FILLING A VOID
FARMINGTONBASED NONPROFIT OFFERS RIDES
BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com
FARMINGTON/LIVONIA — After being diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2021, Livonia resident Chuck Schotten said that he and his wife, Susan, “went through a ridiculously hard time in our lives.”
According to Schotten, he wasn’t sure if he was going to live or die.
He said that he had three surgeries and went through about 25 chemotherapy sessions over the course of four months.
Despite those challenges, good news was on its way.
Southfield and Farmington Hills schedule events in recognition of MLK
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
SOUTHFIELD/FARM-
INGTON HILLS — On Jan. 20, after press time, marchers were set to brave the cold to walk one mile from Hope United Methodist Church, 26275 Northwestern Highway, to the Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, for the 40th annual “Peace Walk” in Southfield, honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
The walk was scheduled to be followed by a program, with remarks from Fumi Johns Stewart of May Peace Prevail On Earth International, who was slated to bring 130 flags for marchers to carry and place in the Southfield Pavillion.
Guests were also set to celebrate MLK’s legacy with the annual Taste Fest, featuring samples from local businesses in the area.
The MLK Task Force also held the MLK Youth Service Awards on Jan. 14 to honor youth for their community service, and was set to hold a food giveaway, in collaboration with Forgotten
Harvest, a nonprofit that assists families facing food insecurity, on Jan. 17.
Every year since 1986, on the third Monday of January, the city of Southfield has attracted crowds to honor King’s legacy with the annual walk for peace.
The tradition, which was started by the “mother of Southfield,” Barbara Talley, began on Jan. 20, 1986.
Talley also founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “commemorating the holiday symbolizing brotherhood among all men, reminding us of the ongoing struggle to keep the dream alive for human rights in our community, and for peace throughout the world.”
Talley was the first African American elected to the Southfield City Council and served from 1983 until 1989. The Peace Walk was born out of Talley’s desire to hold an event to honor MLK’s legacy in Southfield, after being encouraged by a state official.
See
In 2023, Chuck Schotten, pictured with his wife, Susan, launched the Michigan Cancer Support Network. The nonprofit provides rides to and from medical appointments for cancer patients, along with wigs and counseling services, all at no charge.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
CRIME WATCH
Intoxicated driver strikes light pole
FARMINGTON — At approximately 12:14 a.m. Jan. 1, Farmington Public Safety Department officers were dispatched to an accident located at Grand River Avenue and School Street after it was reported that a vehicle struck a light pole.
An investigation of the accident revealed that the 28-year-old driver of the vehicle was intoxicated.
The driver failed field sobriety tests and refused to take a portable breath test and a chemical test. A blood draw was completed at Corewell Hospital.
The driver was cited for operating while intoxicated and for refusing to take a portable breath test.
Alcohol stolen from local deli FARMINGTON — At approximately
8:30 p.m. Jan. 9, officers were dispatched to a deli located on Grand River Avenue.
A review of surveillance footage showed an unknown male placing vodka valued at $20 in his pants.
The individual purchased a soda but did not pay for the vodka.
He left the business in a silver Grand Am. The surveillance footage was captured on a CD for evidence.
Intoxicated male causes disturbance
FARMINGTON — At approximately 11:20 p.m. Jan. 2, Farmington Public Safety Department officers were dispatched to a local apartment complex due to a report of a 51-year-old male causing a disturbance inside the building.
An investigation revealed that the subject had felony warrants from a neighboring jurisdiction.
The subject was taken into custody and transported to the neighboring jurisdiction.
— Mark Vest
Farmington High School students
Ethan Croll and Vithesh Balla pose for a picture, wearing the Subway-themed “ugly sweaters” they designed.
Also pictured is Subway franchisee Jakki Zirbel, left, the students’ marketing instructor, Nina Merget, center, and Paige Hyman, Subway’s senior manager of communication and brand PR.
Students’ ‘ugly sweater’ designs brought to life by Subway
DESIGNS LEAD TO FREE LUNCH FOR ALL FARMINGTON HIGH STUDENTS
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
FARMINGTON — Two Farmington High School students managed to break the glass ceiling in an annual marketing class challenge and get the attention of two different CEO’s of the Subway franchise with their “ugly sweater” designs.
