Your Voice: Letters to the Editor

Application is not ballot

Wow - are people ever confused on the subject of absentee ballots and mail in voting. Several people in the last issue wrote in to say that mail in ballots are “mass mailed” (in the words of one contributor) or “blind mailed” (in the words of another) to people in the state.

It is the application for an absentee ballot that is being mailed out by state officials. The application is then checked to assure that the applicant is a registered voter and a ballot with a bar code and a return envelope requiring the voter’s signature is mailed to the voter. There is no mass mailing of ballots taking place.

I received an application for an absentee ballot in the mail, not a ballot. However, I chose to go to my local clerk’s office where I filled out the application for a ballot, had my ID checked, received a ballot, and voted early all in one trip.

Jacqueline gauvin

Dedicated public servant

As president of Northville Soccer for the last 22 years, I’ve known and worked with Mark Abbo during his 20 years involvement in Northville Township government. I found him to be a dedicated public servant, thoughtful to our needs, and committed to making our community a better place to live, work and play. Mark and the late Marv Gans has a proven record of fighting for our Parks and Rec programs and putting Northville families first. Mark is committed to re-establishing the soccer fields that were destroyed during the new construction project four years ago. I will be voting for Mark Abbo and would recommend you do so as well.

steve Mcguirk

Stop party voting

I agree party shouldn’t matter. I feel because cross voting wasn’t available on the township’s Primary Election ballots and so many were uncounted, it’s great that Marjorie Banner is running as a write-in candidate. She has worked very hard for this township and deserves the position as clerk. I have never seen her opponent at any of the many meetings held to stop the dump. Marjorie has attended most, if not all. We need the experience and loyalty that Marjorie brings to this township. Please take time to write Marjorie Banner and fill that circle in for township clerk. I would like to see this party voting stopped.

Virginia Miller

Limit ‘bigfoot’ homes

We absolutely agree with the Northville City Council’s effort to limit “Bigfoot” housing. We need affordable, modest size homes for our young families.

Carol & dairell Abbott

McMansion mentality

I cheer the City Council’s passing of the FAR amendment to the zoning ordinance. It is so very necessary in the face of today’s McMansion mentality.

Tom Young

Write in Nix

I do not know if anyone else noticed how bad Bob Nix’s signs were, but Mr. Abbo’s were much better and as shocking as this may be to some readers of The ‘Ville many voters, especially those new to Northville Township, vote in those who have the best signs.

They had no idea that Mr. Abbo was our township supervisor during the early 2000s and while very knowledgeable about finance, he was very poor about dealing with the rest of the citizens of the township. Let’s just say he felt he did not owe anything to friends and neighbors who put him in office. I am specifically speaking of the water problems that many had. Most of us living in Northville Commons had to take care of the problem ourselves and at great expense I might add.

Hopefully Mr.Nix will get some professional help regarding his signs, and I will be able to insert his name on my ballot.

Joann e. Dayton

Spread the word

It is critical for Northville Township residents to vote to re-elect Bob Nix. Just remember to write in the name “Robert Nix” and fill in the circle. Bob lost only by a few votes in the primary due to a negative campaign and I can tell you that he has done an outstanding job. The township will truly suffer if he loses to his opponent. Let’s spread the word.

Patti Mullen

For ‘good government’

For the last eight years, Bob Nix has labored for this community we love, cleaning up Mark Abbo’s mistakes. Nix has worked on $7-8 million dollars of remediation and clean up at the state hospital site and brought in business to relieve tax increases. He has worked tirelessly in Lansing on legislation to protect clean air around the Arbor Hills Landfill and maintain clean water throughout Johnson Creek. He worked with the City of Northville on a $900K grant for the Fish Hatchery Park renovation, along with spearheading joint dispatch and lockup for the community. He has partnered and helped lead shared service efforts at our community center, the Parks & Rec activities and at our library. We, as a community of both the city and township, are for the first time in decades working together. Bob Nix is for good government -- not politically based, but community based.

