The 'Ville - March 2022

March 2022 | Vol.5 | Issue 3

Northville’s News and Lifestyle Magazine

Ukrainian struggle hits home in Northville

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THE GIFT OF LOCAL JOURNALISM As you decide what is important in your life as we start a new year, please consider a donation to support The 'Ville. Since we began publishing four years ago, our goal has been to provide our readers with valuable information about the Northville community each and every month.

Your support will help that mission survive and grow. And while The 'Ville is sent to every address in Northville at no cost to readers, it is not free to produce.

LOCAL Matters! is the foundation of this magazine. If you find it of value, please consider supporting it. Every little bit helps!

Please send donations to: Journeyman Publishing 16435 Franklin Northville, MI 48168 You can also make donations via PayPal to kurtkuban@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance. We wish all our readers a Happy New Year and a healthy and prosperous 2022.

VOLUME 5

ISSUE 3

MARCH 2022

16435 Franklin, Northville, MI 48168 • 734.716.0783 • TheVilleMagazine@gmail.com

KURT KUBAN – Editor/Publisher

Kurt Kuban is an award-winning journalist, having served as a reporter and editor for several local newspapers and magazines, including The Northville Record, over the course of a career spanning more than two decades. Kurt lives in Northville with his wife, Cheryl, and their three children, all products of Northville Public Schools.

CRAIG WHEELER – Creative Director

Craig has been in the creative industry for over 30 years. He has developed a diverse background in that time, but publication design has been his passion during the past 19 years. Craig enjoys chasing his young daughter and providing moral support to his lovely wife.

MICHELE FECHT – Writer

Michele Fecht is a longtime journalist whose first post-college reporter position was at The Northville Record before moving on to The Detroit News. A 30-plus year resident of the City of Northville and historic (old) house owner, she is an author, researcher, local history enthusiast, and community activist/advocate.

BRAD EMONS - Writer

Over the course of his four decades with the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, Brad established himself as one of the preeminent prep sports reporters in the state, winning many journalism awards along the way. His greatest joy is interviewing local athletes and coaches, and reporting on their efforts.

Publisher Here is a list of people who contributed to local journalism last month.

We appreciate your support!

Ronnie Cambra John & Sharyn Duran Dick Henningsen

LONNIE HUHMAN - Writer

Lonnie graduated from EMU with a degree in creative writing. He is a longtime newspaper reporter, including two stints with The Northville Record. He is now a freelance reporter for a number of publications, including The Sun Times News in Dexter, where he lives with his wife and two young children. He is glad to be back covering the Northville community.

TIM SMITH - Writer

ADVERTISE IN THE VILLE Our locally-owned publication is an affordable way to reach the Northville Market. We direct mail to all 21,000 addresses in the 48167 & 48168 zip codes.

To secure space in The Ville, contact Scott at (313) 399-5231 or scott@streetmktg.com.

SCOTT BUIE - Advertising Director/VP of Sales

For more than 20 years Scott has worked with clients in Metro Detroit to create advertising campaigns to grow their business. After managing sales for radio stations in the Detroit Market for 17 years he purchased Street Marketing where he works closely with a variety of businesses and events. Scott and his family have lived in the Plymouth and Northville area for 25 years.

Tim brings a penchant for telling powerful and personal stories that run the gamut from news to sports. During more than 35 years in journalism, he has earned numerous state and national awards. The Wayne State grad is a published author and rec ice hockey player.

LARRY O'CONNOR – Writer

Larry is a metro Detroit area journalist whose work has appeared in The Detroit News, Jackson Citizen Patriot and the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers. When he’s not meticulously chronicling people or events, he’s avidly rooting for his favorite soccer teams – Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic.

BILL BRESLER - Photographer

Bill lied his way onto his high school's yearbook staff in 1971 and has worked as a photographer ever since. He recently retired after 39 years with Hometown Life, a newspaper group that includes the Northville Record. He's won many journalism awards for his work, and taught photography at Madonna University. According to Bill's wife, he's too young to retire, so he's happy to be part of The 'Ville.

BRYAN MITCHELL - Photographer

Bryan started working as a photographer more than 30 years ago, and was the Northville Record photographer in the 90's. He has freelanced for The Detroit News, The Guardian, Reuters, and other publications. His photography has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the globe. The Northville resident also coaches mountain biking at Northville High School.

A View From The ‘Ville

Looking Forward to Spring, Both Here and Abroad A s I write this, the temperature is hovering around 60 degrees and the sun is shining. For those of us living in northern climes, there aren’t many greater feelings than the dawning of spring each year. It’s the season of renewal and hope, which is so welcomed after a long winter.

After two years of living through the Covid pandemic, I think we’re all ready for a return to normal, and maybe this spring will be just that.

As someone with two sons attending Northville High School, it has been a great relief that they no longer have to wear a mask while attending school, though I know not everyone agrees with the change in policy.

With Covid cases spiking in Europe, maybe this pandemic isn’t done with us yet, and we’ll have to adapt if the wave comes our way. But for now, I’m glad our kids can breathe a little easier.

As spring approaches, there are a lot of great things happening in the Northville

community. That is especially the case in Northville Township, where even the air should be a little sweeter.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel showed up at Township Hall on March 10 to announce the state had agreed to a settlement with the Arbor Hills Landfill in Salem Township that will force the landfill owners to make more than a dozen improvements to reduce the odor-emitting problems that have plagued the western part of our community for too long. Township officials like Supervisor Mark Abbo are confident the new measures will go a long way toward improving the quality of life for folks living downwind of the landfill.

The township also got word that it will be able to tap into State of Michigan brownfield funds – about $15.6 million over the course of a couple decades – that will help transform the Five Mile Road corridor between Beck and Napier roads known at the Michigan International

Technology Center (MITC).

As the corridor begins to take shape, it could become a big draw to our community – both in terms of tax revenue and desirable jobs. Please see our story on Page 22.

In the City of Northville, of course, most of the talk is about the fate of Northville Downs and a proposed development that will radically change Downtown Northville. A public hearing was scheduled for March 15 after we went to press, which I’m guessing will be just the first of many public meetings on the plan. The planned development by Hunter Pasteur Homes has definitely divided the community, so it will be interesting to see where it goes and how the plan evolves.

Despite my optimism for spring, however, I think it’s worth mentioning the humanitarian crisis taking place in Ukraine. Despite the fact the conflict is a half world away, social media and communications technology has brought Russia’s

aggression against its neighbor not only into our living rooms but to our phones and other devices. It’s almost impossible to look away. I have been so moved by the bravery and tenacity of the Ukrainian people.

We were able to reach out to some local residents who have ties to Ukraine. Please see our story on Page 6. I don’t know about you, but I have felt almost helpless watching the carnage, often wondering what I would do in their shoes, especially with a family. If you know of ways to aid the brave people of Ukraine, please reach out to me so we can help spread the word.

Hopefully the freedomloving people of the world can help them defeat the Russians, so they can experience their own spring free of Russian tyranny and violence.

Kurt Kuban is the Publisher and Editor of The ‘Ville. He welcomes your comments at kurtkuban@thevillemagazine. com.

Your Voice: Letters to the Editor 4

MITC Taking Shape

22

Crossover Into Esports

Ukranian struggle hits close to home 6 35th District Court caseload way down 10 NHS spring sports schedules 18 High School Confidential: Oxford’s shadow 26

14 20 A New Place To Play

Out & About 32 Dishin’ With Denise 34

ON THE COVER: Ukrainian-Americans Joanne and John Orlyk inside their Northville Township home, which is decorated with many items from their ancestral homeland. Photo by Bryan Mitchell.

Your Voice Fundamentally opposed

When I bought a historic Northville home, I purchased more than a building and plot of land - I acquired like-minded neighbors who take pride in preserving authentic century-old structures, quaint, peaceful neighborhoods with minimal traffic perfect for ambulating, and unique downtown shops and restaurants refreshingly bereft of the usual bevy of cookie-cutter franchises.

Over time, various vacant parcels within the city and township have undergone residential development, which is understandable as a product of both housing need and land availability. But these have been tame compared with the unprecedented 48 acres that opened up as a result of the Downs’ sale. Overnight, Northville is being asked to accommodate more residents in one fell swoop than it ever has, leading many of us who came here for the quaint atmosphere to wonder just how we are going to manage the inevitable congestion this monstrous change will effect.

There will always be change-averse Northville residents - myself included fundamentally opposed to Hunter Pasteur‘s plans for the Downs. Be that as it may, The ‘Ville editor Kurt Kuban nimbly shoots for middle ground with his February editorial in which he patiently considers both sides, then surmises (in so many words) -- it‘s a done deal, folks. Time to stop complaining and move on.

