An estimated 200 Indian Americans gathered in Novi to denounce the brutal  terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam which claimed the lives of 28 innocent tourists has drawn widespread condemnation across the global Indian diaspora Organized under the banner of “Unity Against Hate,” the protest brought together individuals across religious and others — who demanded justice and call for an end to alleged cross-border terrorism which they noted continues to plague civilians in India Participants held placards reading “Stop Terrorism,” “Justice for Pahalgam Victims,” and “Terror Has No Religion,” while chanting slogans that echoed a collective commitment to peace and nonviolence “This is not just an attack on tourists or one region of India — it is an attack on humanity,” said one community leader at the protest “We are gathered here to say enough is enough The event featured a solemn observance including a two-minute silence held in memory of the victims Many in attendance lit candles and laid flowers as a symbol of remembrance similar demonstrations and vigils were held in other parts of the Indian diaspora over 200 members of the Indian community and other supporters gathered at the premises of the Indian High Commission mourning the loss of innocent lives and affirming their commitment to peace and justice was carried out by individuals with known affiliations to Pakistan-based terror groups has sparked renewed calls for global action against state-sponsored terrorism Protestors in Novi urged international bodies and human rights organizations to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure such atrocities do not recur Parikh Worldwide Media is the largest Indian-American publishing group in the United States The group publishes five periodicals – “News India Times,” a national weekly newspaper; “Desi Talk in New York,” a weekly newspaper serving the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut region; and “Desi Talk in Chicago,” a weekly newspaper serving the Greater Chicago area and the Midwestern states; and “The Indian American,” a national online quarterly feature magazine The combined circulation and readership of these publications make the media group the most influential in the ethnic Indian market (WXYZ) — A person of interest in the death of Detroit teen London Thomas was taken into custody Saturday in Novi for a charge in an unrelated case VIDEO: Watch the report about the arrest below The 23-year-old was arrested for allegedly filing a false police report a year ago The attorney says police are making arrests for a case they're not prepared to bring to court was arraigned on a charge in connection London's death Charla was charged with lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigation think about this: Your cameras here at Channel 7 were the only ones out front when Charla Pendergrass was arrested They want to do everything they can to destroy the reputation of my clients to make their case a case which they do not have," said Defense attorney Terry L Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Anna Merigian told the court that there is video evidence to show Pendergrass lied to police Watch the full arraignment of Charla Pendergrass below: Pendergrass' attorney entered a not guilty plea on her behalf during the arraignment The judge set bond at $50,000 cash surety and said she would need to have a GPS tether and no contact with any witnesses if released on bond it is alleged that Defendant Pendergrass failed to tell the truth to FBI agents while they were conducting a criminal investigation into the death of London Thomas Aspects of the case currently remain under investigation and no further information will be released at this time," according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Pendergrass' probable cause conference has been scheduled for Wednesday "I want justice for my granddaughter, and I know she's lying. I know she has something to do with my granddaughter's death," Thomas’ grandmother Jestina Martin said Previous report: Suspects in London Thomas' death in custody Johnson has said neither of his two clients is the right person The pair were reportedly originally taken into custody and transported to the Detroit Detention Center Saturday night after investigators found 17-year-old Thomas’ body Previous report: 2 suspects in custody after body of missing teen London Thomas found in Southfield Thomas was last seen April 5 in Inkster and reported missing three days later A 23-year-old man with whom Thomas was in a relationship with and whose home was raided two weeks ago in connection to the case is believed to be the last person to see her alive Previous report: FBI and police raid Inkster home of missing teen London Thomas' boyfriend Thomas’ body was found inside a parked white SUV in Southfield last weekend Neighbors told 7 News Detroit the SUV had been parked there for two weeks the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse real estate investment trust (REIT) cold-storage network via the acquisition of existing cold storage warehouses from Ohio-based Tyson Foods “This expansion signals what we see as the next evolution of cold chain operations and reflects the growing demand for smarter more responsive supply chain networks,” says Greg Lehmkuhl “We’re creating more than cold storage infrastructure — we’re setting the foundation for agile intelligent supply chains built for resilience and precision.” Lineage will acquire and take over operations of four existing cold storage warehouses and other related assets from Tyson Foods for $247 million These warehouses total approximately 49 million cubic feet with 160 thousand pallet positions The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025 “We’re proud to partner with our valued customer on these landmark agreements “This is just another example of the unique value we can add to our customers.” Lineage plans to onboard more than 1,000 of Tyson Foods’ employees demonstrating what Lineage calls a shared commitment to a values-based culture and service excellence At or prior to closing the acquisition agreement multi-year agreement under which it will invest more than $740 million to design fully automated cold storage warehouses in major U.S which Tyson Foods will occupy as an anchor customer The developments will add more than 80 million cubic feet and nearly 260 thousand pallet positions expanding Lineage’s scalable logistics capacity across its network as the newly constructed warehouses commence operations the acquired warehouses will transition to public warehouses as part of Lineage’s global footprint In Related News: Lineage reported total revenue of $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025 The company also declared quarterly dividend of $0.5275 per share representing annualized dividend rate of $2.11 per share your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and 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the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt The incident on 1 November 2024 has led to national outrage with legal proceedings ongoing in three prosecutors' offices and workers have also joined the protests and work stoppages Demonstrators are demanding full transparency over the reconstruction project The government insists it has addressed the protesters’ demands but students say key issues remain unresolved NOVI — Voters here will see on the August ballot a $120 million bond proposal for all new public safety facilities in the city The city council unanimously agreed during a March 10 meeting to put the proposal before voters asking them whether they will support a 1 mill levy not to exceed 25 years to pay for a new combined police and fire station facility and renovations and improvements to Fire Station No The cost includes demolition of the existing police station at the civic center complex on 10 Mile; the demolition of fire stations 1 construction and furnishing costs for the facilities that will replace them Councilmember Dave Staudt noted that the city has been eyeing improvements to public safety facilities for some time and it became clear that repairs to existing outdated buildings were going to be “extremely extraordinary.” “We determined that it was in the best interest of our fiduciary dollars to not throw new money at old buildings,” Staudt said “One hundred and 20 million dollars is a lot of money and we want to spend it in the best way.”City officials consulted with numerous advisors including Brian Weber from Plante Moran Realpoint who said during the meeting that the public safety facility plan includes: Weber noted the bond proposal will include technology upgrades for the facilities to ensure they are state-of-the-art.He said he believes $120 million is a reasonable expectation for the budget considering the scope of work with 4% annual price increases planned for materials and labor “Minus any black swan events or big major effects like tariffs going on right now,” he added noting that the cost may have to “be adjusted accordingly,” and bids for the work would go out in 2026 or 2027.If voters approve the proposal in August with an average of .95 mills annually thereafter A Novi resident with a $500,000 home with a taxable value of $250,000 would see an increase of about $250 per year in taxes voters are you with us and are you willing to help us fund it,” Mayor Justin Fischer said walking through buildings and reading reports and I think this is a reasonable ask to take public safety to the next level Novi Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Erick Zinser expressed his appreciation for the support of city officials on behalf of both the police officers and firefighters."This shows you recognize the facilities are outdated and are not adaptable and that you want to provide the best facilities in the City of Novi for them," he said you want to show the best facilities available and it means the world to know they have the support of city leadership." More: Milford driver, 95, pleads no contest in death of Novi woman Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com Uli Fernsler is the most feared left-handed pitcher in the state Fernsler showed his potential in the Division 1 state championship game his sophomore year when he went the distance in an 8-3 win over Woodhaven striking out eight without allowing a walk to start a wild celebration while earning Novi its first state title in program history followed that up with an outstanding junior season when he went 8-2 with a 0.86 ERA Detroit Catholic Central fifth-year coach Ryan Rogowski already has May 31 marked on his schedule the day his team will go up against Fernsler Rogowski knows all about his team going up against elite pitchers when Catholic Central faced Catholic League Central Division rival Orchard Lake St “We had the district draw and we’re playing Novi in my mind a top two (second round of MLB Draft) pick The thing I love about Uli is he throws a lot of strikes.” Novi coach Rick Green is thrilled Fernsler will be pitching for him so we’ve been a little disappointed about that.” striking out 45 while allowing six hits and just two walks in 19⅔ innings without giving up an earned run Birmingham Brother Rice: Ilitch is coming off an outstanding junior year where he was 9-0 (0.63 ERA including a state semifinal win over Grosse Pointe North Ilitch is big and strong at 6-4 and 210 pounds with a four-pitch mix He pitched a no-hitter against U-D Jesuit this month and will play next year at Mississippi unless he gets drafted where an early mock MLB Draft had him going in the first round New Baltimore Anchor Bay: Finkbeiner is tall and strong at 6-7 and 225 pounds maxes out at 94 mph and owns a slider which could get him drafted this summer He signed with Michigan to play for the Wolverines Finkbeiner had a 1.40 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 40 innings last season and also did some damage at the plate West Bloomfield: Moore had a strong junior year when he struck out 92 in 48 innings with the use of a fastball that’s in the high 80s He signed with Michigan this past November Moore threw a seven-inning perfect game against Bloomfield Hills last season and showed he could do some damage at the plate against Bloomfield Hills this month when he had a two-run single with the bases loaded Birmingham Brother Rice: Duhaime was a sophomore sensation last season going 10-1 with a 0.95 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 61 innings 2-1 in the Division 1 state championship game going six innings and giving up one earned run while striking out four and allowing just four hits showed his muscles by hitting three