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The inexperienced has shown as the team has just a 2-8 record as the season nears its midway point.

The squad is made of players from four high schools.

Ironically, despite its name, just one of the four schools – Southgate – is technically Downriver. The other schools are Dearborn Edsel Ford, Dearborn High, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and Monroe High School.

The Southgate Anderson players are seniors Luke Anderson, Donovan Moore and goalie Christian Zaddock and freshmen Kevin Obourn and Jackson Moul.

DU’s two victories this season have come against Woodhaven and Thumb Area Legion, a team from near Sandusky, Michigan.

The win over the Warriors came on opening SEE HOCKEY, Page 13

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Page 2 • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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SOUTHGATE STAR • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • Page 3

The NFL Draft is Coming to the SWCRC Forum Series

T

he February Forum features a panel conversation with Detroit NFL Draft Organizing Committee co-chairs Claude Molinari of Visit Detroit and Alexis Wiley of Moment Strategies to discuss the draft’s impact for Downriver. Molinari will cover the impact on tourism for Metro Detroit, while Wiley discusses the impact on small businesses and the greater community. Dave LewAllen, former anchor for Ron Hinrichs, WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit, will moderate the CEO/President SWCRC panel. Join us for this great event on Monday, February 26 at Prestige Banquet Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for members and $40 for non-members and includes a hot lunch. Local high schools are also invited to send a table of 9 students and 1 teacher to the forum. Schools or individuals looking to attend should contact Randy Pilon at rpilon@swcrc.com.

Page 4 • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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.

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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.

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SOUTHGATE STAR • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • Page 5

Great Lakes Moment: Creating a green oasis in southwest Detroit

BY JOHN HARTIG Southwest Detroit has long been known for its heavy industry. In recent years, the Boynton and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods have teamed up with Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s Detroit refinery to strengthen and revitalize these communities, including a plan to create some much-needed green space.

Combined, Boynton and Oakwood Heights occupy 2.8 square miles within the 48217 zip code. With a population of about 9,000, these neighborhoods are the only ones in Detroit located south of the Rouge River and are bisected by the I-75 freeway.

Oakwood Heights is the smaller of the two and borders Melvindale to the west and the city of Dearborn to the northwest. Boynton is bordered by Dearborn and Melvindale to the north and west, River Rouge and Ecorse to the East, and Lincoln Park to the south. They also are bounded by major industries, like Marathon, which refines up to 140,000 barrels of crude oil per day, as well as Corby Energy Services, which provides utility and infrastructure services.

On the northern edge of Boynton sits the Oakwood pumping station and combined sewer overflow control facility that pumps, stores, and disinfects stormwater and wastewater during heavy rains. A short distance northeast is the Detroit regional water resource recovery facility – the largest single-site wastewater treatment plant in the United States.

Marathon’s interest in creating a green buffer near its refinery combined with neighborhood interest in expanding greenspace led to a proposal for a 100-acre Marathon Gardens. It will include an urban forest, wetland and prairie habitats, urban agriculture, and park-like space with public amenities like trails and picnic areas, and will improve public access to the Rouge River. Marathon jump-started the creation of this green oasis in 2011 with a property purchase program to clean up blighted areas and provide opportunities for residents to sell their properties and move elsewhere. All land acquired through this program is now part of Marathon Gardens, creating quality greenspace with significant environmental, social, and economic benefits to surrounding neighborhoods.

“Marathon Petroleum Company LP is committed to working with community partners and state agencies like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Department of Transportation to realize the vision of Marathon Gardens that will become part of the community fabric of the Boynton and Oakwood Heights neighborhoods,” said Kevin Lepak, advanced environmental specialist at Marathon in Detroit.

“Giving back is important to Marathon because it is one of our core values to be a good neighbor to our surrounding community and it is something our employees really care about.”

