The Home Bakery in downtown Rochester debuted a tribute to Taylor Swift and her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl” with a life-size cake.

It took five designers 75 hours to transform 30 pounds of fondant, 12 quarts of buttercream, eight sheets of crisped rice and one full sheet cake, into Swift-as-Vegas-style showgirl, complete with champagne glass.

Bakery owner Heather Tocco unveiled the new Swift cake on Friday at the bakery, 300 S. Main Street in Rochester.

“I chose to create a Taylor Swift-inspired window because, honestly, we’re a bunch of Swifties in here!” Tocco said, adding that she’s happy to celebrate the global superstar’s music because “I really admire her. Taylor isn’t just an incredibly talented artist, she’s a brilliant businesswoman, a master storyteller, and someone who has built a global community through creativity, resilience, and authenticity.”

Tocco said she thinks of her bakery’s windows as canvases for storytelling and celebrating cultural moments that bring people together.

Swift is a popular role model, especially for young women, she said because the singer-songwriter-director shows success comes from hard work, imagination “and the courage to reinvent yourself.”

Tocco plans to display the Swift cake through mid-November.

The bakery’s front window drew crowds in January for a tribute to the Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown’s iconic headstand and earlier for a life-size Spiderman cake.

By Craig Mauger, MediaNews Group

Michigan’s new budget will channel $203 million toward increasing the compensation of public school employees, a move supporters are hailing as a win for the state’s teachers.

The Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate approved the new annual funding proposal for state operations early Friday morning. It is expected to be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the coming days.

Embedded within one of the bills was a provision to repurpose $203 million that had been previously allocated to provide financial assistance to educators who were repaying student loans, but which had gone unused.

Now, the dollars will be given to schools “to increase compensation” for employees and the pay bumps must be on top of “any existing compensation negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement” between a school district and union representing educators or support staff, according to the budget blueprint.

 

Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, said the $225 million student loan forgiveness program, authorized in 2023, didn’t work as he intended and he wanted the dollars to now be used for financial relief for school employees who are facing rising health care costs.

“It was important to put more money back in the pockets of our educators,” Camilleri said.

In addition to teachers, the new initiative will benefit a wide array of school employees covered by union contracts, including librarians, counselors, social workers, custodians, bus drivers and literacy coaches, according to the bill.

Camilleri, a former teacher and the top Senate Democrat on the K-12 budget, said it will be up to districts and local unions to negotiate how the money will be handed out.

There will likely be one-time payments to staff at some point this school year, Camilleri said.

Somewhere around 381,000 people work for K-12 schools in Michigan, according to state data. It’s not clear how many of them would qualify for the new compensation. If they all did, which is not likely, and everyone got the same amount, an individual would receive $532.

“It should be a good one-time bonus,” Camilleri said.

The Michigan Education Association, which represents school staff in many districts across the state, touted the $203 million allocation in a statement on the budget Friday.

“Most critically, it provides $200 million in funding to directly put money in the paychecks of public school employees — whose pay increases are being consumed by skyrocketing out-of-pocket health insurance costs,” said Chandra Madafferi, president and CEO of the state’s largest teacher union.

Waterford Township planning commissioners have approved a three-story 60-unit senior-living building on Scott Lake, over the objections of nearby residents.

Lourdes Senior Community has a nearly 40-acres campus along Watkins Lake Road next to Scott Lake, currently offering nearly 150 units devoted to independent and assisted living options, rehabilitation, short-term and long-term care and hospice care.

Scott Lake is a private, spring-fed 77-acre lake with depths up to 35 feet. It is considered an all-sports lake.

The township allows up to 10 units per acre; the new-building site is just over three acres on the campus and would allow up to 62 units, according to township officials.

The one- and two-bedroom apartments will have full kitchens and in-unit laundry utilities. The units range in size from just over 700 square feet to just under 1,200 square feet. Amenities in the building will include a bistro, theater, game room, chapel, salon, fitness center and multipurpose rooms. Apartments would cost $5,000 to $6,800 a month, depending on size. Lourdes existing independent-living units cost between $2,875 and $4,200.

Two docks are planned on the lake, with an agreement for a total of two pontoon boats that would be operated by staff, according to plans submitted to the township.

Lourdes’ President and CEO, Rich Acho, told The Oakland Press the company started in 1965 and remains one of the few Catholic nonprofit retirement communities in Oakland County. He said aging baby boomers will need more options in the near future.

Within a five-mile radius of Lourdes’ campus, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments’ 2050 economic forecasts show a 22% increase in households with people 75 years or older at a time when their children or other potential caregivers are moving out of the area.

“In our market area, ages 65+ will see a 32% increase by 2028,” Acho said. “With the workforce shortage, it is becoming increasingly difficult to hire private caregivers.”

But plans to add the 60-unit independent-living building to the campus riled many Scott Lake residents. They appealed to township planning commissioners to stop the project.

Lourdes revised the site plan to address township officials’ and residents’ concerns, including relocating the building to meet setback rules, redesigning the parking lot to meet township standards and hiring a company to do a traffic study. Lourdes widened a fire lane and added a sidewalk along Watkins Lake Road, while dropping plans for a pickleball court in favor of a courtyard designed for quiet activities.

Lourdes officials told the township that because residents are considered independent, there would only be a single staff member in the building to assist in the event an emergency required a 911 call.

David Cyplik lives two-tenths of a mile from Lourdes, closer to Watkins Lake. His wife was a patient there near the end of her life, he said, adding that he donates to Lourdes and supports the senior community in other ways. But he doesn’t support a 60-unit building and worries about traffic on Watkins Lake Road, especially during rush hours.

“If you live nearby, as I do, I see the traffic backing up every day,” he said. “It backs up for a long period of time.”

Jennifer Almassy said despite changes in Lourdes’ site plan, she remains concerned.

“It’s still a stark-white three-story building adding 60 units when there’s not even barely 100 houses on the lake. I think that’s excessive,” she said.

Another neighbor, Frank Scerbo, said he liked having the Lourdes across the lake.

“It’s nice and quiet. We’d just like to keep it that way,” he said.
“I ask you respectfully: Do not allow 60 units to be built there to stick out like a white elephant.”

Scerbo said one or two residents per unit would increase Watkins Lake Road traffic, either because they will be driving or having visitors.

