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Business Association of Grosse Ile July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Gi-GrandNews.com

8146 Macomb St. Grosse Ile, MI 48138-1574 Bus: 734-675-6870 Fax: 734-675-0492 rita@ritacole.com

Grosse Ile grad Sage Korte enters Air Force Academy

Ready to fly high

Shannon Rossi Grosse Ile Grand

Sage Korte, a 2020 graduate of Grosse Ile High School, reported to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado for Basic Cadet Training on June 25.

“Sage is very outgoing and has strong leadership skills,” said her dad, Chad Korte. “She loves history and government. She was the captain of her swim team and loved rowing. Sage was so disappointed to miss her senior year with the crew team. It was a great group of girls and they would have had a very successful season.”

Sage knew from the time she was in eighth grade that she wanted to attend one of the United States military academies.

Photo Courtesy of Chad and Jennifer Korte

SEE SAGE, Page 28

T A W T N

O FR

ER

9105 Macomb st.

28041 elba Drive, grosse ile • Updated waterfront home with gorgeous views.

• Kitchen with granite counters & Viking Appliances.

• Mature landscaping, seawall and docks with lifts.

• 4535 Sq. Ft. – 5 Bedrooms – 4 Full & 1 Half Baths

S. Brooke MacNee

8423 sherwood Drive, grosse ile

brooke@mbamail.com

• Pristine open concept ranch w/Hickory flooring.

• Gorgeous 8’ entry door and three 8’ French doors • 45’ x 15’ Trex deck overlooking private wooded yard.

• 2361 Sq. Ft. – 4 Bedrooms -3 Full & 1 Half Baths

734-671-6611

Page 2 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

in 2020 Leo Stevenson has been recognized by: Forbes: “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” Barron’s: “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” list Forbes: “America’s Top 250 Wealth Advisors” list

*Source: Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, February 2020. The ranking for this list by SHOOK Research is based on due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Rankings and recognition from Forbes/SHOOK Research are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor.

GROSSE ILE GRAND

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 3

Vote, August 4 Local races, renewals highlight ballot BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

Grosse Ile voters will have an opportunity to exercise their right to the elective franchise with the statewide Primary Election held Aug. 4, 2020.

In addition to the partisan sections on the ballot for federal, state, and local offices, voters will be asked to narrow down non-partisan candidates for Judge of the 3rd Circuit Court, as well as decide two millage renewals for Wayne County, and an operating millage renewal for Grosse Ile Township Schools.

When voting in the partisan section of the ballot, voters are reminded of their government or civics teacher’s admonition, that there is no crossover voting in primary elections. Primary elections are “intra-party elections, within the political party designed to nominate candidates for the general election, held in November.”

Of particular note for Grosse Ile registered voters are the elections for township supervisor, township clerk, township treasurer, and township board of trustees. All positions are for a four-year term.

The race for supervisor is between incumbent Brian Loftus, township supervisor since 2008, and James Budny, current two-term trustee, who is heading up a slate of candidates called “Grosse Ile 2020.”

There are three candidates vying for the clerk position: Mark Lane, a member of Grosse Ile 2020, incumbent Ute O’Connor, and Thomas Malvesto, currently a trustee.

Treasurer Ted Van Os is

being challenged by David Nadeau.

Eight candidates are on the Republican ballot for trustee.

Incumbents Carl Bloetscher III and Jim Nelson are up for re-election. They are being challenged by Linda Stanko and Chad Linn, as well as slate members Michael Jurecki, Mark Mills, Jamison Yager, and Joseph Porcarelli.

Under Michigan law (MCL 168.492) “any qualified elector of Grosse Ile Township who is not already registered, may register to vote at the Office of the Township Clerk; the Office of the County Clerk; a Secretary of State branch

office, or other designated state agency. Registration forms can be obtained at mi.gov/vote and mailed to the Township Clerk. Voters who are already registered may update their registration at www. expressSOS.com. The last day to register in any manner other than in person with the local clerk is Monday, July 20, 2020.

You can register in person after July 20 with proof of residency at the Grosse Ile Township Clerk’s office, 9601 Groh Road, Grosse Ile, MI 48138 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clerk’s office will also be open

for registration Saturday, Aug. 1 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Election Day 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

According to Deputy Clerk Bryan Friel, “With the COVID-19 concerns, we are seeing a general trend for voters to vote absentee. As of today, there are 9,192 registered voters on Grosse Ile. We have already sent out 2900 absentee ballots, or about 31 percent of our total.

“The Township Clerk’s office is taking every precaution to conduct safe, in person voting.

On Election Day, both Aug. 4 and Nov. 3, our precinct workers will have face shields, election inspectors will be masked.

Every voter will be given a pen to reduce cross contamination, social distancing will be practiced, and hand sanitizers will be widespread.”

Indeed, even in a global pandemic, now more than ever do we know that “elections have consequences,” and “democracy is not a spectator sport.” Remember to vote, Aug. 4!

If you have any questions about voting or election deadlines, please contact the Grosse Ile Township Clerk’s office at 734.676-4422, extension 241.

Page 4 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Candidates for Supervisor answer questions

repairs. We have paved or chip-sealed many miles of roads — obviously more to do.

We are seeing tens of millions of dollars from county, state and federal sources being spent repairing three of the Island’s bridges, clearly the result of delayed or ignored maintenance. With a county administration open to improved communications we are better able to prevent future deterioration.

PAULA NEUMAN

Grosse Ile Grand

James Budny, a Grosse Ile Township trustee for two terms, is running against incumbent Brian Loftus for the supervisor’s position, which Loftus has held since 2008.

Budny, who currently is in his second term as a township board trustee, is a retired manager with the IRS, and an attorney with a law degree from Detroit College of Law. Loftus, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, retired in 2003 from a career with the U.S. Air Force and Michigan Air National Guard, where he served as commander of the 107th Flying Squadron. He retired from Federal Express in 2012.

We asked the candidates to answer five questions: Q: Why do you think you’re the right person for the job?

Budny: I believe I am the right candidate because I possess the necessary financial aptitude we need in this community for the problems we face. I also can work with all people, whether we agree or not on issues. I can work for a mutually agreeable decision on any issue. You need to respect everyone, regardless of their view on an issue and I can give the Grosse Ile community that respect.

Loftus: I have successfully served in this position since 2008, led the township through Michigan’s recession, recovered from a 23% loss of property values, and resolved $11 million worth of litigation resulting from errors of previous administrations at absolute minimum costs to residents. I have attended every Michigan Townships Association educational conference and several Michigan Association of Township Supervisors conferences to learn from experts in many fields of local government.

I work and collaborate with local, state and federal leaders to make the entire Downriver community a better place to call home.

Q: What is the No. 1 issue facing the township right now, and how will you deal with it?

Loftus

Budny

Budny: I believe our most pressing problems are financial, i.e. revenues and expenses. We are a small, predominantly residential community with a limited tax base. Thus, most of our taxes come from homeowners. Our revenue is limited because we cannot and do not want to over-tax our residents. Yet the cost of our expenses continues to increase.

Everything costs more, so we must keep pace. This requires a true balancing act.

I would start to solve the problem with better fiscal management. This means not just spending our tax dollars, but spending them wisely, which we don’t always do now. I will demand solid financial plans for our budgets, all projects and our everyday spending. We lack good financial planning now.

Loftus: We face a number of issues, as does every local government, but right now our No. 1 issue is continuity of operations – how do we pick up the pieces left from the extended shutdown and resume providing the services the residents expect and pay for from local government? How will we operate with a predictable loss of revenues? We have lots of catching up to do, particularly in community development and recreation programming.

but at the same time we have to continue to be working to get as much money as we can from Wayne County.

We do not pay any county tax for roads or bridges. The money for each comes mainly from the federal and state governments. We need to press them for a share of the road money. Bridges are an even bigger problem because the cost is so much more. I believe the proper approach is to be in constant talks with our federal, state and county representatives to get our needs taken care of. No let up!

Water lines are a different animal, as we own them. We have to take care of them and we are. The DPS Commission and DPS Department have a plan to replace old water lines to bring them up to date. We need to make sure that this plan is followed and continued until all water lines are up to date.

Loftus: In reverse order, Grosse Ile Township has a capital improvement plan to upgrade our water mains and provide looped delivery to the entire Island. We have already replaced several miles of aged ductile iron mains with new high density polyethylene mains that will last for centuries.

While not specifically asked, we are also cleaning and repairing our sewer system and continuously improving our wastewater treatment plant.

Aside from the Grosse Ile Parkway bridge, Grosse Il Township has 13 internal bridges, 11 of which are owned and maintained by Wayne County, along with almost 65 miles of county roads. Despite having a low priority for repair due to our being an island, we have received almost $2 million in road repairs from Wayne County, along with tens of millions of dollars in bridge

Q: What can and should the township do about the state of the community’s roads, bridges and water lines?

Budny: Roads and bridges are a complicated problem because they belong to Wayne County. They do not have the money to repair our roads, yet they need to be repaired or they will just get worse. Thus, we are faced with doing something ourselves to save our roads.

I believe we will have to do something,

Q: What can and should the township do about possible plans for a future intermodal shipping port at the former McLouth steel site in Trenton?

How would such a port impact Grosse Ile? Budny: This is a tricky problem, and although talked about, there is no official word on what is going there yet. As a government entity, we need to be out front making sure that our community is assured to have clean air, clean water, no noise pollution or have its residents harmed in any way. The township has to be diligent in pressing for that to all the right people and communities. Our disadvantage is none of what happens over there is on our property. So we are only a voice, but we must make our voice heard.

The residents also have a voice and they do not have the same constraints the township has. They must be proactive also and make their voice heard.

As to impact, certainly there would be some, but we don’t know how much.

You would think there will be more bridge openings to deal with, but how many? Obviously, one is different than 10. There would be train traffic, but how much? That is why there is no easy answer to this question. That is why we have to stay on top of this issue and react to the facts as quickly and accurately as possible. Trenton will do what is right for Trenton. We have to make sure that decision doesn’t hurt Grosse Ile. Loftus: The owner of the property has not yet announced what plans they have for the site, so planning for an intermodal port is speculative, although probably prudent. I must remind the readers that the last time this township tried to control private property in another community it cost over $2 million and we accomplished nothing.

That will NOT happen again.

SEE Candidates, Page 5

GROSSE ILE GRAND

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 5

Learn about PBS program ‘Under the Radar Michigan’ Downriver and metro Detroit business leaders will discover the story behind the popular PBS television series “Under the Radar Michigan” and the positive impact the show continues to have on Michigan’s economy at the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber’s (SWCRC) Business Forum Luncheon on Monday, July 27 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the outdoor pavilion of Silver Shores Waterfront in Wyandotte.

The event is open to the public with safety precautions and guidelines including attendance restrictions in place as set by current state executive orders.

The Forum will feature the show’s host Tom Daldin and producer Jim Edelman, who will both share their personal stories of how the series was created to make a positive difference for our state.

Daldin and Edelman are the co-creators of “Under the Radar Michigan.”

In their presentation, the pair will

address “how two guys who were jacks of all trades ended up with a PBS television show, a shelf full of Emmy’s and the most rewarding career path they ever imagined.”

