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Judicial candidates tackle the questions Two prominent attorneys, both Southgate residents, are vying to be elected judge of 28th District Court in Southgate. The winner of the race will replace Judge James Kandrevas, who has held the post since 1990. Southgate City Council President John Graziani, an attorney in private practice, earned a degree in political science from the University of MichiganDearborn, and a law degree from the University of Detroit Law School. Early in his legal Graziani career, Graziani worked as an assistant prosecutor, as a judicial assistant for Wayne County Recorders Court and as a law clerk for Wayne County Circuit Court Judges Robert Colombo and Louis Simmons. He opened
his own legal practice in his hometown in 1990, and works there still. Elisabeth Mullins is a special assistant Wayne County prosecutor and also a prosecutor for the city of Detroit. She was voted Detroit’s prosecutor of the year in 2015 and 2016. Before 2011, Mullins was in private practice with a caseload that included criminal defense, civil cases, bankruptcy matters and municipal issues. She earned a degree in political science from Boston College, and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. We asked both candidates to answer the following questions:
Q
District courts, whether dealing with criminal, civil, small claims, traffic, landlord-tenant cases or neighbor disputes, affect people’s everyday lives. Why do you think you’re the best person to take on that responsibility? What qualifies you to be a district court judge beyond your law degree? Graziani: I have been a Southgate citizen, neighbor and friend so I know and am connected with people’s everyday lives in my community.
Serving Downriver Since 1975
I have 30 years of relevant legal experience. I have been a successful attorney in Michigan for 30 years and have built a practice that is known beyond Southgate. As a general practitioner, I have successfully dealt with all areas of law ranging from highly complex areas of litigation, landlordtenant cases, criminal defense and even some heavily contested neighborhood disputes. In addition to having a good temperament, along with a thorough understanding of cases that Mullins flow through district courts, I have helped balance 18 budgets in my tenure as a Southgate councilman and SEE QUESTIONS, Page 3
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Page 2 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
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*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.
SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 3
QUESTIONS Continued from page 1
council president. As a seasoned businessperson, I have solid managerial skills and will be able to manage the budget of 28th District Court without a learning curve. The downturn created by this brutal pandemic demands a person with my background and proven track record to get the job done. I am well known and trusted in this community. Mullins: My experience makes me the most qualified candidate to be the next judge of the 28th District Court. I am currently a prosecutor for the city of Detroit, a special assistant prosecutor for Wayne County and I am assigned to the Veterans and Drug Treatment Court in Detroit. Because Detroit is one of the busiest courthouses in the country, I have prosecuted a vast number of cases while working in multiple courtrooms with a high-volume caseload. Before the pandemic, I was in the courtroom virtually every day and I understand what it takes to effectively manage a courtroom. Prior to that, I was prosecutor in Brownstown and Huron Townships, was also in private practice with a local Southgate law firm and managed a caseload that included criminal defense, landlord/tenant matters, civil cases, bankruptcy matters, collections and municipal issues, which are the types of cases that the next judge will preside over. Additionally, because I have worked as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, I have a unique understanding of the roles, challenges and issues facing each side.
Q
How do you plan to improve the court’s procedures and efficiency? Graziani: First of all, I will make sure that we are up to date on technology. We need to improve the court’s online presence to make it more accessible to the public. This pandemic has taught us that remote services for trivial hearings and the like will save us time and money. I will incorporate some of the efficient practices from Zoom (derived during this pandemic) in an effort to save time for court users and attorneys. Secondly, I will work with other courts to improve buying power by regionalizing purchases.
This is currently being done in the city of Southgate where I am council president. Mullins: I would update the court’s website to include the following features: 1 Allow the general public to look up and track cases. A person (including defendants, witnesses and victims) could see when the next court date is scheduled and see how a case is progressing. Many other courts already make this public information available on their websites. 2. Implement a system where a person could contest parking or simple traffic tickets through the website. I would continue this once the COVID-19 threat is over so that we could prevent gridlock at the courthouse and individuals would not have to miss work or school.
Q
What’s your position on alternative courts (drug courts, veterans courts, etc.) and what alternative court (if any) might you try to implement or enhance once you’re elected? Graziani: I am a strong believer in alternative courts and feel that society is better off with them. If elected Southgate’s next district court judge, I will make it a priority to re-establish problem-solving courts (PSCs), including drug and sobriety courts and mental health courts. I would also like to strengthen the Veterans Treatment Court, as it is capable of doing more. The purpose of PSCs is to provide, when appropriate, treatment instead of punishment in an effort to reduce future contacts with the criminal justice system. These courts provide a valuable alternative to the traditional punishment/incarceration approach, and have proven to be highly successful. For example, drug and sobriety court graduates were nearly three times less likely to be convicted of a new offense within three years of admission to a program. In addition, unemployment dropped dramatically among all problem-solving court graduates, and virtually all participants reported an improvement in their mental health status, thereby making their lives more stable and productive. PSCs save you, the taxpayer, hundreds of thousands of dollars by treating rather than merely incarcerating (e.g., veteran treatment courts are paid for
largely via federal grants). Mullins: I support alternative courts in general because I believe they are beneficial to both the individual participant and to the community. Treatment courts reduce recidivism and provide much needed treatment for participants. I am very passionate about enhancing the Veterans Treatment Court, which addresses mental health issues, addiction and other issues for all our Downriver veterans. My goal for the program is to help our veterans become better husbands, wives, sons and daughters and to help them accomplish goals beyond maintaining their sobriety. Specifically, I intend to enhance Southgate’s program by working with local nonprofit organizations and businesses to provide our veterans with opportunities to obtain job skills training and job placement. As a prosecutor assigned to the Veterans and Drug Treatment Court in Detroit, I have the knowledge and experience to not only continue, but strengthen, the Veterans Treatment Court in Southgate. I would not implement another alternative court in Southgate because I am aware of the intense demands of running such a program from my firsthand experience in Detroit. The Veterans Treatment Court requires extensive monitoring of each participant. The judge regularly meets with the program’s team, conducts court hearings for the program and ensures compliance with all funding requirements. The Veterans Treatment Court requires a tremendous amount of time and dedication. I also understand the many duties and responsibilities that a judge has in addition to running an alternative court, such as the judge’s need to research legal issues and preside over cases while on the bench. There are administrative, personnel and budgetary demands that the next judge is also responsible for. Because of these demands, which are unique to a one-judge courthouse such as the 28th District Court, approval for an additional alternative court is unlikely to be given and is in all probability an unrealistic idea. I believe it is a more efficient use of resources for the next judge to work with other local sobriety court judges to get individuals the help they need. For example, I would refer
individuals with mental health issues to the Wyandotte/Riverview District Court, which is establishing a mental health court and will service all of Downriver, including Southgate. I would also refer individuals with addiction issues who are high risk and in need of extra monitoring to the Lincoln Park and Taylor district courts, which also have sobriety courts that service all of Downriver, including Southgate. In return, these courts would refer their veterans to Southgate. I have already established excellent working relationships with these other sobriety court judges and they have personally endorsed me as the best candidate to preside over the Veterans Treatment Court at the 28th District Court in Southgate.
