Motown Museum to Host Detroit Bass Day Mega Jam to Celebrate 65 Years
The Motown Museum (2648 West Grand Blvd.) in Detroit is hosting 65 bassists of all ages for Detroit Bass Day from noon-4 p.m. on Aug. 17 at its Rocket Plaza to celebrate 65 years of Motown.
Paying tribute to some of the greatest bassists of all time, the bass players will plug into the system and jam to 10 classic Motown songs, including:
- “Get Ready” – The Temptations
- “Can’t Help Myself” – The Four Tops
- “Poppa Was a Rolling Stone” – The Temptations
- “Inner City Blues” – Stevie Wonder
- “Brick House” – The Commodores
- “Sign, Sealed, Delivered” – Stevie Wonder
- “Give it To Me Baby” – Rick James
- “Just My Imagination” – The Temptations
- “Square Biz” – Teena Marie
- “Shotgun” – Jr. Walker & The Allstars
Detroit Bass Day is an annual celebration of the realization that Detroit produces some of the most influential and accomplished bass players in the world. The community is welcome to Rocket Plaza for this free, multigenerational, family-friendly event that brings hundreds of bass players of all styles, genres, ages, and skill levels together from the Motor City and the entire Midwest to gather in front of the Motown Museum.
For more information and register, visit here.
Butzel Moves Ann Arbor Office to New, Larger Location on Main Street
The Detroit-based Butzel law firm recently relocated its Ann A-bor office to a larger space at 101 North Main St., Suite 200.
“Our new Ann Arbor location confirms our commitment to the city of Ann Arbor and the state of Michigan,” says Paul Mersino, president and CEO of Butzel. “This new office is in the center of downtown, provides us additional room to continue to grow and add excellent new attorneys, all while providing our attorneys with a state-of-the-art space with all of the amenities a modern office can provide.
“It offers a premier work environment for collaborating with colleagues and further facilitates our single-minded focus on providing excellent service to meet our clients’ needs. And it does so in a city where we have a long history of providing a full-service legal option to the universities, hospitals, tech startup and venture capital community, and countless other companies to whom we’ve proven our abilities.”
Butzel’s new office reflects function, flexibility, and culture. Collaborative spaces will allow employees enhanced flexibility and functionality to work from different areas. The office is centrally located across from and within walking distance to the state and federal courts.
Individual offices are a focal point of Butzel’s office updates that have occurred in the past couple of years. Offices are identically equipped and furnished to enable plug-and-play use both for those with assigned offices and for visiting attorneys. The office is bright, filled with light, and promotes a sense of community while still offering individual, quiet office space. Butzel also has remote options for attorneys and staff.
Lacks Enterprises in Grand Rapids Acquires Ohio’s Forgeline Motorsports
Lacks Enterprises Inc. in Grand Rapids has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Forgeline Motorsports, a Dayton, Ohio-based manufacturer of custom, made-to-order, lightweight forged aluminum street and racing wheels.
Brothers David Schardt and Steve Schardt, co-founders of Forgeline Motorsports, will collectively retain minority ownership of the company. Financial terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.
“The Forgeline brand is very strong in the racing and automotive aftermarket communities, and we look forward to working alongside its talented team,” says Ryan Lacks, managing director of the wheel division of Lacks Enterprise, which will include Forgeline. “This is the ideal fit between two family-owned, U.S.-based wheel manufacturers.”
The acquisition is mutually beneficial for both companies, providing a unique symmetry that compliments both companies. Lacks is ISO certified and an approved vendor to global automakers, providing Forgeline with an immediate in-road to offer its industry-leading, high-performance wheels to the original equipment market. Additionally, Lacks gains a well-established wheel manufacturer with strong engineering experience and aftermarket relationships for carbon fiber wheel business growth.
