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November 9 — December 11, 2023

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rom this month going forward, Southgate will be known as an official Purple Heart City.

On Nov. 1, Mayor Joseph Kuspa read a proclamation paying tribute and declaring the city’s utmost respect for veterans who earned the Purple Heart medal when they were injured or killed during wartime.

The city scheduled a ceremony for eight days later in which a Purple Heart flag would be raised on a new flagpole in the city’s Veterans Memorial outside the Southgate Memorial Library. A POW-MIA flag would be moved to its own flagpole.

Further, a parking spot in the city’s municipal complex would be designated for use by Purple Heart recipients, the Mayor said.

“We want to promote the fact that we have some brave men

and women who lost their lives and have become injured during battle,” Kuspa said. “This is true to Southgate – something we’re proud to do.”

Leaders in the Southgate Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Michigan Order of the Purple Heart have vowed to spread the word to Purple Heart recipients and those who never received their medal that it’s time for them to be recognized for their heroism.

The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still presented to American service members.

In his public proclamation, the Mayor explained that the Purple Heart was created as the Badge of Military Merit by General George Washington in 1787 and was the first award given specifically to members of the United States armed SEE HEART PAGE 3

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SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 3

HEART

Continued from page 1 forces who were “wounded or paid the ultimate sacrifice in combat.”

“The City of Southgate seeks to remember and recognize the sacrifices of our Purple Heart recipients made in defending our freedoms and acknowledges these men and women for their courage by showing our support and honor,” the proclamation says.

The night Kuspa read the proclamation at City Hall, two Purple Heart recipients were in the City Council chambers: Ron Allen, department commander of the Michigan Order of the Purple Heart, and Frank Puente, past commander of the Southgate VFW and a member of the American Legion..

“I think it’s probably one of the best things that a veteran could ever experience – to see a city recognize a Purple Heart veteran,” Puente said.

“I think it’s quite an honor and long overdue. I’m so happy for the city and for our veterans.”

Puente was wounded twice – in the arm and leg – while serving in the Army in Vietnam. He returned to service only to be wounded again by shrapnel by “friendly fire.”

Puente has been involved in veteran affairs Downriver for decades, but it was only two years ago that he appealed to U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell to receive the Purple Heart he rightfully earned decades earlier. When he was wounded in Vietnam, Puente explained, there were comrades who suffered worse injuries and even death during the war – and he didn’t feel right pursuing the

Photo by Dave Gorgon

recognition, even though he should have received it automatically at that time.

Congresswoman Dingell did the legwork required and presented the Purple Heart to Puente, who was moved by the recognition.

During wartime, “I couldn’t have cared less about medals at the time because some of the guys I was with were killed and others were hurt really bad,” Puente said. “I had lost a lot of friends who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Medals didn’t mean anything to me until I got older.”

Sharon Lewinski, a long-time officer in both the Southgate VFW Auxiliary and the Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary, praised Mayor Kuspa for going forward with having Southgate named a Purple Heart City.

“When I got more involved with the Purple Heart Auxiliary, I realized there were Downriver people who had no idea what the Purple Heart was about,” Lewinski said.

She brought up the need to inform the public and give more formal recognition to military personnel who were injured or killed during wartime. Southgate VFW Commander Bill King created a designated parking space at the post designated specifically for Purple Heart recipients.

Lewinski learned the steps needed to make Southgate a Purple Heart City from Allen, who met with the Mayor to get the process going.

“Awareness, Purple Heart and veterans are the key,” Lewinski said.

“I feel this is so important to the City

of Southgate. People don’t know how deep veterans were wounded or killed.

This tells our residents of Southgate that we will honor all Purple Heart recipients.”

Allen, who was struck by rocket shrapnel in the left leg while serving with the Marines in 1968, said it is his mission to have important recognition given to Purple Heart recipients. He said the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor are both elite groups in the armed forces.

Allen said will work with those who have qualified for the Purple Heart medal but never received it. Anyone interested can get an application from Allen or more information by calling (734) 740-3517.

“It’s never too late,” Lewinski said.

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Ooooh, that’s scary!

Halloween is beginning to rival Christmas in terms of holiday decorations and the city of Southgate certainly got into “Halloween Spirit,” festooning their home with all sorts of creepy crawlies, skeletons, scarecrows and the like.

Veteran photographer Larry Caruso cruised the city and trained his lens on some of the more elaborate decorated homes.

Photos by Larry Caruso

SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 5

Page 6 • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 7

Downriver – a compassionate ‘family’ of communities JOSEPH KUSPA SOUTHGATE MAYOR

On Oct. 3, the city of Southgate experienced the largest residential fire in our history.

