The 'Ville - July 2023

DANCING STREET IN THE

Vita Vizachero

Vita Vizachero

Vita has lived in the Northville / Novi community since 1989. Some of her local favorites are Table 5, Pooles, Rocky’s, and Cantoro’s on Haggerty.

Vita has lived in the Northville / Novi community since 1989. Some of her local favorites are Table 5, Pooles, Rocky’s, and Cantoro’s on Haggerty.

vvizachero@billbrownford.com

John DesOrmeau

John DesOrmeau

John has lived in the Northville / Novi community since 1987. Some of his local favorites are Rocky’s, Custard Time, Guernsey’s and the Pizza Cutter.

John has lived in the Northville / Novi community since 1987. Some of his local favorites are Rocky’s, Custard Time, Guernsey’s and the Pizza Cutter.

jdesormeau@billbrownford.com

vvizachero@billbrownford.com

Office:(734) 524-2711

Office:(734) 524-2711

Office:(734) 524-2720

jdesormeau@billbrownford.com

Office:(734) 524-2720

Andrei & Julia

Matt & Brandi

Kylee & Andy

Justin & Lauryn

Andrew & Kristin

Michael & Morgan

Please consider a donation to support The 'Ville. Since we began publishing more than five years ago, our goal has been to provide our readers with valuable information about the Northville community each and every month. Your support helps that mission survive and grow.

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LOCAL Matters! is the foundation of this magazine. If you find it of value, please consider supporting it. Every little bit helps! Please send donations to:

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16435 Franklin

Northville, MI 48168

You can also make donations via PayPal to kurtkuban@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance.

Publisher

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

Peggy Koppy

Peter Gibson

Martha Phillips

ADVERTISE IN THE ‘VILLE

Our locally-owned publication is an affordable way to reach the Northville Market. We direct mail to all 21,000 addresses in the 48167 & 48168 zip codes.

To secure space in The ‘Ville, contact Scott at (313) 399-5231 or scott@streetmktg.com.

SCOTT BUIE - Advertising Director/VP of Sales

For more than 20 years Scott has worked with clients in Metro Detroit to create advertising campaigns to grow their business. After managing sales for radio stations in the Detroit Market for 17 years he purchased Street Marketing where he works closely with a variety of businesses and events. Scott and his family have lived in the Plymouth and Northville area for 25 years.

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, all products of Northville Public Schools.

CRAIG WHEELER – Creative Director

Craig has been in the creative industry for over 30 years. He has developed a diverse background in that time, but publication design has been his passion during the past 20 years. Craig enjoys chasing his young daughter and providing moral support to his lovely wife.

MICHELE FECHT – Writer

Michele Fecht is a longtime journalist whose first post-college reporter position was at The Northville Record before moving on to The Detroit News. A 30-plus year resident of the City of Northville and historic (old) house owner, she is an author, researcher, local history enthusiast, and community activist/advocate.

WENSDY VON BUSKIRK – Writer

Wensdy graduated with a degree in journalism from Wayne State University. Her first job was working as a reporter for The Northville Record. Now, as a freelance writer and editor, she works for a variety of magazines, and is excited to get back to her roots in The ‘Ville. -Photo by Kathleen Voss

MARIA TAYLOR – Writer

Maria is managing editor at The ACHR NEWS, a B2B publication based in Troy. She has worked as a reporter for the Northville Record, Novi News and Plymouth Observer, and once had her photo on the cover of TIME. She lives in Farmington and, as a self-avowed history nerd, routinely risks her life by standing in the road to photograph old buildings.

TIM SMITH - Writer

Tim brings a penchant for telling powerful and personal stories that run the gamut from news to sports. During more than 35 years in journalism, he has earned numerous state and national awards. The Wayne State grad is a published author and rec ice hockey player.

LARRY O'CONNOR – Writer

Larry is a metro Detroit area journalist whose work has appeared in The Detroit News, Jackson Citizen Patriot and the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers. When he’s not meticulously chronicling people or events, he’s avidly rooting for his favorite soccer teams –Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic.

JOHN C. HEIDER – Photographer

John is a 25-year veteran of the Northville Record and other Detroitarea newspapers. In addition to his photography, he's an amateur gardener, poet and fly-fisherman. He also claims to have invented the metric system.

BRYAN MITCHELL - Photographer

Bryan started working as a photographer more than 30 years ago, and was the Northville Record photographer in the 90's. He has freelanced for The Detroit News, The Guardian, Reuters, and other publications. His photography has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the globe. The Northville resident also coaches mountain biking at Northville High School.

Taking the All-American Road Trip

Summer is the perfect season to take a holiday. I think everyone should, if at all possible, try to get away at least for a short time.

That could mean traveling abroad to Europe or some other exotic locale around the globe. But it could be anywhere, really. Some of my greatest childhood memories were staying in a cottage on Mullett Lake near Cheboygan in northern Michigan each summer. We live in a beautiful state. Just get away if you can.

I would highly recommend visiting any of our National Parks. Earlier this month, I loaded up my truck with my fishing pole, camping gear and some provisions. Oh yeah, and my family. We pointed west, and hit the gas. Nearly 5,000 miles and two weeks later, we pulled back into the driveway.

In between, we were able to visit some of America’s iconic National Parks, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Sequoia and Yosemite. We also visited plenty of national monuments and national forests, camping most nights in beautiful canyons under a blanket of stars.

All I can say is America is an amazing place, filled with natural treasures that attract people from all over the world. I was really surprised by how many foreign visitors were at the parks. It was just another

reminder how fortunate we are to live in this country.

Standing in the shadow of General Sherman, a massive sequoia that is the largest tree in the world, and looking out over the magnificent Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon, Utah were two of the highlights of our trip, but there were many others including a serene sunset drive through Yosemite Valley. They were experiences you can’t really explain to someone. It’s something you have to do and see on your own, like looking out over (or hiking into) the Grand

Canyon.

Our National Parks truly are magical places. If you let them, they will speak to your soul and recharge your batteries. They did for me.

I’d love to hear about your travels, whether it was to a National Park, or anywhere else for that matter. And, if you take along The ‘Ville and snap a photo, we’ll feature it in an upcoming issue. Just email it to me at kurtkuban@ thevillemagazine.com.

Summer isn’t over yet, so you still have some time to hit the road. I highly recommend it.

Kurt Kuban is the Publisher and Editor of The ‘Ville. He welcomes your comments at kurtkuban@thevillemagazine. com.

ON THE COVER: Zofia Bochenek with dance partner John Balash during a recent Dancin' in the Ville night in Town Square. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

Kurt Kuban with The 'Ville in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Your Voice

What are advantages?

My husband and I enjoyed a fun evening at The Downs for the Kentucky Derby. As I think about the plans for that property, I’m struggling to see how this benefits our community. We moved here to have access to a calmer, more nature-filled life beyond the concrete jungle. I can only think of a long list of disadvantages that will come with the larger population.

• Higher crime rates

• Larger student-to-teacher ratio

• Greater congestion

• Fewer parking spots in downtown

• Longer waits for tables or seats at our favorite restaurants

• More traffic issues

• More pollution

• More landfill waste

What exactly are the advantages?

Have better hours

Susan Carbott

Time to listen

Would Northville’s downtown streets be closed if we never had Covid? More than 600 pink signs continue to line the streets in opposition to the downtown street closures. The old survey never offered a compromise with eating on safe platforms with slow traffic. City Council voted to keep streets closed forcing local traffic into side streets all day. There was no consideration of opening the streets on weekdays. Northville is the only city in Michigan I’m aware of that has the main artery closed. Northville Schools Superintendent RJ Webber recently said he wanted the streets open to help with school buses which includes 14 other districts that bus their children to Cooke School here in Northville.

