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March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Gi-GrandNews.com

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Lifesaving Heroes Grosse Ile fire and police commended for heroic rescue

BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

It was unusually hot for the first day of October. So much so, that the afternoon temperature of 89 degrees broke a record high set in 1897. David Carter just wanted to hustle and get his grass cut before the evening rains began. After finishing the front lawn, he thought, “Man, this is hot,” and moved around to the backyard. He went inside and poured himself a glass of water, and sat down on the patio. The next thing he remembered was ... that he didn’t remember.

He had suffered a massive heart attack and was in full cardiac arrest.

His wife, Mary and their daughter, Abigail came home minutes within his attack, and to their horror found David sprawled on the deck, motionless.

Screaming, they had enough presence of mind to begin SEE HEROES, Page 3

David Carter (middle) is surrounded by Grosse Ile police and firemen who saved his life.

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Page 2 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

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HEROES

Continued from page 1 chest3compressions and called 911. What seemed like the second they hung up the phone, officers Raymond Bodrie and AJ Benson, patrolling in the vicinity, were on the scene, and continued with CPR and applied the AED. Fire Chief Duncan Murdock and Fire Marshal/ Assistant Chief Russell Bodrie were en route to an officers meeting when the call came in: “Man Down on Sarah Lane, Not Breathing.”

Russ turned his car around, and went immediately to the fire station and drove the ambulance. Chief drove immediately to the home. By the time they had gotten there, firefighters Rich Brower, Ted Copley, Jacob Gonzalez, Lenny Pusdesris and captain Charles Lowler continued with advanced medical attention, and loaded David Carter into the ambulance, where he was transported by the Grosse Ile Police and Fire Departments to Beaumont -Trenton South Shore hospital.

The next thing David remembers is that he woke up in the ICU with no recollection as to how he got there.

He was alive.

“All the stars must have been aligned,” explained assistant chief Bodrie, “Everything has to come together just right. The response within minutes was critical to such a successful outcome.

“The fast CPR from the family to the first responders helped save David’s life. The biggest problem we have when it comes to saving people in cardiac arrest is the ‘unknown down time,’ when we don’t know how long they have been out.”

In a commendation ceremony at the late January Board of Trustees meeting, Chief Murdock praised the knowledge and medical skills of the lifesaving heroes, “The outcome was fantastic, this was a great save.

Public Safety, as well as Grosse Ile Police and Fire

March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 3

I look at things a lot differently now. You have what they say is a ‘life debt’, I thank you all. ~ David Carter did a remarkable job.

“This gentleman is here tonight, he was released from the hospital, walking and talking, and giving his kids a run for their money, and I hope grandkids.”

Reading from the commendation, Murdock continued, “Grosse Ile Fire Chief Duncan Murdock and the Grosse Ile Fire Commission hereby award lifesaving commendations to firefighters Brower, Copley, Gonzalez, Lowler, Bodrie, Pusdesris, and police officers Benson and Bodrie for their professional conduct in the finest tradition of the Grosse Ile Fire Department.”

Speaking to a tearful audience full of family, friends, and firefighters, an emotionally charged David Carter said, “My family moved here in 1960, I graduated from Grosse Ile High School. I raised my family here. I am so glad to have this opportunity to see my grandchildren and watch my daughter get married last Friday” “I can’t repay the team, but I’ll try and pay it forward. My life is ... I look at things a lot differently now. You have what they say is a ‘life debt’, I thank you all.”

Immediately after Carter’s deeply touching speech, Chief Murdock was joined at the podium by Fire Commission members, chairperson Jerry Bringard, and former Township Supervisors Dallas Kelsey and Kurt Kobiljak. Flanked on the other side was Beaumont-Trenton South Shore administrator Natasha Barney who was there to donate two Life Pack 15 units to the Grosse Ile Fire Department.

The Life Pack 15s are monitoring/defibrillating devices that are state of the art when it comes to advanced emergency care. Besides immediate

feedback to first responders in terms of sophisticated clinical technologies, the patient information is instantly relayed to the receiving hospital to alert and prepare them for faster diagnosis and emergency care.

To say they are technological life savers would be an understatement.

“We had a commission meeting a while back, and Kurt and I had a discussion about acquiring the Life Packs. And I asked if he had any contacts and yes, he had contacts. South Shore came through with one. Then Kurt called back and said, “I kinda made a mistake, we really need two,’ and South Shore came through with two, to the tune of $64,000 worth of equipment. This donation from Beaumont is huge.”

Kurt Kobiljak added, “As Duncan indicated, obviously what you want is a good corporate neighbor, and clearly Beaumont Hospital is carrying on the tradition. When I called the first time, they didn’t blink an eye, and when I called the second time, they didn’t blink an eye again.

It’s going to benefit the community, it’s going to benefit our residents, and it’s going to benefit our Fire Department. We appreciate everything they have done.”

David’s wife, Mary Carter best sums it up, not only for her family, but for the entire community of Grosse Ile. “We are so grateful for our fabulous rescue and fire volunteers. Their response and skill was overwhelming. They are great guys, really great guys.

We are truly indebted to them for their great work in saving lives. We can’t say enough.”

Neither can we.

Page 4 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

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March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 5

FROM THE SUPERVISOR

Be prepared for another season of high water If I had looked out my office window a year ago and saw almost no snow on the ground near the end of February I would have been concerned that the lack of spring snow melt would lead to dangerously low water levels around our Island.

Not a problem this year!

All forecasts say we are facing new record water levels, possibly higher than last year. I hope those of you who protected your property with sand bags didn’t empty them because you probably will need them again this summer. We intend to make more available, details will be posted on GIConnect soon. brian loftus Earlier in February I attended Congresswoman Debbie Dingell’s most recent Environmental Forum, this one held in Trenton, and had the opportunity to meet the Director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, or EGLE. Liesl Clark is a commanding speaker and I think she will be able to get things done. She impressed me with her knowledge of the many topics discussed that evening and her willingness to provide answers.

I was initially suspicious when Governor Gretchen Whitmer reorganized the former Department of Environmental Quality into the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy – why was energy included if not for a political objective? So far they seem focused on Michigan’s environmental issues.

One of the issues under scrutiny that evening was the proliferation of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, within our state.

Michigan has taken the lead in studying and attempting to remediate these compounds – nearly 5,000 of them - but they exist throughout the country and the other 49 states will learn from us.

As we follow the remediation to the former McLouth site, the EPA’s Community Advisory Group has been formed. The purpose of the CAG is to provide a way for members of communities and

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stakeholders potentially affected by the McLouth Steel Superfund Site to present their concerns and receive information for the people they represent.

We are embarking on the first of three elections this year and, curiously, Michigan’s Secretary of State has proposed legislation to make Election Day a ‘worker holiday’ so employees would have the day off to vote and to serve as poll workers.

Didn’t we amend the state constitution to allow absentee voting for all? With no-reason absentee voting, what excuse does anyone really have for not voting? Your ballot is mailed to your chosen address, you take the time to read and understand the items on the ballot, you vote responsibly and mail in your ballot or return it in person, all at your convenience.

Clerk O’Connor has reconfigured our polling capabilities to account for the expected additional absentee ballots in order to get our election results completed expeditiously.

While I’m on the subject of elections, Bill Stevenson’s article in the February edition of the Grand gave an excellent synopsis of the ‘sinking fund’ millage the School District has placed on the March Primary Election.

I found it very informative so if you are unsure as to your position on this issue, please read the article or contact any member of the Board of Education.

More items of immediate interest – your Board just completed a very thorough study session on our budget for the 2020-21 Fiscal Year, and once again I can assure you we are not collecting any more of your tax dollars than absolutely necessary.

The budget is ‘balanced’ without the need to reach into reserves and we are on track to pay down our future liabilities, both pensions and ‘Other Post Employment Benefits’ – or OPEBs. We will continue to find ways to control expenses while maintaining our service levels despite the increase in unfunded mandates from Lansing.

Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, I will have more definitive information on the anticipated repairs to the Grosse Ile Parkway bridge.

Will Evans Publisher

Sherry Evans Publisher

Peter Rose Writer

Hank Minckiewicz Editor-In-Chief

Dave Gorgon Writer/Photos

Blair Temple Graphic Designer

Evelyn Cairns Writer

Commissioner Joe Palamara and I are doing our best to get our community’s needs to the county, state and federal agencies that are providing the funding for this critical piece of infrastructure in order to produce a repair schedule that makes sense, reducing both costs and closure times.

In this case the lack of bad news is good news: the latest information we have indicates we have made some progress, as we now expect the repairs to the piers, the superstructure and the West River Road overpass to be completed during the 2020 construction season – this summer. Again, always subject to change but hoping and working for the best.

I keep advising that the 2020 Census is coming.

Actually, the program officially begins April 1. From Wayne County Executive Warren Evans: “The stakes are high and we will have to live with the results for a decade. A complete count of Wayne County during the 2020 Census will be a priority for my administration. We need everyone’s help to ensure every single Wayne County resident is counted.”

In case you are concerned, Census information cannot be used for any purpose other than the Census, according to federal law. The information on your form cannot be shared with any other government agency or department, including law enforcement, immigration officials, or the court system.

Please ensure your household is accurately counted, as every county resident equates to roughly $1,800 in annual federal funding for essential programs like education and roads.

Some closing thoughts - as we are completing another fiscal year, I want to take a moment to thank all the members of this community who give their time and talents in the numerous volunteer positions that make this such a wonderful place to live, including the members of the Board of Trustees (almost a volunteer position).

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this, feel free to contact me with your questions and concerns.

Paul Breuhan Graphic Designer

Bill Stevenson Writer

Pat McComb Graphic Designer

Gail Albin Writer

Paula Neuman Writer

David Dyer Writer

Larry Caruso Writer/Photos

Pamela Frucci Writer

Page 6 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Environmental town hall helps residents connect with government officials PAULA NEUMAN

Grosse Ile Grand

Enhanced lines of communication were created at the Feb. 20 Environmental Town Hall in Trenton.

More than 300 Downriver residents raised a number of local environmental concerns, and their voices were heard by dozens of federal, state and local experts. At the end of the two-hour event, many residents and government officials exchanged contact information, talked one-on-one and learned from one another.

The town hall was presented

by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, who moderated the two-hour event, and also talked about her own concerns for the Downriver environment and beyond.

“We’re all here to listen and to try to figure out what’s going on,” she said. “We’re all here because a lot of people have been having a lot of conversations about a lot of

different projects Downriver.

We want this to be an opportunity for you to talk to the experts.”

Water levels High water level was one of the concerns raised by Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (often called EaGLE), who brought with her to the town hall five or six agency experts in a variety of fields.

