The 'Ville - March 2024

Northville’s News and Lifestyle Magazine

Northville Township’s first female firefighters are up to the challenge

John DesOrmeau

Vita

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 Office:(734) 524-2711

vvizachero@billbrownford.com Office:(734) 524-2711

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 Office:(734) 524-2720

jdesormeau@billbrownford.com Office:(734) 524-2720

Vizachero

Vita Vizachero

LOCAL JOURNALISM MATTERS

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.

And while The 'Ville is sent to every address in Northville at no cost to readers, it is not free to produce.

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:

Journeyman Publishing

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!

Elizabeth & Munther Ajlouni

Pete & Shari Clason

Mike DeFrancesco

Edward & Kathy Huyck

Ray & Pat Martin

Marlene Kunz

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.

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.

Once in a lifetime opportunity

It won’t be long before we start seeing some major action at Northville Downs, and I don’t mean crowds of people betting on harness races. Rather there will soon be heavy equipment tearing down the historic grandstand and all the Downs buildings that have been a part of our community for generations.

According to Hunter Pasteur Homes, the lead partner on a $250 million redevelopment project, crews have already begun the asbestos abatement process, which will make the demolition safer for the community. Much of the work will begin in April, and be complete by July.

The Indiana-based Renascent Incorporated will do the demolition, after securing a $1.9 million contract, most of which will be paid by Hunter Pasteur. Once the asbestos is removed, they will demolish all the other buildings. That is all except one.

I’m happy to report members of the city’s River Restoration Task Force were able to secure enough donations to save and relocate the log cabin on the east side of the property. Mary Gilbert built the cabin in the 1930s, and members of the task force felt it was important to not only save it, but make it a centerpiece of the 9-acre river walk park to be built around the soon-to-be daylighted Rouge River.

I realize there are a lot of people who aren’t exactly thrilled about the Downs development. It’s definitely going to bring big changes to our community, but I think it’s important to point out there are many talented people working to make sure the project is not only something that residents take pride in, but one that is functional and actually improves the community. There are a lot of moving parts to make that happen.

Kudos to the River Restoration Task Force for finding enough donations to move the cabin, which will ultimately be placed further south down River Street closer to Seven Mile, and act as a welcome center for the new river park.

Nancy Darga, a key member of the task force, authored a story in this issue (Page 38) about another major component of the Downs project – the planned roundabout

for Seven Mile and Sheldon. Darga and coauthor Dave Gutman, who are also members of the city’s Mobility Network Team, point out the roundabout should actually alleviate traffic congestion at the busy intersection, which will also be the gateway into the new development. They say it will also be safer –for drivers and pedestrians.

The city is even looking at building a second roundabout on Seven Mile that will help funnel traffic into the eastern portion of the new development. Resident John Roby, another member of the Mobility Network Team, donated $100,000 to the city to cover the cost of planning and design -- and to figure out if it makes sense.

The whole point, according to Darga, is to disperse traffic and minimize back ups, one of the major concerns expressed by many people during the planning process.

The massive project, which will include new homes, townhomes, high-end apartments, and commercial buildings, is going to bring more traffic. That’s just a fact.

But the 49-acre property will also include three public parks. The river walk park should end up being one of our community’s real jewels.

A friend of mine just took a trip to Boston and commented how walkable the city is, especially the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-milelong path that connects more than a dozen historically significant locations.

The River Walk could be that for Northville – connecting our downtown to historic sites like Mill Race Village and the Water Wheel Centre, and preserving a strip of nature through the heart of our community. Darga said Mary Gilbert’s gardens around her log cabin were locally famous, and the plan is to recreate them once the log cabin is relocated.

Yes, the Downs project is going to change our town, and it’s about to happen. But I take comfort in knowing there’s lots of talented people working to make sure it’s positive change.

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

4 Your Voice: Letters to the Editor

8 Township’s female firefighters blazing a new trail

12 Construction to begin on new township complex

16 County ready to tackle crumbling Eight Mile

22 NHS Spring Sports Schedules

32 Court may decide fate of new Downs track

36 Community Bulletin Board

38 Roundabout moves closer to greenlight

42 Dishin’ with Denise

Northville Township firefighters Lacey Marcotte (left) and Jacqueline Przytulski are the first female firefighters in the department’s history.

Photo by Bryan Mitchell

Your Voice

Roundabouts more efficient

The next controversy we seem to be facing is the proposed roundabout at 7 Mile and Sheldon Road. It is important to set out the facts. A roundabout is safer than a stop sign or a traffic light. The accident rate has been shown to be reduced by over 80%. Traffic merges into gaps in the traffic resulting in high efficiency in all directions, less queuing, less pollution, and less noise. They also save money compared to traffic lights as there is less maintenance.

Over the last 10 years roundabouts have been introduced all over America. They have proved to be very effective in improving traffic flow.

Events have shown that residents are concerned about Northville’s image and character. It is important to recognize that character and reputation are not dependent on bricks and mortar. Character of a city depends upon the residents talking together, listening to each other’s thoughts and helping each other. That is what makes a community stand out. Can we set that as our next community goal?

Arthur Deane

It’s a no brainer

I recently moved to Northville and I believe the downtown street block offs in the spring, summer and fall bring real value to the community. Here are some of the reasons.

The large parking lots behind the storefronts and in other areas of the city provide for more than ample parking. Just walking through the downtown area, I had the time to look over and examine the individual businesses in a much more attentive way. I now know where businesses are located, that I would not likely have paid much attention to.

It’s a big attraction to visitors from other cities. On more than one occasion, I brought friends in for an evening on the town; they all really enjoyed the walk around and expressed serious interest in coming back. The block offs provide a very safe atmosphere for families and kids. It’s just a great ongoing festive atmosphere.

Clearly, I think it’s just an outstanding setup for all to enjoy, but I do realize that some oppose the seasonal block off. To that end, such that this does not remain an ongoing political issue, I would suggest a one time citywide referendum on the subject.

If you really want to keep “Northville Open” - keep the seasonal barricades up.

Owen Gay

Walkable downtown a blessing

To all of you who were complaining about how traffic had been such a problem because downtown Northville was closed off during COVID-19, I live on S. Wing Street and would just like to say that I have not noticed a difference in traffic since opening up Downtown Northville in the winter months. Since I have lived here, I have loved being able to walk through downtown on a nice day and see the rest of the community enjoying the weather and atmosphere. Now for the winter months, I don’t care one way or the other if the streets stay open. So much of the country doesn’t have nice walkable areas, it is such a blessing to have a nice walkable downtown.

Will Ah Tou

A wonderful service

I grew up (long ago) when newspapers were expected to cover the news objectively and editorialize with the views of a smart perspective, including on what should be the topic of discussion. Magazines and journals could follow that example or do more sharing of opinions throughout the publication.

The ‘Ville generally follows the traditional newspaper model and provides a really wonderful service to the community (even though I have grumbled on occasion). So I was (a) depressed at the nasty letters about an editorial – clearly marked as an editorial – that you wrote, and (b) impressed that you courageously printed such nasty letters.

Good luck, and be of good cheer.

Younger leadership needed

Stephen Calkins

Some of the letters to the editor in the February issue were interesting. I want to say I completely agreed with your editor column in the January 2024 issue. Let’s elect smart people who will work together and solve problems. It seems simple and intuitive. I feel bad for the angry people who have to send hate messages everywhere.

One final thing about our future political leaders. They need to be younger. Experience is important but newer, younger leadership is needed. The future is in their hands to shape.

I just want to say I support you and the magazine. Your team does a great job. I look forward to The ‘Ville every month. Keep up the great work!

Jim Kastely

Vote for a saner future

Reading the letters in the February issue of The ‘Ville that slammed your January editorial sent me pawing through our magazine rack to reread what you wrote, because I could not recall that it was very biased or inflammatory. My reread confirmed my initial impression. Apart from mentioning Donald Trump’s legal woes (which was only a statement of factnot an opinion), I can only guess the tirades were triggered by your comment about this being a good year to elect leaders who don’t tear us apart.

I fear Trump’s base relishes the concept of crippling political strife. For the past eight years I have been waiting for one or more of the revelations about his behavior, from the “Access Hollywood” recording through the impeachment and January 6th committee hearings, to the myriad of court cases and indictments, to have some effect on this popularity with his base. There was a time when a single extra-marital affair would dash a candidacy (Gary Hart and John Edwards), or the threat of criminal investigation would drive people out of office (Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew). But we appear to be living out Trump’s own 2016 prediction that he could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue and not lose one vote.

With a base that is totally ossified in its support of their candidate, the only hope is for the rest of us to get out and vote for a saner and brighter future. Joe Biden may not be the most exciting or charismatic leader, but he has been good for this country, and to those who voted “Uncommitted” in the Democratic primary to protest the situation in Gaza, I can only remind you of the “Muslim Ban” executive orders of the first Trump administration.

John D. Webster

Why not an amusement park?

I think killing the development of a racetrack in Plymouth Township is a good idea. Let’s build something that will bring in revenue for the township equal to, or more than, the property owners.

I’m talking about an appropriately sized amusement park. Currently we have to travel to Ohio to visit an amusement park. The associated infrastructure around those places and the revenue it produces is impressive. If a concert venue were included with the amusement park, we would have year-round revenue.

Lots of possibilities with great opportunities for the community to develop economically and thrive.

