8/20/25 Royal Oak Review

Arts, Beats & Eats announces legendary music lineup

Festival to run Aug. 29 to Sept. 1

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — Michigan Lottery

Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Flagstar

Bank recently announced the musical lineup for the Aug. 29-Sept. 1 festival.

The Arts, Beats & Eats team also revealed the festival’s new logo, which they said pays tribute to the history and urban lifestyle of metro Detroit.

The artist, Nick Pizaña, said that the de-

sign, created with his signature cartoon style of vibrant colors, “harnesses the passion, creativity and community that merge together at Michigan Lottery Arts, Beats & Eats. Its vintage feel reminds us not only of this year’s coming event, but of the festival’s 28-year legacy and the memories and experiences it has

created for Royal Oak and Southeast Michigan,” Pizaña said in a prepared statement.

Event Producer Jon Witz said that the music lineup for the weekend was chosen based on 600 submissions, and only the top 150 were picked to perform.

CLAWSON FEST RETURNS FOR FIFTH YEAR

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

Living the ‘Dream’

Woodward Dream Cruise wraps up 30th year Story on page 3A

Driving down memory lane Photo tribute on page 15A

Dream Cruise brings Mustangs, Broncos to Ferndale CruiseFest parade brings the classics to downtown Berkley Stories at candgnews.com

CLAWSON — Clawson Fest, the annual end-of-summer celebration of downtown Clawson, will be back for its fifth year from noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 23.

The festival showcases all things Clawson, including plenty of local favorites in the culinary, art and music worlds.

Along Main Street there will be a variety of culinary options including local restaurants that will have special treats for festival attendees.

Charlie Sampson, of Whiskey Taco Foxtrot, will be serving up

SECOND FRONT PAGE

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — The Woodward Dream Cruise wrapped up its 30th anniversary with a great turnout on Aug. 16.

Since the cruise’s inception in 1995, it has grown into one of North America’s largest one-day automotive events, according to woodwarddreamcruise.com, which states that classic cars travel from around the globe to be on Woodward during the cruise.

The Woodward Dream Cruise started as a fundraising effort put forth by Nelson House and a handful of volunteers to raise money for a children’s soccer field in Ferndale.

The Kensington playground structure will be installed at Red Run Park on Girard Avenue following the Royal Oak City Commission’s unanimous decision

Aug. 11. Rendering

According to the Detroit Historical Society, the event was intended to be one day and was expected to draw 30,000 spectators; instead, 250,000 people showed up on the day of the cruise.

Fast forward to today, and the cruise pays tribute to the cars of the 1950s and ’60s and other eras, attracting nearly 1.5 million people a year to Woodward Avenue. More than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom cars, collector cars and special-interest vehicles drive down the iconic roadway.

Richard Hendrix, of Roseville, said that he has been a cruisegoer since its inception in 1995. Hendrix’s friend brought along a classic

WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE WRAPS UP 30TH YEAR

Royal Oak City Commission OKs playground for Red Run Park

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — A new playground structure at Red Run Park has been approved in a unanimous vote by the Royal Oak City Commission Aug. 11.

The Parks and Recreation Department brought forward the proposal to install the Kensington playground structure, a type of structure manufactured by GameTime, at Red Run Park on Girard Avenue.

The structure, according to the agenda packet, is 73 feet by 54 feet. The location of Red Run Park was chosen based on safety and accessibility, cost effectiveness, neighborhood demographics, and minimizing parking disruptions in the area.

VFW Park, on Lincoln and Campbell, was also considered for the struc-

Free health screening, resources and more

ROYAL OAK — The Birmingham Royal Oak Medical Group, 5130 Coolidge Highway in Royal Oak, is hosting an outdoor communitywide wellness event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 23.

The event will include free health screenings for blood pressure, pulse rate, oxygen levels, colorectal cancer blood screenings (Medicare Part B only and Medicare Advantage plans), vision screenings for ages 6 months and up, and more.

Admission and parking are free, and all ages are welcome.

The American Cancer Society, American Alzheimer’s Association, Easterseals, Haven, Infusion Centers of Michigan and Next Generation Chiropractic are some of the organizations that will be present at the event.

Starting Aug. 25, the Birmingham Royal Oak Medical Group will be offering $10 sports physicals by appointment.

Family Welcome Back Night at Royal Oak High School

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak Schools will host the second annual Family Welcome Back Night from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Royal Oak High School campus, 1500 Lexington Blvd, in Royal Oak.

Welcome back night is held right before the first football game of the season and is a celebration of community, partnership and the excitement of a new school year, according to royaloakschools.org.

The event will include the opportunity to meet the Board of Education members, district leaders and building principals; learn more about school PTAs and PTSAs; discover local community partners and resources; and get information about district programs, volunteer opportunities and student services.

More than 20 local organizations will be in attendance, offering resources in areas such as health and wellness, youth enrichment, family support, and more.

For more information visit royaloakschools.org.

Hometown artist exhibits at the DIA

METRO DETROIT — The Detroit Institute of Arts recently announced the acquisition of “Baby Bling,” a multimedia art installation by Tiff Massey, a native of Detroit. The piece was previously part of her collection “7 Mile + Livernois,” which she recently exhibited at the DIA. “Baby Bling” now enters the museum’s permanent collection.