Write in Bob Nix for Supervisor for the benefit of all Northvillians.

dave gutman

Another chance

Like many of us, our whole family missed supporting Bob Nix in the August primary for township supervisor. I drove by a closed Moraine Elementary three times that day not knowing if I should head to the high school. I had read the strong support this magazine as well as other media had provided Bob. I was also aware of his accomplishments, especially compared to his challenger. I, like many I fear, rationalized that our three votes would not matter.

The good news is that we have another chance to vote for Bob. Despite the primary snafu, we can still vote to keep Bob in office. I encourage you to support our hometown guy by writing his name “Robert Nix” in the “write in” slot and shading in the oval.

Jennie Patterson

A record of success

Bob Nix’s record as Northville Township Supervisor has been, by any measure, a great success, which should prompt all voters to write-in Bob Nix for Supervisor. Bob’s leadership in overseeing the removal of the Scott Correctional facility and the psychiatric hospital buildings, and importantly, their replacement with a balance of commercial and residential development combined with parks, biking and walking trails, has been an undeniable benefit to our community. We should trust Bob Nix to continue this type of thoughtful, fiscally-sound development for another four years. Additionally, the outstanding services we all enjoy in the township are not by accident. They are the result of great leadership. And that leadership, for the past eight years, has been by Bob Nix.

larry Jensen

Influential commissioner

I overwhelmingly support Terry Marecki as she runs for her fourth term as our Wayne County commissioner. Commissioner Marecki is the appointed Chair of the Committee on Public Services and, as a result, has been heavily involved with the improvements at 6 Mile and Beck, including the desperately needed turn light, 5 Mile and Beck, and the refurbishing of Sheldon Road between 6 Mile and 7 Mile. Northville needs to have an influential commissioner back on the Wayne County Commission. Vote Terry Marecki.

Julie Ann Van Ameyde Northville Township

The right temperament

Cyndy Jankowski has dedicated nine-plus years to serving this community on our school board. She has held every position possible on the board of education, from treasurer to president, multiple times. I personally worked with her for seven of those years. There is not a better person to serve our community.

I can tell you from firsthand experience nobody will work harder to find solutions and come to decisions that best fit the overall community’s needs. The township needs individuals who don’t play politics and give lip service to constituents. We need people who will simply do what is right for the community. Cyndy is one of those who deserve your vote. Vote Cyndy Jankowski for township trustee. You won’t regret it.

Jim Mazurek

Aslam brings fresh ideas

M. Aslam, a successful small business owner, comes with a passion for change in the community. In his travels through the township, he knows what it needs, and he’s ready to roll up his sleeves to help make those things happen. I have listened to him on the trail; he is passionate about helping to keep Northville Township the most progressive and diverse community in Michigan. Aslam understands that, like every mid-size community, Northville Township has its challenges. He wants to bring some fresh thinking and fresh ideas to help resolve those challenges.

He advocates transparency in township government, and supports a strong relationship between the township and Wayne County. He will advocate for needed green space in the community. He will oppose the expansion of the local dumping ground that envelops the community with perpetual foul odor and will push for an expedited solution for the abandoned Northville Psychiatric Hospital.

Aslam will use his business expertise to help maintain the quality of life, education, safety, and more needed green space solution in the township.

A proud parent of four, he is fresh blood with fresh ideas who is ready to work to keep Northville Township a beautiful place to live. I urge you to vote for him on November 3.

sam Ekong

Courageous and compassionate

With proud enthusiasm, I support Tanya Lundberg for Northville Township Trustee. Tanya is a trained lawyer and dedicated leader in our community. I’ve been fortunate to work closely with Tanya for many years in the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and the Women’s Bar Association. These organizations are dedicated to securing the rights of women in society, promoting improvements in the administration of justice, and promoting equality and social justice for all people. During her presidency of the Women’s Bar Association, Tanya demonstrated courageous and compassionate leadership of our organization in furthering these causes. I’m confident that Tanya will carry over this same dedicated leadership as township trustee.

Northville is lucky to have an advocate like Tanya. I strongly encourage your consideration of Tanya Lundberg for Northville Township Trustee.

Erin Klug

Supporting the library

Community Financial Credit Union has, once again, come to the aid of the Northville District Library. The Friends of the Library requested funds to purchase Specialized STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education kits that would be available through checkout. The kits give kids an opportunity to learn by doing and playing, and to foster interest in STEM, which enhances problem solving skills, nurtures preparedness for upcoming technical innovations, and promotes understanding of concepts.

