The 'Ville - February 2019

February 2019 | Vol.2 | Issue 2

Northville’s News and Lifestyle Magazine

Sky's Limit the

for 3-sport phenom Clare McNamara

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NOT JUST FOR BREAKFAST! BREAKFAST • BRUNCH • LUNCH

Try our 50/50 Burgers made with 50% grass-fed beef and 50% bacon!

248-308-1460

17933 Haggerty Rd. Northville, MI Mon - Fri 6:30am - 3pm Sat - Sun 7am - 3pm

Support The ‘Ville I started The ‘Ville because I felt our community needed a publication focused on … our community.

Volume 2 Issue 2

FEBRUARY 2019

16435 Franklin, Northville, MI 48168 • 734.716.0783 • TheVilleMagazine@gmail.com

Unlike traditional magazines, however, we do not charge a subscription fee. We mail directly to every household and business in Northville, because that model offers our advertisers the best bang for their buck.

And advertising is ultimately what pays the bills. Building an advertising base takes time and persistence.

So, in the meantime, your financial support will help boost our efforts, and insure local journalism is here to stay.

Send us $5, $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. Because LOCAL matters. Please send checks, cash or lucky charms to: Journeyman Publishing; 16435 Franklin; Northville, MI 48168 Thank you!

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 25 years. He has developed a diverse background in that time, but publication design has been his passion during the past 16 years. Craig enjoys cycling, running, wine tasting, his beloved Boston Terrier and an unhealthy addiction to movies.

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.

Wensdy Von Buskirk – Writer

Publisher

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

Our Supporters

maria taylor – Writer

Here is a list of people who contributed to local journalism last month. We appreciate your support!

Catherine Doig Peggy Koppy Carolyn L. Nieuwkoop Living Trust JoAnn and Ric Harris Anna Mary Postma Lewis and Laura Tillman Celesta Vanhellemont Amy Zubor

ADVERTISE The ‘Ville is mailed directly to every address in Northville – nearly 21,000 in all. To advertise contact us at:

(734) 716-0783 or thevillemagazine@gmail.com Our Advertising Team

• Mathew Mulholland, Vice President of Sales (734) 395-8646, mathewpmully@gmail.com • Emanuela Caruana emanuelacaruana6@gmail.com • Lisa Meinzinger Abraham meinzinger.abraham@gmail.com • Julie Wiechman-Jarrett juliewiechmanjarrett@gmail.com

Maria has edited Michigan History and The Active Learner magazines and reported for The Northville Record, Novi News, and Farmington Observer and (currently) BNP Media. She lives in Farmington and, as a self-avowed history nerd, routinely risks her life by standing in the middle of Grand River to take photos of old buildings.

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.

P.A. Rech – Photojournalist

Photojournalist P.A. Rech (www.palanimages.com) has shot images around the world for news organizations and magazines, documenting life from urban strife to Capitol Hill. His editorial and corporate work is diverse, including: National Geographic; HOUR Detroit; Associated Press; CNN and others. When not on the streets, he’s out giving his all to the American Red Cross.

Jenny Pearsall – Graphic Designer

Jenny has been in the design and print industry for more than 20 years, holding various positions in graphic design, large format and trade show graphics, print buying, production and print management. One of her favorite memories is working for Colorquik Graphix in the historic Water Wheel building in downtown Northville.

The ‘Ville is a product of Journeyman Publishing, which assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information. Any form of reproduction of any content in this publication without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Comments are welcome at thevillemagazine@gmail.com.

A View From The ‘Ville

New faces, better places

I

n our efforts to continue bringing you the best coverage of the Northville community, I’m happy to report we’ve added some new people to our roster.

Two of the additions are seasoned journalists: photographer Bill Bresler and sports reporter Brad Emons. They have been part of the local media landscape for many years.

I think, between the two Bresler of them, they have like a thousand years of experience. OK, that might be an exaggeration, but the point is they’ve been around the block a couple times, including plenty experience covering Northville.

In my newspaper career, I had the opportunity to work with both of them very closely, and I can tell you they are the epitome of professional journalists. Bill understands as well as anyone what a great photo can do for a story. Hell, many of his photographs over the years did a fine job telling the story all on their own.

They didn’t need a reporter’s words

mucking things up.

When it comes to telling the tales of the local prep sports scene, few are more accomplished than Brad Emons. He has spent the last 41 years as a sports reporter for the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, including the last several years covering Northville sports. In my opinion, he, along with Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press, is the best in the business when it comes to covering high school Emons sports.

The other big addition to our team is Mathew Mulholland, our new Vice President of Sales.

Old journalists like me always think the most important part of a publication is the editorial content, but I realize there would be no

Mulholland editorial content without enough advertising sales to keep the whole operation afloat. That’s why bringing Matt on board is so important. If we are going to survive and thrive, we are going to need enough advertising to make it work.

That’s where Matt comes into play. He has a background with large national franchises, and understands what makes a business successful -- and some of the pitfalls that hold them back.

His roots are in the small business world, however. His father (and grandfather before him) owned Mulholland Dry Goods in downtown Wayne, and he has owned his own pizza franchise, so be assured he

knows the challenges small business face – and what they need to do to be successful.

Matt also believes in service to his community, which is why he signed up for the Army after graduating from high school and why he served on the city council in Wayne, where he grew up and continues to reside.

As an aside, I met Matt when the two of us were hip deep in the Rouge River during a Rouge Rescue event, just one of his many ways of giving back.

If you ever want to reach out to Brad, Bill or Matt, shoot them an email. Brad can be reached at bradfordemons@gmail.com; Bill at bbresler@gmail.com; and Matt at mathewpmully@gmail.com.

We already had a great team in place, but I think we’ve upped our game.

Kurt Kuban is the editor and publisher of The ‘Ville. He welcomes your comments at kurtkuban@gmail. com.

Your Voice: Letters to the Editor 4 Longtime township clerk stepping down 6 Past Tense: Phoenix Mill Rising 14 Legacy of Wayne County Parks in jeopardy 16 Fashion show funds scholarships for local girls 22 Alan Whitehead is the man behind the race 24

8

Stepping Up Her Game

Mustang For Life

12

Just Breathe With Yoga

18

ON THE COVER: NHS junior Clare McNamara in the school's athletic wing. Photo by Bill Bresler

Out and About 26 It’s Your Business: Casterline Funeral Home 30 Silver Springs students learn why they matter 34 The ‘Ville 3

Your Voice ‘Hometown’ shopping experience

I grew up in Northville and have many happy small-town memories. I remember when shop keepers would stand outside their shops and greet people on the street, when you would walk into a shop and be greeted by name. People asked about you and listened to what you said. In the 1990s I moved from Northville to Canton then in the 2005 I moved to Texas, very far from home. But I never forgot the small town, and I longed for the home town feel. In 2017 I moved back from Texas with my two teenage boys.

Though Northville is larger and many of the shops have changed, I loved being able to share my memories with my boys and hoped they would share the feelings I experienced growing up here.

About a month ago the boys and I went to The Stitching Post, which has been around for many years. From the road it is hard to realize the shop is still open due to reconstruction on the building. We went to the shop to order my son’s senior letter jacket. When I walked through the door I quickly remembered the feeling of a home town experience.

The staff took their time to listen to my son about what he was looking for and made great suggestions on how to customize the jacket to incorporate his Texas patches with his Northville patch and letter. Not once did we feel like we were just another sale or that they knew what was best.

A few weeks went by when I was called and informed his jacket was ready. When I arrived to pick it up, and before I could say anything, they knew who I was. When they showed me the jacket I was amazed by the finished product. They attached his Texas patch and put on his Texas chevron; they even embroidered the town the high school was in. When I left, I was

SOUND OFF 4 The ‘Ville

told to tell my son, “We hope he enjoys his jacket and the rest of his senior year and good luck.” We are grateful for such a great hometown experience.

Linda Dowton

The remodeled Stitching Post

Create our own Central Park

The residents of Nortville are not fooled by developer Hunter Pasteur’s smokescreen. The Northville Downs property should not be lost to condominiums. Condominium parks and housing developments get used by the residents and no one else feels welcome. The City of Northville should take control of the property and make it a prize destination within the metropolitan area. It could include an outdoor ice rink, world-class farmers market, river-walk park, band shell, exercise course, a grand entrance to Hines Park, and many more possibilities.

A joint Township/City millage can pass if the people know how much they get in return. I hope the city will not do what the township has shamefully done to their open land at 5 Mile and Beck -- forever gone to cheap development and the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital property slowly being whittled away to meaningless developments with a “promise” of a future park. Northville Downs can be our own Central Park.

John Kargilis Northville Township

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.

ON THE ROAD with The Ville Northville Township resident Lindsay Bresnahan Ku shows off her copy of The ‘Ville standing outside the ski resort in Saint Sauveur, Quebec (just outside of Montreal) while visiting a friend in January. “I even had my U-M gloves to match your fantastic December cover,” Lindsay wrote. “I have read every issue of The ‘Ville cover to cover and always get excited when I see it in the mail. My husband actually makes fun of how much I enjoy reading this magazine.

“I grew up in the Flint area, and Northville is still new to me, despite living here for five years. My husband is from Phoenix and I’m always telling him about the magazine and which articles he needs to read. I love learning about the area and its history. You are providing a great resource to the community.”