Gary Odor

Respect other’s opinions

In the good old days, we respected each other’s opinion even when we didn’t agree. It is sad to see that we can no longer have a reasoned discussion in this country without the trolls and Karens unloading on anything they don’t agree with. I enjoy your magazine and respect the work you do - even when I disagree.

Chris Stone

Track won’t be asset

As someone who has worked and lived in this area for more than 50 years, including a period of time working at the Ford Northville Valve Plant, I saw the city of Northville take little or no action to improve the Northville Downs racetrack area. If it was an asset, they would have worked to keep it.

Now, some people want Plymouth Township to accept an eyesore with hopes it would be an asset. Do we really think it is something we need or want? I think there is a better use for that vacant land, including saving some greenspace in a township that is rapidly losing so much vacant land to development.

Earl Baker

WEIGHT LOSS

fire,” she said. “So if I could spend that first 15 minutes to an hour with that person during their worst time, and help them make it any better, then that was my goal.”

‘CONSTANTLY EVOLVING’

CHANGING THECULTURE

Township’s first female firefighters blazing a trail for others to follow

By Maria Taylor | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

Every Halloween from kindergarten to third grade, Jacqueline Przytulski dressed up as a firefighter.

“Growing up, my uncle worked for the fire department, so as a kid, my mom would take us to training fires,” she said. Parked in a field, she’d watch as they burned down an old barn and did all kinds of training exercises.

“And I thought it was really cool.”

Some little girls grow up and get to live their dream every day. Now Przytulski wears

the uniform of the Northville Township Fire Department. She and her colleague Lacey Marcotte, who both started there in November, are the Township’s first full-time female fire fighters. And if they have anything to do with it, they will certainly be the first of many.

Both women started their careers as EMTs (emergency medical technicians). Przytulski worked in critical care ground transport for an ambulance company as well as paid on-call firefighter, and Marcotte was

a paramedic. They met on the Western Wayne County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team at the airport and, over the past five years, have became best friends.

For Marcotte, fire service had two big draws: that “second family” feel she’d come to love through high school team sports, and the opportunity to help people.

“There’s a giant lack of patient care and patient advocacy when it comes to emergencies in general, whether it be a medical or a

Firefighting is evolving on multiple levels. With new building materials and bigger houses (the average house in Northville Township is 4,500 square feet, according to Przytulski), fires burn faster and hotter.

“And then you have to consider, with open concept, the way the fire is going to travel,” Przytulski said. “The way things were made 20 years ago and where things are right now are significantly different.”

And then there’s the culture side. Despite what popular culture portrays, being a firefighter goes far beyond carrying people out of burning buildings. It takes flexibility, integrity, compassion, and empathy, said Marcotte.

Northville Township Fire Department has earned a reputation as a forwardthinking organization on both fronts — that’s why Przytulski and Marcotte responded to the job postings.

“They’re such a progressive department,” said Przytulski. “I love that they’re changing the culture, which is a big stigma in the fire service — you know, ‘We do things the same way for 100 years, we’re not going to change it’ — whereas here, that is not their mindset. They see how things are changing, and they’re evolving with it, which was a very big perk for us.”

The numbers bear out just how competitive this approach has made the department. At a time where it’s hard to get

Northville Township firefighters Lacey Marcotte (left) and Jacqueline Przytulski.

one qualified applicant for a firefighter job, Northville Township had 20.

“It’s so different than where we came from,” Marcotte said. “They want you to grow. They want to invest in us as much as we want to invest in everything around us in the department. And they want to invest in the whole package — to have the best treatment, the best care, the best services they can provide their community.”

Last year, the department ran about 3,700 calls total. A typical day might mean half a dozen calls. Between times, there’s physical fitness training, grocery shopping, cooking (the firefighters eat healthy meals and take turns cooking), and professional development. And there’s down time — hanging out, watching sports or TV.

Old-school mentality would have newbies doing chores until they ‘proved’ themselves, while managers wouldn’t participate as much in the hands-on aspect of firefighting. In Northville Township, it’s quite the opposite.

“Everyone does training

I have worked so hard for the past six years to build everything I am as a firefighter, as a person, as a colleague to break those barriers and break those stigmas.”

Lacey Marcotte, Northville Township firefighter together,” Przytulski said. “Everyone cooks, everybody cleans up — it’s way different. You have lieutenants going on calls, you have captains on engines going on calls, going on medicals, so you get to continue to use your skills as you work your way through the ranks.”

“Our first day at work, it was voted the top 10 happiest places to work,” Marcotte said. “Everybody here has been so incredibly kind, so incredibly welcoming to us … our colleagues are super cool guys.”

BREAKING BARRIERS

Przytulski and Marcotte are used to being the only women in the room. Both were the only females in their respective classes at fire academy — and that’s typical. Less than 5% of career firefighters in the U.S. are women.

“Typically, in the fire service, your candidates are 20-, 25-year-old white males,” Marcotte said. It’s not that other candidates aren’t getting hired, she said; it’s just that they’re not entering the field in the first place.

So she has made it her personal mission to blaze a path for other women in the fire service, whether that’s breaking into a department where women haven’t yet been established, or mentoring girls interested in pursuing the field themselves.

“I have worked so hard for the past six years to build everything I am as a firefighter, as a person, as a colleague to break those barriers and break those stigmas,” she said. “I’ve had friends with young daughters, I’ve spoken to Girl Scout groups … and when they get to like 16, 17 years old and

they’re asking for advice, I’m like, ‘I will set you up on that path, and I will get you going’ — like, I want to walk you hand-inhand through this.”

In Northville Township, the two have gotten their fair share of notoriety. For their swearingin ceremony, every female cop who wasn’t working and every communications officer put on their uniform and showed up in support. Little girls and grown women alike point and wave when they’re out driving the fire truck. They get high-fives and congrats. Right after being hired, they were in the parade, then got featured in the local paper.

“It’s always humbling to hear from people who don’t even know you, but essentially do know you, because you’re breaking that barrier, which is nice for both older and younger kids,” said Przytulski.

“They get so excited,” Marcotte said. “Last shift, I ran [a call to] this 70-year-old, and she was just like, ‘It’s so nice seeing a female firefighter.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, there’s two of us.’ They get so excited. Because it’s so awesome, and it is so uncommon.”

Jacqueline Przytulski said the Northville Fire Department has been very welcoming to her and Lacey Marcotte.

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Well-Suited Solution

Township ready to construct $36 million Essential Services Complex

By Tim Smith

The transformation of Northville Township’s Legacy Park from a forgotten footnote to vibrant community cornerstone is now in full swing.

Long gone is the former state psychiatric hospital, which had been located on the south side of Seven Mile Road west of Haggerty Road.

On the way for that parcel is the 96,000 square-foot Essential Services Complex, which was unanimously approved in February by the Northville Township Board of Trustees.

No tax increase will be needed for the unique $36 million project slated for a 15acre slice of the 350-acre Legacy Park, said Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo.

“This is a piece to the puzzle,” Abbo said. “We have to make sure we have high levels of service and low taxes as well. That is a strong concept and we’re trying to do that with

this.”

According to Abbo, Northville Township now has a population of about 31,000 with limited growth in the coming years. The center is expected to better serve the community for years to come, improving public safety responses to all corners of the township.

“We’re kind of in a little bit of a transition,” Abbo said. “We’re trying to provide levels of service and amenities for a community that will probably peak out at 35,000 (residents). We know that to provide better service, better response times, we need a new (second) fire station. And we’re trying to deal with a police headquarters that is now obsolete.”

PERFECT LOCATION

The comprehensive complex will feature brandnew facilities for the police and fire departments, public works department, and a

and the targeted completion date is April 2025.

The township leaned on the experience and proactive planning expertise of project construction management firm Cunningham-Limp, a company instrumental in designing public safety facilities in southeast Michigan.

Cunningham-Limp President Samuel Ashley said the firm became involved more than two years ago, although the township has wanted to address long-term public-safety needs for almost a decade.

The existing police department currently is located at the former township hall; Fire Station 1 (on Six Mile Road) will remain in use. What the Essential Services Complex will help do is improve public safety response times.

1,400-square-foot parks and recreation trailhead building. It will be nestled in the park’s northeast corner.

“We had the land already, so we didn’t have to acquire any additional land,” Abbo said. “All we had to do was put in a structure there. It seemed to be a well-suited location” off Seven Mile with access to Traditions Drive.

Work has already begun on preparing the construction site,

“The reality is, that geographic location worked really well for the fire department based on their high call rate zone, in that Haggerty Road-Seven Mile corridor,” Ashley said. “It (new facility) allows them to deploy quicker to areas. So that is a desired location.

“The fact that we can have the two buildings coexist on the same site, sharing the same infrastructure, what it does

The new 96,000 square-foot Essential Services Complex will include a new headquarters for the township’s police and fire departments. Artistic renderings courtesy of Northville Township

A 1,400-square-foot parks and recreation trailhead building will be nestled in Legacy Park’s northeast corner.

is lowers the project cost by about 15-to-20 percent than if they were to be built as two independent buildings at two totally different locations.”

FOSTERING A ‘LEGACY’

A significant aspect of the project will be its location at Legacy Park, enabling passive recreation to grow while preserving the park’s natural settings.

Participants will be able to bike, hike, observe nature and much more on visits to Legacy Park, which will include a new parking lot in addition to the small parks and recreation trailhead structure.

“When we purchased the property we knew it would accommodate whatever needs the township had regarding any type of municipal need, whether recreation or services,” Abbo stressed. “We knew that land would be the only land that the township would ever need.

