NOVEMBER 2023 VOL 4 | ISSUE 11
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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.
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Old Village Undergoing A Renaissance Imagine having that slightly older brother, who just seems to be better than you in every way. Better looking. More popular. Richer. Always getting the attention.
In this issue
That’s kind of the relationship that Old Village has had with Downtown Plymouth over the years. It seems like Downtown Plymouth has always grabbed the attention of city leaders, and is where most of the major endeavors have occurred and capital improvements made. Old Village? Not so much. Just ask the people who live there. Using one of my dad’s favorite euphemisms, Old Village is like the red-headed step child (I’ve got red hair – I wonder if he was trying to tell me something). But things have started to change. I think it’s fair to say Old Village has become kind of cool, and is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. We like to call it the Old Village Vibe. There have been some big residential developments, including an ambitious renovation of the old Starkweather School into living space. Many new businesses have moved in. The railroad tracks used to help define Old Village. Today it’s murals and street parties. Old Village is now home to a brewery, popular yoga studio, and even a recording studio. There are also a number of pubs and restaurants, including Hermann’s Olde Town Grille (one of my favorite places for Happy Hour).
4
T IS’ THE SEASON FOR CHERISHED HOLIDAY EVENTS
A major reason for the turnaround is the Old Village Association (OVA), a group of Old Village residents and business owners who have a mission to bring vibrancy to Plymouth’s often forgotten neighborhood that dates back to the 1840s. Local writer Ken Voyles spent some time with the OVA leaders to see what makes them tick, and what plans they have for the future. Please see his story on Page 10. One of the people who has definitely added to the vibrancy of Old Village is Tony Roko. A world-renowned artist who even has a studio in Paris, Roko just opened the Art Foundation in an old bank at 198 W. Liberty Street, right in the heart of Old Village. Not only does he exhibit his own art there, Roko’s goal is to use the studio to mentor blossoming artists.
14
TONY ROKO AND HIS FOUNDATION OF ART
Voyles visited the Art Foundation and takes a peek inside Roko’s colorful world. See the story on Page 14. Old Village still has its challenges, of course. And the OVA continues to work with city leaders to get resources to address some of those challenges. Some of that could have been addressed by the Parks Millage that was on the ballot earlier this month. It would have pumped more than $1 million into Pointe Park, which is the gateway into not only Old Village, but also the city if you are coming from Northville. Currently, the park is somewhat overgrown and lacks amenities. Unfortunately, voters narrowly defeated the measure, by a mere 66 votes. See our election story on Page 18. The millage did have plenty of support from Old Village voters, however, which is encouraging because it proves people here are willing to invest in this unique enclave. I think it also shows how much love there is for Old Village. Yes, it has become more hip. Yes, it has a few more people than it did 10 years ago. But it has still maintained that small-town, neighborhood charm, where people work together to make things happen. Although downtown Plymouth still gets most of the attention, and deservedly so, Old Village has found its own groove, even if it feels like it’s the red-headed step child sometimes. Because of people like Tony Roko and members of the OVA, I’m really encouraged about the future of Old Village. Kurt Kuban is the Publisher and Editor of The Rock. He welcomes your comments at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com.
24
SALEM GRAD HAS BEEN AGENT OF CHANGE Popular Karl’s Cabin ready to rise from the ashes Old Village group keeps historic enclave relevant Voters narrowly reject parks millage Dan Miller is voice of the Detroit Lions Thousands dress up for annual Pumpkin Palooza
O N T H E CO V E R : Plymouth artist Tony Roko relaxes inside his recently opened Art Foundation, located at 198 W. Liberty Street in Plymouth’s Old Village. Photo by Ken Voyles
8 10 18 20 26
“We all shop on Amazon, I’m guilty of it myself. But you can choose to shop at one of our local businesses rather than the big box stores and shopping online.” The holiday bonanza of sights, sounds and hopefully sales will hit the ground running during Thanksgiving Week when “Santa’s City of Plymouth Parade” and Greater Plymouth Chamber of Commerce-hosted “Walk of Trees” take place beginning Friday, Nov. 24. But also certain to please large throngs of residents, business people and visitors in coming weeks will be the Sun & Snow Sports-hosted annual “Christmas in Plymouth” (expanded to two days) and “Mistletoe Market,” slated for Thursday, Dec. 7 and Friday, Dec. 8.
“It’s traditionally been a one-day event but the organizers, Heidi and Rob (Parent) from Sun & Snow Sports, are extending that to a second day.” For the event, in addition to horse and carriage rides, entertainment, and food trucks (planned for Penniman and Main), Plymale said vendors will be selling various holiday goods. “It’s been a great event, with a lot of entertainment, lots of things to do with the kids, lots of photo opportunities,” Plymale said. “It really just turns all of downtown Plymouth into a winter wonderland.” Sun & Snow Sports co-owner Heidi Parent echoed Plymale’s enthusiasm about the expanded Christmas in Plymouth, noting how the idea to add a second day was prompted by positive vibes and growing public demand to do so. This year’s event will once again underscore the original idea – a cluster of retailers several years ago wanted to have an event where holiday shoppers could tap into what downtown Plymouth can offer. “We threw in more kids activities, more caroling groups
“The only new twist that’s happening this year is the Christmas in Plymouth event is a two-day event,” Plymale said.
and we’ve added a light tunnel this year and train rides for kids,” Heidi Parent continued. Certain to be a highlight will
C
oming soon to downtown Plymouth will be thousands of holiday revelers, 100 beautifully decorated Christmas trees in Kellogg Park and one very charitable Santa. You can add another number: the many dollars spent at stores and restaurants in the shopping district, to keep the holiday spirit of giving alive but also enable these very businesses to thrive entering 2024 and beyond. “We have a lot of shop owners down here who live in the community,” said Sam Plymale, director of the Plymouth Downtown Development Authority. “I always recommend
4 | The Rock
you spend your money in downtown Plymouth in the shops down here and that money stays in the community.
be that 40-foot long light tunnel – to be installed in Kellogg Park – along with even more activities at the nearby Candy Cane Corner (an area just for kids, located on Ann Arbor Trail and Forest, behind Delta Diamonds). Parent believes the event will be a boon for downtown shops and restaurants. “Absolutely, I think it still benefits all business owners downtown, not just retailers,” Parent said. “Restaurants and business owners have people walking by by the thousands those two days.
CAPTURES THE ESSENCE Other events include the chamber’s Holiday Greens Market on Nov. 25; the ongoing Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign where school teams and other volunteers will help in what is Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser and the Plymouth Goodfellows newspaper sale on Dec. 2. “It (Holiday Greens Market) is an excellent opportunity for our Farmers Market vendors with holiday greens and decorations (and) to interact with their loyal followers who come to see them from May through October,” said Wes Graff, president of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce. The “Walk of Trees” at Kellogg Park, also a chamber event, undoubtedly is a destination event every holiday season, a “fantastic
holiday tradition in Plymouth,” Graff continued. Approximately a hundred trees will be decorated and on hand for perusal through January 1, 2024. “It draws thousands of people to see the trees and visit the (nearby) stores or restaurants,” Graff noted. “It also captured the essence of the season, creating a storybook feel, particularly when leaving a Christmas movie at the Penn Theatre.”
