The Ville - February 2025

LOCAL JOURNALISM MATTERS

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

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LOCAL Matters! is the foundation of this magazine. If you find it of value, please consider supporting it. Every little bit helps! Please send donations to: Journeyman Publishing 16435 Franklin Northville, MI 48168

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

Thank you in advance.

Publisher

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

• Anne Hesano

• Raymond & Patricia Martin

• Marge Roebuck

• Tom Young

KURT KUBAN – Editor/Publisher

Kurt Kuban is an award-winning journalist, having served as a reporter and editor for several local newspapers and magazines, including The Northville Record, over the course of a career spanning more than two decades. Kurt lives in Northville with his wife, Cheryl, and their three children, all products of Northville Public Schools.

CRAIG WHEELER – Creative Director

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

MICHELE FECHT – Writer

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

WENSDY VON BUSKIRK – Writer

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

BRAD EMONS - Writer

Over the course of his four decades with the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, 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.

TIM SMITH - Writer

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

MARIA TAYLOR – Writer

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

SCOTT SPIELMAN – Writer

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.

BRYAN MITCHELL - Photographer

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

Different strokes for different folks

When I’m out in the community talking to people, and the topic of this magazine comes up, one of the things they tell me they like best is the letters to the editor section, which we call Your Voice.

There’s a reason we call it that. I want it to be a place – a public forum if you will –where any of our readers can express their opinions about the topics of the day. This is something I carried over from my days in the newspaper business, recognizing it is an effective way readers can make ‘their voice’ heard by their neighbors and the powers that be. And, in the process, just maybe impact others to their line of thinking.

I realize running your opinion in a monthly magazine may seem a little archaic these days, considering we can log onto any social media site at pretty much any moment and make comments in real time. I think that’s why social media has become such a major part of our society, people like to engage about things that are important to them. Social media makes it easy.

Unfortunately, there aren’t too many guardrails on facebook or twitter, or the countless other social media sites out there. Often times people feel unencumbered by social norms, and comment sections are filled with negative and unconstructive rage tweeting. Many people post comments under alias or fake names so there is no accountability for whatever crazy notion they post for the world to see.

That’s why I think people appreciate Your Voice. When someone signs their name to the letter it gives it more standing – as in they are standing behind their opinion. It’s not some glib comment made in a moment’s haste on facebook.

If you are one of the people who reads the letters, you may have noticed several (both last month and in this issue) that referenced a letter that we ran back in December titled “Confused by election” sent in by reader Bob Gutowski.

The letter drew quite a response, both by people who opposed and supported the election of President Donald Trump, which of course determined how they felt about the letter. In this month’s Your Voice, you will notice a letter by Carol Maynard, a Trump supporter, who called Gutkowski’s

letter “hate-filled” and she believes I should apologize to the community for running it in the first place.

I had to go back and read it again, because I wanted to see what was so hateful about it.

Here’s what he wrote:

“It was gob smacking to learn nearly 50 percent of Northville voters are more afraid of illegal immigrants - who commit crimes at lower rates than US citizens - than a president who is a criminal, draft dodger and sex offender who praises enemy dictators and promises retribution on citizens, opponents and our free press. That’s what fascists do.”

You may disagree with the first point that people voted for Trump because they are afraid of illegal immigrants, though Trump made it a major issue of his campaign, or that Trump acts like a fascist. As for the rest of Gutowski’s letter, the reality is what it is. There is plenty of documentation to support what he writes. He’s clearly not happy a man with Trump’s flaws was elected president.

But 71 million people, including close to 50 percent of Northville voters, thought otherwise and Donald Trump is our president.

That doesn’t make Gutowski’s opinion any more or less valid. Nor Maynard’s. In fact, I appreciate both of them taking the time to write, share their opinions – and putting their names on those opinions.

I feel both of their voices are important. Whether or not I agree with them makes no difference whether I run the letter or not. All that matters to me is that letter writers follow basic guidelines of libel law.

Would I rather run letters based on local topics? Probably. But I disagree with the suggestion that national political issues should be off the table. They impact us here in Northville, just like they impact people elsewhere.

The bottom line is people have a lot of different opinions, and everyone has their own voice. You, as a reader, get to decide whether you agree with that voice or not.

Keep sending me those letters.

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

ON THE COVER: Longtime DDA Director Lori Ward has left an indelible mark on downtown Northville over the last three decades. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

Your Voice

Don’t need curbless street

When a DDA is established some of the taxes that normally go to the schools and city are funneled into benefiting the local merchants. The City of Northville is considering applying for a grant of $900,000 that will pay less than half the cost for one block of Main Street to become curbless. There is absolutely no return on investment. Most of the DDA members don’t even border that portion of Main Street.

As soon as The Downs is completed, we will have a river walk and acres of green space to walk our dogs and play bean bag. This is far better than an obsolete outdoor mall struggling with Michigan weather in all four seasons. Main Street is the only east west route between 7 Mile and 8 Mile for residents, visitors, and 12 school buses. Our fire and police have struggled since the pandemic with barricaded streets not to mention the next four years of construction ahead of us.

The City needs to apply for grants that will benefit the taxpayers, visitors, and merchants and not waste precious grant opportunities.

Martha & Jim Nield

What’s so bad about DEI?

Are my fellow Northvillians up in arms as I am about the embrace of Northville Schools of DEI? Equity? Inclusion? Diversity? It's so deep, everyone. In fact, next month the students of Northville are set to engage with their sometimes profoundly disabled peers in unified games and celebrations. This is an intentional time set aside when children with incredible medical struggles are treated with equality and included… as if their diverse abilities did not entirely define them.

These schools are even brainwashing our kids to reject "stigma" for being different or having needs. Stigma is what made this country great. In my day we fixed holes in our psyches by rubbing dirt in it; people stuffed their feelings down; if they struggled, they did it alone and in shame; people stayed in the closet; if someone abused you then you pulled up your socks and carried on silently; and we shunned everyone who was a little bit weird. Isn't it high time to get back to those good old days?

Sarah Prescott

Time to wake up

We will be fighting the distractions of the Trump administration while our real enemies will be encircling our country. We are at a pivotal moment. As a 13-year US Navy Vietnam-era vet, I recognize our ignorance is in not recognizing our real enemies, and it may spell the end of our American Experiment. We should wake up. I hope I'm wrong.

Ming Louie

Insulted by letter

After reading the comment by Bob Mathews in your January magazine, I went back and read Bob Gutowski’s letter in your December magazine to see what Bob Mathews was talking about. I was shocked. Bob Gutowski spewed pure hate. You've offended 50% of your readers by printing this

man's hate-filled political rant.

I have a clipping from The ‘Ville from two years ago. It was printed after an election of some officials and school board members. It was titled: "Northville Hit by Blue Wave". Well, this time, the state of Michigan was hit by a red wave. And Northville didn't have a blue wave.

You need to apologize for printing Bob Gutowski's hate filled rant which demonized half the Northville voting population and wasn't accurate. I might add, we are not fascists. I'm not into ignorant name calling. He is a very confused man.

Carol Maynard

No moral compass

It’s a sad day in America. It’s been a month since Donald Trump has been in office, and it is clear America will be governed by a fascist regime. Many of the appointed “leaders” are inexperienced loyalists, speak rightwing conspiracy theories, election deniers and Putin sympathizers.

They are blatant about prosecuting their opponents and promise retribution on citizens and our free press.

That is fascism. That is what fascist dictators do.

That is what Assad did in Syria and Putin has given him asylum. And the incoming administration praises Putin and other horrible dictators.

This is unacceptable to me. That administration’s moral compass doesn’t align with me at all.

It’s a very sad day in our history.

Unimpressed with festival

Bob Gutowski

Plymouth used to give us a run for the money: a glittering, world-class ice sculpting extravaganza that rivaled most of our more homey galas. Indeed, the Plymouth Ice Festival was taken seriously enough by its promoters that prize winning ice carvers were flown in from afar. I would rise before dawn to meander among transparent frozen artistry backlit by colored lights that took one’s breath away. The craftsmanship was of such superior quality as to make one rue the medium's fleeting nature and impermanence.

Yes, the weather wasn’t entirely cooperative for this year’s festival, but the moxie also seemed to be gone. Most of what I saw this time looked like the result of half-hearted effort or a demonstration of first-year culinary students. The pavilion adjacent to Kellogg Park used to have noteworthy overflow sculptures. This year it was devoid of any ice at all and in fact I found myself fending off overtures by home improvement salesmen. Certainly none of us can expect traditions to play out unchanged forever, but this seems like entropy, banality and lack of interest. My hope is that a similar devolution of spirit doesn’t degrade Northville's longstanding community celebrations.

Ken Kilpatrick

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

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She has been a great asset for the city for 27 years. We’re a better community and organization because of everything she has done here. We are so thankful for the foundation of everything that Lori has done. We want to keep that pace and bring in a person like her for the future.”

