vandals targeted University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker’s Huntington Woods home spraying antisemitic graffiti on his car and smashing his front window with a jar of urine Acker called the incident a cowardly act of terrorism "I will not let fear win," he posted Monday on Instagram "I call upon members of the Michigan community to publicly repudiate this vile antisemitic intimidation and to offer full support to law enforcement to root out these bigots." Protests and debates about American foreign policy and what public institutions should do with the money it invests have roiled the university after the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel in 2023 comes at a precarious time in Middle East peace talks and events News outlets report a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Israel and Hamas that could end the war there and free the remaining hostages is advancing, and in Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah have called a truce said Monday's incident occurred in the "very early hours" of the morning while he They were awakened by the noise of broken glass The words "Divest and Free Palestine" were painted on the SUV Acker said it was the third time he had been targeted using "Klan-like tactics," a reference to the secretive Ku Klux Klan a far-right hate group that has threatened By one count, about 65% of the Huntington Woods identifies as Jewish confirmed the incident in the Detroit suburb noting that officers responded to calls to the house at about 2 a.m Television news reports said the jar that crashed through the window was full of urine and a neighbor’s security video had recorded two people in hoodies who were slinking around the area U-M also issued a statement Monday condemning "these criminal acts in the strongest possible terms," calling the graffiti "a clear act of antisemitic intimidation" and the actions "abhorrent." The university also said that the incident was "unacceptable and will not be tolerated" and called upon "our community to come together in solidarity and to firmly reject all forms of bigotry and violence." In early June, vandals spray-painted obscenities and anti-Israel graffiti across the entrance to the Goodman Acker law firm in Southfield using wording that leaders of the firm said was antisemitic targeting Acker Red and black paint covered the firm’s sign with phrases that included "Free Palestine," "Divest now," "F*** You Acker" and "UM Kills." The vandals also left red handprints on the doors termed the graffiti a “clear attempt to intimidate" Jews and supporters of Israel saying pro-Palestinian protesters were welcome to peacefully stand on the sidewalk in front of the firm's offices "but not this." Condemnations of that incident went as high as the governor's office with Gretchen Whitmer asking Michiganders to "remain united in calling out hatred of any kind" and to "continue working together" for peace Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com 2025 at 9:27 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A popular Detroit barbeque spot is opening a new location in Oakland County MI — A popular Detroit barbeque spot is opening a new location in Oakland County Slows Bar BQ is planning to open a new spot at 3087 12 Mile Road in downtown Berkley. The location is the former space that housed the Berkley Common The new restaurant is expected to open later this year by late summer or early fall It will offer full-service dining and carry-out as well as a second-floor private event space and patio "With strong roots in the community — co-owner Josh Keillor grew up in Royal Oak and attended Shrine High School alongside fellow co-owners Brian and Terry Perrone — this expansion truly feels like a homecoming," the city wrote in a post from the Downtown Berkley Facebook page There is also a Slows Bar BQ pickup location at 4107 Cass Ave Detroit Slows Bar BQ has expanded before with locations in Pontiac and Grand Rapids Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. (WXYZ) — A woman from Huntington Woods died on Wednesday after she collided with a carriage on Mackinac Island while riding a bicycle According to the Mackinac Island Police Department the 77-year-old woman from Huntington Woods was riding her bicycle westbound in the area of Main St and Bogan Lane when it collided with a carriage traveling eastbound The woman was seriously injured and transported to McLaren Hospital in Petoskey Police say they were assisted by Michigan State Police Mackinac Island Emergency Medical Services and Fire Department plus staff from a nearby hotel and tour company A University of Michigan regent whose office was vandalized earlier this year is calling on state and federal authorities to investigate an early Monday attack as an act of terrorism characterizing the incidents as "Klan-like" and saying they should be condemned by all officials UM Regent Jordan Acker said his Huntington Woods home and his wife's vehicle were both vandalized Someone threw a mason jar through one of his home's windows and spray-painted the words "Divest and Free Palestine" on an SUV "My first thought when I heard the glass breaking is that one of my daughters had gone downstairs to get something to drink and dropped it," he said in a Facebook post "It was very loud and it sounded like dishes breaking "It was only about 30 seconds later when the police arrived that I came down and realized what had happened." Acker said he later found out a neighbor called the police after seeing a couple of people running away from the house Authorities found fragments of a glass jar inside the house along with a foul-smelling liquid as well as a second jar outside of the home Acker called the upside-down red triangle the vandals also painted on the vehicle along with the graffiti particularly disturbing and upsetting He considers the incident a threat against his family "That symbol has been used by Hamas to mean something is a legitimate military target," the regent said The Huntington Woods Department of Public Safety confirmed the incident saying in a press release that officers responded to Acker's home at about 2 a.m Monday and are investigating "in cooperation with other state and federal agencies." the FBI’s policy is to neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation," said Jordan Hall the public affairs officer for FBI's Detroit Field Office authorities said a neighbor's security camera showed two suspects both wearing dark-colored hooded sweatshirts pulled over their heads walking southbound before stopping in front of Acker's home the suspects can be seen running back northbound from the home Huntington Woods Public Safety is asking any nearby residents with surveillance or doorbell cameras to check their footage for possible evidence Anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious is asked to call the department at (248) 541-1180 Monday's incident comes about six months after vandals targeted Acker's Southfield law office They spray-painted the words "Free Palestine" and "Divest Now" on the building Acker said the incident at his office remains under investigation and no arrests have been made Officials for the University of Michigan issued a statement Monday on X calling the vandalism of Acker's house "a clear act of anti-Semitic intimidation." "The University of Michigan condemns these criminal acts in the strongest possible terms," the school said just the latest in a number of incidents where individuals have been harassed because of their work on behalf of the university This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated We call on our community to come together in solidarity and to firmly reject all forms of bigotry and violence." The university has been embroiled in debate and protests about Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct prompting a war that continues to this day University events have been disrupted by demonstrators an encampment was built on campus for a month before being dismantled by police and regents and other university leaders have been targeted with protests and vandalism The demonstrators have demanded UM divest its investment holdings from Israel-related companies which university leaders and the regents have rejected The incident came about two months after graffiti was spray-painted on the homes of UM President Santa Ono and Erik Lundberg The vandalism was done on the first anniversary of the Oct 7 attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas The Israeli counterattacks have killed more than 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry which doesn't distinguish between civilians and soldiers The messages at Ono's home were spray-painted in red on his house and sidewalk They included "Coward," "Divest now," along with upside-down triangles and "intifada," an Arabic word