SWCRC President and CEO Ron Hinrichs said, “The Downriver business community is thrilled to once again welcome our friends Tom Daldin and Jim Edelman of “Under the Radar Michigan” to our region.

“The show’s impact on our regional economy continues to provide real and lasting value for our community’s workforce, entrepreneurs and job providers. We are looking forward to hearing more about how the business community can be involved in this spectacular series.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear what it takes to be an independent producer, how the show’s creators manage a small business that tells the stories about small businesses, and

CANDIDATES

Continued from page 4

Now that the fear mongering concerning the site has subsided, we can evaluate what we can and cannot do. We cannot direct the city of Trenton to take any position regarding zoning or other site use. We can and will remain engaged with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to ensure any activity at the site does not present an environmental threat to Grosse Ile. Q: What are the best things the current township officials have accomplished in the last four years?

What are the biggest mistakes the current township officials have made in the last four years and how will you avoid them in the future?

Budny: This is difficult to answer because of what people perceive as being ‘’township officials.” There are seven board members that voted different ways on issues. I would say the best is they have not driven us deep into debt. They have made small steps towards reducing benefit costs. They have passed some action items that benefited the community, like the West River Road water main project.

The biggest mistakes are giving raises with no sound reasoning behind them. The employee deserves the raise is not sound reasoning. We never look or take into account whether Grosse Ile can afford the raise. I don’t mean in the current year, but rather in the future years.

The raise today stays in all our future budgets until that employee retires.

“what life is like after 10 years on the road with your best friend.” A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

“This event will provide the job providers and entrepreneurs of our region, along with the general public a unique opportunity to learn about the impact of one of our State’s most treasured television series,” commented Ronnie Ruelle, Chairperson of the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber Board of Directors. “I am grateful for the opportunity resources like “Under the Radar Michigan” bring to the Downriver community.”

The Forum will take place in partnership with Destination Downriver, a coalition of like-minded organizations and individuals that are pulling together opportunities and resources to market and brand Downriver by telling the world what is special about the region. More information on Destina-

The biggest mistake is not having a well thought-out plan for many projects that are taken on. They always seem to stop at it’s a good idea and they go no further.

There has to be better planning on projects to reduce the overall cost to the township. The township needs to be more efficient in its operations.

I will avoid these problems by changing the approach to how we do business. We will think about being efficient. We will have a well thought-out plan or the project doesn’t go forward. We will look to address our cost by taking meaningful steps to save money while still providing the benefits to employees and services to the residents. It can be done.

Loftus: Best things: n We have a superb public safety team, with the two departments lead by exemplary command staffs: Chief Mark Warnick, Deputy Chief Brent Hardin and Lt. Ken Pelland in the Police Department, and Chief Russ Bodrie and Fire Marshall Kevin Langley directing Fire and Rescue. n We re-established control of the Grosse Ile Animal Shelter and allowed the animal control officer to manage the Shelter to State standards. n As mentioned, we have replaced water mains and repaved several miles of roads, including East River, West River and Parke Lane. We were the first community in Wayne County to chip-seal sections of roads to preserve them rather than wait for repaving that may never occur. n We promoted our first female Public Services Department director, and we won several American Public Works Association awards for completion of complex projects. n We hired our second female Recreation Department director, a very dynamic lady who has the

tion Downriver can be found at www.

DestinationDownriver.com.

As the SWCRC prepares for the event, the organization is working closely with its partners to plan according to the current situation, and will execute the event based on law and guidelines at the time.

Currently, the Chamber’s Business and Legislative Forum Series includes precautionary measures to ensure a safe and enjoyable event, including attendance restrictions, the use of appropriate PPE, and social distancing.

Measures and event details are subject to change, and are listed at the event webpage, located at www.SWCRC. com.

SWCRC member tickets are $25 each, or $30 for non-members, and can be purchased at www.SWCRC.com, or by calling the Chamber office at 734284-6000.

department running in the black for the first time in recent history. n We added a Downtown Development Authority director who breathed new life into our business district, and we hired our first female police officer. n We decided to acquire the tennis center and convert it to multiple indoor recreation activities, rather than allow it to sit empty or face demolition – obviously the pandemic has put this on hold.

Biggest mistake: n We didn’t clean up the Police Commission and replace the chief sooner. Commissioners Zelasko and Jurecki approved a grievance — after being directed NOT to by the board liaison —which has since cost the township over $100 000 in legal fees. Commissioner Jurecki told the township clerk, the official statutorily responsible for maintaining records, that the commission meeting minutes were to be kept according to his wishes, NOT state or township standards. This level of irresponsibility and arrogance led to their removal by a 5-2 vote of the Board of Trustees, with Budny and Malvesto dissenting. Chief Porcarelli was a very good police chief for seven years, unfortunately he was chief for nine years. He incessantly harassed the township animal control officer to the extent that we had to move the position from the Police Department to Public Services to protect her from the obviously hostile work environment. Further, after being specifically directed not to, he approved a grievance that he knew would impact his retirement benefits — a clear conflict of interest. One can only guess the motivation of these two individuals as they vie for seats on the board.

Page 6 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

ADVERTORIAL

VOTE for

L

JIM NELSON TRUSTEE

ong-time educator Jim Nelson has served four years on the Township Board of Trustees, and would like to continue that service for another four.

He’s particularly proud of his job as the board’s liaison to the community’s Recreation Department.

“I helped stabilize the recreation budget, and we restructured the Recreation Commission and hired Kim O’Farrell as our recreation director,” Nelson said. “I’ve worked so well with her. We’re working together for the good of all.”

The department operates Water’s Edge Recreation Complex, which includes a self-supporting marina and a golf course. Centennial Farm and the Airport Recreation Park also fall under the department’s purview.

Nelson pointed out what extraordinary recreation amenities Grosse Ile offers, and talked about plans to make the former tennis center on Groh Road into a community recreation center once Covid-19 restrictions allow for it.

“It will support itself like a fitness club, and include state-of-the-art equipment, and facilities for pickleball and tennis — lots of things islanders would really like to have,” Nelson said. “You have to do what’s good for the majority.”

His 40 years working in public education, including as associate dean of fine arts and the fitness division at Henry Ford Community College, have helped him in his job as a board trustee, he said.

“I always had to build consensus about issues,” Nelson said. “I’m a very common-sense person and a very good listener. I have to know the facts before I’ll say anything. I’ve done a lot of that in my working life.”

Serving on the board has been a great experience for him, he added.

“It’s a chance to give back and help make something already good even better,” said Nelson, who is 72 and retired.

A 20-year Grosse Ile resident, he grew up in Lincoln Park and earned a degree from Eastern Michigan University, where he also worked as a golf coach and a teacher and is a member of Eastern Michigan University Hall of Fame. Before joining the Board of Trustees, he served as a Department of Public Service commissioner.

His goals for the island’s immediate future, besides continually improving recreation amenities, include working with Wayne County to keep fixing Grosse Ile roads and bridges. His ability to build consensus plays a role in furthering that goal, he said.

Nelson is proud of his work on the board and also of what Supervisor Brian Loftus and the board have accomplished over the last four years.

“Right now, the island is very stable and the budget is balanced,” Nelson said. n Stabilized finances with the Recreation Department n Created a “rainy day” fund balance for the Recreation Department n Voted for a build out of the Commerce Park building, all 10 units are currently leased n Supported Manchester Open Space purchase n Greatly reduced the pension and healthcare liability issues n Volunteered to work the Covid 19 screening process on Grosse Ile n Liaison to recreation program and has championed it’s renaissance

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE

August 4th Primary Paid for by: Committee to Elect Jim Nelson • 27902 Rio, Grosse Ile, MI 48138

GROSSE ILE GRAND

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 7

ADVERTORIAL

VOTE for Carl Bloetscher III

C

TRUSTEE

arl Bloetscher III has dedicated his life to Grosse Ile. A lifelong resident of the Island, he has served the community in numerous capacities. As an incumbent member of the township’s Board of Trustees, Bloetscher (pronounced Bletcher) is seeking re-election as a trustee.

The state primary election is August 4, 2020. The general election follows on November 3.

“I love this community,” Carl said. “I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. There are so many great people out here.”

Carl and his wife Diane are attorneys. Married for nearly 35 years, the Bloetschers are the parents of two daughters, Kathryn, 28, and Rachel, 25. Like their dad, Kathryn and Rachel are graduates of Grosse Ile High School. Carl and Diane met while they were attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn. They earned their law degrees at the Detroit College of Law, where he was elected president of his class.

Carl said he loves being an attorney. With an office on the Island, he said “no two days are alike. It’s all about problem solving. I couldn’t be happier.” His practice is general civil law with a focus on contracts, real estate probate and receivership. He was honored to be appointed by 15 Circuit Court judges (past and present) as receiver for the sale of real estate, business analysis and order enforcement.

Carl is seeking reelection to continue the improvement begun four years ago.

When he was first elected trustee in 2016 the Township had a recurring budget deficit and the Recreation Department was heavily subsidized while Police and Fire performed very well. Today Recreation has a fund balance well in excess of $100,000; the Township budget has been balanced the last three years, and Grosse Ile was the safest community of 10,000 or more in Michigan for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Carl has also worked with three Township commissions and worked to revise antiquated Township Policies & Procedures. He partnered with the Grosse Ile Health Organization to bring COVID-19 testing to Grosse Ile with phenomenal results. Phase One tested 112 first responders; Phase Two tested 1502 participants and Phase Three tested 608.

Living on Grosse Ile all of his 62 years, Carl served on the DPW Commission (now DPS) and currently serves on the Police; Greenways-Open Space and Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Commissions. He spent six years on the St. Thomas Lutheran Church Council and nine years with the Grosse Ile Soccer Association.

Carl sees the current economic problems caused by COVID-19 as a major problem for Grosse lle as state revenue sharing is eliminated with property tax collections likely to fall. In anticipation of those realities he asked the Police Chief to find further means to cut costs and defer expenses. The Recreation Department is cutting costs by reducing programs and summer staff. Public Safety is postponing construction of a storage building for equipment to preserve current account balances. He is a leader hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. For more information, please visit my Facebook page at Carl Bloetscher for Trustee in 2020.

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE

August 4th Primary Paid for by: Committee to Elect Carl Bloetscher III • 8250 Ferry, Grosse Ile, MI 48138

Page 8 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Part of a healthy diet is smart snacking As chiropractors, we don’t just help to get you healthy—we want to help you stay healthy, too.

Sometimes, this goes beyond adjustments and considers diet.

Admit it or not, everyone snacks—but not always healthily. Here are a few tips to help you snack smarter.

1. Keep chewing. Did you know that a fully chewed bite can mean moving your jaw up and down 40 times? Studies show that people who chew thoroughly feel fuller than those who skimp on chewing.

2. Fill gaps with snacks. Finding it hard to fit in the recommended servings of fruits and veggies each day? Consider snacking on frozen grapes or celery with peanut butter to fill nutritional gaps in your diet.

3. Plan your snacks. The brown-bag approach never fails. Pack your snacks yourself so you aren’t stuck running to a vending machine for sugar-laden munchies when hunger strikes.

Do’s and Don’ts of Back Pain Got back pain? You’re not alone. Consider these do’s and don’ts to help you get through it.