Q
Why do you want to be a judge?
Graziani: I believe that becoming a judge is a natural progression of my 30 years of experience as an attorney. Having lived in Southgate for nearly my entire life, I have a solid understanding of what needs to be done to meet the needs of the general population in this community and within this region. My service on the Southgate City Council has provided me with important and critical experience in municipal finance and budgeting. I am the only candidate with this vital experience. With current court revenue down substantially due to the pandemic, it is even more important that our next judge understand the financial constraints of our community and has the proven experience to stay within budget. I have the experience, background and temperament to be a good judge. Throughout my lengthy career as an attorney, I have come to know the best practices of the various district courts. Mullins: I have spent the last several years of my career working to improve the communities of Brownstown and Huron Townships and Detroit. I fought hard to clean up Detroit by convicting and jailing a notorious slumlord, closing a corrupt strip club for running an illegal prostitution ring and prosecuting individuals for defacing property in Detroit with graffiti among other SEE JUDICIAL, Page 6
Page 4 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
A MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHN GRAZIANI For over 18 years, I have had the honor and privilege of serving the people of Southgate. The trust that the residents of Southgate have placed in me to be their voice is something I take very seriously. My commitment to restoring the public’s faith in their elected representatives has never been stronger, which is why I am running to become Southgate’s next District Court Judge. There are two candidates running for judge this year, and the difference between us couldn’t be clearer. It is my firm belief that I am by far the best candidate for Southgate Judge. For starters, I am the only homegrown candidate for Southgate Judge. I was raised in the city, raised my own family here, and have owned and operated a law practice in the city for 28 years. My opponent has spent most of her life living and working outside the city. I have 18 years of service as a public servant. My opponent has never been involved in Southgate. My public and professional lives are, and have always been, a matter of public record for all to scrutinize. I go to work daily at my law office located on Eureka Road just west of Fort Street. My opponent works in the Detroit law department. My service on the Southgate City Council has provided me with important and critical experience in municipal finance and budgeting. I am the only candidate with this vital experience. With current court revenue down substantially due to the pandemic, it is even more important that our next judge understands the financial constraints of our community and has the proven experience to stay within budget. I have successfully managed municipal budgets for years as a council member. I also have nearly 20 more years of experience as a practicing attorney than my opponent. When deciding who to support for Southgate Judge, ask yourself this simple question: Should I gamble on a relatively unknown and untested newcomer, OR place my trust in the candidate has a long standing track record of quality public service? In addition to that, I pride myself on always having a sincere and strong connection to our community. Futhermore, I have always been responsive to the needs of our residents and have made their well being a top priority. While some candidates for public office try to buy your support, I believe in earning it. Vote JOHN GRAZIANI for SOUTHGATE JUDGE (28th District Court) REMEMBER: Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020 OR Vote Early by Absentee Ballot Need an absentee ballot? Contact the Southgate City Clerk’s Office at: 734-258-3015
SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 5
Choosing an attorney to represent you in court is like choosing a judge to vote for. If you had a choice between two attorneys, one with much more experience than the other, which would you choose? You would choose the attorney with the most experience. JOHN GRAZIANI possesses nearly 20 more years of experience as an attorney than his opponent. For close to two decades, Southgate residents have overwhelmingly supported JOHN GRAZIANI for City Council. Now they are enthusiastically endorsing him to be our next judge. GRAZIANI is HIGHLY QUALIFIED to be our JUDGE • 30 years of experience as an attorney • Relevant and well-rounded practical experience (defense attorney and prosecutor) • Graduate of Southgate Schools • University of Michigan, BA • University of Detroit, JD • Continuing Education – University of Notre Dame-London GRAZIANI has an established track record for COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
• Southgate Councilperson for 18 years • Southgate City Council President 5 times • Southgate homeowner and resident for 50+ years • Married to Mary Ann (Public School Teacher) with 2 sons: Christian (25) & Joshua (19) • Southgate Business Owner for over 30 years • Strongly supports our seniors, schools, city services, and veterans • Southgate Recreation baseball and soccer coach (10+ years) • Strongly supports LAW & ORDER and INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
GRAZIANI has the vision to be our next judge and if elected will ... • Re-establish the Drug & Sobriety Court • Establish a Mental Health Court • Strengthen the existing veterans’ Court
GRAZIANI has a REPUTATION for being HONEST, IMPARTIAL, FAIR MINDED, and ACCESSIBLE In addition to a long list of highly regarded local attorneys, current and former judges I am also honored to be endorsed by: Respected members of Southgate City Council: • Council President Pro-Tem Mark Farrah • Councilman Dale Zamecki • Majority of Southgate Schoolboard and its President Timothy Estheimer • Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa • City Treasurer Jim Dallos and many other reputable public officials Please visit www.grazianiforjudge.com for a full listing of endorsements. Paid by Committee to Elect John Graziani for Southgate Judge 12755 Eureka Road, Southgate, MI 48195 • (734) 246-0000
Page 6 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
JUDICIAL
Continued from page 3 things. I now want to focus that same energy on improving the quality of life for residents in my own Southgate community.
