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KURT KUBAN – Publisher
Kurt is an award-winning journalist, having served as a reporter and editor for several local newspapers and magazines, including the Plymouth Observer He has been a journalist for over two decades. He founded Journeyman Publishing, which also publishes The ‘Ville, in 2017.
SCOTT SPIELMAN – Editor
Scott graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Journalism. He covered western Wayne County for more than 12 years at several publications before transitioning into corporate communications and media relations. A Canton resident, he has also finished his first novel and is hard at work on his next.
SCOTT BUIE – Advertising Director/Vice President of Sales
Scott has 20+ years creating advertising campaigns for clients in Metro Detroit. After managing sales for radio stations 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/Northville area for over 23 years.
JENNY PEARSALL – Creative Director
Jenny has been in the design and print industry for over twenty years, holding various positions in graphic design, print buying, production and print management. She also owns Bovia Design Group, a company specializing in publications and corporate branding.
MICHELE FECHT – Writer
Michele is an award-winning journalist whose first post-college reporter position was at The Northville Record before moving on to The Detroit News She has been a City of Northville resident for nearly 40 years and is an author, researcher and local history enthusiast.
TIM SMITH – Writer
Tim brings a penchant for telling personal stories that run the gamut from news to sports. During more than 35 years in journalism, mostly with the Observer & Eccentric, he has earned numerous state and national awards. The Wayne State grad is a published author and rec ice hockey player.
WENSDY VON BUSKIRK – Writer
Wensdy graduated with a degree in journalism from Wayne State University. Her first job was working as a reporter for The Northville Record. Now, as a freelance writer and editor, she works for a variety of magazines, including The Rock. -Photo by Kathleen Voss
SUE VOYLES – Writer
Growing up, Sue always knew she wanted to be a writer. She has written for many publications over her long career in public relations and journalism, and taught English and journalism at Schoolcraft College. In 2022, she received the national Headliner Award from the Association for Women in Communications.
KEN VOYLES – Writer/Photographer
Ken is an award-winning writer, photographer and designer whose career has spanned nearly five decades in and around metro Detroit. He started his journalism career in Plymouth, working for the Community Crier. He is the author of two books on Detroit history, loves to travel and has finished his first novel.
BILL BRESLER – Photographer
Bill arrived in Plymouth in 1977 to work for the Community Crier. He also worked for the Plymouth Observer for many years. Bill, who taught photography at Madonna University, retired from what was left of the newspaper business in 2019 and now freelances. He’s happy to be back in the Plymouth community.
BRYAN MITCHELL – Photographer
Bryan started working as a photographer more than 30 years ago, and was a staff photographer for the Plymouth Observer in the 90s. He has freelanced for The Detroit News, The Guardian, Reuters, and other publications. His photography has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the globe.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t
Last month, Plymouth Township residents learned that there was no way to stop the Salem Springs development from moving forward.
This unwelcome news should not have come as a surprise because, at the end of the day, local officials cannot stop development, they can only assure it happens in a way that meets zoning requirements and local and state laws. Trying to hinder something in a neighboring community is even more difficult.
The nature of that revelation was a bit surprising, though, when officials from Salem Township attended a Plymouth Township board meeting and essentially gave our local board the proverbial offer they couldn’t refuse: do it the hard way, or do it the “easy way.”
Let us put a pipe through your community or we’ll build a sewer plant on your border. Township officials are right to be angry about it.
I’m a bit surprised that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) indicated they would approve the permit for that plant, however. Anyone with any kind of background in infrastructure and development can tell you when you build something like that close to a delicate waterway, there will be consequences. Fellows Creek, where treated wastewater would have been discharged, would be impacted.
Putting a dedicated sewer line through Plymouth Township and Canton Township to connect to the Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority (YCUA) is the best option left on the table after Superior Township officials not only managed to block a similar line through their community, but somehow successfully defended it in court.
So, with some amount of grumbling, township officials approved a feasibility study to see if it is indeed possible to install the sewer line through the community (and it will go east from the development, not west as I wrote last month; I thank reader Jeff Campbell for pointing that out).
Former Supervisor Kurt Heise has received a lot of flack because the township is in this position. I don’t think it’s entirely justified; I think the threat of a wastewater treatment plant—and it is a threat, no doubt about it—is an unintended consequence of his behindthe-scenes attempt to protect the community as a whole, and the sensitive nature of the western township in particular.
Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, remember, he was the director of the Wayne County Department of Environment and, prior to that, a Wayne County drain commissioner. He knows infrastructure issues about as well as anyone who works in the field every day. I think he was trying his best to use the methods at his disposal to protect the township from the adverse effects of having, essentially, a new city put up on the border. Ultimately, those actions took most of the decision-making ability out of the hands of Plymouth Township officials; my hope now is that they’ll be able to negotiate some form of community benefit agreement for allowing that use of township right-of-way.
The good news that came out of this is that Plymouth Township taxpayers are not on the hook to pay for the study, or the sewer line, itself.
In other news, the weather has finally broken (or will, by the time this issue hits the streets) and that means spring and summer event season will be arriving soon. The first major event is the Spring Artisan Market, which returns on May 3 (which also coincides with Free Comic Book Day, and our friends at State of Comics in Downtown Plymouth always have some fun things planned). Already downtown restaurants are setting up for outdoor dining and soon those areas will be packed. Hopefully, I will see you there.
Thanks for reading!
SOUND OFF:
Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Scott Spielman at scottyspielman@ gmail.com. Letters should be no more than 150 words. We reserve the right to edit all letters.
Fix the sprayscape
I’m a Plymouth resident and I would like to see the sprayscape at Plymouth Township Park fixed! Of course, kids love it in the summer. To a little kid, a year is like a lifetime.
Maureen Sartor
Park decision is heartbreaking
We have lived in Plymouth for 25+ years, built our home, raised our children, watched them return to the community they were raised in to start their own families. We are absolutely heartbroken that Plymouth does not feel the investment needed to retain the iconic Plymouth sprayscape at McClumpha Park is a priority.
In a world where we, as parents and grandparents, are challenged with the task of getting our children away from a screen and onto their feet and into the fresh air, the sprayscape made that task a little easier. Encouraging children to laugh, run, play, make new friends and learn social skills while at the playscape was priceless! Fresh air, laughter, and physical activity are an invaluable, much-needed outlet for families and their children.
Chuck Curmi should reconsider the value that the sprayscape provides for Plymouth. The primary concern should not be the well-being of the fish, not that we are not concerned about the environment. Rather, it should be the well-being and future of the children of our community. If we can make it safe for them with a reasonable investment, this should be an easy decision for leadership. I do not look forward to explaining to my grandson why the “cool park” is not going to open this year.
Your time and the forum provided to share perspective are sincerely appreciated. Our voices may make a difference!
Patty Corby
Water line is needed
I just saw the article on a sewage proposal and water from Salem through our township. We have been living here on Gotfredson road over 34 years and all that time we were hoping that a water line would be coming, but we're always disappointed because someone who does not live on our street objected to have a water line.
We were excited when we saw the water line was coming down Gotfredson only to stop at Joy road and again someone did not like that and we were told that the Township wanted to keep this land rural.
We wish someone would check with the people who will be affected by the decision. Also, we think our property value would increase as a result.
Albert & Martha Hamood
Say ‘no’ to the sewer plant
I’m a Plymouth Township resident and I wanted to have my vote for the sewer pipe go through the township. I vote NO to the wastewater treatment plant.
Thank you for allowing us to email you and for everybody that has been working on this to stop the treatment plant.
Cathy and Arno Krause
Wastewater plant not a good idea
Thank you for your March 2025 article regarding the Salem Township sewer solution.
The feasibility study is very important because a wastewater treatment facility proposed by Salem Township is not good for Salem Township, for the residents of Plymouth Township or for the residents of Canton Township.
The YCUA Sewage Plant has the capacity and proven record to handle the wastewater. EGLE supports this solution. Discharge to the YCUA Plant is the only sound way to proceed. Unfortunately, bad politics got involved and a proper, more environmentally sound, less expensive route through Superior Township to the YCUA Plant was denied.
An alternative to the feasibility study is for sound political minds of Salem, Plymouth and Canton resolving this issue with Superior Township as the best route for the Salem Township wastewater to reach the YCUA plant. Failing to resolve this with Superior Township only leaves one alternative and that is piping the wastewater through Plymouth and Canton townships.
No wastewater treatment plant should be built in Salem.
Larry AuBuchon
What about the seniors?
If you looked closely at the last two attempts to pass a recreation millage in the City of Plymouth, you might have noticed that there were no dollars proposed for senior citizen programs. Perhaps that is why both proposals failed. Seniors vote.