DO: Strengthen your core. Regular exercise strengthens important core muscle groups including

DO: Get your spine checked. You shouldn’t have to live in pain and chiropractic care can help correct the underlying issue.

obliques, pelvic floor and deep abdominals.

DON’T: Sleep on your stomach. Stomach sleepers put the largest amount of pressure on their spine, head and neck at night, leading to pain during the day.

DO: Stay hydrated. Because most of our body is water, it needs proper, steady intake to keep it functioning properly. If you’re thirsty, you’ve waited too long.

DON’T: Sit for long periods of time. If you sit behind a desk all day set a reminder to get up and move at least once each hour.

Exercise For the Elderly Aging means celebrating the best years of your life with the ones you love. For some, it might mean traveling. For others, relaxing. Whatever it means to you, making time for exercise in your elder years is crucial.

To start, it’s important to condition the mind to accept the challenges that may come with physical exertion. Don’t do this by setting out to run five miles after a year of inactivity. Instead, set small goals like adding a quarter-mile to your walk each day until you feel like you’re back in the workout groove.

This will also help you avoid unnecessary injury.

To improve balance and lower the likelihood of falls during activity, consider getting adjusted.

Many seniors consult our practice to improve joint range of motion, reduce postural issues and increase a sense of well-being.

The health of your spine plays an important role in your health and vitality.

From Cousineau Chiropractic

Grosse Ile 2020 Campaign Platform Policy & Program Priorities: The "Big Five" 1. Well-maintained roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.

Jim Budny ~ Supervisor

David Nadeau ~ Treasurer

Mark Lane ~ Clerk

Joe Porcarelli ~ Trustee

2. Outstanding public safety.

3. Responsible Township budgets, spending and financial management.

4. Protect and preserve the natural character of the Island and surrounding waterways.

5. Citizen demand-driven recreational opportunities for all ages year-round.

Jamison Yager ~ Trustee Paid for by: CTE Mark Mills 23509 West River Grosse Ile, MI 48138

Mike Jurecki ~ Trustee

Mark Mills ~ Trustee

Follow us: grosseile2020.com

Learn more at grosseile2020.com

GROSSE ILE GRAND

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 9

MOVING GROSSE ILE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION n Safest city every year n Balanced budgets

n Infrastructure improvements n Blight elimination

n Improved property values

RE-ELECT SUPERVISOR BRIAN LOFTUS LEADERSHIP SINCE 2008! n Attended every Michigan Township Association Conference since 2009 n 3 careers in command or executive positions n Retired Colonel, United States Air Force n Co-author, initial Grosse ile Township Emergency Response Plan n Team leader, Wayne County Emergency operations Plan

7 reasons for my commitment to Grosse Ile 3 generations of islanders VOLUNTEER EFFORTS Grosse lle Historical Society, Life Member, president 1999-2000 Construction Volunteer, Playscape, GIYRA Haunted House Manager, GIYRA Haunted House Co-Chair, 2006 Grosse lle Light Centennial Celebration Volunteer, Grosse lle Duathalon, 2008 – 2011 GIYRA/GISA coach, boys and girls baseball, basketball, soccer Volunteer, NAS Grosse lle Memorial Veterans Gala(s) Volunteer, AzaleaFest(s), Island Fest(s) Volunteer, initial cleanup, Sunrise Park Volunteer, initial remediation, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Volunteer, Kiwanis Island-wide cleanup(s) Founding member, Grosse lle Airport Advisory Committee

I need your VOTE in the August 4th PRIMARY! Paid for by: Committee to Elect Brian Lotus 10625 Brodhead, Grosse Ile, MI 48138

CULINARY CAPERS Rhubarb. It’s a vegetable treated as a fruit (i.e., rhubarb desserts and rhubarb jams) because of its high acid content.

Not only is rhubarb a favorite summer baking and cooking ingredient, but it’s also nutritious and low in calories with lots of vitamins (including Vitamin K) and contains practically no fat or cholesterol.

If you’re a baseball fan, you know that the word rhubarb has been slang for a heated quarrel or fight between umpires and team managers for decades. The instant replay has taken care of that.

EVELYN CAIRNS Strawberries, another Grosse Ile summer favorite, are Grand popular rhubarb partners and much more versatile than the tart vegetable.

I took advantage of the current abundance of both rhubarb and strawberries by baking a delicious rhubarb bread from a recipe on the Land O Lakes website and making strawberry rhubarb jam and two amazingly simple plain strawberry jams from recipes in my archived jam file. One of the latter two has only two ingredients and is cooked in the microwave for 10 minutes. By the way, July is National Strawberry Month.

RHUBARB STREUSEL BREAD For the bread: 1 cup sugar ½ cup butter, softened 1/3 cup orange juice 2 large eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1½ cups (about 3 medium stalks fresh rhubarb, sliced into ¼-inch pieces) For the streusel: 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8x4-inch loaf pan; set aside.

Combine 1 cup sugar and ½ cup butter in a mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add orange juice and eggs, and beat at low speed just until mixed (mix-

ture will look slightly curdled). Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Gently stir in the rhubarb (batter will be thick). Set aside 1½ cups of the batter, then spread the remainder into the prepared pan.

Combine streusel ingredients in a small bowl, stirring until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle half of the crumbs over the batter in the pan and press gently into the batter.

Carefully spread the reserved batter into the pan and top with the remaining streusel, pressing it into the batter.

Bake 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and remove from the pan.

(Notes: If, desired, the bread can be baked in a 9x5-inch loaf pan for 60 to 65 minutes. Once the loaf is completely cooled, it can be wrapped in aluminum foil and refrigerated. It freezes well, too.)

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB FREEZER JAM 2 ½ cups chopped rhubarb 2 ½ cups chopped strawberries 2 cups sugar 3-ounce package strawberry Jell-O Mix together the rhubarb,strawberries and sugar. Cook until juicy and rhubarb is tender. Add Jell-O and cook about 1 minute, or until dissolved. Poor into jars, cool and freeze.

THREE-INGREDIENT STRAWBERRY JAM 4 cups halved strawberries 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Combine strawberries and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour or until thick, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Transfer to containers, cool and store in refrigerator up to a month.

TWO-INGREDIENT STRAWBERRY JAM 2 cups strawberries 1/3 cup granulated sugar Mash berries and sugar in a 2½-quart, at least, bowl (not smaller, or the jam will boil over). Microwave, uncovered, on high for 10 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Cool completely.

Makes about 1 cup.

(Contact Evycairns@aol.com with questions, recipe requests, contributions and comments.)

Page 10 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

I have missed a few editions, but I’m still here DAVID L. DYER

Grosse Ile Grand

I have been writing articles for the Grosse Ile Grand for the past three years or so. I have missed these past couple of months and some people have inquired as to my health and wellbeing.

I have been quarantined here in my house for three months now.

On Feb. 15 I had an annual, routine stress test. Back in 2011 that same test was abnormal and a cardiac catheterization revealed severe heart blockages, which required immediate triple by-pass surgery.

Ever since then, the stress tests have been normal until this one.

I was told it was abnormal and a cardiac catheterization was necessary to access any damage.

I was admitted to the hospital on Friday, Feb. 26 for the CC. As I was being prepped for the procedure I was told the sedative I would get would be powerful enough that I would not feel anything, yet I’d still be awake.

Everything went fine and they found no new blockages and I was discharged and sent home. What a relief it was to know nothing serious was found.

I told my wife, Janet, who has been my solid rock through all of this, that we’d go out to dinner that Friday night to celebrate.

The first thing I did when we returned home was to satisfy a deep craving I had, which was to drink a real beer. I opened a Miller Lite and quickly downed it. I soon felt a numbness in my fingers and my feet.

I told Janet I had to lay down and did

so.

Thirty-six hours I was awakened by the voice of a pretty young lady standing at my bedside. It was now Sunday morning. I opened my eyes and looked up at the ceiling. I knew I was not at home. I turned to my left and the young lady asked me for my birthdate.

I looked around and I knew I was in some kind of a hospital setting. She asked me if I knew where I was and I told her no and asked her to please enlighten me.

She told me I was in the intensive care unit of Beaumont Hospital and that I had been there since Friday night.

I had absolutely no memory of the past 36 hours.

A few minutes later Janet arrived.

She told me how she tried to wake me Friday and that I began swearing and screaming like she had ever seen me do. She called our son DavidScott in Chicago and he in turn called the physician. He was told to call an ambulance. Janet did so. I kept swearing and swinging my arms. This apparently continued in the ICU all of my waking hours on Saturday.

I remained there four more days, during which time I had several tests, all of which were negative. My oxygen level was very low and I was discharged March 3 with a 33-pound oxygen tank, which I soon exchanged for a more portable one. It has now been three months and I still continue inhaling oxygen 24/7.

My cardiologist told me if I were to catch the coronavirus along with my ischemic heart disease, Parkinsons and COPD, I probably would not survive it. I have been and continue to take all precautions.

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July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 11

Sunflowers planned to bring sunshine to travellers Bill Smoke (left) and Candi Angotti have a vision for the future that includes planting sunflowers. Bill, the great grandson of Edward W. Voigt, who built the toll bridge back in 1913, grew up on Grosse Ile and now lives in Niles, MI. He visualizes a bed of sunflowers along the entrance to the toll bridge to brighten up the approach and Candi, who lives in a condo in Wyandotte opposite Hennepin Pointe at the northern tip of Grosse Ile, would love to see sunflowers planted on that land that she sees looking out her window. No firm plans have yet been formed for the planting, but Candi is holding a packet of sunflowers seeds and a pot to start the plants and Bill is holding a metal version of a blooming sunflower.

Photo by Pamela A. Frucci

The question many people ask: What is Kiwanis We are OPEN! Enjoy the convenience of a Dentist on the island!

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Few people seem to know what Kiwanis is. Fewer know how to pronounce or spell the word. Kiwanis is a service club. That means a group of people attached to a local community who work together on projects to improve the community and have fun.

Our projects vary from year to year depending on the interests and availability of the members.

Some recent examples include: A reading program for children at the elementary schools, blood drives in association with American Red Cross and the annual Kiwanis Island spring Clean-Up. We assist with repairs and maintenance of the playscape behind the post office on Macomb street. We sponsor the Flag program. We also award College scholarships for high school students who demonstrate a commitment to community service.

We distribute dictionaries to elementary students in a magical presentation. We distribute candy and

host an animal balloon table at the Halloween parade and a game station at “Paint the Town Red.” Sometimes we pitch in to help other organizations like the historical society or Westcroft Gardens and the Hoop house project. We are currently working on a large community service Scavenger Hunt that will take place this fall.

Our members are people who have some attachment to Grosse Ile and want to participate in community service.

Kiwanis members come from all walks of life. Our current members include a scientist, some lawyers, human resources directors, a business owner, a retired nuclear power plant manager, a home improvement contractor, a retired teacher and a residence and family management engineer.

At our Thursday night meetings, we typically joke around, eat dinner, SEE KIWANIS, Page 33

Page 12 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 13

Charity Event Goes Virtual

18th annual Simsonian 5K Kick-Off Classic carries on BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

“We know the what, the why, and the how. We just didn’t know the who and the where.”

The 18th Annual Simsonian 5K Kick-Off Classic, which has become a Grosse Ile tradition, has adapted to the time and tribulations of life in the summer of 2020.

