The Rock - August 2026

AUGUST 2026 VOL 7 | ISSUE 8

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Your support is vital if you would like to see us survive and grow. The Rock is sent free to every address in Plymouth, yet is not free to produce.

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AUGUST 2026 | VOL 7 | ISSUE 8 16435 Franklin, Northville, MI 48168 • 734-716-0783 • kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com

K U R T K U B A N – 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.

S CO T T S P I E L M A N – 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.

S CO T T B U I E – 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.

J E N N Y P E A R S A L L – 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.

B R A D E M O N S – Writer

Over the course of his four decades with the Observer & Eccentric, 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.

T I M S M I T H – Writer

Publisher

Advertise in The Rock • Reach 21,000 addresses every month.

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To secure space in an upcoming issue of The Rock, contact Advertising Director Scott Buie at (313) 399-5231, or via email at scottbuie@therockmagazine.com or advertising@therockmagazine.com.

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.

W E N S DY V O N B U S K I R K – 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

S U E V OY L E S – 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.

K E N V OY L E S – 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.

B R YA N M I T C H E L L – 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.

S E A N P O W E R – Photographer

Sean is a freelance photographer who is originally from Chicago, where he spent many years in the world of broadcast television. He and his family moved from Chicago to Northville in 2021. He lives with his wife, Angelique (a 2025 Detroit News "Michiganian of the Year"), daughter Sadie, a cat, and an English black lab.

The Rock is a product of Journeyman Publishing, which assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information.

Any form of reproduction of any content in this publication without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Comments are welcome at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com.

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Can we still afford the American Dream?

One of the most interesting debates taking place right now is over the concept of affordable housing. That’s likely to continue for the foreseeable future, because while everybody agrees it’s a problem, there’s not much consensus on how to fix it.

I wrote about this previously this year in a couple of articles, one about a local Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) chapter starting up in Plymouth and later as a series of bills was introduced into the Michigan legislature to address the issue — by setting statewide standards on zoning ordinances and removing some barriers for housing development.

(Those bills, referred to as the Housing Readiness Package, include House Bills 5529-5532 and HBs 5581-5585 and are still pending.)

As one might expect, the package of bills was met with skepticism—if not outright opposition—from the locals, who rightly believe they should determine how their communities are developed. Most organized municipal groups, like the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), the Michigan Municipal League (MML) and the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) issued statements that they were opposed to them in their current form.

Still, as housing prices--and everything else--continue to soar, you have to wonder what can be done and what role our locals have in it. The YIMBY group hosted a discussion on July 31 on the issue, bringing in national planning and policy expert Nolan Gray, State Rep. Jason Morgan, a co-sponsor of the Housing Readiness Package, and Dawn Crandell, executive vice president of government relations for the Home Builders Association of Michigan.

Morgan has said the aim of the legislation is not to curtail local control, but to provide a basic framework to build on that would make constructing entry-level homes more economically viable. He said it all comes down to making sure the American Dream is accessible, once again.

“This is a tough challenge that we face at every level of government, particularly at the local level where you have very strong feelings and emotions,” he said. “These decisions about housing are not just four walls and a ceiling and a floor, here. We’re really talking about the fabric of our neighborhoods, the very fabric of why we live in these great places.

“This isn’t just about policy or zoning; it’s about our values,” he added. “It’s about the generational challenge of the American Dream, the challenge of can we afford to live in our communities; can we afford to buy a home and stay in the community we grew up in, or go back to after college. Can we stay and age in place as we get older. Can we build a place that is vibrant and accessible to everyone?”

It will be a challenge, no doubt about it. I look around our community and wonder how anybody can start out here — or age in place here. I certainly could not afford to purchase my Canton home if it came on the market today and, even with the profit I would make if I were to sell it today, I’m not certain I could buy anything similar, either. I have friends who lived in Plymouth most of their lives, but had to move out when they wanted to downsize — they’re empty-nesters — as they couldn’t afford anything locally. That, I think, is the most heartbreaking circumstance; it’s like the housing equivalent of that old Logan’s Run television show.

Change is inevitable, and this is not a new situation. The land where my childhood home sits was once, like most others in Canton, corn fields. The field where I once hunted snakes is a strip mall, the nearby pond where turtles and frogs basked in the sun is someone’s driveway. Driving west to the freeway is nowhere near as relaxing now as it once was. We’ve all seen it.