Students in Nina Merget’s marketing class were instructed to submit a letter via email to the highestranked CEO of a brand of their choosing, with an ugly
holiday sweater design for that company. According to Merget, the exercise is designed to help the students learn to write professional emails and to practice their communication skills.
To make it a little more challenging, students couldn’t use the brand name in their design.
“Communication is such an important skill for people to have these days. Employers are looking for it, so I really emphasize communication in a variety of ways,” Merget said.
See SUBWAY on page 8A
The last phase of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s “Restore the Reuther” project is slated to begin on March 1. Eastbound and westbound I-696 between Lahser Road and I-75 is set to be rebuilt in 2025-2026.
Eastbound I-696 to close between I-75 and Lahser for 2 years
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
OAKLAND COUNTY — On March 1, the third and final phase of the “Restore the Reuther” project will commence, as eastbound and westbound Interstate 696 between Lahser Road and Interstate 75 will be rebuilt in 2025-2026.
In 2027, I-696 between I-75 and Dequindre Road will see improvements such as the rebuilding of the roadway, bridge work and drainage structures.
Additionally, 60 bridges will be repaired, including the re-
See ROADWORK on page 6A
Welcome 2025 with a commitment to hear the best that you can hear!
Our comprehensive hearing evaluation is always no charge.
Photo by Charity Meier
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Nominations for ‘outstanding’ volunteers sought
Photo provided by Melissa Andrade
FARMINGTON — The Farmington Public Safety Department has received a box of “comfort bears,” according to a press release from the city of Farmington.
The bears were donated by Bear Hug Detroit, which has an “ongoing mission to help first responders make a meaningful connection with the youngest members of the community during some of their most challenging moments.”
According to the release, the “soft, cuddly” bears will serve as a source of solace and reassurance to children experiencing trauma or challenging situations in the community.
The bears are set to be distributed by Farmington Public Safety Department officers during emergencies, a family crisis, or other distressing events.
“Having these comfort bears on hand is a valuable tool for our officers,” Farmington Public Safety Director Bob Houhanisin stated via the release. “They provide a small but significant way to help children feel more secure during stressful situations. We are grateful to Bear Hug Detroit for their generosity and thoughtfulness.”
FARMINGTON HILLS — The city of Farmington Hills and the Farmington Area Commission on Aging are seeking nominations for the annual Volunteer Recognition Program to recognize “outstanding” volunteers in the community, according to a press release from the city of Farmington Hills.
Nominations are open through Feb. 21, with awards set to be presented at a recognition breakfast this spring.
“We encourage everyone to nominate the inspiring individuals who make a difference in the community,” Marsha Koet, who is the supervisor of the Farmington Hills Special Services Department Adults 50 & Better Division, stated via the release. “There are so many exceptional volunteers who graciously give their time and talent to better the community, and this awards program allows us to properly thank them for their contributions.”
Awards include the Commission on Aging Margaret Loridas Diamond Award for volunteers 75 and older and the Gold Award for volunteers 50 and older.
Candidates for the awards must be active volunteers who provide community service in the Farmington Hills/Farmington area.
The Commission will also be recognizing a community-based organization or business that goes above and beyond to serve the older adults of
Farmington Hills and Farmington with the Community Commitment Award, according to the release.
The city of Farmington Hills Special Services Department Adults 50 & Better Division and the Commission on Aging are also seeking nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Awards. Nominees must be active volunteers in programs offered through the Adults 50 and Better Division, according to the release. Nomination forms are available at the Costick Activities Center and online at www.fhgov. com/coaawards. Awards are set to be presented at a volunteer recognition breakfast in April.
Farmington Hills releases information about 2025 general election
FARMINGTON HILLS — According to a press release, the Farmington Hills City Clerk’s Office is encouraging potential candidates for mayor or City Council to begin circulating nominating petitions for the general election, which is scheduled for Nov. 4 this year.
Potential candidates may file to run for mayor, a two-year term, or one of three City Council member positions, each a four-year term. Nominating petitions can be picked up during regular business hours at the Farmington Hills City Clerk’s Office, located inside City Hall at 31555 W. 11 Mile Road. The Farmington Hills City Clerk’s Office is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
“Residents who are passionate about shaping the future of Farmington Hills are encouraged to consider running for office,” Farmington Hills City Clerk Carly Lindahl stated via the release. “Circulating nominating petitions to gather the required number of signatures is the first step in the process, and the Clerk’s Office is here to answer any questions potential candidates may have.”