meaning uprising or resistance Similar words were spray painted at Lundberg's home vice chair of the university's Board of Regents decried the vandalism in a statement to The Detroit News is conduct that demands condemnation and aggressive criminal prosecution," Bernstein said "This act reveals the dangerous antisemitism at the core of this radical movement that has adopted terrorist symbols in their repugnant rhetoric." "This makes three attacks on University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker’s home and office in just over six months," Slotkin said in a statement "This is targeted hate meant to intimidate and threaten him and his family and law enforcement has a responsibility to move quickly to connect the dots and do something about it." called the incident sickening and an "antisemitic attack." "Jordan Acker is a dedicated public servant and he and his family should be safe in their own home," Stevens said in a post on X Our Jewish brothers and sisters deserve to live in security and peace." decried what he called "another disgusting antisemitic attack" on Acker "Political leaders in Michigan must take this vile behavior seriously — vandalism and harassment is reprehensible enough but left unchecked threatens to escalate into physical violence," Meijer wrote on X an attorney who has been on the board since 2019 also posted about the incident on his Instagram page on Monday my three young daughters and I were asleep in our beds we were awakened by the sound of two heavy (objects) thrown through the front window of our house," he said in his post "While my eldest daughter ran into our room and then ran outside to find my wife’s car had been graffitied by anti-Semitic vandals." He added in the post: "This is the third time that I — and now my family — have been the target of these Klan-like tactics We all need to call out this cowardly act attacking my family and my home for what it truly is — terrorism And like we always do in this great nation when we’re confronted with terrorism — I will not let fear win All this does is harden my resolve to continue to do the right thing for the University and the Michigan voters who elected me." He concluded the post with: "I call upon members of the Michigan community to publicly repudiate this vile anti-Semitic intimidation and to offer full support to law enforcement to root out these bigots so they see the consequences for their actions." Acker said he won't disclose what safety measures he will take to protect his family and himself following Monday's incident whether they're left at my office or my home are intended to intimidate a Jewish elected official," he said "But I am not going to be intimidated by them." Acker said he calls on every elected official in Michigan whether they're on the political right or the left "It's not enough to condemn privately," he said "We have to say publicly this is not acceptable no matter where you stand on the issue of Israel and Palestine Attorney's Office in Detroit and the FBI become involved in the investigation into the attack "It's pretty obvious this is a civil rights violation and I wish the U.S Attorney's Office would take it seriously," Acker said The regent also urges people on UM's campus who know who the vandals are to come forward to stop incidents like this from happening again In mid-May, pro-Palestinian protesters delivered a list of demands to the homes of the eight regents. They also "decorated" the front lawn of then UM Board of Regents Chair Sarah Hubbard's home with "scenes of genocide in Palestine" along with a taped list of demands for divestment from Israel on the door of her home a masked intruder came to the door of my family's home with a list of demands "This form of protest is not peaceful," he wrote "Public officials should not be subject to this sort of intimidating conduct...." A 77-year-old Huntington Woods woman is dead after her bicycle collided with a carriage on Mackinac Island according to the Mackinac Island Police Department The woman was bicycling westbound and crashed with a carriage going eastbound The victim suffered serious injuries in the crash Officials transported the victim to McLaren Hospital in Petoskey Mackinac Island police are not releasing the victim's identity at this time Police reported no other injuries or fatalities in the incident More: Shooting near Benihana in Dearborn leaves 2 injured More: Massive fire at Detroit mulch business affecting city's air quality the Mackinac Island Emergency Medical Services and community members and visitors helped Mackinac Island Police respond to the scene Police are continuing to investigate the incident 2025 at 4:38 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bombshell Treat Bar located at 2688 Coolidge Highway in downtown Berkley MI — A popular Berkley ice cream shop is celebrating its first anniversary this week located at 2688 Coolidge Highway in downtown Berkley the shop will be decked out in festive balloons and treats the first 25 guests will receive a free slice of birthday cake the shop will offer a limited-edition "Birthday Bar," which is birthday cake ice cream dipped in a funfetti chocolate shell "We’ve felt so much love from Berkley and the surrounding communities this past year," Bombshell Treat Bar Owner Jill Kasle said "This celebration is our way of saying thank you—and what better way than with cake Bombshell Treat Bar is best known for its signature chocolate-dipped ice cream bars flavored Belgian chocolate and then topped with a variety of add-ons The sweets shop started with pop-ups that focused on contactless delivery during the pandemic the "Big Dipper," across metro Detroit to various locations Now the shop spans 2,200 square feet in Berkley (WXYZ) — University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker said his home and his car were vandalized overnight Acker posted photos on social media showing his wife's car vandalized with graffiti that says "Divest" and "Free Palestine" and said that two bricks were thrown through the windows of their home and this is a threat that Hamas does when they're going to kill people," Acker said See doorbell footage from a neighbor in the video below what's that like when you see that on your vehicle at your home?" 7 News Detroit Reporter Carli Petrus asked "It tells you exactly what I've been saying for months about this group is that they're targeting me because I'm Jewish," he said The University of Michigan Office of Public Affairs released a statement on Monday that said in part "The University of Michigan condemns these criminal acts in the strongest possible terms This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated." Huntington Woods police said they are investigating the case and are asking anyone with information to call them They are also asking residents to check any surveillance video or doorbell cameras and report any findings This is an attack on my family," Acker told 7 News Detroit on Monday said he found out about the attack on Monday morning it's a huge violation of trust when your property is vandalized and the windows are broken and I certainly hope that some form of justice is served," Horner said Acker is now calling on the Michigan Attorney General and the FBI to arrest those responsible "People who engage in behavior like this should go to jail regardless of whether you agree with them on the underlying issues or not," he said Gretchen Whitmer released a statement on Monday afternoon that says "The antisemitic vandalism of University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker’s home and car is unacceptable This was a criminal act of targeted hatred on an elected official’s personal property because he is Jewish We cannot allow hateful acts to further fan the flames of division In June, the law office of Goodman Acker was vandalized It appears the spray-painted messages on the law office in June were targeting Acker "FREE PALESTINE," "DIVEST NOW," and "UM KILLS" were among the messages scrawled across the front of the building and the sidewalk on Ten Mile Road in Southfield An obscenity directed at Acker was also included in the vandalism that targeting individual Jewish elected officials is anti-semitism This has nothing to do with Palestine or the war in Gaza or anything else — this is done as a message to scare Jews," Acker said back in June VIDEO: Watch the full press conference with leaders and Acker from June in the player below: “This kind of hate action is not acceptable targeting of individual Jews is not acceptable 2024 at 9:12 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Kimberly Casey Coden was sentenced to serve up to nearly 19 years in prison for impersonating a health care worker and intimidating a witness according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office MI — A 38-year-old Huntington Woods