Plymale added that individuals and organizations sponsor trees and then decorate them for visitors to enjoy. “There’s also a section for memorial trees, for those that have passed,” Plymale said. “It really adds to the ambiance of the center of downtown.” According to Plymale, the holiday fun actually kicked off on Nov. 10 when the DDA and Plymouth Salvation Army
teamed up for the annual Main Street tree lighting and launching of the Salvation Army’s red kettle fundraising campaign (which continues throughout December). “For that event we did get gift card donations from many of the downtown retailers and businesses, and we asked that people bring a non-perishable food item or a toy for the Salvation Army’s pantry,” Plymale said. “And in exchange, they (had) a chance to win a gift card. It’s a great event. “The high school choir (performed) as well as the Salvation Army Brass Band.” About teaming up with the Salvation Army, Plymale said the DDA loves to do so “because it’s for a good cause. The red kettle campaign is their biggest fundraising event of the year. And you’ll be seeing bell ringers all over downtown Plymouth throughout the season.” Plymale said festive decorations throughout the city began dotting the landscape the week of the kickoff event. “And then all the other Christmas decorations that bring downtown Plymouth to life for the holiday season will be happening as we approach Thanksgiving,” Plymale continued.
Continued on page 6 The Rock
|5
Continued from page 5 GETTING READY FOR SANTA An undisputed highlight of the activities, of course, will be the Nov. 24 Santa parade, with all 10 Plymouth city parks to be visited along the way. Sponsoring the Kellogg Park stop is the DDA,
where Santa is expected around 6 p.m. Magician Joel Tacey and the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Choir are scheduled to participate at the Nov. 24 event, which officially runs from 5:157:30 p.m. Although Plymale said he did not have Santa’s official schedule, it is expected that ole Saint Nick
will be stationed at Kellogg Park in his “house” to greet children during Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plymale said the many events this time of year not only transforms downtown Plymouth into “a picturesque, postcard holiday scene,” but serves to unite folks from all over the region. “It’s one of those things, not just people that live in the city of Plymouth proper, but people from all over the area,” Plymale said. “Whether it’s Plymouth Township, Canton, Livonia. I think they really look forward to coming to downtown Plymouth during the holiday season with the way the downtown transforms into a winter wonderland. “Whether it’s somebody coming down here for one of these specific events or just coming down to get together with friends or family for the holiday season and having a bite to eat in
UPCOMING HOLIDAY EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN PLYMOUTH Nov. 24: SANTA PARADE Nov. 24 “WALK OF TREES” (runs though Jan. 1) Nov. 25 HOLIDAY GREENS MARKET Dec. 2
PLYMOUTH GOODFELLOWS NEWSPAPER SALE (8 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Dec. 7-8 CHRISTMAS IN PLYMOUTH Dec. 7-8 MISTLETOE MARKET
one of our great restaurants, the backdrop couldn’t be better.” There will be an additional way for those folks to enter Plymouth, too. The traditional horse-and-carriage rides will be augmented by a new trolley for people to enjoy if they can’t secure tickets for the former. Tickets go on sale Dec. 1 at downtownplymouthevents.com. For further information, go to downtownplymouthevents.com or plymouthmi.gov.
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cabin) and incorporate more room for offices and storage. “It’s been really amazing, the amount of positive feedback,” Louis Poulos said. “All of our posts, our Facebook posts, our Loyalty Club members. Anytime we sent an e-mail out, the responses always are ‘How are you doing?’ ‘Can’t wait,’ ‘Hurry up and get open,’ ‘We miss you.’”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
P
opular Karl’s Cabin, which has been closed since a devastating fire on Feb. 15, is getting ready to reopen as soon as late November. The Poulos family, which owns the beloved restaurant located at Gotfredson and North Territorial roads, has been hard at work restoring Karl’s and wants the community to know how much they appreciate all the support they’ve received since the fire. On a berm near that corner is a large, blue banner with the heartfelt message: “THANK YOU 4 YOUR LOVE & SUPPORT!” Family matriarch Sophia Poulos and sons Peter and Louis (all three are Karl’s Cabin coowners) couldn’t stop beaming when talking about the way those in Plymouth – including other restaurants, businesses and individuals – had their back throughout the lengthy rebuild, estimated to have cost about $1.5 million (and help from 50 contractors) to complete. “We were really humbled by the reaction and the support, the 8 | The Rock
positivity and the love that we’ve received from the community,” said Louis Poulos, general manager and chef. “We definitely appreciate our guests. They are like an extension of our family.” Those people will get an early holiday present when Karl’s Cabin re-opens the week after Thanksgiving. “Everybody is just so good to us, before the fire and after the fire,” said Sophia Poulos, who opened the business in 1982 with husband Karl, who passed in 2013 at age 84. “He’d be so happy to see what’s going on, seeing how good the boys are doing.” They weren’t doing so well last winter, wondering whether all was lost following the blaze which destroyed about 75 percent of the facility. Once it was determined that Karl’s Cabin was not doomed to the wrecking ball, they got to work putting things back together. They kept some pieces (don’t worry, the popular Cabin Burger isn’t going anywhere) and lost others. Don’t expect there to be an outdoor smoking area anywhere near the building;
fire department officials blamed the February fire on a careless smoker, who did not completely extinguish a cigarette butt and ultimately triggered nearby propane tanks. All could have been lost if not for an alert employee, Louis’ daughter Sofia. While going to the parking lot to deliver a to-go order, she spotted smoke coming from the back of the building and rushed back inside to let management know about the dangerous situation. “It was a crazy, hard puzzle,” said Peter Poulos, with a smile and shake of his head, discussing the restaurant’s path from February’s rubble to the late November’s reopening. “I would say the picture now is very promising. We’re excited.” Miraculously, the oldest part of Karl’s – the log cabin – was spared from destruction, although the charred bones have been spruced up and bolstered. As for the rest of the building, about 1,500 square feet was added mostly in order to expand the kitchen, re-do the popular banquet wing (adjacent to the log
The larger kitchen will give Louis Poulos (and his crew) more room to prepare salmon sliders, hand-cut French fries or chicken piccata. “We had lots of ideas of what we thought we wanted to do in preparation for re-opening,” Louis emphasized. “But we came to the conservative conclusion that the best thing to do was to open with a majority of the same menu items that we had. We’ll do some seasonal changes.” Getting to the point where discussions about the menu could be had, it took more than nine months of persistence and perspiration from a management team led by Louis and Peter along with Sophia – who is still as much of a calming presence at Karl’s Cabin as ever. Moreover, full marks belong to an army of dedicated unsung people who catalyzed Karl’s restoration and soon-to-be renaissance. Office manager Leslie McLean said recent updates on social media have generated as many as 6,000 likes on Facebook (compared to 150 likes for a prefire post). Also telling is the fact 95 of 100 employees on staff in February are returning for Karl’s 2.0. “A lot of different restaurants reached out to us and said ‘If you send some of your employees here we’d be happy to hire them,’” said McLean, listing Cantoro Italian Market, Stella’s
Black Dog Tavern and Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center, among others. “It was really great how many restaurants called us and e-mailed us.” According to Louis Poulos, an important aspect was taking on a mindset where failure would not be tolerated. “It was quite a bit of drama, in the beginning,” he said. “But once we got through that first couple weeks…we really just decided that ‘this is a difficult situation and how are we going to turn it around and get some silver linings out of it?’ “We decided then that, since we were going to have to be closed this is an opportunity.“ McLean said the next several weeks will be exciting and quite an indication of how quickly the restaurant is bouncing back from what could have been a much different outcome. “It’s coming together really quickly now,” said McLean, who during a February interview recalled walking around the dining room the day following the fire and seeing fully set tables and
happening at Karl’s, including the installation of table bases in the banquet room area. “We’re really lucky that we all work really well together,” said dining room manager Bethany Bailey, who in recent months was part of the restoration team. “We all just took different parts of the puzzle and made sure all the pieces went together.” “The unsung situation to me is we never stopped running as a business,” Peter Poulos chimed in. “We stayed in complete communication with all of our staff. We still had a payroll, we still had a team working.”