The flames swiftly engulfed the third floor of the Meadows Senior Apartment complex and left 129 residents without a home. But what was most miraculous is that there was no loss of life as a result of the fire.

This is exponentially more incredible when you consider that many of the residents were mobility challenged: in wheelchairs or required the use of a walker.

This outcome could only have occurred with the assistance of our first responders from many of our surrounding communities.

As Downriver residents, we are fortunate to live in a region that works together and has a demonstrated history of mutual aid. The city of Southgate has an excellent public safety department.

Like all Downriver communities, our police officers and firefighters are dedicated to the well-being of our residents and those who visit our community. But the magnitude of this recent fire would have overwhelmed any one department.

That is why we are so appreciative of the assistance we received from seven other neighboring and local communities: Allen Park, Brownstown Township, Ecorse, Riverview, Taylor, Trenton and Wyandotte.

Numerous dangerous and heroic actions occurred that afternoon.

There were police officers and firefighters rushing residents out of the burning structure, many being physically carried down three flights of stairs, firefighters breaking through roofs to control a raging fire and ultimately, through their combined efforts, getting everyone to safety.

The recovery started that afternoon and evening.

We used our Senior Center as a staging area for all the displaced residents and a place families could reconnect with loved ones.

The Red Cross arrived that evening and a temporary housing shelter was

established.

There was a case file opened for each resident to address immediate needs such as medications and housing requirements. Many businesses, churches, charitable organizations also assisted with food, clothing, temporary housing and other essentials.

Over the next few days, we also had numerous residents from Southgate and throughout the Downriver area walking into our Senior Center with donated clothing, personal items, pet supplies and money to assist with this recovery effort.

That was matched by numerous volunteers who sorted, organized and assisted at the donation center. Fire victims could walk through aisles of merchandise, beautifully displayed and sized to easily make their selections.

The most sought after commodity became underwear. And, that of course, makes a lot of sense. At the height of distribution, our Senior Center staff was purchasing underwear two to three times a day!

The city of Southgate, with the assistance of the Senior Alliance,

also sponsored a Resources Fair at our Senior Center on Oct. 11. More governmental agencies, housing providers and non-profit agencies added their support.

The Secretary of State mobile office provided new ID’s, handicapped parking permits and processed address changes. Wayne County personnel were on hand to offer numerous housing options. The Senior Alliance printed replacement Medicare cards and assisted with applications for new Social Security cards.

Remember, most of these fire victims left with just the clothes that they were wearing.

The American Legion and the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund provided substantial assistance to veterans. The Information Center distributed their “Where to Turn” guidebook that is a comprehensive resource for the ongoing needs of these seniors.

Senior Movers and Allegra Senior Living offered an inventory of free furniture to assist with relocations.

Even the owners of the Meadows Apartment complex, Van Rooy, were there to present $1000 checks to each

of the displaced tenants. It was an overwhelmingly successful event that provided stability and hope for these senior citizens.

On the night of Oct. 11, the St. George Greek Church hosted a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to benefit all of the fire victims. It was extremely well attended with donations and supporters coming from all over the Downriver area.

The event raised over $18,000 with additional donations still being received. All of the proceeds will be equally distributed to the residents to help with their relocation.

Fortunately, as of Oct. 13, the Red Cross Shelter indicated that all of the displaced residents have found housing either at a new facility or with a loved one. A wonderful result in 10 days’ time!

Yes, the spirit of service, compassion and giving is alive and well in our Downriver communities.

Special thanks to all who worked and volunteered to assist these senior citizens.

May God continue to bless the city of Southgate, the Downriver region and this great nation.

Page 8 • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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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.

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SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 9

Fun at Market Center Park

There was music, there were games, there were cool old cars and there was – of course! – lots and lots of candy handed out as the city of Southgate celebrated Halloween a little early with a Trunk or Treat event at Market Center Park on Oct. 15. The event was part of HarvestFest, sponsored by the city of Southgate and Gloss Labs Detailing. Scores of people turned out, most of them decked out in their Halloween finest.

Photos by Dave Chapman

Page 10 • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 11

Veteran’s Day: Remember, freedom is not free DAVID DYER In the year of 1918 at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month an armistice was declared between our Allied Forces and Germany which ended World War I, which was also known as the “Great War” or “The War to end all Wars.”

