Trenton Times, December 15, 2022 – January 24, 2023

Holiday cheer

The blow-up characters participating were not the only ones smiling on the evening of Dec. 3 as Trenton celebrated the coming Christmas holiday with its annual parade through the streets of downtown Trenton. Families lined the curbs and sidewalks as the parade meandered past. The event ended at city hall, where Santa helped light the city Christmas tree and cookies and hot chocolate were served. See more images from the Trenton Christmas Parade inside today’s edition.

Photo by Dave Chapman

Old fashioned Detroit muscle

Toys for Tots benefits from famous classic car drawing at Southgate Ford

Southgate to capture its arrival.

Mayor Kuspa has been asked to speak during the program. He said Detroit Lion Jamaal William and actor R.J. Mitte are scheduled to be part of the program.

“It is not very often that our city is featured in a television show,” Kuspa said. “So special thanks to Angela and Mark Babala for bringing such positive attention to our community and the entire Downriver area.

“This event is open to the public and I hope to see many of our residents there to support the Toys for Tots program. It is a great opportunity to witness the drawing, experience the production process, meet the special guests and be a part of the finalized program when it streams on the Peacock Network.”

The Mayor praised Southgate Ford and its many contributions to the local community.

DAVE GORGON

Representatives of the Southgate Ford dealership are excited to host a highly-touted drawing for a famous classic Mustang to benefit the Toys for Tots Foundation.

General Sales Manager Brian Bartholomew said everyone is welcome to stop by the dealership at 16501 Fort Street in Southgate on December 15. The program is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. with the public raffle set for about 7 p.m.

The 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 was restored on the television program “Angel’s Garage” on the Peacock Network. The show’s producers selected Toys for Tots as the beneficiary of a raffle of the classic car.

Money raised will be used by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to purchase toys for families struggling to buy gifts for their children this Christmas. Raffle tickets start at $5 each with an added processing fee. Discounts are given for multiple

ticket purchases. Tickets are available now online at https://myevent.com/ toysfortots.

“The U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is an amazing organization that has brought joy to needy families for 75 years,” said Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa. “It is great to see Angel’s Garage not only donating the classic 1970 Mustang to this charity, but also have the raffle drawing at one of our outstanding Southgate businesses – Southgate Ford.”

Kim Felske, the Downriver coordinator of Toys for Tots, said Southgate Ford was chosen for the drawing since it’s a Ford dealership located in a more populated area. She said Ford dealerships are staunch supporters of Toys for Tots and it will be convenient for people to stop by the dealership to see the Mustang.

“The car is phenomenal,” said Felske, who lives in Brownstown Township. “Unfortunately, I’m not eligible to win.”

Felske said Michigan was chosen to host the raffle drawing event. Once

the Mustang was restored, the car debuted in the state at Soo Motors in Sault Ste. Marie on Oct. 25 before it was trucked to Fox Grand Traverse from Nov. 7-21. From Traverse City, it made a stop at the Ford Mustang plant in Flat Rock before its destination at Southgate Ford for the raffle.

At the event, Santa Claus will draw the winning ticket.

“This Mustang is a one-of-akind and raffling it to benefit the U.S. Marine Toys for Tot program is a wonderful gesture by Angel’s Garage,” Felske said. “Every child deserves to find a present under the tree on Christmas morning and Angels’ Garage is doing more than its fair share to help.”

Angel’s Garage producers are originally from Michigan and want to help showcase the state in their program.

“We’re proud of where we come from and we want to share this place with others,” said Angela Babala, who is “Angel” on the show. A production crew will accompany the car while in

“Owner Walt Oben and his family are great examples of businesses giving back to their community,” he said. “Over the years, they have provided several contributions to our parks and recreational programs. So it is very fitting that this drawing takes place in their showroom.”

Detroit-area pizza chain Chubby Charlies has partnered with the TV show to not only transport the Mach 1, but also helped fund rare parts needed for rebuilding the car, Felske said. Chubby Charlies and Promenade Artisan Foods in Trenton will be onsite in Southgate offering samples on December 15.

Felske said the mission of Toys for Tots is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991.

Now in its 75th year, the toy drive is part of a national campaign that was started by the Marine Corps Reserves. The toy collection is the largest in the country with 800 campaigns in all 50 states.

For more information on Toys for Tots, visit the website toysfortots.org

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 1,300 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.

NEW EYES OPTICAL Veteran Owned Since 2012 SHOP SMALL SHOP LOCAL Affordable Pricing & Unique Styles Call or visit us on Facebook for up to date daily hours! 1616 Ford Ave • Wyandotte • 313-587-4204 www.NewEyesOptical.com With over 1800 frames available, we can meet all of your vision needs! READING • VISION SUN • SPORTS SAFETY GLASSES ALL AVAILABLE With prescription or not We Also Have the LARGEST Selection of Ray-Ban & Oakley Sunglasses Downriver!

Florida Keys Vacation!

Beautiful Two Bedroom Luxury Condo in Key Largo

Per Night From Only $295*

Your morning in paradise starts with sipping your coffee sitting at your nautical teak table overlooking lush tropical landscaping on your private balcony or taking a short stroll to the tiki hut at the end of the pier to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic.  The perfect start in paradise.

After a fun filled day of boating, fishing, scuba diving or soaking up the sun relaxing by one of the largest pools in the Florida Keys or relaxing by the pool overlooking the marina and Atlantic ocean, or even sinking your toes in the sand like the song says “only worry in the world is the tide going to reach your chair” on our private upland sunning beach.  There is always something for everyone!

