8/20/25 Woodward Talk

Ferndale, Berkley

to see competitive races for council in November election

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

OAKLAND COUNTY — The ballots for mayoral and city council races have been set for the November election.

Voters in the Nov. 4 election will cast their ballots for mayoral and city council or city commission elections in the cities of Ferndale, Berkley, Huntington Woods and Pleasant Ridge. Due to incumbents choosing not to run, it’s guaranteed that there will be new city council members in both Ferndale and Berkley.

Ferndale’s elections will see a competitive race for City Council. Incumbent Laura Mikulski will run along with Eddie Sabatini and Quinn Zeagler for two four-year terms.

The city’s mayoral race only has incumbent Raylon LeaksMay on the ballot, effectively making her the de facto winner of another two-year term.

Longtime Council member Greg Pawlica decided in July against running for another term, ending his tenure on the City Council after 12 years.

Pawlica said his decision not to run for reelection came as his job at Ford Motor Co. had changed over the past year with increased responsibilities.

Dream Cruise brings Mustangs, Broncos to Ferndale for 30th year

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — Nine Mile Road in downtown Ferndale was full of visitors Aug. 16 checking out the scenes of the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The Dream Cruise celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and attracted many people to Ferndale, where

On East Nine Mile Road, hundreds of Ford Mustang owners drove in for another gathering of Mustang Alley.

This included Paul Isenhour, of Concord, North Carolina, who was attending his first Dream Cruise. Isenhour had been in the state for Road Kill Nights

Harding Park rink improvements pushed to next year

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — Ferndale’s hopes to improve its Harding Park inline skating rink will have to wait until next year.

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 design, created with his signature cartoon style of vibrant colors, “har-

nesses 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.

“I think we’ve got some great original bands that are

See FESTIVAL on page 14A

The Ferndale City Council approved at its Aug. 11 meeting a Land and Water Conservation Fund development project agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This was in regard to $100,000 in grant funding to replace the rink.

Harding Park’s inline skating rink is more than 61 years old and, according to the city, has been breaking down in recent years.

According to city documents, the scope of construction at Harding Park includes the removal and replacement of the existing hockey rink, the installation of new park amenities and installation of stormwater mitigation systems around the hockey rink.

The city was awarded the grant funding in December and aimed to begin construction on improvements this summer, but Ferndale has to wait until the state acts on the grant.

“We have to wait until the state of Michigan goes through their process to issue the grant agreement, which will be effective this fall,” Parks and Recreation Director LaReina Wheeler said. “Due to that, we don’t want to rush the project and we plan on doing some crowdfunding to fund the remaining amount that we need to incorporate everything that we have planned for the project.”

Ferndale now plans for construction to start in the spring.

The replacement project is expected to cost an estimated $200,000. Current plans call for the city to raise the rest of the money through a Patronicity campaign.

Council

from page 1A

“It’s going to require that I make a lot more time and effort into doing my job, and knowing the level of responsibilities and the time commitment necessary to be on council, I didn’t think that it would be fair for me to run again and be up there as just a vote,” he said. “Being on council requires you to be able to have time to meet with residents, to attend meetings that may be outside the area, attend forums and courses, classes. Not being able to … fulfill my obligations to me would be irresponsible.”

Reflecting on his 12 years as a member of council, Pawlica was proud of how the city has been able to improve its technology and its sewer lines.

The one thing he wished he could have started during his time was the creation of a tree nursery.

“It would require the dedication of maybe an acre or two of city property, maybe something in a park where it’s dedicated to plant seedlings, to have them mature and then plant them throughout the city,” he said. “Instead of buying eight to 10 12-foot trees that can cost anywhere from $100 to

$150 and then planting them, we would actually nurture trees within the city that we could then transplant, thereby saving the city money and taking some trees that may be struggling, you know, we may have planted a tree last year, maybe it’s not doing so well in the place, you take that tree, put it in this property, and you take the time to nurse it back to health. That’s the one thing that I never was able to accomplish. I could not get a council to agree to invest in that project.”

Berkley’s City Council race also will be competitive, with five people running for three four-year terms. Incumbents Steve Baker and Dennis Hennen are running for reelection against Gary Elrod, Josh Stapp and Catherine Wade.

As with Ferndale, Berkley’s mayoral

race is uncontested with incumbent Bridget Dean the lone person running for a two-year term.

Council member Jessica Vilani will be leaving after one term on the council. She said that serving was one of the greatest experiences of her life and that she learned a lot the past four years, but she wants to spend more time with her daughter before she heads off to college.