woman can serve up to nearly 19 years in prison for impersonating a health care worker and intimidating a witness according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office Kimberly Casey Coden was sentenced on Tuesday to: Coden worked as a director of services at Oxford Recovery Center a facility that provides services to children diagnosed with Autism in Brighton and Troy Coden presented herself as a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) but she was not licensed by the State of Michigan and did not possess the requisite educational background Coden also utilized the certification number of a properly board-certified BCBA to obtain employment at Centria Health Care for several months in 2016 and the Positive Behavior Supports Corporation from 2017 to 2018 Coden intimidated a witness via text messages to prevent her from testifying against her "Falsifying credentials to gain access to a highly vulnerable population is unethical and reprehensible," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said "I hope this sentence serves as a warning for others that we take the proper training and licensing requirements very seriously and there are real consequences for those who deliberately shirk them." 2025 at 1:38 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Darren Bradford was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a person between the ages of 13 and 15 (Berkley Department of Public Safety)BERKLEY MI — A 24-year-old Berkley man is facing charges after have sex with a minor Darren Bradford was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a person between the ages of 13 and 15 He was placed in jail with a bond set at $175,000 His next court date is scheduled for March 7 The Berkley Department of Public Safety said it had received several tips from witnesses who said minors frequently visited Bradford's apartment Investigators then learned that Bradford was frequently taking the minors to lunch or during evenings and giving them illegal substances and alcohol They also learned that minors had sexual acts committed against them Police added they are pursuing further charges against Bradford for distributing marijuana vapes and cartridges alcohol and nicotine vape products to numerous minors from the area and surrounding metro communities Police are still investigating the incident and are concerned that Bradford may have engaged in other incidents with additional minors "The investigation is uncovering the depth of his deceit profits and illegal acts he was committing," the Berkley Department of Public Safety said Authorities said the suspect may have additional victims Anyone with potential information is asked to call detectives at (248) 658-3390 or email DB@berkleymi.gov a University of Michigan regent who is Jewish said he heard the sound of breaking glass at about 2 a.m Monday and initially thought one of his children had dropped a glass after fetching a late night drink of water “The police rang the doorbell about thirty seconds later and then I came down to find our window had been smashed," he said A vehicle in the driveway of Acker’s Huntington Woods home was also defaced with red paint and the message “Divest Free Palestine” along with an inverted triangle shape He credits the exceptionally fast response by law enforcement to a neighbor who was walking his dog near Acker’s home at the time and saw something that prompted him to call police Acker said the object thrown through the window of his home is believed to be a mason jar though he stressed that law enforcement is still in the early stages of investigating the incident He says police told him it contained some kind of foul smelling substance Acker believes he’s being targeted because he’s Jewish A statement from the university condemned the incident at Acker's home and as “a clear act of antisemitic intimidation,” and “unfortunately just the latest in a number of incidents where individuals have been harassed because of their work on behalf of the University.” In June, Acker’s Southfield law office, where he also works as an attorney, was painted with graffiti that read “Free Palestine,” “Divest Now,” and “U-M kills.” Acker said no criminal charges have yet been filed in that case This October 7, the residence of University of Michigan President Santa Ono was tagged with graffiti reading “Intifada” (an Arabic term for the Palestinian uprising against Israel) and “coward.” The home of Erik Lundberg though large-scale protests on campus have subsided Regents have said only a small fraction of the university’s endowment may be invested in funds including companies indirectly linked to Israel, and declined to make moves to divest citing a policy to shield the endowment from political pressures Acker suspects the people who vandalized his home are affiliated with the university in some way have all followed a pretty similar pattern and they’re a group of people you would only go after if you were affiliated or interested in the University of Michigan,” Acker said In May, university Regent Mark Bernstein said protesters tacked a list of demands to his and most of his colleagues’ front doors Bernstein at the time called it a dangerous escalation of on-campus protests said about 30 protesters put tents and other objects on her front lawn and disrupted an early morning with bullhorns Acker believes the off-campus incidents of vandalism involve a small group of hardcore activists “There’s not more than a half dozen of these extremists that are engaged in this behavior The upside down triangle that was part of Monday's graffiti is a symbol that has reportedly been seen at numerous pro-Palestinian events globally, and also used to identify military targets in videos released by the military arm of Hamas, according to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation citing experts in the Israel-Palestinian conflict A neighbor’s security camera captured two people in dark colored hooded sweatshirts approaching Acker’s house Monday morning, and a short time later, showed them running the opposite direction, according to a press release from the Huntington Woods Department of Public Safety. According to news reports the city police were asking other residents to let them know if they have camera footage that could be related to the crime Editor's note: The University of Michigan holds Michigan Public's broadcast license DETROIT – A new bagel spot is opening in Detroit’s Core City neighborhood! James Beard-nominated chef Max Sussman is set to open Bev’s Bagels in the space where Detroit Institute of Bagels was located at 4884 Grand River Avenue this spring. The Huntington Woods native is known for his work in New York’s culinary scene and started Bev’s Bagels as a pop-up in the Ann Arbor area. “Making bagels is a huge passion of mine and I’m so excited to offer really great bagels to Detroit,” Sussman said. “Opening in Core City feels like an incredible opportunity to build on something that was so special to the community and still so needed.” The spot, which is named after Sussman’s grandmother, will focus on serving organic sourdough bagels paired with creative schmears and sandwiches made with carefully sourced ingredients, like wild smoked salmon and ethically raised meat, according to a release. “An incredible bagel has to start with incredible ingredients and ours will have organic flour, some whole grains, and use a sourdough starter,” Sussman says. “I’m pretty obsessive over the details, so the sandwiches will all have these amazing components, from creative schmears to wild smoked fish to ethically sourced meats.” The spot is set to open sometime in late spring. It will be open daily and also focus on catering services. Additionally, Sussman also plans to continue the Ann Arbor pop-ups after the Detroit shop opens. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Sara Powers joined WDIV as a digital content producer in Oct. 2024 and has been covering Metro Detroit news since 2021. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group (WXYZ) — It's been nearly three years since metro Detroit native Danny Fenster was freed from custody in Myanmar government says the journalist was wrongfully detained for six months after a military coup have followed the detainment of fellow journalist Evan Gershkovich and Michigander Paul Whelan The two were among 24 people exchanged in a massive prisoner swap between the U.S. it's allies and Russia early Thursday morning VIDEO: Paul Whelan officially freed in Russian prisoner exchange what the parents must have felt,” Danny's mother Rose Fenster said but it's a sense of relief and happiness for everybody.” Friday was a moment the Whelan family had been waiting for and refused to believe until finally seeing the images of Paul Whelan boarding a U.S Paul was first detained in 2018 on charges of espionage he was sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison His brother David Whelan fought tirelessly for his release "We're overjoyed and hope to actually see him soon,” David Whelan told ABC News "I think it would be hard not to be satisfied once your loved one is free I think all of us who have been through this experience would give anything for our loved one to be released from being held hostage or wrongful detention.” Hear what David Whelan told ABC News about his brother's release in the video below: friends,” Rose Fenster said of the experience when her own son was detained She was there to greet him when he was freed "It's indescribable," she said of the moment she learned her son was being released and you just can't wait to hug your child and you never want to let them go.” Also freed from Russia in Thursday's exchange was Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich the Fenster family says they thought about him daily Rose Fenster says Danny was also aware of the news “I did talk to him this morning and he's aware and so happy So relieved and so joyful again because he lived it "I'm so happy for his (Evan's) parents and his friends and family and Paul Whelan's and every other person who was kept unnecessarily VIDEO: Small town of Manchester reacts to release of Paul Whelan The prisoner swap was the largest since the Cold War David Whelan says after such a large trade he now worries for the next American family who may find themselves in their shoes “They (US) still have not been able to deter countries like Russia and Iran and China from taking hostages," David Whelan said but I'm very satisfied with the outcome in Paul's case.” “Humans being used as pawns," Rose Fenster said and allies in the exchange are an accused Russian assassin and a Russian cyberhacker 2025 at 4:18 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Darren Joshua Bradford was charged with six additional counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree and one count of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree MI — A 24-year-old Berkley man is facing seven more charges after forcing teens to have sex in exchange for vape products according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office Darren Joshua Bradford was charged with six additional counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree and one count of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree The charges come after prosecutors charged Bradford with third-degree criminal sexual conduct He is also facing two other third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges in connection with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old Grosse Pointe Park girl in February he faces up to 15 years in prison for each third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge He faces up to two years in prison for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct "This defendant appears to be a serial predator who exploited teenagers too young to consent," Oakland County Prosecutor McDonald said but thanks to them this defendant won’t get a chance to abuse the next potential victim." Police said they received several tips from witnesses who said minors frequently visited Bradford's apartment Investigators then learned Bradford was known to provide vapes marijuana and alcohol to high school students through Snapchat prosecutors said he told a 15-year-old girl he would not sell her vape products unless she had sex with him Investigators said he had sex with the girl at her Bloomfield Township home as well as in his car A 77-year-old Huntington Woods woman died Wednesday in a crash involving a carriage and bicycle on Mackinac Island Police reported they were called at about 2:15 p.m to the area of Main Street and Bogan Lane for a report of a crash between a carriage and bicycle a female bicyclist traveling west crashed into a carriage traveling east Officials said the bicyclist was seriously injured in the crash and taken to a hospital in Petoskey They also said the crash remains under investigation Michigan State Police officials said bicycle-involved crashes in the state increased by 10% in 2023 to 1,480 crashes from 2022 with 1,340 crashes the number of bicyclist fatalities fell in 2023 by 33% with 24 deaths Ready to get out your candy bags this Halloween Many families and communities across metro Detroit are preparing for the holiday with neighborhood trick-or-treating plans or special events Some cities and townships set recommended hours for trick-or-treating Here is a look at trick-or-treating schedules for Halloween which falls on Thursday this year in metro Detroit Communities that are not listed do not regulate hours for trick or treating: Related: Your guide to Halloween events and attractions in metro Detroit Macomb CountyCenter Line: 6-11 p.m.New Haven: 6-8 p.m.Richmond: 6-8 p.m.Jalen Williams is a reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press A Southfield man was arrested after leading Berkley police on a car chase and crashing into a house last weekend Sunday tried to conduct a traffic stop on a white Dodge Journey near Edwards Avenue and Greenfield Road was operating the vehicle without insurance the driver refused to stop and sped away from officers Officials said the suspect drove south into Oak Park and east on Lincoln Drive toward Coolidge Highway and through Huntington Woods before returning to Berkley The driver then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a home He then exited the vehicle and ran but was quickly arrested a short distance from the crash site He was identified as a 31-year-old Southfield man After officers searched the suspect's vehicle they found cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms The suspect also exhibited signs of being under the influence of narcotics Police said no injuries were reported in the incident Officials released photos and video of the incident via the department's Facebook page Authorities said they plan to seek multiple charges against the suspect They are not releasing his identity until he has been formally charged in court We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Carol Ann Pennypacker created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne 2024 at 1:21 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Independence Day is fast approaching so it's time to find out where you can celebrate in and around metro Detroit (Mark Nero/Patch)METRO DETROIT — Independence Day is fast approaching so it's time to find out where you can celebrate in and around metro Detroit To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar Patch has put together a guide to what’s going on in metro Detroit and the surrounding areas Americans celebrate the birth of a new nation with fireworks predate by centuries the designation of Independence Day as a federal holiday During the pivotal summer of 1776, the pre-Revolutionary celebrations honoring King George III’s birthday were replaced with mock funerals as a symbolic break from the crown It was an exciting time in Philadelphia — the Continental Congress voted to break from the crown and the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the original 13 colonies —New Hampshire South Carolina and Georgia — to adopt the Declaration of Independence The first annual commemoration of the nation’s independence was in Philadelphia on July 4 Fireworks have been part of Fourth of July festivities since the first celebration in Philadelphia Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. who is on the University of Michigan Board of Regents on Wednesday in his home in Huntington Woods he saw several alarming notifications on his iPhone Photos and videos from his doorbell app showed a disturbance outside his front door around 4:40 a.m. his wife and their three daughters were asleep. A stranger wearing a red keffiyeh over his face walked up to Acker’s front door and stood there for several moments He placed papers on the doors and took photographs before leaving a list of demands for the leadership of the University of Michigan the UMich Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” an attorney and former Obama administration official sits on the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan a statewide position to which he was elected in 2018 He ran for the seat as a way to promote a safe campus environment and protect students from sexual misconduct Acker knew Israel issues might come up — the school has been dealing with staunchly anti-Israel activists for years — but he never expected anything like the uproar of the last seven months The disturbance at his home escalated things to a new level “It’s not a way that we handle disputes in this country I think that is something that is enormously undemocratic,” Acker told Jewish Insider on Wednesday