home runs in a win over Detroit Edison last week strong catcher at 6-1 and 195 pounds who is off to a strong start He was 5-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored in a 10-6 win over Hartland last week for Brother Rice’s six straight win Warren De La Salle: Pilarski is the ace of Division 1 No compiling a 3-0 record with a save and 31 strikeouts hitting .413 with two home runs and with 17 RBIs Pilarski will play next year at Western Michigan Mary’s: Crighton is a multi-sport player who competes on the basketball team and stars on the diamond showing his versatility by playing shortstop catching and getting things done on the mound including three shutout innings in a win over No Mary’s: Brzustewicz is big and strong (6-2 195) and hits with power from the left side of the plate Grosse Pointe South: Danielewicz matched Tyler Finkbeiner pitch-for-pitch when Finkbeiner ended South’s 16-game winning streak Monday with a 1-0 (eight-inning) Danielewicz had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning in the loss to Anchor Bay Mary’s: Elezaj is an outstanding catcher with a strong arm a reason he will be playing at Michigan State next year Warren De La Salle: Luepke has gained a lot of attention from college coaches after his strong start where he is 4-0 with a 0.54 ERA Mary’s: Toovalian is off to a great start with the hard-throwing hurler (91 mph) owning a 1-1 record with a 0.00 ERA and striking out 46 in 25 innings of work More: Metro Detroit top baseball teams: Dan Cimini brings 'winning philosophy' to De La Salle Bloomfield Hills: Cooney is a hard-throwing right-hander consistently in the high 80s with his fastball maxing out at 93 mph U-D Jesuit: Crane is tall (6-4) and strong (205) with a fastball that touches 90 mph throws in the mid-80s and will play at Michigan He showed his movement and arsenal when he had 14 strikeouts earlier this month against Woodhaven Detroit Catholic Central: Fairchild hits for power and is off to a strong start New Baltimore Anchor Bay: Domey is big (6-1) and strong (240) is good defensively and can hit with power a reason he will play next year at Michigan State Detroit Catholic Central: Thompson is Catholic Central’s leadoff hitter with the ability to reach base and do some damage on the bases He is considered the top catcher in the state for the ’26 class Grosse Pointe South: DiLodovico had an outstanding junior year hitting .475 with 12 doubles and a 1.311 OPS and is arguably the best catcher in the state for the 2025 class helped Edison reach the Division 3 state semifinals last season He will play next year at Western Michigan Birmingham Brother Rice: Pack was a freshman phenom last season put more than 10 mph on his fastball and now throws in the high 80s a reason he will play next year at Bowling Green Brandon Carr NOVI, Mich. – The city of Novi hopes to educate the public about an upcoming bond proposal that voters can approve or deny this August. The reality is Novi has seen tremendous growth over the last couple of decades, and therefore, so have their emergency response teams, but crews tell me their facilities are made for what life used to look like here in Novi, and that’s not cutting it. Novis fire stations 1, 2, and 3 and their public safety headquarters were all built between 1978 and 1981. “We have utilized every corner of the building that we could possibly utilize,” said Novi police Chief Erick Zinser. Zinser gave Local 4 a walk-through of the police station, showing us how they’re maxed out on space. “The female locker room is full. The male locker room is full. So we talk about expanding our workforce, we don’t have anywhere to put them,” Zinser said. Zinser showed us how tight it was in the women’s locker room. He said it was once filled up inside before adding a little section because they needed more lockers as they wanted to encourage female officers. Expanding the workforce has been happening for decades as Novi continues to grow. “If you were to look back 45 years, Novi’s population was about 22,000 residents. We’re at 67,000 or 68,000 currently in 2025. So you can imagine how much the community has grown, our public safety personnel teams have grown,” said Novi Director of Communications Sheryl Walsh-Malloy. Walsh-Malloy said that to alleviate this problem, new facilities need to be built, but the city will need taxpayer money to do so. They’re proposing a $120 million bond, which would include replacing fire stations 1, 2, and 3 and renovations to fire station 4. The city is asking for $1 million, so if the market value of your home is $400,000, your taxable value is $200,000. $1 million on that is $200 per year. The bond would last for 25 years. “If the ballot initiative was to pass in August, we would immediately begin the design of the new facilities this fall,” Walsh-Malloy said. Zinser says even though the departments are tight on space, response times are still extremely efficient. However, as he looks to the future, the facilities need to attract talent to keep response times quick and he’d like to see a facility that was better suited for the female firefighters and police officers. “If you want to be a female firefighter, and you know that you don’t have a locker room, you don’t have a bathroom, and if you have to take a shower, you have to lock the door or have somebody stand guard at the door while you’re doing that,” Zinser said. Zinser said they have 20% female staff in their police department, and they’re really proud of that number, which is way different than it was in the 80s when the facility was built. Of course, it’s all up to the voters come Aug. 5. If the bind doesn’t pass, the city will plan to update the facilities, but they’ve told me that’s only a short-term fix to something that eventually needs to be done. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. You can watch Kim on the morning newscast weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m., and frequently doing reports on the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. 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) — People living in Novi are being asked to approve a $120 million ballot proposal that includes building a new headquarters for police and fire And here's the bottom line for taxpayers: for a home valued at $250,000 with taxable value of $125,000 "We're now ready to present this to our residents and hopefully move forward," Novi Chief of Police Erick Zinser said Zinser showed me around their current police station to give me a better look at why a new space is needed I think we've tripled since then," he said As the city and first responder workforce have grown We have one locker room that we've transformed from a single-use bathroom into a multi-use locker room because we're out of space," the chief said It is no longer adaptable to current policing standards It's no longer adaptable to our staffing levels we have now.. we don't have any more room in the men's locker and we don't have any more room in the women's locker room." Zinser said the same is true for the Novi Fire Department Their stations were also built around the same time locker rooms for female employees," he said "We don't have any decontamination zones." And that's just some of the concerns they hope to address with the passage of the $120 million bond initiative that would pay for a new public safety complex bringing together police and fire at 11 Mile Road and Lee Begole Drive The city says the funds would go toward road work new buildings for fire stations 2 and 3 and improvements to station 4 along with equipment and modern technology "So we pride ourselves on service and quality and we want to be open and transparent on the education about the project so everybody has a full understanding of what they are going to be voting on in August," Zinser said For a home with a taxable value of $200,000 the impact on their taxes would be an additional $200 a year starting in 2026 I get an intimate look at people's finances really on a daily basis and I see the struggles firsthand that the people in our community and all over the country are facing," homeowner Marc Jappaya said "I think to be able to continue to provide the public safety services that the businesses and the residents in the city not only deserve but expect I think the bond proposal and the investment is not just beneficial says "I don't think there's any price on safety Designing will start in the fall if approved with construction beginning in 2026 for a total of five years To learn more, visit the city's dedicated page online Where Your Voice Matters BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Phyllis Stafford, the 95-year-old Milford driver who pleaded no contest in the October death of Novi wife and mom Sarah Thexton was sentenced to nine months' house arrest on Tuesday in 48th District Court Judge Diane D'Agostini also sentenced Stafford who said she was "truly sorry," to 24 months' probation Stafford was charged with a misdemeanor of moving violation causing death. Her case was moved to Bloomfield Hills from 52-1 District Court in Novi D'Agostini had acknowledged at the beginning of the proceeding that the case "was very difficult" and had asked those in the packed courtroom to "give each other grace." then rose from his seat next to his and Sarah's daughter to give a statement about the immense loss they had suffered after she had exited her car to inspect the damage "We have been living with the pain and consequences of her actions," said Thexton, a Novi resident who is lobbying for the state to enact elderly driving laws "Life has been unbearable these last six months.. He pleaded for Stafford to be held fully accountable even as he said a misdemeanor charge and a 1-year jail sentence would be inadequate said it was "hard to disagree with the way Mr Thexton feels," but said incarceration for an unintentional act that he believed was due to pedal misapplication would not be justice He also said Stafford hadn't been able to eat "There is nothing I can do to bring her back I just hope that in time they can forgive me and have good memories of their mother and wife D'Agostini said she had read many letters from those who loved Sarah Thexton including from her parents who live in South Africa and lost their only child and from many friends who talked about how fun D'Agostini said she had also read letters from Stafford's family that expressed sympathy for the Thextons The judge also offered her own condolences and said in making her sentencing decision she had considered many factors that took into account not only the loss and suffering of the Thextons but also Stafford's life and clean driving record She then sentenced her to the house arrest with a tether adding that she wanted Stafford to speak about distracted driving at senior centers or places with teens to "educate others on what has happened here and what the Thexton family has suffered." whose driver's license was renewed three months after the crash The judge noted she had no authority to revoke Stafford's license but attorney Spencer Bondy said she has no intention of ever driving again Chris Thexton said while he believed the judge had articulated her reasons well he was disappointed in both the charge and sanction that were levied against Stafford "I accept that this is the end of the criminal case," said Thexton who is pursuing a civil case against Stafford "I will endeavor to move on and support my daughter in the next chapter of our lives." Sen. Rosemary Bayer, to whom Thexton made a plea for addressing the lack of elderly driving laws in the state, plans to take the issue to the state legislature by June. Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com  The Salvation Army is conducting the grand opening of its new Boutique Thrift Store and Donation Center in Novi on Feb Patrons and community partners will gather outside the store for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the 13,000-square-foot space The Novi store is the Salvation Army’s 30th store location in southeast Michigan Proceeds from the thrift stores will fund the organization’s Adult Rehabilitation Center at 1627 W The Novi store will be open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Donations will be accepted from 10 a.m.