Several asked for a traffic light for safety reasons.

Supporters included Lourdes residents and employees, who also spoke at the Sept. 23 meeting.

A retired priest, the Rev. Joe Lang, said he’s lived on Lourdes’ campus for three years and found it peaceful.

“It’s an environment in which people take good care of themselves,” he told the board, noting that many no longer drive.

Some Lourdes residents were accompanied by the company’s caregivers. One said she heard more noise from the 80 households that share Scott Lake than from her Lourdes neighbors.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments’ 2050 forecast of regional trends to predict how changes will affect the economy and the movement of residents and companies. The report is used to help decide how the infrastructure changes and what services are needed. SEMCOG’s report shows that aging is a major issue, with more older adults than children by 2026 in southeast Michigan, a trend that will be national by 2034 and global by 2050.

Higher-density housing is one SEMCOG recommendation for making sure older residents have access to transportation, food, housing, public spaces and social engagement.

By Melissa Nann Burke, MediaNews Group

The Grand Blanc community has set up an official fund to benefit the victims, families and first-responders affected by Sunday’s mass shooting and fire that destroyed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township.

The Victim Compassion Fund is hosted by the ELGA Credit Union Foundation for Impact in collaboration with Grand Blanc Township, the township’s police department and the Latter-day Saints Church, which many people know as the Mormon church.

The intent of the fund is to help victims of Sunday’s tragedy, their families, and the injured, as well as first-responders and others with needs, including paying medical bills, financial support, and counseling, organizers said.

“We are going to make sure that the people that actually receive this money are victims of the situation here in Grand Blanc Township,” Township Supervisor Scott Bennett said Friday.

“We had 37 different agencies respond to the fire, so we want to make sure that, whether it’s counseling services or if they need medical bills paid, what have you, we want to be here for them,” Bennett added.

“We have families where the parents can’t work right now because of injury or just being afraid to leave their homes. We want ot make sure we take care of them, as well.”

A committee comprising representatives from the LDS Church, the township and the police department will determine how to distribute the funds based on financial need and the available resources. Those who want to seek financial support from the fund should contact the church or the township at (810) 424-2692 or email assist@gbtgov.com.

“We said, let’s do this where people know it’s safe, and it’s trusted. ELGA Credit Union is a trusted source in Genesee County and beyond here, and people know that,” said Cheryl Sclater, president of the ELGA Credit Union Foundation for Impact.

“As the needs come in, we will fill them, and that’s how it’s going to work. There’s been a few side fundraisers that have been out there in our community, and those people are coming back and giving the money to this fund, so that it actually goes out to victims of this tragedy.”

The LDS church is pointing to the fund as the recommended place for the community to contribute to help victims of the disaster, both to help church members and others, said Greg Geiger, communications director for the LDS Church in Southeast Michigan.

“None of the money will go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will go to victims of this tragedy,” said Geiger, who noted there are no fees associated with the fund.

“We appreciate and acknowledge their effort in trying to help the community.”

Geiger added that the LDS Church is not seeking or accepting funds from any organization to rebuild the church in Grand Blanc Township.

The impetus for the coordinated fundraising effort was, in part, to dissuade scammers, fraudulent fundraisers, and GoFundMe efforts that began circulating in the wake of Sunday’s fire. Community leaders wanted to establish a fund that could be trusted to support the who truly need help, they said.

“This is going to go far beyond even the physical and the health part. It will go on for a while with people who need that support financially for any type of therapy that they might need,” Sclater said.

“There will be a short grant process to have people please explain your needs. … But we want to get this money out. The people in this community have a heart, and they have come together like you can’t even imagine, to gift. We have had people out of state gifting, and it’s pretty amazing.”

Sclater didn’t have an estimated total available as of Friday afternoon, but said people can donate online or visit any EGLA branch in person to donate. She is working with the Mott Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, which will accept some of the larger donations to the cause, she said.

She acknowledged that a number of victims’ families have set up GoFundMe accounts, and she stressed the Victim Compassion Fund is entirely separate.

“We are simply that vehicle to give our community a safe place to give back, because they don’t know what else they can do, and they want to give,” Sclater said. “We are that safe haven where they know their dollars are going to go out and be deployed.”

An Afghan refugee accused of stabbing a caseworker in Orion Township early this year has a trial date in Oakland County Circuit Court.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Feb. 2, 2026 for the case against Gul Nabi Rahmati, 34, of Dearborn Heights, charged with assault with intent to murder — punishable by up to life in prison — and assault with a dangerous weapon — a four-year felony. Rahmati allegedly stabbed Zubair Mansuori at Mansuori’s home on Jan. 22.

According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Rahmati came to Mansuori’s home where he was met by Mansuori, a caseworker for the social services non-profit Samaritas. Rahmati, who was one of Mansuori’s clients, allegedly stabbed Mansuori multiple times then tried to attack another man who came to Mansuori’s aid.

Rahmati fled the scene but turned himself in at the Dearborn Heights Police Department later that day, the prosecutor’s office said.

The prosecutor’s office said Rahmati and Mansuori are Afghan nationals and are in the United States legally.

Earlier this year, Rahmati underwent a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation and was found to be competent for trial.

As previously reported, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said a possible motive related to religion was being considered.

Rahmati is in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $350,000. Court records state Judge Jacob Cunningham will preside over the trial, which is expected to take three to four days.

 

Felony charge issued for man found living with wife’s ‘severely decomposed’ body in Bloomfield Township

 

 

By Myesha Johnson, MediaNews Group

The Michigan Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved a $157 million natural gas rate increase for Consumers Energy that 1.8 million residential customers will see on their bills starting Nov. 1.

Customers’ monthly bills will rise by an average of $6.44, or 8.1%. Those affected are in areas from Michigan’s Thumb and portions of southeast Michigan to mid-Michigan stretching from Battle Creek and Kalamazoo to Midland and Standish in the north.

In making its case for the rate increase, Consumers said the incremental rate revenue would be used to replace “10,000 vintage service lines” directly connected to homes and businesses; install remote control valves used to manage “unexpected conditions”; update gas delivery hubs known as “city gates” to ensure safe gas flow.

Consumers Energy originally requested a rate increase of $248 million in December 2024, but later revised it to $217 million. The increase approved Tuesday carries a return on common equity of 9.8% and an overall rate of return of 5.99%.