Q
How do you stand on socalled creative sentencing? What sort of alternative sentencing might you impose for a non-violent offender? Please offer a hypothetical example. Graziani: You have to take a case-by-case approach with regard to persons that you deal with as a judge. You have to consider all of the relevant factors at hand, including age level and the specific challenge that an individual is facing. For example, I knew an elderly lady who was a shoplifter most of her adult life. This person surprisingly had only been caught three times. When this person is dealt with, you have to have an indepth pre-sentence report in order to pass on a sentence. In the instance of the elderly shoplifter, you utilize an aggressive therapy program which deals with the root of the problem. The punishment to the non-violent elderly shoplifter, or any person, would be to extend the probation, if violated. Mullins: I support creative sentencing as a first option over jail, which will always be there. Alternative sentencing may include community service, counseling (inpatient and out-patient), rehabilitation services, support groups, alcohol and/ or GPS tethers, an ignition interlock device (in-car breathalyzer), drug testing and treatment including medication options and monitoring. An example would be a person who is stealing because of a drug addiction. Rather than just sentencing the person to jail, I would consider sending the person to in-patient or out-patient treatment, AA or NA, to undergo drug testing and/or perform community service. My goal is to adopt a treatmentoriented approach to sentencing as opposed to just punishing people. It is important to still hold people accountable, but also to “think outside the box” and address whatever issues may have led an individual to commit a crime. This approach has been proven to cut down on repeat offenders.
Q
Who is one of your judicial role models and why? Graziani: At the circuit court level, it is retired Chief Judge Robert J. Colombo Jr. Colombo was one of the most thorough jurists I worked for and later dealt with as an attorney. He would say that he had a responsibility to be as thorough as possible because he is a public servant. Another judicial role model of mine is the late Donald Neitzel, who served as a municipal and district court judge in Southgate for a number of years. He was one of the most intelligent judges that I had ever met. He was also a caring and down-toearth person that truly cared about his community. Neitzel was a judge who had patience and was willing to work with offenders, but could also be tough when necessary. Simply put, Judge Neitzel was very flexible and could easily adapt under varying circumstances. Mullins: The recently elected Judge Elizabeth DiSanto of the Wyandotte/Riverview District Court is my judicial role model. I saw how she advocated for a mental health court and is now, as judge, is in the process of establishing one at the 27th District Court. Judge DiSanto made me realize that the courts can be a community partner and a tool to improve the lives of the people the court serves. I learned that the courts do not have to be a place where a person goes only when they are in trouble, has a traffic ticket or reports for jury duty.
Q
How would you resolve a potential conflict of interest and what situations might present a conflict for you during your service as a judge? Graziani: I would act in conformity with the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct and the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct when resolving a potential conflict of interest. If there is a situation that may present a potential conflict for one of the litigants, I would divulge that immediately. For instance, if a litigant was a person I had worked on numerous cases with, I would feel compelled to divulge that to the opposing party. I would do the same if an opposing party had contributed to my campaign. Mullins: If a conflict of interest were to ever arise while I was on
the bench and I felt that I could not fairly and impartially preside over a case, then I would recuse myself and request that the state reassign the case to another local court. I would also recuse myself if there arose the appearance of impropriety, because I would want everyone appearing before me to have the utmost faith in my hearing cases fairly and impartially. I cannot think of any situation offhand that would present a conflict for me in serving as judge, as I firmly believe in fair and just treatment for all.
Q
How do you propose to address the problems the court will face due to COVID? Graziani: We will have to continue following state and CDC guidelines so that no one’s health is compromised and only in rare instances will attorneys and their
clients be allowed in (i.e., for critical proceedings such as preliminary exams). Masks will be used and social distancing guidelines will be enforced. As somebody who worked with the administration during the height of the pandemic, we made sure that our police and fire departments were safe with personal protection equipment and testing. I will continue my efforts to address the problems that the court may face due to COVID-19. I am familiar with SCAO Zoom procedures and, if elected, will continue to ensure citizens remote access to justice throughout the COVID crisis as well as after a return to normal. Mullins: I believe that our first priority is the health and safety of the public and personnel at the court. I would continue holding hearings via Zoom and where possible, would try to do as much court business by mail.
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SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 7
Going plant-based? Use this info to insure enough protein What does it mean to be plant-based? It means you’re choosing to get most of your food from plant sources. The Director of the Department of Nutrition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Health contributor, Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN, explains: “This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans. It doesn’t mean that you are vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy. Rather, you are proportionately choosing more of your foods from plant sources.” If you’ve considered reducing your meat or dairy intake (meatless Monday, perhaps?), you may be wondering how to get adequate protein when your main sources are eliminated. Here are 10 sources of plant-based protein that are easy to incorporate into your meals today: Lentils, chickpeas (think: hummus), nuts, quinoa, tofu, steel-cut oats, chia seeds (toss in a smoothie), beans with rice, potatoes and leafy greens.
Trouble sleeping? Get outside! The amount of sleep we get greatly impacts every aspect of our daily lives, from our mood to our energy to our body’s natural healing abilities. And it’s no surprise that a lot of us are having trouble sleeping given the current worldwide health crisis. So what can we do today to better prepare our bodies for a restful night’s sleep? Get outside. Studies show that exposure to sunlight helps calibrate your
body’s circadian “clock,” which regulates everything from appetite and sleep schedules to mood and energy levels. One of the best ways to calibrate our internal clock is by spending about 45 minutes outdoors each day, ideally in the morning. Even on a cloudy day or covered up with sunglasses and protective clothing, we still get enough natural light just being outdoors to reap the benefits. Plus, who couldn’t use a walk in the fresh air to clear their head?