But change doesn’t have to be bad, and it doesn’t have to be exclusionary. There are ways to compromise on this issue that will lift communities up, bring more people in and still preserve all the attributes that brought us here to begin with. We just need to work together to make it happen—and open up the gates, rather than talk over fences.

In this issue

12

PLYMOUTH ROCKS: LOCAL MUSICIANS ‘HORN IN’ ON NEW ALBUM

14

OLD VILLAGE’S ECCLECTIC MIX GAINS MOMENTUM

24

2026 PCEP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: NEW SEASON, NEW CHALLENGES Your Voice: Letters to the Editor Plymouth native’s ‘Nothing to See Here’ documentary film is eye-opening The ultimate 'fun'raiser: 2026 Fall Fest preview Bulletin Board: Sinking fund millage set for November ballot Local entrepreneurs redevelop Plymouth’s iconic Durr building It’s Your Business: DJL Builders

Scott Spielman is the editor of The Rock. He welcomes your feedback or letters to the editor at scottyspielman@gmail.com.

Plymouth Pulse newsletter

4 6 8 10 18 20 22

O N T H E C O V E R : Plymouth Mayor Linda Filipczak (right) and Jan Waller, a member of the Old Village Association, stop outside Hermann's Olde Town Grille during the Bumpers, Bikes and Bands event. With a new dedicated funding stream on the books and an intergovernmental agreement in place with Wayne County, Old Village is poised for new life (see story, pg. 14). Photo by Sean Power

Music, not loud engines My wife and I have lived in the Plymouth community for many years and we love attending the Thursday and Friday concerts in Kellogg Park as often as we can each summer. However, the music and overall atmosphere is frequently disrupted by excessively loud exhaust noise, revving engines, and motorcycle burnouts along Main Street by sports car showoffs, and NASCAR wannabes.

To help deter this disturbance and ensure a pleasant, familyfriendly environment for everyone attending, I respectfully ask if a visible patrol car could be stationed on Main Street near the park during these events. A visible police presence and enforcement of noise restrictions would go a long way toward curbing the noise pollution and keeping our summer concerts enjoyable for the entire community. Police traffic and foot patrol during these high attendance events should always be a priority.

Jack Kopenski

So much for that idea Regarding the editorial in the July issue of The Rock: I guess we can hope for thoughtful and equitable local government, but it seems that is quite impossible in Plymouth Township.

I have lived here three years after 20 in Manatee City, FL. I had no idea that I would be living in a place with more open partisanship, corruption, and officials with less thoughtful approaches to their jobs than those in Florida. Now we are to have half the Township Board filled with appointed cronies without an effort to look at qualified candidates.

The most recent addition seems to be someone who believes in election denial. The head honcho seems to be one card short of a full deck. He seems to believe that the only qualification to run our business is knee-jerk partisanship. I, too, was shocked and sickened by his comment that no Democrats can be involved in township government. These people are costing us money with nobid contracts, excessive surveillance equipment, understaffed fire department, etc.

I think the entire Board should be required to attend classes on Robert’s Rules, Sunshine Law requirements, etc. There must be more qualified people in this township than this collection.

Deborah Lansing

Neighborhoods are already diverse I always enjoy your frank opening perspective on all things Plymouth. People don't like to hear this, but they often get the political leaders they deserve, as those political leaders play to the audience. Keep poking us.

Along those lines, I keep poking too. I sent the following message to people in Plymouth who agree and disagree with me on this. That's okay.

"I don't question that housing in Plymouth has been getting more expensive. Instead, I offer an invitation to start at my home at the corner of Joel and Sheridan, walk west to McKinley, south to Ann Arbor Trail, east to Joel, and back to my home. They will see new homes and old homes; big homes and small homes; expensive and modest homes; older people aging in place and younger people

coming and going; 104-unit affordable senior apartments directly across from us where many (friends) have aged, and even died, in place; an overgrown home where, when I pass, I whisper, ‘Hey Boo.’ This neighborhood isn't unique in Plymouth. The narrative that this isn't possible in Plymouth is gainsaid by a stroll around my near-downtown block. In fact, we are living what YIMBY is promoting, but won't acknowledge. My opposition to Champion's proposed development adjacent to our neighborhood focused on safety (especially for seniors), inadequate infrastructure, and imposing additional density on a neighborhood that already accommodates density. Never once did anyone, including the developer, refute these assertions with evidence.

