Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac welcomes the public to a concert performed by the 2025 student award winners of the Rosamond Haeberle and Dora Dawson musical competitions, at 3 p.m. March 9, in the Sanctuary of the Central United Methodist Church, 3882 Highland Road, Waterford Twp. The concert will feature Trinity Fan, pianist and Brendan Callies, cellist.
A part of Musicale’s mission is to support student musicians in the world of music and aid monetarily to fund their musical education. This is a free admission concert and it promises to be an exceptional afternoon of outstanding music.
Sandra DeRemer announced the Rosamond Haeberle $4,000 piano award winner is Trinity Fan. Fan made her first Weil Recital-Carnegie Hall appearance at the age of 8 as a grand winner of the NLPA International Young Artists Competition, and has been a top prize winner of numerous competitions since then. In 2022 Trinity was a finalist in the Spotlight International Piano Competition where she also won the Audience Award. Previously, she studied with Edward Auer at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as a Founders Scholar and was a recipient of the Music Faculty Award as well as a great many scholarships. Aside from performing, she has a love for teaching. At the University of Michigan, she studies with Christopher Harding and jazz piano with Andy Mine. She is currently a Graduate Student Instructor at U of M’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance and teaches at the SMTD Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program. As a composer, Trinity was awarded Second Prize in the 2024 MTNA National Composition Competition for her piece “Reminiscence.” Fan plans to use her $4,000 award to complete her education at the University of Michigan and anticipates graduating with the degree: Master of Music Piano Performance and Pedagogy.
Mary Ann LaMonte will introduce Brendan Callies, winner of the $4,000 Dora Dawson award. Callies is a cellist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at Wayne State University. He has been a featured soloist in the Wayne State University Orchestra and is a regular member of the International Symphony in Sarnia, Canada. Callies is a substitute musician for the New World Symphony in Florida as well as the Lansing and Dearborn Symphonies in Michigan. He has performed in Detroit with pop and jazz musicians such as the prominent bandleader and saxophonist De’Sean Jones, who leads a pop/jazz/techno/rock fusion group called the Urban Art Orchestra. Callies has also premiered new works by eminent composers such as Errollyn Wallen. Callies first began taking lessons seven years ago while in eighth grade and now at Wayne State, he studies with Una O’Riodan. After graduation he plans to continue his education by applying for graduate school. When informed that he had won the Tuesday Musicale Dora Dawson award, he immediately began searching for a new bow to purchase with his winnings.
Following the concert there will be refreshments available. Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac is affiliated with the National and Michigan Federation of Music Clubs. Find information about Tuesday Musicale on Facebook or visit https://tuesdaymusicaleofgreaterpontiac.org or contact Mary Ann LaMonte (248) 673-8187.
Brendan Callies (Photo by Gabbie Lester, Gabrielle Cynthia Photography, courtesy of Tuesday Musicale)
On Feb. 25, 1946, Gov. Harry Kelly signed Public Act 9 into law, creating the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) from $50 million in post-World War II reserve funds.
Since then, the MVTF has helped veterans of every wartime era overcome unexpected expenses ranging from utility bills to home repairs to mortgage assistance and get back on their feet financially.
The Emergency Grant Program is intended to help veterans overcome an unforeseen situation causing a temporary or short-term financial emergency or hardship that a grant will resolve and for which the applicant can demonstrate the ability to meet future expenses.
Beginning December 2021, peacetime-era veterans 65 years and older are now eligible for emergency assistance as part of the MVTF’s 65+ Peacetime Program. The program allows veterans who served in a peacetime era, have at least 180 days of service, and were discharged under honorable conditions to apply for emergency assistance. A person is eligible to apply any time during the year in which they turn 65.
To apply for emergency funds from the MVTF, veterans should contact the MVTF county committee serving the county where they reside.
Oakland County Veterans’ Services has been providing Oakland County veterans and their families with professional veterans benefits advocacy and assistance for more than 60 years.
They have a staff of highly trained and accredited Veterans’ Benefits Counselors who are dedicated to ensuring that the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans are recognized and that they and their families receive all veterans benefits to which they are entitled. The Oakland County Veterans’ Services team’s mission is to obtain the maximum veteran benefits available to veterans and their families, while making the process as simple and understandable as possible.
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency staff available to attend veterans events
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) staff members are available to attend and/or speak at events for veterans or events that involve veteran issues. To request MVAA staff to speak at an event, participate on a panel or present a session, staff a booth or table, provide brochures and information on health care, education, employment and other topics concerning veterans, or to have a veteran-focused event added to the MVAA website, fill out the event invitation form at: www.michigan.gov/mvaa/forms/event-invitation. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mvaa/about-us/request-event.
Upcoming events
• Oxford American Legion Post 108 to host Euchre from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 and from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 and Fish dinners from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at 130 Drahner Road, Oxford. For more information, call 248-628-9081.
• Royal Oak American Legion Post 253 to host Taco Tuesday at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 and Friday Night-Swedish Meatballs at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at 1505 N. Main St. For more information, call 248-546-0490.
• Oxford American Legion Post 108 to host Chef’s Choice Buffet from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 130 Drahner Road, Oxford. For more information, call 248-628-9081.
• Clarkston American Legion Post 377 to host Bingo from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 and a Fish Fry from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at 4819 Mary Sue Ave. For more information, call 248-673-9301.
• Milford American Legion Post 216 to host Burger Nite from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at 510 W. Commerce Road, Milford. For more information, call 248-684-9919.
• Berkley American Legion Post 374 to host Pancake Platter Feast from 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday, March 2, and Music Trivia at 7 p.m. Thursday Feb. 27, at 2079 W. Twelve Mile Road, Berkley. Breakfast cost for adults-from $10, under 12-from $5. Beverages available to purchase. For more information, call 248-542-7668.
The Oakland Press is interested in all veterans events in Oakland County. Please send info in the body of an email with subject line “Veterans Affairs” to Sharon Longman at sslstart@aol.com. Allow two weeks’ notice for scheduled events and include a phone number for readers to call for more information.