The following year at that same 11th hour President Woodward Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day in honor of all who served in that Great War. World War II (1941 – 1945) brought about the greatest mobilization of our military forces in our nation’s history. Over 16 million served and another 5.7 million served in the Korean Conflict (1950 – 1953). In 1954 President Eisenhower signed legislation striking the word Armistice in favor of Veterans. November 11th became the day to honor all veterans.

The next development unfolded in 1968. Congress passed the uniform holiday bill. This was an attempt to create three-day weekends to encourage tourism and travel. Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and Columbus Day were now celebrated on Mondays. Veteran’s Day was set as the fourth Monday in October.

Much confusion ensued. Many states disapproved of the change and continue to observe veterans on the original date.

In 1975 as it became evident that Veteran’s Day carried historical and patriotic significance to so many, President Ford signed a new law returning the observance of Veteran’s Day back to November 11 and it remains so today.

An official wreath–laying ceremony is held each Veteran’s Day at the tomb of the unknown soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery. Patriotic and other celebrations are held all over the country.

Veteran’s Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day, which is the fourth Monday in the Month of May. Memorial Day honors service members who died in service as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veteran’s Day pays tribute to all veterans who honorably served during War and/or peace time.

Notice the year 1975 was the last year mentioned in that short history.

The Paris Peace Accords were signed by America and North Vietnam in January 1973. This ended America’s involvement in Vietnam. All prisoners were released, and all Americans were withdrawn from Vietnam within the next 60 days. Fighting again broke out and it resulted in a victory for the North Vietnamese in 1975. In all there were over 58,000 American deaths in Vietnam and over 150,000 wounded.

Twenty-five percent of all those that served in Vietnam were drafted. Those were the ones that were forced to play that lottery game that every American male was required to play after reaching their 18th birthday.

They were issued a card that contained a number. If their number was chosen and they were not enrolled

in college, they had three options: They could leave the country, they could risk being jailed or they could become a member of the US Army.

Most of them chose the latter and were taken from their families, their jobs and whatever else was going on in their life. They were then sent to basic training for eight weeks and after another eight weeks of advanced training they were sent many thousand miles from home to fight in a war in a country they may never even knew existed.

More than 19,000 of them or 30 percent of all those killed in Vietnam were drafted. Those are the ones that would never be known as veterans and as the years continue to pass, they are mostly forgotten.

This is a scenario that did happen.

He was twenty-two years old. He had a very wellpaying job that he had worked very hard to secure without a college education. He had been going with his high school sweetheart for several years. Their wedding date was approaching. She told him of her pregnancy. They quickly tied the knot, but it was too late.

His number was chosen. He was drafted and there was no escape.

He was eventually sent to Vietnam. On the day his daughter was born he was killed in a land mine explosion.

There were over 19,000 stories. That was one of them.

I couldn’t possibly face any of those mothers, wives or family members of those whose lives were taken and tell them there was no reason for his death and we shouldn’t have been in Vietnam in the first place. He answered his country’s call. He was killed in the war.

He died with honor.

I ask you, please give him that honor.

In 2008, or 37 years after returning from Vietnam, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. This resulted from a chemical called “Agent Orange” but that is another story.

I then visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. While there I felt like I had a moment with God. After staring at the names and numbers. I closed my eyes. I began to see those mutilated bodies and those faces of fear on those young men that I have grown to live with for these past 53 years.

I came away from that wall with the feeling that my calling from God was to do all I could to keep the memories alive of all those whose lives were taken to the horrors of war.

That is when I began writing.

For the past 13 years I have written stories for both Memorial Day and for Veteran’s Day. Most of them have been published in our local newspapers.

This Veteran’s Day I ask you to reach out to a veteran. They are easy to spot.

You don’t have to personally know the person, the uniform they are wearing represents your freedom.

You will never know the feeling until you have done it.

Extend your arm, look him/her in the eye, grasp him/ her hand and utter these words: Welcome home my friend and thank you for your service.

Today I heard those words over and over. It is like music to my ears. I never get tired of hearing them. It has more than made up for the way I was treated upon returning home from Vietnam in 1971.

One more thing as I close, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month take a special moment to remember all veterans who have honorably served our country.

We must never forget: “Freedom is not free.”

Page 12 • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 13

Ready to board Flight to North Pole returns to put smiles on the faces of sick children

BY DAVE GORGON

A

fter a three-year absence, the Flight to the North Pole returns to Detroit Metro Airport on December 12 to put smiles on the faces of children with severe and life-threatening illnesses.

The event invites 50 children, ages 3 to 8, who are discharged from doctor’s care for several hours to board an actual Delta Airlines jetliner with a crew for a simulated flight to the North Pole.