“Tiff Massey represents the extraordinary creative spirit that defines Detroit today,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA director. “‘Baby Bling’ exemplifies how contemporary artists can transform everyday objects into profound statements about identity, community, and cultural celebration. … This acquisition not only honors Massey’s remarkable vision but also ensures that future generations will experience this powerful meditation on Black beauty and resilience within our permanent collection.”

For more information about this and other exhibits at the DIA, visit dia.org.

SEE ‘TUCK EVERLASTING’ AT STAGECRAFTERS

ROYAL OAK — “Tuck Everlasting,” the musical, is coming to the Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak Sept. 12-28.

The story follows 11-year-old Winnie Foster who wants a life of adventure beyond her white picket fence, according to stagecrafters.org, but not until she becomes unexpectedly entwined with the Tuck family does she get more than she could have imagined.

Tickets for the musical cost $25 plus a $3 ticket fee on Thursday, and $35 plus a $3 ticket fee on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets and more information can be found at stagecrafters.org.

Blind Owl Royal Oak to get a visit from America’s Best Restaurants

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak’s local eatery Blind Owl will be hosting a visit from “America’s Best Restaurants” on Aug. 28 at 511 S. Main St.

“America’s Best Restaurants” is a national media and marketing company that brings attention to local, independently owned restaurants, according to a press release sent out by ABR.

ABR will be bringing its roadshow to Blind Owl, showcasing popular dishes, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner Nocolas Andreasson about the restaurant’s place in the community.

Blind Owl Royal Oak features a menu of modern Latin sushi fusion, according to the press release, and a full bar with specialty cocktails and margaritas.

Popular items that may be featured in the episode include the shawarma nachos, the Boom Shakalaka Cheeseburger, and several styles of sushi.

ABR will be filming on location from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 28. The event is open to the public.

OLHSA hosts 7th annual Golf Fore Change

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — “Swing for change, drive for impact” is the theme of this year’s Golf Fore Change event, hosted by Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency. Now in its seventh year, the event will be held Sept. 19 at Westwyne Golf Course, located at 4161 Adams Road in Oakland Township. Registration opens at 8 a.m. The games begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The fundraiser benefits OLHSA, helping families in crisis. Tickets are $150 for individuals and $600 for foursomes. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. To learn more, visit givebutter.com/g4c.

2025 OAA football season preview: The best conference in Michigan?

BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com

OAKLAND COUNTY — Summer is coming to a close and that means that high school football teams across Michigan are preparing for the 2025 season.

In 2023, the Oakland Activities Association produced two state champions in Harper Woods at the Division 4 level and Southfield A&T at the Division 1 level. That season, Southfield A&T won the title by defeating a Belleville team at Ford Field that had five-star recruit, and now NIL-recordsetting quarterback, Bryce Underwood under center.

However, 2024 was a different story for the conference. The OAA didn’t have a team in any of the eight state title games last fall, and its two reigning champs took steps back with Harper Woods finishing 9-4 and Southfield A&T going 2-7 with an 0-4 record against OAA White teams.

This season, there is a lot of excitement surrounding what the OAA could be and the amount of talent that is prevalent from top

to bottom. Looking at each division, there are plenty of storylines to watch heading into opening night.

OAA-White preseason coaches poll

(1st place votes)

1. Harper Woods: 9-4 last season (2).

2. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek: 5-5.

3. Birmingham Groves: 12-1.

4. Rochester: 4-5.

5. Southfield A&T: 2-7.

Harper Woods made the Division 4 state semifinals last year before losing to eventual state champion Goodrich by a score of 28-14. The team will return a whopping 37 players with some sort of varsity playing experience, including a rare four-year starting quarterback in Nate Rocheleau. Harper Woods will also boast one of the best wide receiver rooms in the state with star wideout Dakota Guerrant returning as a junior this year and Deandre Bidden entering his sophomore season. Both already listed as four-star recruits, Guerrant is ranked as the top high school player in the state for the

See FOOTBALL on page 20A

Opening

Playground

ture. The agenda packet says that VFW Park did meet several of the objectives for which the Parks and Recreation Department looked, but it had higher costs and parking challenges.

The city bought the Kensington playground structure for $133,666 through a 50% GameTime matching grant. The structure has remained in storage awaiting a location ever since.

To install the Kensington playground structure at Red Run Park, the city will need to pay $201,491.53.

The city currently has $260,000 budgeted for the construction. According to the agenda packet, to help save money, the city will be leveraging the in-house engineering team for design and bid assistance, which will help the city save $39,000 compared to hiring an external consultant.

The savings will be allocated toward parallel street parking with accessible ramps at Red Run, which would be completed by a separate vendor after the playground installation.

Upon installation, there will also be seven benches that are placed on the edge of the playground line.

Originally, the parks department proposed benches with no backs, but Commissioner Rebecca Cheezum said she would rather see benches with backs.

“The backs did seem to be important, I was thinking about a lot of different scenarios where, it’s a playground, a mom nursing a baby, watching her other kid, she needs a back (on the bench),” Cheezum said.

Nicole McEachern, superintendent of recreation, explained the difference in cost between benches with backs and benches without backs.

“The original benches that we proposed, we asked for seven benches to be brought on with the installation, they were $547 each without backs. With backs, each bench is $1,061,” McEachern said. “The original total for the project was $201,491.53. And the new total with the backs on the benches would be $205,446.65.”