afternoon “I found it extremely disturbing and very menacing in thinking that someone would dress like that to come to my house at 4:40 a.m He compared the incident to something that happened in December 2020, when two dozen protesters showed up at night outside the home of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to protest the results of the 2020 election. there is no reason to show up at my home in the middle of the night with a mask on just like there’s no reason to show up at Jocelyn Benson’s house,” Acker said “These tactics are fundamentally — whether they’re from the far right or far left — incredibly illiberal They try to use fear as a tactic to get what they want when they can’t get what they want at the ballot box “The tactics used today represent a significant and dangerous escalation in the protests that have been occurring on campus. Going to an individual’s private residence is intimidating behavior and, in this instance, illegal trespassing. This kind of conduct is not protected speech; it’s dangerous and unacceptable,” the university said in the statement (Acker and a university spokesperson declined to say if the police have gotten involved.) In the letter pasted to Acker’s door the encampment protesters demanded a meeting with Michigan’s Board of Regents They also demanded involvement in university investment decisions university divestment “from Israeli apartheid and genocide,” a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and the full abolition of the campus police department The protesters also seek adoption of “essential preconditions” before any meeting even takes place — including a commitment to “full amnesty” for protesters who faced disciplinary action for their role in the protests and a demand that Michigan “stop using dubious accusations of antisemitism to vilify students protesting for basic human rights and liberation.” The letter and the middle-of-the-night visit do not make Acker more likely to meet with the group. He has said in the past that divestment is “not really a negotiable one” for him “I am not interested in meeting with a group led by someone who has posted that anyone who supports the Zionist state should die,” Acker said, referring to a social media post by the president of SAFE the anti-Israel group that led the encampment. “My feelings on Israel and Palestine and Gaza are complicated And I don’t know if they’re targeting me because of that,” said Acker and certainly the last six weeks have really instilled in me a new appreciation for my own liberal Zionism and the importance of a State of Israel The level of antisemitism has become enormously scary.” The biggest concern for Acker is not the students whose style of activism has become increasingly extreme “I’m much more concerned with the faculty with the small group of faculty who seem to be egging on some of the worst behaviors of our students because I deeply believe in academic freedom,” Acker said. “But I also think that with academic freedom comes a responsibility,” Acker continued “and that responsibility requires these faculty members to do well by their students to teach them that even when they are angry or dealing with the complex emotions that come from seeing this conflict in Gaza that they they channel their behaviors into ones that are not dangerous that won’t lead to them having long-term consequences.” Acker called for Michigan to adopt a position of institutional neutrality like the University of Chicago (although Chicago also struggled with how to address its recent Gaza encampment) He wants to see that position extended to the classroom so that students are free to express their views — including students who support Israel “You have to be proactively protecting free speech and academic freedom the academic freedom of students to learn without being punished for their political views which is actually something that is most concerning more than any of the potential violence or the encampments or anything,” said Acker “The one thing that I’ve heard most from Jewish students is that they are deeply concerned that if they don’t take a particular position on Israel or Palestine they may be punished academically in their classes.” Professors at Michigan shouldn’t be forcing students to adopt their own perspectives “You’re representing the institution It’s your job to be facilitating people’s First Amendment rights not enforcing your own political views,” he said Copyright © 2025 · All Rights Reserved · Jewish Insider The politics and business news you need to stay up to date delivered each morning in a must-read newsletter Enter your email to gain access to our exclusive contentDon’t worry if you are already subscribed you won’t receive our newsletters twice Residents at Huntington Woods Mobile home park are voicing their concerns about the unlivable conditions Tenants at the mobile home park said they’ve dealing with issues such as no running water mold infested homes and residents told ABC 45 when the water is running they’re unable to drink it it comes out brown when it first comes out,” The resident said ABC 45 reached out to Councilwoman Thurm and Mayor Nancy Vaughn Both elected officials said they were unaware of the issue but they would look into the matter Mayor Vaughn and Councilwoman Thurm received an email stating But residents received a notice from the mobile home park on February 20 2023 stating the water well on the property is experiencing levels of low or no pressure Which will lead to the potential of siphonage and the introduction of bacteria in the water system The letter also told residents if they plan on consuming or using the water for daily use then they must boil the water for one minute to kill any disease-causing organism that may be present in the water the City of Greensboro said the mobile home park is responsible for the water condition but the City is able to enforce proper code compliances Larry Roberts Code Compliance manager said after hearing about the story he can tell there are multiple code violations “It seems like there are several being mentioned,” Roberts said ABC 45 spoke with a resident who has called Huntington Woods home for the past four years The resident who wanted to remain anonymous said this is no way for someone to live last summer you could see the feces on the ground and they still have that problem,” The resident said When it comes to finding code compliance violations Roberts said there are many things to look for “We can look for anything from minor violations to major The Major things are what you just spoke of the sewer issue The resident said they’ve expressed their concerns to the property owner Saeed Farida and the property manager but nothing gets done I’ve seen somebody give water but I’ve never seen anybody fixing the sewer They say they are but I’ve never witnessed anyone fixing the sewer problem,” the tenant said In order for Code Compliance to step in and address these issues and help residents get it resolved Residents must call Code Compliance and make a complaint and allow Code Compliance to inspect their home Roberts said once the inspections are done the property owner will have several days to bring the property up to code “If it’s just five or more minor violations they have 30 days of the first hearing notice and if it's a major violation then they have a 48 hour window,” Roberts said But if these issues aren’t resolved within the time frame then more action will be taken once it goes to the hearing notice it’ll go to the repair order If things aren't met within 60 days it’ll go to the housing commission and at that point it’ll be up to the commission to determine the path,” Roberts said Roberts said in order for residents to receive the help they need they must call and file a complaint “Unless we're aware of the complaint of someone calling it in since this has been brought to our attention I have sent two inspectors to that location today to kind of get a feel for what’s going on,” Roberts said Saeed Farida and the property manager and they both denied comment This fine Tudor house in Huntington Woods has been owned by the same couple for 52 years Buyers who find their way in often hunker down and stay vintage brick houses and a wealth of civic assets With just 2,300 houses and 6,300 residents Huntington Woods has its own library and cultural center It has summer concerts in the park and a recreation center loaded with classes “It takes a lot of time for anybody to move out of Huntington Woods,” said Realtor Vic Simjanoski houses never even hit the market,” he said Owners sell houses to their children or their neighbor “To actually have something go on the market is a big deal.” It’s in the area called Front of the Woods which is close to Woodward and has the earliest and grandest houses Richard and Louise Muszynski were married just