“We’re all dealing across the state with the challenge of high water,” Clark said. “We’re anticipating this to continue going up. Our ground water is totally saturated. Regular storms are really challenging right now because there’s nowhere for the water to go.”

Record storms are going to bring record challenges, she said.

Nick Zager, chief of planning for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a Wyandotte resident, agreed.

“We’re responsible for forecasting those water levels,” he said. “They’re on the rise. They’re already the

highest they’ve ever been and unfortunately, it’s not looking like it’s going to be coming down any time soon.”

Andy Hartz, district supervisor of EGLE’s Water Resources Unit in Warren, invited residents to come talk to him and his staff members who were there about their specific high water issues.

McLouth cleanup Brian Kelly, EPA Region 5 Emergency Response on-scene coordinator and a Wyandotte resident, brought up the McLouth Steel cleanup, and explained its progress so far.

“I’m the point person on the McLouth Steel cleanup,” he said. “It’s a very long process.”

The first phase of the Trenton cleanup, involving the demolition of the plant’s buildings and the drying up of the site’s polluted ponds, is underway and should be completed this summer, he said. Then EPA Superfund experts will assess the hazards that are left and come up with a remedial plan. That cleanup work should start in the summer of 2021.

The federal Superfund National Priorities List administered by the EPA was created to clean up some of the nation’s most contaminated lands and to respond to environmental emergencies, oil spills and natural disasters.

The Trenton McLouth complex sits on about 200 acres directly across the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River from Grosse Ile. Wayne County foreclosed on the dilapidated site in 2017, leading to its purchase by billionaire Manuel Moroun’s family company Crown Enterprises Inc., and MSC Land Co. LLC, also a Moroun business. MSC signed on to the Superfund cleanup agreement.

Moroun’s companies have proposed to redevelop the property, once the cleanup is complete, for an industrial project described in Wayne County documents as an intermodal shipping port.

Residents at the town hall meeting raised the issue of the projected redevelopment plan, stating opposition to any industrial use there.

Superfund Remedial Project

Manager Nabil Fayoumi addressed the concern, and told the residents that any zoning and redevelopment of the McLouth site ultimately will be up to the community and the plant’s owner as long as environmental restrictions are observed. And until the Superfund assessment and remediation takes place, no one can say for sure what is possible for the land’s future.

Former long-time McLouth employee Lou Wilson spoke from the audience about how contaminated the site is.

“I’ve worked in every hole there, every department there,” Wilson said. “It all had asbestos in it. We had 350 companies that supplied us with asbestos products that we used daily in the plant.”

He also talked about the plant’s “miles of pipe and sluiceways” — all contaminated — and offered the cleanup officials whatever information and help he could provide.

EGLE’s asbestos inspector for the McLouth site talked8 SEE TOWN HALL, Page 7

GROSSE ILE GRAND

March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 7

McLouth cleanup advisory group members selected PAULA NEUMAN Grosse Ile Grand

Seventeen Downriver residents have been appointed to a community advisory group — CAG — for the McLouth Steel Superfund cleanup.

The federal Superfund National Priorities List is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Superfund was created to clean up some of the nation’s most contaminated lands and to respond to environmental emergencies, oil spills and natural disasters.

Trenton Councilwoman Wendy Pate, a founder of Trenton Visionaries and Stakeholders, is one of those appointed to the McLouth Steel CAG. Members were appointed Feb. 13 at a public meeting in Trenton.

“A CAG is meant to help educate residents about the cleanup, as well as provide feedback to those involved in the cleanup about citizens’ concerns and suggestions, so that better decisions can be made regarding the cleanup process,” she said. “The EPA coordinators took all our suggestions and created the foundation for the CAG.” The group will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month starting in March.

According to EPA Public Affairs Specialist Adrian Palomeque, the appointed members are:

• Jim Wagner representing the city of Trenton where he was city administrator • Dean Workman representing the city of Riverview where he is a councilman • Russell Bodrie representing Grosse Ile Township where is assistant fire chief n Brian Webb representing the Riverview Brownfields Authority n Wendy Pate representing Trenton Visionaries and Stakeholders n Doug Thiel representing the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy n Greg Karmazin representing the Grosse Ile Civic Association n Paul Frost representing the Downriver Waterfront Conservancy n Elmer Trombley representing Past Employees of McLouth Steel n Robert V. Johnson representing abutters (residents or property owners near the cleanup site) At-large Trenton, Riverview and Grosse Ile residents named to the group are: Ryan Stewart and Edie Traster of Trenton; Dick Whitwam of Rockwood, executive director of the Pointe Mouilee Waterfowl Festival; Grosse Ile residents Larry Ladomer, Judith Maiga and Dennis O’Brien; and Mary Bohling, an educator with Michigan State University Extension’s Michigan Sea Grant and a member of the Detroit River Public Advisory Council More members may be appointed

in the future to represent Trenton Brownfields Authority, Friends of the Detroit River, Downriver Walleye Federation and the Trenton Business Association.

The Trenton McLouth complex is 197 waterfront acres of derelict buildings and 23 heavily polluted subsurface structures, including pits, basements and lagoons directly across the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River from Grosse Ile. The site’s Superfund cleanup is already underway.

The steel plant site now is owned by billionaire Manuel Moroun’s family company Crown Enterprises Inc., and MSC Land Co. LLC, also a Moroun business.

Moroun’s companies have proposed to redevelop the waterfront property, once the cleanup is complete, for an industrial project described in Wayne County documents as an intermodal shipping port. Many Downriver residents oppose that plan.

“This type of redevelopment will create a huge negative impact on our roads, air, waters and land that in turn will reduce home values in the region,” states a narrative on actionnetwork. org. “It also creates a safety hazard with frequent bridge closures and heavy truck and freight train traffic. No one wants to live near a shipping port. They are loud, noisy, dirty and harmful to the environment and roads and lead to a

decline in overall quality of life in the surrounding areas.”

A petition opposing the redevelopment plan has more than 1,200 signatures to date.

Signers say they’d rather see a mixed-use redevelopment with some sort of access to the Detroit River.

In May, more than 50 Grosse Ile residents concerned about the redevelopment plan attended a township board meeting, where the board unanimously voted to approve a resolution voicing those concerns.

The resolution was sent to the city of Trenton.

The advisory group’s purview is only the cleanup, not the redevelopment plan.

“While the CAG is not a policymaking body, the CAG can learn about these decisions being made about the levels of cleanup and development,” Pate said.

“With more knowledge about cleanup and the possibilities for moving forward at the old McLouth property, it is my hope that Trenton and the landowners can negotiate a development that benefits both parties by using a sustainability model that incorporates greenspace, community interaction, an eco-friendly footprint that protects our river’s ecosystem, and that provides a high quality place for people to live and work.”

TOWN HALL Continued from page 6

about violations issued, the most recent of which was three months ago when demolition of a large industrial oven containing asbestos resulted in a visible cloud of dust. Two more ovens have yet to come down.

“They’re trying to come up with a new game plan on how to get those demolished and still stay within the asbestos standards,” the state inspector said.

“We’ve gone back and forth on the plan.”

Former Riverview Councilman Elmer Trombley and a former McLouth employee also talked about McLouth cleanup issues, brought up the former Atofina chemical plant site and also how the EPA’s Grosse Ile office was recently moved to Ann Arbor, which he called “a shame.”

Dingell agreed with Trombley about that, and said she is still “fighting” that move by adding the issue to an appropriations bill.

PFAs pollution The congresswoman also brought up PFAs (per-

and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of manmade chemical contaminants used globally in many consumer products and by many industries.

“These chemicals are persistent in the environment and in the human body — meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time,” according to the EGLE website. “In recent years, experts have become increasingly concerned by the potential effects of high concentrations of PFAs on human health.”

State bills to regulate PFAs in drinking water were introduced last year in Lansing, but failed to gain Republican support. So in October, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer directed EGLE to establish drinking water standards for PFAs. Residents at the town hall meeting asked about the progress of that effort and expressed concern over airborne PFAs. Clark said EGLE has received “2,000 comments on the regulatory process,” which is proceeding, and that she shares residents’ concerns.

“The governor is trying to do everything she can,” Clark said. “PFAs is huge. I sense your urgency and

I don’t want you to feel that we don’t have a sense of urgency, too. We’re trying to do everything we can with the powers we’ve got.”

Dingell is still hoping a bill she introduced in Congress to create federal standards for PFAs in water systems will become law. The bill passed the House in January with bipartisan support, but is stalled now waiting for approval from the Senate, and President Donald Trump has threatened to veto it. Without legislation, the EPA has no authority to regulate PFAs. Dingell shared her frustration with that, and with the recent federal rollback of water standards in general.

“We should be concerned,” she said, adding that “Michigan is testing for PFAs more than any other state in the country.”

Clark said: “Every state has got PFAs. They just don’t know they have it yet. Our focus immediately was drinking water, and we’ve got a group looking at air and thinking about how to amp up that component of our PFAs work.”

Page 8 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

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March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 11

Art student adds pizazz to engineering department < Samantha Weslin shows off her first completed mural.

A

PAULA NEUMAN Grosse Ile Grand

rt and engineering have interfaced at Wayne State University, thanks to a thirdyear design student and a professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Both the student and the professor are Grosse Ile residents with ties to Southgate.

Art and engineering have interfaced at Wayne State University, thanks to a third-year design student and a professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Both the student and the professor are Grosse Ile residents with ties to Southgate.

The student — Samantha Weslin — moved from Southgate to Grosse Ile when she was 11.

“I was incredibly shy and eccentric,” she said. “I didn’t have a lot of friends, but when I moved, I instantly met some of the best friends I could have ever asked for — including Maya and Keena Pandya.”

The professor — Abhilash Pandya — is the father of those two friends and director of the undergradu-

ate Electrical and Computer Engineering Program at WSU. He grew up in Southgate, lived in Houston for 10 years, and then moved his family to Grosse Ile. Samantha, as a close friend of Pandya’s daughters, was often a visitor at his home. All three of the girls were active at Grosse Ile High School in robotics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities. And Samantha was working hard on her art, as well.

So when Pandya wanted to add some visual appeal to the hallways in his department’s laboratories, he thought of Samantha and her artwork, and commissioned her to paint a mural.

“The hallways looked drab and uncreative,” the professor said.

“Engineering takes creativity, and the first step in being creative is looking creative.”

Samantha said people sometimes referred to the department’s grey hallway as a “dungeon.” She was happy to be < Wayne State University Professor Abhilash Pandya commissioned his department’s first mural

challenged to liven it up with a mural.

“I believe it’s important to have art in any space where there is learning going on,” she said. “Colorful murals can brighten anyone’s day.”