The next time you head out of town, take along The ‘Ville, snap a photo, and let us know where your travels take you. Our readers would love to know!

Please email the photos to kurtkuban@gmail.com. We’ll feature the photos every month.

We Anticipate Pricing the Week of February 25, 2019, the Following TAX-FREE Bonds:

$53,210,000* Northville Public Schools Counties of Wayne, Oakland, and Washtenaw

2019 School Building and Site Bonds, Series II (General Obligation – Unlimited Tax) • Interest on the bonds will be free from federal and Michigan income taxes.** • These bonds are anticipated to be rated by S&P. • This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities. Any offer to sell will be made only pursuant to the final official statement.

For a preliminary official statement and more information, please call:

(844) 877-1322

Co-Managing Underwriters:

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (248) 349-3027 * Preliminary, subject to change ** For a complete discussion of tax matters, please see the preliminary official statement.

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Township Hall Shakeup Hillebrand announces early retirement after 26 distinguished years as clerk

Margie Banner (left) presents some flowers to retiring Clerk Sue Hillebrand. Banner took over as clerk on Feb. 15.

By Lonnie Huhman

A

fter serving more than 26 years with Northville Township, Clerk Sue Hillebrand has decided it’s time to retire, leaving behind a legacy of service and integrity, according to those who know her best.

Hillebrand announced her retirement at last month’s board of trustees meeting. She said she was stepping down to fully recover from a recent surgery and prepare for twin granddaughters due this July.

For Hillebrand, the announcement had her looking back at her time and thinking about the people she’s worked with to help make the Northville Township community the best it can be.

“It’s been a privilege to serve the residents of Northville Township and to work alongside the Board of Trustees and the township employees that are hardworking, dedicated, and the best in their professions,” she said. “I will miss everyone.”

Hillebrand was elected township clerk in November 1992 and went on to serve

6 The ‘Ville

the community in numerous ways during her more than 30-year residency, including on the Board of Trustees, Beautification Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission.

“It’s hard to believe that I’ve been the clerk for over 26 years,” she said. “I originally ran for office believing that I’d be a one or two term elected official and I ran because I was concerned about how the township would develop.”

She said it was a small community in 1992 and a substantial amount of the township was not yet developed.

50 ELECTIONS

During her career, she served on both the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks’ Board and the Association of Wayne County Clerks’ Board. She was nominated and elected the MAMC Township Clerk of the Year in 2008 for her

Scott Frush (left) was appointed trustee, Margie Banner was appointed clerk and Fred Shadko was appointed treasurer.

involvement and interest in improving her professional field, and earned the Master Municipal Clerk certification from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in 2009.

Everyone who has served alongside her notes what Northville Township will miss not having her at township hall, and that includes her wisdom, experience and dedication.

“We wish her well and she’s going to be greatly missed,” said Northville Township Supervisor Bob Nix. “She’s served with the utmost integrity throughout.”

Marjorie Banner, who most recently served as township treasurer, is taking over as clerk, a position that is responsible for overseeing elections in the township. She was always amazed at how efficiently Hillebrand was able to do it for so many years.

“Sue faithfully executed 50 elections during her tenure without a hitch, and has served leadership roles for clerks around the state. In that capacity I believe she has made Northville Township’s clerk’s

department one that is envied state-wide,” Banner said. “It is because of her organization and leadership that we can expect to move forward seamlessly.”

Hillebrand said the township was “one of the first communities in 1996 to move from the punch card voting system (a dinosaur) to optical scan and we’ve continued to upgrade the township’s voting systems as technology has advanced, with state approved grants.”

In other career accomplishments, she said her “office has completed the electronic storage of the Board of Trustee’s records, HOA documents, development agreements, easements and utility documents for quick and easy retrieval.”

BIG SHOES TO FILL

Hillebrand recommended Banner as her successor to complete the remainder of the term, expiring in 2020, effective Feb. 15. The motion was presented by Nix and approved by the township board. Banner has been a Northville resident for over 35 years. She was originally appointed trustee in March 2001 to replace Bill Pomeroy and was a trustee until November 2012, when she was elected treasurer.

Hillebrand has also been a representative on the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Brownfield Redevelopment Association (BRA), has served on the Historic District Commission (HDC), the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Banner’s appointment left a vacancy for the treasurer position. Nix made a motion for Trustee Fred Shadko to fill the role for the remainder of the term expiring in 2020, also effective Feb. 15. The board approved the appointment.

Shadko said he’s been meeting with Marina Neumaier, the township finance director, “learning more about that end of the administration.”

“I have been active in budgetary affairs throughout my board tenure, and now I am seeing the details,” Shadko said. “I have also been meeting with her staff. We are blessed with a remarkable staff at the township, and I expect the transition to be smooth."

Shadko’s trustee role is being filled by Scott Frush, who was recommended by Nix to serve

out the remainder of the term, also expiring in 2020. Frush has been a resident of Northville for the past seven years. Nix said he brings good experience, has a financial background and has served in the community, including on the Friends of the Northville District Library and on the Northville Education Foundation, and he is currently serving on the Economic Development Corporation.

Frush ran for the board in 2018, losing narrowly to Chris Roosen.

Going forward, Hillebrand said she is “looking forward to just being a resident of the township and I plan to spend a lot of time with my grandchildren, family and friends. I have a lot of hobbies and interests and I expect to stay busy.”

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NHS junior Clare McNamara is a three-sport phenom

By Brad Emons

I

n this day and age of specialization in youth sports, Northville High junior Clare McNamara is going against the grain.

The multi-sport athlete, a state champion long jumper, elite club-level soccer player and All-Stater in volleyball, might just be a modern day version of “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias.

The “Babe” was a famous American athlete who excelled in golf, basketball, baseball and track and field. She won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games before turning to pro golf where she captured 10 LPGA major titles.

8 The ‘Ville

KILLER SCHEDULE It’s not unusual that McNamara juggles two-to-three different sport practices in a day. One weekend she’ll be off to Columbus, Ohio for an AAU volleyball tournament with her Michigan Elite 18 club team, while the next weekend she’ll fly to Texas for a soccer tourney with her Michigan Hawks Black ’02 team in the Elite Club National League During the winter months, she’ll also squeeze in offseason track workouts with her high school team. The St. Joe Sports Dome at Schoolcraft College is like her second home.

“Usually I’ll have good, bad days where all the homework falls on one day and it’s a multiple practices a day,” said

McNamara, who carries at 3.95 grade-point average. “Those things can be hard, but a lot of times I work ahead, so it doesn’t happen too often. For the most part I’ve figured out how to handle it and I think it’s worked out pretty well for me and I think I’ve figured out how to manage it and I think it’s a good fit for me.”

Last fall in volleyball, the 5-foot-10 McNamara made third-team All-State for the Mustangs, who finished 44-7-1 overall and reached the MHSAA Division semifinals. According to Prep Dig, she is on the 2020 Michigan top 10 watch list of uncommitted players.

After spending four days at a collegiate soccer combine in Florida in January, McNamara,

a forward, received a dozen letters from interested schools.

In last June’s Division 1 track and field finals, she captured the long jump (school record 18 feet, 7.5 inches), placed second in the 400-meter dash (55.67) and helped a pair of Northville relay teams finish second and fourth, respectively. Michigan and Duke like her in that sport.

“What I think makes Clare unique is her work ethic overall,” Northville track coach Tim Dalton said. “Not only does she have the talent, but if you were to watch her at practice, and before and after, and she continuously puts in extra work . . . She told me a story from this volleyball season where she was not only practicing with the varsity team, but she wanted to

go to the JV practice as well.”

If she decided to go the track and field route in college, the heptathlon (seven different events) might be McNamara’s strong suit.

“Right now she’s already asking if she can hurdle, potentially this spring,” Dalton said. “I think she can run the 2-mile if we needed her to and she can go all the way down to the 100, high jump, obviously long jump . . . I was joking with her and told her if she hurdles, she’s got to throw the discus for us as well.”

looked up to her a lot.”

McNamara’s father Michael also played multiple sports growing up.

“Growing up it was me, my brother (Ryan) and my neighbors -- and all my neighbors were guys -- so I definitely grew up being a tomboy . . . just in a backyard I was the only girl. Playing sports I had to step up my game a little bit trying to keep up. I think that’s helped me a lot now,” said Clare, who turned 17 on Jan. 21.

McNamara not only competes in volleyball, soccer and track, but also has other sporting interests. She also

I try out because we were still in state quarterfinals for volleyball. So he told me I could come back and try out that weekend once volleyball was over. And I just thought it over a little bit and just decided with my schedule that it probably wasn’t the best idea to get started. I thought if I had a little bit more time, there’s a lot of sports I’d like to try. I know

dinner on the run. It’s a lot to handle, but she handles it well.”

lacrosse and basketball are two I always wanted to do along with cross country.”

Meanwhile, the hectic sports travel schedule continues for McNamara.

“Between soccer and volleyball we’re out of town a lot,” said Jackie Agius, Clare’s mother. “Track . . . she’s doing what she can because she’s doing three sports right now.

So her schedule is really crazy, things overlap and there’s been many times the last couple of years, and it’s typical, where she’d have a regional track meet, and just so happen the regional track meet would end at 7 p.m. and she had to be on the road to go to Tennessee, so she’d get there at 4 in the morning and has to be on the (volleyball) court at 7 in the morning. It’s crazy. Often I have to make her

sports related, whether it’s practices or tournaments, but other than that mainly just hanging out with friends,” Clare said. “I don’t do any other big hobby things.”