With the window shades pulled down, the young passengers hear the plane engines and get the sensation of the plane taking off and flying. At the end of the trip, the youngsters believe they have arrived at the North Pole and are welcomed by Santa Claus and his elves.

A Christmas party – with Christmas presents – follows at the Marriott Westin Hotel. During all the fun, each child receives a bag of goodies.

The event is provided at no cost to the children and family members or caregivers by the Silverliners International Flight Attendant Organization. The flight started 41 years ago and ran annually until the last three years, when it was postponed due to the pandemic.

While much of the effort is donated, organizers are seeking monetary donations to help pay their expenses, which includes a meal for the children, gifts and much more.

“It has really changed my life,” said Trenton resident Madge McGoorty, a retired flight attendant, past president of the Motown Chapter of the Silverliners and chairwoman of the Flight to the North Pole. “I look forward to it.”

So does professional Santa Claus William Neelsen Sr., a Taylor resident who serves as the event’s “Father Christmas” each year. Neelsen, who is retired from the airport and Ford Motor Co., gets long hugs from the children and their families. As Santa, he has witnessed countless smiles and tears of

joy from the happy participants.

“Sometimes I get pretty emotional,” Neelsen said. “It’s so heartwarming.

I’m really proud to be part of this group. It’s all about the kids. My kids are healthy; my grandkids are healthy.

These children are going through some type of treatment for the particular illness they have.”

McGoorty said the youngsters will come from Henry Ford, Corewell, Mott, Children’s and Sparrow hospitals.

A doctor has approved each visit.

Caregivers will be on hand. Parents often relate that they haven’t seen their children smile so much in a long time, Neelsen said.

Check-in gets under way at 9 a.m.

Children are greeted by Shriner clowns and a variety of mascots, including those from professional sports teams, area restaurants and others. Members of the Downriver Symphony Orchestra perform Christmas music.

A number of Downriver organizations participate. McGoorty said. Grosse Ile High School students

serve as elves, direct the children and assist Santa. Pillows are made by the Allen Park Sewing Guild. US Park and Ride provides free parking and shuttle service to the airport. Woodside Meadows golf club in Romulus donates proceeds from a golf outing. The Woodhaven Target store packs toys and gives a donation.

Santa arranges to have a letter from the North Pole for each child and personally gets many of the gifts, which include children’s magazine subscriptions, gift cards and much more.

“Everyone is so helpful,” McGoorty said. “The volunteers, the airport firefighters and police, therapy dogs, Fairytale Entertainment and their costumed characters, restaurants and everyone else.”

“This is a great event,” Neelsen said.

“It’s so special. It’s all about the kids.”

Monetary donations should be made payable to William Neelsen Sr./Flight to the North Pole and sent to 25081 Richard, Taylor, Michigan 48180.

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Soroptimist International of Trenton and Downriver Area will be hosting its fourth biennial “Battle for Freedom” on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

This avant-garde hair and fashion show is entitled “Color Me Free,” where local salon stylists will dress, design hair, and apply make-up for the audience to vote for the best-styled models. Previous battles had over 500 attendees and tickets were sold out prior to the event.

Trenton and Downriver Area Soroptimist is a volunteer group that offers service by way of fundraising and donations, public awareness/educational programs, and hands-on assistance; as well as presenting yearly monetary awards to individuals to help support and further their future.

These women give their time and talents to local food pantries, Vista Maria, First Step, Sparrow Project, Stanford House, Alternatives for Girls, and to area women’s health institutions.

The proceeds from “Battle for Freedom: Color Me Free” will be used for service projects and programs to benefit survivors of human trafficking.

Detroit is ranked as having one of the highest numbers of sex trafficking victims and is included in a global epidemic that annually nets over $2 billion.

The venue for this fundraiser is at Crystal Gardens, 16703 Fort Street in Southgate. Included in ticket prices are dinner, music, silent raffles, wine and a cash bar with a signature cocktail.

The doors will open at 6 p.m. with the runway show beginning at 7:30 p.m. A party will follow the show.

General seating tickets cost $50; the price for a reserved table (seating 10 per table) is $450; VIP tables are $600. Online tickets are available at https://formsmarts.com/form/2bba.

The event is still looking for salons and stylists to participate.

Check Facebook for past event photos at facebook.com/BattleForFreedom. For more information, contact Abby Premoe at abbo48166@yahoo. com or (734)755-7926.

A Human Trafficking Awareness Symposium hosted by SI of Trenton and Downriver Area is scheduled for March 23, 2024, at Summit Academy North.