Cheezum also suggested having the benches on the northwest corner of the playground moved closer and turned a little to be facing each other.

“It could create a situation where people can talk to each other a little bit easier. It’s a small change that could have some impact,” she said.

McEachern agreed, saying they can speak with the vendor about that change.

“Great suggestion, I think it’s a small change that can really make a difference,” City Commissioner Melanie Macey said. “I am excited for this playground to be finally put in the ground instead of just in storage. I would have preferred VFW … but it seems our advisory board has come to the opposite conclusion and I respect their decision.”

Mayor Michael Fournier said he thinks this is a good outcome of where to put the Kensington play equipment.

“Not everything is a matter of opinion. There is research, there’s diligence, there’s professional staff that help usher in cool projects into our community. I think this neighborhood will really benefit from it,” he said.

Now approved, playground installation will begin in fall of 2025, according to the agenda packet. Parking, striping and accessible ramp installation will be brought before the Planning Commission in August, and will begin installation in the fall or spring of 2025.

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

Community is Welcome on Saturday, August 23rd from 10 am to 4 pm

Screenings for blood pressure, pulse rate, SPO2 levels, Colorectal Cancer blood screenings (Medicare Part B only and Medicare Advantage plans), Vision Screenings for ages 6 months and up, and more.

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL OAK MEDICAL GROUP HOSTING COMMUNITY WELLNESS EVENT FEATURING: Admission & ParkingAreFREE–allagesarewelcome FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS • • RESOURCES • • MORE

FACE PAINTING, RAFFLES, GIVE-AWAYS, AND MORE.

Many other health related organizations are scheduled to be at the event.

BROMG will be Offering $10 Sports Physicals by appointment starting August 25th.

After 50 years of practicing medicine and being at this location since 1987, Dr. Mumtaz George wants to give back to the community by providing educational resources that can help individuals achieve optimal health.

The Birmingham Royal Oak Medical Group | 5130 Coolidge Highway in Royal Oak

Dr. Bergeron has comprehensive education, training, and experience in hospital and clinic-based patient care. She excels in all areas of foot and ankle care with specific training and interest in wound care and foot and ankle surgery (including cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques designed to minimize surgical trauma and help patients recover faster).

Clawson Fest

some unique burger tacos including the classic smash burger taco, spicy barbecue smash burger taco, and the California burger taco.

Sampson said they are also going to have three of their most popular fish tacos, and a margarita bar outside of the restaurant.

Sampson said that his business opened in March of 2020, right before the COVID-19 shutdown, and that when Clawson Fest came about, he helped coordinate the festival.

“It started out basically about five years ago. It was two guys that I didn’t actually know at the time. They were like, ‘Hey, can you do some food for us? We want to do this concert in the parking lot,’ which is right across from my restaurant,” he said. “The next year, we had more vendors come out, and more people participate, and we got a lot bigger, and it was really cool. Then following that, we took over basically the entire downtown.”

Clawson Fest, according to Sampson, is a great way to kick off the end of summer and come together as a community to enjoy the local Clawson cuisine and vendors.

“It (Clawson Fest) always opens it up to a lot of the Clawson residents to come down, hang out and have a little bit of a party,” he said. “It’s kind of the last hurrah of summer, a good cap to summer vacation. We have a ton of fun with it and get to have some fun with the products we put out; we get to experiment every year, do something different and fun.”

Sean Nasrey, Clawson Fest producer, said that this year will have some top-of-the-line musical talents, the Detroit Circus and a charity hot dog eating contest.

The hot dog eating contest will be raising money for AV24 — The Alex Verner Foundation, dedicated to the legacy of Alex Verner, who died in the shooting on the Michigan State University campus on Feb. 13, 2023.

“We also have an epic kids zone this year with lots of stuff, like a huge dragon that took one of our vendors 20 years to make,” he said. “The dragon goes by the name of Kazdra, queen of the fire dragons, it is filled with over 2,000 LEDS, six computers, 10 motors, and 4,000 lines of coding. When he was telling me all of that, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s some dedication.’ Definitely a labor of love.”

Nasrey said that the festival has more sponsors this year; as a result, it has more high-quality vendors.

“Our vendors are top-notch this year. We hand select them to make sure that we have quality and are not oversaturating at any certain area,” he said. “We are very excited about that.”

Nasrey said that with more sponsors, Clawson Fest is able to take those leftover funds and donate to local charities.

“We were able to give back to the community a lot last year after Clawson Fest. We were able to give back to around 20 charities, so we are very excited about that with some of the leftover funds,” he said. “So, this year we will hopefully get to give back a little bit more than that and to some more charities.”

Nasrey started the Clawson Fest event in 2020 with his friend and bandmate Sean Dunlop, who will be debuting their new band, The Capri Suns, during Clawson Fest.

Clawson Fest is always a testament to the community of Clawson. As a newer restaurant in Clawson, Sampson said that each year Clawson Fest shows him the camaraderie that Clawson harbors.

“It’s a town that supports itself and carries itself. As much as we may have our little difficulties here and there as a town, you see Clawson Fest and you see people come out and bring their wares and show off their goods, and you can see the town really come together and really just support what they like,” Sampson said.

Clawson Fest has free admission. For more information, visit clawsonfest.com.

