The Rock - May 2024

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Chris Soutar

Scott Daugherty

Chris has lived in the Plymouth / Canton community since 1994. Some his local favorites are: Campari’s on the Park, Basement Burger, Mexican Fiesta II, Pizza Vino, Spoons Place, Central City Dance Center.

Chris has lived in the Plymouth / Canton community since 1994. Some of his local favorites are: Campari’s on the Park, Basement Burger, Mexican Fiesta II, Pizza Vino, Spoons Place, Central City Dance Center.

csoutrar@billbrownford.com Office:(734) 524-2715

Mobile: (734) 765-8980

Scott has lived in the Plymouth / Canton Community since 2002. Some his local favorites are: Crow’s Nest (Canton), Golf at Pheasant Run Golf Course (Canton), Spoons Place, Palermo Pizza, DCFC Soccer.

Scott has lived in the Plymouth / Canton Community since 2002. Some of his local favorites are: Crow’s Nest (Canton), Golf at Pheasant Run Golf Course (Canton), Spoons Place, Palermo Pizza, DCFC Soccer.

Local Journalism Matters

Please consider a donation to support The Rock. Since we began publishing more than three years ago, our goal has been to provide our readers with valuable information about the Plymouth community each and every month.

Your support is vital if you would like to see us survive and grow. The Rock is sent free to every address in Plymouth, yet is not free to produce.

LOCAL Matters!

That is the foundation of this magazine. If you find it of value, please consider supporting it. We need your support. Please send donations to:

Journeyman Publishing 16435 Franklin Northville, MI 48168

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Thanks in advance,

Publisher

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To secure space in an upcoming issue of The Rock, contact Advertising Director Scott Buie at (313) 399-5231, or via email at scottbuie@therockmagazine.com or advertising@therockmagazine.com.

KURT KUBAN – Publisher

Kurt is an award-winning journalist, having served as a reporter and editor for several local newspapers and magazines, including the Plymouth Observer He has been a journalist for over two decades. He founded Journeyman Publishing, which also publishes The ‘Ville, in 2017.

SCOTT SPIELMAN – Editor

Scott graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Journalism. He covered western Wayne County for more than 12 years at several publications before transitioning into corporate communications and media relations. A Canton resident, he has also finished his first novel and is hard at work on his next.

SCOTT BUIE – Advertising Director/Vice President of Sales

Scott has 20+ years creating advertising campaigns for clients in Metro Detroit. After managing sales for radio stations for 17 years he purchased Street Marketing, where he works closely with a variety of businesses and events. Scott and his family have lived in the Plymouth/Northville area for over 23 years.

JENNY PEARSALL – Creative Director

Jenny has been in the design and print industry for over twenty years, holding various positions in graphic design, print buying, production and print management. She also owns Bovia Design Group, a company specializing in publications and corporate branding.

BRAD KADRICH – Writer

Brad is an award-winning journalist who spent more than 20 years covering the Plymouth community for the Plymouth Observer. He also spent 15 years serving his country in the U.S. Air Force.

BRAD EMONS – Writer

Over the course of his four decades with the Observer & Eccentric, Brad established himself as one of the preeminent prep sports reporters in the state, winning many journalism awards along the way. His greatest joy is interviewing local athletes and coaches, and reporting on their efforts.

SUE VOYLES – Writer

Growing up, Sue always knew she wanted to be a writer. She has written for many publications over her long career in public relations and journalism, and taught English and journalism at Schoolcraft College. In 2022, she received the national Headliner Award from the Association for Women in Communications.

TIM SMITH – Writer

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

KEN VOYLES – Writer/Photographer

Ken is an award-winning writer, photographer and designer whose career has spanned nearly five decades in and around metro Detroit. He started his journalism career in Plymouth, working for the Community Crier. He is the author of two books on Detroit history, loves to travel and has finished his first novel.

BRYAN MITCHELL – Photographer

Bryan started working as a photographer more than 30 years ago, and was a staff photographer for the Plymouth Observer in the 90s. He has freelanced for The Detroit News, The Guardian, Reuters, and other publications. His photography has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the globe.

BILL BRESLER – Photographer

Bill arrived in Plymouth in 1977 to work for the Community Crier. He also worked for the Plymouth Observer for many years. Bill, who taught photography at Madonna University, retired from what was left of the newspaper business in 2019 and now freelances. He’s happy to be back in the Plymouth community.

Election Season Off to a Concerning Start

Welcome to the May issue of The Rock !

It’s hard to believe that nearly half of the year has gone by already, but that means the summer season is quickly approaching and that means that the greater Plymouth community will soon be hopping. Plymouth does a great job with community events and this year looks to be no different—from the Friday night concerts that will be starting by the end of the month to the Wednesday afternoon events in Kellogg Park and, of course, the impending return of Art in the Park in July -- and more. We have a little preview of those concerts this month (page 8) as well as a wrap up of one of my favorite non-municipal events, Free Comic Book Day (page 12). I enjoyed seeing all of the fun at State of Comics on Forest Avenue—and I’m still looking for the best place for my new Old Man Logan figurine. Also, be sure to check out Ken Voyles’ piece on Denny’s Auto Service in Old Village (page 14). He did a great job of capturing the essence of the landmark and the type of business that is the backbone of the American economy.

You will find plenty of school district news in this issue, which I think is important because it highlights a couple of things: the willingness of service clubs and local businesses to support our educational institutions and our young people and both stories show the different types of educational opportunities available through the Plymouth-Canton Community School District. For those of us who don’t have much interaction with the district, it’s easy to overlook just how diverse the curriculum can be—and, of course, having a nationally-ranked school system never hurts property values and tends to create a talent pool that attracts new business.

In this issue, we kick off our election coverage and it looks like it will be a busy season for the Plymouth community. In the township, all the full-time elected officials face at least one challenger and there are 11 candidates vying for the four part-time trustee positions—plus state representative, 35th District Court judge, county commissioner. There will be a lot to cover in limited space, but we will make sure everyone has an opportunity to introduce themselves to voters and provide a few key issues.

This month, we concentrated on the introduction to the judicial race as well as the full-time elected race in Plymouth Township. Rest assured, we provide additional and equal coverage in each issue heading into the August Primary and general election in November.

I already have grave concerns about this election season. It’s going to be truly bizarre and probably pretty ugly--and it's already off to a rocky start. During the period of early voting leading up to the presidential primary, a township resident was caught on camera installing a camera and flashing light near a ballot-drop-off-location in a case of potential voter intimidation.

The incident was investigated by the township police and turned over to the state and no charges were filed. Still, though, it shows how Republican attacks on our election process have sewn distrust in the system, even down to the local level. It’s sad and a bit crazy.

The supervisor race in Plymouth Township, where incumbent Kurt Heise is facing long-time trustee Chuck Curmi, is already off to a roaring start, with each side accusing the other of bringing in a negative element to the community and being disrespectful to citizens—and who knows, maybe they’re both right.

This election season will determine more than just which party controls the White House or Congress, or who will dispense justice and settle disputes at the 35th District Court, or who leads the charge to improve our neighborhoods and local services. It will determine the character of our nation and character of our neighborhoods—and I believe, at every level, character counts.

We will not offer endorsements in these races, but we welcome you to send letters in support of your candidates. I just ask you to keep any criticism of any candidate rooted in fact—and avoid personal attacks. And I welcome any feedback, as well.

As always, thanks for reading!

Scott Spielman is the editor of The Rock. He welcomes your feedback at scottyspielman@gmail.com.

Plymouth woman hopes to inspire others with her Mrs. Michigan journey

For years, Aricka Truchan has helped metro Detroiters navigate the clogged roadways of southeast Michigan as quickly and efficiently as possible.