She chose her subject matter after looking around Pandya’s lab and seeing a skull with a robot arm, a sort of mascot for the professor, who is a bioengineer working on robotic surgery systems among other things.

The completed mural is a symbol of

man and machine working together, she said.

The finished product took Samantha five full days last July to create.

The bricks of the wall were a difficult surface to work on, she said “There were so many grooves in the wall from the grout,” she said. “It was just something I just had to account for and adapt to because I had never painted on a surface like this before.”

She drew her mural digitally and then projected it on the wall before she primed it and covered it with acrylic paint. Student and faculty reaction, even as she worked, was positive. Her Grosse Ile friend Keena, an industrial engineering student at WSU, came by with others and even helped with adding primer and finishing touches.

When Assistant Professor Mohammad Alhawari, who also works in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at WSU, saw the mural Pandya commissioned, he asked Samantha to do another outside his own laboratory.

So, after researching her subject matter again, she enlisted the help of her Grosse Ile friend Maya, an electrical engineering student at the University of Michigan, to help design a circuit board to paint. That mural took five days last August to complete, and symbolizes the pervasive use of micro-processing in today’s world.

Both the design student and the professor who first asked for a mural believe there’s a strong connection between art and engineering.

“In any engineering design, function and form must go together,” Pandya said.

“Look at an electronic product you love — your phone or earbuds. There is a lot of engineering there, but, guess what, it must look good and have a good feel and be easy to use, and it should have the user at the center of the design in a creative way.”

Samantha said: “The connection between art and engineering is so strong!

We use similar methods of creating things, and both professions can make something out of nothing. Being an artist and learning to think like an engineer is so important because it makes you consider how things work together, not just making them look pretty. Similarly, engineering wouldn’t be possible without creative thinking.”

She hopes to do other murals at WSU this coming summer.

“I plan to try for some more mural opportunities in the engineering department, and from then on, I think it will be a lot easier to branch out to other departments, as well,” Samantha said. “Right now, I am working on my small business where I sell my art on various platforms such as Etsy and Redbubble, as well as manufacturing and selling stickers. I am also working on a ton of personal and school projects in design.”

And in her spare time — when she has any — she enjoys walking and biking on Grosse Ile, cooking and playing video games.

To see Samantha’s artwork on a variety of social media, visit linktr.ee/ prismapansy.

Page 12 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Still rockin’ after all these years Rock CF Race March 29

at 8 a.m. with the start and finish at Grosse Ile Middle School, 23270 East River Road. The 13.1 mile race is They said they would be back. And lung infections, but also affects the expanding its running footprint, race presented by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, they’re coming in force. pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestines. sponsorships, and even creating their a leading company in the battle against Year-after-year, for the past decade, According to the national Cystic own apparel line.

Cystic Fibrosis. their numbers have grown to the size Fibrosis Foundation, most people are Rock CF has donated more than $1 Emily relates, “Know that you can of an army brigade. They will traverse diagnosed by age two, with the median million for research in the fight against do so much more than you think you the peripheral expanses of the Island, life expectancy now to be 41 years CF. Its story and successes have been can. I was never a runner growing and come in waves. old. In the late 1950s, children who featured in the New York Times, the up and could not imagine running First a few leaders, then roving were diagnosed with CF did not live to Washington Post, Forbes Magazine, one mile, let alone 13.1 miles, when packs, then a steady stream of adulthood. the Atlantic Monthly, and Runner’s I started running. But if you stay attackers focused on their prey. We’re Surprisingly, one in 25 people carry World magazine, as well as National determined, you can do it, too!” not talking here about the coyotes or the gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis, Public Radio and local media outlets.

Continuing this year, is the separate the burgeoning deer population, but with more than 30,000 people affected Further, Rock CF Foundation 10 mile race that follows the same another group start as the half that is dear - the marathon, but runners, and finishes up inside walkers, and the historic volunteers of the Grosse Ile Naval annual Rock CF Station hangar, road races.

9601 Groh Road.

Established in The 10 miler is 2007, the Rock sponsored by the CF Foundation Boomer Esiason is “a community Foundation, thousands strong, established by changing the face the retired NFL of what living with quarterback whose Cystic Fibrosis son, Gunnar has looks like, and battled CF for giving those living more than 25 with CF the tools years.

In its 10 years, Rock CF has had thousands of runners and has donated more than $1 million for research in the not only to survive, fight against cystic fibrosis.

Back by popular but thrive.” demand, the TwoIts founder, former Grosse in the United States. Although, there sponsors the “Kicks Back” program Person Relay 13.1 is also back to its Ile resident, Emily Schaller was is no known cure, when coupled with that donates running shoes to people original distances and exchange zone. diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at proper medical treatments, exercise with CF and registers them for a First leg is 7.5 miles with the same eighteen months old. As a child she and running have been shown to race of their choice. Their “Attain start as the Half Marathon runners. dealt with multiple hospitalizations a maintain lung function in CF patients.

Health” program links patients with Second leg is 5.6 miles from the Water year, growing up with the possibility In 2011, the first Rock CF Rivers health care professionals in a platform Treatment plant on West River Road. of never seeing adulthood.

Half Marathon was run on Grosse of Integrative Health and Physical Second leg runners must ride the bus Emily explains, “I was sick of being Ile, and drew 1,600 runners and Performance Coaching to optimize from Grosse Ile Middle School. The sick all the time. The doctors told walkers. And just like the medical their daily care and achieve their relay is sponsored by the University my parents that I wouldn’t live long breakthroughs that have enhanced the health goals. of Michigan Home Med, Bonnell enough to graduate from high school. lives of patients and families living This year, on early Sunday morning, Foundation.

I did my research on nutrition and with CF, the Rock CF Foundation March 29, 2020, the 10th Annual Rock For those who want to challenge exercise. And started running.” has grown over the past 10 years, CF Rivers Half Marathon will kick off themselves over a shorter distance, “Working with my doctors at the there is a 5K Run or Walk, sponsored University of Michigan and the DMC,

by Lifelong Family Dentistry and I found that running improved my Panera Bread. lung function, my overall wellness and The 5K starts at 8:15 a.m. inside the boosted my self-esteem. I wanted to Naval Station hangar, and proceeds do something that would change my down Groh and East River Roads life and help others who were living to the common finish at the middle day by day with the disease.” school. Parking is at Meridian And, the non-profit Rock CF was Elementary, the areas by the Industrial born.

Parkway or lots by the soccer fields.

Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive, SEE ROCKIN, Page 13 genetic disease that causes persistent

BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections, but also affects the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestines.

GROSSE ILE GRAND

March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 13

welcoMe to grosse ile Have you heard of The Studio?? Have you ever wondered who we are?

Well, let’s clear this up for you! There are two ways we work. The first way is to book a private crafting event, or sign up for a class we are offering at the Studio! The second way is The Studio will travel to your location with all crafts supplies and teachers. We specialize in unique crafts for weddings, birthday parties, and baby or wedding shower. Feel free to check out our website www.thestudiomi.com, for our list of projects.

Reach out for any questions molly@thestudiotrenton.com.

ROCKIN

Continued from page 14 Also, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, the Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon has added some special opportunities and recognitions. All runners and volunteers who have completed all 10 years of Rock CF races, will receive a custom, commemorative mug designating them as official “Rock Stars.” Ten year runners will receive a special bib upon entering.

Further, the 10th Annual Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon has been designated as a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) State Championship event.

Founded in 1958, the RRCA is the oldest and largest distance running organization in the United States with over 1500 running clubs and more than 200,000 individual runners, active in their running communities.

Awards will be given to the top performers in the open, masters (40+) grand masters (50+), and senior grand masters (60+) categories for both men

and women.

Additionally, partnering with the Probility Ann Arbor Marathon, runners who compete in the Ann Arbor 13.1 or full 26.2 on March 22, 2020 and the Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon will get a special “March Mitten Madness” medal proving their madness and mettle within a week’s time.

New, too, this year is a special VIP package that takes care of all your running amenities to help you run your best race ever.

For $200, you get a reserved parking spot for one (1) car at Grosse Ile Middle School, four (4) wristbands for the VIP area with the following perks: warmth, inside bathrooms, changing area, pre-and post-race Air Relax, bagels and coffee, gear check.

VIP package is limited to the first 24 entrants.

Come join the fun on March 29 and keep on rockin’ CF. You can register for any and all the 10th Annual Rock CF races @ letsrockcf.org.

Page 14 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Lenten fish fries return to Sacred Heart Church A longstanding Grosse Ile tradition is back up and running as Catholics celebrate the season of Lent.

Sacred Heart Cathoic Church Knights of Columbus is again offering its celebrated Friday Fish Fries at the parish hall, 21599 Parke Lane.

Sacred Heart is “The Home of Downriver’s Famous Fish Fries.”

The events run on Fridays through April 10. Dinners will be served from 4-7:30 p.m. each Friday.

Menu choices generally include fried or broiled cod, fried lake perch, fried shrimp and broiled grouper.

All dinners include baked potato or French fries coleslaw and dinner roll.

The Sacred Heart event is famous for its soups and depending on the day, these varieties may be available: lobster bisque, French onion, New England clam chowder, seafood chowder, tomato basil, mushroom or potato leek.

Deserts and a beverage station are available.

The children’s menu includes cheese pizza and macaroni and

cheese.

Call-in orders are taken between 2:30-4 p.m. Carryout is available and

home delivery (Grosse Ile only) is available. Delivery orders must be made by 3:45 p.m.

Call-in and deliveries can be made at 734-644-1448.

You can pay with either cash or a credit card.

Each night of the fish fry carries a theme (Mardi Gras, Canada, south of the border, etc.) and the hall is decorated to reflect that theme. There is also live music and you can expect to see these performers over the coming weeks: Barry Van Engelen, Bill Bynum Band, Pic & Bow, Mike Foran and Trade Mark.

This is the sixth year the fish fries are being held at the parish hall.

Previously the event had been held at the VFW Hall.

It takes a big effort to put on a fish fry that will serve between 350-500 meals every Friday. To get it done, more than 60 people are involved in planning, shopping, preparing, serving and cleaning up.

To learn more about the fish fry, Sacred Heart Church or the Knights of Columbus, fine Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus Fish Fries on Facebook or go to kofcgi.com.

GROSSE ILE GRAND

March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 15

Civics: A social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens I can’t articulate exactly what I learned in my high school civics course. I think that’s a problem, one that is at the root of a lot of what feels so discordant, dysfunctional and disconnected in America today.

The erosion of simple and clear connectivity within our communities is the root cause.

That may seem incongruous. After all, there are extensive examples of the precise Peter opposite sentiment.

Rose Grosse Ile Grand Whether it’s all of Downriver, or the individual cities that comprise our region, civic pride is not an alien concept. It abounds, in many ways. Yet citizens here and everywhere have absolutely lost the very concept of their specific rights and duties, as it pertains to the level of prosperity of our collective community.

