April 2021 | Vol.4 | Issue 4
Northville’s News and Lifestyle Magazine
The
Butterfly Effect
Meet the Local Sales Reps in Your Community.
Vita Vizachero
John DesOrmeau
Vita has lived in the Northville / Novi community since 1989. Some of her local favorites are Table 5, Pooles, Rocky’s, and Cantoro’s on Haggerty.
John has lived in the Northville / Novi community since 1987. Some of his local favorites are Rocky’s, Custard Time, Guernsey’s and the Pizza Cutter.
vvizachero@billbrownford.com Office:(734) 524-2711
jdesormeau@billbrownford.com Office:(734) 524-2720
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SUPPORT THE ‘VILLE • If you enjoy getting The ‘Ville each and every month, please consider making a donation. • Your financial contribution will help us survive and grow. • Help insure local journalism is here to stay. Send us $10, $20 or any amount you can, and we will list your name in upcoming issues as being a supporter of The ‘Ville -- and local journalism.
LOCAL MATTERS!
Please send checks, cash or lucky charms to: Journeyman Publishing 16435 Franklin Northville, MI 48168 Thank you!
VOLUME 4
ISSUE 4
APRIL 2021
16435 Franklin, Northville, MI 48168 • 734.716.0783 • TheVilleMagazine@gmail.com
KURT KUBAN – Editor/Publisher
Kurt Kuban is an award-winning journalist, having served as a reporter and editor for several local newspapers and magazines, including The Northville Record, over the course of a career spanning more than two decades. Kurt lives in Northville with his wife, Cheryl, and their three children, who all attend Northville Public Schools.
CRAIG WHEELER – Creative Director
Craig has been in the creative industry for over 28 years. He has developed a diverse background in that time, but publication design has been his passion during the past 18 years. Craig enjoys chasing his young daughter and providing moral support to his lovely wife.
MICHELE FECHT – Writer
Michele Fecht is a longtime journalist whose first post-college reporter position was at The Northville Record before moving on to The Detroit News. A 30-plus year resident of the City of Northville and historic (old) house owner, she is an author, researcher, local history enthusiast, and community activist/advocate.
BRAD EMONS - Writer
Publisher Here is a list of people who contributed to local journalism last month. We appreciate your support! John & Joy Colizzi
Ming & Barbara Louie
Mike & Judy DeFrancesco
Ken O. McBride
Roy & Perla Forbes
Tom & Barb Soyster
Carl Giroux
Lorraine Steimel
John & Mary Jaye
Fred & Caroline Hendra
Over the course of his four decades with the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, Brad established himself as one of the preeminent prep sports reporters in the state, winning many journalism awards along the way. His greatest joy is interviewing local athletes and coaches, and reporting on their efforts.
LONNIE HUHMAN - Writer
Lonnie graduated from EMU with a degree in creative writing. He is a longtime newspaper reporter, including two stints with The Northville Record. He is now a freelance reporter for a number of publications, including The Sun Times News in Dexter, where he lives with his wife and two young children. He is glad to be back covering the Northville community.
TIM SMITH - Writer
Tim brings a penchant for telling powerful and personal stories that run the gamut from news to sports. During more than 35 years in journalism, he has earned numerous state and national awards. The Wayne State grad is a published author and rec ice hockey player.
ALAN LUNDBERG - Writer
Alex got his start in the journalism business in 1992 as a reporter for the Plymouth Community Crier newspaper. Since then he has worked a variety of beats, covering communities all around the Detroit area, from Grosse Ile to Lake Orion.
WENSDY VON BUSKIRK – Writer
Wensdy graduated with a degree in journalism from Wayne State University. Her first job was working as a reporter for The Northville Record. Now, as a freelance writer and editor, she works for a variety of magazines, and is excited to get back to her roots in The ‘Ville. -Photo by Kathleen Voss
BRYAN MITCHELL - Photographer
Bryan started working as a photographer more than 30 years ago, and was the Northville Record photographer in the 90's. He has freelanced for The Detroit News, The Guardian, Reuters, and other publications. His photography has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the globe. The Northville resident also coaches mountain biking at Northville High School.
A View From The ‘Ville
A Job Well Done
I
f there’s one lesson I’ve learned during this pandemic it’s you should never take good news for granted. Lord knows we’ve had more than our share of bad news during the last year. That’s why I think it’s important to give kudos to those who are helping us get on track back to normalcy, including everyone who joined forces to make the recent Vaccinate Northville project such a success. You can read about the program on Page 14, but I thought it was worth noting how impressed we are to see so many different people and entities in our community come together to organize and facilitate the two-day event (March 26 and April 1) held at Schoolcraft College’s VisTaTech Center. It’s no easy task to get 3,000 people signed up, scheduled and vaccinated, especially when you are relying on a lot of volunteers, but that’s exactly what officials from Wayne County, Northville Township and the City of Northville were able to do. Here is a list of those who contributed to the successful
Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki (far left), Mayor Brian Turnbull (second from left) and some of the volunteers at Vaccinate Northville.
campaign: the Northville Township and Northville City fire departments, Wayne County Health Department, Schoolcraft College, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, the Staknis family, the Busard family, Addington Place of Northville, Anthology Senior Living, Brookdale Senior Living, Independence Village of Plymouth, and Oakmont Senior Living. Many local elected officials also added their expertise and volunteer hours to make things go as smoothly as possible, including Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo,
Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull, Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki, and Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans – just to name a few. They worked hard behind the scenes to make this clinic a reality. And we can’t forget mentioning Genitti’s Hole-in-the-Wall restaurant, which provided food to all the workers and volunteers. It was definitely appreciated. Everyone I spoke to about the two-day clinic told me how impressed they were with the effort.
I even received a note from an elderly Northville couple (both 95 years old), who were vaccinated at the event and just wanted to tell me their experience “was wonderful.” These days it’s become pretty common to hear people whine about government. But this is a clear example of what can be accomplished when governments come together to make a difference. Not to mention all the volunteers, nurses, and firefighters who provided assistance. Let’s be honest. It’s going to take this kind of effort moving forward to beat COVID-19, which has robbed us of so much, not the least of which are the more than a half million of our fellow Americans who did not live to see the end of this nightmare. So thank you to everyone who made Vaccinate Northville such a success. We’re now 3,000 people closer to beating this pandemic. Kurt Kuban is Editor and Publisher of The ‘Ville. He welcomes your feedback at (734) 716-0783 or kurtkuban@thevillemagazine.com.
Your Voice: Letters to the Editor 4 Hoot of a gift honors longtime Maybury volunteer 10 Thousands take advantage of ‘Vaccinate Northville’ 14 Local MSU swimmers hung out to dry 16 I-275 headlines road projects on tap for 2021 20
Mustang With A Cause
6
The Butterfly Effect
22
Engaging The Public
32
ON THE COVER: Artist Eden Feller, a sophomore at Northville High School, stands near the butterfly mural she recently painted at the site of the Northville Farmers' Market. Photo by Bryan Mitchell
Author details his journey as a foreigner in Japan 26 Novi Bowl owner, NHS coach promoted the sport 30 Past Tense: Ladies’ Library Association 36
Your Voice
Land sale questioned
I really don’t understand why Northville would sell its property to Poole’s just to accommodate 50 people. I highly doubt that they could get 50 people up there. I would be surprised. Also, Poole’s already has what’s called the Bak Bar, which I’m sure accommodates about 50 people, which they don’t utilize very often. So I don’t understand all of a sudden the need to expand. Downtown is a destination. People want to be downtown. Northville should not sell their property to anybody. If you accommodate one person then everybody’s going to want a piece of it. Pat Rickert
Neighbor isn’t enemy
The pandemic has exacted a toll which we may not fully understand or realize. We, the school board, and our children are worried and scared of many things. But our shared humanity and decency towards each other need not be one of them. Our judgement in these times may be impaired. Stop and breathe, our neighbor is not the enemy. Ming Louie
Wear a mask
I appreciate Editor Kurt Kuban’s experience about COVID and hope his son is healthy and his teammates, too. Three of our son’s coworkers tested positive for COVID this past summer. He has had both shots now, as he is an essential worker. But even now, he wears a mask when stopping by for a short visit. I look forward to being vaccinated and not wearing a mask. Maybe we will get to know his girlfriend. So much stuff going on. Thank you for a variety of articles: athletes, entrepreneurs and all that great stuff. Clare Barwick
Not a political issue
I want to thank you on your article regarding children/ teens returning to classes. I am sure this is a very difficult time for parents, juggling all they must at this time. But I am so tired of some in the community making this a political issue. What parent can’t put 1+1 together? Students are sick; others are being tested, yet basic critical thinking is out the window Good to the school board, for understanding the issues, and holding firm for the safety of the children. Sharon Mullins
SOUND OFF 4 The ‘Ville
Vote ‘Yes’
Voting is now open and absentee ballots are out for the non-homestead millage supporting Northville Schools. We strongly urge you to vote “yes.” In fact, this should be the easiest millage vote of all. Voting “YES” means no increase, and no additional taxes levied. “YES” also means no taxes at all for Northville homeowners who live in their homes. Rather, this is a renewal that applies only to rental and commercial properties. Most important of all, this tax is pivotal to school operations. It reflects almost 16% of the daily operating budget of our schools. This renewal is not aimed at adding or building new things. It is necessary to continue basic operations -- we cannot run the school system without it. Your "yes" vote either absentee or on election day, May 4, 2021, is critical. Please support our schools. Sarah Prescott Angela Jaafar Roland Hwang Jim Mazurek Suzanne Lynn Lisa McIntyre Lindsey Wilson Northville School Board members
Slow down
The speed limit on parts of Sheldon Road between 6 Mile and 7 Mile roads is only 35 m.p.h. and in some spots, it is reduced to 25 m.p.h. because of the hills and low visibility for people pulling out of residences onto Sheldon Road. In this area, there are numerous drives and private roads. I cannot count the number of times that I have slowed down with my turn signal on to turn into my driveway and have been yelled at, honked at, tailgated or have had cars pull around me into the oncoming lane in a no-passing zone, instead of waiting for me to complete the turn. The extra six seconds it takes for you to slow down/stop while I turn, protects the lives of individuals and families with small children who cross from the west side of Sheldon Road to use the Hines Park paved walkway that runs parallel to Sheldon Road on the east side of Sheldon and the many people checking their mail in that area who have their mailboxes on Sheldon Road. Most traffic that comes through that stretch of the road is maintaining the 45 m.p.h. speed limit that is posted on Sheldon between 5 Mile and a half mile past Six Mile. They do not slow down to 35 m.p.h. as posted (let alone to 25 m.p.h. as posted in one area) and it causes a dangerous situation for people to turn into their driveways or private roads or to cross the street or to check the mail. We do not have either a two-lane road in one direction or a shoulder lane for turning. I implore you to please slow down in this area for the safety of your fellow citizens that are walking, checking their mail, turning into their drives/roads. I recall a time that there was frequently a Northville police patrol car stationed in different stretches of the road patrolling for speeders – maybe a return to that would solve the problem. Sharon Simkins
Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@gmail.com. Letters must be 150 words or less. We reserve the right to edit all letters.
