Wyandotte Warrior, June 27 – July 26, 2023

Remembering Justin Lanagan

Pickleball courts named in honor of former recreation superintendent

Pickleball courts at a Wyandotte park have been named in honor of the late recreation superintendent who helped bring the popular sport to the city.

A sign announcing the Justin N. Lanagan Memorial Pickleball Courts was unveiled June 6 at Fraternal Order of Police Park. Family members, city officials and a large group of supporters were on hand for the ceremony. Dozens of pickleball players paused their games in honor of Lanagan.

Lanagan worked for the city from 1997 until his death from a sudden illness in July 2022. He was 43 years old when he passed away.

Mayor Rob DeSana said it SEE JUSTIN, Page 4

Justin Lanagan and the late Mayor Joe Peterson.

‘Patt Slack Way’ becomes a reality

The Wyandotte City Council recently voted to approve the official naming and dedication of the alleyway and public right-of-way next to Frank’s Pizza as “Patt Slack Way” in recognition of Patricia “Patt” Slack for her contributions over the past 40 years to the City of Wyandotte.

A dedication ceremony was held June 15th in the new Patt Slack Way: the alley between the Yack Arena parking lot and Biddle Avenue, adjacent to Frank’s Pizza. There was a sign unveiling, ribbon cutting, small jazz band and refreshments provided to those attending.

Slack was honored and recognized for her many contributions to the city.

Among them:

• 22 years as Chairperson of the DDA. During this time Wyandotte Downtown has become known as the Downtown of Downriver.

• New Business Grant Program (now named the Joseph R. Peterson Downtown Grant Award). This was a first in the State of Michigan.

• Nearly $30M in new construction downtown within the last five years.

• Preparing a business environment which has produced virtually no

vacancies.

• Repurposing of eyesores such as the post office, the bank building, and old city hall.

• Through covid, instituted business retention bonuses for all downtown businesses which resulted in the loss, unbelievably, of only one business.

• Helped establish the ever popular Social District.

• Patt was a driving force behind the Wyandotte Street Art Fair having been on the committee for over 30 years.

• Patt started the popular Third Friday events in Wyandotte

• Patt started the Wine Crawl event

• Patt started the WBA 30 years ago

• She has spent hundreds of hours promoting Wyandotte to various media outlets in Detroit including live TV and print

• Patt has been a successful active business owner for 43 years

• Patt has been instrumental in being the face and driving force of Wyandotte’s art community, not only as founder and owner of River’s Edge Gallery but also nurturing many artists and the Jim DeSana Center for Arts and Culture.

JUSTIN

Continued from page 1

was during Lanagan’s time as recreation superintendent that the pickleball courts were installed to meet a growing demand for places to play a game that has been called America’s fastest-growing sport.

“In my opinion, pickleball is a great recreational activity for all ages to get involved in,” said DeSana, who plays the game. “Justin recognized that. He took it to the commission and four courts were built on the site. We have the best facilities around because of Justin. A lot of people are playing here.”

Lanagan’s mother Joann, herself a former city employee; his sister Kelly and his brother Jared were on hand for the dedication.

Tom Snider, an “ambassador of pickleball” in Wayne County, also participated in the ceremony. Lanagan and Snider worked closely to organize tournaments at Pulaski Park and a beginning players clinic in the city.

“Justin was incredible at doing stuff

behind the scenes,” Snider said, adding that Lanagan suggested that funds raised at a future tournament be donated to the Wyandotte Goodfellows.

When it came to pickleball, “I think he was ahead of his time, obviously,” said City Administrator Todd Drysdale. “The popularity of pickleball is incredible now.”

People who knew Lanagan praised him as someone who had the people of

Wyandotte in mind when he worked for the Parks and Recreation Department and as a problem solver in the city.

“I can’t say enough good things about Justin,” Drysdale said. “He was an exemplary employee and a great department head in Recreation, Culture and Leisure. As an employee, one of the things always said is that regardless of what was asked of him, ‘I’ll take care of it.’ He always took care of what needed

to be done.”

Recreation secretary Aimee Garbin called Lanagan “a great boss”

“He was there for you when you needed him,” Garbin said. “He was very strict so you couldn’t get away with anything. I still cry to this day because I miss him so much. He would do anything for anybody. He had a big heart.”

City officials said Lanagan grew up in Wyandotte and attended Wyandotte Catholic School before graduating from Gabriel Richard High School in Riverview and went on to pursue a degree in law enforcement in college, then a master’s degree in tourism. He was living in Southgate at the time of his death.

In high school, he played football and tennis at a high level, Drysdale said. “He loved sports. He had friends everywhere.”

Joann Lanagan said she appreciated the tribute to her son. She said the pickleball courts are being used by players of all ages and would allow older residents to play the sport during the Downriver Senior Olympics.

