Southgate Star, July 14 – August 10, 2023

The 14-story former Security Bank building at 16333 Trenton Road in Southgate has been the topic of conversation for months since the empty building was purchased by Gordon-Begin Properties.

The new owners, along with city and county officials, were on hand on June 21 to make a public announcement on the future of the iconic building.

The structure, rebranded The Bank Tower with a nod to its past history, will become a 215-unit upscale apartment building.

The open house was held on a Wednesday; five days later there was tangible proof that the project was moving forward as asbestos abatement teams descended on the building and began remediation.

The Bank Tower is expected to open in mid-2025.

Some of the building’s original

TOWER

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features will be incorporated into the redevelopment. For example, a safety deposit box vault will be turned into a social area, a drive-through teller building will become an electric vehicle charging station and residents will have the option of paying rent via one of the bank’s old pneumatic tubes.

The Bank Tower will be managed by Beztak.

“We’re excited to be developing an extraordinary apartment property offering amazing views in one of Downriver’s most iconic buildings,” Alex Begin, partner of Gordon-Begin Properties, said in a statement.

The development also will include a new public park around the tower to complement nearby Kiwanis Park. The park would have pickleball courts, putting greens and exercise stations. Wayne County would fund construction of the new park and a new pedestrian bridge across Trenton Road.

The pedestrian bridge will link the new Tower park with Kiwanis Train Park, which is across Trenton Road from The Bank Tower. The apartment building will pay for the upkeep of Tower Park.

Parking will be beneath the apartment building, which will free up plenty of space around the structure

for other amenities, including a swimming pool.

In a particularly 2020s kind of a move, developers plan to turn the old remote teller windows, which still stand in the parking lot, into charging stations for electric vehicles. One of the vacuum tubes will be rehabbed and tenants can pay rent that way, developers said.

“The redevelopment of this iconic Downriver structure is both historic and transformational,” said Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa, who said that his first job out of high school was in the building. “It represents the single largest investment project in the 65year history of our city.”

The tower opened in 1973 as headquarters for the former Security Bank & Trust Co. The bank was absorbed in a series of acquisitions, the first occurring in the early 1990s, and ultimately became part of PNC Bank.

The tower sold for $2.2 million in 2006. It changed hands again in a 2018 online auction for just over $1 million, going to an investment group from Argentina. The Begin family bought the empty tower last year.

The new apartments in the building are to range in size from studio units up to two-floor penthouses. Asking rents have yet to be set. The penthouses will have floor to ceiling windows and offer a commanding view of Southeastern Michigan.

More Percentage Yield

By Chris O’Shea

What to know about APY

The term “Annual Percentage Yield” (APY) plays an important part in your finances. APY refers to the percentage of interest, you earn on your bank or credit union accounts. Let’s take a look at what you should know about APY.

What is APY?

APY uses compound interest to calculate the return on your interest-earning accounts. Depending on the account, the interest could compound daily, monthly, or annually. Compound interest is the interest added to your principal balance. Let’s say you earn $7 on your $20,000 balance this month. Next month you’ll

earn interest on $20,007.

APY vs APR

The terms APY and APR seem similar, but they are different. You can think of it this way: APY refers to the interest you earn, and APR — annual percentage rate — refers to the interest you pay.

APY Variables

Depending on what type of savings account you have, APY can vary. If you

have a regular savings account, the APY will fluctuate based on the market. If you have a CD, the rate will stay the same as when you purchased it.

Why APY Matters to You

APY matters because the more money you have saved, the more money you can earn. Compound interest might seem small, but it adds up over time. So when shopping for a savings account, be sure to find the best APY available. Check your local credit union as they typically offer better APYs for their accounts than big banks.

*Used by permission from Savvy Money in partnership with Downriver Community Federal Credit Union.

Weekly event a hit at Southgate’s Market Center Park

DAVE GORGON

It didn’t take long for the weekly market and free concerts to become a summertime hit at Southgate’s Market Center Park.

The first Tuesday of the season drew an estimated 400 people to shop at dozens of vendors’ booths, enjoy music in a casual setting, eat from food trucks, select beverages from an open bar provided by Crystal Gardens and play in the splash pad at the venue, located at 13631 Eureka Road in the Southgate Shopping Center.

Markets in the Park started June 20 and will continue through Sept. 12. Dozens of vendors are set up in a farmers market setting from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Concerts are held from 6 to 8 p.m.

Organizers in the Southgate Downtown Development Authority, the vendors and local shoppers and concert goers said they are enjoying the results.

Each Tuesday, there is a different band and a different theme.

Coming up in July are the Cody Boggs Band and a country western theme on July 11, the Toppermost Beatles tribute band and retro day on July 18 and the band Weekend Comeback and the Christmas in July theme on July 25.

There are five Tuesdays in August, featuring Beats with Ben and a Hawaiian luau theme on August 1, Acoustic Beer League and movie night on August 8, the Kielbasa Kings performing on Polish night on August 15, the Boogie Woogie Kid performing on kids day on August 22 and Ain’t Dead Yet performing on Ladies night, August 29.

The summer concert season concludes with Downriver Dan and a focus on local business on September 5 and the Southgate Anderson High School band performs on Titan pride night, September 12.

Kaylee Mondrella, director of the Downtown Development Authority, said changing the theme every week “gives the community a good reason to check us out each week.”

“Come for the market, shop around, stay for the concert and get dinner in between,” Mondrella said. “It’s a nice Tuesday out.”