Marathon Gardens’ location is important. It’s at the intersection of regional greenways like the Joe Louis Greenway, Downriver Linked Greenways, the IronBelle Trail, and The Great Lakes Way in the heart of

industrial Detroit. Guiding the creation of Marathon Gardens is a master plan that addresses stormwater runoff, oversees natural areas and other greenspace development, and establishes outdoor recreational amenities. However, this oasis remains a work in progress.

With help from community and employee volunteers, the Marathon Detroit refinery has planted hundreds of native trees like sycamore and burr oak that soak up rainwater and reduce stormwater runoff into the Rouge River. Marathon and its partners have also created habitats for cavity-nesting birds, turtles, and even bats.

The gardens have been recognized and certified at the highest level by the Wildlife Habitat Council for habitat conservation on corporate lands through partnerships and education. Marathon continues to collaborate with Wildlife Habitat Council staff and neighborhood partners to expand and maintain the gardens’ habitats via planting and stewardship events.

Another part of this green oasis is the Fort Street Bridge Park, which opened in 2020 to commemorate history and provide much-needed public access to the Rouge River. It is a good example of place-making that creates public spaces to improve urban vitality and promote people’s health, happiness, and wellbeing. The Fort Rouge Gateway Coalition, Downriver Delta Community Development Corporation (which promotes regional collaboration for economic development, quality of life, and social equity in the Downriver Area), Marathon, MotorCities National Heritage Area, Friends of the Rouge, and many other partners came together to design, fund, and construct this unique southwest Detroit destination.

This park commemorates the Ford Hunger March.

On March 7, 1932, more than 3,000 people marched from southwest Detroit to Dearborn’s Ford Rouge plant to demand jobs, better work conditions, and relief for laid-off workers. A confrontation with police officers and firefighters at the Fort Street bridge failed to stop the march. When the protesters reached gate four at the Rouge plant, police officers and Ford security personnel attacked them, firing several hundred shots and killing four marchers. A fifth died later of injuries.

Other amenities of Fort Street Bridge Park include a gathering plaza with a sculpture that features salvaged parts for the original bridge, seating

and porous pavement, an interactive stormwater management demonstration with fountains and rain garden, native plantings, habitat enhancements, and interpretive signage featuring the Rouge River’s story of degradation and restoration. A kayak launch and rest area for the Lower Rouge River Water Trail are planned for the next phase.

On the edge of the Oakwood Heights neighborhood in the Rouge River sits an eight-acre uninhabited island called Fordson Island. Following a $150,000 marine debris removal project in 2010 that removed sunken boats, barges, and debris, partners are now exploring how this island could be transformed into a community park for passive recreation.

Anchoring the Boynton neighborhood is the Kemeny Recreation Center and Park, which went through a $9.5 million renovation in 2019, including a $1.4 million grant from Marathon. The RollerCade, a family-owned skate center, in operation since 1955 and still crowded today with lessons, free skating, and birthday party celebrations, is also a local landmark.

Coupled with Marathon Gardens and its accompanying trails, they will strengthen revitalization efforts in these two neighborhoods.

The Downriver Delta Community Development Corporation continues to work with Marathon and other partners to explore ways to better connect the Boynton-Oakwood Heights neighborhoods and Marathon Gardens with the regional trail system. The next steps in strengthening these connections include: Providing a safe off-road trail along Fort Street in Marathon Gardens Greening trail connections to I-75 pedestrian crossings that reconnect the two neighborhoods Increasing tree plantings along the I-75 freeway as a buffer Enhancing safe trail routes by exploring how vacant land might be incorporated into the regional trail system “The Boynton and Oakwood Heights communities once were made up of trading posts and ribbon farms, followed by the industrial age,” said Wanda Lowe-Anderson, community organizer and member of the Downriver Delta Community Development Corporation’s board of directors. “Today, although these communities are located near industry, I believe a rebirth is taking place through the creation of green buffering solutions such as Marathon Gardens, parks, and trails, all reducing the environmental impact of industry while creating more healthy recreational opportunities for our residents.”