Candidates will be provided additional information upon pickup of nominating petitions. For more information, contact the Farmington Hills City Clerk’s Office at 248-871-2410.
Photo provided by the city of Farmington Hills
Roadwork
from page 3A
building of the Church Street Plaza bridge that contains Victoria Park. During that construction, a walkway detour will be available.
The project is expected to be completed by fall 2027.
Diane Cross, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation, clarified that westbound traffic will be maintained while eastbound and westbound I-696 will be rebuilt between Lahser Road and I-75.
“We’re reconstructing all of the freeway, but one year we will reconstruct the eastbound side and one year the westbound side, but we’re going to always let westbound traffic use the freeway, and we’ll just move them around. We’ll either keep them on the original west while we rebuild east, or we’ll move them to the eastbound side while we rebuild west. West will always have two lanes open,” she explained.
Eastbound traffic will be detoured via southbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway/Northwestern Highway), eastbound M-8 (Davison Highway) and northbound I-75 back to
eastbound I-696.
“But of course, not everybody’s going to use that detour. So therefore, a side effect, unfortunately, for the project, is we’re going to have a lot of eastbound, heavier traffic on the mile roads,” Cross said. “If somebody’s only going to Royal Oak, they are not going to take that detour, they’re going to just jump on a mile road, whether it’s Eight Mile, anywhere up to M-59, depending on where they’re going. Eastbound is going to be the one that’s going to see heavier traffic on local roads for two years and will be detoured for two years,” Cross said.
She added that this is the first time since the highway was constructed nearly 40 years ago that it has seen a total rehab, and with the exception of Interstate 94, it will be another 20 years before this part of the state has another major freeway reconstruction project.
“It’s a huge investment for Oakland County,” Cross said. “Yeah, it’s a pain in the neck; we totally get that. We all drive the same roads. We drive them, our families drive them, and we hear about it all the time, but what an investment to Oakland County — another $250 million into the local economy of jobs and services, and that kind of thing says what we value, I think,
as a state.”
The total investment for I-696’s three phases of construction is $655 million, with this last phase totaling $250 million, which MDOT is funding through the “Rebuilding Michigan” bond program and the federal “Reconnecting Communities” grant program.
This last stretch of the project supports 2,385 jobs, directly or indirectly, according to an MDOT press release.
The communities of Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Southfield and Warren will be directly impacted by the project.
Southfield, known as the “center of it all,” drew roughly 150,000 commuters to the city before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the city’s mayor, Kenson Siver.
“It’s going to be a major inconvenience for our businesspeople and our residents, but it’s beyond our control and some needed repairs are necessary for the highway,” Silver said. “Road construction is always inconvenient, but we have to live with the reality of it because we need safe roads, and we need roads that are in good repair.”
Siver added that as a Southfield resident for more than 50 years, he remembers
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using the mile roads before I-696 was constructed.
“We went east to west on mile roads, and that’s what we’ll be doing again,” he said. “And I remember after 696 opened, that the amount of traffic, particularly on 10 and 11 Mile roads, decreased significantly because people switched to the freeway. And so I would expect that they’ll all continue to get around, and it’ll just take us longer and be less convenient.”
Pleasant Ridge City Manager James Breuckman said the closure is going to “definitely” change the regional travel patterns for the city’s residents.
“Obviously, you close down 696 eastbound and it’s going to have a major impact,” he said. “We don’t know what the exact local impact on us is going to be. … We’re going to wait and see how travel patterns change because, beforehand, we can predict but we don’t know what the actual impact on traffic is going to be. And if we find that we have problems, we’ll address them and we’ll react and do all those as best we can. But it’s going to be an inconvenience to everybody.”
Aside from the traffic disruption and the inconveniences it will cause, Breuckman does see positives in the construction with
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Robert B., age 50, did just that. He opted for a full-body scan from Bionicc Body Screening, and a very small kidney tumor was detected that had been missed by a recent CT scan. “It saved my life,” he said. “I cannot recommend this service more.”