The race, originally scheduled to be run in person on Saturday morning, Aug. 15, 2020, at Grosse Ile High School, will now be an entirely virtual event—making it your race, at your pace, at your place.

Race organizers, faced with cancelling the event due to the restrictions placed on Americans due to the still-raging global pandemic, had to overcome the second whammy—the closure of the County free bridge. To race or not to race, that was the question Friends of Sims directors Jim Okler,

Ray Geist, and yours truly reached out to road race gurus Gary Olsen of Race Timing Services; Grosse Ile’s own Rock CF founder, Emily Schaller; MSU senior Katie Kobiljak; Development and Events Coordinator Anna Blakeslee; Lakewood High School Athletic Director Mike Quinn; master Marauders Michael Pehote and Max Bailey; the Sims Family; and anyone else who would listen.

The result: The show must go on.

We will still hold the fund-raising Simsonian 5K Kick-Off Classic, but it can be done whenever the heck you want to do it. How’s that for Freedom!

Runners, walkers, crawlers, or somnambulators, can register at runsignup.com at a flat fee cost of $30 for all ages and categories. Your entry fee includes your race bib, coveted Simsonian 5K T-shirt for 2020, and covers all postage and handling.

Race packets will be either socially distanced-hand delivered or mailed out the week of Aug. 10, 2020.

Once you sign up, you can use your GPS in whatever form you have, to

participate in the 1 Mile Fun Run, or race your 5K (3.1 miles).

Whichever distance you choose, the window of competition must be completed between Saturday July 4, 2020 to Saturday Aug. 22, 2020—so, you have a l-o-n-g time period to get your run in.

If you don’t have a GPS, you can manually submit your results on-line based on the honor system. No “if you’re not cheatin’, you’re not tryin” allowed. There is a donation option if you wish to support the cause and don’t want to run at all!

Once you register, an email will be sent to you with all of the information you need to upload your results and photos to see how you rank among the other racers.

The awards for the 18th Annual Simsonian 5K Kick-Off Classic Virtual are the same as the regular race would be. 5K First Place Male/ Female Overall; Gold, Silver, and Bronze—Male/Female age groups: 12 & under; 13-15; 16-19; 20-29; 3039; 40-49; 50-59; 60 & over.

There may be some virtual surprises along the way.

Simsonian 5K Kick-Off Classic #18 Virtual Run Only for 2020 5K Race & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk

All proceeds go to the Steve Sims Leadership Scholarship Fund

July 4 through August 22, 2020

Awards: 5K first male/female overall Gold, Silver & Bronze- Male/Female age group 12 & under; 13-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & over Raffle Prizes to Registered Runners Virtual Race Information and Packet will be mailed August 7, 2020

Register at runsignup.com

Yes, we still will be having raffle prizes for registered runners. Contrary to popular belief, we are not giving away free rides in Sims’ 1980 Chevy Cavalier.

The 18th Annual Simsonian is held in memory of beloved Grosse Ile High School teacher and coach, Steve Sims, who died unexpectedly of a dissecting aortic aneurysm in 2003.

Sims touched many lives throughout his career as an educator, and was the winningest coach in Grosse Ile history in Girls’ Basketball, and Girls’ Track and Field.

All proceeds from the race, virtual or not go to a scholarship given to an outstanding female scholar/athlete at GIHS. More than $40,000 has been awarded throughout the history of the race.

So, come join us as you can to support a great time and an even better cause. ‘Cause, This Is the Spirit that Made America.”

Register now at runsignup.com.

You are virtually guaranteed to have a good time.

Page 14 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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The lifetime barbecue expertise of three brothers has come to Grosse Ile. Marvin, Darrell and Steve Sullivan recently opened Sully’s BBQ at 8537 Macomb, and despite limitations resulting from a worldwide pandemic, islanders are eating it up.

“The community has really welcomed us with open arms,” Darrell said. “Of course, we’ve been backyard barbecue experts all our life, but this is our first restaurant venture.”

It’s a natural evolution, he said, noting that the three have hosted events and private parties featuring their favorite foods.

“Everyone tells you how good it is, and then maybe they ask you to make them sauce,” Darrell said. “One day you just jump in.”

Before that jump, the Sullivans, who all hail from Downriver, toured the area looking for the right place to set up shop.

“Grosse Ile just seemed like the perfect storm,” Darrell said. “It’s a quiet community where I didn’t see anything like what we wanted to do. The location is great. There wasn’t a formula. One day we were just driving and said, ‘Hey, that’s the perfect location.’”

The Sullivans opened just two weeks before the coronavirus situation hit and they had to change their whole menu to accommodate carryout. Because of the newness, however customers didn’t notice it much.

“It wasn’t a big shock for them,” Darrell said. “That worked out in our favor, I believe.”

A sitdown opening could happen as soon as August, allowing patrons to experience the 1,700-square-foot dining space and full bar.

Whatever happens, the Sullivans will continue striving to be the best at what they do, a commitment they all share.

Sully’s is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information call (734) 672-6106 or go to www.sullygotsauce.com.

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Page 16 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Candidates for Trustee positions answer questions Eight residents are running for four seats on the Township Board of Trustees. They are: • Attorney Carl Bloetscher III is an incumbent.

He earned his law degree at Detroit College of Law, where he was elected president of his class. His Grosse Ile-based practice includes general civil law with a focus on contracts, real estate probate and receivership.

• Michael Jurecki is a semi-retired consultant for private equity companies PAULA NEUMAN in the financial services technology field. He has more than 30 years of Grosse Ile Grand management experience, including serving as a CEO of Ford Direct. He holds MBAs from University of Detroit and Canisius College.

• Chad Linn is a retired disc jockey who also worked for 20 years as a reporter for Billboard Magazine. He has been chairman of Island Fest for seven years, and chairman of the Community Recreation Commission for three years.

• Mark Mills is a sergeant in the Westland Police Department who had logged 30 years of Bloetscher experience as an officer in Detroit, Melvindale and Westland. He holds a master’s degree in law enforcement intelligence and analysis from Michigan State University.

• Incumbent Jim Nelson is retired after 40 years working in Nelson public education, including as associate dean of fine arts and fitness at Henry Ford Community College. He earned a degree from Eastern Michigan University and is a member of the EMU Hall of Fame.

• Joseph Porcarelli retired in 2018 after more than 30 years with the Grosse Ile Police Department, the last nine of which he was chief. He has a degree in criminology from Eastern Michigan University.

• Linda Stanko retired after 18 years as officer manager with Everybody Ready, an early childhood initiative. She also has been involved with the

Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber, including serving for three years on its Board of Directors.

• Army National Guard Sgt. Jamison Yager is the active duty law and order noncommissioned officer with a U.S. Army Headquarters Company. With the military since 2003, he studied pre-medicine and foreign relations at EMU. We asked the candidates to answer these questions for Grosse Ile Grand readers: Q: Why do you think you’re the right person for the job?

Bloetscher: Experience — I am a lifelong resident of Grosse Ile and a graduate of Grosse Ile schools. I have served on the Department of Public Works (now DPS), Police, Greenways-Open Space and Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Commissions.

I served two terms on the St. Thomas Lutheran

Linn

Yager

Porcarelli

Stanko

Church Council and nine years with the Grosse Ile Soccer Association. My office is here. I have always lived here. This community is and will always be my home.

Results — During the last four years, I have worked hundreds of hours with the Police Commission, Greenways and Open Space Commission and Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Commission. Results include: • Public Safety — Grosse Ile for the last three years is ranked as the safest community in Michigan

with 10,000 or more residents. I am very proud of my participation in the Covid-19 testing. In April, I was approached by Dr. Holle Janeski and the Grosse Ile Health Organization to help organize islandwide testing with phenomenal results — Phase 1 tested 112 first responders, Phase 2 included 1,502 participants, Phase 3 tested 608.

• Finance — When I joined the township board in 2016, the township had a string of budget deficits, retirement costs were rising and the Recreation Department was heavily subsidized. The budget has been balanced the last three years. The township is on track to fully fund retirement liabilities. The Recreation Department now has a capital fund in excess of $100,000.

• Environment and recreation — I led the purchase of 30 additional acres for the Manchester Woods Open Space with existing funds. The purchase now protects existing open space while connecting Centennial Farm with Meridian Elementary and the airport soccer and football fields.

I also led the acquisition of the Tittle property to reconnect the trail link between Ferry and Gage Jurecki roads. Additionally, existing bike paths will be better maintained with the use of stateof-the-art ground radar to address hidden erosion and maintenance issues before they require major repairs. Annual maintenance costs for walking trails Mills through open space will be reduced by professional engineering. Bicycle and pedestrian bridges have been rebuilt to last 25 years.

Jurecki: I have over 30 years of management experience. The first 15 years were in progressive management positions at Ford Credit where I ran their largest branch operation in the United States. From there I went on to run their World Trade Financing operation in Brentwood, England, handling export financing for approximately SEE TRUSTEE, Page 17

GROSSE ILE GRAND

TRUSTEE Continued from page 16 20 countries. I closed out my overseas assignment by serving as the general manager of the United Kingdom’s Customer Service Center with responsibility for about 400 employees and $13 billion in managed loan receivables.

Upon my return from overseas, I led the startup of RouteOne LLC at the time, a joint venture between the captive finance companies of Ford, GM, Chrysler and Toyota that provided technology which facilitated the financing of vehicle loans for over 18,000 dealerships as well as 1,500 banks and financial lending companies. I’m currently semiretired and consult with private equity companies in the financial services technology space.

Throughout my career, I’ve always prided myself on building great cultures based on strong values in all the businesses and operations I’ve run.

In turn, they generated phenomenal customer service, employee satisfaction and great operational results. I would very much like to repeat that outcome for the Grosse Ile Township government.

Linn: I am running for public office because I genuinely enjoy serving my community and striving to make Grosse Ile the best place that it can possibly be. I am also running to continue to help strengthen, expand and grow our amazing community.

We live in a unique setting and have remarkable residents. I plan to help bring fresh new ideas to our community.

I have served on both the IslandFest and Community Events Commission and the Community Recreation Commission and feel it is the right time for me to move to the next level of service within our township.

I have been a resident on this island for the past 45 years. I am a very dedicated and community-oriented person, pouring my heart into all that I do. I make constant efforts to support our local businesses and strive to see them grow. I enjoy supporting our youth all the way through our senior citizens.

It is important that I have those relationships and connections with our different groups of residents.

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 17

Everyone has something different and unique about them and I enjoy getting to know people and helping to make a difference in each of their lives.

My hope is to improve unity among our residents, continue adding new ideas, and addressing tasks that are facing us right now.

Mills: My wife and I moved onto the island for a number of reasons — largely due to the safety, tranquility and school district.

I had wonderful neighbors on Lake Road and eventually decided to move onto West River to renovate and move into what my wife and I saw as our dream home. It was shortly after purchasing my West River home that I felt compelled to get involved with the township politics and see if I could contribute to a better future for township residents and my family.

Shortly after my wife and I started our renovation, I found out there were inconsistencies within our township government with regard to how laws and ordinances are applied to certain individuals. It appears that some islanders are treated differently than others.