It’s still early on in the recruiting process for McNamara and she’s undecided where or what sport she’ll play in college. She continuously receives emails and letters from schools in all three sports.

“I think it will be awhile before I make a decision,” McNamara said. “I‘m very open minded. I want to make sure whatever I choose is the right thing. I don’t want to rush anything. I want to make sure that whatever I do, I end up being happy and being satisfied with the decision I make.”

FUTURE DECISIONS Although McNamara’s “free time” is limited, she does have other interests. She would like to study sports medicine and is looking forward to taking a sports exercise science class her senior year at Northville.

“A lot of things I like are

Just growing up I went to a lot of her track meets and soccer games...I just looked up to her a lot.”

Clare McNamara, about her older sister Gina (right)

FAMILY TREE McNamara’s idol growing up was her older sister Gina, who was a middle distance runner at Michigan.

“Just growing up I went to a lot of her track meets and soccer games.” Clare said. “I just

dabbled in golf and tennis as a youth.

“I almost tried out for basketball this year,” McNamara said. “I went to tryouts the first day and then the coach told me it wasn’t probably a good idea that

McNamara (far right) was the long jump state champion in 2018 Division 1 track and field finals. In the process, she broke the NHS record with a jump of 18 feet, 7.5 inches.

The ‘Ville 9

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MUNICIPAL CALENDAR:

KNOW WHEN YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month • Northville Township Hall 7 p.m.

• Next Meeting: March 21 CITY COUNCIL Meets 1st and 3rd Monday of each month • City Hall (Council Chambers) 7 p.m.

• Upcoming Meetings: March 4 and March 18 • Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Sessions: April 11 and April 18, 6:30 p.m.

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (DDA) This 11 member Board establishes policy and administers the DDA downtown district.

Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month • City Hall (Meeting Room A) 8 a.m.

• For more information, contact the DDA at (248) 349-0345 or visit www.downtownnorthville.com • Upcoming Meetings: March 19 and April 16

PLANNING COMMISSION Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month • City Hall 7 p.m.

• Upcoming Meetings: March 5 and March 19

PLANNING COMMISSION Meets the last Tuesday of each month • Northville Township Hall 7 p.m.

• Next Meeting: February 26

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Meets 1st Wednesday of each month • City Hall 7 p.m.

• Next Meeting: March 6

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month • Northville Township Hall 7 p.m.

• Next Meeting: March 20 Dates are subject to change.

Visit http://twp.northville.mi.us for more information. Northville Township Hall is located at 44405 Six Mile Road and can be reached at (248) 348-5800.

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Meets on the 4th Wednesday in January, March, May, July, September and November • Northville Township Hall 6:30 p.m.

• Next Meeting: March 27

For more information about meetings, agendas or meeting minutes, visit www.ci.northville.mi.us or call (248) 349-1300. Northville City Hall is located at 215 W. Main Street.

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LOCAL HEROES

Mark Menghini is a firefighter for the City of Northville.

Mustang For Life Volunteer Menghini is a mainstay on the NHS sidelines

By Lonnie Huhman

M

ark Menghini takes a lot of pride in his hometown, especially its high school athletic teams. That’s why he’s a Northville Mustang for life.

For the past 25 years, Menghini’s face has been a familiar one on the sidelines for the Northville varsity football and basketball teams, as well as for lacrosse and baseball.

He’s been a manager with the coaching staffs since 1993 and has devoted countless hours, on purely a volunteer basis, because it means a lot to him.

Sitting in his home, wearing a Northville basketball sweatshirt (he's a 1996 NHS grad), Menghini said he is passionate about Northville High School, especially its athletes.

12 The ‘Ville

“I love the school and love working with the kids,” he said.

He said his role has been as a go-to guy for the coaches. When they need something, he tracks it down. One could probably get into specifics as to what he’s done, but varsity football coach Matt Ladach probably sums it up best.

“Mark is awesome!”

“He is a valuable member of our football program, and he is willing to help our team in any way that he can,” Ladach continued.

Menghini, 41, is also a firefighter for the City of Northville, and a frequent volunteer in other areas of the community as well.

He said he has a lot of great local sports memories,

including some recent ones.

The football team beating Novi and taking back the Baseline Jug was pretty exciting, he said, and watching NHS alum

Jake Moody kicking for the University of Michigan this season was a source of pride for everyone associated with the Mustang program.

In listening to her son answer why he is so committed to the school’s athletic programs, his mother, Mary, said one of the interesting things about Mark is that he remembers all of the names and faces he’s worked with throughout the years.

She said he runs into former players all of the time, and there is always a friendly hello.

She said in spite of any challenges he’s faced, he’s always made sure to make time and lend a hand.

“I’m so proud of Mark,” she said. “He’s meant a lot to a lot of people.”

Looking ahead to more years of walking onto the field or court with the coaching staff, Menghini said it’s season by season, and right now it’s basketball season. So his main focus is helping to make it a successful one. And that means doing whatever the coaches ask him to do. He is proud of his role.

“It’s always fun,” Menghini said.

Mark Menghini wears his NHS Mustangs colors at his Northville home.

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Past Tense

Phoenix Rising Northville’s Cox bringing another Ford plant back to life

By Michele Fecht

R

ick Cox insists he is retired.

The co-owner with his wife Diane Cox of the Water Wheel Centre has spent nearly 25 years reshaping Northville’s historic Ford Valve Plant — one of 19 former Henry Ford village industry factories — into an award-winning commercial site.

The iconic Albert Kahndesigned structure — often cited as a stellar example of adaptive reuse — has received state and national historic register status, and has been fully occupied since its conversion to a commercial entity.

While that success would seem enough for most, not so for the former Ford engineer and manufacturer. In December, Cox and his business partner Gregory Donofrio, coprincipals of Critical Mass, LLC, closed on their purchase of the Phoenix Mill, another of Henry Ford’s village industry factories, located on Northville Road in Plymouth Township. The Phoenix Mill, along with two additional Ford village industry structures/sites — Newburgh in Livonia and Wilcox in Plymouth — were placed on the market last year as part of Wayne County’s Mill Run Placemaking Project, a plan to redevelop the three historic sites along the Middle Rouge River.

The project has generated considerable interest from developers as well as a flood of resistance from the public

14 The ‘Ville

The former Phoenix Mill today (top), and an artist’s rendering of what it will look like after renovation work. Images by InFORM Studio / Critical Mass, LLC

concerned with the sale of the historic mills and the Hines Park property on the sites. (To learn more about this issue, please turn to page 16).

The Phoenix Mill was purchased in May 2018 with final approvals in September and a closing in December, before the Save Hines Park drive was under way.

GOOD BONES If you look beyond the stacks of discarded furniture — bookcases, file cabinets and chairs — crammed into the twolevels of the abandoned Phoenix Mill, there are remnants of the former industrial plant: a time card rack, 1922 heat registers (all in working order) and walls of windows to capture natural light.

“The building has good bones,” says Cox, who is no stranger to refurbishing

abandoned factory buildings.

It is Cox’s repurposing of Northville’s Ford Valve plant that played a significant part in receiving approval from both the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees and the Wayne County Commission to purchase the mill.

Purchase price for the mill and property — or the “Henry Project” — was $615,000. Conditions of the sale included a minimum $2.5 million investment in the redevelopment of the building and site within 18 months of the closing. The project is expected to be completed in mid-2020.

Cox notes that when he gave the check to purchase the mill to Khalil Rahal, Assistant Wayne County Executive, he was told that a request would be made to the Wayne County Commission to use the purchase monies to fix the two bridges accessing the

site. Both have been closed for more than a year.

The plan for the Albert Kahn-designed building aligned with the county’s desire to enhance the park experience with restaurants, breweries, art galleries, bicycle shops, and the like. The Henry Project includes a restaurant under the direction of Mishelle and John Lussier, owners of Table 5 and Lucy & The Wolf (both in downtown Northville), and a banquet/ event space under the direction Andy Genitti. Architect for the project is InFORM Studio of Northville.

Having refurbished the 72,000 square foot Northville plant, Cox notes that the Phoenix’s 10,000 square feet is a bit less daunting. Among the “good bones” characteristics of the facility are the floors — both the solid concrete slab (no cracks, though plenty of damage from salt) on the ground level and four-inches of concrete on the roof (roof-top dining is planned for the site). The first level (street grade) has a concrete base covered with old growth pine and a top layer of oak.

All of the original radiators are still functioning (no cracks!) because the building’s boilers were left running.

The 1,400 windows to be replaced at Phoenix are a fraction of the 9,000 panes replaced in the Water Wheel Centre. The building’s glass-

walled enclosure overlooking Northville Road and Phoenix Lake will also be refurbished.

The space originally housed the plant’s hydrogenerator.

Cox, who spent summers during his college years installing elevators for companies such as Haughton and Westinghouse (including installation of the elevator at Busch Stadium in St. Louis), said a full-service elevator is planned.

A 1922 Model T already has been purchased for display in the event space.