A Springfield Township man accused of shaking his child and nearly killing him is out of jail since a judge changed his $1 million bond to a personal bond – requiring no cash or surety to be posted.
Daniel Gracer, 31, is charged with one count of first-degree child abuse in connection with the near-fatal injuries his then-2-month-old son suffered in December. At Gracer’s arraignment earlier this month, a magistrate set bond at $1 million dollars and Gracer was remanded to the Oakland County Jail. At a court hearing on Tuesday, 52-2 District Judge Kelly Kostin granted Gracer a personal bond and he was released from jail shortly before 6 p.m., records show.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 23, 2024 deputies were called to a home in the 7000 block of Meadow Lane in Springfield Township for a report of an unresponsive baby. Gracer was caring for the boy at the time, the sheriff’s office said.
The baby suffered serious head and brain trauma, and a child abuse specialist who examined the baby determined the injuries were non-accidental, the sheriff’s office said. The brain injury, according to the specialist, was due to rapid acceleration and rapid deceleration, consistent with being shaken, the sheriff’s office said. The trauma was “nearly fatal,” the sheriff’s office said, and the baby is likely to have severely delayed development.
Hospital staff reportedly relayed the findings to the sheriff’s office which launched an investigation.
Gracer’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 14 for a probable cause conference.
An Oakland County jury on Tuesday delivered a $106 million verdict against a Birmingham-based health and beauty business after six women who worked there sued, claiming the owner subjected them to frequent verbal and physical sexual advances including thrusting his hips into a massage table, making inappropriate remarks about his family members and using the company’s LinkedIn account to solicit European prostitutes.
The women, each named Jane Doe in the lawsuit filed in June 2024 in Oakland County Circuit Court, worked at Science Beauty Tech for owner Gary Raykhinshteyn between 2021 and 2023. Some were as young as 19 when they were hired, said Todd Flood, managing partner at Flood Law, who represented five of the plaintiffs.
“What these women had to endure in the workplace was nothing short of horrific,” Flood said. “Let this be a lesson for all those who abuse their position of power – you will be held accountable.”
Raykhinshteyn called the jury’s decision “completely insane” and said the allegations were lies.
“This is just unheard of,” he said of the $106 million verdict. “These women are telling the judge I put a gun to their head and asked them to rub my penis? There is no proof.”
Among the numerous allegations against Raykhinshteyn in the complaint, none involved a firearm.
Propositions on social media
While working as an office assistant, Jane Doe 1 discovered a message sent by Raykhinshteyn on the company’s Instagram page in which he claimed he would offer to let her perform fellatio on the recipient of the message, “but he couldn’t because the third party did not have any money,” according to the complaint.
Two of the women alleged that Raykhinshteyn would also use the company Instagram account to request nude photographs from other women and the company’s LinkedIn account to book appointments with prostitutes in Europe.
In a separate incident, Jane Doe 4, who worked as an office manager at SBT, said Raykhinshteyn brought her along with him to Florida for a business conference sometime while she worked there between November 2021 and March 2022. When they arrived, she alleged, she learned that he had only booked one room and that only he would be attending the conference, while she was to wait in the room.
During the trip he repeatedly requested sex from her and asked her to watch him masturbate. She said that at one point he wrapped himself around her, releasing her only after she repeatedly pleaded for him to stop.
Each of the plaintiffs said Raykhinshteyn had touched them either on the shoulders, back or buttocks and made inappropriate comments toward them.
Jane Doe 6, who only worked at SBT from January to February in 2023, said Raykhinshteyn requested she give him a massage using a specialty device used to promote blood circulation, lymphatic drainage and reduction of cellulite and wrinkles in patients. During the massage, she alleged, Raykhinshteyn moaned and appeared to have an erection while he was lying on his back and when he rolled onto his stomach he thrusted his hips into the table.
Two of the women said Raykhinshteyn prodded them to profess their attraction to him and, when they declined, he responded by insulting their intelligence, appearance and weight, according to the complaint.
The plaintiffs also said their boss made comments about their wardrobes, telling some of them to wear more revealing attire at work or for business meetings, and telling one not to wear leggings to work because he wouldn’t be able to control himself.
During a text exchange with two of the plaintiffs, Raykhinshteyn referred to potential hires as “victims,” the suit alleged.
The business owner also was accused of making inappropriate remarks regarding his family members. Jane Doe 6 said Raykhinshteyn told her that when his daughter gets married, her husband can have sex with her against her will because it’s not rape if the two are married. He also allegedly told her that when he has sex with his wife, sometimes she just “lays there” and “takes it like a good wife.”
Retaliation alleged
The woman said Raykhinshteyn retaliated against them after they refused his advances by making disparaging comments, revoking their free parking or failing to pay them once they quit for work already completed.
Flood said the jury found in favor of the women based on findings of employment discrimination, hostile work environment, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“Testifying in open court and confronting their former employer required immense bravery, as they had to relive the trauma that marred what should have been an exciting start to their professional careers,” Flood Law said in a press release. “Collectively, they hope to prevent Mr. Raykhinshteyn from causing further harm to young women while empowering those in similar situations to find their voices.”
Raykhinshteyn said he plans to appeal the decision and will consider filing a malpractice suit against his attorney, Jonahtan M. Jones.
Jones did not return a call seeking comment.
A judge’s gavel rests on a book of law. (Dreamstime/TNS)
January and the Detroit Auto Show fit like hand and a (winter) glove.
The show’s organizers said Wednesday it will be back next year from Jan. 14-25, solidifying itself as the first North American auto show on the calendar after a successful return this year. Like a mall, the Huntington Place showcase will again be anchored by Detroit automakers, The Gallery exhibit full of exotic cars, and Racing Day sponsored by the Detroit Grand Prix.
After a disjointed four years that saw multiple date changes and even cancellation due to the COVID pandemic, the Detroit Auto Show was back to its traditional January dates this year for the first time since 2019. Shedding its moniker as the North American International Auto Show as the auto industry has become less show-centric for vehicle reveals, the auto-palooza now carries the moniker Detroit Auto Show.