Senior citizens are an asset to every community, and their need for socialization is very important. For those who are retired and less able to get around as they used to, isolation is a real problem.
The City of Plymouth has ignored the needs of their senior population for way too long. Now is the time for the City and Township to work together to find a source of funding for Senior Citizen activities in our community.
Jackie and Gil Peters
Investigate Salem wastewater plan
I am really concerned that a developer was given approval to build a residential community in Salem Township without first submitting plans for approval for both drinking water and wastewater.
This is completely backwards from how things are done. First, they spend millions to build a freshwater system and pumping station, which I assumed the taxpayers picked up the tab for. Only after this was built, did the township of Salem ask to build a sewage treatment plant that discharges to a neighboring township—another cost to the taxpayers not the developer.
There are thousands of communities in America that use the same solutions that single family homes use. It is called a septic waste system. If they want to build more new homes in Salem Township, they can keep their waste in their township or pipe it to someone who wants it. I think there needs to be an independent investigation, separate from Salem Township and the State of Michigan, to determine how the developer convinced the government to spend the funds to allow the developer to get the approval for this entire plan.
The public has a right to know all the facts and just some of them. A private developer is getting rich off the taxpayers, again.
Earl Baker
Balanced and informative
The Rock's coverage of Plymouth Township government is balanced and informative. Keep up the good work!
Jeff Campbell
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Beginning in May, people in the city will be able to look up and see Plymouth’s sparkling new “star-spangled” banners waving along downtown streets thanks to a new program initiated earlier this year by the Rotary Club of Plymouth AM.
The red, white and blue lightpole banners, dedicated to the many men and women who served in the military from both the city and the township, will be installed starting on May 1 and be a visual reminder of the sacrifice and service of those who wear or have worn a uniform on behalf of our nation.
With the new project, Plymouth joins a growing
number of small communities recognizing members of the military in a very visible way.
Though there is a cost for a resident who would like to purchase a banner, it seems little in comparison with the cost that can sometimes come when serving in one of the branches that make up our armed services, whether it be the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.
For community leaders working hard to launch this effort, the idea of displaying a photo and name of a loved one who served sometimes comes with highly personal connections and stories.
Just ask Ted Barker, the Rotary
member who has been heading up the project and working closely with other members including Nick Schultz, Calvin Washington, Jen Mackinder and Kathy Ramsey. Another member, Scott Lorenz, first brought the idea to the group after seeing banners in another community.
“I was born and raised in Plymouth,” says Barker, who has been with the Rotary for 16 years. “Both my parents grew up here and I still live in the neighborhood where I grew up, Lakepointe.”
Barker’s father, Richard, will be one of the first honorees on a banner, having served with the Army in Vietnam.
“My dad grew up here and
went to Plymouth High School,” says the younger Barker. “He was drafted after graduating in 1968.”
Richard Barker served with the 25th Infantry in Vietnam, seeing action and eventually becoming a sergeant. The division was nicknamed “Tropic Lightning,” and was one of the first American divisions to deploy to Vietnam, eventually participating in operations around Saigon.
His father’s military service remains important to the family, says Barker, and honoring him and others just made sense.
“We have a deep and rich history in this community of men and women who serve,” says Barker, who also has two brothers-in-law currently in the
military. “We need to tell their stories and acknowledge them with respect and honor. These are the true heroes of our nation and our community.
“Those who serve, I just have a soft spot in my heart for them,” he added.
As Barker noted, Plymouth has a rich connection with our country’s military conflicts being home to the famed 24th Michigan regiment of the Civil War that made its name at the Battle of Gettysburg, suffering over 70 percent casualties on the first day. Many residents have gone on to fight in the First World War and Second World War, while others
Monuments can also be found throughout the Plymouth Community Veterans Park in front of the PARC building that honor veterans of the world wars, the Civil War, Korea and Vietnam. Each year the park plays host to a solemn Memorial Day service, following a short parade that offers residents a chance to salute Plymouth’s veterans.
Barker, who has been president of the Shaw Construction and Management Company of Livonia for 15 years, followed in his father’s footsteps when it came to business, though he did not have a chance to serve in the armed forces.
company work, community groups like Rotary and local nonprofits like PARC. The father of two also played a ton of Gaelic football growing up, and used to deliver both local newspapers.
As for the banner program, the criteria to be honored is simple – it is open to someone who is active military or was honorably discharged from service and is related to Plymouth.” Barker says the group isn’t being “overly picky” in their selection and are instead focused on telling the soldiers’ stories. A website will showcase the biographies of the men and women, he noted, and be a more permanent reminder of their service.
The goal is to get up to 20 banners through an application process that comes with a cost.
A single banner is $250 for one year, $400 for two years and up to three years at $500. The twosided banners will be displayed in May and June and then in October and November.
As of this writing the first deadline for banner applications has already passed and 14 banners have been reserved. They are being produced by Graph-X Signs of Plymouth.
“It’s a great way to display something important, an honor, really,” Barker says. “We’re mainly just trying to cover our costs and if there’s ways to create more opportunities by raising money that would be great. There is a value to this but it’s really about respecting the individuals.”
stayed home and helped fuel the Arsenal of Democracy through local companies like Burroughs. Just visit the Plymouth Historical Museum, and you’ll understand the history connections even better.
“I’m a second generation business owner. My father started the company in 1984 and we then took the name when we bought Shaw Electric,” says Barker, who graduated from Salem High School in 1994. He soon got involved in
Barker would love to see banners expanded into Plymouth Township, perhaps along Ann Arbor Road, and in parts of Old Village.
“We have had a lot of support,” says Barker. “The DDA and the city have been very helpful and positive and we are working hard to get the word out and expand the program.”
Staying connected to the past is often a true reflection of a small community, and working in a small town has offered Barker a chance to see that in action. His company has worked on dozens of local projects from the Miracle League of Plymouth to Growth Works, from the First Presbyterian Church to the Kellogg Park fountain and numerous business ventures like Kilwins and Chicane.
“I’m very blessed, we all are, by this small community and the fact that it still feels that way,” Barker says. “I love it.”
To find out more about applying for a banner, or getting on a wait list for future slots, contact the Rotary Club of Plymouth in PARC or go to the website: https://bit.ly/ rotarymvbanner. Applicants need to include bio information. A photograph of the veteran is also required for the program application.
“Ideas come to life when people push them,” says Barker. “Our team has been great. It’s a great club effort and we love helping veterans and kids with special needs. We’re just a conduit, we want everyone to get excited about this.”
Businesses pull together to recover from downtown flood
Heavy rain event overwhelms infrastructure, damages a number of shops and homes
By Scott Spielman
Lori Collick was on her way into her downtown Plymouth chocolate shop when she started getting notifications that water was in the building.
Collick, who owns Kemnitz Fine Candies on Ann Arbor Trail, only lives about 15 minutes away, but when she arrived in the early morning hours of April 3 she saw water already rising around the Central Parking Deck, flowing down the ramp and out into the street.
“I thought, oh boy, we’re in trouble,” she said.
Inside, the business that has operated for nearly 80 years was a mess. Water had risen several inches inside and flowed with enough force to move the empty garbage cans at the back of the business all the way up to the front windows facing Ann Arbor Trail. Worse, the chocolate she had in stock in preparation for the Easter holiday—about
$50,000 worth—was ruined.
“It’s my busiest time of year,” she said. “Easter is coming and, to a lot of people, Easter means chocolate.”
Kemnitz wasn’t the only business damaged during the heavy rainfall, which was the culmination of several damp days followed by a 45-minute deluge that overwhelmed the storm water drainage system.
Kemnitz saw the worst of it — the business is at the lower end of what is a federally designated flood plain.
Nearby, the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce offices also experienced damage, while Ironwood Grill, which also experienced flooding, was better able to recover from it. Their floors are essentially concrete with plenty of interior drains— designed to be hosed down and mopped up.
The chamber office needed
and south to Ann Arbor Road,” he said. “It all flows into the Tonquish Creek. It’s a huge area.”
He said he kept Wayne County officials apprised of the situation throughout the event, too, and has put up links on the city website for people to report any damage.
“It was more than just downtown businesses,” he said. “We had some homes flooded, too.”
Meanwhile, the business community has come together to support each other. Collick set up shop, temporarily, at Radiant Jewelry, which is next door to her shop. While she couldn’t sell chocolate there, she was passing out cards with QR codes that will help customers order chocolate from her through the website, kemnitzfinecandies.com. She’s hoping that push will help her meet customer demands through the upcoming holiday and keep her afloat as repairs are made.
new carpet, molding and paint. They also lost some electronic equipment.