Northville Public Schools Operating Millage Renewal
VOTE MAY 4, 2021
Polls will be open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm Voters may vote by absentee ballot or in-person at the polls. BOTH are safe and secure. • If voting by absentee ballot, please submit an application with an original signature. • Absentee ballot applications and precinct information are available on the township website, www.twp.northville.mi.us under the clerk’s page, or by calling 248-348-5825. • If residents use the US Postal Service, please return the ballots as early as possible. • A 24/7 drop box is available in the drive-thru lane at Township Hall, 44405 Six Mile Rd., or ballots may be placed in the drop-box in Township Hall lobby or turned in at the Clerk’s Office. • Voters can track their ballot at Michigan.gov/vote. Click on “Your Voter Information” at the top of the page. Fill in the information and you can follow your ballot.
The Clerk’s Office will have extended election hours on the following date: SATURDAY, MAY 1ST 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Do you need to register before May 4th? You can still get an absentee ballot at the Clerk’s Office. Call 248-348-5825 or stop by the Clerk’s Office during our regular business hours of 8:00 am-4:30 pm, or during our convenient extended hours.
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF NORTHVILLE Roger Lundberg, Clerk 44405 Six Mile Rd., Northville, MI 48168
248-348-5825 clerk@twp.northville.mi.us
1966 classic to be raffled off to help families of fallen soldiers By Lonnie Huhman | Photos by Bryan Mitchell
W
hat do you get when you bring together restoring a cool, classic car with a great cause? You get a really important project from the Folds of Honor Motor City chapter that has a cool Northville connection. Bill Flohr, a Northville resident and assistant coach of the Northville High School baseball team, hatched the idea to raffle off a fully restored 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe to both raise important funds and awareness for the Folds of Honor Motor City chapter, of which he is a member. “The biggest thing about our organization and me personally is we must take care of our veterans and their families,” Flohr said.
6 The ‘Ville
The 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe was rebuilt from scratch by a number of volunteers.
The project began as a three-person effort, with Flohr coming up with the idea
and leading the promotion efforts and brothers Dave and Doug Dicarlo doing all of the
restoration work. Flohr jokes he’s not that handy and it was his role to work at getting the donations while the Dicarlos do restorations as a hobby in their barn in Canton. “There have been so many donations and truly generous people helping to get it done,” said Flohr of what’s turned into a community effort to restore the classic car. Help has come from NPD (National Parts Depot), 66 Auto Color, Knurek Goodyear, American Transmissions, R&M Machine Shop, Knudsen Brothers Collision, and especially the Dicarlos, who are donating all of their labor to restore this awesome 1966 Mustang. The car was stripped down to
the very last nut and bolt then completely rebuilt, undercoated and is painted a beautiful shade of red. Flohr said NPD upgraded the disc brakes; Knurek Goodyear the new wheels and tires. 66 Auto Color donated all the paint and primer in a beautiful Brandywine color with the painting completed professionally by Knudsen Brothers Collision. The transmission was rebuilt by American Transmissions and an all-new leather Pony interior was installed. To top it all off is the completely rebuilt 289 engine with dual exhaust. Flohr has enlisted the help of the baseball team and other members of the community to help sell raffle tickets for the endeavor. Tickets are $100, and only 1,000 tickets will be sold. The last day to buy a ticket is May 31, or until the 1,000 tickets are sold. “This is an amazing project with really good odds,” Flohr said. “Buying a ticket gets
you a one in 1,000 chance to win this beautiful car.” The big unveiling will come on Facebook through a live drawing on June 7. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Folds of Honor Baseball team players and NHS juniors Zach Jurcisin (left) and Luke Brodde, and Motor City chapter, NHS baseball coach Bill Flohr stand by the 1966 Mustang that is being raffled. which will use the tuition and tutoring for children in grades money for an important cause. K-12, as well as higher education tuition “All the proceeds for this will be used for assistance for spouses and dependents. scholarships of families of wounded and Founded in 2007 by Lt. Colonel Dan fallen veterans through the Motor City Rooney, a PGA professional and F-16 fighter Folds of Honor,” said Flohr. pilot in the Air Force Reserves who served They are hoping to net 18 full three tours of duty in Iraq, Folds of Honor scholarships from this project. is proud to have awarded approximately Since its inception in 2007, Folds of 29,000 scholarships in all 50 states and Honor, a 501(C) (3) Nonprofit organization, some U.S. territories, including more than has awarded 29,000 total scholarships in all 4,500 in 2020 alone. 50 states. Minority scholarship recipients The name for the organization comes represent 41 percent of all educational from the folded American flag and scholarships while Folds of Honor is proud constant reminder of those who have to have a cumulative average ratio of 90 paid the ultimate price for this country. It percent of every dollar raised going to their helps everyone involved remember their scholarship program, the Folds of Honor mission and that is to honor the sacrifice of website states. America’s heroes, while giving hope to the The organization provides educational bearers of their legacy. scholarships to the families of military Flohr and NHS head baseball coach John men and women who have fallen or been Kostrzewa have stressed to the players the disabled while on active duty in the United importance of U.S. Armed Services and States Armed Forces. The educational the role veterans play in our society. The scholarships support private educational baseball team’s annual Armed Forces Day event raises money for veterans’ charities. To purchase a ticket for the Mustang raffle, donate or for more information, visit the website at motorcity. foldsofhonor. org. You can also email BFlohr@ foldsofhonor.org or call (248) 761-9694.
The ‘Ville 7
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HOOT Of A Gift Great Horned Owl mount honors Maybury volunteer, educator By Tim Smith
I
n death – as in life – Jean Bemish and Maybury State Park in Northville Township will remain intertwined. Bemish, who was a longtime member of Friends of Maybury State Park and founder of the popular “Owl Prowl,” passed away at age 81 in August 2018. But in 2021, the Northville woman’s memory and love of owls will be forever honored thanks to a stuffed Great Horned Owl donated to Maybury State Park in her name. The owl is now displayed in a case at the park’s brand-new headquarters (expected to be opened to the public May 1 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.) “With the help of one of the park rangers there was a dead owl that was found in one of the state parks,” said
10 The ‘Ville
Jean Bemish was a longtime member of the Friends of Maybury and founder of the group’s popular Owl Prowl.