There are 13 eating establishments on the two barricaded streets. By my count, only six want to eat in the street, and only one is serving lunch in the street. Maybe it’s time to elect a Council that will listen to the majority, the schools, the Mobility Task Force and open the streets except for special events and concentrate on the Downs development before that also spins out of control.

Jim Nield

Flip flop

I’ve read a lot of different articles/opinion pieces about the closing of the streets in Northville. I love the street closures. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of money in Northville since the closures. I’ve also brought my friends and work colleagues with me to show off our downtown area. I convinced my parents to move to Northville last year (they now live down the street from me and we go out to eat once a week downtown). Everyone absolutely loves it.

I’ve read opinion pieces stating that the stores are more difficult to access because there is no street parking. There is hardly any street parking on Main Street at all so this argument just makes zero sense to me. Prior to the street closures - I never once parked on Main Street. I always parked in the lots behind the stores. I just find it hard to believe that street closures have anything to do with struggling businesses.

Some of the business owners who are complaining about this have some of the most ridiculous hours I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I work 60-65 hours per week. My office is in Farmington Hills and my core hours are 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The majority of retail businesses on Main and Center close at 6. I couldn’t shop at them if I wanted to Monday-Friday (unless I took time off work). If the business owners want more business, perhaps they should amend their hours so that working people can patronize their establishments.

Jess Suda

Put pandemic behind

I’m very disappointed with the decision to only partially open up downtown. While I completely understood the need to close it down during the Covid epidemic, it is now time to return to normal. Downtown today is an eyesore and, quite frankly, an embarrassment. It used to be a town that I was proud of. No longer. It looks like a construction site. Let’s re-open downtown and put this Covid period behind us.

Mark Bensett

I’m curious as to where the impetuous for the “Let’s Open Northville” movement is originating. It appears to be well organized and financed, unlike the original movement to close the streets, which had no obvious funding. My guess is that some of the individuals that originally were in favor of the closure have discovered their mistake and now have flip-flopped.

Speaking of mistakes and flip-flops, the City Council would very rarely make a mistake if they always did what is best for the Northville community as a whole rather than succumbing to what appears to be the pressures of various vested interests.

Sarunas Mingela

One of only 14

A huge congratulations to Northville’s Silver Springs Elementary by making a global impact for education. They are one of just 14 schools in the world to receive the Legacy Award (through the Leader In Me program). What an achievement!

Sally Simkins

Too much density

In a recent issue of the Northville Record, there was an article on two housing developments being considered in Lyon Township. Both are at current golf courses - Coyote and Cattails. Both were denied due to density issues. The developer for Coyote was proposing 298 residences on 182 acres while the developer of the Cattails site wanted 182 houses on 160 acres. Some communities are concerned about density. The Downs development of 400-plus residences on only 48 acres should have never been considered.

Ed Kowalski

Celebrating 38 years in downtown Northville!

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‘Exactly The Right Person’

After national search Smith tabbed as Parks & Rec director

By Larry O’Connor

When it comes to providing a cogent strategy to attract residents to Northville’s plentiful leisure and recreational opportunities, Derek O. Smith will not be playing around.

The Durand, Mich., native brings a quarter century of experience to his new role as Northville parks and recreation director, having served in a similar role for Oakland County’s Independence Township. Smith’s first day on the new job was July 5. Smith, 50, also served as Southeastern Livingston County Recreation director and Novi Parks, Recreation & Forestry supervisor.

He succeeds Debra BilbreyHonsowetz, who filled in as interim director during the past year.

Smith, who has been an

accredited Certified Parks and Recreation Professional since 1999, will oversee a staff of 76 people in his latest venture.

Northville Parks and Recreation Department serves the township and city. Smith will also marshal the Senior Division, which provides programs and services to the

area’s aging population.

His remit includes ushering Northville through a complex Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation process as well as shepherding the department through an ongoing Master Plan.

Smith stood out during a national search, which produced 27 applicants.

“We believe that he’s exactly the right person for the position at this time,” said Todd Mutchler, Northville Township manager and public safety director.

Smith is married to Erica. The couple has two sportsdriven children, Owen, 15, and Josie, 11.

This spring, the son, who bears his father’s middle name, played on three hockey teams

while the daughter was a member of two soccer clubs.

A harried mom and dad were left breathless trying to keep up with the myriad of games and tournaments.

“May was a train wreck,” Smith joked.

We caught up with Smith and asked him why he wanted the new job.

The ’Ville: What was the one thing that made you say, ‘Hey, I want this job’?

Smith: I’m familiar with the community because I did spend almost 10 years with the city of Novi back in the day. It’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then. (Northville has) so many cool things going on from a regional perspective, a lot of big park projects that are really — like (350-acre) Legacy Park, for instance. Those are community changers. That is something that really excited me to dig into at this point in my career.

The ’Ville: What is the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies, and why is that important?

Smith: It’s important because it is a deep dive into the policies and procedures of your department (Northville is undergoing the accreditation process). It’s not just for the Parks and Recreation Department. There are a lot of pieces that come into play for both municipalities, too.

It is a deep dive into so many different categories to make sure that you are the best of the best. We’ve been through the process twice in Independence Township (2016 and 2022 reaccreditation).

(CAPRA covers) employees to emergency action plans to financial perspectives. It is an exercise in making sure that your

Derek O. Smith has been an accredited certified parks and recreation professional since 1999. He is also a dedicated hockey dad for his 15-year-old son Owen. Photos courtesy of Derek O. Smith

New Northville Parks and Recreation director Derek O. Smith.

department crosses all the T’s and dots all the I’s.

That is a process that I think the community can be proud of their municipality, their department, to say, ‘Yes, we have one of the best departments around because they do everything by the book.’

The ’Ville: You will be overseeing the Senior Division. Why are you looking forward to working with that population?

Smith: I’m coming from a department (in Independence Township) with a super healthy senior operation. They’re one of my favorite groups of people to work with. My parents are that age. So, I’m excited to meet those folks and start getting into their programming.

The ’Ville: Are there senior programs from Independence Township you may try to implement here?

Smith: I know that we’re going through the Master Plan process in Northville currently, using the same company. A lot of those programming needs

and questions will come out through that process. You have to complete a services assessment when going through the CAPRA accreditation process. And a lot of it will identify those markets that may need more attention. Most communities have the more popular programs: lunches, pickleball, and drop-in weeks.

I had a great staff at Independence. We’ve done a lot of senior programming. And one of them was grandparent programming. We would do a grandma tea hour where a (person dressed as a fictional character) would come in and read storybooks to the kids and the grandparents would have tea. What we’re finding is a lot of kids today are spending their summers with their grandparents. Mom and dad are both working. So this opens up a great opportunity.

The ’Ville: What are some of the emerging trends in recreation? Of those, what are you most excited about?

Smith: We find that trends, a lot of times, work their way west to

east. So we always kind of keep our eye on California and some of those things because they have an extended season there where we’re kind of a four-season programming department.

In terms of facility trends, I got excited about Legacy Park when I saw the mountain bike courses that they’re looking to build. You don’t have to have 1,000 acres and 40 miles of mountain bike trails if you can add a technical park to a lot of these facilities. It will be enough to entice people to come back time and time again.