Community Financial acknowledged this as a valuable resource for the children in our area and awarded a $1,000 grant to fund this acquisition. The Friends of the Northville District Library are grateful for their recognition of the library’s important role in our community and for their continual generosity.

Chris litka Northville District library

Dedicated to her members

I would like to acknowledge Jody Humphries, director of the Northville Chamber of Commerce, for her diligence in providing members with information about the various loans and grants available to businesses during this pandemic. She not only supplied valuable information, but she also answered questions, made suggestions, and did follow up for me, all in a thoroughly professional and timely manner. Jody sensed my frustration and sometimes confusion, and responded accordingly. Kudos! Thanks to Jody and her team during these challenging times.

Elizabeth Clancy Elizabeth’s bridal Manor

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Your Voice SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORT

As a former Northville Board of Education member (2014-2018) and board officer, I wholeheartedly support the board candidacy of incumbent Sarah Prescott and former board member and board President Jim Mazurek. I had the privilege of serving with Sarah and Jim during my tenure and know firsthand that they are both dedicated, hardworking and pragmatic educational advocates who put children, teachers, and our community at the forefront of their deliberations.

Sarah and Jim are parents of Northville students (past and present), critical thinkers who derive insight from data and listen to the community, and effectively steward the district’s precious (and inadequate) financial resources. The Northville School Board’s historical strength is that it has been a nonpartisan body. Let’s keep it that way. You can count on both Sarah and Jim to represent our community with integrity and help make the best decisions for our children, particularly during these challenging times.

Ann Kalass

I am asking for your support of Jim Mazurek and Sarah Prescott for the Board of Education of Northville Public Schools. As the senior most member of the current Board of Education, I have had the honor and privilege to serve with both of these experienced candidates.

Both Jim and Sarah have the financial acumen to counteract future COVID-related hits to the budget and implement cost saving measures when necessary. Both have personal knowledge of the ideology that shapes the district’s goals and how those goals are implemented through policy and procedures to sustain and expand academic opportunities for all learner levels. Both are true advocates for student success and will continue their efforts to dialogue with our students and community to give all stakeholders a voice in the future vision of our district.

Cyndy Jankowski

I am proud to support Lindsey Wilson for Northville School Board. Not only is Lindsey a former federal prosecutor and trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, but he is also a biologist and a chemist. Lindsey is trained to absorb the complex facts and advocate for what is right. He is compassionate about student mental health and happiness and will stand up for those kids who have fallen through the cracks, especially now and beyond COVID.

Northville needs a fresh, forward thinking leader who has firsthand knowledge of the issues our kids face. Lindsey checks all the boxes as he has children at Amerman, Hillside and Northville High School. He is level-headed, intelligent and decisive -- the perfect traits to be an outstanding advocate for our children and teachers.

marty Testasecca

Lisa McIntyre is a passionate leader who would make an excellent member of the Northville School Board. With a BA from Kalamazoo College, NPS district experience providing individualized education needs, volunteer experience with the Ridge Wood PTA, and 30 years of experience as a mental health professional, she is uniquely qualified.

As a mother of three NPS children, she has a vested interest in the district’s success. She believes we need to deliver education safely and equally, while being mindful of student wellness, especially with early learners. She also sees opportunity for an evolving STEM curriculum, and improving collaboration for all stakeholders in the educational process. The district would benefit greatly from her presence on the board because of her passion, and she will work tirelessly if elected.

Jim guerrera

I am proud to support Lisa McIntyre for the Northville Board of Education. Lisa’s dedication to the community is well-documented by her executive leadership, including as current president of the Ridge Wood PTA. She has faced and addressed issues regarding wellness and financial challenges in these roles. Lisa will advocate fairly and passionately for all students, teachers and administrators no matter the issue.

I have known her for more than seven years, and I have found her to approach all situations with compassion and integrity. I have no doubt that Lisa will bring these attributes to the Board.