Amy Bandyk, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, said in an email the approximately $90 million cut from Consumers’ original request should have been larger: “Michigan ratepayers cannot afford the expanding investments into the gas system that our utilities are planning over coming decades.”

In a report released by the Citizens Utility Board this year, the organization says Michigan’s gas utilities including Consumers Energy, DTE Energy and SEMCO Energy Gas Company have tripled their infrastructure investments over the past decade. The combined annual capital expenditures of all three utilities went from $578 million in 2013 to $1.74 billion in 2023.

Bandyk also raised concern with the commission reducing Consumers’ return on equity by 0.1-percentage points, to 9.8%.

“While CUB is pleased the Commission reduced Consumers gas’s return on equity from 9.9% to 9.8%, that is still a higher rate of profit than the 9.7% that is a more typical return on equity for gas utilities based on national averages. Return on equity is essentially the part of the ratepayer bill that goes toward profit for the utility’s shareholders,” Bandyk said.

“A problem with this high return on equity is that it encourages the utility to keep building more gas infrastructure in order to collect a profit for shareholders, despite Michigan’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately move away from gas in the long-term.”

Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, said the return-on-equity cut was “modest” and “in line” with DTE Energy’s return on equity of 9.8% adopted in its most recent rate case.

“We feel this appropriately balances the interests of the company and its customers, as required by Michigan law and a long line of court precedent. One significant issue in our deliberations was competing evidence on the record that showed the current return on investment in the company’s proposed ROE were above industry peers, while at the same time, there was evidence on the record showing that average ROEs had increased in the last year due to macroeconomic factors as well as changes among the peer group.

“And so it was in balancing those competing evidentiary points that we found a modest decrease in the ROE was appropriate, but not as much as recommended by staff, the Attorney General and other parties and ultimately recommended by the administrative law judge,” Scripps said.

Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said in a release Tuesday that she urged the MPSC to reduce the rate hike to $75.5 million.

“It is disappointing that the MPSC approved a rate hike far above not only my office’s recommendation, but even beyond its own judge’s finding that only $142 million was justified,” Nessel said in the release.

The public service commission’s decision supports a “careful and thoughtful balance between the modernization of gas infrastructure, the clean energy transition and the need to ensure affordability for customers,” said Commissioner Shaquila Myers.

In June, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel intervened in Consumers Energy’s request for a $436 million annual electric rate increase, three months after a separate rate hike was approved in March.

And on Sept. 12, DTE filed a notice with the MPSC of its intent to apply for a to-be-determined rate hike for natural gas customers — less than a year after getting approval to collect an additional $113 million from ratepayers.

Rochester Christian University will feature the inauguration of Reggies Wenyika as its 11th president on Oct. 23rd and 24th.

Inaugural activities begin with a Community Blessing Service at 7 p.m.on Thursday, Oct. 23 in the Westside Central Chapel.

The official inauguration will occur at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24,in the Alumni Center and later that day, an alumni reception will be held at 6 p.m. in the Gallaher Welcome Center.

“I’m deeply honored and excited for the journey ahead. I look forward to working together as we strive to elevate RCU to new heights,” Wenyika said when he was named to the position back in March.. “This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with the entire university community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and partners as we collectively enhance the student experience, and foster innovation through a vibrant and values-driven transformative campus culture. Together, we can continue to make RCU a destination for many, from the region, nation and beyond.”

Wenyika started at RCU on June 1, 2025 and previously served as president of Ottawa University Kansas from 2018 to 2024 and of Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Oklahoma, from 2014 to 2018.

He earned his Doctor of Education degree from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is currently pursuing another doctorate in ethnomedicine and indigenous knowledge systems from Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe. He also holds degrees from Southwestern Christian University, Logos University and the University of Zimbabwe.

He will replace Brian Stogner who resigned in 2024 to become president of the Michigan School of Psychology in Farmington Hills.

For more information, go to rcu.edu/inauguration.

 

 

From harvest festivals to hayrides, there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the area this fall.

• Rochester Posed: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 2, downtown businesses transform their window displays to feature live mannequin displays in downtown Rochester, public text to vote, www.downtownrochestermi.com/rochester-posed. This year’s theme is Netflix & Still: Original Streaming Content.

• Trivia and Terror Movie Night: 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 3, at Waterford Oaks County Park. Trivia, hosted by the trivia company Quizzo will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a screening of the 1980 film, “Friday the 13th,” at 7:30 p.m. Guests are invited to bring chairs, blankets and insect repellent, concessions will be available for purchase throughout the event. The movie is rated R and is not appropriate for children under age 17. For questions, email events@oakgov.com or visit www.oakgov.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/7728/763?npage=3.

• Halloween Movie Night: 7:30-10 p.m. Oct. 3, Riverside Park, Auburn Hills, https://www.auburnhills.org/events/halloween-movie-night.

• Halloween Stroll: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 3-31, and Oct. 30, at Canterbury Village, 2369 Joslyn Ct., Orion Twp., immersive displays, animatronics, and whimsical characters, Scarecrow Row, Spooky Carousel House, ticket prices vary, advance purchase timed tickets at www.canterburyvillage.com, food and drinks to purchase.

• Pumpkinfest: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 4, at MSU Tollgate Farm and Educational Center, 28115 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, family-friendly fundraising event for MSU Tollgate Farm, includes wagon rides to pumpkin patch, live music, and family-friendly activities, www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/Program-Event-Calendar.

• Fall Festival in the Woods: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 4, Hawk Woods Park and Campground, 3799 Bald Mountain Road, Auburn Hills, horse and carriage rides, fall themed crafts and games, cider and donuts, live music, register at www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-festival-in-the-woods-2025-tickets-1538696595939, tickets are $5 for ages 2+.

• Annual Pontiac Harvest Festival: 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 4, presented by Pontiac Youth Recreation, on the grounds of Pontiac City Hall, 47450 Woodward Ave, Pontiac, activities include rock climbing, bounce houses, pumpkin bowling, a petting zoo, and a donut-eating contest, pontiac.mi.us.

• Woodward Scream Cruise and Hauntiac Car Show: 2-5 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Oakland History Center, 405 Cesar Chavez, Pontiac. Hearses, classics, and dressed up cars welcome, free event with vehicle setup starting at 1 p.m., features spooky vendors, costume contest and raffle, DJ, register cars at hauntiac@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/HauntiacCarShow. Scream Cruise along Woodward Avenue kicks off at 5 p.m.