Chuck Murdock of Friends of Maybury, a volunteer organization celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. “We had to get special permission in order to have this owl stuffed by a taxidermist. “We ended up paying the taxidermist for the mounting and then one of the park rangers at Maybury made a really nice display case for it,” Murdock continued. According to Jean’s daughter, KC Bemish of Ann Arbor, her
mom would have been “thrilled and humbled” by the stuffed owl – largely because Jean Bemish was a dedicated teacher for 25 years at Miller Elementary School in the Plymouth-Canton district who relished any chance to help children learn about the somewhat mysterious bird. “The Owl Prowl was important
because Mom loved owls and she loved teaching,” KC Bemish noted. “So, the Owl Prowl brought those two things together. “I remember Mom preparing for her first prowl. I came out to the house for a visit and earlier that morning she used a cassette tape in her boombox out on the screen porch to call in a Great Horned Owl. She was so excited, she couldn’t believe it actually worked.” THE ULTIMATE TEACHER Catherine Eugenie (Green) Bemish – who during her youth rode horseback from her family’s home on Napier Road in Northville into the future Maybury State Park when it was the Detroit Municipal Tuberculosis sanitarium – parlayed her love of teaching and the outdoors into the adventurous Owl Prowl program, which began in the mid2000s. “It was through teaching (kindergarten through third grade at Miller) that she discovered owls and what amazing birds they are,” KC Bemish said. “Long before that first Owl Prowl she had students dissecting owl pellets and reconstructing the bones found in the pellets to identify what the poor critter was that got eaten.” Murdock chuckled when he recalled Jean’s ability to inspire and enthrall youngsters over those very owl pellets. “She would bring owl pellets into the classroom and have the kids open them up,” Murdock noted. “When an owl eats something, like a mouse, they eat the whole
thing. The fur, the bones. So owls digest what they can and regurgitate the stuff they can’t digest. It comes out in a big clump on the ground. You’d think the kids would be very squeamish about it, but I think they really enjoy it.” KC’s brother, Andrew Bemish of Northville, noted that “Mom’s interest in owls was infectious. Anyone who knew Mom would have come away with a basic knowledge of owls.” Their father and Jean’s husband of 55 years, Lawrence “Larry” Bemish, passed away in 2012. Maybury Park Supervisor Traci Sincock touted the Friends of Maybury for honoring Jean Bemish’s legacy as well as planning to keep future Owl Prowls going strong for years to come. “Jean was a huge advocate of owls, she started the Friends’ Owl Prowl program that they have in December,” Sincock said. “The Friends took this donation money (in Jean’s memory) and had an owl mount made to commemorate her.” About the Owl Prowl itself, Sincock described it as a popular “hands-on” program that always made Bemish proud. “We break the participants into small groups of people and we take them out on the trails,” Sincock explained. “We use hand-held calls that simulate owl sounds. So, the objective is to get the owls that live in the park to call, to respond to the call that we’re sending out. “And the Friends do a little education story about owls and (their) behavior. We have hands-on projects for the kids, so there’s an educational component to it. But people do love being in the park at night. It (Owl Prowl) is a very popular program that always exceeds its capacity.” The 2020 Owl Prowl was canceled due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, but hopes are that the December 2021 event will get the green light. A NEW LOOK Several months before the next Owl Prowl takes place, Maybury Park nature lovers will get to enjoy another project that Jean Bemish would have loved – namely, the opening of a new park headquarters. Maybury’s new building is expected to now open May 1, per state DNR guidelines.
Jean Bemish, who was a teacher, loved educating youngsters about nature.
It would have opened sometime during 2020, but the pandemic also got in the way of those plans. The new building is located on the Eight Mile Road side of the park at the main entrance. “It was the park’s 45th birthday (in 2020) and, we were hoping to have this huge community celebration and open house,” Sincock said. “The short answer is hopefully (for a May 1 unveiling), but it’s all going to depend on guidelines and what we’re allowed to do. “But it would be our hope that we would have an open house so people can come and see the building. It’s beautiful.” The former headquarters was on Beck Road, in an old house that was part of the Detroit Municipal Tuberculosis sanitarium. “It was multi-story, very small, it was a residential home that was converted to offices,” Sincock explained. “The new office, in contrast, is a single-floor, officeappropriate, insulated, well-built facility
that will serve the needs of the park well into the future.” With the maintenance workshop (where tractors and tools are housed) attached to administrative offices, she added that “no longer does staff have to leave the office and go down this dirty, muddy path to get to the maintenance shop.” The price tag for the new headquarters is about $2.4 million, with a good portion of that amount coming from a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant because it will serve as a tornado shelter for users of the park. “They were really creative about finding a funding source that would supplement capital outlay dollars,” Sincock said. And in the planning stages is a nonmotorized entrance, which will be located off Seven Mile Road. It will give pedestrians and bicyclists access, free of cars and other traffic. Friends of Maybury Park have been generating funds to be earmarked for designing and engineering of the project. “The Friends are still raising money toward that effort,” Sincock continued. “When they raise that money, they will gift that donation to the park. And then the DNR will hire an engineer to perform that work.” Public response to the non-motorized entrance has been extremely positive. Jean Bemish would have been happy to hear that. “Mom embraced any improvements to the park that made it more accessible and I’m quite sure she’d be pleased with the latest upgrades,” KC Bemish said.
Maybury State Park’s new headquarters is expected to open to the public on May 1.
The ‘Ville 11
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(Above) Mayor Brian Turnbull (front) stands with people waiting in line at Schoolcraft College. (Bottom left) Northville firefighters Adam Burton, Thomas Hughes, Brandon McCullough, and Jesse Marcotte spent the day making sure everything ran smoothly. Photos by Laura Fawaz
‘Vaccinate Northville’ A Big Success City, Township partner up to inoculate more than 3,000 residents at Schoolcraft By Tim Smith
T
he hotline to help Northvillians set up appointments to get the coveted COVID-19 vaccine immediately went into overdrive on March 24 – with people calling and clicking their way to grab available slots as the “Vaccinate Northville” program swung into action. Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull said the program’s kickoff, with a call center staffed by six operators, was a rousing success with 600 appointments “in the first couple hours.” The call center is housed in the basement of Northville Township’s offices “and if (calls) come in through the city we just forward it,” Turnbull continued. On-line appointments were booked through VaccinateNorthville.com. Those people, ages 50 and over, were getting slots for either of two clinics taking place at Schoolcraft College’s VisTaTech Center in Livonia, located across Haggerty Road from Northville Township. The first was Friday, March 26 followed by a second session on April 1. Both days were a great success, according to Turnbull.
14 The ‘Ville
residents. Officials from the city and township decided to pool resources and have the two clinics at Schoolcraft rather than the original concept of hosting them at Northville Township’s offices. Also instrumental to the effort was the Wayne County Health Department. Northville firefighters enjoying a break in the action. Photo courtesy of Northville “It was extremely Township. tedious to get everything going front end to back end,” “We vaccinated 1,550 people the first day said Turnbull, explaining the switch to with a similar number on the second day. Schoolcraft. “We would have had to do It was amazing to see,” Turnbull said. “All I all the first responders if they were not can say is there was outstanding teamwork certified to do all the vaccinations. by everyone involved. The county said “At Schoolcraft, they’ve been up and it was the most well coordinated clinic running (a Moderna vaccine clinic) since they’ve seen so far. We were probably over December. At that time they started prepared.” with first responders, and then medical Schoolcraft hosted the clinics specifically personnel and teachers. They were all set.“ for Northville and Northville Township
Members of the Michigan National Guard were on duty at Schoolcraft to help with the process, while Wayne County medical staff administered the shots. “They offered, because the Michigan National Guard is still on station there, that we could hook up with them,” he explained. “So, it worked out very well, it’s a win-win.” Of the more than 3,000 Northvillians vaccinated during the two clinics, Turnbull said most were seniors and then people 18 and older with underlying medical conditions. He noted many of the senior residents of the city’s Allen Terrace were vaccinated. “When we started signing people up, only about 39% of Allen Terrace residents had been vaccinated. I’m happy to report, we were able to vaccinate every one of the residents there who wanted the shot,” Turnbull said. On March 26th, people received the Moderna vaccine, and are scheduled to return four weeks later for their second
Shannon Coker of the Northville Parks and Recreation department volunteered at the call center. Photo courtesy of Northville Township.
shot. On April 1, people received the Johhnson and Johnson shot, according to Turnbull, and do not need a second dose. As to whether “Vaccinate Northville” might be extended beyond the two clinics remains to be seen. “We’ll have to re-evaluate, and the county will see if they will give us additional dates,”
Turnbull said. “We’re just playing it by ear at this point.” Northville Township Manager and Public Safety Director Todd Mutchler said he was happy about the clinic as well. “Getting a vaccine site close to our residents has been a top priority for both Northville Township and the City of Northville,” he said. Mutchler added that the township and city will be “working with Wayne County on securing even more doses and expect to announce more soon.” Turnbull was able to speak to a few people waiting in line for their vaccines at the clinics, and he said most people were very happy to be getting their shots. “People were just ecstatic, unbelievably happy,” he said. “For many, it was like hitting the lottery.” The dedicated hotline for appointments is (248) 305-2581. Go to VaccinateNorthville. com or visit the Facebook page @ TwpNorthville for updates.