Mondrella said vendors are selling a wide variety of goods and services, such as flowers, cookies, dog bandanas and bows, pillows, towels, children’s crafts, books, candy, bumblers, roasted almonds, kettle corn, tamales, Hungarian food, honey, jams, dips, clothing and more.

“I love going to markets myself,” Mondrella said. “I hope everyone stops by at least a couple of the vendors to see what we have to offer. As word gets out there, the vendors will love the Southgate community and the venue.”

Local vendors have already hit their stride in Markets in the Park. Jed Daddow, owner of Floral Designs at 13354 Dix-Toledo Road, created a floral archway at the entrance to the park.

“This is a great opportunity to get our name out to the community,” Daddow said.

The full-service florist makes flower arrangements for every event with a certified florist on staff. At the market, Daddow has displayed European hand-tied bouquets that are available for purchase, but his goal is really to support the community.

“What really attracts a lot of the people is the live music,” he said. “It’s always a good time.

“Kaylee is doing a fantastic job. She’s doing things to get all the businesses together – helping us link up. It’s been wonderful with her.”

Bethany Masters of Masters Paw, a dog groomer based in Taylor, advertises her services and dog merchandise for sale at the market. Masters said she booked two grooming appointments during the first week of the market, sold such items as handmade dog apparel and T-shirts and has had a very positive experience, saying the Southgate market is very “dog friendly.”

She said she has set up at other “farmers markets” in the area, but rates Southgate as number one.

Joseph Hewitt, the assistant manager of the family-owned Country Grains Bread Co., travels all the way from Sylvania, Ohio, to man a booth at the Markets in the Park. Like his shop, Hewitt features many varieties of tasty cheese breads and sweet breads, all hand rolled with no preservatives. His apple crumble and “sinohman,” made with Jewish

traditional dough, have been big hits in Southgate. New customers have already become “regulars,” Hewitt said, returning several times throughout the night to purchase additional baked goods.”

“I have really enjoyed the market in Southgate,” Hewitt said. “There is live music and drinks and people having a good time… When you walk in, it’s really a fun event.”

During week two of the marketplace, friends Jerry Hall of Southgate and Tom Mortimer raved about the band Woodford Station.

“This is awesome,” Hall said. “We’ll be back.”

As the concert continued, John Reeves of Wyandotte did some paperwork on a bench while his children Jackson, Joey and Janey enjoyed playing in the splash pad nearby. They took in a movie at the MJR Southgate next door before joining the market.

“We really like it,” he said. For more information, follow Market Center Park activities on the Downtown Southgate Facebook page, check the website marketcenterpark. com or call (734) 284-7307.

The band Woodford Station drew an appreciative crowd for a free concert during Southgate’s Markets in the Park.

Photo by Dave Gorgon

Still cruisin’

Although there is no longer any official sponsor and although there technically is no longer a Downriver Cruise, that does not stop car enthusiasts from gathering along Fort Street in Lincoln Park, Wyandotte, Riverview and Southgate on the third Saturday in June to watch the hot rods and classics show off as they loop Downriver’s main drag. The event had gotten a little raucous the past few years, leading to a greater police presence, especially in the area around Pennsylvania Road and Fort Street. With the police keeping an eye out, this year’s event seemed calmer and was seemingly enjoyed by most viewers.

Photos by Dave Chapman

GET GREAT NEW GLASSES, SAVE SOME MONEY!

Many people - most, perhaps - go to an optometrist, get an eye exam and then follow the lady in the white coat over to the wall of frames and pick out a new set of glasses.

The story ends with the customer paying way more than he or she ever expected.

If that pretty much describes you, Bob Schmittou says there is something you should know: He can save you money, maybe lots of money.

Schmittou, a proud military veteran, owns New Eyes Optical, located on 1616 Ford Avenue, right at 16th Street in Wyandotte.

There are no doctors at New Eyes, just lots of frames and Schmittou, who can get you into fashionable new glasses for a lot less than all of the other chains and franchises out there.

Just bring your eyeglass prescription to him and see what kind of magic he can work for you.

“I am kind of like what the pharmacy is to your doctor,” Schmittou said. “Your doctor writes you a prescription. He doesn’t try to sell you the drugs. You go to the pharmacy. The same is true with us. You bring us a prescription and we will fill it.”

New Eyes Optical does not accept insurance, but their low prices mean that is often not an issue.

Schmittou has been in the eyeglass game for a long time. He enlisted in the Army after graduating from Lincoln Park High School and Uncle Sam sent him to school to learn how to make eyeglasses.

He did that in the Army for nearly four years and then worked for Lenscrafters and for private doctors after that.

In 2012 he opened New Eyes Optical and has been there ever since.

Schmittou said he has over 2,000 frames in his building and can make arrangements to get others if customers come in with a specific brand or style in mind.

For sunglass lovers, Schmittou said he has the largest selection of Ray Ban and Oakley sunglasses in the area.

If you come in, you will deal with Schmittou himself. He and his wife Pam are the only employees. Schmittou does the fitting of the eyewear, and Pam orders frames and keeps the shop looking fresh by arranging the frame displays and decorating.

So, if you are in the market for new glasses, would like a little personal attention and a really low price, give Schmittou a call at 313-587-4204, drop an email at neweyesoptical2012@gmail. com or contact them through their Facebook page, Facebook.com/neweyesoptical.