-7 p.m Learn more Corrigan offers shredding on the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m NOVI – Our April Go 4 It action event is “Shred and Protect,” which is focused on protecting both you and the environment This event will give you the opportunity to protect your identity by shredding personal documents and protect the environment by properly disposing of e-waste Local 4 is teaming up with Corrigan and Human-I-T for this Earth Day event. We will collect documents for shredding and e-waste items from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at Corrigan -- 45200 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI 48375. We will accept paper only for shredding, up to 300 pounds per car. That’s about 8-10 small copy paper boxes. You must bring only paper in boxes 10 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 15 inches long, bags, or containers. No binders, garbage bags, or plastic bags mixed with the paper. Staples, rubber bands, and paper clips are acceptable. Corrigan staff will unload your car and shred the paper immediately. Corrigan is NAID certified and HIPAA compliant. As a AAA certified member of the National Association for Information Destruction, our facility is monitored 24 hours a day, undergoes unscheduled inspections each year, and our employees are background checked to ensure compliance. All shredded paper gets recycled into products like paper towels and toilet paper. For e-waste, we will accept no more than 10 items per vehicle. Human-I-T accepts everything that plugs in except kitchen appliances: computers, laptops, network hardware (i.e.: services, switches, hubs, etc.), mainframe computer equipment, monitors (CRT and LCD), printers (desktop and freestanding), external hard drives, communication hardware (i.e.: modems), uninterrupted power supplies (UPS system), power distribution units (PDUs), gaming devices, hard drives, keyboards, mice, circuit boards/cards, cable boxes, cables, power supplies, and accessories. Office and telecommunications equipment: copiers, fax machines, phone and PBX systems, video and audio equipment, projection equipment, plotters, security equipment, receivers, and transmitters. Mobile Devices: cellphones/smart phones, tablets, PDAs, gaming devices, cameras and digital music players. Human-I-T is NAID AAA- and ISO-Certified Data Sanitization and Destruction to protect your data on your devices you donate so that information is properly destroyed. Items are evaluated and usable items are refreshed and repurposed, the others are properly recycled. Human-I-T’s Digital Empowerment Center on 7 Mile provides Detroit residents of all income levels with access to low-cost technology, affordable internet, and free tech support. As Earth Day approaches, Human-I-T reminds the community that every day is Earth Day -- and invites everyone to drop off unused technology at the 7 Mile location any day of the week. but the feeling in the air is that something is missing You don't have those funny little jokes that he would have and his nicknames," stylist Maia Wolnowski said Jeff West ran a salon full of energy until August 2024 when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer He loved his clients," longtime client Lynda Novak said He had a personality that could fill any room All we ever did every single day was have fun," said stylist Rosie Marchesotti Every person that walked into the salon felt welcomed and valued by him.” West volunteered his services in the community and was well known by locals who became regulars His mother owned a salon in the Novi area and taught her children to do hair West carried on her legacy and now his sons are hoping to do the same for him Now motivated by a love of their father and a burning desire to preserve his legacy his sons Nash and Walker are trying to keep his salon They are not licensed hairstylist and do not plan to do any hair They will operate as owners managing operations There's gonna be a lot of renovations done that's gonna allow more business," Nash West said Hear more from Jeff Wests' sons Walker and Nash in the video player below: "This is what we have from him left to us," Nash West said The third-generation owners are hoping for community support as they work to make the place a cut above the rest It wasn't even a second thought," Nash West said NOVI - The Salvation Army’s newest thrift store and donation center opens at 43600 Grand River this week Employees as well as curious shoppers who have been knocking on the door have eagerly awaited the grand opening for the 13,000-square foot boutique “I’m excited for the first store in this location,” said Sarab Esho “We’ve been getting a lot of great feedback Customers are excited we’re here and can’t wait for Feb Esho walked through the expansive facility now adorned with dozens of racks of clothing a living room furniture set is pleasingly arranged a wall of handbags and accessories is cast in sunlight from high-set windows Esho and several store employees have been setting up merchandise since early January in the store Esho expects there to eventually be 12 to 15 full- and part-time employees The Novi location marks the 30th Salvation Army Thrift Store in southeast Michigan and is expected to have a high volume of traffic for the fourth boutique store in the region explains because boutique stores are smaller than the traditional stores with “higher quality name brand merchandise at very good prices.” “We’re very excited to become a part of this specific area - it’s such a retail heavy shopping heavy area that we get to join,” Dietz said a quick merchandise rotation schedule will begin with items color-coded for sale and regular turnover “We keep the inventory fresh on the floor,” Esho said “We are required to push out 900 pieces of clothing daily Bringing in new merchandise is not an issue with a current average of 10-20 donations per day which is anticipated to increase to up to 200 to 300 donation drop-offs per day when spring arrives The sales of all donated items benefit the southeast Michigan Salvation Army’s mission - supporting a substance abuse rehabilitation center in Detroit which can house up to 125 men and 25 women The Novi Salvation Army Thrift Store is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m When Novi pitcher Uli Fernsler didn't return to the mound in the fifth inning of Thursday's Kensington Lakes Activities Association-West opener over 20 people sitting behind home plate stood up exited the Wildcats' brand new baseball stadium and headed for their cars in the parking lot those weren't your typical season-ticket holders nor were they fans realizing that third-ranked Novi's 7-0 lead would be enough to get past Canton in the eventual 10-0 They pointed their speed guns at the mound filmed pitches on their iPhones and DSLR cameras typed notes on their tablets and jotted down observations and details about every pitch they saw in their notebooks the left-handed pitcher signed with TCU and a prospect many professional clubs will consider selecting in July's MLB draft I didn't really expect that," said the senior who struck out nine batters in his debut start of the season and gave up only a triple to Canton's Tommy Murphy in the second inning "I was just trying to get people out here because I've been working hard I just didn't think it'd be anything like this."  recruiting website Prep Baseball Report ranked Fernsler as the No And much will be expected of him as the season continues The Wildcats are ranked in the top five in most polls circulating social media while the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association ranked them No 3 in its pre-season poll released at the end of the winter Anything less than winning another state title would be a disappointment in the Six Fernsler hopes his arm can carry the Wildcats back to Michigan State's McLane Stadium His goals are to win every start and not allow a single run while he's pitching More: 'Ice in his veins': Sophomore pitcher leads Novi baseball to 1st state championship "He's been everything you'd want out of him as a pitcher," 25th-year coach Rick Green said and he's now realized just how special he is More: Why Northville pitcher Caden Besco cried after the Division 1 baseball state final Novi has 10 seniors and many players with meaningful playing experience That includes nine who were on the roster as sophomores on the state title team: Jaden Vondrasek the younger brother of Clemson freshman arm Brendon Bennett and Michigan softball pitcher Reganne Bennett "We already had a few of them on the team as sophomores and I brought five or six of those guys up for that playoff run "But this is probably a more athletic team We're aggressive on the bases and do all the little things This team is probably a step ahead as far as pitchers because we've got Uli back for his third year and other guys like Johnny in his third year on the team and this team is locked in better than any team I've ever had."  More: Sophomore pitcher helps Novi baseball upset No. 3 Northville in regional semifinal Which is saying something because the Wildcats have had no shortage of college recruits over the past three seasons from Brendon Bennett to Fernsler's older brother Harvard pitcher Andrew Abler and even a few guys at smaller schools at the Division II "I just think we're really good this year," Uli said "We've got a lot of guys who just love to play baseball We've got a similar team to two years ago." The only difference between this team and two years ago No one saw the Wildcats upsetting the field and winning a state championship rival Northville was favored to get out of the region and represent the KLAA during the final-four weekend in East Lansing that year So this year's squad isn't sneaking up on anyone Everyone is well aware of how talented they are And if the game against Canton indicates what's to come MLB scouts showing up will likely become a regular occurrence That added attention will be something Novi will have to learn to manage More: 'Hardest worker in the room:' MHSBCA names Northville's Dante Nori its Mr. Baseball "I'd probably say the state championship," Uli answered after being asked what's more nerve-racking: pitching in a state championship as a sophomore or throwing in front of two-dozen scouts More: Northville baseball star Dante Nori taken in 1st round of MLB Draft You don't have to look far to see how important performing well in front of scouts is Last year, Northville outfielder Dante Nori was considered one of the best players in Michigan, as the former Mississippi State commit was constantly being looked at during the Mustangs' campaign to finally win a state title After helping Northville win that state championship, the MHSBCA named him Mr. Baseball. The only problem? He could not accept the award during the organization's 43rd annual all-star game at Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, because he was in Arizona participating in the MLB Draft Combine Shortly afterward, the Philadelphia Phillies drafted Nori in the first round That could be a glimpse of what's to come for Uli whose season started in front of 20 or more MLB scouts He'll likely receive more and more attention as the draft approaches and Novi attempts to win another state championship "I've never seen that many scouts at any of our games Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on Twitter at @folsombrandonj Do you want to know what kind of mentality the Novi boys basketball team plays with Senior Michael Schave buried a 3-pointer that snapped a 61-61 tie and essentially went down as the game-winning play late during Friday's Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship 12-2) made a couple of free throws shortly after that to ensure seventh-ranked Wayne Memorial (19-3 4-0) couldn't rally back in the eventual 66-64 victory Schave's 3-pointer was the dagger Novi needed to pull off the upset comeback "Get back on D," Schave said was his immediate reaction after basically cementing the win if you entered the league championship as considerable underdogs The Zebras have arguably one of the best rosters in Michigan — with seven future college basketball players (perhaps more once the younger players develop and find more prominent roles on the team) who will be a Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Mr Basketball nominee as a senior next season; Jaylohn Allen who has a plethora of Division I offers already; Southwest Michigan College commit Joshua Dennis; Austin Tory who received an offer from Wayne State last week; and a small handful of others who are still waiting to make their college decisions More: PHOTOS: Novi boys basketball vs. Canton and Allen will be playing two years from now What the Wildcats do have is a belief inside their locker room "What this (winning the KLAA title) says is we're not afraid," coach Chris Housey said We wanted to show everybody that we're not going to back down That's what you saw with the league championship on the line drove to the basket and sailed an alley-oop for Tory to throw down right before the halftime buzzer giving the Zebras a 