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(Top left) MSU’s Travis Nitkiewicz (bottom), a sophomore from MSU, ponders what’s next after the Big Ten swim program was cut. Courtesy of Travis Nitkiewicz . (Top right) The men’s and women’s swim teams at Michigan State developed a tight bond. Courtesy of Sophia Balow
HUNG OUT TO DRY Northville trio still reeling after MSU cuts swimming program By Brad Emons
M
ichigan State swimming will always be a big part of their lives. But for Northville High grads Travis Nitkiewicz, Erin Szara and Riley Szara, bleeding loyalty to the Green and White cuts to their inner core. When MSU athletic director Bill Beekman announced on Oct. 22, 2020 that the school was dropping the varsity sport – 99 years for the men’s program and 51 with the women – it took a piece out of their Spartan souls. Budgetary constraints were the reason to save $2.1 million. Months later, Nitkiewicz, a sophomore who was Academic All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, is still trying to wrap his head around the school’s decision to drop the program amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
16 The ‘Ville
He was coming off posting NCAA B provisional times in the Big Ten Championships (March 2-6) at Ohio State where he placed 23rd in the 100-yard breaststroke (54.11 after going a personal best 53.92 in the prelims), as well as a 25th in the 200 breaststroke (54.11). Nitkiewicz, who was the 2019 MHSAA Division 1 champion in the 100 breaststroke for Northville as a senior, is on a partial athletic scholarship and is also on an academic grant as well. MSU will continue to honor his partial athletic scholarship through graduation, but his future as a competitive swimmer is cloudy at best. “I’ll find other things to fill my time with,” he said. “We have a club swimming team, or other organizations or some kind of other activity. This
spring I’m still making my mind up that I’d like to get my Olympic Trials cut, even when there’s no incentive to train for next year or another season, but I think I still want to swim. So, it’s disillusioning to imagine my time here is out.” CASE ON APPEAL There was a total of 63 swimmers combined in the MSU men’s and women’s program with 24 scholarships allocated. Eleven members of the MSU women’s program are plaintiffs in a Title IX lawsuit against the school, but a temporary injunction was rejected to keep the program going through at least the 2021-22 season by a federal court judge in Grand Rapids earlier this year. The case is currently on appeal with hopes of a hearing before a
three-judge panel. Erin Szara, a U.S Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100-meter breaststroke, just wrapped up her senior season and career at MSU with an eighth-place finish (varsity record 1:00.30) in the 100-yard breaststroke and a 19th in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.53) at the Big Ten Championships held at the University of Minnesota. She just missed an NCAA Division 1 meet Provisional cut in the 100 breaststroke by just 0.12 seconds. Although Szara could return for another year of eligibility as a fifth-year senior granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic, she plans to get on with her life following the Olympic Trials in early June in Omaha, Neb. “I’ve graduated and I’m not planning on doing a double major or minor,” she said.
“It would really be hard for me to do another year. I was going to be done after this year anyways.” Although the decision does not impact her, the surprise decision still stings and she feels for her teammates. “I’m still upset about it, just the lack of transparency,” Szara said. “I’m sad I don’t have a family at MSU anymore. I still have my teammates, but we’re all going to go our separate ways. I wanted to come back and take my kids to a swim meet and say, ‘This is what I did.’ But now I won’t be able to do that. I don’t have a place here anymore. It’s really sad.” The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, however, has a bright future. She will graduate from MSU this summer with a degree in Zoology with a minor in Animal Behavior and Neurobiology.
be salvaged unless the women are successful in their Title IX case, which could drag on in the courts for months.
Northville grad Erin Szara’s swim career at Michigan State ended at the Big Ten Championships where she placed eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke. Courtesy of Erin Szara
all changed. The freshman will not transfer and plans to stay in East Lansing to finish out her schooling where she is majoring in Elementary Education. “My plans are very unsure right now,” said Riley, who placed 40th in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.82) at the Big Tens. “I just really hope the team comes back because that’s really the best-case scenario.
the timing is not right to make a move at the present time. His twin brother Jason, a former swim standout at Northville, is also a student at MSU. “When they cut us on Oct. 22 and the recruiting window ended Nov. 1, most coaches from other programs had already allocated money for scholarships to other swimmers already at that point,” Travis
HOLDING OUT HOPE Nitkiewicz, meanwhile, is one second off an Olympic Trials cut in the 100-meter breaststroke. “I’ll train until the end of the school year and compete in a long course meet around May, and try and get my cut time,” he said. “If I make cut, I’ll continue training through Trials. Then it depends what the state of the team is at that time, and if it’s not, then I’ll stop.” While the announcement that the swim program had been cut in an untimely manner, there were other challenges during the 2020-21 season. There was a pandemic for one, complicated by a long midseason pause. The Spartans didn’t train as a team from Thanksgiving until second week
I’m sad I don’t have a family at MSU anymore. I still have my teammates, but we’re all going to go our separate ways. I wanted to come back and take my kids to a swim meet and say, ‘This is what I did.’ But now I won’t be able to do that. I don’t have a place here anymore. It’s really sad.”
Erin Szara
She plans to enter the dental field where she aspires to be an orthodontist. “I’m very happy with my career and ending,” she said. “I still have the Olympic Trials in first week of June.” ‘HEARTBROKEN’ Erin’s younger sister Riley was scheduled to have three years of swimming eligibility remaining at MSU, but that’s
I’m not really sure at this point what I would do. Like Erin, I’ve only been swimming for four years, but I’m not sure what I’d do without swimming. “I was just very in shock. I was really heartbroken because I love MSU and it’s really hard because we support the team so much and the school, and they don’t support us.” Nitkiewicz, meanwhile, would be a coveted transfer, but
said. “You could ask around, and there’s a spot on the team, but no money. I’m a sophomore, but I’ll already have 85 credits after this semester and I could only transfer 60, so you pretty much lose a year of school if you transfer.” Despite efforts from past Spartan alums, who have set up a support group on Facebook with 2,500 members, it doesn’t appear the men’s program can
of January. Erin Szara tried to find open swims and work out on her own in her East Lansing apartment. “That was very tough because swimming is a very social sport,” she said. “It’s really hard to do practices by yourself. I knew a lot of people went home and were not swimming. It was
Swim continued on page 18
The ‘Ville 17
Swim continued from page 17
really hard, especially when we came back in January. We had a dual meet versus Michigan and some people maybe had been swimming only two weeks, which taking only a week off from swimming . . . we all can tell we had a week off, just the
way your body feels. Taking four-to-five weeks off was very hard on the whole team.” But the hardest was receiving the news during the surprise Oct. 22 announcement at Spartan Stadium when Beekman addressed the two teams. “I still remember being in
Travis Nitkiewicz scored points at the Big Ten Championships in the 100-yard breaststroke. Courtesy of Travis Nitkiewicz
that room and everyone’s heart just broke,” Erin Szara said. “A bunch of people started crying, and guys, too. And they don’t cry Michigan State senior Erin Szara, a Northville grad, proudly usually, but dons a Michigan State tattoo. Courtesy of Erin Szara there were could compete.” guys crying and girls crying. The Szara sisters are not Our coaches were crying. It among the women’s 11 plaintiffs was very upsetting. I think the in the Title IX case, but they’re fact that we were completely still holding out hope. blindsided. We were supposed And for the time being, they’ll to have an intra-squad meet still bleed Green and White. the next day. And they had no “MSU is kind of the only place regard bothering to look up I wanted to go to college,” Riley what our schedule was because Szara said. “I always wanted to we had to cancel our meet and be here, so I couldn’t picture everyone was upset. We had just going anywhere else. got COVID tested so everyone
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Orange Barrel Season Almost Upon Us I-275 reconstruction among road projects on tap for 2021 By Tim Smith
L
ike flowers in bloom, spring and summer also is about the sprouting of orange construction cones and pesky detour signs. This year promises to follow that script. Northvillians again will need to show some patience and strategize the best ways to get around the handful of road construction projects being planned for this year, both in the township and city. The intersection of Haggerty Road and Five Mile Road will be among the spots on the map to put a red circle around due to a planned resurfacing project. Another sore spot for area residents and commuters will be heavily traveled Beck Road between Six and Seven Mile roads, where the road will be resurfaced. “We appreciate people’s patience during the road construction season,” emphasized Todd Mutchler, Northville Township manager. “We all benefit from those improvements and sometimes they do create some delays. I know it’s been a year of asking for patience with vaccines and COVID. But for us to improve we need to continue to ask for patience.” Mutchler added that projects within the township are undertaken by Wayne County. “I think these are all the normal resurfacing projects and we know that
20 The ‘Ville
The intersection of Five Mile and Haggerty will be repaved this summer.