“When I first ran, it was right after COVID, my daughter was in the seventh grade. Life was really different, and I blinked and four years was up and we’re going on our first college tour tomorrow and she is entering into her junior year,” she said. “Just knowing that time is so limited and finite, and I really just want to soak as much of that up as possible with her before she goes off and starts her own adventures, I wanted to do that. So, I think that’s really the biggest reason, is just being able to prioritize family right now. It’s a bittersweet decision because I love the role, I love the community, I’ll still be doing everything I can to support our businesses, to stay involved, and you never know what will happen down the road, but right now my family is my No. 1 priority.”

Vilani said she’s proud to have helped implement a strategic plan in Berkley dur-

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

ing her time and back issues pertaining to equality and making more inclusive spaces, including at council meetings. She also doesn’t rule out running for council again in the future.

“I wouldn’t rule it out … if that is something that I have the capacity to jump back into and it makes sense for my life,” she said. “Also for the city, I’m hopeful that we’ll have some new and fresh energy in there as well who will continue to take the city down this great path of growth that we’ve had over the past few years. So, I’m also excited to see what some new minds can do as well.”

As it stands now, the elections in Huntington Woods and Pleasant Ridge will see no changes on their respective city commissions, as the races are uncontested.

Incumbents Jules Olsman and Joe Rozell are running for four-year terms on the Huntington Woods City Commission against no competitors.

In Pleasant Ridge, incumbent Mayor Bret Scott is the only candidate on the ballot for another four-year term. In the city commissioner election, incumbents Alex Lenko and Katy Schmier are running without competition for reelection to four-year terms.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

NEWS & NOTES

Ferndale deputy police chief retires

FERNDALE — Ferndale Deputy Police Chief David Spellman, pictured front row center, was celebrated by the Ferndale City Council on Aug. 11, as he recently retired from the Police Department.

Dating back to his time at Ferndale High School, Spellman spent 29 years with the Ferndale Police Department, where he was a sergeant, patrol lieutenant, detective lieutenant, captain and deputy chief.

“(Spellman) became a highly decorated officer. He served as an undercover narcotics detective, field training officer, and evidence detective for many years. He was a founding member of the Ferndale Police Honor Guard,” a social media post from Ferndale police states. “He also served as an active shooter instructor and mobile field force commander for OakTac.”

“Deputy Chief Spellman understands the importance of recognizing effort and praising a job well done. It’s safe to say he leaves a legacy of dedication and devotion,” the statement continues. “It is an emotional goodbye. The team at the Ferndale Police Department wishes him and his family well as he enters this new chapter.”

PAVEMENT MARKING IMPROVEMENTS

Ringwald begins From the Fringe program

FERNDALE — The Ringwald Theatre will host a new set of shows starting this week.

According to a press release, The Ringwald Theatre introduced From the Fringe, a new program that’s dedicated to “presenting small-batch productions of original, thoughtprovoking plays by up-and-coming artists.”

The first show is “A Certain Kind of Light” by Detroit playwright Joey Urreta and directed by Asia Hicks. The show is set during a weekend bender in a college town and “explores a group of young adults whose carefree revelry masks deeper personal struggles. As substances flow and facades slip, they are forced to confront hard truths about themselves, each other, and the demons they have tried to keep in the dark.”

“We are attempting to bring to light some experiences that are often difficult for people to engage with,” Urreta said in a press release. “This comes from an honest place for all of us, and I think we have found some creative ways to tell such a story.”

The show will run Aug. 22–31, with performances at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. It will run at The Ringwald Theatre, located inside the Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center at 290 W. Nine Mile Road.

Tickets cost $30 for Friday through Sunday performances. For more information, visit theringwald.com.

ART EXHIBITS

“Motor Muse — The Art of the Car” takes inspiration from Detroit’s love for automobiles, on display 1-5 p.m. Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and noon-9 p.m. Fridays until Aug. 29, mid-month reception 2-4:30 p.m. Aug. 24, Lawrence Street Gallery, 22620 Woodward Ave. (Suite A) in Ferndale, lawrences treetgallery.com

• “Connections: A Group of Three” features water media works by Chizuko Donovan, Jan Filarski and Susan Kwolek, on display 10 a.m.8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays until Sept. 4, Woods Gallery at Huntington Woods Public Library, 26415 Scotia Road, woodsgallery.org