Thriving local business with local government: Unbeatable

National chain stores want nothing to do with locations that can only draw customers from 180 degrees of a circle, and that’s exactly what these Downriver cities offer, unless fish get counted as customers.

If cities like Wyandotte, Trenton, Grosse Ile, and others are to flourish at higher levels, they will do so through independent, local businesses, 100 percent.

As I have shared repeatedly, a much higher percentage of the money spent at local and independent businesses stays in that local community or region, compared to national chains.

And virtually all of the money leaves the region with online spending decisions. So local and small has the only real shot of greater success in cities with geographies like this sliver along the river, and therefore, cities are inordinately dependent on these micro engines.

Small also has the advantage of no internal red tape or hierarchy to cope with. Good ideas get implemented quickly, and change quickly as needed, because the owners are right here on the spot. Small has the advantage of passion and obsession, coupled with uniqueness and force of personality.

These advantages are not enough, make no mistake. Independent restaurants, clothing stores and other retail formats are held to the same standards as companies with bigger budgets.

National companies have massive budgets behind their buildouts, forcing smaller operators to pony up from much smaller resources in order to compete with them.

Internet competitors continue to take a larger and larger piece of the pie for many types of businesses. Costs like wages, services, shipping, and products offered keep going up.

When you see facebook postings (for instance) from Love Wyandotte and Love Local, you see the voluntary, unpaid effort of two people (my wife Janelle and myself) (especially Janelle, OK) to hype and promote businesses within our purview. I’m talking about pictures or even

slideshows, along with upbeat and supportive commentary, posted on more than one social media platform.

We don’t have to publicly post about a nice meal or a nice experience, but we love to do it, and we know it makes a huge difference in a world in which far too many people love to share anything negative they can.

Taking a few moments to not only be nice, but to publicly say nice things about the businesses we patronize is more than just a kindness, though. It is taking responsibility as a member of our community to help businesses succeed where we live.

We are not the only ones doing this, and the more I see it, the happier I am; the more positive I feel about everything. What this amounts to is marketing for the local and independent businesses we value, admire and care about, by enthusiastic, personal, unpaid marketers that do it to help those businesses, which also helps to keep those businesses around so we get to continue to enjoy, and benefit from their portion of the economic engine that benefits us all, collectively.

All of us that do so have fun doing it. It feels very good.

While every city has a different combination of issues and conditions, the operating systems behind the scenes are universal and undeniable. There is no way around the real heart of the matter, which is irrefutable: Humming bee hives of local and independent businesses have to feature local governments that truly love local.

Government at the small city level is far more important than any other level.

So, how do local governments play their vital part in creating stronger towns? It happens in two ways, in my view.

First, it’s the observable participation in the local and independent commerce of the city by elected officials and employees of the city because they feel it, believe in it, and love it. There has to be a belief that they are highly visible

cheerleaders before the public, and examples for the cause that makes their city more of a compelling place to buy a home in, attract visitors and customers, and to enjoy as hubs of commerce.

Without exception, thriving, humming cities have the benefit of that engagement and support. It’s the active support of patronage, doing any part at all to make personal spending decisions that benefit the city, regardless of publicity or lack thereof.

But it’s the joining of that volunteer army of marketers I referred to above that really catapults independent businesses to new heights. It’s not just directly supporting the businesses, but bragging about it. Telling the world about it, and sharing those good experiences, knowing full well that the more that happens, the more people will come check out those businesses and do business there. It’s a disarmingly simple concept.

That’s true for everyone, of course. All of us should be so much more positive and encouraging and supportive of business endeavors that make a city bustle with activity.

The second way, simply put, is ensuring that policies, rules, and regulations reflect that love, support and insistence on nurturing.

It is telegraphed in many ways, but essentially, it just means having as few obstacles to the success of the business community as possible, calling for fewer and less costly fees and conditions.

Those in leadership need to understand that in nearly all circumstances, national chain stores are to be so severely restricted as to essentially render them illegal. The most successful examples of Love Local cities do as little as possible to hinder the doing of local, independent, and unique business, while still maintaining safety, law and order.

Standards should never be wielded as demands are not beyond appeal.

Enforcement should always be friendly and appreciative.

At the same time, policies should be trumpeted that make clear that

buying from local sources is not just a nice thought, but a mandate. That is, until such time as it can be proven unavailable, or that the price paid would be unacceptably beyond a reasonable alternative, including online options.

Imagine then if the city made it a priority to regularly remind its citizens that the city views those policies as standards that the citizens themselves would do well to emulate. That’s what I mean by love.

Local and independent business is not easy.

It exists and succeeds because owners insist, and refuse to be denied. The more that all of us, citizens, and governments, can do to push those businesses upward, the better for everyone that lives in these communities.

When it all works together, successful cities are electric and eclectic beehives of commerce that tilt playing fields towards local and independent because it is astoundingly better. It is the real thing that cannot be substituted.

When there is real synergy in a city, wherein citizens, businesses and government are all on the same page; when all recognize that without the urgent collaboration of all three, success is far more probable. Where such synergy exists, nobody wants to go elsewhere.

Achieving that goal is tricky and calls for cooperative spirits from all that play a role. The shared end result is where the focus has to be, and there can never be a time when there are no weak links. To that end, forums should be regular and routine, in which cities seek feedback, both good and bad, on the state of doing business in such cities.