10-point lead entering the locker room Novi kept chipping away at its deficit in the third quarter making a buzzer-beater of his own that made it a 47-43 game entering the fourth quarter And away the Wildcats went down the stretch which was capped off by Colin Edwards knocking down a 3 that gave Novi its first lead since the first half The two squads played back and forth until Allen hit a jumper that knotted the score at 61 late Trey Tesorero and Aaron Lauer made free throws in the bonus and Chase LeFevre halted a Wayne possession with a block but Novi just needed to get the ball inbounds to sew up the win They've got a bunch of talent," said Lauer they're going to beat us with tough shots.' We came out More: PHOTOS: Novi boys basketball vs. Northville Which is essentially how Novi has been playing since Lauer and LeFevre joined the varsity as underclassmen They went 11-12 as sophomores and 13-10 as juniors is what their six seniors have been building toward "I wish I could take credit for (building our winning culture) "They've been together since the ninth grade The thing I tell everybody is how you saw them play tonight is how you saw them play as ninth graders All we had to do as coaches is develop them and help them work on their games to get better They've played team basketball from the get-go Speaking of unique: The win also went down as Novi's first KLAA title Which is saying something because not even its 2018 squad that played in the Class A state semifinal at the Breslin Center accomplished that which was led by current professional basketball player Tray Maddox Jr. lost to Grand Blanc by five points in the league championship game So winning the program's first league title just puts even more of a premium on how vital playing team basketball is "I don't think they realize how unique that is," Housey added "It's rare for a group of kids to play that together as a high school team and it's even more rare for them to do it as ninth-graders."  A primary for the candidates is only necessitated if there are at least three times as many candidates as there are available seats Unless there are withdrawals by an April 25 deadline all seven council candidates will appear on the November ballot with Fischer The council candidates are competing for three Among the city council candidates are incumbents Brian Smith, who is seeking a second term, and Priya Gurumurthy, who was appointed to her seat after Fischer vacated it to become mayor who challenged Fischer for mayor in the 2023 election The field is rounded out by newcomers Joe Bertera Novi voters will see only one issue - a $120 million public safety bond proposal which seeks to demolish the existing police station and three fire stations and replace them with new buildings as well as make improvements to Fire Station #4 Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com or 517-281-2412 HARTLAND — When Hartland sophomore Dylan Crowe tells the story years from now perhaps the key detail will be embellished a bit Maybe his walk-off RBI in a 4-3 victory over fourth-ranked Novi will morph from a bases-loaded walk into a line shot up the gap Given his trajectory within the Hartland baseball program Crowe will probably win plenty of games the rest of his career with highlight-reel plays instead of in the anticlimactic manner Wednesday’s game ended The 18th-ranked Eagles had already drawn two walks in the inning so it was no time for someone to play hero Crowe patiently took four straight pitches flipped his bat and shouted toward the Eagles’ dugout before trotting down to first base forcing home Roman Forcia with the winning run Crowe was mobbed by his teammates like he’d just hit a double to the fence Hartland’s coaches expect Crowe to be composed in tense situations His ability to remain calm in the heat of the moment is one of the qualities that earned him a spot on the varsity as a freshman last season RELATED: Battle-tested Hartland softball pitcher rebounds from 'opening day jitters' to shut down Novi RELATED: Brighton, Hartland on collision course for first place in KLAA West girls soccer appearing in 28 of 35 games and hitting .278 He struck out only seven times in 82 plate appearances the Eagles struck out in 18% of their plate appearances “He really has a veteran demeanor out here,” Hartland coach Brad Guenther said we kind of knew he belonged right away with how he carried himself He stepped up even this year on some leadership pieces super nonchalant and composed all the time He’s played in a lot of meaningful baseball games in his life.” Having a year on varsity under his belt has allowed Crowe to play more relaxed “It’s a boost of confidence this year,” he said “I’m just playing with a lot more freedom out there It was a game Hartland seemed unlikely to win because Novi’s starting pitcher was senior Uli Fernsler Fernsler is a Texas Christian University commit who pitched a complete game victory in the state Division 1 championship game as a sophomore With some pro scouts taking notes behind the backstop Fernsler struck out eight of the 14 batters he faced and allowed only one hit in 4⅓ innings He was removed from the game after getting the first out in the fifth inning They promptly put up three runs in the inning to take a 3-2 lead “It’s nice playing him early where he’s probably on a little pitch restriction just like a lot of our guys,” Guenther said so getting him out of the game was nice,” Crowe said but you’ve just got to act like he’s another pitcher and stay calm up there.” Hartland starter Michael Zielinski allowed one hit and two runs in four innings coming out of the game after throwing 66 pitches Reliever Michael Bernardi cruised through the fifth and sixth innings before Novi tied the game on a single by Alex Wilson with two out in the top of the seventh The Eagles won it in the bottom of the seventh on a lead-off single by Forcia an intentional walk to Brayden Crowe following a wild pitch that moved runners to second and third Brighton’s Andrew Everson pitched a one-hitter and struck out 13 batters Alex Larson was 3-for-4 for the Bulldogs (6-1) Howell’s Nick Hoorn struck out nine batters and allowed two runs on five hits in a complete-game performance Josh Soneral drove in two runs for the Highlanders Howell scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the second game 3-3 The game was called by darkness after seven full innings (WXYZ) — Fourth graders across Novi Community School District are getting creative to make Valentine's Day week extra sweet "I want them to feel happy and I want it to make their day feel better," student Gia Valentini said They decorated art sleeves that will go on all coffee and tea purchases at the Novi Public Library cafe "Spreading love — that's all," student Vihaan Hegde said "I tried to make a joke that would make them laugh the first wave of parents and community members appreciated them on Monday we love and we are important.' I think I like that," parent Stacey English said as she read a sleeve design "I think it’s a positive message right now." They're also hoping to help bring more attention and proceeds to the small self-funded cafe that also offers Novi Adult Transitional Center students a safe space to learn on the job skills and public socialization "We're hoping that bringing attention to the cafe will help promote what we do here It'll help families understand that all the money comes back to the district so that we can continue to do the programs in which we do right now," said Kimberly Sinclair More people coming in means more money to cover their cost and stay open Anyone can walk in throughout the week and get a personalized sleeve at no extra cost while they last Teacher Chelsea Greenback says there's also a deeper lesson happening for the students "I want them to realize that their voices and ideas matter I want them to understand that even by doing the smallest thing by decorating a coffee sleeve it can help change something," Greenback said MI (WXYZ) — The Novi Home & Garden Show returns to the Suburban Collection Showplace from March 28-30 The event promises to provide visitors with inspiration and unique products to enhance their homes and outdoor spaces This spring’s show will feature a wide variety of exhibits including beautifully designed gardens and outdoor living spaces Local landscape artists will showcase their skills by creating stunning garden installations throughout the event offering ideas for attendees to bring new life to their own outdoor areas The Novi Home & Garden Show will be held at the Suburban Collection Showplace General admission discount tickets may be purchased online for $10 by visiting novihomeshow.com/spring At the door box-office pricing is $12 for general admission $10 for Seniors (65+) and free for children 12 and under For more information or to purchase tickets BLOOMFIELD HILLS — A 95-year-old Milford woman pleaded no contest Tuesday to a misdemeanor moving violation charge in the Oct your honor,” to a series of questions posed to her by Judge Diane D’Agostini including one that asked if she knew that a no-contest plea was the same as a guilty plea A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but it is treated as such for sentencing purposes Stafford is scheduled for an April 8 sentencing for moving violation causing death in 48th District Court Police said Stafford rear-ended Sarah Thexton's vehicle on Wixom Road, and then ran Thexton over after she exited her vehicle, killing the 59-year-old Novi woman. Stafford stood next to her walker and her attorney, Spencer Bondy, in 48th District Court on Tuesday morning. The case was moved from 52-1 District Court in Novi, where Stafford has been employed for more than 50 years. Bondy requested that the court allow Stafford to enter a no-contest plea because of civil liability She has been sued in circuit court because of the Oct Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Andrea Ajlouni said that with the civil suit and the statute of the law the people cannot object to the no-contest plea.” D’Agostini read from the Wixom Police report which stated that Stafford was driving her 2010 Nissan Versa southbound on South Wixom Road and was getting into the left turn lane for Grand River Avenue when she rear-ended Sarah Thexton’s 2024 Honda CR-V at around 10:14 a.m “Stafford stated Thexton exited the vehicle and was standing in the roadway,” D’Agostini said “Stafford stated she was going to put the car in park Stafford stated the car began to roll and she struck Thexton’s vehicle again "Stafford’s vehicle continued south and proceeded to strike Thexton while she was standing in the roadway Stafford was asked if she might have pressed the accelerator instead of the brake and she stated she could have done so on accident.”The judge stopped there looked up from the report and asked about Stafford’s current driving status.Bondy said she had been ordered for a reassessment which he previously noted was required under state law for any driver involved in a fatal accident but that Stafford has forfeited her license Secretary of State records obtained by Hometown Life show that Stafford’s license was renewed on Jan and will not expire until her 99th birthday in March of 2029 “I want to confirm she is not driving,” D’Agostini said said it was “unbelievable” that Stafford had pleaded no contest in his wife’s death rather than plead guilty and added that he doubted she would spend even a day in jail when she is sentenced “She has shown no grace, no remorse, no sorrow for what she has done,” Thexton said after the proceeding. “This is the most shocking thing of all.”In seeking consequences for the loss of his wife of 24 years and the mother of his daughter Thexton has sued Stafford in Oakland County Circuit Court and said he will give any monetary award to the Michigan Humane Society Contact Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com NOVI — The 94-year-old driver who police say ran over and killed a Novi woman in October has been charged with a misdemeanor Phyllis Stafford of Milford was charged with a moving violation causing death, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, after investigators said she rear-ended and then fatally struck Sarah Thexton, 59 who had exited her vehicle after the crash in Wixom Stafford was arraigned in 52-4 District Court in Troy on Feb public information officer for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office The case was moved to Troy after 52-1 District Court officials in Novi recused themselves Stafford has been employed by the 52-1 District Court in Novi as a clerk for more than 50 years Oakland County PIO Bill Mullan said on Thursday Attorney Spencer Bondy said he