Roadwork
from page 6A
the investment and improvement in infrastructure.
As for how the project will affect local businesses, Breuckman stated that Pleasant Ridge has a business mix of professional offices and services, but not many retail stores.
“I believe that our businesses will likely be OK,” he said. “They’re serving, generally, a clientele who is either already close by and won’t be coming from regional destinations, or they’re service providers whose clients may not even need to come to their offices because they can do things remotely. So, I think our business community should be relatively unaffected by this other than that baseline level of inconvenience that we’ll all be living through.”
Ryan Ringold, the chief marketing officer at Bionicc Body Screening, said that the two-year closure is going to be an inconvenience to the clients visiting the MRI clinic, which is located at the northeast corner of Northwestern Highway and Lahser Road in Southfield.
“The thought for a lot of people of going into an MRI machine is already over-
whelming and can make them feel anxious, some a lot more than others. But when they’re coming and already feeling a little anxious about having the service done, adding to that by taking longer, fighting traffic, I mean, that itself can be overwhelming for people, so I think it’s kind of a double whammy for them,” Ringold said.
Cross highlighted the importance of drivers staying alert to ensure the safety of construction workers.
“We are working on the side of the road in a hard hat, a vest, a cone, a barrel, maybe a barrier wall, trying to get home to our families the same way you’re trying to get home to your family,” she said. “You got to slow down. You can’t be distracted. Whatever it is that you think is more important is not more important than killing someone or killing yourself in order to get somewhere or read a text or something.”
MDOT is planning a public meeting for early February, with the date expected to be announced soon.
To stay updated on MDOT’s Oakland County projects, visit drivingoakland.com.
Staff Writer Mike Koury contributed to this report.
Call Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk at (586) 498-1070.
Senior Vithesh Balla and junior Ethan Croll are enrolled in Merget’s class, but during separate hours, and each sent a letter to a CEO at Subway with a picture of an ugly holiday sweater they designed.
The letters caught the attention of Subway’s chief operating officer and chief technology officer, who thought their designs were “cool” and the letters were “great” and instructed Paige Hyman, the senior manager of communications and public relations for Subway, to do something special for the students.
Hyman, who is based out of Miami, came through by having their ugly sweater designs brought to life and surprising Balla and Croll with them in the FHS cafeteria on Dec. 19, in front of the district’s superintendent, Kelly Coffin, Christine Meussner, the school’s principal, and other school officials. Subway dignitaries and members of the media and their families were also in attendance.
“Our first thought was, ‘Let’s make the sweaters real and actually deliver them to the kids,’” Hyman said.
Merget said that she has been doing this assignment with her students for the last four years and has sent out approximately 400 letters, including 93 this year, and this is the first time a CEO has responded to emails sent by students.
“It’s so important for students to see that they have a voice in the business world and things can happen even though you’re a high school student,” Merget said.
The timing of the presentation correlated with the school’s ugly sweater spirit day, so many students were dressed to impress in the ugliest holiday sweaters they could find.
Along with the sweaters, the students were also presented with a tote bag containing a Subway track suit.
“My God,” exclaimed Croll, when the principal informed them of the surprise.
“It’s actually amazing,” Croll said of the surprise and his sweater. “It looks so cool in person and I love wearing it.”
To top it off, Hyman then had franchisee Jakki Zirbel, who owns several local Subway locations, including in Farmington Hills, provide the entire school with Subway for lunch. The complimentary lunch included subs, chips, cookies and water.
“We wanted to show the school that hard work pays off and good work pays off, so that’s why we were like, ’You know what, lunch for everybody,’” said Hyman. “It gives them something tasty to chew on and to learn that class assignments aren’t for
not. Pay attention and learn a lot and do well. Whether you’re a high school student or in the business world, putting the time and commitment into doing something can yield a positive result, and that’s really what we wanted to share with them.”
In regard to the emails sent by the students, according to Hyman, more than anything else, the drawings/designs caught her attention. She said they were “so unique and different” and that they “really captured the spirit of the brand.”
“Coming from someone without a design background, somebody who’s in high school, just starting out, I think is really impressive that that they just employed the creativity to bring something like that to life, and that’s why we thought it was so cool and that we need to do something with this and have to make it happen,” she said.