“The water didn’t get up that high, just a little bit, but enough to do some damage,” said Chamber President Wes Graff.
City Manager Paul Sincock said city workers did everything they could to alleviate the flooding even while the rain was coming down.
“It was such a huge volume of rain in such a short amount of time,” said Sincock, who estimated about 1.5 inches fell in about 45 minutes. “We had crews working literally all night long making sure there was no blockage at ‘the tube’.” The tube is where Tonquish Creek flows underneath the parking deck.
“It’s a bad situation, but we’re taking storm water in from a drainage area that covers from Harvey Street north to Five Mile, a little bit into Northville Township all the way down to Ridge Road
“We’re all working together to get things up and running,” she said.
Graff said the close relationship between downtown businesses—and their loyal customers—has been evident in the days since the flood.
“I really appreciate the support of the community,” he said. “It might take some of us longer than others, but we will all be back again.”
“That’s one thing about Plymouth: the community just rallies around these incidents and helps out as much as they can,” said Sincock.
Senior Program Seeks Stable Revenue Stream
Vital community service looks for alternative ways
to meet budgetary needs
Every day, the Friendship Station in Plymouth Township lives up to its name.
Located on Schoolcraft Road east of Northville Road, the station is a place where older residents of the community can get together to learn about issues that improve their lives, enhance their safety, take part in events— or just hang out and socialize.
“When seniors see someone coming in, they’ll go to help them or they’ll get coffee for somebody,” said Kathy Turnquist, president of the Plymouth Community Council on Aging board of directors. “A lot of them were strangers once. Now they’re friends. There’s a lot of hugging that’s going on. If you want a good hug, come here.”
That’s the mission of the PCCA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has called the station home since 2015. The agency operates senior services out of the facility from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The PCCA hosts presentations about health, safety and finance, puts on events and coordinates day trips for seniors — all designed to help seniors get social and lead healthy active lives.
By Scott Spielman
Now, those services are at risk. Officials at the PCCA are scrambling to find ways to plug a budget shortfall this year as well as to seek long-term stable funding for the organization, which receives no tax funding. Recently, they learned that their annual contribution from the Plymouth Community United
Foundation have also expired. “All of those funds, we’ve been able to stretch over the past five years. Now that extra funding is gone. We have to work to try to replace some of that.”
The PCCA operates on a $100,000 budget. It receives no tax revenue. The Friendship Station is owned by Plymouth
We basically rely on fundraising to make it all work. It’s a vital service in the community. It would be a shame if it went away.”
Bobbie Pummill, director of Plymouth Community Council on Aging
Way (PCUA) had been reduced by about $12,000.
“That’s a big hit for us,” said Cindy Morency, the PCCA’s finance director. Other revenue sources the organization has used for the past several years, including Payroll Protection Loans during the Covid pandemic, grants from Wayne County and the Duning
Township, which allows the PCCA to use the building rentfree. The township also pays the utilities and maintenance on the building and contributes $11,500 to its budget through Community Development Block Grants.
“We basically rely on fundraising to make it all work,” said Bobbie Pummill, director of the PCCA. “It’s a vital service
in the community. It would be a shame if it went away.”
LONG HISTORY
The PCCA has served the city and township of Plymouth for nearly 50 years. When Pummill joined the group about 19 years ago, she had an office in city hall. There was no dedicated space for seniors; they held events at the cultural center, the library, and in local parks.
“We jumped around where we could,” Pummill said. “The seniors were always moving. We had no storage for our stuff, we’d have to take it all and bring it back. I made it my mission: we needed a center for the seniors.”
That mission finally came true in 2015, when the township allowed them use of the Friendship Station.
“I don’t know what we’d do without them,” said Pummill, whose office is now in township hall. “We pay no electric bills, we don’t pay rent. They maintain it. They’re really good with it.
“Since we’ve moved over here, we’ve more than tripled our participation,” she added. “We are able to do pretty much everything that other
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communities do, maybe in a smaller venue. In some respects, we do a lot more in a month than some of these communities that have a big center.”
Morency said more than 4,000 residents use the facility every year. The office receives about 300 calls every month from someone seeking services or resources— and that could be anything from housing to food insecurity to assistance with Medicaid, something from the loan closet, or more.
Community Foundation, among others, reached out to corporate sponsors, chamber businesses and service clubs, too. They even started a GoFundMe (www. gofundme.com/f/help-keeppcca-services-alive).
“We’ve sent letters to every club you can imagine to see if they can help in some way,” Pummill said. “We’ve been very diligent in trying to advocate for us. We’ve tried every avenue we can think of.”
Part of the issue with grant applications is that many organizations that give them out want to fund projects, not programming.
Still, there have been some encouraging results so far.
Waltonwoods Cherry Hill and Carriage Park reached out to host a Bingo night fundraiser that will take place at 1 p.m. on May 1 at Waltonwood Cherry Hill in Canton. Morency said she’s other positive signs, too.
to do it all over again,” Pummill said. “If we had $50k that we knew we could count on, then we could piece everything together.”
Efforts to get a dedicated revenue stream from the city have been challenging, however. The City of Plymouth allocates its CDBG funds to the senior transportation department, a joint operation between the city and township. Attempts to ask both communities for a dedicated millage haven’t worked, either.
“The best thing for this organization would be to get support from both municipalities on a recurring basis—at least partial, so we know what to count on and then fundraise the rest of it,” Pummill said.
SENIOR SUPPORT
“It’s daily,” Morency said. “There really is a need. And so we’ve found ourselves in a tight spot.”
REVENUE DILEMMA
With the expiration of Covid relief and other grant funds, Pummill said the PCCA is looking for every avenue they can to make up the revenue. They’ve reached out to the county commissioners, applied for grants from the Rotary Foundation and Plymouth
“I think we’re a little more optimistic on what that forecast is. We’re trying to piece things together as we go along,” Morency said. “We have so many leads out there; we’re waiting for something to come in to see if it’ll change our financial future or not. As of right now, we don’t know when the end date is—or if there is one.”
The problem is, what then?
“We need something that’s recurring. If all this funding comes in, then where does that leave us for next year? We have
Since word has spread about the funding issues, the seniors themselves have shown their support. A billboard covered by their letters of support sits in the station. Individual donations have come in, both through the mail and in-person.
“They are so worried that this will be gone. They’ll come to a program and give us a check for $25. They just want to donate any way they can,” Pummill said.
“I know people think that because you live in Plymouth you’re very wealthy. But the seniors that come in here, a lot of them are living on Social Security. There are others who have lost their spouse, they have no family living around here and somebody
brought them here and now it’s the greatest thing that ever happened to them — they’ve made friends, they’re social. With seniors, socialization is a top priority. It helps alleviate isolation.”
“The thing with seniors is that we need to be social,” said Darlene Severson, who attends events at the friendship Center with her husband, Harold. “There are so few places for us to go around here.”
Pummill said she would continue to work for couples like the Seversons, and the many older residents who count on the PCCA services every month.
“Our mission is to do whatever we can do to keep this going, because our seniors deserve it,” she added. “It’s a challenge, I tell you, it really is, but when you see these people it drives us even more to do whatever we can. We’re fighting for these residents. I’ll never give up.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
The Plymouth Community Council on Aging is facing revenue issues after losing some grant money. Do you thing the city and township should dedicate funding to the organization, which serves thousands of local seniors? Do you think the organization provides a vital service?
Email your opinions to Editor Scott Spielman at scottyspielman@gmail.com.
Chamber Honors Plymouth’s Top Businesses
Karl’s Cabin, DJL Builders & Museum among 2024
Measuring success isn’t just about businesses being profitable or producing the very best goods and services.
In Plymouth, at least, the willingness to go the extra mile for the community is a common trait among those honored last month at the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Business Awards Dinner. The 10th annual event took place March 20 at Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center.
“These are people who are very successful businesses and they also turn around and give back to the community,” said chamber president Wes Graff.
At the top of the list was Karl’s Cabin, the Poulos-owned restaurant that bounced back to its standard of excellence in the wake of a crippling fire in early 2023. It received the Mid-Size Business of the Year award.
Graff said it was amazing the way Karl’s Cabin continued to give back, even in the most challenging of times — literally rising up from the ashes.
“They’ve [given] $50,000 in scholarships,” Graff said. “They just raised $10,000 for the Plymouth-Canton high school culinary program. That’s an example of somebody who has always given back, even through the worst of times.”
Karl’s Cabin co-owner Peter Poulos said the award was a true testament to the resilience, dedication, and passion of the incredible team at the restaurant.
“Overcoming the challenges we faced after the fire only deepened our commitment to serving our community and creating a warm, welcoming space for everyone to enjoy,” he said, adding that the award was especially heartwarming because it allowed business matriarch
Sophia Poulos a well-earned opportunity to share in the honor.