Paradise isn’t over yet as you walk through your own private courtyard, a bricked patio garden with relaxing furniture, then up just one flight of stairs, your private oasis awaits you…where you can unwind from a fun filled day.  You can cook your fresh day’s catch in your fully equipped new kitchen with lots of natural light glistening off the solid surface countertops and the stunning stainless steel appliances and eat in comfort.  Or go “out on the town” and relax in some of the best restaurants in the area where you are pampered as your fresh catch is being prepared to your specifications as you relax drinking a glass of wine watching the beautiful Florida Bay Sunset.  The perfect end to a wonderful day in paradise.

After dinner retreat to your 1480 sq. ft. Newly Decorated Beautiful two bedroom townhouse with a smart open floor plan, 14’ vaulted ceilings.  Relax with ELEGANT Tommy Bahama furnishings and a 65” HDTV in the great room.

Now time for a perfect night’s rest as you enjoy a wonderful view from the master bedroom giving the feeling of nestling in the trees.  A beautifully tropical draped four-poster, king size bed with ultra comfort mattress assures a perfect night’s sleep and offers the ideal spot to view the 48” flat screen TV.  An en suite bath features a corner spa tub, the perfect way to end a day of sightseeing.

Welcome to 901 Mariners Club!

We are glad to have you here!

TRENTON SCHOOLS

High school Interact Club gives back in November

The Interact Club at Trenton High School (community service organization) was back at it again in the month of November participating in a few activities to give back to others.

This November, the Interact Club did a local project and their international project. According to the Interact Club bi-laws, each year the club must participate in at least one international project per year.

Throughout October, students in Interact Club and community members brought in small gifts, essentials (soap, toothpaste, etc.), and other items that would fit in shoeboxes to send to impoverished nations all around the world. This project –Operation Christmas Child – was founded to give children in impoverished countries an opportunity to celebrate Christmas.

Over the month of October, the students and community members were generous in their donations.

On Friday Nov. 11, about 20 students met after school and packed 25 shoeboxes to be sent all over the

world.

The students first selected whether they would pack a box for a boy or a girl and the age that would be appropriate to receive these gifts.

Trenton Food Pantry located at St Philip’s Church.

As the boy scouts went around and collected cans from Trenton porches, the Interact Club waited patiently for

place them on big tables.

Second, a few students had to locate expiration dates and make sure that old food did not get re-distributed out to the community. The food that was deemed good, was pushed to another table.

Third, the students sorted the food. Most members of the Interact Club worked here. They took the food from a table and sorted the food into different boxes (beans, corn, cereal, snacks, canned meats, etc) to make handing it out easier.

The fourth and fifth steps were away from the sorting.

Fourth, some members did the heavy lifting and moved full boxes of food back to the storage area in the food pantry.

Next, the students started to pack away. The students did a great job as all of the boxes were overflowing with items.

The very next day, Saturday Nov. 12, the Boy Scouts had a nonperishable food drive to benefit the

their deliveries.

The food was dropped off at St. Philip’s and the Interact Club got to work. There was a four-five step process in place.

First, the students had to take the food donations out of the bags and

Fifth, a few members sat in the storage area and sorted the boxes so that there was some type of order for pickup days.

All in all, the students had fun, learned how important it was to take care of their community and received a great meal out of it, compliments of the members of St. Philips Church!

Students attend MHSAA Sportsmanship Summit

JAMES TRUSH

On Wednesday Nov. 16, Trenton High School

Athletic Director James Trush, and Trenton Varsity Football Coach Reggie Glon chaperoned 10 THS student athletes attending the MHSAA Sportsmanship Summit in Ann Arbor.

For more than 20 years the MHSAA has provided a Sportsmanship Summit experience to students across Michigan.

This year new breakout topics, more interaction within the sessions, and additional time was provided for students to present ideas to other students.

Workshop sessions focused on sportsmanship both on and off the court and featured hands-on activities including one session developed and instructed by members of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council.

At the end of the day the delegation from each participating school met to develop a school sportsmanship campaign.

Breakouts at the Summit provided a great opportunity for student sections to learn about appropriate student section behavior. There was additional information for the veteran student sections, as well as guides for schools that want to start their own organized student sections for the first time.

The Summit opened with a 50-minute

introductory session to the entire group which included approximately 220 students from various schools in the Metro-Detroit area. The message in the opener provided dialogue and feedback on sportsmanship on the playing surface, as well as sportsmanship in the stands.

After the opener, five 27-minute breakout sessions followed that covered the following topics: Social media, Athletic Director’s perspectives, respect for officials, student sections and parental support and etiquette at events.

The summit had 23 neighboring schools in attendance and representing Trenton this year were seniors Ty Norgren, Dom Calloway, Micah Kneiding, CJ Haddad, Jacob Wiseman and juniors Claire Gonyea, Bri Thomas, Annika Segedi, London Williams and Molly Edmunds.

This was a great event and our student athletes enjoyed the day and opportunity to meet other athletes and discuss “all-things” sports with them.

Corp. (DTC).

Clare

Reimagining our waterfront Downriver

residents urged to continue to mull new ideas

Susan Pinkowski

On November 2 the graduate students, who are part of the Public Design Corps at Taubman College University of Michigan, continued the conversation about the possible futures of Trenton’s Waterfront in their quest to learn what the public would like to see developed in the future.

You may recall the previous article asking for your opinion through an online questionnaire.