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SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 9
Prechter family creates largest bipolar study in the nation
From grief comes new hope PAULA NEuMAN Southgate Star
Self-made millionaire, business mogul and high-level Republican fundraiser Heinz Prechter, 59, took his own life in the pool house of his Grosse Ile home in July 2001. His suicide shocked the many employees at his Downriver businesses as well as top politicians across the country. His funeral at the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church drew hundreds of people, including Michigan Gov. John Engler, White House adviser Karl Rove and two members of President George W. Bush’s cabinet. Only after his death did the world learn that the larger-than-life man sometimes called “the Duke of Downriver” suffered from bipolar disorder — a type of mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy and ability to think clearly. People with bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic depression, experience severe high and low moods — known as mania and depression — that differ from the typical ups and downs most people experience, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Four months after her husband’s death, Prechter’s wife Waltraud “Wally” Prechter and the couple’s two children founded the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund. It was a way to channel their grief into something positive and to honor his memory. “As I look back to when I first created the fund in November 2001, I wanted answers to why this terrible illness took Heinz from us,” Prechter said last week. “I had no idea then about the complexities of bipolar in the context of science and research.” And neither did the medical research community at the time. In 2004, she moved the fund to the University of Michigan Health System, and it’s now the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program at the school’s Depression Center
under the leadership of Dr. Melvin McInnis, Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. “Under the leadership of Dr. McInnis, the program today with its flagship longitudinal study has become the largest bipolar study of its kind in the nation,” Prechter said. “We are looking at the biology of the brain, investigating genes, collaborating with numerous disciplines across the university as well as with researchers from around the globe, and looking at strategies on how to detect mood stages via cellphone apps, just to name a few of the projects.” Some years ago, researchers thought they might be able to identify one or two genes that created bipolar disorder, which tends to run in families. But that has not proved to be the case, McInnis said. “What we’re finding is that there are many elements to bipolar disorder,” he said. “We and others have found genes that contribute a very small amount of susceptibility to bipolar disorder. There’s a lot of variability. There are likely to be hundreds of genes that contribute very small amounts.” The disorder has a biological foundation, and also is influenced by personal, social and environmental surroundings, according to the Prechter research program. A research approach exploring all those factors is needed to understand an individual with the disease. One frequent contributing factor to bipolar disorder is childhood abuse, the data shows, McInnis said. “Childhood abuse can compromise mood swings and the ability to function in a normal way,” he said. “The history of abuse will lower functionality later in life.” And quite possibly brain nerve cells and how they communicate with each other play a role, as well. Researchers in the U of M Center for Pluripotent Stem Cell Research, working with the Prechter program, are looking at neuronal cells — cells within the nervous system that transmit information to other cells — as a potential contributing factor to the disorder. “We have shown that neuronal
cells derived from people with bipolar disorder signal to each other more frequently and more strongly,” said Dr. K. Sue O’Shea, director of the stem cell research center, in a 2019 Prechter Program publication. One way cells signal to each other is via packets of chemical signals called exosomes. “We are very excited about exploring exosomes and their contents —what chemicals they carry and how the numbers, size and uptake is different between control and bipolar brain cells,” O’Shea said. McInnis said: “This is an important stride forward. An individual with bipolar probably has a nervous system with a little more excitability than someone without the disorder. Why is still a mystery. We are focusing on cellular mechanisms for maintaining the equilibrium in the cells — making sure the plumbing is working right, if you will.” Finding ways to help the neuronal cells work better through medication or other therapy techniques could help a person with the disorder. “Even when they are well, a person with bipolar has a propensity toward impulsive behavior,” McInnis said. “I’m very encouraged by the lab finding of this excitability.” Another area of the program’s study is showing that adding omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants — the stuff one gets from eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fish — improves the work of those neuronal cells. That study, still in “the infancy stage” needs to be looked at in more detail, McInnis said. “We have found that by and large people with bipolar don’t have a very good diet,” he said. “They are prone to easy, fast foods whether at home or in the environment. The quality of meals is not very high.” What goes “in the gut” can create “a very mild inflammatory condition,” he said. “It is very likely that there are inflammatory disruptions contributing to the illness.” Another area of the program’s research is called The PRIORI Study.