As a traffic reporter for WWJ News Radio and mid-day host on WOMC 104.3 FM, her voice is familiar to commuters and listeners alike. Truchan, a Plymouth resident, has recently become even more well-known throughout the community as she embarked on a journey of her own—to become Mrs. Michigan and compete for the Mrs. America title.

“It just seemed to fit in line with everything I was already doing: my schedule, being out and

By Scott Spielman

talking to people,” said Truchan. “So, in January I signed up.”

What followed was several rigorous months training in the gym, learning better nutrition— trying to polish up her ‘out and about skills.’

“As a radio DJ, you’re out with a lot of fun people. I had to learn to be a bit more proper and not be so crazy and all over the place,” she said with a chuckle.

The Mrs. America campaign culminated in a pageant on May 10. While she was ultimately unsuccessful in her quest to win the title, she won the Fitness Award and Interview Award-and said she learned a lot along the way.

“I love this town. I just

wanted to represent it as best as possible andhopefully make the community proud,” she said.

The road to her first pageant was not a straight one and, in a way, mirrored her journey to become a radio DJ. She became interested in both as a teenager.

Truchan said she wanted to get into the pageant circle and then modeling when she was about 15 years old. She initially wanted to join the Miss Teen USA pageant, but passed on it when she and her father, Howard, discovered that it wasn’t certified by the Better Business Bureau. She looked into modeling school and was told—at about 5’ 4”—that she wasn’t tall enough for most modeling work.

“It was a great experience,

but it didn’t really go anywhere,” she said.

At about the same time, she was out with her family and saw legendary Detroit DJ Anne Carlini doing a remote broadcast out in the community. Something clicked.

“I was like: this is what you do for your job?” she said. “This is really cool!”

That soon led to visits to the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, where she eventually enrolled, intent on becoming a TV weather reporter. At first things went well, but then came one of her final assignments: some on-air work.

“I hated it,” Truchan said. “I hated being on video. I hated talking on video. I hated everything about it.”

She switched to radio and, again, something clicked. She landed her first radio gig about six months after she graduated and has been on the air ever since.

After breaking in at 96.9 FM in Port Huron, she spent more than five years in Illinois and Fort Wayne Indiana, doing mid-day shifts and afternoon drives—as well as traveling to different locations around the country for remote work for the station. She returned to her Michigan roots right about when the Covid pandemic hit.

Now, her typical day starts in her in-home studio, where she pre-records news bits for Black Diamond Broadcasting in Midland, then she shoots to the studio in Southfield for her afternoon show on WOMC, then reports for traffic duty at WWJ.

“I

Plymouth resident Aricka Truchan, on her campaign to become Mrs. America

“It’s all radio, all the time,” she said.

The decision to join the Mrs. Michigan Pageant this year came after the death of her father in 2023.

“I had to find myself again after all that grief,” she said.

It was her hairdresser that first told her about the pageant— which was open to older, married women. She thought it would be a

good way to help process the grief and, in a way, honor the values her father instilled in her.

“I actually grew up in kind of a low-income situation. So if all things come about, I’m going to start a charity, Careers Out of Crisis, that’s going to help young women not only with interviewing skills, but to give them the tools they need to have a successful interview—the clothing they may need or any kind of guidance they might want,” Truchan said.

The idea came from talking with young women in low-income situations, she said, and hearing how often they were told they should settle for modest dreams.

“I was just like: ‘What? Girls can do whatever they want.’ It

was quite an eye-opener, hearing young women being told that they would only be able to be a hair stylist, or a cashier. I didn’t like hearing those kinds of things.

“My dad has always pushed me to be a very positive and goaloriented person. I’d like to instill those goals in somebody else if I can,” she said.

Replacing Ron Lowe

Plymouth’s Barone among 3 candidates for district court judge

The race for the next 35th District Court judge may make local history. There’s a possibility that the judge who replaces Judge Ron Lowe, the longest serving judge in the court’s history, will be the first locally elected female judge.

“They’ve never had a woman before,” said Maria Ruggirello, 30, a Northville resident who is one of three candidates to replace Lowe when he retires at the end of this term. “I think it’s very important. It’s representative of the people. When you look at all of the previous judges, they’re all good, qualified and smart men, but I think it’s time for a change.”

Joining Ruggirello in the race are Joe Barone, 52, of Plymouth and Michael Woodyard, 57, of Canton. Barone is a former Wayne County Commissioner with a law office near downtown Plymouth. Woodyard has been an assistant prosecuting attorney in Wayne County and then a criminal defense attorney in his private practice.

Ruggirello, who earned her law degree from Notre Dame in 2017, said running for judge has been a long-term goal for her.

“It’s just something that interests me. I love being in the courtroom. I care about justice, law and order,” she said.

Ruggirello has worked for the

By Scott Spielman

Foley & Lardner and Clark Hill law firms in Detroit, representing clients on everything from commercial litigation and supply chain work for auto suppliers and some defense work. She’s currently clerking for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth T. Clement.

Among her goals, if elected, are working with the 35th District’s treatment courts and expanding them if possible to ensure that substance abusers have options other than being jailed.

A lifelong resident of Northville, she said she thinks she can be an effective voice on the bench and offer perspective that the other candidates cannot.

“The community is very important to me. It’s my home base and I want to be there for a very, very long time,” she said.

Barone has been a practicing attorney for 27 years. He’s a Michigan State grad, with a Master’s in Law from Wayne State University. He served as Wayne County Commissioner from 2015-2018.

He said he’s concerned about the ongoing funding of the court, which serves the five communities of the Northvilles, the Plymouths and Canton. The court returns revenue to those communities based on caseload and population, but the Covid pandemic has

adversely affected that revenue. Many communities had to reduce their police forces, which caused a reduction in caseload — there was even some uncertainty over whether the third judge at the court was needed.

Legislation was pending to reduce the court to two judges, but it was defeated. Barone said that was a good thing: the communities are rebounding from the pandemic and, besides that, he said the court offers other vital programs like the sobriety courts and teen courts that he wants to continue and build on.

“I think we should continue those programs,” he said. “It does no good for anyone to sit in jail for 30 years. Usually, it’s a mental health issue or a social issue. We’re much better at handling that locally—but you can’t do that with two judges.”

His firm handles everything from probate/estate issues to criminal and civil cases. He said the next judge should have a strong connection with the community.

“I think it takes experience, someone who’s been in our community for a long time, someone who has practiced in the community. That will give you insight,” he said.

Woodyard has been a practicing

attorney since 2002. He completed his undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan and law school at Wayne State University. He was an assistant prosecuting attorney in Wayne County for 15 years before opening his private practice in 2017. He’s also had cases in courts around the state and in others, as well.

He said having spent so much time in courtrooms around the county gave him good insight into best practices that he’d like to fortify in the 35th District.

“Having been a lawyer for 22 years and being in the courtroom for 22 years, I had a chance to see how the role of judge affects the litigants and the search for justice,” he said. “I’ve had a chance to see how courtrooms operate and I think I have a very firm and clear understanding of the role the judge plays.”

He said he looks at the judge role as a key one not only in the court, but in the legal system as a whole and in the community, too.

“I think my role as a judge will really set the tone for how people perceive their experience in the courtroom. I really feel that way,” he said. “I think the judge is the leader of the court and that means taking responsibility for how the organization is perceived. I really think having an even keel, being able to be persuaded in what others have to say, is very important. The environment will be one of respect.”

Since there are more than two candidates, the judicial race will be on the August primary ballot. The top two candidates will move on to the November general election.

For more information on each candidate, visit the candidates’ websites at Mariafor35thdistrictjudge.com, Ilikemikelaw.com, or Baroneforjudge.com. The Rock will also have candidate profiles later this summer.