Well, 265 of you graciously gave them the information that the students recently presented to a group of about 25 people at the Trenton Veterans Memorial Library, where participants

were able to voice what’s working and not working on Trenton’s waterfront.

Among those in attendance were Councilwoman Wendy Pate and Councilwoman Dora Rodriguez, along with scientist John Hartig and Pat Hartig, a former mayor of Trenton.

The handouts that the students had prepared were first class – two large multi-colored accordion-folded brochures that listed the results of the questionnaire – and explained the legacy of environmental pollution in the brownfields and superfund sites along the waterfront.

They also prepared a series of maps and a video summarizing the project so far. All this information and more

is in the website at storymaps.arcgis. com/stories

The results of the Community Questionnaire revealed that 70 percent of those responding visit the waterfront parks at least once a month, with, of course, Elizabeth Park being the most visited.

That number is only going to increase with Covid getting behind us and the festivals and concerts coming back.

The respondents would like to see improvements in the public facilities, more parks and public space, more activities and more water access opportunities. They are also interested in ways to reduce pollution and

increase environmental stewardship. They all agree on wanting more access to the river all year long.

The survey also inquired about residents’ use of the greenways (walking, biking, skating) and blueways (kayaking, canoeing, fishing).

The Downriver Linked Greenways is the most used trail, but residents would like more retail along all three trails and more public amenities. This is the idea promoted by the Great Lakes Way, a network of interconnected blueways and greenways from Lake Huron through Lake Erie.

Trenton Recreation looking forward to 2023

Here at Trenton Parks & Recreation, we wanted to take a moment and thank everyone in our community for making 2022 such a wonderful return to recreation. From the Marshmallow Drop to the Summer Festival, volunteers tending to parks and gardens, murals being installed, and holiday events still to come, we’ve enjoyed seeing the growing sense of connectedness in our city.

The past few years have been transformative for everyone and our department is no exception. It’s a whole new crew over here, and if we haven’t already seen you at an event or program, we hope to meet you soon! We were so excited to bring back the Halloween Walk, Youth Basketball and Christmas Teas, as well as trying a few new things out like our Friday Night Lights at the Pool, new fitness offerings, Grandparents Day events, storytelling at the Cultural Center, Craft Hours and the First Annual Dept vs Dept Chili Cook Off. We’d like to give a big shout out to all of our staff, instructors

and volunteers for making it happen. We couldn’t do it without our SNAP staff, marina staff, rink and pool staff, lifeguards, swimming coaches, youth class instructors, skating coaches, fitness instructors, basketball coaches, tennis instructors, garden volunteers, NHS volunteers, DYPAC, sponsors, and our commission and committee members. We thank them for being so giving with their time and talents. And if you want to get involved in the good things happening around town, give us a call or drop us a line! We would love to hear your ideas

for programs and we are always looking for opportunities to partner with the community.

We’ve been focused on expanding our senior and youth programming, as well as opening our facilities back up for rentals.

If you are interested in renting out the Westfield Center or Cultural Center for a family or organizational event or if you’d like rent ice for a party at the Kennedy Recreation Center, please give us a call at 734-675-7300.

And stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved and get moving! With everything from park builds to holiday events to jamborees and showcases, there will be something for everyone. We’re truly approaching 2023 with a renewed appreciation for the good times – which we can’t wait to host and celebrate with you.

Trenton Parks & Recreation wishes you the happiest of holidays and a fantastic 2023 ahead!

Tim, Kinsey, Matt, Sam, Ken, Heather, Charlene, Kathy, Jan and Cass.

TRENTON PARKS & RECREATION

gobigmultimedia.com/grosse-ile-grand

Kaitlyn

Molnar is state diving champion

...Kaitlyn Molnar is the first state champion in diving in Grosse Ile history – male or female.

RCSD picks Care Solace for mental health care services

Riverview Community Schools selected Care Solace, an organization determined to calm the chaos of mental health care coordination, to expand access to community mental health and substance use treatment providers for students, staff, and their families.

She is also the first women’s state champion diver from the Downriver area – ever.

Molnar, a junior at Grosse Ile High, dominated this year’s season, winning the Huron League and regional championships. She and fellow diver Evelina Hovis, both qualified for the MHSAA state finals

On page 1

St. Thomas Lutheran welcomes new pastor

Grosse Ile’s St. Thomas Lutheran Church has a new pastor. At a formal installation ceremony held on Saturday, Nov. 4, the Reverend Kari Rinas was officially certified as the new spiritual leader of the congregation. Former St. Thomas pastor and current Assistant to the Bishop, Sean Ewbank led the celebration of shared ministry between Pastor Kari Rinas and the church.

Among the celebrants at St. Thomas were family, friends, and local clergy.

The Pastor’s husband, Joshua, is also an ordained minister of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), who was called and installed the next day as pastor of Faith Lutheran in Brownstown. The couple has two young children, and have made their home in Brownstown.

Pastor Kari hails from the Rochester, NY suburbs, and later moved to central Pennsylvania. She earned her undergraduate degree from Hobart and William Smith College with a major in Medieval and Renaissance history, with a double minor in European literature and Religious Studies...

Care Solace provides a Care Companion™ team who can quickly and confidently find available providers in the community. Care Solace also equips school systems with a customized online tool that gives community members a way to anonymously search for community-based providers matched to their needs

On page 7

Riverview Kiwanis complete another Dictionary Project

The Dictionary Project: The goal of this program is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come.