Ward Leaving Big Shoes To Fill

Northville’s longtime DDA director to retire this month

By Scott Spielman | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

In what will be a year of nearunprecedented change in the City of Northville, look for one more: Lori Ward, the long-time director of the Downtown Development Authority, has announced her retirement.

Ward, who has helmed the DDA for nearly 27 years, guiding the downtown through a period of sustained growth and change, will hand over the proverbial keys on Feb. 28.

“I never expected that I would be here still,” said Ward, an Ann Arbor resident. “It’s really because of the quality of the people and the projects and the things we got to do during my time here. It really made it enjoyable to come to work every day.”

Ward let city and DDA officials know in January that she would be stepping down from the role and has been working with

city administration and the DDA board of directors to help find her successor and work through the transition period, too.

“She has been a great asset for the city for 27 years. We’re a better community and organization because of everything she has done here,” said Mayor Brian Turnbull. “We are so thankful for the foundation of everything that Lori has done. We want to keep that pace and bring in a person like her for the future.”

Shawn Riley, chair of the DDA board, agreed. He’s worked with Ward since he was appointed to the board in 2011.

“You only meet a handful of people in life that just seem to do everything so consistently and do it so very well, and I think that’s who Lori is,” he said. “She’s been awesome to work with. She’s certainly

leaving her DNA all over this town, with the way it looks and the way we do things.”

Ward joined the DDA in July of 1999, serving as its first director. At the time she had been working as a consultant with Beckett and Raeder, an Ann Arbor-based landscape architecture, planning and engineering firm, to provide downtown management for Northville. A conversation with then-city manager Gary Word convinced her to join the staff on a parttime basis. An urban planner by planning and trade, she has also worked in planning and preservation in London, England and Washington, D.C.

It proved to be an easy transition and a long-term passion. She already was familiar with the community and had a good working relationship with everyone involved in it.

“One of the things that has kept me here all these years is the DDA board of directors. They’re amazing,” Ward said. “The amount of time and energy they commit to this as volunteers is really unparalleled. It makes it easy when you know you’ve got somebody at your back and right beside you. They’re working just as hard, but they’re not getting

Mayor Brian Turnbull, discussing Lori Ward

paid. They’re just a great group of people and I’ve been really lucky to have amazing people to work with. It made the load a lot lighter having a board that’s so committed.”

Even in the relatively built-out city of Northville, there were plenty of changes throughout the years. Challenges, too, including adapting to the Covid pandemic— and using that to enhance the walkability and ambience of the downtown area. Riley said he remembers going out with Ward to measure sidewalks and property lines, determining how to increase outdoor dining space and figuring out how to heat them and brainstorming ideas to help support the business community, like adding additional music and outdoor events.

“Looking back at it, we didn’t lose any businesses, which is hard to believe. We were adding ambience to the town so as people started plugging back in, it felt normal again,” he said.

“We were trying to create or expand their outdoor footprint, whether retail or restaurant,” Ward said. “One of our best projects was trying to come up with concepts that would help all the businesses—or as many as we could—stay in business or, in some cases, thrive.

“We really came out on top for our business owners,” she added. “Many of them had their best years in business during covid, which is very unusual. We worked hard with the merchants to make sure they had every opportunity.”

Her even keel approach, openmindedness and ability to receive and incorporate feedback helped the small town navigate that challenge, and others as well, according to Riley.

“She’s one of the most level-headed people I’ve worked with,” said Riley. “Whether people are saying great things about what we’re doing, or people are not happy with what we’re doing, she just accepts it and carries on. Her focus just doesn’t wane. She’s dialed in for what’s best for the community.”

And for Northville, the best may be yet to come.

TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY

With the pending purchase of the former McDonald Ford property—the township

and city could close on the deal this month, but will most likely sign the deal in March, officials said—along with the new construction at the former Northville Downs site, the city is in line for an era of growth and transformation.

The northern third of the former Northville Downs property is within the DDA district, which will bring in added revenue to its budget. Also in the works are recreational amenities—including a $5 million renovation at Ford Field and the creation of a river walk—that, combined with pathways being planned in conjunction with Northville Township and Wayne County, will essentially make the city a hub of activity and tourism that connects to Ohio and Mackinaw City. The DDA is also awaiting word on a potential grant that could help provide a makeover for Main Street, which was last updated about 15 years ago.

“Any one of these projects would be a major project for one year, and we’re doing about five at the same time. There’s a lot of projects, and it will look different, but that’s how it goes,” she said. “You’ve gotta keep moving forward. You can’t rest on your laurels, because there’s always something new, always something you’ve got to test and better ways of doing things every year.

“While it’s going to be different and it’s going to change, I think it’s going to be a big improvement.”

Turnbull said all those exciting developments will require the right kind of leadership, vision and patience. In short, there are big shoes to fill.

FINDING A REPLACEMENT

The DDA director position will be posted this month, according to Riley. A subcommittee of DDA board members and city officials, including Riley, DDA Board vice chair DJ Boyd, Treasurer Ryan McKindles, David Cole and Amy Bonsar, along with City Manager George Lahanas, will evaluate the applicants to seek the best fit.

“We have all these different things going on in downtown: we have developments, we have the river walk, we have parks. We’re acting like a much larger city,” Turnbull said. “We’re looking for somebody for the future to keep pace with what has been happening. We want somebody that can look at the future.”

Once the job has been posted, the committee will begin evaluating candidates in early March. Riley said he hoped to have someone in place before April.

“We don’t have exact dates in mind right now, but I would think, hopefully by the end of March we’ll have our new director identified,” Riley said. “I guarantee it’ll be someone who’s got experience. We want someone with at least seven, eight years experience in another community and a similar skill set. We’d like to find someone who is at least somewhat familiar with the community.”

“We’re looking for the greatest person that can continue on with her legacy,” Turnbull said.

Ward said she is looking forward to seeing how the vision develops over the next several years, and that she’s confident that city, downtown and historic district leaders will ensure that whatever happens will keep the tradition, values and aesthetics of Northville alive.

“It’s hard to leave. It’s very bittersweet, I tell you,” she said. “I thought I would retire and be like ‘Woo-hoo!’ But it’s definitely a tradeoff, with the people you’re leaving behind and the projects you’re leaving undone for somebody else.

“It’s not so much ‘woo-hoo,’ but more bittersweet. Leaving to spend more time with my family and travel and volunteer back to the community and do things I want to do is wonderful, but the people definitely make the departure hard.”

Lori Ward has led the DDA for 27 years.

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Rachelle Vartanian Wins Citizen of the Year

Living & Learning founder honored with other community volunteers, businesses

By Kurt Kuban

The last time Andy Genitti was on the stage at the Marquis Theater, he said it was for his father John Genitti’s 56th birthday party.

So, it was only fitting that he was up on the stage again Feb. 6 for the annual Chamber of Commerce Awards to present Northville’s Citizen of the Year Award, which is now named after his father, a community leader and recipient of the award back in 1990. The award, which dates back to 1976, was renamed the John Genitti Award in 2014 after he passed away at the age of 67.

“All of our Genitti families are so honored to have this award named after my dad. He loved this community so much. He loved working here, and he enjoyed so many of the relationships from his lifetime here. We could not imagine being anywhere else,” he said.

Genitti said his father would have approved of the 2025 recipient of the award – Rachelle Vartanian.

Vartanian is the founder of the Living and Learning Enrichment Center, a nonprofit that specializes in working with teens and young adults with autism and related challenges.

Andy Genitti said all the work Vartanian does is incredible, but he also lauded her for saving the Massey Estate, a 14-acre property on the north end of town that has been turned into a beautiful campus for not only Living & Learning members, but also the community, which can use the grounds for events.

“They saved a local landmark from more houses and made it such a great place for everyone to enjoy and spread the good things that Northville has to offer anyone,” Genitti said.

The Living & Learning Center provides employment, independent living and a social life to teens and young adults living with autism. Vartanian was inspired to create the center after her youngest son, Anthony, was diagnosed with Asperger

syndrome and realized there were very few resources available to them. She sold her home, left her job in public education and took a leap to start Living & Learning. But she was confident there was a need.

And boy was she right. Over the last decade, Living and Learning has grown by leaps and bounds, and has served people in 72 communities in nine counties throughout the state.

In the process, she has become a big part of the Northville community.

“Rachelle’s work isn’t simply programming. It’s community,” said Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo, who shared a proclamation from the township board. “She helps people live happier, more fulfilled lives. In this case, in a safe space where a population that often feels isolated can find their first friendships, first love and first job.”

Vartanian, who was surprised when Genitti announced the honor to the audience gathered inside the Marquis, said Northville has been the perfect place for Living & Learning. She told the audience how humbled she was by the honor.

“This could not have happened in any place but Northville,” Vartanian said. “Every

Citizen of the Year recipients attended the awards ceremony, including (from left) Chuck Murdoch, Jan Purtell, Jim and Martha Nield, Chris Johnson, Mary Kay Gallagher, Mark Abbo, Sue Hillebrand, Rachelle Vartanian and Traci Sincock. Andy Genitti (standing in back) was on hand representing his father, John Genitti.