My own private Idaho is unabashedly utopian. It is, perhaps, unreasonably Pollyanna-ish. Wishing for anything less seems defeatist, though. The things that could be better have to be named and fixed, one by one. Obsessively, compulsively… perpetually. Vive le Independence!

PETER ROSE

While every city has a different combination of issues and conditions, the operating systems behind the scenes are universal and undeniable.

Hello, Summer!

For 47 years the city of Southgate has welcomed summer the same way – with a parade and a weekend-long Heritage Days festival. This year’s Heritage Days parade honored Grand Marshall Steve Szatmari, longtime owner of The Hungarian Rhapsody Restaurant. The three-day festival, which ran June 15-18, featured rides, midway games, food, and drinks. There was non-stop live music. There was also an all-school class reunion, which invited back former students of Anderson, Aquinas, Schafer and Southgate high school, as well as the annual “Taste of Downriver” in which Downriver restaurants showed off their tasty offerings.

Photos by Dave Chapman

Trenton High School is a part of the Downriver Career Technical Consortium (DCTC) serving the school districts of Airport, Flat Rock, Gibralter, Grosse Ile, Huron, Riverview, Southgate, Woodhaven, as well as Trenton. The DCTC offers a program where local districts share their technical and academic programs. Students interested may participate at the beginning of their junior year and continue into their senior year.

The Trenton High School Technical Consortium plan of study is a coordinated secondary/post-secondary program that prepares students for the majority of jobs in the technical areas studied. Emphasis is placed on integrating academic and career technical courses so that students are better prepared for the advanced courses required by technical programs following their high school education

This is a Dual Enrollment Program housed instructors. Students participating in the program have the opportunity to earn up to 24 college credits upon completion of the two year program. Students will participate in class activities on site at Trenton High School and attend field trips to WCCCD

**New CTE program- State Approved in 21-22 school year.

Level 2-4 courses require the entry Level 1 course in that specific program. *Criminal Justice is a Wayne County Community College Dual Enrollment Program and requires an application process for admission which can be accessed at: http://www.dctc-cte.org

All career and technical education programs follow the Trenton Public Schools’ policies of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, disability, height, weight, or marital status in all programs, services, activities, and employment. In addition, arrangements can be made to ensure that the lack of English language proficiency is not a barrier to admission or participation

St. Joseph’s Helpers Providing home repair for the needy

SHEILA

R. MCAFEE

During his 50-year career as an engineer, Tony Rosati never had sleepless nights like those he has now.

Rosati is chairman of St. Joseph’s Helpers, a local non-profit organization of volunteers that provides minor home repairs to seniors, veterans and the disabled at no charge.

The charity launched in October 2022, with a first-year goal of having a volunteer base of 50 and a caseload of 100 to 150.

Administrators underestimated the need and the desire to help – nearly 500 requests have been received, the current volunteer base is 100, and interest in the service is expanding.

“My career was tied to the automotive industry, which went through some tough times,” said Rosati. “But I didn’t worry like I do now; many people are in despair and we have many volunteers to keep engaged. It is hard to say no to any request; we’ll get to all of them.”

Based in Rockwood to serve the Downriver community, St. Joseph’s Helpers has broadened its reach to assist clients in 50 southeast Michigan cities. Work branched into Monroe at the end of 2022 and is now expanding into Detroit’s Woodward Corridor and Washtenaw County.

Rosati said there is interest in opening an office to serve Oakland and Macomb counties, and a call for assistance came in from St. Louis, Missouri. They couldn’t honor that request, but the prospect of assisting folks throughout the country is part of the group’s ambitious vision statement, which calls for every home in the country to be safe and well maintained.

Closer to home, Rosati said the group received a call from a client who saw the contact information in a newsletter published by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib. That was affirmation of their diligent efforts to introduce themselves to the community.

After these events in the first half of its inaugural year, there will be plenty to celebrate at the first anniversary gathering being planned for September.

A parishioner at St. Mary Catholic Church in Rockwood, where the group maintains an office, Rosati for years has been a handyman for the parish and fellow parishioners. In retirement, he looked for an organization that could use similar help, but didn’t find a good fit.

“I knew that retirement for me wasn’t a time for ‘play and putter’, said Rosati. “There was something more I was supposed to do.”

St. Joseph’s Helpers is based on Christian values, choosing its name to honor Joseph, the father of Jesus and a carpenter by trade. The bulk of the work

the group takes on is common household projects, such as leaky faucets, minor electrical repairs, yard work and clogged drains. Installing bathroom grab bars and porch railings are a popular request.

“We’ve had requests for kitchen makeovers and new roofs, but we don’t take on those kinds of large projects,” said Rosati, a Grosse Ile resident.

Volunteers must have a background check, adhere to guidelines the group has in place, and are insured. All express an interest in building a sense of community and fellowship with the people they serve. Their skills and expertise are matched with respective job requests.

“We ask them what they can do, how far they are willing to travel and how often they can work,” said Rosati. “There is a lot of flexibility, and when we call, they respond right away.”

Rosati recounted a home visit to remove lint buildup in a widow’s dryer. Having lost her husband in the months leading up to Rosati’s visit, she wasn’t using the dryer for fear of the lint starting a fire. After completing the project, Rosati said he enjoyed a lovely conversation over coffee cake the homeowner had prepared.

“We are providing more than home repair, we strive to give our clients peace of mind, a sense of wellbeing and companionship,” said Rosati.