Educators see third grade as the dividing line between learning to read and reading to learn, so we encourage our sponsors to give dictionaries each year to children in the third grade.

The sponsoring organization for the Riverview Community School District is the Kiwanis of Riverview.

On page 27.

Riverview’s historic football season ends

The Riverview football team put a cap on one of the greatest seasons in school history on Nov. 19 when the Pirates lost 51-26 to Goodrich in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 state semifinals in Rochester.

The loss, the first of the year for the Bucs, left the team with a final record of 12-1 and the number of wins matched that of the 1997 team for the most in a single season.

The Bucs, with a largely rebuilt roster after last year’s graduation losses, won the Huron League title

for the third year in a row, as well as district and regional championships.

Goodrich, after defeating Riverview, advanced to the state championship game at Ford Field the day after Thanksgiving and the Martian’s high-flying offensive ways came to an end as they lost to Grand Rapids South Christian 28-8

On page 25

Riverview girls looking for more showcase hardware

Coach Rob Sauter’s team won the Huron League championship, a district title and a regional crown before falling by 11 points to Wayne Memorial in

the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state quarterfinals.

Winning is nothing new for this program as its four straight district titles will attest. The names in the scorebook change from season to season, but the winning style of play is ingrained in each succeeding class.

Gone to graduation from last year are leaders Ryah Kolbusz, Olivia Stergiadis and Maelyn Sorenson. Into the breach steps this year’s seniors Elyssa Kincaid and Cady Kaminske. Kincaid and Kaminski, who were part of a twoyear undefeated junior high team, have been on the varsity since they were freshmen. They have been contributors from the start. Now they are unquestioned leaders...

On page 27

gobigmultimedia.com/southgate-star

Santa’s Magic Forest raises funds for Fish & Loaves food pantry

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa’s Magic Forest has returned to the Heritage Park Activity Building in Taylor. Everyone is invited to check out thousands of lights and dozens of animated holiday displays Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18.

The Magic Forest is a major fundraiser for the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, which provides food throughout the year to hungry people in the region, including Southgate. In fact, Fish & Loaves is Michigan’s largest client-choice pantry, serving families in need of either emergency or long-term food assistance.

Former church is new home to Downriver Actors Guild

A more than half-million-dollar investment has transformed the former St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and school into the 2nd Street Performing Arts Center in Wyandotte.

The center – touted as “the premier performing arts community gathering space” in the Downriver area – is a place for performing arts, dance, music and visual arts. It’s home to the Downriver Actors Guild, the Downriver Dance Academy, 2nd Street Sound (an A Capella group) and the podcast “Curtain Call.”

Located at 1123 2nd Street, the new facility opened on Oct. 14 after a more than $500,000 investment to transform the former church and attached school into a 10,000-square-foot state-ofthe-art theater with room for more than 250 seats and stage, plus an attached studio complex.

Housed in the studio complex are a dance studio, costume shop, scene shop, rehearsal space and storage for props, costumes and set pieces.

Audiences have already been entertained by “Legally Blonde, the Musical” and “The Little Mermaid.”...

On page 20

“We’re in a challenging position with increasing food prices and increasing demand for food assistance,” said Executive Director Stephanie McNees, a Southgate native. “The Santa’s Magic Forest display is one of our main fundraisers to support the pantry and our mission of ‘Ensuring No One Goes Hungry.’

“We’re on track to distribute over 2.2 million pounds of food this year to hungry families in the Downriver area and Dearborn Heights. We continue to rely on the outstanding support of our community to help us keep up with demand for food assistance.”.. On page 13

gobigmultimedia.com/wyandotte-warrior

Biddle Bowl is largest fundraiser for Wyandotte Goodfellows

For decades, the Wyandotte Goodfellows have been there to make sure there’s “no child without a Christmas.”

And Biddle Bowl has been along with them, growing to become the largest fundraiser for the annual gift-giving event.

Robert Woelkers, who with sister Judy Sadler owns the eight-lane Wyandotte bowling center on Biddle Road, Judy Sadler, presented the second of two checks this year totaling $14,000 to city Treasurer and Goodfellows Treasurer Todd Browning.

Browning said the funds and other donations will be spent on Christmas gifts next year, which is the group’s system in place.

“Biddle Bowl has been our largest donor for several years now,” Browning said. “Every year, they seem to up themselves. This year was a thousand dollars more than last year. It’s hard for me to believe that such a small business – an eight-lane bowling alley – is the largest donor to Goodfellows...

On page 3

City honors junior football champs

City of Wyandotte officials have honored the Wyandotte Indians freshman football team for

earning the “Peanut Bowl” championship of the Downriver Junior Football League.

The freshman Indians wrapped up the title on Nov. 12 with a 26-7 victory over Riverview in a game played in Taylor.

The City of Wyandotte “recognizes the value of youth sports and the important role it plays in the future of our youth and commendation is due to all team members, coaches and parents for their hard work, commitment, dedication and sportsmanship,” the certificate reads.

On page 3

Still time to get help from Wyandotte Goodfellows

Goodfellows Treasurer Todd Browning said the group will meet its goal of “no child without a Christmas,” thanks to the hard work of volunteers and the generous donations of local residents. He said the internal goal is “to serve more families than ever before.”

“If you know of somebody who may need some help, contact us,” said Browning, who is also the city treasurer. “If you would like to donate to help others, send donations to Wyandotte Goodfellows, P.O. Box 392, Wyandotte, Michigan

On page 26

With players, cheerleaders, coaches and family members gathered in the City Council chambers, Mayor Robert DeSana read a certificate of recognition, which praised the squad for “bringing home the Peanut Bowl Championship Trophy for the first time in 19 years.”