You can help improve the lives of women and girls in the Trenton and Downriver Areas and around the world by donating to Soroptimist International of Trenton and Downriver Area. Your donation will help fund our service projects.

This is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Make an online donation via Venmo or by sending a check to Soroptimist International of Trenton and Downriver Area, 1644 Vernon, Trenton, MI 48183.

The Trenton Soroptimist organization meets on the first Wednesday of the month at the Woodhaven Community Center. All women are welcome to attend. You may contribute to the foundation that the Soroptimists support on krogercommunityrewards. com.

If you are interested in learning more about the Trenton and Downriver Area Soroptimists and our other activities, contact us at sioftrentonanddownriverarea@gmail.com or check out our page on Facebook@SoroptimistInternationalOfTrentonAndDownriverArea.

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SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 19

Near as I can tell, a new threshold of jumping the gun was reached during this holiday season. It made me re-write the first paragraph of this column!

Oh, it’s not that dramatic. It’s just a matter of Macy’s running holiday shopping ads before Halloween.

Macy’s is an invasive species that cannot survive if PETER they fail to convince ROSE enough investors that owning their stocks is a smart thing to do. There are only so many dollars that are going to be spent this holiday season.

This breed of parasite is pernicious, but it is fighting an uphill battle against ferocious competition from local quarters across the nation.

Besides doing my day job of running one of the independent and locally-owned companies that falls under the “Genuine Article” umbrella, I have another job: Convincing enough shoppers to adamantly decide that giving any money to any of the invasive species is the wrong thing to do.

It’s not just that Indie businesses are so much better at what they do than any imposter business ever could, although that’s an excellent reason.

Local business is operated by local people that live very close to where they live, and spend money themselves. Local retail owners know a lot of the people that shop with us.

We have a much greater sense of what our fellow residents want.

We’re obsessed with maintaining a

business that enjoys that connectivity in our own community. That obsessiveness comes home with us and goes on vacation with us. We are always soaking up whatever inspiration we can find so as to reinvent it at our own stores. It makes for awesome stores to shop at any time. It makes us almost impossible to beat.

It’s not just that three times (3 times!) as much of the money we spend at local and independent stores actually stays in our communities, being spent in echo transactions at… you guessed it…other local and independent businesses that do the same thing. That’s a pretty potent reason, though, isn’t it?

Assuming that your choices to spend include examples of awesomeness as claimed above so you actually can spend there, your money gets spent over and over and over again, in your community. More local businesses are more prosperous…because of you.

It is a remarkably simple concept, but it’s not theory, it’s fact.

A fact to be acted on, one way or the other. You can either accept it as true and try to be a bigger part in your community’s health and vibrancy, or you can pretend you didn’t read this, and send even a dime of your spending away by spending anywhere else but a local and independent business.

This column gets printed in five locally owned publications. Some ahead of and some during “Black Friday” (a stupid, stupid moniker for a day that seeks to suck as much money to corporate chains as possible) and ”Small Business Saturday”, the one day of the year that American Express

calls your attention to for spending locally.

American Express makes money from charge transactions either way, of course, but I do have to tip my hat to their hubris for making themselves seem great for that one day of focus on Small.

I’ll take it, I’m not stupid, but I’m also not fooled.

Which is as good a way as any to come to the most meaningful, impactful reason for shopping at small businesses over large, stock marketfunded businesses this holiday season on any other time at all, ever (unless you have no choice).

That reason is solidarity with businesses that exist despite the relentless, powerful efforts of one scheme after another to redirect as much money as possible to as many distant, disconnected, meaningless options as possible.

Towards those entities that exist only to satisfy bean counters, and away from your community. Thousands of local businesses were ended this way in the 1980s and 90s, on purpose.

I did business through this time.

My company happens to be one of the fractional few that defied the odds and persevered to see the tables turned, but purposeful destruction of those that closed up shop was (and still is) a very sad thing to watch happen.

Thousands of stores that warmly greeted and treated their customers like human beings, not beans to count, gone.

The scourge of overbuilt retail that begins their marketing blitz earlier and earlier has made the holidays so much less rewarding. A stressful, harried

pain to be endured, not savored.

Finding wonderful gifts for your wonderful people at smaller stores from people you know (or will come to know) is so different. It makes Christmas shopping more genuine and absolutely more about the spirit of the holidays we celebrate.

Slower, more thoughtful, with mindful, friendly assistance.

When corporate stores are gone because the demand has shifted back to real options in niche after niche in the restaurant and retail realm, the growing resurgence of small, independent businesses will accelerate and surge.