One good thing: the Rouge River (that portion directed under the Downs) will much like the Bièvre in Paris - see the light of day for the first time in generations.

This is a laudable and not insignificant environmental bonus tacked onto the Hunter Pasteur package. My only hope is the bumper-to-bumper traffic which currently impedes me from exiting my driveway every morning won’t worsen after a stadium’s worth of new residents settles in.

Ken Kilpatrick

Safety issue

I agree with Jeff Beno’s letter in last month’s issue regarding the opening of Center Street, which I think is a good move to improve the safety of downtown traffic flow. Currently, traffic is re-directed to Wing Street which generally has vehicles parked on both sides of the street. The vehicles are parked at varying distances from the curb and when there is snow, the vehicles are farther away from the curb. This is difficult for most drivers to judge distances between them and the oncoming and parked vehicles. Older drivers find this extremely difficult to navigate safely. It is time to re-open Center Street for the sake of safety.

Richard Young

No roundabout

In my opinion the road planners should NOT put in a roundabout at the Seven Mile/Sheldon intersection. For one thing it would negate a beautiful view of the city while driving into the intersection from Six Mile. A stop or two would not cause me any sorrow or loss of my time.

Richard A. Carbott

SOUND OFF 4 The ‘Ville

Don’t forget restaurants

While there have been a lot of responses from the community regarding the decision to extend the closure of Main and Center streets and how it does not fit with individual visions The downtown street closures came about to help small downtown business owners survive the Covid pandemic. Photo by of what ‘our town’ Bryan Mitchell should be, there is one voice or one group of voices and opinions that hasn’t been heard and that is the small business owners in downtown Northville, specifically the restaurant owners.

While there have been people who have commented on how the closures have created a different sense of community, that really wasn’t the purpose of the street closures. It was about economic survival. Pre-pandemic, it was no secret that the food and beverage industry operated on a razor thin profit margin. How are they doing now, does anyone know?

While there are many elements that play into the current food and beverage landscape (labor shortages, skyrocketing meat prices, etc.), it is clear to anyone trying to eat lunch in downtown Northville on a weekday, we aren’t back to business as usual, and in that respect, ending the street closures doesn’t seem to address whether they are boosting our restaurants. There are very few sit down establishments open during the week for lunch and some places are closed more days of the week than they used to. Shouldn’t that be a necessary part of any discussion regarding an appropriate end to the closures?

I love our town’s restaurants and it would damage downtown’s vibrancy if they weren’t here. Dining is a cornerstone of the Northville community. We are all cognizant of how much pandemic generated vacant strip mall acreage and shuttered shops now exist in Metro Detroit and that is not something anyone in Northville wants to see replicated in our town. It is important as a community to consider showing compassion towards the restaurants in our downtown by not only acknowledging how very difficult the past two years have been for them to survive but also making their needs part of the conversation regarding the path back to ‘normal’ operations in our downtown.

Catherine Martin

What is ‘best future’?

As we contemplate the future of the Northville Downs site, the risk, of course, is making the wrong decision about the best future for Northville. So many competing interests and so many unknowable and uncontrollable variables, all we can know is who we are and who we want to be.

Small town charm seems to be the main attraction for new residents, according to my four new neighbors in their new spacious homes. So, this logically might be the foundation of future plans.

We have lived in our little house for almost 40 years, and we love it here.

Ming and Barbara Louie

Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@gmail.com.

Letters must be 150 words or less. We reserve the right to edit all letters.

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John and Joanne Orlyk show off the Ukrainian flag they made to fly outside their Northville Township home. Photo by Larry O’Connor

Ukraine Struggle Hits Home War-torn nation’s suffering reverberates locally for those with ties

By Larry O’Connor

W

hile revulsion to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine is nearly unanimous on humanitarian grounds, two Northville families are filled with unspeakable heartache for different reasons.

Though separated by 4,880 miles and a generation removed, the relentless horrific images of war are unsettling for John and Joanne Orlyk, who are part of the metro Detroit area’s sizeable Ukrainian community.

Don Howerton and Doris Oltersdorf’s personal connection is deeper, having befriended a young Ukrainian couple who are among the more than 2 million who have escaped since Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded on Feb. 22.

Both cases underscore how an unfolding tragedy, seemingly a world away, is never too far from one’s doorstep.

6 The ‘Ville

‘HORRIBLE SCENARIO’ journey, Oltersdorf said.

Howerton and Oltersdorf are “She’s very frightened,” relieved that friends Oksana said Oltersdorf, who’s been in Zubkevych, contact with 31, and her Zubkevych 16-monththrough old son Pavel the Viber made it safely messaging to Wroclaw, app. “And, of Poland, where course, she husband, hated to leave Sviatoslav without her “Slav” husband. The Bulchnyskyi’s baby is 16 sister lives. months and The family very active traveled 488 and busy. She miles from had Covid in Northville’s Doris Oltersdorf received their home December, news that friend Oksana Zubkevych in Ternipol, so she’s been and her 16-month-old son Pavel made Ukraine, pretty sick, it safely from Ukraine to Wroclaw, Poland. Her husband Sviatoslav “Slav” which had yet too. At least Bulchnyskyi stayed behind to fight. to be attacked she is out of

by Russian Ukraine.” troops. The couple’s car didn’t Bulchnyskyi, 27, is a have a heater, so they bought a computer engineer. Zubkevych portable one for the harrowing is a nurse practitioner and

serves as a family doctor.

Two years ago, the couple returned to their native country after living in Hamtramck and, in stark contrast, performed manual labor: Buchnyskyi as a dishwasher and Zubkevych a house cleaner.

On a cold January day five years ago, Howerton spotted a diminutive figure standing in a driveway near the couple’s Beck Road home. He checked on the woman’s welfare.

“She shook her head and said she was fine, but it was so cold out that Don, my husband, drove on and then he backed up,” Oltersdorf said.

“He thought maybe she was a runaway because she looked like an eighth-grader.”

She was part of a cleaning crew and waiting for a ride, she said. He offered to let her wait inside his vehicle, which was warm.

Despite her broken English, Oltersdorf learned how she and her husband came to the U.S., and despite their educational backgrounds, were getting along. She showed him photos on her cell phone and he learned she only made $300 a month in what turned out to be an hour-long conversation.

A friendship blossomed between the younger and older couple as Oltersdorf and Howerton are in their 70s.

Visits to each other’s homes followed.

Despite being of meager means, the Ukrainian couple landed with a spirit of generosity. “Anytime they came by, she would always bring chocolate or something,” Oltersdorf said.

The Northville couple has reached out to U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills, in hopes of securing

visas and bringing the family here. A spokeswoman from Stevens’ office said she couldn’t comment on specific cases but didn’t sound optimistic.

“Their situation will be very difficult,” said Larkin Parker.

“I can tell you that much, not having family here or (not) being U.S. nationals. Priority is given to those who meet those standards.

“Again, this is a time when we are really trying to extend visas, but this is what I know broadly.”

The refugee crisis rekindles post-World War II childhood memories, said Oltersdorf, a daughter of German immigrants. She recalls her mother sending care packages back home.

“It’s the same horrible scenario,” she said. “I just can’t even imagine what those people are going through, living in Kyiv in the subways underground.

It’s just so sad, and you don’t know when (Putin’s) going to stop.”

‘A VERY UNIQUE PLACE’ The Ukraine crisis strikes at the soul of Joanne and John Orlyk’s culture. Their parents were Ukrainian, having immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920s and ‘30s.

The Orlyks’ home in Blue Heron Pointe condominiums is a virtual shrine to the Ukrainian way of life.

Walls are adorned with Byzantine renderings of religious icons while curio shelves are brimming with exquisite hand-painted pysanky eggs, a symbol of prosperity, fertility, and long life in Ukrainian lore.

The defiant eastern European nation’s blue-and-yellow flag flies from the condo’s back patio, facing the lake.

Joanne Orlyk shows off a shawl that was her mothers long ago. It was once hidden in the ground to keep it safe during WWII and still has stains from being buried. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

They’ve remained frozen in front of their TV as reports of Ukraine’s relentless bombardment continue.

Friends have contacted them to share their concerns and ask how they can help with relief efforts.

The Northville couple is not surprised Russia invaded but the global support and Ukraine’s brave resistance has been inspiring.

“They’ve always been trampled on,” Joanne said.