“The event had a beautiful, celebratory atmosphere that gave us a rare chance to pause, reflect, and ‘smell the roses,’” said Poulos. “Especially for our mom, Sophia—the matriarch of Karl’s Cabin. And, of course, the next day, we were right back to work, doing what we love.”
Small business honorees were DJL Builders, Specialty Pet Supplies and Highway Media.
About DJL Builders, owner Dave Latawiec has been in business since 1992 and recently served as the chamber chairman.
Highway Media, led by local award-winning producer Mark Saloum, is a renowned content producer that produced the documentary “Plymouth, Michigan – A Rich History,” which debuted at the Penn.
Specialty Pet Supplies is an
winners
Ann Arbor Road landmark, which was founded in 1979 by Terri Bennett and where customers were greeted for decades by a pet parrot, Leonard, who brought a smile to faces for abut 40 years.
“She (Bennett) never passes up giving out gift cards,” Graff said. “Over the years probably a lot of young staff people have grown up working with her. It’s just a real institution in our community.”
GIVING BACK IN DIFFERENT WAYS
Tapped for a Community Contribution Award was the Plymouth Historical Museum, touted in the chamber’s press release for “keeping Plymouth’s history alive and adding new exhibits, like their Victorian House and New Train Station, with cutting-edge technology to enhance the visitor’s experience.”
Museum executive director
The team from Karl’s Cabin shows off the Mid-Size Business of the Year award. Photos courtesy of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce
“We are very fortunate, people really feel a commitment to the community and many of our businesses give back in a lot of ways.”
Chamber Director Wes Graf
Elizabeth Kerstens was thrilled to receive the award on behalf of her staff and the many volunteers who are essential to its ongoing success.
“This award belongs to everyone who has supported the museum – our visitors, staff, volunteers, and community partners,” Kerstens said.
Selected for Large Business of the Year awards were USA Hockey Arena and St. John’s Resort.
USA Hockey Arena is “home of world-class junior hockey,” which produces future NHL players and hosts international tournaments – all while hosting Plymouth-Canton Community
Schools graduation ceremonies as well as providing the public with drive-in movies during the summer and a year-round restaurant.
St. John’s Resort was described by the chamber as “a premier venue in our region for over 20 years.” A $55 million renovation will feature the Cardinal Golf Course, which hosts a pro tourney in August.
The chamber presented Friends of the Rouge with a Special Recognition Award, for efforts “getting the funding and arranging (for) the clean-up of Wilcox Lake.”
Legacy Awards were presented to Don Soenen and Kirk Hohn.
Soenen spearheaded and donated funds to projects like the Michigan Philharmonic, the Penn Theatre and PARC (Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex). More recently, Soenen opened the Chicane restaurant in Old Village.
Kohn is a longtime owner of CL Finlan Insurance and a Plymouth Rotary Club mainstay who has helped make countless contributions to the community through the company.
Graff said all of the honorees
demonstrate the selflessness to give to others first and foremost –with any personal accolades well down on their wish lists.
“I find givers are givers,” Graff emphasized. “Most of them say they don’t really expect this (an award), they just do it because it’s the right thing to do. We are very fortunate, people really feel a commitment to the community and many of our businesses give back in a lot of ways.”
college because I wanted more time at the store. I made every excuse I could to the professors that I had to go to work in the family business. Turns out, since it’s a business school, they were okay with it,” he says with a chuckle, adding that he graduated with a BBA in marketing from the west Michigan college.
Today at age 30, Tim serves as general manager for both stores, drawing on his deep knowledge to create sweet experiences for each and every customer.
“Tim took ownership of producing. He could make all the fudge and can train everyone in it,” says Sara.
WINNING COMBINATION
New owners bring generations of experience to Kilwins Plymouth
Story by Sue Voyles | Photos by Ken Voyles
It’s not just about the delicious chocolate, ice cream or other goodies, at the end of the day
it’s about making people feel good. So says Tim Boetsma, whose family are the new owners of Kilwins in downtown Plymouth.
“Our number one product is happiness. It’s hokey, but true. Unless I create a happy feeling with a customer, I am not doing my job. People get chocolate and ice cream to feel good,” says Boetsma.
While they purchased the Plymouth franchise in January 2025, this isn’t the first foray into all things sweet for the Boetsmas. Tim’s family has been involved in the Kilwins business for more than 25 years.
His mother Sara and her mother, Judy Dalmen, got
their start at a Kilwins store in Saugatuck, not far from their home in Holland, Michigan.
“It was my first job as a 14-year-old and a summer job for me and my sisters,” says Sara, adding that her mom worked at the store and later managed it.
“Growing up, we would go there to get fudge and ice cream.”
In the late ‘90s, Kilwins approached Dalmen about opening a new franchise in Holland and she jumped on it, opening that location in 1998. In 2015, Sara and her husband Tracy Boetsma took over the franchise, which they still operate.
“I knew everything on the front side of business, but not the back end. When I had questions, I was really fortunate to have my mom’s years of experience
owning the store to answer them,” says Sara, who added that she never imagined she would own a business one day. “We love Kilwins and the brand and are so excited to be three generations in now.”
Her son Tim followed in her footsteps, jumping into the family business at an early age.
“When I was in elementary school, I would help my great grandpa sell Kilwins popcorn during the Tulip Time festival. In 2010, I officially became an employee,” he said.
His enthusiasm for the business continued to grow over the years. As a collegiate athlete at Davenport University in Holland, he often found himself yearning to be working at the family business.
“I quit playing baseball at
The production aspect of Kilwins – where customers can watch fudge, caramel, brittles, dipped apples and popcorn being made in the store during business hours – is an important aspect of the customer experience. Add the brand’s proprietary recipes for chocolate, caramel, ice cream and other confections, and it’s a winning combination.
“Unique to Kilwins is the theater experience. When you come in you smell the caramel
and fudge being cooked. It brings back memories as a kid,” says Tim, referencing the original recipe, hand-crafted Mackinac Island Fudge that got its start with founders Don and Katy Kilwin when they opened for business in 1947. Over the
years, the brand added more fudge flavors that are enjoyed by visitors to stores operated by 160 franchisees in 28 states.
No matter whether you call him a chocolatier, confectioner or fudge maker, Tim takes great pride in the handmade, original recipe creations the store offers.
“You cannot go to another chocolate business and find our chocolate or our ice cream,” he says, quickly adding that kettle production of fudge, caramel and brittles occurs in the store 2-3 times a week, and every day in the
summer. Hand-dipped chocolate treats are made daily, while dipped apples are produced weekly.
Kilwins has also made its mark with original recipes for ice cream since 1985, known for their high butter fat content and available in many flavors.
“We always have 32 flavors on hand, and we can make a milkshake out of every single one of them. My grandma says that ice cream fills in the cracks, but I think that Kilwins is more like plaster because it’s so thick,” says Tim with a smile, adding that the store also carries six varieties of ice cream cakes and makes waffle cones on-site. The top sellers are toasted coconut and sea salt caramel ice cream, but his favorite flavor for many years has been New Orleans praline pecan.
LOTS OF SIMILARITIES
So how did the Boetsmas end up in Plymouth – about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Holland -- purchasing the Kilwins that first opened downtown in 2009?
“I was pretty interested in finding another location, for something more to do with my time. The Holland store is operating well and we have a great team there,” says Tim. “A store consultant let us know that the prior owner was ready to leave. So, we came to Plymouth and fell in love with the town. It reminded us of Holland a lot. It felt like a good fit.”
“Plymouth felt similar to Holland to us. We appreciated the town and the people. The people of Plymouth are proud of Plymouth and that has been super evident to us,” adds Sara.
A quaint downtown dotted with restaurants, a fall festival and summer performances can all be found in Holland – striking similarities to Plymouth. Even the population of both areas are comparable – Holland has about 34,000 residents and the combined population of the city and Plymouth Township is approximately 37,000.
As “a community-focused family and business,” Sara and Tim are in Plymouth every week working in the store, which is open Monday through Saturday. They are quickly connecting with the community. (It also helps that Sara’s sister lives in Bloomfield Hills, providing a place for her to stay overnight at times.)
Since taking ownership on January 1, the Boetsmas joined the Plymouth Community Chamber. They donated chocolate bunnies for the April 13 Easter hunt in Kellogg Park hosted by the Glover Agency Realtors. They also anticipate partnering with the Plymouth District Library for its summer reading program and are connecting with Westborn Market downtown for sourcing apples.