John Hartig is a board member at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. He serves as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research and has written numerous books and publications on the environment and the Great Lakes. Hartig also helped create the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, where he worked for 14 years as the refuge manager. This article was published with the permission of Great Lakes Now.

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Page 6 • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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SOUTHGATE STAR • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • Page 7

Thank you Hank Decades of local sports coverage and community engagement

Embarking on a new chapter within our local community newspapers, Hank Minckiewicz, our esteemed Editor, concludes a remarkable career spanning several decades. Hank, who graduated from Southgate Chaffer in 1977 and later studied journalism at Wayne State University, has been an integral part of our newspaper’s history.

His journey in journalism began in September 1981 when he contributed his first story to the News Herald, while pursuing journalism at Wayne State University. His early dedication to the craft earned him a full-time position with them in January of 1982, though it was short-lived as he faced a temporary setback. Undeterred, Hank would return full-time in May of the same year where his journalistic endeavors found their stride as the Riverview reporter. Later he would transition to the sports section of the newspaper, where he eventually took on the role of Sports Editor in 1986.

Throughout his tenure there, Hank saw several restructuring within the News-Herald, including the merger of the older News-Herald and Mellus newspapers that was orchestrated by the late industrialist Heinz Prechter.

Hank would continue to cover a variety of sports in the downriver area Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa, our departed editor Hank Minckiewicz, and Riverview Mayor Andrew Swift until 2014 when the paper underwent Devils in the NHL. as a testament to the community’s engagement and the a large restructuring, leading to his then lateral move as Not only did Hank excel in covering mainstream newspaper’s commitment to spotlighting local talent. a paginator. sports, but he also found joy in showcasing the less Moving forward Hank Minckiewicz will be taking a In June 2018, a new opportunity presented itself celebrated. “As I began covering cross country I found lateral step from Editor to being our sports contributor. when Hank was approached by Go Big Multi-Media. myself falling in love with the sport, and the kids who His legacy of dedication to local journalism, While he was initially approached for his well known do it…” said Hank, “There’s little glory standing at the community engagement, and passion for documenting expertise in local sports editorial, a bigger opportunity finish line after a race, covered in mud. Being able to the stories of our residents will undoubtedly leave an would emerge and Hank found himself at the helm as highlight the young athletes who often go unnoticed enduring mark on our newspaper’s history. You will an editor once again. Hank has served brilliantly in the was an amazing part of my career.” continue to find his byline on a monthly basis within 5 years since then as our Editor in Chief.

In addition to his editorial role, Hank has played our high school sports articles.

Reflecting on his career, Hank emphasized his an integral part in community initiatives, such as the Hank is married to Kathleen Marie Minckiewicz passion for documenting local history. He recalls News Herald Invitational 5k. Starting in 1982, the (Hamrick), his wife of 42 years. The two first met in covering the early days of Steve Avery from Taylorinaugural event brought 7 local teams together at Civic junior high as new students in the Southgate school Kennedy High School, before his MLB career and Center Park in Woodhaven, creating an opportunity for system. They are proud parents of four sons: Mike, National League Championship MVP title in 1991. healthy competition and recognition. This gave athletes Craig, Doug, and Drew, and grandparents to four Another standout athlete Hank spent time reporting the opportunity to compete against other downriver grandchildren. Hank cherishes fond memories of on was Andy Greene from Trenton High School, who athletes they normally wouldn’t see due to high school covering each of his sons’ athletic endeavors as hockey would one day find himself captain of the New Jersey division and league. Hank fondly recalls this initiative players for Southgate-Anderson High School.

Page 8 • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • SOUTHGATE STAR

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SOUTHGATE STAR • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • Page 9

What exactly is Localism?

ANYWAY, and as I was saying, despite having written seventy-eight columns for these papers, I feel as if I have not even come close to sharing my concerns. Through the years, and amplified for sure during the holiday shopping period, countless people tell me they read my pages in the Go Big publications.