Tara slone

Deal with the problems

Today we have: 1. A disease with no current cure, leaving 200,000+ Americans dead. These deaths continue. 2. A major economic recession caused directly by this disease, with 13+ million Americans receiving unemployment assistance. This recession continues. 3. Massive numbers of Americans marching to change our society’s status quo. These marches continue. The group in power: 1. Has no serious response to the disease. First denial, then deflection, then inaction while adopting a “hope it goes away” approach. 2. Applied only “band aids” in a failed attempt to fix the recession independent of the disease. Only when the core disease is beaten can we truly repair our economy. 3. Is silent, ignoring millions of concerned American voices. Frustration will grow until this silence is replaced with a legitimate conversation with those voices.

Based strictly on these three problems, does the current administration deserve the privilege of leading us for another four years?

Bob santer

thank you

Thank you for publishing a beautiful and professional magazine each month, highlighting events and issues in Northville. We enjoy reading the articles that keep us informed about our local community.

Christie Bronson

SouND oFF

Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@gmail.com. letters must be 150 words or less. We reserve the right to edit all letters.

Back to Class Northville Schools open for in-person learning, see a drop in students

Story by Michele Fecht | Photos by Bill Bresler

For the past few weeks, Northville drivers have been sharing streets with one of the ubiquitous symbols of autumn — the yellow school bus. And after six months of COVID-19 lockdowns, it is a welcome sight.

After a full virtual start for all grade levels in September, Northville Public Schools began opening their doors to in-person learners starting with Cooke students on September 8. Approximately 56 percent of students at the special education program center have returned for in-person instruction with 44 percent of Cooke families opting for

continued virtual learning.

On September 21, kindergarten families choosing in-person instruction visited classrooms in the district’s elementary schools in lieu of the traditional “round up.” Kindergartners had their first official day of in-person learning on September 22 with first and second graders returning to classrooms during the week of September 28.

All remaining grades — 3 thru 12 — returned to classrooms on October 5. According to Superintendent Mary Kay Gallagher, approximately 64.4 percent of K-12 students have returned to classrooms for in-person learning with 35.6

Ready for the day to begin at Ridge Wood Elementary (above) and Meads Mill Middle School (right).

Students arrive on the bus at Ridge Wood (top). Jay Gingell and daughter Nelly wait for the doors to open at Ridge Wood. Nelly is in kindergarten.

continuing with at-home virtual instruction. Middle and high school instruction is a hybrid with students attending on alternating days to provide for more social distancing.

“There’s been a real sense of joy in having kids back in classrooms,” Gallagher noted, adding that students and staff are adjusting to new safety protocols including mask wearing, hand sanitizing, social distancing and not sharing classroom materials. It’s a process. The percentage of students returning to classrooms for in-person learning increased by grade level as follows: Elementary: 60% inperson / 40%

Meads Mill Middle School Principal Brad O’Neill (top) works the bus dropoff area. Hand sanitizer stations are in use at Ridge Wood Elementry (above).

virtual; Middle School: 65% in-person / 35% virtual and High School: 69% in-person / 31% virtual.

Northville families had the option of choosing virtual or in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year. The district stated that changes in learning models — virtual or in-person — could not be made until the semester’s end. Rebecca Pek, Director of Personnel Development & Quality Assurance, noted that last-minute requests for changes at the start of the school year posed a challenge for the district as class numbers and staffing were established based not only on the best learning environment but also safety. “Obviously, with in-person learning we have to mitigate classroom size contacts,” she stated.

The district’s enrollment this school year has decreased about 4 percent — or 290 students — compared to last year’s enrollment of 7,382 students. Gallagher said the district is still looking at reasons for the enrollment dip but noted that in prior years, there has been an increase of families moving out of state but not as many incoming. It does not mean that the district may not see an uptick in student enrollment mid-year. Other reasons are families opting to homeschool students during COVID or enrolling students in private and/or parochial schools with other learning plans. Caarin Kogut, a mother of four boys, opted to enroll her youngest two sons — six-yearold twins — at St. Paul Lutheran Church School in Northville before the public schools announced they would return to in-person learning. Her two older sons attend Amerman and Hillside.

Kogut said when schools went to virtual learning in March, her then-kindergarten twins “really struggled” with online learning.