The most unique exterior feature of the building is a rail that edges the roofline of the structure. It once held the bomb blast / black out curtain used during the defense production years of World War II. WOMEN’S WORK Aside from the plant’s tangible attributes, Phoenix Mill’s most unique characteristic was its nearly all-female work force (aside from the male plant manager) and their $5 per day pay rate (equal to many of the men at other Ford plants). When Henry Ford opened the plant in 1922, he hired women to assemble carburetor cutouts, which required great manual dexterity more suitable to females. Production of voltage

regulators and stoplight switches was added later. Only single, divorced or widowed women could work at the plant.

Exceptions were eventually made for married women with disabled or unemployment spouses.

boxes for the B-24 bomber produced at the Willow Run plant.

The plant closed in 1948 when Ford Motor Company transferred ownership of the Phoenix Mill to the Wayne County Road Commission that

Female workers at the Phoenix Mill in 1942. Image by Ford Motor Company

At its peak of production in 1940, the Phoenix plant had 280 employees and produced 3,200 voltage regulators a day.

A remodeling of the plant in 1940 added an additional bay to the east end of the building that included a lunchroom and air conditioning on the first floor.

When war was declared in 1941, the Phoenix plant went into full war production mode working on a variety of defense parts including identification badges, instrument panels, Pratt and Whitney components, and in 1944 production of the automatic pilot and junction

used the facility first as its sign shop and later as headquarters for its bridges division. The Wayne County Department of Public Services vacated the property in 2007.

A concerted effort was made to establish a Women’s Museum at the Phoenix Mill more than a decade ago, but the Friends of Phoenix project eventually ceased.

ENHANCING THE PARK The Phoenix Mill site — closed off to the public for decades — occupies 5.1 acres.

The metal fabricated sheds

previously used for vehicle and equipment storage will be removed, and part of the site will be used for parking with the remaining portion transformed into green space to blend into the parkland.

The plan proposes to open the area around the Phoenix Mill building to improve community access to the Middle Rouge park area, and to redevelop a garden and park area with flower beds, bicycle parking, walking/biking trails and an outside courtyard that my be used by the public when not in private use.

The development of a garden on the site’s property would be a fitting tribute to one of the Phoenix Mill’s most notable and endearing figures. Frances Sullivan or “Ma Sullivan” served as “forelady” at the plant for 18 years under the supervision of Ivor Evans (the two later married).

Sullivan was a gardener with a particular penchant for flowers. A 1948 article in the Plymouth Mail about the closing of the plant noted that Sullivan “transformed the grounds surrounding the building into a flower garden that would put to shame the Detroit flower show.” Phoenix Mill was credited as having the prettiest landscaping of all the village industry plants.

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Left photo: Workers build the Newburgh Road bridge and dam in 1933. The project created Newburgh Lake, one of the jewels of Hines Park.

Right photo: Parks users at the Gunsolly Comfort Station on July 4, 1940

Wayne County Parks 100-Year Legacy in Jeopardy with Sell-off Save Hines Park group hopes to prevent public land sell-off

By Nancy Darga

O

ne hundred years ago, in October of 1919, Elliot Slocum Nichols and his two sisters, Alice and Charlotte, started the Wayne County Park System with the gift of his family estate on Slocum Island in Trenton, Michigan to the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. The only conditions were that it was named Elizabeth Park in honor of his mother, and it remain a park. Although the passage of Public Act 90 of 1913 allowed the County Supervisors to institute a county park system, the assemblage of parkland did not launch forth until the Wayne County Road Commission was made Park Trustees in 1923. Edward Hines was named chairman, William F. Butler as secretary, and John S. Haggerty as trustee.

These men would revolutionize transportation and roadway construction in

16 The ‘Ville

America with the introduction of the first mile of concrete pavement, the first limited access depressed freeway (the Davison), and the painted white line to demark lanes. But it is the preservation of the river lands into a parkway system that would be one of their greatest legacies.

The Park Trustees actively started soliciting properties along the Huron and Rouge Rivers in the 1920s as part of their Parkway Plan. One of the most fortunate actions taken by the Road Commissioners was the hiring of Leroy C. Smith, the former State Highway Engineer in 1918 and Jesse Bennett in 1922 into the Road Commission. It would be Smith that carried forth the dream and built the park system long after the original Road Commissioners dropped from public involvement. Bennett would become famous for his

books on roadside development and landscaping. His planting programs would give the parkways an elegance of their own.

At the time that the Road Commission was developing a parkway along the Middle Branch of the Rouge River, Henry Ford was purchasing old grist mills to convert into Village Industry Plants for his great social experiment to keep farmers with “One foot in the fields and one in the factory.” In a mutually beneficial agreement, the Road Commission rebuilt the mill pond dams of Nankin Mills, Newburgh, Wilcox, and Phoenix. In exchange, the land would be deeded over to the Park Trustees to be incorporated into the parkway.

The transfer of the land and mills did not take place until after Henry Ford’s death in 1948.

NORTHVILLE ORIGINS The greatest achievement of the Road Commission as Park Trustees would be the development of the Middle Rouge Parkway, now referred to as Hines Park. This 17 mile parkway encompassing the lands along the Rouge River was strung together like an emerald necklace. Each jewel was joined together piece by piece.

The parkway was started in 1922 at the intersection of Five Mile Road and Northville Road along the Phoenix Lake Mill Pond in Northville. A beautiful comfort station was built with trails overlooking the lake.

The park area was staffed 24 hours a day. Soon afterward the family of Cassius Benton, a former Wayne County Road Commissioner, donated 16 acres of woodland in Northville to the parkway system now known as the Cass Benton area of the park.

Then the Burroughs Adding Machine Company would grant the Park Trustees the Gunsolly Mill Area in Plymouth to add to the Parkway. The Meads Mill area of the parkway was obtained from the Wayne County Training School in Plymouth Township. These lands in the western end of the county along the Middle Branch of the Rouge River started to take shape as the beginning of Hines Park.

In the 1930s a master parkway plan was developed and a call for a park millage. The efforts to place a park millage on the ballot were unsuccessful due to political fighting over who would have control over the millage funds. As a result, Leroy Smith set up a separate Parkway Committee from the Road Commissions in Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw,

and Livingston counties in 1938. This committee would establish the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority as a separate entity in the 1940s.

Leroy Smith became its first planning advisor.

Over the years the Wayne County Park System struggled with uncertain funding.

Public support for parks grew after the parks were closed in the economic collapse of the county in the 1970s. The parks reopened after the reorganization of the County and the Road Commission under the Home Rule Charter that was voted in 1982.

The Wayne County Road Commission was abolished and made a division within the Public Services Department.

The first park millage was successfully passed in 1996 and continues to be approved by the

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Bill Craig of Save Hines Park protests Wayne County Executive Warren Evans' plan to sell off the Newburgh Lake mill site.

voters. That does not mean the parks have not struggled.

PARK LAND UNDER SEIGE Through the years the parklands that the Park Trustees worked so diligently to assemble along the rivers have been sold and traded for various political gains and commercial development. Currently, the Wayne County Park System is under siege again.

In order to protect the floodplain and keep the land open for public use, the City of Dearborn Heights stepped in to purchase the Warren Valley Golf Course in 2017 after the county proposed selling it to a developer who wanted to build a gated community on the land.

Around that time an organization calling itself “Save Hines Park” formed to prevent the development of the golf course. They are active again, calling upon local officials again to stop the sale of 10 acres of parkland in Plymouth for housing, as well as the parklands around the Ford Village Industry plants (Wilcox, Phoenix and Newburgh) that are currently up for sale. More than 450 people attended an

informational meeting the group held about the issue last month.

When it comes to the sale of the mills, Save Hines Park advocates for joint development through partnerships in which the parks department keeps ownership and provides investors access to grants and public funds, while the developer makes improvements in return for a long-term lease agreement with resale options much like the National Parks Service does with its historic properties.

The Save Hines Park organization feels it is time to honor the intent of the original Park Trustees and set up a Park Authority as they did for the Huron Clinton Metro Parks system. Let the parks be for the people and not for politicians to peddle for profit.

For more information about Save Hines Park and what’s at stake, visit www.savehinespark. com.

Nancy Darga is a member of the Northville City Council and former Chief of Design Wayne County Parks.

The ‘Ville 17

I

f you want to do something positive for your body and mind, try a yoga class. Many people are hesitant to try yoga at first, but there are some wonderful studios right here in Northville that will make you feel comfortable as soon as you walk through the door.

The Northville Yoga Center was founded in 2008 by an enthusiastic group of yoga practitioners. Their goal was to create a yoga community in Northville, and that is exactly what the center has become.

“We don’t think of it as a running business,” says Gary Sweetapple, one of the founders of the Northville Yoga Center.

“It’s more of a yoga collective. It is something we all enjoy doing together.”

The Northville Yoga Center was initially located at 200 S. Main Street. When the center needed to relocate to a temporary space, it moved to 410 E. Main Street, the small blue house on the corner of Main and Griswold, which was owned by one of the members of this tight-knit yoga community.

Eventually, the center found a

18 The ‘Ville

permanent home in Northville Square, where it has been operating for the last two and a half years.

The Northville Yoga Center has a long history and sense of tradition, as well as a profound respect for the ancient practice of yoga. The studio welcomes all students who are curious about the practice of yoga and would like to improve their physical and mental well-being.

“We’re not here to tell people what yoga is all about,” explains

Sweetapple. “If people try it for themselves and give it some time, yoga will work its magic.”