It’s really up to the imagination of the staff and empowering and giving those folks the resources to work at their natural best.

The ’Ville: You mentioned pickleball. Where does the trending activity fit in the recreation landscape?

Smith: It’s huge. Everybody needs more court space and, in particular, indoor sports courts. Not all of our seniors are snowbirds. The problem that I’ve run into is trying to find a place to play those programs indoors during the wintertime for the folks who stay behind.

Pickleball isn’t just a senior sport anymore. We have a lot of younger folks who are playing.

So, it’s starting to become more mainstream.

The ’Ville: You’re a big softball guy (Smith served as president of USA Softball of Metro Detroit). What can be done to rejuvenate the sport?

Smith: It’s a dwindling market because a couple of reasons: One being parents are way more involved in their kids. And, there are just so many more opportunities. More people are mountain biking, playing pickleball. A lot of those recreation opportunities are not scheduled. You can go and play pickleball whenever you want. It’s not every Tuesday night from six to 10. Those activities suit people’s busy lives.

There are a lot of girls playing softball, but our adult leagues across the state, and frankly across the country have diminished significantly. So, it’s just a trend of, again, dual household incomes and parents digging into their kids. They’re spending more money on their kids playing their sports. People are living more to give their kids the best opportunities.

When parents do take part in recreational activities, it has to be on their time and not a scheduled weekly activity.

Derek O. Smith with his wife, Erica.

Derek O. Smith is an avid fisherman and loves to get outdoors.

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Summer Concerts Rock

turns really quickly,” Hayley says. “It’s something you can feel very accomplished in very fast. The music itself is so fun and lively that you really can’t help but get into it.”

Dancin’ in the Ville begins with 40 minutes of group instruction followed by more than an hour of open social dancing where people have a chance to practice the steps and the option to switch partners.

Ready To Rumba

Latin dance lessons heat up Town Square

By Wensdy Von Buskirk

Dancin’ in the Ville steps back into Town Square this summer with a Latin flair. The free dance lessons, sponsored by MJ Diamonds and Arthur Murray Northville Studio, meet 7-9 p.m. Wednesday evenings.

Classes are led by Arthur Murray instructors and the public is welcome solo or with a partner. Lessons cover rumba, cha cha, and popular line dancing along with “the big three,” salsa, bachata and merengue.

Latin dance is having a moment, according to Arthur Murray Studio Manager Lauren Hayley.

“There’s a huge uproar with young people getting into swing dancing, partner dancing, and especially Latin dancing,” Hayley says. “All partner

dancing is good but Latin is the most social.”

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Latin music sales surged 24 percent last year, the second year of double-digit growth and a bigger jump than any other music genre. The craze, fueled by TikTok dance challenges and hit songs like Despacito and Gasolina, has Millenials and Gen Z flocking to places like the Hub Stadium in Novi for Latin Dance Saturdays.

Latin dance works with pop songs by artists like Bruno Mars, Camila Cabello, and Britney Spears. Slower dances like the rumba make it versatile for weddings and events.

It’s also accessible.

“A lot of the footwork itself is decently simple so it allows you to learn really fun spins and

“We’ll work on leading or following the moves they know with a variety of partners making them stronger on the dance floor being able to dance with anyone instead of just who they’re used to working with,” Hayley says.

Professional Latin dance clothing is all about strappy heels and sparkle, but the Northville classes are a casual affair. Dress for hot weather and wear sneakers or other shoes you can move in.

All levels are welcome.

“The classes are meant for people who have never done these dances before. Of course, people who do have some experience I guarantee will be able to have a good time,” Hayley says.

Joshua Shoemaker, 28, of Plymouth, rearranged his schedule so he can attend Dancin’ in the Ville throughout the summer.

A year ago he tried Arthur Murray on a whim and now is a regular at the studio and Hub Stadium. He especially enjoys Latin dances.

“They are more active and faster paced, more of a workout,” he says.

Shoemaker recommends anyone looking for a new, active hobby give the free classes a spin.

“I would definitely

This year’s free music series in downtown Northville is “bigger” than ever. Live music takes the stage nearly every weekend through September, while “big bands” (in size, not style of music) are booked the second and fourth Saturday of each month.

“The feedback we have received from the community has been very positive,” says Lori Ward, Director of Northville’s Downtown Development Authority. “Downtown visitors love the big band music and energy that it creates.”

Here’s the upcoming schedule:

July 28: Nate Jones

July 29: Zang

Aug. 4: Maria Rose

Aug. 5: Steve Taylor

Aug. 11: Dan Tilery

Aug. 12: Shawn Riley Band

Aug. 18: Mike Bass

Aug. 19: Alex Mandenall

Aug. 25: The Soulshiners

Aug. 26: Randy Brock Group

Sept. 1: Billy Brandt & Elanine Schoendorf

Sept. 2: Nick & Keelan

Sept. 8: Phoebe Holmes

Sept. 9: The Ones and Twos

Sept. 15: Ken Mobley

Sept. 16: Lisa Mary

Sept. 29: Jarrod Champion

Sept. 30: The Further Adventures of Fat Boy & Jive Turkey

recommend at least trying it out. Starting dance is the best decision I ever made in my life,” he says.

Dancin’ in the Ville takes place 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays through August for free dance lessons. The schedule is as follows:

Aug. 2: Cha Cha

Aug. 9: Popular Line Dancing

Aug. 16: Salsa

Aug. 23: Bachata

Aug. 30: Merengue

No registration is required. Raffle prizes will be drawn each week.

Cole Schaar and Nicole Dingess practice their Rumba dancing at “Dancin’ in the Ville’ in Town Square earlier this month. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

Francisca Kartono, DO Board Certified Dermatologist

Q: How can I tell the difference between a mole and a skin cancer spot?

It can be very confusing to tell the difference between a regular mole and skin cancer spot. When you notice an area on your body that leaves you in doubt, it is best to let a board-certified dermatologist determine whether the spot is a benign mole or potentially skin cancer that needs to be removed.

While skin cancer can be deadly, it is usually treatable in most cases when detected early. The survival rate of melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, is 99% when detected early.

Here are a few tips when you are assessing a mole or skin growth.

• Benign moles tend to be solitary, soft, symmetrical and not changing over a long period of time.

• Malignant growths on the other hand tend to be new or changing in appearance over time. They also tend to be fixed, asymmetrical, and changing in appearance or not healing back to normal skin appearance.

• Use the acronym ABCDE to indicate a mole that may be suspicious for a malignant growth:

Asymmetry: If the shape of the mole is asymmetrical

Border: If the mole has irregular edges

Color: If the mole has multiple shades or colors

Diameter: If the mole is 6 mm or larger in diameter

Evolving: If the mole is changing in any way such as itching, bleeding, painful

To look for evidence of skin cancer, your dermatologist and their team can perform a biopsy to confirm whether or not the cells are cancerous. If so, your dermatologist will help you determine the next steps and treatment options. If you need further help with a changing skin spot, schedule an appointment with the team at MI Skin Center by calling (248) 963-5915 or email us at scheduling@drkartono.com

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AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL!

Everybody loves a parade – especially in Northville. And Northville especially loves its Independence Day Parade.

The town came out to celebrate America on the 4th of July, donning lots of red, white and blue. Photographer Bryan Mitchell was there to capture our beautiful downtown decked out in its patriotic best and all the sights of the day. Another great American celebration!