Rachelle Vartanian

Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull reads a city proclamation honoring Rachelle Vartanian as Mark Abbo looks on.

step of the way there was somebody there to help me… someone that has brought me to that next level. And we are not even close to being done. We’ve got such huge goals. You just wait and see. This is just the beginning.”

The award ceremony also included a number of awards given out by the Northville Chamber of Commerce, which organized the annual event to honor local businesses and volunteers. The city, township, and Northville District Library all recognized important volunteers.

The other awards included: Large Business of the Year: Henry Ford Health

Henry Ford Health, a fairly new member of the Chamber, was selected for their financial support to many Northville events and initiatives, including being the presenting sponsor for the 4th of July Parade and Military Banner Program.

Accepting the award for Henry Ford was Brenda Craig, who is a Northville resident. She said it was particularly gratifying to sponsor the military banners and being part of the community.

“For Henry Ford, it’s always been about more than just healthcare for us or needing a doctor when you’re sick. We really do value those partnerships that we build in communities. We want to be ambassadors for those we serve and for each other,” Craig said.

Small Business of the Year: Mayflower Towing

Mayflower Towing actively participates in and supports events such as the Summer Concert Series, Memorial Day Parade, Fourth of July Parade, Victorian Parade, Streets of Treats, and the Holiday Lighted Parade. They have also supported various organizations and initiatives, including

Maybury State Park, Moraine PTA, Kiwanis Club, Goodfellows, the Educational Excellence Program, and the Northville employee golf outing. They have been big supporters of the Northville Educational Foundation.

Northville Chamber of Commerce

Volunteer of the Year: Sandi Haas

Haas has dedicated countless hours to the Chamber. As a member of the Chamber’s ambassador group, she has helped plan both community and Chamber events, office work, meeting new members, and more. As an interior designer, she took it upon herself to refinish the Chamber bathroom, which had become dated.

“We’ve all been put on this planet to find the meaning of life. And for me the meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give that gift away,” said Haas, who encouraged those in the audience to volunteer to causes important to them. “Your talent. Helping your community. Volunteering your time….People can make a difference.”

Northville District Library Volunteers of the Year: Chuck & Andrea Murdock

Chuck and Andrea Murdock, 35-year Northville residents, have been consistent volunteers in the community. They have spent time volunteering for their homeowner’s association, the Northville Historical Society, the Friends of Maybury State Park, Northville’s Youth Assistance Commission, the City of Northville’s Historic District Commission, Northville’s Senior Advisory Commission, AARP Tax Preparation, and others. For years the Murdocks have volunteered for the Northville District Library. As members of the Friends of NDL they have helped to organize used book sales and have been

the sole volunteers for the library’s home delivery service, which brings the library to residents who are no longer able to visit in person.

“They are truly wonderful people and have made a huge difference at the library,” said Northville District Library Director Laura Mancini, noting the Murdochs volunteer several times a week to deliver and pick up books from residents with mobility issues.

Chuck Murdoch is a past recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award.

The City of Northville Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Spillane

Spillane is chair of the city’s Sustainability Team, which works to protect and enhance environmental resources while supporting the social and economic health of the community. She has authored the city’s Sustainability Plan and Northville Walkability Study. She also serves on the Mobility Network Task Force to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow of city streets, and previously served on the Farmers’ Market Task Force.

According to Mayor Brian Turnbull,

Continued on Page 12

Brenda Craig (4th from left) accepted on behalf of Henry Ford.

Kathy Spillane accepts her award from Douglas Wallace and Mayor Brian Turnbull.

Continued from Page 11

Spillane brings energy, innovation, and compassion to every project and team she has worked with, supporting the progress and health of the City of Northville.

“It’s a privilege to work with such hardworking, intelligent and fun comrades. I really enjoy and value the friendships that I’ve made,” Spillane said.

Northville Township Volunteer of the Year: Tom Hughes

Hughes, who is deputy chief of the Northville Township Fire Department, grew up in Northville and has been a member of the NTFD since 2004. During his tenure, he created the department’s fire prevention division, introducing such innovative community risk reduction initiatives as the Kindergarten Fire and Life Safety Program and the Northville High School CPR education program. Since 2017, every kindergartner in Northville Public Schools learned fire prevention skills thanks

to Hughes’ handiwork. He recently introduced a continuation of that program to educate fourth graders.

Hughes is also the founder of the Northville Township

Firefighters Charity Fund. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which dates back to 2014, raises money throughout the year to better the lives of the local community and surrounding area. Hughes plans multiple fundraisers, including Muscular Dystrophy Association “Fill-the-Boot” drives and the annual Firefighter’s Ball and auction. Since its founding, the NTFCF has donated more than $1 million, including to Northville Civic Concern, Maybury State Park playground, Unity Skatepark, Main Street League, Northville Youth Network,

Northville High School’s student cardiac screening program and many more.

Northville Township Fire Chief Brent Siegel presented the award to Hughes, who he said has made a career out of serving others.

“This recognition is not just for this year, but for a lifelong commitment of protecting, uniting and giving back to this community that he serves, lives in and loves,” Siegel said.

Hughes called the award “humbling”, but he said it really reflected a team effort. He feels fortunate to have lived his whole life in Northville, which is filled with people willing to “step up and give back and commit to making the community better.”

“Growing up in Northville, working here and now watching my kids attend the same schools that my wife and I attended is a pretty surreal experience. This community has shaped who I am, and I’m incredibly grateful to give back the little bit I can,” he said.

Tom Hughes

Party like it’s 1827

Northville bicentennial planners need help plotting

historic celebration

By Kurt Kuban

While 2027 is still a ways off, there is a group of local leaders already making big plans for the year, which will mark the two hundred year anniversary of Northville’s founding.

If their plans come to fruition, 2027 in Northville will be packed with activities celebrating our collective history dating back to the early 19th century when the first pioneers hacked through the forests and began building a little settlement along the Rouge River.

Much has changed in our little hamlet since 1827, and we have a lot to be thankful for.

That’s why there is a four-month long celebration – from Memorial Day through the Victorian Festival in September – in the works that could include concerts, fireworks, new historical markers erected and tours of those sites, carriage and trolley rides, guest appearances by dignitaries, creation of a time capsule, and so much more.

It’s up to the volunteer-based Northville

Bicentennial Task Force to make it all happen, which is why the group began meeting in October and will be meeting monthly for the foreseeable future. The group, which is chaired by Northville resident Rich Sharpe, a former USAF pilot who has extensive commercial/program

management experience, already has several dozen members.

But to meet their goals, the group will need a lot more help than that. The hope is to have at least 150 active volunteers.

“We’re going to need an army. And we don’t have an army right now,” said John Carter, the task force vice chair and Northville City Council member.

Carter said they are looking for people with a wide array of talents and experience. And you don’t have to be a city resident to be part of the planning. Carter emphasized Northville Township is also a big part of the celebration, and the hope is to include township sites as part of the activities.

They also plan to work closely with the school district, religious community, VFW/American Legion members, civic organizations like Rotary, Northville beautification committees, and elected officials from the county and state. They are also looking for people with ties to universities with local connections.

The task force has created eight different teams, each of which will focus upon specific activities. For example, the Marketing Team will concentrate on doing social media, creating banners, doing logo design and coming up with promotional items. They are hoping to have 15-20 members with each team.

The other teams include:

• History of Northville Resource Team: This will be the “subject matter experts” for all things Northville history. They will

A Saturday night in downtown Northville back in 1919. Photos from the archives of the Northville Historical Society

The Wayne County Fair used to take place in Northville, at the site that became Northville Downs.

be key “curators” with the community and collaborators with the Historical Signage and Markers, Mill Race Village, A/V and Social Media, and Tricentennial Time Capsule teams.

• Historical Signage and Markers Team: Will be in charge of creation and installation of permanent historical signs and markers for 10-12 major areas and 25-30 “point-visit” locations. Will likely also include temporary (90 day) placards to be used in coordination with the tours and A/V teams plan for self-guided tour references/recordings via QR codes that will be placed around town. The QR codes will show the history of the buildings and places where they are located.

• Mill Race Village Activities Team: Will be in charge of activities from the Memorial Day through the Victorian Festival and the resources necessary to showcase Northville’s historical village.

• Ford Field/Riverwalk/Farmers Market and Parking Team: Create the schedule of activities for the bicentennial summer and finding the resources necessary to attract visitors and celebrate the community (including concerts, contests, lumberjack and other demonstrations/shows).

• Transportation/Tours Team (trolley, buggy, self-guided, etc.): In coordination with other key teams, will determine what sites will be on the various tours, whether self-guided or guided, and develop a transportation and parking plan to accommodate all that.