“I really expect that Legacy Park will be primarily passive recreation, but I’m glad that we could (also) accommodate this need for public safety and public services.”

Ashley said the architecture of the center will blend nicely with the natural surroundings, describing it as having more of a “lodge-type” feel as opposed to traditional, rigid institutional buildings. And with modern construction trends, there will be a robust cost savings compared to pre-1970s facilities.

“When you look at southeast Michigan, so many municipal facilities have met or exceeded the useful life of the building,” Ashley emphasized. “Many of those buildings were built in an era where energy management systems, design philosophies

I really expect that Legacy Park will be primarily passive recreation, but I’m glad that we could (also) accommodate this need for public safety and public services.”

are very different.

“It’s about a 50-percent less operational expense from an energy consumption standpoint of a modern building versus an old building.”

A key factor in the township keeping costs for residents down as the Essential Services Complex comes to fruition is Standard & Poor’s AAA bond rating, which will translate to lower interest rates on bonds and keeping future borrowing costs down.

“The designation qualifies the township for the best interest rates when borrowing to fund long-term projects, like the new public services building (at Legacy Park),” said township treasurer Jason Rhines.

WORKING TOGETHER

Other stakeholders who collaborated on the extensive project – which has taken years of planning to get to this point – include Partners in Architecture, (civil engineer) OHM Advisors and the various township departments.

“The entire project team has stepped up to help us envision a better Northville Township with the design of the Essential Services Complex,” Abbo noted.

Meanwhile, an unheralded aspect of the project, Ashley said, is how it will maintain

a long-term environmental sustainability.

The work will not require LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification due to the considerable effort in making sure the complex will be energy efficient, he added.

“They (police and fire) are essential services, many of them are open 24 hours a day for the

entire year,” Ashley noted. “So having systems that outperform what a conventional or traditional system might be, there’s a focus there.

“We’re building a site that really is a brownfield site, bringing new life into it, is sustainable and we’re not wiping out a greenfield site to accommodate something.”

Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo

A Little More Patience

County ready to tackle crumbling Eight Mile west of Haggerty

By Tim Smith

Northville motorists weary of dodging construction zones will need to pack a little more patience this year. But the payoff will be worth the extra wait when rocky Eight Mile Road – including the bridge over CSX Railroad tracks – finally gets the makeover many have been hoping for.

First on the docket will be the complete replacement of the pothole-laden stretch of Eight Mile extending from Haggerty Road west to Meadowbrook Country Club. That project, with an estimated cost projection of $4.5 million, is slated to begin this spring and be completed by late 2024 or early 2025.

Later this summer will be a 2-3-week resurfacing project of the Wayne County corridor from Meadowbrook to the CSX Railroad Bridge (a 4.3-mile stretch).

Phase three will be construction of the bridge itself, likely to begin later this year after the July relocation of utility lines. That work will begin in the fall and conclude in 2025.

“The one good thing about this bridge is it was never closed down,” said Terry Marecki, Wayne County Commissioner for District 9 (which represents Northville,

Northville Township and most of Plymouth Township). “Because we had several bridges in the county that were totally closed down (and) people had to use detours all the time.

“This is just going down to one lane on each side. It could have been a lot worse, that’s for sure.”

More inconveniences are inevitable for drivers, but the months of work ahead will eventually yield a smoother and stronger stretch of Eight Mile, described by Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull as a “tough road.”

“I hear personally of one or two people getting flat tires every day on there, because of the potholes,” Turnbull said. “They (Wayne County) are trying to keep up with it and we appreciate it tremendously.

“To me, it is more the road than the bridge… The bridge has to be done. Yes, it impinges traffic going through there, but it’s a two-fer. You have to do the bridge and the road (west from Haggerty).”

According to Penelope Filyo of the Wayne County Department of Public Services, the county has wrapped up the design phase for the CSX Railroad Bridge reconstruction –which originally was approved in 2022.

“So right now we’re waiting for AT&T to

relocate their (utility) lines, that will finish in July,” Filyo noted. “Then Wayne County will send design plans to M-DOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) for letting (bids). So construction is contingent and dependent on M-DOT, that may start the end of the year or early next year.”

Marecki is hopeful good weather during the 2024 construction season will enable the work to be completed ahead of schedule.

“I was really hoping it got done in this season and it still may,” Marecki said. “The utility thing in July is going to hold it up and then M-DOT does those bridges. It is what it is. People have been patient, very patient.

“Hopefully, people will be happy that the roads are going to get done. That one section (from Haggerty to Meadowbrook) is going to be re-done and then the other section is going to be an overlay, that’s more of a temporary measure. But it’s still on the list of eventually getting re-done.”

Marecki said she travels all over her district and virtually every city or township has a road with the same issues as Eight Mile.

“Everybody’s got one,” she said.

If there is a silver lining, the commissioner said many motorists now are using the county DPS call center (1-888-ROADCREW) to report problem potholes or any other road concerns they encounter.

“I put that (phone number) in all my newsletters, I put it in everything,” Marecki said. “I think people are starting to use it now. Nothing gets done unless it goes through that call center.”

For the stretch of Eight Mile from Haggerty west to Meadowbrook, there will be a “full width replacement of the concrete roadway including the curbs” likely requiring a detour at some point, relayed Marecki after communicating with the DPS.

As for the middle stretch, from Meadowbrook to the bridge, the base will be kept, with structure adjustment done as needed. Following that work will be an asphalt overlay of 1 ½ to 1 ¾ inches. The price tag for that phase will be under $1 million.

“This is a good fix because to completely reconstruct it would be millions of dollars,” Marecki said.

The Eight Mile bridge over the CSX railroad tracks will soon get a complete makeover beginning this summer.

Milling Around

Critical Mass readies for next historic factory restoration

By Michele M. Fecht | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

In the two years since the opening of Phoenix Mill Events — an event space housed in the restored Henry Ford village industry factory bearing the same name — Critical Mass, LLC coprincipals Greg Donofrio and Rick Cox aren’t exactly resting on their laurels.

Having added both the Wilcox and Newburgh mills to their portfolio of Henry Fordbuilt, Albert Kahn-designed village industry factories, Cox and Donofrio are about to undertake restoration of the historic Wilcox Mill in Plymouth.

The two engineer entrepreneurs now own three of the four village industry plants along the Middle Rouge River. Wayne County retains ownership of Nankin Mills in Westland which is now an interpretive center and

headquarters for the Wayne County Parks Division. Cox and his wife Diane own the 72,000 square foot former Northville Valve Plant, now the Water Wheel Centre in Northville. The structure was also one of the

19 Henry Ford village industry factories.

“We’re hoping to have the project before the City of Plymouth Planning Commission in April,” Donofrio said of the Wilcox factory.

Though plans for the building use are still percolating, Donofrio said they have secured an operator for a coffee house to be located on the structure’s upper level. He’s mum on the operator’s identity at this time but noted that they are looking to have a 45 to 60-person seating capacity in the space.

“We haven’t found the right tenant for the lower-level area, but we’ll know when we have the right fit,” he added. Such was the case with the Phoenix Mill. Original plans called for a restaurant on the upper level. That plan fell through at the same time renowned architectural firm Grissim Metz Andriese was looking for new office space. It proved a perfect fit. The firm moved into its new Phoenix Mill headquarters in October 2021.

Donofrio said he and Cox approach projects through the lens of “preservation first and must have a use that benefits the community.” He admits that they also are drawn to structures that are historic, automotive related, and connected to Henry Ford, thus

The historic Wilcox Mill is located along the Rouge River and Wilcox Lake in Hines Park.

Greg Donofrio, of Critical Mass, along with his partner Rick Cox will soon be renovating the Wilcox Mill, originally built by Henry Ford.

the appeal of the Ford’s village industry plants.

“Rick and I want to preserve these structures, not demolish them,” Donofrio said, adding that he is grateful for the support they have received from community leaders. “Local units of government understand how cost prohibitive it is to do these projects.”

MULTI-PHASED PROJECT

The 4-acre Wilcox Mill was the site of the 1850 Hardenburg Gristmill before Henry Ford purchased the property in 1920. Too dilapidated to restore, Ford tore down the structure and built the current mill in 1923. The factory initially produced generator cutouts and later taps, a tool used for forming internal screw threads. At one time, 95% of Ford Motor Company’s tap production took place at the Wilcox Mill. During the WWII years when plants were converted for war production, the 60 employees

of the Wilcox Mill’s built engine parts for the B24 “Liberator” bomber. When the tap operations were moved to the Waterford plant (another village industry factory located on Northville Road), the company deeded the property in 1948 to Wayne County. Since that time, it has been used as a maintenance facility, a storage area, and a workstation for the county’s alternative work force.

Though the Wilcox Mill is about half the size of the 10,000 square foot Phoenix Mill, it is not without its challenges — as is any historic property. Among Donofrio’s first priorities is “sealing up the structure and windows.” Donofrio and Cox have extensive experience in window sealing and replacement having replaced 1,300 glass panes at the Phoenix Mill and 9,000 at the Water Wheel Centre. Donofrio estimates that the Wilcox restoration will take about 18 months.

With the Wilcox Mill project underway, Donofrio said greater attention will be given to repurposing the Newburgh Mill. He noted it is a multiphase project with the first focus on finding a suitable site for the Wayne County Sherriff’s mounted division. “We’re involved in helping them find a better home,” Donofrio noted. Once that has been determined, restoration of the mill will follow. “By the end of the year, our goal is to have more details on a multi-step project,” he said.