It attracted 275,000 people over 11 days this winter, well off its NAIAS peak of 800,000. The show boasted an economic impact of $370 million as it brought car fans into the city to kick off the new year.
Visitors explore the 2025 Detroit Auto Show on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 at Huntington Place in Detroit. The show, which returned this year to its traditional January slot for the first time since 2019, will be back from Jan. 14-25, 2026. (Katy Kildee, The Detroit News/The Detroit News/TNS)
It’s been a year since a Ferndale teen was fatally shot in a Southfield hotel room where he’d been hanging out with four friends.
But so far, no arrest has been made — because all of the witnesses refuse to speak with police about who pulled the trigger that ended the life of 15-year-old Tyler Johnson, said Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren.
The frustration that plagues Tyler’s grief-stricken mother because no one has been held accountable is not only justified, but personally relatable, Barren said: His own brother was murdered in 2007 in Detroit, and the case is still unsolved.
Just like in Tyler’s case, his brother’s friends “failed him,” Barren said, adding, “I can relate to friends not providing information.”
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday morning at the Southfield police station, Barren said investigators “absolutely” have an idea of which of the four teenage friends shot Tyler, killing him, but until one of them comes forward with the evidence needed, the case can’t progress. All have retained attorneys and aren’t cooperating with police, Barren said.
“We have physical evidence, we have circumstantial evidence…what we need is an eyewitness to bring those things together,” he said.
Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren and assistant prosecutor Justin Davis at Wednesday’s news conference (Screenshot from Fox 2 livestream)
Barren said “speculation” by the public, including comments made on social media, was a driving force behind the news conference — and reiterated why the case is stalled.
“We need these people — these juveniles who were there, (Tyler’s friends) — to have the courage to give this family justice. It takes courage to stand up,” he said.
Tyler was shot in the head on the morning of Feb. 11, 2024 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield and died from the injury four days later while hospitalized. He was a sophomore at Loyola High School in Detroit.
According to Southfield police, the five teenage friends were in a room rented by an uncle of one of them who left the boys there unsupervised. Police responding to the shooting detained two of the teens as they tried to flee — and one of them was found in possession of two firearms including the gun used to kill Tyler. He was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, which was adjudicated in juvenile court in Wayne County. But investigators have no evidence to directly tie him to the homicide, Barren said.
Cell phone evidence shows “multiple photos of the teens handling the weapon,” Barren said, but no photos of the fatal shooting were found.
Assistant prosecutor Justin Davis said Southfield police, including the chief, are “doing everything they can, exhausting all avenues.”
“At this point, they’ve reached a dead end…we need witnesses and we need evidence…to move forward with this case,” Davis said.
Barren said the five boys were close friends “who spent a lot of time together,” and their families also “associated as friends.”
Artificial intelligence is entering nearly every profession. It can help gain insights into enormous, complex data sets, summarize technical writing and reports, and provide a bullet-point list of takeaways.
In other words, AI is a powerful, sharp tool, but it cuts both ways.
As much as it can aid us in our work, it comes with several risks, like inaccuracies, data security concerns, and job loss. So, how can we take the best of what AI has to offer, and avoid the worst of its pitfalls? The journalism profession is grappling with those very questions today.
More than ever, the question of how news organizations will use artificial intelligence seems existential. That’s because local news outlets continue to vanish across the country and the implications are huge.
It means fewer watchdog reporters — that is, fewer people holding local leaders accountable, from the powerful people sitting on city council to the school board. It means less accountability for law enforcement, who often try to operate with little transparency. It means less connection to our neighbors and less engagement overall with our community.
Journalism is a shield for democracy. Research on local news illuminates this. Voter turnout is higher in communities with a strong local news landscape. Meanwhile, in places with less local campaign coverage, voters are less likely to vote.
The crisis of local news feels more dire now in the face of an administration that is openly hostile to the press. The Trump administration has taken unprecedented moves against this country’s free press, and the effects on national outlets will be felt by local media, too.
Two guests joined The Metro to help us make sense of this moment.
Liam Andrew is the technology lead at the American Journalism Project’s Product & AI Studio, where he advises nonprofit newsrooms on adopting artificial intelligence into their work.
In the second half of the hour, Margaret Sullivan stopped by. She’s the executive director for the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University. She’s also a former media columnist for the Washington Post and a former public editor for The New York Times. Her Substack newsletter about journalism and democracy is titled “American Crisis.”
Use the media player above to hear the conversation.
More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 18, 2025:
When “Sing Sing” was released last summer, it became the first film to be simultaneously released in theaters and in prisons through Edovo, a free online education platform serving over 900,000 incarcerated learners. Brian Hill is the CEO of the Edovo Foundation. He joined the show to talk about the significance of connecting incarcerated people to information and education.
ShotStoppers is Detroit’s most prized crime reduction program. For a little over a year, the community intervention violence project has helped stop violence before it happens. But the program may not continue beyond 2025. ShotStoppers rests on federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, which will soon fade. Producer Sam Corey sat down with interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison to learn more about the program and how he’s advocating for sustained funding.
Detroit is one of the most important music cities in America. We’re finally getting some credit for being the birthplace of Techno music, sounds that came out of Motown can still be heard on rotation, and we often talk about Jazz and its influence on Motown. But there’s a common thread that weaves all this music together — the Black church. Debroah Smith Pollard is a professor emeritus of English literature at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is also the long-time host of ‘Sunday Morning Inspiration.’ Pollard joined The Metro to talk about the state of Gospel music and why Detroit is so influential to the genre.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
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WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
The Community Choice Foundation has opened the application period for 25 scholarships totaling $100,000.
Scholarships are available in the amount of $2,500 and $5,000, with applications closing on Feb. 28.
Brittany Thorton, a 2023 scholarship recipient, says the opportunity allowed her to pursue her dreams of nursing school.