The Time of Their Lives

Living and Learning’s Hopes and Dreams Gala a huge success

By Tim Smith

If political big-tent parties are about inclusion, the Living and Learning Enrichment Center is the embodiment of that concept – and literally so –thanks to its June 2 “Hopes and Dreams Gala” in Northville.

One of many emotional high points of the sold-out, second annual event was a talent show, under a big tent, of course. While Living and Learning Center volunteer Eric Smith strummed his guitar, four young women – all who fall along the autism spectrum – took turns coming up to the front of the stage to perform a song that means a lot to each of them.

Bella Atwell sang one of her favorite songs, Abba’s “Dancing Queen” for her selection because “it makes people want to dance more and be happy, that’s why I did it.”

Atwell and friends Grace Creger, Olivia Jakubczak and Asia Anderson capped off their performances by singing in unison “I’ve Had the Time of My Life.”

Many of the 600 or so guests

swarmed the stage to really soak in the music and the magic of the moment.

According to Pamela Travis, Living and Learning Center executive director, those weekend hangouts provide them and many others with many “times” of their lives, a place to be and grow.

“She (Atwell) comes to the Friday and Saturday hangouts that we do and we do a talent show every week and she’s one of the ones (that performs regularly),” Travis said. “They go (to those gatherings) because a lot of people in our program don’t have friends at school.

“And they come here and it’s a welcoming place where they make friends and hang out like any other person would do.”

The gala was a giant success, generating plenty of awareness and money (more than $175,000 from ticket sales in addition to live and silent auctions), which allows Living and Learning to continue adding new programs for its growing clientele on the sprawling campus just off of

Eight Mile Road.

“It is to raise awareness (about autism) and it’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Travis said. “The fundraiser is to help our people so we can give scholarships and we can hire more people. We have a year-and-a-half waiting list for some of our programs, so it (money) will allow us to hire more people.”

With more programs taking place, the hope is for more young people perhaps recently graduated from high school to “come here and learn job skills, get jobs, make friends. It will get them out of the house and into the community.”

This year’s gala more than doubled what was raised in 2022, when a smaller-sized event (450 guests) raised approximately $70,000, Travis said.

Twenty-seven area food and wine sponsors donated to the gala, with numerous corporations and businesses supporting the cause, and FiftyAmpFuse provided the

musical entertainment.

Travis also gave a shout-out to the 150 volunteers who gave of themselves to the event in some way. “They (volunteers) are everything to us.”

Living and Learning founder and president Rachelle Vartanian also spoke during the gala, comparing the day of the center’s first program in October 2015 to the progress shown in June 2023.

“I remember the day of our first program in October 2015,” said Vartanian, to the crowd of well-dressed guests. “It was a weekend hangout with only four members that attended. And one of them was my son. Eight years later, we have 30 programs and our families are coming from 72 different cities and nine different counties.”

For more information about the Living and Learning Enrichment Center, which is located at 801 Griswold Street, visit www. livingandlearningcenter.org.

Asia Anderson sings during the gala. Photos by Kimberly Solak Photography.

Living and Learning Enrichment Center founder Rachelle Vartanian with gala emcee Jason Carr.

The June 2nd Hopes and Dreams Gala sold out and raised more than $175,000.

Tough Act To Follow

Record-breaking track quartet wins national title

By Brad Emons

When it comes to passing the baton, Northville High’s 4 x 800-meter boys track quartet Brandon Latta, Brock Malaikal, David Whitaker and Brendan Herger will be an impossible act to follow.

If they were a Motown sound, they’d be called the Four Tops.

And if they were cars pushing the envelope for speed, they would be nicknamed the Fastbacks, where Motorsports Hall of Fame stock car owner and longtime crew chief Jack Roush, a longtime Northville resident, first got his start back in the early 1960s when he was part of a drag racing group that was supported by local Ford Motor Co. dealers.

Roush always loved his Mustang and he would absolutely love the way these four went about their racing

business during the past two years – setting an all-class Michigan High School Athletic Association record time of 7:35.32, an astounding 11 seconds ahead of runner-up Grand Haven, at the Division 1 finals June 3 in Rockford.

Two weeks later at the New Balance Invitational in Philadelphia, Pa. – competing under the umbrella of the Six Mile Track Club -- they became national champions with a clocking of 7:36.81.

They held the fastest prep time in the U.S. from June 3 through June 16, only to be upstaged later in the month by Hinsdale Central (Ill.) and Vestavia Hills (Ala.), which posted times of 7:29.20 and 7:30.68, respectively, while finishing one-two at the Nike Outdoor Championships held at

the University of Oregon.

“The thing I’ll always say about these guys is that they were team-first guys,” Northville track coach Tim Dalton said. “Four of the most motivated kids we’ve ever had, very coachable. They took a ton of pride in that, the 4 x 8 relay, as well as their individual events. I can’t really say there was a true leader of the group. They all meshed well together.”

When this relay team was first put together during the middle of the 2022 season, things began to jell very quickly.

The 2022 season was highlighted by firsts in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (7:51.70), regional (8:00.08) and D1 (school record 7:44.71) meets.

During the early stages 2023 season competing for the Six

Mile TC, they won the Michigan Indoor Track Series in a state indoor record time of 7:48.64, and placed fifth – the only race they would lose together --- at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston (7:55.75). When the spring outdoor season started, they weren’t even challenged piling up wins at the Golden Triangle (7:44.71) and the Spartan Classic (7:57.63) invitationals followed by resounding victories at the KLAA (conference record 7:45.29), Region 6 (7:48.36) and state finals (7:35.32).

“These four haven’t lost a race while wearing a Northville jersey in two years, or ever, while we put it together going back to last year when they were state champs,” Dalton said. “But with all four coming back, and with a little bit of pressure, they were even quicker. And then obviously that state record shows that.”

In the record-breaking showing at the D1 meet, Latta led off with an 800 split of 1:55 followed by Malaikal (1:57), Whitaker (1:51) and Herger (1:50.7), the talented junior anchor.

“They all went about their business,” Dalton said. “You watch them run and they’re just fantastic athletes who could run the 200 all the way to the 5K. There were some bumps in the road. We were waiting for those kids to get their times down. People wondered if they could run 7:40 again and get that state record 7:36. And I loved the fact that in the big meets they all showed up leading up to Rockford and the state finals.”

When it came to the Latta-toMalaikal exchange, Northville was always out in front. And if somebody came up to challenge during the second

Junior Brendan Herger, the 4 x 800-meter team’s anchor, is arguably the top distance runner ever to come out of Northville High. Photo courtesy of David Whitaker

exchange between Malaikal and Whitaker, the outcome of the race would be a moot point by the time Herger was handed the baton.

Latta, Malaikal and Whitaker are all seniors, while Herger, the team’s talented anchor, is the lone junior.

All four were also instrumental members of the Mustangs’ 2022 Division 1 state cross country championship where Herger led the way with a third-place individual finish in 15:34.05 for the 5K.

Meanwhile, in the individual 800 MHSAA D1 outdoor finals, Herger placed runnerup (1:52.19). And just a week following the D1 track and field finals, Herger captured the MITCA Meet of Champions 800 in 1:51.11.

He already has interest from schools such as Michigan, Michigan State, Duke, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Dalton called Herger “a teamfirst guy.”

“One easiest kids we’ve ever had to coach,” Dalton said. “And arguably the best distance runner ever at Northville High School. He owns our 800, 1,600, 3,200 and 5K school records, which shows his wide range of abilities. And he’ll make a run at the 400 next year.”

Meanwhile, Whitaker was an individual All-Stater (top eight) by placing sixth in the 800 (1:54.28).