• Video and Audio Visual Team: This team’s mission and responsibilities are huge, beginning with delivering an exciting “History of Northville” video in three lengths utilizing existing images and footage as well as new filming to tell our story properly. The goal is an “awardwinning” film that will capture interest now and when the Tricentennial Time Capsule is opened.

• Tricentennial Time Capsule Team: This team will come up with a reflective look at our past, present and distant future. What do we want in the time capsule that represents us? They will also determine where, how and in what kind of vessel the time capsule should be

placed.

Each team already has a projected budget, so fundraising and sponsorships will be very important, as the city doesn’t really have the funding to pay for all the endeavors that are being planned.

Sharpe said the budget is still a work in progress, but will most likely exceed $600,000. So they are looking for sponsorships from local businesses and organizations, and he noted the task force will also be looking to secure any kind of grant funding that is out there to help.

“This is not going to be an everyday kind of thing. This is going to be big and something our community can be proud of,” Sharpe said.

In addition to creating a festival atmosphere, the mission of the Bicentennial Task Force is to foster a sense of community pride and fellowship, while also increasing the visibility of the greater Northville community to a broader audience of prospective visitors, home buyers, business owners and investors.

Northville has changed a lot in the last 200 years, and there is more change on the horizon. With new developments like the Downs project taking place, there is going to be an influx of people in to the community. Carter hopes that the bicentennial activities will not only introduce them to our history but also give them the opportunity to get involved in the community.

“We’re about to have all kinds of new residents moving to our downtown. We want them to be involved and to realize why Northville is such a special place,” Carter said.

All in all, Northville has come a long way in the last two centuries. And that’s worth celebrating.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

The Northville Bicentennial Task Force is looking for volunteers of all experiences and backgrounds. If you would like to volunteer and be involved, or sponsor bicentennial activities, send an email to the committee at northville200@gmail.com.

The Northville City Band poses in 1897.

Benjamin Swanson, M.D. Cardiologist

The Shawn Riley Band will headline the St. Patrick’s Day-themed event, taking the stage at 8:30 p.m. Kicking off the night at 7 p.m. will be Celtic performers Maggie McCabe & Gerard Smith. The Marquis Theater is located at 135 E. Main Street.

“I think we wanted to make sure it was a celebration,” said Carter, hoping the venue will be sold out on that night. “That we carried his spirit. He loved the Marquis and he loved downtown. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to bring people together and a good opportunity to celebrate.

A Dance Honoring Declan

A Dance Honoring Declan

St. Patrick’s Day-themed event to raise funds for fledgling Carter foundation

By Tim Smith

To anyone who knew Declan Carter, he seemingly could do anything he put his mind to. Several months after his inexplicable death, he seems to be continuing the trend.

Tragically, the 12-year-old Declan died last Sept. 26 in a freak accident, after a tree fell on the Our Lady of Victory sixth grader during a school field trip to the Howell Nature Center.

Nearly half a year later, Declan’s memory promises to help fill Northville’s Marquis Theater and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help many children strive toward the greatness the always smiling boy and elite-level cross country runner seemed destined to reach, even at a very young age.

The Marquis will host “Declan’s Dance: a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” on Saturday, March 15. The event will feature Irish music, vibes and hopefully a capacity audience of 400 people – all to help family, friends and community members remember the happy-go-lucky son of John and Elisabeth Carter.

“We’re excited about it,” said John Carter, a Northville city

councilman, about the concert, which will help launch the Declan Carter Foundation nonprofit organization. “Honestly, the last few months have not been easy for our family, by any stretch of the imagination. But it’s exciting to be able to do some good in Declan’s name.”

The event’s logo features Declan’s trademark smiley face, too.

“When he was running, he’d put a smiley face on his hand,” Carter said. “The reason he did it was I had a conversation with him about ‘Buddy, loose runners run fast.’ That was a race with 200 kids and he won the race outright.

“I looked down at his hand and said ‘Oh, I love the smiley face.’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, I wanted to be able to look down at my hand and remind myself that I’m out here having fun.’”

“We’ve been calling it ‘Declan’s Dance: a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Marquis.’ It just seemed to bring all those things together.”

Proceeds from the event will go to the Ford Field playground project via the Declan Carter Foundation.

It is estimated that the foundation – through ongoing efforts beginning with the March 15 concert – will help generate between $300,000 and $400,000 toward the $1.2 million effort to remake the playground.

Carter, who is a cross-country coach at Our Lady of Victory, said Declan relished making regular runs from the family’s Main Street home, past the Marquis Theater and over to Ford Field for numerous loops. Helping “Fort Griswold” improvements get off the ground was a no-brainer for the opening salvo of donations to the foundation.

“We called it Declan’s loop,” Carter continued. “When he was old enough to run on his own, and I couldn’t keep up with him, … he’d run up Main Street, down Griswold, through

Shawn Riley (from left), Liz and John Carter, and Marquis Theater owners Kim and Brandon Beuter are planning Declan’s Dance on March 15. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

Declan Carter. Carter family photo

Ford Field and back to Dunlap and over. When he wanted to increase his distance he would just run more loops around Ford Field.

“Also, he has a younger sister, Georgia, and a little sister, Ainslie and they always loved Fort Griswold and Ford Field. It seemed very appropriate to have us try to raise some money and have a good impact on the playground project over there.”

BUBBLING WITH ENTHUSIASM

Shawn Riley, who is a member of Northville’s DDA board, and Marquis Theater owner Brandon Bueter teamed up with the Carters. The concert could be considered a sequel to the ‘Celebration of Life’ which took place at the Marquis on the day of the young boy’s funeral.

“I’m absolutely humbled and honored,” said Riley, calling the March 15 event a win-win for Northville as a whole. “My connection with John Carter, working through some city

stuff, I just think it’s a great opportunity. We can pull people in with (those) that come to see our band.

“The theater, … it’s a great opportunity to bring more people into the theater (which underwent a major renovation and re-opened in summer 2024) that may not have been in there to see a show. And of course, for the Carters, it’s a kickoff of their new 501c3.”

Riley said excitement for the concert and “just having a very positive, upbeat party” is through the roof.

“I wanted to perform on that (Marquis) stage again with my band, but I’d love to do something that pulls the community together and celebrate this family – and celebrate the memory of this kid that was such an amazing young guy.”

The musician remembered seeing an uplifting video of Declan, setting a school record in the twomiler at Cass Benton. “At

the end of it, he’s crossing the finish line and he says ‘I did it.’”

John Carter said the Declan Carter Foundation is already planning future events to keep the momentum going. One of those will be a Declan Carter Victory Run (to include a 5K race and Mighty Mini Mile) expected for fall 2025.

Carter said there is a story

DECLAN’S DANCE

WHAT: A St. Patrick’s Day-themed celebration for the Declan Carter Foundation

WHO: The Shawn Riley Band, Maggie McCabe and Gerard Smith will perform

WHEN: 7-11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15

WHERE: The Marquis Theater, 135 E. Main Street

TICKETS: $15 at the door or online at northvillemarquis.com

behind including a Mighty Mini Mile in the planned autumn event.

“We have a group of younger runners (at Our Lady of Victory) and they are called the Mighty Minis,” he explained. “These young girls were just diehards, they worked so hard and Declan loved them all.

“So we’re going to have the 5K race and a Mighty Mini Mile. That’s as a little bit of a tribute to those girls that had such an impression on him and that he loved.”

Also being discussed among future foundation initiatives is support for Adopt-A-Family.

“One of the things we’ve seen,” Carter stressed, “just being in the running community, is there’s a lot of kids, even here in Northville, who may love running but can’t afford quality shoes.

“And so buying shoes for kids in need, we’re looking at programs along those lines. We’ve talked about possibly scholarships that could open opportunities from an academic or athletic standpoint. The goal is to be very targeted and very focused on the youth in our community.”

HERE’S HOW TO DONATE

Carter said the March 15 fundraising effort “will be a team effort with significant support” from the (Northville) Rotary Club and the Northville Playground Fundraising Committee.

According to Carter, the Main Street League is partnering with the fledgling foundation to make sure all donations and proceeds from ticket sales are directed to the correct fund.

“We’re waiting for 501c3 status to come through,” said Carter, noting that the process should be completed within a few months. “For this event we’re partnering with the Main Street League. All donations will be tax-deductible.”

Those interested in donating should go to mainstreetleague. com.

Ticket information for “Declan’s Dance” is available at marquistheaterofnorthville. thundertix.com/events.

Donations will go to the Declan Carter Fund within the Main Street League, using their 501c3 status.

The Carter family (Liz, John, Georgia and Ainslie) have started a foundation in Declan’s name that will support local causes near and dear to his heart.

Getting A First Look

Township officials excited to get keys for Essential Services Complex

By Kurt Kuban

On Feb. 6, a group of Northville Township’s top officials got their first look at the new Essential Services Complex, which has risen quickly on the former psychiatric hospital site along Seven Mile.

The tour was led by Mark Rogers and Ed Dunn, team leaders with CunninghamLimp, the contractor constructing the ESC, which is comprised of three different buildings.