Henry Ford purchased the

former Newburgh Cider Mill in 1933 and razed it in 1935 to construct a new village industry factory on the site. Local farmers and Rouge Plant workers were employed to build the new factory, which specialized in the production of twist drills and drill bits. Ford Motor Company sold the Newburgh Mill facility to the Wayne County Road Commission in 1948. It was used for decades by the Road Commission’s Forest Division and later became home to the Wayne County Sheriff’s mounted division.

com) has brought throngs to the restored historic Ford plant. Coowners Kristin Donofrio, Greg’s wife, and Shannon Moegling manage bookings and planning for a variety of events from weddings and social gatherings to corporate events. The space —both inside and out — allows the public to view an iconic slice of manufacturing history.

The grounds surrounding the building are a respite for Hines

PHOENIX RISING

Since its opening in early 2022 — the mill’s 100th anniversary — Phoenix Mill Events (phoenixmillevents.

Park cyclists and hikers who often come to just enjoy the view - one that was closed off to the public for decades. Plantings done during the past three years include river birches, maples and evergreens. This summer, the front of the building along Northville Road will be awash with more than 1,600 bluestems . . . quite the critical mass.

Greg Donofrio shows off some of the decay on the exterior of the Wilcox Mill building.

The restored Phoenix Mill is now home to an events center and architectural firm.

One of the priorities is sealing and replacing the mill’s dilapidated windows.

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BOY’S BASEBALL

GIRL’S SOFTBALL

Tues 4/2 South Lyon East HS (Double Header) 4:00 PM

Wed 4/3 Salem HS (Double Header) 4:00 PM

Wed 4/10 Brighton HS (Double Header) 4:00 PM Fri 4/12 Utica HS 4:30 PM

Mon 4/15 Belleville HS 4:30 PM

Wed 4/17 Hartland HS (Double Header) 4:00 PM

Tues 4/23 North Farmington HS 4:30 PM

Wed 4/24 Howell HS (Double Header) 4:00 PM Sat 4/27 Holland Public Schools (Holland Invite)

Tues 4/30

Wed

Ohio Event) TBA

Mon 4/15 Hartland HS 4:30 PM

Wed 4/17 Hartland HS 4:30 PM

Sat 4/20 Woodhaven HS/MS (Double Header) 11:00 AM

Mon 4/22 Howell HS 4:30 PM

Tues 4/23 Detroit Catholic Central HS 4:30 PM

Wed 4/24 Howell HS 4:30 PM

Mon 4/29 Canton HS 4:30 PM

Wed 5/1 Canton HS 4:30 PM

Thurs 5/2 Walled Lake Central HS 4:30 PM

Fri 5/3 Franklin HS 4:30 PM

Mon 5/6 Novi HS 4:30 PM

Wed 5/8 Novi HS 4:30 PM

Fri 5/10 OPEN (Legacy Showcase) 4:30 PM

Sat 5/11 Okemos HS (Double Header) 11:00 AM

Mon 5/13 Plymouth HS 4:30 PM

Tues 5/14 St. Mary’s Preparatory School 4:30 PM

Wed 5/15 Plymouth HS 4:30 PM

Sat 5/18 Brother Rice HS (Double Header) 11:00 AM

Mon 5/20 OPEN (KLAA Crossover) 4:30 PM

Fri 5/24 Fenton HS/MS (Flint Memorial Tournament) 3:45 PM

Fri 5/24 Dakota HS (Flint Memorial Tournament) 6:30 PM

Sat 5/25 Powers Catholic HS (Flint Memorial Tournament) 11:00 AM

Sat 5/25 Bay City Western HS (Flint Memorial Tournament) 1:45 PM

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GIRL’S TRACK & FIELD

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Fri 5/17 Livonia Stevenson HS MHSAA Regional) TBA

Sat 6/1 East Kentwood HS (MHSAA State Finals) TBA

GIRL’S TENNIS

Tues 4/9 Salem HS

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Tues 4/16 Howell HS 4:00 PM

Thurs 4/18 Hartland HS 4:00 PM

Sat 4/20 Port Huron HS (Quad) TBA

Tues 4/23 Canton HS 4:00 PM

Wed 4/24 Bloomfield HS 4:00 PM

Thurs 4/25 Novi HS 4:00 PM

Sat 4/27 OPEN (Northville Quad) TBA

Tues 4/30 Plymouth HS 4:00 PM

Wed 5/1 OPEN (Tri-Meet) 1:00 PM

Thurs 5/2 Eisenhower HS (Tri-Meet) 4:00 PM

Sat 5/4 Holland Public Schools (East vs West Tournament) TBA

Tues 5/7 OPEN (KLAA Crossover (West @ East)) 4:00 PM

Thurs 5/9 Groves HS 4:45 PM

Sat 5/11 OPEN (Conference Tournament ) 9:00 AM

Tues 5/14 Mercy HS 4:00 PM

GIRL’S SOCCER

BOY’S LACROSSE

Wed 3/20 Saline HS 7:00 PM

Wed 4/3 Cranbrook Schools 6:15 PM

Fri 4/5 Walled Lake Northern HS 7:00 PM

Wed 4/10 Hartland HS 7:00 PM

Sat 4/13 Ann Arbor Pioneer HS 11:30 AM

Mon 4/15 Salem HS 7:00 PM

Wed 4/17 Livonia Stevenson HS 7:00 PM

Sat 4/20 Canton HS 9:00 AM

Wed 4/24 Belleville HS 7:00 PM

Sat 4/27 Haslett HS 12:00 PM

Mon 4/29 Howell HS 7:00 PM

Wed 5/1 Brighton HS 7:00 PM

Mon 5/6 Plymouth HS 7:00 PM

Thurs 5/9 Novi HS 7:00 PM

Mon 5/13 OPEN (KLAA Crossover) 7:00 PM

GIRL’S LACROSSE

Mon 4/1 Lake Orion HS 7:00 PM

Mon 4/8 Hartland HS 7:00 PM

Thurs 4/11 South Lyon HS 7:00 PM

Sat 4/13 Plymouth HS 12:00 PM

Mon 4/15 Salem HS 7:00 PM

Thurs 4/18 Novi HS (Non-League) 7:00 PM

Fri 4/19 Ann Arbor Pioneer HS 7:00 PM

Mon 4/22 Canton HS 7:00 PM

Fri 4/26 Bloomfield HS 7:00 PM

Wed 5/1 Brighton HS 7:00 PM

Wed 5/8 Novi HS 7:00 PM

Fri 5/10 Livonia Stevenson HS 7:00 PM

Mon 5/13 OPEN (KLAA Crossover) 7:00 PM

Wed 5/15 Huron Valley Schools 7:00 PM

Taking the Lead

Local AAUW affiliates passionate about empowering local women

By Sue Voyles

For 70-plus years, women in the greater Plymouth and Northville community have come together to empower girls and teens and promote equity and education for women through the organization known as the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Today, the Plymouth-Canton and Northville-Novi AAUW branches have energized nearly 150 women to harness their skills, creativity and passion to do everything from enhancing school libraries with materials about women, awarding college scholarships, sponsoring students for a national leadership conference, and introducing middle school girls to STEM careers.

It all started back in 1952, when longtime teacher and Plymouth Canton Community Schools administrator Mary Fritz collaborated with other women in the area to start a local AAUW branch for college-

educated women in Plymouth and Northville.

From that point forward, women have been joining AAUW locally and bringing the organization’s mission alive in our communities.

After she joined the Plymouth-Canton branch 35 years ago, Canton resident Mickey Edell says she became “very passionate about the mission and stayed for that reason.” Today, the retired speech and language pathologist from PCCS serves as co-president of the AAUW-PC. Over the years, she’s also served on the organization’s state board.

“When I first moved to Northville as the mother of an infant, Northville and Plymouth was one group. In 1975, some of the women decided we should form our own branch. We went through recruitment and the process to affiliate with the national organization,” explains Corinne Vincent, who joined in

the 1960s and now serves as the VP of Membership/Diversity for AAUW-NN. “We formed as Northville and then we added Novi later.”

While members of both groups find purpose and value in helping their communities through scholarships and community projects, they each bring their own flavor to how they accomplish their goals.

RAISING AWARENESS

For the Plymouth-Canton branch, it’s been a creative fundraising initiative started 62 years ago to bring live drama for children. The branch “recycles” a series of fairy tales, including Cinderella, Snow White, Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast and then presents an annual production. Members are involved in acting, directing, making costumes, and building sets.

“We modernize them and empower the female protagonist,” says Edell, who readily admits she originally joined the branch because of the play. “I was interested in being in the play and one of my friends who was a member encouraged me to join.”

Each year, the branch selects which fairy tale to stage. In early

February, members presented four performances of Cinderella at the O’Leary Performing Arts Center. For many years, the show was staged at Salem High School.

Like the Plymouth-Canton affiliate, the Northville-Novi branch has also focused on raising money for scholarships and engaging in other community initiatives.

One of its newer ventures is the Michigan Fashion Designer Showcase, which started in 2019 and is held every other year. This year’s event is a brunch on April 13 at the VisTaTech Center at Schoolcraft College and will raise money for scholarships, community programs and local libraries.

“There is a runway fashion show highlighting young women in the fashion design business; some are still in college, and some have established a business,” explains Novi resident Karen Zyczynski, a retired teacher who joined 20 years ago and is now serving as AAUW-NN president. “We also have small businesses who are accessory designers who design handbags, jewelry, scarves and more and they can sell their merch at the event.”