Northville residents Donna Moak and Carolyne Brown, both teachers at the Northville Yoga Center, feel a deep sense of connection and dedication to their studio. They are among the small group of founders who have been involved with the studio since its inception. They have a passion and commitment to sharing yoga with others.

“Yoga helps you get in touch

with yourself,” explains Brown.

“It brings awareness to your breath and your body. And with that awareness you are able to see things more clearly. Many people notice positive changes in their life after they start practicing yoga.”

Yoga is more than just a form of exercise. It can also help you feel calm and more centered, and it can reduce stress. Some health care professionals recommend yoga to help people manage depression, anxiety,

The Northville Yoga Room organized Yoga in the Square, a series of free outdoor yoga classes in Northville’s Town Square last summer.

and a variety of other medical conditions.

The Northville Yoga Center is designed around the student’s needs and offers a wide range of classes, including yoga for beginners, prenatal yoga, and even a yoga class taught entirely in Spanish. All of the teachers encourage students to experiment with the poses and find out what feels good in their body.

“We always offer lots of options to our students,” explains Moak. “We want to make sure everyone knows that the practice is theirs.”

GETTING STARTED There are many different styles of yoga. Some of the more common styles you might hear about are hatha, vinyasa and ashtanga. Each style of yoga has its own unique origins, although many of the actual yoga poses are the same. It can be confusing to new students, which is why it is always best to start with a beginner’s class. That way, new students can receive more detailed instruction and demonstrations to help them learn the poses.

“The breath is the anchor for any yoga practice,” explains Moak. “It is as simple as connecting breath with movement. Many people are

hesitant to try yoga because they don’t understand what it really is. It is different than other forms of exercise that people have tried before.”

Many people are also confused by the image of yoga that is presented in the media. People think that they need to live up to some sort of physical ideal, or dress in a certain way in order to come to yoga class. But that is not how it works at all.

“Many people are intimidated by the idea of going to a yoga class. They’ve seen photos on the internet of yoga people who are young, skinny, and super flexible. But that is not what yoga is about,” says Julie Cook, owner and founder of Empower Yoga. “Yoga is for everyone. I always say that if you can get up off the ground, you can practice yoga.”

Cook opened Empower Yoga in June of 2014. The studio has grown over the past few years and currently offers 42 classes a week, as well as monthly workshops.

Empower Yoga is an ashtangabased studio that caters to advanced practitioners, as well as beginners. They pride themselves on offering multilevel classes that empower students to make the practice their own. Empower Yoga welcomes students of all ages, from teenagers to senior citizens.

“Our goal was to create a warm and welcoming space,” explains Cook. “Our environment is non-judgmental

and non-competitive.”

One of the major themes in yoga is a sense of connection and community. Yoga studios do much more than simply teaching yoga. They are also committed to giving back to their community.

The Northville Yoga Room, not to be confused with the Northville Yoga Center, opened in August 2017.

Since then, it has become a fixture in downtown Northville.

They have also partnered with local businesses and schools to bring yoga out into the community.

“We are always looking for ways to give back and share our love of yoga with everyone,” says Kate Caulfield, director of operations at the Northville Yoga Room. “We try to develop and nourish partnerships.”

The Northville Yoga Room appeals to people who want to feel better about themselves and be healthy. It is a sanctuary for people of all ages and levels to practice in. Many of their clients have developed a dedicated daily yoga practice, while others may drop in for a class once a week, or even once a month. The studio offers a variety of classes, all of which can be modified based on the student’s skill level and prior experience with yoga.

Last summer, the staff at the Northville Yoga Room started offering Yoga in the Square, a series of outdoor yoga classes in Town Square that were free and open to the public. According to Caulfield, the first class had about 35 or 40 people. By the end of the summer, more than 200 people who participated in their final class.

The Yoga in the Square event allowed Northville residents to try yoga in a low-

risk environment and brought many new members in to the studio as a result. “Once people tried yoga, they really loved it,” explains Caulfield. “We are already talking about doing it again next summer.”

Many studios also offer donation-based classes to raise money for local charities. And they donate free yoga class packages for silent auctions and other fundraisers.

Clearly, the benefits of yoga extend to many activities, both on and off the mat. “Yoga helps people develop into their best self,” says Caulfield. “It is a joy to be a part of that.”

Northville Yoga Studios

Check out a class at one of these studios in Northville.

Studios offer special deals and packages for new clients. Some also offer discounts for students and senior citizens.

Empower Yoga

41620 Six Mile Road Northville, MI 48168 Phone: (248) 719-7520 www.empower-yoga.net/

Northville Yoga Center 133 W. Main St. Suite 261 (Upper Floor) Northville, MI 48167 Phone: (248) 449-YOGA northvilleyogacenter.com

Northville Yoga Room

170 E. Main Street, 3rd. Floor Northville, MI 48167 Phone: (248) 308-3542 northville.miyogaroom.com

The ‘Ville 19

Northville Public Schools: BUILDING COMMUNITY Sponsored by

If you are a parent of a student attending Northville Public Schools and have ever wondered how you can get more involved in your child’s education, there is a unique opportunity coming up in March. It’s time to go camping.

The Northville Public Schools 5th Annual Parent Camp takes place Saturday, March 23 at Northville High School, 45700 Six Mile Road in Northville.

Another session will be about vaping and opioids – what signs to look for and how they are impacting our children.

The group organizing the camp includes Aaron Baughman, NPS Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, NEF Director Christa Howley, and Rebecca Pek, who is the district’s director of Personnel Development & Quality Assurance.

They say the goal is to “empower parents with practical knowledge, resources and tools to bridge the gap between school and home.”

NPS parent Kelly Masters, who has attended all four previous Parent Camps, called it a “fantastic” opportunity for parents to “learn

child practice mindfulness and therefore learn how to reduce anxiety,” said Connolly.

Chelsea Simons, coordinator of the district’s Early Childhood Program, will present Mindful Parenting.

“Parenting is hard and it can be stressful at times,” Simons said. “How do you slow down and be present through the chaos? Or better yet, why should you? Learn ways to build the practice of mindfulness into your children’s lives and explore the important benefits of doing so.”

Parent Camp wouldn’t be possible without event sponsors, including Michigan Educational Credit Union (presenting sponsor), The Knickerbocker Group of Raymond James and Community Financial Credit Union.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to tote along a tent or sleeping bag. This four-hour event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and was developed through a partnership between the school district and the Northville Educational Foundation.

Parent Camp is a multi-session workshop that offers parents the opportunity to choose from a variety of topics that will help them help their school children.

One of the topics covered is Kids and Technology, and will explain what parents should be aware of, but also its positive and productive use in the classroom. Other topics include reading, time management, writing, transitions (middle school to high school, high school to college) and empowering kids.

about district initiatives, uncover resources, and learn strategies to support their K-12 learners.”

“I love that there are workshop sessions covering the gamut in both the academic and social/emotional realms, making Parent Camp relevant for parents of kindergarten children to high school seniors -- and everyone in between,” Masters added.

Two of the presenters at the camp are NPS teachers Christina Witter and Mary Beth Connolly, who will discuss Counteracting Anxiety with Mindfulness.

“A parent coming to our session will learn about the difference between stress and anxiety, what mindfulness is and how it will help your child, and things you can do at home to help your

The camp starts at 8:30 a.m. with registration.

Breakout sessions begin at 9 a.m. To learn more, visit www.northvilleschools.org or call NPS at (248) 344-3500 or NEF at (248) 344-8458.

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Empowering

By Wensdy Von Buskirk

F

Women With Style Fashion show to fund scholarships for local girls

and vendor shopping, and continues with a runway show featuring several Michiganbased female clothing designers, followed by lunch prepared

by Schoolcraft College’s professional chefs.

Emcee is Plymouth native Elizabeth Johnson, Miss Michigan USA 2018.

“We’ve been doing the home tour in the fall in Northville for 20 years,” explained Val Gagnon, communications chairman for AAUWNN. “As society has changed, people do not want strangers walking through their house. It became more and more difficult to find houses to put on our tour and we were burned out.

We wanted to do something new that celebrated women.”

The group put Local 8th grade girls participating in out a call for local AAUWNN Career Path Day at Lawrence designers, and the Technological University.

or two decades, members of the Northville-Novi chapter of American Association of University Women have hosted a home tour to raise money.

This year, they’re doing something a little different.

The group, devoted to empowering women and girls, will stage a Michigan Fashion Designer Showcase Luncheon 9:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at the Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center.

The event starts with coffee

22 The ‘Ville

Center Photo: Designer Analiese Zaleski

response was encouraging.

“We were surprised to find out how many fashion designers there are in Michigan,” Gagnon said.

AAUWNN is hoping to attract a large audience for the event, which will bring in funds for scholarships and various programs throughout the year.

AAUWNN has donated almost $60,000 to endowed scholarships at Oakland Community College and Schoolcraft College, along with $38,000 in college scholarships for Northville and Novi High School girls — granting $1,000 to one graduating senior at both schools each year.

The group also contributes to national legal advocacy and lobbying for women’s issues like equal pay, economic security and leadership.

A BIT OF HISTORY AAUW was founded in 1881 to improve the lives of women and their families. Headquartered

in Washington, D.C. the organization has evolved to support STEM education for girls, public policy that levels the playing field for women, free salary negotiation workshops and outreach to women in developing countries around the world.

Today, there are 1,000 branches of AAUW nationwide.