Trenton’s mighty hockey team bolts from starting gate

The days are short and the nights are dark. In Trenton that can mean only one thing: The varsity hockey season is here.

The Trojans, who last year went all the way to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state finals where they lost to Hartland in overtime, have opened up a new campaign the way they usually do –by winning games.

In their first six outings the Trojans posted a 5-1 record. Among Trenton’s victims were Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League rivals Warren DeLaSalle and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook. The Trojans also posted three straight shutouts in their first six games.

The traditional home game against Cranbrook the day before Thanksgiving was a thriller this year with the Ttrojans scoring a 4-3 victory.

Will Barrett scored a hat trick to lead the Trojans and his third goal of the night stood as the game-winner. Nate Sparks scored the first Trenton goal of the night. It was the first of his varsity career.

Josh Bogema had three assists in the

game and Boston Bennett had a pair of helpers.

The win over DeLaSalle was a close one, too.

Trenton got just two goals – one from Bennett and one from Ethan Sivi. Sivi’s rebound goal halfway through the third period was the difference in the game. Jay Cormier and Micah Kneiding assisted on the winning goal.

During a weeklong stretch to end November and begin December, Trenton won three straight games, all by shutout.

Grosse Pointe fell 5-0, Grosse Pointe North fell 8-0 and Woodhaven fell 8-0.

Evan Sivi was in goal for the wins over GPS and Woodhaven and Noah Miklos was the winner against Grosse Pointe North.

There was plenty of scoring during the stretch.

Against South, Sparks had a goal and two assists to lead the way.

Cormier, Gabriel Poluviou, Carter Allen and Blake Boike had the other goals.

In the win against North, the

floodgates flew open and the Trojans skated to a mercy-rule win. Barrett and Carter each had two goals to key the rout. Other goal-getters were Bennett, Seth Kneiding, Micah Kneiding and Landon Leone.

It was more of the same against Woodhaven as the Trojans blitzed the neighboring Warriors with 50 shots on goal.

This time, Allen and Micah Kneiding each had two goals. Boike, Barrett, Josh Bogema and Owen McAlister also lit the lamp for the high-scoring Trenton squad.

The Trojans, who battled Livinia Stevenson on Dec, 10, face a good, veteran Gabriel Richard team on Dec. 14 and a rematch on the road against U-D Jesuit, the only team to beat Trenton this year.

Trenton plays Carlson on Dec. 22 to close out the 2022 portion of the schedule. The return to the ice Jan. 6 at home against Orchard Lake St. Mary.

When the plays roll around in March, Trenton will find itself hosting a regional with Adrian, Allen Park, Carlson, Bedford and Wyandotte.

Photos by Dave Chapman

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!

www.ForresterLawOffice.com

Trenton girls off to a rocky start

The Trenton High School girls varsity basketball team suffered a couple of close defeats and it led to the team’s 0-4 start through the first two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

It started with a low-scoring 26-20 loss to neighboring Grosse Ile on Nov. 29. The Trojans led 9-2 in that game, but were outscored 24-11 the rest of the way.

The Trojans also suffered a stinging loss in their

home-opener as Allen Park squeezed out a 40-37 victory. It was the first Downriver League game of the year for each team.

In its other two outings, Trenton was beaten by Farmington Hills Mercy 69-30 and by Dearborn 4426.

The team will play 11 games before breaking for the holiday, five of them are against Downriver League teams.

2022-23 Schedule

Dec, 15 Southgate

Dec. 17 at Franklin Dec. 20 Edsel Ford

Dec. 22 Woodhaven

Jan. 4 at Grosse Ile

Jan. 12 at Taylor

Jan. 17 Lincoln Park

Jan. 19 at Carlson

Jan. 24 at Allen Park

Jan. 26 Wyandotte

Feb. 2 at Southgate

Feb. 7 at Edsel Ford

Feb. 10 at Woodhaven

Feb. 16 Taylor

Feb. 21 at Lincoln Park

Feb. 23 Carlson

Feb. 27 Districts at Trenton

Photos by Dave Chapman

Jingle all the way

The city of Trenton welcomed in the Christmas season with its annual Christmas parade down West Jefferson in downtown Trenton on Saturday, Dec. 3. The parade featured bands and fire trucks and costumed characters and, of course, Santa Claus.

At the end of the march, Santa presided over the city’s tree lighting at city hall and then participants were invited to enjoy cookies and hot chocolate and the children were encouraged to get photos taken with Santa himself.

Photos by Dave Chapman

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This is a great time of year if you look forward to and love gatherings and ages-old traditions that allow, encourage, and almost force us to slow down, relax and love…if we let it happen.

To slow down and slip into a different mode, we have to want to. It seems to me that otherwise, the mad rush of time itself rushes us along in a tsunami flood, with too little if any time for appreciation. Or even noticing.

Every generation copes with transition points in which people come to terms with change they don’t identify with. Many older folks make a good go of it. Most just can’t don’t want to. As a 68 year old person, I have no problem with tech, even though my brain is not wired the way 20some year-olds are. I do have issues with society that didn’t used to bother me. I won’t tell you about them because I hate hearing it from older folk, and sure don’t want to be one of those older folks. But it’s not minor stuff, you know? But I digress. Darn it, and so early in the column!