Expanded Friday night concerts return to Kellogg Park stage

By Brad Kadrich

As the lead singer of the Killer Flamingos, Alyssa Simmons gets jazzed up to play in front of large crowds.

She’ll get her chance this summer when Simmons and the rest of the Killer Flamingos take the stage as part of downtown Plymouth’s Music in the Air concert series, sponsored by Bank of Ann Arbor.

The concerts, which start at 7 p.m. Fridays (except during Art in the Park weekend in July) in Kellogg Park, routinely draw about 4,000 to 5,000 fans downtown

to listen, dance and enjoy the small-town atmosphere for which Plymouth is famous. The first one is scheduled for May 24.

“The bigger the crowd, the more excited (Simmons) gets,” said Darren Drake, who plays keyboards and handles the band’s booking. “She loves playing for large crowds. The more people, the more energy that comes in and goes out.”

The Killer Flamingos are celebrating their 30th year together—in a variety of iterations. This latest version revamped itself after losing what the band calls its “heartbeat:” drummer Tim Webber, who died suddenly in February 2023.

In addition to Drake and Simmons, the band consists of Jeff Supina on drums, Todd Best on guitar and David Gondoly on bass.

The Killer Flamingos, who hit the stage June 21, cover Top 40 across the decades, from the 80’s to current hits, with some Motown and other familiar favorites sprinkled in. They’ve regularly been at the top of

fan-voted lists like Hour Detroit Magazine’s “Best Band” and WDIV Click On Detroit’s “Best Local Band” since 2008.

After a band member saw

“The Killer Flamingos is a band we’ve tried to get for several years, but for whatever reason it just hasn’t worked out,” DDA Director Sam Plymale said.

the success of the Kellogg Park series first-hand, he convinced the rest to give Plymouth a shot. After previously trying to get the Flamingos on the playlist and being unable to coordinate their schedules, the Plymouth Downtown Development Authority, which hosts the concert series, finally nailed it down.

“We’re excited to have them. They’ve been around a long time, and they’re pretty well known in the local area.”

The Flamingos are one of a handful of new bands on the slate for this summer, Plymale said, but the series will also feature the popular bands that play nearly every year.

The focus

is on the

music,but we wanted to make it so mom and dad could come and enjoy the music and give the kids something to do, as well.”

Plymouth DDA Director Sam Plymale, on having more themed nights and expanding the family fun zone

For instance, the crowdpleasing Steve King and the Dittilies take the stage for the Fourth of July holiday concert, set for Friday, July 5. The Magic Bus, another Music in the Air regular,

closes out the schedule Aug. 30.

The music won’t be the only feature of the series. According to Plymale, the family fun zone, sponsored by Henry Ford Health, is being expanded.

The “Fabulous Fords” car show, featuring GT to the Model T and other Ford vehicles, is set for June 28. And a sports car show takes place in conjunction with the Aug. 16 concert that features Larry Lee and the Back in the Day Band.

“We’re expanding the fun zone, we’re having more themed nights and we’ll have activities like balloon animals and facepainting for the kids,” Plymale

pointed out. “Over the past few years, we’ve tried to make the event more family friendly to give the kids more to do other than just listen to the music.

“The focus is on the music, but we wanted to make it so mom and dad could come and enjoy the music and give the kids something to do, as well.”

The schedule includes:

• MAY 24: Family Fun Night with Michael May & the Messarounds

• MAY 31: 90s Night featuring Big Shiny Toons

Night with the Killer Flamingos

• JUNE 28: “GT to Model T: Fabulous Fords” car show featuring Zang

• JULY 5: Family Independence Day celebration with Steve King & the Dittilies

• JULY 12: no concert; Art in the Park

• JULY 19: Plymouth Art Night with the Kathleen Murray Band

• JUNE 7: Family Fun Night with Theo Gridiron & Friends

• JUNE 14: 80s Night featuring Sunset Blvd

• J UNE 21: Plymouth Dance

• JULY 26: Wally Donoghue Car Show with Power Play Detroit

• AUG. 2: First Responders “Touch a Truck” night with The Dan Rafferty Band

• AUG. 9: Veterans Night with Geff Phillips & Friends

• AUG. 16: “Sports Cars in the Park” car show night with Larry Lee & the Back in the Day Band

• AUG. 23: Family Fun Night with Lady Sunshine & the X Band

• AUG. 30: 60s Night/USA Hockey Night with Magic Bus Plymale called the schedule one of the best the series has had in a long time.

“We’re planning on packing the park all summer long,” Plymale said. “(Kellogg Park) is the perfect venue for the concerts. Most places don’t have a park in the middle of downtown. And especially in the times we’re in now—where people are watching their spending—you can’t get free entertainment. You can’t beat the music.”

For more information about the Friday night concerts, or any of the other concerts in Kellogg Park this summer, visit www.downtownplymouth.org

years, said there’s been a trend recently of placing developments along the corridor that go against its original intent, which was to create a research and development hub. Meijer is an example, he said.

“Meijer is a generator of a lot of police activity. The data exists with Northville Township’s experience at Haggerty and Eight Mile. There is a lot of activity in the parking lots,” Curmi said. “Just any business isn’t what we’re looking for. We want to be more selective in order to bring in businesses with career-generating jobs today. That’s what we want and that’s what we’ve traditionally done in Plymouth Township. So we’re deviating here—and that’s a mistake.”

Heise doesn’t see it that way.

It will be a busy election season in Plymouth Township this year. All three fulltime elected officials on the township board face at least one challenger and there are 11 candidates seeking four part-time trustee positions--and that's on top of the race for 35th District Court and statewide offices.

TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR

The makeup of the board of trustees will see at least some changes this year, because long-time trustee Chuck Curmi is running against incumbent Supervisor Kurt Heise. Both are Republicans and there is no Democrat candidate for that office so, barring a write-in campaign, the winner of the August primary will get the job. Heise, a former state representative, was elected on a write-in campaign in 2016 and won re-election in 2020. He counts among his accomplishments a return to professionalism in township hall, as well as rebuilding the police and fire

departments. Both had been nearly dismantled under the previous administration—they were understaffed; Fire Station 2 was closed—and now both are fully staffed with modern equipment. The financial turnaround was just as important, he said.

“We could not get our audits done on time; our budgets were not done on time. Our fiscal house was a mess,” Heise said.

“We turned that all around in the first four years and in the last four years we’ve been building on that success.

“My theme for 2024 is focus on the future. Let’s move on,” he added. “Let’s focus on some of the wonderful things that are happening in the township, like economic development. I want us to be well-positioned for the future.”

He pointed to all the development taking place in the MITC corridor on the west side of the township as proof, with companies like NEL Hydrogren choosing the township, along with smaller projects like the Meijer that will soon be constructed on that side of town.

“We have to look at the tremendous success we’ve had with the MITC corridor—all of the old DeHoCo (Detroit House of Corrections) properties. By working with Northville Township and Wayne County and the state of Michigan, we made it an economic engine for western Wayne County. You’re generating revenue on property that never generated any taxes.”

Curmi, a retired engineer who has served on the board for 28

“For us to be able to take these contaminated and vacant and abandoned sites that are underutilized and turn them around for economic development and job creation— that doesn’t happen when you have an anti-government supervisor. You’ve got to have an experienced collaborator who can work with local state and county officials.” Curmi said he also wants to improve the way residents are treated at board meetings.

"The tone in how we treat our residents when they come to object to things at our board meetings is alarming, attacking people who are opposed to things—with very logical reasons. It’s not good. We seem to have an attitude of elitism or ‘we know better than you.’ It’s something I have never done. I want to listen to all sides."