The main building, at 65,000 square feet, will be the new administrative headquarters for the township’s public safety personnel. There is also a 25,000-square-foot building for the public works department and a 1,700-square-foot parks and recreation trailhead building for Legacy Park.

Those taking the tour included Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo, township manager Glenn Caldwell and Todd Mutchler, the recently-retired township

manager who oversaw a lot of the planning for the new $41 million complex.

Most of the tour focused on the new state-of-the-art public safety facility, which includes separate facilities for the fire and police departments (denoted by the red and blue color schemes), a shared public lobby space, and a 9-1-1 dispatch center.

As they made their way through the facility, the group skirted past an army of

construction workers busy with the finishing touches in just about every room in the building. It was a bevy of activity.

Rogers, who is the site superintendent for Cunningham-Limp, estimated there were about 130 workers in the building that day.

“We’ve been averaging about a hundred workers a day every day for the last three months,” he said.

They broke ground on the

project on May 14, 2024, and are scheduled to do some of the final inspections at the end of February, at which time they will be handing over the keys to township officials.

Dunn, the project manager, admitted the schedule has been a bit hectic and quicker than they are used to, but they have worked hard to meet the township’s desire to complete the project in 12 months.

“An 18-month schedule would have been impressive for a project like this,” Dunn said.

Once it is completed, the township will move all the police operations from its current facility on Six Mile Road and Winchester. The township employs a total of 36 police officers.

The new facility has six holding cells (for township and police lockups), a separate area for juvenile offenders, a large indoor bay for the squad cars (which should prolong their lifespan), male and female locker rooms, fitness and lounge areas, and plenty of office space and meeting rooms for officers.

The other side of the building will serve as Fire Station #2 and will have three shifts of six firefighters while fully staffed (there are five at Fire Station #1). It will also house the township’s new ladder truck, recently purchased from the city.

The new fire station will serve the east side of the township. Abbo said emergency response times will improve for that area, which is one of the major reasons they wanted to build the new complex in the first place.

The space includes quarters for the chief and deputy chief, a kitchen, training room, lounge and fitness areas, and plenty of

Mark Rogers (from left), Todd Mutchler, Mark Abbo, Glenn Caldwell, Sheila Weber, Ed Dunn and project engineer Kate Valentine stand near Fire Station #2 during a Feb. 6 tour of the new Essential Services Complex.

The new Essential Services Complex is scheduled to be open and operational by April.

meeting space.

In between the police and fire sections, there is a separate state-of-the-art Dispatch center that will house the township’s 12 dispatchers, who handle 9-1-1 calls for both the township and city.

In addition, there is also a 5,000-square-foot shared meeting room equipped with smart technologies, televisions, and kitchenettes. It can be used for police or fire activities, or for public events and meetings.

The tour did not include visits to the other two buildings that are part of the ESC, but both are on schedule to be completed in the coming weeks, according to Cunningham-Limp.

The new public services building will house about 15-20 employees and replace the current complex on Beck

Road near Township Park. The smaller Parks building will have bathrooms for people using Legacy Park and most likely house some maintenance equipment.

Abbo said the goal is to start moving township employees in next month and to have the ESC fully functional sometime in April. They will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony sometime that month.

As the tour made its way through the new police department, Mutchler couldn’t help but smile. The former police chief and township manager said the building had come a long way from preliminary discussions about needing a new police facility, to conceptual drawings and now to see it rising up, bringing a source of pride even though

he is no longer working for the township.

“This is really cool,” he said, beaming.

Abbo agreed. He is confident the 31,000 residents of Northville Township will be thrilled with the place once it opens. He said nearly every township employee had some hand in the design of the new complex, to make sure it is a perfect fit and serves the needs

for the community.

“We wanted to do this right. A lot of thought has gone into it. We believe this will serve the township’s needs for hopefully a hundred years,” he said. “This really did include everyone. There was so much coordination between the different departments. It’s really something to be proud of.”

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Mark Rogers, construction site superintendent with Cunningham-Limp, stands near the new public services building at the ESC site.

Sat 9:00AM - 3:00PM

Mon 9:00AM - 8:00PM

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A Sweet Spring Excursion

Maybury Farm maple syrup tours just around the corner

By Tim Smith

It’s almost time to literally tap into some sweet knowledge at Maybury Farm in Northville.

The annual Maple Syrup Tours at the farm are slated to begin Saturday, March 8 and continue on weekends through the end of the month.

For those people of all ages willing to bundle up for whatever the weather might have in store, a fascinating excursion is available to see firsthand just how sap is extracted from the sugar bush and transformed into delicious maple syrup.

“It’s a very popular event, people really enjoy it,” said Diana Wallace, executive director of the Northville Community Foundation and Maybury Farm, adding that the tours have been taking place for around a decade. “Not only do they enjoy being able

to come out and do the maple syrup (tour), they get to visit the farm animals as well.

“The one thing I would tell them is to dress for the weather. Boots and warm

clothes are suggested because it does get muddy. It’s also wet because you’re going into the woods, and there hasn’t been enough sun and warmth to heat up the ground.”

Those interested in reserving spots early can go to mayburyfarm.org and click on the link on the front page to access an on-line reservation form. There will be wagon tours every 30 minutes or so on Saturdays and Sundays beginning March 8-9 and each weekend through March 29-30.

Attendees will take wagons from the tour starting point out to the farm’s sugar bush, an area comprised of 30-35 maple trees.

After seeing how the sap is removed and learning all about the process from Maybury Farm educational supervisor Darlene Egbert-Oliver, people will get back

on the wagon and be shuttled to the “sugar shack” where the extracted sap (which looks like water) goes through an evaporation process and converted into syrup.

“We typically take out 50 people every half hour, (but) we won’t have full wagon rides every day,” Wallace said. “It’s going to depend on the weather. But for the most part, we have pretty full wagons and people learn all about it. They get excited about it and they can see the sap become syrup and they get to taste it so that they know what the sap tastes like and what the syrup tastes like. Their tasting is a really key, important part of the tours.”

Although there will be maple syrup available to purchase at Maybury Farm, that product comes from a Michigan vendor because the farm does not have the capacity to process large quantities of sap into syrup. All sap taken from trees there is used for demonstration purposes.

“We don’t have enough trees,” Wallace said. “We don’t have enough to make and process what needs to be done in the right environment. It’s got to be in a safe environment.”

According to Wallace, many people who take the tours are fascinated about the entire process, including the various steps and length of time required for the clear goo to begin to resemble what one pours on their pancakes and waffles.

“The sap comes out and it’s clear, it has no color,” Wallace continued.

“It looks like water. We take that sap and put it into an evaporator, it’s at a very high temperature and that boils down and becomes the actual maple syrup.”

When asked how long the conversion process takes, she laughed and jokingly said people will have to take the Maple Syrup Tour to find out.

For the most part, the entire tour lasts a

little more than an hour. There will be hot drinks available to purchase; Wallace said pre-packaged snacks like popcorn also will be on sale.

The trees in the sugar bush will already be tapped professionally ahead of the March weekend tours. But youngsters still will have the opportunity to get some first-hand drilling experience while at the sugar shack.

“We have educators at the sugar shack that take them through all the steps (and) we also have an opportunity for them to test their skills,” Wallace continued, “on how to drill into the wood just so they can set up the sap to flow. We use a hand drill for that. Kids that come out love to do that, it’s all about ‘How do I tap a tree? How does it come out?’”

Wallace said those who go to the farm’s website to book early (up until 48 hours from the day of the tour they want to attend) can get tickets for $12. The price is bumped up to $14 closer to the event. Maybury Farm members can buy a ticket for $8. Tickets also can be purchased by calling (248) 374-0200 (option 2).

Maybury Farm, which is operated by the Northville Community Foundation, is located at 50165 Eight Mile Road. For more information, visit mayburyfarm.org.

Saturday, March 15, 2025 6:00 p.m.

$150/ticket

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

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Professional Golf Coming To St. John’s

August LIV tourney to elevate The Cardinal ‘to a different level’

By Brad Emons

When the Saudi Arabiafinanced LIV Golf burst upon the scene in 2022 to directly compete with the longtime and established PGA Tour, its motto became: “Golf, But Louder.”

Three years later and without a proposed merger deal possibly on the horizon between the rival tours, LIV Golf made noise locally with a sonic boom when it was announced on Jan. 7 that The Cardinal, a newly redesigned 18-hole championship course the Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth Township, will host the season-ending team event on Aug. 22-24.

Area fans will be able to get a birds-eye view of some the game’s premier players who bolted to the rival tour for exorbitant amounts of money in the three-day, 54-hole team format.

Among those scheduled to play in Plymouth include major tournament champions Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia,

in the late fall of 2023, but did not officially open to the public until May of 2024.

With the help of Outlyer, an event management company based in Greenwich, Conn., talks began last fall and initially centered around possibly bringing a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour event to The Cardinal.

But that never came to fruition, opening the door for LIV, which began searching for a fifth tour stop on American soil for its 2025 season.