• Trick-or-Treat at the Market: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 4, at Highland Farmers Market at Township Hall, 205 N. John Street, Highland Twp., Family Costume parade at 10:30 a.m., www.highlandfarmmarket.com, www.facebook.com/HighlandFarmersMarketMichigan.

• Detroit Zoo Boo: 4-9:30 p.m. Oct. 4-5 and Fridays to Sundays, Oct. 10-26, trick-or-treating at the Zoo, family-friendly entertainment, $21-$25+, parking is $8 per vehicle, https://detroitzoo.org/events/zoo-boo.

• Skeletons are Alive Outdoor Public Art Display: through the month of October, featuring life-sized themed skeletons, launch party is 5-9 p.m. Oct. 4, downtown Northville, with live music, food trucks and vendors, family-friendly activities and entertainment, costume contest, preregistration is required, www.downtownnorthville.com. Visitors are invited to take selfies with the skeletons and share family-friendly photos on the Downtown Northville Facebook page or Instagram (@downtownnorthville) with the hashtag #skeletonsarealive.

• Booklet Bonesyards: map of haunted houses in Berkley, and voting through Nov. 1, residents may add their home to the map, www.downtownberkley.com/berkley-events/bookley-month/bookley-boneyards.

• Here Lies Lake Orion Cemetery Tour: Oct. 4-5, in the Evergreen Cemetery area, Lake Orion. The Orion Historical Society in partnership with the Lake Orion DDA, offers a unique opportunity to explore the stories of four notable families buried there. Tours are $12 per ticket and tour times are 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m., rain or shine. Buy tickets at www.orionhistoricalsociety.com.

• Harvest Happening: noon-5 p.m. Oct. 5, at Hess-Hathaway Park, 825 S Williams Lake Road, Waterford Twp., no pets allowed, parking $5 vehicle, pony rides $5 per child, hayrides $2, free for ages 2 and younger, mechanical bull rides-$5 person, 7 Inflatable attractions $2/use or $10/unlimited use wristband, cash only (ATM on-site), pumpkin patch, craft and food vendors, prices vary, www.waterfordmi.gov/276/Harvest-Happening.

• Scarecrow Festival: Oct. 5, Oxford Village, 22 W Burdick St., Oxford, 5K walk/run, children’s activities, https://downtownoxford.info.

• Scare Away Hunger 5K & Family Fun Run: 9 a.m. Oct. 5, at Rochester Municipal Park, 400 6th St., Rochester, register at https://go.ranh.org/2025-scare-away-hunger, 5K Walk/Run is $40, Family Fun Run is $15, Pancake Breakfast is $5, to benefit Neighborhood House, ranh.org.

• Farmington Hills Annual Hay Day/Fly & Fry event: 5-8 p.m. Oct. 7, Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road, Farmington Hills, family activities. The Farmington Hills Fire Department will host marshmallow drops from the fire truck, where children can collect marshmallows to redeem for prizes, 6 p.m. for ages 5 and under, 6:20 p.m. for ages 6-8 and 6:40 p.m. for ages 9 and up, www.fhgov.com.

• BOO!Kley Night Market: 5-8 p.m. Oct. 9, during Witches Night Out. The trolley will be running down Coolidge and 12 Mile for Witches Night Out, with extended shop hours, discounts, demos, and activities, www.downtownberkley.com.

• Howl-O-Ween Under the Full Moon: 6-7 p.m. Oct. 9, at Salem-South Lyon District Library, games, dance, do crafts, dress in costume, trick-or-treating on the story walk, coffee truck, Furry Friends Rescue will be in the parking lot for a bottle and can drive, registration required at https://ssldl.info/events/#/events/czpHDfBF8t/instances/MwP59VOAfY.

• If Stones Could Talk Oakwood Cemetery Tours: 5-8 p.m. Oct. 10, at Northville Art House, 215 W. Cady St., Northville, https://northvillearthouse.org/oakwood, $12 Northville Art House members, $15 nonmembers, tours leave every 15 minutes.

• Graveyard Getdown: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 10, Downtown Public Square, Auburn Hills, Halloween-themed silent disco, www.auburnhills.org/events/graveyard-get-down, $5+.

• Stone Wall Pumpkin Festival: Oct. 11, Pumpkin Carving and Fall Activities is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Pumpkin Lighting is 7-9 p.m. at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, $8/museum members, $12/non-members, admission fee for ages 2+, day of ticket sales only.

• Friendly Forest: noon-3 p.m. Oct. 11, Clintonwood Park, 6000 Clarkston Road, Independence Twp., trick-or-treating on decorated trail for children with adults, $10/resident, $12/nonresident, adults free, advance registration required, www.indtwp.com/departments/parks_rec_and_seniors/clintonwood_park.php.

• Fall Arts and Crafts Show: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 11 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 12, Clarkston High School, 6093 Flemings Lake Road, Clarkston, Keepsake Collection, www.keepsakecollectionshows.com, $3 admission, ages 10 and under free.

• Autumn After Hours: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 11,  at MSU Tollgate Farm and Educational Center, 28115 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, wagon rides, seasonal crafts, and dance to lively square dancing in the historic barn, www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/Program-Event-Calendar.

• Pan Equus Animal Sanctuary-PEAS Fall Festival: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 12, 940 Hummer Lake Road, Oxford, children’s activities, feed cows and mingle with animals, hayride ($2 per person), live band, bake sale, food truck, merchandise, wear closed-toe shoes, rain or shine, collection of returnable cans and bottles to donate, www.peasbarn.org, $5 admission, free for ages 5 and younger.

• Halloween Extravaganza: 5-8 p.m. Oct. 15, Trick or Treat Trail plus Costume Parade which stages at 5:30 p.m. and starts at 6 p.m. at Village Hall (Church and Anderson Streets), Lake Orion, and travels down Anderson Street to Children’s Park, downtownlakeorion.org.

• Halloween Happiness: designed for individuals ages 16+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 22, at the Southfield Civic Center, 26000 Evergreen Road in Southfield, featuring music, dancing, carnival games and trick or treating. Jet’s Pizza will be served until 6:45 p.m., $10/person and preregistration is required by Oct. 17. Register online at OaklandCountyParks.com, or call 248-858-0916 to register. For questions, call or text 248-221-8040 or email OCPrecreation@oakgov.com.