“Just a special kid (Whitaker),” Dalton said. “You look at his trajectory and training, and the way he progressed during his four years at Northville is truly incredible. Really grew into his own and built some confidence, and was willing to put in the work and he really dropped down his times his junior year.”

Latta will continue his track career at Michigan Tech, while Whitaker is going to run at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

“I’d say Brandon and David are more like the nerds of the team – but they would take pride in hearing that,” Herger said. “David Whitaker is the statistics guy and Brandon just knows a bunch of random science facts.

“Brandon, from my experience, has been the most supportive to me when I haven’t been confident or like prepared to race. I give him credit for that,” Herger continued. “And David is the most unique of the bunch. David is big into the statistics. He and Brandon talk about shoes all the time. We love running shoes.”

Meanwhile, Malaikal will be embarking on a two-year Mormon mission. He was a difference maker as well. In the state cross country finals last fall he was Northville’s fourth runner – finishing 58th overall.

“Brock is fast, but he’s also an essential part of the team,” Herger said.

“I love Brock, hard worker every day,” Herger said. “He throws up a lot. He pukes after

every hard effort. At ‘states’ he was puking, at every single meet. He also thrives on the competition.”

Herger will be running next year in the 4 x 800 with three new teammates, but the cupboard is far from bare. Dalton, however, will be hard

pressed to duplicate what these four “Fastbacks” accomplished during the past two seasons.

They’re not only gifted athletically, but also academically.

“My brother (assistant coach Jack) and I took over the Northville program in 2013, and one of our goals was relay first and the team mentality. We had to get the kids to buy in,” Dalton said. “Jack’s been with me from Day One helping me change this program. I know he took special pride especially that moment at Rockford when they broke the state record and then winning it at New Balance.”

For Herger and his three teammates, it’s a baton exchange and a bond that will last a lifetime.

“I love all those kids. They’re my brothers actually,” the team’s star runner said.

The Northville team of Brandon Latta, Brock Malaikal, David Whitaker and Brendan Herger set a Michigan High School Athletic Association all-class record in the 4 x 800-meter relay at the Division 1 state finals in Rockford with a time of 7:35.32. Photo courtesy of Jack Dalton

NHS SPORTS ROUND-UP

Mustangs score big at state level

By Brad Emons

To nobody’s surprise Northville High’s 2023 Michigan High School Athletic Association spring season was nothing short of an unqualified success.

The Mustangs once again made their presence known in a variety of sports led by their Division 1 boys state championship golf team (see June issue), along with their record-setting 4 x 800-meter boys track relay team, which posted the nation’s third best time overall (see related story on Page 18).

Here’s a brief look back at some of the highlights for the rest of the varsity spring sports programs.

SOCCER

After placing runner-up in the 2022 Division 1 finals, coach Jeannine Reddy’s Mustangs (18-1-4) made another strong tourney run before falling to Hudsonville in the state semifinals, 2-0.

The Mustangs defeated Livonia Stevenson, 1-0, in overtime for the District 8 title and then rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Walled Lake Northern in a shootout, 4-3, and then Grand Blanc, 2-0, for regional championship.

Northville, the West Division winner in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association at 11-0-3,

defeated East Division champ Belleville, 3-0, for the overall conference title.

Named to the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association D1 All-State teams included junior forward Helena McLellan (first-team), junior defender Kailyn Morrison (second-team), sophomore goalkeeper Simran Magnan (second-team) and junior midfielder Natalie Leavens (honorable mention).

All-KLAA selections included Caroline Meloche, junior defender; Avery Peters, junior defender; Kate Gonzalez, junior midfielder; Grace Koski, senior midfielder; McLellan, Morrison, Magnan and Leavens.

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

The Mustangs earned their third straight D1 regional title and second straight KLAA championship under coaches Tim and Jack Dalton.

Led by the record-setting and first-place 4 x 800-meter relay team of seniors Brandon Latta, Brock Malaikal, David Whitaker and junior Brendan Herger (see related story), they placed eighth in the team standings with 25.75 points at the Division 1 finals held June 3 at Rockford.

Individual state placers included Herger, second, 800 (1:52.19); Whitaker, sixth, 800 (1:54.28); and senior Deepak

Laungani, tied for seventh, high jump (6 feet, 3 inches).

The 4 x 400 relay team of Latta, senior Kyle Ritchie, sophomore Rece Grezak and Herger took fifth (3:21.66).

In the Region 6 meet May 19 at Livonia Stevenson, Northville placed first with 143.5 points ahead of runner-up Plymouth with 91.5.

Individual regional champions included Herger, 800 (1:53.9), 1,600 (4:13.74); Ritchie, 400 (51.0); and senior Jai Davis, 100 (11.06). They also captured the 4 x 400 (3:27.1) led by Latta, Ritchie, Grezak and Herger, along with the 4 x 800.

In the KLAA meet May 13 at Howell, Herger swept the 800 (1:52.74) and 1,600 (4:18.19) events and anchored the first-placed 4 x 800 relay as Northville won the team title with 121 points.

The foursome of Latta, Ritchie, sophomore Alex McCallum and Davis also captured the 4 x 200 (1:31.10), while Latta, Ritchie, Grezak and Herger took the 4 x 400 (3:25.09).

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

The Mustangs kept their unbeaten dual meet streak going at 51 dating back to the 2013 season while winning its 12th straight regional title and 11th KLAA championship in 12 years.

At the D1 state finals, Northville sophomore Cassie Garcia made All-State (top eight) with an eighth in the

3,200 run (10:50.78). She also teamed up with senior Anna Gdowski, junior Ella Christensen and freshman Molly Kate Coates for an eighth in the 4 x 800 relay (9:19.24).

Northville captured the Regional 6 meet at Stevenson with 124 points, edging Salem (115) for the title led by freshman Callie Seiler, who took first in the 400 (58.6) and junior Ashley Krahe, who won the 300 hurdles (45.9). The 3,200 relay team of Garcia, sophomore Maya Labonte, Gdowski and Christensen also contributed a first (9:32.63).

In the KLAA meet, Northville scored 114 points to take first while Salem was second with 91 as Seiler (400, 59.09) and Gdowski (800, 2:20.05) captured individual titles.

The 4 x 400 relay team of Christensen, Krahe, Seiler and Gdowski was victorious (4:06.06), along with the 4 x 800 quartet of Garcia, Labonte, Gdowski and Christensen (9:21.08).

BASEBALL

The Mustangs (31-5), who ranked as high as No. 1 in the statewide Division 1 poll during regular season, captured the KLAA West Division title at 14-0 and went on to defeat Hartland, 6-0, in the conference championship.

Northville defeated Livonia Churchill in the District 15 final before losing to eventual state champion and rival Novi in the Regional 8 semifinal, 6-2.

The girls soccer team finished 18-1-4 and made another strong state tourney run, falling to Hudsonville in the state semifinals, 2-0.

Junior pitcher Joey Broughton and junior outfielder Dante Nori were named firstteam All-State by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association. Junior infielder Luke Dieringer was named second-team.

All-KLAA selections included Broughton, Nori, junior infielder Leo Miksitz, junior pitcher-outfielder Evan Deak and junior pitcher-outfielder Carl Jurcisin.

Two seniors -- catcher-first baseman Gabe Clark and senior infielder Cullen Foley -- played in the 42nd annual MHSBCA East-West All-Star Classic held June 28 at Jimmy John’s Ballpark in Utica.