Patrick Reid, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Louis Ooosthuizen, Henrik Stenson and Charl Schwartzel.

“I think it elevates the resort to a different level, I think it’s going to bring a lot of eyes to southeast Michigan,” said Nick Becks, who became The Cardinal’s Executive Director of Golf last July. “The golf world is eager to see what another team championship looks like from the LIV Tour. It’s going to be busy, it will be fun, it will

be exciting, and I’ll go back to busy. It’s a lot of fun to put these things together and we’ve got a great team working on it.”

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, which owns St. John’s, hired renowned golf architect Ray Hearn of Holland, Michigan five years ago to put his stamp on a new course design, which reduced the number of holes on the property from 27 holes to 18.

The two-year course project, spearheaded by the construction firm Labar Golf Renovations, was completed

“I don’t know exactly where it was, but LIV had been working with Outlyer as well and they began searching for a location to host their team championship,” Becks said. “Since we knew Outlyer, and they were at our facility, we toured around. We had done the whole show with them trying to obviously generate interest for the LPGA.

“I thought it would be a perfect fit really to host the LIV Tour team championship, so that’s where it really started. It started all with the LPGA direction. That just kind of morphed into LIV and Outlyer coming together.”

According to Becks, the deal to bring LIV to The Cardinal and Plymouth was finalized at the end of December and announced shortly after the holiday break.

Becks, who grew up in Green Bay, Wis. and now resides in Novi, brings a wealth of experience to The Cardinal.

After graduating from Ferris State’s PGA Golf Management Program, Becks spent time working in Chicago and for the past 12 years served as general manager for an 18-hole property and public facility in Encinitas, Calif.

He joined The Cardinal’s

Bryson DeChambeau (above left) and Brooks Koepka (above right) are just two of the superstars scheduled to play at the new LIV team event. Photos courtesy of LIV Golf

The golf world is eager to see what another team championship looks like from the LIV Tour. It’s going to be busy, it will be fun, it will be exciting, and I’ll go back to busy. It’s a lot of fun to put these things together and we’ve got a great team working on it.”

Nick Becks, Executive Director of Golf at The Cardinal

team in September of 2023 in commercial operations before assuming dual roles last July.

One of the major tasks leading up to the August event is to make the course conform to LIV Golf course specifications and standards. Becks said more information will come as they get into the meetings and the planning of the event.

“We have a meeting coming up with Ray Hearn and the folks at LaBar Golf Renovations and we’re going to discuss potential tweaks to the course to make it more tournament friendly,” Becks said. “Not easier by any stretch. I guess, I wouldn’t call it so much more difficult, but we may be adding a bunker

on one of the holes, things like that. I don’t know if I can speak to the record on that yet because we haven’t finalized anything. There’s potential modifications.”

Everything will be on the table as the course will more than likely be lengthened to make certain it remains a challenge for the game’s premier players. Tee boxes and bunkers will more than likely be added. Par-5s could become Par-4s. Even-par possibly could be changed from 72 to 70.

Becks believes the conditions of the golf course that the Cardinal can provide, along with the St. John’s amenities including its on-site hotel and

banquet facilities (managed by the Schulte Boutique and Lifestyle Group), will provide a premier golf experience for both the players and spectators.

LIV Golf’s team competition – consisting of 13 teams and 52 players -- will only add to experience – which also includes post-tournament music concerts each day. As the tournament draws closer in the coming months, information will be released regarding ticket sales and parking.

Meanwhile, the origin of the name LIV refers to Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at its events. The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event was held June 9, 2022, at the Centurion Club near St. Albans in Hertfordshire, England.

Under the direction of CEO Greg Norman, the first LIV Golf season began in 2023 and it did not come without controversy along the way creating a firestorm on social media from members of the entrenched PGA.

Financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf was heavily

scrutinized by TV and radio commentators, as well as print journalists who contended the tour was part of the efforts of the Saudi monarchy, which has been criticized and flagged for human rights abuses and corruption, using sports to help polish their public image.

“They emphasize creating more of a high energy atmosphere running their tournaments . . . their tagline now is: ‘Long LIV Golf,’” Becks said. “They are moving forward and we will see where everything ends up at the end of the day. But they saw the facility with our unique venues – three restaurants (Five Steakhouse, Doyle’s Irish Pub and The Wine Grotto), the grounds, the awardwinning food and beverage team. It was an easy fit for what they want to do.”

One-hundred percent of the net profits at St. John’s support the Humanitarian Hotels initiative.

“And the beauty is, all of our net proceeds go to directly to the (Pulte) foundation,” Becks said. “Essentially, we’re an arm of the charity that brings some good to the world.”

Sprawling over 200 acres, The Cardinal is an 18-hole course designed by renowned architect Raymond Hearn.

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At the Forefront of Vision Care

New Northville eye doctor’s approach is off the charts

By Larry O’Connor

Of the five senses, sight is the most precious. Yet some people will cut corners to save 5 cents when it comes to their vision care.

Five months ago, Dr. Tony Wahab opened Seen Vision Care at 117 N. Wing Street in downtown Northville, offering a “holistic approach” to eye care. Wahab’s comprehensive methods fly in the face of consumer austerity where online vision screenings and ordering eye glasses by mail have become the norm.

Wahab possesses a quarter century of expertise in optometry, having practiced in Boston, New York and Washington D.C. before moving to the Detroit area seven years ago.

“Traditionally when you go to an eye doctor, you check the eyes to see if you need glasses, have a perusal of your eyes to make sure there’s nothing grossly abnormal, and you get a pair of glasses and move on,” said Wahab, a New England College of Optometry graduate.

“What a lot of doctors fail to realize is that the eyes are attached to a human. There’s a body and a brain connected to these devices that require treatment and acknowledgment.”

Seen Vision prides itself as a major hub for contacts and designer eye glasses, establishing itself as the largest Cartier designer frames distributor in the Metro Detroit area.

high blood pressure may wreak havoc on blood vessels, leading to glaucoma.

Seen Vision is at the forefront for treating chronic dry eye, a disorder affecting 16 million Americans, mostly women, according to the National Eye Institute. Some describe the searing pain as akin to being

Phone: (248) 946-0005

Website: www.haveyoubeenseen. com

Downtown’s Northville’s newest optometry post reflects a growing trend toward customized eyewear, which includes surgically etching a customer’s name or favorite team onto their lenses.

However, high fashion doesn’t overshadow the importance of undergoing a thorough eye exam, the optometrist said.

VISION AND HEALTH

Heavy computer users, in particular, put their eyes under immense strain. Vision and a person’s overall health is connected in numerous ways, Wahab said.

For instance, vitamin A deficiency can cause dry eyes and night blindness whereas

provide relief.

The disorder is related to malfunctioning meibomian glands that line the inside of the eyelid. Those glands produce meibum, an oily material that coats the eyeball and prevents tears from evaporating.

For moderate to severe dry eye, Seen Vision deploys intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy where the troublesome oil glands near the eyelashes are reinvigorated. Radio frequency is also used to eradicate dry eye symptoms.

“We heat up the gland to a point where the organic matter that’s clogging these glands can be (drained),” Wahab said. “It’s almost like pimple popping.”

The breakthrough treatment is one of several services offered

Dr. Tony Wahab of Seen Vision Care in downtown Northville. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

in the Northville facility’s aptly named Eye Spa, which also possesses an AgeJet device that is used to boost new elastim and collagen to replace damaged collagen around the eyes.

Seen Vision is also a trailblazer in diagnosing diabetic eye disease, including retinopathy and macular edema. Seen’s Dearborn office boasts one of the largest diabetic retinopathy centers in the area.

Untreated, those afflicted with diabetic-related disorders can suffer vision loss or blindness. Annual dilated eye exams are crucial in uncovering those maladies, Wahab said.

“We are contacted constantly, even by insurance (carriers) who say to us, ‘Hey can you go out to our patients and see them because they need this service,’” Wahab said. “‘We’re not able to get them in to see someone for a diabetic retinal exam.’”

Wahab has also taken a keen interest in how poor vision plays a role in learning disabilities. Studies indicate 80% of learning comes through visual cues.

Early in his career, the Boston native worked with Dr. Harry Wachs, a pioneer in neuro-developmental optometry, while practicing in the Washington D.C. area. Wachs authored two books and founded the Vision and Conceptual Development Center in Bethesda, Md.

In 2018, Wahab moved to the Detroit area after getting married. He opened his first Seen Vision Care office in downtown Dearborn shortly after his arrival.

Some children have been misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder and other learning disabilities when poor eye sight is the root cause, Wahab said. Routine school screenings may not detect underlying vision issues, either.

“We do the exam and you see that the kid has some issues,” the optometrist said. “So then we start asking different questions: Does the child ever complain of headaches? ‘Oh, my gosh, all the time.’ Do they get tired very quickly? ‘Absolutely, they fall asleep in the book. Can they read? ‘Put a book in front

of them and they scream.’