PRIORI stands for Predicting Individual Outcomes for Rapid Intervention, and it involves the study of repeated voice patterns in people with bipolar disorder. McInnis described patients’ family members telling of how they can tell if a loved one with bipolar disorder is heading for an episode of severe depression sometimes weeks ahead of time by somehow hearing it in their voices. “So what we did was we went to the computer science people looking at speech detection,” he said. PRIORI principal investigator Dr. Emily Mower Provost began the study with 51 individuals with bipolar disorder and nine healthy controls. The study had the participants use a cellphone app to capture audio from their conversations and transmit that data to the researchers. From the tones and acoustics of speech, the scientists developed accurate emotion recognition algorithms. “We used the algorithms’ predictions to differentiate between individuals at risk for suicide and health controls and to determine when interventions may be necessary to help the patient,” Provost said in the 2019 program publication. “We have shown that speech collected in clinical environments and in natural personal interactions can be measured to detect changes in mood symptom severity.” “The challenge there is how we utilize this information to predict when somebody’s heading for a problem,” McInnis said. “It’s very expensive and very intensive work. We’re moving incrementally forward on that. There are a whole series of challenges around it, including privacy issues.” The program’s lab now includes 13 years of data from more than 1,330 research participants. But meaningful research takes time — lots of time — and that can be frustrating for patients and supporters and also for the scientists themselves. McInnis said he is grateful to work with researchers who are “finicky and fussy and rigorous,” who do thorough work with careful scientific method in SEE HOPE, Page 21
Page 10 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
CULINARY CAPERS I always thought zucchini was a vegetable, and now I learn that it’s a fruit. Yes, a fruit. According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, zucchini is a botanical berry called a “pepo,” which is the swollen ovary of the zucchini flower. Whatever it is, zucchini is the versatile ingredient called for in EVELYN CAIRNES countless recipes for apSouthgate Star petizers, cakes, cookies, muffins, pies, casseroles, soups, salads, pancakes, jams and more. It can be chopped, grated, stuffed, baked, boiled, broiled, fried, sautéed, grilled or pickled. Plus, the “berry” is low in calories and loaded with vitamins A, C and K and minerals calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. I’d like to share a recipe for an extraordinary zucchini bread I came across recently in a vintage 1977 Sunset Cookbook. After I provided a sample for my neighbor — and chief culinary critic — Melva Bonis, she sent me the following email: “Looks good, tastes great! I think it’s my favorite of all the breads you’ve made. Nice and moist, tender, yet nice denseness, subtle fruity tones with discernible but gentle spice notes. Very good, indeed!” I hope you will agree if you bake it. I’m also sharing two appetizer recipes that have received thumbs-ups from tasters and are really easy to make. The crisps have been served by Italian cooks for generations, and the zucchini bites are addictive. SPICY PINEAPPLE ZUCCHINI BREAD 3 eggs 1 cup cooking oil 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups coarsely shredded unpeeled zucchini 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, well drained 3 cups unsifted all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1½ teaspoons cinnamon ¾ teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup finely chopped walnuts 1 cup currants
Set oven at 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy; add oil, sugar and vanilla. Continue beating until mixture is thick and foamy. Stir in zucchini and pineapple. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, walnuts and currants until thoroughly blended. Stir gently into zucchini mixture just until blended. Spoon batter equally into 2 greased and floured, or sprayed with baking spray, 9x5-inch loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then turn out on a rack to finish cooling.
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ZUCCHINI PARMESAN CRISPS 2 medium zucchini 1 tablespoon olive oil ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup Italian-style bread crumbs Freshly ground black pepper Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Slice the zucchini into 1/4- inch rounds. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini with the oil. In a small bowl, combine the cheese, bread crumbs and a few twists of pepper. Dip each round into the cheese mixture, coating evenly on both sides and pressing down for the coating to stick. Place in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake until browned and crisp, 20- 25 minutes. Serve immediately. QUICK AND EASY ZUCCHINI BITES 2 cups shredded zucchini (squeeze out any excess moisture with paper towels) 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 small yellow onion, shredded ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese ½ cup Italian-style bread crumbs 1 teaspoon dried parsley ½ teaspoon garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 2 12-cup mini-muffin tins with cooking spray. In a large bowl, lightly beat eggs; add zucchini, onion, cheeses, bread crumbs and seasonings. Fill tins with the mixture and bake 15 to 17 minutes or until the tops are a deep golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing. HAPPY BAKING! (Contact me at Evycairns@aol.com.)
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Page 12 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
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Page 14 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
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SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 15
Page 16 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
‘Scooter Squad’ rolls around the Downriver area DAVE GORGON
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Southgate Star
Five Downriver women have chosen Segway scooters as their favorite mode of transportation and source of much joy to form the “Scooter Squad.” The group includes Marnie Burke of Wyandotte, daughters Hailey Schnarr and Morgan Burke, best friend Chrissy Close of Southgate and her daughter Zoey Rose. The quintet – or various combinations of the group – are seen riding in Bishop Park in Wyandotte, Downtown Detroit and points in between. They draw smiles from onlookers along with questions of “where can I get one?” and “do they rent those in the park?” The electric-powered scooters can go 40 miles round trip on a single charge
and can reach speeds of 19 miles per hour. Marnie said she and her boyfriend were in Downtown Detroit when they saw a young person riding a Segway. They got so excited that they bought their own from Facebook Marketplace. Once the latest version came out – the Segway Ninebot MAX – they upgraded, buying four for $799 apiece from Amazon. Chrissy, who used to live next door to Marnie, liked the latest version, so her boyfriend bought two Segways as well. The Scooter Squad was born. “Once we get together, it’s so nice to roll around,” Chrissy said. “We like our accessories, too. It’s so much fun!”
Photo by Dave Gorgon
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Three members of the Scooter Squad brought their favorite brand of transportation and source of much joy to Taylor’s Heritage Park. Marnie Burke of Wyandotte, daughter Hailey Schnarr of Lincoln Park and “bestie” Chrissy Close of Southgate turn heads and put smiles on the faces of onlookers.