It’s more of a critique than an indictment. It’s an observation, and an obsession of mine to address.

When we are presented with new information, we have the choice of keeping it to ourselves or sharing it. My businesses benefit as part of the rising tide created by the implementation of the advice I have been given.

Once in my head, the pressure cooker threatens to make my head explode. That would be annoying.

Writing, sharing and disseminating information all

reduce the pressure. It makes me think that I can improve my world.

Communities that really hum are filled with avid, civic-minded residents and businesses. There are numerous active organizations and non-profits, comprised of people that care and are dedicated to direct their energies to problems and projects through those channels. When one steps back and takes it all in, it is impressive. It is inspiring.

Independent businesses within these communities are prime targets for requests to support all these good causes and mission. This is the way it is supposed to be. Businesses exist because of the support of the residents in those communities, after all. But you might be surprised to learn that the majority of requests are not attached to reciprocal support.

When an existing customer asks us to support a cause they believe in, it is virtually unthinkable to say no. I just can’t imagine responding to their support over the years with a “Sorry, can’t help you.”

It’s not just a business decision; the people that ask are “friends and family.” There is a relationship there, a connection and it feels very good to endorse their efforts, to thank them for those efforts by supporting them.

We also do fundraisers like Dress Up Wine Down (mark your calendars: September 26, Silver

Shores!) that require a great deal of time and focus, so as to donate as much as we can help raise to worthy causes.

But the majority of people that ask for support have not connected the dots. They have good causes and their heart is in the right place, but they do not support their locals.

Maybe I just have a different code of ethics or civics, but I would have a much easier time asking for support from a business with whom I do business. I don’t see the requests as negative things; I see the requests as lacking the positivity that always results in greater response.

It’s as simple as this: A.) A strong business community is better equipped to be a strong, reciprocal player in the charity arena, providing support for the community and all its needs.

B.) The community is strengthened by such a scenario, making residents happier and making the town a more positive place in which to live.

C.) Residents have all the power to make this good scenario come about. Every single spending decision is in play. Every single decision to keep it local increases the odds that the business in question can be more generous, more of the time.

Before you buy: Go local. Think local first.

Page 16 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

LISTENING IN ON THE ISLAND

Nothing like a winter trip to always sunny Florida Besides enjoying 10 days in sunny Florida from Jan. 8 to 18 when my husband Jack’s senior barbershop chorus competed with other senior choruses in Jacksonville, we had a chance to connect with old friends and family.

Another good thing PAMELA A. FRUCCI about the barbershop Grosse Ile Grand Midwinter convention was that there were 600 teenagers singing and competing. This was very encouraging to see that many young people enjoying four-part harmony.

Someday they’ll be taking the place of the senior choruses!

After leaving Jacksonville, we spent a few days in St. Pete before driving to the Villages.

We met up with good friends Bob and Donna McCollough, who used to sing in the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church’s choir and are now happily enjoying their retirement in the Villages.

We had dinner with them and another old friend from Grosse Ile, Lionel Korb.

We then flew back to snow-covered Michigan. By the way, Jack’s senior chorus didn’t get a score, but the judges rated them “outstanding.”

Our daughter the detective earns us a refund The senior Fruccis must admit we were taken advantage of by a slick road resurfacing salesman who had his company’s equipment next door doing a major road job this past summer.

He meandered over to our home we’re renting from our daughter who lives in New York. Our driveway, a circle, needed work. He said he had the right equipment to do the job that day and to pay for it, he wanted $5,000 in cash.

We bit, and Jack drove over to the credit union for the money. We watched as their workers drove their machine around our drive with a sprayer to resurface the asphalt drive.

Both neighbors told us later that the job should only have cost us about $500.

When our daughter heard the story, she was determined to get our money

back!

Marti was in town in January so she and her dad drove to where she had located the owner of the company who lived in Clinton Twp. At his home, she told him how his workman had over-charged her parents for a $500 resurfacing job that we’d paid $5,000 for.

He was very apologetic and said he had a “renegade” worker who would job out with the owner’s equipment and not report charging homeowners and pocket the money.

He was so apologetic that he said he would refund from his own account $4,500 for the bogus job. Sure enough, thanks to our daughter playing detective and tracking down the owner, a couple of days later we got a check from Michigan Roads for $4,500!

Does anyone know the Coast Guard anthem?

Jack’s senior chorus learned all the anthems as part of their repertoire.

Whenever there’s a patriotic concert and our armed service vets are honored for their service and the orchestra plays the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard anthems and ask vets to stand and be recognized, there never seems to be anyone who served in the Coast Guard.

However Grosse Ile’s Jonathan Duffett is a Coast Guard career officer, a lieutenant stationed in New Haven after graduating from the Coast Guard Academy in 2011 in New London, CT. Now a family man, his unit’s job is to inspect all ships coming into New York harbor.

Grosse Ile Musicale enjoys February concert in Dearborn There were 36 members of the Grosse Ile Musicale who had dinner at the Dearborn Inn before attending a concert of the Dearborn Symphony on Feb. 14.

They were recognized by the president of the symphony for being an 88-year-old music group. Another treat was that two Grosse Ile students, Tom Totte and Tim Veres, were on stage when the Dearborn Youth Orchestra was invited to join the symphony.

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Our creative writers club prompt for the month is to identify the word fun.

According to Webster it is that which creates amusement and/or enjoyment.

I’ll choose enjoyment.

I am going back to the merry month of May in the year 2017. That was the most enjoyable month in my memory.

My friend Pamela Frucci gave me an article written by Michael J. Fox. In that article he was asked: “How can you seem to be so happy after 26 years into Parkinson’s Disease?”

His answer was “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance and in inverse proportion to my expectations.”

I was into my 10th year with the disease and had found the key word is acceptance. You are not going to beat this incurable disease, so you might as well make the best of it. Here are a few examples of the enjoyment I received during that month of May. *I had a total of six speaking engagements at the middle school, high school, Bates Elementary School, our VFW and our church. *I wrote a eulogy for my friend Ed Mierkowicz and read it at his service.

I never received more praise for anything I have ever written. *I received a package from the Grosse Ile Schools. Inside were 26 letters of thanks from the eighth-grade students thanking me for speaking to them prior to their leaving on their Washington, DC trip. *What an honor it was to be asked

by Jameson Pieper, an eight-yearold third-grader if he could write my biography. He wrote a whole book and read it in part to his whole class. When he finished he presented it to me. *On the last day of that month a friend called me from Troy and told me my Memorial Day story and my Ed Mierkowicz story were both given a full page in the Oakland Press and the Macomb Daily. *Haley Eblin is a high school senior

honor student. She invited me to a special dinner at Crystal Gardens.

This event was being put on by the students honoring the adult that has significantly contributed or inspired their outstanding academic life.

The program began after dinner.

When they called Haley’s name she motioned for me to come up front and stand next to her. I began to wonder, “what am I doing here?”

Me, a former high school dropout (another story) here with a roomful of honor students. I did however begin to feel at ease when Haley began reciting the words she had written.

It went like this: I first met David Dyer my sophomore year, after my essay was chosen as the winner of the VFW essay writing contest.

After my speech he came up to me and said: “I saw something different, something special in your writing.” He asked me to attend our next writer’s club meeting. I did so. A few meetings later the editor of the Trenton Trib attended our meeting. When he heard my writing he asked me to write a column for the paper.

From there my life took off.

I published a front page op-ed in the News Herald, was accepted to the competitive Syracuse Newhouse Program, am now a paid staff writer and an intern for the Trib. I am also in contention for an internship at the Free Press this summer.

A small connection turned into opportunities I could never have dreamed of. Without David seeing something in my writing none of this would have been possible.

David’s support took me from writing journals in my room to being published on the front page of a large newspaper. This is a thank-you to David for being an incredible role model.

Without him I can’t imagine where I would be today. Thank you, David.

It turned out to be quite an enjoyable month. If my proportion of acceptance continues as it has, I may someday be as happy as Michael J. Fox. That is quite a mouthful or should I say a “monthful?”

Page 18 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Part of the solution

Friends of the Detroit River plan special events BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

Over the years, the slogans have become somewhat nostalgic, almost funny and quaint.

“Draft beer, not boys.”

“More kooks, less nukes.”

“Save the whales.” “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute.” But as a half a century had passed, what was old had become new again. Since the 1990s, the Friends of the Detroit River have embraced the belief that “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”

And, as part of the solution, the Friends of the Detroit River invite interested and concerned citizens to join them in two outstanding events.

On Saturday, March 28, 2020, the annual Riverkeeper Dinner will be held at the Wyandotte Boat Club, 1 Pine Street, one block off Biddle Avenue.

The dinner has become one of the main fundraisers for the Detroit Riverkeeper program, established in 2002, to “protect the interests of the river and the citizens of the surrounding communities.”

Robert Burns, a lifelong Downriver resident, has been the first and only Riverkeeper.

He acts as the environmental watchdog, protecting the Detroit River’s water quality and its natural ecosystems.

Most of his daily work is done patrolling the river in the FDR supported Detroit Riverkeeper boat. The dinner helps raise funds to keep the boat afloat.

The Riverkeeper dinner starts at 7 p.m. with a themed repast catered by the Truago restaurant. The evening

includes live entertainment, a cash bar, with a raffle, door prizes, and a silent auction.

After dinner there will be a special presentation by Burns on the Habitat Restoration projects ongoing throughout the river.

Presenting sponsors are ECT-Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. and the SMITHGROUP, design professionals.

The cost of the ticket to the Riverkeeper Dinner is $50.

Advanced reservation form can be found online, and returned with checks payable to the Friends of the Detroit River 20600 Eureka Rd. Suite 250 Taylor, MI 48180.

The second FDR event is the annual Spring 2020 Detroit River Clean-up.

This year’s event, held in

honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, will be on Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. debarking from Rotary Park in Trenton. A picnic lunch will be provided after the good work is done.

The Friends of the Detroit River will be joining other non-profit organizations on both sides of the river to coordinate riverbank cleanups that day. Participating groups include Canadian Essex Region Conservation Authority, the Detroit River Canadian Clean-up, the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, the Belle Isle Conservancy, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Friends of the Rouge River, Green Living Science, and Milliken State Park. The

clean-up is sponsored by DTE and EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC. Volunteers that day can participate with or without small outboard boats. Anyone interested in helping to clean-up litter and trash along the river, are asked to dress for the weather with gloves, boots, and extra lifejackets.

The Trenton boat launch at the foot of Harrison Street, east of West Jefferson can be used for launching boats on trailers. An orientation meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at the Rotary Park pavilion. Anyone who plans to bring their boat, should call 734.676.4626 to register for the event.