• “Soundings” features works by Ferndale-based artist Susan Goethel Campbell, also “Foundations” by Detroit-based artist Ebitenyefa Baralaye, on display noon-5:30 p.m. daily, plus artist talk with Baralaye at 1 p.m. and closing reception until 4 p.m. Aug. 23, David Klein Gallery, 678 Livernois St. in Ferndale, (248) 433-3700, dkgallery.com

• “Resistance Works” features art meant to inspire change, on display until Aug. 22, Articipate, 3833 12 Mile Road in Berkley, 25% of art sales funds Democrats of South Oakland County, articipate.us

END OF SUMMER MARKET

FERNDALE — An end of summer market event will be held in downtown Ferndale. The Farewell Summer Fest will be held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 at Detroit Fleat, 1820 Nine Mile Road. Admission is free. The pop-up market will feature more than 30 local artists, makers and small businesses, along with live performances from local artists.

FERNDALE — The Ferndale City Council approved a bid for its pavement marking program at its Aug. 11 meeting. The council approved the bid of P.K. Contracting LLC for $152,496.25 for a project that looks to touch up or replace pavement markings throughout the city every two years. Markings included in this year’s program, according to city documents, include crosswalk markings, turn arrows, traffic lane lines and bike lane markings.

“Deteriorated special pavement markings on Woodward Heights from Bermuda to Pilgrim, Hilton from Eight Mile to Nine Mile, W. Troy from Allen to Woodward and Fair Street from Eight Mile Road to Jewell will be replaced,” city documents state. This year’s program also includes work to be performed in Hazel Park on John R Road, which will cost $53,385 and be reimbursed by Hazel Park. The project is expected to begin in late September.

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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 10A

Tom Petzold and members of his

manage a portfolio of

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. 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.

Seeing Beyond Limits: How

Helps Patients Thrive With Low

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

CruiseFest parade attracts the classics to downtown Berkley

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

BERKLEY — It was hard to find even an inch of free space on the sidewalks of 12 Mile Road as residents and visitors alike took to the downtown to take in the Berkley CruiseFest Classic Car Parade.

Held on Friday, Aug. 15, the parade featured hundreds of classic cars driving down 12 Mile as the area celebrated the Woodward Dream Cruise weekend.

Richard McGee comes to CruiseFest each year to watch the parade. McGee is a longtime admirer of classic cars, and though he doesn’t own a car like the ones featured in the event, he would gravitate toward getting a Ford Thunderbird.

“The amount of time people spend on these is amazing,” he said. McGee is a big fan of CruiseFest and said the atmosphere of the parade is something that can’t be captured in pictures.

“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?” he said. “You can’t take a picture of it that does justice. Like I try to take a picture and show it to people I know in Dallas or California. They have no idea. You can’t take this all on, especially on Woodward. There’s no way you can explain it to people.”

While McGee has been to CruiseFest many times, Amanda Durecka was attending her first parade.

Not a car person herself, her son, Noah, 3, is a massive car lover and Durecka said her father was as well growing up.

Along with her son, Durecka came to the parade with a group of friends from neighboring Royal Oak and was enjoying the event.

“We moved here from South Carolina,” Durecka said. “They didn’t have anything like that where we grew up. So, this is really fun.”

From vintage cars to classic pickup trucks, the CruiseFest Classic

See CRUISEFEST on page 13A

in Pontiac Aug. 9 and saw that the Dream Cruise and Mustang Alley would take place the next weekend. Isenhour trailered his 1969 Mustang convertible and decided to see if he could sign up.

“We’ve been wanting to come to this, to Woodward,” he said. “We didn’t know how many cars they were taking, but … we got registered and come and find out we’re 669.”

Isenhour has owned his Mustang since 2017, though it has been updated over the past several years with a new color, interior and had to be fixed up because of rust. He was able to drive it for two years before the car had to be fixed up.

“When we got into the restoration and found out that we had to replace so much metal, it wasn’t going to be original. So, we just kind of took a different path,” he said. “That’s actually a factory Ford color. It’s Acapulco blue, and I tried to get the seats made to match the deluxe interior pattern, but it’s reclining bucket seats and all that mess. So it’s a modern interior sort of and it’s got all modern gauges and modern suspension. But other than that, it’s pretty much a 1969 Mustang.”

Isenhour previously owned a 1969 Mustang convertible in high school, but it had to sit for four years while he was in the military and he decided to sell it, which he had come to regret.

“We got a little more financially stable. I said I want my car back, so I started searching and found it online, bought it sight unseen and that’s why I ended up having a lot of rust,” he said. “I mean, it looked good and then drove fine. It just had some hidden rust that we didn’t know.”

Isenhour was enjoying his time at the cruise and the attention the convertible was getting, especially as he typically sees the Mach 1s get more love at shows like these.