“I love getting to know people in town and it’s been fun and a great part of the job,” says Tim. Besides making connections with the broader community, he finds purpose in working with the store’s employees.
“Where I find a lot of my joy is watching our team grow and flourish. I enjoy seeing high school kids on their first job bring joy to other people. When you sell ice cream, you have the opportunity to bring joy to someone’s day,” he says. “Teaching them true
customer service is what brings me life right now.”
Sara agrees. “Tim just loves people and has transitioned into being the person for hiring, for training, for questions and education. These high school kids are only with us for a short period. It’s exciting to watch them move on to college or careers. Hopefully something they learned from us along the way helped them later on.”
Beyond the handcrafted fudge, caramel, ice cream, and chocolate, the Boetsmas’ true secret ingredient is simple: joy.
“To be the owner of a franchise where creating enjoyment is our core is really special,” reflects Sara.
“I create joy and make people happy,” adds Tim.
Kilwin’s is located at 298 S. Main Street. For more information call (734) 404-6719 or visit www.kilwins.com.
Kingfisher
Bicycle Company joins Old Village’s eclectic business scene
He had moved around a lot and didn’t want to commit to one business location until he settled on a community to call home for the long-term. Then, a couple things happened: he and his family put down roots in Ypsilanti and Wheels in Motion, which operated out of Sun & Snow Sports in downtown Plymouth, closed up. Ivey, who had been working there at the time, saw his opportunity to branch out on his own.
“I knew it wasn’t for a lack of business,” he said.
A few short months later, Ivey has realized his dream, opening the Kingfisher Bicycle Company on Liberty Street in Plymouth’s Old Village. Part of a growing group of eclectic businesses in Lower Town, the shop has been
business community and the events planned for Old Village this year. “I think this area is going to be very fun and active this summer. All the owners are on the same page as far as the direction of our businesses and who we want to attract and the kind of companies we all want to work with and the products we want to distribute. I think it’s really cool for us.”
Like most bicycle enthusiasts, Ivey has been riding for almost as long as he can remember. He’s used them for one of his main modes of transportation since was 12, when he would wake up and ride his bike to the nearby golf course where he worked as a caddy. Time spent in Austria during his early 20s further
developed his love for twowheeled transportation.
“I needed a way to get away from the small farm I was living on, so I started riding the family’s bikes around the mountains,” he said. “It was a good way to get away from the house for a little bit and play outside. It was a good workout.”
He mostly does repairs at his small shop — he can work on anything with the exception of suspension bikes and e-bike batteries, which require specialized equipment. He brings the skills he’s developed at bike shops around the community, including Wheels in Motion and, before that, Tree Fort Bikes in Ypsilanti, and also several pet projects.
In his free time, Ivey scours garage sales, yard sales and internet marketplace sites for old bikes with potential. He buys them, fixes them up and
offers them for sale, too. You’ll find an ever-changing selection of older rides like Peugots, Nishikis, Bridgestones and older Specialized models, all tuned up and ready to roll.
“A lot of customers don’t want to spend the twelve-to-fifteen hundred dollars on a pretty basic new bike, and tons of people were asking about used bikes,” he said. “I prefer rebuilding and refurbishing and repairing bikes rather than trying to sell somebody something they might not need. That’s what I wanted to focus on. I’ve been doing that for a long time: taking older bikes, making them functional and reselling them.”
Buying a used bike from a shop is a lot different than picking one up at a traditional resale shop, like Play it Again Sports, he said. Ivey takes a lot of pride in bringing old cruisers back to life so they will be well-used, not just
“I think this area is going to be very fun and active this summer. All the owners are on the same page as far as the direction of our businesses and who we want to attract and the kind of companies we all want to work with and the products we want to distribute. I think it’s really cool for us.”
Jack Ivey, on opening his new Kingfisher Bicycle Co. in Old Village
sitting around gathering dust.
“There’s a lot that go wrong with those bikes. I think it’s really helpful to have somebody who cares and who knows enough about bikes to want them to last and be functional and be comfortable for people to use and not just become a thing that sits in the garage,” Ivey said. “Ultimately that’s the most important part: getting people to ride their bike, rather than spending a bunch of money on it and then not using it. It’s frustrating to see a brand-new bike that’s 15 years old.”
He gives them all their own personality, too, whether it’s upgrading the gearing, swapping out the handlebars, matching grips and pedals to colors schemes or something more complicated. The bikes themselves are reflective of the name of the shop—and the birds it’s named after. Kingfishers come in many different varieties and colors and are migratory birds.
“I thought there was a correlation between my interest in bikes, and the colorful and unique bikes and gray and black bikes,” he
said. “There’s a lot of similarities. It’s like on the same page.”
The ‘bicycle company’ portion of the name reflects his larger ambition: he hopes to create his own frames some day and wanted a name that signified a larger enterprise when that time comes. For now, though, he said he’s happy being a part of the eclectic mix in Old Village.
“Now is a good time for me. I love bicycles is what it comes down to,” he said. “I know I could probably make more money doing something else, but I just dread
going to work for something that makes more money—even though I might hate it. I’ve just never been good at that. I justwanted to do this.”
KINGFISHER BICYCLE COMPANY
OWNER: Jack Ivey
ADDRESS: 139 W. Liberty St., Plymouth, MI
PHONE: (734) 221-4106
WEBSITE: kingfisherbikes.com
Lightning Strikes At Districts
P-CCS robotics team also earns high marks in statewide competition
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (P-CCS) Lightning Robotics team had high hopes going into the FIRST Robotics state competition in April, after making history by winning the highest team award at the district-level contest. The statewide competition took place from April 3-5 at Saginaw Valley State University.
While the Lightning Robotics team did not win the overall state competition—they lost a close match in the division semifinal—they did earn a state award for quality and qualified for the world competition.
“Congratulations to our Lightning Robotics team for showcasing our district’s commitment to science, technology, engineering and math both in the classroom and in the competitive arena,” said School Superintendent Monica Merritt.
The team carved out its own niche in getting that far. The P-CCS Lightning Robotics team won its district competition at Belleville High School on March
15, taking home the FIRST Impact Award, which honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate in transforming the culture in ways that inspires respect for science and technology.
P-CCS also won the West Michigan District competition at Grand Valley State University March 20-22, going 12-0 in the qualification round and 5-0 in the playoffs. In that event, held at Grand Valley State University, Canton High School junior
Julia Fenstermacher was the district Dean's list winner for demonstrating leadership and commitment to FIRST values and effectiveness at increasing awareness about robotics, among other criteria. At Belleville, the Lighting Robotics went 11-1 in qualification matches and held the No. 1 seed throughout the competition. In the playoff stage, the Lightning Robotics were 5-0.
“We are proud of our students and grateful to our tremendous team of teachers, staff, families
and community partners for their amazing support,” Merritt said.
The state quality award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication, according to Jay Obsniuk, Canton High School teacher and lead robotics instructor. Guidelines include:
• A team must be able to describe their quality plan i.e. how their design ensures robustness throughout the entire competition.
• The entire machine demonstrates quality: workmanship, welds, attachment systems, wiring, paint, etc.
• The machine can withstand the rigors of competition –maintaining functionality, including the use of designedin redundancy and risk mitigation measures.
• Building the machine contributes to the team’s success.
“The students put in a lot of hours and hard work,” said Obsniuk. “This is an incredible combination of students working together with a comprehensive plan and executing it with pride. My greatest joy is seeing the way students collaborate together as a team during the competition.”
District seeks new students through kindergarten roundup
The weather may still be stubbornly clinging to winter, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the new school year— particularly if you have young children who will attend school for the first time.
The Plymouth Canton Community School District is starting its annual Kindergarten Roundup, looking for the next wave of young pupils.
The district offers two kindergarten programs, traditional Kindergarten and Young 5s. Both are full-day options.
Traditional Kindergarten, most suited for children who turn five on or before Dec. 1, 2025, is designed for students who are ready for a more structured learning experience, with a curriculum that emphasizes reading, writing, math readiness, and independent learning skills.
Young 5s is open to children turning five between June 1 and
Dec. 1, 2025. It may be suitable for Families who feel their child needs more time to develop confidence, independence, or other school readiness skills.
The key differences between the two are: the Young 5s program has smaller class sizes and includes more play-based experiences. It also focuses on early literacy and motor skills, along with social and emotional development. Traditional
Kindergarten has a stronger emphasis on literacy, math, and problem-solving skills.
“The Young 5’s Kindergarten program offers children the valuable gift of time, giving them an extra year to grow socially, emotionally, and academically before entering traditional kindergarten,” said Denise Lilly, Executive Director of Elementary Education for the district. “This unique program is designed
specifically for younger learners who would benefit from a gradual and developmentally appropriate introduction to school. Children can explore, discover, and learn through a traditional kindergarten curriculum incorporating Michigan’s Academic Standards integrated with hands-on and play-based experiences, focusing on early literacy, motor skills, and socialemotional development.”