“The people who come are so

Members of the AAUW along with recipients at the 2023 Schoolcraft College NCCWSL (National Conference for College Women Student Leaders) Scholarship reception. Photo by Carol Murchison

Northville-Novi AAUW members celebrated April Equal Pay Day. Photo by Jim Kearns

surprised about the excitement that comes down the runway. You wouldn’t believe the things that you see,” adds Vincent.

FUTURE LEADERS

A signature program of the Northville group is Career Path Day, established 2011, which gives eighth grade girls an opportunity to learn about potential careers.

“We take them for a halfday on a college campus to expose them to many career possibilities,” explains Vincent. “They come back usually to Genitti’s Hole-in-the-Wall to have a lunch and at each table we have a woman host who has a different career path, and she tells them about her path. We have gotten high marks from the faculty and girls.”

Students also have an opportunity to meet women entrepreneurs and leaders from Northville businesses. Last year, the middle schoolers went to Schoolcraft College’s new Manufacturing and Engineering Center.

The Northville-Novi organization also took a cue from history to create its now 20-plus-year-old signature event “Remember the Ladies.”

“Years ago, the State of Michigan did a study about sexism in libraries and found the biographies were mostly about men. The name is based on a letter Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, wrote to ‘remember the ladies’ as they planned for the new government,” explains Vincent. “The member who started this initiative collected $3,000 to start the program to buy women-focused media materials. The materials go into 11 elementary schools in Northville and Novi. We just

had a silent auction to raise money for this year.”

Part of the program includes members reading about women to elementary students in the month of March, which is Women’s History Month.

students about the opportunity to apply.

‘Peek at the Unique II’

WHAT: Northville-Novi AAUW branch’s Michigan Fashion Designer Showcase Brunch 2024 ‘Peek at the Unique II’

WHEN: 9:15 a.m. -1:15 p.m., April 13

“The last time I visited a classroom, I read to a fifthgrade class. One of the students asked if I had ever met any of the women I was talking about,” remembers Zyczynski. “I pulled out a picture of myself with Madeleine Albright. It was just fun.”

WHERE: VisTaTech Center, DiPonio Room Schoolcraft College

Mistress of Ceremonies: Ryan Kelly, Northville Family Law Attorney

TICKETS: $75

MORE INFO: aauwnn.org/mfds

“Last year, we sent six young women and a staff member. Young women who have gone have said it has been a life-changing experience,” says Vincent, adding that they teamed up with the Livonia branch to select the applicants. Plymouth-Canton has also participated, says Edell, and it’s on “our radar to do it again.”

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Schools. Each school receives two scholarships of $1,500 each, one is based on need and the other is based on academics. The branch also established two endowed scholarships of $1,000 each. These are awarded to women who are returning to school and attending either Schoolcraft College or Oakland Community College to earn an associate’s degree.

“We get a chance to meet the women and often they have raised children and even have put their own children through college and then want to go back to school themselves,” says Vincent.

It’s clear from speaking to branch leaders that AAUW has become an important part of their lives.

For Mickey Edell it is “the friendships we have made over the years by working together at the local level. It gave me the opportunity to hone a number of leadership skills. I learned a lot about the importance of achieving equity for girls.”

“When I joined, I was looking for ways to give back to my community and to meet like-minded women that are interested in issues that affect women and girls,” says Karen Zyczynski.

Over the years both affiliates, in partnership with other local branches, have sponsored scholarships for local collegiate women to attend the AAUW National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), held in the spring in the Washington D.C. metro area.

In 2023, AAUW-NN collaborated Schoolcraft College to inform female

Currently, AAUW-PC awards three college scholarships totaling $3,000. Two needbased scholarships are awarded annually to graduating seniors: $1,500 is allocated to Starkweather Academy and $500 to Garden City High School. A third scholarship of $1,000 is awarded to a Schoolcraft College student.

AAUW-NN awards a total of four scholarships to senior girls from Novi and Northville High

College-educated women holding an associate’s or higher degree are welcome to join AAUW. The group boasts members from all generations, from their 20s up to their 90s, as well as a variety of careers, including education, human services, communications, IT, and engineering. They meet monthly, where they hear from speakers on topics relevant to their mission. Annual dues are $94.

For more information, visit their website at aauwnn.org.

The Northville-Novi AAUW club took local students to Career Path Day at Schoolcraft College’s new Engineering and Manufacturing Center. Photo by Carol Murchison

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Ingrained in their family bloodlines, it’s no secret that

Danté Nori was born to play baseball.

And although his love affair with the game might not have started right from the crib, it had been pretty darn close for the Northville High senior center fielder, who is considered one of the top high school players in the country projected to go somewhere as high as the early rounds of the upcoming 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.

That’s because Danté’s baseball ancestry runs deep.

His grandfather Fred was a successful high school baseball coach who did collegiate stints as an assistant at Indiana University and Arizona State under Tracy Smith (now the head coach at Michigan).

Father Micah played four seasons of baseball at IU, but ironically has been an NBA assistant coach and scout for 26 seasons where he currently serves under Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch.

Baseball

in the Blood

Top prospect Danté Nori getting closer to his dream of playing pro ball

By Brad Emons Photos courtesy | Nori Family

“Dantè didn’t have much of a choice between my dad and myself,” Micah Nori said. “In all honesty, this is all he liked since he was probably where there were pictures of him when he was 1- or 2-years old just hitting off a tee. We used to set up stuffed animals and

than anything that just kept it fun and engaged . . . he’s always taken a liking to baseball and competitive sports in general, but baseball is just always what he liked to do.”

The compactly built 5-foot10, 190-pound Nori, who has committed to SEC baseball

set them up on little chairs and on ladders, and put them in the back yard field and we’d tell him, ‘O.K., if you hit the lion or hit the dinosaur,’ or whatever. We’d have a bag of candy, and tootsie rolls and we’d cheer, and all that type of stuff. More

power Mississippi State, would be the first to admit that he eats, sleeps and drinks the game.

“Besides weight lifting and all of that, I would say hobbies . . . kind of a boring person to be honest,” said Nori, who was named to the Michigan

High School Baseball Coaches Association Dream Team as a junior. “Besides hanging out with friends . . . but other than that, straight baseball and lifting.”

STAYING IN NORTHVILLE

The Nori family moved into the community when Danté was a seventh-grader after Micah took an assistant’s position in 2018 with the Pistons under head coach Dwayne Casey.

When Micah relocated to Minnesota in 2021 with the T-Wolves, the family, which includes mother Melissa and sister Mia, a sophomore at Northville High, decided to stay put and let Dantè finish out his high school career with the Mustangs.

And with Micah’s busy schedule for the T-Wolves, who own one of the best records in the Western Conference this season, it leaves little time to be back home during the ninmonth NBA season.

But the long-distance family dynamic remains a work in progress.

It’s safe to say that Danté Nori came out slugging when he was introduced to baseball as a kid.

Danté Nori has shown he has speed to burn on the base paths after recording 26 stolen bases as a junior for the 32-5 Mustangs.

Mississippi State commit and MLB Draft prospect Danté Nori plays with a fire and intensity that should bode well at the collegiate level.

“I get to see him a couple times of year,” Dantè said.

“Recently I went there Thanksgiving and Christmas and I got to see him. Other than that, he’s just kind of gone. And the way it’s looking with the Timberwolves being so good this year, if they make the (NBA) finals he won’t be able to see a high school game. But when he’s off, he’s all around me.”

After competing in numerous national summer showcases, including a travel league stint with the Canes National/New York Mets Scout Team where he batted .431 with an OPS of 1.258 and 12 stolen bases, Nori has attracted plenty of attention from the pros.

He was invited to participate in the Perfect Game AllAmerican Game, which attracts the nation’s top high school prospects, in mid-August at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After parlaying a strong summer circuit, Dantè continues to be on the radar for numerous MLB teams and has worked out for several clubs during the off season.

“I think he’s a potential first-round kind of guy,” said John Kostrzewa, who stepped down in June as Northville’s varsity coach after 19 seasons. “That’s my opinion. He’s had a lot of exposure that’s for sure. I know there’s a lot of interest in him and ranking-wise he’s all over the map. He played in a lot of events over the summer and had a lot of success and probably upped his stock quite a bit because he played in a lot of high-level events and did extremely well with a lot of people there.”

Kostrzewa, who played college baseball at Kentucky

“Honestly, it’s the same expectation as last year... which is definitely a state championship. That’s something we’ve built the foundation to the past two years... Going into this year being one of the older teams in the state, you have the experience and now you’ve got to put it together, and I think we can do that.”

Danté Nori, NHS senior on the team's chances this season and Western Michigan, says Nori can do it all, a five-tool player who can change a game without getting a hit.

“He’s a great defender,” Kostrzewa said. “He makes what I would consider pretty difficult plays look rather routine because of his speed. Where a lot of players would barely get to it at all, or make a diving catch, he makes a routine play out of it. Sometimes you take for granted he makes things easy because he can get to balls that so many other players and athletes can’t get to.”

Nori brings a mindset, a

skill set and a dedication to the game that is rarely seen in a high school player, and he has so many intangibles to go with that. He also has the intelligence factor going for him. He carries a 3.9 gradepoint average with his favorite subject being math.

Kostrzewa saw that early on when he arrived as a freshman and made the varsity.

“He really leads a lifestyle that isn’t quite as normal for a high school player or even a college player,” Kostrzewa said. “As a college player I came across a lot of players –me included – the things like

getting enough sleep, eating a certain way, the working out . . . all those little things that at a young age are hard to embrace with so many distractions – and he’s just not distracted by those things. He’s had his eye on the prize ever since I met him.”