Photos by Dave Gorgon

Justin Lanagan’s brother Jared (left), mother Joann, sister Kelly, Wyandotte Mayor Rob DeSana and Pickleball Ambassador Tom Snider stand beside the Justin Lanagan Pickleball courts sign.

Pickleball courts at FOP Park.

DAVE GORGON

Several years ago, Wyandotte resident Amber Mendez encouraged teen-age son Christian to enter the Happy Soles 5K in Taylor to help raise money for the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry to feed hungry people Downriver.

Both mother and son had running backgrounds. The race was close enough – starting and finishing at Taylor’s Heritage Park – and everyone who entered received a high-quality tech race shirt and a medal. And it was for a good cause.

The Mendez duo entered together again this year. Lo and behold, Christian finished runner-up overall among the 160 runners and walkers. The 19-year-old student at Henry Ford Community College finished the 3.1-mile course in 21 minutes and seven seconds.

He was the fastest finisher among males ages 15 to 19, outpacing the next quickest by more than a minute.

Amber Mendez, a 40-yearold registered nurse in an intensive care unit, finished in 52st place overall in 38:01.

None of it would have been possible if Christian had not stayed with running on the track and field and cross country teams at Roosevelt High School. He had considered quitting due to what he considered poor results, but his parents encouraged him to stay with it and it paid off.

“I actually fell in love with it,” Christian said. “The people I was surrounded with – the coaches, the team in general and both the boys and the girls – were super welcoming, which created a strong bond. One of them told me later that she was happy I didn’t quit. Even to this day, I hang out with them.”

Once he earned a spot on the varsity team, he felt he had potential. As a junior, though, he fractured his leg and wound up running five races with a broken leg. He recovered in time for his senior year in track, “which was probably my favorite season” as his times improved.

Now in college, Christian is studying to become a physical therapist. He hopes to transfer to a four-year university and run collegiately.

Mom Amber was a long-distance runner on the track and cross country teams at Lincoln Park High School from 1998 to 2000.

“He got me back into it,” she said. “Every year, my son would say, ‘let’s do road races.’ I said ‘I’ll at least do one.’ We discovered Fish & Loaves 5K in 2019.”

To prepare for this year’s race, mother and son ran at least a mile together once or twice a week.

“It’s something we could do together,” Amber said.

During the actual race, Amber kept pace by running with friend and coworker Kim Geletzke, also from Wyandotte. Geletzke finished in 38:30 and the two placed sixth and seventh, respectively, in the female 40 to 49 age group.

Daniel Garza, 28, of Dearborn was the overall winner of the 5K in 16:40. Rudy Cianfarani, a 63-year-old from Wyandotte, finished in 36:55.

Full race results can be found on the Run Signup website.

Brown Bag Blessings Program feeds dozens of students during the summer

DAVE GORGON

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

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

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

Pastor Tom Ferguson of St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Wyandotte said church members in the ministerial association collect different food items, pack the goods together and deliver the food to Roosevelt High School, Washington Elementary School and the Bacon Library – about 100 brown bags in all.

Ferguson said deliveries take place at 10:30 a.m. each Wednesday, June 14 to Aug. 9. Once all the bags are distributed, the process begins again the following week.

The participating churches and parishes whose members donate the food are St. Stephen, St. Vincent Pilates,

Wyandotte Family, Trinity Lutheran and First United Methodist. Brown bags are purchased at Aldi’s. Each church provides different items, which are packed up weekly during a production line gathering at Trinity.

Greyson Grenz, the

pastor of Trinity Lutheran in Wyandotte and Community Lutheran in Flat Rock and the president of the Wyandotte Ministerial Association, said the group saw the need during summer several years ago and has been partnering with the Wyandotte Schools since.

“We were looking for ways to impact the community,” Grenz said. “It’s a relatively simple program to be a part of.”

For the most part, Grenz said, Brown Bag Blessings is done without fundraising as churches and parishes

step up to provide what is needed, although donations are welcome. Ferguson said food items can include pasta, Rice-A-Roni, tuna, macaroni and cheese, fruit cups, granola bars, crackers and juice boxes Grenz said any church or civic group interested in participating is welcome. He said additional participants would help share the burden of providing the meals and broaden the reach of the effort.

Ferguson, who is coordinating the Brown Bag Blessings for the ministerial association this year, said St. Stephen also has an outdoor pantry called a Blessings Box, which contains food that is donated by community members.

He said the box was the February 2021 Eagle Scout project of Ian Duane of Boy Scout Troop 1770. He said materials were donated by Hood’s Hardware and Lowes. “People from the community and St. Stephen’s fill the Blessings Box and people who need food come by and use it,” Ferguson said. “It’s a dynamic two-way pantry that has become very successful. Who knew that it would grow to be such an important source of food for so many?

