Fourteen years ago, Joe LaFrance never dreamed he would be the driving force behind a local youth girls basketball league. Back then, LaFrance was just looking for a way to help his then fourth-grade daughter, Stephanie, participate in the sport. With weekdays being consumed with other obligations such as homework and Catechism, Saturday and Sunday were the only days open. When LaFrance, 47, heard that Dakota High School head coach Tom Lesko had been trying to form a weekend league, he signed on and has been a central part of it ever since. The Chippewa Youth Girls Basketball Fall League, …

I challenge you to find a prouder Crusader then Doug DeCeuninck. The 1987 L'Anse Creuse High School North graduate is the new athletic coordinator for the school, replacing the previous athletic director and assistant principal, Kim Rawski. Rawski remains in the building tackling her new position as associate principal.  In his new capacity, DeCeuninck will report directly to both the building principal and district athletic director Dave Jackson. Jackson oversees the athletic coordinators for both high schools and three middle schools. Although DeCeuninck's new position began Aug. 1, he has …

Ted Lang has an eye for taking something ordinary and turning it into something beautiful. The renowned photographer and Macomb Township resident has traveled all over the world taking pictures of everything he sees. To Lang, no subject has ever been off-limits. Spending much of his childhood at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Lang said he has been inspired by the art of photography his entire life. “I think I was born with a camera attached to my arm," said Lang, a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography. “As long as I can remember, I’ve been photographing; from the time I was a kid…

Catch this! Dakota senior Nicole Romain will be behind the plate for Albion College next fall. The four-year varsity starter and captain of the Cougars softball team finished her career at Dakota on a high note. She was elected to the first team all-division for the Macomb Area Conference Red Division as a catcher.  "Nicole was a member of our 2008 MAC Red Championship softball team as a freshman and has improved throughout her years at Dakota," said Dakota softball coach Rick Fontaine. "She has worked very hard to reach her goals as a Dakota softball player." Romain hit .411 this season and …

Macomb Township resident Charlie Kadado is many things: reporter for Scholastic News, anchor of the K-Group News online broadcast, motivational speaker and soon-to-be author. He is also a freshman in high school. At 14, Kadado is just finishing his freshman year at Dakota High School, but boasts a resume that would be the envy of many journalists twice his age. However, he did have a head start. Kadado caught the writing bug early and began to seriously pursue his passion while still in elementary school. “The interest in journalism actually started when I was in second grade,” he said. “I …

Elected to his first two-year term on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners in November 2010, Commissioner Joe Sabatini represents District 13, which includes portions of Macomb, Shelby and Clinton townships. A resident of Macomb Township, Sabatini’s children attend Chippewa Valley Schools and Sabatini himself is a member of the Macomb Township Board of Review. Macomb Patch caught up with Sabatini this week to discuss the future of Macomb Township and Macomb County as he sees it. Patch: What do you believe the cuts in Gov. Rick Snyder’s recent budget proposal will mean for communities like…

To Macomb Township residents Gerard and Tressa Giacona, the Filipo Marc Winery has meant more than just their family business. Taking over the 17 Mile and Garfield location in 2004 meant solidifying dedication to and passion for their craft. Upon the first step inside the Filipo Marc Winery, one immediately feels transported into a place free of outside chaos. The golden decorated walls filled with inspirational words and images, the light Italian music floating through the air, and the cleverly lighted room with its many wine cabinets are just parts of this tucked-away winery that make you …

Cook, father, golf course manager, music enthusiast and Dakota High School teacher, Rob Allaire does not allow himself to be defined by his roles, but rather his belief that education is and should be a never-ending process. Now in his 15th year at Dakota, Allaire, 50, teaches American legal studies, U.S. government and history of motivation, all the while striving to instill his passion for knowledge in his students. “Ultimately, my goal is for students to become lifelong learners,” Allaire said. “I try to model for students that we don’t just finish our education when we get our diplomas …

When you visit this year's North American International Auto Show, be sure to check out the new Super Sonic Corvette and the Camaro Convertible.  When you see the sleek curves of the vehicles' bodies, the cool paint colors and the fancy interiors, you may want to thank three Macomb residents in particular, since they were a few of the key faces behind these great new cars.   Kirk Bennion, Harlan Charles and John Cundy are three General Motors employees who have worked on some of the new cars on display at the NAIAS, including the Chevrolet Corvette and the Camaro Convertible. All three live …

For those Macomb Township residents who tuned into Detroit 1-8-7 last week, they might have noticed a familiar face–Michael Carollo. A Dakota High School graduate, Carollo, 22, played an important albeit minor role on the crime sitcom’s Jan. 11 episode.   Cast in the role of Officer Rodriguez, Carollo’s first scene takes place in the police station’s interrogation room where he is thrown onto a table by the show’s star, Michael Imperioli. “That scene probably took 20 some takes,” Carollo said. “Michael (Imperioli’s) knees were all banged up and my back was all bruised by the end.” Audiences …

Like most dogs, Titan lives a full life. He eats great, has a family who loves him and plays catch as much as possible. But Titan is not just any 6-year-old German shepherd. He and his owner are one of 29 canine police dog teams registered with the Michigan State Police. And, best of all, Titan lives here in Macomb. "Titan and I are primarily responsible for servicing northern Macomb County and almost all of St. Clair County," said State Trooper John Sholtz, Titan's owner, handler and companion. "As a Canine Team we are cross-trained in tracking and to search for narcotics. We can respond …

When the current Chippewa Valley School superintendent exits in January, a longtime educator and administrator from within the district will replace him. Ron Roberts, the current assistant superintendent, will begin as interim superintendent of Chippewa Valley Schools, the state's eighth-largest district, on Jan. 24.Outgoing school superintendent Mark Deldin, who has been appointed Deputy County Executive by Mark Hackel, leaves Chippewa Valley on Jan. 21."I have worked for Chippewa Valley Schools for 32 years and it has become my home," Roberts, 55, said. "I love this district and I am …

Even if you don't recognize the name, you would recognize the voice. Mario Impemba has been the TV voice for the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit since 2002 and provides the play-by-play calls alongside color commentator Rod Allen. Impemba was decorated with a Michigan Emmy Award in 2006 in the sports play-by-play category. In the off-season, he can be heard as the TV and radio voice of the Oakland University Golden Grizzlie's men's basketball team on WDFN. The Impembas reside in Macomb Township and are frequently spotted at Dakota High School, El Charro restaurant and Partridge Creek …

He's a busy guy fighting a terrible cold. But on his sick day from work he agrees to meet me at Starbucks. As I sit with Dino Bucci, Macomb Township trustee since 2000, I have flashbacks of meeting him for the first time more than 15 years ago. He hasn't aged much since 1994—but he has accomplished a great deal since then. Bucci grew up in Warren with his parents and sister Lizabeth. He attendedCousino High School, graduating in 1977, and attended Albion College. Longtime friend Tom Bommarito calls Bucci a loyal friend with a good sense of what's right and what's wrong. "We met in the …