The Northville branch was launched in 1975 by 55 charter members, with Novi added to its title in 1991. Today, AAUWNN has about 90 local members.

You might have seen them handing out PayDay candy bars at city council meetings on Equal Pay Day, which symbolizes how far into the year women must work to catch up with what men earned the previous year. In 2019, the day falls on April 2.

Or, you might have come across them walking 8th grade girls around downtown Northville to meet professional women and mentors during its

AAUWNN members Jane Hecker, Mary Ann MacLaren, President Mary Jane Kearns and Karen Zyczynski (left to right) at the state convention, April 28, 2018.

“Every program we do in the community we focus on that.”

annual Career Path Day. You could also have heard them reading books about accomplished women to elementary school children during March is Reading Month. The group has donated $11,000 to every elementary school in Northville and Novi for the purpose to stocking media centers with books about inspiring females.

“It’s about women empowering women,” says Corinne Vincent, Vice President of Membership.

FASHION FORWARD AAUWNN members are hopeful the upcoming fashion show attracts attendees beyond their membership, and not only raises money but spreads the word about the organization’s mission.

Karen Zyczynski, Chairperson of Local Public Policy for AAUWNN, joined the group in 2004 after she retired from teaching in the Livonia Public Schools. Equal pay for women was her top issue then and now.

“I grew up with a working mother in a single parent home. Life was not easy,” she explained. “To understand women were basically being paid less for doing the same job as a man just outraged me.”

Zyczynski grew up in Detroit in the ‘40s and ‘50s and her mother was the only woman in the neighborhood who worked outside the home, she says.

Things have changed a lot since then with more and more women in the workforce and heading households. Still, women earn an average of 80 cents to the dollar compared with men — even less in Michigan. AAUW’s research, legal efforts and lobbying work to change that.

AAUWNN contributes to efforts locally, statewide, and nationally and hopes the fashion show is a huge success.

Designers include young entrepreneurs from throughout the region, and the shopping area features female accessory vendors who create their own scarves, handbags, jewelry and more.

“The whole idea behind this show is to celebrate the creativity of Michigan women in design and entrepreneurs so we can raise money and in turn empower girls,” said Vincent.

“It’s a perfect match.”

2019 Michigan Fashion Designers Showcase Who: Hosted by American Association of University Women Northville-Novi What: Runway show, luncheon, shopping and more.

Where: Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center, Livonia When: 9:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat. March 30 Why: To support AAUWNN’s mission to empower women and girls Tickets: $45 each; $360 for a table of 8 More Info: aauwnn.org

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The Man who is Behind the Race Northville’s Alan Whitehead makes running events more fun

N

orthville’s Alan Whitehead has always been passionate about running. Initially it was to stay in shape, but before long he began running in races, working his way up from 5K’s to marathons. He ultimately completed 22 full marathons in his life.

Whitehead wanted to share his passion for running with others, which is why, in 2003, he organized the first Kona Run in Northville. A year later, he founded the Kona Running Company and has been organizing themed runs and races around the state ever since. The name of the company was derived from his frequent visits to Hawaii and drinking Kona Coffee.

Some of his races include the Wicked Halloween Run and Kona Chocolate Run, which are both run in downtown Plymouth, as well as the Kona Strawberry Run in 2015 and Kona Cheesecake Run in 2016 plus the Buffalo Wild Wings Race and Strohs Legend Run in 2017. Two of the more recent are the Jolly Pumpkin Run and the Moonlight Run at Fox Hills in 2018.

Before this chapter in his life, Whitehead, 65, had a long career in the corporate world, serving as sales executive with automotive suppliers, including Takata, Asahi Glass, and

24 The ‘Ville

Guardian Industries. He also worked in pharmaceutical sales with Pfizer, Warner-Lambert, Proctor & Gamble.

That sales background has definitely helped him organize such a variety of running events.

One of the most successful is the upcoming Shamrock Race, which he founded in 2012. The race, which is run in downtown Plymouth, will take place March 17 on St. Patrick’s Day. This festive race will include 10K and 5K routes, as well as a new Rainbow Half Mile Course for the little less serious runners/ walkers.

With the race approaching, we had a chance to catch up with Whitehead. Here’s his story: The ‘Ville: How did you get involved in running?

Whitehead: I ran to keep in shape and to handle stress. I was athletic all my life. In my 30’s I began to run 5Ks. I gradually increased to half marathons and full marathons and completed 22.

The ‘Ville: Tell us about your favorite running story?

Whitehead: I was on a training run up in Petoskey and I was chased by a German shepard dog for over two miles. I jumped up onto an old horse drawn wagon and waited until the dog went away.

Alan Whitehead

The ‘Ville: What made you decide to start organizing races?

Whitehead: I was growing tired of 45-50 mile training weeks and I knew my serious running career was beginning to end, so I joined the Detroit Free Press Marathon race staff in 1999 and eventually became the co-race director of the Parade Co Turkey Trot in Detroit. I established my first race, the Solstice Run in Northville In 2003. The idea of organizing a race event intrigued me. I started the Kona Running Co in 2004.

The ‘Ville: Tell us about the Shamrock Race. What are some of the highlights? What makes it unique?

Whitehead: It is our 8th year with the Shamrock Race in Plymouth. We offer a 10K, 5K, 1/2 Mile and Double (10K plus 5K). We have an Irish band (Celtic Jam) in our large heated tent at Kellogg Park.

This year for the first time the race entry includes beer, pizza and finger foods inside the new Bigalora and Arbor Brewing Co restaurant and brewery (the former Box Bar building).

Participants of the Shamrock Race, which will be run March 17 in downtown Plymouth, dress the part.

The ‘Ville: What do you find people enjoy most about your events?

Whitehead: I think it’s that we offer interesting race themes like the Chocolate Run & Wicked Halloween Run and our staff is very experienced resulting in very organized events. We also offer entertainment, post-race food and costume contests.

Kona is offering nine race events in 2019 including a new Jolly Pumpkin Run in Traverse City and the new Founders Beer Run at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.

The ‘Ville: Can you tell us any interesting tidbits about you?

Whitehead: Colonel Harland Sanders of KFC fame and WWI hero Sgt. Alvin York are my relatives. My grandfather was born in Tennessee and my dad was born in Kentucky.

For more information about the Kona Running Company and the upcoming Shamrock Race, visit konarunningcompany.com or shamrockrace.com. You can also email Whitehead at alan@ konarunningcompany.com.

out & about Your Guide to What’s Happening in Northville This Month NHS Lecture Series Feb. 27 The Northville Historical Society will host the presentation “Henry Ford: Relationships with Early and Vital Employees” from 7-9 p.m​​., Feb. 27 at Mill Race Village, 215 Griswold Street.

For more information, visit www. millracenorthville.org.

Maybury Planning Meeting March 5 The Michigan DNR will host a meeting about Maybury State Park from 6-8 p.m. at the Northville Community Center banquet room, 303 W. Main Street. The DNR is seeking public input as it drafts a new management plan for Maybury, and stakeholder and public input will be incorporated as a critical component of the planning process. The general management plan will define a longrange planning and management strategy that protects park resources while addressing recreation needs and opportunities. For more information about the process, visit http://mdnrmanagementplans.org/ maybury-state-park.

An Uncommon Criminal March 7 Southfield Mayor and historian Ken Siver will visit the Northville District Library to discuss his great grandfather - an international con

the Northville Historical Society. You can pre-order your pie by visiting www.millracenorthville.org.

Jazz @ the Point

St. Patrick's Day Soiree The Northville Educational Foundation will host its annual Night for Northville from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 at Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville. The theme this year is “A St. Patrick’s Day Soiree” and will feature live music by the Shawn Riley Band, fantastic food (with special Irish fare station) and dessert bar, open bar, silent auction, the popular wine pull raffle, heavy hors d’oeuvres, Irish dancing and a photo booth. This fundraiser allows the NEF to support the students and programs of Northville Public Schools. For more information or to purchase tickets, which cost $125, visit www.northvilleedfoundation.org or call (248) 344-8458.

artist who pretended to be a doctor, war hero and more.

He’ll talk about how he and his family uncovered the true story of Edwin Turner Osbaldeston in an engaging talk and presentation complete with lots of pictures from an era when photography was not the norm.

The program begins at 7 p.m. You must register by visiting https:// northvillelibrary.org or calling (248) 349-3020.

challenges named Ovis, will lead a discussion via Skype with kids about autism at the Northville District Library. All children who attend will take home a fun Ovis finger puppet craft. This program, which runs from 11 a.m.-noon, is offered as part of the 2019 Let’s Talk About series. Visit northvillelibrary. org for a full list of dates and topics.

You must register to attend by calling (248) 349-3020.

Let’s Talk About: Autism

Pi Day

March 9 Kelly Beins, a seasoned therapist with more than 20 years experience in pediatric occupational therapy, and author of picture books about a lovable sheep with sensory

March 14 Visit the Cady Inn at Mill Race Village from 3-6 p.m. for a slice of homemade pie at $3.14 and a beverage for $1, or take home a whole pie for $18.45 at this fundraiser for

March 16 Imbroglio will perform from 6:45 9:30 p.m. as part of Tipping Point Theatre’s Jazz @ the Point series.

Tickets are $30 and include a wine-tasting (6:45 p.m.), the concert (7:30 p.m.), and light finger food (at the intermission) from Browndog Barlor & Restaurant. The event is put on by 2 Stones Events. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.2stonesevents.com or call (248) 347-0003.