“They occupy a very unique place in Europe. They are called the ‘breadbasket of the world’ and places like Russia have to go through Ukraine to get to central Europe, Germany, and all those things. So they kind of always were fighting against aggressors.”

Ukraine was also the victim of a Soviet-instigated famine in 1932 as farmers and families were left to starve after their grain harvests were confiscated under the guise of collectivization. More than 5.7 million people died during the two years.

“After (the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991),” Joanne Orlyk said, “they gained some form of independence and that is something that they are not going to give up.”

Joanne Orlyk clings to her Ukrainian heritage, which includes meticulously painted eggs and maintaining a collection of heirlooms, many handed down by her mother Stella Fedyk.

Her mother, the former Stella Karman, lived in the Toronto, Canada area where she met Joanne’s father Peter Fedyk, who emigrated from Opakao, Poland, in 1929. The couple moved to the Detroit area in 1935. Her father worked for the automotive industry’s Studebaker and then DeSoto.

John Orlyk’s father, Konstantin, was a well-known choir director and actor who came to the U.S. in the early 1920s. The family patriarch also passed down his culture and love of Ukraine to his children.

The Orlyks’ story is not unlike the more than 40,000 people of Ukrainian descent

who live in Michigan.

Ukrainians who grew up in the metro Detroit area in the 1940s and ‘50s spoke the language, cooked the cuisine, and danced the music. The culture was widely celebrated through ethnic festivals and shared.

Such demonstrations of ethnic pride have largely died out.

“Over the years, when we were young, Ukrainians married Ukrainians,” said Joanne Orlyk, 80. “That is how they kept the ethnicity going strong. As the years went by, as there was more intermarriage, and people started going to other churches and that, it kind of faded a bit.”

Orlyk wants to keep the Ukrainian bonds strong within her family, and pass down the mementoes she’s amassed.

“My heartache is what is going to happen to all of this,” said Orlyk, who suggested she

The Orlyk home is adorned with beautiful Ukrainian and Byzantine items. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

may consider donating some items to a Ukrainian historical center. “I have two daughters.

They love all this, but they live American lives for the most part.”

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A Shifting Paradigm

Officials contemplate future of 35th District Court with cases way down

Canton accounted for 69.5% of cases in 2021. Plymouth Township was the court’s second-largest user at 16.2%.

After the finance directors’ initial work to get the deficit down to $140,000, Canton is still looking at a sizeable $97,300 bill while Plymouth Township’s outlay would be $22,680.

The city of Plymouth’s caseload in 2021 was 4.97% and thus would have to pay $6,958. At 8.26%, Northville Township’s share would be $11,564 and at 3.62% the City of Northville’s tab is estimated at $4,564.

“We don’t budget to receive anything from them and we don’t budget to subsidize anything,” said Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull. “So this is new territory for the communities to have to start funding.”

The 35th District Court’s budget woes were predictable, Plymouth City Manager Paul Sincock said. The overall caseload dropped by 31% to 24,899 in 2021 from 36,292 in 2017. The falloff is even more

35TH DISTRICT COURT CASELOADS 40

By Larry O’Connor

A

t first glance, the 35th District Court’s reported $540,000 deficit had city and township officials’ eyeballs jumping out like regulation-sized basketballs.

The Plymouth-based district court that serves the cities and townships of Plymouth and Northville as well as Canton Township had always been an example of self-efficiency.

Finance directors unholstered their calculators and went to work. They whittled the glaring shortfall to a more palatable $140,000 for the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, tapping into the court’s $800,000 fund balance or rainy-day purse.

The court advisory board is expected to review those deficit reduction recommendations on Tuesday, March 15.

As demographic shifts to shape and revenue sources dry up, the budget ballyhoo has raised larger questions about how the half-century-old court operates going forward.

10 The ‘Ville

35

MORE TICKETS? Some have speculated, with a declining caseload, whether there is a need for the court’s three judges, or if the court should solely depend on police officers to write more tickets to dig itself out of a gapping budget hole.

Local officials pinpoint the pandemic and marijuana legalization, leading to fewer tickets being written, as key reasons for the downturn in revenue last year.

The falloff might be a blip. Two months into 2022, the court has seen a 26% increase —by 750 cases — over the same period last year, said Wendy Trumbull, Canton Township finance director, citing an internal report she received.

Signs of an early bounce-back are not going to erase the sticker shock from initial budget projections, especially in Canton Township whose officials were staring at a potential $378,000 unfunded mandate.

Each municipality is responsible for a share of the court deficit based on caseload.

30

25

20

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

(24,899) (22,460) (36,378) (37,775) (36,292)

dramatic — 41% — when comparing the 2020 caseload (22,460) to 2016’s (38,616).

Perhaps more telling, traffic-related civil fractions plummeted 44% (11,177 in 2021 from 19,913 in 2017) while motoristincurred misdemeanors dipped 17% (2,996 in 2021 from 3,618 in 2017) during the same five-year period.

“The court volume has gone down substantially over the last several years,” Sincock said “When the pitch for the three judges out there was made, it was that they handled like 15,000 cases each.

“Now they’re (the court) down to like 20,000 cases.”

Pictured from left to right, James Plakas; Michael J. Gerou and Ronald Lowe

LEGISLATIVE ACT In 2002, the state Legislature approved and Gov. John Engler signed a bill to approve a third judge for the 35th District Court, which handled 44,778 cases in 2000.

That broke out to an average of 22,389 cases per judge, which was well above the statewide average of 12,735 for district judges.

A visiting judge and part-time magistrate were deployed to deal with the deluge, according to reports.

That near-decade-long effort to add a third judge culminated in the 2002 election of Michael J. Gerou, who remains on the bench. He’s joined by judges James Plakas and Ronald Lowe.

Only a legislative act could reduce the number of district judges, said Kurt Heise, Plymouth Township supervisor, who served in the state House as a Republican from 2011-16.

“I know that some of my colleagues feel that eliminating a third judgeship is going to solve all the problems and it’s not,” Heise said. (The judges) are state employees, they’re paid by the state. The bulk of their salary is paid by the state. It doesn’t serve even your short-term budgetary problems.

“So, it’s not something where you can say ‘You’re fired,’ or ‘Thank you, Judge. We don’t need your services anymore.’ It requires a fairly heavy legislative lift to either add or eliminate a judge.”

The district court bench could only be reduced through attrition where a judge is promoted to a higher seat, retires, or ages out (incumbents cannot run for re-election once they reach 70).

“And currently none of that applies to the three judges in the 35th District Court,” Heise said.

Gerou, 66, who ran unopposed in 2016, is

up for re-election this year. Lowe is 65 and a surplus, said Mark Abbo, Northville Plakas 58.

Township supervisor. That is no longer the If the players remain the same, the court case. will have to continue to look inward to solve “I’m told one of the reasons is that we budget woes. don’t write as many tickets as we used The court has replaced full-time retired to,” Abbo said. “That said, I believe traffic staff with part-time enforcement and workers during department policy WHAT DO YOU THINK? the past few years, should be based The 35th District Court is looking at a $540,000 Turnbull said. on protecting the budget deficit this year. The court communities Other internal health, safety and (Northville and Plymouth townships, cities of measures such as welfare of our Plymouth and Northville, and Canton Township) are pre-funding the citizens. looking at a variety of options, including possibly pension have also “I am opposed reducing the number of judges or having local law enforcement officers write more tickets. What helped curb legacy to shifting a traffic would you like to see done? Email your opinions to costs. enforcement Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@thevillemagazine.

Pam Avdoulos, policy to create a com. the 35th revenue stream.

District Court In the interest of administrator, declined to comment for this good policing, I am going to leave that to the story. leadership of our police department.”

With the $810,000 fund balance, finance Said Heise: “Neither the police nor the directors proposed using $424,000 to courts should be put into a position where payout earned comp time and spending they’re being asked to generate revenue. $200,000 on legacy costs, said Wendy That goes against the Constitution. I mean Hillman, Northville Township finance we don’t want to turn the police into a director. They also suggested tapping the revenue-making machine.” rainy-day account for another $100,000 to With the emergence of rideshare apps cover operating costs. like Lyft and Uber, there are fewer drunken driving arrests, Sincock said. Police are FILLING BUDGET HOLE increasingly tied up with calls for service, The finance directors recommend leaving less time for targeted traffic the court take a hard look at its capital enforcement. improvement fund for some wiggle room.

Heise notes the shifting demographics The building at 660 Plymouth Road is 22 and population growth, especially in years old.

