Show from the May 10-11 weekend as an example of how people continue to support businesses and events in the area.

“We were pleasantly surprised that (the Made in Michigan Show) had 19,700 people come to the event in two days, which our artists were just so happy,” Weiss said. “They all made a lot of money … But also, my concern was the regular stores that normally have Made in Michigan directly in front of them. But surprisingly enough, they all had a really great weekend with that. We are finding out that people that are loyal to our stores are not afraid to come down. We certainly have had a lot of people through the construction that just want to come down and see how far (along) we are.”

Businesses have seen similar to increased traffic to the area during construction. Ben Horgan, manager of the Escapology escape room, says the venue has seen an increase in walk-in traffic over 2024 and that the issues caused by construction have mostly been limited to customers parking further away.

“Nobody’s really complained about it,” Horgan said. “The only issue that’s affected

us is people are either showing up right on time or a little bit late. But even then, people showing up five minutes late, seven minutes late is not a huge deal.”

One of Horgan’s few issues with the construction has been the loss of direct participation in events on Macomb Place.

“The one thing that’s affected us that’s been kind of a bummer is that for the Made in Michigan shows or any show or street things that they’ve done out front in the past, we generally set up a little tent and pass out flyers,” Horgan said. “We haven’t been able to do that, but we’ve kind of just upped marketing in other areas.”

Over at Weirdsville Records on Macomb Place, manager Angel Beckett says customer traffic is still going strong.

“I’m working seven days a week,” Beckett said. “When it slows down maybe I can have a break, but we’ve been going strong as always. We know we’re going to be even stronger when it opens up.”

Beckett says Weirdsville’s customers this summer have included everyone from construction workers to people coming over Oakland County communities like Royal Oak and Bloomfield to even people from out of state and from Canada.

In addition to managing Weirdsville, Beckett owns one of the six businesses to either open downtown during construction

— Cravin’ Raven in the Cherry Street Mall — or working on opening in the future. Airborne Comics and Collectibles as well as Buchanan’s Best Bistro opened during the construction, while Hungry Howie’s Pizza is opening at 75 N. Main Street. Other new businesses are preparing locations at 48 New Street and 42 Pine Street.

“Most everyone that I’ve spoken to and have spoken to me about leasing and stuff, they all have been, ‘No, I’m fine with it,’”

Weiss said. “You want them to know that this is going to happen and when it’s going to end, but everybody has been fairly easy.”

Beckett has found business to be good at Cravin’ Raven.

“We thought we would take a very slow start; we have been slammed every day,” Beckett said. “In fact, we started with five days a week (and) now we’re open seven just to keep up with business.”

See MACOMB PLACE on page 15A

NOTICE

To the residents of the Charter Township of Harrison, County of Macomb, Michigan.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Clerk’s Offce for the Charter Township of Harrison will post, for public inspection, the Agenda for Township Board Meetings and a Synopsis of the approved Meeting Minutes at the Clerk’s Offce located at 38151 L’Anse Creuse Road, and to the Rosso Hall bulletin board located at 38255 L’Anse Creuse Rd. The Agenda and a full text of the Minutes will be available on the Township Website, www.harrisontownshipmi.gov and, upon request from the Clerk’s Offce.

Adam Wit, MMC, MiPMC, Clerk

Charter Township of Harrison

Published: Journal 08/20/2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF HARRISON

0002-2534

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE HARRISON TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 AT 7:00 P.M. IN ROSSO MEMORIAL HALL, 38255 L’ANSE CREUSE ROAD, IN SAID TOWNSHIP, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AN APPEAL BY:

CASE #10-25-ZBA: Don Bojovic – 38165 Cherry Ln

Property #17-12-21-358-004

Harrison Twp., MI 48045 (R1-C)

Purpose of Request: Requesting a 1.4 ft. side yard setback variance.

By Reason Of: Charter Township of Harrison Code of Ordinances Article 16, Section 16.01 (N, 2, a) – Nonconforming lots, uses, and structures.

Notice is further given that the Charter Township of Harrison Zoning Board of Appeals may modify or change the variance(s) as requested, including granting of variance(s) for said purpose, which may create another and different variance(s) from the requirements of the above cited Charter Township of Harrison ordinance, all within its discretion and as otherwise permitted by law. Any interested person(s) may appear or be represented at said meeting.