The goal of the annual Detroit River Clean-up is to scour the waterways and

shores of the small islands in the Lower Detroit River to remove as much litter that has accumulated over the course of a year. And so the work continues.

Come join the Friends of the Detroit River in these celebrations of grassroots environmental action, and know that you can make a difference in our own little corner of the world.

“Give Earth a Chance.”

“Save the Planet” “Don’t Be Mean, Be Green.”

Be a Friend of the Detroit River. Peace out.

If you would like further information about the Riverkeeper Dinner, the Spring 2020 River Clean-up, or how to join the Friends of the Detroit River, please visit @ detroitriver.org.

GROSSE ILE GRAND

March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 19

TELESCOPING THE TOWNSHIP

Erica Chappuis and one of her works.

Photo by Lieve Verstraten

GIAA says come paint under guidance of established artist PAMELA A. FRUCCI Grosse Ile Grand

On March 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. James, the Grosse Ile Alliance for the Arts is offering a painting class with Erica Chappuis directing the class.

Mrs. Chappuis’s art work is visible from the road for those driving down Church Rd. at the Thorofare Canal.

Coated with a preservative, several of her oil paintings hang outside for passers-by to enjoy. Also her paintings are on display at St. James, including a portrait of the founder of the chapel Lisette Dennison Forth and a colorful rendition of animals which normally don’t get along, all peacefully bonding

together.

The usual format of the art classes offered by the GIAA is for the participants to sit in a semi-circle and imitate a painting the artist has on display as she explains the process. This time Mrs. Chappuis wants the student painters to have fun doing their own thing, but follow her example.

Since the class goes past noon, there will be a lunch provided. The theme of the painting class is Canvas, Cupcakes, and Coffee, which all will be served in addition to lunch.

The fee for the course is $35 for members of the GIAA and $40 for nonmembers.

Beside lunch and snax, all paint and a canvas will be supplied.

An established artist, Erica Chappuis has exhibited in numerous galleries.

Her work is in the collection of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. and also in the Museum of Erotic Art in Barcelona, Spain and the Kinsey Institute in Bloomington, Ind. To sign up for the class, send your check to the GIAA, P.O. Box 63, Grosse Ile, MI 48138. The GIAA also sponsors the summer Concerts on the Commons, and the Creative Writing Club.

Downy hawthorn on Macomb is a Michigan co-champion At a vacant home on Macomb just east of Baird & Lowler Building Co., is a downy hawthorn tree that up until a few years ago had a plaque naming it as a champion tree in Michigan, the largest of its species.

That plaque disappeared and since I chaired a project a couple years ago to identify and protect historic, memorial, and heritage trees on Grosse Ile, I wanted to replace that plaque. I had to find the owner of the home at 812 Macomb to get permission to remount it.

Always helpful in locating Island people, I called Dona Depa at the Public Services Department and she gave me the name of the owner who lives in Taylor.

He answered the card I sent him and told me I could do anything I wanted with the tree, just so long as it doesn’t harm it. He added an interesting side note that in the last 10 years, he has planted 15,500 trees including 200 SEE TOWNSHIP, Page 27

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Culinary Capers EVELYN CAIRNS

Grosse Ile Grand

Regardless of whether you have already celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, or about to (depending on when this publication is delivered to your home), you may want to make Irish Potatoes.

But these are not baked, boiled or fried and contain not a smidgeon of actual potatoes.

According to Wikipedia, Irish Potatoes are a traditional Philadelphia candy combining butter, cream cheese, coconut and confectioners’ sugar, shaped to resemble small potatoes and rolled in cinnamon. When I made the candy, I instead rolled the mixture into balls, and because they are extremely sweet, substituted cocoa powder for half of the cinnamon. If you like Mounds bars, you will love Irish Potatoes, which freeze well and taste great frozen.

IRISH POTATOES (Adapted from Baked Bree.com) ½ stick butter, softened ½ brick (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 cups confectioners’ sugar 2½ cups sweetened flaked coconut 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon cocoa powder Using an electric stand mixer, beat together the butter and cream cheese.

Add the vanilla, then gradually add the confectioners’ sugar until well combined. Slowly add the coconut until well mixed. Chill the mixture about 30 minutes if desired, for easier handling.

Meanwhile, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Using a small ice-cream scoop or a tablespoon, scoop out portions of the “potato” mixture and roll into balls about 1½ inches in diameter and shape them to resemble small potatoes, making a few little indentations for “eyes,” or just roll the balls in the cinnamon or cinnamon/ cocoa mixture. Place them on the cookie sheet and refrigerate about 30 minutes before serving. They can be refrigerated 7 to 10 days in an airtight container or frozen.

••• While browsing the web for more candy recipes, I came across an

irresistible, easy recipe for homemade PayDay candy bars, and then another and another. Some of the recipes called for dry-roasted instead of salted peanuts (when I made the bars, I mixed 1 cup of dry-roasted peanuts with the salted peanuts because I didn’t have enough of the latter). And when I learned that PayDay, which was introduced in 1932, is ranked the 13th most popular candy and snack brand in the United States by pollsters You Gov and 24/7 Wall Street, I could hardly wait to make the bars. Mine were delicious but thicker than the ones I bought, as I used a 7x11-inch pan. So, I made them again, using a 9x13-inch pan, which resulted in bars that were more like the commercial candy.

KNOCKOFF PAYDAY CANDY BARS (Adapted) 3 cups salted peanuts, divided 3 tablespoons butter 10-ounce package peanut butter chips 2 cups mini marshmallows 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk Pour half of the peanuts into a buttered or sprayed 9x13-inch baking pan, spreading them evenly. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter and peanut butter chips and stir to combine. Add the marshmallows and condensed milk and stir until the marshmallows are completely melted.

Pour the hot mixture over the peanuts in the baking pan, then sprinkle with the remaining peanuts, tapping them down lightly with a spoon. Refrigerate for 1 or 2 hours, then cut into bars and enjoy.

••• And if you wondered what the other favorite candy brands of Americans are — according to the poll, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate is No. 1. The other most popular, in descending order, are Reese’s, Snickers, Kit Kat, Twix, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Cream, Almond Joy, Dove Chocolate, Ghirardelli, Baby Ruth (named after President Grover Cleveland’s daughter, Ruth, not the baseball player), PayDay, Lindt, and Butterfinger and 100 Grand.

HAPPY SNACKING! (Contact me at Evycairns@aol.com)

Island Smiles Michael J Vilag, DDS Grosse Ile’s Newest Dentist Dr. Beverly T. Morris served the community of Grosse Ile as a dentist for 28 years and when she decided to retire at the end of last year, she sold her thriving business to Dr. Michael J. Vilag, who plans to carry on her legacy of great local dental care.

He has renamed the business Island Smiles.

Dr. Vilag graduated from The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and has been practicing in the Canton and Westland area for seven years.

He said he finally decided to break out into his own practice because, “As an associate I was restricted from implementing several great ideas. Now, as a business owner it will be easier for me to do more things that will benefit the community.”

Dr. Vilag said his office will be one that will offer a wide variety of services.

“We are a general dentist office that offers many treatment options for patients,” he said.

“Our goal is to get as much done in our office as possible, reducing the need to be referred out to specialists. To make that possible, we have the ability to place implants and perform root canal therapies.

“We offer patients Invisalign orthodontic aligners to help straighten their teeth and perfect their smile. We also take emergencies, make dentures, do cosmetic restorations, and much more.

“We especially like to see children,” he added.

Every patient is different, Dr. Vilag said and he and his staff understand that.

“I like customizing treatment plans to each individual patient’s needs. I consider myself a well-rounded dentist offering several procedures that many doctors refer out,” he said. I feel that we look at each case with a comprehensive view.”

For his patients, Dr. Vilag said his office offers a knowledgeable team that strives to offer a “positive dental experience - every time.”

Also, with the looming free bridge closure, having the convenience of an on-island dental office is a big plus.

So, if you are looking for a dentist or just a change, Island Smiles may be the place for you.

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March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 23

East River Folk Society

Celebrating 30 years of timeless entertainment DAVE GORGON

F

Grosse Ile Grand

olk music is alive and well every second Saturday of the month at the Downriver Council of the Arts at 81 Chestnut Street in Wyandotte.

Organizers of the East River Folk Society are celebrating 30 years by inviting entertainers to open-mic nights and inviting music lovers to enjoy timeless music.

On March 14, eight to 10 musicians can sign up between 6 and 6:45 p.m. to perform in a coffeehouse style setting. The music starts at 7 p.m. and concludes with a Celtic music show – just in time for St. Patrick’s Day – featuring the Irish trio KilMullen with Andy Kilburn on fiddle, Kim Kilburn on tin whistle and Mike Mullen on Celtic harp.

Mike Mullen, George Stewart and Mary Colie are the founders of East River Folk Society Admission is $3 for members of the society or the arts council; $5 for everyone else. Coffee and snacks have nothing to do with folk music who like to sing Mullen served as president of the East River Folk will be available. and play the guitar. My emphasis has been acoustic Society until 1995 when he moved to Plymouth. He Open-mic nights are scheduled monthly from music and bringing it back to the singer-songwriter.” started the Baseline Folk Society in Northville in September through May. Mullen remembers his brother Bob performing 2005. The group is still going strong.

The February concert drew musicians from folk music as president of the folk music society The East River society moved to Wyandotte in throughout the region and featured singerat Wayne State. Mullen said Bob was part of a trio the mid-1990s, originally at the First Presbyterian songwriter Jeff Karoub as the featured performer – that included best friend Dr. Tom Dickoff that made Church, until it closed, and then St. John Episcopal and drew the largest crowd in recent memory. numerous recordings and was just about to “take Church.

All musicians perform for free and proceeds off” when Bob drowned in a boating accident.

Mullen credits Rick Pitts with keeping the society are divided between the nonprofit East River Folk Mullen, who was 10 years old at the time, said he “alive.” Pitts was president when he met with Society and the DCA. saved Bob’s guitar and continues playing it to this Mullen and Colie last summer and asked them to get The arts council is a new venue for the East River day. He also plays the mountain dulcimer and the involved again. Pitts remains treasurer of the society Folk Society, which was founded in the summer of Celtic harp. and is the lighting engineer during open-mic nights.

1989 by Mullen and fellow Grosse Ile musicians In the 1980s, Mullen and Stewart, now deceased, He also performs. Colie now resides in Brownstown George Stewart and Mary Colie. performed at Stewart’s Grosse Ile restaurant Truly Township.