ROSE

My business is and has always been all about helping people get what they want. We have always done our best to present clothing and other things in ways that communicate the essence of the brands we sell. We take seriously the mission of keeping our stores clean an orderly, and painted and kept up, day after day and year after year. But those things are the givens. What makes the difference for people’s experiences in stores is the person that assists.

Our job is to facilitate your shopping experience through product knowledge, comparative fits, etcetera. But that’s not the factor, either is it. The key to everyone’s experiences in everything we do is the people that represent the companies. When a nice, respectful, funny, and engaging, competent person is your contact point for the items you want, your experience is happier. It is the factor, across every genre of retail there is, that makes us love the places we go…or not.

Such interactions make us slow down, and relive

stress and tension, if only for a little while. But the experience I talk about almost reverentially is not unique to stores. The thing that makes for a nice experience in a store is the exact sort of nice experience we get when someone lets us merge in. When we smile at people and greet them as we pass by. You could rattle off a whole bunch of things that qualify for you, that serve perfectly to share in my point.

Retail at my level, at the level you experience in Wyandotte and Trenton and at so many scattered cool places through downriver and everywhere is what makes life happier. The unique assortment of wonderful items at Abundant Living, combined with help from the owner as she shares her passion…or the feeling of discovery as you enter a store that could be nothing but local and independent…is rewarding, my friends. More than rewarding in a world that is insanely stressed on every front (it often seems)….it is so powerful that it can change our day. Happiness.

I struggle every month to rephrase my thoughts about the topic. Having done so for so long now, the act of writing helps to think it through. The thing is the places we go that have NONE of what I’m talking about in terms of satisfying times shopping are woven into the experiences that are all about that good feeling.

Just as we have to be better at self-talk that inspires us or steels us or reassures us, we need to seek out places to go for the necessary things we wish to buy that make us feel good. And it DOES make me feel good, every time I let myself feel good about having shopped locally, with people I like and respect and need to be here down the road….for me to patronize. It does make me as little happier to

shop with the lunatics that are passionate about what they do.

And what is the difference for your shopping choices? Yes, you have been paying attention, it’s the difference between being a good merchant and simply just being a bean counter that cuts payroll even though it’s totally counterproductive. It’s local that is engaged in our community and folks everywhere around here vs national, which tries to mimic the real thing but with indifferent, uninterested help.

Folks, it’s that simple. Do yourself the favor of shifting even more of your shopping to local and independent, and see how you feel this holiday shopping season. My guess is that you’re happier. Let me know if you think I’m right, won’t you? Because we can use a lot more happiness in our everyday lives in which we go about, interacting with people we encounter.

From Chelsea, Willow Tree, Love Wyandotte and Love Local, I thank you for what you bring to the community in which we ply our trades.

Merry Christmas. Peaceful Christmas to all.

PETER

Former Detroit Red Wing and fan favorite Darren McCarty was a big hit as the guest speaker at the Trenton Rotary Club’s annual Wild Game Dinner at Crystal Gardens.

Downriver West Kiwanis group looking for helpers

Former Red Wing McCarty wows at veteran event

On Dec. 2 the

held its annual Wild Game Dinner

benefit the Trenton Rotary Foundation’s programs for scholarships, the arts and Heroes and Angels for veterans’ support.

Former Detroit Red Wings standout and fan favorite Darren McCarty was our featured guest speaker and he rocked Crystal Gardens with his stories of his four Stanley Cup winning teams and the fights he got in.

A sold out crowd laughed and cried to his amazing stories.

But the big winners were students, artists and veterans. A check of $5000 was presented to Downriver for Veterans.

Kudos go out to all of the Rotarians who volunteered and brought their clients to the event.

Great prizes were also raffled out to those in attendance.

Downriver West Kiwanis is a community service organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and our communities one at a time. We partner with local schools, churches, soup kitchens, senior groups, The Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, veterans groups, and other service organizations to make a big impact and positive difference in our community.

We are a motivated group of volunteers that achieves what one person cannot accomplish alone.

We focus on providing services and filling community needs in the Brownstown Twp, Flat Rock, Huron Twp, and other Downriver communities.

Downriver West Kiwanis meets every first and third Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Brownstown Recreation Center.

Every third Monday of each month, we do a hands-on service project to help our local community. If you’d

like to join in and help out here is a list a of our upcoming projects:

January: Gloves of love

February: Coupons for troops

March: Busy bags for kids

April: Baby shower

May: Cereal drive

June: Partner appreciation dinner

July: Birthday kits

August: Backpack stuffing

September: Homeless care kits

October: Halloween kits

November: Port pillows

December: Fleece blankets

You can find our more at their website, downriverwestkiwanis.net.

Penrickton Center for Blind Children announces retirement of Director

SHEILA RYAN

In its 70th year of providing programs and services for blind, multidisabled children and their families, Penrickton Center for Blind Children’s Board of Trustees has announced the retirement of Executive Director Kurt Sebaly, effective March 2023, and named Assistant Director Patricia Obrzut to replace him.

Sebaly has served the agency in numerous roles since 1979, when he was hired as social worker and then served as assistant director. During Sebaly’s 36-year tenure as executive director, his vision and resource allocation have shaped the one-of-akind program in Michigan to expand its services, which are recognized and respected throughout North America.

He is responsible for Penrickton Center’s expansion from 8,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet, shaping program growth, embracing the impact of Active Learning, improving the standard of care, building a specialized staff, and broadening the friends and families who support the mission of the center, which was founded in 1952 by three families seeking care for their blind children.