“Identifying scholarships to further my education was quite a process. Having this opportunity to receive a scholarship from Community Choice definitely made a big impact in continuing my education,” said Thorton.
Since 2009, the foundation has awarded $1.6 million in scholarships to students, supporting their pursuit of college degrees, continuing education, and skilled trades.
Selection for scholarship recipients is based on a variety of factors, including commitment to community service.
Apply now before the February 28 deadline by visiting: https://www.communitychoicecu.com/who-we-are/foundation
The program offers three different scholarships: Graduating High School, Continuing Education, and Vocational/Professional Training.
photo courtesy Community Foundation
Anne Snabes and Hannah Mackay, Tribune News Service
The Great Lakes Water Authority is considering adopting the highest water and sewer rate increases in its 10-year history as a 4% cap on higher prices ends this summer.
The authority that serves 112 communities across eight counties in southeast Michigan has proposed increasing its wholesale water rates by an average of 7.73% and 5.39% for sewer rates for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The authority’s board of directors is slated to vote on these charges during its Feb. 26 meeting.
Great Lakes Water Authority officials say the increases are needed to cover capital investments and maintenance that have been deferred for several years, along with corrosion controls in its water.
But some local leaders said the raises are higher than they would have liked and come when residents are already struggling with higher costs because of inflation. Eric Griffin, general manager of the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority, called the proposed water rate increase “significant.” SOCWA contracts with GLWA to provide water services to 13 communities, including Berkley, Southfield and Royal Oak.
“There’s significant infrastructure investments necessary, whether or not that requires a seven and a half percent increase this year — I’m not sure,” Griffin said. “I think there needs to be more justification of the 7.5%.”
Demeeko Williams, founder and chief director of Hydrate Detroit, a water-relief nonprofit organization, said it is the wrong time for rate increases.
“Why are we raising rates when people are struggling to keep jobs, opportunity and such?” Williams asked. “… People are already struggling. That adds on to our water bills. People can’t afford their water bills.”
Williams hopes water affordability will be a priority and said that GLWA, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, and water departments around the region need to be more conscious of their neighbors.
The increases are being weighed as a 10-year commitment the GLWA made when it was founded in 2014, called the 4% Promise, expires on June 30. As recently as 2023, the authority said that keeping the commitment to limit budget increases to 4% or below was “incredibly challenging.”
Last year, GLWA approved increases of 3.25% for water and 3% for wastewater services. The hikes were lower for fiscal year 2024 at 2.75% each for water and sewer services. The authority said rate adjustments for water have averaged 2.9% for water over the last nine years and 1.7% for sewer.
Whether the proposed increases will be passed on to residents is to be determined, though SOCWA says it’ll have no choice but to pass the hikes on to its member communities in Oakland County. GLWA charges cities and townships for water and sewage treatment, and then local governments set their own rates for customers. Some mayors and township supervisors said they expect to raise rates for residents by less than GLWA’s hikes.
Nicolette Bateson, GLWA’s chief financial officer and treasurer, said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of some chemicals and construction materials shot up.
“Looking at this charge increase does not come from us as an easy ask in any way, but we really feel it’s the right thing to do for the system,” she said, “because … we have deferred some maintenance, we have put off some capital projects, and it’s not necessarily responsible for us to continue to do that.”
The authority said it is also spending an estimated $6 million on corrosion controls in its water and is paying half of the cost of a multiyear flood mitigation study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash recalled that rate increases varied widely every year before the GLWA was created, sometimes going up to 12%. While the GLWA never raised rates by more than 4% over the past 10 years, Nash had concerns that they sometimes weren’t raised enough.
“A few years, we were a little concerned that they didn’t raise it enough,” Nash said. “And that’s good for ratepayers, but in the long run, you have to make sure you’re bringing enough money to do the capital projects, … the maintenance projects where you’re making sure that everything works right, and then the operations.”
Nash thinks part of the more than 7% rate increase is making up for the lack of increases over the past 10 years.
“It’s tied to the projects they need to do to make sure that we have the infrastructure we need,” Nash said. “Old infrastructure is being replaced.”
GLWA explains the rate hikes
When the Great Lake Water Authority was created in 2014 in the wake of Detroit’s bankruptcy after the Detroit Department of Sewerage and Water essentially ran the regional system that had customers as far north as Flint, a memorandum of understanding restricted annual budget increases to 4% for its first 10 years of operation. Under the bankruptcy exit plan, Detroit’s water department agreed to lease its assets to the new authority.
Bateson, GLWA’s chief financial officer and treasurer, said the memorandum of understanding limited budget increases to 4%, but not necessarily sewer and water charges.
“But the theory is: if you’re keeping your budget under control, you’re also keeping charges under control,” she said.
The authority started seeing high-cost increases in 2022, including jumps in the price of steel and chlorine. The authority responded by leveraging its investment earnings and refinancing bonds.
“So we’ve done all of these things, but when you still see 55-80% increases … you know the math doesn’t add up,” she said. “And we’re facing continued increase in our infrastructure costs, particularly on the water system. We have a lot of large construction projects underway right now.”
GLWA is also spending money on its orthophosphate program. Public water systems commonly add phosphates to drinking water to prevent the release of toxic metals in the water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Michelle Zdrodowski, chief public affairs officer for GLWA, said the authority doesn’t have lead in its pipes, but there is lead in some local communities’ pipes. She said GLWA has increased the amount of orthophosphate it puts into the water, which helps local communities protect their own systems and residents protect the pipes in their homes.
Bateson said GLWA has been talking with the communities it serves about rate increases for the last couple of years, so “it’s not a surprise.”
“But at the end of the day, nobody likes a charge increase,” she said. “We don’t like asking for a charge increase.”
GLWA said its annual water rate increases have averaged 2.9% in the nine years from 2018 to 2026, while the sewer service charges have risen an average of 1.7%. The lowest increase for water was 0.6% in 2020, while the authority cut sewer rates by 0.6% in 2022 and by 0.7% in 2018.
