The City of Southgate is proud to announce its first official Tot Lot at McCann Park, a lively play area created just for children aged 2-5.
The Tot Lot features whimsical structures that promote imaginative play and language development. At the heart of the playground is the SmartPlay Centre, where children can immerse themselves in a mini village. Here, they can role-play in a Farmer’s Market and Café, enhancing their social skills while learning to identify and name various fruits and vegetables. This interactive experience encourages language-rich conversations between children and caregivers.
“As a City, we strive to meet the recreational needs of all of our residents,” said Mayor Joseph Kuspa. He continued, “This new park renovation is focused on our families with small children. I commend our Recreation Commission and Parks and Recreation Director Julie Goddard for their shared commitment to re-envision our park system.”
important educational elements, particularly around fire safety. They can take the wheel at the First Station, enjoy slides that lead to new adventures, and engage in fun activities that teach them essential safety lessons through games.
The Tot Lot also boasts unique attractions to keep little ones entertained. The ReviWhirl Bouncer offers exciting jumping opportunities, while the butterfly rider and custom swing set decorated with giant flowers add to the charm of the playground.
Accessibility is a priority, as the Tot Lot is fully ADA accessible, featuring a new sidewalk and concrete border to ensure easy access for all children.
With its thoughtful designs and engaging activities, McCann Park’s Tot Lot is a nurturing environment where children can explore, learn, and grow through play.
In addition to imaginative play, the park incorporates
“A special thanks goes out to our residents who supported our Parks and Recreation millage, making these new projects a reality,” Kuspa concluded.
Estate Planning 101
Which plan do you need?
Time to clear up the confusion about Estate Planning ... The following definitions lack legal precision, but makes it easier to get a clear picture of what may be needed in your case.
■ Will – letter of intent of where you want your personal property to go – or not go.
■ Living Will – Documents your wishes during your final days including final healthcare choices and possibly your burial wishes.
■ Trust – This is a “company” that you start, and you become the CEO, “Trustee” and “Settlor.” The company outlives you, but continues to manage your assets as if you were alive by the successor CEO – whom you designate.
■ Power of Attorney – Financial and Healthcare – you need both – the first so someone can pay your bills, the second, sometimes called a Patient Advocate, designates someone to make “hallway at the hospital” decisions to take the stress off the family.
■ Ladybird Deed – probably the best thing that has happened to owning a home. I love these deeds – you grant yourself a life estate – in your own property - but retain the power to sell or borrow against the property. If you do not sell before you pass, this “springs” the house out of your estate, and your heirs have instant ownership, subject to any mortgage or taxes owed or similar.
Again, this is just a general description of the more popular terms – no one choice is a “silver bullet” but depending on how your estate gets planned out you can expedite a clean and clear process for the assets you worked a lifetime to save. Why wouldn’t you want to do that? Stop by or call and make an appointment and I’ll tell you what you’re going to need to do this right.
To my numerous former clients – thank you for allowing me to draft your estate plan!
Spooktacular times at the Y
Halloween at the Y was a fantastic success this year, uniting the community for an evening filled with fun and creativity. Held on Friday, October 25th, the event featured a variety of activities, including crafts, snacks, a sensory room, and a thrilling Haunted Hallway that captivated guests of all ages.
Executive Director Emily Otting expressed her pride in the dedicated staff, whose passion and creativity made the event a success. This Halloween marked Emily’s first
celebration in her new role, and she was impressed by how smoothly everything went, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the staff, members, board members, and the vibrant community.
With approximately 350 attendees enjoying games, treats, and the festive spirit, the event created a warm atmosphere for families and friends. The success of this year’s Halloween at the Y sets a promising tone for future celebrations, fostering a sense of community and fun for all.
Happy Harvestfest!
The Southgate Downtown Development Authority hosted a free, family-friendly event that provided the perfect way to kick off the fall season.
Held on Saturday, October 5th at Market Center Park, the festival featured a variety of activities. Attendees enjoyed shopping from local artisans offering unique crafts and goods. They savored delicious food from local vendors and selected their pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.
Children had fun bouncing in the bounce house, participated in a colorful face painting session, made fall-themed crafts, and were entertained by talented balloon artists.
The event provided an opportunity for guests to meet local law enforcement in a friendly environment through the Faith & Blue initiative. There were numerous games and activities to keep the little ones entertained, along with a Touch-a-Truck experience that allowed participants to get close to impressive vehicles. A trunk-or-treat experience was also offered for families.