food left behind by dinner-hour guests who quickly evacuated the premises to escape to safety. “There’s a period of time where it felt like nothing really was happening, it was all behindthe-scenes stuff,” she added. “But now that we’re actually moving furniture in it’s really coming together.” The thread of teamwork embodies everything one sees
feels, they are still part of this family. Even though they did go somewhere else and work during these nine months, then they came back to us. “They’re just very dedicated to us. We treat them like family and we treat them like people, we give them a lot of respect. In return they respect us and want to come back to a place where they know they’re going to be
PART OF THE FAMILY Perhaps just as importantly, employees who temporarily worked elsewhere but have returned to the fold is another sign of how all signs point to Karl’s Cabin enjoying success for many years to come. “We’ve always been a family here,” explained 31-year employee and dining room manager Phyllis Rogazione. “So I think that’s (how) our staff
appreciated.” Customers also know they are cherished and are thrilled about Karl’s Cabin’s pending re-opening. “We probably get between 20 and 35 phone calls a day,” Rogazione said. “They’re just from anybody. They say ‘When will you re-open?’ ‘We can’t wait to come dine again.’” Probably first in line will be Jim Vermeulen, a longtime Karl’s Cabin patron. In fact, the evening of the fire, Vermeulen dropped what he was doing and hurried over to the corner of Gotfredson Road and North Territorial. Vermeulen wasn’t being a concerned citizen merely because of a business relationship. He truly is a huge fan of the restaurant and the people who make it a point that all customers are treated as if they were family. “I am sure many people will hope to have their Christmas celebrations in the new Karl’s Cabin facility,” wrote Vermeulen, responding to questions about the business re-opening the week after Thanksgiving. “I am looking forward to some nice dinners.” So is Wes Graff, president
of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and another longtime Karl’s foodie. “Karl’s Cabin is like comfort food for the soul of Plymouth,” Graff noted. “It is this beautiful log cabin restaurant that has not only stood the test of time but changed with the times to remain vibrant. That story is similar to what makes Plymouth and Plymouth Township attractive communities.” The large amount of support also included a GoFundMe page for Karl’s Cabin employees which proved invaluable to get them through an uncertain time. That uncertainty is melting away as if a slice of American cheese draped over a Cabin Burger’s key ingredient – a piping hot half-pound of Angus beef. For more information about the re-opening go to www. KarlsCabin.com. The owners said there will be a soft opening for family and friends, followed by a media day on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Karl’s Cabin, located at 6005 Gotfredson Road, officially re-opens in the days immediately following that event. Call (734) 455-8450 for more information. The Rock
|9
Old Village Love
OVA energy ensures historic neighborhood is no ‘enclave of the past’ By Ken Voyles
P
erhaps you know Plymouth, love its downtown ambiance and even understand a bit of its complicated history. If so, answer this then: What’s roughly nine blocks by six blocks and includes two of the oldest homes in the city, a historic cemetery, an old railroad depot, eclectic shops, an assort of homes and a neighborhood vibe unique to the area? Oh, and it’s sometimes dubbed “lower town,” even though its north of downtown. That’s right, it’s Old Village, a vibrant throwback to Plymouth’s 10 | The Rock
small town heritage originally created thanks to one family and a rail line that still cuts it in half, but also remains a part of its charm. As divided as the tracks might suggest, this really isn’t a story of division over a languishing neighborhood or “forgotten cousin” many in town know, but most don’t. That’s because caring people are at its heart and deeply committed to maintaining and even developing the OV “vibe.” Dating back to the 1840s, Old Village remains a powerful idea because of this group of committed business and
homeowners. Launched in the early 1970s, the Old Village Association (OVA) seems stronger today than ever thanks to people like Mark Oppat, Trish Horstman and Jan Waller. They and a crew of helpers have made it their mission to keep Plymouth’s oftentimes forgotten neighborhood a place that offers a little taste of what small communities were once like, everywhere. “There’s a lot of history in Old Village for sure. But it’s much more than some enclave of the past,” says Oppat, who lives and works in the neighborhood and
has helped nurture the OVA as its on again off again leader for more than 20 years. “We’re more like the way people lived before zoning really changed community landscapes. This neighborhood is only eight or nine blocks north to south and six blocks or so wide. It’s not big and right in dead center is a street like Liberty.” That’s where the OVA recently hosted its second annual chili cookoff on a lovely day in October drawing more than 500 people who crowded the enclave’s streets, sampling piping hot chili and checking out what the enclave is all about.
“I love seeing joggers and baby strollers on the streets. I keep asking myself where are all these people coming from. We’re such a walkable area. I guess we’re the cool part of Plymouth.” Mark Oppat, of the Old Village Association
“We’ve always been about events and the cookoff is a great example of that,” says Oppat, surveying the scene on Liberty Street. “Our goal is to promote and beautify the area, basically that’s it. We operate on a shoestring and any money we raise goes into the next event or the area. We hang street banners, we plant trees and try and involve
hole or hardware store was where you learned the news of the day. For Trish Horstman, who runs a shop in Old Village, it’s all about charm and energy. “The people are what really makes the Village,” says the owner of My Little Needle tattoos. “When I got involved with the association I did it because I loved the feel of this area and I noticed this side of town is a bit forgotten and neglected. “It’s the business people and homeowners working together, she added. “That speaks volumes about what Old Village is like.”
STARKWEATHER AND THE RAILROADS
people. Look around, there’s nothing better than stuff like this.” Clearly there’s something fun about Old Village, whether it’s events, businesses or the people, reminiscent of a time long gone when things were different, when neighborhoods were tight-knit, when the local grocer lived and sold goods at a place people could walk to, when the local watering
This isn’t a history story but a little background may be helpful. Plymouth was settled in 1825, was incorporated in 1867, and became a city in 1932. William Starkweather moved here in 1825 and built a cabin at Main and Ann Arbor Trail, becoming a town legend in the process. He had a son George, who was the first to recognize the importance of the railroad and decided that the “north village” of Plymouth should become the new center of town. He built a store on the corner of Liberty and Starkweather and opened a road through his property for other new stores to locate. The Starkweather home in Old Village, built by George in the 1870s is the second oldest house still standing in that part of the community. Like much about the Village the home is privately owned and some have suggested it is a site worthy of historic designation (a check of state
records shows it is not officially marked as one). The other historic home, built by Henry Holbrook in the 1830s, can be seen at the north end of Old Village looking out over Hines Drive and Wilcox Lake. Over the years the owners have included the Wilcox, the Lyon and the Guenther families. While long known as a transitory community – some of the buildings were built by the railroad to house workers - today Old Village’s homes are more like the rest of town, with single family homeowners and people like Oppat and Horstman who work in the area. Although historic, the idea of creating a historic district was seriously considered in the 1990s but abandoned in the face of some resistance. (Plymouth’s only historic district encircles
the edge of Kellogg Park and is a unique district because it is mostly commercial.)