“My years at Penrickton Center have impacted every facet of my life,” said Sebaly. “I have been surrounded by an incredible and dedicated Board of Directors, generous friends and donors, amazing families and a fabulous staff,” said Sebaly.

With Sebaly’s retirement, the Board of Directors has named Obrzut to lead Penrickton Center into the future. The foremost expert on Active Learning in North America, Obrzut holds a graduate

degree in Occupational Therapy and has been an integral part of the agency’s remarkable growth. She began with Penrickton Center as occupational therapist in 1987 and was promoted to assistant director in 1994.

“The value of having a program like Penrickton Center is vital to the community,” said Gregory Bader, board president. “As our new Executive Director, Patty will continue our mission of serving children, families and the community, and will guide us into the next chapter of our history.”

To complete the transition, Penrickton Center is pleased to announce the addition of Andrea Schotthoefer as Assistant Director. Schoeffhoeter comes to the program from the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, bringing vast non-profit knowledge, staff development and communication skills.

“We believe that every child has the precious right to learn,” said Janet Ames, director of Community Relations. “With Kurt’s dedication and guidance, Penrickton Center for Blind Children has touched the lives of thousands of children, families and community partners, and positioned us to continue the vision of our founders. With the dedicated leadership team our board has put in place, we are looking to our future with pride and enthusiasm.”

Penrickton Center for Blind Children serves blind, multi-disabled children 1 through 12 who are blind and multidisabled through its residential, day care and consultation, at no charge to families. For more information, call Janet Ames at 734-946-7500 or visit the agency’s website: www. Penrickton.org

What’s happening ...

Table tennis, anyone?

Centennial Farm Banquet Hall is home to the Grosse Ile Ping Pong Club.

The table tennis club is free to all and is open to players from high school age on up through senior years.

The club welcomes everyone from beginners to the more advanced players and players support each other in learning more about the sport.

We are also open to all Downriver players. There is an atmosphere of friendliness, good play and healthy exercise.

Although singles play is available, there is emphasis on doubles play, which brings out a teamwork aspect, many times adding to enjoyability and fun.

Friendships have been built here and we have hosted holiday parties, the Downriver Senior Olympics Table Tennis Tournament and other events. We hope you will visit us and see if it may be something you would like to try.

Our current schedule is: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-5 p.m.

If you have questions please contact Viktor Brown by email at vbrown1377@gmail.com.

Santa’s Magic Forest

Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry volunteers in partnership with the City of Taylor, and with the help of Presenting Sponsor Masco, is presenting Santa’s Magic Forest at 1 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18 at the Activity Center within Heritage Park in Taylor.

Families can view the immaculate displays and take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. General admission is $3 per person. Children under 3 are free. Pictures with Santa are $8 and are professionally taken by Rosecrans Picture Perfect Photography.

All proceeds of this event directly support Fish & Loaves to help stock their shelves and provide fresh produce, dairy and meat products this winter season. For more information on the display, including hours of

operation each weekend, please visit ww.flcfp.org.

Solstice Walk

Sponsored by the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy at Meridian Woods, eastside of Meridian Road across from Meridian Elementary School, Grosse Ile, from 1-3 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Join the group for an educational walk on the (almost) shortest day of the year. Our focus will be on signs of winter, seasonal adaptations, and animal homes.

All GINLC programs are free to the public, but your donations make them possible. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For more information, email GINLC. education@gmail.com.

Discount Annual Vehicle Passes

Huron-Clinton Metroparks 2023 annual vehicle passes are on sale now at a discount until the end of 2022. Passes are $35 or $24 for seniors 62+ until the end of the year. Beginning Jan. 1, 2023 passes will be $40 for residents ($29 for Seniors 62+) of the five counties served or $45 for nonresidents ($34 for Seniors 62+).

Passes can be purchased at www. metroparks.com (look for the “Buy Annual Pass” button in the menu bar) or at any Metroparks toll booth or park office.

Take it Outside Photo Contest

Sponsored by the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy. Entry deadline is Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 5 p.m. The contest is open to high school students within Wayne, Washtenaw and Monroe Counties.

We are searching for photos captured locally (within Wayne, Washtenaw and Monroe Counties) that inspire us to appreciate and steward our environment: air, water, land, wildlife, resources, and ecosystems.

Categories are Dawn to Dusk; Fur and Feathers; Bark and Blooms. Total of $445 in prize money. For more information, visit see https://www.ginlc.org/photo-contes

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Obrzut Sebaly Schotthoefer

As students pointed out, with almost seven miles of shoreline along the Detroit River, the city of Trenton has a critical role to play in this project. Maybe a coffee shop or restaurant to while away the time and enjoy the view? How about a museum on the shipbuilding history of Trenton? Bike and kayak rental? Maybe a hotel and convention center where the multitude of birdwatchers could congregate in our world-class migratory birding corridor?

Another suggestion was made to recreate what Port Huron did 20 years ago when they re-envisioned their waterfront – a major investor put up a coffee shop and a boat viewing platform to watch the freighters and other boats glide by.

Another person suggested that we link up to the metroparks as their trails are very user friendly.

The ideas were flowing!

But of course, one hitch in the plan is that some land along the way is privately owned, so a workaround would have to be figured out.

Participants were keen on sharing their ideas and expectations about the future transformation of the waterfront.

The blueways are not as widely used as could be because access is limited but that could change in the future. Ideas that were offered up were the possibility of a yearly rowing regatta.