Aware that the organization is based on Christian

values, clients will request prayers from the volunteers, said Rosati, but the purpose isn’t to force spirituality on them, but rather be good neighbors to those in need.

The group hired Rayna Bennett as executive director and is fortunate to have formed early partnerships with a variety of community outreach programs that help funnel requests, and businesses that are willing to assist with more involved projects.

Funding has come from individuals, businesses, community groups and grants to cover costs since there is no fee schedule for the services provided.

Most clients are in financial need, said Rosati, adding that the majority have no financial means. Twenty percent may be able to afford some materials, but could never cover the cost of the repair they need. Ten percent have means, but do not know where to turn. In those instances, the client has offered a donation, which is appreciated, but not required.

For more information, visit sjhelpers.org or St Joseph’s Helpers on Facebook. To make a request for help, learn about volunteer opportunities, become a partner, or provide monetary support, contact the office by phone, 313-900-5232, or email, SJH@SJHelpers.org.

CHEESE!

Bugatti, the distant descendant of a pack of wild wolves has – via the vicissitudes of domestic selection processes – evolved into the fluffy monster you see before you today. As the more camera-hungry half of the duo known as “Bentley and Bugatti," he wants to be featured in every paper!

Canines: Sophie & Oscar (pictured left to right)

Humans: Christi & Scott

New trail of open up Gibraltar Bay to visitors

JOHN HARTIG

What do a former naval air station, a Nike missile site, and a wildlife refuge have in common?

You can soon find out thanks to a new Grosse Ile Township greenway trail designed to improve public access to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge’s Gibraltar Bay Unit.

Naval Air Station Grosse Ile was established at the Grosse Ile Airport in 1927 and operated until 1969. During World War II, it was one of the largest primary flight training stations for naval aviators and Royal Air Force pilots. In 1956, the U.S. Army established a Nike missile site at Station Grosse Ile, armed with three Nike Ajax missiles housed in underground silos, which were operational till 1963.

In the 1960s, some of the land and buildings became laboratories of the Public Health Service until they were turned over in 1972 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to become the Large Lakes Research Station, which conducted Great Lakes research until it closed in 2019.

The EPA property on the southern end of Grosse Ile includes a 41-acre parcel containing some marshland that is part of Gibraltar Bay and upland habitats.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performed an environmental cleanup. Naval debris was also removed from the bay through a partnership among the Navy Seabees, the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, and the Great Detroit American Heritage River Initiative, and shoreline habitat was rehabilitated.

By 2008, Army Corps risk assessment studies finally showed the property was safe for transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and it became part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Today, this 41-acre parcel is called the Gibraltar Bay Unit and is part of the “conservation crescent” – a bow-shaped chain of islands, shoreline areas, and wetlands along the southern end of the Detroit River.

Gibraltar Bay Unit is located on the eastern side of Grosse Ile Airport and stands as an ecological gem that provides an “up north” nature experience right

in our backyard. This unit is part of the 158-acre Gibraltar Bay – one of Detroit River’s most significant coastal wetlands.

In total, 97 percent of Detroit River’s coastal wetlands have been lost to development, making Gibraltar Bay a vitally important nursery of life that supports thousands of terrestrial and aquatic species.

These unique coastal wetlands are important spawning and nursery grounds for fishes and a staging area for waterfowl. They are part of an Important Bird Area designated by the National Audubon Society and, as a result, are an outstanding site for birding, including an internationally recognized raptor migration.

This coastal embayment is also the top location for ice fishing on the Detroit River and an excellent place to view

means an automobile is the only way to safely access it.

However, that will soon change.

Grosse Ile Township has received funding to improve regional access to the Gibraltar Bay Unit from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s Design and Access Fund (made possible by The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation), the Byars Family in memory of their daughter Adrienne Byars, and Grosse Ile Township.

These funds will be used to install a new fence along the eastern edge of Grosse Ile Airport, allowing a 0.6-mile gravel perimeter airport road to be repurposed as a pedestrian and cyclist trail for safe access to the wonder and beauty of the unit’s unique coastal wetlands.

The cost of the project is approximately

part of Downriver Linked Greenways, Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail, and The Great Lakes Way, which is an interconnected set of greenways and water trails stretching from Port Huron to Toledo. Grosse Ile already has several multi-community group rides from surrounding communities as far away as Dearborn and Northville.

“Grosse Ile Township is proud of its natural areas and trails, and this new trail will connect people with Detroit River’s Gibraltar Bay and all species that call it home,” says Grosse Ile Township trustee Kyle de Beausset. “Not only do I hope it inspires a sense of wonder for the outdoors, but I also believe it to be the sort of trail that’s essential for our health and future prosperity.”

We learned during the COVID-19 pandemic about the importance of

Michigan’s symbol of clean water – the American Lotus. Not to be overlooked at the Gibraltar Bay Unit is its unique prairie habitat.

STEWARDSHIP AND IMPROVED PUBLIC ACCESS

The unit is stewarded by the refuge, the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, and the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, the refuge’s friends’ organization. Amenities include 1.5 miles of hiking trails, a photo blind to conceal wildlife photographers, two wildlife observation overlooks, a council ring used to teach about First Nations, environmental education, and conservation, and a spotting scope to view wildlife on the bay.

Currently, visitors have no way to walk or cycle to the Gibraltar Bay Unit other than on the shoulder of East River Road which is dangerous and in disrepair. This

$90,000 and Grosse Ile Township manager Derek Thiel says trail improvements should be completed by the end of June.