Zirbel said that the letters from the students made it to the top Subway executives in Miami and “really did make an impact.” She shared some words for the students.
“I don’t know what your headline was on your email, but they both loved them,” Zirbel said. “They shared them at the office and we want to congratulate you guys for making it happen. We loved your sweaters so much that we created them for you. You can keep them, you can wear them, and you can put them on right now.”
Zirbel said her staff at all 10 locations worked through the night, coming in at 3 a.m. to make 1,600 fresh Subway lunches in secrecy for the students. They also had their food delivery company deliver 50 cases of water and 50 cases of chips to the high school.
Zirbel said that a U-Haul truck was rented to transport the sandwiches and a manager went from store-to-store to pick up the sandwiches from each location and bring them to the school. She said the sandwiches completely filled the U-Haul.
“We are proud of you and thanks for loving on Subway,” said Zirbel.
Hyman told the boys that both of the CEO’s thought their designs were “really cool.” She said that she loved Balla’s snowflake design and the “giant” subway logo in the middle, and her favorite thing on Croll’s sweater was the “sandwich with a six pack,” which she called the “whole wheat hero of the story.”
“We hope you rock them around school so everybody knows why they got free lunch today,” said Hyman.
“It’s so cool,” said Balla. “I didn’t really expect anything like this to be honest.”
“This was just an outstanding response, so kudos to you guys on your professional letters and kudos to Subway for recognizing the brilliance of our Farmington marketing students,” Merget said.
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The same year that he was diagnosed, after having his bladder removed, Schotten received a call from a doctor informing him that he was cancer-free.
For as much of a relief as that was, Schotten’s personal journey helped him realize some of the challenges that cancer patients face.
He recalled that more than anything, he wanted to come alongside other people who are battling the disease.
A conversation that he had helped him understand how he could do just that.
“I remember I was at a meeting at our church and some guy was asking me about what I had been through,” Schotten said. He goes, ‘You should open a 501(c)(3),’ and I go, ‘I don’t have the money for that.’ He goes, ‘I’ll pay for it.’”
Following that conversation, on Nov. 1, 2023, the Michigan Cancer Support Network was launched.
Schotten honed in on a way that the nonprofit can be of assistance.
“In talking with some of our cancer social workers, more than anything they said the No. 1 need for people that are poor, for people that are in need, is transportation,” he said.
A big role that Schotten plays for the nonprofit is transporting cancer patients to and from appointments in a van that has a wheelchair lift.
He said that there are also five other volunteer drivers that have been assisting him, with each using their own vehicles and paying for their own gas.
Only one patient is transported in a vehicle at a time.
“The main thing behind that is they don’t get stuffed in a van with a bunch of other people that might be sick, because their immune systems are compromised
when they’re going through treatment,” Schotten said.
Aside from rides, the nonprofit also pays for professional Christian counseling services for those who want it, along with wigs and head coverings, all at no charge.
During the course of their journey, Chuck and Susan have also come to realize the importance of providing support to the caregivers of cancer patients.
Although Susan was already an experienced nurse, after Chuck’s diagnosis, her role as a caregiver took on a very personal meaning.
“I was his wife, but I became his nurse, and that was where the struggle started,” Susan said. “I was doing what I would normally do with a patient.”
Susan recalled that at one point she took a month off of work to help care for Chuck.
“During that month I took care of him, I was up 24/7, which took a toll on me,” Susan said. “I became depleted and depressed. I had to go for counseling.”
When some individuals from the church they attend offered to give Chuck rides to his appointments, Susan said that was “huge.”
One of the benefits of the rides the nonprofit offers is the opportunity it provides caregivers to take time for self-care.
Aside from that perk, caregivers are also offered free counseling services.
From Susan’s perspective, not everybody is aware of how challenging it can be for cancer patients to get rides to appointments.
“I think most people assume that insurance is paying for the rides or they have multiple family members that can take them, and not everybody has that, and that’s what we’re finding out,” she said.
Schotten said that he was a personal trainer for 21 years prior to being diagnosed.
“When I decided to run this foundation I wanted to put my entire being into
this, so I took down my website for the personal training,” he said. “I still train about, probably, 10 client hours a week. That helps me pay bills. We’re in a position where we own our own home and we don’t have a great need of a lot of money, which is a good thing because I’m not making a lot of money right now.”