Canton Township, since the 35th District “If we have too much, can we tap into Court was formed in 1963. Livonia (95,535) that to help subsidize the current year?” and Dearborn (109,976) with comparable Turnbull said. “Or, shoot, do we need to be populations to Canton (98,659) have their putting more in so communities are aware own district courts. that they have to subsidize it in the future?”

“I think the old paradigms are just not In years past, the 35th District Court was going to exist anymore,” the Plymouth an outlier in the state in that it generated Township supervisor said.

The ‘Ville 11

“Terri was absolutely amazing to work with. She sold our condo and helped us purchase our new home. We were very nervous given how hot the market has been and we were very particular with what we wanted and where we wanted to be (near downtown Plymouth). That made it difficult of course, but Terri was able to work magic for us - literally the only term I can think of. She found us our new home and worked masterfully to sell our condo which went way above asking price. We could not have thought of a better person to work with. Truly a great experience.”

— Patrick & Kristen S., Plymouth

248.390.9555

|

terri@terrirealtor.com

© 2018 Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are service marks registered or pending registration owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

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risp reflexes, ability to regroup and change strategies on the fly. Those are characteristics that apply to top-notch hockey or basketball players.

But are those some of the things that make esport gamers tick? As in those Northville High School student-athletes crunching opponents with a turn of the wrist during Super Smash Bros. contests at the Novi Athletic Club Esports Center?

Yes, some of the very traits found among athletes in traditional team sports indeed are exhibited among aficionados of electronic sports – popularly coined as namely “esports” – such as NHS senior Brandon Sandler, who doubles as a player and coach for Northville Esports.

“It’s something we’ve noticed with our rosters,” Sandler emphasized. “We have people

14 The ‘Ville

who are tri- or quad-sport athletes. They’re all in track, cross country, wrestling. I do wrestling.

“There’s a lot of correlation.

It’s very much because the competitive spirit kind of crosses over. Esports is very similar. If you put time into it and you want to get good at it

you can with hard work.”

Northville and Dearborn Divine Child players were competing in a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate scrimmage during a recent Thursday afternoon at the gaming center.

Both squads play in the Play VS League, run by Michigan Association of Secondary

Seniors Brandon Sandler (center) and Ethan Casler play Super Smash Bros., as senior Marie Lee watches, at the Novi Athletic Club Esports Center.

.

orts team

f the esp

mber o e is a me

School Principals and the only varsity-level circuit recognized in the state.

There’s no doubt esports is growing, too, with colleges and universities offering about $16 million each year in scholarships for high school graduates, according to the National Association of Collegiate Esports.

Proof of the growth is seen at the Novi Athletic Club Gaming Center, where Sandler said there are 11 Northville esports rosters competing for time on the three Nintendo Switch stations or laptops to tap into their video game passion.

For the spring season, Northville High School students are slotted onto three Super Smash Bros. rosters, plus another four for League of Legends and one each for Valorant, Overwatch, Rocket League and Rainbow Six Siege.

QUICK REFLEXES

“We see the same benefits here that we see in other high school sports,” Divine Child esports coach Eric Heinz said.

“We build camaraderie between the players. It’s a very mental game, being able to figure out what your opponent is doing or what their options are to do next.

“We see some of those same skillsets we see in classic wrestling, football, soccer. You have to practice at the games so dedication is in there. There’s mindfulness, or keeping your cool. If you lose your top, lose your cool in a regular sport or athletic event you’re probably going to get cornered into a bad situation and lose the game.”

Heinz debunked any stereotypes about kids not being all that motivated if they spend much of their time playing video games while munching on junk food in their parents’ basement.

“We’ve demonstrated that the better athletic condition you are in the better you actually perform in esports,” Heinz continued.

Inside the Novi Athletic Club Esports Center, players from the two teams sat next to each other on chairs in front of a giant video screen as they competed in a Smash Bros. matchup. Each player closely watched the graphics-infused screen and anticipated the other’s moves, in efforts to not lose all three “stocks,” and thus be defeated.

“It’s an in-the-game way of saying ‘lives,’” Northville’s Sandler said. “Every person has basically three lives and they’re one-on-one against another opponent. They have a variety of characters they can choose from, all of which have different

interactions. … You each have three lives and may the best player win.”

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Sandler – who made the club as a freshman, then elevated its profile as a viable varsity opportunity ever since – said some esports players arrive at Northville High School with years of practice under their belts while others only recently

squad. With nearly 10 years of experience in playing video games, he opted to play tennis at NHS in the fall season.

Soon, however, he got an itch to take on a Nintendo Switch console. He saw informational flyers all over the school which detailed Northville Esports.

“I looked at the games (described on those flyers) and one of the best games I was good at was Smash Bros.,” Reed

The Northville High School esports team. Submitted photo

found out about the new varsity sport.

Although esports is considered a club offering at NHS, offered only in the fall and spring, varsity letters are given to the participants, he added.

“We have a mix of both (veterans and newbies),” Sandler stressed. “We have people who are interested in it but they haven’t done it before. … We do have some people who have done it for five years, maybe all of middle school they played esports or watched people do it on-line.

“They’ve been ready to compete and the second they see they can compete they join and are always really excited to play.”

Consider Northville freshman Ethan Reed, already performing like an elite veteran in his first season with the

said. “And I heard they had a good Smash Bros. team so I decided to join and show them my skills.”

Some of his skills enabled him to become the first freshman to immediately be slotted on the top varsity roster.

For starters, he knows the game well enough to do what all successful athletes need – anticipate and react during the heat of competition.

According to Reed, esports gamers must study the moves, stages and characters. “It’s all about observing the game and putting in the time and effort to understand it.”

CROWD-PLEASING ‘COMBOS’

Although the Novi Athletic Club can be a riveting place to be on a Thursday afternoon for esports competition, Reed said he gets the biggest thrill out of

multi-team tournaments such as one in December at Eastern Michigan University.

At EMU, which was MASSP’s fall season championship tourney, he enjoyed executing a combination of multiple moves in success to subdue an opponent.

“The number one thing people like to see are long combos,” Reed said. “It keeps them interested, it really pulls their attention. And the crowd gets rowdier, your palms get sweatier and your knees get weaker. It’s an amazing experience.”

Northville grabbed second place team honors at EMU in both Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate and League of Legends.

Senior Ethan Casler said being part of the team has allowed him to demonstrate his skills while also bonding with buddies who share the same passion.

“This club, I have never done anything like this before,” he said. “Having this opportunity right now is really cool. We get to play every week, we get to meet new people.”

Sandler also touted how esports provides various outlets for growth and experience. Just like in any other sport.

“At the higher levels, like varsity teams, you can get people that have played a while and the skill expression really starts to show,” he said. “That’s when it becomes more strategic and more competitive.”

All of which is why legions are literally plugging into the competitive gaming scene.

For more information about Northville Esports, go to MASSP.com/esports and MIHSEF.com.

The ‘Ville 15

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Q: I HAVE SKIN CANCER…HOW SERIOUS IS THIS? There are two big categories of skin cancers:

Melanoma skin cancers, and non-melanoma skin cancers. Of the two groups, Melanoma skin cancers are often the more aggressive. The nonmelanoma skin cancers on the other hand (most common subtypes in this group are squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas) tend to grow slowly and behave more indolent.

There are a few exceptions but by far the melanoma cancers are more worrisome.

Dermatologists are trained to detect skin cancer early. However sometimes we see skin cancer already at a late stage when the patient walks into clinic. When skin cancer is still confined to the skin cells and located superficially in the skin, often times a 30-minute outpatient skin surgery to that area is sufficient to cure

it or make it go away forever. However, once a skin cancer has grown deeper into the skin or has spread to other areas such as deeper blood vessels or lymph nodes, the treatment becomes complicated and may need radiation therapy, imaging, oral medications, lymph node removal, in addition to surgery of the affected area. The success rate of the treatment also gets worse the more advanced the skin cancer.

But fortunately, most skin cancers in the US are in the group of non-melanoma skin cancers.

Only about 1% of all skin cancers diagnosed in the US are melanomas. It is very important that you get a skin cancer screening exam if you think you may have a changing spot or mole, or if your family doctor thinks you are at risk for skin cancer since early detection is KEY!

If you are in need of a skin exam or have a skin spot to diagnose, schedule an appointment with board certified dermatologist Dr. Kartono at MI Skin Center at (248) 963-5915 or info@drkartono.com.