Personal service won’t be such a rare commodity. A better variety of options for consumers will be back. Shopping will be a thing to look forward to, and there will be greater prosperity in the land.

What has been lost will be found, and cherished. That process is already in motion.

Again, my moonlighting job is to encourage that surge, and writing about this is so gratifying. I get to do this! Not just sit back and let the chips fall where they may, but actually use my words to hopefully make a difference!

Gratitude is something to express as often as possible, for all of us.

Our family-owned men’s and women’s apparel business is 80 years old here in 2023. I myself have been able to spend over 51 years doing something I really enjoy. That longevity can’t be achieved without strong support from the community we serve. Thank you very much.

And once again, thanks for reading, and thanks for taking my advice!

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It’s a new day for Anderson’s football team HANK MINCKIEWICZ The best season enjoyed by the Southgte Anderson football team in 12 years came to a close on Oct. 27 when the Titans lost 47-14 to the River Rouge Panthers in the first round of the 2023 Michigan High School Athletic Division 3 state playoffs.

But that loss hardly took the luster off a wonderful season.

The Titans went 7-2 in the regular season, 6-2 in the Downriver League.

The Titans finished third this year and the only league teams to beat them were champion Carlson and runner-up Allen Park.

Coach Bobby Marten, in his second season at the helm of the Titan ship, said he was pleased with the way his team performed.

“We had a good year,” he said.

Indeed they did.

The Titans started the season with a thrilling 29-28 win at Trenton.

They earned the win by scoring late in the game and giving the ball to senior running back Chase Barbosa, who crashed into the end zone to complete the game-winning two-point conversion.

It was a classic Barbosa run. The senior rarely looks to avoid defenders and seems to delight in contact.

“Chase is probably the most physical player I have ever coached,” said Marten. “He plays with zero fear.

It does not matter how big a guy is, Chase will take him head on.

And he does it on both sides of the ball Barbosa is a four-year varsity player and in his first two years, before Marten arrived, he played quarterback.

When Marten took over he looked over his squad and decided to move

Barbosa to running back and play a youngster – Jackson Sage – at quarterback.

“I thought it might be a problem for Chase, but he just said, ‘I’ll play where ever you need me.’”

At that point, Barbosa was 3-14 in his time as a varsity player and one of those wins was a forfeit during the COVID-19 season. Since the arrival of Marten and the shifting of positions, the Titans are 12-8 and have made the state playoffs in back-toback seasons. In addition, over the course of the past two years Anderson has knocked off Carlson, Trenton and Woodhaven, a trio of teams they had not beaten in more than a decade.

A lot of credit goes to Sage, who just completed his junior season.

“We ask a lot of him,” admitted Marten. “We do not huddle, so he has to make all the calls at the line.”

Marten said one of the impressive things about his quarterback is the

accuracy of his throwing.

“He has a little bit of an unusual throwing style, “ Marten said. “When I first saw him throw I was ready to change everything about his motion.

But then I saw how accurate he was and I didn’t change a thing.”

The Southgate coach said the biggest change in Sage from his sophomore to junior season is his increased confidence and comfort in the pocket.

“He’s improved his ability to stand in there and take the hit to deliver the ball. Last year, he was looked to leave the pocket more often,” said Marten When Sage does deliver a ball, more often than not the man catching it is Tom Laskowski, who was often running free in defensive backfields this year.

People have a hard time covering him,” Martin. “River Rouge had some SEE TITANS, Page 23

team ready,” said Marten.

If the team was going to crack, this was the moment.

Instead, the Titans rallied and put a 44-14 beatdown on Woodhaven the next week.

“It was the turning point in our season,” said Marten. “We could have fallen apart after Carlson, instead we regrouped and got better.”

The win over the Warriors was Southgate’s first since 2013.

Following the Woodhaven win, Anderson reeled off three more to finish the regular season. The final game of the year was a 56-7 shellacking of Roosevelt, which was especially sweet because during Roosevelt’s run of 15 straight playoff appearances from 2006-2020, the Bears were able to lure some of Southgate’s best players to Wyandotte.

Those days are probably over as Southgate has beaten Roosevent two years in a row by a combined 98-21.

The culture has changed in Southgate and the future looks bright.

Bring on 2024.

TITANS

Continued from page 22 Division 1 players back there and they had to keep switching because nobody could cover him.”

Marten said Laskowski is not yet a great route runner and once he gets that he may be an unstoppable force as a senior.

The Titans defense this year was keyed by linebacker Barbosa and safety Andrew Porter.