Mullen, who has a graphic design and letter press Gourmet. The two had met while performing at a Mullen is in multiple singing groups. In 2004, studio in the basement of the arts council, recently Crop Walk in 1983 at St. James Episcopal Church. years after his brother’s death, Mullen found a returned as president of the organization he helped Despite a 20-year age difference, they clicked and number of recordings that his brother did with create. He struck an agreement with DCA Executive continued performing together.

Dickoff. Mullen, Dickoff and Dr. Jeff London Director Erin Suess to move into the current facility.

“Mary heard us several times and came up with formed a band called Pairadocs.

He recruits feature performers and is an avid the idea to have a monthly folk music event,” “My brother’s music partner is now my music promoter of the open-mic nights.

Mullen said. “She thought George and I could partner,” said Mullen, who once again lives on “I knew the DCA would be a terrific spot,” perform and have others perform.”

Grosse Ile. Mullen said. “It’s a wonderful venue. The room has Mullen said the East River Folk Society Meanwhile, the East River Folk Society “is doing a great vibe for music.” originated at the Grosse Ile Recreation Department, just as I hoped,” he said. “We had the largest turnout He said folk music was most popular during the where Colie worked, and moved to the St. James, in recent memory,” thanks in part to Downriver 1960s. The term “folk music” originated in the 19th which is located on East River Road. While the native Karoub, a reporter for Associated Press Century. Top folk music performers have included location has changed several times, the name East whose musical career has a following. the Kingston Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter, Paul River remains.

“The Downriver Council for the Arts is an and Mary, Bob Dylan, Arlo and Woody Guthrie and Years later, Stewart moved to Lexington and amazing organization,” Mullen said. “It’s such a Simon and Garfunkel. formed the Blue Water Folk Society and Thumbfest, good fit for the East River Folk Society. I don’t “Folk music transcends generations and the single largest one-day folk music event in know any open mics that have been going on longer transcends musical taste,” Mullen said. “Folk music Michigan, which drew performers from all over the SEE FOLK, Page 24 is a big umbrella. We attract many performers that Midwest.

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Page 24 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

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FOLK

Continued from page 23 than this one. A 30-year run is pretty significant.”

Karoub got his start at East River in the early-to-mid-1990s as half of the duo “Jar.” A decade later, he began honing his craft as a solo artist. In the 2010s, he released four albums under his own name and has been sharing songs and stories across the Great Lakes region.

His reconnection with East River came when Karoub and Mullen were working for a media startup in Ann Arbor in the early 2000s. Mullen invited him to perform in February.

“I guess you can go home again,” Photo by Dave Gorgon joked Karoub, who plays the guitar, Jeff Karoub (left) of Dearborn, Alayna Will of Wyandotte, Mike Mullen of Grosse Ile, John Rinn of Dearborn Heights, mandolin, fiddle and piano. “When Battered Hat of Dearborn, Rick Pitts of Dearborn Heights, Bobby Carroll of Lincoln Park.

Mike invited me, I thought it would be To learn more about Jeff Karoub Karoub agreed that the folk society and musicians, so there’s a natural fit great to rejoin a fantastic folk tradition and his latest album Pieces Break, is a great match with the DCA, which between these two local organization. that once welcomed me and showed visit the website jeffkaroub.hearnow. me a glimpse of the connection a is “all about promoting visual and As someone who believes connecting with people is the most important com. performing songwriter can make with performing arts, while the East River thing I can do as a performer, this is an audience – beyond the garage or Folk Society is all about showcasing the best way to do it.” basement.”

Downriver area singer-songwriters

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March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 25

Environmental Expo March 24 at Carlson High School

World Wetlands Day to Celebrate 2nd Decade

There will be lots to see and do as Carlson High School again hosts World Wetlands day on March 24.

BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

The 11th annual World Wetlands Day will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at Carlson High School 30550 W. Jefferson Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The globally celebrated event invites school groups and the interested public to an exposition designed to be an engaging and fun way to learn about wetlands and current environmental issues.

Carlson High School hosted the first World Wetlands Day in 2010 to celebrate the designation of Humbug Marsh, a unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, as Michigan’s only “Wetland of International Importance,” under the treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, signed at the Ramsar Convention in 1971.

The late Congressman John D. Dingell, long a champion of environmental protection, said, “I am very proud of the work being done to protect and preserve Humbug. World Wetlands Day provides an ideal opportunity to teach our children about the many valuable benefits of wetlands and the importance of wetlands stewardship.”

The theme of WWD this year is “Wetlands and Biodiversity,” and according to the Ramsar website, “Wetlands are rich with biodiversity and are a habitat for a dense variety of plant and animal species. Latest estimates show a global decline where wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests.”

Environmental groups planning to attend and set up learning stations at World Wetlands Day include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, the Detroit Riverkeeper, the Friends of the Detroit River, Lake Erie Metropark, Pte. Mouillee Sportsmen, the University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center, the Detroit River International Wildlife Environmental Quality, Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Gibraltar Duck

Hunters Ltd., and the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation.

In addition to the educational displays, there will be a number of interactive activities to heighten awareness of the importance of wetlands, and what all citizens can do to help save the planet. Over the past ten years, the expo has grown and has become one of the stellar environmental events in southeastern Michigan.

Last year, more than two thousand students and adults visited World Wetlands Day. Carlson High School science teacher and Wetlands Day organizer, Crystal Fowler is looking forward to this year’s expo, “Every year I am so humbled by these groups coming together to teach our students about the importance of environmental stewardship. There is so much right in our own backyard and it is up to us to take care of it. These groups come together and remind not only the students but the adults what this area is all about,” she said.

“I am excited that this is the year that the Humbug Gateway visitor center will open. This will be a great resource for the community with a fishing pier and beautiful trails. I hope that everyone can take the opportunity to disconnect and get back to nature.”

All attendees for this year’s World Wetlands Day must enter Carlson High School at the front entrance and sign in at the welcome desk. What better way to celebrate the first signs of spring, and the natural world in which we live -World Wetlands Day, March 24, 2020.

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March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 27

TELESCOPING downy hawthorns.

In my research on the Macomb Street champion tree, I found documentation that there’s an equally large downy hawthorn in Ann Arbor on the grounds of a church at 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. Since they are so similar in size, it’s been suggested that they both be designated as co-champions!

Local Olympic kayaker has plans to expand sport on Grosse Ile The other day I heard from Bill Smoke, who back in the 1960s was an Olympic kayaker. He’s been enthusiastic about the sport ever since and has plans he shared with me to return to the Island come better weather and set up a shop where young and old can learn how to actually build their own water craft.

With already a body of enthusiastic kayakers on Grosse Ile, Bill should drum up even more enthusiasm with the prospect of building their own kayak.

The history of Velcro In our new home on East River, I was looking for the right color of material to make cushions for a sofa. I found what I was looking for and made the pillows. I didn’t want to figure out how to include a zipper to finish the job so I went back to Jo-Ann Fabrics in Taylor and bought two feet of Velcro which I could sew in a lot easier than I could figure out to sew in a zipper. It just happened that I had a clipping all about Velcro in my files: One day in 1941, after a walk in the Swiss woods with his dog, George de Mestral was astounded by the ability of burrs to stick to his dog’s coat and his own clothes.

When he got home, he shoved burrs under a microscope and saw that its barber seed pods hooked easily with the looped fibers of his coat.

He realized that he could produce a new type of fastening product. It was not an easy task, eventually taking him 10 years to perfect the product, first using cotton but settling on nylon.

At first people laughed at the idea. By the time, George (1907-1990) received a patent for the product in 1955, the idea for the “zipperless- zipper” was well received.

He named the product Velcro, from the French words velour (velvet) and crochet (hook.) Today Velcro is widely used in apparel, shoes, leashes, nuclear power plants, battle tanks, the space shuttle and more, all thanks to the burr plant.

St. James Church welcomes public to music series Continuing a year-long program of music offerings at St. James Church, music director James Johnson is inviting the public for a free concert at 7 p.m. on April 4 “Music for Centering and Meditation.”

Students of Joseph Gascho, assistant professor of music at the University of Michigan, will present a program of music played on early instruments such as the harpsichord and portatif organ. Mr. Johnson says early instruments such as these are more quiet and suitable for smaller rooms such as the chapel and will give listeners a time for reflection as the church prepares for Holy Week.

There is no charge for the concerts, but a free will offering is available to defray expenses.

On March 6, the music series included a concert by Dr. Brandon D. Spence on the organ designed to prepare listeners’ hearts and minds for Lent.

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Page 28 • March 12 - April 8, 2020

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grosse ile country club College Scholarship Program Every year Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club gives out over $20,000 in college scholarship tuition to young employees through a member funded scholarship foundation. On Saturday, March 28th from 10:00am – 2:00pm the club will hold a Job Fair to hire staff in the following positions: bus persons, lifeguards, hostesses, snack bar, dishwashers, bag room, and golf course greens staff. All employees meeting the hours requirements will be eligible for up to $2,000 in college scholarships at the end of the summer. Grosse Ile management will offer flexible schedules to work around each student’s school schedules, sports activities, and other commitments. This program will allow seniors to earn tuition money for this fall while juniors and sophomores will have the ability to bank money toward their future college endeavors. By working at GIGCC, students can stay close to home, gain work experience, and earn a competitive wage without the daily hassle of crossing the toll bridge after the expected free bridge closure in May. Come to 9339 Bellevue on Saturday, March 28th to join the Grosse Ile team and let us support your continuing education.

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March 12 - April 8, 2020 • Page 29

15th annual Spring Fling Festival returns May 8-9

T

he very first festival of the season in Wyandotte — the City of Festivals — is the Spring Fling, now in its 15th year, and organizers say it’s going to be better than ever.

The Spring Fling Festival of St. Vincent Pallotti Parish — a merging of Wyandotte’s St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s churches and the former St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church — is set from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday May 8 and from noon to midnight Saturday May 9 at Yack Arena, 3131 Third Street.

Parking is plentiful and free of charge.

“Be sure to mark PAULA your calendar,” said NEUMAN festival Grosse Ile Grand Chairman Rick Malechuk, who’s been in charge of the event since its more humble origins as a tent festival for St. Joseph’s more than 30 years ago.

“My wife says I’m nuts and I am,” he said. “I start in September getting ready for it.”

Every year, Malechuk and other hardworking parishioners try to make the already successful Spring Fling even better. The food, the music and the Kid’s Zone have all been tweaked for the 2020 festival.

“This year, because we’re growing so well, we’ve pulled Izbicki’s Catering into our food area,” he said. “And by changing our floor plan, food serving will be at least five times faster.”

The food — always a popular part of the festival — will include the favorite stuffed cabbage and pork chop combo plate, but much more will be available for discerning diners.