Before he even arrived at Northville High, Nori received a scholarship offer from Arizona State, but committed to Mississippi State over the summer heading into his sophomore year with the Mustangs. Notre Dame was his second choice, but getting out of the cold weather played a factor in his decision.

“The reason I committed there was the coaching staff (Chris Lemonis) and obviously he’s doing something special down there,” Dantè said. “They treat baseball like everyone else treats football. There was nowhere else I wanted to play baseball.”

Nori is open-minded about going to the pros. The MLB Draft is July 9-11 during All-Star week in Arlington, Tex. But between now and then, there’s a lot of baseball to be played.

“You think when you’re little that you want to play professional baseball,” Nori said. “Personally, for me, that’s a dream I’ve always had. And you see your name on these draft boards, reality sets in and there’s a shot here. If it happens, it happens, but otherwise you’re going to Mississippi State for two years. In my eyes it’s a win-win and we’ll see what happens. Obviously, if the opportunity is there – yeah, I’ll play professional baseball.” Continued on Page 30

Danté Nori is a line drive hitter with a compact swing for the Mustangs.

Continued from Page 29

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

The left-handed hitting Nori, however, has some unfinished business as a senior for the Mustangs.

In 2023, Northville went 32-5 overall and was ranked No. 1. The Mustangs captured the KLAA West and Association titles while going undefeated in division and conference play. A district championship followed, but it all came to a crashing halt when rival Novi pulled off a 6-2 victory in the regional and went on to seize the coveted Division 1 state crown.

A bulk of that Northville roster returns, including 17 players who were on last year’s varsity roster. The Mustangs’ new head coach is Dan Cimini, who guided Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett to five state titles.

Nori approaches the 2024 season with a routine with no major adjustments to be made. He’ll continue to chart the same course that he’s carved for himself over the past two years while adding some muscle, of course.

“Honestly, it’s the same expectation as last year when you’ve got a shot at it, which is definitely a state championship,” Nori said. “That’s something we’ve built the foundation to the past two years. Took a tough loss in the quarterfinals two years ago in Battle Creek, and then you take one in the chin last year when you were the favorites going into that and nearly at that point with a chance to win it . . . going into this year being one of the older teams in the state, you have the experience and now you’ve got to put it together, and I think we can do that.”

football. Fred Nori, now 80, was also a volunteer assistant most recently at Xavier University also stays involved and loves to be around the game where he still throws soft toss during the offseason to Philadelphia Phillies star slugger Kyle Schwarber, an IU grad and Middletown native as well.

During his junior season at Northville, Nori rarely saw any good pitches. He hit a modest .330 with 37 hits, including a homer, five doubles, eight triples and 28 walks to go along with a .469 on-base percentage. He scored 49 runs and had 26 stolen bases. He did not make an error all season.

time in him. He socializes with everybody. So that’s unique in itself, especially when a kid that age gets that attention drawn to him, sometimes they change, but he’s never really changed since I met him.”

FROM A DISTANCE

Nori remains grounded in his baseball pursuit despite all the accolades and attention, including be named a MaxPreps Preseason All-American.

“He communicates very well, he’s well-respected,” Kostrzewa said. “Not because he’s a good athlete in our building, but he’s a kind kid, treats everybody respectfully. There’s no big-

Meanwhile, Micah Nori can only watch his son play from a distance, but the two spend quite a bit of quality time together during the summers.

“Thankfully, I will say with technology – and now even with Game Changer – there’s video and there’s live streaming so I can see him and the games,” Micah said. “That’s how I did it last year. And I’m in a great situation. My head coach Chris Finch kind of this past summer – which was obviously a very big summer for him on the circuit and summer ball – he just said, ‘You’ve been away from home seven months coaching, and all that, just take the summer off and follow Dante,’ so I got to see him play probably every game this summer, which was great.”

Micah Nori hails from Middletown, Ohio where he was a three-sport athlete in baseball, basketball and

Micah got his start in the NBA in 1998 beginning as an intern and advanced scout with the Toronto Raptors under Butch Carter, a Middletown alum himself. Micah was with the Raptors for 15 seasons before moving to Sacramento Kings (2013-15) and Denver Nuggets (2015-18), both under head coach Mike Malone before landing in Detroit with Casey.

“He always had baseball guys around him. I don’t think it was ever really forced,” Micah said about Dante’. It was like, ‘Hey, do you want to go hit?’ And it was never no, but he just really enjoyed it. But I think what helped him was we just kept things very simple on the technical side with his swing. He’s basically had the same swing with some minor tweaks as he got stronger and bigger. But he’s pretty much had the same swing his whole life. . . and that’s what helped him be consistent.”

As the new season quickly approaches, Dantè continues to lay the groundwork for a successful baseball career even though Micah can only watch from afar. But his dad’s voice and advice still resonates – long distance. There is no void in the relationship and they remain close.

“He keeps me in check sometimes, but not nearly as much now,” Dantè said. “It’s kind of a self-reflect kind of thing.”

The Nori family includes (from left) sister Mia, mother Melissa, father Micah and Danté.

Northville High senior Danté Nori was invited last August to participate in the Perfect Game All-American Game at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tracking the Downs

Northville Downs owners file lawsuit against Plymouth Township

By Scott Spielman

The ongoing saga of the proposed relocation of Northville Downs to a 125-acre parcel of land along Five Mile Road in Plymouth Township has reached a new chapter.

Owners of the racetrack filed a federal lawsuit against Plymouth Township last month after township officials decided to stop negotiations on the project and did not extend a Planned Unit Development agreement under which they were working for more than a year.

Mike Cox, attorney for the Carlo family which owns Northville Downs, alleges in the lawsuit that the township placed unconstitutional conditions on the approval of the PUD agreement through a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that stipulated the developers share revenue and development amenities for the community. They’re seeking $10 million in damages. They also want a federal judge to reverse the denial of the project and allow them to proceed with it.

“I’m very disappointed.

We’ve reviewed the complaint and it’s more of a political document than a legal one. It outlines a series of events which we certainly disputed occurred and we’re more than prepared to back that up,” said Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise. “We’re going to move quickly to have the case dismissed and we’re very confident that the federal court will appreciate our arguments.”

Among the disputed facts, Heise said, are what the township was seeking through the CBA and the way township officials were negotiating with the developers. He also took issue with Cox’s claim that Plymouth Township aggressively pursued the development, once the decision was made to pull out of the City of Northville, where the racetrack had operated since 1944.

“It’s not true,” he said. “They wanted to be close to their fan base, and that makes sense. We responded to their inquiries as we would with any business that’s looking to locate here.

Whether they considered those promises or incentives, that’s

their interpretation. Whenever a business is interested in coming to Plymouth Township, we tell them what the zoning issues are—whether they’re properly zoned, whether they’ll need a special land use, whether they’ll need a PUD, which was the case here—and then people always ask: what are my chances?

“It’s part of the governmental process,” he added. “You do need to give the applicant an idea of what the likelihood of success or failure is going to be at the planning commission, at the board of trustees, at the zoning board and that happens in virtually any economic development transaction— especially one where everybody knows it’s going to be controversial.”

He also said the Carlos were looking at other sites in Northville Township, Webberville, Fowlerville, Howell and other areas—even while they were negotiating with Plymouth Township.

Cox, however, said the Plymouth location was where the Carlos wanted to be.

“We have to look at other temporary spots in order to try to keep the business alive and our employees employed,” he said via email. “We have invested millions at the site already, so it is our longterm plan to stay there as a permanent site.”

Some aspects of the CBA were also in dispute. Cox alleges that the township asked for $5 million in revenue sharing through breakage fees, above and beyond the community features that included a large horse barn that could house township events, pickleball courts, soccer fields, a walking path that would be open to

the public. It would also have hosted events like drone shows, Fourth of July celebrations and a farmer’s market.

“The out-of-pocket costs of all these other demands that were not straight cash—building and maintaining soccer fields, pickleball courts, walkway, etc.—these demands increased that $5 million even more,” he said.

Heise said, however, that the township had only requested $3 million in revenue sharing over 10 years: $500,000 in each of the first two years of operation, followed by a guaranteed $250,000 each year after that.

“It was comparable to the revenue shares that they were giving Northville. We just wanted to get that in writing and guarantee that we could get a minimum amount of the revenue of sharing. They couldn’t agree to that,” Heise said.

“We drove a hard bargain. We recognized that this was going to be a controversial project from day one,” Heise added. “I believed we tried to get the best deal possible for our residents to provide funding for recreation and public safety and they simply could not deliver.”

Heise said he believes the township “did everything right” and that the real culprit may be the state of Michigan.

“If (Downs owner) John Carlo wants to blame anyone for this misfortune, I would aim it at the state of Michigan. I believe the state of Michigan has been hostile to the horse racing industry for decades. I think it’s been directed by the Detroit casinos and unfortunately I think they’ve succeeded in putting these guys out of business.”

An artistic rendering of the proposed Northville Downs at Plymouth racetrack for Five Mile near Ridge Road. Image courtesy of Plymouth Township

Art From The Heart

Hopefulness radiates in ‘Reflections’ contest

As Northville students jumpstart into the spring season, NHS student artists have sprung to impress us again.

Northville students love to showcase their artistry, and the Art Reflections Contest is the ultimate test for any arts enthusiast. Competitors submit artworks geared towards a unique theme each year - the theme for the 2024 contest answers the question: “I Am Hopeful because…” The contest includes five art categories: music composition, visual art, film production, photography, and literature.