TOWNSHIP CLERK

Incumbent Jerry Vorva is facing two challengers: Andrew Miller in the August Primary

and, should he win that race, former clerk Nancy Conzelman, a Democrat, in November. Miller could not be reached for comment on this story.

Vorva, a former state representative and former Plymouth City Commissioner, was first elected clerk in 2016, defeating Conzelman, and then ran successfully against her in 2020. Like Heise, he counted among his accomplishments “turning around” the department.

Elections have changed since he first took office, with the implementation of no reason absentee voting in 2018 as well as the nine-day early voting period that went into effect this year. He said was proud of the way his office kept up with those changes and restored faith in the office.

“When you realize all the changes that have happened since 2016, it’s really been monumental. It’s required someone who had a good grasp of how the system works, how to implement the new processes. It required someone who was welleducated and well-versed in government to begin with.”

TOWNSHIP TREASURER

Incumbent Bob Doroshewitz faces a Republican challenger in Janai Stepp, 54, a project manager with business background in cleaning and marketing businesses. She ran for township trustee in 2012, finishing in last place.

Doroshewitz served for more than 16 years as a township trustee, before being appointed to the treasurer position when former treasurer—and current trustee candidate—Mark Clinton had to step down for health reasons. This will be

his first time running for reelection in that position.

A licensed attorney with a background in IT, he said he’s well-suited for both the policy-making portion of the job as well as the day-to-day administration of it.

“The government is about helping people and improving their lives,” he said. “I’m able to help someone every day with a problem they have. It may be a small thing, but it’s not a small thing to them.”

In the past two years, he said he’s restructured the township’s investment savings, bringing in, by the end of this year, more than $3 million in incremental interest revenue.

“My office continues to deliver on the work,” he said.

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE

The part-time trustee candidates include incumbents Jen Buckley, John Stewart, Audrey Monaghan, former treasurer Clinton, Bill Gregory, Daniel Callahan, Sandra Groth and Paul Schulz--all Republicans.

The Democrat trustee candidates are: Robert MIller, Angela Nolan and Michael Westra.

The top four Republicans will move on to the general election in November, as will all three Democrats.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Watch for more details about all the candidates in future editions of The Rock.

Plymouth-Canton high schools enjoy top state, national rankings

Plymouth-Canton school officials received further validation recently that they are providing a top-notch education to students.

All three high schools were ranked among the top in Michigan—and the country—according to rankings in the U.S. News & World Report.

“This achievement is a reflection of the amazing teachers, staff, students and academic and extracurricular programs we have at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools,” said School Superintendent Monica Merritt.

Plymouth High School was ranked 26th in Michigan, Salem High School, 29th, and Canton High School is 31st among the more than 1,100 high schools in Michigan. Among the 25,000 public high schools in the country, Plymouth, Salem and Canton high schools were all ranked in the top 5%.

The rankings are based on weighted factors, including college readiness (30%), college curriculum breadth (10%), state assessment proficiency (20%), state assessment performance (20%), underserved student performance (10%) and graduation rate (10%). The data used is from the 2021-22 school year.

“We are thrilled that our three high schools are once again among the Top 50 in Michigan,” said Merritt. “We are committed to providing a world-class, well-rounded education from pre-K all the way through high school so students can learn, prepare and thrive.”

The Ectomobile was a hit, but fortunately the Ghostbusters weren’t needed.

The hearse-turned-spiritwarriors-transport was parked on Forest Avenue on May 4 as part of Free Comic Book Day, which ushered hundreds of patrons to State of Comics and unofficially kicked off the event season in downtown Plymouth.

Initially an online business, he moved into Forest Avenue in 2017. Business was steady—but then Covid hit.

Free Comic Book Day is celebrated in comic book shops across the country on the first Saturday in May. Hetkowski said he teamed up with area libraries for the event and also brought in Jason Douglass, a writer and teacher from Northville, to help celebrate the medium.

Sean Glasgow, a teen services librarian with the Plymouth District Library, said the library maintains an extensive collection of comics and graphic novels for just that purpose.

“It was a good day,” said Ryan Hetkowski, 35, a Plymouth resident. He owns and operates State of Comics. “It’s meant to be fun and we want the kids to come in and show them that being in the comic store is a fun place to be. We want to show them a safe environment where they can be comfortable. It’s all about growing the community and growing the medium, as well.”

“It’s still reading,” Glasgow said. “If kids want to read

comics, let them read comics. It gets them into a life-long habit.”

The shop itself is a bit of a success story, having expanded from the small storefront next to its present location—the old place is now a barber shop— that primarily sold Funko Pop figurines into a comic book, gaming and action figure business with a miniature arcade.

Comics weren’t the basis of the business when he opened it in 2017. A collector of Funko Pops, he decided to turn it into a business when he saw the demand for the smallish figures, which are cartoonish depictions of comic book characters, literary characters and pop icons.

“I panicked a bit, obviously, like everybody did,” Hetkowski said. “We just started hustling at home. We did Facebook Live shows, auctions every night. We were posting things in Facebook groups that people could buy. We just made it through.”

When the economy started to recover in May of 2020 and brick-and-mortar businesses started to rebound, the dance studio next to his shop was not quite so lucky. Due to CDC guidelines, they could not reopen right away. When his landlord let the dance company out of their lease, Hetkowski was right there, seeking to expand, aided in part by a massive collection of old and

boomed,” he said.

Now the inventory is bolstered by Pokemon, Magic: the Gathering, Warhammer and other gaming materials, board games and more. There’s a wall of Funko Pops, of course, and

room to host the role-playing games that are regular occurrences.

For Free Comic Book Day, the goal is above and beyond merely getting more people into the shop and turning curious people into regular customers.

“I think the goal for us is to get kids in here, to get kids reading comics. That’s our biggest goal: to get kids reading, in general,” he said.

“Graphic novels are just great for kids. There are Harvard studies that prove it

reading comprehension. It’s something that kids can feel comfortable getting into. It’s tough getting them something that’s exciting to read, but graphic novels are easy—they’ll tear through a graphic novel in 20 minutes.”

Sam Plymale, director of the Plymouth Downtown Development Authority (DDA), said Free Comic Book Day is a

great way to kick off the outdoor season.

“That kind of event and business is really important to our downtown,” Plymale said. “It’s really a good draw that brings a lot of people into the community to look around and experience downtown Plymouth.”

Z Plumberz is amazing. Diagnosed an issue that others couldn’t. At the house same day we called. Explained the issue in terms I could understand. One company wanted to charge us $50,000 for a brand new sewer line. Pete and team went over the new sewer lining technology they have and it was only going to cost a fraction of the others. The job is now done and we won’t have issues for a century. They are total pros! BEFORE AFTER

At one time there were as many as seven small gas stations throughout Plymouth’s Old Village area. Thanks to the railroad tracks that cut through town, and a passenger depot, the area thrived commercially as Starkweather Street even competed to be the city’s main street for a while.

Today, Old Village is a much quieter neighborhood. There are still small shops and stores but the trains no longer stop, and now there are only two gas stations left. Dominating the corner of Starkweather and Pearl, though, is a third building that also once housed a busy station, operating for decades selling fuel and later becoming an auto repair training ground for one family of master mechanics.

Owned by Dennis Wheeler, known by most everyone as “Denny,” the unassuming lower town site doesn’t look like much, but it could arguably have the honor as being the oldest continually operated business location in the few blocks that make up Plymouth’s

Old Village.

Sure, the pumps are gone, the underground fuel tanks removed and the uniformed attendants a faded memory, but Wheeler remembers the past very well, thanks to some old photos--and because he’s lived and breathed the auto service and repair business for over 60 years, beginning as an 11-year-old kid and now as patriarch of a three generation auto family.