• Meadow Brook Hall-oween: Oct. 26, Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester, family-friendly event, explore woodland paths and first floor of the historic mansion, before heading out to our heated Garden Tent for games, crafts, cider and donuts, timed entry slots for the event, https://meadowbrookhall.org/events, $20 for children and $10 for adults.

• Hall-oween-Bewitching Hour: Oct. 26, Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester, strolling costume party for adult trick-or-treating, live music by Olivia Van Goor, a cash bar with signature cocktails, spooky snacks, timed entry slots beginning at 5:30 p.m., tickets are $50 each, meadowbrookhall.org/events.

• Haunted Highland: Through October, visit the Highland DDA’s spooky skeletal selfie displays scattered around downtown Highland and snap a pic, post it to social media, and tag it #HAUNTEDHIGHLAND, www.highlandtwp.net.

• Glenlore Trails Immersive & Illuminated Forest Experience is open Thursday to Sunday evenings, Sept. 25 through Nov. 2, (not available Oct. 31) at Glenlore Trails, 3860 Newtown Road, Commerce Twp., one-mile trail, all-ages, purchase advance tickets at GlenloreTrails.com, ticket prices vary.

• Azra Chamber of Horrors: Open Sept. 26-Nov. 1, 31401 John R. Road Madison Heights, No Monster Nights on select Tuesdays, all the lights and sounds, without live actors, Boo Bash is Oct. 26, family-friendly event designed for children, and High Intensity Nights are Nov. 1-2, azrahaunt.com, ticket prices vary.

Corn mazes/Hayrides

• Heritage Park Hayrides: 5:30-7 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 31, at Heritage Park Nature Center, 24915 Farmington Road, Farmington Hills, advance registration is recommended at www.fhgov.com, 248-473-1870, s’mores and cider kits extra. Hayrides leave every half hour from the parking lot. Advance registration is recommended, call 248-473-1870 to book private group hayrides.

• Bonadeo Farms: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, last weekend in September through October, Bonadeo Farms 1215 White Lake Road, Highland Twp., featuring pasteurized cider, doughnuts, pies, hayrides, pumpkin patch. Corn Maze is offered 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, adults-$10, children (ages 5-8) -$5, facebook.com/BonadeoFarm, 248-787-4553. Haunted House and Corn Field with hay ride are offered after dark to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights through Oct. 26, $25 per person, 248-787-4553.

• Diehl’s Orchard & Cider Mill: 1479 Ranch Road, Holly, 248-634-8981, www.diehlsorchard.com – Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, through Oct. 31. Later in season, open noon-5 p.m. weekends, Nov. 1-23. Corn maze opens Sept. 1 through the season, pumpkin patch opens late September, prices vary. Hayrides are weekends through Oct. 21, $3, free for ages 3 and under, (weather permitting).

• Maybury Farm Great Fall Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 11, (rain date Oct. 12) at Maybury Farm, 50165 Eight Mile Road, Northville, $14 at the door for festival, $20 for Festival Farm plus corn maze with wagon ride. Chili cookoff, pumpkin carving and baking contest. Maybury Farm Corn Maze and Wagon Rides are Fridays-Sundays, through Nov. 2, $14 each, and free for children younger than 2, 248-374-0200, mayburyfarm.org.

• Cook’s Farm Dairy, 2950 E. Seymour Lake Road, Ortonville. Corn maze is open noon-6 p.m. daily, $6 per person and hayrides to the pumpkin patch are offered noon-6 p.m. weekends through October, hayrides are $6.50 and pumpkins are $6.50 each,  248-627-3329, https://cooksfarmdairy.com.

• Upland Hills Farm Harvest Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through October, at 481 Lake George Road, Oxford, hayrides, pumpkin patch, farm shows, and magic shows. Admission is $12, free for ages 2 and younger. Food truck, cider and doughnuts, and pony rides are extra fees. Harvest Moon Hayrides are 7-10 p.m. Saturdays Oct. 11, Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, $9 each, free for ages 2 and younger, 248-628-1611, uplandhillsfarm.com.

• Blake’s Lyon Township: formerly Erwin’s Orchards & Cider Mill, 61475 Silver Lake Road, South Lyon, 248-437-0150, www.blakefarms.com. Funland with corn maze is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, pumpkins in season, prices vary.

• Drop-in Hayrides: 3-4 p.m. select Saturdays through Nov. 22, at Hess-Hathaway Park, 825 S. Williams Lake Road, Waterford Twp., weather permitting, not offered if it is raining, $5 per person, 2 years and under admitted free, children must be accompanied by an adult, meet by campfire pit by Hilltop Pavilion I, www.waterfordmi.gov/1329/Parks-Recreation.

By Kara Berg, MediaNews Group

Hussein Murray’s brutal death last fall at his Rochester Hills home was not an accident, Assistant Prosecutor John Pietrofesa said Tuesday.

It was not a coincidence that Carlos Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo ended up Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 at Murray’s Rochester Hills home, Pietrofesa said during opening statements in Oakland County Circuit Court for Zuazo and Hernandez’s jury trial.

“This was not random, this was not an accident, it was not a coincidence they showed up at his house,” Pietrofesa said. “This was targeted and it was very well-planned.”

Murray, 72, who went by Sam, had his jaw and neck bones broken in a way where the assailants would have applied significant, sustained pressure to his neck, the medical examiner testified at the preliminary examination in December.

But Hernandez’s attorney Paulette Loftin said killing Murray was never part of the plan, and Hernandez did not take part in Murray’s fatal beating.

“It will be clear to you Mr. Hernandez was one of those individuals in that house on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11,” Loftin said. “The unfortunate death of Mr. Murray was never part of the plan, never even part of the discussion. It will be clear to you Mr. Hernandez did not take part in the beating of Mr. Murray.”

She said prosecutors would not be able to prove Hernandez’s intention was the premeditated murder of Murray.

Hernandez and Zuazo are charged with first-degree murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment for Murray’s death. The men tried to have their trials separated, but Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Yasmine Poles denied their request in March.

Murray was the owner of Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck. Police have said they suspect Murray was targeted in connection to his business.