“Porter did a great job this year,” said Marten. “He was one of our better tacklers and he had nearly 100 this year.”

Anderson won that first game at Trenton this year, got whacked in Week 2 by Allen Park and then beat Livonia Clarenceville and Taylor in back-to-back weeks by a combined 66-14.

The team rolled into Gibraltar to face Carlson brimming with confidence and promptly got manhandled 43-7.

“We were without Barbosa that night and I really did not have the

36th annual Downriver Prayer Breakfast

Event to feature Lions Chaplain Dave Wilson as guest speaker The Downriver Prayer breakfast was started in 1987 by a group of men of faith in various walks of life and religions. Thirty-six years later, a group of committed, Downriver Christian men and women continue this Southeastern Michigan tradition.

We are excited to announce that this wonderful Holiday celebration will continue on at Crystal Gardens on Friday Dec. 1 beginning at 7 a.m. with breakfast.

This year our keynote speaker will be Dave Wilson.

Wilson is the Founding Pastor of Kensington Church, a national and multi-campus church that has grown to more than 14,000 people every weekend.

He was a Hall of Fame college quarterback that wound up becoming the chaplain for the Detroit Lions – a title he held for well over 30 years.

As an author, speaker and multimedia host, he brings with him a wealth of stories, experience, and a passion for communicating the Word of God. We are excited to welcome Dave to our Prayer Breakfast stage.

Individual tickets are $20. An individual sponsorship of $175 includes two tickets. For a donation of $750, sponsors receive 10 tickets. Student sponsorships are available for $400, which allows 10 local high school students to attend.

Tickets and sponsorships are available through Crystal Gardens. To order them, send a check payable to the Downriver Prayer Breakfast, c/o Crystal Gardens, 16703 Fort St., Southgate MI 48195.

The banquet center staff will assign seats/tables in order of purchase date.

For more information, call 734284-7307.

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SOUTHGATE STAR • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • Page 23

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Page 24 • November 9 — December 11, 2023 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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

His work helps young people, schools, and parents “survive and thrive” in this digital world....

On page 4 gobigmultimedia.com/grosse-ile-grand Cyber smarts, good for everyone Grosse Ile Education Foundation event to help enlighten community ... The question is: Are you using technology, or is technology using you?

On Nov. 1, Max Stossel, award winning poet, filmmaker, and speaker will present two ageappropriate learning opportunities for all Grosse Ile Middle School and High School students during the regular school day.

The entire community is invited to hear Stossel’s presentation that evening at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

All three presentations will feature the film, Like: A Documentary About the Impact of Social Media on Our Lives, and a Question and Answer segment afterward with Stossel, founder and CEO of the organization, Social Awakening.

FROM THE TOWNSHIP Changes, upgrades are being made at the airport ...The FAA continually updates their standards, practices and guidelines ensuring the highest level of safety, resulting in new geometric designs.

It is these new geometric designs that are being implemented in Taxiway Alpha and the beginning of Runway 22.

to suicide prevention, sponsored a fundraiser 10K swim on the Detroit River and Lake Erie. The event, which was held Sept. 23, saw swimmers swim from Grosse Ile Yacht Club to the Detroit River Lighthouse. The event, which was aided by the US Coast Guard and local police departments, has raised more than $90,000 so far and they are accepting donations through the end of October.

On page 8

gobigmultimedia.com/riverview-register Senior Sunrise 2024 ... The Class of 24 Senior Sunrise was a success!

Members of the Class of 2024 gathered on the football field for the traditional senior sunrise

We are pleased that the project was funded with state and federal grants without using any Grosse Ile taxpayer monies. Because this project is a federally funded project all storm water protection pollution plans are permitted by EGLE and approved by MDOT and monitored by C&S engineering, Anglin Civil LLC and the airport.

This past summer the Grosse Ile Airport hosted a variety of community events.

Most predominantly the highly successful Island Fest. The Island Fest has been a major part of the community for decades...

On page 5 Swim to the light The Step Up Foundation, an organization that helps US military veterans and brings awareness

Before founding Social Awareness, Max was a media strategist with an extensive background in running social media for multinational brands, and a designer of notification structures targeting us all.

viewing. Class leaders had the students out on the field, enjoying some wonderful refreshments and “chill” time. Thanks to Jeff Edwards and our food service crew for helping with the lattes, hot cocoa and coffee, to Elliott’s Bakery for cutting us a great deal on donuts and to our wonderful parents for

donations for napkins and water and such!