As I looked further into things, it appeared that certain contractors are shown favoritism as contracts are awarded through improper bidding procedures according to our township charter. It also appears that certain residents are given a pass on certain code enforcement matters, while other residents are expected to adhere to the ordinances we have in place.

Based on my values and upbringing, I felt compelled to move forward and try to correct some of the perceived wrongdoings within our local government for the benefit of all islanders. Decisions and rules in Township Hall must be fair and consistent for everyone -- not just the insiders.

I would want citizens to judge my efforts to work with the other Township Board members to make township government more efficient, effective and responsive to citizens while also being fiscally responsible.

I would hope that if I were able to accomplish this goal, citizens would view my service to the township as being a success.

Nelson: My campaign slogan is Keep Grosse Ile Great. I enjoy giving back to the community where I have lived for 20 years. I have enjoyed building consensus on many issues

with the current board and look to continue for the next four years.

Porcarelli: During my 40 consecutive years in Public Safety (fire and police) for the township of Grosse Ile with the last nine as chief of police, I have served my community with integrity, respect and devotion. With these traits, along with the list of accomplishments in the Police Department, I am confident people will be able to make a sound decision who will serve them best on their township board.

Stanko: I decided to run because I have lived here for 21 years and I love this island. I feel so fortunate to be here with all our natural resources, our small town atmosphere and loving and kind neighbors. I wish to be involved and contribute to my community any way I can.

Yager: I’m the youngest person running for Grosse Ile’s board this cycle. I’m 17 years younger than the next youngest person. That means everyone else was born before 1970.

What that translates to is a unique understanding of both the current world of technology that we reside in, and the world that came before it, that shaped many of the people, policies, and programs we live with today. I am part of the ‘bridge’ generation.

I’m also a soldier. I’ve served my country honorably for 17 years, and I plan to continue to do so. I’m honest, ethical, truthful and proactive. If nothing else, people deserve effective, honest leadership from all levels of government.

If elected, I want to provide that leadership.

Finally, Grosse Ile is my forever home. Several years ago, I ran the Rock CF Marathon here and six months later I requested a transfer to the east side of the state just so I could live on Grosse Ile. I’m not going anywhere for a long time, and neither are my four school-aged children.

The decisions the current board makes will affect me for years to come, and my children for lifetimes.

I’m fully invested in Grosse Ile’s success, and I want to personally ensure it.

The current board has had four years, some of them much longer, to earn the vote and confidence of the people. It’s time for change.

Q: What is the No. 1 issue facing the township right now, and how will you deal with it?

Bloetscher: The economic devastation caused by Covid-19.

Local government is largely funded by property taxes, user fees and revenue sharing. Property taxes are based upon property values. Values are based on demand. Demand is dependent upon a health economy. People without jobs do not buy homes. Tax revenues will simply plateau or fall.

Similarly, user fees (golf, marina, pool, airport, Centennial Farm, etc.) are likely to fall. Recreation and the airport need a healthy economy to maintain programs. Covid-19 and the economy will likely limit or reduce participation in those programs.

Revenue sharing by the state is a function of a health state budget.

The funds spent for unemployment, healthcare relief, etc., have blown up the state budget. Cost cutting necessarily means reducing or eliminating revenue sharing.

In anticipation of these realities, I have asked the police chief to find still more ways to cut costs and defer expenses. The Recreation Department is cutting costs by reducing programs and summer staff. Public Safety is postponing construction of a needed by nonessential storage garage. We are hoping for the best but preparing for difficult times.

Jurecki: In my opinion, the No. 1 issue facing the township right now is its leadership and the culture they have created.

On the Township Board there are five members, consisting of the three officers and two trustees, who often vote in unison and make decisions that are not in the long-term best interest of the community. Under this Township Board, complacency is often rewarded, multi-year financial plans are nonexistent and serious business acumen is lacking.

In addition, transparency is inadequate and often special interests are the priority versus what’s best for the community long-term.

It really feels like it’s time for better leadership and more citizen engagement. The Grosse Ile 2020 Candidates Team’s website (grosseile2020.com) lists all our values and priorities as well as professional skills.

SEE QUESTIONS, Page 18

Page 18 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

QUESTIONS Continued from page 17 The most recent example of their ineptness is a ruling from the State of Michigan Court of Appeals on June 25, 2020. In this case Grosse Ile Township pursued litigation against the Grosse Ile Police Officers Association of Michigan (Grosse Ile Police) regarding a medical retirement benefit and the related grievance process involving the requirement for the Grosse Ile Police Commission to adjudicate the matter.

In May 2017, the Police Commission ruled on the grievance in favor of the Grosse Ile Police. In addition, they strongly recommended to their board liaison to drop the matter as it was clear that the township was misguided in their judgement.

On June 25, 2020, The State of Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Police Officers. If the five board members noted above would have listened to the Police Commission advice on this matter then the Township would have avoided over $175,000 in legal fees and expenses.

Linn: Currently the top issues in our township government include infrastructure, our deteriorating roads and bridges. We also need to work more diligently with Wayne County building stronger relationships, providing transparency to township residents and being fiscally responsible.

I hope my track record does and continues to speak for itself. I am a problem solver by nature and strive to quickly identify an issue and do my due diligence to find the most appropriate solution.

I am eager to work collectively with the elected township board for the continued safety, security and well-being of all our residents. If elected I plan to continue to stimulate the economy by working closely with our DDA, our local business owners and landlords. I would work closely to continue to enhance and improve our current and future businesses on Macomb, as well as islandwide.

I would also continue collaborating with the Community Recreation Commission (CRC) to provide ongoing and new programs, concerts and services to our community.

The CRC is a crucial commission, as it offers a variety of programs and events (youth through seniors) that add to those wanting to remain residents of Grosse Ile, along with enhancing the attractiveness of moving to Grosse Ile. In addition, I would like to see as much open space as new construction. I want citizens to measure my success by my actions rather than words. I am a strong believer in diversity and hope to leave a legacy at the end of my term.

Mills: I believe the biggest single issue is fiscal responsibility. The No. 1 mission for the next Township Board is to establish a multi-year financial plan that will sustain township services and programs at the levels islanders expect while also not overly burdening Grosse Ile taxpayers.

This is also the top reason that I am running

GROSSE ILE GRAND

for township trustee as a member of the Grosse Ile 2020 Candidates Team, which is committed to forming a majority on the Township Board that will accomplish this goal.

We must be responsible with our limited funds and prioritize what has to be accomplished rather than approve projects that have not been thoroughly researched, such as the conversion of the Tennis Center at the airport into a community recreation center. I would love to see a community recreation center come to fruition, but it must be done based on a highly realistic, multi-year financial plan that can be appropriately funded after we first take care of paying for essential Township services.

Nelson: The condition of the roads is our main issue. I will continue to work with Wayne County to solve this problem.

Porcarelli: I believe our infrastructure issues will be the most challenging. We must ensure the Wayne County Bridge and all other bridges on Grosse Ile are properly repaired and maintained for the safety of all who travel on them.

Also, we must do a better job in working with all levels of government to ensure a plan to repair our deteriorating roads.

Stanko: It is my understanding a trustee does the oversight and approval of all the budgets.

It includes oversight and approval with all departments, police, fire, recreation, airport, DPS, etc. I asked a friend what that would entail, and he told me common sense. I think I could do that.

These are the things important to me.

• Maintain the quality of life on the Island • Assure that our budget is fiscally sound • Continue our support of quality public safety • Do whatever we can to fix and maintain the roads • Work with the Downtown Development Authority to support and expand businesses.

Yager: Grosse Ile has some problems right now; it’s the whole reason I’m running. We have too many deer, there’s the threat of an intermodal port on the Trenton channel, budget issues, and some infrastructure is failing.

The two issues that do and will impact Islanders’ lives every day are infrastructure failure and the potential intermodal port, if it gets built, so I believe them to be the most pressing. However, if I had to pick one, I would say, infrastructure.

Our roads are crumbling, our sewer and water lines are ancient and we’re facing potentially damaging lake level rise. We need to take decisive action on these problems, and we need to do it soon.

We can’t kick the can any longer and turn today’s bad roads into tomorrow’s nightmare.

We need to put serious pressure on the county to fix our roads, not tomorrow, not five years from now, but today. We also need to petition all levels of government to get engaged, and seek positive relationships with other government officials to help influence Wayne County.

Finally, we also need to seek grants and alternative means of funding, for our repairs.

As for the sewer and water lines, we can also

pursue grants and partnerships, but we really need to study them, and come up with a cost-effective plan that benefits Islanders for the foreseeable future, not just continue to patch damage-prone sections.

Q: What are the best things the current township officials have accomplished in the last four years?

What are the biggest mistakes the current township officials have made in the last four years and how will you avoid them in the future?

Bloetscher: Best: • Balancing the budget without raising taxes. Subsidies for recreation and Island Fest have been slashed or eliminated.

Commerce Park added 10 new rental units that are fully occupied with the cost of expansion to be paid in full within seven years. Pension funds and newly mandated retiree health care liabilities have been met and are on track for full funding.

• Maintaining services. The deputy clerk and communications director retired and their positions were consolidated into one with considerable cost saving. The acting director for four years became our first woman manager of the DPS. Four new police officers were hired at a lower pension cost Our first female police officer was hired. Water line replacement has been completed and a new refuse hauler hired at a substantial savings.

Mistakes: • Collaboration. This is our community.

It is made up of homes and families, neighbors and friends. They have questions, opinions and concerns. In an effort to communicate and have a dialog, our Public Safety frequently offers open houses for the community to meet our police and firefighters and learn what services we provide. Greenways and Open Space have met with homeowners to improve public access while respecting their privacy. The Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Commission hosted a forum about a path extension from Meridian Road to Trenton. It drew dozens of neighbors with great ideas. These efforts should continue and expand.

• Communication. The audio and video of board and commission meetings has been erratic because of dated equipment. The deputy clerk has done a great job with Zoom meetings, Grosse Ile Connect, Facebook and postings about the county bridge updates, but it is time to purchase updated equipment.

Jurecki: I’m certain there are some good things that current officials have done. I know that Trustee Budny always asks inquisitive questions regarding proposals such as the recent transfer of an airport building to the Recreation Department.

His questions on this proposal clearly demonstrated that the break-even Business Plan presented by the Recreation Department was totally unrealistic in its projections and assumptions.

It was clear to anyone with any level of business sense that this a very bad deal for the residences of Grosse Ile but the same majority five board members made up of all the officers and two trustees voted for it anyway. Not to mention the same five SEE POSITIONS, Page 19

GROSSE ILE GRAND

POSITIONS Continued from page 18 also ignored citizens’ requests to at least have a professional independent structural engineer do a proper inspection of the clearly dilapidated building before they accepted it as a liability for all the tax-paying islanders.

They do a nice job on special “dump your junk” days that is a good service for most islanders.

In as far as the biggest mistakes and how I would avoid them: • Allowing the bridges and roads to get into such bad condition is a major mistake.

Fix — I would work in unison with other Township Board members to ensure township professional management, as well as the appropriate township commissions work to build meaningful relationships with all levels of government and Wayne County. Our goal here would be to ensure we are aware of all our options to properly maintain our roads and bridges so they are reliable and safe. Full transparency to our Grosse Ile residents on this is key.

This will become a performance measure for township management if a new majority made up of Grosse Ile 2020 candidates is elected.