Additional information or comments, written or oral, will be received at the Harrison Township Offces, 38151 L’Anse Creuse Rd, Harrison Twp., MI, 48045 (586-466-1461) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Individuals with disabilities or impairments who plan to attend this meeting should contact the Planning / ZBA Department at (586) 466-1461 or email pc-zba@harrison-township.org if auxiliary aids or services are needed.

Published: Journal 08/20/2025

0088-2534

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF HARRISON

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE HARRISON TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC

HEARING ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 AT 7:00 P.M. IN ROSSO MEMORIAL HALL, 38255 L’ANSE CREUSE ROAD, IN SAID TOWNSHIP, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AN APPEAL BY: CASE #09-25-ZBA: Lori Green – 24965 Orchid Property #17-11-36-253-009 Harrison Twp., MI 48045 (R1-D)

Purpose of Request: Requesting a 2 ft. side yard setback variance.

By Reason Of: Charter Township of Harrison Code of Ordinances

Article 5, Section 5.02 (C) – Accessory buildings in single family residential districts. Article 16, Section 16.01 (G) – Nonconforming lots, uses, and structures.

Notice is further given that the Charter Township of Harrison Zoning Board of Appeals may modify or change the variance(s) as requested, including granting of variance(s) for said purpose, which may create another and different variance(s) from the requirements of the above cited Charter Township of Harrison ordinance, all within its discretion and as otherwise permitted by law. Any interested person(s) may appear or be represented at said meeting.

Additional information or comments, written or oral, will be received at the Harrison Township Offces, 38151 L’Anse Creuse Rd, Harrison Twp., MI, 48045 (586-466-1461) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Individuals with disabilities or impairments who plan to attend this meeting should contact the Planning / ZBA Department at (586) 466-1461 or email pc-zba@harrison-township.org if auxiliary aids or services are needed.

Published: Journal 08/20/2025

Macomb Place

So far, the biggest hurdle in completing the current stage of the project has been the New Street parking lot. While the lot itself is built, delays in the delivery of parking kiosks are preventing the lot from being striped and approved by the city for active use.

“The construction company has liability (for the lot), so we have to abide by their timeline,” Weiss said. “We’re very close (to completion) with the New Street parking lot, so we’re very excited about that.”

While the delay in opening the New Street lot has proven to be a slight challenge for Escapology by having players park further away, Horgan was concerned about how the restaurants that surround Escapology and are bordered on all sides by construction are faring.

“Hopefully all the bars and restaurants down here make it through all of this,” Horgan said. “We love Abbibo. We love Little Lorraine’s. We’ve got really good relationships with both of those places.”

Several restaurants in the area were approached for comment but did not respond by press time.

While Weiss says some businesses have adjusted hours to adapt to the construction, the only two closures that have happened in the area have been temporary and unrelated to construction. Mae’s Breakfast and Lunch had a brief closure after its main chef was injured. It reopened in early August, while Max & Ollie’s Vintage Boutique is temporarily closed due to flooding issues from one of the floors above them and is looking to reopen in November.

“For some (businesses) like Abbibo, their front and back entrances have not been closed but open,” Weiss said. “We’ve freed up the walkway in the back, but we still don’t have cars that can come into the parking lot because we haven’t been released from that contract yet.”

The first phase of construction, which focuses on Macomb Place and the New Street parking lot, is expected to wrap up no later than November. A second phase to rework Cherry Street into a more navigable roadway is planned to follow the first phase’s completion.

For more information about downtown Mount Clemens events and happenings, go to downtownmountclemens.org.

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

BEHIND THE WHEEL

16A/AUGUST 20, 2025 • JOURNAL

Do you own a vehicle with an interesting history?

Contact Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com 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.

Rockin’ Robin

THREEWHEELER GETS LOTS OF ATTENTION ON LOCAL ROADS

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — If you made it out to the Woodward Dream Cruise Aug. 16 in Oakland County, you might have spotted Sami AbuSoud in his 1997 Reliant Robin.

At press time, he planned to take it to the annual car cruise that brings together car buffs and spectators who spend the day reliving the golden age of the automobile.

Abu-Soud has owned the Reliant Robin for a few years and loves to take it to car shows and cruises. The British car has three wheels, one in the center front and two in the back. The car can fit two people in the front seat, two passengers in the back seat and there is a trunk where Abu-Soud keeps a spare tire and speakers that play his music of choice — electronic.

