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January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Gi-GrandNews.com

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ObituarY

Pat Andrews passes away at 83

Longtime Downriver journalist was past editor of Ile Camera PAULA NEUMAN Grosse Ile Grand

Downriver lost one of its best-known and hardest working residents with the death of Patricia Andrews.

She died Dec. 22 at the age of 83.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell called Ms. Andrews a “Downriver fixture” and lamented her passing. The Dearborn Congresswoman is one of many leaders, journalists and residents paying tribute to Andrews, a renowned journalist who went on to work for the late U. S. Rep. John Dingell.

In her work and in her personal life, Andrews made it her mission to help people.

She graduated from Melvindale High School and Central Michigan University. She taught in Vassar, married the late Ronald Andrews, a renowned coach and teacher, and moved to Trenton in 1961.

In 1970, Ms. Andrews, best known as Pat, went to work at the News-Herald Newspaper, where she served as a writer and editor until 2004.

During those decades, she wrote countless articles about Downriver residents and events, and even started a few happenings of her own, including the Miss

Pat is a true warrior and champion and she will be greatly missed.

What a legend!

Downriver Pageant and Soup Day, an annual benefit for the Salvation Army.

She also co-founded Women Celebrating LifeDownriver, which continues to help many local women fighting breast cancer with their expenses, and served on the board of the Guidance Center in Southgate. Many other local charities as well as arts organizations were aided by Ms. Andrews and her tireless efforts to promote their events and good works over the years.

In 2004, she began an eight-year stint working for the Congressman, and even there, although her work was mostly immigration issues, she helped support local events from time to time. After retiring from Dingell’s office, Ms. Andrews continued to write articles about SEE ANDREWS, Page 13

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Page 2 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

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

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 3

FROM THE TOWNSHIP

Greetings and a happy New Year to all the residents of Grosse Ile Let me introduce myself. I am Jim Budny, your new Township Supervisor. I hope you all had a very nice holiday season.

We are all glad to see the year 2020 end and are very hopeful for change in 2021. With that in mind, we can start with a change to this column.

Previously, it was always written by the Township Supervisor, but I am going to make it available to the whole Township Board.

Thus, you can look for different board members writing this column each month. If, for instance, the Jim clerk has some election news, she Budny may be the one writing the column.

By doing it this way I hope you will become more knowledgeable about your whole Board and you will also get their different perspectives as well.

Since I am doing this month’s column, let me start with what you can expect from me as your Supervisor.

I pretty much like to get problems resolved. Thus, I like to take action to keep things moving forward.

Inaction is the worst thing that can happen to a problem.

Having said that, I also believe you need to do things in the right order. You can’t be a “bull in a china shop.” Proper procedure has to be followed in order to get things resolved properly.

I also believe in communication and listening.

You have to communicate the “why” of what you’re doing so the other person understands why you are doing what you are doing. You have to listen in order to understand the other person’s position.

All too often we hear, but don’t really listen.

Listening is very important. As soon as possible I will continue my monthly “Question and Answer” sessions that I started as a trustee. We had very good participation at those meetings and the residents thought they were worthwhile.

Finally, I am not much on “political correctness,” rather, I believe in speaking the truth to people and explaining one’s position.

I truly think it is important to be able to understand someone’s position on an issue. You don’t have to agree with the position, but you do need to understand their position. That goes a long way to coming to a resolution with a lot less arguing. So that’s my outlook on how I handle things.

Starting off this New Year we have a lot of issues facing us .Just to name a few ,we have the bridge issue, the deer herd issue, choosing a new police chief and the annual budget in these COVID-19 times.

Here is an update.

I worked with Wayne County to start having weekly meetings to discuss the bridge situation.

These are important not only to find out what is happening on the bridge, but also to keep the county informed as to what the Township is facing from the residents. By doing so, we can get accurate information out to you.

I can tell you the County is working diligently on a plan to get the bridge repaired as quickly and safely as possible. The way they are proceeding will speed up the repairs by almost a year. We will continue to put out our weekly bridge updates to the

residents to let them know what is going on.

The deer herd is always a favorite discussion topic on the Island!

The deer problem is the size of the herd, not the annual cull. Too much was being made out of the lack of culling one year and nothing about the size of the herd on Grosse Ile. Just prior to taking office, I put together a meeting with the DNR, our officials and me to discuss what could be done to bring the herd down to a proper size for our community. Based on those discussions, I have asked our police department to put together a post deer cull program to work on the problem.

Certainly, determining the size of the herd is one facet of the answer and needs to be done. However, we need a plan to take care of the problem ASAP and not just in the culling season of January and February. We are working on that now.

Lastly, the Township is going into our budget season. All departments will be giving us their expectations for the 2021 – 2022 fiscal year.

It will be interesting to see how the Covid infused year has affected us and what adjustments are necessary by the various departments. We already know that our state revenue share will be less, but by how much we don’t know.

All departments will have to take a hard look at their finances to make things work in a fiscally responsible manner.

In closing, I want to say I look forward to working with everyone to continue to make Grosse Ile a great place to call home.

Police chief retires after three decades with Grosse Ile force PAULA NEUMAN Grosse Ile Grand

Police Chief Mark Warnick has retired after more than 30 years with the Grosse Ile Police Department.

During that time, he worked his way up through the ranks after joining the force in 1989 following three years as a Detroit police officer.

“I am extremely proud of being able to follow in my father’s footsteps in becoming a police officer,” Warnick said. “My father worked in Detroit for almost 27 years and was a very respected officer and man by all the members of the department from the patrolmen right up to the chief. I hope he is looking down on me and thinking the same thoughts and is very proud of me and the career I have had.”

`Officers from Grosse Ile and Trenton marked Warnick’s last days on the force with an honorary procession of police vehicles transporting him from the island police station to his Trenton home.

“We are very sorry to see Mark leave,” Supervisor James Budny said. “He has been a dedicated police officer for Grosse Ile. Mark had just about every position in the department. Although Mark was only chief for two years, he did a great job and was one of our better chiefs. On behalf of the residents of Grosse Ile and myself personally, I wish Mark nothing but the best in his retirement.”

Warnick, who grew up in Detroit and has a degree in criminal justice from Western Michigan University, is 57, and may look for a security job now, he said, but in the meantime, he

has some more immediate plans for his retirement from police work.

“Just to spend more time with my family, enjoy life, travel, try to golf

more,” he said. “It felt like the right time.

“Working on Grosse Ile has made a wonderful life for myself and my family, and I thank the Police Commission and the Township Board that hired me in 1989. I think just keeping the citizens of Grosse Ile safe and secure for all those years has made me a very happy person.”

The island community has been named the safest in Michigan for some years running.

Deputy Chief Brent Hardin is serving now as interim leader of the island force.

The Police Commission is expected to make a recommendation soon on who will fill the chief’s job permanently.

Page 4 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

GROSSE ILE GRAND

2020 was a bad year, but some good things happened

A look back

To be blunt, 2020 was a bad year.

High water levels on the Great Lakes played havoc with our shoreline, messed with marinas and disrupted the boating season. The free bridge closed, then it opened again, then closed and here we still sit with toll bridge passes on our cars and frustrations on our minds.

And, of course, the pandemic.

COVID-19 has touched every aspect of our lives. For some it has been deadly, for some it has been financially ruinous, for others merely inconvenient, but we have all been impacted in one way or another.

COVID-19 has locked us in our homes, kept us from school, kept us from our favorite restaurants and stores, but it did not stop the march of time.

Yes, 2020 was a bad year, but things kept happening and the Grosse Ile Grand kept covering them.

Here is a look back at some of the stories we covered in 2020: The bridge and McLouth site Nothing was talked about more on Grosse Ile during the last year than the closing of the free bridge and the actions taking place at the former McLouth Steel site across the river in Trenton.

The bridge was (and is) a current ongoing headache. The McLouth site issue is one that looms as a potential future headache.

The Grosse Ile Parkway bridge, which is maintained by Wayne County, was closed for emergency repairs early in the year and then reopened after steel plates were welded into place. Later it was closed for more extensive repairs.

Those repairs were expected to be completed by December, 2020.

However, further inspection by divers revealed the damage to the structure’s piers was worse than first thought.

Those repairs will be costlier and take longer than expected to make.

The Township and its residents are

still waiting on the County to reveal its plan for fixing or replacing the span, how much it will cost and how long it will take.

The McLouth site drew intense

day of October. So much so, that the afternoon temperature of 89 degrees broke a record high set in 1897. David Carter just wanted to hustle and get his grass cut before the evening rains

interest for two reasons: Potential contamination of the environment during the demolition of the polluted site and zoning laws dictating what industry go in in place of the old steel mill.

Demolition of the old buildings is virtually complete and now comes the tougher task of cleaning contaminated soil and groundwater without impacting the surrounding land and water.

Recently, the city of Trenton revised its zoning laws, further defining what can and cannot occupy the site. Most agree the zoning ordinance is not perfect, but it is better than it was and includes provisions that will help protect the environment and area residents.

began. After finishing the front lawn, he thought, “Man, this is hot,” and moved around to the backyard.

He went inside and poured himself a glass of water, and sat down on the patio. The next thing he remembered was ... that he didn’t remember.

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

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

Screaming, they had enough presence of mind to begin chest compressions and called 911. What seemed like the second they hung up the phone, officers Raymond Bodrie and AJ Benson, patrolling in the vicinity, were on the scene, and continued with CPR and applied the AED. Fire Chief Duncan Murdock and Fire

Grosse Ile fire and police commended for heroic rescue It was unusually hot for the first

Marshal/ Assistant Chief Russell Bodrie were en route to an officers meeting when the call came in: “Man Down on Sarah Lane, Not Breathing.”

Russ turned his car around, and went immediately to the fire station and drove the ambulance. Chief drove immediately to the home.

By the time they had gotten there, firefighters Rich Brower, Ted Copley, Jacob Gonzalez, Lenny Pusdesris and captain Charles Lowler continued with advanced medical attention, and loaded David Carter into the ambulance, where he was transported by the Grosse Ile Police and Fire Departments to Beaumont -Trenton South Shore hospital. The next thing David remembers is that he woke up in the ICU with no recollection as to how he got there. He was alive.