In the meantime, I walk my neighborhood every day I'm in town and see firsthand what's possible in Plymouth."

Tom Doran

YIMBY is for free markets Plymouth is an exceptional place. It’s a leader among its peer cities because of its small-town charm and vibrancy.

Many of Plymouth’s best features, like the mix of housing styles, downtown and Old Village, largely pre-date the strict zoning ordinances of the past six or seven decades. Before zoning existed, the free market dictated the highest and best use for each parcel.

YIMBY Plymouth wants to return to those roots by loosening zoning ordinances to unleash the free market.

Land use policies distort the housing market or ban certain types of housing altogether. As a result, housing costs go up.

For example, if single-family houses are the most desirable use in Plymouth, then even without zoning, builders would build only single-family houses. Yet, YIMBY Plymouth hears from builders who would build more affordable housing options, like duplexes or triplexes, if allowed.

Reforming these ordinances would give the free market the flexibility to meet the housing demands of today while setting us up for success tomorrow. Plymouth must take the opportunity to be a zoning leader.

Jaimie Cavanaugh

Survey on density needed Plymouth has had ongoing discussions about housing, population growth, and residential density. These are important issues that will shape the future of our community, but before the city adopts policies intended to increase population or density, residents should have a direct voice in that decision.

The Planning Commission's housing workshop several years ago was a worthwhile public engagement effort, and the attendee survey provided useful feedback. I agree with those results.

However, because participation was voluntary, it was not intended to represent the views of the entire community.

If increasing Plymouth's population or residential density is being considered as a long-term policy goal, the city should first ask residents directly through a statistically valid citywide survey. Plymouth already conducts resident surveys, making this a straightforward addition.

This is not about being for or against development. It is about ensuring that the city's long-term planning goals reflect the priorities of the people who live here, rather than assumptions about what residents want.

Ron Picard

SOUND OFF: 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.

4 | The Rock

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‘Nothing to See Here’ is eye-opening Plymouth native helms project that documents community's turnaround

By Scott Spielman

W

atts, a neighborhood close to downtown Los Angeles, is about the same size as the City of Plymouth, but it is another world. Located near the ocean, downtown LA and LAX, it is nevertheless one of the most crime-ridden areas in the country.

Or at least it was.

When Plymouth native Michael Soenen realized the scope of the issue facing Watts and its beleaguered residents, he wanted to learn even more about it and started a project that ultimately caused a change in the culture of the community and helped this diamond in the rough take on a little shine of its own.

The project is documented in a new film, Nothing to See Here: 6 | The Rock

Watts that premiered at the Penn Theatre in May. Michael Soenen, son of Plymouth philanthropist and business owner Don Soenen, was involved in another nonprofit project—painting children’s bedrooms—when he first learned of the need for change in the neighborhood.

“I always thought that was strange that we’d be painting bedrooms. We’d get them a bed and a desk—and here in Plymouth we would paint playgrounds,” said Soenen. “It’s just so dangerous in Watts the kids don’t get to go outside.”

Through that project, he asked to go on a ride along with a police officer who patrolled the area.

That night three people were shot—one fatally—and none of it

was on the news. He said he asked a gang member why he joined up, and was told that his mother put him in the gang when he was eight years old, because it offered day care and protection while his mother was at work.

Soenen said he wanted to tell the story, but knew he wasn’t the one to do it. He was not a filmmaker—and didn’t want to be—and didn’t think he’d be able to capture the authenticity of the problem on his own.

Instead, he bought 20 iPhones and handed them out in the community, so the residents could film their lives, themselves.

“My goal was just to hand them out in Watts and see what I would learn,” said Soenen.

The initial reaction was one of suspicion and skepticism. Rival

gang members, the police, and victims of gang violence, working together to tell a common story?

No way, they said at first.

“At first I was skeptical,” said Tyrone Riley, Sr, a member of the Crips gang and lifelong resident of the neighborhood. “But I wanted to show the energy in Watts.”