With the media of sounds, images, styles, symbols, and metaphors, students aspired to portray a deep, significant meaning beyond their art piece itself. Originality and perspectives won the hearts of judges and peers alike.

For example, second place music composition winner junior Naoki Matsumoto described his song “Light”

rapidly ascending popularity of artificial intelligence (AI), the song depicts Hadjit’s concern of AI’s potential to dominate the creative industry and hope that “AI won’t take over such creative forms of expression like art and music.”

as “revolv[ing] around two characters finding hope for each other, becoming each other’s light even if both their worlds are dark - hope is relative.”

Freshman Malik Hadjit, the third place winner in the same category, illustrated a different hope in his piece “AI and U’n i.” Amidst the

Many students submitted visual artwork. Inspired by a mentor who brought hope into her life during dark times, senior Janet Tian, created her second place winning piece -- a black and white ink comic “A Rainy Day Reminder” -- to express her heartfelt gratitude and remind people of “the reassuring and beautiful hope that arises from accepting the temporary nature of even the rainiest days.” When asked to share advice to other students interested in art, Tian exclaimed, “the best pieces are those that come from the heart.”

Meanwhile, sophomore Cindy Xiong portrayed in her third place winning piece “Stars of Hope” the challenges she faces in a high school setting: how to keep “the balance between preserving your own identity and belonging to a group.”

Xiong’s piece is characterized by its dexterous use of symbolism: the butterfly’s complete right wing represents individualism; the left wing, made up of numerous

butterflies, implies conformity; the flowers suggest growth; the koi fish speaks for courage; and the girl praying amidst the cacophony of abstract components symbolizes Xiong’s inner desire to stay hopeful even as challenges come her way.

In comparison, first place winner Grace Elling uses vibrant colors, irregular shapes, and multiple layers of paper in her decoupage “A Shape of Myself” to present her unique self.

In her first place winning “Leap of Faith” in the film production category and third place winning piece “Pandora’s Box” in the photography category, sophomore Aurelia Calabrese experimented with numerous ways to use light. In her film, where she showcased little pieces of herself, Calabrese brought in an abundance of golden light to achieve a “bright and happy and hopeful” mood.

In contrast, first place winner sophomore Saamaja Krishnan captured the meaning of hope in her black and white photograph “Felled Hair” in an equally striking yet subtle way: in a cupped hand, a small pile of hair, fallen off a cancer patient due to radiation treatment, is accompanied by a small bouquet of fresh flower buds sprouting on the extended fingers, yearning for hope and healing.

Grace Elling won first place for her “A Shape of Myself” self-portrait.

Sophomore Cindy Xiong’s “Stars of Hope” earned third place for visual arts.

Saamaja Krishnan captured the meaning of hope in her winning photograph “Felled Hair”.

EDITOR’S NOTE: High School Confidential is a collaborative effort by the Stringers Journalism Club made up of NHS students Brian Zhang, Adeline Snook, Diya Kannappan, Pranavi Oruganty, Sneha Hegde, Stella Maue, Marjolaine Encabo, Isabella Mach, Sneha Aradhya, Jiaxuan (Jackson) Gong, and Keira Gallagher.

NORTHVILLE STEAM FAIR

Community Open House

April 24, 2024

6:00pm -8:00pm

Northville High School

New this year

The Northville Educational Foundation is piloting a Scholarship Program for this years’ Steam Fair. Awards will be given at the Community Night.

Grades 9th-12th

First Place - $1,000 Runner Up - $500

Grades 6th-8th

First Place - $500 in Gift Cards

Grades Kindergarten - 5th Certificate of Accomplishments

BULLETIN BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

Samulski Named AD of the Year

Northville High’s Brian Samulski has been named Region 11 Athletic Director of the Year by the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) for the 2023-24 school year.

Samulski has served as the NHS athletic director since 2019. The longtime educator and coach came to Northville after a 13-year stint as a teacher with Wayne-Westland Schools. He also was the head coach of the girls varsity basketball team at Canton High School for 13 years.

Samulski, who has degrees from Olivet College and Wayne State University, has garnered many awards for his work over the years, and is a three-time coach of the year. He has also served on the MHSAA scholar-athlete committee and the rules committees for baseball, softball and basketball. In addition, he has been KLAA webmaster, president and director of the conference’s leadership summit.

“Brian is always there when you need him. His work and support as the Northville High School athletic administrator is unmatched and he has taken Northville athletics to new levels,” said Bryan Masi, the KLAA commissioner who served as Northville’s AD before Samulski.

“People who have worked with Brian have found him to be a sincere, hard-working person who always evaluates things in interscholastic athletics on the basis of what is best for kids,” Masi continued. “He is a good-natured person with a positive attitude that carries over in his relationships with family, friends and associates. These are the traits that have made him such an impactful leader (and) that have garnered him such genuine respect throughout the KLAA and the state of Michigan.”

Undefeated Season

Regional Champs

The Northville High School Science Olympiad team won the Regional Championship in the Region 8 Tournament held at Wayne State University on March 2nd. The team participated in varsity and junior varsity levels and placed 1st in varsity and 2nd in JV.

The varsity team competed in all 23 science events, which covered biology, physics, chemistry, earth and space science, technology, engineering, and inquiry-based activities. They demonstrated their skills through knowledge testing, lab work, device testing, and hands-on experiments. The team earned medals in 22 out of 23 events.

The varsity team has successfully qualified for the Michigan State Tournament, which will be hosted at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo on May 4.

Outstanding OSU Senior

Northville’s Corinne Kissel was selected as an Oklahoma State University Outstanding Senior for the 2023-2024 academic year by the OSU Alumni Association. She was one of 21 OSU students to receive the honor this year.

The Northville High School junior varsity girls basketball team completed a perfect season earlier this month, going undefeated with a 21-0 record. The team’s roster includes Monica Barretto, Alison Ernst, Addison Gubing, Sophia Knapp, Harper Lee, Molly McGuire, Reet Rao, Ella Ross, Nicolette Schade, Alexis Talcott, and Lauren Yaquinto. The team is coached by Kari Schmitt and her twin sister Sara Zink. Great job ladies!

The Outstanding Seniors award recognizes seniors who show excellence through academic achievement; campus and community involvement; academic, athletic or extracurricular honors or awards; scholarships; and work ethic during their time at OSU.

Kissel, a nonprofit and sports management major, raised $10,000 for Payne County Court Appointed Special Advocates as fundraising director of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was the executive director of the OSU Athletics Nike N7 Youth Movement and was honored with the Collaboration in Leadership Award from Hargis Leadership Institute. She traveled to Seoul, South Korea, with Spears School of Business and was a member of the 2022 Homecoming Royalty Court.

After graduation, Kissel hopes to work at a nonprofit focused on wholeindividual care or a professional sports organization foundation.

Northville AD Brian Samulski with NHS student athletes Joey Broughton, Audrey Pelon, Ashlee Gnau, and Evan Deak.

Roundabout Moves Closer To Green Light

Planners promise an attractive gateway into downtown

By Nancy Darga and Dave Gutman

Schematic drawings of the proposed roundabout at Seven Mile and Sheldon roads were presented to the Northville City Council on Feb. 5.

These drawings, presented by the design firm OHM Advisors, were substantially different from the first design presented in 2018 -- and much more exciting.

Responding to community input, OHM reflected our desire for a roundabout that provides good traffic flow; but also ensures safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists. The illustrations were conceptual plans and will be refined per input from the city and Wayne County, which has authority over Seven Mile Road.

and cost over modification of the present intersection with smart traffic signals and sufficient northbound turn lane length, which would require a new Sheldon Road bridge.

Because of slow speed and simple onedirection traffic flow, roundabouts have proven to be a far better solution for both traffic capacity and to minimize injury accidents – both vehicular and pedestrian. In addition, a roundabout at this location is also eligible for federal funding.

The City of Northville is acquiring the needed land to construct the roundabout through the Downs development agreement with developer Hunter Pasteur Homes, along with funds obtained through both the agreement and grants aggressively pursued by the City.

The Mobility Network Team is working with OHM to emphasize pedestrian and bike safety at the roundabout as well as

This high-volume intersection is a key entry point for the city that at peak times is severely congested. The northbound approach is steep and constrained by a narrow twolane bridge over Johnson Creek limiting turn lanes, causing much of the delays. Most importantly, both left and right turns in traffic at speed threaten both serious vehicle collision and pedestrians in crosswalks.

Addressing this intersection became critical with the Downs project. City leadership directed OHM Advisors to create a preliminary roundabout design. It won out for capacity, safety,

impacts to entering Seven Mile from Wing Street and the St. Lawrence Estates.

OHM will present refined plans to City Council including the resolution of these concerns and added detail of landscaping, and signage.

“The intersection will be an attractive gateway to downtown, prioritizing safety and efficiency for all users,” said John Katers, OHM’s lead roundabout designer.

This will be the first roundabout in Wayne County. The city expects construction to begin in the summer of 2025.

Nancy Darga and Dave Gutman are CoChairs of the Northville Mobility Network Team.