Only opening statements for Hernandez’s jury took place Tuesday; openings for Zuazo’s jury will take place Wednesday morning.

Hernandez and Zuazo showed up at about 10 p.m. Oct. 10, posing as DTE workers who were checking out houses after a reported gas leak, Pietrofesa said.

Murray told them to leave and Hernandez told him they’d be back the next day, he said.

When they came back Oct. 11, Pietrofesa said this time Hernandez and Zuazo managed to talk their way into the house, saying they wanted to check the basement gas hookup.

Murray led Zuazo and Hernandez downstairs. He was never seen alive again, Pietrofesa said.

When the two men came back upstairs, Murray was not with them, Pietrofesa said. Zuazo had blood on his shirt.

Hernandez allegedly asked Murray’s wife, Linda, about money, a safe and jewels, but was told she didn’t have that inside the house, Pietrofesa said. All she had was costume jewelry, she told them.

When Linda saw the blood on Zuazo’s shirt, she started screaming. Hernandez hit her in the face, then shoved her up against the wall, Pietrofesa said. He bound her with duct tape, then both Hernandez and Zuazo ransacked the house before fleeing.

“When police arrive … you’ll see how brutally Sam was demolished,” Pietrofesa said.

When Hernandez was arrested in Louisiana, police found two pairs of shoes with Murray’s blood on them and a size 5 XL t-shirt with Murray’s blood on it.

Hernandez had been to Murray’s jewelry and pawn shops prior to Murray’s murder, Pietrofesa said. When he came to the pawn shop in February 2024 to pick up some items he had pawned, he asked to meet with Murray.

Hernandez and Zuazo face up to life in prison if they’re convicted.

By Max Reinhart, MediaNews Group

The owner of a Troy medical facility where a 5-year-old boy died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion was sent to jail Tuesday, reportedly for failing to meet the conditions of her release on bond.

According to online Oakland County Jail inmate information, Tamela Peterson, who faces felony charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death in January, was booked into the jail Tuesday and will be released Wednesday.

Peterson, 58, was released from police custody in April after posting a $2 million bond. However, she returned to 52-4 District Court in Troy on Tuesday for a hearing related to a bond violation, according to online court records.

There, she told Judge Maureen M. McGinnis that she sold a firearm that she had possessed rather than surrendering it to the court, per the conditions of her bond, according to a WDIV-TV (Channel 4) report.

Peterson’s attorney, Thomas W. Cranmer, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.

Five-year-old Thomas Cooper died Jan. 31 at the Oxford Center in Troy after the hyperbaric chamber in which he was being treated for sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder suddenly exploded, attorneys for the boy’s family said.

In addition to Peterson, the center’s safety director, Jeffrey Mosteller, and its primary manager, Gary Marken, also are charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter. If convicted of murder, they face up to life in prison. Aleta Moffitt, who worked at the center and operated the chamber, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false information on a medical record.

All four are accused of disregarding safety protocols and failing to follow the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines for hyperbaric treatment, according to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which is handling the case.

Last week, attorneys for Cooper’s family announced a more than $100 million lawsuit against the four suspects, as well as the chamber’s manufacturer, Anaheim, California-based Sechrist Industries Inc., and Office Ventures Troy I LLC, which owns the Troy property where the Oxford Center operated. The center’s nonprofit is also named in the litigation.

Attorneys say the defendants failed to explain the potential dangers of the treatment to the boy’s family. They also allege that the Oxford Center deceitfully sold hyperbaric treatment plans for more than 100 conditions although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only approved it for treatment of 13 conditions, which does not include ADHD or sleep apnea.

The case against a 33-year-old Texas man accused of human trafficking and other crimes in Oakland County has been bound over to circuit court for possible trial following a Sept.30 preliminary exam in Southfield’s 46th District Court.

Randolph Lewis was arrested July 21 in Southfield. The case against him unfolded when — according to police — officers responded to the Quality Inn on Telegraph Road for a malicious destruction of property complaint, and spoke with a woman who said a man she described as her boyfriend had broken her car windshield.

An investigation revealed the woman may be a victim of human trafficking; she reportedly told police she had met Lewis in Louisiana and he had introduced her to sex dates — listing her online for commercial sex services and collecting her earnings after the encounters, police said.

The woman also told officers that Lewis had sexually assaulted her, police said.

Lewis was located at another hotel nearby and taken into custody. A second possible human trafficking victim was with him, but she refused assistance from officers, police said.

The investigation also revealed that Lewis has operated in several cities, police said.

Lewis, of Arlington, Texas, is charged with human trafficking enterprise resulting in injury/commercial sexual activity, prostitution, and using a computer to commit a crime. Two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration he had been charged with have been dismissed. Arraignment in Oakland County Circuit Court is scheduled for Oct. 8 before Judge Michael Warren.

Lewis is in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $300,000 cash or surety.

Police said Lewis also has charges pending in Louisiana.

Case advances against man accused of striking bank employee with hatchet during robbery

Walk to raise domestic violence awareness this Sunday in Southfield

 

Over-consumption during peak hours has led to boil water advisories in western Oakland County communities where they had been lifted or had never been in place.

Several communities were affected after a 42-inch water main broke early Thursday, Sept. 25, on 14 Mile Road in Novi.

As of Monday afternoon, boil advisories were in place in Wixom, Commerce Township, Walled Lake, most of Novi and a small part of Wolverine Lake.

Novi – except the southeast corner of the city – has been under an advisory since the break. Wolverine Lake issued an advisory for just a few streets shortly after the break.

An advisory had been in effect in Walled Lake since shortly after the main broke but was lifted over the weekend. Commerce Township had not issued one until Monday.

Wixom issued only a recommendation to boil water after the break, which was later lifted. The city issued the advisory after water pressure dropped early Monday due to demands on the system, City Manager Steve Brown said.

He said an emergency alternative, using a much smaller main, allowed the city to keep water pressure at a safe level until it dropped on Monday.

After the break, all of the affected communities asked residents and businesses to refrain from watering lawns or washing cars and to not use water unnecessarily.

“Low pressure on the system due to over consumption during peak hours, while emergency connections are in use, has been identified as the reason for the boil water notice,”  Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash said in a release.

“Whenever a water system loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended because a loss of pressure can lead to bacterial contamination in the water system,” the release said.