Students in the Young 5s program move on to traditional
Kindergarten after one year.
“By tailoring the pace of learning to the needs of young learners, the Young 5’s program helps build confident, capable kindergarten leaders.
“This fosters a sense of belonging and promotes teamwork and communication with peers. The Young 5’s program is a gentle bridge between preschool and kindergarten, creating a supportive environment where children can thrive socially and academically while developing the foundational skills necessary for lifelong success.”
Anyone interested can get started or find more information at www.pccsk12.com/enrollment.
Peek Inside Your Health: Full Body MRI Screenings Unveil Silent Issues Before Symptoms Arise
(SOUTHFIELD, MI) Full body MRI clinics have gained national attention lately, as TV personalities publicly share their personal full body scan experiences. One actress credits the scan for saving her life after doctors dismissed her unexplained pain for months. After various tests, including a CT scan, had “unremarkable” results, the pregnant actress became her own advocate, searched out a full body MRI clinic and discovered she had pancreatic cancer. Thanks to early detection the tumor was removed successfully.
As a general rule, when symptoms occur related to cancer, it usually has progressed to stage three or four. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screenings only cover about 29% of cancers with 71%
occurring outside of where doctors are able to screen. However, full body MRI scans can detect cancer in every organ from the top of the head through the genitals and can detect it very early.
For a long time, full body MRI scans were available only in select areas outside of Michigan, requiring expensive flights like in Vancouver or California. However, this changed when a clinic opened in Southfield, making these scans available to Metro Detroit residents.
“Our advanced MRI screening can detect cancers very early when they are as small as a pencil eraser and are more easily treatable. If cancer goes undetected, however, it can grow into stage three or stage four with difficult treatments. We can also identify conditions such as brain, abdominal, chest,
and groin aneurysms,” stated the founder of the Southfield clinic called Bionicc Body Screening. The primary focus of Bionicc Body Screening is to deliver peace of mind, offering a comprehensive and detailed imaging of the body’s internal structures. The ultimate hope is for excellent health. However, in the event that something is detected, the advanced screening aims to catch any potential issues at their earliest stages. This approach offers the best opportunity for successful treatment outcomes, should the need arise.
Robert B., age 50, opted for a full body scan from Bionicc Body Screening and a very small tumor was detected. He said, “It saved my life. Their MRI found a
kidney tumor that had been missed by a recent CT scan. I cannot recommend this service more.”
Take the first step to learn more about full body scans by visiting www.BioniccBodyScreening. com and request a free, no obligation Information Kit. Request it today and you’re also guaranteed a copy of their FREE eBook, Catching Cancer Before It’s Too Late! (This is a limited time offer.) Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC
‘Check Out’ An Expert
Plymouth Library’s new service forging community connections
By Scott Spielman
Jack Kopenski has never been a commercial gardener or landscape worker, but he knows a lot about how to make gardens work. Beginning with helping his father in his backyard in his teens to bringing his passion to his homes in the City of Plymouth, then Canton Township and now Plymouth Township, the 78-year-old said he’s learned a lot about different kinds of soil—knowledge that he thinks will help residents throughout the community.
And, like more than two dozen other volunteers, he’s willing to share his information through the Library Expert program. The idea, just under way, is that anyone can sign up to check out an expert
at the library, and spend half an hour getting advice about a number of different topics.
“When I said I’d do this it was to help people and to answer questions,” said Kopenski, who learned about the program through the library newsletter.
Library staff started the program in March, but it had been in the discussion phase for much longer, according to Heather Pacheco, community relations specialist with the Plymouth District Library.
“Through our strategic planning process, one of the things we discovered is that people are having trouble feeling connected to the community,” Pacheco said. “People love
funding, which was provided by the Community Financial Credit Union through a grant its Relentless Care Foundation.
Here’s how it works. You can find the Experts tab under the resource drop down in the top menu bar at the library website. Clicking on that will take you to a calendar and the kind of topics experts are prepared to talk about. They range in scope from Kopenski’s gardening area to health and wellness, job-related advice, crafts, hobbies, technology or science. Click a topic, find a time and then wait for the email confirmation. There are about 30 volunteers so far, she said.
“It’s a real broad range,” said Pacheco. “Some of the experts are doing hobby-related things like gardening or running or that sort of thing, but some of them are more traditional help, like resume help. It allows us to meet more needs and connect more people.”
You’ll meet up with your expert in the library and have a half-hour discussion at the tables near the help desk—and this is one time when it’s acceptable to talk in the library.
Plymouth, they love living here, but they’re not knowing their neighbors so much, so that is one objective we’re really focused on is to try to help people connect with their neighbors.”
The other part of the equation, she said, is that the library fields plenty of offers from residents who want to volunteer and help out in the community.
“Alongside that, there are so many opportunities where people come into the library and ask the librarians questions—they need help with this or that—and we also have a lot of people who reach out and are interested in volunteering in different areas. It all kind of came together.”
The final piece was the
Sherrie Brindley, a Plymouthbased realtor, offers advice about getting ready to buy or sell a home, as well as how to get into real estate investment. Brindley and her husband, Mike, operate several bed-and-breakfast properties near West Branch.
“My thought was that people who have never owned a house, they don’t know what it takes to get started. You can help draw a road map,” she said. “It’s the same with real estate investing. We sort of accidentally became real estate investors and we learned things online. I just thought, if other people are trying, if someone could give them a little sketch up of what to do, here’s how we did it, and here are some things to watch out for.”
Kopenski is still waiting for his first appointment—it’s still a bit
“Through our strategic planning process, one of the things we discovered is that people are having trouble feeling connected to the community. People love Plymouth, they love living here, but they’re not knowing their neighbors so much, so that is one objective we’re really focused on is to try to help people connect with their neighbors.”
Heather Pacheco, Plymouth District Library community relations specialist
early to do much planting—but he has some advice for people looking forward to starting their own gardens, as well as answers to common questions. It might surprise some people to learn, for example, that the secret to a successful garden is not taking care of the plants, but the environment.
“There’s dirt and there’s soil,” he said. “Dirt doesn’t grow anything, soil grows it. So instead of feeding the plants, you feed the soil and make the soil have the nutrients the plant needs so whatever plant you put in there can withdraw it. Amending the soil is an ongoing process you should do every year.”
Kopenski starts most of his plants as seeds in the basement and can advise on best practices to do that, too. He also stays current on gardening trends and is continually trying new things. Ultimately, gardening comes down to three main components— soil, water and light—but within those three elements there are plenty of questions to be asked and answered.
He said he doesn’t consider himself an expert—more of an educated hobbyist—but added that there are plenty of benefits to maintaining a garden, even if you are unlikely to save much money by growing your own fruits and vegetables.
“It’s part of my unwinding after work. I come home and spend about an hour watering plants, just decompressing,” he said. “It’s a hobby that gets you outside. You’re bending over, you’re picking stuff up, you’re digging—you’re getting some
exercise. There’s a lot you can get from gardening, not just the fruits.”
Through the first few weeks of the Expert program, Pacheco said the feedback has been positive.
“It’s off to a good start, I think,” Pacheco said. “I think it’s going to grow when more people hear about it. I’m sure there will be a learning curve for a little while, too. We’ll learn as we go.”
To sign up for an expert, visit www.plymouthlibrary.org.
Wildcats Lead Way
Female grappler pins down PHS’s first ever wrestling state championship
By Brad Emons
Girls wrestling – in only its fourth season -remains in its relative infancy when it comes to the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
But make no mistake, the sport continues to grow and is making a significant impact as evidenced by the performance of two female wrestlers from Plymouth High.
Junior Nandi Kibi broke new ground as she capped off a 31-1 season by winning the 140-pound division with a pin in 2:35 over Bronson junior Mackenna Webster to bring home the Park’s first-ever individual girls crown on March 2 at Detroit’s Ford Field.
Kibi, the Dundee District 7 and Chelsea Regional 4 champion, posted four straight pins en route to the title.
Meanwhile, senior teammate Marissa Richmond (155) also earned All-State (top eight) honors when she placed fifth after winning three of five matches to finish 27-5 overall. She was also a district and regional champion.
The two helped the Wildcats, coached by Adeeb Alcodray, to a sixth-place finish in the overall team standings with 49 points. (Grand Haven scored 69.5 points to win the inaugural girls crown.)
“I didn’t make it out last year, and it was just all year what I’ve been working through,” she said. “And, I went to Nationals and I said I can win a state championship, so I just had to put the work in all year.”