“You know a lot has changed but people still need their cars repaired and that’s what we do,” says 72-year-old Wheeler, one afternoon while sitting in the lobby of his business. “People ask us what we do all the time. I tell them we’re mechanics. If it’s mechanical we fix it.”

OLD VILLAGE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE

Starting in the 1920s as a Crown service center,

Denny’s Service site later became a Sinclair Oil station owned by Elmer Nance, the man who would first take a chance on a young Wheeler, often letting him cut the grass, run errands or do odd jobs. He’d also buy him a Coke from the nickel machine and generally took a liking to the young man.

“There were all these gas stations and other businesses back then and a lot of hustle and bustle,” says Wheeler. “I was too young to work officially but there was plenty to do. These days it’s different around here but we haven’t changed much. We just try and be good neighbors and serve our customers.”

Elmer’s place was a classic fuel station but didn’t do much maintenance or mechanical work. Wheeler hung around because his older brother Jim worked there and he wanted something to do, being one of the

neighborhood’s “poor kids.”

One of eight children raised alone by his mother, Grace Wheeler, the youngster never thought much about a career or the future. His family came from Pennsylvania but then his father abandoned Grace and the children.

Living on Holbrooke in Old Village, Wheeler said life could be hard but his grandmother helped and his mother did all she could to take care of her children. Early on Wheeler showed a willingness to work and later on an aptitude for mechanical repair.

So began his auto career hanging around Elmer’s. As the 1960s progressed Wheeler went to junior high and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1970. Little did he know that within six years he would own Elmer’s station business.

After high school

(Left) When Denny’s was Sinclair Oil, owner Elmer Nance (right) hired young Dennis Wheeler to do odd jobs. (Right) In the 1920s, Denny’s was the Crown Service Center.

Wheeler went to Schoolcraft College and got a degree in auto mechanics, working in the community college’s auto shop.

“After school I was thinking about going to work for one of the Big 3,” says Wheeler, who got the name Denny when Elmer put it on his work shirt instead of Dennis. “One day Elmer asked if I was interested in owning the station. He said he had a deal for me.”

Elmer told Wheeler he could buy the business if he took five years to work and to save up $5,000. Keep in mind Wheeler was making less than $1.50 an hour. He had married Victoria

MASTER MECHANICS

Today Denny’s has remained a steadfast sight along Starkweather, also expanding to a second building in Old Village. The team works on all makes of domestic and international vehicles as well as EVs and small trucks.

The shop is a jumble of parts, tools, bins, rags, barrels, hoses, computers, wires, lights and the typical controlled chaos one finds where men work hard at a hard task.

“We do everything mechanical on a car,” he says. “We have three certified master mechanics including me. That means we have passed all nine of the certifications

and they soon had two children, Michael and Carrie.

“That was a lot of money back then,” says the Canton resident. “What we did was we lived off my salary and we banked Vicky’s salary. So in a way she bought the place.”

So 48 years ago, in 1976, Wheeler took over the station on a land contract, later incorporating in the 1980s. It was a perfect fit, except for one thing: Wheeler didn’t want to sell gasoline – there was little money in it for a small station. At one time he remembers a gallon of gas was 27 cents, but his goal was bigger - to evolve into an auto repair business, something he had already begun pushing Elmer toward before buying the place.

required by the state.”

Over the years Wheeler said he has lost count of how many cars or customers he’s helped, though he remembers having a list at one time with over 20,000 names on it.

“It’s hard to image how many cars have been through here,” he says looking around. “We don’t advertise. This is word of mouth. At a minimum people expect to get good service in a reasonable amount of time with the problem taken care of.”

That in a nutshell is Wheeler’s business credo. He says trust, honesty, education and knowledge all go hand in hand when it comes to working on modern automobiles.

But he’s not alone. Wheeler’s son Michael has worked in the business for 30 years and is now an owner. Michael’s son Trysten has joined the mechanics team as well and Wheeler’s son-inlaw, Jack Cameron, is the “face” of the operation, running the business side of things.

Walking through the shop Wheeler points to the most important tool in a modern mechanic’s toolbox – a giant computer monitor, setup next to a vehicle on a hoist and with several smaller tablets nearby.

“Everything is about documentation and diagnostics these days,” he says. “We’re advisors and a lot like doctors. We have to learn to speak different languages to the different people we deal with.”

For Wheeler, a devout man of faith who has attended a local Church of Christ for decades, that means being able to explain something to a customer but also clearly talk to a parts dealer or another mechanic, each in their own way.

“I like working and I like people,” he says. “Trust is really what it’s all about. That and being able to explain yourself.”

Wheeler likes to tell a funny

story about a time he told a customer that her engine “was missing.” She began irate and said there was no way her engine was gone, she had seen it when she dropped off the car. Later on Wheeler realized that his approach to explaining the issue – the engine was misfiring –wasn’t working. That was when he realized talking to customers wasn’t the same as talking with another gearhead.

“Helping people, that’s what this job is,” he says. “You have to keep it simple. It’s really that simple.”

Denny's Service Center

OWNERS: Dennis “Denny” and Michael Wheeler

ADDRESS: 1008 Starkweather Street, Plymouth PHONE: (734) 453-8115

WEBSITE: www.dennysautomotiverepair.com

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.

It’s important. They are a local voice, people learning how to do that craft, that skill.”

Sincock said the club conducted a survey among its members to read the tea leaves as to where a large chunk of money would be best spent.

“That (88.1 the Park) was one that kept bubbling to the top,” Sincock said.

Rotary Club secretary James Gietzen concurred, adding that soon after Keith and Kreger were informed about the potential gift, ideas started percolating.

“That was the crux of how the project began,” Gietzen said. “They started developing, ‘It would be nice if we could have a studio with multiple people in it instead of the small studios that we’re in.’

“It’s setting them up for the next 50 years and that’s going to look quite different than the previous 50 years for radio.”

The classroom adjacent to 88.1 The Park’s current high school radio facilities is empty and nondescript, to say the least.

But thanks to a major gift of $200,000 from the Rotary Club of Plymouth, a world of eyeopening possibilities is about to open for future generations of broadcast journalism students.

On May 10, at the Rotary Club of Plymouth’s monthly meeting, held at Salem High School –where 88.1 the Park’s studio is located on the second floor – the gift was formally announced as what will be the cherry on the top of a $520,000 makeover planned for 2025 or 2026.

The gift will be the highlight of the Rotary’s 100 Years of Giving program (the Plymouth Rotary launched in 1924), with other smaller projects including resurfacing of the field at the Miracle League of Plymouth and making Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements at Rotary Park.

“We were just blown away (by the Plymouth Rotary’s gift),” said station manager Bill Keith, who has been part of the awardwinning program for 33 years.

“They approached us a while back and said (the club was) considering doing a major gift to the radio station in recognition of the 100th anniversary in 2024.

“They said we’d love to have you dream a little bit about what you could do that would really make a difference.”

It didn’t take Keith, assistant manager John Kreger and others very long to realize what a transformation the money and project would have on 88.1 the Park, the popular moniker for WSDP.

Begin by turning the unused classroom into a buzzworthy locale for multiple radio and video interviews – some tailored for podcasts, others for dayto-day coverage of PlymouthCanton news stories and issues that matter to the region – while also providing enough space to

increase student enrollment from 45 to perhaps 60.

“It’s increased opportunities for students to learn the life skills that come with doing news,” Kreger said. “Not just from a media perspective but the poise that comes from asking questions, dealing with adults, being in that kind of situation. It becomes an investment in Plymouth-Canton covering Plymouth-Canton.”