roads in Northville Township are not at their optimal state,” Mutchler said. “But one thing that’s important for our people to understand, is all roads in Northville Township belong to Wayne County. They have the sole responsibility for all the maintenance and repair, and design for all the public roads in Northville Township.” Mutchler underscored other potential travel hazards, such as repairing southbound Northville Road at the point that eastbound Seven Mile Road begins. Perhaps the biggest headache for local commuters will be the mammoth 1-275
improvement project, which is a Michigan Department of Transportation endeavor. The $270 million project, part of the Rebuilding Michigan bond program focused on updating the state’s crumbling highways and bridges, kicks off in July and will continue until mid-2024. According to MDOT’s recent power-point presentation to municipalities, the project entails about 24 miles and 65 bridges between Will Carlton Road and Six Mile. “We hope to start sometime in early July after the holiday and it is ultimately going to have work going on in different locations between the Monroe County line and Six Mile,” stated MDOT communications spokeswoman Diane Cross, in an e-mail. MDOT added that 1-275, which opened in the early 1970s, carries up to 135,000 vehicles on tired roads, noting in its presentation that “original concrete pavement has been paved over with asphalt.” Local officials are very concerned that the I-275 project will cause more stress on north-south corridors through town such as Haggerty, which will already be taking a major hit near the Five Mile intersection, particularly if resurfacing work there hits any summer snags. “They’re going to try to keep traffic
flowing,” Mutchler said. “They’ll have workarounds, and traffic might be delayed in those areas.” Also in the works for Northville Township are upgrades to “a handful of private roads, that subdivisions or associations own and
roads and which ones we need to update. that they’re responsible for,” Mutchler We’ve had so many water main breaks, and continued. that’s because we need (updates to) the Within Northville city limits, its 26 miles infrastructure.” of roads and related For residents of infrastructure WHAT DO YOU THINK? the township and likely will again be This coming construction season is promising to city, the impending expected gathering be a little challenging for local commuters with a 1-275 construction spots for engineers number of road projects planned. We’d like to know what roads/streets you would like to see fixed (and looms large both and construction why) this year or in the near future. Please send this year and in workers alike. your opinions to Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@ summers to come. But Mayor thevillemagazine.com. MDOT’s Diane Brian Turnbull Cross emphasized said it would be that counties and cities will be in the project mid-April at the earliest before council planning loop “before any work begins” to members could approve specific 2021 road avoid duplication if possible. construction targets, as part of the road Turnbull, for one, said the project is long improvement millage passed by voters in overdue. 2018. Mayor Turnbull said there are many “We need a pretty strong north-south potential targets and the city will get the corridor,” Turnbull said. “That (1-275 word out to residents and businesses as reworking) is a project that’s been talked soon as council approves the plan. about for 20 years. I think it’s getting closer “We have to look at the infrastructure,” right now, and we all have little pieces of Turnbull said. “Some of the infrastructure that. All the communities.” is over a hundred years old. We rate the
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The
Butterfly Effect Farmers’ Market is home to Northville’s new selfie spot By Wensdy Von Buskirk | Photos By Bryan Mitchell
V
Artist Eden Feller paints a mural at the site of the Northville Farmers’ Market.
22 The ‘Ville
isitors to the Northville Farmers’ Market will see a new selfie spot this spring — a mural that encourages people to take wing while supporting a cause. “The Butterfly Effect” by artist Eden Feller will debut with the opening of the iconic Northville market on May 6, and is designed to benefit the local non-profit Main Street League. “We hope that it is a fun addition to the community and helps us raise some funds,” said Lauren Romeo, MSL’s co-founder and chair. “It’s been a really tough year for us not being able to have events.” Located on the west side of the Farmers’ Market building at Seven Mile and Center
Street, the mural invites visitors to pose so it appears the butterfly’s colorful wings are outstretched around them. A QR code posted nearby encourages people to scan and donate. The theme was inspired by the Chaos Theory, which posits that small actions, like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings, can result in changes on a grand scale. As it applies to charity, a small donation can have a big impact in the lives of the local clients served by MSL. MSL is devoted to gathering like-minded volunteers to support people in need in a wide variety of ways. Money raised through this project will fund college scholarships for students focused on the arts.
FARMERS’ MARKET
In addition, as people post selfies to social media with the hashtag #northvillebutterfly, they will help raise awareness of Northville as a destination and MSL as a worthy cause. ABOUT THE ARTIST Northville High School sophomore Eden Feller was hand-picked by Romeo due to her talent and passion for the arts. Feller took about a month to design the mural, using pencil, alcohol markers and her iPad. Once the concept was approved, her parents, Kate and Kurt Feller, contributed the acrylic paints and supplies needed for the job. Feller projected her image on the wall, and outlined it in Sharpie. She started painting in the fall and resumed in the spring, heading to the site after school and on weekends. She estimates
Sprouts back up on May 6
the painting will take about 50 hours total. Feller discovered her love of art in middle school. She has attended classes at the Northville Art House and College for Creative Studies, and hopes to pursue a career that blends art and science. She was excited about the opportunity to paint the mural. “It’s the first time I’ve gotten to paint on such a big space, and the first time I’ve gotten to design something everyone will see,” she says. There have been challenges along the way — the weather, moisture, texture of the wall, and behavior of the paint. “I just expected to go out there and get it done, but it’s not that simple,” she says. “There’s a lot of trial and error.” Feller hopes the piece inspires visitors not only to take selfies, but to think about the impact they have in the world through the butterfly effect.
The Northville Farmers’ Market will open for the season on May 6. Hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through October. Located at the corner of Seven Mile and Center Street, across from the Northville Downs racetrack, the market offers a wide variety Michigan-only produce and products including seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, cheese, honey, baked goods and more. Due to COVID-19 protocols, which require an empty space between vendors, crafters will not be present this year. Visitors are asked to wear masks and maintain social distance. Here is a list of vendors you’ll see at this year’s market: GROWERS • Beulah Meadows • Carpenter’s Greenhouse • D&C Wielfaert Farm • Donahee Farms • Fusilier Family Farm • Give and Grow Mushrooms • Gracias Greenhouse • Kapnick Orchards • Prielipp Farms & Greenhouse • Sell Farms and Greenhouses • Shepherd Organic Produce & Poultry • Stahl Farm & Greenhouse • Uhlianuk’s Specialties • Wind Crest Farm & Greenhouse MEAT AND FISH • DMS Fish Supply • Kapolnek Farms - Beef • Lonesome Pine Beef • Shepherd Organic Produce & Poultry FOOD • Babcia’s Boy • Bobilin Honey • Cakes by Penny • Golden Wheat • Lu Lu’s Bees • Old Country Kettle Corn • Penelope’s Patisserie • The Cheese People For more information about the Northville Farmers’ Market, visit www.northville.org.
The ‘Ville 23
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Northville author Kyle McCormick has visited many sites in Japan, including with his two brothers (top left).
A Deep Desire
for Adventure By Lonnie Huhman
Northville author details his experiences as a foreigner in Japan “As the first streak of brilliant orange crept up from the horizon, I was ecstatic. It felt as if our entire climb had culminated in this moment— watching the sunrise from atop the heavens, bathing the sleepy mountains below in the light of a new day.” That’s how Kyle McCormick describes the view from Mt. Fuji in his book, Stranger in a Homeland, A Year in the Land of the Rising Sun. After climbing all day and reaching the summit around 3:30 a.m., McCormick grabbed a quick bowl of boiling soup and settled down on the mountaintop to wait for sunrise. “It was still freezing, but the anticipation kept us warm,” McCormick recalled when thinking about the different experiences in Japan that
26 The ‘Ville
inspired his book, recently published through Amazon. “When the sun finally rose, nearly an hour later, it was worth the wait.” Growing up in Northville and graduating from Northville High School, McCormick
considers himself a small-town guy, who loves his community, but has a deep desire for adventure. This yearning has taken him across the globe, and led him to pen a book about it all.
CHANGING COURSE The first step in McCormick’s adventure began back in his homeland. After graduating from Michigan State University and working for a few years, McCormick decided to change course. He said he needed some adventure in his life, so he moved to Nagoya, Japan to take a position teaching English to Japanese children and adults. Much of what followed is detailed in the book. In talking about what motivated him to write about the experiences, McCormick said, “Ultimately, I just wanted to share what I was doing with my friends and—if possible—the world. I recognize that I’m just some small-town guy who took a chance on the opportunity of a lifetime, and I wanted to bring the joy and wonder that I was feeling every day to the people I loved. “I also wanted to show how accessible a new life is,” McCormick continued. “Before moving to Japan, I had never been to Asia, couldn’t speak the language beyond a handful of phrases half-remembered from childhood anime, and had no prior teaching experience of any kind. Quite literally, if I could do it, anyone can.” It’s an honest recounting of his first year spent living and working in Japan. McCormick describes it as a “conversational, hopefully humorous memoir, which includes all of the ups and downs that an inexperienced foreigner is likely to experience living abroad.” “A couple of reviews likened it to sharing travel stories with a buddy over drinks, and I like the sound of that,” he said. “Beyond that, though, it provides first-hand insight into
Japanese culture and history in a way that’s difficult to find in the West.” IN A STRANGE LAND Different parts of the book speak to different aspects of his experience. Generally, he said, according to when a foreigner might experience them. In one of the earlier chapters, he discusses his first solo venture into a Japanese restaurant. “The menu promised ‘Bilingual support, on request,’ but that turned out to be an aggressively monolingual gentleman who read me the entire menu in Japanese,” he writes in the book. He said in the end, the restaurant wasn’t what he thought, and he ended up leaving embarrassed, confused, and grotesquely full. “It turned out that the restaurant was a Korean barbecue joint meant for groups of five plus people,” he said. That memory is one of his top 10 memories of the year. Another memory for him came in the month of April. He said the entire country takes a week-long vacation called Golden Week. “This
was my first real time off since arrival, and I took the opportunity to travel extensively,” he said looking back. “These chapters are a whirlwind adventure that include Kyoto, Tokyo, Nagoya, Seto, and a few smaller towns and villages. It discusses the history of each destination, and speaks a lot to modern Japanese culture.” He said Kyoto is renowned for its hundreds of shrines and temples, and its description will allow the reader to explore Shintoism (Japan’s indigenous religion) and Buddhism in greater depth. One big moment was the climbing of Mt. Fuji. “I was an Eagle Scout in America (and a proud member of Northville’s Troop 755), so being able to get out and experience Japan’s most sacred mountain was a truly incredible experience,” said McCormick Beyond that, he said there were a dozen smaller moments
that made up the year: Okinawa, the preserved Nakasendo Trade Route, the Inuyama Fire Float Festival, etc. “But no matter where you live, that’s how life is: a few grand trips, plus a million little adventures,” he said. His book title was inspired by a science fiction book written by Robert A. Heinlein in the early 1960s called “Stranger in a Strange Land.” McCormick said it’s the story of a human who returns to Earth after being raised by Martians on Mars. “I’ve always thought that the title (and the Bible quote from which it originated) gives the impression of a cultured man entering some wacky, unknowable backwater,” he said. “In my experience, though, the only strange thing when we travel is us.” “So, Japan isn’t a strange land. Instead, it’s the cultural and historical homeland of 126 million people, and only I
was the stranger,” he said of reworking the Heinlein title and making it his own. Changing the course of his life was a big move, but it’s one he doesn’t regret. In the book, he says, “Like many American 20-somethings, I was staring down the barrel of a future that promised roughly two thousand 40-hour work weeks and then a short break before death, and I found myself dissatisfied.” “That’s more or less the truth, if a bit glib,” he said, and added that a more direct explanation of why he changed course is that he’s always loved traveling, especially to places with unique or isolated cultures. “At some point, though, it became impractical to continue working a traditional nineto-five just to save up enough money to travel for one week a year,” he said. “Instead, why not move to my next destination and experience it for the entire year?” McCormick is now back in Japan and looking forward to the big moments while loving the smaller ones along the way, all the while experiencing and learning about life in Japan from a view that is truly unique. Stranger in a Homeland, A Year in the Land of the Rising Sun can be purchased by visiting amazon.com.