PETER So far, there haven’t ROSE been any “yeah, but” comments, just general concurrence with the points I make in various ways. Thanks to all of you that say something, anything, to let me know you are reading. If enough people read these thoughts, the possibility of betterment in our society is elevated.

I like hearing from people like this.

It’s not an ego thing; it’s more like reassurance that sanity is not lost. If you are reading my articles, it informs that my points resonate with people.

Resonating does not automatically result in the changing of habits, of course. Advertising people like to tell possible advertisers that it takes seven impressions for people to decide that they want to actually explore what is trying to be sold. It takes a while for ideas to formulate, and for those ideas to begin to coalesce into new habits.

Meanwhile, reality rules.

Through the 1970s and 80s, retail underwent a massive sea change that I have documented repeatedly on these pages. Money of a much grander scale was unleashed and deployed as any invasion would. Through the advent of malls, Wall Street began a blitzkrieg

assault on the American retail industry, seizing control so rapidly that it still startles me. The effect on local retail operations was astounding.

My perspective on the topic is limited to the Detroit Metro area. The assault was not limited to Detroit, of course. The scope is incredible to contemplate. Across the nation, American shoppers were lured by the shiny new retail meccas of malls. I was there, I opened stores on day one at Briarwood and Fairlane. Just to give a tangential fragment of food to chew on, my company spent a mint to build out stores on property we did not own. Think about just that: how much money got poured into the real estate of malls. We were all begging to be allowed to pay crazy rents in buildings we didn’t own. Wow. But that isn’t my focus here and now. The topic is big, with many facets to explore and learn more about, but the topic of “local economies” is what I pay a lot of attention to. In the interest of speeding up the story, I’ll ask that you consider what happened to the amount of money being spent in towns like Wyandotte as all those malls were built. The likes of this town are EVERYWHERE, nationwide. All of them had to cope with the reality of new shopping choices that sucked people OUT of their towns. As that happened, the bustle of small towns dwindled dramatically, and many never recovered. I’m very fortunate to be a part of a city that DID find a way back to offer a vastly superior alternative to the machinery of national chain stores.

I’m relentlessly emphatic about

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my obsession for local retail and commerce, no matter where I go.

When I visit Howell, for instance, I spend my time and money at the locally owned eateries and shops that make Howell unique. As a shop owner in Wyandotte, can’t express well enough how satisfied and fulfilled I am when people from Howell find MY store in the thriving city of Wyandotte, and ask for recommendations for places to eat or get a glass of wine.

Neither visitor seeks out the stupid mall close by, where we can see the same stupid stores we’d find at our own version, or anywhere else in the country. Seriously, how did it come to be that we accept this creepy, mindless, soul-free version of commerce that has been foisted on us?

And THAT is the point of my articles. National corporations sucked wind out of the sails of countless cities everywhere that were bustling hubs of commerce. Years later, some very talented restaurateurs and local real estate owners invested heavily in this town. That’s what makes Wyandotte feel so alive and vital today, along with merchants both newer and older that add their flair to the offerings here. That’s called localism. When what they provide acts as a magnet, local people flock to what they see as authentic options for food and drink.

And THAT’S called localism.

When businesses invest locally to create something they believe local people will enjoy and value, and cities do what they can to support those investors, and people actually DO enjoy those efforts and support them, we see localism working as it should,

and THAT is magic, too. Property values are higher where this synergy is strongest. The “coolness” factor is immeasurably higher. I believe this to be true as well: The people that live in places like this, that shop or dine in places like this, are happier.

It’s January 2nd as I write article 78.

Might I suggest that it is a good time to consider other habits besides weight and other things that need resolutions.

A resolution to shift YOUR shopping to locals makes you happier and benefits them for sure, but besides you and them, it also provides lift for those businesses to share that uniqueness for others to enjoy. You become the community in which you live, and which you love. You might even pick up the trash you see on the sidewalk, because it’s ugly and you don’t want your community looking like that.