TOP OF THE CHARTS

For Rotarians including Paul Sincock, who worked at the station in the 1970s when it was at 89.3 on the FM dial, the service group couldn’t be happier to make such a gift that will resonate for decades to come.

“The club wanted, for the 100-year anniversary, to make sure that there was something that acknowledged the fact that we’ve been 100 years and to make a legacy contribution to the community,” said Sincock, the longtime Plymouth city manager. “There needs to be a local voice.

Plymouth Rotary’s generosity won’t enable that future vision to take shape all by itself. In order for 88.1 the Park’s studio upgrades to be realized, a multipronged fundraising campaign is launching at the same time the Plymouth Rotary’s “legacy gift” was announced May 10.

According to Keith, 88.1 already has about $125,000 in the bank. About $200,000 more will need to be collected, after which the Rotary Club’s donation will be consummated.

“Part of it is, they only want to provide it if we raise the entire amount of money needed,” Keith explained. “The deadline is the end of 2025. So there’s about 18 months, we should be in good shape to tackle it. We’ve got some really good supporters in helping us develop the outreach for donations. We’re going to be reaching out to other foundations, local listeners, alumni of the radio station, community members that want to support it.”

The fundraising effort will be publicized on the district websites and also be regularly mentioned on the 300-watt airwaves –which reaches listeners up to 10 miles from Plymouth-Canton Educational Park.

“Our signal reaches 5-to-10 miles in western Wayne County, we cover Plymouth, Canton, Westland, Livonia,” Keith said. “And anywhere in the world via our website. Most people probably listen on the radio, especially while in their cars.”

Keith smiled about how soon work could begin. As of now, with December 2025 the fundraising deadline, a successful campaign would signal construction in the summer of 2026.

But should there be a “home run” in the fundraising efforts and enough money is collected by the end of 2024, for example, the work could start in summer 2025.

BACKING A WINNER

rolling well into the future.

WSDP has been the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ high school station of the year for 13 times during the past 20 years –including seven years in a row entering 2023-24.

“That’s a direct result of the hard work of the students,” Keith said. “They are highly recognized for their work and that’s allowed the radio station to be recognized, too.”

With that track record, students are drawn into enrolling. Now with the plan to infuse more than $500,000 into the station, more and more youngsters will be enthused and enthralled about signing up.

“Students sometimes come in not realizing how much they’re going to enjoy this.” Keith continued. “They are intrigued a little bit, but the minute they get involved you love seeing when that light bulb goes off and it’s created a new passion for somebody.

“We have so many students that come in thinking ‘I want to work behind the scenes.’ We always say ‘That’s fine, but we’re going to get you on the air, too.’ They are really shy at first but then they just bloom and become marvelous communicators and much more confident.”

The first lines of the Rotary Club of Plymouth’s mission statement describes the organization as being “the service heartbeat” of Plymouth, where business and community leaders of today, and tomorrow, come together.

That the nonprofit Plymouth Rotary, and specifically its fundraising arm (Plymouth Rotary Foundation) would put its might – and money – behind 88.1 the Park underscores its strong confidence in the radio station and the ability of staff members and students to keep the ball

And programs such as the one helmed by Keith and Kreger help build a foundation for tomorrow’s leaders.

“Sure, we do get students that consider a career in broadcasting, or media,” Keith stressed. “But the vast majority of our students don’t go into media. They’ll become teachers, lawyers, engineers or whatever other career path

they might want to pursue. But the experience of working in a communications field, developing their skills as communicators and team leaders goes with them in whatever career they choose.”

That is an important reason why Rotarians put 88.1 the Park at the top of its list of recipients for 100 Years of Giving.

Another is the strong connection between the service club and local education, going back to its inception.

“When you look at Rotary,” Gietzen said, “they have a longstanding tradition of helping the school district and being intertwined with PlymouthCanton schools. All the way back, the first president of Rotary in Plymouth was the first (district) superintendent. So I think it’s a nice nod 100 years later to be giving back to the schools.”

And 88.1 the Park does its best to give just as much to the community.

In late April, a Michigan Philharmonic concert was broadcast over the radio station. Other events 88.1 the Park covers include Art in the Park, the district’s mental health and wellness fair, choir and orchestra performances and a recent record show held at Salem.

“And we (broadcast performances by) the Park Players Theatre Company during Covid because they were not

able to have a live in-theater audience,” Keith added.

Don’t forget about the Plymouth Rotary’s annual chicken dinner, an essential annual fundraiser for the club. So naturally, doing what they can to assist the Rotarians as well as provide on-site coverage, are members of Bill Keith’s radio crew. Of course they do, because the Rotary Club of Plymouth and WSDP/88.1 the Park are two longtime community stalwarts with much, much more to give.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Plymouth Rotary’s $200,000 gift to 88.1 the Park is part of the student radio station’s larger fundraising effort to bring in $520,000 for some major upgrades to its studios at Salem High School. If you’d like to contribute to their goal, please contact the station at 881ThePark@ gmail.com or (734) 416-7732. You can also visit www.881thepark.com.

After playing four years of college basketball, Marius Williams decided he still wanted to give back to the sport he loves.

For former Romanian professional ball player, now licensed international basketball agent Vlad Moldoveanu, it’s a business partnership with Williams that continues to thrive at Hoopdrillz, an indoor basketball training facility situated just off Sheldon and M-14 in Plymouth Township.

Hoopdrillz, located at 44191 Plymouth Oaks Boulevard, Suite 700, is adjacent to Ethos Human Performance, an athletic performance training facility which was formerly occupied by Barwis Methods.

Williams, a former standout guard and tennis player at Belleville High who played collegiate basketball two seasons at NCAA Division II ArkansasMonticello before transferring to NAIA Concordia University in Ann Arbor where he scored 1,011 career points, hit the ground running when he and Moldoveanu opened their new

basketball training facility.

Hoopdrillz has become a haven for individualized as well as group training. They also conduct clinics and camps serving prospective players from all age groups.

“We target anyone that loves basketball, first and foremost, who want to grow and get better at basketball,” Williams said. “We start from ages seven and go all the way up to professionals. If you are a 7-year-old boy or girl that loves basketball and wants to get better at basketball we welcome those.”

Hoopdrillz is not your traditional full-sized gym facility. It’s elementary-sized in nature, but its 25- by 40-foot dimensions give their clients plenty of space to work on their individual skills.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-9 Moldoveanu, who resides in Northville, brings uniquely different perspective to Hoopdrillz. Moldoveanu played high school basketball in the Washington D.C. area after landing from his native Romania. He spent two years playing for NCAA Division I George Mason University before transferring to American University, averaging

generating clientele,” Williams said. “He’s got an AAU team that is kind of like a walking billboard. We got a bunch of kids on an AAU that comes into us as well for training. With our partnership, he’s given us a lot of leeway to move the business forward, which I greatly appreciate about him and giving me that cushion to say, ‘Hey, you can do this on your own and I’m here to provide the help for you as a teammate,’ and I think that’s been the catalyst for everything.”

18 and 20 points, respectively, while earning All-Patriot League first-team honors his junior and senior years.

Moldoveanu went on to have a 12-year professional career in Europe with stops in Italy, France, Estonia, Poland, Turkey, Greece and Romania before retiring in 2022.

During his pro off seasons, Moldoveanu would return to the area and work and train with Williams. Vlad and his wife Krysta (Cicala), a former Northville High All-State volleyball player who he first met while she was playing volleyball for American University, are married and have three young sons residing in Northville.

“We started together from the get-go,” Moldoveanu said of Williams. “I was the first pro he ever trained and we just kept growing after that.”

While Williams and Moldoveanu tag team their teaching and training methods at Hoopdrillz, Moldoveanu handles the operations side of things.