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

ABOVE: 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. LEFT: 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.

Photos by Erin Sanchez

HUMAN ELEMENT CONSIDERED A BENEFIT AT LOCAL SHOPPING PLAZAS

BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com

F or 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

See

At Trinity Health Oakland Hospital, we see more than a condition – we see you. Whether it’s innovative heart, stroke or cancer care, personalized women’s health or minimally invasive surgery, our experts use the latest technology to help you get back to what you love. Conveniently located on Woodward Avenue in the heart of Oakland County, our hospital campus offers free, easy parking and a modern, welcoming environment.

Leo’s Country Oven Pleases Every Palate

When you’ve been in the restaurant business for over 43 years, you have to do many di erent things right consistently and with soothing reliability. Whether looking for a light bite on the go, a hearty and lling breakfast or a home-style lunch or dinner, Leo’s Country Oven can satisfy any appetite. With its roomy country dining atmosphere, hanging plants and comfortable booths, or even old-fashioned counter service, Leo’s Country Oven is the place for a home cooked meal away from home. e attentive and friendly wait sta go out of their way to ensure a relaxing dining experience.

roast, turkey and gravy, Swiss steak, pork chops with scalloped potatoes headline the specials sheet, along with many more during the week. ey come with soup, salad, bread, potatoes and even a selection of such classic desserts as rice pudding, tapioca or ice cream. Carryout is also available for most items.

Look around the menu and you’re sure to nd many palate-pleasing entrees from Greek classics such as gyros, Italian specialties like fettuccine alfredo, to classic American hamburger platters. Customers can look forward to his series of daily specials. A page full of entrees, such as stu ed cabbage, pot

Also on the menu are delicious selections such as baked white sh, platters of popcorn shrimp, sh with a side of baked macaroni and cheese, and the classic batter dipped sh and chips, Leo’s customers are sure to devour the meal they choose.

You’ll nd Leo’s Country Oven at 28611 John R Road, south of 12 Mile Rd. in Madison Heights. When asked the secret to his success, Leo credits a time-tested formula: quality food, fair prices, good service and pleasing the customers. When you put all those together, he says, “You just can’t beat it.” For more information, call 248-399-9939.

Plazas

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 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 therapy-type 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.

Big things, small things, life-changing things, we’re here to make your health better.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Rockin’ Robin

THREEWHEELER GETS LOTS OF ATTENTION ON LOCAL ROADS

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

If you made it out to the Woodward Dream Cruise Aug. 16 in Oakland County, you might have spotted Sami Abu-Soud 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.”

See RELIANT ROBIN on page 18A

CRIME WATCH

Vehicle stolen

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 2:12 a.m. Aug. 6, an unknown person stole the complainant’s vehicle, which had the keys inside it, near Englewood Avenue and North Main Street.

Cologne stolen from car

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 9 p.m. July 31 and 5 p.m. Aug. 1, an unknown person stole a bottle of cologne from the complainant’s unlocked vehicle.

Jewelry taken at hospital

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 3:30 p.m. July 29, an unknown person stole the complainant’s jewelry while she was receiving treatment at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital at 3601 W. 13 Mile Road.

Another birthday cake stolen

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 1:45 p.m. Aug. 6, an unknown person stole a birthday cake from Holiday Market at 1203 S. Main St. Two birthday cakes were stolen from Holiday Market back on July 16.

Church window broken

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 2;30 p.m. Aug. 1 and 1 p.m. Aug. 4, an unknown person broke a window at the Woodside Bible Church, 3602 Rochester Road.

—

Taylor Christensen

Michigan Family Physician Diagnosed with Late-Stage Cancer After Experiencing is One Symptom

(South eld, MI) It’s a terrifying reality: a life-threatening illness could be silently developing inside your body, completely undetected by routine check-ups. By the time symptoms appear, especially cancer, the disease is often advanced, limiting treatment options.

LATE DETECTION

is agonizing truth was personally experienced by Dr. Warren Ringold, a respected family physician and the visionary behind Bionicc Body Screening. He shockingly discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs, only after experiencing shortness of breath. His brutal treatments and subsequent brain tumor recurrence ignited a profound mission: there had to be a better way to nd serious conditions before they became critical.

FULL BODY MRI SCANS

Dr. Ringold founded Bionicc Body Screening in 2022, establishing Michigan’s rst MRI full body screening center. His purpose was to empower individuals with groundbreaking insights into their health through advanced body screening

technologies. Today, his son, Ryan, passionately carries on this mission and understands the urgency: “We all know someone who awoke with an unexplained symptom and discovered they had stage four cancer. Once you have symptoms, cancer is usually advanced,” he states. “My father never wanted another person to su er from late detection. He wanted to save lives.”

71% OF TUMORS GROW UNDETECTED

While annual physicals are important, they have critical limitations. Standard screenings only detect about 29% of cancers, leaving a staggering 71% to potentially develop undetected in other areas of your body. Bionicc Body Screening o ers a comprehensive solution. Proactive full-body MRI screenings provide an unparalleled picture of your

internal health, going beyond traditional checkups. State-of-the-art MRI technology can detect tumors as small as a pea, along with aneurysms, stroke risk, and hundreds of other conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. ese comprehensive scans image your head through the pelvis. MRI scans are safe, noninvasive, and emit absolutely no radiation. And, crucially, they are available without a doctor’s referral.