“The car is something else,” the Royal Oak resident said. “They haven’t changed the car style much since the ’70s and ’80s. This is the van model of it. It’s technically a motorcycle, so I have a motorcycle license.”

Abu-Soud, 38, purchased the three-wheeler directly from England. It traveled the Atlantic Ocean by ship, and all the parts for maintenance are ordered from across the pond. The Reliant has a stick shift, and because the car is British, the steering wheel is on the right side, unlike American cars in which the steering wheels are on the left side. Abu-Soud had no trouble adjusting to driving with the steering wheel on the opposite side.

“It’s actually pretty natural,” he said. “It keeps up with traffic for the most part.”

Abu-Soud has other cars, including a 1998 Dodge Viper, a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette and two Subaru WRXs. But the Reliant is his favorite vehicle to drive in the warmer months around town, visiting downtown Detroit or when running errands.

“I wanted something different. Anytime I don’t have to use the highway, I try to drive it as much as possible. It gets a lot of looks. As I’m driving, people take pictures of me all the time,” Abu-Soud said. “Even non-car people stop me and ask me about it.”

Abu-Soud also lets friends and even strangers drive the car, usually in parking lots or around the block. They just have to know how to operate a stick shift.

“I bought it to have fun,” said Abu-Soud, who always makes sure to go with guest drivers. “Everyone has been able to drive it, no problem.” One of Abu-Soud’s neighbors who works in

the automotive industry helped him tune up the Reliant Robin.

“It’s pretty solid otherwise,” he said. “I haven’t

Reliant Robin

from page 16A

done too much to it.”

The ’97 model, which has more than 80,000 miles on it, does not have power steering or power brakes.

“Basically, no frills,” Abu-Soud said. “It’s all fiberglass, so it’s really light. The car weighs less than 1,000 pounds.”

The four-cylinder Reliant is equipped with an 850 cc engine that produces 40 horsepower. When looking at the rear license plate, it reads “Flipy,” because the cars have a reputation for flipping onto their sides. That has not happened to Abu-Soud, but he saw it on the British Broadcasting Corp. television show “Top Gear.”

The ’97 Reliant Robin owner has always been into cars. Abu-Soud, who now works in real estate, worked as a mechanical engineer for 13 years.

“When I was a little kid, I started tinkering with cars,” he said. “I would fix cars. I try to do all the work myself on all my cars.”

There may be a reason why he is so comfortable driving the British car. AbuSoud was born in England, and his family moved to the U.S. when he was just 1 year old. He also has his own version of a mascot

for the car: a tiny stuffed robin he keeps in the front seat. One highlight this past year was displaying the 1997 Reliant Robin at the Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place.

“It was pretty exciting,” Abu-Soud said.

According to reliant.website, which is the official website for the Reliant Motor Club, the Reliant Motor Co. was formed in 1935 when Tom Lawrence Williams built the first prototype vehicle in his garden in the U.K. along with E.S. Thompson. A number of different Reliant styles were built over the years, including the Scimitar GT, Rialto and Kitten.

According to the website, the Reliant Robin was introduced in November 1973 and replaced the Reliant Regal 3/30. The Robin had different variations: the Standard Robin, the Super Robin, the Robin Estate and the Robin Van.

The Reliant Robin had become one of the most famous three-wheelers in the U.K. until 1981, when it was replaced by the Reliant Rialto. But in 1989, Reliant brought back the Robin with a new look, including a new fiberglass body attached to a galvanized chassis and a single, central windscreen wiper.

The website states that the company’s last Reliant vehicle was built in February 2001.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

18A/ JOURNAL • AUGUST 20, 2025

AUG. 21

SCAMS presentation: Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors, led by Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, 1 p.m., Hampton Manor, 18401 15 Mile Road in Clinton Township, (586) 469-5642, heather. esposito@macombgov.org

Trivia night: Compete in teams of eight or be placed with group, includes unlimited pizza, salad and pop, 6:30-8 p.m., Total Sports, 40501 Production Drive in Harrison Township, presented by Harrison Township Public Library, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events

Macomb Ballet Company audition: Expand training through rehearsals and perform in classical productions while continuing at primary studio, 4:30-6:15 p.m. (ages 13-19 as of Jan. 1, 2026), 6:30-7:45 p.m. (12 and older) and 6:30-7:30 p.m. (7-11), 51504 Danview Technology Court in Shelby Township, macombballet.org/auditions