Following the season, Northville head coach John Kostrzewa announced he was stepping down after 19 seasons.

TENNIS

The Mustangs, under the guidance of coach Brenda Lionas, earned a top 10 finish at the Division I finals held June 2-3 at Hope College in Holland placing ninth with 10 points.

Northville finished runnerup to rival Novi (7-0) in the

KLAA dual match season at 6-1 and was runner-up to the host Wildcats at the Regional 2 tourney by just a mere two points, 28-26.

Among the individual regional singles flight champions for Northville included freshman Sophia DePilla (No. 2), who finished 20-9 overall, along with senior Mackenzie DeYoung (No. 3), who wound up 20-7. Both finished 1-1 at the state tourney.

Freshman Michelle Lee (No. 4) finished runner-up at the regional and was 1-1 at the state finals to finish with a 15-13 record. The Mustangs’ No. 1 singles player Evelyn Deren finished 13-14 on the season.

In doubles at the state tourney, Northville had two teams go 1-1 while reaching the quarterfinals including freshman Talia Nishanian and junior Victoria Thompson (No. 3), who finished 19-9, along with seniors Gigi Mady and Aishwarya Shivaraman (No. 4), who posted a 24-6 mark.

Mady and Shivaraman were regional champs, while Nishanian and Thompson were runners-up.

The Mustangs’ No. 1 doubles team of junior Sona Manoukian and senior Alessia Zorzanl, the regional runners-up, went 18-10 on the season, while the No. 2 team of Sophia Dober and Laya Mangipudi, also regional runners-up, finished 18-9.

BOYS LACROSSE

Coach’s Connor Kehoe’s team wound up 7-10 overall, including a 3-6 mark in KLAA and fifth in the West Division at 1-3.

Junior midfielder Kai Hayami earned Division 1 second-team All-State honors as well as All-KLAA. Junior goalie Chris Burlingame was also named AllKLAA and honorable mention All-State by the Michigan High School Lacrosse Coaches Association.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Coach Kayley Dahring’s squad finished 10-6 overall and reached the Division 1-Region 2 final at home before losing to eventual state champion Brighton, 16-4, following tournament wins against Plymouth (19-8), South Lyon (12-8) and Ann Arbor Pioneer

(19-10).

Northville finished 3-4 overall in the KLAA and 0-3 in the West Division as midfielders Molly Wierengo, a freshman, and Kennedy Gauther, a senior, made All-Conference along with senior defender Calista Cranson.

Both Wierengo and Gauthier earned honorable mention AllState by the Michigan Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association.

SOFTBALL

Coach Scott DeBoer’s squad finished 23-15 overall and 12-8 in KLAA play, while finishing fourth in the tough West Division at 6-8, which featured D1 state champion Hartland. The season was highlighted by winning the Grand Rapids Northview Invitational. The Mustangs also earned Academic All-State team honors with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.63.

Earning All-KLAA honors for the Mustangs included senior Aubrey Tolstyka, along with juniors Olivia Green, Grace Foley and Lily Barringer. Tolstyka also earned D1 AllDistrict honors.

The Northville girls and boys track teams earned another Division 1 regional title on May 19 at Livonia Stevenson. Photo courtesy of Tim Dalton

Mr. Versatility

Mr. Versatility

Jack Cyrek named top lacrosse player in state

Michigan’s latest Mr. Lacrosse honoree can certainly be described as a Jack of All Trades.

Northville native Jack Cyrek proved why he was Detroit Catholic Central High’s Mr. Versatility --whether it was winning faceoffs or ground bounds, or scoring goals as he turned in a memorable senior season.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Cyrek, who attended Meads Mills Middle School before enrolling at CC, led the 19-3 Shamrocks all the way to the MHSAA Division 1 state finals only to be turned back in the championship by rival Birmingham Brother Rice, 14-11.

The vaunted league rivals met three times during the season with Rice winning the first meeting, 12-9, before CC took the second in the Catholic League finals, 9-8.

In that rubber match with everything riding on the line in the state championship, Cyrek finished with four goals and three assists, but it wasn’t quite enough to secure the title.

Needless to say it was bittersweet ending for Cyrek, who not only won the top individual honor bestowed by the Michigan High School Lacrosse Coaches Association, but also earned state player of the year honors from National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association, Detroit Free Press and State Champs Network!/Warrior Lacrosse.

He also was named NILCA All-American.

“I probably would have rather had a state championship, but all these kind of awards for myself . . . I guess it’s a good consolation prize,” said Cyrek, who finished the year

By Brad Emons

with 76 goals (4.2 per game) and 48 assists (2.6 per game).

Cyrek, who missed four games with a femur contusion, not only was a prolific scorer, but also did a lot of the dirty work as the team’s captain. He took face-offs and then switched back to the attack in an effort to preserve energy.

He posted a 72% win percentage on faceoffs (142 of 200) and captured 123 ground balls en route to first-team All-Catholic and D1 All-State honors.

After attending Meads Middle School,

where he was housed by a billet family.

Cyrek was the starting face-off man for Calvert Hall where he posted a 65 percent win percentage. He added 52 ground balls while collecting one goal and six assists.

As a junior, Cyrek migrated back to his family in Northville where he has three younger sisters, all of whom play lacrosse. (His father Joe was a hockey player and played two years of JV lacrosse at CC.)

“The house I was living in (Baltimore) burned down,” Cyrek said. “Everybody was fine, it was just kind of a freak situation. And then the COVID restrictions were pretty bad, so I really couldn’t do a whole lot either. So, I just thought I’d come back home and a get little more comfortable.”

As a junior at CC, Cyrek finished with 51 goals, 25 assists, 119 ground balls, while winning 81% percent of his face-offs (143 of 176) en route to All-Catholic, first-team AllState and All-American honors.

Cyrek enrolled CC in the fall of 2019. He made the varsity squad in spring of 2020, only to have the season cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Cyrek then made a bold move in 2021, heading to Calvert Hall College Prep in Towson, Md. for his sophomore season where he was invited to play for the No. 1 ranked high school team in the country

Cyreck signed an NCAA Division I letterof-intent with the University of MarylandBaltimore County, a DI school and member of the America East Conference. Under head coach Ryan Moran last season, UMBC finished 8-5 overall and fifth at 3-4 in the conference.

Carrying a 4.1 grade-point average at CC, the 2023 Academic All-Stater plans to major in Financial Economics at UMBC. And with his versatility as lacrosse player, he should be able to find his niche sooner than later.

“I’m happy where I am right now,” Cyrek said. “I’m in a good spot.”

Jack Cyrek will play his college lacrosse at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County next season.

Catholic Central senior Jack Cyrek (7) rifles a shot in a match against rival Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.

Northville native Jack Cyrek had a memorable senior season leading Detroit Catholic Central to a MHSAA Division 1 runner-up finish.

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YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHVILLE THIS MONTH

Music at Maybury

July 31

Bo’s Big Band will perform in this installment of Maybury State Park’s Music at Maybury series. Concerts are at 7 p.m. on Mondays through August at the Trailhead Building, accessible from the 8 Mile entrance to the park. The series continues with James Humphries on Aug. 7; Busted by Nine on Aug. 14 and Rise Again on Aug. 21. Bring a picnic basket, and a blanket or chair and enjoy the live entertainment. For more information about the schedule, visit www.friendsofmaybury. org.