A LIFE SAVED

Mark B. was initially skeptical, but his proactive screening revealed a 3 cm lung mass that tested positive for cancer. He credits the scan for saving his life after three-fourths of his lung was removed. e fee for a full body MRI is an investment in your health and wellbeing, but the true cost of delaying could be far greater. Schedule your scan today.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

AUG. 20

Meet Royal Oak Woman’s Club: Learn about group and inquire about membership, light snacks and refreshments provided, 6-8 p.m., 404 S. Pleasant St. in Royal Oak, rowcmembership@gmail.com, rowc.org/ events

Wild Summer Nights: Explore Detroit Zoo for extra three hours from 5-8 p.m., also concerts at 6 p.m. and reduced admission for late arrivals (after 6 p.m.), 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, continues Aug. 27, detroitzoo.org

AUG. 23

Armenia Fest: Free event features Middle Easternstyle bazaar, authentic cuisine, beer and wine garden, outdoor cigar bar, choreg bake-off, music by The Armenia Fest All-Stars, performance by Hamazkayin Arax Dance Troupe, kids activities, and raffles and

Cruise

from page 3A

cherry red Chevrolet Impala to the show.

“I used to cruise Gratiot back in the day because that was my hangout. I enjoy coming here with friends,” he said. “I think I have only missed the Woodward Dream Cruise maybe five times.”

Missing the cruise only a handful of times is the trend for people around the metro Detroit area who are into car culture.

“I’ve enjoyed it since the very beginning, I think I’ve missed one of all 30 years,” Royal Oak resident Ted Page said. “I enjoy it more when there’s people coming from out of town that come to take it in. I was really into it for a few years, but now I kind of tolerate it. I love to go down there for a few minutes and that’s about it.”

During the cruise you can find a plethora of volunteers who give up their time to

silent auction, 5-10 p.m., Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, armeniafestmi@gmail.com, (248) 376-0899

AUG. 25

Essential oils workshop: Learn about benefits and participate in hands-on activities, also take home project, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, free but class size limited, (248) 588-5500, clawson.lib.mi.us

AUG. 30

Open Hives Open House: Observe beehive, taste honey and more during free event, presented by Royal Oak Beekeepers, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., parking lot on north end of Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais Ave. in Royal Oak

SEPT. 8

Royal Oak Garden Club meeting: 7-8 p.m. (socializing at 6:30 p.m.), Unity of Royal Oak, 2500 Crooks Road, royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com, continues most second Mondays of month through June, www. royaloakgardenclubmi.org

park cars, direct traffic, and keep the event fun and safe.

Volunteers can be seen at the Performance Park Classic Car Show, which took place at Memorial Park at 13 Mile Road and Woodward.

Jim Pierce, the commander of the Royal Canadian Legion Maple Leaf Post 84, was helping to park cars on 12 Mile Road. The Royal Canadian Legion Maple Leaf Post 84 members volunteer to park cars to raise funds for their organization during the cruise.

“We’ve been doing this for three years. It’s become one of our biggest fundraisers. All the money we raise goes to help veterans locally,” Pierce said. “The turnout was better than last year when there was a threat of rain for most of the day.”

For more information on the Woodward Dream Cruise, visit www.woodward dreamcruise.com.

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

C & G Newspapers publishes 21 papers in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties:

Editor: David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com

Reporters:

Taylor Christensen | (586) 498-1081 | tchristensen@candgnews.com

Mike Koury | (586) 498-1077 | mkoury@candgnews.com

Sports: Scott Bentley | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com

Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com

and Obits: (586) 498-1099

| kboz@candgnews.com

Advertising: Paula Kaspor | (586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com

DRIVING DOWN MEMORY LANE

HOMES

CBY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

ollege dorms are starting to fill up with students for the fall semester. For many, it will be their first time living away from home, and the limited space of their dorm room can be a puzzle. What’s the best way to furnish it so it’s both comfortable and functional?

Shelving Inc. specializes in storage solutions, doing more with less space. The company was founded in Detroit in 1960 and today takes several forms, including two e-commerce sites and a retail outlet in Madison Heights.

According to Sandy Ison, a representative for Shelving Inc., verticality is key.

“It’s about how you can use the extra space around you,” Ison said. “And if you’re looking for extra space, look up.”

She said one popular space-saving solution is a special cart that keeps mini-fridges off the floor while holding other snacks and kitchen essentials.

“To create kitchen space to prep meals and late-night snacks, we also have kitchen carts and islands, which can be moved out of the way when needed,” Ison said.

Wall shelves, bookcases and filing cabinets can provide ample floor-to-ceiling storage in a small footprint. Over-the-door shelving and hanging closet organizers provide even more options.

“Our heavy-duty wire shelving is offered in a wide variety of hard-to-find sizes, like 8 inches deep for tight spots, and 96 inches high to maximize vertical space,” Ison said. “Our wire shelving is modu-

lar, meaning you can purchase preconfigured units or build your own unit by selecting the shelf size

lar, meaning you can purchase preconfigured units or build your own unit by selecting the shelf size and post height you want.