Webster had a solid resumè heading into the Finals and took a pragmatic approach.
“I’ve never wrestled her (Webster),” Kibi said. “At Fargo (N.D.) she placed one place ahead of me, and that’s all I knew about her. I just wrestled the way I normally do.”
There are several other noteworthy area team and individual performances and here’s a capsule recap of the 2024-25 winter sports season.
BOYS HOCKEY
Salem (16-13, 4-6 KLAA East), under third-year coach Jake Sealy, had won six regional titles in the past 11 years but had never made a Final Four appearance until defeating Brighton, 7-4, in the Division 1 quarterfinals.
The Rocks defeated Plymouth, 4-2, to win the Regional 8 title and then fell to Howell, 5-4 (overtime) in the state semifinals held March 7 at Plymouth’s USA Hockey Arena.
Regional finalist Plymouth (14-12, 4-6) was led by senior forward Brayden Irvin, who made second-team All-State.
Sophomore forward Will Schley of Canton (8-17-1, 2-8) also earned honorable mention All-State.
Meanwhile, All-KLAA selections included Plymouth senior defenseman Quinn Fitchett, Kaminski, Chaput, Irvin and Schley.
After not qualifying last year as a sophomore following an eighthplace finish as a ninth-grader, Kibi was on a mission this season and proved it with a pin over Webster (31-1), who suffered her first loss of the winter.
During the season, Kibi impressed with 27 pins among her 31 victories.
Earning All-State honors by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association for the Rocks included senior forward Noah Kaminski (first-team), senior forward Dominic Chaput (second-team), senior defenseman Cameron Eichner (second-team) and senior forward Karsen Patel (honorable mention).
BOYS BASKETBALL
After completing his 16th season as head coach and a 260-94 overall record, Jimmy Reddy announced he was stepping down as head coach of the Cobras (15-9, 8-6).
During his tenure, Reddy guided Canton to 10 divisional, five KLAA and one Division 1 district championship.
sophomore forward Mitch Paspal earned honorable mention.
Junior guard Zerry Rue earned All-Conference for Plymouth (9-15, 2-12), while sophomore guard Chayse Calvin made honorable mention.
His 2013 squad became only the second in school history to win a division, conference and district title in the same season. His 2016 squad went a perfect 20-0 during the regular season and his 2019 team won 21 games in a row, falling one win shy of most in the single season (22) set in 1996. (Reddy’s record against the Park schools was an impressive 60-12 overall.)
Canton senior forward Kessler Blakita earned All-KLAA Select Team honors, while senior guard Teddy Winstel was selected All-Conference. Senior forward Lemuel Pettway made honorable mention.
Earning All-Conference honors for Salem (8-15, 3-11) was junior forward Nye Turner, while
In Division 1-District 16 play, Canton fell to host Ypsilanti Lincoln in the finals, 41-37, after ousting Plymouth in the semifinals, 53-29. Meanwhile, Salem lost to Lincoln in the district opener, 70-47.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Plymouth (15-8, 8-6 KLAA West) earned a fourth-place division finish under coach Ryan Ballard.
The Wildcats were led by junior guard Mackenzie Dicken, who made the All-KLAA Select Team. Meanwhile, senior forward Izzy Krause was All-Conference, while junior Annie Flavin made honorable mention.
SWIMMING
District 16 finalist Salem (12-13, 4-10) fell in the finals to eventual D1 champion Belleville, 67-21, after ousting Plymouth, 40-34, in the semifinals. The Rocks were led by All-Conference senior guard Noelle Martinez, while freshman guard Stella Stotz made honorable mention.
Canton (8-14, 4-10) fell to Belleville, 66-20, in the district semifinals. The Cobras were led by All-Conference sophomore forward McKinsey Berlin, while senior Ava Murphy made honorable mention.
Plymouth, boasting three AllState (top eight) performances,
finished 11th overall with 80 points for coach Bob Holdridge in the Division 1 finals held March 14-15 at the Holland Aquatics Center.
Saline captured the team title with 291.5 points to unseat fourtime defending champion Ann Arbor Pioneer (203). Northville took third with 224.
Freshman Antonio Belleza turned in a stellar first season by finishing seventh individually in the 100-yard backstroke (52.89). Senior Eric Durecka added an eighth in the 50 freestyle (21.66).
The Wildcats’ 400 freestyle relay team of junior Adam Frisch, Belleza, senior Mark Holdridge and Durecka also made the finals and placed eighth (3:14.22).
Other individual point getters for Plymouth included Durecka, 11th, 100 freestyle (47.420: junior Anthony Chen, 12th, 100 backstroke (54.31); 15th, 500 freestyle (4:54.86); and Holdridge, 16th, 200 individual medley (2:00.79).
The Wildcats’ 200 medley relay team of Chen, Holdridge, Belleza and Frisch added a 13th (1:39.15), while the foursome of Durecka, Belleza, Frisch and Holdridge finished 15th in the 200 freestyle relay (1:28.71).
At the KLAA meet Feb. 27 a Howell, Belleza was champion in the 100 backstroke (52.71) and 100 butterfly (53.18) as the
Wildcats finished runner-up to seven-time champion Northville. Canton and Salem placed seventh and eighth, respectively.
GYMNASTICS
Plymouth, coached by Rob Seale, earned a trip to the Division 1 finals March 7-8 at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills and placed sixth overall with 139.800 points. Hartland (148.575) captured the state championship over runner-up Rockford (146.525).
Among the top 10 finishers individually in Division I from the Park included Claire Donoher (Salem), tied for sixth, floor exercise (9.35); Reese Maddock (Canton), tied for eighth, uneven parallel bars (9.075); tied for 10th, balance beam (9.175); Evelyn Lee, tied for ninth, vault (9.2754).
Top 10 finishers in Division II included Mia Funelas (Plymouth), tied for seventh, vault (9.275); Isabel Galindo (Plymouth), tied for eighth, allaround (35.225); tied for 10th, beam (9.075); vault (9.00).
In Regional 3 meet hosted by Salem, Northville earned the title with 144.875 points, while Plymouth finished runner-up with 141.00. Canton took sixth (135.075) and Salem was 10th (199.25).
Top all-around performers from the Park in Division I included Lee, second (35.975); Maddock, third (35.55); Donoher, eighth (34.625).
In Division II, top performers included Galindo in fifth (34.025) followed by Agigail Tiplady (Plymouth) in seventh (33.875).
up in the vault (9.45).
Other runner-up KLAA individual finishers included Avery Carrone (Plymouth), D2 bars (8.575); Lee, DI beam (9.05); and Tiplady, D2 beam (8.95).
BOYS WRESTLING
Brothers Lee and Caden Krueger of Plymouth Township, the grandsons of the late and former Salem coach Ron Krueger, helped catapult Novi Detroit Catholic Central to its third straight Division 1 team title.
Lee, a senior, captured the 190-pound title at Ford Field after winning both the District 5 and Regional 3 crowns to cap a 37-8 season, while Caden, a sophomore, took third at 175 to finish 31-12 after winning both the district and regionals.
In the KLAA tourney Feb. 1 at Howell, Brighton scored 284 points to earn the team title followed by Hartland (259) and the host Highlanders (176.5).
In the KLAA, Hartland won both the East Division (8-0) and the overall conference meet title with 146.25, while Plymouth captured the West Division (7-1) and finished third overall with 139.475. Canton placed sixth (135.10) and Salem was ninth (128.025).
Maddock was second in the DI all-around (36.45) highlighted by a first on beam (9.4) and runner-
Plymouth (41), Salem (38) and Canton (12) rounded out the 16team field.
BOYS BOWLING
Meanwhile, three wrestlers from the Park made it to the Division 1 boys finals including Salem seniors Gavin Holcombe (138) and Ayush Kunjadia (157), along with Plymouth senior Joe Portman (215).
Among the top placers from the Park included Canton junior Ethan Curry (126), fourth; Salem junior Calvin Cagle (132), fourth; Plymouth junior Megde Ayesh (120), fifth; Plymouth senior Zephan Becker (165), fifth; Plymouth junior Chase McGhee (144), sixth; and Salem junior Vance Shaw (175), sixth.
Plymouth, coached by Chris Swickard, came away with the Division 1-Regional title on Feb. 22 at Canton’s Super Bowl Lanes scoring a team-high 3,668, including a Baker high of 288.
Livonia Churchill was runnerup with 3,591, while Canton just missed out by two pins with a 3,589. Salem was next with 3,533.
Holcombe, a regional runnerup and district champion, finished 27-6 overall after going 1-2 at the state finals. Kunjadia also went 1-2 to wind up 27-5 after a runner-up finish at the district and third place showing at the regional.