“The Grosse Ile Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission is so excited to see the fruits of our labor after nearly a decade of advocacy and coordination,” says chairperson Brian Pawlik. “We are very grateful to the Byars Family, the Community Foundation, and our other partners for helping uncover one of Grosse Ile’s hidden gems for residents and visitors alike.”

CONNECTING TO EXISTING GREENWAY TRAILS

Grosse Ile residents will be able to access the Gibraltar Bay Unit as part of the township’s eight miles of greenway trails through either the Grosse Ile free or toll bridge (no toll for bicycles).

This new Grosse Ile trail will be

outdoor spaces and nature experiences. Research has shown that nearly half of adults from across the United States now participate in outdoor recreation at least once a month, resulting in health benefits. In addition, people who recreate in nature have a more favorable view of environmental protection and conservation.

That is why it is so exciting to see how this new trail will help create a regional natural resource destination of choice in southeast Michigan. If you are looking for an adventure in outdoor recreation or to be inspired by a sense of wonder for continentally significant natural resources, then this experience is for you.

The Gibraltar Bay Unit is open from dawn to dusk year-round at no cost. For more information, visit: https://www.fws. gov/refuge/detroit-river/visit-us.

This story is reprinted with permission for “Great Lakes Now.”

Walking tour through the Gibraltar Bay Unit of the Detroit River IWR

By Susan Pinkowski

At the southeastern end of Grosse Ile, you can easily access the small and less frequented Gibraltar Bay Unit by heading south on East River Road, past the Grosse Ile Airport.

On a sunny Saturday morning, a group of fifteen people from St. Philip Lutheran Church in Trenton recently met up with Dr. John Hartig for an informal walking tour of this unique area.

John was, as usual, a fountain of information and told us this area of the refuge encompassed 41 acres and was part of the Grosse Ile Naval Air Station from 1927 to 1969.

Fighter pilots and even the Royal Air Force trained here, as did former President George H. W. Bush. For a while it was even a Nike missile site during the Cold War.

They eventually took the missiles out, but the silos had to be filled in and the underground bunkers secured. It took them 15 years to clean up the land and fill the silos because as they put sand in, it would settle, like a sinkhole, and needed to be filled up again, and again.

You can still see some half-buried remnants on the ground from the area’s military days.

Then they had to perform risk assessments and everything else that goes into remediation to transfer the property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for eventual public enjoyment.

The previous habitat of this area was mostly prairie and wetlands, as a lot of southeast Michigan was, but a lot of the prairie was taken over by industry and urban development. They have been restoring this land as a prairie habitat and scrub area, with native grasses, for quite some time now.

Hartig said we’ve lost 97 percent of our coastal wetland habitat on the river to development, so these places that are left are very important to conserve.

Gibraltar Bay is also used as a spawning and nursery area by many fish species, and all kinds of birds and

waterfowl use it as well. Migrating birds will often visit at certain times of the year.

This area will have lots of American Lotus plants later in the season; the lotus is like a lily pad and has beautiful yellow flowers. Many people come here from all over the country just to photograph the American Lotus, which in Michigan, is a symbol of clean water.

Twice a month from now through the fall, the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy (GINLC) opens the gate to a trail on the airport grounds where most of the American Lotus flower plants can be found. You can trek back in there to see them up close, and also view the ongoing efforts they are making to restore this important habitat.

One of the first projects John did with GINLC was 20 years ago, when they saw all the debris from the naval base that was submerged out in the Bay. All kinds of military surplus from World War I and World War II that the sailors couldn’t use any longer was just thrown in the Bay!

Hartig and the late Bruce Jones of GINLC helped arrange for the Navy Seabees to come in and clean up the area. The goal was to restore the shoreline back to its natural habitat again.

They came in with backhoes and lots of heavy-duty equipment and pulled out enough old military stuff to fill a 2.5 car garage to the rafters - all kinds of military debris, gunner’s chairs, ammo boxes, everything the military no longer wanted.

The Seabees had to be very careful to make sure there wasn’t any live ammunition buried among the surplus!

They decided to get rid of all the stuff they dredged out of the water, but a military historian came in, took an interest, and blocked them from disposing of anything until a proper investigation could be performed. He felt there could be something there of

SEE WALKING, Page 19

WALKING

Continued from page 18

historical significance, so experts had to come out to go through the whole mountain of materials, and then once cleared of significance, they could finally be removed. All to no avail.

But over time, this area has been restored to an absolutely gorgeous coastal wetland filled with animals and plants, and free of grenades!

Further around this refuge unit along the shoreline of the Bay, we came across a good size tree on its side. Hartig said that this was a standing live tree just two years ago and asked the children if they could guess what knocked it down. We were all stumped, until John showed us the gnawing on the base of the trunk.

Beavers!

There are also turtles of various sizes in this wetland, and birds can be heard everywhere. There are birdhouses up on poles scattered throughout the prairie and each one we came across had a bird sticking its head out watching us, wondering who was invading their neighborhood.

We later came across what’s known as a glacial erratic stone. About 10,00012,000 years ago this gigantic rock was deposited by the glacier that was moving through this area. And for a rock that heavy to tumble and roll along, John said just imagine the energy of the water and the melt that pushed it forward. It’s not going anywhere now, though, unless the Seabees come back with their equipment.