Tunes on Tuesday

Aug 1

The Northville DDA and Northville Parks & Recreation host these free concerts for kids from 10:3011:30 a.m. Tuesdays in downtown Northville’s Town Square. Steve and Trish’s Family Fun performs on Aug. 1, followed by Earth Angels on Aug. 8, and Rick and Dayna’s Playground on Aug. 15. Don’t forget your water bottle, hat and sunscreen. For weather cancellation, call (248) 449-9951 or visit the Facebook page @ NorthvilleParksandRec.

Celebrate Michigan!

The Buy Michigan Now Festival returns to downtown Northville Aug. 4-6. The event showcases exclusively Michigan-based businesses, and is an opportunity to interact directly with local entrepreneurs. The festival highlights include vendors, live entertainment, and the Kids Zone.

Vendors are selected based on the mission of creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurs, and helping Michigan businesses grow. They must meet one of these criteria: operates entirely in Michigan, headquartered in Michigan with additional operations outside the state, Michigan-owned franchise or affiliate, an artist, author, or musician that resides in Michigan.

Hours are 4-8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit buymichigannow.com or send an email to Fest@BuyMichiganNow.com.

from 4-7 p.m. at the Village. The event will feature live music, food and spirits, a silent auction, and tours of Mill Race’s gardens and buildings. All proceeds from this event support the Historical Society’s ongoing work. Tickets cost $100 for NHS members and $110 for non-members, and are available at www.millracenorthville. org/mainevents. Anyone interested in either sponsoring or volunteering at the event can contact Wendy at (248) 348-1845 or wmutch@ millracenorthville.org.

Yard & Craft Sale

at Napier and Six Mile. The event takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Thayer’s Corner Nature Area (8250 Napier Road). The cost to participate as a seller is $25. Set up is at 9 a.m. Sellers keep proceeds of their sales. For more information, or to reserve space to sell your items, call (248) 207-0765.

Steps Against Suicide

Aug. 12

Garden Party

Aug. 5

The Northville Historical Society will be celebrating 50 years of Mill Race Village with this new event that runs

Aug. 12

The Northville Township Historic District Fund will host this annual event, which benefits the renovation of the historic Thayer’s Schoolhouse

This second annual 5K walk organized by Northville High School students takes place at Ford Field in Northville. Event activities start at 8:45 a.m. and the walk starts at 9:30 a.m. with activities continuing until noon. The mission is to raise suicide awareness, bring our community together, support and give hope to

those affected by suicide, along with saving lives. In addition to the walk, there will be suicide prevention and grief resources, as well as mental health activities (painting, music, raffles, hair tinsel, a photo booth, food and drinks, and more). The event is dog friendly (as long as on a leash). The cost is $35 per participant, with all proceeds going to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. To sign up or for more information, email stepsagainstsuicide@gmail.com.

Family Fun Campout

Aug. 12

Sponsored by Northville Parks and Recreation, The Friends of Maybury, and Maybury State Park, this family campout at Maybury State Park begins at noon, and will include hiking through the park, a fishing program, crafts, campfire, s’mores, horseshoes, hiking and more. No pets please. It will be held rain or shine, unless noted on the Northville Parks and Rec weather hotline at (248) 449-9951. Register at northvilleparksandrec.org or by calling (248) 349-0203. Participants will receive a camping info packet after registering. Cost (for residents) is $35 per family of four, $5 for each additional camper.

County Fair

Aug. 12

Maybury Farm will host this event from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. It will include live entertainment and plenty of treats at the farm. What started in 2022 as a celebration of Northville Community Foundation’s 25th anniversary, Maybury Farm is continuing a special event to thank the community for its support. The Whiskey Charmers will perform from noon-3 p.m. Reservations are not required. For ticket prices and more information, visit www.mayburyfarm.org/events.

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

‘A More Innocent Time’

Author shines a light on Detroit-area’s lost amusements parks

By Tim Smith

When people of a certain age recall places such as Bob-Lo Island, Edgewater Park and Walled Lake Amusement Park, thoughts return to a simpler, magical time.

Younger people might not know anything about those colorful destinations. But Northville author Joe McCauley does and he wrote the new paperback book Detroit’s Lost Amusement Parks to help boomers hit their memory’s refresh button – while at the same time educating later generations that there indeed were some ultra-cool places to spend weekends in metropolitan Detroit back in the day.

“All of this type of stuff, it just brings back your youth,” said McCauley, whose latest title (Arcadia Publishing, $23.99) hit stores and on-line vendors such as Amazon.com on May 15. “It’s usually a more innocent time for most people.”

McCauley’s book memorializes those times and experiences while presenting

them for younger people to discover. Other chapters focus on: several iterations of a park located at the base of the Belle Isle Bridge in the early 20th century; the Michigan State Fair, Eastwood Park and “reincarnated” amusement sites.

The veteran writer melded historical information into his breezy, photo-laden narrative, but also wanted to tell personal stories and recollections that many people who grew up in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s can relate to.

People like Farmington Hills resident Ken Barna, who, like McCauley, was among the authors highlighted at the May 20 Local Author Fair at the Northville District Library. He bought a copy of McCauley’s book.

“The main reason I’m interested is, as a kid, we used to go to Edgewater Park all the time,” said Barna, about the neighborhood park which ran from 1927 until 1981. “It was on Seven Mile on the west side of Detroit. There were other local

amusement parks on the far east side that we went to once in a while, but Edgewater was our big deal.”

Walled Lake’s amusement park had a roller-coaster that Barna liked, but he didn’t remember much else about the park formerly located on the waterfront near 13 Mile and Old Novi roads. At that juncture today sits Pavilion Park.

“It’s like they’re forgotten,” said Barna, asked why he thought it was important for McCauley to write about the amusement parks of their youth. “It’s mostly because the big things have taken over, like Disneyland or Seven Flags. There’s no such thing as a local amusement park (in 2023), that, really, was very, very important to the community.”

McCauley, himself, has so many fond memories of the era of local parks.

“The sights and the sounds, the popcorn smells, whatever’s cooking at the concession stands. And all the different sounds from the rides. Yelling and screaming,” he said. “They

were family businesses, you know? It got to the point where the rides got bigger and more expensive. And once Disney came there in the Fifties it was pretty much signaling the end for the small-timers.”

But local amusement parks kept fighting the good fight for as long as they possibly could.

Many Northville residents of that era didn’t have to travel very far to spend time and money at the Walled Lake hot spot, which was a happening place to be between the 1930’s era of big bands to the early 1960s when rock and roll stars of the day (Chuck Berry, Fabian) performed. At one point it also was a casino.

“Lawrence Welk used to be out there in the summertime,” McCauley noted. “This was before his TV show. He would go out there (to Walled Lake) and play. He and his family would rent a cottage out on the lake for the whole summer.”

Among photographs in the book is one showing late-1950s local television icons Captain Jolley and Poopdeck Paul, who

The Walled Lake Amusement Park (above) was a hot spot for area families between the 1930s-1960s. Rides like the Scrambler (top right) were a big draw. Photos courtesy of Joe McCauley

presented Popeye cartoons on CKLW-TV (Channel 9) in Windsor.

McCauley has an interesting tidbit about Chuck Berry, who

performed at Walled Lake in 1963.

“He was just getting out of jail, and when he got out they were going to have him do a show at (Walled Lake) amusement park and casino,” McCauley said.

“What happened was, he flew into Detroit, and (local disc jockey) Lee Alan picked him up and went up Grand River because they didn’t have freeways back then.