Nick Sheeran, a homeowner in Sterling Heights and an electrician, said that addressing deferred maintenance “makes sense.”
“I’d rather see money spent like that because there will be, especially with these construction projects ― it is putting people to work,” he said. “And that’s probably, in my opinion, the best way that you can spend the money, if you’re going to have to spend it.”
SOCWA responds to rate hikes
The Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority is the largest model contract customer of GLWA, representing about 14% of the utility’s revenue, said Griffin, SOCWA’s general manager.
Nearly 90% of SOCWA’s budget goes toward GLWA costs, and Griffin said they will have no choice but to make its member communities pay more for water and sewer services, which will impact residents directly.
“I have no alternative but to pass that increase on to my communities, and they’re going to be forced to pass those increases to their residents,” Griffin said. “So the bottom line is … that is where the increase is going to hit, and 7.5% is a big increase.”
Jim Breuckman, the city manager of Pleasant Ridge, one of SOCWA’s member communities, was not surprised at the rate increases.
“Water systems are contending with secular declines in water usage, while infrastructure ages and requires costly maintenance and upkeep,” Breuckman said.
‘I hate to burden people further’
Ken Siver, the mayor of Southfield, which is part of SOCWA, said “nobody wants to pay more” and noted that for some people, the current rates “have been a challenge.” They have cut back on their water use.
“On the other hand, I know that it’s not the water ― it’s the system, and for years, the system … had been neglected,” he said.
Siver said his city used to have water main breaks “constantly,” but the city has been doing a major overhaul of its water mains. He said he is “kind of torn” about the GLWA rate increases.
“We have to invest, and at the same time, I hate to burden people further,” he said, “but … you just can’t keep ignoring the needs of the system.”
Rates to be determined
From Grosse Pointe Woods to Plymouth Township, several local officials said even though the wholesale rates are higher than they would’ve liked, they still have to set their own rates.
Grosse Pointe Woods Mayor Arthur Bryant said his community hasn’t increased rates in five years because it had built up surplus water and sewer funds. But he thinks the city will have to enact a raise this time.
“Nobody likes an increase,” he said. “I don’t personally like an increase because I have to pay the same thing everyone else does, but I think we’ll work our way through it OK.”
In Plymouth Township — which gets its water from GLWA, but it doesn’t use the authority’s sewer services; it instead uses Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority — Supervisor Charles Curmi said the amount that the township raises its water rates partly depends on the financial position of its water department.
“And it does not always reflect exactly what Great Lakes Water Authority has increased,” he said. For each of the last six years, Plymouth Township has either not raised rates or increased them by less than GLWA’s hikes.
The Great Lakes Water Authority has a pipeline for Metro Detroit's drinking water supply from Lake Huron that is treated at a plant in Fort Gratiot Townshp north of Port Huron. The authority serves 112 communities across eight counties in southeast Michigan.
Oakland University declared a snow emergency starting at 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, through 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16.
The National Weather Service predicts 2 to 4 inches of snow falling between midnight Friday and early Saturday, with 4 more inches falling Saturday night into Sunday morning.
A new mental health center has opened in Rochester Hills to give free assistance to those impacted by the mass shooting last year at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad.
The Rochester Hills Resiliency Center, 1970 Auburn Road, is a program of Common Ground, an Oakland County mental health services agency.
The center has trained trauma-informed staff on site and “provides a safe and nurturing environment for healing, compassionate mental health support, opportunities for community connection and other resources,” Common Ground said in a release.
In-person hours of operation are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for walk-in help and Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment.
Contact the center by phone at 248-451-2610, by email at RHRC@cghelps.org and on its website at www.RochesterHillsRC.org.
Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett and Jamie Ayers, director of victim services for Common Ground, cut the ribbon in front of the new Rochester Hills Resiliency Center. Photo courtesy of Common Ground.
While the center’s primary purpose is to help those affected by the splash pad shooting, it will not turn away anyone in need. Common Ground’s resources would be used to support those with needs unrelated to the shooting.
Funding comes from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, via a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Anti-Terrorism Emergency Assistance Program.
Common Ground looks to donor dollars and foundations to help with costs that the grant doesn’t cover.
Nine people were injured June 15 when a gunman opened fire at the splash pad, 1585 E. Auburn Road, including a Rochester Hills boy who is now blind.
The shooter, Michael Nash, fired 36 rounds from a semiautomatic handgun at random before fleeing the scene. Police found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot at his mother’s Shelby Township home, half a mile away from the splash pad.
Nash, 42, of Shelby Township, did not have a criminal record but had dealt with mental health challenges, police said.
A crew from BELFOR Property Restoration cleans the scene of a mass shooting at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills on Sunday, June 16. FILE PHOTO.
Faith Cabalum, a Rochester High School graduate and recent Michigan State University graduate, won first place in the Multimedia Narrative Video Storytelling Competition of the 2024-2025 Hearst Journalism Awards Program.
Cabalum received the award for her film “Over the Years: a film about the human perspective of aging.”
Cabalum graduated from MSU School of Journalism in December 2024 and is currently a freelance video editor for Bleacher Report. While a MSU student, she worked as a video intern for MSU football.
With her award, she receives a $3,000 scholarship and qualifies for the Hearst National Multimedia Championship in June. Her film has also placed in more than 16 other film festivals around the world, according to a news release.
The Hearst Journalism Awards Program supports college-level journalism education by awarding scholarships to outstanding students and providing matching grants to their schools. For more information, visit www.hearstawards.org.
Faith Cabalum (Photo courtesy of Michigan State University)
A 28-year-old man has been charged with second-degree homicide in connection with a fatal shooting of a male sex worker Sunday in Southfield who was a member of the transgender community, police said.
Robert Ridges is accused of slaying Jamal Broom, who was found dead outside the Riverstone Apartments in the 25000 block of Shiawassee Road. Officers responding to a report of an unresponsive female lying facedown in the snow were dispatched to the apartment complex at around 10:15 a.m., police said.