“We’ve got a great marketing team that helps us as well with

After retiring from pro basketball, Moldoveanu, a former Euroleague and EuroCup player, founded VM Hoops Agency, which currently represents 45 professionals worldwide, including 18 Americans. He represents players anywhere from the NBA’s G League to Japan and Latin America.

“I have guys everywhere really -- from New Zealand, Australia, Romania, Croatia, guys all over the world,” Moldoveanu said.

‘GET

IN, GET OUT’

During the summers, Hoopdrillz will work with 30 to 40 pro players including NBA G League players Kam Hankerson (Wisconsin-Green Bay) and Tre Maddox (Oakland-Cal FullertonWestern Michigan), both of whom played together at Novi High. Plymouth High grad Anthony Crump (Western Michigan/ Northern Illinois/UNC Asheville) is also a new client and has been joined in the gym by regulars Jordan Morgan (Michigan), Trendon Hankerson (Northern Illinois/Akron), Wendell Green (Eastern Kentucky/Auburn), Rashad Williams (Oakland/St. Louis/Arkansas Pine-Bluff) and E.C. Matthews (Rhode Island).

Most of them prefer very individual workouts – tailor made -- or two-man workouts, which usually run just under an hour.

“I told my guys, ‘Get in, get out. Don’t spend hours there. It’s

overrated,’” Moldoveanu said. “Sleeping in the gym is overrated. Once you get to a certain age you’ve got to get in and get out. With Marius hands-on we’re going to be here 50 minutes – and that’s it because your body can only take a certain amount of miles. Overdoing it, I think, it kind of becomes counterproductive.”

For the 6-foot-4 Matthews, who led Romulus to the Class A state championship in 2013 (for Alabama coach Nate Oats) before going on to have a stellar career at Rhode Island, it’s been a long and winding road professionally. Now 29, he is coming off one

of his best seasons overseas in North Macedonia and he credits Hoopdrillz for much of his success.

“Very friendly,” Matthews said of the Hoopdrillz atmosphere, “but they want to push you at the end of the day and have your best interest at the end of the day. There’s a lot of basketball trainers where you can do a lot of cone work and get up a lot of shots on the day, but both Marius and Vlad – they like the details. If you’re foot placement is off by a degree…he’ll tell you, or if your head is down while you’re trying to shoot, a pull-up shot, and he’ll tell you, ‘Your head is down,’ and to do it over. And when the game comes, you’re

perfect. I’d say it’s the details is what they emphasize here.”

Professionally, Matthews has had pitstops with the NBA G League Raptors and Pelicans, along with seasons in Iceland, Finland, Portugal, Angola, and the Czech Republic. He wants to play as long as he can.

“I’m very gracious to go over there and play basketball, get to meet people, be in their culture,” he said. “And at the end of the day you get to play basketball. After working here in the off season, I went there – I wouldn’t say it was a cakewalk – the skill work did show. The progress did show and it was a good year.”

The 6-foot-3 Williams, a Wayne Memorial High grad, played basketball at three different Division I schools including Oakland, St. Louis and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

This past season he averaged a team-best 17.7 points per game, and shot 40% from three-point range, along with 82% from the free throw line. He scored 23 points versus NCAA champion UConn, 26 against Minnesota with a high game of 33 vs. Alabama State.

And to launch his pro career, Rashad Williams believes Marius Williams and Moldoveanu are the best instructors. And being in a small facility doesn’t matter.

“Starting off, Marius is a great trainer,” Williams said. “This facility reminds me of home. Growing up my dad always said, ‘If it ain’t rough, it ain’t right.’ I never really needed much, never really had much outside my court in the backyard, or in the driveway.

“That’s what it reminds me of -two rims in here. Got everything I need. And at the end of the day, it’s about having that space. I’m big on having an imagination. I don’t need a full-court. I don’t need the most glamorous facility and stuff like that. It’s just about the work for me and having that imagination, and just my mentality of getting better.”

VERY METHODICAL

Rashad Williams is seeking a shot in the NBA’s G League with a worst-case scenario going overseas to play. He believes Hoopdrillz provides him with strong fundamental base.

“It’s real methodical, very, very detailed and just everybody in here, everybody who walks through the door has the mentality that they’re trying to get better and something that they’re working on,” Rashad Williams said. “I think that’s one thing that we all have in common. And just the love of the game of basketball.”

Hoopdrillz, however, doesn’t want to pigeonhole its clientele. It caters to the grassroots players beginning at an early age and filtering up to middle school, high school, JUCO, NAIA and NCAA Division III-II-I prospects.

“It’s just not a business for me and Marius,” Moldoveanu said. “It’s not that I’m living on it, it’s giving back. We have JUCO kids, some kids who cannot really pay. They come in and we find a way for them. It’s helping these young players out. That’s why Marius and I are so aligned in the business. We train them and get paid for that, but it’s a lot more than that.”

Fundamentals are obviously a huge part of their operation, something that is emphasized in Europe.

Two years ago, Moldoveanu took Marius Williams to Romania at his basketball camp where he got a chance to work with an assistant coach from the Greece National Team who was coaching at the World Cup. The two were able to bounce ideas back and forth off each other.

But the ultimate goal is to continue to expand their teaching methods.

“He’s going back again this summer where he actually gets a good chance to improve himself, too, so we’re both trying to grow,” Moldoveanu said. “I think every trainer has their pros and cons and every trainer can do things and teach things differently. And it’s a

matter of fit. Basketball is not one size fits all.

“It depends what you’re looking for, we could be the best fit, but I think it’s just a case-to-case scenario. It’s not, if you come here you’re going to do this. It’s kind of you get in the gym, see what it is. But if you put in the work, you’re going to get better with us, for sure. It comes down to the work the players put in with us. That’s the key to our success.”

OWNERS: Marius Williams and Vlad Moldoveanu

ADDRESS: 44191 Plymouth Oaks Blvd., Suite 700, Plymouth Township

PHONE: (734) 218-0496 or (407) 476-1526

WEBSITE: Hoopdrillz.com

Ford Motor donates three vehicles to help promote automotive careers

By Scott Spielman | Photos by John Heider

There’s a 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor at Canton High School that was once stolen, led police on a high-speed chase, went airborne and careened through two barns.

It’s final destination? The auto garage at the high school, where Plymouth-Canton students will have the ability to take it apart and put it back together through the school’s auto program.

“It looks terrible right now, but it’s fixable,” said Gerald Lickey, P-CCS CTE automotive instructor. “We weren’t sure if it was ever going to run again, but it fires right up.”

The Bronco was one of three newer vehicles donated to the program by Ford Motor through the Blackwell Ford and Bill Brown Ford dealerships. The other two, 2024 Mustangs, were damaged in the torrential rains of August 2023 and cannot be sold to the public.

Ford donated the cars and hosted a mini auto show at Canton High this month to promote its Automotive Career Explorer program, which is active in

1,500 schools across the country, according to Mike McClean, a market area coordinator for Ford.

“There is a tremendous need for technicians in the industry— not just at Ford and Lincoln dealerships, but in the industry as a whole,” he said. “It’s estimated that there will be a demand for close to a million automotive and diesel technicians by 2026. We really have to reinvest and grow these programs that have been, in a lot of cases, neglected for many years.

“The Ford ACE Program gives the students access to Ford factory training that they can then carry with them when they go to Ford and Lincoln dealerships,” he added. “In doing that, we found that a lot of these schools have very dated and old equipment and vehicles and that’s where we’ve gotten involved in finding ways to get newer technology and newer vehicles into these schools.”

NEWER MODELS

The cars were certainly needed, according to Lickey. He

said all of the cars used by the program are donated, but most are older. The most recent model other than the three donated by Ford is from 2008.