NorthStar Clean Energy Generating a Brighter Future for Renewable Energy in Arkansas
NorthStar Clean Energy in Ann Arbor has opened Newport Solar, a 180 MW project designed to source renewable electricity for General Motors Co. operations in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) territory including Lansing Delta Township Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly in Michigan, as well as Wentzville Assembly in Missouri, which underscores a shared commitment to providing creative renewable energy solutions and aggressively pursuing a low carbon future.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, Aug. 15, will mark the launch of one of the largest single-axis photovoltaic projects in Arkansas and will serve as a shining example of NorthStar’s leadership in renewable energy development, and operation.
“NorthStar is committed to helping our customers reach their sustainability and business goals and the Newport Solar project demonstrates how our approach enables companies like General Motors to achieve both,” says Brian Hartmann, president of NorthStar Clean Energy. “The collaboration with GM exemplifies our shared obligation to creating a future powered by renewable energy.”
The solar project is the result of growing innovative and collaborative sourcing effort between GM and NorthStar Clean Energy. It is a key component in the automaker’s strategy to reduce its Scope 2 energy emissions globally, which includes improving energy efficiency, sourcing renewable electricity, using more reliable power, enhancing supply reliability, and making significant global investments in an ever-expanding network of renewable energy collaborators.
The new facility is projected to produce approximately 410,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually, the same amount of electricity needed to power more than 30,000 Arkansas homes.
Under a 15-year renewable energy purchase agreement, the renewable energy credits generated by this new facility will have the same impact as planting nearly 5 million trees.
EarthTronics Offers High Lumen Vapor Tight LED Series for Commercial, Industrial Spaces
Energy-efficient lighting supplier EarthTronics in Norton Shores, south of Muskegon, has introduced two new wide body 4-foot NFS, NEMA 4X, and IP66 wet-location-rated Color and Wattage Selectable Vapor Tight LEDs available in multiple color and wattage combinations to provide optimal high lumen levels for high bay applications.
Designed for easy installation in commercial and industrial lighting specifically for food processing areas, cold storage, utility areas, outdoor retail, and other wet, dusty, and dirty environments, these Color and Wattage Selectable Vapor Tight LEDs are available in popular color and watt combinations.
The new Wide Body Vapor Tight LEDs offer the choice of two color temperatures (4000K and 5000K) and feature a high 80+ CRI. Both the light color temperature and the lumen level can be set at the time of installation with a switch located on the LED module holder plate to ensure the proper lighting for improved visual acuity and application requirements.
For more information, visit here.
Reed City Group, California Company Announce North American Mass Production Partnership
Injection mold builder Reed City Group in Reed City, northwest of Mt. Pleasant, and Origin Materials in California are partnering to mass produce PET caps and closures in North America.
In Reed City Group’s Michigan facilities, the companies will operate Origin PET cap and closure commercial manufacturing lines. The lines will convert virgin and recycled PET into caps using high-speed equipment and automation. Origin’s caps are positioned to be the first commercially viable PET closures to reach the mass market.
“Our company has a long-standing commitment to innovation and bringing our two companies together to fulfil the market needs of sustainable products is a natural fit,” says Guy Boitos, CEO of Reed City Group. “We are eager to partner with Origin for this transformative project for years to come.”
Origin’s PET caps and closures are said to be “a transformative leap forward in packaging,” improving recyclability including through cap tethering, enabling light-weighting, and extending product shelf-life while addressing a greater than $65 billion market.
“Together with Reed City Group we expect to begin mass production of PET caps for the North American region later this year,” says John Bissell, co-founder and co-CEO of Origin. “We look forward to partnering with the Reed City Group team of over 200 people including skilled machinists, mechanical engineers, and operations professionals, with impressive capabilities in tool making and clean room manufacturing.”
Musashi Energy Solutions in Troy Partners with Texas Firm Mitigate Power Issues in AI Data Centers
Flex, an advanced manufacturing solutions provider in Texas, and Musashi Energy Solutions in Troy are collaborating to produce Flex-designed and manufactured capacitor-based energy storage systems featuring Musashi’s Hybrid SuperCapacitor technology.