On page 7 Huntington Elementary throws open its doors Thank you to all the parents who came to the Huntington Elementary School Open House!

Thanks to all our teachers for all their hard work in preparing their rooms and making everyone feel welcome! Thank you to our parent club for selling shirts and Kona Ice to help raise money for our Huntington family of teachers, students and parents.

We appreciate all of you!

and Supports.

This tiered framework is designed to support students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional and mental health needs.

Our Allstars and Bulldogs focus on “The 3 to Be.” Students learn what it means to be safe, to be respectful, and to be responsible at school. They learn this through lessons taught and modeling done both school-wide and in the classroom...

On page 6 Echo Dance Team delivers message of hope at Anderson The Echo Dance Team from New York paid Anderson a visit that left a lasting impact on

POPSICLES IN THE PARK A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our first Popsicles in the Park!

Such a beautiful day having fun with friends!

A special thank you to all who volunteered, Ms. Muñoz, Ms. McCarthy and Ms. Fink for making the day extra fun and exciting.

Here’s to the end of summer and start of a fabulous school year ahead.

On page 9

gobigmultimedia.com/trenton-times Elementary PBIS framework creates positive school culture Anderson and Hedke Elementary School are both PBIS schools, working to create a positive culture where students’ individual needs are met. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions

the students, not only through their amazing performance, but also through a powerful message of hope and an unwavering stand against bullying.

The team wowed the students with their stunning dance routines. The energy and enthusiasm they brought were contagious, filling the school’s hallways and gymnasium with an atmosphere of positivity and excitement...

On page 8

Life “keeps me busy but it is rewarding,” said Clooney, who is 44 years old. “Sometimes I struggle to balance everything. As long as I stay focused, it all gets done.”...

On page 5 Wilson robotics team receives $2,000 donation from Mayor DeSana ...“I see the importance of the future of technology,” Mayor DeSana said. “What’s really neat is watching these kids work. They are dissecting a robot. What makes it work? Why doesn’t it work. If it doesn’t work, you learn why it didn’t work and you go back and try to correct whatever the mistake was. They

gobigmultimedia.com/wyandotte-warrior Wyandotte resident has been wrestling for 30 years For 30 years, Rob Clooney has wrestled in amateur and professional matches. He’s won championships, earned All-America honors and shared the wrestling ring and the locker room with some top professionals.

The Downriver native and current Wyandotte resident also has written books and is studying marketing in college. He works full-time as a press operator at Trenton Forging, in a factory that manufactures car parts. And he’s the father of a daughter who is about to turn 6 years old.

are continuously learning.”

DeSana and wife Denise made the donation directly to the team at the school in September after receiving a letter from eighth-grader Eli Michael, who requested sponsorship and explained all of the “amazing things going on in our program.” After reading the letter, DeSana was moved to double his usual donation to the robotics team...

On page 18

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PAID

18271 FORT ST. • RIVERVIEW, MI 48193

734-282-3939

Fall Sale 36 Months Interest Free

Plan code 5365 Valid through 11-29-23. With credit approval by Wells Fargo. No minimum purchase. See store for details. Special orders require a deposit

ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

FREE Lifetime Fabric Protection Plan

Covers stains, punctures, rips & cigarette burns. Covers all fabric furniture on an order. Valid for new orders placed during November 2023. As always some exclusions apply, see warranty for full details.

Free Delivery!

Valid November 2023. Valid on any item in the store or any special order with a minimum $300 purchase.

Within 25 miles.

Loveseat $469

Sofa $499

Loveseat $569

Sofa $599

Loveseat $499

Sofa $549

Loveseat $769

Sofa $799

Beautyrest Medium Mattress 10 year warranty Twin $399 - Full $499 Queen $599 - King $749

Individually pocketed coils reduce motion transfer from your partner.

Tyler Firm Mattress 10 year warranty Twin $249 - Full $349 Queen $399 - King $549

Helical14.5-gauge coils. Heavier concentration of coils in the lumbar zone of the mattress.

White Furniture 3025 Biddle Avenue Wyandotte, MI 48192

734-282-2155

www.whitefurniture.com www.facebook.com/whitefurniture

Blue Lagoon Firm Mattress 10 year warranty Twin $599 - Full $679 Queen $699 - King $799

Designed in the USA & made Downriver.

825 individually wrapped coils.

Monday: 9:00am - 5:30pm Tuesday: 9:00am - 5:30pm Wednesday: 9:00am - 5:30pm Thursday: 9:00am - 5:30pm Friday: 9:00am - 8:30pm Saturday: 9:00am - 5:30pm