Like many American 20-somethings, I was staring down the barrel of a future that promised roughly two thousand 40hour work weeks and then a short break before death, and I found myself dissatisfied. Kyle McCormick Excerpt from Stranger in a Homeland, A Year in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The ‘Ville 27
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Jerry Harris not only owned Novi Bowl, he also coached the Northville High School bowling teams.
‘He Really Did Love Bowling’ Longtime Novi Bowl owner, NHS coach promoted the sport By Brad Emons
I
f there was anybody in around the sport bowling who could be described as the epitome of a “Pin Pal,” then it would be the late Jerry Harris. The former area bowling proprietor, who helped launch the Northville High School bowling program, passed away on March 1 at the age of 61 leaving quite a legacy in the game. Anybody who was around the part-owner of Novi Bowl would remember him as a guy with an infectious laugh who would make people smile. He was someone who always gave unselfishly to people, organizations and businesses. “He really did love bowling, not only bowling, but like what it did for the community,” said Wendy Harris, Jerry’s wife of 26 years. “He was always helping people in the community giving
30 The ‘Ville
Harris loved teaching kids, and helped establish the NHS bowling team.
back to them through bowling, like helping the children at Cooke School. The kids needed an activity for them, something to look forward to in their day.” Jerry also leaves behind five daughters including Katy (Katerberg), Sara (Berry),
Cozette, Makena and Tristana. “He was definitely an amazing father,” Wendy said. “He would do anything personally for those girls. It’s funny that he tried to get every single one of them to be a bowler and (Katy) is the only one that bowled in the high school league. I think part of that was having more time with him because he did spend a lot of time at the bowling center.” Jerry Harris grew up in Detroit and attended Henry Ford High School. He had no background in bowling until his father Nathan Harris, along with a business partner Leonard Herman, took over Drakeshire Lanes (now Perfect Bowl Lanes) in Farmington Hills and 700 Bowl (now Pinz Bowling Center) in South Lyon. Jerry, who worked previously
as a project manager at General Motors, left to take over management for this father at both bowling centers when they opened before eventually taking over Novi Bowl in 1995 as a part-owner. Jerry Harris sold 700 Bowl in 1995 and eventually Drakeshire as well before putting all of his efforts into Novi Bowl. Jerry’s first love growing up was baseball, but he eventually became an accomplished bowler with a pair of 300s and a pair of 299s to his credit. He loved to teach the game and introduce young people to the sport. “Jerry loved watching kids and was a super fan of them learning the sport,” Wendy said. “And some of the kids on his high school team, he would bring them to our house (in South Lyon) and have drill practice over the summer time, doing some conditioning exercises to help them with their bowling. “He always took pride in watching anyone that was on any league, or any bowler who had a 300 game,” she continued. “He always looked forward to any championship thing they had going or any of those things they had to travel at. He would go travel, stay at a hotel and watch them bowl for their tournament.” Jerry believed that bowling could touch a vast cross section of people from all walks of life. “It’s a sport anybody can do from young to old,” Wendy said. “You don’t have to be super athletic. You don’t have to be short, fat, tall, thin, handicapped, non-handicapped, and you can enjoy bowling. It was about having a good time and that’s what he believed.” But Jerry was also vested in
helping the less fortunate as well. During the Christmas holidays, he would bring in underprivileged families to Novi Bowl, feed them dinner, provide gifts and have Santa make an appearance. Last November, Harris began experiencing health issues. He was hospitalized for what was suspected as COVID-19 and pneumonia, along with a urinary tract infection. His daily life would not be the same as he started experiencing multiple strokes followed by countless hospital visits in the subsequent months. He had been suffering a significant number of falls due to loss of control of his body, and a brain bleed was suspected which led to further complications.
Jerry Harris with wife Wendy and their family.
As his medical costs began to skyrocket and health insurance coverage running out, family and friends rallied around Jerry raising $52,190 through a GoFundMe.com account to help cover expenses.
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Through the health setbacks, Jerry showed up to work at Novi Bowl into February. The family eventually sold their share of the business on Jan. 29. His legacy lives on with the Jerry Harris Memorial
Golf Benefit beginning with a shotgun start on at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 12 at Downing Farms in Northville. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The cost is $100 per golfer which includes 18 holes/cart, hot dog lunch at the turn and steak dinner following the round (must RVSP by May 26. (Dinner only is $40.) Hole sponsorships are also available (due May 24) and Jerry Harris Memorial T-shirts are being sold at $25 each. The golf outing is also seeking silent auction items, raffle baskets, gift cards and prizes. Raffle tickets will be sold. For more information or to volunteer, email Dawn Motley at JerryHarrisGolfBenefit@gmail. com or call (734) 306-7584.
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Northville Township public safety officer Megan Cromie works in the Communications Center.
Officers Kristen Romac, Caroline Czelada, who is the school resource officer at Northville High School, and Andrew Domzalski with one of the department’s new squad cars.
More Transparency, Better Communication Training programs help township police officers engage with the community Story and Photos by Laura Fawaz
T
he Northville Township Police Department underwent a recent training program on how to best handle interactions with the mentally ill. This One Mind Campaign training is a progressive approach “so that people get the help they need, instead of just being sent to jail, or worse,” says Northville Township Police Chief Paul Tennies. All sworn officers received the mental health aid training in January and are now employing it in the community. “We may not be the best resource for people, but often times, we’re the only one,” said Chief Tennies. There are only six police departments in the state of Michigan that have completed
32 The ‘Ville
the One Mind Campaign pledge. Northville Township is the first to do so in Wayne County. The program was established by the International Association of Police, as well as other organizations that felt it was necessary, because police officers are often the first ones called to any scene. Tennies says their goal is to calmly deescalate the situation, and get that person the help they need, such as a social worker, who also may be called to the scene. If needed, a crisis intervention team may also be called in. Tennies said they are also looking to bridge the gap between police departments and community needs. They do not want to resort to just bringing a person to the police
station, but rather, to focus on getting that person the help they need. “There are a lot of times where the people have not reached that point where they want to hurt themselves or hurt someone else, so this training helps the officers work with them before it escalates to that point,” he said. While some might think the program was initiated because of political events or recent tensions across the nation between police and communities of people of color, Tennies said it’s been in the works since 2018. He added that it did not come up because of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, though it has given them more awareness on the need of programs that offer
comprehensive training and mental health awareness. Though the BLM movement has brought people to be more aware and engaged, Chief Tennies says it has also made the police more alert of the use of force and of those unjustly marginalized. “We have to communicate better with our communities, and be more transparent,” he said. Northville Township officers are trained in various areas, including Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), which officers nationwide must do. Within the last few years, officers from Northville Township have traveled across the country to train with other officers, each needing 40 hours of training. This requires the township
to backfill the hours for that officer. Northville Township is back up to 35 police officers, the staffing level they had back in 2008 before the recession
to making sure his officers have the comprehensive training they need to deal with the complexities of law enforcement in today’s world. He cited Handle With Care,
school, which may fester into behavioral and disciplinary issues, causing lasting negatives effects. This initiative will allow the officer to let the school know of the child’s home
events, and the grants they applied for through Hegira Health in Livonia, as well as the wellness checks Hegira Health does on officers and their families, because according to
“There are a lot of times where the people have not reached that point where they want to hurt themselves or hurt someone else, so this training helps the officers work with them before it escalates to that point.”