AUG. 21-22

Benefit on the Bay: Fundraiser for Capuchin Soup Kitchen, VIP night includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, open bar, desserts and visit with Capuchin Ministries brothers, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 21, Hook Restaurant, 24214 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, then main event with food, entertainment, performance by Capuchin Show Choir, silent and live auctions, ice cream and frozen espresso cart, appearance by Detroit Lions legend Herman Moore, Ryan Ermanni of Fox 2 Detroit as emcee and more, doors at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 22, MacRay Harbor, 30675 N. River Road in Harrison Township, benefitonthebay.org, read story at candgnews.com

AUG. 23

Cars and coffee: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Pleasantrees (former Gibraltar Trade Center), 237 North River Road in Mount Clemens, more on eventbrite.com

AUG. 28

Wine tasting fundraiser: Includes 15 wine samples, cheese, cracker and sausage pairings, chocolate demonstration, and more, for ages 21 and older, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (arrive by 6:15 p.m.), Filipo Marc Winery, 39085 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, benefits Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (provides assistance to neighbors who are elderly or disabled), (586) 757-5551, events@ivcinfo.org, ivcinfo.org/ events/wine-tasting-fundraiser

AUG. 29

’90s-themed party: For kids in grades 6-12, clothing to match decade encouraged, 6 p.m., ClintonMacomb Public Library - Main Branch, 40700 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, register at (586) 226-5030, cmpl.libnet.info/events

SEPT. 2 & 9

Metropolitan Detroit Chorale open auditions: 7 p.m., rehearsals continue on Tuesdays, choir room at Fraser High School, 34270 Garfield Road, performances scheduled for December, March and May, (586) 792-

7464, metropolitandetroitchorale.org

SEPT. 5-7

Fall festival: 50-50, games, food, rides, Vegas room, used book sale, live music, cornhole tournament and more, 6 p.m.-midnight Sept. 5, noon-midnight Sept. 6 and noon-6 p.m. Sept. 7, St. Hubert Catholic Church, 38775 Prentiss St. in Harrison Township, (586) 4635877, sthubertchurch.com/festival

SEPT. 6

Inside|Out discussion: Learn about artwork on display in Clinton Township as part of Detroit Institute of Art’s program, 10 a.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 226-5073, cmpl.libnet.info/events

SEPT. 8

Macomb County Quilt Guild meeting: 7 p.m. (fellowship at 6 p.m.), Trinity Lutheran Church, 38900 Harper Ave. in Clinton Township, continues every first Monday of month through June (second Monday if holiday), macombcountyquiltguild.org

SEPT. 9

Music at Main: Hear Expedition (jazz, blues, rock, Latin and R&B), 7 p.m., concert follows brief annual meeting with Friends of the Library at 6:45 p.m., refreshments included, Clinton-Macomb Public Library - Main Branch, 40700 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, (586) 226-5020, cmpl.libnet.info/events

SEPT. 11-14

Metro Boat Show: Find boats as long as 60 feet, outdoor recreation exhibits, live music, food trucks, special promotions and more, 1-7:30 p.m. Sept. 1112, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 14, Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Township, metroboatshow.net

SEPT. 13-14

Fall Art & Craft Show: Shop dozens of local vendors from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 13 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 14, held outside on north end of Macomb Place between Pine Street and southbound Gratiot Avenue in Mount Clemens, free admission and parking, downtownmountclemens.org/events

SEPT. 18

Medicare 101 educational seminar: Presented by Medicare Learning Services, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, also held Oct. 28, registration required, (586) 465-0588

SEPT. 20

Gibraltar Car Show: Competition with awards, also food, music and cannabis, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Pleasantrees (former Gibraltar Trade Center), 237 North River Road in Mount Clemens, more on eventbrite.com

SEPT. 27

To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.