is representing Stafford and was reviewing her case Stafford is currently charged with misdemeanor Moving Violation Causing Death not murder or manslaughter," Bondy wrote in an email on Thursday "She has been cooperating with authorities throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate as this case progresses Stafford has never been in trouble before and has an exemplary record it is significantly tragic for everyone involved." who was married to Sarah Thexton for 24 years has been grieving his wife's death and waiting for answers for more than four months He said the charge against Stafford should be vehicular homicide Or at least the absence of it," said Thexton who filed a civil suit against Stafford on Feb What I know is that Sarah was killed and she was killed brutally and unnecessarily It changed my life and things will never be the same There is a void in my life and my family's life that will never be healed caused by a 94-year-old woman who should never have been on the road." More: Novi man wants Michigan to adopt elderly driving laws after wife killed in crash Wattrick said McDonald's office has spoken with Thexton and is aware of his concerns Thexton confirmed someone on McDonald’s staff reached out to him before issuing the misdemeanor charge "She offered an explanation for this that I did not understand,” he said in a text He said because he didn't understand the explanation He hasn't heard from McDonald's office since Police say Stafford was driving a 2010 Nissan Versa on South Wixom Road near Sam's Way on Oct. 3 when she rear-ended a 2024 Honda CR-V driven by Sarah Thexton When Thexton stepped out of her vehicle to inspect the damage running over Thexton and pushing the Thexton's SUV into a nearby truck Sarah Thexton was transported to the hospital where she died, leaving behind her husband and daughter Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald did not respond to multiple requests to speak about the decision to charge Stafford with a misdemeanor Wattrick issued a statement by email on behalf of McDonald's office: "The death of Sarah Jane Thexton was a tragedy," he wrote "The charging decision in this case was not made lightly Based upon the investigation conducted by the Oakland County Sheriff's Crash Reconstruction Unit Moving Violation Causing Death (a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail) was the only appropriate charge against Phyllis Stafford according to current Michigan law." Stafford was honored by Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter with a proclamation recognizing that she had worked for the 52-1 District Court in Novi for half of her life Although she retired from her full-time position in 1993 Stafford still works part-time at the courthouse and has served in every division Oakland County Public Information Officer Bill Mullan said Stafford remains employed by the 52-1 District Court as of Thursday Stafford also retains an active driver's license The Novi Sad train disaster led to the resignation of a prime minister and the fall of the government Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: a rapidly expanding gas station and convenience store chain announced on Wednesday four new proposed locations in Metro Detroit Sheetz now has plans to bring 13 stores to the state since opening its first store in Romulus in August Sheetz said in a statement that it would open new stores at 29455 Grand River Avenue in Farmington Hills “We’ve heard loud and clear there’s strong support for Sheetz across greater Detroit,” Travis Sheetz “The City of Romulus has embraced us with tremendous enthusiasm for our distinctive offerings which include indoor and outdoor dining options electric vehicle chargers and an award-winning menu of made-to-order food We look forward to working closely with neighboring municipalities who are excited to introduce our unique experience to their residents all while driving growth attracting investment and creating good jobs for their communities.” Other propsed locations are in Macomb and Warren joining previously announced locations in Wayne 3 a Sheetz location at M-59 and Milford Road Sheetz has faced opposition and outright rejection from some communities in which it has tried to locate, including Livonia. and two gas stations already existing at that corner A preliminary site plan for the Novi Sheetz store which will be located on the southwest corner of Haggerty and 12 Mile was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission at the end of October along with necessary woodland and wetland permits The existing BP gas station on the site will be demolished which operates 760 convenience stores 24/7 said in a statement it has further growth plans in Michigan A representative for the company could not be immediately reached for comment memorial services were held across the churches of the Diocese of Bačka on Thursday in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident at the Novi Sad Train Station These services marked six months since the tragedy and served as a prayerful tribute to the departed honoring their memory within the liturgical life of the Church the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website Erika Erickson NOVI, Mich. – The Novi Police Department is investigating four home invasions that they believe are linked to South American gangs. The first home invasion happened on Oct. 31, and the most recent two happened on Nov. 15. Police say that the suspects’ method of entry and the items taken in these home invasions are similar to other crimes that happened in Oakland County that are also believed to be connected to South American gangs. Here’s a breakdown of each Novi break-in: This home invasion happened between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, at a home in the 40000 block of Revello Court, in the area of Beck and Eight Mile roads. The suspects entered the home after breaking the window of a rear door and stole items. Police believe the suspects approached the home from the wooded area that the home backs up to. The home invasion on Nov. 2 happened between 6 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. at a home in the 40000 block of Vento Drive, near Garfield and Eight Mile roads. The suspect also broke the window of the rear door to enter this home, and stole items. Police believe the suspects approached the house from the large field located behind it. In this break-in, the suspect broke into a home in the 20000 block of Pomino Drive, also near Garfield and Eight Mile roads. The suspect entered this home through a second-story bathroom window and stole items. Police believe the suspects also approached this house from the wooded area located behind it. The suspects broke into a home in the 20000 block of Turnberry Boulevard, which is in the area of Haggerty and Eight Mile roads, according to police. Items were stolen during this home invasion, and the suspects are believed to have also approached this house from a wooded area behind it. There were no residents home during any of these four break-ins. Novi police will increase their presence in these areas as they investigate the break-ins. “We encourage our residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity or vehicles in their neighborhood immediately and we ask anyone with information to contact 248-348-7100,” said Novi police. Copyright 2024 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. a whole genomic analysis (WGS) and polygenic risk modeling (PRS) company announced a strategic partnership with Novi Health which delivers personalized and preventative healthcare This collaboration offers employees of participating organizations WGS and comprehensive genetic counseling services as part of their workplace health benefits It should be particularly helpful in addressing preventable diseases early “More than 50% of cancers and up to 80% of cardiac diseases are preventable,” said Jeffrey Weitzel, MD, chief medical officer at Novi Health “By integrating genomics into employer health programs we provide participants with knowledge that can save lives and significantly improve outcomes.” Through the MyOme/Novi program, employees and their families gain access to Novi Health’s preventative care platform. Using MyOme’s WGS technology genetic risks for both common and rare hereditary conditions are identified Novi customers will have immediate access to MyOme’s reports for Single Gene Risk and MyOme’s integrated PRS for breast cancer Patients will also be able to access MyOme’s expanding menu of reports that will include Integrated Risk reports for coronary artery disease MyOme’s PRS technology combines the impact of hundreds of thousands to millions of variants in an individual’s genome with commonly measured clinical factors to account for environmental and lifestyle differences The technology has been validated across multiple ethnicities Combined with personalized clinical guidance this initiative gives employees access to cutting edge genomics A single cheek swab provides access to testing and a comprehensive genetic report detailing the individual’s unique genetic makeup and associated health risks The report is paired with personalized recommendations based on the employee’s specific genetic risks The MyOme Personal Genome Report covers 81 genes There is also a pharmacogenomics report available Participants can be  connected with a certified genetic counselor who will guide them through their results and discuss potential next steps including prevention strategies and lifestyle adjustments “This collaboration aligns with our mission to make clinical-grade genomic insights accessible and actionable,” said Yasser Ads we are empowering employees with the tools they need to make informed personalized healthcare decisions for themselves and their families resulting in lower costs while improving patient outcomes.” The program is live and available to employees at participating companies as part of their benefits Novi Health continues to expand the offering partnering with other organizations to bring new personalized genetic insights to their clients and counseling to additional employers MyOme is a clinical whole genome analysis platform company that aims to help families understand their risk for inherited diseases MyOme leverages genomic information into actionable insights Its tests are certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Novi pitcher Uli Fernsler is practically unbeatable for most high school baseball teams particularly early in the season when he’s on a pitch count is to wait him out until the Wildcats go to their bullpen Fernsler’s departure allowed a Livingston County team to rally for a victory over Novi Howell stormed back Monday against three Novi relievers to win 8-7 As was the case when Hartland beat Novi 4-3 five days earlier a bases-loaded walk ended a walk-off victory for the Highlanders Howell’s seventh-inning rally began after the first two hitters were retired Daniel Hampton hit a two-run triple to make it 7-5 and he scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 7-6 Duncan Gray walked with the bases loaded to tie the score and Brady Hamilton walked to end the game Neko Hall’s two-run two-out single in the sixth started the rally Fernsler, who signed with Texas Christian but could be a Major League Baseball draft pick this year, threw strikes on 54 of 61 pitches through five innings. The top-ranked senior pitcher in Michigan, Fernsler struck out 11 batters while allowing two hits and no walks. As he did against Hartland, Fernsler was removed while on an early-season pitch count. He came out after throwing 63 pitches in 4⅓ innings against the Eagles. Hartland came back from 2-0 down to win that game. “Facing a top prospect like Uli, we knew it was going to be hard to score runs against him,” Howell coach Matt Hunt said. “We just knew we had to trust the process and keep grinding. I’m proud of our guys for never giving up. Our guys had some great at-bats and passed it on and believed in their ability.” Howell is 6-2-1, averaging 7.7 runs per game. “We’ve played well, but we can clean up some things,” Hunt said. “Our bats have been hot. Our pitching’s been pretty good. If we can clean up some things defensively, we’ll be strong.” Michael Zielinski allowed one hit and struck out 10 batters in five innings. Logan Randall completed the shutout, retiring all six batters he faced over the final two innings. Northville’s Nolan Coppens hit a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie. Brighton forced extra innings when Andrew Everson hit a two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Everson struck out 14 batters in 6⅔ innings against the