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Detroit dive team takes the plunge
to clean a sunken car graveyard

When divers from the Detroit Police Department Underwater Recovery Team found a stolen War Memorial statue in the water at the foot of Alter Road last spring, it was hard not to be impressed.

The team had gone into the water looking for a car some fishermen had spotted in the area; they were using its recovery as a training exercise. But when Sgt. Michael Carpenter, groping blindly along the bottom, found the outstretched hand of "The Nude," he organized a recovery that led to the War Memorial getting its $100,000 statue back home. read more...

Cadieux parking ban upsets residents
as road project nears completion

It wasn't exactly a fine-print issue, but some residents of Cadieux Road are just now realizing the price they'll pay for their nice new roadway—a ban on all parking on Cadieux between Kercheval and Jefferson.

Cadieux as it exists is 2.5 feet too narrow to allow one-side parking with two-way traffic, under Michigan Department of Transportation rules, said Paul Weitzel, director of public service for the City of Grosse Pointe. Newly resurfaced streets are supposed to be even wider, leaving the city no choice but to bring it into compliance. Because the $500,000 reconstruction project, begun this spring and nearing completion in July, was 80 percent financed by MDOT, it is "probably not" open to negotiation with the state, Weitzel said.

This upsets residents, said Greg Jakub, who is leading a campaign by residents to fight the change. 

"I can't believe this didn't occur to the city planners and leaders (when the project was approved)," he said. "I can only speculate on how or why they ignored it."  read more...

Mortar boards and mixed doubles–
a lovely night for party-crashing

It was a beautiful summer weekend (June 27 and 28), and the Party Crashers couldn’t resist stopping in at a couple of lively gatherings.

The Indian Village Tennis Club held its annual President’s Party at the club in Detroit’s historic Indian Village. This is one of the oldest private tennis clubs in the country and probably the least pretentious. Many members live in the Pointes so it seemed like a natural stop for the Crashers. Members were looking spiffy as they danced the night away after honoring past president Diane Foster, a Grosse Pointer, for her many years of service to the club. The warm summer evening also brought guests out on the porch to enjoy cocktails and interesting conversation. read more...

Sailors postponed for fireworks,
but got some, plus a rainbow

Editor’s Note: GrossePointeToday.com welcomes sports organizations to submit stories covering their games, races, matches and activities. Click on "Contribute sports news" in the left column on the Sports page or e-mail submissions@grossepointetoday.com

Grosse Pointe Boat Club sailors moved their Wednesday race to Thursday (June 25) to avoid the Freedom Festival fireworks, only to end up being treated to Mother Nature’s own fireworks–and a shower. With lighting flashing a few miles away, the dock committee raised the red-and-white-striped postponement flag, expecting to wait 15 minutes and hoping they would not have to fly the blue-and-white-checked “race abandoned” flag. As is typical, the squall blew through and the racers were left with a fabulous rainbow and a pleasant evening for racing. read more...

Pack your oohs and ahhs–
fireworks season gets underway

The late arrival of summer temperatures comes just in time–fireworks season is upon us. Fans of colorful explosions will have a rich banquet of choices in coming days.

The biggest, Grosse Pointe Woods' show, gets the Pointes off with a bang. The show is set for Sunday (June 28) at Parcells Middle School, starting at dusk. Monday, June 29 is the rain date. Veterans advise arriving early to stake a spot for both your body and car; the latter in particular are scarce. read more...

Woods recall campaign back on

A campaign to recall the two newest members of the Grosse Pointe Woods City Council is back on, after the Wayne County Elections Commission approved the petition's language yesterday (June 24).

Woods resident Nancy Hames refiled her petition earlier this month, after an earlier version was rejected by the commission. read more...

Tightened border-crossing rules
shouldn't slow smart travelers

Grosse Pointe Park residents Al LeChard and his wife, Sid, have been driving to their cottage in Canada for the last 40 years.

And like many Grosse Pointe residents who own Canadian cottages or boats, the LeChards have become adept at crossing the border between the United States and its neighbor.

Changes effective June 1 require U.S. residents to provide a passport upon re-entry into the country by land or sea. The newest federal law, a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. read more...

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