Rotary Interact Fashion Show March 16 This annual fundraiser put on by the Northville High School Rotary Interact club begins at 7 p.m. at Northville High School. Sponsored by David’s Bridal and Men’s Wearhouse, the Prom Fashion Show will feature NHS seniors walking the runway. There will also be raffles available. Admission is $5 per person. All proceeds will go to Northville Civic Concern and Rotary International, which funds projects around the globe. For more information, visit https://sites.google. com/site/nhsinteract.

SEND IT IN To get your items listed in Out & About, email editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@gmail.com.

26 The ‘Ville

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May 19 • Traverse City

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June 1 • Rochester Hills

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July 7 • Detroit

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September 14 • Royal Oak

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September 29 • Plymouth

WICKED HALLOWEEN RUN

October 27 • Plymouth

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SHARE IT If you have events, photos or accomplishments you’d like to share with the community, please email Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@ gmail.com.

C o mm u n i t y bulletin board

Catholic Central baseball captain Joseph Hardenbergh of Northville has been named a finalist for the MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award.

The baseball standout, who has signed a full academic/athletic scholarship to play at Hillsdale College (pre-med), carries a 4.117 grand point average at CC. The former Our Lady of Victory student is a top outfielder in the state and three-year letter winner.

Off the field he is a Kairos leader, class officer (junior and senior years), member of the National Honors Society, Art Club, plays piano and guitar, and organized a sports uniform drive for the Good Works Foundation in South Africa. He is also a CYO basketball moderator/score keeper/announcer, volunteer buddy for disabled and disadvantaged youth with the Miracle League, and a volunteer with the Kelly’s Kidz Foundation, Christ Child House, and Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

“Sports are a reflection of the ups and downs of life. Every injury, downfall, or failure in sports is intertwined with successes, blessings, awards, and internal gratification because life is filled with triumphs and adversities,” Joseph said.

“The faith, confidence, compassion, and grit I learned from sports fuels the engine toward playing life like a champion. Athletics represents in me that which is bigger than myself...a truth, a goodness and a strength of character that I will carry with me long after high school.”

He is one of 24 Class A boys finalists.

Helping Hands

Amy Martin, who co-owns the Somerset Allstate Agency with her husband, Bruce Martin, presented a check for $5,000 to Lauren Romeo (left), founder of Main Street League. This Allstate Helping Hands Grant allowed MSL to provide 100 backpacks filled with supplies and 100 news pairs of shoes to local school children.

“They took a big burden off so many parents,” Romeo said.

The Somerset Allstate main office is located in Troy, with a satellite office in Northville.

“The Allstate Grant that we were able to share with Main Street League allowed local Northville students to receive back to school lunch and school supplies, helping them have a happy and healthy school year. The grant not only enabled them to start off the school year on a great note, but to provide additional items throughout the school year,” Amy Martin said.

28 The ‘Ville

Northville was well represented at the MidAmerican Pompom State Championship held Jan. 27 at Michigan State University.

The Northville Middle School Pom team placed first in Division One, scoring 477.5 points. Head coaches are twins Alex and Addie Powell.

Assistant coaches are Brittni Grunow and Julia Hebert. There are 30 girls on the team.

Northviile JV, under head coach Alia Campbell and assistant coach Stacie Shaw, placed second, scoring 469.5 points. There are 15 girls on the team.

Northville Varsity (pictured with their trophy) placed fourth in Class A, Division One, scoring 478 points. Gabby Cayao is head coach, while her assistants are Madi Pettit and Ajhia Jackson. There are 20 girls on the team.

The Northville teams had been practicing for their three-minute routines since November, and three hours a day, six days a week since Jan. 2. There were 64 teams competing. They were scored on a number of criteria including appearance, showmanship, formations and transitions, use of poms, and choreography.

Tennies Promoted to Deputy Director

Northville Township Department of Public Safety named Paul Tennies the new deputy director for Police Services on Feb. 4. According to township officials, this promotion balances the staffing of the Department of Public Safety in leadership laid out in the department’s strategic plan.

In this position, Tennies works under the general direction of Todd Mutchler, the director of Public Safety. He will perform administrative and tactical duties consistent with police department operations and is responsible for the development of personnel ensuring optimal performance is met.

Tennies began his career with Northville Township in 2002. In 2008, he was assigned as an officer to a DEA Task Force in Detroit. In 2012, Paul was assigned to the Michigan State Police Western Wayne Narcotics Task Force as a detective. He was promoted to sergeant in 2014, supervising the Northville Township Detective Bureau, and then lieutenant in 2016.

Tennies is a member of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Southeastern Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police and the Wayne County Association of Chiefs of Police.

“Chief Tennies has demonstrated a commitment to service and an understanding of effective and efficient police practices,” Mutchler said. “In his new role, he will be responsible for the daily operations of police services.”

Photo by Catrina O'Farrell

Hardenbergh: Scholar Athlete of Year Finalist Pom Squads Earn High Marks

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It’s Your Business Casterline Funeral Home

Roxanne (Atchison) Casterline with daughters Courtney Casterline-Ross and Lindsey Casterline-Dogonski

Gentle Guides Four generations of Casterlines have helped Northville families grieve

W

hen Ray J. Casterline opened over the reins to his son, Ray J. his own funeral business in Casterline II (better known around a Victorian home on Dunlap town as “Butch”) and his wife Street back in 1937, he couldn’t have Roxanne. known that more than eight decades Roxanne and Butch had no sons, later the business would still be but that didn’t prevent a fourth thriving under the ownership of his generation Casterline to heed the descendants. call. In fact, two of their daughters – Casterline Funeral Home, Courtney and Lindsey – decided to located at study mortuary 122 West science in Dunlap Street, college so they is a fourth could help generation their parents family-owned and ultimately business that take over the is not only business. Little a historic did they know it landmark in would happen the City of quicker than Northville but either of them has also played anticipated. a critical role The day before Casterline Funeral Home dates back in the lives Courtney to 1937. of so many graduated from local families stretching back to its college, Butch became ill and died founding. just months later. That was nearly Ray J. Casterline owned the 15 years ago. business until his son Fred A. While Roxanne still owns the Casterline took over. Fred owned it business, Courtney Casterline-Ross until retiring in 1980 and turning and Lindsey Casterline-Dogonski

30 The ‘Ville

in the 1930s – helping families get through one of the most difficult chapters of life: saying goodbye to a loved one.

The process, according to Courtney, begins with a simple question: “What can we do?” The practical answer to that is helping the family get through their grieving and plan every aspect of the funeral.

Let’s just say it is not your typical job.

“The worst part of what we do is experiencing the grief a family manage the day to day affairs. But goes through,” said Courtney. “The that’s not to say Roxanne isn’t still a best part is helping them navigate fixture. She is often present, helping through such a difficult time. We out when and where she is needed. know what we are doing. We gently Heck, she still lives upstairs in an guide them through the process. apartment, so you might say she is They might not know how to get always on call. from point A to point B. We help “You don’t really retire if you own them get there.” a funeral home,” said Roxanne, the The fact that the Casterlines daughter of Russell M. Atchison, a have been such stalwarts in the prominent doctor in town. community, and in many cases have Roxanne is proud of the way her served generations of the same two daughters families, they have taken over often know the business, intimately Owners: Roxanne (Atchison) bringing a the folks they Casterline, Courtney Casterlinefeminine touch serve. That Ross and Lindsey Casterlineto the place. can be difficult Dogonski They’ve updated sometimes to Address: 122 West Dunlap Street, the look of see people they Northville the place, and know going Phone: (248) 349-0611 incorporated through such some new times, but it is Website: www. casterlinefuneralhome.com features something they including also cherish “memory trees” for each funeral because they know how to help. where friends and family members “This work is important to me. attach little cards on which they I take it very seriously. The role we have written out fond memories of play in the community is vital. I the deceased – a little touch that don’t even consider it a job as much helps the grieving process. as a duty,” Lindsey said. “Whatever “I think they’ve done a great job a family needs, we can help.” taking the good things from the first While Courtney and Lindsey three generations, and have added expect to be around a while, there their own ideas and management are already many candidates among style,” Roxanne said.

Roxanne’s nine grandchildren At the end of the day, however, (eight boys and one girl) to become the foundation of the business is the fifth generation owners of still the same as it was when Ray Casterline. There is something J. Casterline started the business comforting about that.

Casterline Funeral Home

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business scene Amity opens new coworking space Amity Coworking officially opened for business in downtown Northville on Jan. 17. Located in the historic Water Wheel Centre at 235 E. Main Street, Amity offers rentable spaces that are equipped with the latest conferencing and presentation technologies. Amity’s members enjoy private meeting spaces with technology, the option for a personal mailing address and private storage, free onsite parking, community and member curated events, access to the online members portal, and complimentary coffee, tea, snacks, and printing.

According to the company, Amity’s mission is to support their members in whatever way allows them to do their work best. Amity worked with inFORM studio, an architecture and design firm, to design the space in the iconic former Ford plant.

“We opened Amity Coworking because not only is it a fantastic opportunity for both local and transient professionals to help clients through its central location, but there’s also a need for this type of space in Northville,” said Amity Coworking community manager Gabrielle Guthrie. “As small businesses continue to be on the rise, there are several startups popping up with nowhere for them to settle if they don’t want or need a brick and mortar facility."