“All the stars must have been aligned,” explained assistant chief Bodrie, “Everything has to come together just right. The response within minutes was critical to such a successful outcome. “The fast CPR from the family to the first responders helped save David’s life.”

In a later commendation ceremony at the Board of Trustees meeting, Chief Murdock praised the knowledge and medical skills of the lifesaving heroes: “The outcome was fantastic, this was a great save. Public Safety, as well as Grosse Ile Police and Fire did a remarkable job. “This gentleman is here tonight, he was released from the hospital, walking and talking, and giving his kids a run for their money, and I hope grandkids.”

SEE LOOK BACK, Page 5

GROSSE ILE GRAND

LOOK BACK

Continued from page 4 Reading from the commendation, Murdock continued, “Grosse Ile Fire Chief Duncan Murdock and the Grosse Ile Fire Commission hereby award lifesaving commendations to firefighters Brower, Copley, Gonzalez, Lowler, Bodrie, Pusdesris, and police officers Benson and Bodrie for their professional conduct in the finest tradition of the Grosse Ile Fire Department.”

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

Fire Chief Duncan Murdoch retires Fire Chief Duncan Murdoch ended more than 40 years of service to the Township when he retired in March of 2020. Russell Brodie was hired as his replacement.

At the Township board meeting when the retirement and hiring were announced, the board read this proclamation into the record: “Whereas” from the Township Board, honoring Chief Murdock for “serving as a dedicated employee for more than forty years. . . who has conducted himself in a most professional and conscientious manner throughout his entire career with the Grosse Ile Township Fire Department.”

Murdock began his career in 1977, as a firefighter/ EMT, climbing up the ladder to become sergeant, and becoming Deputy Chief and later, Chief in 1999, where he “acquired the tremendous support of the firefighters and the community in demonstrating great

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 5

leadership in his tenure as chief,” for the past twentyone years.

As outgoing Chief Murdock took to the podium, amidst a standing ovation, he thanked his family — wife, Kathy, son, Duncan, and daughter, Sarah.

He also expressed his appreciation for the current and past Township Boards, the community, and the firefighters with whom he has served. He also commended Township Manager, Dale Reaume, and Finance Director, Ann Darzniek for being mentors, helping him navigate the inner workings of township hall.

“I appreciate the trust and faith you’ve put in me to run the fire department and take it to a very high end,” said Murdock. “The Grosse Ile Fire Department is one of the finest organizations I have ever belonged to. I’ve been throughout the state looking at fire departments, and I’d match this group of guys with any in the state.

“They made me look good. You don’t know how hard this decision was, but it was the right one at the right time. It was time. It’s time to turn it over to the younger crowd with new ideas.”

News Chief Bodrie has been a firefighter for 24 years, serving the past 11 years as Fire Marshal and six years as Deputy Chief. His fire safety degrees include coursework at University of MichiganDearborn, Eastern Michigan University, and Macomb Community College. He is married to his wife, Heather, and has four children—Ray, Rhianna, Erin, and Megan.

Jim Okler is regional Athletic Director of the year Michigan’s professional organization of school athletic directors, the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA), selected Jim Okler of Grosse Ile High School as Region 12 Athletic Director of the Year.

Okler was one of only 14 administrators state-wide to be honored by the MIAAA. Okler has served as athletic director Grosse Ile since 1995. He began his career as a coach, teaching aid and

athletic department assistant at New Boston Huron, where he was for 14 years.

Okler graduated from New Boston Huron High School, received his associate degree in child development from Schoolcraft College and a BS/ BA in administration and management from the University of Phoenix.

He is very active in professional affiliations. He has been an active member of the MIAAA (Public Relations Committee and region alternate), has served on many Michigan High School Athletic Association committees, is a past President of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association and continues to serve on that board. He is past president of Michigan Interscholastic Track and Cross country Coaches Association and has been the Executive Director of the Michigan High School Coaches Association since 2015.

Okler has received numerous awards, including Monroe County and News Herald newspaper Coach of the Year in the sport of cross country, MITCA Hall of Fame, NHSACA Cary McDonald and Dwight Keith recipient and an MHSCA Distinguished Service Award. Okler has been married to his wife Christine for 34 years.

International Wildlife Refuge opens After years of anticipation, the John Dingell International Wildlife Refuge, across the river from Grosse Ile, finally opened its gates.

The Refuge opening, which was scheduled for May, was delayed several more months by the pandemic, but finally opened this summer.

The Refuge is open during daylight hours from Thursday through Sunday and features a large fishing pier and miles of trials through the Humbug Marsh.

Bill Riggs is new GIHS girls tennis coach Thanks to health concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, Coach Bill Riggs’s first season as coach of the Grosse Ile High School girls varsity tennis team was a short one.

Riggs, who replaced longtime honored coach John Shade, once took lessons from Shade at the old Downriver Racquet Club before going on to play tennis at Allen Park High School. Riggs later coached for years at Allen Park.

“I’m honored to come here and take over the girl’s team for my mentor,” said Riggs, who graduated from Allen Park High School in 1986. “He ran his programs the way I modeled my program at Allen Park.”

Riggs said he plans few changes to the program.

“We’re not reinventing the wheel here,” he said.

“We’re going to keep grinding along and compete for the state title.

“The expectations are still the same.”

Riggs said for years while coaching at Allen Park that he would only take two jobs, a college job or Grosse Ile. “It was the only way you could pry me out of Allen Park,” he said. “The college opportunity came up a few years ago, but it wasn’t the right situation and I SEE 2020 Page 6

Page 6 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

2020

Continued from page 5 had to turn it down.

“I’m so glad (GIHS Athletic Director) Jim Okler let me take the reins. They’re big reins to hold onto.”

Venerable Westcroft Gardens & Farm focused on future For eight generations, descendants of Gen. Alexander Macomb — his statue is in Detroit’s Campus Martius Park —have owned and operated Grosse Ile’s Westcroft Gardens & Farm.

Now the 27-acre farm, sometimes called the “jewel of Grosse Ile,” is poised for the future with a new business plan, which includes an orchard of sweet cherry trees and a field of flowering lavender.

Visitors will be able to harvest the cherries and lavender themselves. The plan was devised by Erica Lee Jackson, who has been the manager of the farm since 2017. She’s a direct descendant of Macomb, who purchased the land from the Potawatomi Indians in 1776.

Westcroft grows its own hybrid varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons created

by Macomb’s great-grandson Ernest Stanton. He returned from serving in World War I and gradually converted the farm’s fields of hay into landscaped botanical gardens and added its first greenhouse.

During World War II, the farm had another temporary change, when Stanton was asked to produce food for the military.

“He raised thousands of turkeys until V-J Day, after which he never wanted to see or hear a live turkey on the farm again,” according to Westcroft’s written history.

The farm’s new business plan has no provision for turkeys in its future, but it does have a pollinator garden with a seating area so visitors can enjoy butterflies, birds

GROSSE ILE GRAND

and bees. The space will be available to rent for weddings, graduation parties and other events.

As Westcroft’s new manager, Jackson found she still had a lot to learn.

“I’m very lucky to have such good staff that love what they do,” Jackson said. “They are really the ones that keep our standard stuff going.”

In addition to the “standard stuff,” this year Westcroft staff

Grosse Ile residents join peaceful BLM movement On Saturday, June 6, 2020 a crowd of about 300 peaceful protesters gathered at the Macomb Commons to show their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement by taking a stand against racism and in honor of the lost life of George Floyd.

Organized by the ad-hoc committee calling itself, “Grosse Ile Citizens for Justice

Long time activist and former Township trustee.

Local resident Pam Frucci, Reverend Sean Ewbank, Assistant to the Bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA, and former pastor of St. Thomas and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell were among the featured speakers.

The ceremony then took a somber, solemn turn.

The crowd took more than

planted 66 sweet cherry trees to grow into a pick-your-own orchard for families to enjoy the fruit and also the spring cherry blossoms. “We are estimating that the trees will be of harvestable size around 2025,” Jackson said.

Next year, she plans to have a field of lavender planted, as well. “Not only is lavender beautiful and versatile in its uses, it also is not liked by deer, which is always a large concern here on Grosse Ile,” Jackson said. “The lavender will provide another potential pick-your-own area in addition to creating the opportunity to provide lavender crafting workshops and products like sachets and essential oils.”

and Change,” the gathering drew a non-partisan crowd of political and religious leaders, high school and college aged students, senior citizens veterans of previous marches and protest - and young families with their children at their side.

Many in the crowd held signs that read: Be the Change, Justice for All, If All Lives Mattered, George Floyd Would Be Alive, None of Us is Free Until All of Us Are Free, White Silence = White Consent, Black Lives Matter, I Can’t Breathe.

Reverend Heather Oberlin, pastor of St. Thomas Lutheran began the ceremony with a prayer calling for unity, wisdom, and understanding.

a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd’s horrific death by a Minneapolis police officer, kneeling on his neck. At the minute marks a bell was struck for people to understand the length of time of Floyd’s suffering, and at the six minute mark when George Floyd died there was a flourish of knells, and for another two minutes and forty-six seconds, the knee remained on his neck.

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

“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.

“Her eighth grade class visited the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland when they went on a trip to Washington, D.C.,” said her dad, Chad Korte. “She returned from that trip and told us that she was going to Annapolis.”

Initially, Korte and his wife Jennifer shook it off. But Sage had made up her mind.

Sage was nominated for the Air Force Academy by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and for the Naval Academy by both Dingell and Senator Gary Peters. She was unfortunately not accepted to the United States Naval Academy.

“Sage is thrilled to be at USAFA,” Korte said. “Her real goal is to serve her country.”

The Kortes are not a military family. This experience is entirely new for them. Chad is an engineer at Ford Motor Company and Jennifer is a first-grade teacher in Dearborn.

They have two younger daughters, Caitlin, 15, who will be a junior at Grosse Ile High School, and Alyssa, 12, will be in 7th grade at Grosse Ile Middle School.

Before beginning classes, Sage had to 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 SEE HAPPENED, Page 6

GROSSE ILE GRAND

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 7

HAPPENED Continued from page 6

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.”