Broom, dressed in women’s clothing, had been shot once in the head. A spent 9mm shell casing was found in the snow along with Broom’s Ohio driver’s license, police said. Broom’s vehicle was also located nearby, police said.
According to the Southfield Police Department, investigators determined that prior to the shooting Ridges had made approximately 33 calls to sex workers that morning — including Broom — and mostly all those sought by Ridges were heavy-set black women or men who were trangendered females.
Broom and Ridges spoke on the phone several times that morning including a Facetime conversation, police said, with the last call made at 10 a.m.. Footage from surveillance video showed Broom entering the Riverstone Apartments at that time, police said.
The department’s Tactical Crime Suppression Unit, along with the FBI’s Oakland County Gang and Violence Task Force, tracked Ridges to the MGM Casino in Detroit where he was arrested.
According to police, during interviews with detectives Ridges admitted several times that he had acted alone and tried to explain what led to the shooting — and claimed that he didn’t know Broom was transgendered.
Broom had multiple sexual advertisements, police said.
A search of Ridges’ home turned up a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun from his bedroom, and tests revealed it was the same weapon used to kill Broom, police said. The handgun was reported stolen out of Georgia in July 2023.
Ridges was arraigned Wednesday in 46th District Court on the second-degree homicide charge as well as weapons-related crimes. Bond was denied.
Ridges’ next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 12.
School isn’t the only thing that’s been cancelled this winter.
Since January numerous blood drives have been called off nationally due to severe winter weather and it has created a shortage, according to the American Red Cross.
As a result donors are being urged to give blood or platelets in February to help build up the supply.
Especially needed is type O negative blood but all blood types are in short supply. Those who choose to volunteer are encouraged to make and keep their donation appointments so hospitals can continue to ensure critical care for patients this winter.
Flu and other seasonal illnesses are spreading, which could also force more people to cancel what has already been more than 16,000 blood and platelet donations nationwide.
As a thank-you, all who come to give by Feb. 28 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Flurry for details.
In a hurry?
To save time, donors can use the RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
There’s also a need for volunteers, which gives people who are unable to give blood an opportunity to give back to their community by serving as a volunteer blood donor ambassador. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.
An America Red Cross worker chats with a donor during a previous blood drive in Macomb County. Due to a variety of factors including severe weather, wildfires and seasonal illnesses blood donations are done and in critical supply. MACOMB DAILY FILE PHOTO
Kresge Library, Oakland Center and the recreation center will close for the same duration at OU.
Not cancelled: OU’s women’s basketball game at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, at the OU Credit Union O'rena.
Pontiac Schools cancelled Wednesday’s after-school activities and called for a snow day Thursday, Feb. 13.
This story will be updated.
Winter weather could have an impact on student count day in Oakland County. This is the second count day of the 2024-25 school year.
File photo. (Stephen Frye / MediaNews Group)
Oakland County Democrats called the paused Canadian and Mexican tariffs a “direct threat on Michigan’s economy” Saturday as they voiced their concerns about their potential impact on the state and country.
Former U.S. Rep Brenda Lawrence, who now chairs the Oakland County Democratic Party, spoke to a crowd of Democrats Saturday at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall in Southfield. Lawrence said if anyone understands the power of being allies with Canada, Michigan does.
“Make no mistake, these tariffs are an attack on the American consumer and businesses. They will drive up costs, threaten jobs and create economic uncertainty for our manufacturers,” Lawrence said. “These tariffs could lead to higher production costs, job losses and price hikes, which have a direct impact on our families.”
On Monday, Canada and Mexico made concessions on the placement of border troops and drug-related measures to placate President Donald Trump and produce a 30-day pause on the 25% tariffs he slapped on the top U.S. allies and trade partners in an emergency order. It also delayed a 10% tariff on energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity.
Trump’s primary rationale for the import duties on Canada — set at 10% for all energy products and 25% for all other goods — is the “sustained influx of illicit opioids and other drugs” into the United States across its northern border. The executive order Trump signed to issue the tariffs gave no other justification, though the president has spoken in the past about wanting to take manufacturing jobs from U.S. allies and foes alike.
In a statement after the Canada tariffs were paused, U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township, the fourth ranking Republican in the House, praised Trump.
“Incredible. President Trump just worked with two allies to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl from entering our country,” McClain said. “The days of America getting walked all over are gone. Today’s deals are steps toward leveling the playing field, securing our borders, and SAVING LIVES.”
But U.S. Rep Haley Stevens said at the Saturday press conference that the threat and possibility of tariffs are still causing chaos and confusion among Americans.
“Taking our two best allies that are inextricable to our economy and our workforce, it doesn’t work,” Stevens said.
Stevens said while Trump mentioned tariffs during his campaign, he never said he planned on imposing a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico that would “that would strangle us right out of the gate.”
If Trump ends up imposing these tariffs on Michigan, it will impact everyone, especially those who work in manufacturing plants, construction, maritime and the auto industry, said Jeannette Bradshaw, recording secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
There are ways that we could be more efficient, absolutely, but just adding attacks to an entire country that we’ve had a fair trade with for a long time, it doesn’t make any sense, and specifically, when you share a border,” Bradshaw said. “It’s a huge concern, and it should be a concern of every single person.”
Michigan engages in about $78 billion worth of trade annually with Canada and relies heavily on repeated cross-border exchanges to power its signature auto industry, according to the Associated Press.
Oakland County Democratic Party Chair Brenda Lawrence, second from left, is accompanied by State Sen. Jeremy Moss, left, Dr. Preetha Iyengar, second from right, and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, right, during a press conference organized to oppose President Trump's proposed tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 80 in Southfield.
Southfield police are investigating after the body of a man with a gunshot wound was found Sunday morning in a parking lot after a suspect fled the scene.
At about 10:14 a.m. Sunday police and fire personnel responded to a report of a person lying in a parking lot in the 25000 block of Shiawassee Road, according to a release from the Southfield Police Department.
The victim was dead with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the head, police said.
The suspect, who fled the scene in an unknown direction, was described as a man about 6 feet tall with a beard who was wearing a black hat, police said.