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SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 17
Downriver Council for the Arts fundraising event Sept. 26 Heritage Park in Taylor is the perfect location for an early autumn walk! This beautiful, well-maintained community park covering 121 acres, features paved walking paths, wooded nature trails, a large pond, pavilion access, restrooms and ample parking. The Downriver Council for the Arts is another community gem! The DCA is housed at 81 Chestnut in Wyandotte, MI. Although located in Wyandotte, the DCA serves 21 surrounding communities. The unique, historic building has three spacious levels with elevator access. Lower and main level amenities include: Resident artist studios, classroom areas for children and adult art workshops, two large art galleries, a commercial kitchen and a well-stocked artisan gift shop. The upper level auditorium is the ultimate venue for events such as: DJ/ live music concerts, vendor art shows,
club meetings, ballroom dancing and yoga/meditation classes, just to name a few. The DCA also hosts special indoor and outdoor community events throughout the year. Support and involvement from the community is vital for the sustainability and growth of this wonderful non-profit organization. Walk for the Love of Art (and Culture) at Heritage Park is the perfect event to showcase the DCA and all it has to offer. Heritage Park has a beautiful walking trail and you’ll see artists and performers along the route. It’s a fun way to raise money, increase membership, and make new friends, all in support of the Downriver Council for the Arts. Walker registration and participation is free and easy. You register to be a walker on the DCA website at www. downriverarts.org. You can also call
734-512-8374, or email president@ downriverarts.org. Registration deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 22 by 6 p.m,. You can download the donation form from here as well. Registered walkers with donations totaling $50 or more will receive free raffle tickets at check-in. Raffle prizes include: DCA memberships, child and adult art class instruction/supplies, goodie bags, etc. Raffle to be held at close of event day and walkers need not be present to win. In order to maintain social distancing and prevent crowding at the pavilion, participants, upon registration, are required to choose a preferred time slot for check-in and walk completion. Masks or face coverings are highly encouraged while on the walking route and should be worn at the pavilion and all other public facilities. So mark your calendar, register, and call on friends and family for donations
starting at just $10. The DCA has a fun filled walk planned for you! Pets on leashes are also welcome! If you would like to make a donation, but are unable to participate at the event, please visit www.downriverarts. org/events-2/2020artwalk to make a donation online. The Downriver Council for the Arts is a regional arts and cultural organization representing 21 communities in Southeast Michigan. For more than 40 years, the DCA has united artists and communities through a collaborative process to support local artists in the creation of all forms of art that transforms communities and individual lives. Located at the James R. DeSana Center for Arts and Culture in Wyandotte, the DCA has become part of the region’s civic landscape and a source of pride and inspiration for downriver artists and patrons.
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Walk for the Love of Art (and Culture)
Page 18 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
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Sports
Titans get back to work
Because of Executive Orders from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office and uncertainty about whether athletics, or even school, would start, the beginning of the high school athletic season has been a herky-jerky one. Soccer teams got the go-ahead to start and continue practice. Later teams in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula were cleared to play, but southern Michigan teams were still limited to just practice. Finally, in late August, the order came: Game on - and coach Lary Lankford’s Titans took to their new synthetic field. The 2020 Titans are: Hesham Abdo, Samuale Bommarito, Julian Brown, Anthony Codrington, Harrison Doherty, Zaro Gaglio, Rogelio Herrera, Jeffrey Hodnicki, Breyden Jackson, Jacob Keysaer, Logan Keysaer, Salvatore Manzella, Alex Merriman, Roger Salcedo, Joseph Truel and Chris Wrona. Photos by Larry Caruso
Have an Event or Fundraiser? Let us know at 734-282-3939
SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 19
Page 20 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
Have an Event or Fundraiser? Let us know at 734-282-3939
MHSAA clarifies rules on athletes and masks From MHSAA This is a summary of current requirements as they relate to fall sports and face coverings in light of the Governor’s most recent Executive Order (EO 2020180). It is the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s expectation that all members comply with Executive Order 180, which was issued on Sept. 9, and governs social distancing and facial coverings requirements for organized sports. As of Sept. 10: 1. Face coverings may be worn but student-athletes are not required to do so while in active participation in cross country, golf and tennis. Active participation only applies when an athlete is “in” the game/match/meet/ race/competition or is actively involved in any warmup or cool-down activity. In swimming & diving, there is no requirement of face coverings while preparing to enter the water (and obviously while in the water) but the covering shall be worn at all other times when ondeck or in the facility. 2. Face coverings are required in football, soccer and volleyball. This includes all times during active participation and all times during non-active participation when six feet of physical distance cannot be maintained. 3. There are no provisions in EO 180 for medical
intolerance reasons or medical waivers. This is not an MHSAA regulation, and thus the MHSAA has no legal authority to waive or modify this Executive Order from the Governor’s office. 4. In both indoor and outdoor practice and training sessions in all regions of the state, including Regions 6 and 8, this same sport-specific guidance applies. 5. Consistent with current Executive Orders, face coverings shall be worn by coaches, medical staff, game event staff, media members and spectators. Note that broadcasters and PA announcers are an exception to this requirement when that person is actively broadcasting or announcing. This allows broadcasters and announcers to remove the face covering while performing those speaking duties but should wear the
At first the Governor’s office was going to require cross country runners competing in the MHSAA to wear masks, but a Sept. 10 ruling changes that, so Michigan High schoolers are able to run mask-free
face covering at all other times. 6. Officials may wear face coverings on the field of play if he/she desires. Officials shall wear face coverings upon arrival at a facility, before the contest, during intermissions away from the field/court/area of play and following the contest until departure. Remember that officials have no role in enforcing face covering requirements as this is a responsibility of school administrators. 7. Executive Order 180 does not define ‘facial coverings’ for purposes of organized sports. Traditional cloth masks, gaiters, affixed helmet plastic shields (100 percent clear – no tint) and cloth/fabric helmet attachments located inside the face mask (all of which must cover the nose and mouth) are not prohibited. The MHSAA will attempt to assist schools in understanding these requirements but know the MHSAA has no authority to waive, ignore or modify Executive Orders for any reason.
Gabriel Richard Catholic High School ■ GR offers more Advanced Placement/Honors level classes than any other area school (28 total) ■ GR is the only school in the area to offer American Sign Language (ASL) on site ■ More than $7.3 million awarded in college scholarships for the Class of 2019 (100 students strong) ■ More than 8000 hours of service to those in need were provided by the Gabriel Richard community in 2018-19 ■ DECA program ■ Dynamic ART program with 3 AP classes ■ 1:1 technology program. Every student has a Chromebook ■ 2 full-time counselors ■ 30+ sports teams including lacrosse ■ Turf athletic field and state-of-the-art gymnasium ■ Christ-centered academically excellent education to help students unleash their full potential ■ A community built on faith, service, knowledge and growth ■ Daily prayer with celebrating Mass every Tuesday ■ Average class size of 18 students ■ 100% graduation and college acceptance rate
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SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 21
Hank Minckiewicz Southgate Star
Well, one thing is certain this season: The Southgate football team will not finish with the year with a 3-6 record as it has every year since 2015. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the uncertainty of the 2020 season and the shortened campaign as a result, Michigan teams will play just six regular season games this year and all teams will qualify for the state tournament. The Titans, who lost games with Carlson, Lincoln Park and Taylor, opened the season Sept. 18 against Dearborn Edsel Ford. The results were unavailable at
The Titans went 3-6 each year from 20152019. They will have a different record this year.