“It is gratifying because a lot of people don’t remember the convertibles and the coupes as much as they do with the Mach

CruiseFest

from page 11A

Car Parade had something for everyone.

Berkley resident Matteo Passalacqua took his 1971 Chevrolet Nova in the parade. It’s a car Passalacqua has owned for 27 years; he bought it when he was 15 years old.

A frequent participant, Passalacqua rides with his wife and kids in his Nova, which he described as an “under the radar muscle car.”

1s,” he said. “It’s been great. I’ve been pretty much talking the whole time.”

New to the Dream Cruise this year is the Bronco Corral on West Nine Mile Road, with more than 100 Ford Broncos brought in by car lovers.

Curt McIlroy, of Battle Creek, brought his 1985 Ford Bronco with him, an SUV he’s owned for eight years.

McIlroy said the previous owner had leased the vehicle for two years and performed modifications on it such as lifting it, which Ford wasn’t happy about.

“They wanted him to restore it back to its original stance and he decided he was going to take it all apart and teach Ford a lesson,” he said. “Well, as it be, Ford made him buy it and it was still in pieces. And when he passed away eight years ago, his widow reached out to me and I bought it, and put it back together.”

Along with piecing it back together, he also repainted the Bronco from all white with a tan top to yellow and white. McIlroy said he likes Broncos because of the way they look and, as he’s owned a couple of them, they’re familiar and he knows what to expect.

McIlroy has attended the Dream Cruise in the past and participated in Mustang Alley, but he said that the Bronco draws a lot more positive attention and responses than the Mustang.

“The Mustang, everybody seems to be much more critical of modifications or things that have been done to it,” he said. “I haven’t experienced that with the Bronco. You either like it or you don’t and I’ve had an awful lot of people that like it.”

McIlroy’s favorite part of the Dream Cruise is getting to check out all the cars and meet up with some old friends.

“We’ve already walked down the other end of Nine Mile and looked at Mustang Alley and the food trucks on the way down,” he said. “We actually couldn’t wait to get back and try the food trucks and sit back here and enjoy the scenes.”

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

Passalacqua said he and his family have always enjoyed the parade, getting to be a part of it and seeing their neighbors.

“Car parades are not unique, but there is something about the size, how big it’s gotten, the parade and just the scene of the cars rolling through downtown Berkley at the beginning of dusk,” he said. “The way the natural lighting and the crowd and the car sounds all kind of hits everything, it’s like the perfect mix of nostalgia.”

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

BRICK REPAIR

Festival

page 3A

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

Rink

from page 3A

The city aims to raise $62,500 from the crowdfunding.

“We’re going to be applying for a Patronicity grant. ... If we raise ($62,500), then they will match ($62,500), but we have to raise the targeted amount of funds in order to receive them,” Wheeler said.

Mayor Raylon Leaks-May said the rink replacement project will help increase the usage of the city’s parks.

“I think it’s going to be just as utilized as the skate park, because I think when we bring some new amenities to our parks, it draws more community members to our parks. Every time I go past the skate park, I

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.

see it being utilized, and it’s just going to add a lot of attraction to Harding Park, which is one of the smaller parks in Ferndale. I think that it will be an attraction to that park, along with the walking paths and the amenities that Parks and Rec have been updating already,” Leaks-May said.

Leaks-May said she has heard from people that Harding Park has been neglected and not invested in by the city, but she hopes these improvements will change that perception.

“The fact that the Parks and Rec Department is looking for ways to really just update parks that have been underutilized and attract more attention to those parks, I think it’s wonderful. … It’s something that the city is excited about,” she said.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

RolLing through Berkley and Ferndale

Aug. 15-16 marked the return of notable classic car events in Berkley and Ferndale. Berkley’s CruiseFest and its Classic Car Parade took place on Aug. 15, and the 30th anniversary of the Woodward Dream Cruise was held on Aug. 16. Ferndale, the original home of the Dream Cruise, held its annual Mustang Alley that highlights Ford Mustangs and introduced the Bronco Corral this year for Ford Broncos.

LEFT: Two Boss 302 Mustangs are on display in Mustang Alley during the Woodward Dream Cruise. BOTTOM LEFT: Thousands of people visit Ferndale to check out Mustangs, Broncos and more during the Dream Cruise on Saturday, Aug. 16. ABOVE: Visitors walk past a line of Ford Broncos on display in the Bronco Corral during the Woodward Dream Cruise. RIGHT: Hot Wheels toys are seen for sale at a vendor booth in Mustang Alley during the Woodward Dream Cruise.