The preliminary investigation indicates the suspect knew the victim and there appears to be no threat to the public, police said.
Southfield police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the department at (248) 796-5500.
Pregnancy loss such as a miscarriage is often considered the most common adverse pregnancy outcome, but the psychological impact it can have on an expectant mother can be overwhelming.
Amber Robinson of Macomb Township was expecting three times.
“I had two miscarriages and then we found out I was pregnant with twins,” Robinson said, referring to her high school sweetheart Kyle Williams, both of whom are graduates of Anchor Bay H.S.
Having experienced two miscarriages already, news of the twins had Robinson feeling a mix of emotions. For one, she was nervous about just being pregnant and overwhelmed at the idea of twins but also very excited about two babies coming at once.
“He was ecstatic,” Robinson said, of Williams.
However, just when they started making plans for two cribs, two strollers and two of everything else, Robinson learned she had miscarried a twin and that the other baby might not survive.
Among the questions that Robinson asked at this point was why?
“Why is my body not capable of holding children,” said Robinson, who has autoimmune disease and suffers from fibroids.
“Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas, are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that grow in or on the uterus,” said Dr. D’Angela Pitts, director of maternal infant health equity at Henry Ford Health. “They are not directly related to autoimmune diseases, as they are primarily caused by hormonal factors, particularly estrogen and progesterone as well as genetic and environmental influences.”
But it’s possible that these fibroids led to the early arrival of Averi Zianne Williams, born at 32 weeks, weighing 4 pounds, 3 ounces.
D’Angela Pitts
“Over the course of my pregnancy, as she grew they (fibroids) grew,” Robinson said, until they were the size of oranges. “She was fighting for space and came early.”
Averi, while born tiny, was mighty.
After spending 21 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, was able to go home and has been thriving ever since. In fact, the happy, tall-for-her-age 3-year-old will soon be a big sister.
Robinson said having Averi helped her get through the depression that lingered over the loss of her twin and previous miscarriages but it also brought on new struggles associated with postpartum depression (PPD), a common condition that affects approximately 10-20% of pregnancies, although the true number may be higher due to underreporting.
“It can be triggered by a variety of factors including complications during pregnancy or delivery, sleep deprivation, a history of depression or anxiety and stressful changes such as the loss of a child,” Pitts said.
“When she finally came home I was scared of everything,” Robinson said. “I wouldn’t take showers because I didn’t want her to be alone too long.”It’s then that she leaned on her village including her doctor and family.
“I cannot thank her enough,” Robinson said of Pitts. “She would literally hold my hand. I couldn’t have done it without her and my family. My parents and Kyle’s parents. They were there to make sure I was OK and for reassurance.”
Robinson said she often worried that it was something she did that brought on her pregnancy problems and after going from not having any children to having a child was unsure of herself. They helped stifle those fears and assure her that what she was doing was the best for Averi and that she was the best mom. They also made her feel comfortable enough to take a nap while Averi was in their care.
“I’m still going through therapy but I’m doing a lot better,” said Robinson, who was told in December that she’s pregnant.
“I’m still working but I reduced my hours and this baby is due in August. I think that will help too because the weather will be nice and I won’t be stuck inside all the time,” Robinson said.
She also knows that should things get difficult she can turn to people for help and advises other women struggling with postpartum depression to do the same.
“Lean on your village, your family, your spouse or your friend, and let them know how you’re feeling,” she said. “Then, just take it, day by day.”
Amber Robinson of Macomb Township gets a big hug from her 3-year-old daughter Averi. Robinson, who suffered from postpartum depression (PPD) after several pregnancies that included the loss of Averi’s twin, said those suffering from PPD need to lean on their village for support. (Photo courtesy of Henry Ford Health)
• Oakland County, in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and advanced business events, to host the second edition of the Vehicle & Transportation Technology Innovation Meetings (VTM Michigan), taking place April 23-24 at M1 Concourse in Pontiac. A free webinar with information about the VTM Michigan is 9-9:30 a.m. Feb. 12. Advanced registration is required at medc.cventevents.com/event/VTM/summary.
• The Farmington Community Library annual Lunch & Learn Small Business Series is 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 18-March 25, at the Farmington Hills location, 32737 W. 12 Mile Road. The six-part series is designed to empower local entrepreneurs and small business owners with expert insights on starting a business, securing funding, leveraging social media, and networking, The series is free and open to the public, no library card required, includes complimentary lunch, registration is required for each session at farmlib.org/small-business-series.
Community events
• The Birmingham community is invited to participate in a discussion about the vision for the future Birmingham Community and Senior Center at 400 East Lincoln, Birmingham, during an interactive workshop, at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10, immediately before the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting. The workshop may be attended in person or via Zoom, bhamgov.org/bcsc.
• United Nations Relief official Hani Almadou to speak on Gaza relief and rebuilding, 11:30 a.m. Feb. 16, at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 16200 W. Twelve Mile Road, Southfield, www.stdavidssf.org, open to public.
• Oakland County Parks seeks public input on Natural Resources and Sustainability priorities for programs and services. The survey closes Feb. 18, to participate in the survey, visit www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks/get-involved/natural-resources-management.
• Daddy Daughter Dance is 2-4 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. March 1, Waterford Recreation Center, 5640 Williams Lake Road, Waterford Twp., pre-registration is required at www.waterfordmi.gov/876/17597/Daddy-Daughter-Dance, 248-674-5441, $15 resident each, $19 non-resident.
Education/Youth
• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State Cover Page Art Contest for K-12 students to come up with a creative design for the governor’s program cover. Submissions will be accepted at michigan.gov/artcontest through 11:59 p.m. Feb. 14.
• GreenStone Farm Credit Services scholarships for students in agriculture in Michigan and select counties in northeast Wisconsin. GreenStone will award scholarships to incoming college freshmen in the amount of $2,000 each to selected students attending a four-year college program and $1,000 each to selected students attending a two-year college program, and award four current college students with a scholarship in the amount of $5,000 each. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, at www.GreenStoneFCS.com/scholarships.