New trail of open up Gibraltar Bay to visitors

JOHN HARTIG

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

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

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

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

The EPA property on the southern end of Grosse Ile includes a 41-acre parcel containing some marshland that is part of Gibraltar Bay and upland habitats. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performed an environmental cleanup. Naval debris was also removed from the bay through a partnership among the Navy Seabees, the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, and the Great Detroit American Heritage River Initiative, and shoreline habitat was rehabilitated.

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

ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, that will soon change.

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

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

The cost of the project is approximately

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

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

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

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

STEWARDSHIP AND IMPROVED PUBLIC ACCESS

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

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

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

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

CONNECTING TO EXISTING GREENWAY TRAILS

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

This new Grosse Ile trail will be

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

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

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

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

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

By Susan Pinkowski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE WALKING, Page 11

WALKING

Continued from page 10

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

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

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

Beavers!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How to Choose the Right Credit Card

By Robert P. La Palme President/CEO Downriver Community Federal Credit Union

Credit cards are a convenient way to make purchases and build credit, but with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.

When choosing a card, it is a good idea to understand your spending habits. Do you frequently travel? Do you spend a lot on groceries or dining out? Knowing your spending habits will help you choose a credit card that offers benefits that align with your lifestyle and your budget.

One important factor is the APR. The interest rate, also known as the Annual Percentage Rate, is the amount of interest you’ll be charged on any outstanding balance. With recently rising interest rates, many people are looking for a fixed-rate credit card to

ensure that they know exactly what they’ll have to pay for credit, regardless of uncertain economic factors. If you’re looking to protect yourself against the costs of rising rates, look for a card with a low, fixed rate of interest, especially if you plan to carry a balance each month.

Although many people choose credit cards that offer rewards on purchases, those cards may come with higher rates, annual fees, or strict late charges--even If you are only one day late! Additionally, many people do not use all of the rewards they earn, leaving the card issuer in some cases to expire those rewards. If you are concerned about paying too much, look for a card that does not charge an annual fee, has a forgiving late payment option, or offers rewards you’ll actually use and don’t expire.

Knowing which lender to apply with is a good strategy, so be sure to check your credit score. Your credit score may impact your ability to qualify for certain credit cards and may even

determine the interest rate you’ll be charged. Understanding which lender to choose may help you obtain a card even if you’ve been denied a credit card in the past.

Before applying for or using a credit card to make purchases, make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully. Look for any hidden fees, restrictions, or penalties that could impact your ability to use the card. Understand what your minimum payment will be each month, when it is due, and always do your best to make your payments on time. Doing so will help you save money and build good credit.

In conclusion, choosing a good credit card requires careful consideration of your spending habits, interest rates, rewards and benefits, annual fees, and the fine print. By taking the time to research and compare credit cards, you can find a card that you’re likely to qualify for, meets all of your needs, and helps you build and maintain a good credit rating.

GET GREAT NEW GLASSES, SAVE SOME

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.

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.

Around here the ‘focus on local’ is booming

Maybe I had no need to address you over these past five years or so as if you didn’t understand, but maybe I did.

So many of the clients and visitors to Willow Tree and Chelsea are obviously interested enough in the independent option to come check us out. And more and more people are making a point of telling me that they read my articles and that they appreciate them, agree with what I write. I’m sure you can imagine how important that is to any writer. Is anyone reading? Do they keep reading?

Evidently so, but there is no way I can know unless people tell me. I can’t track it like I could if it was a facebook ad or any digital platform, so all I can do is keep writing until your fearless editor Hank Minckiewicz tells me that he’s getting threats.

I don’t know if you thought of this, but the articles I write have the capacity to be seen and read by every resident of Grosse Ile, Trenton, Riverview, Southgate and Wyandotte. It’s a pretty big potential reach, that’s a pretty big audience of people that generally don’t think of the matters I put before them, hoping that any percentage at all might put their automatic spending habits on at least temporary hold as they mull over these ideas.

Because that is what such habits are. Every one of us is on some sort of auto-pilot setting. My job, as I see it, is to encourage a timeout to think about this topic of my readership. It may surprise you, but something less than all of the readers I cited shop at Chelsea and/or Willow Tree, and if any decide to visit my stores, I will consider that to be time well spent.

But as I keep telling you, I get an outsized amount of gratification from hearing that any independent business benefits from my calls (and anyone else’s calls) to be a localist.

The chart here on this page illustrates the general idea, just as I have said so many times. As you drive around and think about it either in your head or in reality, I’ll bet each of my readers could compile a huge

list of businesses that are owned, operated, and directed by neighbors in our Downriver community.

Many are friends, relatives, and next-door neighbors; people you know and that are part of your world beyond their business efforts. And, many of them are important to you personally. If they closed up shop for any reason, it would have a negative impact on you and your needs.