North Gratiot Cruise & Craft Fair: Also 5K, tailgating with college football on big screen, food trucks, live music, kids zone with bounce house, inflatables, fire truck and K-9 dogs, car show and awards, car parade, cornhole tournament, and vendor tables featuring local businesses, interactive displays and event-only discounts, headquarters in Kohl’s parking lot, 50500 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, see times and other locations at cruisegratiot.com

ONGOING

Farmers markets: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through November, City Park & Ride Lot, 141 N. River Road, mcfarmersmarket@gmail.com, (586) 493-7600, mountclemensfarmersmarket.com

• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 13 and Oct. 11, John F. Kennedy Knights of Columbus Council #5460, 33320 Kelly Road in Clinton Township, (586) 610-2990

Uptown Friday Night Concert Series: Hear Spooky Sterling (Motown and classic rock) Aug. 22 and more weekly until Sept. 12, 7-9 p.m., stage in front of O’Halloran’s Public House on Macomb Place in downtown Mount Clemens, downtownmountclemens. org/events

Summer Sounds: Free concerts from 5-8 p.m. FridaysSaturdays and 3-6 p.m. Sundays until Aug. 31, also 3-6 p.m. Sept. 1 (Labor Day), Center Court at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, see lineup at shoppartridgecreek.com/events

Summer Concert Series: Hear Taylor Tucky (country) Aug. 24 and Larry Lee & the Back in the Day Band (funk, R&B and soul) Sept. 1, 6:30-9 p.m., Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metropolitan Parkway in Harrison Township, metroparks.com/lake-st-clairmetropark

Wellness Wednesdays: Free yoga classes sponsored by Henry Ford Health, 9-10 a.m. Aug. 20 and 27, Center Court at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, shoppartridgecreek. com/events

Monthly car show: 5-8 p.m. Aug. 21 and Sept. 18, Sanders Chocolate and Ice Cream Shoppe, 23770 Hall Road in Clinton Township, (586) 464-5372

Widowed Friends breakfasts: 10:30 a.m. every second Monday of month, Big Boy, 16880 Hall Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471, widowedfriends.com

Clothing giveaway: 10 a.m.-noon every second Saturday of month, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 37000 Union Lake Road in Harrison Township, free but $1 donation per adult appreciated, (586) 791-3030, bethlehemlutheranelca@gmail.com

Social groups: Find meetups for yoga, knitting and crocheting, babies, kids and teens, book clubs and storytime, Lego and more, Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse St. (Suite A), (586) 3291261, htlibrary.org/events

Mount Clemens Optimist Club meetings: 7 p.m. every second Wednesday of month, Mount Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Ave., (586) 321-2073

Men overcoming loss ofpartner/spouse meetings: 6-7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of month, virtual and in person, Hospice of Michigan, 39531 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, wlawton@hom.org, (586) 263-8514

Live entertainment: 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Great Baraboo Brewing Co., 35905 Utica Road in Clinton Township, (586) 792-7397, greatbaraboo.com

• 4 p.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Octopus’ Beer Garden, 152 North River Road in Mount Clemens, (586) 221-1531, see band lineup at octopusbeergarden.com

Take Off Pounds Sensibly: Weight-loss group for ages 7 and older, includes education, ideas, recipes, accountability, support and prizes, confidential weigh-ins at 5:30 p.m. and meetings at 6 p.m. every Tuesday, Tucker Senior Center, 26980 Ballard St. in Harrison Township, contact Barb at (586) 549-2925 or tbreardon@comcast.net

Detroit Metro Football Club joins Detroit sports scene

BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com

BRIGHTON — The sports landscape in Southeast Michigan has added a new team to the mix after a successful inaugural season from the Detroit Metro Football Club.

DMFC is in its first calendar year of existence and is already making a name for itself as a desirable destination for players, fans and sponsors.

The club plays out of Legacy Center Sports Complex in Brighton and has received great feedback on the facility and the product of play.

DMFC plays in the United Premier Soccer League, which is in the fourth tier of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. The UPSL is the largest and most competitive pro-development league in North America with around 400 teams. The league is just one tier below professional soccer.

“We have a vision of assembling a roster to help players become professionals. … Some will become soccer professionals, and some will use our program to become professionals in all walks of life,” said Alex Lubyansky, general manager and head coach of DMFC. “We had one player go on trial at an MLS club, and another player just got signed professionally in Germany.”

The club’s official team website lists each player’s position on the field, and their occupation or field of study off the field.

“We have built a roster with folks who have 9-to-5 (jobs) and are developing, and that’s been awesome,” Lubyansky said. “I’d say it’s unique to our club. We have this vision.”

The club’s support of players on and off the field is key. DMFC wants to be integrated in the community and make the game of soccer accessible to all.