I would encourage the Police Department and Police Commission to look for ways (technology solution) to better enforce bridge laws that restrict weight and the deterioration of our bridges, especially as it relates to the Wayne County Bridge on Parkway.

Finally, I would advocate that the Township Board retain an independent structural engineer to review Wayne County’s inspections of their bridge to ensure the township knows as much about its condition as they do.

I believe Supervisor Brian Loftus held this position when he first ran for office in 2008, but he never made good on his promise to be more proactive.

I believe that I can speak for the entire Grosse Ile 2020 Candidates Team in saying that we will take every reasonable action to not ever again allow the township to be placed in a position in which we do not know if the proper inspections are being performed, and what they mean, as was the case for the past decade.

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 19

· Our out-of-control deer population.

Fix — I would take an aggressive, data-focused approach to managing our deer population. There is no excuse for not having an accurate count of the Island’s deer herd size.

I fear that the township management has deliberately failed to perform this task in an effort to hide from islanders the true extent of the damage done by their mishandling of the 2019 deer cull that ended up being cancelled — just one cull season following the year (2018) where deer crashes increased 80 percent year over year.

The size of the herd and year over changes as well as other relevant data metrics must be shared with the community and used as leverage with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to secure more permits than in the past to reduce the deer herd size to a safe and sustainable level.

With the right board support, we would make annual improvement in our herd size a significant performance objective for the township manager and chief of police.

Linn: Best: listening to our community and their needs and concerns about issues handled in the past and how to deal with them in the future.

Mistakes: I’m a firm believer nothing gets accomplished by trashing or pointing fingers at what others have done.

Mills: In my opinion, a group of the current township officials have an issue with fiscal responsibility.

The Grosse Ile 2020 Candidate Team and I share the same core values and priorities for township government.

I am dedicated to giving all islanders a meaningful choice about the future direction of township government. I am also committed to providing a positive change, transparency, inclusiveness, fiscal responsibility and integrity.

If elected, I will engage citizens in a positive dialogue to build a new consensus in the community for implementing the best decisions based on the values and priorities stated in the Grosse Ile 2020 Campaign Platform (www.grosseile2020.com/ campaign-platform).

Nelson: The budget has been balanced for the last four years. As liaison to the Recreation Commission, I have worked very well with Recreation Director Kim O’Farrell as

she has done an amazing job in her three years as director.

The township board’s ability to work together with budget issues, open space with new trails, and similar type projects has made the last four years very rewarding for all residents. The township board has not made any mistakes the last four years Porcarelli: I will let the incumbents’ personal ads speak for themselves. Very few of what they call their accomplishments are 100 percent their own.

People want to know what you have done, not what you volunteered for or simply voted for when others have done the work.

I’m sure they have done some good things in four years, but if the list was plentiful no one would be running!

Many of the current board members have lacked ethics and integrity in their actions and ways.

There are numerous examples of this in the last three years. I believe you have to have core values and ethics in every decision that is made and I know our 2020 team possesses those characteristics. This will enable correct decisions to be made that are in the best interest of the township as a whole and not for the individual.

Stanko: This one is easy. I think the current Grosse Ile Board of Trustees has done a great job. I would like to see preservation of the things that already exist, such as green space protection and continuing the bike trail initiative with the Greenways project, which they are doing.

They have also done a good job with our water and sewage maintenance. They have been fiscally responsible. I do not have complaints about our current board — I just want to be part of it.

Yager: There have been some mistakes. The township board failed to commission a deer count last year; the year before, they failed to execute the annual cull. Now we have way too many deer for our limited green space, and it’s bad for them and for islanders.

Car accidents are up, property is getting destroyed, and the animals are eating themselves out of food they can reach. It’s a sad state, really.

If I am elected I would ensure we did a real, in depth, scientific study of our ecosystem and executed its management actively, not reactively.

I would make sure we never miss another count, and I would make sure

we partner with the DNR to ensure we have animal populations that are healthy for them and us.

The Wayne County Bridge was in an unsafe condition for years, but the county kept submitting falsified inspections. Some citizens encouraged the board to commission a private study and I think that’s a good idea.

The Free Bridge is so important to our quality of life and our safety, that we can’t afford to ignore problems and leave it in Wayne County’s hands.

So I would ensure we commission private inspections at a reasonable schedule to ensure citizen safety, and take Wayne County to task on one of our most important pieces of infrastructure.

Finally, the current board committed several hundred thousand dollars to a recreation center in the old hangar (Tennis Center). Now, I want a recreation center. I’m a runner, bicyclist, soldier, and I consider myself an amateur athlete, but they did this without even doing a building inspection.

These are taxpayer dollars and they ought to be well spent. I believe committing funding to a recreation center in an ailing building without thoroughly researching the viability of that building, looking into alternative buildings and seeking private partnerships was just bad business.

Let’s get citizens a recreation center if that’s what they want, but let’s get them the best deal for one and get them one that meets their expectations. I’m not sure this current plan will meet their expectations or is a good deal, because there hasn’t been suitable study and research applied to it.

Finally, the current board has sometimes treated residents as malcontents, interlopers, or without the utmost respect. I’ve witnessed this first-hand, and to me, it just isn’t acceptable. I realize that meetings can become contentious, but I’ve always believed in “The Servant Leadership.”

Elected officials work for the people, and I would treat my office with reverence, and my boss (the people) with professionalism and respect.

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LISTENING IN ON THE ISLAND

Gene Swift’s 80th social distancing birthday

To properly celebrate her husband Gene’s 80th birthday, Lynne Swift wanted something special but safe! She enlisted family friend Bill Jambeau to help organize a drive-by greeting and ordered large scale birthday greeting signs and happy faces for their front yard on Chatham.

So on June 23, 20 car loads of well wishers drove by and waved to Gene and Lynne Swift.

For a family celebration, the Swifts drove their RV to Sawyer, a little town on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, where their two PAMELA A. FRUCCI sons and family had a birthday Grosse Ile Grand party.

An unexpected surprise was their son Timothy, who lives in Kansas, showed up with his wife and daughter (two grandsons couldn’t make it).

To add to the happy occasion was the chance for the Swifts to meet their brand new great grandson, Reuben.

Gene is known for starting up a popular Tuesday activity at Lloyds on Macomb. Dubbed “Coney Boys,” it started in 2010 when Gene was enjoying a coney island by himself and thought it would be even more enjoyable if other guys could join him. So he invited six friends from the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church to meet at Lloyd’s on Tuesday.

The word has spread and sometimes there are up to 24 retirees sitting around the table enjoying each other’s company and conversation.

Note: At this time the Coney Boys are counting on the new owners of Lloyd’s to be good on their assurance they will continue serving coney islands on Tuesdays.

Gene is a retiree from Ford, where his job had him purchasing the steel for building their automobiles.

Jack and Pam Frucci celebrate anniversary No. 59 on July 8 When Jack and I got married 59 years ago, I was 29-years-old and didn’t feel like a “blushing bride,” so I opted not to be married in a never-to-be-wornagain fancy wedding dress.

On July 8, 1960, I wore a short white linen dress with coffee-colored trim to be married by the justice of the peace in Flat Rock.

I still have that dress and have worn it every anniversary for the last 59 years, Including July 8, 2020.

A gentle way to wake up without an alarm clock Since Jack golfs four days a week at an early hour, I’m in charge of the alarm clock and set it for

usually 6:30 a.m. I mentioned this to our friend and handyman Jim Becker and he told me his wife Pam passes a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee under his nose while still in bed and that’s his alarm clock!

Minnie Pearl was a real country personality As a perk for ushering for the Michigan Opera Theater, one of their big donors, Lee and Floy Bartel, always invite the ushers to their estate in Northville for an ice cream social.

The grounds are loaded with beautiful statuary and for the occasion, they invite rare car owners to display their automobiles. Besides the ice cream, they bring in a band to play listenable music.

We’re asked to wear a “funny” hat. Every time Jack and I attend, I wear a sun hat and attach a price tag to hang from its brim, just like the comedic country entertainer Minnie Pearl.

Whenever you would see Minnie Pearl on TV, her hat always had a price tag dangling from her hat.

I read in Garden Gate (the National Garden Club newsletter) that in 1985 Minnie Pearl is really Mrs. Henry Cannon, who instead of following a career as a serious actress, invented the character of Minnie Pearl patterned after a mountain woman she knew.

Her husband, a pilot and her manager, flies her to her engagements.

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SAGE

and having no dependents, and being of good moral character.

In order to attend West Point, the United States Air Continued from page 1 Force Academy, or the United States Naval Academy, a candidate must be nominated by a senator or “Her eighth grade class visited the United States representative, the Vice President or the President.

Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland when they Applications include similar things to many college went on a trip to Washington, D.C.,” said her dad, applications, extracurricular activities, including clubs Chad Korte. “She returned from that trip and told us and sports, grades and essays. that she was going to Annapolis.”

“Some are selected to interview with a panel,” Initially, Korte and his wife Jennifer shook it off.

Korte said.

“The panel is made up of military or But Sage had made up her mind. community leaders.”

“Sage was accepted and participated in a weeklong During one interview, Sage was asked what had summer seminar at USNA last year and got a glimpse happened on that day in history. That interview took of Academy life,” Korte said. place on December 7, the day of the attack on Pearl She also participated in the American Legion Harbor.

Auxiliary Girls State program. According to their Sage was nominated for the Air Force Academy by website, the program offers young women “a Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and for the Naval nonpartisan curriculum, where students assume the Academy by both Dingell and Senator Gary Peters. roles of government leaders, campaigning in mock She was unfortunately not accepted to the United parties… to become mayors and county and state States Naval Academy. officials for their ALA Girls State.”

“Sage is thrilled to be at USAFA,” Korte said. “Her Many service academy hopefuls attend that real goal is to serve her country.” program.

The Kortes are not a military family. This “It is part of a long and difficult process,” Korte experience is entirely new for them. Chad is an said.

Other parts of the admissions process include a engineer at Ford Motor Company and Jennifer is a first-grade teacher in Dearborn. They have two health screening, rigorous physical assessments, high younger daughters, Caitlin, 15, who will be a junior ranking in academics, having never been married at Grosse Ile High School, and Alyssa, 12, will be in 7th grade at Grosse Ile Middle School.

Like all 2020 students, Sage’s final year of high school was heavily impacted

by COVID-19. She was unable to finish out her senior year at school with her friends but continued to develop both academically and physically for the challenges to come at USAFA. “She completed her courses and AP exams online,” said Korte. “Sage also worked to stay in shape by running, doing pull ups, push ups and sit ups. She ran in her combat boots to break them in.”

Chad and Jennifer dropped their daughter off in Colorado to begin Basic Cadet Training on June 25. Sage left them with nothing but the clothes she wore and a small backpack with required items.

The USAFA Class of 2024 was brought in as planned, but with extra precautions due to COVID-19.

“All cadets were tested before entering. Those who Photo Courtesy of USAFA Association of Graduates WebGuy tested positive are in isolation.

Sage (front) during Basic Cadet Training They are all practicing social

Sage with her acceptance to USAFA

distancing and there is very limited movement,” Korte said.

“Parents were not allowed to visit campus. We literally drove in a procession and dropped her off without getting out of the car.”