Election shakes up Township Board In August, Grosse Ile votes went to the polls and selected a new township supervisor, a new treasurer, and three new trustees on the Township Board.

Voters chose all but two members of the Grosse Ile 2020 slate in a primary election that saw a voter turnout of 52.5 percent.

In the race for township supervisor, current two-term trustee, James Budny defeated incumbent Supervisor Brian Loftus who had held the office since 2008, by a total of 1,736 to 1,411.

Budny and the Grosse Ile 2020 slate campaigned on a platform of policy and program priorities which included: 1. Well-maintained roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure 2. Outstanding public safety 3.

Responsible Township budgets, spending and financial management 4. Protection and preservation of the natural character of the Island and surrounding waterways. 5.

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

In a three-way race for township clerk, longtime Clerk Ute O’Connor maintained her position besting the field of newcomer Mark Lane, and current trustee Thomas Malvesto. O’Connor garnered 1,235 votes, with Lane coming in with 937, and Malvesto 890. Grosse Ile 2020 member and challenger David Nadeau defeated Treasurer Ted Van Os, 1,565 to 1,303.

For the office of township trustee, there are some familiar faces that will represent the people of Grosse Ile as trustees on the Township Board.

Four of the field of eight will go on to the general election on Nov. 3, 2020.

Former Township Chief of Police Joseph Porcarelli led the way with 1,873

votes, followed closely by Michael Jurecki, 1,846, Jamison Yager 1,543, with incumbent Carl Bloetscher III keeping his seat on the Board with 1,172 votes. Other candidates for Township Board included Linda Stanko with 1,159, Mark Mills 1057, Chad Linn 1,023, and Jim Nelson with 930 votes.

In other local ballot proposals, voters overwhelmingly supported the Grosse Ile Township Schools operating millage renewal by a vote of 3,227 to 1,378.

Additionally, voters supported two separate Wayne County propositions for operating millage renewal and county parks millage renewal. Prop O saw a vote of 2,932 to 1,472, while Prop P passed by a vote of 3,110 to 1,449.

In the race for Judge of the 3rd Circuit Court, Grosse Ile resident and former Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Mary Beth Kelly took the top spot with 2,166 votes and bested the field with 97,690 countywide.

Deputy Clerk Bryan Friel, said, “We had a great voter turnout for a primary election. Of 9,247 registered voters, 4,857 voted Aug. 4. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, we sent out 3,723 absentee ballots upon voter application and request. Of those, 3321 were returned.

“Absentee ballots accounted for 68.4 percent of the total votes cast. “It was a bit challenging and it took us a little longer to finalize the vote, but we were

able to conduct a safe, secure and free election,” he said. “I want to thank all the precinct workers and election inspectors for doing a great job under our new normal.”

Simsonian Run soldiers on virtually When faced with the possibility of cancelling the 18th Annual Simsonian 5K Kick-Off Classic, the race directors said, “No. We can figure it out, we have to try something.”

And figure it out we did.

Thanks to the dedication of the family and Friends of Sims, and a faithful cadre of runners, walkers, and toddlers, the 2020 Sims Run went virtual through the wonders of modern science and technology.

So here’s how it worked. You signed up at the appropriately named website: runsignup.com, paid your entry fee, and could run, walk or crawl your one mile fun run or 5 kilometer race at any time, any place, and any legit distance you chose.

You had between the Fourth of July and noon Aug. 23, 2020 to complete your race and upload your results to either runsignup.com or Master Chronographer Gary Olsen, our official timer.

You then could see your times compared to others, and your place in the whole scope of things, if not

the universe. In return, one received a packet via the U.S. Postal Service, or hand delivered to your doorstep with a coveted 2020 Vision Simsonian t-shirt, a love-filled thank you letter, and the coolest surprise—a now sartorial accessorized face mask, adorned with a masked Sims logo. Cool, cool.

On Aug. 23, a virtual awards ceremony was held, with top three runners in eight different age categories from 12 & under to 60& over, receiving medals either through mail, or personal delivery.

When all was said and done, 135 runners registered for the race, with this year’s overall men’s winner, Grosse Ile’s own Matt Graver, 18, leading all runners with a strong finishing time of 17:27. The women’s overall winner in the 5K was 17 year-old Julianna Metdepennigen of Newport, Michigan with a time of 20:49.

Most gratifying, the first Virtual Simsonian kept the spirit and memory of beloved GIHS teacher and coach, Steve Sims alive.

Sims died unexpectedly in 2003 of a dissecting aortic aneurysm at age 47. The family and Friends of Sims established a scholarship in his name given annually to an outstanding female scholar/athlete at GIHS. Besides being a great teacher, Sims was the winningest SEE BAD YEAR, Page 8

Page 8 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

GROSSE ILE GRAND

BAD YEAR

Continued from page 7 coach in Grosse Ile history in girls’ basketball and girls’ track.

This year’s scholarship winner was Helena Formentin. All proceeds from the Sims Run go directly to fund the scholarship. Race directors Jim Okler, Ray Geist, and yours truly are pleased to announce that the first Virtual Simsonian race raised enough money to support the scholarship for several years to come.

To date, more than $40,000 have been awarded to advance the education of strong, independent young women.

Glass recycling returned to the Island you have to throw out your glass containers? Does your house look like a ‘70s dorm room with reused and repurposed wine bottles scattered throughout the décor? Like how many candleholders do you need? Do you want to do your part to save the whales, and save the planet by keeping your glass out of the landfills?

Well, thanks to the efforts and outreach of a concerned Island recycler, Dyan Vanfossen, Grosse Ile Township now is back in business—at least on a trial basis—of recycling glass.

Now before you start loading up your blue bins with your bottles and carafes, there’s one caveat: You have to take your glass recyclables to Township Hall and deposit them in a Priority Waste drop off container.

Ms. Vanfossen approached Township officials and Grosse Ile Now members in late 2019, inquiring about recycling glass as part of collective effort to find a solution to reduce landfill waste.

Through her persistence and networking, working with a third party contractor and our current waste hauling vendor, Priority Waste, island residents will be able to properly recycle glass products again.

The drop off center will be the only option for recycling glass materials.

Residents should not place glass into their comingled recycling container.

Island residents can recall a time in the late 1970s, that former Township trustee and longtime environmentalist Pam Frucci spearheaded some of the earliest efforts at recycling. Her tenacity led to the creation of the KIC corps— Keep Island Clean through volunteer efforts at recycling, reusing, and reducing.

For a part of that time, residents gathered their recyclable materials and drove to a drop-off point in Trenton to do their part. Now, perhaps, the least residents could do is gather their clean glass containers, and drive them to Township Hall to be part of the solution, rather than the problem.

GIHS equestrians win district title Grosse Ile High School’s Varsity Equestrian Team — all three members and their horses — have had a very good year.

They won their Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association district competition, were reserve champions at regionals and went on to finish seventh in their division in the state contest.

The girls — freshman Ava Abrahamson and sophomores Makenzie Hooker and Cecelia Lind — also compete as individuals in Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals, and have raked in awards there.

Cecelia has six national championship titles and 12 top 10 titles. Makenzie has

won a regional championship, earned four reserve regional championships, and has eight national top 10 titles.

Cecelia and Makenzie have been riding since they were in first grade, and also play basketball. Ava, who also plays hockey, started riding less than two years ago.

The girls stable their horses at Luton Riding Academy of Grosse Ile, and are coached by owners and island residents Ricki and Rob Luton, who train the athletes and their horses for free.

“We’ve coached the team for at least seven years now, and every year we’ve won our district competition,” Ricki said. “It’s our passion and we do it because we love it. This is one of our ways of giving back to the community.”

Equestrian competitors sometimes are told they’re not really athletes because the horses do all the work. That’s absolutely false, Ricki said.

“A jockey works harder than any other athlete out there,” she said.

“They’re using every muscle in their body.” In fact, studies have shown that, pound-for-pound, jockeys are the

strongest, quickest, most agile and most hardcore athletes in the world of sports.

“It takes a lot of leg strength to keep your balance and guide your horse,” Makenzie said. “And you use your core muscles to help keep your balance, and sometimes your arms are working, too. Pretty much everything in your body is working for riding, but the main muscles are your legs and your core. You build up a lot of strength over time.” Ricki said, “Besides that, the girls not only have to worry about themselves, they have to worry about a 1,000-pound, four-legged animal.”

The equestrian team members practice for two or three hours every day after school, and also have to clean stalls, and feed and groom their horses.

“It’s very challenging,” Cecelia said.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun.”

Mental agility and endurance also are involved in MIHA competitions. Riders and their horses learn a variety of riding styles and riding patterns. Each event earns points for the rider, which are tallied for a team score.

Competitions take place over three or four days, and the girls can spend nearly all of each day of a meet in the saddle.

“The MIHA sends out the patterns for each meet,” Makenzie said. “Then each day, five days a week, we go to the barn and practice the patterns until we know them by heart. There are probably 14 patterns for each meet.”

Within each riding style discipline — saddleseat, hunt seat, bareback and Western —are events in showmanship (handling the horse), patterns, and rail classes (moving through paces along the edge of the show ring in a group).

In addition, trail events involve riding through various obstacles, weaving through cones or walking sideways along poles.

Teams also compete in races and in games of precision, speed and cooperation.

The time in between events at a competition is just minutes, during which the riders have to switch their horses’ gear and don different outfits.

“It’s really crazy,” Mackenzie said. “I’m going to be honest: It’s very stressful at first,” Cecelia said. “But after my first class (event), I’m not nervous anymore because I know what I’m going to do.”

All three members of the high school’s equestrian team own horses (Makenzie has three), but they don’t always ride their own mounts in MIHA SEE SOME GOOD, Page 9

GROSSE ILE GRAND

SOME GOOD Continued from page 8

meets, reserving them for national competitions with more predictable footing than what could be a muddy arena that has been rained on for days.

The girls sometimes lease horses from the Lutons for the team events.

“Some of these girls’ horses are far too talented to go into something where the footing is uneven,” Ricki said.

Cecelia has won her national honors riding her horse H. S. Majestic, whom she calls Mikey.