one year when they bought this “I walked around this neighborhood like I was proud as I could be,” Richard Muszynski said “I really felt that I’d made it.” The previous owners had moved south and left their four oldest children unsupervised to finish the school year More: $3M award-winning Oakland Township home has a staircase made of glass More: $925K Brush Park town house has 2 privates spaces on roof the beautiful crown moldings in some rooms had been painted garish colors the wide grapevine design around the top of the dining room had been painted to look like grapes — green leaves and purple fruit The Muszynskis tackled most of this themselves One daughter fired tiles to make a kitchen backsplash and built a twig chair for the sunroom Another daughter landscaped the new pool and the house with English perennial gardens. Richard Muszynski discovered a talent for woodworking He has re-shingled the house two times now He built a graceful wine room next to the kitchen The couple redesigned and rebuilt their kitchen with bricks Louise Muszynski mixed mortar; her husband set bricks They needed a do-over when he tried to build an arch without first building a frame One daughter’s fashion sketches and paintings are part of the art in the house Also framed is a 50-year-old Detroit Free Press article Lilian Jackson Braun, then the Free Press home design writer wrote about their hand-built brick kitchen Huntington Woods calls itself “the city of homes” because all housing but for one duplex consists of single-family homes but its location in the North Woodward corridor puts it close to Royal Oak Ferndale and Birmingham with just a shot south on Woodward into downtown Detroit The Detroit Zoo and Rackham Golf Course also border the city Key features: Handsome 1927 Tudor home is full of fine original features — 52 leaded glass windows fine perennial landscaping. Desirable Huntington Woods location EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story contained the incorrect spelling of the Realtor’s name and details about the home This elegant Tudor home in Huntington Woods comes with a large dressing room hand-built from mahogany and an Arts and Crafts lower level whose construction cost more than a small house It was built in 1936 with such fine touches as wormy chestnut wood plaster moldings and leaded glass windows and doors Credit the first owner — a vice-president of Packard Motor Co. who invested heavily in craftsmanship and materials — and the current owner — Mark Cohoon who has poured in painstaking improvements for the past 19 years ► Related: Rochester custom house has a riot of unique attributes "That house was built to such a high standard of craftsmanship and materials it made renovation very time-consuming and costly," said Cohoon "I really sweat the details." It's for sale now at $800,000 For each renovation he had tools built to duplicate original shapes the lower level has been transformed into a theater area but instead of theater seats it's built like a big living room The style is vintage Arts and Crafts with a fireplace of Pewabic tile and head-high judges paneling with built-in bookcases many sheets for a butterfly effect," Cohoon said the more you realize it's really beautifully executed." An alcove here holds a built-in sideboard that works as a bar again vintage Arts and Crafts in white oak and Pewabic tile The wood working was done by a skilled British carpenter "He worked at my house pretty much for two years," Cohoon said "Kind of like that painter on the Murphy Brown show." in Detroit for being "a super great resource" for his special woods Jervis also built the all-mahogany dressing room built like one Cohoon saw in Grosse Pointe Park He sacrificed the house's fourth bedroom to create this and large new bath This old-world bath was inspired by one he'd seen in the Boston Edison district Four-inch tile runs seamlessly from wall to wall with no baseboards and almost no cut tiles "That whole room just looks like a bowl of tile," he said A previous owner had torn out most of the original wrought iron and brass railings Cohoon found an iron-smith who could copy that and had it rebuilt it for both staircases The house sat on an oversized corner lot with a four-foot slope going up behind — pretty but not very useable He studied landscape books and had an expert sketch suggestions Then he excavated 25 truckloads of soil to cut a huge semi-circle of level land into the hill He brought in 30 tons of bluestone to build stone walls for privacy He built a raised stone patio far back in the lot He even got a landscape contractor's license so he could buy plants and supplies wholesale "I had many semi truckloads brought in," Cohoon said The house's location is a further plus -- a street of posh old houses in Huntington Woods a small enclave in Oakland County's Woodward Corridor Recently Market Watch magazine named this city America's 10th best suburb With about 2,400 homes the city has its own library There are concerts in the park and extensive recreation programs and classes for small kids Best of all at this house may be the view of the city passing on Hendrie Boulevard "Huntington Woods is really active with walkers "Hendrie is one of the great walking streets." Key features: Elegant 1930s Tudor home has been renovated and upgrated with meticulous care A Huntington Woods attorney was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday for cheating investors out of millions of dollars by pretending he was investing their money in medical marijuana when he was really blowing it on gambling Prosecutors had pushed for a 41-month sentence District Judge David Lawson concluded Robert Gross for which he will also pay $3.6 million in restitution to his victims under the terms of his plea deal. In December Gross pleaded guilty to fraud in U.S District Court, admitting he ran a years-long scheme that duped numerous investors including several of his law practice clients "Bob is remorseful for the actions that put him in this place He's going to do everything he can to make sure that all victims are made whole," Gross's lawyer "He respects the court's decision in sentencing him underneath the guidelines but yet imposing a prison term on him for the next 36 months." Gross convinced people to give him money for investments claiming the funds would be used for a medical marijuana business and equipment lien repayment Gross used the money to pay down gambling markers and obtain new gambling credit at a casino in Las Vegas MORE: Grosse Pointe lawyer gets 18 months prison for lying MORE: Immigration lawyer accused of bribing federal agent cuts deal Gross also created fake documents as part of the scheme including falsely notarized documents and a false net worth statement that he understood would be used in an attempt to secure additional funds from investors Gross admitted that he expected to receive $2 million in compensation from the individuals for whom he was fraudulently soliciting funds prosecutors argued in court documents that Gross’s crime "was not a one-time lapse in judgment," nor was it about "putting food on the table." "Gross’s fraud was not one of desperation Gross lived a life with the kind of trappings of which most criminal defendants can only dream: an idyllic upbringing Yet Gross was willing to risk it all for the promise of a multi-million dollar payoff ...," prosecutors wrote in court documents "Gross made the conscious decision to lie and cheat time after time," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo "But what makes this offense even more egregious is that Gross was not defrauding strangers on the street—he was defrauding his own clients and others who trusted him because of his status as a lawyer." Gross's world came crashing down when he and two of his associates returned from an "illicit outing in Las Vegas and their fraud was uncovered by federal agents." Gross's attorneys described him as a good and hardworking family man with good standing in the community. Gross feels great embarrassment and shame for his involvement in this crime He is acutely aware of how he betrayed people’s trust and abused his position as an attorney at law,” one of his lawyers wrote in a sentencing memo on file in U.S “He has disappointed many who believed in him and jettisoned a rewarding career that he worked hard at for many Gross's lawyers argued that Gross "unquestionably played a minor role he readily admitted to what he had done wrong and took full responsibility for his actions." Gross's lawyers also argued that a prison term would not only prevent him from paying off his restitution during the sentence but would also make it more difficult for him to find work after his release from prison Tresa Baldas can be reached at tbaldas@freepress.com The quirky but controversial Drag Queen Storytime — a monthly event at the Huntington