The systems are designed to integrate with server rack power systems to address significant challenges with utility power in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. First to market with Musashi’s HSC technology, Flex has collaborated with Musashi to develop strategic technology and product development roadmaps for current and future products that enable hyperscale operators to mitigate utility power fluctuations in data centers deploying AI workloads.
Flex’s CESS solutions are designed to balance peak power and protect the grid from intense power surges and line disturbances during AI training and inference activities taking place in modern data center environments. Musashi’s state-of-the-art HSCs are designed to provide high-reliability energy storage in many applications and are known for their power density, longevity, and reliability. The technology reduces equipment size, weight and total cost of ownership.
Flex is slated to begin production of its CESS in the first half of 2025, with commercial availability expected within one quarter of production start.
Celebrities Announced for the Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational
Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan announces that the Feldman Automotive Group, in partnership with event host Mark Wahlberg, will once again be the title sponsor of the Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational.
This year marks the fourth year that Feldman Automotive Group has been involved with the outing, raising more than $5 million since 2021. All the proceeds benefit Children’s Miracle Network at Corewell Heath Children’s and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. Some celebrity guests are now being announced for the Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational, which will take place Aug. 26 at the Detroit Golf Club.
The event includes a full day of golf, hospitality, and a live auction with “over-the-top” experiences. The goal is to raise more than $1.5 million this year.
The Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational is metro Detroit’s largest celebrity golf event where every foursome enjoys an up-close and personal celebrity pairing, featuring more than 50 national and local celebrities. Jay Feldman, chairman/CEO for the Feldman Automotive Group, also is part of the event committee. Not only does he play an integral role in fundraising, Feldman also coordinates celebrity appearances for the event.
Among the participants are:
- Jay Feldman and Mark Wahlberg and Mark’s brothers Donnie, Robert, Jim, Paul, and nephew, Brandon
- Entertainment: Sada Baby, Kevin Chapman, Jamie Denton, Adam Doleac, Bob Guiney, Pooch Hall, Jamie Hector, Chris Morris, Eric Paslay, Jesse Spencer, Hisham Tawfiq, Jenifer Wayne, and Malik Yoba
- Boxing Greats: Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard
- NBA stars: Kenny Anderson, Otis Birdsong, Caron Butler, Ron Harper, Walter McCarty, and Eric Murdock
- NFL Stars: O.J. Anderson, Joique Bell, Lomas Brown, Gosder Cherilus, Steve DeOssie, A.J. Francis, Irving Fryar, Calvin Johnson, Pepper Johnson, Latish Kinsler, T.J. Lang, Kevin Ogletree, Sterling Sharpe, Jason Simon, Rob Sims, sportscaster Tracy Wolfson, and Frank Zombo
- NHL Stars: Coach Mike Keenan, Stephane Matteau, Cam Neely, Pierre Turgeon, Zach Trotman, and Marty Turco
- MLB Stars: Rick Cerone, Johnny Damon, and Jim Leyritz,
- Golf: Brittany Lincicome, Ted Purdy, and Steve Tooshkenig
Although golf sponsorships are no longer available, individuals can still support, by visiting here.
SDBA Planning Summer Networking Mixer for Aug. 14
The Southwest Detroit Business Association will host a summer networking mixer, Connect & Elevate, from 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 14 at 7752 W. Vernor Highway in Detroit. The event features networking, complimentary refreshments, and participation in an exciting Digital Marketing Speed Brainstorming session.
Connect & Elevate is an opportunity for business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members to connect, share ideas, and build relationships in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The event is designed to create a dynamic and productive environment that benefits everyone involved while generating fresh ideas for businesses and the community. The event is open to local business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members. It’s free to SDBA members and $15 for non-members. Click here to register.
For more information or to become a SDBA member, visit here.
Crispy Chicken & Burgers to Donate Portion of Proceeds to Fallen Police Families Aug. 12-18
Crispy Chicken & Burgers, a Michigan-owned company specializing in chicken, burgers, and a variety of other meal options, will be donating 25 percent of its proceeds for the week to the families of the recently fallen Michigan officers.