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20pr2in2g Sports

E L L I V M H T OR

S y t i s r a V

N

VARSITY GIRLS SOFTBALL 3/19

OPEN (@ Total Performance )

TBA

Wed

3/23

Dexter HS

4:30 PM

Wed

4/06

Hartland HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Mon

4/04

Ann Arbor Pioneer HS

4:30 PM

Fri

4/08

Rochester HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Wed

4/06

Hartland HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Mon

4/11

Franklin HS

4:00 PM

Wed

4/13

Howell HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Sat

4/09

Livonia Stevenson HS (Double Header)

11:00 AM

Mon

4/18

Belleville HS

4:00 PM

Mon

4/11

Walled Lake Northern HS

4:30 PM

Wed

4/20

Canton HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Wed

4/13

Howell HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Fri

4/22

Livonia Stevenson HS

4:30 PM

Sat

4/16

11:00 AM

Wed

4/27

Novi HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Sterling Heights Stevenson (Double Header)

Mon

5/02

Oxford HS (Double Header)

4:30 PM

Wed

4/20

Canton HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Wed

5/04

Plymouth HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Sat

4/23

11:00 AM

Sat

5/07

Northview Tournament

8:00 AM

Woodhaven HS/MS (Double Header)

Mon

5/09

Salem HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Mon

4/25

Franklin HS

4:30 PM

Thur

5/12

Brighton HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Wed

4/27

Novi HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Sat

5/14

Ypsi Lincoln Invite

TBA

Sat

4/30

Saline HS (Double Header)

11:00 AM

5/04

Plymouth HS (Double Header) 4:00 PM

Tues

5/17

OPEN (KLAA Championship Week)

Wed

4:00 PM

Sat

5/07

11:00 AM

5/19

OPEN (KLAA Championship Week)

Lake Orion HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Mon

5/09

Salem HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Thur

5/12

Brighton HS (Double Header)

4:00 PM

Fri

5/13

Portage Northern HS (@ Legacy Center - 9 innings)

7:30 PM

Tues

5/17

OPEN (KLAA Championship Week)

4:00 PM

Thur

5/19

OPEN (KLAA Championship Week)

4:00 PM

Sat

5/21

OPEN (Armed Forces Day) (Double Header)

11:00 AM

Tues

5/24

OPEN (Vs. Detroit Edison)

4:30 PM

Wed

5/25

Farmington HS

4:30 PM

Fri

5/27

OPEN (Grosse Pointe Tournament)

3:00 PM

Sat

5/28

OPEN (Grosse Pointe Tournament)

10:00 AM

Tues

5/31

OPEN (MHSAA Pre-District) (Hosting)

4:00 PM

Sat

6/04

OPEN (MHSAA Districts) (Hosting)

9:00 AM

Wed

6/08

OPEN (Regional Semi-Final) (Hosting)

4:00 PM

Sat

5/21

Varsity Invite

8:00 AM

Sat

5/28

Battle on Six Mile

8:00 AM

Sun

5/29

Battle on Six Mile

8:00 AM

Tues

5/31

OPEN (Pre-District @ Novi)

TBA

Sat

6/04

OPEN (Districts @ Novi)

TBA

Sat

6/11

OPEN (MHSAA Regional)

9:00 AM

VARSITY GIRL’S SOCCER

SPONSORED BY:

LE - IN HO

Tues

4/05

Howell HS

7:00 PM

Thur

4/07

Brighton HS

7:00 PM

Fri

4/08

Skyline HS

7:00 PM

Tues

4/12

Novi HS

7:00 PM

Thur

4/14

Canton HS

7:00 PM

Tues

4/19

Hartland HS

7:00 PM

Thur

4/21

Plymouth HS

7:00 PM

Sat

4/23

Grosse Pointe South HS

11:30 AM

Mon

4/25

Salem HS

7:00 PM

Thur

4/28

Howell HS

7:00 PM

Tues

5/03

Brighton HS

7:00 PM

Thur

5/05

Novi HS

7:00 PM

Sat

5/07

Lakeland HS

12:00 PM

Tues

5/10

Canton HS

7:00 PM

Thur

5/12

Hartland HS

7:00 PM

Tues

5/17

Plymouth HS

7:00 PM

Thur

5/19

Salem HS

7:00 PM

Mon

5/23

OPEN (KLAA Crossover @ East)

7:00 PM

Home

Away

L

T

L

VARSITY BOY’S BASEBALL

Sat

Thur

HE

S G N A T S U

- WA

Visit northvilleathletics.org for complete up-to-date NHS schedules.

VARSITY GIRL’S LACROSSE Wed

3/23

South Lyon HS

6:30 PM

Wed

4/06

Novi HS

6:30 PM

Sat

4/09

Ann Arbor Pioneer HS

TBA

Mon

4/11

Detroit Country Day HS

7:00 PM

Wed

4/13

Hartland HS

7:00 PM

Sat

4/16

Plymouth HS

12:30 PM

Mon

4/18

Salem HS

7:00 PM

Mon

4/11

Forest Lake Invite

TBA

Mon

4/25

Canton HS

7:00 PM

Mon

4/18

U of D Invite

TBA

Fri

4/29

Grosse Pointe South HS

7:00 PM

Tues

4/19

KLAA Pre-Season Tournament

TBA

Sat

4/30

Rockford Invite

12:30 PM

Sat

4/23

Fortress Invite

TBA

Wed

5/04

Brighton HS

7:00 PM

Mon

4/25

Oakland Hills CC

TBA

Fri

5/06

Lakeland HS

6:30 PM

Tues

4/26

Salem HS

3:00 PM

Mon

5/09

Bloomfield HS

7:00 PM

Thur

4/28

Hartland HS

3:00 PM

Wed

5/11

Novi HS

7:00 PM

Tues

5/03

Plymouth HS

3:00 PM

Fri

5/13

Livonia Stevenson HS

7:00 PM

Wed

5/04

Canton HS

3:00 PM

Mon

5/16

OPEN (KLAA Cross-Over)

7:00 PM

Fri

5/06

The Loop at Forest Dunes

TBA

Tues

5/10

Brighton HS

3:00 PM

Thur

5/12

Howell HS

3:00 PM

VARSITY BOY’S LACROSSE

VARSITY BOY’S GOLF

Thur

4/07

Troy Athens HS

7:00 PM

Tues

5/17

Novi HS

3:00 PM

Thur

4/07

Canceled - Clarkston HS

7:00 PM

Fri

5/20

Katke Classic (2 Day Event)

TBA

Sat

4/09

Huron Valley Schools

1:00 PM

Thur

5/26

KLAA Post Season

TBA

Wed

4/13

Hartland HS

7:00 PM

Sat

4/16

Holt HS

1:30 PM

Wed

6/01

OPEN (MHSAA Regionals) (Hosting @ Salem Hills

TBA

Mon

4/18

Salem HS

7:30 PM

Wed

4/20

Livonia Stevenson HS

7:00 PM

Mon

4/25

Canton HS

7:00 PM

Wed

4/27

Belleville HS

7:00 PM

Sat

4/30

Detroit Country Day HS

TBA

Mon

5/02

Howell HS

7:00 PM

Wed

5/04

Brighton HS

7:00 PM

Mon

5/09

Plymouth HS

7:00 PM

Wed

5/11

Novi HS

7:00 PM

Mon

5/16

OPEN (KLAA Crossover)

7:00 PM

Sat

5/21

Midland HS

TBA

Thur

4/07

Port Huron Northern

4:00 PM

Mon

4/11

Grand Blanc HS

4:00 PM

Tues

4/12

Howell HS

4:00 PM

Wed

4/13

Groves HS

4:00 PM

Thur

4/14

Hartland HS

4:00 PM

Sat

4/16

Northville Quad

8:00 AM

Tues

4/19

Canton HS

4:00 PM

Thur

04/21

Novi HS

4:00 PM

Sat

4/23

Grosse Pointe South HS

8:00 AM

Mon

4/25

Eisenhower HS

4:00 PM

Tues

4/26

Plymouth HS

4:00 PM

Thur

4/28

Salem HS

4:00 PM

Tues

5/03

Brighton HS

4:00 PM

Wed

5/04

OPEN (@ Midland Dow)

4:00 PM

Sat

5/07

AA Pioneer Quad

TBA

Mon

5/09

Bloomfield HS

4:00 PM

Tues

5/10

OPEN (KLAA Crossover @ East)

4:00 PM

Wed

5/11

Walled Lake Central HS

4:00 PM

Sat

5/14

OPEN (KLAA Tournament)

TBA

4/07

OPEN (Orange and Black Meet)

4:00 PM

Tues

4/12

Salem HS

4:00 PM

Fri

4/15

OPEN (Rocket Invite)