Over the years several Old Village groups have come and gone and there were a few fun events like “Dearie Days” and an apple festival. Those died out, but the association remained and the area began to slowly change. There are fewer rental homes, more renovations, the Masons moved, and the opening of Hermanns Old Towne Grill was a big catalyst, says Oppat. “Like so many things people come and go and you try to stay energized because you care,”
Continued on page 12
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Continued from page 11 says Oppat, who grew up in Livonia. “Trish and Jan Waller have jumped in with both feet and are pushing hard. They’re powerhouses.”
‘FAMILY AND FUN’ Today the association, which is self-funded, hosts five major events spanning April to October. Besides the chili event there’s the annual yard sale, the Wilcox Lake cleanup, the Bumpers Bikes and Bands auto show and the Halloween block party, which took place Oct. 29 this year. “We use these events to support future ones,” says Horstman. “Whatever is left we try and find a community-based project to help. That sets us apart. We’re not looking for profit or to sell our businesses. It’s about family and fun.” Even as this is being written the association is getting closer
to filing paperwork for nonprofit status, listing Horstman as the president. “There’s a spunky attitude that reminded me of Lansing’s 12 | The Rock
old town when I was at Michigan State,” says Horstman, whose business has grown with the purchase of a new building. “In a small town it’s important we work together. I chose to put my energy into this group.” Horstman was the driving force for bringing back a chili cookoff in Plymouth after the original in downtown died away. “That was a great event in downtown,” she says. “People I hang with saw such great energy and when it ended we talked about doing it again. We wanted something for everyone since Halloween is mostly for kids.” Oppat, who has been in the vintage electronics service industry since the 1970s, says he is happy to see the group continue growing events and working to maintain the charm of the area. There’s even a “Village Voice” newsletter, a website and a growing social media presence. All designed to enhance the visibility of the community. While the Village will never be like downtown, that’s okay for most of its supporters. There is some development in the works including a newly remodeled restaurant along the railroad tracks. Tony Roko has opened his studio and ArtFoundation on Liberty and some newer homes have been built on the east fringe. But space and parking provide obstacles for any massive transformation. And that’s just
fine for people like Oppat. “We’re really here because of the railroad,” he says. “We’re a second downtown for a reason. The railroad came and the Starkweathers. We’re cut off on the north and east by Hines but
we’re also Plymouth’s only real connection to the park. “I love seeing joggers and baby strollers on the streets,” he adds. “I keep asking myself where are all these people coming from. We’re such a walkable area. I guess we’re the cool part of Plymouth.” Looking forward, members of the association made a presentation to the city a year ago that suggested turning Liberty Street into a “social district” that would close the street permanently to traffic. Horstman
said the city has been interested and the businesses along the street support the idea. “The city asked us what our dreams are for the Village,” Horstman says. “We’d love to shut down Liberty Street, add lights to the trees, clean up the alleyways. We planted the seed.” Ultimately, the association wants people to pay attention to the enclave over and above what they have already created, as well as garner attention from the city and anyone interested in holding on to a special place that enlivens Plymouth’s “second downtown” without changing it for the worse. “We don’t have the DDA, but we also don’t have the traffic and sometimes it feels like we don’t
have the same services so we’re really all about a do-it-yourself attitude,” says Horstman. For others like Oppat that means going out to plant trees, cleaning the neighborhood, hanging banners, putting up park benches and doing what good neighbors used to do – relying on each other. For more information about Plymouth’s Old Village Association, visit oldvillageplymouth.com, or look them up on Facebook or Instagram.
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T
ony Roko says he isn’t big on smiles in artwork, but his colorful, vibrant collection of paintings somewhat betray the idea, offering a playful contrast and small glimpse into what might be a “beaming” soul. All around the Plymouth studio is the home grown artist’s view of the world, with canvas upon canvas filling walls and 14 | The Rock
floor easels of this high-ceiling art center, albeit mostly missing a smile of any kind. On this crisp October day, as Roko talks with Tansley Stearns, president of the Community Financial Credit Union (CFCU), one can’t help but join the conversation about the place of smiles in art. It even feels like a kind of good-natured theme as Roko speaks from inside the
newly opened Art Foundation, a space he lovingly calls “the left and right bank” after the two historic banks they occupy in Old Village. What was it he just said? Smiles betray…something. Or consider, he says, that throughout the history of art people are rarely shown smiling, and notice how most early wedding photos are bereft of them. It makes one
even pause to question what led to the rise of the smile, from art to wedding photos to social media posts. While none of that is really important for this story, it shines light on the fact that there were plenty of smiles all around as Roko and Stearns talked about the newly opened art center on Liberty Street. “I’d say my work is expressive,” he casually explains, a twinkle in his eyes, framed by elegant neck cravat, crumpled fedora and neatly trimmed beard, and though not betraying a smile, clearly relaxed and at home as he looks about the room. “Everything here is expressive and tells a story.” He sweeps his arm around, pointing to the old bank’s original high-framed windows, the marble floor where the lobby and teller windows were, and even up above to a security window overlooking it all. But he’s also clearly talking about his art filling the walls and various easels. Some have called him an “industrial” artist, which fits his background, but today it’s his dazzling images that jump out. In one corner are designs for newly created CFCU debit cards emblazoned with Roko’s art. Stearns is excited to see them and knows each card has a charity connected to its use. “We are honored to work with Tony and be able to help sponsor his vision,” she says. “We just love the feel he has for this community and we think this kind of coming together is a real cornerstone of Plymouth. It’s about much more than writing a check.” The credit union has also helped sponsor young artists from Roko’s Artists Fellowship, even supporting two young African artists so they could work and display their art at Roko’s Paris studio. They have contributed to
helping launch the Plymouth Artwalk, Roko’s local expression of his commitment to the community. These days the renowned artist spends most of his time in Plymouth where he grew up, went to school and continues to reside. But he also has an apartment and studio in the Montmartre district of Paris. And there’s a connection, he believes without exaggeration, between the two places. “I have found of all the places in Michigan, Plymouth has this subtle and not overspoken energy,” Roko says. “I never thought I would say this but I can’t believe the similarities (to Montmartre) in terms of community. Not the visual or culture, but after you go from tourist to a resident it becomes a part of you and not anyone else.”
SHARING HIS VISION Words like vision and rebelliousness fit Roko’s name these days, which is ironic because as the son of Albanian immigrants Roko and Lola Ivezaj, tradition demanded that the artist take his father’s first name as his last. Tradition also called for him to support his family early on, so Roko went to work in Detroit auto plants where his talent for creating unique art first came
to the attention of others. Over the years he honed his abilities, inspired by famous artists and memories of watching black and white movies and television programs with his parents. “We watched without the sound since my parents couldn’t
remains involved in projects like the Michigan Central Train Station. His work has been displayed around Detroit and across the globe and he has been commissioned by the likes of Lady Gaga and Jay Leno, spotlighted on the pages of GQ
“We should tap into individual expression and bring the best out. That’s what counts, not showing someone how to throw paint on canvas. When I started a did a lot of black and gray stuff, now my colors rebel against that.” Tony Roko
understand it anyway, so I wanted to create an expression of what I saw in those silent movies,” he says about his deep connections to his ancestry. A brother was born in a refugee camp and Roko likes to say he was “made” in Rome and born in the U.S. He’s even been to his Albanian homeland a half dozen times. Over time his work for Ford Motor Company led him to be named Ford’s resident artist, an honor he retains as he
and Vanity Fair magazines and even crafted special labels for one of Detroit’s first craft beer companies, Atwater. In 2016 Roko formed the nonprofit Art Foundation to promote education and creative opportunities for young people and the underserved community. The foundation’s programs go beyond just teaching art through classes, remaining focused on the ideas of mentorship and inspiration. “This isn’t just about handing
a child a brush and showing them how to paint,” says the 53-yearold. “We want to tap into their own personal inspiration, spend time with them to discover who they are and what inspires them. I call it ‘anti-art’ classes.” Two years ago the foundation purchased the three buildings at the northeast corner of Liberty Street and Starkweather to begin the process of creating a permanent home and allowing Roko’s vision to expand and grow in Plymouth. The former boutique and antique shops are gone as Roko and studio manager Jennifer Boettner work to restore the buildings to match his vision. Earlier this year it opened to the public for the first time and more recently was showcased during an Old Village chili cookoff. “At first we didn’t know what it was going to be but now we have a vision for a space that is adaptive,” Roko says. Functioning as a headquarters for the foundation and an art gallery for Roko’s work, the center may host exhibits and events and try to connect with larger community activities. Over the next several months it is
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Continued from page 15 open to the public on Saturdays, though the long term goal is to open more often, says Boettner.