For more information, additional membership amenities and more, visit www.amitycoworking. com. To schedule a tour, call (248) 946-8088 or e-mail gabrielle@amitycoworking.com.

During Amity Coworking’s grand opening last month, Northville Mayor Ken Roth cut the ribbon, along with (from left) Shawn Calvin (director of interiors at inFORM studio), Gina VanTine (principal at inFORM studio), Gabrielle Guthrie (community manager at Amity Coworking), Michael Guthrie (principal at inFORM studio), Northville Chamber President Aaron Cozart, and Chamber board secretary Patti Mullen.

SHARE YOUR NEWS: Share your business news with us, and we’ll do our best to list it for our readers. Please email Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@gmail.com.

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Aid sought for family devastated by fire A community effort is underway to help a Northville family, in the aftermath of a devastating fire that left them without a home and many personal possessions.

The Hamilton family was left homeless when a Jan. 20 fire began with the furnace and tore through their home on the 16000 block of Forest Drive in Northville Township. The family is safe, but their home is a total loss.

Northville Township firefighters fought the fire, Contact Main Street and were assisted by a number of units from the City of League at (248) 982Northville, Livonia and Novi.

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Frigid conditions with sub-zero mainstreetleague.com. wind chills made efforts more difficult. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

Several local organizations have stepped up to help the family, including Main Street League, Northville Football Parents Association and Northville High School Booster Club.

“They are devastated by this loss and are faced with a long road of rebuilding,” the Main Street League wrote in a release. “They are in need of essential items while everything gets sorted out with insurance, which could take a very long time.”

The Main Street League, which is a local non-profit of likeminded volunteers within Northville and surrounding areas, is pooling its resources, time, expertise, and creativity to support people in need. The group said the family lost everything, including phones, car keys, wallets, clothing, etc.

For the Northville High School football team, this effort hits close to home. Varsity player John Hamilton, a junior, is a member of the family. The NFPA also reached out to its supporters and asked for help for John and his family -- Jason, Carolyn, and Aiden.

Calling out to its supporters to help the family as they recover from this unthinkable event, the NFPA put on a gift card donation collection to help the family as it’s still “trying to assess what their immediate needs are and this will be a wonderful way to let them purchase what they want and when.”

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32 The ‘Ville

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Food is distributed twice a month.

WHO WE SERVICE We service needy families from the City of Northville and Northville Township, and Focus Hope recipients.

OUR MISSION Our goal is to build pride and self-confidence resulting in better decision making and improved quality of life.

Northville Civic Concern is open for drop off Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 10am–1pm at 43275 Seven Mile Road, in the Highland Lakes Shopping Center.

Please consider volunteering your time, resources, food, or money to our mission!

Come volunteer to help distribute the food to our clients on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month from 10am–1pm.

Many companies offer gift matching programs to their employees. This means your company may double or even triple your donation!

Check with your Human Resouces department.

We are always in need of the following items: • Canned fruit and vegetables • Canned soups or stews • Canned meats (chicken, tuna, salmon) • Cereal • Diapers • Laundry detergent

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Why They Matter

Silver Springs project forces students to get introspective

By Lonnie Huhman

W

hy do you matter?

That question was posed at Silver Springs Elementary School, both to the students and staff members. From it came almost 500 answers shared with the entire school through a new project called #WhyYouMatter.

The end result was highlighted at a school event in late January, which was sponsored by the school’s PTA and Dad’s Club.

“The students loved it and we got a lot of great support from parents,” said Sean Kiebler, a fourth grade teacher at Silver Springs.

Kiebler said the idea behind this campaign was a simple question – get everyone to reflect on themselves and why they matter. Although simple and straightforward, students said the question was challenging and made them think.

During the unveiling of the project, fourth-graders Halle Hugler-Lyle, Louis Eloff, Jane Schimper and Aashka Patel took a moment to reflect on the project.

“We had to think about it,” said Halle.

34 The ‘Ville

This group of fourthgraders said it was easy to say why someone else matters, but when directed at oneself, the question had them wanting to find the answer that felt right to them.

“We got to express Members of the NHS National Honors Society helped put up ourselves, so the posters throughout the school. it was really In the end, he said it was cool to see everyone’s answers,” a celebration of the uniqueness Halle said. and importance “of our Her fellow classmate, Louis students, staff, and Silver Eloff said the project gave them Springs community.” a chance to be themselves and On Jan. 10, Kiebler said every as he put it, “not be afraid to be student and staff member me.” had their photograph taken Kiebler said the hope for this project with their was to challenge students to #WhyYouMatter statement. As look inside, closely examine one would expect, the answers their positive attributes, the were diverse – and awesome. characteristics that make them One student said, “Because I unique, to find their purpose, bring laughter to my family and and the reason why the world is friends so we all have a good a better place because they’re time!” Another said, “Because I in it.

am me and no one is quite like me.” Still another said, “I am helpful and trustworthy.”

The photographs were printed and turned into 12-inch by 18-inch posters printed on high quality cardstock. A diverse group of volunteers – from Dad’s Club members to National Honor Society students and Northville High School athletes – hung up the posters around the school for all to see and enjoy. Other special thanks for help go to LifeTouch and the UPS Store located on Five Mile in Livonia.

Many students and their families went to the evening unveiling at the school. There was a lot of excitement in the air as everyone walked the hallways to see the different faces, and meaningful statements up on the walls.

Brandon Schultz was there with his two daughters, who attend the school. He described it as a community project that promotes unity.

“I think it was probably empowering for the students,” he said while posing for a photo with his daughters near one of their posters.

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Dishin’ With Denise

Denise Jenkins serves on the board of directors for 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.

Crazy 4U in February R

emember those super sweet little pastel hearts with silly messages – Will U B Mine? There’s a new heartfelt greeting in the candy bag: Tweet Me. LOL They always bring a smile and you only eat them in February. It’s a whole month dedicated to hearts, flowers, dinner dates and love.

The sign is up: “Coming Soon” at Los Tres Amigos on Mary Alexander Court right behind the Town Square stage.

It seems we have a lot of new restaurants in the historic downtown district and in the township. I’m not a candidate for food critic, but I try them all and pass along a comment or two when I think it’s appropriate.

On New Year’s Eve my husband and I did a drive through town in the pouring rain. As we passed by the new 160 Main there was a parking spot right in front of the restaurant and we thought why not? I popped my head in and asked if they were serving food – and they couldn’t have been nicer. They had New Year’s Eve party plans for later, but thought since they were there and working why not open tables for early patrons who may pop in.

We were not the only ones. There were friends and neighbors doing just what we were doing. Staff was convivial; food was very good, a little pricey but not out of control.

The upper level is available for small party rentals – and they have wine lockers! The experience was wonderful. The atmosphere very Manhattan-

36 The ‘Ville

esque – perfect for someone who drinks her morning coffee in an “I Heart New York” coffee mug.

Audrey Hepburn once said: “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” Lois and Bob Mosley are indeed holding on to one another. After a yearlong engagement, the two Allen Terrace residents were married in December at the Northville home of Linda and William Liedel. Reverend Paul Praedel officiated with 80 guests on hand for the ceremony and sit down dinner. Linda, who is the daughter of the bride, says: “They are an inspiration, a true love story. Everyone I tell their story to is happy for them. Many say it gives them hope.”

Lois is very outgoing and invited Bob, as a friend, to different social activities at Allen Terrace. They were neighbors and one thing led to another. Both are widows, between them there are a dozen children, more than two dozen grandchildren and nearly three dozen great grandchildren!

Now there’s plenty of family to hold on to. Congratulations to the newlyweds…by the way, did I mention they are both 90-something?

February is Heart Health Month and it is also National Children’s Dental Health Month. Although some say it is best to start children as soon as the first tooth pops up, realistically it is best to bring little ones along when mom, dad or older brothers and sisters are going for an appointment.

They can get comfortable with the office, maybe sit in the chair,

(Top left) Uit, owner of Northville Nail Boutique, with coveted trophy. Bob Mosley and Lois Clark-Mosley (top right). One of the winning windows at Northville Nail Boutique (lower left). Michael Paquette (lower right)

get their own toothbrush and meet the dentist. When they turn three, schedule their first appointment.

Longtime Northville resident Michael Paquette is no stranger to the world of dentistry. He’s been working in the industry since he was 17 years old, and has been in sales with Benco Dental for at least 20 years and has seen many changes. The father of two teenage daughters, Mallory and Paige, he is very aware of the growing number of young women in dental school and female solo practitioners.

Benco’s community outreach includes the Lucy Hobbs Project, which honors the first licensed female dentist.

Michael has been working with dental professionals in our area and the local dental schools to promote Lucy

Hobbs Project YOU Events that foster networking, innovation and giving back. The effort has earned him national recognition.

Drum roll please….the prized trophy for the annual holiday window-decorating contest in downtown Northville was awarded to Northville Nail Boutique. I must say, I agree with the judges. The windows are always so festive – hearts for Valentine’s, shamrocks for St. Pat’s and Easter bunnies coming soon. The salon is a great place for women, and men, to get a little pampering. Whenever I go in for a mani or a pedi I run into a friend, or I make a friend.

Uit, the owner, told me she intends to hold on to the trophy for many years to come. Sounds like a challenge.

Signing off with another new candy heart slogan...TTYL

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