A lot of the work putting in the trails, setting up the birdhouses, etc., was done by volunteers under the direction of a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and since then, this Bay has been open for visitors for the past 15-20 years.

The entire time walking through this prairie and wetland area, you find yourself surrounded by lots of songbirds, the occasional deer, fish, insects and even ticks so check yourself when leaving.

Nature is just happening everywhere here and it’s beautiful.

There are shady areas in which to sit and enjoy all the sights and sounds. There was, however, a warning sign that, while we are proud that our area of the state is mostly green, lush, and surrounded by water, drought can still happen here – what used to be a

small stream is now a depressed dried mud track. We can help by keeping our rivers and creeks free of debris and adopting a more environmentally friendly way to live. Degrowth, anyone? Google that!

Over by a pond that was a former gravel pit, there is a photo blind/hut where photographers can come and be hidden from the waterfowl and egrets to snap pictures without disturbing the animals.

There is a nice wildlife observation deck on the other side of the pond where you can see birds, dragonflies, turtles, and fish right under the surface. It’s easily accessible by the small parking lot.

There is a stone circle not far from the photo blind that was created by the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation (www.wyandotofanderdon.com) and the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy (www.ginlc.org). This was originally a Native American council ring that is currently used as a site to give educational talks about Native Americans, conservation, and stewardship ethics, all good lessons for everyone to learn.

All of this beautiful coastal wetland in the Gibraltar Bay Unit is open free of charge.

Come on out and take a walk through the wild side of history! You never know what you’ll see or hear.

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NEWS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS Go to... GoBigMultimedia.com to read more news on our digital publications.

and girls to Soroptimist, the Trenton and Downriver Area Soroptimists hosted their fourth “Mommy and Me Tea Party” on May 13, 2023. One hundred fifteen moms, grandmas, aunties and little ladies joined Trenton and Downriver Area

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Grosse Ile DDA crowdfunding campaign

$29,500 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

If the campaign raises its goal of $29,500 by July 24 th , the project will receive a dollar-fordollar match made by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. This would double our goal for this year, bringing in a total of $58,000 to our downtown.

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Great Horned owls nesting near Huntington Huntington Elementary staff and students recently discovered an owl’s nest behind the school. The nest is home to some beautiful Great Horned Owls.

“This project will create a sense of art and culture in downtown Grosse Ile, bringing vibrancy and creativity for residents and visitors to enjoy,” said MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project to complete the space through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

WHAT YOUR DONATION WILL SUPPORT

Our second edition of Art on the Ile is part of a larger vision for Macomb Street, which is to bring 33 art installations that include rotating sculptures, historical markers, student art and crosswalk paintings. In 2022, we completed two murals, six rotating sculptures and one permanent “G.I.”sculpture. With your help, we hope to complete our mural program and festivities for the 2023 year of Art on the Ile...

On page 7

Area Soroptimists host Fourth ‘Mommy and Me Tea Party’

To celebrate Mother’s Day and introduce women

Soroptimists for a sold-out, fun-filled afternoon. Several attendees brought in new infant or children’s swimwear, beach towels, life jackets, goggles or summer toys that will be donated to the Downriver Foster Closet.

The little ladies arrived attired in an array of fancy dresses. The venue was held at the Apollo Ballroom at the Grecian Center, 16300 DixToledo, in Southgate, where the spacious room was decorated in a unicorn theme in the most feminine fashion in splashes of pastel colors. Eye 4 Events LLC provided a magnificent balloon arch and table centerpieces. Each table was adorned in the height of proper teatime, complete with centerpieces, fancy teapots, and real ceramic teacups and saucers.

A pizza bar lunch, which included salad, garlic bread, chocolate brownies, tea, and lemonade was provided. A cash bar featuring mimosas and bloody Mary’s were available for the moms and grandmas.

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Huntington’s own RTI instructor, Amy Naif, is the daughter of owl and bird extraordinaire, Jaohn Campbell. Mr. Campbell was generous enough to come in and speak to Huntington’s 4th-grade students and share his expansive owl knowledge and expertise.

Students greatly enjoyed viewing his wildlife photos and were able to get a better glance of the owls through his telescope.

In addition, 4th-grade students had the chance to dissect owl pellets. It was a great hands-on experience!

Huntington students are currently participating in an owl naming contest.

On page 7

Prepping for the prom

Heritage Park in Taylor has become a popular gathering place for Downriver prom-goers, who come to the park to take photos before the big event.

With its scenic old buildings, a reflection pond, covered bridge and more, the park offers a wide variety of appealing backdrops. Photographer Dave Gorgon recently found these Riverview Community High school students getting ready for the big occasion.

On page 11

card stayed with him. Decades later, while selling baseball cards at a sports memorabilia show in Taylor, Appleby told the story to his childhood hero, who was signing autographs nearby.

“Kaline told me, ‘you can’t blame me for that,’” Appleby recalled as the two laughed.

Eventually, that passionate 10-year-old boy became a sports card collector and dealer who more than 60 years later helps find Al Kaline and other cards to help fill gaps in baseball and football card sets of collectors near and far...

On page 1

Trenton hosts annual Pride celebration

...The City of Trenton became the first community in the Downriver area to raise a Pride flag in June of 2021 and was one of the first municipalities in Michigan to enact city-wide rules against discrimination.