HOPE
Continued from page 9 spite of the pressure to make faster progress. The program is collaborating with other researchers worldwide to gather “more detailed data over the course of time” the better to “understand what causes and what are the mechanisms that help to treat the illness,” he said. Bipolar disorder is treated with a
press time. Anderson will play Bay City Western Sept. 25, Woodhaven Oct. 2, Trenton Oct. 9, Wyandotte Oct. 16 and Allen Park Oct. 23. It’s a tough schedule as all four of the Downriver League opponents were playoff qualifiers a season ago. Anderson coach Mitch Dobek said the tough schedule is made even tougher by the compacted, confused practice time available to teams and the lack of a live scrimmage. “It’s trying to squeeze so much coaching into a short time,” he said. “We’ve adapted our practice schedule; we have varsity and jayvee together and we break into offense and defense.” Dobek admitted that he and his staff were caught a bit unawares by the return to the football field. “I was surprised,” he admitted. “I understand everyone wants to get the kids back to normal, but these are not normal times.” Southgate, like several other Downriver school districts, does not yet have face-to-face learning in its schools. Anderson will play this year on a brand new synthetic field. “The field is just awesome,” said Dobek. “It was just outstanding how quickly they were able to install it this summer.” Dobek said the program numbers are trending up and the Titans will have both a varsity and jayvee teams and each will be at least 25 players. He also said the varsity squad features veteran linemen playing in front of younger skill players - in some cases, very much younger. In an unusual move at a school as large as Anderson, a freshman - Chase Barbosa - will start at quarterback. “He is the best athlete in our program,” said Dobek. “He is a natural leader and with him our offense has clicked a little better each practice. There will be some growing pains, but he is a competitor and we are comfortable with him there.” The team’s bedrock will be the offensive and defensive lives, where Ian Norscia rules. Norscia, plays center and on the defensive line. He is a four-year starter for the Titans.
variety of medications and treatments that include electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation, and also with talk therapy. “No one intervention can solve every problem,” McInnis said. “There are many options. The goal I emphasize to all patients is that you can be 80 percent well 80 percent of the time. People have a tendency to think a bad day means everything’s going to hell in a handbasket, and that’s not the case. It may take a couple of years for them to achieve that goal.”
2020 Southgate football (Varsity and JV)
Seniors Torian Clemens Dominique Dixon Ryan Drouillard Ruben Gonzalez Michael Iwuagwu Daveon Jones Ian Norscia Orlando Perez-Luciano David Slitti Jayce Williams Ronald Witechowsky Juniors Korbin Burkhart Maya Dodds Brennan Emans Anthony Gutierrez Ryan Kruzak Tyrique Malu Charles Mickel Andrew Shields Sophomores JT Brickey Eric Bryant Leland Castle Noah Clinton Andrew Gates
Jacob Howard Ryan MacDonell Aaron Morales Colin Webb Freshmen Tyler Baker Chase Barbosa Christian Cole Trevor Crites Ethan Emans David Flores Joshua Gardner Anthony Hendrickson LaVelle Hughes Keegan Jackson Damiane Kenworthy Andrew Laesser Mason Mayhew Isaac Norscia Andrew Porter Logan Riddle Aven Rouse Jase Walerski Jacob Waring William Witechowsky Richard Wuerker Gavin Yesh
“He plays both ways and he anchors our defensive line,” Dobek said. Senior Dominique Dixon and Daveon Jones join him on the lines. Senior Ryan Drouillard and junior Charlie Mickel are key linebackers. Others who will make an impact for the Titans this season are seniors Orlando Perez and Torian Clemmons, juniors Ryand Kruzak and Brennan Emans, sophomore Colin Webb and freshman LaVelle Hughes.
The disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The median age of diagnosed onset for bipolar disorder is 25, although the illness can start in childhood or as late as the 40s and 50s. An equal number of men and women develop bipolar illness and it is found in all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes. As many as one in five people with bipolar disorder commit suicide,
victims like Heinz Prechter, whose death ultimately led to the program making strides to help. “What started out of pain and desperation has taken on a life of its own and become more than I could have imagined, and I am very proud of the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program,” said program founder Wally Prechter. If you would like to contribute to the Prechter program, contact Nancy Davis, Director of Development at (734) 7634858 or nandavis@umich.edu.