‘LEFT AND RIGHT BANK’ For Roko the buildings are as expressive as his own art and he wants to give them the attention he believes they deserve. “They haven’t had a lot of love and they deserve that,” says the father of two sons, Backo and Ethan, who may not be budding artists but are exceptional musicians. “This place really tells a story, a fascinating part of our community story.”
Since launching the foundation the nonprofit has helped hundreds of students through various one-on-one connections, art boot camps, and working with notable organizations like the Girl Scouts and Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan. The organization is supported by a local board of directors, volunteers and Boettner, who 16 | The Rock
pretty much does “everything” for Roko and his art vision. That vision is heavily focused on the “left and right bank” space in Old Village and the grander idea of getting his graduates to help run the program and reach more young people. He’s even taken on an apprentice for the first time. “That would be incredible,” he says about the idea of students helping students. “I guess that’s my wish more than my vision.” He also hopes that the way art is “taught” in schools can change. His “anti” art approach is specific to visual arts but he understands the challenges of reaching young people. “When you go into a school and ask kids in first grade who thinks they are an artist everyone raises their hands,” he says. “By the time they’re in third grade that same class may have only one kid raise their hand. We should help children find affirmation internally, from experience, not just give them external praise and tell them they are great. It doesn’t work that way.” And finally, with a nod to Old Village, Roko has other fun ideas – earlier this year he launched a series of “Art in the Village” events, hosting four programs before deciding to end the effort. He also hopes to expand the Plymouth Artwalk
program. “We want to switch from being focused on what we’re doing and get more involved in Old Village activities like the cookoff,” says Roko, who has seen his share of ideas come and go, stop and start, succeed and fail. But like so many creatives bent on imagining – or reimagining – the world, whether
on canvas or paper or film, Roko can be charmingly subversive and maybe a challenge to appreciate. Likely he doesn’t care – he will do his own thing and see what happens. “We should tap into individual expression and bring the best out,” he says. “That’s what counts, not showing someone how to throw paint on canvas. When I started I did a lot of black and gray stuff, now my colors rebel against that.” If you step inside the Art Foundation’s new home, it’s possible you’ll come to understand what that means, and who Tony Roko is. And keep an eye out for any smiles. Art Foundation is located at 198 W. Liberty Street in Plymouth’s Old Village. For more information, visit www. artfoundationdetroit.org or www.artofroko.com.
S PECIA L A DV ERTISIN G M ES SAG E
Everything you need to know about prostate cancer and screening
When caught early, prostate cancer is very treatable. Among men, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer aside from skin cancer. Despite its frequent occurrence, the disease is often overlooked and misunderstood. “1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer,” says Craig Rogers, M.D., urologist at Henry Ford Medical Center – Plymouth, and Chair of Henry Ford Urology. “More than 175,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and there are more than 30,000 deaths from it each year. Of these deaths, many are diagnosed in an advanced, untreatable stage.” If it’s caught in time, however, prostate cancer is very treatable. Here, Dr. Rogers answers some common questions.
the flow of urine, blood in their urine or semen, or bone pain. But most men won’t know they have it unless they get tested.
What happens during a prostate screening? Men who want to be screened should get the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be done as a part of screening.
biopsy, which involves obtaining a small sample of prostate tissue. During the biopsy, any abnormalities that were found during a prostate MRI can be targeted.
How is prostate cancer treated? • Active surveillance: This is for people who have very slow-growing cancers. In these cases, we refrain from treatment so the patient
What’s happening to your body when you have prostate cancer? It means an abnormal growth of cells has originated in the prostate gland, which is a male accessory sex organ. If the cancer is in a late stage, this growth of abnormal cells can spread to the bone or lymph nodes.
For people with an abnormal PSA, your doctor may perform additional noninvasive tests. For example, a prostate MRI, which has What are the been shown to improve symptoms? the detection of cancers Prostate cancer is that are likely to be usually slow growing and aggressive and cause has no symptoms unless harm. it’s relatively advanced. In If initial tests are advanced stages, men may abnormal, your doctor notice urinary symptoms can perform a prostate such as obstruction of
can avoid potential side effects of treatment. Instead, we actively monitor the cancer and gauge its growth with repeated PSA testing, imaging and occasional biopsies. • Surgery or radiation therapy: These treatments are for prostate cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the prostate. Henry Ford
pioneered the minimally invasive robotic surgery approach that is used to remove the prostate. • Focal ablation: This targeted approach destroys prostate cancer by freezing it (cryoablation) or by burning it (highintensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU). If someone has prostate cancer on one side of the prostate, we can perform this area-specific ablation treatment instead of treating the entire prostate. “Focal therapy may reduce the risk of side effects commonly associated with treatment for prostate cancer, including impotence and urinary incontinence,” Dr. Rogers says. “HIFU is an emerging treatment for localized prostate cancer that uses high frequency ultrasound waves to burn the tumor while keeping normal prostate tissue intact.” Henry Ford Medical
Center – Plymouth offers the only HIFU system in the area for the treatment of prostate cancer. More advanced cancers may involve a combination of treatments. At Henry Ford Health, prostate cancer cases are reviewed by our multidisciplinary prostate cancer tumor board. Our specialists in urologic surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, nursing, genetics, research and other disciplines meet weekly to review cases and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Henry Ford Medical Center – Plymouth is located at the corner of Ann Arbor Road and N. Haggerty. To make an appointment, call (734) 928-1600, or visit henryford.com/ plymouth.
Who should get tested and when? At Henry Ford Health, we follow prostate screening recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). These guidelines suggest that discussions about prostate cancer screening should begin at age 45-50 for average risk men and between the ages of 40-45 for higher risk men (including those with a family history of prostate cancer, people who have BRCA gene mutations and Black men).