“Our wire shelving is also adjustable, so you

“Our wire shelving is also adjustable, so you can always adjust or add shelves,” she said. “The ability to tailor your storage is ideal for students, growing with them as they move dorms or switch schools.”

ability to tailor your storage is ideal for students, great way to tuck away seasonal clothes, extra bed-

MAKE THE MOST OF LIMITED SPACE IN A DORM ROOM

Inc. offers a pull-out pantry organizer that serves a

One may also consider using adjustable bed risers to elevate the bed higher off the ground. This creates space to slide storage bins under the bed — a great way to tuck away seasonal clothes, extra bedding and other items that are seldom used. Shelving Inc. offers a pull-out pantry organizer that serves a similar purpose, and over-the-bed storage units, as well.

“For shoe lovers, you can go vertical with our

“For shoe lovers, you can go vertical with our variety of shoe racks,” Ison said.

Multifunctional furniture, such as storage ot-

Multifunctional furniture, such as storage ottomans, offer both storage and seating. There are also miniature lockers that can be used as side tables, and wire shelving that can be paired with enclosures for storing TVs, consoles and other items.

There are also many storage solutions for smaller items such as toiletries and office supplies — items that can quickly clutter a desk, table or countertop over time.

“For a student’s workspace, we have file carts, printer stands, carts that tuck under desks, and desk organizers that maximize space,” Ison said. “Corner wire shelving can take advantage of unused corner

“For a student’s workspace, we have file carts, printer stands, carts that tuck under desks, and desk organizers that maximize space,” Ison said. “Corner wire shelving can take advantage of unused corner space.”

Shower caddies can keep toiletries organized

Shower caddies can keep toiletries organized See DORM ROOM on page 18A

from page 1A

“I think we’ve got some great original bands that are headlining across many music genres. We are excited about the Neon Trees, Randy Howser, Sugar Ray and you know, I Love the 90s Tour,” Witz said. “We think it’s going to be an amazingly fun time to close the show on Monday with Vanilla Ice and many others.”

Joining Vanilla Ice with the I Love the 90s Tour to close the festival will be Rob Base, Young MC and C+C Music Factory.

Witz said that along with the headliners, audiences can expect to hear more moving performances from cover bands and tribute acts.

“I will say the tribute acts that we have, one or more each night, will be playing some of the best-sounding music of the weekend,” Witz said. “They really do the bands of the music they play justice.”

R&B singer turned rock star Terri Shü said that she is debuting her new sound of rock music with her band “Shü” at Arts, Beats & Eats. Shu’s grandfather was Motown great William Guest, of Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Shü’s career took off as an R&B singer, which was the music she previously performed at Arts Beats & Eats, but as of early 2024, she is now in a rock band.

“I usually didn’t do rock music back in the day with the circumstances of my grandfather being in a Motown group, Gladys Knight and the Pips, so they automatically categorized me in R&B for a while, and I

recently branched back into alternative,” she said.

Shü said she started singing alternative music when she was in high school and wanted to get back to her alternative roots instead of continuing in the R&B genre.

“I guess the reason why I made that big switch, well, I guess it was a big switch to everybody else, is basically me getting back to my roots, rather than sticking with something that I wasn’t 100% in it in my heart,” she said. “Alternative is truly who I am.”

Through her band’s performance of covers and original music at Arts, Beats & Eats, Shü hopes her band can bring a carefree experience to the audience.

“I want to portray a carefree, I-don’tgive-a-heck environment, and that Black people can love rock too. I don’t like the stigma of Black people not listening to rock music, because a lot of us do,” she said. “I want to portray the freedom of loving music, and being carefree. I want to make the audience know it’s OK to do things outside of the box, and be a little crazy sometimes.”

Arts, Beats & Eats will be open 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Aug. 31, and 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1. Tickets will be sold for $7 in advance. Admission is free before 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, and $12 after 5 p.m. Every other day, admission costs $10 before 3 p.m. and $12 after 3 p.m. Cash and credit card transactions will be accepted at gate entrances. For more information, visit artsbeatseats. com

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

Reliant Robin

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 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. Abu-Soud 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.

Dorm room

from page 16A

and safely separated — a must in communal bathrooms shared by roommates or suitemates.

Just about every nook and cranny can be made into additional storage space, and without leaving a mark on a room that is borrowed space.

“Our wire shelving is a great way to add storage without needing to put holes in the wall,” Ison said. “Instead of hanging coat hooks or garment racks on the wall, we have wire closet shelving. For kitchen space, add any of our hook accessories to wire shelving to store pans and utensils.”

Ison said that Shelving Inc. often hears from parents trying to strike the right balance with their child’s dorm room, creating an environment that is relaxing and suitable to study.

“We hear parents express concerns about ensuring their children feel comfortable and prepared for their life in their home away from home,” Ison said. “There are often a lot of items to bring and store in this small space, and it can feel overwhelming. And that’s where we come in — we’re committed to helping our customers go the extra mile with each project.”

Kelly Garnett, assistant director for housing enrollment at Oakland University, said that for many students, the dormitory is their first time sharing a room, which can be a bit of an adjustment, especially if they’re used to abundant storage at home.

“Early communication with your roommate is key,” Garnett said in an email. “Be sure to take the time to discuss expectations for cleaning schedules, visitor preferences, and personal organizational styles to avoid misunderstandings later. … Respect, compromise, and good organization go a long way in creating a positive and comfortable shared living environment.”