unbeaten (8-0) defending state Division 1 champion. Chase Inge was 3-for-4 for the Bulldogs (7-2). Pinckney’s Hayden Beaver hit a home run and drove in six runs in the doubleheader, while Henry Taube hit a home run and drove in five runs. Owen Zylka struck out eight batters in three innings in the opener. Jax Raymond didn’t allow a hit and fanned eight in three innings in the nightcap. Howell opened its season by finishing fourth out of 27 teams in a highly competitive tournament at Tam-O-Shanter Country Club in West Bloomfield. The Highlanders shot 307 with standout senior Zach Spencer out of the lineup. Derek Kantola tied for seventh out of 131 players with a 73, Luke Downing tied for 18th with a 77, Tad Pietila tied for 25th with a 78 and Gavin Hill tied for 34th with a 79 for the Highlanders. Hartland finished 13th with a 324. Michael Maurin tied for 18th with a 77 and Aidan Oake tied for 39th with an 80 for the Eagles. Chelsea won with a 297, five strokes better than Detroit Catholic Central. Bennett Boyle of Birmingham Brother Rice was the medalist with a 3-under-par 69. Olivia Forrest pitched a shutout in the first game, striking out five batters in seven innings. The Eagles scored on a Skylar Spisz steal of home in the third and a double by Emme Kottong in the sixth. Avery Richardson was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in the second game, which was called by darkness after seven innings. The game will be resumed only if it impacts the KLAA West championship. Pinckney’s Natally Pease hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the second game. Ayla Wright hit a home run and had three RBIs, Addison Wroblewski drove in three runs and Mackenzie Burns was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Pirates in the nightcap. Brighton’s Anna Minnick had four hits, including two triples and a double, in the first game. Freshman Kendall Peckens had a double, triple and three RBIs in the second game for the Bulldogs. Joe Skoczylas had five goals and three assists for Brighton (4-2). Caleb Edwards had four goals and one assist, Ryan O’Dea three goals and seven assists, and Cody Baker three goals and two assists for Howell. Connor Gilbert and Coen Chwalek each had five goals and two assists for Hartland. Grant Barber had two goals and six assists, while Kellen Hull won 26 of 27 faceoffs. Hartland’s Arianna Kinney won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Pinckney won the only close match, with Hope Elliott and Jenna Vandezande winning 6-3, 7-6 (5) at No. 1 doubles. Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic and Branko Filipovic; Editing by Renee Maltezou and Jan Harvey Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved (WXYZ) — A woman who police suspect is tied to a transnational gang that’s been robbing homes across Oakland County has been arrested Investigators have been working to take down groups of South American transnational gangs since 2023 thieves have continued to break into high-end homes stealing valuable items when residents were away Twenty-one-year-old Vania Herrera Valdez was arrested during a traffic stop on Monday They say she and other people set off a surveillance camera at a Novi home on Equestrian Trail 7 News Detroit is showing her mugshot at the request of police as they believe she could be involved in multiple break-ins Police said a tip from a homeowner who wasn’t home at the time led to the arrest “He (homeowner) was paying attention to his phone when he got an alert from an alarm system and noted he saw people in his backyard at his home,” Novi Police Department Cmdr Three other suspects including some caught on camera managed to get away after running out of a white van with an out-of-state license plate Police say Valdez has refused to cooperate with them Valdez is a Chilean national who is in the U.S She faces as much as 15 years in prison if convicted of home invasion and resisting arrest “She gave our officers what turned out to be false identification our partners at ICE were able to positively identify her,” Meier said Neighbors living on the targeted street are in disbelief “I’m surprised they haven’t caught them yet but at least they caught someone,” Sophia Dobe said Police from multiple agencies formed a task force last year and are working together to track down remaining thieves targeting high-end items like jewelry monitor security systems and keep homes well-lit and locked up Watch our report from earlier this week of more high-end home burglaries below: “I’m mostly scared for my parents since I’m going away to college but I hope everyone is OK and at least they aren’t hurting people,” Dobe said Police say the group has technology to knockout Wi-Fi to disrupt security systems so stay aware in the event it happens and call them if you’re concerned but here in the smallest township in the state it brings neighbors together to work for the common good Republicans and Democrats in this peaceful pocket paradise of 0.11 square miles not only meet in the middle of one of only three streets in the township for a block party but they cross party lines to vote for each other and cast their ballots in a garage “There’s never any controversy or competition,” Nathan Foster said Foster just earned the Democratic nomination for township trustee with 23 votes in the primary election He was uncontested and will now join his neighbor Kevin McCallum on the November ballot as the only candidates for two trustee spots The same is true for Democrat Tony Galdikas the only supervisor candidate; Clerk Janeen Crittenden who is running for reelection with no party affiliation and no challengers; and Treasurer David Hall seeking reelection and sure to find it with no opposition the entire board lives on Wyngate Drive in the Brookland Farms No Galdikas and Crittenden sat at a patio table that could be an ideal setting for one of their township board meetings to discuss the distinction of being the smallest township in the state but we’re all here for the neighborhood,” Crittenden said “You don’t get to the divide you have at the federal level We always talk through what is best for the majority I think we could be an example for this crazy world Class 101 in how to get along with your neighbors and people in general.” admits she didn’t know much about the township when she moved in 22 years ago other than it was a beautiful neighborhood with mature trees diverse wildlife and part of the Northville school district It was “country living in the city” she says as she looks out over her expansive backyard was attracted to the neighborhood for similar reasons He didn’t even realize he was buying a home in Novi Township and not the City of Novi or Northville (which is the mailing address) until he was putting in an offer He never anticipated holding an elected office.Their homes sit on approximately 1-acre lots and have their own wells and septic systems The township that is around a curve in part of the Brookland Farms No and which also includes Cottisford Street and Chedworth Drive has only about 1½ miles of paved roads to maintain with the bill for repaving coming due about every 20 years There are no municipal buildings and no commercial storefronts in the township which as of the 2020 census has a population of 160 residents 72.6% of which hold a bachelor's degree or higher The township is 100% residential and that is reflected in generally lower taxes. Tax rates for Northville residents in the Northville school district totaled 40.26 mills in 2023, according to the state. Novi city millage rates ranged from 26.95 to 36.75 rates totaled 27.47 for principal residences The township contracts with the Michigan State Police and the City of Novi for fire services which is named for former township residents The Walkers donated $1 million toward the library fund for a new building more than two decades ago Without any parks and recreation in the township Galdikas entered his children in Northville parks programs and paid non-resident fees Despite its small size and limited services the township is a municipality just like any other community following state laws and approving budgets Galdikas observes that no one is trying to building a parks and recreation center and they can’t argue about roads because “they either need to be replaced or they don’t.” If the roads aren’t plowed or the garbage isn’t picked up or there’s a pothole everyone knows who to call and the problem is fixed The largest issue Galdikas can recall is when the board was considering landscaping at the central area for mailboxes While it was ultimately a unanimous decision The biggest controversy was before his and Crittenden’s time was not a problem from within the township The City of Novi tried to annex the township into the city on at least two occasions the most recent more than 25 years in the past just after Novi was incorporated as a city including the Brookland Farms subdivision and mobile home parks on 13 Mile Road and on Napier Road “The city was hoping the township would vote to come in — they needed fire and police protection and they had to rely on the sheriff’s department,” he said with only the small part of Brookland Farms neighborhood opting to remain a township staff attorney for the Michigan Townships Association there was a “flurry of township annexations” in the state with Michigan law favoring cities over townships townships are often in a better position than cities can provide many of the typical services that a city does it is harder for a city to annex territory,” she said “Township government is the most grassroots and literally in their case it is neighbors serving neighbors They are elected and have to respond to electors almost to a fault… They get by on tiny budgets and it gets harder all the time but it’s a form of government just as capable of producing a livable place.” Foster doesn’t see any reason for the city to pursue annexation in the future as the township has no commercial tax base He does believe there is plenty of motivation for people to move here if they are patient and one of the 58 homes in Novi Township goes on the market — something he has only seen perhaps six or seven times since he arrived nearly a decade ago a treasure… Certainly there are some people here who take pride in being in the smallest township in the state of Michigan More: How Michigan man's classic car ended up on Detroit Lions' Sports Illustrated cover More: Love to last a lifetime: Milford couple celebrates 75 years of wedded bliss Contact Us  |  Employee Resources A Novi resident’s security system captures a suspected transnational gang member in action burglarizing his home Dec Photo provided by the Novi Police Department NOVI — Novi police transparency with the community regarding home invasions led to the rare arrest of an alleged member of an elusive transnational gang Dec Novi police officers were called to a residence on Equestrian Trail after the homeowner received an alert on his mobile phone that his security had been tripped the homeowner observed people attempting to break into his home and he immediately contacted police The gang members reportedly entered the residence and stole jewelry and a safe Police arrived at the residence within minutes as they were already patrolling the area due to a surge of recent break-ins Officers in the area noticed a suspicious white van with out-of-state plates leaving the area and attempted to initiate a traffic stop The van eventually stopped on the side of the road and four suspects got out of the vehicle and fled on foot An officer was able to apprehend one of them despite an extensive search involving multiple agencies “This is a great example of our police and citizens working together to combat these criminal elements that continue to operate throughout the United States,” said Erick Zinser Novi director of public safety/chief of police “We will continue to investigate this crime working with our County We continue to ask our community to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity in your neighborhoods.” Officers were able to recover the stolen safe but they were not able to recover the jewelry The suspect whom police apprehended reportedly provided false information regarding her identity at first with the assistance of federal partners with Immigration and Customs Enforcement she has now been identified as Vania Herrera Valdes Valdes has a criminal record in another U.S Police said they were not able to formally question Valdes a public defender had yet to be assigned to the case Valdes was charged by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office with second-degree home invasion a 15-year felony; and resisting/obstructing