“The older boys did fine but the younger ones were really fighting it,” she said. “It was hard to keep them motivated.” As the school year approached and the district was still putting together a learning model, Kogut said she and her husband worried that their youngest “could not sustain online all day” so they opted to enroll them at St. Paul.

Now that the public schools have opened for in-person learning, Kogut said she probably would not have made the switch. She said the first graders are doing fine at their new school but logistics are more challenging.

“I now have three different schools, three different start times, three different pick-ups,” she noted. “We’re still in the process of figuring it out.”

Because per-pupil state aid is based on student enrollment counts tallied twice each year in October and February, districts are faced with the unique challenge of counting students both in-person and virtually.

To prevent districts from being penalized due to enrollment declines brought about by COVID-related changes in learning plans, the state is using a “super blend” formula that weighs 75 percent of last year’s attendance with 25 percent of this year’s attendance.

“The state is recognizing that the pandemic is impeding school enrollment,” Gallagher said. “It will take a number of weeks to certify the count. Then we’ll know where we stand.”

Both Gallagher and Pek credit the staff with their creativity in carefully balancing PPE support without sacrificing learning in what is one of the district’s most challenging years. “Our staff has really done a phenomenal job,” Pek said.

The district also is committed to transparency in reporting COVID-19 cases through its online report found on the district’s website. Most cases thus far have been among high school students. “Our cases are being traced back to gatherings outside of school,” Gallagher noted. “If we are going to keep students in school, we need community-wide messaging to curb the gatherings.”

There are challenges every school year, but this year has put school districts to the test.

Mohammad Bazzi and daughter Isabella Bazzi, a first grader, wait to enter Ridge Wood Elementary (top). Meads Mill students gather before the school doors open.

ScAre Up Some HalloweenHalloween Three Cedars Farm By Wensdy Von Buskirk SpiritSpirit Halloween Happenings in the Ville

Any place can be haunted, according to Ken Suminski, owner and founder of the Portal Paranormal Society, the group leading a ghost hunt in the Northville District Library this month.

“Every structure has the potential to have spirits in it,” he says. “It depends on the age of the building and how many people have gone through it, what may or may not have transpired within. It could even be the land, something might have happened there before it was even built.”

Are there spirits at NDL?

Suminski aims to find out during a Virtual Haunted LockIn, scheuled 6:30-9 p.m. Oct.16, which teens can grab some snacks and tune in via Zoom as the Portal crew searches out the supernatural at the library in real time, using a variety of techniques.

“As with every investigation, we use a mixture of very modern, electronic digital based equipment, as well as some more antiquated methods,” Suminski says. “We use all the latest gear you see on the ghost hunting shows, but also old school things like dowsing rods. Those seem to be a good tool to use with a lot of spirits.”

Portal Paranormal Society does investigations throughout the year, but Halloween is a particularly busy time for the agency, which is based in Brighton with satellite locations in Ohio and Indiana.

Suminski said it will help to have extra eyes on the scene as they search for spirits at NDL.

“We’ll run different experiments and see if we can get some action going,” he said. “If we’re in a particular part of the library and a book flies off the shelf they can tell us, and we can go look while it’s still active.”

Registration is open now for the Teen Virtual Lock-In, and it’s just one of many Halloween happenings this month in The ’Ville.

SKELETONS ARE ALIVE!

Downtown Northville

Once again, Northville’s famous skeleton crew is making mayhem in the streets. This year, downtown roads are closed as part of Northville’s Social District effort, making it even easier to check them out up close. Grab an adult beverage to-go from a participating restaurant, and stroll through the boneyard, with 120 life-size sculptures in all manner of fun vignettes sponsored by local businesses, nonprofits and families. While you’re at it, stop in Northville’s eateries and shops and see what they’ve scared up for the season.

MAYBURY FARM

Corn Maze

5-9 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 25

This Maybury tradition is the perfect way to visit the farm and enjoy the beauty of fall. Wagon rides leave every 30 minutes for the corn mazes. Choose the full 10-acre maze (about 60 minutes long) or the mini-maze (about 20 minutes). Afterward, opt to purchase Parmenter’s cider and donuts from the general store. The barn is open for animal viewing until 7 p.m. for an additional fee. The wagon ride and maze are $10 per person (kids under 2 are free).