Kelly O’Donnell
Brock Minton
Linda Filipczak
Suzi Deal
Voters Narrowly Reject Parks Millage City Commission incumbents all sail to victory By Tim Smith
I
t was somewhat ironic that three Plymouth City Commissioners who won re-election on Nov. 7 watched dejectedly as the comprehensive parks and recreation millage proposal they championed to put on the ballot failed by 66 votes. “I am disappointed,” said Linda Filipczak, winner of a four-year term after tallying 1,336 votes to finish third out of seven candidates. “I think for us it was something that was going to be a positive for the community, with getting a soccer field and growing our community. It’s a sad day for us.” Also re-elected were millagesupporting incumbents Kelly O’Donnell and Mayor Pro-Tem Suzi Deal. The top finisher was O’Donnell, winning one of three four-year stints with 1,533 out of 2,705 ballots cast. Deal placed fourth out of seven candidates with 1,324 votes, thus capturing the lone two-year term. In addition to Filipczak, elected to a four-year term was Brock Minton, second in the voting with 1,421 votes. Yet the proposal that promised to pump $15 million into Plymouth parks and recreation programs 18 | The Rock
and facilities over a dozen years – and provide much-needed improvements to Old Village’s Pointe Park and numerous community parks all over the city – failed by a razor-thin margin of 1,368-to-1,302 votes. Just over 32 percent of eligible voters (2,705 of 8,307) either went to Plymouth Cultural Center (where all four precincts are stationed) or cast absentee ballots. “It’s disheartening that it didn’t pass,” said Mayor Nick Moroz on election night at the cultural center. “I talked to many, many people and interacted with so many residents that were looking forward to the improvements. “There were many (people) that were looking forward to the improvements but maybe did not like the particular configuration of the millage.”
NOT GIVING UP But Moroz isn’t ready to throw in the towel on a plan that featured a $5.6 million chunk to purchase and develop the vacant, three-acre Lumber Mart site near Ann Arbor Trail and Mill Street into a world-class facility featuring everything from new
(and much-needed) youth soccer fields and pickleball courts to event space. He emphasized that commissioners and other city officials will need to go over every inch of the defeated proposal and talk to residents once again about what kind of parks and recreation offerings they want to benefit from. Reached by telephone two days after the election, however, Moroz said he felt even more hopeful that there might be a way to resurrect the millage campaign during 2024. “There’s a lot of hope and a lot of reasons to keep at it,” said Moroz. “The passion and support behind the campaign and the response it got is certainly compelling enough to continue.” Moroz added that many residents have reached out to him following the election, “asking me ‘When can we do this again?’ and ‘How can we keep these projects going?’” “People of the city of Plymouth are serious about making an investment in parks and recreation,” Moroz continued. “The opportunity is not lost, it is still in front of us.
But we might have to get more creative about it.” He noted that the top-line aspects of the millage proposal, the purchase and revamping of Lumber Mart and transforming Pointe Park into a destination spot, were in Precincts 1 and 2 – incidentally, the two sections of the city where voters approved the measure. “Maybe we need to look at projects for precincts 3 and 4,” Moroz continued. “The people that got elected vocally supported the millage, I know they will do everything they can as commissioners to support this.”
SOCCER SOLUTIONS Although it is possible a retooled parks and recreation millage proposal could be on the ballot as soon as 2024 – when the presidential election guarantees a much larger turnout – Moroz said there needs to be a lot of study and discussion about that possibility. “We could come back next year in fact,” Moroz stressed on election night. “But I think it’s going to be something that we’re going to have to analyze why people did not support this millage. And then make
decisions based on that.” A major problem needing to be solved is finding space in a landlocked city for the prestigious and very popular youth soccer program (there are about 800 youngsters signed up this year) to offset the loss of soccer fields at both the Tanger Center School and Allen Elementary in PlymouthCanton Community Schools. Without the facilities the millage would have helped make
City of Plymouth Election Results CITY COMMISSION (top four win)
Kelly O’Donnell Brock Minton Linda Filipczak Suzi Deal* Ron Picard Joshua Rimatzki Catherine Coburn
1,533 1,421 1,336 1,242 1,075 835 829
*Deal wins a two-year term
PARKS & RECREATION MILLAGE NO - 1,368
YES - 1,302
happen, and with demand still high for the soccer program, that “will put pressure and stress on the recreation department” to come up with temporary solutions. “It’s heartbreaking to know that it (the millage proposal) is not going to support our children and our parents and our families with their sports,” Filipczak said. “We have to talk to people (about a campaign re-boot). We have to have a dialogue about it because I think it’s an important thing to do.” Moroz wanted to give a shoutout to parks and recreation director Steve Anderson and his staff for putting in “a tremendous amount of work detailing what’s possible.” The mayor also applauded the many volunteers who gave it their all during a lengthy informational campaign. “I appreciate all the volunteers and all the people that spoke up and put so much work into this campaign,” Moroz said. “Regardless of the outcome, which is of course disappointing,
I am absolutely encouraged by the amount of people and the passion people had for improving parks and recreation in the city of Plymouth. Because that is going to benefit everyone.” Falling short in their bids to be elected to the city commission were candidates Ron Picard (fifth place with 1,075 votes), 26-yearold Joshua Rimatzki (835 votes) and Catherine Coburn (829 votes). “It was a very pleasant experience,” Rimatzki said. “I’m glad that the people in the city of Plymouth are very involved in everything civically. We have a special community here, full of people that really care quite a bit about our community.” Rimatzki stopped short about whether he might run for city commission in the future. “Politics (we) will wait and see, but I definitely want to continue to find avenues to give back to our community, because I feel that’s important.”
“It’s disheartening that it didn’t pass. I talked to many, many people and interacted with so many residents that were looking forward to the improvements.” Mayor Nick Moroz, discussing the parks millage that voters did not approve
VOICE
THE OF THE
E
ver since sportscaster Dan Miller first arrived in Detroit, it’s accurate to say everything in his life has become a bit of a Shangri-La experience. The lead radio play-by-play voice of the Detroit Lions since 2005 and sports director and on-air personality for WJBK Fox 2-Detroit, Miller has found a utopia and a home that he himself never envisioned when he first arrived here in 1997. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in northern Virginia, Miller thought he was destined for a lifelong media career in 20 | The Rock
LIONS
familiar surroundings. “You always kind of have a plan in your head of what you think your career is going to be,” Miller said, “and growing up in D.C. and starting my career in D.C., and really having looked up to a lot of the guys that worked there – and some I got to work with – I always thought in my mind I’d end up there.” But the 65-year-old Miller, who resides in Northville, admits the detour he took 26 years ago after starting out in D.C. has been nothing short of the 1933 novel -Lost Horizon by James Hilton. It’s here – yes, Detroit – where
jumping at something else might not be something you think it is.” Miller, who wears a variety of hats, is arguably one of the the most followed and recognized media personalities in the Metro he’s found the peaceful valley of Detroit area. Needless to say, he the Blue Moon. is extremely busy during the fall “When I came to Detroit, I with the Lions broadcasts and his always thought we’d be here responsibilities at Fox 2. probably two years and end up On Sunday nights he’s been back in D.C.,” he said. “We got a staple on Fox 2 with the show here and very quickly this place Sports Works. He also can be became home. I work with great heard doing TV highlight clips people at the television station– Fox 2. Our kids really like it here. doing The Ford Lions Report, which is broadcast statewide. He My career grew here from doing also regularly appears via satellite (NFL) games for Fox for five to discuss the Lions on the NFL years to getting the opportunity Network’s pre-game show NFL to go to the Lions to working Game Day Morning during its with good people at Fox 2. Word on the Street segment. “When you have something And if that’s not enough, good in my business you’ve got to Miller transitions over to radio be really careful with it because
"We got here and very quickly this place became home. I work with great people at the television station - Fox 2. Our kids really like it here." Dan Miller
doing a Sunday morning show at 10 a.m. on 97.1 WXYT-FM, along with the weekly The Lions Review Show, generally heard from 7-8 p.m. the day following Lions games on the same station. “It’s a lot having to be places, but a lot of what you do is five minutes here, 10 minutes there to do an interview and knock out some sort of taped segment,” Miller said. “It’s a lot of long hours that are spread out over different times and down times. But the really good thing about working in the NFL and for an NFL team is there is a rhythm to it. You pretty much do the same thing every week – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – traveling on Saturday and Sunday you play. “It’s a lot in particular with the two jobs, but they really do dovetail together perfectly and there’s a nice flow to it that once you get into the season, you know exactly where you’re going to be and what you have to do. You can really get your time down and get everything done that you have to do.”