Firehouse Pub & Grill of Wyandotte is providing triple cheese mac and cheese and pulled pork. My Place Bar & Grill of Wyandotte is providing chicken fingers. Srodek’s of Hamtramck is providing pierogi, potato pancakes and kielbasa. And from Hungarian Rhapsody Restaurant of Southgate, diners can feast on chicken paprikash and dumplings.

Kid-friendly mainstays, including hot dogs, chili dogs, French fries and chili fries, will be available, too. A separate snack booth run by parishioners will offer those, as well as popcorn, soft drinks, walking tacos, hot pretzels, nachos, cotton candy and more.

McCaffery’s Bar of Lincoln Park, a generous sponsor of the fundraising festival, will offer loaded baked potato soup, but also is handling a new threesection bar for adult beverages.

“We’re calling it the mega bar,” Malehcuk said.

“We’ll have two beer trailers and a mixed drink section with frozen drinks such as strawberry daiquiris. They’re professional bartenders.”

The parish also has added a coupon for $1 off any beverage — hard or soft —from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday to its festival advertising. Check this news magazine for a coupon.

The Spring Fling’s service changes this year mean festival goers won’t have to wait long for food and beverages, and also mean more fun for children and music lovers.

“Consolidating our bars to one wall opened up more space for the kids, and for the customers sitting and watching the music,” Malechuk said.

The festival’s Kid Zone offering all sorts of games, rides and entertainment is a full third of the

arena space, he said. And it’s all inside, so weather won’t be a factor.

“There will be face painting, and Detroit sports team mascots will make an appearance on Saturday afternoon,” Malechuk said. “This a great picturetaking opportunity. The kids love this family costfriendly area.

To make it even more cost-friendly, parents can buy 10 ride tickets and get five more for free on Saturday, he said.

Another Spring Fling big draw is the live bands that perform, and Malechuk is excited about what’s on tap this year. Your Generation In Concert will play both nights starting at 8 p.m.

“Your Generation is not just a band; they are a multimedia show,” he said. “Featuring five decades of pop, rock, dance and R&B hits, this eight-piece band is the world’s finest tribute show and will be introducing some new originals for one of the first times in public during the first set Saturday night.

You need to be there! We’re lucky we’ve had them 13 of the 15 years of the festival. They just like coming to our event.”

Popular local band Wisteria will perform at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

“They will begin with a mix including Irish music and then a fantastic set of classic rock,” Malechuk said.

At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Michigan Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Benny & the Jets will entertain, and Benny plans special guest songs with Your Generation in Concert and The Phoenix Theory, a band that will take the festival stage at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Malechuk said he is delighted to have added The Phoenix Theory to the Spring Fling lineup.

“We are so excited, as these guys are new for us this year, and we’re so fortunate to have them,” he said. “The Phoenix Theory is one of Detroit’s most sought-after cover bands, and they take listeners to new heights of musical entertainment by performing tightly rehearsed renditions of your favorite classic rock and dance favorites from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today.”

The festival also features a bake sale; a room full of books, CDs and DVDs for sale; and raffles galore.

“Our Grand Raffle has a first prize of $10,000 and an additional $3,000 in prizes,” Malechuk said.

The Prizes Aplenty raffle features all sorts of prizes to win, including a lawnmower, barbecue grill, bicycle, Detroit Tigers tickets and more. Dozens of themed prize baskets also will be raffled. And hourly 50-50 drawings will take place throughout the festival.

Money raised from the Spring Fling goes to fund a number of parish expenses, such as new roofs and windows, and also for St. Vincent Pallotti’s many charitable endeavors, Malechuk said.

“We’ve gotten awards for being one of the most generous churches in southeast Michigan,” he said.

“We help support schools, Christ Net, Penrickton Center for Blind Children, the Salvation Army, missions in Africa and a lot more.”

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More than 120 partygoers celebrated Mardi Gras and supported the Grosse Ile Animal Shelter Feb.22.

The event, dubbed Mardi Paws, was a fundraiser held at the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club to help pay for the care and maintenance of adoptable pets at the shelter.

Julie Cortis-Redfield, animal control officers for the Grosse Ile Police Department, said she is very happy with the outcome of the event, which featured Jarrod Champion and the Sunny Side Street Band playing swing and jazz music — New Orleans style.

“It was a fun night with great people supporting a great cause,” she said.

“The band brought a real News Orleans jazz sound, and the Mardi Gras celebration was definitely honored with everyone in costumes and traditional masks. This will likely become an annual event due to the great turnout and really fun party. I’m grateful to our sponsors, attendees and animal lovers that support the Grosse Ile Animal Shelter’s Mission — saving animals, serving community,” CortisRedfield said.

Money raised will go toward the purchase of needed improvements, including new cages to replace the rusty ones at the shelter; medical bills; food and supplies. The shelter is municipal, but the funds raised go into a dedicated account.

Other features of Mardi Paws included a menu of New Orleans-style Creole and Cajun dishes, and psychic readings,

Listening to the band are Julie Cortis-Redfield (left), Sammi Hadad, Niki Ricer, Trista Cortis-Redfield, Joni Bohl, Christine Bohl and Carrie Dudek.

Enjoying the event are Grosse Ile Supervisor Brian Loftus, Sammi Hadad and Anne Loftus. The supervisor and his wife were crowned king and queen of the event, New Orleans style.

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Regular chiropractic visits help you feel fine Even with daily brushing and flossing you’ll likely see your dentist on a regular basis. Your teeth and gums will feel fine. Absolutely no pain. Yet no one says, “Once you go to a dentist, you have to go for the rest of your life.”

Similarly, there are those who opt to see a chiropractor on a regular basis. Even when they’re feeling great. They want to stay that way. They know their spine and nervous system is constantly being stressed.

Consider the emotional stress of our fast-paced lives. The chemical stress of fast-food diets. The physical stress of sitting all day. Not to mention the relentless effect of gravity!

Preventative chiropractic care is an option. As is regular brushing and flossing. Bathing. Getting enough restful sleep. Staying hydrated. These are personal choices that are made without being motivated by obvious aches or pains.

Like your car, regular maintenance extends life.

Introducing the Atlas and Axis To you, an atlas is probably a map. And the earth rotates on its axis. But to chiropractors, the atlas and axis are the two uppermost bones of your cervical spine.

They’re so important, they have an extra name other than C1 and C2. The atlas (C1) is the top cervical vertebra on which your skull rests. Below it is the axis (C2).

Special ligaments link these two vertebrae, permitting 80 to 90 degrees of rotation.

These two bones, working in tandem, are what you use to look both ways before crossing the street.

Or over your shoulder when changing lanes.

Because your upper cervical spine is so flexible, it’s susceptible to injury. These two vertebrae are often involved in whiplash cases. Nerve messages, to every organ and tissue below your head pass through this vital area.

No wonder chiropractors pay special attention to your atlas and axis. You should too.

Food That You Can’t Digest An important part of a healthy diet is eating enough fiber. Fiber is the indigestible part of our food. It passes through our bodies without breaking down and being absorbed.

Even though it has little nutritional value, fiber is crucial to the digestive process.

There are two kinds: Insoluble fiber – This is the roughage or structural part of plants. Think of it as the “package” that transports the nutritional part of the plant. Obvious examples are celery, popcorn hulls, nuts, apples and fruits with edible skins; and Soluble fiber – This type of fiber forms a gel-like material when dissolved in water. It helps you feel “full” and helps reduce blood sugar spikes. Soluble fiber is found in peas, beans, citrus fruits, carrots, barley, oats and other grains. ~ Cousineau Chiropractic

What’s Happening Grosse Ile ...

Bach’s Mass in Major featured at March 22 concert Every Lenten season for the past 35 years, Dr. James Parker, has presented to the public a concert of music from gospel to sacred at the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church where he has been choir director for 45 years.

Now retired after teaching vocal music in the Grosse Ile Township Schools for 40 years, Dr. Parker, with the assistance from Barbara Conroy, also a retired vocal music teacher, is preparing three groups for the March 22 concert.

An appreciative audience will hear from the Grosse Ile Children’s Choir, which both Dr. Parker and Mrs. Conroy direct, the Grosse Ile Chorale, singers who include Island residents but also those off Island and former students, and the Parker Chorale, a group made up of the finest voices Downriver.

The main work of the Sunday afternoon concert is Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in A Major. This will be performed with a chamber orchestra.

The concert begins at 3 p.m. March 22 at the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church with a reception following. There is no charge for the concert, but there will be an opportunity to contribute to a freewill offering.

The first in 35 years of directing Lenten concerts was in 1986 when Dr. Parker applied his conducting the concert to qualify for his doctorate from MSU. St. James to hold rummage sale St. James Episcopal Church will hold its annual rummage sale Friday, May 1 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. until noon.

Donations accepted beginning April 13 until noon Thursday, April 30.

Help out vet’s group On Friday, March 20 at The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Dearborn, two great bands will be performing on stage together to benefit a wonderful cause.

FiftyAmpFuse and Hines Drive are teaming up to raise funds for Veterans Matter, a program that helps veterans and their families transition from homelessness into permanent housing.

Over the last two decades, FiftyAmpFuse has become a favorite at festivals and concerts across the nation.

Hines Drive is comprised of the original members of Salem Witchcraft, one of Michigan’s most successful rock bands of the 70s and 80s.

FiftyAmpFuse will also be

performing “Godz of Vinyl,” a sophisticated live musical production synchronized to nostalgic video segments.

Don’t miss this chance to experience an unforgettable concert at The Ford

Community & Performing Arts Center in the Michael A. Guido Theater in Dearborn to support an important cause!

Tickets are only $25. Call 313.9432354 or visit www.dearborntheater.com/ events. A cash bar will be available.

Virginia company will help find your lost animals Trying to locate a lost pet can be traumatic, so a Grosse Ile resident recently turned to an expert when she lost her little dog, Stanley. (See related letter.)

The dog was missing for more than a week, so she called Found Inc Coast to Coast Professional Pet Trackers of Winchester, Va., after the owner’s daughter found the company online.

Found founder Carmen Brothers arrived in Michigan Feb. 23 and tracked Stanley’s location within an hour and a half. The bad news, however, was that he had fallen into the canal behind the owner’s house and couldn’t get out.

“Stanley was a pug, and they’re not big swimmers,” Brothers said, “and when they fall into a canal with steel sides, they can’t get back up.”

The sad end to the Grosse Ile dog’s story is atypical, she said; Found averages an 85 to 90 percent success rate in reuniting lost animals with their owners.

“Ideally, we usually have happier endings,” Brothers said.

She began her tracking business about six years ago after working on a rescue in Washington, D.C., with a coon hound named Jake and later brought in a German shepherd named Bruno.