So, what seems to be happening more and more is what I advocate for so loudly, and that gives me the most satisfaction: More and more people know the difference between local and national, and more and more people are not just making decisions in favor of local options – they are becoming cheerleaders like me.

It feels really, really good to give ardent, earnest referrals to people for local places, and it feels even better when those people report back to me, echoing my enthusiasm. I love the feeling. But as good as it makes me feel on the direct level, it means so much more to me knowing that business was retained locally. It takes more than just me, of course, and that’s why it’s exciting

to consider that people are seeing this side job as a pretty good gig, championing a region that just plain hops, with countless raving fans and a populace that gets my sort of satisfaction from being a part of.

I know that I am directly responsible for retaining business in the region in which I live and work. I am directly responsible for having an UPward affect on the business community of Downriver.

No, I don’t take credit for it. I just know with every positive word for Local, I make a difference. I do not do this for my fortunes; I do this for the fortunes all around me, creating ripples that get bigger and bigger as more and more money is spent in the trading area.

I am so happy to see businesses that I consider to be cool and unique succeed and thrive. I am so satisfied to consider that as a result, more money is being spent there, and some of that money pays the rent or mortgage for the owner’s home.

I make a difference by shopping there, sure, but not always – even if I don’t shop there, I sing their praises and tell people how wonderful it is to

have such places to go, right here in our area.

More and more, I am feeling these sentiments around me.

More people get it. More people put their money where their mouth is, and…more businesses are doing more business, creating more people that spread the world of all things local and independent.

Remember, you don’t have to hate national businesses to participate more fully in the push for local success. I have big reasons for my own attitude, but I’m not asking anyone else to join me on that war front. I’m asking you to love local businesses more, and to really understand how much every dollar spent matters so much more at places that may as well be family, even if they are not YOUR immediate family. I’m suggesting that if all of us thought local first and encouraged everyone else to think and act local first, this region would be even more vibrant.

The energy would be explosive. That’s no exaggeration, and who in their right mind would argue against that?

PETER ROSE

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

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Grosse Ile DDA crowdfunding campaign

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

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

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Great Horned owls nesting near Huntington

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

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

WHAT YOUR DONATION WILL SUPPORT

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

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Area Soroptimists host Fourth ‘Mommy and Me Tea Party’

To celebrate Mother’s Day and introduce women

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huntington students are currently participating in an owl naming contest.

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Prepping for the prom

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

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

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Southgate Schools unveil projects to the community

In the first three years following the first issue of the bond, officials have completed Titan Natatorium, weight room, turf football field, elementary school renovations and playground replacements, according to schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon Irvine. Also in place are multiple branding projects, directional signage, a school district sign, a stadium gate and fencing, high school restrooms and the

the field house and press box at the high school, replacing Anderson’s lockers, installing classroom technology, renovating the high school multipurpose room, stairwell improvements, additional branding, a digital scoreboard, new baseball and softball scoreboards and the renovation of auditoriums at the high school and Davidson Middle School.

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Girl Scout Gold Award project

Southgate girl makes swings accessible to children with disabilities

Lilly Truel says she enjoys the feeling you get that you’re “flying” while gliding on a swing. As a Girl Scout, she set a goal to provide the same opportunities for children with handicaps and in wheelchairs. In May, she reached that goal.

several staff members and parent chaperons, embarked on a four-day journey that included visits to some of the city’s most famous landmarks and museums.

installation of SmartBoot system to improve building security.

In the works, Irvine said, are the renovation of

The 15-year-old Southgate resident unveiled an ADA-compliant wheelchair platform swing that has been installed at Ray Torres Lions Park in her hometown.

The project has earned rave reviews and could lead to a Gold Award – Girl Scouting’s highest honor.

The Southgate Anderson High School ninth-grader is a member of Girl Scout Troop 76473. In fact, she has been a Girl Scout since she was in the first grade living in Naples, Florida.

She already has earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award for her troop collecting pajamas for needy children and the Silver Award for painting picnic tables at Southgate parks...

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The students had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, Memorials (Pentagon, Iwo Jima, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean and World War II), Arlington Cemetery, Ford Theatre, White House, U.S Capitol, Naval Academy and a Spirit Cruise in Baltimore...

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Something to buzz about Anderson students get up close and personal with some busy bees

The nonprofit group had served the city since 1984. The organization’s main job was to restore homes in Wyandotte, provide affordable housing for those interested in purchasing a home in the city, adding the property back to the city’s tax rolls and, ultimately, upgrading neighborhoods.

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Arthurs Middle School takes on Washington D.C.

... The group of 8th graders accompanied by

According to alliance facilitator Corki Benson, due to retirements, relocations and deaths, the original group ceased operations in the late 1990s after completing 14 projects.

In 2005, with the help of then-Mayor James DeSana, a new team was formed to take up the mission, Benson reported. In October 2006, the new group restored its first property in the 1200 block of Lincoln.

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