Spooktacular

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31

Celebrate Halloween at Maybury Farm’s first Spooktacular fundraiser.

Festivities include farm animals (some in costumes), a Halloween craft, a candy trail, bonfire, family-friendly games and a photo booth. Parmenter’s cider and donuts are available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets, $9, must be purchased in advance. Kids under 2 are free.

PARMENTER’S CIDER MILL

Cider and Donuts To Go

This year things may look a little different at Parmenter’s but they taste the same — delicious. The cider mill has gone completely drive through due to COVID. Place your order, wear a mask and stay in your car. The donut squad will deliver goodies right to your window. Order online at northvillecider.com or through the Clover App (search Northville Cider Mill). For more information, visit www. northvillecider.com.

THREE CEDARS FARM

It’s a fall fiesta at this Northville institution, which offers U-Pick pumpkins, hay rides, train rides and a 7-acre corn maze in addition to cold cider and fresh donuts. Barn and bonfire rental packages are also available for safe, sociallydistanced gatherings. Visit https://threecedarsfarm.org for more information. FARMERS MARKET 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 29, Corner of Seven Mile Road & S. Center Street

Home is where the haunting’s at this year, so do it up with decorations from the Northville Farmers Market. Among vendors selling fall produce and plants is Mark Prielipp Farms Greenhouse, a staple at the market for more than 40 years. Through October, the greenhouse will offer cornstalks, hearty mums, asters, straw bales, gourds and ornamental cabbage and kale, along with Jack O’ Lantern pumpkins, pie pumpkins and heirloom pumpkins in various sizes and colors.

“We’ve got tons of pumpkins,” said Sydne McMullen, operations manager for the greenhouse. Look for a bounty of seasonal produce as well, including tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini and peppers.

“There’s really something special about this time of year,” says McMullen. “We’re seeing all the work from the spring and summer and sharing that harvest with our customers.”

NORTHVILLE DISTRICT LIBRARY

BookWalk

Through Oct. 31

All month long, get ’dem bones down to the library for a free, interactive outdoor reading adventure. Follow the signs around the library to read a skeleton-themed story page by page. For more information, visit https://northvillelibrary. org.

Kids Craft

Through Oct. 31

While supplies last, pick up a free kids craft at the library — a real tiny pumpkin with a face decorating kit.

Pet Costume Contest

Dress your furry friends in some Halloween finery and snap a pic. Send it to svanvlerah@northvillelibrary. org or post it to Northville District Library’s Facebook page. Winners will receive a gift card and have their photo displayed in the library during the week of Halloween.

Spooky Storytime

7 p.m. Oct. 27 (virtual)

Join local author T.M. Doran as he reads his new, original story “The Dead End House,” illustrated by Plymouth Artist Elaine Attridge. Doran says it starts out like a traditional haunted tale, but takes many twists and turns along the way.

“As the main character, Jake, moves through the story things began to change pretty radically from what he first expected when he walked into the house,” Doran says.

The novelist was inspired to write the short story for his own three children and seven grandchildren, as trick-ortreating may be curtailed. He is delighted to bring “The Dead End House” to a wider audience through the library event.

“Chiefly I wanted to do something that would delight young people this Halloween,” he said. “If it does that, I will consider it mission accomplished.”

The story is suitable for ages 11 and up. Register now. For more information, visit northvillelibrary.org.

Teen Scary Stories

8-9 p.m. Oct. 27 (virtual)

It’s a night of scary stories and microwave s’mores around the virtual campfire. Pick up supplies at NDL, dim the lights, and gather ’round with a scary story to tell — or just listen. Registration is open now by visiting northvillelibrary.org.

Terry Lynch Haunted History for Adults

7-8 p.m. Oct. 29 (virtual)

Sit back and hear chilling tales of famous Midwest hauntings brought to life by Terry Lynch of HFK Presents. Learn about the ghosts of the S.S. Eastland, Brookfield Zoo, John Dillinger and the Fort Dearborn Massacre — if you dare. Registration is open now by visiting northvillelibrary.org.