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Sports card dealer helps collectors fill baseball and football sets

When Tom Appleby was 10 years old, he remembers opening up a pack of baseball cards and finding his Detroit Tigers hero Al Kaline. He was so excited that he ran out the front door of the Wyandotte party store that sold him the pack card and into the street where he was struck by a passing police car.

Young Tom suffered a slight concussion that day, but the memory of finding a Kaline baseball

Mayor Rzeppa referenced this accomplishment in his statement, saying in part, “It’s important that we continue to lead on these things like we did as one of the first cities in the state to pass a comprehensive Non-Discrimination Ordinance to prohibit discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity. When we take actions like these and proudly show our values as a community, you can never underestimate the impact it can have on even one individual who can feel safe, loved, and accepted for who they are.”...

On page 11

pack the goods together and deliver the food to Roosevelt High School, Washington Elementary School and the Bacon Library – about 100 brown bags in all...

On page 6

‘Patt Slack Way’ becomes a reality

The Wyandotte City Council recently voted to approve the official naming and dedication of the alleyway and public right-of-way next to Frank’s Pizza as “Patt Slack Way” in recognition of Patricia “Patt” Slack for her contributions over the past 40 years to the City of Wyandotte. A dedication ceremony was held June 15th in the new Patt Slack Way: the alley between the Yack

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Brown Bag Blessings Program feeds dozens of students during the summer

...Wyandotte students who qualify for free lunches during the school year do not have to go hungry during the summer months thanks to the Wyandotte Ministerial Association.

Brown Bag Blessings is the summer version of Blessing in a Backpack, a national program that provides lunch during the school year but is not available during the summer.

Brown Bag Blessings provides two days of food weekly to hungry kids in Wyandotte.

Pastor Tom Ferguson of St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Wyandotte said church members in the ministerial association collect different food items,

Arena parking lot and Biddle Avenue, adjacent to Frank’s Pizza. There was a sign unveiling, ribbon cutting, small jazz band and refreshments provided to those attending...

On page 3

25th District Court Judge Greg Clifton (left), graduates David Wanger and William Weller, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, graduate Johnny Carroll and 28th District Court Judge Elisabeth Mullins, who oversees Downriver Regional Veterans Treatment Court.

Ten graduate from Downriver Regional Veterans Treatment Court

DAVE GORGON

Ten men who served in the armed forces are members of the 2023 graduating class from the Downriver Regional Veterans Treatment Court in Southgate.

The program, which is based at the 28th District Court, is under the leadership of Judge Elisabeth Mullins, who presided over the 14th graduation ceremonies held June 28 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Southgate.

Judge Mullins said the program is the only treatment court specifically for veterans in the Downriver area.

“Our goal is to rehabilitate and give people a second chance and lift them up and get them back on track with their lives,” she said. “It’s rehabilitation instead of punitive. We want to make sure people leave (the program) in a better place.”

The program accepts all veterans from any court or jurisdiction with various types of discharges, other than a dishonorable discharge from service. The individuals must be charged with a misdemeanor, have reliable transportation and suffer from a service-related mental illness or substance abuse and/or have a prior criminal history.

Judge Mullins said the program even accepts veterans who are not eligible to receive Veterans Affairs benefits or assistance. The court has resources and programs for non-VA veterans and veterans without insurance. However, the program does not admit those with a current felony or serious

sexual assault charge.

Veterans are directed to the VA, if eligible, where they are connected with resources and programs they may not have known existed. Veterans are connected to counseling, 12-step meetings, housing assistance, food, clothing, assistance with employment and other resources.

“The hope is that these veterans develop a strong recovery foundation and coping skills so that they can combat any issues they are dealing with, even when they complete this program,” Judge Mullins said. “Our goal is to not only reduce the recidivism rate of crime, but to also be an aid as these veterans would once again be valuable members of society.”

She said many veterans are linked to the criminal justice system due to underlying issues that they have suffered while serving in the military.

The program aims to fix issues within their lives – including unemployment, homelessness, anger management, PTSD, substance abuse and other barriers – that may have caused stress and behaviors that led them to commit a crime in the first place, Mullins said. The program also assists veterans in maximizing their resources through the VA and helping them gain or increase their disability benefits.

The Class of 2023 includes Army veterans William Weller, Navy veteran David Wenger and Army Reserves veteran Johnny Carroll, who were all present for the graduation ceremony, and seven other veterans from the Army, Navy and Marine Corp.

Judge Mullins was joined by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and 27th District Court Judge Greg Clifton in presenting graduation certificates. Judge Clifton oversees a treatment court, commonly called drug court, which sets up addicts with treatment plans, counseling, peer recovery coaches and drug testing based at the Lincoln Park courthouse. He is also the president of Downriver FAN, Families Against Narcotics. Representatives of U.S. Senator Gary Peters also presented certificates of recognition.

Judge Mullins also presented Ronald Floyd of Southgate with the third annual James A. Kandrevas Distinguished Veterans Support Award. Floyd graduated from the program in 2022 and remained part of the program to mentor veterans in the 2023 program.

“He went above and beyond what we asked him to do,” Mullins said. “He took guys under his wing. He helped other people in the program without being asked or court ordered. He exemplified what we’re trying to do with the veterans treatment court.”

Kandrevas was a 27th District Court judge when he founded the program.

Mullins thanked her staff, mentors, representatives of participating community organizations and family members of the program participants. She also thanked the hosting Southgate VFW and Auxiliary members for presenting a celebration meal when the graduation concluded.

Annual Art Fair Sale