But riding one of the Lutons’ horses for team competition is something she also enjoys. “I really like being able to ride a different horse and bond with a different horse,” Cecelia said.

Lily Bargamian fifth at state golf meet This year Grosse Ile High School returned to prominence in girls golf.

The Red Devils followed up a perfect 21-0 season in the Huron League with a top-10 finish in the Division 3 state tournament on Oct. 17 at Forest Akers East Golf Course at Michigan State University.

And with a young but experienced team returning next year, Coach Charlie Butler is looking forward to a promising 2021.

Lily Bargamian, who finished fifth individually in the state tournament with a 77, just seven strokes behind state champion Shannon Kennedy of Marian, led the Devils this season. Also scoring for the all-underclass Devils in the state tournament were freshman Hanna Hargrove (85), junior Heather Taulbee (94), junior Grace Kuzmiak (102) and sophomore Sydney Botten (102).

The team score of 358 put them in the middle of the 18-team tournament. Marian ran away with the state title with a team score of 312. After a five-year hiatus from the state finals, Coach Butler admitted having high expectations for the 2020 season, knowing how talented the girls were, how deep the team was and how much the young golfers improved throughout the year.

The biggest key to the success was Bargamian, who became the first underclassman to serve as a captain of a Butler-coached girls team at Grosse Ile. During the regular season, the 10th-grader finished first at the league jamboree and league meet and had four top-10 finishes. It was her second year in a row in the state finals.

Grosse Ile soccer team repeats as state champ If the Grosse Ile community was looking for something to cheer about in 2020, the Grosse Ile High

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 9

School boys soccer team came through.

The Red Devils won a state championship for the second straight year, defeating Grand Rapids South Christian, 1-0.

Senior Bosh Tanyi scored the only goal the Red Devils needed at the 54-minute mark, taking a pass from freshman teammate Ali Khaled, as goalkeeper Hayden Watson made seven saves to pick up

a shutout in the Division 3 finale in Novi.

It was Tanyi’s 49th goal of the season. The standout earned the “Mr. Soccer” award as the best soccer player in Michigan.

For the third straight year, Red Devils Coach Jon Evans was named Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association. He had the job of replacing all but three starters from the 2019 state championship team and the 2020 team had only three seniors on the roster, including Ethan and Zachary Bast. Five sophomores and a freshman were in the starting lineup in the state title game.

The Red Devils finished the year 20-1-1, including a 16-game winning streak to close out the season. Evanscoached teams have gone 115-6-9 during his five years of leading the varsity squad. It was the third straight year Grosse Ile played in the state finals. The team was one free kick goal away from making it three state titles in a row.

“It’s crazy, I guess,” Evans said. “The last three years, we’ve been in the finals three times and we won

the last two. In two years, we’ve had 22 starters in total. We had to replace 15 out of the 22 total starters.

Only five from this year’s team had played in the state championship last year.”

It was the third state championship in school history in boys soccer. The Red Devils also took the state title in 2002. Since 1997, the Red Devils have won 20 district championships and six regional titles.

“We’re a little bit blessed with high level soccer players in the school district and having them buy into roles when people leave,” Evans said.

“When previous players graduate, we’ve had young players step up.

We will have a strong sophomore class coming back as juniors next season. They’ve been around the team environment and saw what was demanded of the players.”

During this year of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, no one was sure there would be a high school soccer season. Players still worked out on their own and gathered to get ready for a season – if there was going to be one – working hard in the off-season. Five games were postponed and never made up. Others were shuffled around.

“There’s definitely a strong individual work ethic on this team,” Evans said.

“They are motivated to become better players. They usually do a lot in the offseason. With the coronavirus, our first day in a soccer setting was the first day of soccer tryouts. Everything was on them.”

The Red Devils improved with each passing game. The team also held Williamston scoreless, 4-0, in the state semifinal game. Tanyi scored three of the goals.

Evans said a difference in the state championship game was Grosse Ile’s ability to defend corner kicks, set kicks and long throw-ins.

He also credited sophomore co-captain Cannon Kawadri with playing through a bloody nose caused early in the game by a collision. The center back is considered the team’s top Warriors on the field and was one of the reasons the Red Devils won more than 30 balls out of the air and had a goal line clearance with about 10 minutes left in the game.

In the second half, Evans moved Tanyi from midfield to center forward and he had three opportunities to score.

Tanyi, Kawadri, Watson and Jonathan Duke were selected to the All-State team.

“This was a completely new team,” Tanyi said. “I think we filled in the roles very nicely. There were no problems with team chemistry. The three seniors had to be team leaders. We had to be on point and give advice to the guys, give them confidence and always motivate them.”

Page 10 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

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January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 11

Board approves school reopening

In-person elementary, hybrid for middle and high school BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

At a special Zoom meeting of the Grosse Ile Township Schools Board of Education, the trustees approved the reopening of the schools starting Tuesday, Jan. 19, which had transitioned to all remote, on-line instruction on Nov. 13.

For Meridian and Parke Lane Elementary students, that means all students will receive in-person instruction, five days per week, unless parents have chosen the remote learning option for their children.

For Grosse Ile Middle and High School students, students will retransition to the secondary learning hybrid model which includes virtual and in-person instruction.

On Nov. 13, the School Board had unanimously passed a resolution that stated: “The last day of in-person learning will be Thursday, November 19, 2020 moving forward into 100 percent remote through January 15, 2021. Evaluating a return to in-person learning on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. However, the Board reserves the right, based on District quarantine numbers, to move into remote at an earlier date.”

Indeed, at the beginning of November, the number of COVID-19 cases on Grosse Ile reported by the Wayne County Health Department stood at 206. Two elementary classrooms were in quarantine, with contract tracing beginning with a third. By Dec. 1, the township-wide number grew to 424. By Jan. 1, the number was 597. And as of Jan. 8, the cases reported stood at 628 . \The Jan. 19th date was chosen as a “safe” time to return to learning after the holiday gatherings and after a warranted quarantine period.

At the special Zoom meeting, Board President Dr. Daniel Murphy sought input from parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, mental health professionals, and his fellow Board members.

Parents who provided comments,

questions, or statements that were read at the beginning of the meeting, expressed their anger, frustration, and deep concern about keeping the schools closed until Jan. 19.

Board trustee, Frank “Scooter” DeMare said, “I hear my own twin girls who are unhappy not being in school.

They seem to be just getting by, like many students, but I am concerned with the mental, social, emotional toll that it is taking.on all our students.”

DeMare continued, “We need to be flexible and adapt. We should modify the learning plan, and return to school on Jan. 11.”

Fellow trustee Kelly Loeffler, agreed saying, “A lot has changed since last spring when we first had to shut down.

For that matter, a lot has changed since November 13th. We need to follow the data. The CDC has changed the time one has to quarantine. Now it’s 7 to 10 days, not 14.

“The transmission rate for children is low. Asymptomatic students are less likely to spread the disease. The Governor, whose emergency powers have been limited, said that high schools can reopen as of December 18th. We need to look holistically at each child and get them back in school safely, full time as soon as possible.”

GITS Superintendent Joanne Lelekatch explained, “There are three challenges to opening up before January 19, 2021.

“First, we have the online NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) testing that has to be completed next week. We are required by the state to

administer this benchmark assessment to all students in grades K-8. We must complete the testing, and compile our report and send it to the State by January 22nd.

“If we don’t comply with the state mandate, we risk losing funding.”

As a point of reference, the number of students in grades K-5 whose parents have chosen the remote option for learning rather than in-person is as follows: Kindergarten-14 students; 1st grade-21 2nd grade-20 3rd grade-25 4th grade-25 5th grade-33

“Logistically, as Curriculum Director Audrie Kalisz has pointed out, we have 300 Chromebooks that we have loaned out to families for use with their children’s education, and we would have to get them all back, have our tech department “scrub” them, and be ready for use before January 19th.

“Secondly, we are required by federal law to feed all students, not just those who qualify for free and reduced breakfast or lunches. When the Board voted to close on November 13th, we did not anticipate opening before January 19th, so we did not order enough food to feed 1,700 students. Again, we are also audited by the federal government and monies are tied to our Title One program, which provides funding for our at-risk programs. We do not wish to lose that funding by not following the

requirements.

“Lastly,” Lelekatch said, “we have a staffing problem we are in the process of solving.

As Principal Nicole Garza has pointed out, we are short four lunch monitors at Meridian Elementary, two at the middle school. We are short on paraprofessionals, and just recently had a special ed. teacher retire. We are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible, and will act on the suggestion

by Board members to ask for parent volunteers to help out.”

Grosse Ile Education Association President Charlie Butler commended the Board for their good work in challenging times and said, “We know how difficult this has been for everyone.

“Realistically, we all want to see the kids as soon as we can—safely for all involved.”

“I speak for the teachers to stay the course. The union supports the administration’s position to reopen on January 19th.”

Board President Murphy then turned to the counselors and mental health team for input: high school counselors Joan Sclater and Jeremy Perdue; middle school counselor Kate Sirhal; district social worker Shannon Kelly-Buzuvis; and school psychologist, Katie Elliot.

Individually and collectively, they reiterated the deep concerns about the mental health of all involved in educating Grosse Ile’s children. They talked about the stress, the meltdowns, the anxiety, and the trauma that SEE SCHOOL Page 12

Page 12 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

Gov. Whitmer asks schools to reopen BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

No sooner had the ink dried on the School Board action to reopen the Grosse Ile Township Schools on Jan. 19, Governor Gretchen Whitmer asked all 587 local districts to offer an in-person option for all students

by March 1.

Since her emergency powers have been restricted by a court order last year, the Governor cannot require schools to act, but is “encouraging” all K-12 schools to fully reopen.

Given the fact that the COVID-19 vaccine will become more available for essential workers, the elderly, and eventually, the general public, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also offered new safety guidelines for schools.

The guidelines require masks to be worn inside schools by all staff and students, except during meals.

Additionally the MDHHS recommended: • When feasible, assigning children to cohort groups and limiting their

interactions to their cohorts to reduce the number of contacts.

• Keeping children 6 feet apart from one another to the extent feasible, making creative use of school spaces to facilitate distancing.