Woods Public Library — brought the usual flock of parents and youngsters to the city’s library on Saturday It also brought about two dozen protesters and about 200 counter-protesters who braved Saturday's cold snap and stood on a sidewalk and in the library parking lot —respectively — while surrounded by police who kept the groups separated by the waist-high brick wall that fronts the parking area One protester shouted across the wall through a bullhorn You have a mental illness!” He all but drowned out the counter-shouts The bullhorn shouter’s jacket was covered with wording in large letters including “Repent Sinner” and “Prepare to Meet God.” His target was a large group staring back many holding signs with sayings such as “Love Wins” and “Hate is a Drag.” graduated from Berkley High School and goes by the stage name “Raven Divine Cassadine” was ready to don a pink formal gown and elaborate make-up then read stories to youngsters and their parents said youth services librarian Joyce Krom before the event “All of the stories today will build self-esteem and self-acceptance, the idea to be who you are,” Krom said, just before the story time, when reporters were asked to leave. Drag Queen Storytime originated in San Francisco. It now takes place in a dozen major cities, according to dragqueenstoryhour.org Krom said she came across the idea online, “saw that the program really fit our values here” and began it in Huntington Woods in late 2017 she said. Those who opposed the event nearly all from outside the city, said they did so because the event promoted “the homosexual lifestyle” to young children It could lead to incidents of child sexual abuse “We’re usually in Westland on Saturdays but I saw an article about this on Facebook yesterday,” David Zastrow said Drag Queen Storytime is “a bad idea because this is a step on the road to pedophilia,” he said adding: “We’re going to protect our kids from things like this.” His wife pointed out that she was pregnant and due to deliver in March The two stood behind a large sign that said “Believe in the Lord and thou shall be saved.” Nearby stood Rodney Pelletier, a producer and writer for Ferndale-based St. Michael’s Media, a conservative Roman Catholic website, churchmilitant.com “We’re outspoken – we report on things that the Archdiocese of Detroit should oppose but you don’t always hear from them,” Pelletier said Across the brick wall separating the sides counter-protesters formed a human hallway across the library’s parking lot shielding children and their parents who were heading to the Storytime event from the view of protesters Each time Storytime attendees walked through their midst cheers and applause rose from the counter-group Many wore articles of pink clothing or held signs bearing rainbow designs both symbols of gay liberation and the struggle for tolerance waged by the segment of society lately labeled LGBTQ – for lesbian “This community really celebrates diversity and who can be opposed to books and reading?” Nearby were Huntington Woods City Manager Amy Sullivan two Huntington Woods city commissioners and Mayor Bob Paul Before the protesting began and for a month leading up to the clash — as groups with names like Mass Resistance and Warriors for Christ publicized their intent to disrupt the event in Huntington Woods known for its large Jewish population — Paul had said that no amount of protesting would stop the library’s Drag Queen Storytime “This has proven to be very popular with our residents and we think that communities have the right to make their own choices on local programming,” Paul said Saturday “Drag Queens are part of society and they deserve the right to be included in society No harm comes from offering the gift of reading and we have the added benefit of being able to promote acceptance in a welcoming environment and hopefully decrease anti-LGBTQ bullying.” Diversity was certainly in evidence amid the clash of cultures outside the library There were moments when the gathering suggested an outdoor costume party with a few characters in pink hair and zany attire on one side while the other group tended to sport hunting jackets “Hate has no home here,” said the sign held by Jessica Rhodes a Huntington Woods resident who said she was “a 100% supporter of gay rights — I am straight but I have family members who are gay.” a city resident was there with her mother Michelle Blake “Hate Free Zone” and said she attends a middle school in Oak Park that has a gay-straight students alliance Allie said: “I don’t like how these people are against others who are just trying to express themselves One of the few residents of Huntington Woods who stood across the wall from Allie and the mass of Storytime supporters was Steven Zimberg who was an unsuccessful candidate for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and 2018. Zimberg handed out a one-page statement which said in part: “Any time trusted officials are promoting adult entertainers as role models for our small children content and goal promotes the ideology of gender fluidity or alternative sexual lifestyles “Our public institutions do not teach sex education to 3- and 4-year-olds for a reason We must ask why our library is taking on such a politically controversial issue – especially when receiving our tax dollars.” All performers for Drag Queen Storytime have been volunteers They said it was too soon to know whether the city would incur police overtime costs from Saturday's protest Contact Bill Laitner: blaitner@freepress.com A pioneering public library children's story hour hosted by drag performers is attracting some opposition in Huntington Woods a year after the series started The unique story hours began in late 2017 and was believed to be one of the first in Michigan some local residents and national anti-gay groups have voiced opposition to the Huntington Woods Library's Drag Queen Story Time event as well as similar efforts around the country a Huntington Woods city commissioner for the last three years said Sunday she opposes the program and plans to bring up the issue at the commission's meeting Tuesday Huntington Woods City Commissioner Allison Iversen emailed city youth library official Joyce Krom to oppose the Drag Queen Story Time Here’s the full text of the email provided by Iversen to the Free Press (The Free Press blacked out email addresses and a personal telephone number): "It may be cheapening the sensitive nature of this issue by trying to push this idea that this is something is completely natural," said Iversen a mother of four who is resigning her seat this year in order to move to Lake Orion Children "are very naive and gullible at this age .. it seems like the wrong way to teach this kind of acceptance," she said Iversen added that she worries the program could be "planting a seed" about gender fluidity in children who would have otherwise never had to wrestle with the issue in their own lives. said a library employee who has proudly watched the program thrive "It’s not promoting anything," Jon Pickell "You’re not going to end up as transsexual … because you saw a drag queen story hour." worries about backlash to the program which has developed a loyal following from Huntington Woods and surrounding communities. He alerted others to a round of emails and flyers floated by groups opposing the drag queen story hours Arthur Schaper, organizational director based in California for MassResistance, a self-described pro-family civic group which has opposed the promotion of gay people in public life, said that his group's local chapter plans to protest the next Drag Queen Story Time in Huntington Woods Huntington Woods City Manager Amy Sullivan said in an interview Monday that the program has received substantial local community support and there are no plans to change or cancel the story hours The story hours were initially overwhelmed when they were first offered with 80 attendees and 16 people on a waiting list but the events still draw a regular crowd of supporters About 35 people showed up the latest story hour earlier this month "An out-of-state hate group made us a target." She added that she has only received emails and phone calls of opposition from those outside Huntington Woods either in other parts of the state or from other parts of the country Library Youth Services Director Joyce Krom explained in an email provided by Sullivan on Monday how it all started "I first ran across the concept online when the Drag Queen Story Hour organization came up in my Google Alerts on "Literacy," Krom wrote. "I visited the web site and read up on it 2 different residents came to me shortly thereafter and requested I bring the program to Huntington Woods." The program has featured Huntington Woods native Miss Raven Divine Cassadine, who had won the Miss Motor City Pride, according to a December 2017 report