“Typically shop cars are donated—people are buying a new car and they’ll donate them as a tax write-off. They’re

the first time in at least two decades that ford has given new vehicles at the high school level.

usually older models. Now we have some newer ones to work on,” he said. “This is probably

“Basically what the kids are going to do is take these things apart, look at whatever system we’re working on in class, learn about them and then put them back together,” he added. “These will probably last us 10 years.”

More than 300 students take part in the program at the high

school. Many plan to pursue automotive-related careers, others just like the experience.

Izzy Seltz, a junior, said she plans on attending Michigan State University and studying nutritional science, but is taking the auto classes because her family has a deep history in the automotive industry—her father worked for Ford and her grandfather helped launch a plant in Tennessee. She’s learning a different aspect of the field.

“I’m not someone who normally works on all the cars, but I work on the paperwork and online

work,” she said. “It’s a little different aspect from the hands-on part, but it’s similar: things don’t run if the paperwork doesn’t done.

“I think this donation is super beneficial to the next generation, especially with these newer

to do the stuff in this industry,” Cioroch said. “He knows what it’s like and he wants to get these kids everything they need to get started.

“This donation gives them more opportunities to learn on newer

It also forges lasting relationships with the district. John Magnusson took the program in 1974 and 1975 before graduating from Canton High School in 1976. His children have gone through the program, too. After a long career

“At P-CCS, we strive every day to provide an education that prepares our students for the jobs of the future, including jobs in the automotive sector. Thanks to partners like Ford, P-CCS can continue giving students in our community a world-class education that provides real-world, hands-on experiences that prepare them to compete for jobs.”

Superintendent Monica

Merritt

cars we’re getting,” Seltz added. “It’s the turning point of the automotive industry and we’re learning it right here, in high school.”

Ben Minehart, a senior, agreed. Minehart said he grew up around cars and wants to become a diesel mechanic after he graduates.

“We have great teachers. They definitely help us get out there in the field,” he said. “This helps our program a lot. Most of the cars we get are usually older.”

Zack Cioroch took auto classes for three years at Canton High School and went to work at Blackwell Ford after he graduated in 2022. Now a technician there, he said the education was invaluable to him.

“[Mr. Lickey] taught us everything we needed to do to go into a dealership to be a technician. He definitely cared about actually teaching us how

cars,” he added. “It gives them more motivation. I think it’s great for them to be able to learn on newer cars that aren’t all beat up.”

EV PROGRAM

P-CCS is the first school district in Michigan with a full-fledged EV auto program. The district also offers auto classes geared toward female students to help meet the growing interest among young women in automotive technology, said School Superintendent Monica Merritt.

“At P-CCS, we strive every day to provide an education that prepares our students for the jobs of the future, including jobs in the automotive sector,” she said. “Thanks to partners like Ford, P-CCS can continue giving students in our community a world-class education that provides real-world, hands-on experiences that prepare them to compete for jobs.”

as a graphics supervisor at General Dynamics, Magnusson is now retired and driving a PlymouthCanton school bus.

“It’s really neat to see these kids get interested in cars. It’s great seeing them put the time and the effort in,” said Magnusson. “These kids will take these things apart, figure out what was wrong with them and put them back together again. It’s an amazing program.”

Multi-year MDOT project will be challenging to navigate

By Tim Smith

Déjà vu all over again is what many motorists, businesses and residents in Plymouth and Northville might soon be experiencing.

That’s because the Michigan Department of Transportation is now beginning a $139 million overhaul of M-14, the second time that busy freeway has been subject of a major construction project in recent years.

“The common complaint I hear is ‘Didn’t they just do M-14 a couple years ago?’” noted Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise. “And they did. The fixes were just not good enough.”

So for this time around, M-14 from Newburgh Road in Livonia (where the stretch of work actually begins on I-96 just east of I-275) to Sheldon Road in Plymouth Township will be completely rebuilt – with one side of the freeway remaining open to through traffic while work proceeds on the opposite side.

“They’re going to do one side first and then the other, but traffic will continue to go through,” Heise said. “This is not going to be a full closure. It’s going to take a few years to get done.”

Bridges that now carry traffic across M-14 on heavily traveled roads such as Haggerty, Schoolcraft and Northville also

will be re-done during the project, which is expected to take about two-to-three years to complete. All told, repairs will be made to 17 bridges.

Plymouth Township hosted an M-DOT informational meeting on April 24, where interested citizens could get the opportunity to view engineers’ drawings of various aspects of the project. Work officially began in May.

“We know the project is coming,” Heise said. “I support the project, it is necessary. I think MDOT generally does a good job of getting the word out. They sent postcards out to people in the immediate impacted area.

“I understand there was a good turnout of interested individuals. But it was not a public hearing, there were no formal presentations or anything like that. It was just basically kind of a ‘show-and-tell’ about ‘this is what we plan to do.’”

MDOT’s Diane Cross, in an e-mail, said the project “will take three years with bridge and shoulder work this year, and major construction of each direction during 2025 and 2026.”

In addition, work will take place at the Newburgh and Sheldon ramps, as well as at the I-275/I-96 interchange.

The construction, which comes on the heels of the major construction project of 1-275,

which is now wrapping up, once again is certain to test the patience of many drivers.

And what lies ahead might fall into the “no pain, no gain” category.

“Just like 275 (construction) was a burden on Haggerty and Sheldon and Beck, I think this is going to create more traffic on Ann Arbor Road, and Five Mile, and basically your major east-west roads,” Heise said. “Those (roads) are going to see increased traffic because of people just avoiding the situation on M-14.”

Also factor in the additional traffic which normally would traverse bridges over M-14.

“When you’re talking about the Schoolcraft Road bridge, the Haggerty Road bridge, the Northville Road bridge, these are all heavily traveled right now,” Heise said. “When these bridges are out, that’s going to create a major traffic backlog because there are very few alternatives to these roads.”

Here’s the schedule for the M-14 bridge closures:

• Northville Road, May 10-June 13

• Robinwood (off Schoolcraft), June 14-Aug. 3

• Schoolcraft Road (at Wilcox), June 14-Aug. 3

• Haggerty Road, June 15-Aug. 3

Cross urged drivers to “plan ahead and possibly find alternate

routes over the next three years” and also monitor www.Michigan. gov/drive “to see where there are construction delays. And we hope to have a website completed in the near future where drivers can see project details with ramp closures, etc.”

According to Heise, the M-14 construction will mean those who live and work near the freeway must figure out the best way to cope with the situation.

“If you look between 275 and Sheldon, the first exit off M-14 is Sheldon,” Heise outlined. “So it’s possible you could have operations like the businesses along Sheldon between M-14 and Five Mile, they might be impacted. But those are more local destinations, neighborhood destinations for people who live in Plymouth and Northville.”

Meanwhile, the M-14 project might provide different challenges for those who might live elsewhere in southeast Michigan.

“Saint John’s (Resort) might be impacted, that’s a possible concern,” Heise said. “Because that’s more of a regional destination, so it might be a challenge for folks to get to Saint John’s. But they’re very wellprepared to show folks how to get there.”

Heise would like more than just the freeway and bridges to be addressed during the extensive project.

“M-14 has some challenges because the topography there is very challenging,” Heise said. “You’ve got, at certain points, very steep slopes on both sides. It makes it very challenging in the winter, because you’ll have areas of the freeway that are wet.

“And you’ll have very icy patches along the way, too. That’s a challenge for drivers. Plus you still have a lot of underground water that seeps out and goes out into the freeway and creates icing conditions…I’m hoping they’ll try to address some of that, too.”

Darren R. LaLonde Ingrid Runnion

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