She was arraigned in the 52-1 District Court in Novi by Magistrate Robert Morad and given a $100,000 bond She is currently being held at the Oakland County Jail According to her online record with the Oakland County Jail Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a hold on her for “immigration — illegal entry.” Valdes is scheduled for a probable cause hearing at 9 a.m 18 before Judge David Law and preliminary examination at 1:30 p.m The Novi Police Department said it is actively investigating this latest home invasion and will continue to have a robust police presence in the areas affected Meier said the three suspects who escaped were two males and a female but further descriptions were limited because they were wearing masks and heavy clothing are groups of people from foreign countries that enter the United States illegally to commit crime “There’s no head boss or anything It’s just they work in groups and do their thing,” Meier said According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard there are at least 100 of these gangs in the U.S Transnational gangs typically operate in groups of four or six Bouchard said that the transnational gang members are primarily from Chile “They are targeting a particular kind of home and person,” Bouchard said “Somebody that lives in a high-end home Somebody that has the probability of a lot of high-value items in the home that are easily disposable and preferably a home that has kind of a secluded approach from the back — either woods do their deal and get out unobserved.” He said that groups from Chile are the ones that have been hitting Oakland County the most Bouchard described Chilean transnational gangs as being responsible for “very high-end home burglaries” but have also been caught doing armed robberies of jewelry stores the Columbian transnational gangs are “more opportunistic and more violent.” He said that a team of Columbians were caught in Oakland County doing armed robberies The transnational gangs from Venezuela have been the most violent across the country “We’ve had almost no evidence of them until this week,” Bouchard said “We were able to confirm that we now have Venezuelan gangs in Oakland County.” After having several break-ins that appeared to be the result of transnational gangs between Halloween and Nov the Novi Police Department put out a press release about the crimes “Catching these people was a result of us being really transparent with the community on the things to look out for and sharing that information with our officers and those that are on the road,” Meier said “This really was the perfect example of that because we had a homeowner who was very vigilant with his security systems and reached out to us right away we are just asking people to continue to be vigilant and continue to report suspicious activity there have only been a handful of arrests of transnational gang members He said this is because they have no ties to the community and they are very transient “They’ll hammer a community and then they’re gone,” Bouchard said Bouchard said that transnational gang members are typically caught when a homeowner or neighbor sees something unusual or an alarm goes off “Novi has been hit pretty hard lately and they’ve done some great work and they were able to catch one but that’s a challenge,” he said there have been several transnational gang members/teams charged recently but that number is small compared to the number of gangs in the country He said there was a group of Columbians who were charged this year in Troy Two Chilean teams have been caught and charged in Oakland county one for armed robbery and one for home invasions “We probably had 10 crimes in the last 10 days in Oakland County that are attributable to transnational gangs and one person was caught,” Bouchard said Dec “I was pretty happy (with the arrest) there haven’t been a lot of arrests nationwide for these types of crimes transnational gangs were responsible for almost $1 million worth of theft a week in Oakland County Bouchard started a tri-county task force on transnational gangs between Oakland He said they work together to share information on the movement of the gangs transnational gang activity has been seen recently in Bloomfield Hills Bouchard advises residents to watch out for each other and be aware of situations and surroundings “Don’t be afraid to call,” he said Bouchard said that if residents have an alarm system they should make sure to keep it activated He said that many of the homes that have been hit did not have their security systems on if they are able to upgrade their security systems to be as redundant as possible: have multiple ways to communicate out “The Chileans are jamming wireless communications and wireless alarm components,” Bouchard said “It is highly encouraged to at least have a few components that are hardwired in a redundant recording system,” Bouchard said “That at least gives you a chance of having the alarm communicate that there is something in progress.” He said that recently a Rochester Hills homeowner noticed that his Wi-Fi cameras were offline He said the gangs had jammed the man’s security cameras People should focus on where they store their valuables He said that people often store them in the master bedroom He said that is where the gangs go first to look He said to make sure that if you have a safe that it is either bolted so well that it cannot be pried out as the gangs will steal the entire safe and open it later “We’ve seen them move 600-pound safes out of the house,” Bouchard said Novi police are asking residents to report any suspicious activity or vehicles in their neighborhoods immediately Anyone with information on this latest incident should contact Novi police at (248) 348-7100 Employee Resources  |  Privacy Policy a mixed-use development designed to anchor Novi’s walkable downtown district including Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House by the Chubby Cattle Group The first restaurants are scheduled to open in May 2025 the new anchor tenant is a Japanese-themed department storespecializing in snacks and Georgia with 15 more in development in New Jersey The 12,000 square foot facility at Sakura Novi will be the brand’s first Michigan location —  Paris Baguette is a Korean-owned bakery specializing in French and Asian pastries and baked goods Paris Baguette’s 3,000-square-foot store at Sakura Novi will be its third in Michigan Paris Baguette currently has 3,785 stores in South Korea Krishna Ramamoorthy and Pramod Patnam said “Paris Baguette combines the timeless charm of Old-World European delights with the precision and artistry of Asian craftsmanship they create an extraordinary culinary experience offering patrons the perfect harmony of tradition and innovation in every bite that they savor.” will be the first stand-alone claw machine arcade in Michigan This type of arcade features the opportunity to win kawaii style stuffies from vibrantly colored claw machines Those stuffies can then be traded in for larger/more rare stuffed animals and anime figurines This form of entertainment is popular in Japan and other Asian countries The concept is being launched by Novi residents Agnes our kids have loved winning bags full of cute stuffed animals so we can’t wait to share that experience with our local community.” Additional space is available at Sakura Novi for ramen and sushi restaurants The Sakura Novi campus also features The Residences at Sakura Novi an apartment community managed by KMG Prestige that will feature 117 luxurious he apartments are now leasing for occupancy starting February 2025 The units will vary from 1,331 square feet to 1,765 square feet and will include either one or two car garages and either two or three bedrooms Sakura Novi’s common amenities will include a Japanese-themed garden path surrounding a pond and a public plaza for community events adjacent to the pond The residences are being built by Robertson Homes in Bloomfield Hills For more information, visit livesakuranovi.com NOVI — Four home invasions in Novi since the end of October strongly resemble other home invasions committed this year by South American transnational gangs in Oakland County and throughout the country very expensive homes," Novi Police Commander Jason Meier said but particularly jewelry and high-end designer bags." The four home invasions the police attribute to the gangs have these hallmarks The homes involved backed up to wooded areas or open fields from where the suspects are believed to have approached and then returned to when exiting the homes undetected Residents were not home when the home invasions happened and police say they believe the suspects conducted surveillance of the homes prior to the crimes to determine the occupants' comings and goings Meier said the suspects seem to prefer early evening and dinner hours The first incident happened between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m when unknown suspects broke the window on a rear door and stole items from a home in the 40000 block of Ravello Court near 8 Mile and Beck roads a second home invasion and theft of items occurred when another rear door window was broken on a home in in the 40000 block of Veneto Drive Police said two home invasions and subsequent thefts occurred in quick succession on Nov unknown suspects broke a second-story bathroom window of a residence in the 20000 block of Pomino Drive near Garfield and Eight Mile roads unknown suspects broke the window of a rear door in the 20000 block of Turnberry Boulevard near Haggerty and Eight Mile roads Police said the suspects are believed to be utilizing Wi-Fi-jamming technology to bypass home security alarms Only one poor image from these incidents was obtained from an outdoor home security camera before the suspects disrupted the Wi-Fi Meier encourages residents to call police immediately if they are away from from home and notice their Wi-Fi or security camera has gone down or if they see a vehicle in the neighborhood that is suspicious or out of the ordinary "Novi is an extremely safe community and we are that way because we have a great partnership with the residents," Meier said "It is not a chore for us to come out and check up on things Anyone with information related to these crimes is asked to please contact the Novi Police at 248-348-7100 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Novi Police Department is investigating different home invasions they say are related to the South American transnational gangs who have been targeting high-end homes in metro Detroit there have been four separate home invasions over the past few weeks that they are looking at Police say the suspects approached the home through the woods Police say the residents were also not home That residence backs up to a large field and it is believed the suspects approached from the field There were also two home invasions last week near the area of Garfield and 8 Mile roads they broke into a home near Haggerty and 8 Mile roads police throughout Oakland County have talked about transnational gangs breaking into high-end homes throughout metro Detroit The most recent one happened in Oakland Township in October VIDEO BELOW: Another high-end Oakland County home targeted by transnational gang members WATCH BELOW: International crime ring suspected in burglaries of luxury homes across Oakland County Empowering employees with actionable genetic insights to prevent disease and improve long-term health outcomes a leading clinical innovation whole genomic analysis and polygenic risk modelling (PRS) company announced a strategic partnership with Novi Health a company focused on delivering personalized and preventative healthcare This collaboration offers employees of participating organizations whole genome sequencing (WGS) employees and their families gain access to Novi Health's state-of-the-art preventative care platform Novi customers will have immediate access to MyOme's reports for Single gene Risk and MyOme's integrated PRS for breast cancer Patients will also be able to access MyOme's expanding menu of reports that will include Integrated Risk reports for coronary artery disease MyOme's PRS technology combines the impact of hundreds of thousands to millions of variants in an individual's genome with commonly measured clinical factors to account for environmental and lifestyle differences this initiative empowers participants to take actionable steps toward a healthier future "More than 50% of cancers and up to 80% of cardiac diseases are preventable," said Jeffrey Weitzel "By integrating genomics into employer health programs we provide participants with knowledge that can save lives and significantly