That energy was just what Tim Pearce, a retired LAPD police officer who patrolled Watts for more than a decade as the top gang officer, was concerned about. He thought the project was a crazy idea.

“I was like, man, you can’t do that. He’s going to get jacked.

He’s going to get smoked.

Something. I didn’t think it would go very far. I thought we’d lose all the phones,” Pearce said.

“But I thought it was a cool idea.

Throughout my whole career, I was always trying to translate to my community back home, what life was like down there in the hood. They just don’t know. I saw this as a way to do that.” Pearce lived seven miles away.

He ultimately signed on and offered to bring all the disparate sides together and provide protection if any was needed. He also took a phone for himself—his wife, Christina, was also a police officer patrolling Watts, until she was shot and paralyzed while on duty. They, too, had a story to tell.

Of the 200 people solicited, about 20 took Soenen up on the offer.

“They were super suspicious of us running around with cameras, saying ‘Hey, film your life,’” Pearce said. “But once they figured it out, what it really was, what Mike’s intentions were, the neighborhood just started coming together on it. They started coming on board.”

“My intention was really to just get this message out there,” said Cornelius Wills, who lives on the other side of the neighborhood from Riley and is a member of

the Bloods. “Once I did my first recording, it was like ‘this is the right thing to do’ and everything just flowed. I wanted to show that we could get along, even though we were rivals. We all grew up together.”

Watts is a relatively small section of Los Angeles, but there are four subsidized housing units, or ‘projects,’ within those five square miles—each

representing a different gang.

Adding drama to that close proximity is the fact that there is only one middle school and one high school serving the neighborhood.

Soenen said he provided the phones and built the framework to create the documentary, but otherwise stayed out of the way.

Everyone had a say in what was in the final product and, all had to agree to it. They had to work together as co-directors to tell the story of their community.

Over the nearly-two-year process of recording more than 200 hours of daily life from different perspectives it became clear that the people in the community had more in common than not. They were tired of the violence, tired of the culture that was cutting so many lives short. They also realized that if anything was going to change, they’d have to do it themselves.

That concept was reinforced at the very first public screening of the film, when 4,000 rival gang members, police officers and victims of gang violence viewed the film together, with no threats or hints of violence.

“It bridged the gap. It showed us that we could all work together,” said LaWanda Hawkins, whose son was killed in a gang-related shooting. “Some of the people didn’t trust law enforcement.

Law enforcement didn’t trust the gangs. Now we’re all trusting each other. We have a relationship.

Everyone is all in this together.”

Hawkins created a nonprofit, Justice for Murdered Children, and collected the shoes worn by victims of gang violence to display to call attention to the issue.

Another thing happened, too.

The culture of violence gradually changed. The gangs called a truce and eliminated gang-ongang violence. Pearce said when he started patrolling Watts, it

wasn’t uncommon to investigate a murder a night on each of his four weekly shifts. The number of murders dropped from an average of nearly 150 per year to less than 40—still too many, but a sign of progress.

Hawkins said there have been no new shoes added to her display since then, and no new members of Justice for Murdered Children—which is significant, because the only way to become a member is to have a child fall victim to the violence.

“One thing we learned out of this movie, though, is that neighborhood was starving for a better story,” Pearce said.

“Everybody, including us, was sick of the story of violent cops and violent gang members, like that was the only thing Watts had to offer—and that’s just not true. There’s a lot of really good people, super resilient. And the neighborhood wants everybody to know that they’re a resilient community.”

So far, that story hasn’t found a defined distributor, but it is gaining attention. It’s been

featured in Forbes and Time Magazine, will become a research project at Harvard University.

Bernice King, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s daughter, has seen it and said it reflects the vision of her father. Portions of it can be found on YouTube.

But Soenen said the lack of nationwide distribution isn’t the story—although it has earned praise wherever it’s shown—nor is his involvement.

“We just handed out the phones, and we stayed out of the way,” he said. “The community created the film, but they didn’t necessarily love how it ended.

They thought they could do better. They went out and built a better ending to their film, and they continue to do that.

“The point is, they chose to change the culture of their community,” he added. “They didn’t wait for the lawmakers because their kids were getting killed. They didn’t wait for the coverage. They went right to the source, and they changed the culture of the community. They did it themselves.”