Artistic rendering of the proposed roundabout at Seven Mile and Sheldon roads, provided by the design firm OHM Advisors. Renderings courtesy of the Northville Mobility Network Team

Peek Inside Your Health: Full Body MRI Screenings Unveil Silent Issues Before Symptoms Arise

(SOUTHFIELD, MI) Full body MRI clinics have gained national attention lately, as TV personalities publicly share their personal full body scan experiences. One actress credits the scan for saving her life after doctors dismissed her unexplained pain for months. After various tests, including a CT scan, had “unremarkable” results, the pregnant actress became her own advocate, searched out a full body MRI clinic and discovered she had pancreatic cancer. Thanks to early detection the tumor was removed successfully.

As a general rule, when symptoms occur related to cancer, it usually has progressed to stage three or four. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screenings only cover about 29% of cancers with 71%

occurring outside of where doctors are able to screen. However, full body MRI scans can detect cancer in every organ from the top of the head through the genitals and can detect it very early.

For a long time, full body MRI scans were available only in select areas outside of Michigan, requiring expensive flights like in Vancouver or California. However, this changed when a clinic opened in Southfield, making these scans available to Metro Detroit residents.

“Our advanced MRI screening can detect cancers very early when they are as small as a pencil eraser and are more easily treatable. If cancer goes undetected, however, it can grow into stage three or stage four with difficult treatments. We can

also identify conditions such as brain, abdominal, chest, and groin aneurysms,” stated the founder of the Southfield clinic called Bionicc Body Screening.

The primary focus of Bionicc Body Screening is to deliver peace of mind, offering a comprehensive and detailed imaging of the body’s internal structures. The ultimate hope is for excellent health. However, in the event that something is detected, the advanced screening aims to catch any potential issues at their earliest stages. This approach offers the best opportunity for successful treatment outcomes, should the need arise.

Robert B., age 50, opted for a full body scan from Bionicc Body Screening and a very small tumor

was detected. He said, “It saved my life. Their MRI found a kidney tumor that had been missed by a recent CT scan. I cannot recommend this service more.”

Take the first step to learn more about full body scans by visiting www.BioniccBodyScreening. com and request a free, no obligation Information Kit. Request it today and you’re also guaranteed a copy of their FREE eBook, Catching Cancer Before It’s Too Late! (This is a limited time offer.) Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC

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YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHVILLE THIS MONTH

Mr. Lincoln as Storyteller

April 1

Professional Abraham Lincoln presenter Kevin J. Wood will be at the Northville Community Center beginning at 7 p.m. He will share stories about Lincoln, our nation’s history and his own history in a way the audience will be able to relate. For more information about Wood and his show, visit www.mrlincoln.com.

John DeLorean’s Story

April 9

Barry Levine will make a presentation about carmaker John DeLorean from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Northville Community Center. Discover the triumphs and failures of DeLorean, who zoomed up the ranks at General Motors through successful cars such as the Pontiac GTO. The failure of his DeLorean Motor Company ensnared him in charges for tax evasion, loan fraud, and drug use. Although acquitted, he was financially ruined. For more information about the program, visit northvillelibrary.org.

Tree Champions Fundraiser

April 13

The Northville Tree Champions, a citizen-led non-profit organization that promotes tree appreciation, protection, preservation and new tree plantings in Northville, is having a fundraiser at Tipping Point Theatre at the opening night for their new show, “The Squirrels” (this show is for mature audiences). Fundraising tickets are $75, of which $20 will support Northville Tree Champions and is eligible as a tax deduction. For more information, including how to purchase the tickets, send an email to northvilletreechampions@gmail.com.

Eggstravaganza Time!

Come celebrate spring with this annual egg hunt at Maybury Farm on April 6. The event takes place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and is open to children up to 10 years old. The Egg Hunt schedule: 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m. – ages 2-3 (multiple hunts during event); 11 a.m. – ages 4-6; 11:45 a.m. – ages 7-10. Prize bags filled with candy and treats are limited to the first 700 children with paid wristbands. The event will also feature face painting, seed planting, crafts, food trucks, farm animals and more. The cost is $5 per child (children 2 and under are free). For more information, visit northvilleparksandrec.com.

Night for Northville

April 13

This annual fundraiser for the Northville Educational Foundation will take place at Northville Square Mall. Event highlights include casino games, live jazz, cuisine by Lava Grille, an open bar and silent auction. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.supportnef.org.

Rouge River Revived

April 24

Dr. John Hartig will make a presentation about the book, Rouge River Revived, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Mill Race Village. The book, for which Hartig was an editor, is an environmental history of the Rouge River, from Native Americans through industrialization and now revival. During the 1960s-early 1980s, the Rouge River was one of the most polluted streams in the Great Lakes Basin. Then in the mid-

1980s, a “tipping point” occurred that would change everything. For more information, visit www. millracenorthville.org.

State of the Community

April 26

This annual luncheon sponsored by the Northville Chamber of Commerce, will feature three speakers: Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull, Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo, and R.J. Webber, who is the superintendent of Northville Public Schools. All three will provide updates on what is happening in the community. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Italian American Banquet Center, 39200 5 Mile Road in Livonia. The cost is $47.50 for chamber members and $52.50 for non-members. To register or for more information, visit www. northville.org or call the chamber at (248) 349-7640.

Ladies Night

April 25

A number of stores, restaurants and businesses in downtown Northville will be participating in this event, which runs from 6-9 p.m. Several merchants will be running special sales, promos and giveaways throughout the evening. The theme of the night is “Derby Day” and participants can wear their best Derby hat to win the Eva Bovee Hat Contest at the Hair Foundation Salon. Browndog Barlor, Lava Grille, Dancing Eye Gallery, Studio 170 Boutique and Gardenviews are just some of the participating businesses.

Mean Girls

April 25-27

The Northville High School Drama Club will present their spring musical with shows on April 25-27 at the Northville High School Auditorium. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit https://nvilledramaclub.weebly.com or www.northville.k12.mi.us.

Taylor Swift Party

April 27

This event, which is geared for ages 9-17, will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Northville Community Center. Celebrate all things Taylor Swift by making friendship bracelets, enjoying themed snacks, and playing games with your fellow Swifties. To register or for more information, visit northvillelibrary.org.

Thayer School Open House

April 28

The Northville Township Historic Fund will host an open house for the Thayer Schoolhouse (corner of 6 Mile and Napier roads), from noon-3 p.m. The group will open the school for a peek at what the volunteers have been able to restore in recent years.

ADishin’ 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.

March-ing Orders

t this point in life are you where you thought you’d be?

When I was in high school, I thought a person should live and work in their community. It only took me 50 years to figure out my marching orders. I sure am glad I did, with precious time to enjoy.

May I take a moment to brag about my daughter (Jill) and my granddaughter (Emmy)? Jill directed the musical Sister Act at St. Catherine Academy and Emmy had a role as one of the nuns. The show was incredible…Jill took a leap of faith with her show choice. The difficulty of directing (in one way or another) a group of 55 kids in a school without an auditorium was challenging and required serious marching orders at every step of the way. Kudos, kiddo.

I was so proud of Emmy – she sang so beautifully and never broke character as the laughter rang out loud and ‘heart’y .

The highlight of the Sunday performance for me was a little girl named Ella, from Northville. She looked at my program and saw Emmy’s picture and with so much joy and excitement put her little hands on her cheeks, smiled bigger than big and in a loud whisper, because she knew her theater etiquette – “She’s in my book, too!” Just when you think the world is in trouble an almost 5-year-old brings it all back and you can’t help but have hope.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting up with two young women, raised in Northville, whose marching orders led them down some interesting paths. Natalie Lomske is in Los Angeles working as a writer, director, and content creator. I remember going to see her award-winning one-act play at Northville High eons ago. She is now creating short films, music videos and developing video content for her own YouTube channel that explores the range of accessibility within the travel and entertainment industries.

She told me: “I love visiting Northville and reminiscing about the films I directed and produced there while studying at U of M. I filmed Jordan Jones and Closet in Northville, along with Buyer Beware. Northville is where it all started. I am so thankful for my hometown’s support over the years.” Read all about Natalie at shoutoutla. com.

Caitlin Horning grew up in Northville, too. She and her husband, Tyler, went to Hillsdale College. When they started to raise a family, they wanted a school that provided a free, classical, liberal arts education. So, along with some other like-minded people, they founded the Ivywood Classical Academy charter school in 2019. Already they are breaking ground on 23 acres in Plymouth Township for a new campus.

Caitlin considers Ivywood a blessing: “The whole process

of starting this school and its growth has been nothing short of divine.” There is a wait list at almost every grade level…but they are growing – adding one grade a year. By 2026, Ivywood will be a K-12 Academy. Check out the whole story at ivywoodclassicalacademy.com.

My condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Gayle Gatteri. If you remember the show Cheers! you know the waitress, Carla. Well, Gayle was the Carla at Joseph’s Coney Island…to me anyway. I order my omelet with “no stray onions”. (You know there are always a few stragglers on a well-used grill!) When she waited on me – and it was often – I wouldn’t get beyond the word “no” and she’d finish my sentence with my same inflection in her voice every time.

Recently there was a message on the counter of her passing – I was so sad. Gayle worked there for more than 20 years. She was one of the unsung heroes in Northville’s service industry. It made me stop for a moment – there is no guarantee for tomorrow. Lesson to self: live each day as if it were your last. It might well be.

I didn’t intend to talk so much about amazing women this month – March is actually reading month. That was supposed to be the direction of my marching orders. Well, I guess I did talk about relevant subjects. To all, thanks for reading The ‘Ville. It’s truly my pleasure, and an honor, to be a part of your day.

Emmy and Ella

Natalie Lomske

Caitlin Horning with her family on the 23-acre sight

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