improve outcomes." Participants receive access to comprehensive genetic reports detailing their unique genetic makeup and associated health risks The report is paired with personalized recommendations based on the employee's specific genetic risks participants can be  connected with a certified genetic counselor who will guide them through their results and discuss potential next steps "This collaboration aligns with our mission to make clinical-grade genomic insights accessible and actionable," said Yasser Ads personalized healthcare decisions for themselves and their families,  resulting in lower costs while improving patient outcomes." The program is live and available to employees at participating companies as part of their commitment to proactive healthcare for their employees partnering with multiple organizations to bring personalized genetic insights and counseling to additional employers About Novi HealthNovi Health combines advanced genomics and expert counseling to deliver preventative health solutions Novi Health is dedicated to helping individuals uncover a leader in clinical whole-genome analysis and polygenic risk scores is pleased to announce the launch of its rare disease diagnostic.. a leading clinical whole genome testing and polygenic risk modelling (PRS) company is proud to announce the launch of its coronary.. Health Care & Hospitals Medical Pharmaceuticals Computer & Electronics New Products & Services Do not sell or share my personal information: Novi police believe South American gang members are behind a series of home break-ins in their community over the last month They said the investigation into the home invasions is ongoing and it will increase officers' presence in the affected areas Police said the crimes are similar to home invasions in Bloomfield Township and Northville Township earlier this year and in 2023 committed by Chilean gangs Officials said police have responded to at least four such break-ins 31 broke into a home in the 40000 block of Revello Court near Beck and Eight Mile roads Police said no one was home at the time and the suspects are believed to have approached the home through a wooded area suspects broke into a home in the 40000 block of Vento Drive near Garfield and Eight Mile roads No one was home at the time the thieves broke a rear door's window The suspects are believed to have approached the home through a field suspects broke into a home in the 20000 block of Pomino Drive near Garfield and Eight Mile roads no one was home when the suspects broke a bathroom window on the second floor to gain entry Investigators said the suspects once again approached the home through a wooded area suspects broke into a home in the block of Turnberry Boulevard near Haggerty and Eight Mile Roads No one was home when the thieves broke a rear door's window to get inside the house backs up to a wooded area and the suspects used it to approach the residence "It is believed the suspects conduct surveillance on the residences prior to breaking in to ensure the homeowners will not be home and utilize technology that jams wi-fi signals preventing security systems from being effective," Novi police said in a statement Officials said they encourage residents to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or vehicles in their neighborhoods Anyone with information about the home invasions or the suspects should call the Novi Police Department at (248) 348-7100 Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard warned residents about a string of burglaries in which thieves targeted high-end He later said the gangs behind the break-ins were from Chile and some of their thefts netted up to $4 million in cash and jewelry In December, the Michigan Attorney General's Office charged six people in connection with a string of home invasions across Oakland, Wayne, and Kent counties as well as more than two dozen retail theft incidents in Metro Detroit. Three of the defendants are Chilean nationals Bouchard said in April that the gangs had struck again in his county The same month, Northville Township police officials said there were five break-ins at high-end homes in the past year that are similar to those committed by an organized South American crime group that targeted houses across Metro Detroit The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association will showcase six stunning manufactured home models this weekend at the Novi Home Show for visitors to tour Manufactured homes are constructed in a controlled factory environment on a steel frame designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when connected to utilities they are transported to the home site in one or multiple sections and can be placed on private property or in a land-lease community These homes are built to adhere to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act enforced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) these also are factory-built but assembled on-site by licensed builders adhering to state and local building codes Modular homes may be one- or two-story dwellings but must be placed on private property and comply with the State of Michigan Residential Building Code Michigan consistently ranks among the top 10 states for receiving manufactured home shipments with 4,934 shipments in 2022 and 3,212 in 2023 more than 12,000 new homes have been shipped to Michigan "The manufactured home models featured at this event redefine what’s possible in our industry," said John Lindley "Representatives from manufacturing companies and retailers will be on hand to guide visitors through the model homes and offer valuable insights into manufactured home living including placement options on both community and private properties." The homes on display starting Friday at the show at the Suburban Collection Showplace will feature open floor plans kitchens with granite countertops and islands all designed by leading industry manufacturers Company representatives will be available to answer questions and provide valuable insights The event will showcase three single-section and three multisection homes Each model includes at least two to three bedrooms with prices ranging from $46,748 to $149,999 “These homes provide an opportunity to showcase the breadth of what the manufactured housing industry can provide from extraordinarily affordable beautiful single-section home at $46,748 to a nearly 2,000-square-foot multisection home,” Lindley added He emphasized the affordability of manufactured homes and the quick turnaround from purchase to market Lindley pointed out that after purchasing a manufactured home Participating manufacturers at the show include Clayton, Skyline, and Champion More: Shipping containers converted into stylish homes in Detroit “We host these showcases so that people can come out For more information on manufactured and modular homes, go to MMHA, or attend the Novi Home Show which will also feature exhibitors showcasing home improvement services The Novi Home Show runs through Sunday at the Suburban Collection Showplace at 46100 Grand River in Novi Brendel Hightower writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press Chocolate Moonshine Cocoa Lounge is open at Twelve Oaks Mall The shop offers a tantalizing selection of chocolate confections including fudge drinks and more billed as “illegally good.” “The product is amazing and once people have it, they continue to want to buy it,” said Jim McIntosh, a retired GM employee and Milford resident who opened the shop near Nordstrom’s in the mall at the end of November a Brownstown resident who works at the mall was among them on Tuesday as she happily ordered an iced sipping chocolate described as “phenomenal.” Other visitors to the spacious shop marveled over truffle bars made of pure Belgian chocolate hand-painted in various colors of cocoa butter and filled with creamy ganache in dozens of flavors and available in 2- get one 50% off all season long.Pre-packaged truffle bar collections include holiday with gingerbread and candy cane; classic with favorites including tiramisu with alcohol-infused confections including barrel-aged whiskey There is also an option to build your own box The slabs of fudge also come in a wide array of similar flavors even about the 20% percent of confections infused with alcohol are child-friendly as the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process The confections are made in Pennsylvania where Chocolate Moonshine got its start Founder Chris Warman began crafting chocolates in the mid-1980’s with a successful renowned fudge recipe by the end of the decade Chocolate Moonshine was established some 30 years later and now has locations in several states learned about Chocolate Moonshine at a conference they attended for their family’s laser engraving business Warman soon invited them out to the East Coast to learn more where they saw a candy factory in Pittsburgh and also visited a Chocolate Moonshine shop on the second floor of Macy’s in Manhattan Catherine and Nicole were instantly sold on bringing the operation to Michigan who longed to spend more time on the golf course they opened the state’s first Chocolate Moonshine in Brighton and have since brought the confections to multiple area festivals Warman will be coming to Michigan on Friday and bringing new products with him adding that the company is very supportive of fundraising for organizations including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts The Novi Twelve Oaks Mall store was initially envisioned as a pop-up is considering a plan that will extend beyond his current commitment but it will depend on the response from the community and negotiating terms with the mall,” McIntosh said “I love this product and the quality taste The company has great morals and standards The employees are happy to be part of this company and so are we.” The sound of the puck hitting iron startled freshman forward Lincoln Frantti Seeing the puck end up in the net was even more stunning because his seemingly harmless wrist shot from just outside the blue line wasn’t intended to be a scoring opportunity Frantti’s long-range shot with 9:15 remaining was meant to give third-ranked Howell a chance for a line change but it wound up delivering the winning goal in a 3-2 victory over seventh-ranked Novi Wednesday night at 140 Ice Den “I was just trying to get it deep and go for a change and it happened to go in,” Frantti said “I heard the post and looked around and it happened to be in It’s the kind of puck luck that eluded Frantti for the first 13 games of the season He scored his first high school goal Saturday in a 4-2 victory over Sault Ste Marie and now has goals in back-to-back games He wasn’t discouraged by his lack of goal production more than halfway through the regular-season schedule “I was just trying to contribute to the team,” said Frantti Frantti is one of three freshmen on a Howell team that is 12-2-1 and winner of eight straight games the Highlanders’ longest winning streak since Feb RELATED: Hartland stays perfect against state-ranked Division 1 hockey teams It’s not an easy team to make as a ninth-grader he sees the ice very well,” Howell coach Keith Robertson said Coming into a situation like this with the guys that we have and the returners we have coming back he’s done an excellent job and he’s only getting better.” Frantti wasn’t going to be satisfied with not making the varsity this season “I knew our team was going to be really good so it was going to be a fight to make varsity.” Frantti’s goal wasn’t the only unconventional one scored by the Highlanders Howell’s second goal came on a penalty shot by senior Rory Sturos with 3:39 left in the first period Sturos was killing a penalty when he picked off a pass and went in on Novi goalie Gabe Lelli cut across the front of the net and slid the puck past Lelli to give Howell a 2-1 lead “I tried to make a move and luckily it went in but I tried making a good move and it went in.” Howell responded quickly after each Novi goal Bryce Eskola scored 1:02 after Novi’s Lucas O’Brien scored early in the game Frantti’s goal came 51 seconds after Luke Londo tied the game for Novi The Wildcats (10-6) had a prime opportunity to get the equalizer late in the game after Londo drew two penalties on the Highlanders Novi had a six-on-three power play for the final 1:09 “We’ve got to stay out of the box,” Robertson said “We can’t take penalties at the end of the game Novi got a scare with 3:27 remaining when Lelli was shaken up following a scramble in the crease The Livonia Clarenceville student is the only goalie on Novi’s roster “It’s one of those situations you try not to think about,” Novi coach Anthony Lietz said