1:00 PM

Tues

4/19

Hartland HS

4:00 PM

Sat

4/23

OPEN (Balawajder Classic)

9:00 AM

Tues

4/26

Novi HS

4:00 PM

Fri

4/29

OPEN (Livonia Night Lights)

3:30 PM

Tues

5/03

Howell HS

4:00 PM

Fri

5/06

OPEN (Golden Triangle @ Saline)

9:00 AM

Tues

5/10

Brighton HS

4:00 PM

Fri

5/13

OPEN (KLAA Conference Meet)

9:00 AM

Fri

5/20

OPEN (MHSAA Regional)

TBA

Sat

6/04

OPEN (MHSAA State Finals)

TBA

VARSITY BOY’S TRACK & FIELD Thur

4/07

OPEN (Orange and Black Meet)

4:00 PM

Tues

4/12

Salem HS

4:00 PM

Fri

4/15

OPEN (Rocket Invite)

1:00 PM

Tues

4/19

Hartland HS

4:00 PM

Sat

4/23

OPEN (Balawajder Classic)

9:00 AM

Tues

4/26

Novi HS

4:00 PM

Fri

4/29

OPEN (Livonia Night Lights)

3:30 PM

Tues

5/03

Howell HS

4:00 PM

Fri

5/06

OPEN (Golden Triangle @ Saline)

9:00 AM

Tues

5/10

Brighton HS

4:00 PM

Fri

5/13

OPEN (KLAA Conference Meet)

9:00 AM

Fri

5/20

OPEN (MHSAA Regional)

TBA

Sat

6/04

OPEN (MHSAA State Finals)

TBA

Northville Strong!

LE - IN HO

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Genitti’s is a family-owned Italian dinner theater & the perfect venue for your next event!

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Genna Davis (left) and Amerman Principal Devon Caudill stand by the school’s playground equipment. Davis is leading fundraising efforts to upgrade the playground.

Photo by Bryan Mitchell

A New Place To Play Amerman asking community’s help to upgrade outdated playground

By Lonnie Huhman

M

uch of the playground equipment at Amerman Elementary School is decades old and in need of updates.

This school’s playground has meant a lot to so many in Northville over the years, whether you attended Amerman, practiced baseball there or went sledding on its hill, or have a child who attended there --now or in the past.

To bring some much-needed improvements to the school’s playground, an effort has been initiated by Amerman parent Genna Davis, who has set out some important goals.

“I started a fundraising effort out of my love for the community and our schools, to redo the playgrounds that have largely remained untouched for 40 years,” said Davis, who has two boys at the school.

20 The ‘Ville

“Our plan is to update A NIGHT FOR AMERMAN all three WHEN: 5:30-9 p.m., Thursday, April 14 playground WHERE: Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in downtown Northville areas and TICKETS: $100 (includes appetizers, drink tickets and add a legacy chance to win prizes) garden.”

MORE INFO: Visit www.amermanplaygrounds.

She said com or contact Genna Davis at (773) 724-1658 they have or amermanplaygrounds@gmail.com. gained a lot of community support, but are looking for in-place rubbery safety surface. some more as they get closer “We have a good start and to their ultimate fundraising are looking for more support,” number for phase 1, which is to Davis said. “Many in the raise $200,000. community have a connection The end goal is to install new to Amerman, so we are hoping playgrounds in three locations they will want to help.” at the school: Kindergarten In late February, the raised Playground, Upper Elementary amount was nearly $156,000.

Playground (along 8 mile) and Anyone interested can donate Lower Elementary Playground at the website or contact the (rear of the school). fundraisers.

The garden area would The effort has also garnered include such details as shade some good sponsorship support and flowering trees, picnic table from places like Robyn’s seating and an area of a pouredInn, General RV Center and

Exchange Bar and Grill. There are opportunities for more.

There are also a couple of upcoming events to help with the effort.

The first is “A Night for Amerman” on Thursday, April 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Garage Grill and Fuel Bar in downtown Northville. Tickets for the event include appetizers and two drink tickets, and a chance to win some cool prizes.

All proceeds are going to the playground effort.

The second event has them organizing the first ever craft fair and market at Amerman, which is scheduled for May 14.

The planners are now looking for crafters and merchants.

If you want to help out the cause, contact Davis at (773) 724-1658 or email at amermanplaygrounds@ gmail.com.

To learn more go to www. amermanplaygrounds. com or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ amermanplaygrounds.

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Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise (left) and Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo stand near the sign for the Ridge 5 Corporate Park, a 60-acre development that has yet to see its first building go up.

State Funding To Upgrade MITC Corridor Brownfield status to inject millions for infrastructure along Five Mile

By Tim Smith

A

potential $15.6 million infusion from the state of Michigan could radically transform valuable property that straddles Plymouth and Northville townships along Five Mile Road between Napier and Beck roads.

The Michigan International Technology Center Redevelopment Authority recently announced it will receive $15.6 million in state tax capture to clean up brownfield conditions at the site of the former Detroit House of Corrections.

“It’s not a check,” Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise said. “It’s the authorization to collect these taxes that can be used for future projects. The good news out of that is we do have projects in

22 The ‘Ville

the pipeline. So that tax capture revenue will be coming in and we appreciate that.”

Once any brownfield site

issues are alleviated, MITC plans to support construction of a 65,952-square-foot commercial flex space

development. Several other development projects in the MITC area also have been outlined, but probably would take several years to become reality.

“I think this exposure is very positive for (the) MITC,” said Mark Abbo, Northville Township supervisor. “Once we get improvements to start going in it will kind of launch further development. I am very excited about it. I think it’s very positive for the partnership that Northville Township and Plymouth Township have had in the MITC corridor.”

According to Heise, it would be best not to jump to conclusions that a financial windfall is imminent.

“The Michigan Economic Development Corporation authorized (on Feb. 22) the tax capture of one of the parcels at the southeast corner of Ridge and Five Mile,” Heise said.

“They also allowed for further tax capture on other parcels within the MITC, specifically though for infrastructure improvements.”

According to both officials,

An artist’s rendering of the Ridge 5 Corporate Park at the southwest corner of Five Mile and Ridge roads. MITC image

the tax capture funding is essential to moving forward with redevelopment and ramping up improvements that would be necessary for any projects to bear economic fruit.

Tax capture is a mechanism in which, once redevelopment elevates property values, an authority grabs any uptick in tax revenues to repay the cost of public improvements.

“This is going to be a very long-term project,” Abbo said.

“We’re looking to enhance our

is an active buyer for a large parcel at the southeast corner of Napier and Five Mile, for example.

“He’s dealing with some wetland issues with the state,” Heise said. “He is looking to put up to two million square feet of storage and transportation freight and warehousing on that site.

“We have the so-called Adient property, which is everything south of the railroad tracks east of Ridge. We have a developer

Michigan Strategic Fund approval of multiple economic projects, stressed that “these actions demonstrate our ongoing laser focus on growing our economy, creating goodpaying jobs and putting Michiganders first.”

Chief among those projects is the sprawling MITC-supported development which would entail parts of both townships, on property once occupied by the Detroit House of Corrections.

Hillside Ridge Road Holdings East, LLC would construct the facility with the MITC overseeing necessary infrastructure upgrades.

According to a press This map shows the planned developments along the Five Mile corridor between Beck and Napier roads. release from MITC image the state, tax base, create jobs, create right now who submitted plans the Hillside Ridge project development in southeast to put a 300,000 square-foot would “generate a total capital Michigan. So it’s good not warehousing and trucking investment of $38.7 million, only for Northville Township, operation there.” and when the facility is fully it’s good for western Wayne On the southwest corner of leased, it is expected to have the County. And it’s good for the Ridge and Five Mile is the Ridge potential to support efforts that state of Michigan.”

5 Corporate Park, a 60-acre could employ up to 300 fulldevelopment that has yet to see time equivalent office and R&D LOOKING FOR TENANTS its first building go up. (research and development) It’s almost a chicken-and“There’s a road, all the jobs.” egg theory. The quicker that infrastructure is in place,” Heise Echoing that statement was projects occur within the MITC noted. “We’re actively looking at Heise, citing “an incredible corridor, the faster revenue tenants. talent pool around here of can be used for road, sewer and “And then we have the old engineers, architects, high-tech water improvements. prison (DeHoCo) property people who can work in this “And as soon as that happens, itself. … The land is still owned area.” it will act to generate more by the Michigan Land Bank. activity for the MITC corridor,” They contracted several years FINDING THE MONEY Abbo continued. ago with Redico Developers to Although getting millions in Meanwhile, there are various build office and light industrial state tax capture money is an redevelopment opportunities at that site.” important influx of resources, that are in various stages of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Heise stressed that it is discussion. Heise said there Whitmer, in announcing the imperative to essentially walk

and chew gum at the same time – to simultaneously go after other streams of revenue.