• Providing adequate hand sanitizing supplies and reinforcing proper handwashing techniques.

• Improving air ventilation.

• Having staff and students conduct self-screenings for symptoms at home every day before going to school.

• Ensuring school plans are in place in coordination with their local health department if there are any positive COVID-19 tests.

• Having staff and students who either test positive or are close contacts of those who test positive follow the guidance issued by MDHHS as well as local health departments. Anyone who is considered a close contact of someone who tests positive but does not have symptoms should quarantine for 10 days under CDC guidance.

SCHOOL

Continued from page 11 everyone is feeling.

Psychologist Elliot said, “We know people are hurting. We have reached out, and need parents to further reach out to us for help. They can communicate with their son or daughter’s teachers. They can call our mental health help line, email us, or use our Google form for confidential assistance.

“We all agree that the optimal learning environment for students is in-person, face-to-face, fully engaged with their teachers. Just like it was before COVID-19.

The fact remains, however, that COVID-19 is still with us, as are the health restrictions, not only for schools, but churches, community gatherings, and businesses” Trustee John Gatti, questioned, “Why does it take 1 ½ weeks to go from remote to in-person learning, when it only took teachers a day to move from in-person to remote? I would think we want some sort of objective standard that we would follow when we open up, and what would cause us to close again.”

As the discussion closed, a motion was made by Trustee DeMare and seconded

by Trustee Loeffler to reopen the schools on Jan. 11.

The “aye” votes: DeMare and Loeffler. The “Nay” votes: Gatti, Tonova, Sassack and Murphy. Trustee Jeffery Anderson was absent.

Staying the course, Grosse Ile Township Schools will reopen for in-person instruction at the elementary level, and for hybrid blended in-person and online learning at the secondary level on Jan. 19.

Trustee Suzanne Sassack said, “In November we said we would revisit the reopening of schools on January 19th. We made the best decision for the safety and well being of our students, faculty, staff, and parents, based on the information at the time. When we open up on January 19th, we need to open up safely, and stay open, period.”

For further information, please visit www.gischools.org.

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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Forrester has been a Grosse Ile resident for 30 years and was named Attorney of the Year by the Michigan Community Resources group in 2012. He received that honor after he negotiated - pro bono - a beneficial deal for SafeHouse Center, a nonprofit organization in Ann Arbor that shelters battered and abused women and children.

He is a past Grosse Ile Township Trustee and a two-time commodore of Elba Mar Boat Club.

Forrester has worked with attorneys from both Michigan and Florida as many of his clients have homes in both states, so he has a firm grasp on the working of regional legal machinery in both states.

“I have had the opportunity to work with some of the best attorneys in southeastern Michigan,” said Forrester. “In Southfield, where I had my first office, I met and worked with the best in the business. I enjoy that network of fellow attorneys, and if I choose not to deal with your legal issue, I can hook you up with the absolute best.

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“I can offer the best results for the best price - period,” said Forrester. “I can guide a client through an otherwise difficult experience and share with them openly and honestly what they are dealing with.

“I develop cost options and offer overviews of rewards as well as potential risks. I do not want just one job from you – I want to become your family’s Legal Counsel. I know if I relentlessly take care of my client base, everything else will take care of itself.”

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 13

Business offers new fitness option for Islanders

Two women with a strong interest in sports and fitness have joined forces to open Island Athletics in the former Grosse Ile Tennis Center building, 9251 Groh Road.

The new business in the 40,000-square-foot building will offer five indoor tennis courts; tennis clinics; four pickleball courts; half-court basketball; a fitness center; cardio classes; personal training; space to rent for team practices, birthday parties or whathave-you; and much more.

“We have a spin room with 10 spin bikes ready to launch as soon as the governor allows group fitness to come back,” co-owner Bobbie Haidy said.

Haidy is the varsity competitive cheerleading coach at Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, and her partner in the business, Bobbi Parsons of Wyandotte, is a friend and mother of one of Haidy’s cheerleaders.

“We were looking for a small building to do space rental for practices, and then we landed this,” Haidy said with a laugh.

The large Grosse Ile facility, owned by the township, was built in 1942 to house military aircraft, and converted into a tennis facility in 1972, then majorly renovated in 2003.

According to Island Athletic’s website: “The capital improvements initiated in fall 2003 were funded through the efforts of private donors. With these funds Phase I of the redevelopment of the Tennis Center has transpired. Phase I focused upon reopening the tennis courts and limited amenities. Phase II will initiate the construction of new infrastructure, new locker rooms and the development of a full service fitness area.”

Island Athletics has done a lot of renovating and refreshing since the women started working in November, including remodeling the building’s lobby.

“We’ve repainted the whole building, put in new floors, new trim, a new ceiling and renovated the men’s and women’s locker rooms,” Haidy said.

Both women’s husbands have done a lot of work on the facility, too, as have Haidy’s parents.

“They’ve been a huge help,” she said. “This is two families coming together to better Grosse Ile and the surrounding communities. When we made the commitment, we didn’t just want to bring tennis back. We wanted to bring in as much as we could. The idea is to work with the community and give them a diverse selection of fitness. This 40,000-quare-foot building can be utilized for just about any sport, fitness activities or personal use.”

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ANDREWS

Continued from page 1

Downriver events and people for local news outlets.

Ron Hinrichs of Riverview, president and CEO of the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, was an intern in Dingell’s office when Ms. Andrews worked there. He shared this anecdote from 2008, when he worked for Greenfield Village: “I’ll never forget the night she worked so hard to save Christmas and Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village in 2008,” Hinrichs wrote in an online tribute to Ms. Andrews. “Our Christmas trees were stuck at the Canadian border, and Pat worked throughout the night to get them cleared through customs and to Greenfield Village so we could stock our tree lot for the Holiday Nights program.

“Pat meant so much to our entire region… Pat is a true warrior and champion and she will be greatly missed. What a legend!”

Taylor Communications Director Karl Ziomek, the former Managing Editor at the News-Herald, who worked with Pat for years said this: “Pat was an institution for decades at The News-Herald Newspapers, whether she was working out of our Wyandotte, Grosse Ile or Southgate office. Pat represented an era of local newspaper coverage that included a heavy emphasis on ‘society’ or features and entertainment news and opinion, and no one connected those dots like Pat Andrews.

“There wasn’t a ‘mover and shaker’ that she didn’t know. Her Rolodex was full. She was the type of editor who was as comfortable talking food recipes,

important events, new businesses and/or the latest behind-the-scenes talk about key players in the region, but at the same time could lend to discussions on important breaking news.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that Pat was always easy to work with, because wasn’t always the case. She could be tough and even stubborn, but I think that anyone who worked with her came away an improved professional because of the impact that she had on the people around her. I know I did, and I’ll be forever thankful for knowing Pat and her late husband Ron. The Andrewses were institutions Downriver.”

Scot Peacock, who was a photographer at the News-Herald at the time Pat worked there, has fond memories of the time.

“Pat was one of the most generous people I have known,” he said. “We worked together at the News-Herald through the 80s and I feel privileged to have known her.”

Former Wyandotte resident Michael Patrick Shiels, an author, travel writer and TV host, is one of many who posted online tributes about her.

“Patricia Andrews will eternally remain a force in Downriver media, politics and the social scene,” Shiels wrote. “She was a mentor, a thoughtful friend and a connector of people. Her enthusiasm for family and fun and her wry humor will live on in her admirers — including me.”

Ms. Andrews is survived by her children, Sandra, Christopher (Tracey) and Jennifer; three grandchildren, Alexandra, Allison and Alyssa; and her sister Judith McKay. Memorial contributions can be made to Women Celebrating Life-Downriver at wcldownriver.com and Cass Community Social Services of Detroit at casscommunity.org.

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 15

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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CULINARY CAPERS In celebration of January as National Oatmeal Month, I’ve spent the last two weeks testing recipes for America’s fifth most popular cookie — oatmeal. Other favorites, according to Spoon University, are shortbread, fourth; gingerbread, third; snickerdoodles, second; and, of course, chocolate chip, first.

EVELYN In my quest for an CAIRNS Grosse Ile outstanding oatmeal Grand cookie, I baked 13 dozen batches of five different recipes, from soft to crisp, with and without raisins.

The best, according to my trusty tasters (and yours truly), was an addictive coconut oatmeal cookie with nuts, and the second-best, the oatmeal raisin cookie recipe on the lid of the Quaker Oatmeal box. The latter yields 4 dozen, so because I made the recipe twice, baking the batches 9 to 13 minutes, for soft to firm cookies, I had loads to give away or freeze.

OATMEAL COCONUT DELECTABLES (From Janice Grimshaw of Tampa, Fla.) 1 cup sifted flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar, packed ½ cup softened butter 1 egg 1 tablespoon cold water 1 teaspoon vanilla 1½ cups quick oatmeal ¼ cup chopped nuts ½ cup shredded coconut Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into mixer bowl. Add sugars, butter, egg, water and vanilla; mix at medium speed 2 minutes. Add oatmeal, nuts and coconut and mix at medium speed about 1 minute. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on ungreased or parchment-lined cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Bake about 12 minutes until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack while hot. Makes 33 to 40 cookies.

VANISHING QUAKER OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES ½ cup butter (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt (optional) 1 cup raisins 3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or oldfashioned), uncooked Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonsful onto ungreased cookie sheets (I used parchment paper instead). Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets, then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Store tightly covered. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

••• Another oatmeal treat is the following recipe from the Betty Crocker website: APPLE CRISP WITH OATS Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

For Streusel: In a medium bowl, mix ¾ cup flour, ¾ cup old-fashioned oats, ½ cup packed brown sugar and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Cut in ½ cup cold butter, cut in pieces, using a fork or pastry blender, until mixture is crumbly. Do not overmix. Set aside.

For Filling: 6 cups peeled tart apples cut into ¾-inch pieces (about 6 medium apples) ½ cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons flour ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon lemon juice In a large bowl, mix filling ingredients until well-coated. Spread in baking dish. Sprinkle with streusel.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes until topping is golden brown, juices bubbling along edges and apples are fork-tender. (I baked it about 15 minutes longer.) Cool about 20 minutes before serving.