It really isn’t hard, when you’re thinking like this, to envision at least a local example of a world that is just plain more pleasant, less mean. In one of my earliest articles, I mentioned the dots that many people have lost the ability to connect. The dots that connect us are everywhere. All you have to do is realize what they are, and connect them, wherever you go.

Then tell everyone you know about what you found. I honestly think it’s my responsibility to share these ideas.

I’m not selling, I’m not lecturing. I’m sharing, and that makes me happier, too.

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Estate Planning 101 Which plan do you need?

Time to clear up the confusion about Estate Planning ... The following definitions lack legal precision, but makes it easier to get a clear picture of what may be needed in your case.

■ Will – letter of intent of where you want your personal property to go – or not go.

■ Living Will – Documents your wishes during your final days including final healthcare choices and possibly your burial wishes.

■ Trust – This is a “company” that you start, and you become the CEO, “Trustee” and “Settlor.” The company outlives you, but continues to manage your assets as if you were alive by the successor CEO – whom you designate.

■ Power of Attorney – Financial and Healthcare – you need both – the first so someone can pay your bills, the second, sometimes called a Patient Advocate, designates someone to make “hallway at the hospital” decisions to take the stress off the family.

■ Ladybird Deed – probably the best thing that has happened to owning a home. I love these deeds – you grant yourself a life estate – in your own property - but retain the power to sell or borrow against the property. If you do not sell before you pass, this “springs” the house out of your estate, and your heirs have instant ownership, subject to any mortgage or taxes owed or similar.

Again, this is just a general description of the more popular terms – no one choice is a “silver bullet” but depending on how your estate gets planned out you can expedite a clean and clear process for the assets you worked a lifetime to save.

Why wouldn’t you want to do that? Stop by or call and make an appointment and I’ll tell you what you’re going to need to do this right.

To my numerous former clients – thank you for allowing me to draft your estate plan!

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Forrester Law Office 5 STAR ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ REVIEW ■ Business Law ■ Family Law ■ Personal Injury ■ General Practice ■ Wills & Trusts ■ Medical Malpractice

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734-307-3390

HOCKEY

Continued from page 1 night at the Southgate Civic Center.

In that game, the Southgate squad trailed 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 after two, but the team scored three times in the third period to pull out the victory.

Against TAL, the local club scored a goal in each of the three periods and limited the Legion to just one secondperiod goal.

Thumb Area Legion and DU have divided a pair of games this season, with TAL winning 2-1 back on Dec. 9.

Like Downriver United, Thumb Area Legion is a co-op team made up of Sandusky, Croswell-Lexington, Deckerville, Peck, Bad Axe, North Branch, Cass City and Brown City.

Downriver United and Thumb Area Legion will play a rubber match on Jan. 19, this time at Bay County Civic Arena in Bay City. The first game was played at Colleen Howe Arena in Sandusky and the second in Southgate.

It has been a rougher go for DU against other teams this year.

SEE FORMULA, Page 15

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SOUTHGATE STAR • January 15 — February 12, 2024 • Page 15

FORMULA

On Jan. 10 in Southgate before a Parent’s Night crowd, DU got manhandled by Downriver neighbor Grosse Ile 9-1. Grosse Ile coach Jason Durbin used a lot of players in the game, but when his best players hit the ice they were pretty unstoppable.

Grosse Ile’s Tate Hubler had a threegoal hat trick and five points. The team’s leading scorer Fisher Gurney had two goals and six points and star freshman Adalar Hovis had two goals and four points.

Grosse Ile’s senior goalie Wyatt Thompson had a shutout until the final minute, when with the clock ticking down, Downriver Unified managed to get a puck past him. He faced just five shots on goal.

Grosse Ile scored five goals in the first period and left the ice at the first intermission with a 5-0 lead. Downriver had just two weak shots on goal for the entire period and the ice on the Grosse Ile end was pristine after 17 minutes of play.