• Bowman Auto Group is accepting applications for its annual scholarships for Clarkston High School graduating seniors. Two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded: one for a senior pursuing education at a vocational institution or trade school, and one for a senior accepted to a 2-year or 4-year college/university in a STEAM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) field. Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 19, and can be submitted via email or in person at Bowman Chevrolet. Visit https://www.bowmanchevy.com/scholarship/ to download the application or call 248-795-1816.
Festivals/Shows
• Black History Celebration with Amen Ra Dancers and Drummers is 7 p.m. Feb. 9, Hawk Theatre, 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, TheHawkTheatre.com, $15 adv., $20 at the door.
• Fireworks and Flannels event is 3:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Waterford Oaks County Park, 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford Twp. Participants are invited to wear flannel for the 1K/5K Flannel Fun Run. The 1K Run begins at 3:30 p.m. and the 5K Fun Run/Walk kicks off at 4 p.m. The cost is $15 for the 1K and $25 for the 5K. Each participant will receive a medal and T-shirt while supplies last. Register by scanning the QR code on the Fireworks and Flannels Flyer posted at OaklandCountyParks.com. The event will also feature food trucks, beer tent, and free family activities. Fireworks are at 8 p.m.
• Southfield Celebrates Black History Month with Walk Through History display, open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. through Feb. 28, at Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, with informational signs describing influential African Americans throughout Southfield and world history, admission is free, www.cityofsouthfield.com.
Fundraisers
• Galentine’s Comedy Gala is at 8 p.m. Feb. 12, Belle’s Lounge by Valentine Distilling Co., 161 Vester Ave, Ferndale, doors and silent auction at 7 p.m., two-item order minimum, https://bit.ly/4grn714, benefit for the Detroit Creativity Project, admission is $35+.
• Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation invites the public to participate in a special rose distribution campaign. Over the Feb. 14 weekend, roses and hand-made cards from students will be delivered to isolated seniors. To purchase a rose to be delivered, visit https://nextsteps4seniorsfoundation.kindful.com/?campaign=1345398. Proceeds from rose sales go to benefit the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation.
• Hospice of Michigan is seeking volunteers to help patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses throughout southeast Michigan. Volunteers must also be ages 18+ and are required to complete orientation, background checks and fingerprinting. Those interested can contact Ruth Moore-Lilly at 248-794-0523 or rmoore-lilly@hom.org, or submit an online volunteer application, at hom.org/get-involved.
• Detroit Philanthropy hosts panel discussion on family foundations, 9-10:30 a.m. Feb. 26, The Community House, 380 S. Bates St., Birmingham, panel will feature Rachel Decker, Detroit Philanthropy Founder and President – Darin McKeever, President and CEO, William Davidson Foundation – Elizabeth Stieg, Executive Director and President, The Carls Foundation – Raquel Thueme, President, Ruth Mott Foundation, RSVP by Feb. 14, www.detroitphilanthropy.com/upcoming-events/p/february-2025-panel-discussion, $30 per person.
Library activities
• Baldwin Public Library to host an artist panel discussion about the “Snow Crash Nebula” art installation and double vinyl album, online and in-person at 7 p.m. Feb. 11, at the library, 300 W Merrill St., Birmingham, Attendees can hear from artist Michael Andrews, collaborators David Bloom and Laura Whitesides host, www.baldwinlib.org/calendar to register.
• Friends of West Bloomfield Library What’s Cooking? series, “Melt’n Dip” with Belgian chocolate is 7-9 p.m. Feb. 12, at West Bloomfield Township Public Library, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Twp., The series features local chefs and other food and beverage experts as they give demonstrations with samples. Reservations are not required, but seating is limited, https://wblib.org, free event.
• Presidents’ Day Tinker Tuesday program is 6 p.m. Feb. 18, at The Madison Heights Public Library, 240 W 13 Mile Road, Madison Heights, create presidential-themed crafts using Makerspace tools and supplies. Register at https://secure.rec1.com/MI/madison-heights-mi/catalog, 248-588-7763, ages 5+, free.
• Rochester Hills Public Library presents “Severe Weather Recognition & Stop the Bleed” at 7 p.m. Feb. 20, at Rochester Hills Public Library, open to the public. Registration is required at calendar.rhpl.org or call 248-656-2900.
Parks/Outdoor activities
• Winter Park at Bowers School Farm, 1219 E Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, is open through Feb. 23, family-friendly 200-foot tubing hill, designed for fun in any weather, no snow needed, night display of neon lights, farm animals, bonfires, farm and kitchen store, food to purchase. Hours are 4-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m., Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday, tickets are $17 each, www.schoolfarm.org/winter-activities.
• The Rink at Royal Oak is open through Feb. 17, closed Mondays, at Centennial Commons Park, Royal Oak, therinkatroyaloak.com, admission is $10-$12, skate rental if needed is $5, weather permitting.
• The Rink at Stine Community Park is open daily through March 16, at 241 Town Center, at the City of Troy Civic Center Campus, free admission, skate rentals are $3 residents, $5 non-residents, https://rec.troymi.gov/parks___facilities/the_rink/index.php, weather permitting.
• Riley Park Ice Rink is open daily through February, at 23600 Liberty St., Farmington, open daily, weather permitting, free admission, bring skates, https://farmgov.com/Community/Parks-and-Recreation/Riley-Park-Ice-Rink.
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free admission. General park entry fees and vehicle permits have been eliminated for all parks operated by Oakland County Parks, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply. Annual vehicle passes are $40 for residents ($29 for seniors 62+) or $45 for non-residents ($34 for seniors 62+).
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
Support resources
• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.
• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.
• Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and then press 1 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.
Oakland County Parks and Recreation to host Fireworks and Flannels event, Feb. 15, at Waterford Oaks Park in Waterford Twp. (Photo of people participating in the 2024 PJ 5K at Waterford Oaks Park, courtesy of Oakland County Parks and Recreation)
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