“Our vision (is) to provide free soccer. There’s no youth component to this and there’s no pay-to-play component to this,” Lubyansky explained. “It’s to create opportunity. That was kind of our mission statement going into this thing.”

It’s also important to give the players as many opportunities as possible. The UPSL has spring and fall seasons every year, and DMFC participates in the U.S. Open Cup and the Merit Cup. Make no mistake about it: this organization wants to win, and it

wants to win badly.

“We want to make the playoffs and make a deep run in the UPSL,” Lubyansky said. “It’s a very high level and it’s very competitive. … We want to compete, and we want to win.”

In DMFC’s first season this spring, the team ended with a 4-1-5 record and a +13 goal differential. That was good enough for a fifth-place finish in the UPSL Midwest East division.

The team also hosted the Merit Cup, an event that allows anyone to try and beat the club for a $10,000 prize. In the first DMFC cup final, the team lost to a challenger.

Aside from a successful inaugural season on the pitch, the club also immediately established itself as a destination for players around the league thanks to its fanbase, facilities, and the way management treats its players.

“No one is doing it quite like we are in the league that we’re at,” said Jeff Tripoli, president of DMFC. “We’re going to create an atmosphere that attracts different talent. … Other players look around and say, ‘Wow.’”

That’s a crucial area of focus for Tripoli. He has lofty long-term goals for what the experience will be like at the DMFC.

“I envisioned something more around a campus, not necessarily a stadium,” Tripoli said. “A campus with significant training, open free soccer, and then from that, the best rise above, and we’ll give you a pathway to the team.”

Soccer is unique because it allows fans to watch their teams rise through the ranks. DMFC is in its inaugural year, but the longterm goal is in place, and the people that start supporting the team now can follow along for the ride.

“(The goal) is a moonshot, and that’s OK. It’s being the first non-MLS team in this century to win the U.S. Open Cup,” Lubyansky said. “In the modern era, no one has done it. That is our goal. To demonstrate that this model can actually put something competitively together that will produce the best team in U.S. Soccer.”

DMFC will release its fall schedule in the coming days. To learn more about the DMFC, visit detroitmetrofc.com, and follow detroit.metro.fc on Instagram.

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

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Returning to the scene of the crime

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Police said they arrested a 22-year-old Grosse Pointe Park man July 24 at The Village Kroger store after the suspect had reportedly stolen an unlocked light blue Giant ATX mountain bike from that location July 18. The victim contacted police after seeing his missing bike outside of Kroger July 24, only now, it was painted black. Police said the suspect was a person who worked in The Village. He was expected to face larceny charges.

Thousands in merchandise stolen

GROSSE POINTE CITY — Three unknown female suspects are said to have picked up a total of $3,582 worth of clothing from The Village Lululemon store at around 2:30 p.m. July 26 and exited without paying. The suspects — who could be facing retail fraud charges — are said to have fled the scene in a light blue Chevy Blazer.

Woman found with drug paraphernalia

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Police were called to a gas station in the 19000 block of Mack Avenue at around 10:57 a.m. Aug. 1 about a woman who was asking customers for money. The suspect — a 31-yearold Detroit woman — reportedly told police that even though the gas station clerk had asked her to leave, she remained at the business because she needed help. A check of the woman’s identification found that she was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant out of Ferndale for possession of narcotic paraphernalia, for which she was arrested. While police were searching her, they said they found traces of copper-colored scouring material commonly used as a filter for smoking crack cocaine. Police asked the woman if she had any crack cocaine on her. According to a police report, she said she didn’t, stating, “If I did, I would have smoked it already.” Police also found a portion of a glass pipe that contained suspected crack residue. The woman was cited for possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

Stolen liquor recovered

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — A 26-year-old Detroit man is facing possible third-degree retail fraud charges after he allegedly stole a bottle of Lunazul tequila worth $23.99 and a bottle of Mezza Corona Pinot Grigio worth $15.99 from a store in the 18000 block of Mack Avenue at around 1:55 p.m. July 24. A store employee told police she saw the suspect take the bottles off a shelf and put them in his backpack and leave the store. Police canvassing the area found and arrested the suspect, who was said to have had the stolen bottles in his possession. The alcohol was returned to the store.