IN THE BOOTH From 1994-97 while he was still in D.C., Miller was a playby-play announcer for the NFL’s Fox regional broadcasts. He was also the play-by-play man for Lions preseason games from 2001-2003. In 2005, Miller took over play-by-play duties for the Lions replacing Mark Champion (now with the Pistons) where he first teamed up with longtime color commentator Jim Brandstatter and sideline reporter Tony Ortiz. He and Brandstatter also did Lions Roundtable, which is part of the team’s radio network. Miller’s new radio partner is former Lions offensive line standout Lomas Brown, who spent 11 seasons and started all but one of his 164 games in Detroit. All told, Brown played 18 seasons in the NFL including stints in Cleveland, Arizona, New York and Tampa Bay (where he won a Super Bowl ring in 2002). And as far as color analysts, Miller feels blessed to have worked with the retired
Brandstatter and now Brown in the broadcast booth. “You couldn’t ask for two nicer people to spend a Sunday afternoon with,” Miller said. “They’re both not just people I work with. They’re both friends. And I love them both like brothers. I worked for Brandy walking in the door and we had an immediate chemistry that you don’t always have with your partner. “I’ve known Lomas for years and he’s just the nicest, best sense of humor type of guy…nobody ever, unless you played against him would have anything bad to say about Lomas. And even the people that played against him would probably say, ‘He was a nice guy. He was just nasty as hell on the field.’”
and never missed a game. “Everything in my life revolved around that forever – from the time I was 7- or 8-years-old -- just loved playing, and talking and reading, watching sports and just knew I wanted something in that world to be my life,” Miller said. “And clearly, I wasn’t going to be a professional athlete, so you’ve got to try and figure something out and it’s always, always been my absolute passion and love.” Miller graduated from George Mason University (Va.) and got his first job at the Mutual Radio Network affiliates WJLA and WTEM during his days as a college student where he served as an engineer for its weekend sportscasts spanning 11 years. In 1992, he went to WTNT
SETTLING IN
Sports Radio-570 in D.C. as an overnight talk show host and became the Redskins beat reporter. But after just three months, he transitioned over to TV as host of the Redskins pre-game before moving to
Miller got his love of sports at an early age. His father would take him to Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Colts and Washington Redskins games (where he was a season ticket holder). He played baseball and basketball in high school. His father was an ardent supporter
Continued on page 22 The Rock
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Continued from page 21 WJLA-TV as a weekend sports anchor. When he got his opportunity in Detroit, Miller thought it might be a momentary pit stop, but sometimes things work out in a different way and he’s thankful now to call Detroit home. Dan and his wife Cindy have four children including daughters Sammi and Rikki, along with sons Tony and Robbie – all of whom attended Northville Public Schools. Three graduated from Michigan State and one attends nursing school. They also have three cats and two dogs.
A DAN CAMPBELL FAN
Meanwhile, Miller has also built a strong relationship and bond with Dan Campbell, who is in his third season as Lions head coach. “You start with this – Dan’s a great person,” Miller said. “And he’s the same guy, up on the podium speaking to media as he is sitting down talking to him, having a cup of coffee…or if you just run into him at the airport or whatever it is. Whatever position you put him, he doesn’t change. I think players appreciate that. Not all head coaches are like that. “There’s a high character with him that serves well dealing with others and that’s not always an easy thing to do when you’re trying navigate an NFL locker 22 | The Rock
room. But he’s been able to do that. The great thing is when you are that type of person you don’t have to change. You just stay steady, stay the course and be yourself and things tend to work out. Having dealt with coaches in different sports for 42 years in this business is just his consistency, which is incredible.” For Miller, the 2023 season started with a victory over defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City and there seems to be a renaissance in an NFL organization that’s been downtrodden since their last championship in 1957. But with things building to
a crescendo, Miller feels he’s becoming a part of something special that he can see just on the horizon when it comes to the Lions. “It’s been fantastic,” he said. “The best part about it is just being able to see the fans buy into something and believe what they’re seeing, and really believe in Brad Holmes (GM) and Dan Campbell, and these players, and see the team’s upward trajectory they started last year when they finished 8-2 to be able to come out this year and keep playing well, and start the year with a thrilling win over those Super Bowl champs (Kansas City), to be able to get to the bye (week) at 6-2 and have a chance to get a little bit healthier and get ready
set out for the final nine games of the season. “It’s really been an amazing run, but I think the players and coaches will be the first to tell you they haven’t done anything yet. They haven’t won a division, they haven’t won a playoff game. There’s a lot of work ahead of them, but I like what this team is doing and how they’re built. It
feels like a solid foundation that’s not just going to give them a good team for a year, but a good organization for many years to come that they can build on.” And when it’s all said and done, Miller hopes he can call a Super Bowl game from the radio booth sooner than later. And wouldn’t that be a real Shangri-La experience?
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IMPACTFUL AGENT OF CHANGE
Salem grad selected to Forbes 50 Over 50 list for charitable work
A
ge can be your superpower.” That’s according to Forbes, and Plymouth native Mary Beth Powers is the living proof. Powers became the first female CEO of the country’s biggest health charity at age 58. Today, she’s 61. She was named to this year’s Forbes 50 Over 50 list in the “Impact” category — female changemakers leaving the world a little better than they found it. “The third annual 50 Over 50 list might be our most powerful list yet,” writes Forbes. “They are proof positive that success and innovation can happen at any age.” Or as Powers put it, “It's really a chance to kind of celebrate how with age comes wisdom and maturity — and perspective. I think that was what they were 24 | The Rock
By Maria Taylor trying to celebrate: what have you learned through your life's journey that helps you have more balance and more perspective and a fresh set of energy to tackle problems.” So, how is age her superpower? “I don't think I sweat the small stuff anymore,” she said. “I'm just not as concerned about making everybody happy. Maybe it’s that sense of your own mortality — thinking about how I can do the most good with the time I have left. “And none of us know, right? My whole life, I’ve been motivated to try and help make the world better, you know, than when I found it.”
ROOTS IN SERVICE Despite growing up in a small Midwest town, Powers has
spent the last 30 years of her life working for global health nonprofits. Much of that she attributes to the example she saw growing up as a child in Plymouth. “My dad was kind of a globalist in his views, and at the same time, he did a lot of things right in Plymouth to kind of give back, and so did my mom,” she said. “I always saw service as a part of our lives.” And she always wanted to travel. “Even as a little kid, I like loved social studies books,” she said. “I used to love to read about other cultures. So I think from a very young age, I sort of had that sense of wanderlust, even though I lived in a small town.” Growing up, she attended Salem High School, where her
teachers encouraged her to think big-picture. “Especially my AP history, teacher, Mr. Beaman — he got me to think about the world and how things of one place affect another place,” she said. “Reading great books, taking humanities, that kind of inspired me to think about how the rest of the world relates to each other.” She got her B.A. in foreign service from Georgetown University and studied for a year at University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. “That was very influential, because I studied economics but from the perspective of a developing country,” she said. “And that also really helped me decide I wanted to do something to make circumstances better in poor countries.”