The canal that loops around Elizabeth Park could be opened up, and a kayak company or club could form and get more people out on the water. A larger marina would accommodate larger boats and could be a hub of activity on the water.

While a seasonal pastime, the fishing in this area is of major importance.

Someone mentioned that more fish are taken out of Lake Erie than all other lakes combined. It has perfect spawning capabilities and anglers from all over the world come here to fish. Being so close to the mouth of the Detroit River, surely, we can capitalize on that!

The quality of the water has tremendously improved over the years, thanks in large part to the work John Hartig has done. Industrialization has gone way down so maybe it’s time for

more recreational and environmentally sound retail and commercial businesses to take their place near the shoreline. The waterfront is a fantastic asset of Trenton and should be put to better use.

The bottom line is that Trenton lost a lot of its tax base when the large industrial complexes went out of business and left behind brownfields where future reuse will require costly environmental clean-ups.

We must welcome year-round revenue generating light industry back into the city, in an environmentally sound way. A mixed-use riverfront could encompass all the ideas listed above.

The last activity in the public session invited participants to prioritize all of these ideas about possible sites’ futures into short and long-term priorities. The assembled group created a mid-term category as well, all of which broke down as follows:

Short term goals

Technology jobs, robotics and other technological industries, service jobs, public art, industrial jobs, constructed wetlands, retail jobs,

energy production, bike trails and related infrastructure, recreational programming, cultural programming, constructed wetlands, environmental recovery storytelling, more fishing piers, meadows and bird watching.

Mid-term goals

Small parks, large parks, playgrounds, indigenous peoples’ center/tours, kayak/canoe/waterrelated activities, retail development, green energy production, green infrastructure, and environmental jobs.

Long term goals

Hotels and other tourist infrastructure, museum/galleries, light industry, high tech industry, convention center, office jobs, research jobs, educational jobs, environmental jobs, and maybe a Trader Joes retail store with jobs for local residents.

What can you envision in Trenton? What would you like to be enjoying in five years? Ten years?

The students are continuing to compile information as the project continues.

Make your voice heard!

Your Elected O cials

Mayor

Steven Rzeppa

Email: srzeppa@trenton-mi.com

Councilwoman

Timber R. Baun-Crooks Email: tbauncrooks@trenton-mi.com

Councilman

Nelson Perugi

Phone: 734-931-0327 Email: nperugi@trenton-mi.com

Councilman

Richard Benedetti Email: rbenedetti@trenton-mi.com

Councilwoman

Wendy Pate

Phone: 734-692-7729 Email: wpate@trenton-mi.com

Councilwoman

Dora Rodriguez Email: drodriguez@trenton-mi.com

Councilman

Scott Cabauatan

Email: scabauatan@trenton-mi.com

Council and Commission Meetings at Trenton City Hall

Council Regular Meeting

December 19, 2022, 7:00 PM

Recreation Commission Meeting

December 20, 2022, 7:30 PM

Planning Commission Meeting December 28, 2022, 7:00 PM

ZBA Meeting

December 29, 2022, 7:00 PM

Council Regular Meeting

January 3, 2023, 7:00 PM

Tra c Safety Commission Meeting

January 4, 2023, 7:00 PM

Historical Commission Meeting January 9, 2023, 1:00 PM

Civic Commission Meeting

January 9, 2023, 6:30 PM

City Department Contacts

Administrator’s Office

Dean Creech, City Administrator Phone: 734-675-6500 Email: dcreech@trenton-mi.com

City Assessor’s Office

Joanie Barnett, MAAO, City Assessor

Phone: 734-675-6810 Email: jbarnett@trenton-mi.com

Building Department

Virgil Maiani, Building Official

Phone: 734-675-8251 Email: vmaiani@trenton-mi.com

Clerk’s Office

Debra R. Devitt, City Clerk

Phone: 734-675-8600 Email: ddevitt@trenton-mi.com

Controller’s Office

Karen Sall, City Controller

Phone: 734-675-6510

Email: ksall@trenton-mi.com

Department of Public Works

Kevin Sargent, DPW Director Phone: 734-675-8470

Email: ksargent@trenton-mi.com

Downtown Development Authority

Mayor Steven Rzeppa, DDA Liaison Phone: 734-675-6500

Emergency Management

Paul L. Haley, Emergency Management Coordinator Phone: 734-675-6500 Emergency: 734-676-3737 Email: phaley@trenton-mi.com

Engineering Department

C.E. Raines Company Souheil Sabak, Engineer Phone: 734-675-8251 Email: ssabak@charlesraines.com

Fire Department

Keith Anderson, Fire Chief

Phone (Non-Emergency Contact): 734-676-1314 Emergency: 911 Email: kanderson@trenton-mi.com

Human Resources

Elisabeth Sobota-Perry, Human Resources Director Phone: 734-675-8585 Email: eperry@trenton-mi.com

Parks & Recreation

Tim Beaker, Director Phone: 734-675-7300 Email: tbeaker@trenton-mi.com

Police Department

Mike Oakley, Police Chief Phone: 734-676-3737

Emergency: 911 Email: agilstorf@trenton-mi.com

Treasurer’s Office

Michael McCullough, City Treasurer Phone: 734-675-6510 Email: jcooper@trenton-mi.com

Waste Water Treatment Plant

Julie Willison, Superintendent Phone: 734-676-0646 Email: jwillison@trenton-mi.com

Visit the city website for more information www.trentonmi.org