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Despite circumstances, Titan gridders hope to prevail
Page 22 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
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Titan boys hope to build toward strong finish Hank Minckiewicz Southgate Star
M
Anderson GIRLS cross country
Grace Buckner, Freshman Lena Hales, Sophomore Natalie Packwood, Junior Anysia Correa, Sophomore Pauline Rosas, Sophomore Maggie Stanley, Junior Faith Plummer, Senior Annalyse Hudson, Senior
Photos by Larry Caruso
ost coaches, no matter what sport, love getting off to a hot start. Anderson cross country coach Sam Childs is no exception. But sometimes it doesn’t happen. “We’ve been having kind of a hard time getting going,” Childs said. “Some of our guys are not yet where we thought they would be.” The good thing about cross country, though, is it is not necessarily how you start, it how you finish. “Our goal - as always - is to be running fast at the end,” said Childs. One Titan runner who is ahead of schedule is senior Connor Augenstein. Childs said he was hoping Augenstein would be a solid No. 3 man on this year’s team, but he has already exceeded that. In the team’s first meet of the year, the three-team Maroon Shoe Invitational with Riverview and Gabriel Richard, Augunstein was Anderson’s top runner, finishing seventh. He ran second to a Carlson runner in a dual meet loss to the Marauders and he was fourth as Anderson scored a onepoint dual-meet upset over Roosevelt. He has run the team’s top competitive time this season, 19:09 at the Maroon Shoe. “I didn’t know Connor would be this good this year, but I can’t say I am surprised because he was just ruling our summer workouts,” said Childs. Some other familiar names - Steven Porter, Connor Eccleton and Joe Rodriguez, along with Alex Jewell, Tyler Fantow and Noah Packwod - have been
among Anderson’s scorers this early season. Childs said Woodhaven looks like the team top beat in the league this season, something that is a little surprising. “I thought Wyandotte was going to be the top team,” Childs said, “but the Woodhaven boys did some serious soul-searching or something because they are all really, really fast right now.” The Southgate girls team is young and a little inexperienced, but Childs said he sees “the seeds of a very, very good team,” among coach Lisa Fast’s squad. Freshman Grace Buckner is already a force and her best time this season is almost three minutes faster than her next closest teammate. “She has a good core around her and they will be around her for a couple of years,” said Childs. Only two of the eight girls on the Anderson team this year are seniors. There is also some help coming from Gerisch, where there are some talented middle schoolers currently competing. In a nod to the COVID pandemic, the Downriver League has scrapped its usual Jamboree style schedule and gone back to an old-school dual-meet format with just two teams facing off against each other. Boys teams arrive before girls and leave before the girls race starts to keep interaction at a minimum. The Michigan High School Athletic Association allows a maximum of 70 runners in a cross country race, so the league is hopeful of having a league meet, but a date has not been set.
Anderson boys cross country
Connor Augenstein, Senior Steven Porter, Senior Alex Jewell, Junior Connor Eccleton, Senior Joe Rodriguez, Junior Tyler Fantow, Junior Noah Packwood, Senior Kirk Phillips, Senior Kayden Snyder, Junior Cameron Jewell, Junior Dylan Berrios, Freshman John Manor, Junior Ian Simons, Junior Zach Strickland, Freshman Dominic Manor, Freshman Nathan Steichen, Junior
Hank Minckiewicz Southgate Star
This crazy, pandemic-delayed, confusion-reigns high school sports season has knocked plenty of local teams back on their heels. Training has been delayed or interrupted, schedules have been changed. Many teams have struggled with the situation. But don’t place the Southgate tennis team in that category. Coach Ryan Furkas’ team bolted out of the gate this season, winning seven straight matches (two of them league matches) and finishing second - by one point - at an invitational the Titans hosted earlier this season. “It’s been great so far,” said Furkas. “When we got together to begin the season, I was surprised and happy how everyone played. It was clear that they had hit all summer and some of them took lessons.” Furkas said the program began a bit of a rebuild three years ago. Last year was a tough one as the young squad struggled to find its footing against varsity competition. Things have changed as the calendar turned to 2020. Senior Dylan Faber claimed the No. 1 singles spot after a spirited challenge from junior John Demou. Demou became the team’s very strong No. 2 singles player. “I feel like - and I’ve told the kids this - we have two No. 1s. It’s just that one of them has to play No. 2,” said Furkas. Senior Zach Koerber holds down the fort at No. 3 singles and fellow senior Caeden Coffman is the team’s No. 4 man. All of the singles players are team veterans. Faber was the No. 1 last year, Demou made the jump from doubles to No. 2, Koerber returned at No. 3 and Coffman split time at No. 4 a season ago. Doubles for Southgate is a mostly junior affair with seven of the eight players being 11th-graders. The lone senior is Andrew Calhoun. Andrew Parkham and Kevin Lucas play No. 1 doubles, Calhoun and Luke Piscitelli play No. 2, Jacob Gardner and Nolan Pesci play No. 3 and Josh Calhoun and Josh Wright round out the lineup at No. 4 doubles. The Titans have 19 rostered players this season, which is right around normal,
2020 Southgate boys tennis
Dyan Faber, Senior Zach Koerber, Senior Caeden Coffman, Senior Andrew Calhoun, Senior John Demou, Junior Andrew Parkham, Junior Kevin Lucas, Junior Luke Piscatelli, Junior Jacob Gardner, junior Nolan Pesci, Junior Josh Caloun, Junior Josh Wright, Junior Jake Vance, Junior Josh Craig, Junior Gage Vaananen, Junior Blake Eldridge, Junior Frankie Vilardi, Soph Andrew Pipta, Soph Nathan Jones, Soph according to Furkas, but generally after school starts the coach is able to prowl the halls and gym classes and shake loose a few more players. “Most of our good players are athletes,” said Furkas. “They are not year-round tennis players, who have taken lessons for a long time. Some teams have the luxury of that, but we have to go a different route.” Southgate is remote learning only to begin the 2020-21 school year, so that avenue is closed off. “I am still hopeful that we can convince a few more kids to come out,” Furkas said. “We’d love to have at least 24 players.” Whatever the number ends up and however things go, Furkas said he is encouraging his players to enjoy their time on the court and realize that nothing is guaranteed. He cites last spring for back up. “Last spring we were very excited about the upcoming girls’ season,” he said. “I went home on a Wednesday, thinking we were going to have our first match on Thursday and then I got the call the season was cancelled. “I locked up the tennis room the night before our scheduled first girls match and didn’t open it again until it was time for the boys to practice. “We are just happy to be out here.”
John Demou plays No. 2 singles for coach Rtan Furlas’ Anderson Titans
Andrew Parkham teams with Kevin Lucas as the Titans’ No. 1 doubles team
Photos by Larry Caruso
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Titan tennis team off to rip-roaring start
SOUTHGATE STAR • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • Page 23
Page 24 • September 24 - October 23, 2020 • SOUTHGATE STAR
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