Portman, who lost both matches at ‘state,’ wound up 33-8 overall. He was second at the district and third at the regional.
Members of the Wildcats regional championship squad include senior Carter Swanson (12th), sophomore Eli Swanson (17th), senior Brad Pypa (28th), sophomore Brayden Bishop (48th) and senior Nathan Makins (51st).
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Meanwhile, Salem sophomore Andrew Fsadni earned a spot in the singles match-play quarterfinals in D1 before being edged by Hartland’s Haden Hebel, 459-452, on March 1 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park.
Fsadni placed eighth in the qualifying block with a six-game total of 1,326 highlighted by a 245 high game. He earned a spot in the state finals by placing seventh at the Regional 7 tourney with a 1,279 total, including a 240 high game.
GIRLS BOWLING
In the D1-Regional 7 tourney Feb. 21 at Super Bowl, Churchill (2,942) and Westland John Glenn (2,900) garnered the top two state finals qualifying spots.
Salem was third with 2,763 followed by Plymouth (fifth, 2,727) and Canton (ninth, 2,361).
Salem freshman Celeste Barry just missed earning a singles
qualifying berth placing eighth at the regional with a 1,059 total, including a 199 high game.
Other top regional finishers from the Park included Salem freshman Lauren Way, tied for 10th (1,033, 188 high); Salem junior Erin Kierschke, tied for 10th (1,033, 190 high); Canton senior Sophie Teefey, 15th (1,005, 199 high); and Plymouth junior Bella Bozinovski, 17th (986, 197 high).
GIRLS HOCKEY
Plymouth-Canton-Salem (8-15-1, 6-13-1) placed fourth in Group C in the Michigan Girls High School Hockey League.
Among the team’s scoring leaders include Addison Pianczk (37 goals, 12 assists) and Addyson Podolak (19 goals, 14 assists).
Eliana Hanson was the team’s goalie with a .511 save average.
GIRLS FIGURE SKATING
In the Laura Maki Michigan High School State Championships held March 22-23 in Midland,
Plymouth Canton’s Alexis Muri finished third in the Gold Solo Dance competition.
ProTouchHVAC_hH_PT_2025-Q2.pdf
Meanwhile, PC’s Lily Mulawa took first and teammate Julia Johnson added a third in the Aspire 1 Program finals.
PROFESSIONAL TOUCH
Other area PC participants included Nishi Kundoor, Ankita Sutar, Anna Marten, Lara Ciocoiu, Rylie Lewis, Bridget Baise and Mana Madkour, along with Violet
Bochhausen from Plymouth.
COMPETITIVE CHEER
In the Division 1-District 2 event Feb. 15 at Wyandotte, Plymouth finished ninth with 604.96.
The host Bears took the team title to qualify for the regional with 781.16 points along with Brownstown Woodhaven (771.86), Temperance Bedford (762.54) and Westland John Glenn (729.32).
‘The Shot Heard Round The World’
Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps to perform at Patriots’ Day reenactment
By Michele M. Fecht
The famous line — specifically the second half of the stanza — from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem, “Concord Hymn,” has come to represent the beginning of the decisive moment when colonists took up arms on April 19, 1775, to defend their rights against British rule.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the first armed conflict of the American Revolution — the Battles of Lexington and Concord — the Northville Historical Society will host Patriots’ Day on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of Mill Race Historical Village in downtown Northville. The event is free and open to the public.
Presented by the Citizens of the American Colonies Living Historians, the program, titled “The Very Beginning of the Revolutionary War,” will highlight Paul Revere’s ride, the Battle of Lexington, the Battle of Concord, and the Redcoats retreat. Benjamin Franklin also will be making an appearance though at the time of the battle he was returning from a mission in England. There also will be a
performance by the Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps.
The Citizens of the American Colonies Living Historians, a group of dedicated reenactors, have been a popular attraction at the Village since their first program in 2019.
This year’s event falling so close to the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord adds a special dimension to the program. Joining the Citizens of the American Colonies Living Historians will be other reenactors, said group organizer Ken Giorlando, noting that the Redcoats will be represented by reenactors from the British 49th Regiment Foote, a living history group portraying a British unit during the American Revolution.
In addition to the program events, several of the Mill Race buildings will be open. The Cady Inn will serve as Buckman’s Tavern, where the Lexington militia waited for the British arrival following a warning from Paul Revere. Other buildings will portray daily activities in Lexington such as spinning wool into yarn and other vestiges of colonial domestic life.
OUT& ABOUT
MENTAL HEALTH FAIR
April 26
The Fourth Annual PlymouthCanton Community Schools Mental Health & Wellness Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Kellogg Park. This free interactive fair is familyfriendly for all ages. It will feature many fun activities and a number of mental health experts all focusing on mental health and wellness. It will feature more than 100 booths, chair massages, raffles, Zach Gowen of World Wrestling Entertainment, petting zoo, therapy dogs, free vision screening, Lego center, creation station, and Family Fun Zone. For more information, visit www. pccsk12.com or contact Kathy. Grodus@pccsk12.com.
POTTER’S GUILD MARKET
May 2-4
The Village Potter’s Guild of Plymouth is opening its doors for their annual Spring Market the weekend before Mother’s Day. The sale will take place at 326 N. Main Street (just north of the railroad tracks, in the building behind Sidecar Slider Bar) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 2-3 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. The Spring Market features work of guild members as well as invited guest artists, offering a variety of functional and decorative ceramics for purchase including mugs, bowls, platters and vases, along with a variety of garden and home decor items. For more info, visit www. villagepottersguild.org
SPRING ARTISAN’S MARKET
May 3
The Plymouth Downtown Development Authority is bringing the annual Spring
Artisan’s Market to The Gathering from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on May 3. The event marks the beginning of event season in the city with artisan goods, family-friendly entertainment, and plenty of treats. More than 60 vendors will be on hand, showcasing a wide variety of unique and high-quality products, from handcrafted jewelry and pottery to homemade soaps and candles. There will also be Kid Creator booths, where artists 14 and younger will offer their unique treasures. Local nonprofit groups will take part, too. For more information visit www. plymouthmich.org.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
May 3
The State of Comics, 575 Forest Avenue, will be hosting its annual Free Comic Book Day from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The presenters this year are Motor City Comic Con and Plymouth District Library. Enjoy free comics, exclusive giveaways, and exciting events like a Cosplay Contest, charitable raffles (including a chance to win a PlayStation 5), pop culture cars, games, and so much more. Whether you're a comic fan or just looking for fun, there's something for everyone. For more information, visit stateofcomics.com.
SHOWCASE/TASTE OF PLYMOUTH
May 5
It's Showtime!
The Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce will host this community trade show and food-tasting event is back for its 34th year from 5-7:30 p.m., Monday, May 5 in the Grande Ballroom at Saint John's Resort. It will feature more than 80 exhibitors including many restaurants. Community Service Awards will also be presented to approximately 20 honorees. Organizers expect more than 600 people to attend. Restaurants and food vendors who want to participate, contact sheri@plymouthmich. org or call (734) 453-1540 for details. Tickets to attend cost $15. For more information, visit www.plymouthmich.org.
TINY TUNES
May 10
The Michigan Phil Youth Orchestra will perform “Music for Little Ears” at 10 a.m. in the Jack Wilcox Theater at PARC. The Tiny Tunes concerts, which are 45 minutes long, are a great way introduce children to classical music. Designed for children pre-school to 8 years old. To purchase tickets or for more information visit michiganphil.org
FARMER’S MARKET RETURNS
May 10
The Plymouth Farmer’s Market returns to The Gathering beginning on May 10. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday through October. The weekly market features a wide variety of baked goods, fruits and vegetables and more. If you’re interested in taking part, you can download an application, along with the rules and guidelines, by visiting www. plymouthmich.org.
MUSIC IN THE AIR CONCERTS
May 23
The Plymouth Friday night Music in the Air concerts kick off on May 23, and run Fridays through Aug. 29 in Kellogg Park. The Chris Canas Band (blues, funk and soul) will kick off the series on May 23, which is also Family Fun Night. That will be followed on May 30 with the Shawn Riley Band performing a blend of Celtic music and classic rock. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. in Kellogg Park and are free. You can drop your blankets and chairs off after 3:30 p.m. on concert days. For more information, including the complete schedule, visit downtownplymouth.org
PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY BAND CONCERTS
May 29
The Plymouth Community Band performs free summer concerts in Kellogg Park at 7 p.m. from May 29 through July 31 (Art in the Park week excluded). For more information about the shows and the PCB, visit www. plymouthcommunityband. org.
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