“The problem is that their eyes aren’t working together.”

The Northville office specializes in vision therapy, where optical muscles are strengthened and toned.

GIVING BACK

Wahab’s child welfare concerns extend beyond his optometry practice. Seen Vision is donating 10% of proceeds in February and March to the Northville Educational Foundation.

The nonprofit, which started in 1999, supports programs that promote educational opportunities and academic excellence for Northville students.

“After reviewing both of our missions, visions, and NEF’s various events, programs, and initiatives, Dr. W felt that a presenting sponsorship for the Northville Parent Camp & Wellness, along with a partnership for Save Your Vision Month, would be an

excellent fit,” said Kate Mitchell, NEF executive director.

The gesture comes from the heart, the optometrist said.

“We’re very passionate about children and their learning,” Wahab said, “and want to be of any assistance in helping kids achieve their academic goals.”

When it comes to allinclusive eye care, Northville appeared on Wahab’s radar as an under-served area. He opened the optometry practice in a 125-year-old, historic structure on N. Wing Street in August.

Wahab is overwhelmed with the response so far.

“The biggest thing is we want to be entrenched in the community for a long time,” Wahab said. “I’m especially proud of the relationships that we’ve made with our patients, historically. Those are the kind of relationships — through reviews and referrals — that build a practice.

“We hope the people in Northville at least give us a try.”

Seen Vision is the largest Cartier designer frames distributor in the Metro Detroit area. Photo courtesy of Seen Vision Care

Dr. Tony Wahab is a New England College of Optometry graduate. Photo courtesy of Seen Vision Care

Hestan, Viking, Heritage Steel, de Buyer, and Staub Cookware

Zwilling, Messermeister, Cangshan, and Victorinox Cutlery

Ankarsrum Mixer, Fellow Coffee, Vitamix Electrics

Culinary Workshops

Members-Only Cookbook Club

BULLETIN BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

Herrmann Named Deputy Treasurer

Mindy Herrmann, a member of the elected Northville Township Board of Trustees since 2008, has been appointed to serve as the township’s deputy treasurer.

Treasurer Jason Rhines appointed Herrmann to fill the vacancy created when Trustee Scott Frush died suddenly on Jan. 11.

In this role, Herrmann would perform the duties of the treasurer in the event Rhines is absent, ill or otherwise unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the office.

“Scott Frush left big shoes to fill,” said Rhines. “I’m confident Mindy Herrmann is an excellent choice for this role. She has a long history of protecting public funds. She always has our residents, our taxpayers, top of mind when making any decision.”

Herrmann currently is on the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission and is chair of the Pathways Committee.

Herrmann earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy, then joined the Marine Corps, where she spent 28 years as an officer, retiring from service in 2016. She also graduated from a master’s level Marine Corps program called “Command and Staff,” a course dedicated to strategizing at the highest level. Currently, she is Executive Director of both the Eastern District of Michigan Federal Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan Chapter.

“I take my responsibility of helping oversee Northville Township’s public service delivery seriously and this new responsibility will benefit from my years of experience working on projects with complex goals and budgets. I’m looking forward to helping our residents in a new capacity,” Herrmann said in a statement put out by the township.

Mill Race Village Receives SEMCOG Grant

Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull on Jan. 24 presented Mill Race Village Executive Director Traci Sincock and Northville Historical Society Board

President Bill Stockhausen with a SEMCOG Grant Award of $115,000 for the “Greening of the Lane” Mill Race Project.

The funds were awarded as part of the USEPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Program. The project included replacing the gravel access drive, installing permeable pavers and subsurface drain tiles, and the creation of two rain gardens. The improvements made to Mill Race will reduce the amount of sediment entering the Rough River from the Historic Village.    SEMCOG, or Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving 4.8 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan.

Mustangs Ranked Nationally For Athletic

Northville High School’s athletics program was recently recognized by MaxPreps.com as one of the elite athletic programs in the country, and the only school in Michigan to be listed in the Top 20 nationally.

Using a formula that includes state championships, runner-up finishes and national rankings, Northville was ranked No. 16 in the country.

Excellence

MaxPreps awarded points to more than 5,500 U.S. schools, with only 107 of those scoring over 1,000 points, including Northville. In 2024 alone, Mustang athletic teams captured four state titles (baseball, volleyball, boys cross country and girls golf).

The NHS Athletics Department has been led by Athletic Director Brian Samulski since 2019.

Miss Teen India USA 2nd Runner-Up

Sonali Sharma, a Northville High School senior, was named second runner-up at the Miss Teen India USA 2023 pageant, held Dec. 15 in Fords, New Jersey. She was invited to compete for the title after being named Miss Teen India Michigan last June.

Sonali earned the Best Talent award for her two-minute rendition of the beloved Bollywood classic “Kal Ho Naa Ho” (Tomorrow May Never Come). This performance was a heartfelt tribute to her cherished elder Ram Saran Arora, lovingly called Elder Grandpa, who was courageously battling congestive heart failure at the time.

Ram Saran Arora, a Northville resident for the past 22 years, passed away on Dec. 22 at 87 years old. He was the first in the family to immigrate to the U.S. from India in the 1960s and then sponsored many relatives to settle in the U.S.

“He deeply moved and inspired Sonali to celebrate the importance of love, family, and living each moment to the fullest,” said her mother, Simi.

During the Judges’ Q&A round, Sonali was asked to name the most interesting tourist attraction city in the U.S. and explain why.

“The most interesting tourist attraction city in the U.S., in my opinion, would have to be Northville, Michigan, which is where I’m from,” Sonali responded with pride. “I love the kind people who make up this city and how everyone always looks out for one another. It’s a city that every state should have.”

BULLETIN BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

NHS Model UN Delegates Make Harvard Debut

On Jan. 30, Northville High School’s Model United Nations club attended the prestigious Harvard Model UN Conference—the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. Competing with 3,000 delegates from around the world, 15 Northville delegates had the opportunity to engage in high-level debate and diplomacy on a global stage. In a milestone moment for the club, President Arjun Saini earned an Honorable Mention for his outstanding performance in committee, marking a proud achievement for Northville Model UN in its debut at this conference.

Model United Nations is an educational simulation of the United Nations to teach students about diplomacy, international relations,

and global issues. During a MUN conference, students assume the roles of representatives of countries, organizations, or individuals to collaborate and address global challenges.

In addition to Saini, the NHS delegates included Ascher Bustos, Pedro Henrique Candido de Sousa, Dhanya Chugh, Kushal Durga, Saamaja Krishnan, Emma Luo, Nidhi Narendra Kumar, Catherine Partridge, Aadya Pullalarevu, Siya Sandeep, Aryaa Sonar, Opal Tonshal, Suraj Uppuganti and Krishiv Vaidya.

Jackson Garland and Tearah Kemp are the group’s advisors.

Great job, Mustangs!

out & about out & about out & about

YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHVILLE THIS MONTH

Chili’in the Ville

Feb. 22

The fire departments for the City of Northville and Northville Township, along with several local restaurants will face off in this annual chili competition that will take place from 1-4 p.m. in downtown Northville. This family-friendly event will also feature ice sculptures. Tickets are available to purchase in sets of eight for $10. Each ticket provides a sample-size portion of chili from participating businesses. To purchase tickets, visit Mod Market online (www.modmarketnorthville.org) or in store (150 Mary Alexander Court). Also look for the Chili’in the Ville posters located in town. To sponsor an ice sculpture, contact the Northville DDA at (248) 349-0345.

The Interurban in Northville

Feb. 26

This event, hosted by the Northville Historical Society, begins at 7 p.m. at Mill Race Village. Historian Brian Golden will discuss the Detroit Urban Railroad, a rapid transit system that provided fast and efficient travel between Northville and Pontiac and Northville and Wayne in the late 1800s. One could travel to Detroit in about the same time it takes today. For more information, visit www. millracenorthville.org.

Preschool Open House

Feb. 27

Northville Public Schools will host a preschool open house from 5-6:30 p.m. at Ridge Wood, Thornton Creek and Old Village School. The 2025-2026 Open House is for new families to have the opportunity to tour their prospective building and visit 1-2 classrooms. Enrollment runs through March 7. For more information, visit www. earlychildhood.northvilleschools.org. SEND IT IN To get your items listed in Out & About, email editor

2025 Firefighter's Ball Charity Gala

The annual Northville Township Firefighters Charity Fund Firefighter’s Ball will take place Saturday, March 15 at Laurel Manor Banquet Hall. It is the 20th Firefighter’s Ball, which will feature dinner, open bar, live entertainment, live and silent auctions and so much more.

This is a fundraiser for the NTFCF, which has donated more than $1 million to local causes since its founding more than a decade ago. Some of those causes include supporting injured and fallen firefighters, police officers and their families, the creation of the Sherrill Berman Trailhead Playground, founding of the Tom Hughes Memorial Scholarship, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Great Lakes Burn Camp, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Northville Civic Concern, Northville Parks and Recreation, the Salvation Army, the Goodfellow’s and many, many others.