With word getting out about the services offered by the Michigan Cancer Support Network, Schotten said that the phones are starting to “blow up.”
One person who has benefited from the nonprofit’s work is Ferndale resident Mallory Moore, as Schotten has provided her rides to appointments.
“It’s been helpful and uplifting and encouraging,” Moore said. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s not just a ride, it’s Chuck Schotten. He’s a really personable guy.”
Moore’s aspiration is for others to help put Schotten in a position to assist even more people.
“I know that he needs volunteers because he can’t do everything and be everywhere,” she said. “I’m hoping that he’ll be able to garner volunteers and donations so that he’s able to navigate the whole thing, as opposed to being overwhelmed or not being able to service everyone.”
The work that he has been a part of has helped Schotten see the world in a different way.
“I found after we opened the 501(c)(3) that there’s a whole segment of society that kind of falls through the cracks, and they’re not noticed,” he said. “They’re almost dismissed by society, and those are the people that we help. Right now it seems our main clientele, our patients, are elderly women that are poor, in a lot (of) cases don’t have a car, and have no one in their life. Some of them don’t have family.”
Since the nonprofit has begun, more than 260 individuals have been given rides.
Schotten estimated that he works, on average, six days per week.
“Sometimes it doesn’t feel like work because you’re relating to these people,” he said. “They almost become like family to you.”
The Michigan Cancer Support Network works out of an office located at 22882 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington.
Although individuals are offered Christian counseling services, according to Schotten, “We will help anybody.”
Aside from individuals not having to pay for services, Schotten said that they don’t have to prove that they are in “financial straits.”
“I just want that one moment that we can pick that cancer patient up and maybe for the next four hours, the caregiver gets to stop thinking about cancer and they can do a little bit of self-care,” he said. “And the person with cancer gets to sit in a vehicle with me or one of our volunteer drivers, and one of the things we learn to do is be a good listener. Some people just need to talk about it.”
Although assisting others isn’t always convenient or easy, Schotten is of the opinion that it is beneficial for individuals to do things in their lives that are uncomfortable.
“My whole world existed at the end of my nose for so long,” he said. “I think a lot of us live that way. As long as we’re good, as long as our circle of people that we hang out with are good, then life’s good. This really forces me, every day, out of my comfort zone.”
From Schotten’s perspective, the challenges that he has been through have helped lead him to a positive place in his life.
“I knew that I wanted to help people, and for the first time in my life, really (feel) like I’m exactly where God wants me to be,” he said.
For more information about the Michigan Cancer Support Network, or to volunteer or make a donation, call (248) 4828300 or visit mcancersupportnetwork.org. Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 498-1052.
SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING
MSGCU ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATIONS
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union is accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. The credit union will award over $130,000 in scholarships, including 43 scholarships of $2,500 each to help students and educators reach career goals, and 14 scholarships of $2,000 each to support future first responders.
According to a press release, 10 additional scholarships will be awarded in 2025, representing an increase of $25,000.
MSGCU will award scholarships in various categories to teachers and administrators.
Nonmembers are welcome to apply for an MSGCU scholarship and must become a member if selected as a scholarship recipient.
“Earning a degree or certification requires a great deal of determination and hard work, along with a significant financial investment,” said Steve Brewer, president and CEO of MSGCU, in a release announcing the 2025 scholarship program. “MSGCU is increasing our scholarship awards this year to support more students in the communities we serve. We have provided over $1.25 million in scholarships since our program started 20 years ago, helping more than 600 recipients complete their education.”
The MSGCU High School Excellence Scholarship, formerly the Educational Solu-
tions Scholarship, helps high school seniors who attend college. There are 18 scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each.
The Rudolph Heino People Helping People Scholarship supports college-bound high school seniors with a commitment to helping others. A total of 15 scholarships of $2,500 are being offered.
With four $2,500 scholarships, the Larry Swantek Educational Studies Scholarship benefits high school seniors and current college students planning to become teachers.
The Milo Perreault Educator Advancement Scholarship helps certified teachers and administrators continue their education. Four $2,500 scholarships will be offered.