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 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,

See RELIANT ROBIN on page 17A

Reliant Robin

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 AbuSoud, 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. 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.

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 start-

ing 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 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

Football

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

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

AUG. 20

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

Clawson Fest: Features 125-plus vendors, craft food from local restaurants, live music by Yeah!, The CapriSuns, The Johnny P. Band and Utilize, Clawson Borgo Dancers, comedian Matt Conn, Detroit Circus, charity hot dog eating contest, and face painting, caricatures, chalk, bubbles and more at kids zone, noon-8 p.m., Main Street between 14 Mile Road and Tacoma Street, clawsonfest.com

Armenia Fest: Free event features Middle Eastern-style 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 silent auction, 5-10 p.m., Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, (248) 376-0899, armeniafestmi@gmail.com

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 ac-

AUG. 26

Seed Saving 101: Demonstrations, discussion and lecture by author and seed farmer Bevin Cohen, 6:30 p.m., Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, register at berkleymi.gov/libraryevents

AUG. 30

Farewell Summer Fest: Pop-up market features 30-plus artists, makers and small businesses, also food and drinks, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., plus live tunes by Mayflower Music at 10 a.m., Try Stereo at noon, bRADFORd at 1 p.m. and Aaron Lee at 2 p.m., Detroit Fleat, 1820 Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, linktr.ee/ greatlakesartisanmarkets

SEPT. 7

Tea with the Fairies: Includes magical story time, live music from harp player, face painting, scavenger hunt, craft stations, photo area, tea service and treats, for ages 6-12, Boston Tea Room, 1220 Woodward Heights in Ferndale, (248) 548-3830, bostontearoomevents@ gmail.com, bostontearoom.com

SEPT. 13

Walk For Miracles: Dress as superhero or fantasy character and meet other fairytale and comic book favorites, also check out exhibits during discounted event, 8 a.m. (7:30 a.m. check in), Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals programming at Corewell

cording 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

Health Children’s, corewellhealth.org/se-cmn

SEPT. 13-14

Birmingham Street Art Fair: Presented by Common Ground and The Guild of Artists & Artisans, includes 100 juried artists, food, kids activities and entertainment, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 13 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 14, new location along South Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham, birminghamstreetartfair.com

SEPT. 19

Meet Mic Drop Club: Women can learn and practice speaking skills during quarterly event, 9-11 a.m., Incubizo, 1938 Burdette St. in Ferndale, hmh912@ gmail.com, micdropworkshop.com/club

SEPT. 20

Classic Cars for the Cure: Fundraiser for Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, ’50s/’60s-style gala includes unique vehicles, strolling dinner, cocktails and dessert, live music, performance and swing lessons by Oakland University Dance Team, guest speakers, and more, 7-10:30 p.m., held in private garage at 1330 N. Crooks Road in Clawson, cocktail attire or themed clothing encouraged, karmanos.org/cars25

SEPT. 20-21

Autumn Equinox Witches Market: Free outdoor event features 30-plus local artisans, makers and crafters, also food trucks, noon-6 p.m. Sept. 20 and noon-4

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 OAA and high school football previews, visit candgnews.com/news/sports.

p.m. Sept. 21, Boston Tea Room, 1220 Woodward Heights in Ferndale, (248) 548-3830, bostontearoomevents@gmail.com, bostontearoom.com

SEPT. 28

No Balls Comedy Ball: Fundraiser hosted by Jay Towers from Fox 2 Detroit and WNIC and featuring Grosse Pointe comedian Matt Conn, also cash bar, buffet, desserts, raffles, silent and live auctions, and adoptable puppies, proceeds benefit Michigan Animal Adoption Network and Canine Companions Rescue Center, 1-4:30 p.m., Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St. in Royal Oak, nbcb.weebly.com

ONGOING

‘A Certain Kind of Light’: Play about trauma, connection and desperate search for meaning, 7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays Aug. 22-31, Ringwald Theatre at Affirmations LGBTQIA+ Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, (248) 545-5545, theringwald@gmail.com, theringwald.com

‘Tuck Everlasting’: Performance by Stagecrafters Main Stage, musical about girl who helps protect family’s secret of eternal life runs 7:30 p.m. ThursdaysSaturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Sept. 12-28, The Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in Royal Oak, (248) 541-6430, info@stagecrafters.org, stagecrafters.org

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Painting

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APEX

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Plumbing

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Powerwashing

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Professional

Services

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Tree Service

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DAVE'STREE&SHRUB

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