Grosse Ile scored two goals in the first three minutes of the second period and then things got a little wild.

There was a scramble in front of the Downriver Unified net and a Grosse Ile player went down. The puck entered the crease area and the two teams scrummed around on the ice trying to find it. The DU goalie apparently took offense and started throwing punches.

A few helmets were lost and a few jerseys pulled.

When the dust settled, DU was assessed a five-minute fighting penalty and the goalie was sent to the locker room.

The resulting five-minute power play opened the door to Grosse Ile goals No. 8 and 9.

The win in Southgate was Grosse Ile’s eighth straight and left the team with an 11-1 overall record.

The Grosse Ile game was a bit of an outlier for the Southgate-based team, as most of their games have been fairly close. Downriver United has hung tough with Bishop Foley, losing 5-3; Western-Pinckney, losing 6-5; Riverview-Cabrini, losing 7-5; and Allen Park, losing 6-5.

The team still faces rematches with Bishop Foley, Western-Pinckney, Thumb Area Legion and Grosse Ile. The team played Carlson on Jan. 11 and will return to action Jan. 19-20 when it will play back-to-back

games against Thumb Area Legion and Bay Area Thunder in Bay City.

At the conclusion of the regular season, DU will start Michigan High School Athletic Association state tournament play at a Division 1 regional hosted

by Eddie Edgar Arena in Livonia. Joining the local team will be Canton, Livonia Stevenson, New Boston Huron, Plymouth and Salem.

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

in diving in Grosse Ile or the Downriver area – ever.

Male or female.

This past spring, she won the Division 2 long jump with a school record leap of 18’5.75”, improving on her third-place performance the year before...

On page 3

gobigmultimedia.com/grosse-ile-grand ‘Happy campers Fifth-graders learn life lessons at Storer Camp ...On arrival, they were divided into groups of a dozen or so in their assigned bunk house, accompanied by their high school student counselors. While they may have had a friend with them in their rooming assignments, the challenge of “learning to live with others” became very real, and a part of their personal growth.

And, that’s one of the goals.

Meridian Principal Nicole Garza explains, “Grosse Ile schools have had tremendous success throughout the years in the 5th grade camp. Our camp tradition not only enhances our educational standards, but strengthens interpersonal relationships, promotes independence, and instills critical values in our students as they actively participate in outdoor experiences.”...

On page 1 Grosse Ile High School names fall MVPs ...”We are very proud to honor these outstanding student athletes.”

The 2023 fall season Most Valuable Players are: Boys Cross Country – Jack Fox Girls Cross Country – Alysa Korte Sideline Cheer – Elizabeth Adamczyk Equestrian – Lakely Luton Football – Matthew Pizzo

Girls Golf – Hanna Hargrove Boys Soccer – Landon Bourdage and James Duke Girls Swim – Madison Glover Boys Tennis – Trent Chlebek Volleyball – Chelsea Houghto.

On page 23 Katie Molnar All-State – again!

Grosse Ile multi-sport star takes bronze in diving ...For Grosse Ile High School athlete Kaitlin Molnar the results of the equation “2 x 2 =” are very different than for others.

The senior diver competed at the MHSAA Division 3 Diving Championship at Oakland University’s Aquatic Center on Nov. 17-18. She came away with a third place, bronze medal, adding to her historic prep career.

Last year, Molnar became the first state champion

gobigmultimedia.com/riverview-register RCHS Students Attend Mental Health Legislative Forum Students in Ms. Lince’s Government classes had the honor to meet Ms. Cassandra Phipps (Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network), Ms. Carol Zuniga (Hegira Health), and Mr. Kari Walker (The Guidance Center) at a Legislative Forum at Crystal

Gardens on Oct. 30, 2023.

Thank you to the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce for organizing the forum, and especially Michael Ceaser of Ceaser Capital Management, Riverview Mayor Andrew Swift, and the Soroptimist International Trenton & Downriver Area for sponsoring our three tables and lunch!