William Cayen Skilled Trades Scholarship supports students pursuing certification in electrical, heating/air conditioning, automotive, or other industrial and advanced technologies or skilled trades programs. Two $2,500 awards are offered to current skilled trades students or graduating high school seniors pursuing a skilled trades certificate.
The credit union also funds the Stephen Thomas First Responder Scholarship, which supports first responders enrolled in police and/or fire academies at local colleges with 14 scholarships of $2,000 each. Applications occur directly with Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, Washtenaw Community College, and Schoolcraft College.Scholarship applications can be submitted online at msgcu.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 25.
MSGCU will award scholarships in various categories to teachers and administrators.
Photo provided by Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union
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She began discussing ideas with people, and after a Southfield High School assistant principal suggested a peace walk, she got to work organizing with community leaders to hold the first Peace Walk event.
Now, 40 years later, Talley said the walk is “very much thought about, especially by me. I just hope that I’ll be here for it next year.”
Southfield Mayor Ken Siver has been a friend of Talley’s since the 1970s when she first moved to the city and he knocked on her door to welcome her to Southfield.
Siver was a founding member of the task force and one of the first people that Talley enlisted to help plan the first Peace Walk event.
“I’ve been friends with Barbara for 50 years, and so when she started the Martin Luther King Task Force, she called me and asked me to help her,” Siver said.
At 93 years old, Talley remains active in the MLK Task Force, with the planning for the annual Peace Walk event beginning in March.
“We at least get one month off,” she joked.
Talley added that in addition to being known as the “mother of Southfield,” she also earned the nickname “mother of civil rights in Southfield.”
Talley said that this year’s theme is “Social Justice Through Equality, Inclusion and Diversity.”
“Equality stands for being equal in everything that we do and inclusion is to include everybody that is in the group,” Talley said. “Martin Luther King talked about diversity, and he was a man that we put the name on, and we want to do the same thing that he stood for, and that was diversity and bringing people together. He lost his life for all of that, and that’s why we stand for diversity and Dr. Martin Luther King.”
According to Talley, there were about 1,000 people who attended the first Peace Walk event, which took place from North Congregational Church, which is now Hope United Methodist Church, to the Southfield Pavilion.
Although Southfield was the first city in Michigan to hold a walk in honor of MLK’s birthday, soon after more communities followed suit, with walks taking place all across metro Detroit.
The Farmington Community Library was scheduled to host the MLK Annual Legacy March Jan. 20 at its Farmington
Hills location.
Kristel Sexton, who is the head of children’s services at the FCL, described the legacy march as a “mainstay” of the library’s festivities for the holiday.
“We’ve been doing this event for decades, and it’s just gotten bigger and better and more inclusive, which I think is really in keeping with what Dr. King would want for a library event in his honor,” Sexton said. “It’s also given us the confidence and the ability to add in more cultural celebrations throughout the year, so we have a really large Asian American Pacific Islander Fest that happens the first Saturday in May every year now, and a lot of the lessons learned from planning this event we’ve taken to create that event and other ones throughout the year, and so I just think that is also a great testament to Dr. King’s legacy of reaching out to every single member of the community as much as possible.”
Jillian Baker, the assistant director at the FCL, also shared some thoughts on the library’s role in recognizing King’s legacy.
“All of us connect differently with MLK’s story and values based on our own personal lives and experiences, so the library’s celebration has always been a way to bring the community together so that they, the members of the community, can reflect on those values, no matter how they may define them,” Baker said. “So we are very happy to be able to provide programs and experiences where people can reflect on those values and what they might mean to them.”
Prior to the march, according to Sexton, the library was also set to have an MLK Day art contest and a presentation featuring a collection of protest buttons from the Henry Ford Museum.
One of her favorite aspects of the celebration has been engaging youth to be part of it.
“What we’re really proud of is, in the last few years, since the pandemic, we really worked hard to partner closely with the Farmington Public Schools and get the middle schoolers and high schoolers deeply involved with the day so that students’ voices are really centered,” Sexton said. “We feel like that’s the future of our community and something that kind of honors the legacy of Dr. King and his activism.”
For more information on the MLK Task Force, visit www.mlktaskforcemi.org.
To learn more about what’s going on at the Farmington Community Library, visit www.farmlib.org.
Call Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk at (586) 498-1070.
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