HAPPY OATMEAL MONTH! Please consider sharing your favorite oatmeal recipe with Culinary Capers readers. Email it to Evycairns@aol.com

Page 16 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

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January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 17

ObituarY Nancy G. Karmazin

Longtime Grosse Ile resident had history of community involvement Nancy G. Karmazin, age 87, of Grosse Ile, Michigan died peacefully in her sleep on December 28, 2020 following a short battle with COVID-19. She was attempting rehabilitation from a prior illness at an assisted living facility in Clinton Township, Michigan during the time of her death.

Nancy was a 59 year resident of Grosse Ile who had strong interests in journalism, history, civic engagement and nature conservation.

Nancy was born on April 5, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Mr. and Mrs. James H. Gregory as the oldest child in the family. She attended St. Robert School junior high and Shorewood High School where Nancy graduated in 1951 as valedictorian of her class. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

While attending Northwestern, Nancy was an active member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity (sorority) as her mother had been decades earlier.

During the summers, she worked for her father’s wholesale foods supply business, the H.B. Gregory Company, in Milwaukee.

Following graduation from college in 1956, Nancy was hired by the Delta Gamma Central Office in Columbus, Ohio as Editor of the Anchora Magazine which is the sorority’s national publication.

While living in Columbus, she met her future husband Theodore (Ted) Karmazin during a weekend vacation at Cedar Point where Ted had traveled

by boat from Grosse Ile. After long distance dating for a period of years, the couple married in 1961, and made their new home together on Grosse Ile. Nancy and her husband lived together on Grosse Ile in the same house along the Detroit River for more than 55 years. She led an active lifestyle that included boating, tennis and gardening in her early years of marriage.

They had one child, Gregory T. Karmazin, born in 1965. Nancy immersed herself in community and social activities on Grosse Ile, and volunteered for, or maintained membership in, a number of non-profit organizations.

She served as a board member and officer of the Grosse Ile Historical Society, and volunteered with the organization for nearly 30 years.

During this time period, she researched and wrote about Grosse Ile history, and assisted in the operations of the museum.

Nancy was an early board member and officer of the Grosse Ile Nature & Land Conservancy. She was a longtime member of the Grosse Ile Musicale and Grosse Ile Book Club

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which were founded by her mother-in-law Rose Marie Karmazin.

Nancy was also a longtime member of the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club.

She was engaged in civic affairs.

Nancy was a long serving member of the Grosse Ile Township Island Beautification Committee/Entryway Committee, and served on the Grosse Ile Township Library Committee during its existence in the 1990s.

She was involved in numerous local political campaigns from the 1960s through the 1990s, and prided herself as being an independent late in life.

Nancy had a strong sense of faith as a longtime member of the Grosse Ile Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she served for a period of time on the Parish Council and taught Catechism.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Nancy worked as a secretary for her husband’s manufacturers’ representative business, T.K. & Associates, Inc. which supplied the heavy machinery and auto industries.

In addition, she returned to her career passion of journalism writing feature columns about local history, wildlife and other topics for the

Ile Camera newspaper. Nancy was especially proud of her Ile Camera newspaper column “Who’s Who in the Woodlands & Wetlands” which profiled birds, mammals and fish found on Grosse Ile or in its waterways.

She was an ardent supporter of nature conservation and environmental protection.

Nancy is survived in the Karmazin family by her son Greg (Nicole) Karmazin; sister-in-law Sandra Karmazin (wife of the late John Karmazin, Jr.); and niece Anne Marie (Richard) Schoonhoven. In the Gregory family, Nancy is survived by her brother Thomas (Sue) Gregory; nephews Jens (Rebecca) Gregory, Kelvin (Heather) Gregory, Ted (Tirzah) Gregory, Daniel (Connie, deceased) Cowan, and Patrick (Justine) Cowan; nieces Jennie (Paul) Waters and Meg Cowan.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband Ted Karmazin; parents James Henry Gregory and Nancy Josephine Gregory; sister Hilary Cowan and brother-in-law John Cowan; niece Julie Kay Karmazin; father-in-law John Karmazin, Sr. and mother-in-law Rose Marie Karmazin.

A memorial funeral service and interment for Nancy will be held at the Grosse Ile Sacred Heart Catholic Church during a future date when public health conditions are safe for gatherings.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Grosse Ile Historical Society, P.O. Box 131, Grosse Ile, MI 48138.

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 23

Peter Rose

Grosse Ile Grand

Welcome to the new year.

The old one was not that much fun.

As we start my top of mind concern is that, nationwide, the expected permanent closures of Indie businesses will be real.

I don’t expect our Downriver to be any better off than the national average, but I am hoping. I will continue to advocate as loudly as I know how for my compatriots and doing what I can to help.

To the extent that the citizens of our local communities take on that responsibility as well, so will go the extent of the fallout that will be felt for quite a while.

I think we’re going to see a very difficult first half of the year, improving to approach “normal” by maybe September?

As the numbers dwindle for cases of COVID-19 and deaths and as the number vaccinated amongst us grows, things should begin to normalize.

But eight or nine months is an eternity for anyone in business.

That’s a lot of payrolls for a lot of staff that we all care about and need to help us run our businesses. No whining, it has to be nose to the grindstone. But it’s going to be an uphill trek and a long slog.

For all of us, the loss of the ability to do anything is increasingly depressing.

So much is closed! No sports, no concerts, no dinein.

So the activity here in Wyandotte is electric and uplifting. You’d never know

we were under siege by everything in the works in this town.

Consider this: Michigan Legacy Credit Union at the corner of Oak and 3rd is not finished with their remake that startles as something I’ve never seen in any banking venue.

The scope of it is an emphatic statement about their belief in their viability and their belief in Wyandotte.

You have to see it to believe it!

One block to the East on Oak at 2nd at the site of the old post office is a five-story condominium development, construction underway that will also feature two restaurants and other retail. That’s going to make a big splash, and add more vitality and density for our downtown. Another investment for the coming rebound and beyond.

The always humming Lions Tigers and Beers location

is being reincarnated in the adjacent building on Biddle across the street from Chelsea and the vacant area created by the fire that destroyed the original building will be a beer garden.

Next to it to the South will be another, related entity serving another niche in the bar and restaurant field. The work and money spent on this project is impressive as well.

At the corner of 1st and Maple, in what was most recently the Citizens Bank building, is a large new addition to the small office niche called The Offices In Wyandotte, wherein anybody that needs a nice office with no long term commitment. It is already largely leased and the design of that project is impressive.

On the main floor on the actual corner will be a new high bar for Wyandotte restaurants in a new venue called The Vault that will

open in February. Prime meats, locally sourced chicken and veggies, vegan and gluten free options, and a killer wine list…..a new site for fine dining Downriver.

One and two buildings West of The Vault, a major remodel/rethinking of space related in the combining of the Sushi Bar and On the Rocks on Maple into a single entity, with a continued reliance on Sushi on one side of the space and an Oyster specialty on the other side.

They have a koi pond in there now!

On the corner of Maple and 2nd, the old Sports 50s restaurant/bar is getting an overdue, complete makeover under the new ambition and vision of the new owner there.

Details of the new menu are not known yet, but this place should be a strong contributor to the dining scene.

Back to Biddle, the old Alvi’s barbecue joint has been replaced by H2O, another

new addition to the dining options of Wyandotte is already open and getting great reviews for their seafood.

Frank’s on Biddle has new owners and plans for a major revitalization of this mainstay of Wyandotte eateries.

Sweet Arrangements moved two doors north and expanded into new areas of sweets and eats that are simply awesome.

There’s a new owner next door at Up n Down, with new energy and ambition.

Taken together, it’s startling and exciting.

It adds so much buzz for Wyandotte coming out of this dark time of Corona. Best of all, all of this is local and independent.

Happy 2021, friends! Be of good cheer and prepare for a whole bunch of “new and exciting” in Wyandotte! It’s coming.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK — GROSSE ILE GRAND

Musings from the front as we begin a new year

Page 24 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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Grosse Ile honors first responder heroes

Members of the Grosse Ile Police and Fire Departments were recognized with Life Saving Awards recently by the Township Board for their actions in two separate incidents.

On June 21, 2020, what started out as a typical Father’s Day for most turned into a frightful morning for one Island family.

Shortly before 9 a.m., dispatcher Brozek fielded a 911 call for help from a panicked 25-year-old reporting her father was having difficulty breathing and having a seizure.

Officers Brozek and Dalpiaz responded, witnessed the victim go into sudden cardiac arrest and started life-saving measures that included CPR and use of an AED. Firefighters Cammilleri, Gatt, Roscoe and Gonzalez arrived and continued to render aid.

The 54-year-old resident was able to celebrate the holidays due to their efforts.

On Nov. 27, 2020, at 11:35 p.m., police officer John Canterbury responded to the Hickory Island Bridge in response to a suspicious person yelling.

It was not known at the time of the call what type of situation officer Canterbury would encounter. patrolling with his window down, he heard a faint

call for help and located a 27-year-old man behind the guardrail suffering from hypothermia and a 29-year-old man face down in the water in a semi-conscious state having difficulty breathing.

Officer Canterbury went down the

eight-foot embankment, entered the water and pulled the victim to safety.

He immediately summoned EMS and began to render aid. Officer Canterbury soon realized that their vehicle was completely submerged in the water. Both

men walked out of the hospital a couple days later thanks to his swift actions. ~ Courtesy of Grosse Ile Township Police Facebook page

GIHS teacher Charlie Butler wins Excellence in Education Award From the Michigan Lottery Back in November, a Grosse Ile educator known for his compassion as a teacher and coach was honored with an Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Charlie Butler, is a high school social studies teacher at Grosse Ile High School, which is part of Grosse Ile Township Schools.

The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence in Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding publicschool educators across the state during the school year.

Winners of the weekly award receive a plaque, a $1,500 cash

prize, and a $500 grant to their classroom, school, or school district. One of the weekly winners will be selected as the Educator of the Year and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Butler was featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner station, WXYZ-TV in Detroit.