“Bacteria generally are not harmful and are common throughout our environment. Although no contamination has been detected, as a precaution, all water customers in the affected area are advised to boil water used for drinking and cooking.”

Boiling the water for one minute will kill bacteria and other organisms. Allow it to cool before consumption. Boiled, bottled or disinfected water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food.

You can use tap water to bathe, but do not swallow it or allow it to get in your eyes or nose. Supervise children or disabled adults while bathing.

If you have a private well, you do not need to boil your water.

The advisory will be lifted after two samples, taken 24 hours apart, test negative.

The Great Lakes Water Authority, which owns the broken main, has been working on it around the clock and expects full repairs to take about two weeks.

Novi said in a release late Monday that the first sample, taken Sunday, tested negative.

“Best-case scenario (for the advisory to be lifted) is Tuesday, but it could stretch into Wednesday depending on testing,” the city said in a release Monday morning.

“We need to chat about irrigation. Sprinklers running in the morning are really hurting the system. If you see a neighbor’s sprinklers going, don’t get annoyed (they could be on a well) —be kind and give them a friendly nudge. We’ve done pretty good so far, but we really need to do better.

“Thanks for hanging in there, Novi—your patience (and humor) helps.”

For updates, call the county’s water hotline, 248-858-1555, or check websites or social media for the affected communities.

Farmington Hills man accused of killing woman in hit-and-run while drunk, speeding in Detroit

Michigan Court of Appeals won’t hear Oxford shooter’s parents’ appeals separately

 

A 23-year-old Detroit man was ordered to serve 4-½ to 20 years in prison for his role in a stolen-vehicle ring in the region.

Jordan T. Gray received the sentence Wednesday from Macomb County Circuit Judge Anthony Servitto in Mount Clemens after admitting to participating in a criminal enterprise, aka racketeering, from April 2024 to April 2025 in Warren, according to court records.

The sentence was six months under the cap to which Servitto agreed in a deal reached with Gray through his attorney, Randy Rodnick.

Macomb prosecutors indicated they also will seek restitution from Gray, records say.

Gray was one of 11 people arrested as part of the ring that was responsible for the theft of over 400 vehicles worth approximately $8 million in Southeast Michigan by targeting storage lots, car dealerships, parking lots and residences, law enforcement officials said.

The ring was investigated by Troy Police Department Special Investigations Unit, in partnership with Macomb County Auto Theft Squad and the state Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement team. In addition, local police departments in individual communities pitched in, officials said.

Investigators said they utilized social media evidence, phone tracking and mapping, and surveillance of Gray to establish his involvement.

A search warrant executed at Gray’s residence produced evidence tying him to the operation, including numerous key fobs, a “significant amount” of cash, and a stolen Glock switch, officials said.

The cases of Gray’s 10 co-defendants have been prosecuted in courts in other counties.

Much of Novi and parts of Walled Lake have lost water pressure due to a large water main break, and will be under a boil advisory once service is restored.

Parts of Commerce Township and Wixom may also be affected.

The city of Novi said in a release that Great Lakes Water Authority crews are working on the break, which occurred at about 7:20 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in a main on 14 Mile Road west of M-5.

A drop in pressure can allow bacterial contaminants to enter the water supply. After service is restored, testing will begin at multiple locations. The boil advisory will be lifted after two negative tests, 24 hours apart.

Once service is restored, officials advise the following:

– Do not drink the water without boiling it first. Let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using.

– Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation.

– Filtered water is not safe for use as the organisms are microscopic. Boil all water used for consumption.

– Untreated water can be used for showering, baths and shaving, but do not swallow water or allow it to get in your eyes, nose, or mouth. Supervise children and disabled individuals during their bathing to make sure water is not swallowed. Minimize bathing time.

If you are on a well, you are not impacted.

The Road Commission for Oakland County reports that 14 Mile is closed west of M-5 to east of Welch Road.

Visit the websites and social media pages for Novi, Walled Lake, Wixom and Commerce Township for updates and to view maps of affected areas..

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Push to start work on Novi public safety facilities underway after millage approved in August

Fall colors could be less vibrant because of earlier drought, experts say

Trial is scheduled in Oakland County Circuit Court for a former Wayne County official and her husband accused of pulling guns on a customer following a physical fight at a Farmington Hills gas station.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Feb. 23, 2026 for the cases against Alicia Bradford and her husband, Larry Bradford of Farmington Hills. Both face charges of assault with a dangerous weapon/felonious assault and using a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with a New Year’s Day 2025 incident.

According to police reports and security video obtained under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act, the charges stem from an incident that happened just before 1 a.m. on Jan. 1 at a gas station on Orchard Lake Road.

A fight broke out between Larry Bradford and another customer who got involved after Bradford began arguing with the gas station clerk, accusing him of charging tax on a bottle of Mountain Dew, police said. Larry Bradford left the store and returned with a 9mm handgun and pointed it at the customer, demanding he get on his knees and apologize, and struck him. Alicia Bradford then entered the store armed with a firearm and pointed it at the customer, according to police.

At the time of her arrest, Alicia Bradford was Wayne County’s parks and recreation director. She was suspended without pay after the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against her, and then resigned from her job in February.

Alicia Bradford and Larry Bradford are out of custody on $50,000 personal bonds, which require no cash or surety to be posted.

Assault with a dangerous weapon/felonious assault carries a penalty of up to four years in prison. Using a firearm in the commission of a felony is punishable by up to two years in prison.

The cases are assigned to Judge Yasmine Poles.

The Detroit News contributed to this story.

White Lake man struck by car and killed while crossing Highland Road

 

A 69-year-old White Lake Township man was killed late Wednesday on Highland Road after being struck by a car driven by an 81-year-old man from Holly, officials said.

According to the White Lake Police Department, preliminary results of an ongoing investigation indicate the man was attempting to cross Highland Road near Legrand Boulevard when he was struck by the vehicle headed east on Highland Road. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the incident, police said.

Officers called to the scene at around 11:18 p.m. found the victim unresponsive and lying in the roadway, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police haven’t yet released the victim’s name.

Anyone with further information related to the crash is asked to contact White Lake Police Sgt. Brad Connell by phone at  248-698-4400 or by email at bconnelll@whitelakepolice.com.