“This financial approval by the state will allow us to capture the necessary brownfield funds, really over the next 25-to-30 years,” Heise said, “that could be leveraged to build the necessary infrastructure.

“But at the same time, we’re pursuing federal money, we’re pursuing state money, we’re all looking for funds right now that would really jump-start this project and allow us to begin immediate road work on Five Mile and Ridge.”

Heise underscored the importance of finding enough money, from wherever it can be secured, to fund the longoverdue total overhaul of Five Mile, where “there will be truck traffic forever as far as I’m concerned.”

Construction of facilities would be one reason for extra truck traffic; another is the transporting of refuse to Arbor Hills Landfill – located at Napier and Six Mile.

The landfill converts landfill gas to energy and was subjected to a civil lawsuit by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy over long-standing health and pollution concerns.

“We’re looking for that check from the state of Michigan: $15 million, $20 million, $30 million,” he explained. “Where we can just take that check and give that to Wayne County and say ‘Here, rebuild Five Mile, rebuild Ridge, build the sewer lines that we need.’

“And really that brownfield money at that point, that tax capture, I wouldn’t say it wouldn’t be necessary. But we would not be exclusively dependent on it.”

The ‘Ville 23

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HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL

The Northville High School has a triple door entryway.

In Oxford’s Shadow Safety measures continue to evolve in wake of tragic school shooting

O

n November 30, at 12:51 p.m., in the hallways of Oxford High School, sophomore Ethan Crumbley began firing a semiautomatic handgun at his own classmates. By 12:56 p.m., Crumbley had killed four students, injured another six, and wounded one teacher before law enforcement officers detained him.

Facing the alarming uptrend in threats to school safety and the devastating incident at Oxford High School, which is a mere 46 miles away from Northville High School, Northville Schools officials have been working to prevent and cope with gun violence.

At NHS, where there are already several precautions in place, including ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) drills and a school resource officer, many had felt that the school was safe.

However, in the immediate

26 The ‘Ville

aftermath of the Oxford shooting, student opinion about security inside the building intensified and fear heightened.

“I have felt major concern about my safety at NHS. This [has] raised wary thoughts and doubts about the administration’s capability to ensure a secure environment, especially when countless rumors passed around from district to district,” senior Angela Li said.

Months later, worries still linger: “There’s that underlying anxiousness that I have when going to school,” junior Jay Blaise admitted. “It’s not very apparent, but it’s still there due to being scared [a shooting] could happen to us.”

Fortunately, both the high school and district administration have taken

action to address safety and restore confidence in students.

There exist both preventative and response methods that are essential for students, staff, and families to know, though NHS Principal Tony Koski stressed the need to find a “balance.”

“Safety’s always number one, but we also have to be careful that it doesn’t feel like a prison here, so [it’s about] finding that balance,” Koski said.

In terms of physical changes within the school, utilizing bond funds, a security vestibule was installed at the front entrance of NHS in 2017. This created a triple-door entryway: the first serves as a check-in station, and if approved, the visitor may be buzzed in through two more doors. Classroom doors were also renovated so that they could be locked from the inside and those within the classroom could visibly see if the door was securely locked.

Additionally, in the fall of 2022, 4K and 8K security cameras will be situated throughout the building for clarity. NHS also maintains connections with the local fire and police stations and has a school resource officer (Chris Brown) present in the building.

“Having Officer Brown here and having the support of the Northville Township Police Department and EMS is amazing for us,” Assistant Principal Jim Gordon said.

“With our cooperation with the township police, with the fire department, with our central office leadership team, and our building team, I do think we’re continuing to grow and evolve and we’re getting to a better spot.”

ALICE DRILLS NHS students are familiar with the response method ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate).

Implemented in the district back in 2016, the ALICE drills give students and staff a systematic course of action in alerting authorities, countering, and escaping from an active threat inside or outside the school.

“Several years ago, we pulled together all of our principals, central office leadership team, police leads, teachers and employee group representatives to participate in onsite ALICE training, and followed with the Trainer of Trainers program with all of our school leaders,” Northville Schools Superintendent Mary Kay Gallagher said. “We also had action teams at each level develop age-appropriate classroom lessons that precede safety drills each year.”

The district continues to make adjustments to the ALICE drills and staff undergoes biannual training. Every couple of months, NHS holds an ALICE drill during students’ seminars.

Parents have been recruited for input, teachers are required to draw up lesson materials and drills for each level of schooling, and new staff members receive mandatory training.

Shortly after the Oxford tragedy, the Board of Education and security team held follow-up debriefs with the principals and staff of NPSD schools, collected feedback from students, and identified the areas where additional training is necessary. One area of improvement identified is the

EDITOR'S NOTE: High School Confidential is a collaborative effort by the Stringers Journalism Club made up of Northville High School students Audrey Zhang, Lauren Sprow, Navya Meka, Maria Cowden, Tamsin Boyd, Wesley Paradowski, Alyssa Bachert, and Brian Zhang.

social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of students.

Over the years, as the issue of mental health has made its way to the forefront of people’s minds, the district has added social workers and mental health counselors. Even so, Gallagher admitted there’s still much to be done.

“We are not at where we’d like to be yet,” she said.

“Michigan’s student-counselor ratios do not fare well in terms of the national average.

Now Northville is right at the national average, but we’re still taking a look at whether we need to do more.”

CONFRONTING STRESS Nevertheless, the community is continuing to work towards alleviating the stress students confront through the Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS),

which provides academic support to students, monitors their behavioral and emotional health, and creates strong partnerships with police agencies, PTA's, Northville Care for Youth Advisory, Northville Youth Network, New Hope Center for Grief Support, and more.

“Paying attention to when kids are struggling or in need is absolutely essential to making sure people feel heard, seen, valued, and that when you see some warning signs, we’re responding to those early,” Gallagher said.

The Oxford school shooting has led students and families to reflect on existing safety protocols. Increasingly, students are taking a more active stance and hoping to provide their perspectives for addressing the problem.

A sign placed on one of the exit doors at Northville High School.

“When it comes to transition times, when the hallways are at their busiest, I would like to know what our plan is if [an active threat] was to happen,” junior Hannah Murad said. “Or what we would do if we were in a bathroom in that situation because we haven’t really been specific on a certain technique we should use if an active

shooter were in the building.”

It’s impossible, of course, for the Northville Schools community to be exempt from every threat. But the district will continue to implement safety measures and train staff to be prepared for the worst.

Ultimately, students will continue to play a major role in school safety, both by sharing concerns and comprehending the seriousness of the issue.

Communication is highly encouraged and can be done via teachers, counselors, Mr. Koski, and emails to the district administration at nps@ northvilleschools.org.

“The Oxford shooting has made us realize that these atrocities can still occur at any school and that we should remain vigilant,” a senior who wished to remain anonymous said.

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On The Road With Say yah to da U.P., eh

A group of longtime Northville friends embraced the Pure Michigan winter in the Upper Peninsula in early February. The group enjoyed dogsledding, snowshoeing at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, and ice caving around Munising. They met through Northville Newcomers more than 30 years ago when their children were toddlers. Ready to mush at Nature’s Kennels in McMillan are (left to right) Sue Laabs, Mary Shanoski, Dave Laabs, Bob Grant, Brian Foley, Renée Grant, Tim Smith, Cindy Smith, Rick Shanoski, Catherine Rabahy, and Dave Rabahy. Front and center is Enzo, the kennel’s mascot.

Breathless in Punta Cana

Northville residents Marie Rumbley and Julie Mundy spent the last week of February enjoying the sun at Breathless Resort and Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (right). They booked the trip through Patty Castrodale of Northville’s Brookside Travel. This was the second time the ladies have vacationed in Dominican Republic, which Rumbley called an “island paradise.”

A hui hou

The ‘Ville traveled 6,000 miles with Northville residents Ming and Barbara Louie on their trip to Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. They spent their time there checking out local sites.

“The coolest site is called Kukaneloco, a sacred Hawaiian site cared for by an Hawaiian priest. The site is also called ‘the birthing stones’ where a pregnant woman gave birth,” said Ming, who noted the natural formation of the stones resembles an exam table with stirrups. “At the same location are stones which naturally align with navigational stars, a kind of ancient GPS. The ancient Hawaiians trained their would-be sailors here, a sort of ancient flight simulator,” he said.