The Shelving Inc. websites are theshelvingstore.com, geared toward residential customers, and shelving.com, serving businesses. The brick-and-mortar site is The Shelving Store, located at 29275 Stephenson Highway in Madison Heights. It can be reached by calling (877) 831-8885.

& SUNDAY: Booze N Brunch 11am-3pm Mimosas $10/1st, then $2 each after FRIDAY & SATURDAY: 10pm-1am Late Night Munchies

$3.50 Labatt Drafts & Miller Light SATURDAY: Karaoke Show! You be the Star! 9:30pm-2am FRIDAY: Live Music! 9:pm THURSDAY: BAR BANGO 7:30pm-10pm

WEDNESDAY: 7:30pm & 9pm TUESDAY: Opinionation Game 6:30pm-8:45pm

from page 5A

2027 recruiting class, while Bidden is ranked as the top player in Michigan for the 2028 recruiting class.

This will be year two of Rick Powell leading Stoney Creek’s football team, and there is a lot of potential in Rochester Hills. Not only is last year’s 5-5 team returning 12 total starters, but the reinforcements coming to fill holes in the roster will come from a junior varsity team that went 9-0 last season and an 8-1 freshman team. Jack Fredenberg and Jake Lantzy will be key players on both sides of the ball, and quarterback Brandon Gergics returns as well.

Last year, Birmingham Groves recorded an undefeated regular season and made the Division 2 state semifinal. The Falcons lost the game in overtime by a score of 28-27 against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and OLSM went on to win the state title by 16 points. Groves is set to have 10 returners starting from last year’s squad (five on each side of the ball) and yet the coaches predict a step back for the team in Brendan Flaherty’s 25th season on the sidelines. Four-star offensive lineman Avery Gach is among the notable losses, as the former top-five recruit in the state is a freshman at the University of Michigan this season.

Erik Vernon enters year 17 as Rochester High School football’s head coach, and the team is optimistic about this season. Bigname senior Marcus Aidem will be a fixture in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and running back Devin Grabke will look to build on his impressive 2024. Matt Dyki returns at quarterback as a sophomore.

After a state title in 2023, head coach Aaron Marshall was hired away from A&T by Brother Rice, spelling a new era for Southfield A&T football. Year two for head coach Keith McKenzie will likely be an uphill battle, but there’s still talent on the roster. The defense will return an athletic secondary with players like Kenny Brooks, Mark Reid, Aden Dyer and Taurean Davis, while the offense that struggled last season will look to take a step forward behind quarterback Jeremy Porter.

OAA - Red preseason coaches poll (1st place votes)

1. Clarkston: 7-4 last season (4).

2. Lake Orion: 6-4.

3. West Bloomfield: 5-6.

4. Rochester Adams: 10-3.

5. Oxford: 7-4.

Despite a third-place finish a year ago, Clarkston received the most first-place votes out of any team in the OAA heading into

2025. After a 7-4 finish last year, Clarkston returns 11 starters, including four of the team’s six offensive lineman from last season. Griffin and Lukas Boman will be impact players on both sides of the ball, and quarterback Alex Waszczenko will return as well.

Lake Orion sports a 15-4 combined record over the last two seasons; however, it has lost to Clarkston in the district playoffs in each of those years. This year, the team will look to get over the hump thanks to size and athleticism up front. The group of returning starters is led by senior three-star tight end and Western Michigan commit Ryan Rocheleau.

West Bloomfield had one of the most talented teams in the state in 2023 and made the semifinal before losing to eventual champion Southfield A&T. Last year, the program took a step back after losing a lot of the team’s best players to college, but this year looks to rebound. Three-star recruit seniors Travis Robertson (committed to Bowling Green) and Jeremiah Benson (Committed to Minnesota) are both set to be impact players for a team on the rise. The team will start five players who are three-year starters.

Adams lost in the state semifinal to Hudsonville a year ago and also lost a very talented senior class, including Saginaw Valley State University commit Liam Kania (edge). The team will bring back nine starters total, including playmaker Nolan Farris, but will need the program’s talented youth to step up in 2025.

Oxford finds itself in last in the coaches poll despite its 3-1 OAA Red record leading the team to a division title last year. The team is returning some size up front and impressive three-year starting quarterback Jack Hendrix, which should help the offense stay competitive. The concerns lie in the fact that only three starters on offense and defense from 2024 are set to start in 2025, and right now the team is planning on replacing a whopping 16 starting positions.

OAA - Blue preseason coaches poll (1st place votes)

1. North Farmington: 6-4 last season (3).

2. Birmingham Seaholm: 7-4.

3. Farmington: 7-4.

4. Oak Park: 3-6.

5. Troy Athens: 3-6.

6. Bloomfield Hills: 1-8.

7. Troy: 4-5.

North Farmington won the OAA Blue a year ago despite going winless out of conference, thanks to a 6-0 OAA Blue record. The team will be relatively young and inexperienced, but it still brings back key contributors such as Terrance Jones, Owen Vara, Noah Kornspan and Gabe Jankowski.

Head coach Jim DeWald will enter

year 14 at Seaholm with a young but hungry team. The program will bring back senior quarterback Patrick Hughes as well as slotback seniors Conrad Swanson and Casey Goetz. Outside of that, Birmingham only returns two other starters from last year, so a lot of inexperienced players will fill starting roles.