This is the fourth fatality reported on Oakland County roadways in the past two days. On Wednesday morning, a Detroiter was killed after crashing his car in Bloomfield Township. Police suspect a medical emergency prior to or during the crash. And on Tuesday morning, a fiery crash on I-96 in Novi claimed the lives of two drivers — one from Westland and the other from California.

Detroiter dead after Telegraph Road crash

Update: 2 drivers killed in fiery crash early Tuesday on I-96 in Novi; victims’ names, other details released

Fall colors could be less vibrant because of earlier drought, experts say

Walled Lake Northern secures LVC tourney final place with 2OT win against Central

Downriver official slammed at council session after social media post

By Max Reinhart, MediaNews Group

An Oakland County man is accused of using artificial intelligence to create pornographic images of a woman he was following on social media, then threatening to release them and assault her if she didn’t give him attention, a federal complaint claims.

Joshua Stilman, 36, of Commerce Township is accused by the FBI of interstate extortion and cyberstalking, according to a complaint filed last week in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan.

The victim is not named in the complaint but is described as a “social media influencer with close to 100,000 Instagram followers.”

In March, she allegedly received several explicit messages on Instagram from someone using the screenname FriendBlender, including AI-generated nude images of herself, according to court documents.

She initially tried to diffuse the situation with humor but FriendBlender eventually became more vulgar and threatened to release the images publicly if she did not respond to him, the lawsuit said. He also made threats against her safety, implying he would sexually assault her unless she responded.

“I wish you’d respond to some of my questions,” he said in one message, the FBI alleged. “I really don’t want to resort to posting things online … I’m not going to expect you to talk to me everyday or even that often. But I want to know some naughty things about you.”

In one message, FriendBlender sent his victim a link to a Google Drive collection of more AI-generated nude photos of her. However, according to the complaint, the link also displayed the name “Josh Stilman” in association with the Google account. The woman found that someone named Josh Stilman was following her Instagram account and had previously messaged her using an account with the screenname ThisDIYGuy.

According to court documents, the alleged victim then sent Stilman a message, asking, “Does your wife know you are messaging me.” He then allegedly blocked her from both of his Instagram accounts and deleted the Google-based photo album, as well as his LinkedIn page.

The influencer also contacted other women who have said Stilman threatened them, some as early as 2019, according to the complaint. One alleged victim said Stilman had posted pornographic videos of her online without her consent.

After she contacted law enforcement, investigators were able to allegedly link Stilman to the FriendBlender and ThisDIYGuy Instagram accounts and found that on several occasions he had visited websites that are used to create AI-generated pornography, the complaint said.

Since the incident, the influencer has removed identifying details about her life from her social media accounts and has started carrying a weapon due to fears about her safety, according to authorities.

According to online court records, Stilman made an initial appearance Tuesday before Magistrate Judge Anthony P. Patti and he was released after posting a $10,000 bond. A preliminary examination is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 14.

Stilman’s attorney, Bradley J. Friendman, didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

 

“The Witching Hour,” opening Thursday night at Glenlore Trails in Commerce Township, is a bit of a drive for some attendees, but they insist that it’s worth it.

“I’ve been coming to the events at Glenlore for the past couple of years,” said Kari Zaffarano, who lives about an hour away in Clinton Township. “We love the lights and all of the interactive games. They’ve added wands this year.”

“He really likes that,” Zaffarano said of her son, Jordan, who was among the little wizards using their wands to play a game at one of the stops along the way.

Choose your color, choose your name and choose to be a spider, bat or butterfly.

These were among the choices for visitors entering the immersive and illuminated forest, featuring the sights and sounds one would expect at this spooky time of year, but never in an up-close-and-scary kind of way.

“This is great,” said Cody Campbell of Southfield, while watching her toddler son chasing after spiders projected on the ground at another stop. “He thinks he’s bringing the spiders out with his wand.”

The magic behind Glenlore Trails is Bluewater Technologies, whose team of experts in sensory storytelling creates the memorable and unique one-of-a-kind experiences. Each night, starting at dusk, the milelong forest trail comes to life with a dazzling display of lights, sounds and spectacles, including a storm of bubbles that had both adults and children poking fun at the sky.

Scott Schoeneberger, a managing partner at Bluewater, said it takes three and a half months to set everything up.

“It’s miles of cable, dozens of displays, thousands of lights and millions of pixels,” he said.

Glenlore Trails is an outdoor experience that takes about an hour to complete. It’s set up along a wooded, manicured, but not paved, trail that can accommodate strollers, wagons and wheelchairs with larger wheels. However, the surface may be more challenging for smaller wheels. Good walking shoes rather than sandals or heels are recommended.

Tickets are $25 for ages 13 and up, $20 for seniors, $18 for groups of 20 people or more, and $15 for children ages 4-12.

“I love the spooky stuff,” said Ace Morris, 4, of Southgate, who was joined by his mother, Ciara Morris, who plans on sharing her experience with all of the parents who follow her social media page, “It’s Ace’s World.”

“This is so magical for families. Enchanting, that is the word that best describes it,” she said. ‘I’m encouraging all of our followers to check it out.”

Southgate boy, 4, thrives on his love of performing

Glenlore Trails is at 3860 Newton Road, Commerce Township.

For more information, visit glenloretrails.com.

A new magistrate has been appointed to the bench at 51st District Court in Waterford Township.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Waterford Township Board of Trustees approved the appointment of attorney Roberto Bihar to the role of magistrate. He assumes duties at the court on Oct. 15.

According to officials, Roberto was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to the San Fernando Valley in California in 1982, then relocated to Michigan in 1996.

Bihar and his wife have lived in Waterford since 2000, raising their five children. The family is actively involved in Waterford’s soccer community, officials said.

Bihar began his legal career in 2009 as law clerk for 52-2 District Judge Joseph Fabrizio. He continues to serve as a public defender for its sobriety court program. In 2014, he opened his law practice, specializing in criminal and probate law.

Bihar graduated cum laude from Cooley Law School in 2012. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Madonna University, majoring in Spanish and criminal justice, officials said.

Bihar holds membership in the Oakland County Bar Associations and the Knights of Columbus Council, and is a parishioner at St. Perpetua Catholic Church in Waterford, officials said.

Update: 2 drivers killed in fiery crash early Tuesday on I-96 in Novi; victims’ names, other details released

Cops v. Firefighters: Battle of the Badges softball game fundraiser this Friday