“The traffic is all backed up and it was getting to the point where he (Berry) was going to be late for the show. So a cop comes by and (Alan asks him) ‘Why is

traffic all backed up?’ He (the officer) said everybody was going out to Walled Lake to see Chuck Berry. But Chuck was right there in the car. So they (police) gave him an escort to get to the park.”

McCauley’s look at the days of yore tried to remain as positive as possible. But the world of small, local amusement parks started to change – not for the better – beginning in the mid-1960s on through 1993 (the official closure of Bob-Lo, a longtime favorite family destination nestled on a Canadian island some 18 miles southwest of Detroit).

“Bob-Lo is the last chapter,” McCauley added. “I probably could have done a whole book on Bob-Lo itself. Ownership was changing a lot and they finally decided” to permanently close the park.

Thirty years after Bob-Lo shut down for good following a decades-long run, the island features 140 expensive, private

residences. Instead of the BobLo Boat, the only way to reach it is via a resident’s speedboat or yacht.

Although McCauley won’t be able to somehow spur a renaissance in area amusement parks simply by writing about them, he is hopeful his words (and photos) will at least keep memories alive for readers.

Joe McCauley’s Detroit’s Lost Amusement Parks can be purchased at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Target. com and other sites.

Northville author Joe McCauley with his new book.

BULLETIN BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

International Pickleballers

The tandem of Cormac Wright of Northville (on left) and Donald Patterson of Novi reached the age 55-plus intermediate doubles bracket quarterfinals of the 2023 Irish Open pickleball tournament June 22-25 in Dublin, Ireland. Wright, 62, and Patterson, 66, represented the U.S. and competed in the same age division as doubles teams from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Ecuador and Italy.

Garden Party

The Northville Historical Society is hosting its inaugural Garden Party fundraiser at Mill Race Village on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 4-7pm. Amidst the picturesque surroundings of the Village’s gardens, guests will be treated to an afternoon of heritage, strolling hors d’oeuvres and desserts, beer and wine, live music, a silent auction and more.

The event raises important funds to keep the historic Mill Race Village going strong. By conserving significant artifacts, documents, and buildings, the Historical Society ensures that Northville’s heritage is not forgotten. Planned improvements for the village include the Greening of Mill Race Village, the lane upgrade to brick pavers, as well as the possibility of acquiring an antique barn - all intended to increase the accessibility for wedding and rental venues -- and to prepare for Northville’s Bicentennial in 2027.

For more information about this important fundraiser, visit www. millracenorthville.org/mainevents.

Take the Recreation Survey

Northville is developing its new five-year master plan, which will be used as a guide for future development and preservation of park facilities and programming. An approved 5-Year Master Plan is required for numerous grants made available through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). The public’s input is crucial in shaping a future where everyone feels welcome and represented in our parks and recreational spaces.

You can add your input by taking a short survey, which is online at www. surveymonkey.com/r/NorthvillePR. It should take about 10 minutes to complete.

Saddle Up!

Northville’s Junior Equestrian Team, comprised of students from Meads Mill and Hillside middle schools, took 1st place at Meet 1 of 2023 Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association (MIHA) competition. On June 17-18, the team won Division D at the Division 11 meet. The team, coached by Emma Buck, was led by 7th grader Chloe Harmon (pictured) and 6th grader Emalyn Paulson.

Northville has participated in MIHA competitions since 1975, though the junior division (middle school) did not become a formal part of MIHA competition until 2006. Competitions include five disciplines -- Trail, Western, Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat and Gymkhana (gaming).

With Denise

Denise Jenkins is a member of the Northville Chamber of Commerce and Tipping Point Theatre. An avid writer and proponent of the arts, she is also plugged into what’s happening in Northville. Contact her at denisemjenkins@aol.com.

Summertime and Vacation Go Hand in Hand

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N in the Summertime. It was a song sung by Connie Francis, a teen idol from my day. It’s still true today. When my kids were growing up, I would say to friends: Summer vacation is not for the kids it’s for the parents. No running from one practice to another. No remembering today is picture day or my turn to send snacks. Now I find summer is the season with pomp, circumstance, parades, and planning.

swag store to open. (That is a REALLY good mom!) Every network in town wanted to talk to her. Ainsley appeared on all the local news stations. I talked to her after her 15 minutes of fame. I learned she bought the tour tee, and she was happy to have her mom on hand for the concert, “since she paid for the ticket.” What was her favorite part? “Taylor’s Fearless entrance.” Congratulations, Ainsley on your graduationmy best wishes for a “fearless” entrance to life at Indiana.

combination of faith – hope and music since a very young age. The show will focus on the ideas of ambition, dreams, and purpose. As a special treat concert goers will have a chance to meet and greet the performers before the show. In case you didn’t know, it’s Christmas in July. And the Northville Community Foundation is already looking for homes to feature on the annual Holiday Home Tour. The tour will take place on November 17th and 18th. Executive Director Diana Wallace welcomes those interested: “If you like to decorate early and would love to show your home, we’d love to have you.” Contact ncfmanager@ gmail.com. They will be happy to provide detailed information.

Who didn’t know someone going to see Taylor Swift?

I know one dad who took his two daughters – man of the year in my book. I remember a few years back taking my granddaughter and seeing whole families at the concert. Like Taylor or not, that’s quite a phenomenon.

Ainsley Kane is a lifeguard at the Northville Swim Club, a (very) recent graduate of Northville High, and she was one of the first in line to buy “merch” when the Taylor tour came to Detroit. She convinced her mom to take a group of concert goers to head downtown in the middle of the night to wait in line for the

Father Denis Theroux wrapped up the 100th year anniversary tour for Our Lady of Victory with a ride in Northville’s 4th of July parade with four lovely young ladies – whose parents were the lucky bidders at the OLV auction earlier in the year. It was a beautiful day, and the OLV teens are “hoping” for another great day Sunday, August 27th when they will be hosting a concert in Northville Town Square from 1-3 p.m. featuring a Christian band, The Scally Brothers. Jake and Zach Scally are joyful, energetic, and very real. The dynamic duo is from Toledo and have been developing their passionate

The Stone Gang at Mill Race Village recently honored one of their own, Jurgen Switalski with a plaque on an existing bench on site. Jurgen passed away earlier this year and my heart goes out to his lovely wife, Kathleen, and their family. They shared a beautiful love story that began when Kathleen saw Jurgen walk into the

place where she worked with a crooked necktie. She told her co-worker, “He needs a little help…I’m going to marry him someday.” Fifty plus years later, the rest is history.

The Northville Historical Society always welcomes donations. There is an online form available under "Donate” at millracenorthville.org. I understand they are working on a new donor recognition program, but it is too early to reveal the details. According to Wendy Mutch from the Village, “Stay tuned.”

It’s my pleasure to welcome a new NHL player to town. Jack Studnicka is #18 and a center for the Vancouver Canucks. When this 20-something is not on the ice, he will be fixing up his new home here in Northville. Jack was born in Ontario, started skating at two, and moved to Michigan. He was not that interested in skating at first, “I didn’t really get into it until I learned sometimes there was –a challenge – on the ice. That’s when I knew I was hooked.” Sometimes those “challenges” wreak havoc on a smile. Jack recently took care of that at Preservation Dental.

If you’re vacationing bring along The ‘Ville for a photo op – and enjoy. Thinking about Connie Francis, I sometimes miss the good old days.

Ainsley Kane

Claire, Fr. Denis, Evie, Emmie, Emmy

Kathleen Switalski with the Stone Gang at the bench in Jurgen’s honor

Jack Studnicka with Dr. Rachel Crittenden DDS

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