Brothers, who has appeared on the series, “Trackers” on the National SEE ANIMALS, Page 36

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SPORTS Riverview puts and end to Grosse Ile’s hockey season Hank Minckiewicz Grosse Ile Grand

For a Grosse Ile athlete, it always hurts a little more to lose to archrival Riverview. The hurt is even deeper when that loss is a close one and comes in the state tournament, ending a season.

That’s what the Grosse Ile hockey team suffered On Feb. 28 at the Yack Arena in Wyandotte. The Red Devils fell to the Pirates 4-3 in a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state semifinal game.

The loss ended the season for the Devils and sent the Pirates into the district championship game against Gabriel Richard, which beat Carlson 6-0 in its semifinal game.

The Grosse Ile-Riverview game was well played, with good pace and few penalties.

After a scoreless first period, Grosse Ile netted the game’s first goal less than a minute into the second period.

Patrick Karn set up the goal when he fed his brother Brennan in the slot and Brennan buried it. Evan Lenerand also assisted.

Grosse Ile maintained the lead for much of the second period, but it was the only lead the Devils were destined to have in this game.

Riveview scored twice late in the second period and twice early in the third and then held off a furious

Grosse Ile comeback to secure the victory.

Down 4-1 with time running out, Grosse Ile put up a sustained assault in the Riverview zone.

The Devils finally got the puck in front of the net and scored to grab back some momentum.

Luke Miller scored the goal from Lemerand and Adam Kargenian.

With under four minutes to play, Grosse Ile pulled its goalie for a 6-on5 advantage, but shortly afterward the Devils picked up a tripping penalty and the man advantage was negated.

But with less than a minute to play, Ben Carter fired a shot from the point that beat Riverview goalie Joshiah Dembrosky and suddenly it was a one-goal game.

Grosse Ile put on some pressure in the dying

Osse Ile’s 2019-20 hockey season came to a close with a 4-3 loss to Riverview on Feb. 29.

seconds, but could not get the equalizing goal.

Riverview built its lead through the middle portion of the game, scoring on a point shot tip-in at 11:39 of the second period and on a wrist shot through a maze of players at 15:32.

The Bucs scored literally from the opening faceoff of the third period as they rushed down the ice and scored at the :09 second mark. The eventual game-winning goal came at 5:22 of the third period when Grosse Ile failed to clear its own zone and the puck wound up in the back of the Grosse Ile net.

Grosse Ile cagers enter basketball’s ‘second season’ The “second season,” otherwise known as the Michigan High School Athletic Association state playoffs are underway for both boys and girls teams across the state.

For some, like the Grosse Ile girls, the journey is already over.

Boys tournament action began March 9.

For the Grosse Ile boys, the tournament started March 11 at Monroe Jefferson against the winner of the Flat Rock-Monroe Jefferson game.

Huron and Summit Academy are the other two teams in the Jefferson district and the championship game will be March 13. The district winner will advance to regionals at Dearborn Divine Child against the winner of the Detroit Douglass district.

The Devils came into the

tourney stumbling a bit, having lost consecutive games to Catholic League champion Gabriel Richard, Airport and Redford Thurston. The Devil capped the regular season March 6 against non-league rival Southgate Anderson.

The Red Devils entered the tournament with a near .500 record, but tournament victories have a way of removing blemishes from the regular season.

For the Grosse Ile girls, the season’s end came in the first round of the MHSAA district at Jefferson on March 2 when they fell to Huron League champion Flat Rock 63-36.

The Rams then rolled Huron 5424 to reach the district final against Airport. Airport reached the final by knocking off host Jefferson 6830. The Rams and Jets met for the district crown March 6.

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ANIMALS

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Photo by Larry Caruso

The Grosse Ile competitive cheerleading team finished the season with a sixth-place performance at the MHSAA district competition in Onsted.

Competitive cheerleaders wrap up the 2019-20 season The Grosse Ile competitive cheerleading team wrapped up the 2019020 season with a sixth-place finish at the Division 3 district hosted by Onsted High School on Feb. 22.

The Red Devils scored 727.46 points, 18.40 points behig district champion Flat Rock and just 12.36 points out of the final regional qualifying position.

The regional qualifiers were Flat Rock, Michigan Center, Onsted and Monroe Jefferson. Brooklyn Columbia Central also finished ahead of Grosse Ile. Sixth place was nearly right in the center of the pack as five teams finished ahead of Grosse Ile and seven finished below.

The Devils, who were in fourth place after the first round and had the fourth highest final-round score, were done in by a low second round score of 201.66.

At regionals, only Onsted, which was fourth, qualified for the state meet.

Jefferson was fifth, Flat Rock sixth and Michigan Center ninth.

At the Feb. 5 Huron League meet, the Red Devils claimed a third-place finish.

Monroe Jefferson won in a walk with 751.96 points. Airport was second with 725.26 and Grosse Ile was third with 710.54. Rounding out the scoring were Flat Rock, Riverview and New Boston Huron.

Between the league meet and the state districts, Grosse Ile competed in the Pat Christiansen Memorial Scholarship Competition at Carlson. There, the Red Devils were the best of the three Division 3 teams competing. Grosse Ile scored 730.38 and the Devils were followed by Flat Rock and Summit Academy.

Grosse Ile’s score was fifth best overall behind Carlson (786.58), Dearborn Divine Child, Wyandotte Roosevelt and Airport.

Geographic channel, made the trip to Grosse Ile with Magic, her Labrador retriever.

She begins a track by asking the pet’s owner for items that bear the animal’s scent, like blankets, a bed, or a collar.

The items are placed in an unscented trash bag until the track begins, at which point Brothers pulls the item(s) out of the bag and lets Magic take a sniff.

“Then we start tracking,” she said.

“Typically, when you’re searching for a lost pet, you’re chasing a moving target.”

As a result, some cases take longer than others, and there are no guarantees.

A dog named Pickle in New York took about four months. Cats don’t go as far from home, Brothers said, but they hide more, taking somewhere from one to four weeks to turn up. Dogs travel farther and usually are found in between one and six weeks.

A capybara named Copernicus is the largest animal she’s tracked, and was found in a pond about 40 feet from its yard. Because the large rodents spend about 23 hours of each day in water, it took about eight months to find Copernicus.

As for how the owners came into possession of an animal not native to these shores, Brothers said, “I don’t know how they got it. I really didn’t ask.”

On a smaller scale, she and Magic found a 5-inch long, 1-pound turtle under the shed of its owner’s neighbor and lured it out with some aloe leaves near the holes leading underneath it.

But even though she’s skilled in tracking a variety of animals, Brothers said her best advice is to avoid needing

her in the first place.

“Keep your pets leashed and don’t let them outside alone,” she said.

If they do get loose, do not chase your pet if you see them, as that creates fear. Brothers advises dropping to the ground if possible so that they can smell you, and not making eye contact with your pet.

“Have hot dogs or chicken or something with you to lure them back, and be patient,” she said.

If you do happen to make eye contact, however, stick to not chasing them, and often they’ll chase you.

And if all that prevention fails, Brothers said she’s happy to help anyone who loses a pet.

“Even without tracking, I can give people an idea of what to do,” she said.

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Riverpointe announced that Rose Awards were also presented at the Koval, earned the CENTURY 21® event to Joe Maher, Judy Cemer, Tim CENTURION and Top Producer Wojtala, Jennifer Kish, Gloria Wilson, Award following her 2019 sales Niki Grigg, Gloria Leuchtmann, Lorie success.

Polgar, Heather Bodrie, Tom Medick “Rose is a leader and innovator and Sandy Misko for their outstanding in delivering powerful home buying production in 2019. and selling choices to her clients CENTURY 21 Riverpointe and their because she knows the community award winning associates were honored she serves,” said Redfield. “Rose during another very special CENTURY is a valued and trusted real estate 21 Real Estate, LLC event on March 7 resource for the Downriver/Metro at The Dearborn Inn in Dearborn.

Detroit area and a major contributor Rose Koval was presented with one to the overall success of CENTURY Front row from left to right: Tim Wojtala, Heather Bodrie, Lorie Polgar, Tashia Redfield McEady, E. Ann Redfield, Trista Cortis-Redfield, Rose Koval, Judy of the highest achievement awards 21 Riverpointe.

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SWCRC Black Tie Gala Business leaders from across the region got together at Crystal Garden in Southgate on March 5 for the annual Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce Black Tie Gala. Business leaders put on their finest attire and rubbed elbows with each other while enjoying fine food and the fellowship of other economic leaders.

Sherry and Will Evans, publishers of Go Big Mulit-media.

The Al Bates Interactive Booth Award to Sterling Office Systems. Al owned Second Step Advertising until his death on Nov. 23. His daughter Lexi Bates and her friends were on hand for the presentation. In the photo are Sterling Office Systemsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; John Wetherbee Jr. (left), Marcie Klepack and Jeff Polites, Melanie Hojnowski of Wyandotte, Lexi Bates of Allen Park, Stacy Damman of Grosse Ile and Chamber President Ron Hinrichs.

Chef Nathan York and daughter Emma York of the Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club.

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Sam and Cheryl Sobh of Grosse Ile. Sam is a past chairman of the chamber board of directors.

March 12 - April 8, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ Page 39

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need auto repairs? let us Hook you up!

1 FOR YOU, 1 FOR ME. 2 FOR YOU, 1, 2 FOR ME!

70 YEARS in business

Family Owned and Operated since 1947

$5 OFF ANY $30 PURCHASE

OFFER GOOD EXCLUSIVELY AT WOODHAVEN, SOUTHGATE, TAYLOR AND DEARBORN STORES. ONE COUPON PER HOUSEHOLD PLEASE. NO CASH VALUE. MAY NOT BE USED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. OFFER VALID THROUGH 4/15/2020

PLU #89364

We service all mechanical auto repairs including, but not limited to: • Shocks & Struts • Computer Diagnostics • Engine Diagnostics, Repairs & Replacements • Air Conditioning Recharging & Repairs • Brakes & ABS System Repairs • Suspension & Steering Repairs • Brake & Line Repairs • Batteries, Starters, Alternators • And More!

20% OFF LABOR & ALL SERVICES Excludes Towing • Must present before service • Exp 4/15/20

CALL NOW FOR 24 HOUR EMERGENCY TOWING WOODHAVEN 19295 West Rd. 734.671.6936

SOUTHGATE

15060 Eureka Rd. 734.720.9797 Grooming Available

TAYLOR

22124 Ecorse Rd. 313.295.6500 Grooming Available

DEARBORN

2621 Telegraph Rd. 313.278.4799

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday - Friday: 8:00 aM - 5:00 pM • iMpound Hours: 8:30 aM - 4:30 pM

1466 Eureka Road ❖ Wyandotte 734-284-6232 ❖ groatbrothers.com