in the Oakland County Times “I was nervous coming here,” the drag performer told the children at her first appearance last December “There’s a lot of little people in this room and it made me nervous I didn’t know if you guys were going to like me or not several children introduce themselves and gave hugs Among those attending were Erica and Brian Conklin who brought their then 2- and 3-year-olds The couple said they didn’t feel any need to explain what a drag performer was “We just wanted them to experience it and see all sorts of people," Brian Conklin said. "We didn’t want it to be a big deal We just wanted them to have these early memories of experiencing diversity as a social norm The library program's Facebook page described its mission "Drag Queen Storytime is just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries "DQS captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish "My hope is that the next generation of kids won’t see Drag Queen Story Time as anything unusual," Krom told the Oakland County Times "And they’ll just see people for who they are." Proxmire of the Oakland County Times contributed to this report Contact Matthew Dolan: 313-223-4743 or msdolan@freepress.com — A Detroit-area man convicted of killing his wife by dragging her into a northern Michigan lake has lost a key appeal likely exhausting his efforts to get a new trial 15 years after the death Mark Unger argued that his rights were violated because his trial lawyer was ineffective especially when he failed to object to provocative courtroom comments by the prosecutor More: Father of girl killed on I-94 was driving stolen vehicle, report says More: Huron County man dies an hour after life partner killed in crash But a federal appeals court last week rejected that claim saying evidence against Unger was "overwhelming" and any failures by his lawyer were unlikely to affect the verdict in Benzie County Authorities said Florence Unger of Huntington Woods was pushed off the roof of a boathouse and dragged into Lower Herring Lake Unger's lawyers argued that his wife accidentally fell and died from injuries A children's story hour hosted by drag performers — men dressed as women — has drawn national attention to a small public library in suburban Detroit But not all of the attention has been favorable. At a meeting too large for the city hall — about 300 people filled a gymnasium — members of the Huntington Woods City Commission and scores of public speakers addressed the opposition to their local library’s Drag Queen Story Hour a departure from the usual library’s read-to-kids program Residents and city officials said they see the Drag Queen readings as a way to foster diversity and show acceptance of gender changing The scattering of opponents in the audience drew boos and catcalls from others The leading opponent who sparked the sometimes contentious meeting didn’t appear City Commissioner Allison Iversen resigned her seat on the elected board via an email on Tuesday afternoon Commissioner Jeff Jenks said before the meeting More: Critics want Huntington Woods Library to end Drag Queen Story Time More: Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum called out for Jefferson exhibit “I guess she didn’t want to show up against a crowd like this,” Jenks said Iversen recently sold her house in Huntington Woods and was moving to Lake Orion Iversen told the Free Press for an article over the weekend that she didn’t oppose diversity and gays but did object to having transsexual individuals telling stories to “impressionable young children” at a public library city officials read a letter supporting the Story Hour programs from leaders of Pleasant Ridge whose residents use the Huntington Woods Public Library The crowd applauded as Mayor Bob Paul read the letter “It’s unfortunate that a hate group from California has been contacting the city demanding an end to this activity at our library,” Paul said The city is committed to allowing it to continue He also read a letter of support from state Rep who said that he hoped the story hour would "continue to teach our children about diversity." humor-laced story hour programs drew attention on Sunday after a story on Freep.com. Although online comments showed many readers cheered the diversity initiative a former Michigan assistant attorney general who led state's prosecution of Dr drew applause when she stood at the lectern and addressed the commission “Our kids are more in danger with priests and world-renowned gymnastics doctors predators I have prosecuted and put in jail than at a library program such as Drag Queen Story Hour the only people who have put our children in harm’s way are those who would encourage and invite hate groups to protest in our community,” Povilaitis said Morris Brown said he often took his 5-year-old daughter to the programs and that “what we hear is a message of love and acceptance.” But a few critics said the library programs could confuse children about gender identity and was taking place mainly for the benefit of adults who want to show off their own commitment to liberal values who wore a black leather vest emblazoned with “Bikers for Trump” and a Confederate flag said she “had no problem with the Drag Queen Story Hour itself but when it’s in a public institution supported by tax dollars I can’t see that.” Her remarks drew hoots and jeers The programs were launched in late 2017 and considered virtually unique in Michigan The story hours immediately drew large crowds organizational director based in California for MassResistance a self-described pro-family civic group which has opposed the promotion of gay people in public life has said that his group's local chapter plans to protest the next Drag Queen Story Time in Huntington Woods Staff Writer Matthew Dolan contributed to this report That’s how Greg Bartelt felt when he first laid eyes on the home in which he now lives Nearly three years ago, Bartelt saw a real estate listing for a midcentury-modern home in Huntington Woods “It was a Friday; we looked at it Saturday and closed the deal Sunday night.” Bartelt fell in love with modern design many years ago when attending Whitman Junior High School in Livonia “My school was a Minoru Yamasaki design,” he says purchased the 1950 home from the original owners’ daughter “We started renovating immediately and wanted to get it done in under a year,” says Bartelt who had an insider’s perspective on what that year might look like Bartelt owns Royal Oak-based Vogue Furniture and installs high-end furniture and millwork The couple continued to live in their Birmingham townhome during the renovations Bartelt says the move was somewhat inspired by the fact that his family has grown to include two young grandchildren “We needed the space again,” the creative designer says The home’s renovation crew, including Bloomfield Township-based Lakes Development Group the floor plan was fine-tuned to include a large primary suite that would eliminate two bedrooms consolidating those areas into one large space Another goal was to create a new kitchen layout moving it to where the breakfast niche once was.” They also removed a hearth and a built-in planter area and designed a new staircase that features handsome stone treads They plan to build a bunk room in an unfinished attic for visiting grandkids The Bartelts worked with Warren-based Wolverine Stone Co. and John Yarema who installed quarter-sawn white oak floors Building teams to create beauty and solve problems along the way is Bartelt’s favorite part of his profession absorbing all the information and then creating a solution You have to be able to defend every line you draw; each must have a purpose “Pretty much everything in the home we already had,” Bartelt continues all the furnishings are a nod to the midcentury era A Saarinen-designed Tulip table and chairs The couple have been collecting artwork by local artists from Detroit’s College for Creative Studies and Cranbrook Academy of Art for years I had our furniture and artwork in mind regarding where to fit it.” Formica-topped desk in the loft area runs along one side of the space and features three separate work areas We restained its mahogany and left the top as is.” They’re also crazy about the 1950s and ’60s light fixtures throughout many of which the couple discovered at 1st Dibs and Pamono — both online retailers offering new and vintage home décor One thing the Bartelts didn’t remove was the home’s design history various original elements — like the clerestory the balcony’s original railing (which Bartelt remilled) and leftover bricks from wall removals — adorn the home “We feel it’s important to respect the owners who came before us This story is from the March 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. Read more in our digital edition. And click here to see more metro Detroit interiors