“I think everybody should hope to leave the world a little better than they found it. That could be volunteering. It could be serving on a board. It could be a monetary donation. People have ways that they can make a difference, even if it's not in their day-to-day work, because wherever you are, there's somebody — maybe next door or down the road — who can use a hand.” Plymouth native Mary Beth Powers
IT TAKES A VILLAGE Powers continued her education with a master’s in international public health from the University of Michigan, then began her career with Catholic Relief Services in Pakistan. Her work has spanned countries and causes, with much of her career dedicated to womenand children-focused charities including SeriousFun Children's Network, Save the Children, and Care USA. Her proudest work was a project called Saving Newborn Lives, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. At the time, little was known about what would save the lives of newborn babies in low-resource settings. “In the United States, we might put a baby in a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and it costs literally tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep that baby alive — but in the programs that we had around the world, that wasn't an option,” she said. These babies were often being born at home. So the project promoted a simple intervention called kangaroo mother care, which is immediately putting a newborn baby to the mom's skin. “Especially for tiny newborns, mom is the best incubator,” Powers explained. “But that wasn't being done globally. We know it now, and it's been demonstrated to be hugely important, both in keeping the baby warm, but also ease of feeding and reduction of infections in the newborn. Twenty
years later, we've made amazing progress.” Today, Powers is CEO of the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), one the largest charities in the U.S. With $480 million in operating revenue, CMMB focuses on aid for mothers and children, as well as issues related to sexual and gender-based violence, in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Powers is the first woman to lead the organization since its founding over 100 years ago, and its work resonates with her deeply. “Being a woman and having spent a lot of time working with women's organizations, and with women physicians and nurses around the world, I think I bring a different perspective on the importance of many of the interventions,” she said. “When you help a mother, you change the reality for a family.”
DIFFERENCE MAKER Powers hopes her recognition on the 50 Over 50 list will inspire young people to choose service work as a profession, versus going the corporate route. “And then also, frankly, to recognize the work that faithbased groups have been doing around the world for so many years, for hundreds of years,” she said. “Of many faiths; this is hardly just a Catholic thing, or just a Christian thing. I was at a faith-based leaders breakfast, sitting next to a guy from Islamic Relief, and a rabbi got up and spoke. Everybody there was focused on how do we end
pediatric AIDS. And we've made amazing progress — to the point that we think by 2030, we could. It's really very uniting.” Next on Powers’ ways to improve the world is tackling access to medicine. “That's a problem in this country, the cost of medication,” she said. “It's an even bigger problem for people suffering from heart disease or diabetes in Africa, for example. That's a huge health inequity. And before I retire, I hope we have some answers as to how we could do that in low-resource settings, the same way we figured out some things we could do for reducing newborn mortality.” As a Midwesterner born and bred, Powers brings a respect for self-reliance to her work. “People around the world want to be able to do for themselves — they're not looking for a handout; they’re maybe looking for a hand up, but they too want to have that kind of sense of self-reliance and pride in their work,” she said. “And that's a very universal thing that I think I brought from growing up in the Midwest — that people don't want to be dependent, they really want to do for themselves. And so the question becomes, how can you set things in motion and step back and let them lead?” Powers has spent her adult life in New York, but she still has a special place in her heart for Plymouth. She comes back on holidays to visit family. And every once in a while, she takes her sons to a Michigan football game.
“Plymouth is such a special place,” she said. “I got married in Plymouth, and friends from other parts of my life came to Plymouth, and they thought it was like Bedford Falls from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ It really is like that — the town and the park. My kids grew up on the east coast, but when we’re back, they see it as such a warm and welcoming place. If you live there all the time, I don’t know if you know how magical it truly is. You have to go somewhere else, and then it’s like Dorothy in Kansas — click your heels and you’re back in Plymouth. It’s just so special.” When she does finally retire, Powers plans to find an organization to volunteer with so she can keep making a difference locally. “I think everybody should hope to leave the world a little better than they found it,” she said. “That could be volunteering. It could be serving on a board. It could be a monetary donation. People have ways that they can make a difference, even if it's not in their day-to-day work, because wherever you are, there's somebody — maybe next door or down the road — who can use a hand. I just chose to lend that hand to people who live far away. But there's something for everyone. You can start anywhere.” The Rock
| 25
Tom Young and Deanna Gilbert – masters of ceremony.
The Hendzell family of Canton.
The Skotak family from Canton.
Streets of Treats!
Thousands dress up for annual Pumpkin Palooza celebration
A homemade costume from the White family of Novi.
O
nce again downtown Plymouth was the scene of a chaotic Halloween celebration for the annual Pumpkin Palooza event on Oct. 22. Thousands of families strolled the streets, enjoyed free goodies, live entertainment, pet and costume contests and more. The City of Plymouth shuts down Ann Arbor Trail, Forest, Penniman and Main streets for this annual Halloween-themed extravaganza. There was live music provided by the Plymouth Fife & Drum Corp. and Redline Percussion, while ventriloquist
Richard Paul and magician Gary Thison also entertained the children and families who came from all over the Detroit metro area. Of course, the real stars of the show were the kids (and moms and dads) who dressed up in their best Halloween costumes. Thanks to all the local businesses that provided candy and other goodies to all the families and helped make this another successful Pumpkin Palooza. Local writer/photographer Ken Voyles attended the event and captured the fun.
The Haydar family of Westland.
The Blakes from Westland.
26 | The Rock
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collection from serving dishes, pottery, candles, home bar cocktails kits, Michigan Made foods and an ever-changing collection of so much more.
and artisans as well as women fair trade makers around the world. Creating opportunities for both local women makers and those in developing countries.
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Many of our events at VITRINE go to support local and world outreach initiatives. One of the many nonprofit organizations we support with monthly funding is charity waters; a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries.
Stop in to shop, attend one of our special events, or just to explore. In addition to great shopping.
VITRINE has had quite a year! Celebrating two big wins as finalists for the Best of Hour Detroit - Best Women’s Boutique and Best Gift Shop had really fueled us up for an outstanding holiday season. VITRINE is a boutique & lifestyle store. Our mission at VITRINE has always been to surprise and delight guests with unexpected, distinctive finds. We are known for great prices and unmatched value. We are an adventure in shopping. You can expect an uncommon collection of women’s clothing, accessories, home items, Fair Trade and a spectacular selection of gifts. We source all of our products with care, ensuring that any treasure you find at VITRINE is unique, just like you. Explore our casual fashion separates, accessories and vegan handbag collection to find styles and fits perfect for any occasion.
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We are a Shop for Good. A curated collection of handmade product makers and sellers, with a primary focus on “Doing Good” on a local or global scale. Categories include ethically produced handmade global products, handmade products benefiting local at-risk populations, upcycled/ recycled products, vegan or organic handmade products. We are a Compassion Entrepreneur curating fabulous products, events and outreach focused on empowering women through sustainable businesses worldwide.
VITRINE also sponsors 14 kiddos in Haiti through the nonprofit World Vision; a global humanitarian organization. There are often Vintage Treasures throughout the shop. A curated collection of mid century and beyond trinkets and home goods. We try to bring extra value. We are known for super service and absolutely love engaging with our customers. They are like our family and we are over the moon to be a part of the Downtown Plymouth Collection!
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