The presenters spoke about mental health issues across the country.

Mr. Walker told us about legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow establishing certified behavioral health clinics that anyone can use without restrictions such as insurance or severity of mental issues.

He explained that the LGBTQ community are those most likely to commit suicide, and that anxiety and depression are the most frequent symptoms for mental illness, followed by substance abuse disorders.

Ms. Phipps’ organization helps people 0-21 years (0 age meaning their parents) and how it’s important to break down the walls of mental illness stigma,

which usually manifests as brushing ‘it’ under the rug or approaching it as the ‘elephant’ in the room.

Her organization partners with schools to provide an array of services and support for children.

Ms. Zuniga focused on mental illness in the workplace and how adults too need mental days, just as when taking a flu day.

On page 7 Middle Schoolers enjoy trip to STEM camp ...This past summer, 25 Seitz Middle School students had the honor of attending a weeklong Summer STEM Camp at Lawrence Tech University.

This opportunity was made available through the 3P (Place, Project, Problem-Based) STEM educational grant obtained from the Michigan Department of Education.

The focus of the camp was to provide hands-on, experiential learning in order to engage students and deepen their understanding of STEM related concepts.

Students attending the summer camp eagerly immersed themselves in a world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The students were actively engaged in many different hands-on lessons involving 3-D printing, 3-D rendering, laser cutting, biology, environmental science, drones and liquid nitrogen.

These hands-on experiences allowed the students to gain knowledge and fueled their curiosity. We are certain that the students who participated created memories that will last a lifetime.

We look forward to participating in this program in the future and providing our students with highquality STEM experiences for years to come.

On page 9

gobigmultimedia.com/trenton-times Work will make TPS more sustainable and resilient We are thrilled to share some incredible news that will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our schools and community – the commencement of our highly-anticipated Energy Bond Work.

As part of our strategy to be proactive, plan for the future, and maintain a standing of excellence, on Sept. 14, we completed our bond offering through JW Baird. This resulted in $4.5 million dollars in proceeds to be used for a significant scope (list) of energy and facility improvements.

toys, and crafty residents created special gifts to tuck in the baskets, which were packed by Scouts and senior groups.

On page 12

gobigmultimedia.com/wyandotte-warrior A space for makers at Bacon Memorial Library ... The supplies are free and the machines are readily available to use, except for the heat press, which must be checked out from the front desk. A heat press is similar to an iron that creates heat transfers of designs onto materials that you provide.

The space is available to both residents and nonresidents, according to Laura Gramlich, library director....

On page 11

This Energy Bond Work represents a significant step towards a more sustainable, resilient and environmentally friendly future for all of us that will result in significant cost savings to our district.

In fact, it is because of this realization of savings that these improvements will be at no cost to our community...

On page 8 Student Council members inspire as role models A unique connection has blossomed between high school student council members and their elementary counterparts.

Serving as beacons of leadership and inspiration, the high school representatives took on the role of mentors and spent time with our elementary representatives guiding the emerging leaders of tomorrow in the elementary student council.

Our elementary students were able to gain insight into the role of high school student council members and seek advice on how they can make a positive impact on their elementary school community as they learn to develop leadership skills. entrances, preschools collected coins to provide turkeys, there were marathon shopping days for

Community embraces new ‘Dotte mural ...The program aims to help people explore, express and build a stronger sense of community through a communal art experience.

Fel300ft, the Wyandotte artist who was chosen to create the mural on location, said he selected scenes to include – the street art fair, the gazebo, the clock tower, the water, the seasons of the year and others – because he thought they were important and helped show his love for the community.

“Wyandotte’s blossoming art scene has filled us with pride as we join the city’s artistic movement,” fel said. “This mural is a testament to Wyandotte’s lively energy and unique charm. It’s an absolute pleasure to collaborate with the DIA and its PIPA program, which allows us to spread the beauty of public art to communities around us.”....

On page 1

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