Paul Tennies, Northville Township Police Chief
caused budget cuts in all township departments and a reductions of police officers. Tennies is hoping the community continues to support their efforts, particularly when it comes
a best practice program, that teaches officers how to deal with calls where they encounter children exposed to abuse. The training teaches them the children will carry that trauma with them to
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Tennies, more law enforcement officers commit suicide every year than die in the line of duty. “If the community isn’t engaged in that, you’re not going to have the full impact that you would receive,” he said.
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PAST TENSE
Storied Beginnings
Ladies’ Library Association forged community institution By Michele Fecht
T
his month’s celebration of National Library Week (April 4-10) is an opportune time to shed light on the beginnings of one of Northville’s most storied public services. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the Northville District Library, it is not the first time the institution has been tested in its nearly 130-year history. The early decades of the library were fraught with financial difficulties, lagging membership and endless fundraising. Nevertheless, the tenacity of a group of undaunted women would push through — forging the library’s legacy for future generations.
LITERARY MOVEMENT
In the mid to late 19th century, public libraries or “reading rooms” were cropping up in communities across the country. In Northville, a YMCA reading room was established in 1888 for boys and young men as a means of “keeping them off the streets” and “from less desirable pursuits.” The following year, a group of Northville women came together to establish a Ladies’ Library Association with the purpose of forming “a public library with a reading room open to the public afternoons and evenings . . .” On October 4, 1889, The Northville Record reported that by joint resolution of the societies of Northville’s then
36 The ‘Ville
Interior of the Northville library in 1935. Courtesy of the Northville District Library.
three churches, Mary Lapham, was named chair of the new organization made up entirely of women. A school board trustee and its treasurer, as well as cashier of her father’s bank, Lapham was a community leader and benevolent supporter. By November, the Ladies’ Library Association was formally incorporated. Northville’s organization was part of the national Ladies’ Library Association movement with groups forming across the country, the most notable being the Kalamazoo Ladies’ Library Association founded in 1852. It was the first woman’s club organized in Michigan and the third in the nation. Ladies’ Library Associations were formed in other Michigan cities from Ann Arbor and Albion to Traverse City and Ypsilanti. There was a close association between the national Woman’s
Club movement and Ladies’ Library Associations. Many of the members of the local Ladies’ Library Association would become charter members of the Northville Woman’s Club when it formally organized in 1892. Lapham was among the charter members of the club and its second president.
A ROOM OF THEIR OWN
Northville’s Ladies’ Library Association established its first reading room on the second floor of a retail establishment at what was then the McKeand building at 168 Main Street (the structure was dismantled and relocated in 2007 to Mill Race Historical village and is now the J.M. Mead General Store). Mary Lapham would donate the first 250 books — the nucleus of the collection. Initially designed as a space for young men and boys, the “reading room” would
eventually transcend to a public lending library for all, thanks in large measure to the donation of a building by Mary Lapham. In the early 1890s, Lapham purchased the small church on South Wing Street built by in 1845 by the Presbyterian “new schoolers.” The site is now occupied by Northville Square. In 1899, Lapham deeded the building to the Ladies’ Library Association for use as a public library. A proviso in the agreement stated that it remain available to the Northville Woman’s Club one day per week for its meetings. By this time, Lapham had left Northville to pursue her quest of becoming a doctor. In 1904, the association voted to officially name the building the Mary E. Lapham Library. Her gift of the former church would house the community’s library until 1964. It would be among the first two buildings moved to Mill Race Historical Village in 1972. With a permanent location for its library operation, the Ladies’ Library Association wasted no time in renovating the structure. “The work is now nearing completion and when finished will give the association an official home of which both the members and village may well feel proud,” noted The Northville Record in a December 15, 1899 article.
FINANCES AND FUNDRAISING
The Ladies’ Library Association was no stranger to
Ladies’ Library Association to handle editorial content and advertising with all proceeds going to the organization. “Inasmuch as the Northville ladies never do things by halves, the same may be expected to be a hummer,” Mary Lapham. Courtesy of Murdock Bros. of Windsor, Ont. Neal wrote. The March 1, 1895 issue, titled the Woman’s fundraising. Since its inception, Edition in the masthead of the organization sponsored The Record was a hefty 16 a host of “entertainments” pages with many advertisers ranging from musical programs encouraging readers to support at the Northville Opera House the Ladies’ Library Association to readings and lectures. by taking out $1 subscriptions. Though it operated on a $1 per The issue was indeed a year subscription (later reduced hummer; subscriptions not so to 50-cents a year), the cost of much. books, furnishings, utilities and By 1914, the library had more often meant expenditures 4,000 volumes in its collection. exceeded income. The Northville Woman’s In 1895, Northville Record Club assisted in purchasing editor Frank Neal gave furnishings and supplies. the association a boost by Nevertheless, fewer than 120 announcing that the March 1 residents held library cards in issue of the weekly newspaper a community of 2,000 people. would be turned over to the
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Like most years, expenses exceeded income. The association’s annual report for that year shows the majority of expenses went to the purchase of new books followed by fuel, book repairs, building and grounds work, supplies, and janitorial services in the winter. The association board members took on the janitorial tasks in the summer. Board members received no compensation for their efforts to keep the library operating including serving as volunteer librarians. The trustees’ only purchase outside of library operating expenses was a $1 teakettle bought at James Huff’s hardware store. They were at least entitled to a decent cup of tea. In 1926, by a special act of the state legislature, it became legal to spend township funds on the library (the city was not yet incorporated) as long as it was a free public service. Northville Township trustees granted an appropriation to the Ladies’ Library Association to help defray operating expenses and to hire a librarian. At that time librarians received 35-cents an hour. Paid memberships were disbanded, and within a year, more than 500 citizens had been issued library cards — more than double the year
The library at its original South Wing Street location. Photo courtesy of Northville HIstorical Society.
prior. In 1934, the Ladies’ Library Association was disbanded when Northville joined the Wayne County Library system. The $1,500 remaining in the association’s treasury was divided among the three churches that were influential in the organization’s founding. The Northville Woman’s Club continued to hold its meetings in the library until 1965. By then its membership exceeded the space available. The club continues to hold one meeting each year at the New School Church to honor its heritage . . . and pay homage to the tenacity of some of its founding members.
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Get Married By The Mayor The
Melvin Jones Fellowship Recipient At the March
Northville Historical Society is bringing back its Married by the Mayor program at Mill Race Village. Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull will officiate affordable wedding ceremonies on June 11 and June 12 either in the gazebo or 1845 New School Church. There will be four times available each day. Up to 75 guests can be accommodated. The package includes bouquet, photography, officiant, live music, a champagne toast and mini-reception. Pricing starts at $2,000 for up to 25 guests, and $25 per additional guest up to 75, including wedding party. For an additional charge, photography, floral and catering may be customized at couples request. Couples will work directly with the vendor for customization. Flowers will be provided by Adorn Fine Flowers and photography will be provided by Pamela McCormick Photography. Shawn Riley will provide music, while Toria will coordinate the mini-reception and wine toast. To reserve a time or for more information, call (248) 348-1845 or email rentals@millracenorthville.org. You can also visit www. millracenorthville.org.
meeting of the Northville Lions Club, club president Clay Galarneau (left) was presented the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Galarneau was nominated for the award based on his contributions to the Northville Lions Club and Northville community in general. Over his four years as a Lion, he has been the club president for two years. He has dedicated his time to many club projects, including its latest project assisting community members to schedule their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. In one case, he drove a Northville resident to Mt. Clemens to get her vaccination. Larry Wegrzyn (right), who is the chairman of District Two of which the Northville club is a member, presented the award to Galarneau.
Meads Mill Student Wins Science Fair Rishi Chowdhury, a seventh grader at Meads Mill Middle School, won the junior division Grand Award at the 64th Annual Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit (SEFMD) held March 9-13 at the TCF Center in Detroit. His project, Combining Spectrums for Ideal Plant Growth, was selected for the top honor in the junior category – for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. More than 600 students competed in the event this year. The SEFMD, established in September 1956, is a nonprofit organization established to give students in the seven-county area an opportunity to develop and exhibit science fair projects. Rishi’s teachers at Meads Mill are Jennifer Miers-Kamm and Wendy Martin. He is the son of Saroj and Mandira Chowdhury of Northville. 38 The ‘Ville
‘Barn Of The Year’ The Salem Area Historical Society’s Dickerson Barn has been named the 2021 “Barn of the Year” for 2021 in the NonProfit—Adapted to Other Uses category by the Michigan Barn Preservation Network (MBPN). The award, which honors efforts of owners to preserve these iconic structures and our agricultural past, includes a plaque and a large sign to be displayed on the barn. The historic barn was built by John Dickerson, who along with Joseph Dickerson and Amy Dickerson, were the first American settlers to move to Salem Township. The barn was constructed in 1830 on his land just south of Six Mile Road and east of Chubb. In 1999, Salem Township approved a permit to level the Dickerson Barn, but owner Brett Hensley was willing to work with the Salem Area Historical Society (SAHS) to save the barn. SAHS volunteers dismantled the barn and stored it until another location could be secured. Work was begun in 2007 on a parcel on North Territorial Road in Salem Township, and is part of a Washtenaw County Historic District that also includes the historic Jarvis Stone School. For more information, visit sahshistory.org.