The scarecrow competition was a highlight of the festival, showcasing the creativity and craftsmanship of local participants. Attendees enjoyed wandering through the park, admiring a variety of Festival-goers were encouraged to vote for their favorite scarecrow, adding an element of friendly competition to the event.
Throughout the day, a DJ played festive tunes that kept the atmosphere lively. Families and friends came together for a day filled with seasonal fun and community spirit, and organizers expressed their excitement, looking forward to seeing everyone again next year.
Thank you to all the sponsors and organizations that made this event a success! Stay up to date on all Southgate events on Facebook at Downtown Southgate.
Connecting the Community through Networking Opportunities
BY ASHLEI DANG
On September 26th, the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce (SWCRC) had its latest ABO (After Business, Ours) meeting hosted by the Downriver Community Federal Credit Union. These bi-monthly events are designed to provide local business owners with a free networking opportunity to make valuable connections and learn about the benefits of Chamber membership. Any business, regardless of industry, is welcome to attend, and guests are always encouraged to join.
The evening started with the usual SWCRC Board of Directors, which included a mini-expo showcasing displays from several chamber members. However, this meeting featured a wide range of activities. Attendees enjoyed food catered by Mission BBQ, refreshing drinks served by Roaming Spirits Mobile Bar, and live entertainment from the Gratitude Steel Drum Band. The event also included some friendly cornhole competition and an exciting Electric Vehicle Drive Event, facilitated by DTE Energy, where guests had the chance to test drive electric vehicle models like the Ford F-150 Lightening and the Chevy Silverado. Nearly 100 people attended, making it a vibrant and successful evening.
For anyone looking to join future networking opportunities, the Downriver Community Federal Credit Union will host The Morning Spark on Friday, November 1st, from 8:00am to 9:00am—another free event open to the public. Additionally, the Chamber Connections Networking Groups meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday, as well as the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, and welcome anyone who wants to learn more about growing their business through the Chamber.
These events are excellent ways for local business owners to build relationships and explore the benefits of becoming a SWCRC member Don’t miss out on the chance to expand your network and support the Downriver Community!
To learn more about the upcoming events: The Morning Spark: swcrc.com/events/novmspark24 • The Chamber Connections Networking Groups: swcrc.com/chamber-connections
Claus
TURNING 65?
River Rouge puts an end to Titans’ season – again
By HANK MINCKIEWICZ
The River Rouge football team ended the Southgate Titans’ season for the second year in a row, but the games in 2023 and 2024 could not have been any more different.
Last year, the Panthers dominated the Titans and ran up a 47-14 score. This time around, it was much more of a battle as the Panthers scored the only points of the second half and eked out a 13-7 victory.
With the win, Rouge advances to the district final where the Panthers will face Huron League runner-up Riverview. The Bucs, whose only loss this year is to Huron League champ Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, rallied in the final moments to beat Trenton 22-21 in their opening-round
playoff game.
The playoff loss left the Titans with a final record of 7-3. They finished third in the Downriver League behind champion Gibraltar Carlson and runner-up Allen Park. Carlson beat Temperance-Bedford in its first-round playoff game, while Allen Park was defeated by Livonia Franklin. Carlson and Franklin will meet in the district final.
Anderson scored first against River Rouge, in a game that was marred by many turnovers. Anderson had three passes intercepted, while Rouge had trouble hanging onto the ball and lost several fumbles.
In the end, Rouge coach Eric Pettway summed it up:
“It don’t have to be pretty, you just have to keep going,” he said.
Anderson scored first when star senior quarterback Jackson Sage hit a wide-open
Zayne Whitson with a 23-yard scoring pass. The key play on the scoring drive was a 25-yard run by Sage. Anderson opted for a short kickoff to try and avoid a long return, but the strategy backfired when River Rouge’s Jaheem Richmond caught the ball near midfield and did not stop running until he reached the end zone.
The touchdown knotted the game at 7-7 and the score stayed that way through halftime.
Turnovers and poor field positions hampered each team in the third quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Rouge had a chance to take its first lead of the night, but a 32yard field goal attempt veered wide right.
The Rouge defense turned in a three-and-out after the missed kick and Rouge took possession and began what would turn out to be the game-winning drive.
The visiting Panthers largely kept the ball on the ground behind the backfield duo of quarterback McKale McDowell and running back Jakory Cross. Cross finished the drive by punching it in from one yard out. A blocked point-after try kept it a 13-6
Rouge lead.
After the Rouge score, Anderson still had life and Sage guided them down the field, where they reached the Red Zone, but there the march faltered and when the Titans failed to convert on a fourth down, the game was decided.