After a two week period all candidates were tested again. Those who tested negative would be allowed to join larger groups of cadets on a trip out to Jack’s Valley, a USAFA training complex in Colorado Springs, where they stay in tents and complete combat exercises, obstacle courses and other training.

“We are definitely concerned about COVID-19,” said Korte. “But we are trusting that USAFA is doing their best to keep parents informed.”

Before beginning classes, Sage will complete six to seven weeks of Basic Cadet Training, which is extremely physically and mentally demanding.

All Cadets receive a Bachelor of Science degree, which includes a rigorous math curriculum, at the end of their academic career. The first academic year, students have similar coursework to any college freshman and do not have to declare a major.

“Unlike a lot of her classmates, Sage is not chasing the dream to fly,” her dad said. “She is interested and hasn’t ruled out becoming a pilot. But she’s undecided right now.”

Sage has expressed interest in becoming an intelligence officer or pursuing legal studies, as well as diplomacy and civil service.

“We are extremely proud of her and her choice to serve,” said Korte. “I just want to thank everyone that helped her on this journey. It takes a community to earn an appointment to service academies.”

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 29

Back in business

Local officials display ceremonial “reopening” of the region DAVE GORGON

Grosse Ile Grand

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ...”

The partial quote from Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities could be a reflection on recent times during the worldwide pandemic known as COVID-19.

While the coronavirus brought much of the globe to a grinding halt to life as we knew it, dozens of leaders from the Downriver area went on record to support a return to the “best of times” during a ceremonial “reopening” of the region on July 1 in Taylor.

The afternoon gathering, called “Reopening Downriver,” laid the groundwork for a Downriver business recovery designed to get businesses back on the path to success, while encouraging residents to shop locally and promote their favorite businesses using “#SupportDownriver” in social media posts.

Downriver business and government leaders stressed the need for a “united region,” citing a joint resolution adopted by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Downriver Community Conference (DCC). The resolution suggests several phases necessary for economic recovery: support for Downriver municipalities, workforce development and support for local small businesses.

The ceremony was broadcast live on the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. At the end of a series of addresses, participants gathered for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. A number of lawn signs created by Taylor-based MI Custom Signs containing the #SupportDownriver message were distributed.

“The event was a significant and symbolic step forward for the Downriver region as we look to reopen in-person economic activity safely and responsibility,” summed up Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ronald Hinrichs.

Wayne County Commissioner Joseph Palamara (left), DCC Executive Director Jim Perry and Wyandotte Mayor Pro-Tem Robert DeSana.

During his address, Hinrichs said the pandemic spoiled “the best economy in most if not all of our lifetimes.” He said the campaign is meant to help return businesses to economic prosperity.

“It’s going to take our entire community coming together to save businesses and jobs by shopping small and local,” said Hinrichs, who lives in Riverview.

Hinrichs urged state and federal leadership to provide additional grant funding for businesses seeking personal protection equipment during the pandemic.

DCC Executive Director Jim Perry said there is a push to get federal financial support for “local municipalities who have been significantly impacted as a result of the pandemic.”

He said the DCC will continue to provide job training and other services.

Other officials made announcements designed to deal with improving the business and economic climate. Wayne County Treasurer Eric

Sabris said there would be no foreclosures into March 2021. He said it is important for property owners to keep their properties, to keep businesses alive and to keep people employed.

He urged people to get on a tax payment plan, if necessary, through the Treasurer’s office website.

Keynote speaker Michael Patrick Shields, a former Wyandotte and Grosse Ile resident, told a story about how he received advice along the way to his successful career by reaching out to successful business and government leaders, including President George Herbert Walker Bush and Downriver industrialist Heinz Prechter, who lived on Grosse Ile at the time. Now a veteran radio personality and host of Spotlight Media Studios’ “Michigan’s Big Show,” Shields indicated anyone needing help should ask for it.

To learn more about the #SupportDownriver campaign and to view downloadable letters, social media banners and fliers, visit the website

Keynote speaker Michael Patrick Shields. One of his speaking points was on the late Downriver industrialist Heinz Prechter of Grosse Ile.

www.swcrc.com/SupportDownriver.

For more information about DCC services and programs, visit www. dccwf.org.

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Free Shred Day in Riverview open to Downriver residents DAVE GORGON

Grosse Ile Grand

Area residents looking for a safe and secure way to destroy confidential personal paper documents are invited to Free Shred Day from noon to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Riverview Land Preserve, 20863 Grange.

Up to three “banker boxes” of documents may be brought to the land preserve for shredding on site using a shredding truck.

The drive-through event will destroy such documents as receipts, bank statements, medical records, old tax documents, utility invoices and credit card offers – items that contain

sensitive information (such as name, address, social security numbers, account numbers, etc.) that the resident no longer needs.

Jeff Dobek, assistant city manager in Riverview and director of the Land Preserve, said Shred Day promotes recycling, keeping paper out of landfills, and is a great way to fight identity theft.

The shredded paper will be recycled. Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water and 4,000 kilowatts of energy – enough to power the average home for six months.

“Instead of ending up in a landfill, the documents will be shredded, taken away and recycled,” Dobek said.

The event will be held rain or shine.

Rubber bands, paperclips, staples

and folders should not be removed from documents being shredded. No businesses or binders, please.

At the Riverview Land Preserve, “we’re always looking for ways to improve and operate the finest modern-day landfill,” Dobek said. “We’re also committed to local residents, customers and our community partners to providing highquality recycling options to protect environmental resources.”

Free Shred Day is “our contribution to the communities that we work with every day,” he said. “We want to do our part. We’re the Downriver communities’ repository.”

The Riverview Land Preserve is a Michigan-based, licensed, Type II (non-hazardous) solid waste landfill facility owned and operated by the

city since 1968. The facility design and operation exceed both state and federal regulations, making it possible to manage a variety of non-hazardous wastes in an environmentally responsible manner.

The Riverview Land Preserve facilities and services are designed to meet the needs of municipal, commercial and industrial clients.

The site is an important regional resource that serves Riverview and the Downriver communities of Allen Park, Brownstown Township, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Rockwood, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven and Wyandotte.

To learn more, visit the website www.riverviewlandpreserve.com.

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Slowly, we are getting a little closer to normal

I covered a lot of territory in my June article because of all the inputs I was dealing with and I thought you would need to know at least some of what is going on in local governments.

Since then very little has changed but we are moving towards what we used to consider “normal.”

I participate in weekly conference calls with Representative Debbie Dingell, who does brian her best to update the loftus 12th Congressional District leadership – state senators and representatives, county commissioners. local mayors and supervisors from portions of both Wayne and Washtenaw Counties.

I won’t elaborate on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security – “CARES” Act (2 Trillion dollars), which shoveled far too much pork to far too many special interests, because it makes me fighting-mad and there’s nothing I can do about it.

On the other hand, the upcoming Health, Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions – “HEROES” Act (3 trillion dollars) at least has funding for local governments, including our Township, to replace the revenues lost due to the government mandated shutdown of the economy.

The balanced budget your management staff developed and your Board of Trustees studied and enacted is only a distant memory now. We have no idea what shared revenues, if any, will come from the state, or what grants, funds or other formerly reliable and predictable dollars will be available.

Downriver Community Conference (DCC) director Jim Perry, who has a more comprehensive relationship with our Congressional Delegations than I do, related some numbers to me that might enable us to pay our bills without reaching into our reserves. As always, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

A third development is an Infrastructure bill that would possibly include returning some control over railroads back to the states.

You may be aware that Michigan’s

legislature recently announced a Local Grade Separation grant program to fund separations at railroad crossings. With some four thousand crossings within the state, and several in our local area that obstruct a great deal of traffic, commerce and emergency services, we clearly need relief.

There will never be enough money to provide all the separations needed, but giving states the ability to control how long a railroad can obstruct all other traffic is long overdue. I think we can deal with an occasional ten minute delay in our commutes, but current crossing obstructions of several hours are absolutely unacceptable.

I am proposing resolutions of support through the DCC in an effort to convince Congress that more localized control of these railroad crossings is critical to our communities. We’ll see how this bill progresses.

I also participate in two conference calls with Wayne County. One is a somewhat general update with emphasis on economic development and grant / loan opportunities for businesses large and small. I do my best to pass on all of this information to the struggling businesses on Grosse Ile. I hope there have been success stories.

The second call is, in my opinion, the more important - the Emergency Management update. As the Township’s Emergency Manager, I take these very seriously and adjust my schedule around them.

Information regarding our initial acquisitions of Personal Protective Equipment, FEMA grants, state and federal resources have been shared among the members of this group, along with potential reimbursement for expenses incurred in response to the pandemic. We are also briefed on the medical situation in far greater detail than the COVID reports and Situation Reports I share daily.

Back in April I used to dread the medical updates in these calls because the news was very discouraging with no optimism in sight. Our call on Monday, June 29 was much, much different.

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Continued from page 32 Department of Health and Human Services Emergency Management gave us the numbers from the 35 hospitals handling COVID cases throughout Region 2 South (Wayne, Monroe and Washtenaw Counties, totaling 2.3 million people). All recorded areas were improving compared to the previous benchmark of June 11.

While we continuously hear of the increases in positive cases of the virus, the number of hospitalizations, critical care cases and persons on ventilators are all significantly lower than before.

Again, this data only applies to our three counties, so I can’t authoritatively comment on Governor Whitmer’s threat to reclose the economy – regardless, keep up the good work, we are moving in the right direction!

Moving on to non-pandemic developments – where I at least have some input. We have survived two months of bridge closure and so far we seem to have adjusted to this new normal.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is the daily debacle that some of you have dubbed the “Meridian 500.” Good golly, folks – relax and slow down!

I did a little research on the route from Bridge Road to Parkway - all three miles, and compared driving at 35 MPH – the posted limit - versus 45 MPH, an arbitrary speed for this study. Wow, one whole minute of difference! In their zeal to save that minute or portions thereof, I have witnessed dangerous passing to get to one’s sidestreet an entire 15 seconds sooner, passing a car (waiting to make a left turn) on the right shoulder and drainage ditch (very exciting!) and other questionable decisions – all to save a

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share events in our lives, brainstorm about what we want to do next, plan upcoming fundraisers and projects and figure out which volunteers are willing and able to take roles in various projects.

Meetings typically start with a prayer and end with the pledge of allegiance.

However, Kiwanis is not specifically a religious or patriotic organization.

Non-religious or non-patriotic members tolerate those of us who are. Some of

few seconds.

Please consider the time you might lose in court or in a hospital and do not bring automotive Darwinism to Grosse Ile – use common courtesy and common sense.

Some closing comments – first, I really did not like being accused of lying during public comment at our last Board meeting. I’ve been in office almost 12 years and have never lied to anyone, for anyone or about anyone and I’m certainly not going to start over this issue.

The email notification for the demonstration was date stamped 3:10 p.m on Thursday for the event beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Yes, less than 48 hours’ notice.

On a more pleasant topic, I hope I’m not the only one who has seen some benefit to our new normal. The combination of the economic shutdown due to the pandemic and our limited means to leave the Island have forced us to reacquaint ourselves with our community.

Within our somewhat contained world we have almost everything we need for a quality life right here and, despite some impatience on the roadways, some really wonderful people. I am optimistic that when we return to the real normal, and we will, that we will have a new appreciation for how special our community really is.