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STEAM Fair Going Virtual The Sixth Annual Northville STEAM Fair will take place April 28. It will be a virtual event this year because of the pandemic. This year’s theme is Solving Today’s Problems to Open a World of Possibilities for Tomorrow. Students are creating projects that showcase their solutions to everything from our world›s problems to everyday annoyances. Through a Northville STEAM Fair website and Zoom, Northville 4th grade and 5th grade students will be able to explore their peers’ projects online and participate in live webinars during the day. Later in the evening, the STEAM Fair website will be available for parents, students and community members to explore the student-created projects. The Northville STEAM Fair is a collaboration between Northville Public Schools and the Northville Educational Foundation. Sponsors include Communication Financial Credit Union, DTE- MIGreenPower, Royal Truck & Trailer, Michigan Educational Credit Union, ITC, First Merchants Bank, and ZF - North America. For more information visit www. NorthvilleSTEAMFair.com
Keep Out – Temporarily Work continues on the Johnson Creek restoration project at Northville’s Fish Hatchery Park. A temporary construction fence has been erected to remind people to keep off the area where new vegetation has been planted that will help prevent erosion and degradation to one of Wayne County’s only cold water trout streams. The project, funded by the U.S. EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, will naturalize and stabilize 1,050 feet of Johnson Creek’s streambank for improved wildlife habitat; remove 2,000 cubic yards of sediment in Fish Hatchery Pond to create deeper water for fish habitat; modify the outlet of the pond to create a fish passage channel between the pond and the creek; and install vegetative swale to filter stormwater from the parking lot before entering the pond. The project includes planting more than 250 native trees and 300 native shrubs. People are asked to stay out of the planting areas so the vegetation can establish itself and help Johnson Creek thrive.
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HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL
NHS Fishing Club members Matt Mifsud and Bennett Chenoweth show off the catch.
Sophomore Julia Huang enjoys running track outdoors.
Spring In Their Step Warmer weather has NHS students flocking outside
I
n Northville, spring always arrives in fashion with its signature sunbeams and vibrant blooms. Shedding its layers and melting the ice, the world becomes a little more colorful, and so do Northville students. From games on the soccer field to hikes through Maybury, as springtime emerges, students bloom with a revived appreciation for all that the local nature offers. “I love the look of Northville. It has a very pretty and unique look to it that feels both cozy and welcoming,” said NHS senior Abby Brucker. With the sun overhead and a breeze at the back, spring is a lively season for our athletes. “Lacrosse, being a spring sport, means it’s outside. Being outside, I believe, makes the game more challenging. Brisk wind flows through your body,
but you have to focus on the game at hand,” said Emily Strange, a sophomore on the lacrosse team. Sophomore Kylee Sims said the outdoor environment makes the body feel good. “Playing outside impacts my mood in a good way because I love being outdoors and feeling the fresh air… it makes me feel better about everything,” Sims said. The springtime also revives many clubs that revolve around nature. Junior Bennett Chenoweth, a member of the NHS Fishing Club, says, “Good memories are always created when all the boys get together and fish. I’d say being in the outdoors will always put me in a good mood.” Going from ponds to trails with the Hiking Club, junior Abby O’Connell shares, “What
EDITOR'S NOTE: High School Confidential is a collaborative effort by the
Stringers Journalism Club made up of Northville High School students Alyssa Bachert, Tamsin Boyd, Maria Cowden, Maggie Kuban, Chethan Magnan, Navya Meka, Wesley Paradowski, Lauren Sprow and Audrey Zhang
40 The ‘Ville
I enjoy most about hiking outdoors is the peace and comfort I feel with interacting and taking in nature. I love hiking because it allows me to see nature at its purest normally. I know for a fact that the outdoors have always reduced my stress and have boosted my mood because taking in the scenery and going on hikes can quickly turn a bad day for me around.” Working out on the water, members of Northville’s Rowing team experience a unique facet of nature and the spring season. “I love being outside, and getting to be on the water is
one of my favorite things about rowing,” says sophomore Radhika Ajmera. “Sitting inside for hours upon hours staring at a computer screen for school can be draining, but getting that time to be outside on the water with my favorite people really brightens my mood.” The sport also appears to truly transcend the average walk outside. As sophomore Natasha Kobelsky mentions, “Rowing outdoors helps me relax and forget about everything else going on and just focus on the task at hand and the next stroke,” she said. “Being outdoors, feeling the wind on your back, watching the sun set, and hearing the sounds of the water around you and the boat moving in tandem is a very meditative experience.” For many students, the arrival of spring allows the joys and memories made under the sun to bloom along with the flowers on the ground. The sun, blue skies, fresh air, and welcoming outdoors of Northville all create an overwhelming sense of delight and contentment that spurs a gratitude for nature. “I feel so happy when I’m outside working out with my team, especially when it’s warm. It just feels like where I belong,” said junior Riley Finn.
SOLVING TODAY'S PROBLEMS TO OPEN A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR TOMORROW This year, the Northville STEAM Fair will be held virtually!
April 28, 2021 Presented by
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Join us as Northville Public School students virtually share their innovative solutions to everything from the world’s problems to our everyday annoyances. For more information please visit www.supportnef.org.
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Dishin’ With Denise
Denise Jenkins is a member of the Northville Chamber of Commerce and Tipping Point Theatre. An avid writer and proponent of the arts, she is also plugged into what’s happening in Northville. Contact her at denisemjenkins@aol.com.
The Arts Will Bloom Again This Spring S
pring has sprung, which, in my household, means spring cleaning. As I was airing out some pillows, I wondered how this tradition ever got started. So I Googled it and learned something new. In the early 1800s, it was a necessity because during the winter months homes were covered in soot from the wood burning stoves and other grimy methods of heat. People scrubbed, dusted and washed everything to get the dirt out. Today we use clean energy sources, but it still feels great to air out our homes. Believe it or not, there are also many cultural and religious reasons for spring-cleaning. In the Jewish faith it is related to Passover, the commemoration of the liberation from slavery. The Chinese clean their houses the day before their new year - often referred to as Spring Festival - to rid the bad luck and making room for good fortune.
In last month’s issue, we had a really nice article about the Northville Art House. It is indeed a hidden gem. The next exhibit coming up is certainly springlike -- In Bloom: A Fresh Look at Flowers In Art, featuring four contemporary women artists.
44 The ‘Ville
It runs from April 28 – May 22. There is an Exhibit Reception on Friday, May 7. You can make a reservation online at northvillearthouse.org.
Congresswoman Haley Stevens
The Art House has some other really exciting news to share. The 11th Annual Arts & Acts Festival is in the works for June 18-20 (after taking a year off because of the pandemic). Covid-19 rules and guidelines will be in place during the event. All artists will be required to wear masks. The festival will feature unique artists and crafters in three different fairs. One is the Young Artist Juried Art Fair. Young artists in grades 2-12 will have the opportunity to showcase their artwork. If you have a young artist in house they can learn more at a one-day orientation on Sunday, May 23. Save the date and contact Erin Maten at office@ northvillearthouse.org for details. The Northville-Novi American Association for University Women (AAUW) held an Equal Pay Day Forum on March 24, the symbolic date women have to work into 2021 to reach the pay men took home in 2020. They invited several of our elected officials to participate and
address the issue of equal pay. Congresswoman Haley Stevens talked about the recent passing of the federal Paycheck Fairness Act. She pointed out, “If you are making the minimum wage, you are living in poverty.” State Rep Kelly Breen, in her first term in the State House, addressed concerns about the cost of child care for working families. State Rep. Matt Koleszar was also on hand. He is co-sponsor of the Pay Equity Bill in the State House, which he says is long overdue. The forum was held on ZOOM and was recorded. AAUW hopes to have it on their website in the near future.
Northville-Novi AAUW members
Karen Zyczynski is the Public Policy Chair for the Northville-Novi AAUW Branch and Public Policy Director for the State of Michigan Affiliate. She was instrumental in organizing the forum. “As a retired teacher, AAUW gives
me the opportunity to continue advocating for the importance of a K-12 public education, Title IX, equal access to a higher education and equity in the workplace for women and girls. Women should not be viewed as second class citizens.” The organization advocates for education and equity for women who hold an associates degree or higher from an
Mary Arnold, Mary Ann MacLaren, and Patty Domin
accredited college or university. Their mission statement is: Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and philanthropy. The group has provided more than $36,000 in scholarships to girls who graduated from Northville High and Novi High in recent years. They also host many community events to further their cause. I had the opportunity to work with them on a Designer Showhouse project a few years back. It was a great experience. They are truly dedicated to their mission. Learn more at aauwnn.org. I like the Chinese tradition of spring cleaning, so I bought a lottery ticket. Fingers crossed. Google and ZOOM aside, get outdoors and enjoy the sweet scent of springtime!
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