Butler, a litigation attorney for more than 20 years, said he was drawn to a career in education when a friend convinced him to teach Sunday School.

“My friend talked me into teaching Sunday School because they were short handed and had no male teachers,” said Butler. “I felt I had a talent for

it, but more importantly I knew how to listen to the kids.

“Practicing law became more

about chasing dollars for me and I decided I wanted to make a change to something I valued more. I haven’t looked back since.”

Butler was nominated for the award by a former student and athlete he coached. The nomination cited his ability to help students find their perspective and the connections he makes.

“Charlie Butler has been one of the most influential educators of my high school experience.

Having him as both a teacher and coach allowed me to develop a significant connection with him, one that I plan to hold onto throughout the remainder of my life.

“Whether I was in his class learning or on the court giving it my all, his support was always visible. Although I could make a long list of the astonishing qualities Coach Butler obtains, his consistent compassion is what stood out most to me.

One specific conversation we had together impacted my viewpoint on situations and shaped my perspective to the way I view things today.”

Butler earned a bachelor’s degree from Albion College, a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, and a juris doctor from Wayne State University. He has been an educator for 15 years, 14 in Grosse Isle.

January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 25

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Take care of your body during holidays and afterward

Stress. Tension. Fear. Worry. Doubt.

All feelings we have experienced throughout 2020. As we pass the holidays, we just wanted to send a reminder to you, our incredible patients, to take care of your bodies so they’ll take care of you.

From your diet to exercise routines to adjustments and massages, be mindful of what you’re doing to fuel your body to keep it as strong and healthy as possible.

Things may look and feel different this year, but that doesn’t mean you and your family can’t feel your best.

Here are a few tips: • Limit sweets – We know it’s hard, and it’s fun to indulge every now and then, but too much sugar can have negative effects on your body and mind.

• Move, move, move – Exercise does wonders for body and mind. Get out and move as much as you can.

Take family walks, park in the farthest parking spot at the market so you have to walk further, and take the stairs whenever you can. Little movements add up.

• Get adjusted – Don’t let aches and pains keep you from doing the other things you need to do to stay healthy.

Epsom salt baths to soothe body and mind There are few things more relaxing than a warm bath at the end of a long day. But did you know that adding epsom salts to your bath might just make it even better?

Many athletes and trainers swear by the recovery benefits of epsom salts.

It is believed that an epsom salt bath

can reduce muscle soreness and ease inflammation.

Epsom salt contains magnesium, an essential mineral. It is thought that soaking in a magnesium-rich epsom salt bath may provide pain relief, have detoxification benefits, and help you relax for more restful sleep.

Ultimately, it’s an easy way to add an extra level of relaxation to your self-care routine that may just ease those aches and pains.

Nine inflammatory foods to avoid When struggling with chronic pain, such as arthritis, it’s important to be mindful of your diet and how the foods you eat could be affecting your pain and inflammation.

The following nine foods are known to increase the body’s inflammatory response: Sugar Saturated fats Trans fats (processed foods) Omega 6 fatty acids (such as corn and peanut oils) Refined carbohydrates MSG Gluten Aspartame (artificial sweetener) Alcohol If you’re suffering from chronic pain and inflammation, try reducing or cutting out these nine foods from your diet, while increasing the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables, and omega-3s you’re consuming, and you may find some relief. A chiropractic adjustment may also be able to help with your pain. ~ Cosineau Chiropractic

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Page 28 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

GROSSE ILE GRAND

ADVERTISING INFO CALL 734-282-3939 AND GET RESULTS

Charity fundraiser exceeds expectations

Garden Club event is a ‘real’ success BILL STEVENSON Grosse Ile Grand

Faced with cancelling their annual, highly successful Christmas Charity Auction due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grosse Ile Garden Club Board of Directors instead organized a “write in’’ campaign, soliciting monetary donations for the Grosse Ile Goodfellows and the Downriver Salvation Army.

Partnering with the Grosse Ile Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Grosse Ile Bridge Company, and coupled with matching funds from a special Red Kettle bell ringing drive, the Garden Club exceeded their normal fundraising goals for holiday giving.

Co-chairs of the charitable giving, Elaine Aho and Kay Cozzi, were “overjoyed with the heartfelt response.

“We were able to give the Grosse Ile Goodfellows checks totaling $10, 025, and the Salvation Army, $4,025. Even in these difficult times, it’s great to know that our members, friends, local organizations, and businesses really care about those in need,” they said.

In addition to the Goodfellows and Salvation Army donations, the Garden Major Heidi Reed, Elaine Aho, Kay Cozzi and Major Brian Reed.

Club also followed their tradition of helping to stock food pantries at Sacred to those who were so generous in their organizing purpose for “the benevolent, Heart Church and the Salvation Army support of these two very worthwhile charitable, scientific, and educational with canned goods and non-perishable causes.” well-being of the community, the state, items.

As one of the oldest service and the nation.”

President Barb Carroll praised the organizations on Grosse Ile, founded If you are interested in joining the charitable effort, “The Grosse Ile Garden in 1927, the Garden Club not only Garden Club, you can email them at Club sincerely thanks everyone involved maintains several beautiful floral gigardenclub@yahoo.com, follow them in this revised event. We are so thankful areas on the Island, but lives up to its on Facebook at Grosse Ile Gardners, or

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January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 29

TELESCOPING THE TOWNSHIP

Sacred Heart sharing Father Marc with St. Cyprian and St. Joseph

New to Grosse Ile but not to the Downriver area, Father Marc Gawronski is one busy priest.

Responsible for several Catholic parishes, Father Marc was selected to pastor both St. Cyprian’s in Riverview and Sacred Heart on the Island on July 1.

Added to his responsibility was being named the temporary pastoral administrator of St. Joseph in Trenton.

A plus to his PAMELA A. responsibilities as a FRUCCI priest is the Sacred Grosse Ile Grand Heart rectory on East River Road where Father Marc and his beloved pet Rosa, a Jack Russel terrier, make their home.

When not pastoring, he says his waterfront home affords a beautiful view of the Detroit River and a reminder of our responsibility to care for it and Lake Erie as it is “on loan” to us as a part of God’s creation.

Father Marc began his ministry at Christ the Good Shepherd in Lincoln Park and then served several parishes in White Lake, Southwest Detroit, Rockwood and Monroe.

For the past 24 years, he served the Hispanic community in Detroit and Monroe and is fluent in Spanish.

Ordained in 1991, he celebrated his first mass at Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson. As pastimes, Father Marc loves music and theater and enjoys cooking, he says, especially when people seem to enjoy what he has prepared.

Since Grosse Ile has an active Interfaith Council involving all the churches, he hopes to be able to connect with the pastors of the other churches on the Island when, “The pandemic has released its hold on us!”

Revived Island theater group plans event After two meetings of interested former Islanders who met at the VFW, it was decided to reinstate the former theater group to provide live entertainment to residents.

Rather than staging a full-length play, the decision was to recruit talented residents and put on a show dubbed “Grosse Ile’s Got Talent.”

If your talent is singing, playing an instrument, dance, recitation, or you’re a stand-up comedian, etc., you’re invited to an audition before the present board of directors who have shown up for the preliminary meetings.

You’re invited to contact Pam Frucci, acting head of the group, by either phone or email, if you would like to audition your act for possible inclusion in the upcoming talent show.

Contact her at (734) 671-0170 or by email: jpfrucci@yahoo.com before Sat., Jan. 23 when the auditions will be held at the VFW at 11 a.m.

Those selected at the auditions, will be asked to

worked long and hard to plant the garden.

Located near the pavilion on Belle Isle, the garden will be a vast and beautiful flowering area. The word is that other Oudolf Gardens around the world draw as many as 11 million visitors to view the plantings.

Father Marc Gawronski and his dog Rosie.

perform at the upcoming talent show to be scheduled when the virus lifts its ugly head and fades into our past.

NOTE: Someone to perform a little Shakespeare will be sure to succeed at the auditions!

Come spring, check out Oudolf Gardens in Belle Isle The Keep Michigan Beautiful Foundation has made enough money on their investments, that they presented a $10,000 check to Duncan Campbell, general manager of the Oudolf Garden last fall where Piet Oudolf, the celebrated Dutch horticulturist, has overseen the planting of another of his famous gardens on Belle Isle.

Foundation members Jack Frucci, Grosse Ile, Don Graham, Allen Park and Jerry Stone of Lathrup Village, who head the foundation, are pictured with the check which will help maintain the garden.

Last fall a team from Holland joined a professional crew from United Lawnscape who all

Historical society seeking help of retired librarian Sitting on a table at the Customs House are several cardboard boxes filled with DVDs and books donated by a veterans’ group which disbanded.

The records have to do with the military history at the former Naval Air Station.

The Grosse Ile Historical Society Museum Committee chair Jo-Anne Gronlund accepted the donation, but feels they should be cataloged and made available at the airport where interested pilots flying into the airport might want to check out some of the material.

She’s appealing to possibly a retired librarian with time on his or her hands to take on the project so the records will not just sit in boxes. Contact Jo-Anne at 676-0046.

Good advice from Charlie Chaplin This came from an email from Debbie Eland Mitek who noted that Charlie Chapman, who lived 88 years, left us four statements: 1. Nothing is forever in this world, not even our problems.

2. I love walking in the rain because no one can see my tears.

3. The most lost day in life is the day we don’t laugh 4. The best doctors in the world: the sun, rest, exercise, diet, self-respect, friends. (Stick to them at all stages of your life and enjoy a healthy life.)

The Keep Michigan Beautiful Foundation made a $10,000 donation to the Oudolf Gardens on Belle Isle.

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Page 30 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

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January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 31

Grosse Ile loses another good citizen to the virus

Grosse Ile lost long-time resident Nancy Kamarzin on Dec. 28.

Widow of Ted Karmazin, Mrs. Karmazin, 87, died peacefully in her sleep at an assisted living facility in Clinton Twp. After a 59-year residency on Grosse Ile, she was doing rehab for a previous illness when she contracted COVID-19 at the facility. Her son Greg and his wife lived close by so he could look out for her until she contracted the virus.