Tickets are $150 or $1,500 for a table of 10. The event has sold out 10 years in a row, and promises to do so again. So get your tickets soon. There are also a number of sponsorship packages available. For more information about sponsorships or to purchase tickets, visit www. ntffcharityfund.com.

Variety Show

Feb. 28

The Living and Learning Enrichment Center will host its Variety Show Fundraiser at Northville High School. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show begins at 6 p.m. The event will feature a MOD Market and Baseline Studio Pop-Up with items available for purchase. The Variety Show features a variety of talents from dancers, actors, singers, poets, and other entertainers. General admission tickets are $12 and can be purchased by visiting livingandlearningcenter.org/variety.

NEF’s Glow Gala

March 1

The Northville Education Foundation will host Glow Gala – A Neon Night for

Northville from 7-11 p.m. at Northville Square, 133 West Main Street. This NEF fundraiser will feature live entertainment, auctions and raffles, food and drinks, and neon -inspired dancing.

This fundraiser helps support critical programs and opportunities for Northville students and educators. There are different ticket packages available. For more information about the event or tickets, visit www. supportnef.org. Royal Truck and Utility Trailer is the presenting sponsor.

Songs & Stories of Ireland

March 6

Musician/storyteller Enda Reilly will perform from 7-8:15 p.m. at Mill Race Village in the New Church School.

The event is being co-sponsored by the Northville District Library and Northville Historical Society. Enjoy some well-known Irish songs, the sound of the language, learn about the culture and hear the instruments of Ireland. For more information, visit northvillelibrary.org.

Chamber Coffee Connection

March 12

Join the Northville Chamber of Commerce at Mission BBQ (20420 Haggerty Road) for this networking event that runs from 8-9 a.m. Coffee Connections are a great way to network and make new connections while enjoying a hot beverage. It is free for Chamber members, and $10 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.northville.org. Register online or RSVP to maddy@northville.org.

Shamrock Shindig

March 14

Join Northville Senior Services at the Northville Community Center for this lively party to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish. Enjoy lunch and lively, traditional entertainment performed by the Detroit Irish Music Association. Cost is $15 for Northville residents, and $18 for non-residents. Register by March 7. For more information, call (248) 305-2851.

Daddy Daughter Dance

March 15

This Northville Parks & Recreation event takes place from 6-8 p.m. at the Recreation Center at Hillside. The event is intended for ages 5 to 13 years old. Registration prior to the event is required. The cost is $49 per couple for Northville residents, and $59 per couple for non-residents (and $24 per additional child). Registration closes on March 7 at 4:30 pm. To register, visit www.northvilleparksandrec.org.

On the Road With

Costa Rican Escape

Jim and Janet Thompson spent the last week of January on a tour of Costa Rica. Highlights of the trip included walking over hanging bridges in the rainforest, taking hikes to observe sloths, monkeys, and view beautiful birds of many colors in their natural habitat. Here they are with their copy of The ‘Ville overlooking the city of San Jose, Costa Rica.

‘Exhilarating Experience’ in Egypt

Northville Township residents Barb and Tom Soyster took a Viking riverboat cruise on the Nile River in Egypt this past December. “We made an effort to view all of the many artifacts at the GEM (Grand Egyptian Museum) in Cairo,” Tom said. They visited various pyramids and the Great Sphinx in Giza, traversed the numerous temples of Luxor and Kannak, crawled into several tombs in the Valley of the Kings, visited a Nubian village and school, and toured the prehistoric burial grounds of Saqqara. They spent the last four days visiting American friends, who live and work at a hospital in Aswan, Egypt. “All in all it was an exhilarating experience to attempt to understand 5,000 years of Egyptian history and technology. The size and construction of the various pyramids, temples, and Sphinx alone are absolute wonders to behold in person,” Tom said. Here they are pictured at the Karnak Temple complex near the modern city of Luxor, which is the site of the ancient city of Thebes.

India’s Royal City

The Ober family traveled to India over the Christmas break to attend a family wedding in the royal city and yoga capital of Mysuru. While there, they got to visit the Jagmohan Palace and the Sayoga yoga school and store in Mysuru. They also went on a two-day wildlife safari at Nagarhole National Park where they got to see up close elephants, tigers and rare sightings of leopards.

Here Asna, Zayd and Mitch Ober are with their copy of The ‘Ville in front of the royal Jagmohan Palace.

Crossing Over Into Japan

Northville’s Bruce Comstock traveled across the Pacific Ocean last year to visit his daughter, a member of the U.S. Navy who is stationed in Sasebo, Japan. While there he visited the famous wooden arched Kintaikyo Bridge spanning the Nishiki River, located at the base of Mount Shiroyama in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture of Japan. “This unique bridge is renowned for its beautiful five-arched design and stunning views of the surrounding landscape, particularly when paired with the backdrop of Mount Shiroyama where Iwakuni Castle sits atop,” Bruce said. Here he is pictured with his copy of The ‘Ville on the famous bridge with Mount Shiroyama in the background.

The next time you head out of town, take along a copy of The ‘Ville, snap a photo, and let us know where your travels take you. Our readers would love to know! Please email the photos to kurtkuban@gmail.com. We’ll feature the photos in an upcoming issue.

WDishin’ With Denise

Denise Jenkins, who is a board member with the Northville Historical Society, is an avid writer and proponent of the arts. She is also plugged into what’s happening in Northville. Contact her at denisemjenkins@aol.com.

February in The Ville: All You Need Is Love

hen you hear those five little words, can’t you just hear the Beatles singing? I can’t help but start humming the timeless tune. There are just some things in life that cross generations and lifestyles and tastes in music.

Northville’s VFW Post 4012 celebrated a milestone anniversary last month… the big 8-0! They did it up in style with a celebration that included dinner from Rocky’s, cannoli from Genitti’s, the Encore singers and the Arthur Murray dancers. There were veterans from armed conflicts including WWII and Vietnam, plus families and friends. They all came together for a night of camaraderie and good oldfashioned fun reminiscent of the 1940s.

Lyle Avery, the Sr. Vice Commander of the local post, was on hand to receive honors and recognition from Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull and from the Department of Michigan, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The original charter was the

work of 11 World War I vets and five WW II veterans on behalf of 31 veterans. The state presented a plaque: “For 80 years, Northville VFW Post 4012 has continuously served this community…by being an outstanding example of leadership.” It went on to thank them for 80 years of faithful service. Victoria Clasman, one of the Post managers, had a presentation highlighting the history of the Post “and all the fun we had when everyone could stay up past 9 o’clock.” Ain’t that the truth!

You know I love to talk about food, and I’m focusing on “new” in 2025. Did you see the sign for Nino Salvaggio’s coming to the grounds of Schoolcraft College on Haggerty Road? They broke ground and plan to open later this year. I noticed Guernsey’s is under some new construction. It looks like they are expanding the work space. The lineup for ice cream is probably not going to change….drat. Just more room to make the chocolate milk and McGuire’s Irish Mint ice cream. Finally, if you are looking for a new way to celebrate Pi Day 2025 (skip the pizza) head over to Mill Race Village between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for a slice, or a whole pie. All proceeds benefit the Northville Historical Society. You can pre-order a whole pie at www. millracevillage.org. Of course, you all know – this takes place on March 14th (3.14).

Registration is open for the 2025 Summer Farm Camp at Maybury Farm. It

is a four-day camp for children ages 6-12. Kids learn about farm animals and agriculture through hands-on activities. It is held entirely outdoors –campers will not only “unplug” but will also get their hands dirty. Gotta love that! More info at mayburyfarm.org/educate or 248-374-0200/option 2.

For the past few years, I have sung the praises of the 100 Women Who Care. They are an incredible group, and I continue to be amazed by the spirit of each of the ladies in charge and the women who faithfully attend. I admit I am repeating myself, but it’s worth the repeat. They meet four times a year at Genitti’s (thanks Laura for introducing

me to this group). You arrive at 6:30 p.m. Get your name badge – that doubles as you ballot. Find a seat. If you have a worthy cause you would like to promote you toss the name of the charity in the hat. They pick three to tell their story. After the presentations, there’s a chance to ask questions. Everyone votes and the winner is chosen. You write your check (which is not mandatory) and you’re done. Usually before 7:15 p.m. It’s a chance to learn about the labor of love of good people in our area - and a way to turn your $100 into $10,000. The first 2025 meeting is behind us – the recipient was Global Health Charities, headquartered in Farmington, and founded in 2013. The next meeting is May 5. Please, save the date. I hope to see you there!

As for repeating…isn’t that the way we all learned every word to every song…playing it over and over again…until we knew every word? That’s why “love is all you need” still matters.

From left, Northville VFW Post 4012 members Lyle Avery, Sr. and Ed Huyck

Farm Camp at Maybury Farm.

Members of 100 Women Who Care gathered at Genitti’s.

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