The Titans had their opportunities in this game, reaching the River Rouge Red Zone four times and coming away with just seven points. The other trips ended in two interceptions and a turnover on downs.
“Last year, I feel like our kids were really intimidated,” Southgate coach Bobby Marten said. “This year, you could tell they came out with a different attitude. You could see all week in practice they were ready to play tonight and they played great.”
The Titans closed out the final portion of their regular-season schedule in style, cruising to victories over Downriver League foes Woodhaven, Lincoln Park, Dearborn Edsel Ford, and Wyandotte.
The Titans won those final four games by a combined average score of 40-18.
It was an impressive finish for the team especially considering it came after the Titans’ only “bad”
game of the season, a 63-13 blowout at the hands of league champ Carlson.
Southgate started its season-ending run with a 4121 win over Woodhaven, followed by a 48-14 win over Lincoln Park, a 42-14 win over Edsel Ford, and a 31-26 win over Roosevelt.
Sage, who has pretty much been the heartbeat of the Titan offense this season, put together impressive numbers in those final four regular season games.
The three-year starter at quarterback was 38for-47 (76 percent) passing for 697 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground he gained 294,putting him just a hair short of 1,000 yards from scrimmage in those games.
“I am obviously biased,” said Marten, “but I think he’s the best player in the league. He’s tremendous. He runs hard, he’s physical and he’s an amazing leader.”
BUBBLES
NEWS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS
GIEF annual fundraiser scary good success
There were no tricks, just treats. No hocus pocus. Oh, but there was a haunted hallway, and spooky decorations. Maybe the creepy guy on the dance floor yoked between two skeletons made you shiver. The only really scary thing was if you missed it.
But, whatever the case, Grosse Ile ghosties and ghoulies had more than a bump in the night at the “Monster Bash,” the Grosse Ile Educational Foundation’s annual fundraiser held October 12th at the Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club.
Cutting through the fog and ominous music, partygoers were met at the door by one of those, ahem ... larger than life animatronic skeletons and an all too real scary hearse with which not many people seemed to want their picture taken. Once inside the club, revelers snaked their way through the dimly lit haunted house to partake of specialty Halloween drinks, delectable dishes, and a wild night of dancing to the ever popular, Killer Flamingos. Partiers bid on more than a hundred upscale silent auction items, which included such exclusive prizes as Thanksgiving Day Lions tickets, a full service suite at a Pistons game, and a chance to climb the Mackinac Bridge tower.
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Understanding how to use a dictionary is an essential skill for third graders, and it provides lifelong benefits that extend far beyond the classroom. The ability to look up words empowers students with the tools they need to build strong writing skills, engage in active reading, and think creatively. Third grade is a crucial time in a child’s educational journey, marking the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Mastering the use of a dictionary at this stage helps students become more independent learners, equipping them with the resources to explore language, expand their vocabulary, and better understand the world around them.
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Trenton football team stuns both Carlson and Allen Park
The Trenton football team giveth and the Trenton football team taketh away.
On Oct. 4 the Trojans took their 3-2 record to Gibraltar for a crucial contest against the undefeated, Downriver League-leading Carlson Marauders.
Like the Detroit Lions, the Trojans have settled
into a great two-back approach in the backfield with seniors Ashton Rooney and Drew Carson taking turns pounding opposing defensive lines. Against Carlson, Rooney had 116 yards and two touchdowns and Carson had 109 yards and one touchdown. Each back carried the ball 21 times and each averaged more than five yards per tote.
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WPD’s first Trunk or Treat is a spooktacular success
On October 11th, the Wyandotte Police Department celebrated a successful inaugural Trunk or Treat event, drawing a remarkable turnout from the community. Attendees expressed their enthusiasm as every trunk ran out of candy, highlighting the event’s popularity and community spirit.
COVER
2024 Kiwanis Dictionary Project is a rousing success
Medicare Annual Enrollment Is Oc tober 15 to December 7
The Inflation Reduction Act and rising utilization of health care will mean big changes for Medicare beneficiaries:
• Increased copays and maximum-out-of-pocket
• New deductibles for prescription drug coverage
• Many plans dropped coverage for several medications
• Double-digit premium increases for Medigap plans
• Cuts to Supplemental Benefits (i.e. Dental, OTC)
Do not wait (or let mom or dad wait) until January to get a huge bill at the pharmacy or find out an important drug is no longer covered. It could be too late to fix it.
Many companies introduced exciting new plans for 2025. Our office is open weekdays from 10am -5pm. It is best to call ahead for an appointment during our busy season.