Farmington went from a 2-7 team to a 7-4 team in just one season and will look to keep that momentum going this year. The team returns 13 starters from a team that won a first round playoff game last year before losing to eventual state champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

Since the program’s magical postseason run in 2020, Oak Park has not returned to postseason play. This year, the hope is to change that behind a group of 15 returning starters, highlighted by William Reed, Jaedan Randolph and Cardelle Carrington.

A 3-6 record may not jump off the page, but Athens started the season 1-5 and ended on a high note. The team looks to carry that over this year behind 10 returning starters. Some of the notable players are Grayson Conrad, Andrew Dunlap, Cainan Hanbury and Nathan Piggott.

One of the biggest storylines in the entire state of Michigan will be how new head coach Scott Merchant will do in year one. Merchant is a Chippewa Valley legend, going 103-53 with a state title over the span of 15 years. He also coached at Lawrence Tech University a year ago, and will now look to take a rebuilding Bloomfield Hills team back to the top. The team is 2-16 combined over the last two seasons, and according to Merchant, the team is “starting from scratch” with all positions on the field up for grabs.

Troy went 3-3 against OAA Blue competition last year and barely missed a postseason appearance. The uphill battle for the program this season is that it only has six returning starters from last year’s team, and it is filling those holes via a JV team that went 0-9 a year ago. Senior offensive linemen Mike Helinski and Connor Gillespie will look to lead an inexperienced group.

OAA - Gold preseason coaches poll (1st place votes)

1. Ferndale: 6-4 last season (3).

2. Auburn Hills Avondale: 7-4.

3. Berkley: 2-7.

4. Royal Oak: 3-6.

5. Pontiac: 1-8.

Ferndale finished last year second in the OAA Gold and played a playoff game after a 6-3 regular season. The big question at Ferndale will be how the team handles the transition to a new head coach, as Ferndale alum Donovan Jackson will take over this year. Last year’s OAA Gold winners come in as the projected runner-up from the coaches this year. Avondale won a playoff game before losing to Walled Lake Western. The program is also under new coaching as Jim Carlisle will take over on the sidelines this year. This may be a rebuilding season, thanks to an astonishing zero starters from last year returning this season. A new era of Avondale football begins.

Berkley returns a solid number of seniors from last year’s team and will also add more from a solid 4-5 JV squad a year ago. The depth that the team showcases should help across the board. Key returners include Lucas Schwenn, Eli Khoury, Collin Richardson and Jack Rittenberry.

Royal Oak won two of its last three games to end 2024 and looks to carry that over to 2025. While returners Liam Flemming, Gage Orzel, Caden Scott and Javien Johnson look to impact both sides of the ball again this year, the team does lack size and will have to address that to compete in a difficult OAA.

Pontiac High School has only won more than one game in a season once since the team’s 6-4 2011 season, and that was a 3-6 year in 2023. Last year, the program went back to a 1-8 record and wants to make sure that doesn’t become a trend again. Pontiac will return 10 starters including Deandre Johnson, Bryce Brown and Dionte Jones, but questions surrounding depth will remain.

For more high school football previews, visit candgnews.com/news/sports.

Oak Review

City of Royal Oak, Michigan Advertisement

Royal Oak Library Solar Installation Contract 2024-27

Notice to Contractors:

Sealed proposals will be received by the Purchasing Agent of the City of Royal Oak, Michigan, up to up to 12:00 pm, local time, Friday, August 15, 2025 for the 2025 Library Solar Installation 2024-27 Electronic proposals shall be submitted through the procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/romi. Bids will be automatically opened and posted online at the bid opening time. The work shall consist of furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and incidental items for the following major items of work:

1.Installation of a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system

2.Creation and installation of a user-friendly energy dashboard

3.Creation and installation of an on-site display board

The city will not consider bids that do not comply with Royal Oak Ordinance 2022-07, Responsible Contractor Ordinance.

The Plans and Specifcations under which the work is to be done may be obtained through the procurement portal on or after Friday, August 15, 2025. Plans and specifcations cannot be mailed.

Each proposal must be accompanied by a certifed check or bid bond by a recognized surety company in the amount of 5 percent (5%) of the bid, payable to the City of Royal Oak as security for the acceptance of the contract. No bidder may withdraw their proposal between the date set for the opening thereof and the date upon which the contract is awarded.

The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and the right to waive defects in proposals.

By order of the commission of the City of Royal Oak, Michigan.

Melanie Halas City Clerk

Published: Royal Oak Review 08/20/2025

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Electrical

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CASTLEELECTRIC

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Hauling & Waste Removal

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Home Improvement

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Home Repairs

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Landscaping & Water Gardens

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Landscaping & Water Gardens

JAY'SHOMESERVICES

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SUPREMEOUTDOOR SPECIALISTS

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Lawn Maintenance

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Painting

586-792-3117

PETE'SPAINTING

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Painting

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ReferencesAvailable

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Painting

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Interior/ExteriorPainting

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MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC.

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Interior/Exterior

Wood&DrywallRepairs

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MASTER PLUMBER

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Plumbing

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Powerwashing

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Professional Services

Tree Service

BERGBROS.LLC.

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APEX

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EAPLUMBING ANDDRAIN

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PREFERRED

BROTHERSROOFING

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ELITETREE SERVICE

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