From Aug. 12-18, guests are encouraged to visit any local Crispy Chicken & Burger restaurants to help raise funds in honor of Oakland County Sheriff Deputy Bradley J. Reckling, Melvindale Police Officer Mohamed Said, and Hillsdale County Deputy Bill Butler Jr. The locations also will be an official collection point for anyone that would like to make additional monetary donations to support the families.
The five metro Detroit locations include Novi (39601 Grand River Ave.), Waterford Township (7660 Highland Road), Roseville (18125 E. 10 Mile Road), Wixom (49078 W. Pontiac Trail), and Clio (4323 W. Vienna Road).
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy to Host Free Event to Introduce Kids to Sports
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is hosting a free event for children that will promote physical activity, encourage health and wellness, and introduce them to a wide variety of outdoor activities offered by organizations from throughout the community.
The Detroit Youth Sports Showcase takes place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 17 at Cullen Plaza (1390 Atwater St.) and Milliken State Park (1900 Atwater St.). along the East Riverfront in downtown Detroit.
The showcase will provide participants with the opportunity to try a variety of sports and activities with partners from all across the community. More than a dozen interactive stations will be set up throughout Cullen Plaza and Milliken State Park to allow attendees to try out everything from traditional sports like basketball and football, to sports they may not have seen or tried before, such as lacrosse and figure skating.
Local organizations set to participate in the event include basketball with Motor City Cruise, soccer with Oakland County Sherriff PAL, break dancing with Motor City Street Dance Academy, and chess with Wise Guys Chess Club.
Detroit Youth Sports Showcase also will feature an early childhood, nature-based free play area, group fitness classes, and free rides on the Cullen Family Carousel.
Henry Ford Health will be on-site with free sports physicals just in time for back-to-school sports.
Participants in the Detroit Youth Sports Showcase will receive a bingo card at check in that can be redeemed for a chance to win prizes including Detroit Tigers tickets while supplies last. There also will be other giveaways and information about back-to-school resources.
For more information about the Detroit Youth Sports Showcase or to register, visit here.
Also happening on Aug. 17, the Detroit Parks Coalition and Pistons Neighbors Program are hosting the 3-on-3 in the D basketball tournament in the parking lot of Cullen Plaza adjacent to the sports showcase. The tournament will consist of multiple simultaneous games taking place throughout the day from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Participants will be eligible for trophies and will receive fun giveaways.
The tournament also will feature a free throw and three-point contests and a skills workshop. More than 300 kids ages 8 to 14 are expected to participate in the tournament.
Pre-registration to participate in the tournament is mandatory. To do so, visit here.
Free parking for guests is available in the River East Parking Structure at 1000 Franklin St. (Franklin and Rivard streets).
Independence Oaks County Park in Clarkston to Host Tails & Trails Race Aug. 18
Oakland County Parks is presenting its inaugural Tails & Trails 5K/1K Race starting at 1 a.m. on Aug. 18 at Independence Oaks County Park.
Participants are welcome to run or walk with their favorite four-legged friend while raising awareness for the Do Only Good Animal Rescue.
A kids 1K race will begin at 10 a.m. featuring OCP’s mascot Oakie the Squirrel. The 5K race will follow with a 10:30 a.m. start. Dogs are welcome to race with their humans as long as they have a current dog license and are kept on a 6-foot leash.
Donations for the Do Only Good Animal Rescue can be made on the race website and on-site the day of the Tails & Trails Race.
The racecourse will run along a wooded trail that meets up with Crooked Lake at some points. Three water stations and restrooms will be available along the route. Spectators are welcome to cheer on walkers and runners.
Cost is $30 for the 5K and each participant will receive a T-shirt and medal while supplies last. Cost is $15 for the 1K and each participant will receive a goodie bag and medal. Independence Oaks County Park is located at 9501 Sashabaw Road in Clarkston.
Register by scanning the QR code on the Tails & Trails 5K/1K Race Flyer posted at OaklandCountyParks.com.