Catching some rays

Northville residents Patrick Giesa and Jeanne Formoso took along The ‘Ville on their recent trip to Sarasota, Florida. While down there, the couple caught up with friends, had a great Italian dinner at Casantica Ristorante in Sarasota, and spent a day laying on the beach at Sunset Key. Here they are pictured at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park.

The next time you head out of town, take along a copy of The ‘Ville, snap a photo, and let us know where your travels take you. Our readers would love to know! Please email the photos to kurtkuban@gmail.com.

We’ll feature the photos in an upcoming issue.

The ‘Ville 31

out & about YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHVILLE THIS MONTH SEND IT IN To get your items listed in Out & About, email editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@gmail.com.

Bridgerton Ladies Night March 24 Downtown Northville will host this Bridgerton themed event from 6-9 p.m. There will be discounts and specials at all participating downtown businesses. Orin Jewelers, for example, will have a Bridgertonthemed costume contest for the ladies, violinists from Northville High School performing and light refreshments. The Dancing Eye Gallery will be selling Bridgerton themed candles, hosting a raffle and including items in a grand prized Bridgerton basket. Tuscan Cafe will be serving special lavender tea and cookies. For more information, visit www.downtownnorthville.com.

free and open to the public. For more information, call (734) 462-4421 or email careerservices@schoolcraft. edu.

Northville STEAM Fair Northville’s Vivian Zhong

College’s VisTaTech Center. Featured designers include Analiese Zaleski, Kate Blaszkiewicz, Nabeela Najjar, Michelle Dushee’, and Cynthia Khan.

Northville’s Vivian Zhong, who is the 2021 Miss Michigan, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. Tickets are $55. For more information, visit aauwnn.org or send an email to info@aauwnn.org.

Fashion Showcase April 2 The Northville-Novi chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a national organization that lobbies and advocates for education and equity, will host it 2022 Fashion Designer Showcase Luncheon from 9:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at Schoolcraft

32 The ‘Ville

State of the Community April 13 The Northville Chamber of Commerce

Hazardous Waste Drop-off April 2 Wayne County will host a large scale household hazardous waste collection program for county residents from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Westland Shopping Center (lot behind JC Penney) to dispose of household chemicals, cleaners, electronics and more. Acceptable items include paint, solvents, antifreeze, motor oil, batteries, computer CPU’s, monitors, cell phones, televisions, fire extinguishers, fertilizer, garden chemicals, pharmaceutical waste and more. For more information, visit https://ntwp.org/3CuLvvP or call (734) 326-3936.

April 27 The Northville Public Schools 8th Annual STEAM Fair will be held 6-8 p.m. at Northville High School. This year, the theme is “STEAM Olympics 2022” and will be aligned with the Middle Years Programme (MYP) Personal Project Night at Northville High School for sophomore students.

For more information, visit www. supportNEF.org.

will host this annual event 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center (18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia). The event will feature presentations by Northville Schools Superintendent Mary Kay Gallagher, Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo and Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull. The Chamber will also be honoring the 2022 Citizen of the Year.

Registration deadline is April 4. The cost is $45 for Chamber members, and $50 for non-members. Cost includes buffet lunch and program.

To purchase tickets, call (248) 349-7640 or email DouglasWallace@ northville.org. The Chamber will be accepting nominations for the Citizen of the Year Award until March 28. For more information, visit northville.org.

History Lecture Series April 6 Local historian Al Smitley will present “History of the Banjo in America” at 7 p.m. at Mill Race Village. While tickets are not required, registration is strongly suggested as room is limited. The lectures are free of charge however donations are always accepted. For more information, contact the Northville Historical Society at (248) 348-1845 or visit www.millracenorthville.org.

Spring Job Fair April 6 Schoolcraft College’s Career Services will be hosting a job fair from 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, April 6 at the Schoolcraft VisTaTech Center (18600 Haggerty Road in Livonia).

More than 50 employers will have representatives at the event, which is

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Denise Jenkins is a member of the Northville Chamber of Commerce and Tipping Point Theatre. An avid writer and proponent of the arts, she is also plugged into what’s happening in Northville. Contact her at denisemjenkins@aol.com.

March To A Different Drummer

I

find myself using the phrase “world gone mad” a lot lately.

After some soulful reflection I have decided I need to change my attitude. I have always taken great pride in “marching to a different drummer” and it has served me well for many years.

It seems only right to start the march in March. I love a parade, so I invite you to join me.

Douglas Wallace – new Executive Director of the Northville Chamber of Commerce

I’m sending out a warm welcome to Douglas Wallace, the new executive director of the Northville Chamber of Commerce. Doug comes with a wealth of knowledge, having served as membership director for the Plymouth Chamber, but most recently leading the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. I “termed out” of my position on the Board at the Chamber – but it was one of my favorite volunteer jobs. If you are not a member, I urge you to join. It has always been a terrific resource for our business community – but it is so much more. Once again, welcome to Northville, Doug!

Get ready for the hunt!

The Parks Partnership Committee is hosting the annual Eggstravaganza at

34 The ‘Ville

Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt

Maybury Farm on Saturday, April 9 (rain date April 10) from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. The cost is $10 per car. The Tooth Fairy will be on hand with plenty of other characters. There will be food trucks, face painting and new animals at the farm. Searching for colorful eggs is one of those time-honored traditions that we never outgrow. There will also be plenty of prizes and many surprises.

The Northville Township Beautification Commission is charged with sprucing up the community. They do so through public education, seedling giveaways and various projects, including the Friendship Garden in front of Township Hall that includes two benches and planters.

The group also recognizes community members who go above and beyond to make Northville beautiful. They recognized 19 township businesses and individuals last year.

“The tremendous determination of our team, along with generous donations from Northville families, and support from the township,

allowed some long-awaited projects to come about in 2021,” said Lynne Mosteller, the group’s chairperson.

Northville Township Friendship Garden

The weather is breaking.

Take a look around for the signs of those who have answered the call. To get involved with the group, contact Mosteller at northvilletwpbeautification@ gmail.com.

Warm wishes to Clark Sexton and his dedicated team. He recently opened the doors to Iron Mortgage. Clark is not a newbie in town. He’s been around for a while and knows the ins and outs of the mortgage business. He also knows the importance of customer service and how to speak real words about the complexities of signing away 15, 20 or 30 years of your life to put a roof over your head. I remember my mom and dad buying a condo while in their 70s. The banker said they could get a 30-year mortgage. I can still hear my dad laughing.

Kudos to Will Hundley at Tuscan Café. I went in one day for a king cake and left with a cake and some Hamantaschen – a tasty pastry filled with fruit or cream. A portion of the cost went to relief efforts in the Ukraine.

My apologies to the officers the VFW Post 4012 – I got it wrong last month. The Commander is Daniel Stewart, the Senior Vice Commander is Danny Cook and the Junior Vice Commander is Lyle Avery.

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2021 NORTHVILLE CONDO SALES BY NEIGHBORHOOD # OF SALES

AVG SALE PRICE

AVG DAYS TO SELL

New Victorian

3

$495,000

23

31

Northridge Estates

15

$158,395

10

$300,000

30

Northridge Farms

4

$149,000

20

2

$230,500

3

Northridge Manor

7

$151,714

6

Country Club Village

27

$393,922

16

Northridge Villas

7

$295,700

30

Country Place

30

$189,609

10

Northville Green

4

$170,375

6

East Street Club

2

$270,950

18

Northville Oaks

2

$182,000

38

Edgewater

2

$512,500

31

Springwater Park

17

$262,459

140

Fairbrook

5

$102,580

63

St Lawrence Estates

4

$390,000

13

Glen Haven

7

$212,500

5

Coves At Northville Ridge

6

$400,317

12

Hickory Creek

5

$470,200

27

Links Of NHGC

10

$442,226

35

Highland Lakes

39

$201,462

11

Terraces At Northville Ridge

24

$212,608

27

King Mills

4

$138,250

67

Villas At Arcadia Ridge

5

$443,600

19

Lexington

14

$247,750

16

Villas At NHGC

10

$515,350

33

Mill Ridge

9

$584,767

86

Woodlands South

10

$455,390

20

# OF SALES

AVG SALE PRICE

AVG DAYS TO SELL

Beacon Square

3

$596,667

179

Blue Heron Pointe

7

$525,414

Corlina Of Northville

3

Coves Of Northville

SUBDIVISION

SUBDIVISION

All Data As Reported On MLS. Neighborhoods With 2 or More Sales Included.

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