Suspect arrested, found with stolen property

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A resident in the 21000 block of River Road called police at around 5 p.m. July 25 after discovering that cash and baseball equipment had been removed from his vehicle while it was parked in the driveway. The Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety Department stated in a report that St. Clair Shores police arrested someone for fleeing and eluding in a stolen vehicle, and the missing baseball gear was found in the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect was expected to face larceny from auto charges in conjunction with the Woods incident.

Generator grabbed

GROSSE POINTE PARK — A resident in the area of Devonshire Road and Mack Avenue called police at 12:14 p.m. July 23 after seeing unknown male suspects take his orange generator out of the bed of his pickup truck and put it inside their small white SUV. The generator is valued at $300, the resident told police.

Parole absconder arrested

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Police were called to the 1400 block of Berkshire Road at around 8:30 a.m. July 23 about an unknown man who was walking up to homes in the area and claiming to be lost.

Police investigated and discovered that the man was a 38-year-old from Detroit who had a warrant against him for being a parole absconder.

He was arrested on the warrant.

Boat threats

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On July 21 at around 4:20 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 37000 block of Winkler Street to speak with a 36-year-old Harrison Township man about threats he was receiving.

Earlier in July, the man sold a boat to a 37-yearold Warren man. The Warren man contacted the Harrison Township man alleging he had been sold a broken boat and that he should keep an eye on his car’s wheels.

Deputies contacted the Warren man, who claimed he never threatened the Harrison Township man and that he was just “making him aware” of possible problems with his car. The Warren man maintained his belief he was sold a broken boat.

Mismatched license plate

MOUNT CLEMENS — While on patrol at around 1:30 a.m. on July 22, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over a truck near the corner of Crocker Boulevard and First Street.

Deputies stopped a Ram truck after a database

to a different vehicle. The driver, a 40-year-old Detroit man, was arrested after not being able to present a driver’s license. Deputies noticed the smell of intoxicants while arresting him and later asked him to perform field sobriety tests. After agreeing to the tests, he took a breath test that reportedly registered a blood alcohol content level of 0.208.

The man was taken to the Macomb County Jail.

Two vehicle break-ins

MOUNT CLEMENS — On July 21 at around 9:16 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 170 block of Court Street for a larceny report.

Deputies spoke with a 42-year-old Mount Clemens man who said he and his daughter’s vehicles were broken into overnight. The daughter reported nothing was stolen from her vehicle, while the father had $800, a checkbook and a credit card stolen. The vehicles were locked.

Security camera footage showed a man approach the cars at around 11:45 p.m. the prior night, covering his face before breaking into a truck and taking items from the center console. The man returned at around 1:40 a.m. with a bag, breaking into an SUV before breaking into the truck a second time.

Burgled basses

MOUNT CLEMENS — On June 19 at around 6:50 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a residence in the 200 block of Hubbard Avenue for a larceny report.

Deputies spoke with a 67-year-old Mount Clemens man who said his two bass guitars and a laptop computer were missing. He recently returned from a multiweek hospital stay and said nobody had access to the apartment while he was away.

The bass guitars were not found in their holders, while the man took the laptop to the hospital but was unable to locate it. The man was unsure about who could have stolen the bass guitars.

Assault reported

ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 3:04 a.m. on July 29, an assault was reported in the area of Harper Avenue and Masonic Boulevard.

Officers checked the area for the suspect before meeting with the victim, a 20-year-old man. He stated he was driving a friend home when he became involved in a road rage incident. The other vehicle, which he thought held around four people, “brake checked” him and the occupants reportedly yelled slurs and profanities at him. The victim attempted to

When they reached Harper, the vehicle pulled into a parking lot and the victim proceeded to drop off his friend. He came back down Harper, noticed the suspect vehicle parked in a business parking lot and he decided to confront the suspects. One suspect got out of the vehicle and kicked the victim’s passenger door while another got out and pointed an AR style rifle at the victim with a laser pointer on it. The victim then called 911 and drove to another business parking lot where the clerk observed the whole altercation.

Items stolen ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 10:22 a.m. on July 27, a case of retail fraud was reported in the 22000 block of Harper Avenue. Dispatch said a man concealed liquor in his backpack and indicated that he was reportedly still in the store by the frozen foods section. He also allegedly took a blue T-shirt off the rack and put it in his backpack. Officers confronted the man at an entrance to the store and he tried to re-enter the business. The man was placed under arrest and handcuffed. A total of $296.70 was in his backpack.

Burgled