I unloaded a lot of information about the events and forces that are driving my professional life at the moment, thanks for reading and – hopefully – understanding the scope of my world.

We at Township Hall are now fully open for business to serve you but please comply with our sanitization requirements so we can keep those COVID numbers down. Stay safe and stay healthy! our members are agnostic or atheist.

In order to ensure ongoing comradery, political or religious discussions are loosely prohibited.

We meet in the teachers’ lounge at Grosse Ile Middle School when school is in session and at the township hall during the summer or school holidays.

Kiwanis is an international organization and we participate in meetings and projects at the division, regional (state) national and international level.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy. Please join us.

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GROSSE ILE GRAND Page 34 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

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July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 35

Karl Moehr has a real heart for wildlife

Karl Moehr, who donated an in-line outdoor skating facility for kids to enjoy at Water’s Edge and saw to it that it was maintained, also owns and operates Moehr’s Landscaping.

His company has been taking over caring for three of the Four Corners which used to be maintained and planted by the Island Beautification PAMELA A. FRUCCI Committee.

Grosse Ile Grand Since the committee is down to only three members, Karl was hired to weed and mulch the northeast, southwest and northwest corners. The Grosse Ile Garden Club plants and maintains the southeast corner.

Karl’s other duties are to mow and take care of the township grounds and the Commons area at the corner of Meridian and Macomb.

Recently Karl and a neighbor, a nurse, tried to save a doe that Karl discovered in his front yard. The seer was having a tough time delivering two baby fawns and after two days in labor was unable to give birth.

Interested passers-by gathered in Karl’s front yard at his home on Bellevue but could offer no help. That was when Karel and his neighbor were able to extract the fawns.

Unfortunately, both had died before being delivered.

The mother deer was exhausted from her struggle, so Karl left her lying down and covered her with a blanket. The next day she lifted her head briefly, but the strain of giving breech birth to twin fawns was too much for her and she, too, died.

Karl Moehr was honored in 2015 as the Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year for his donation and maintenance of the in-line skating facility at Water’s Edge, which he hopes will be open for kids to enjoy soon.

He should also be honored for his concern for the well-being of our wildlife on Grosse Ile!

Missing plaque is replaced by the GINLC For many years, a national and Michigan big tree champion downy hawthorn, just west of the Baird and

This big tree champion downy hawthorn had its plaque replaced by the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy

Lowler Building Co. at 8142 Macomb, had a small metal plaque naming it as the largest downy hawthorn in both Michigan and America.

The plaque disappeared.

Now, in its place is a more visible plaque paid for by the Grosse Ile Nature & Land Conservancy and mounted by GINLC treasurer John Leon and board member Pam Frucci.

The plaque names the tree as a co-champion since also identified as approximately the same size as Grosse Ile’s downy hawthorn is a similar downy hawthorn on the grounds of a church in Ann Arbor.

The tree and plaque can be spotted when walking or riding down Macomb Street on the west side at 8120 Macomb.

Grosse Ile Nature & Land Conservancy’s equipment returned As reported in the June Grosse Ile Grand, thieves broke into the locked equipment shed at the East River Wildlife Refuge which is maintained by the Grosse Ile Nature & Land Conservancy. Thousands of dollars of valuable equipment was stolen.

Thanks to Detective Peter Darzniek of the Grosse Ile Police Department,

who used photos from the cameras on the property and social media, the thieves were apprehended.

Although not all the young men who broke in have admitted to the crime, two who did have paid for the damage they caused to the shed and have worked with GINLC President Peter Kantz doing community service at the wildlife refuge. The equipment was returned undamaged.

Don’t discard Keurig cups,they’re reusable, says John Roos When a former neighbor John and Jonnie Roos added solar panels to their roof on Hickory Drive and began to heat their home with wood heat, they qualified for a family which lives close to nature.

John has another hobby he enjoys.

He uses throwaway Keurig cups as plant starters. He says they’re just the right size for a little soil and a plant seed. But he needs a new source of getting more of the miniature pods.

Anyone who uses a Keurig for coffee making shouldn’t throw the little cups away but deliver them to John at his home at 24621 Hickory. (Hickory makes a circle behind Northridge Church on Meridian.)

A couple of items discovered while looking through former Ile Camera Somehow in our move from Hickory Circle to East River, one of the boxes that came in the moving van was a collection of old Ile Cameras dating from the 1950s.

In going through some of them I found an item concerning St. James Church that I shared with their current pastor Rev. Phil Dinwiddie.

He is sharing it with his parishioners, but I thought it was also worth sharing with a wider audience.

Here it is with the headline: “No More Cussing.” “An invitation to profanity was eliminated at St. James Church during the past fortnight when two parking areas, formerly mud holes, were paved. A hard surface was put on the driveway and parish house parking lot, and the lot south of the church was paved with crushed stone.”

Another item from the July 27, 1959 Ile Camera was worth repeating: A 21-yeqar-old from Grosse Ile and a 19-year-old from Trenton were arrested for racing on Grosse Ile..

They were caught and charged with reckless driving after speeding over TELESCOPING, Page 38

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the county bridge racing side by side at 90 miles an hour.

Environmentally safe formula for a weed killer needs revision In the June issue of the Grosse Ile Grand I wrote about the formula given me to safely kill weeds without ruining the environment. I got a call from Terry Eifert that I should correct the dosage. Instead of ½ cup of Dawn and ¼ cup of Epsom salt, it should be ¼ cup of Dawn and ½ cup of Epsom salt. When mixing the weed killer, use this formula and not the one I wrote about in the previous issue.

July 4, 1776 a national holiday, July 6, 1776 a local one Just in time for recognizing July 6 as the day when Alexander and William Macomb bought Grosse Ile from the Potowatomi Indians, the Grosse Ile Garden Club board under the able presidency of Barbara Carroll spent June 16 restoring the monument on East River Road at the foot of Gray’s Drive.

It was erected in 1906 by the Women’s Improvement Society on the site of the former treaty tree under which the treaty was signed.

Back in 1906 it was unveiled at a ceremony by Miss Madeleine Macomb Stanton, a descendant of the Macomb Brothers. Presently, the ninth generation of the Macomb brothers still live on Grosse Ile and the eight generation is operating Westcroft Gardens, founded in 1920.

Westcroft Gardens has the distinction of being the oldest farm in Michigan still owned by the same family.

The Grosse Ile Garden Club board found the letters on the monument hard to read, low hanging branches from a nearby tree were in the way of viewing the monument and weeds were growing on the site.

After several hours of cleaning and trimming back branches, the historic monument was much more visible.

When thanking members of the Garden Club for their work in restoring the monument, thank them for the hanging baskets of flowers along Macomb Street, the colorful flowers and shrubs on the southeast corner of Four Corners and the caretaking of the Wildlife Sanctuary between Horsemill and Morkland.

They also plant flowers and shrubs around the signboard identifying the Wildlife Sanctuary on Horsemill and plant and maintain the flower bed on Grosse Ile Parkway as you enter Grosse Ile.

(734) 285-2224 Serving the Downriver Area since 1970 melanieodell@allstate.com

DON’T LET THIS VIRUS GET YOU DOWN!

◆ Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning ◆ Exterior House Washing ◆ Concrete Cleaning ◆ Paver Cleaning ◆ Deck Cleaning ◆ Fence Cleaning

LET US CLEAN THE

OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME!

Schedule Service Today!

734.674.6117

powerwashbysouthshore.com

Shop my Home Boutique while the Bridge is closed. Call/text to shop privately.

Chris Mathews STAR STYLIST

10% OFF with this ad

Let me answer your questions.

cmmathewssd@gmail.com

734-516-8099

stelladot.com/chrismathews facebook.com/chrismathews.98434

GROSSE ILE GRAND

July 15 - August 14, 2020 • Page 39

White Furniture’s

SOFA

$699

LOVESEAT

$669

SOFA

50 fabrics at this price.

Lifetime warranty frame & springs, 10 year warranty seat cushions

LOVESEAT

$799

50 fabrics at this price.

Lifetime warranty frame & springs, 10 year warranty seat cushions

$769

50 fabrics at this price. Lifetime warranty frame & springs, 10 year warranty seat cushions

$1999

Custom Built Table & Chairs Choose your shape, leg, chair, wood species & finishes. 42”x54” table extends to 42”x78” with 2 leaves & 4 chairs

Serta I-Comfort Gentle Firm Mattress Twin $759 • Full $1049 • Queen $1199 • King $1699 TempActiv Gel Memory Foam, 2” EverCool® Fuze Gel Memory Foam, Serta® Ultimate Edge® Foam Support Core, 10 year warranty

Lane Rocker Recliner $399

LOVESEAT

$669

All Solid Wood Table & 4 chairs Table is 40”x60” plus 1 leaf - Hickory & Stone Finish

Serta Perfect Sleeper Plush Mattress Twin $219 • Full $259 • Queen $299 • King $399

Serta Perfect Sleeper Firm Mattress Twin $569 • Full $659 • Queen $699 • King $1099

825 individually wrapped coils • 10 year warranty

1000 individually wrapped coils • 10 year warranty

Power Lift Recliner with Heat & Massage

Leather Recliner $599

$849 Available in Brown,, Blue & Burgundy

0% interest for 24 months or 2 year free lay-a-way 0% interest for 12 months on purchases under $999. See store for details.

Free delivery

(over $299 within 30 miles)

HOURS:

View our website at: whitefurniture.com See us on Facebook at: facebook.com/whitefurniture

$699

$1299

Can be ordered at same price as rocker orwall hugger & in 4 colors

Fabric

We pay your sales tax

SOFA

Mon & Fri: 9:00am - 8:30 Tues, Wed, Thur & Sat: 9:00am - 5:30pm Closed Sunday

whitefurniture.com

A local family business serving southeast Michigan since 1946

READ AND SAVE AT WWW.GI-GRANDNEWS.COM

annual art fair sale the Entire Month of July

Page 40 • July 15 - August 14, 2020

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Knowledge. Caring. Integrity ... ALWAYS.

ADVERTISING INFO CALL 734-282-3939 AND GET RESULTS

CENTURY 21RIVERPOINTE Call One Of Our

TRUSTEd REAL ESTATE AdViSoRS For Help With Buying Or Selling Your Home!

Call 734.671.3020 century21riverpointe.com

Serving Downriver Since 1975

Best Prices On Marine Batteries Starting at... $ 95

LE DEEP CYC

69.

We’ll Get You Started!

E. Ann Redfield Broker / Owner

734.479.1880 cousineauchiropractic.com

Original Equipment For Your Golf Cart Manufactured By Starting at...

$

99.

• Brownstown Store (734) 561-3761

At Wholesale Club Prices!

LE DEEP CYC

STARTING

Get A FREE Duracell Procell 4 Pak Double A or Triple A With Purchase

95

Buy A Set of 6 Get A FREE Hydrometer & Battery Carrying Strap With Purchase $20 Value

• Lincoln Park Store (313) 451-8471

3295 Dix Hwy. 22775 Telegraph Rd. Brownstown Charter Twp. MI 48183 Lincoln Park MI 48146 Visit Us On The Web... WWW.MOTORCITYBATTERYCOMPANY.COM