Greg provided background on his mother’s active life on the Island: She PAMELA A. was born and raised in Milwaukee, FRUCCI WI and later moved to Columbus, OH Grosse Ile Grand before moving with Ted to Grosse Ile. She and Ted were married in 1961 and lived on Grosse Ile together for 55 years.

She was a graduate of Northwestern University and had strong interests in journalism, history, civic engagement, and nature conservation. This led to being an active member of the Grosse Ile Historical Society and serving many years as a member and secretary of the Island Beautification Committee.

Other community organizations she was active in included the Grosse Ile Nature & Land Conservancy,

the Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club and both the Book Club and Musicale, founded by her mother-in-law Mrs. John Karmazin.

A faithful longtime member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Nancy served on the Parish Council and taught catechism.

Sandy Walke passes away in Florida at age 97 Stanford “Sandy” Walke lived with his wife Mary and their children on Grosse Ile, but have spent the last several years in Hernando Beach, FL. A longtime Ford engineer, he was never without a car or a boat.

At Ford’s he worked on the first Mustang and for his efforts was awarded a 1966 Mustang. Fellow Presbyterians, Jack and I considered Sandy and Mary close friends, so we read with great interest the Christmas card Mary sent us with Sandy’s obituary.

We had no idea during WWII, he was a gunner on a B-17 flying a mission from England to the war zone where his plane was shot down. A POW in Prussia, he escaped by falling out of a line of prisoners and finding his way to rejoin the Allies.

“Each and every” is an annoying phrase I have no explanation why a certain phrase rubs me

the wrong way like scratching on a blackboard, but I cringe every time I hear it.

This goes way back to listening to the valedictorian at Allen Park High School deliver her speech and use the phrase: “each and every” several times.

As an old English teacher, I could have suggested she use either each or every but not both! Then my favorite classical radio station’s DJ often uses “each and every” and I’ve heard it from others.

Our relative Alexa moves in For Christmas, our son and daughter-in-law gave Jack and me a sound box housing a new relative to our home. She doesn’t need a bedroom or bath, just a shelf to sit on.

Amazingly, she’s quick to respond to her name “Alexa,” and she knows everything. She seems to have moved into a lot of homes and like her close relative Google is a fountain of information - instantly!

Chris Gimpel does custom-made mailboxes A retired drafting teacher, Chris Gimpel has a home workshop where he designs and builds custom-made mailboxes.

The Fruccis’ mail lady appreciates the bigger box and Jack and I appreciate his craftsmanship!

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January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 33

SPORTS

Points dry up as football season comes to a close Hank Minckiewicz Grosse Ile Grand

After waiting seven weeks, the Grosse Ile football team found only disappointment in its regional championship game in Lansing against Lansing Catholic on Jan. 9.

Despite moving the ball all over the field, the Red Devil could not punch the ball into the end zone and wound up falling to the host Wildcats 28-5.

With the victory, Lansing Catholic captured the regional championship and moved into the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 5 state semifinals against Frankenmuth.

Frankenmuth punched its ticket to the semifinals with a win over Marine City on Jan. 9.

Grosse Ile only managed a first-half 29-year field goal by senior Joey Pizzo and a final-minute safety, accounting for its five points.

After posting a 3-3 regular-season record, Grosee Ile ripped off three straight playoff wins, beating Monroe Jefferson, Dundee and Summit Academy, averaging more than 35 points per game in doing so. But on a cold day in Lansing, the points dried up.

The Red Devils amassed 323 total yards and had 17 first downs in the game.

They were in Lansing Catholic territory many times and in scoring range several times, but they could never quite get the ball into the end zone.

Lansing Catholic had only 29 more total yards than the Red Devils and they possessed the ball for just a few minutes longer, but the difference was that when the Wildcats got a chance to score, they finished.

Lansing Catholic scored first in the game and ever trailed.

On its opening drive Lansing Catholic marched to the Grosse Ile 18-yard line where, on fourth down, Brandon Lewis

exploited a big hole in the Grosse Ile defensive line and raced into the end zone. The two-point try was stopped.

Grosse Ile came right back and drove to the Lansing 17-yard line where its march ended on downs.

Grosse Ile’s defense forced a punt and soon the Devils were knocking on the door again. Grosse Ile got all the way inside the Wildcat 10 and only a dropped pass kept them from scoring six points.

A penalty cost them five yards and they eventually settled for Pizzo’s 29-yard scoring boot.

It was 6-3 at that point, early in the second quarter, and anybody’s ball game.

Midway through the period, Lansing struck again, this time going 60 yards and scoring on a one-yard run. Again the two-point conversion was stopped and it was 12-3.

Grosse Ile marched again to the Lansing 29, but a fourth-down sack ended that bid.

Two other potential drives were stopped when senior quarterback Nate Brown had passes intercepted.

The game might have gotten out of reach in the first few minutes of the second half if the Grosse Ile defense had not risen up - twice.

Lansing Catholic got a long kickoff return to start the second half. A late-hit penalty on Grosse Ile moved the ball to the Grosse Ile 19-yard line. But Grosse Ile held when Larry Swick intercepted a Lansing pass at the goalline and returned it to the 15.

The Grosse Ile offense moved the ball a bit, but wound up punting and Lansing took over at its own 14.

A few plays later, the Wildcats were threatening again. Lansing Catholic got to the Grosse Ile four-yard line, before a couple of penalties and a huge fourthdown quarterback sack by Luke Taulbee SEE FOOTBALL, Page 34

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Page 34 • January 19 — February 15, 2021

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Grosse Ile High School names fall MVPs The Grosse Ile High School recently announced the most valuable players for the 2020- 2021 fall season.

The MVP is awarded to a player on a team chosen by the coaches who has had the largest positive impact on the team on and off the playing field.

Winning this award encompasses dedication to the team, putting teammates and coaches first, maximum effort at the player’s position and contribution to the team being victorious.

This year’s fall MVPs are: Boys Cross Country - Nicholas Griffin Boys Soccer - Cannon Kawadri and Bosh Tanyi Boys Tennis – Robert Standen Equestrian – Cecilia Lind and Mackenzie Hooker Football – Nathan Brown and Joey Pizzo Girls Cross Country – Caitlin Korte Girls Golf – Lily Bargamian Sailing – Jimmy Souilliere Sideline Cheer – Reanna Wludyka Swimming and diving – Erika Pietras Volleyball – Meg Balogh.

Grosse Ile High School is very proud of these studentathletes for their dedication to both academics and their chosen sport.

From top left, Nicholas Griffin, Cannon Kawadri, Bosh Tanyi, Robert Standen, Cecilia Lind, Mackenzie Hooker, Nathan Brown, Joey Pizzo, Caitlyn Korte, Lily Bargamian, Jimmy Souilliere, Reanna Wludyka, Erika Pietras and Meg Balogh.

Grosse Ile seniors named Huron League Scholar Athletes Forty-two seniors from Grosse Ile High School were recently named Huron League Scholar Athletes.

To earn this distinction, a student-athlete must be a senior, must be awarded a varsity letter in the sport they are competing in, and most importantly, must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Grosse Ile’s fall scholar athletes listed by sport include:

FOOTBALL Continued from page 33 ended the threat.

Grosse Ile got back into Lansing territory but was forced to punt and the game began to slip away from there.

Lansing Catholic scored on a 32-yard run early in the fourth quarter and the two-point conversion made it 20-3. An interception and a punt ended the next two Grosse Ile possessions and with time dwindling, Lansing Catholic connected on a 53-yard scoring pass to salt the

Boys Cross Country: Griffin Mihalko.

Girls Cross Country: Katie Keim, Emma Griffin.

Honorable Mention: Marina Rensi, Carolyn Kalata.

Football: Mitchell Lewis, Luke Taulbee, Ethan Bammer, Jack Weise, Will Davis, Keegan Mott.

Honorable Mention: Trey Swick, Nick Esordi, Nathan Brown, Joey Pizzo.

Girls Golf: Elle Munzenberger, Mara Rossi.

game away. The two-point conversion brought their point total to 28.

Grosse Ile rushed down the field and looked ready to score when the turnover bug returned and another pass was intercepted, this one at the goalline.

Grosse Ile tackled Lansing quarterback Alex Watters in the endzone on the next play for Grosse Ile’s final two points of the day and the season.

Grosse Ile finished the COVIDshortened (then lengthened) year with a 6-4 record.

Sailing: Vasilios Dionyssopoulos.

Girls Swimming: Zoe Neilson, Emma Hutchison, Abby Sorenson, Alaina Gartner.

Honorable Mention: Isabelle Jankowski.

Sideline Cheer: Honorable Mention: Marina Rensi, Reanna Wludyka, Andrea Rios, Victoria Murphy, Haley Woods, Sarah Alderwish, Marisa Barnard.

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January 19 — February 15, 2021 • Page 35

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BEAUTy REST FiRM MATTRESS Twin $379 • Full $479 Queen $499 • King $699

Sofa $1199 Chair $699

BEAUTy REST MEDiUM MATTRESS Twin $819 • Full $869 Queen $899 • King $1199

800 SERIES POCKETED COIL® DUALCOOLTM TECHNOLOGY FIRM COMFORT FOAM GEL MEMORY FOAM LUMBAR SUPPORT

Made in the USA. Custom orders with Lancer are taking 10 weeks.

Lifetime warranty on frame & seat springs.

800 SERIES POCKETED COIL® DUALCOOLTM TECHNOLOGY PLUSH COMFORT FOAM AIRCOOL® FOAM

Sofa $799 Chair $769

Made in the USA.

LANE ROCKER RECLiNER

LANE COMFORT KiNG RECLiNER Large scale recliner Weight capacity 500 pounds

LANE LEATHER ROCKER RECLiNER

POWER LiFT RECLiNER WiTH HEAT & MASSAGE

$479

$799

$599

$599

Custom orders with England are taking 20 weeks. 50 body fabric choices at the same price. Lifetime warranty on frame & seat springs,

WHITE FURNITURE

3025 BIDDLE AVE. - WYANDOTTE 734-282-2155 | WHITEFURNITURE.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/WHITEFURNITURE MONDAY & FRIDAY: 9:00AM - 8:30PM TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY: 9:00AM - 5:30PM

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

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