For more information about Plymouth native Michael Soenen’s documentary film Nothing to See Here: Watts, visit https:// nothingtoseeheremovie.com.

The Rock | 7

S

eventy years ago, Plymouth Rotarian Don Lightfoot had an idea to generate money to install some playground equipment in Rotary Park.

Lightfoot, who was a member of the club’s Youth Activities Committee at the time, suggested the club host a barbecue event at the park at the end of Wing Street—a concept embraced by the community and so successful that its tradition is still going strong. The picnic attracted about 500 people back in the day, but it has grown into one of the largest community fundraisers in Michigan: the Plymouth Fall Festival.

The festival returns from Sept. 11-13, bringing together community groups, service organizations, the business community, artists and more.

Festival Manager James Gietzen said he’s always looking for new things to bring to the event and this year will be no different.

Festival goers can find an 8 | The Rock

interactive art space on Penniman Avenue next to The Post, where they’ll literally be able to create their own festival memories.

“The Fall Festival has been the same thing for so many years and we don’t really want to change that, but it would be good for people to walk away with a new experience while they’re there— especially something that people can do with their families,” said Gietzen, who owns JAG Entertainment and has organized the festival for 17 years now.

“People will be able to go into that space and make something while they’re there or attend some kind of arts and crafts class at the event.”

The festival officially gets under way at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, with a traditional carnival, entertainment on the main stage in Kellogg Park and, of course, plenty of food vendors to choose from. The Rotary club will host a rib dinner behind E.G. Nick’s from 3-6 p.m. and The Killer Flamingoes kick off the

main entertainment at 7 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday the popular car show returns and the stage becomes a showcase for community talent, beginning with the Optimist Pet Show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The Kiwanis Club will host their annual pancake breakfast from 8:30-11 a.m. The A.M. Rotary Club will bring their annual spaghetti dinner to the E.G. Nick’s lot from 3-7 p.m. and Zang, a 1970s cover band, will headline the entertainment, taking the main stage at 7 p.m.

On Sunday, the Rotary Chicken Barbecue will transform The Gathering into a gigantic cooking station, which “smoke eaters” will fuel all day with charcoal while volunteers cook up about 8,500 chicken dinners.

The Rotarians partner with Plymouth-Canton students and other service groups on the event and have operated the pit so long it’s become an art form.

“It can get hectic, but it’s great to bring the community together and see all the kid volunteers step up and contribute to make sure it happens,” said Todd Raska, who is overseeing the dinner this year. Raska has been involved with the barbecue since he joined the Rotary four years ago.

“Without the community and the volunteers, the schools and some of the adult groups, it would never be able to get done. That’s for sure.”

The Rotarians have the dinner preparation down to a science: before a Rotarian takes charge of the entire event, they oversee each aspect of it so they have a good idea of how it comes together.

Like the event that provided its foundation, the Fall Festival is a community-wide fundraiser.

Organization pay a small fee to be able to set up a booth and take part, and all the money they raise goes right back into the community. The Rotary, for example, will use their proceeds to fund the renovation at Rotary Park, scholarships for collegebound students and, this year, look at funding students who

2026 Main Stage Entertainment FRIDAY, SEPT. 11 7:00 p.m.

The Killer Flamingos

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

Arts 12:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Optimist Pet Show Ovation Performing The Plymouth Library presents The Fabulous Fairy Tale Show by Molly Pop Dance Beat/Forever After Productions Plymouth Fife and Drum Corp Polish National Alliance Centennial Dancers Moonlight Mischief Makers Zang

SUNDAY, SEPT. 13 10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

12:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

Midwest Tae-Kwon Do Canton Varsity & JV, Plymouth Varsity & JV, Salem Varsity & JV, PC Pom, PC mini pandas, and PCS Hip Hop Dearborn Big Band Steve Taylor 3

Full Event Schedule can be found at

plymouthfallfestival.com want to attend trade school instead of college.

Gietzen said seeing the community come together to fund the various causes supported by the festival has been the most rewarding part.

“When I first started doing it, I just wanted to get a good crowd because I thought that was always cool,” he said. “The more I’ve gotten into it, it’s been really rewarding to see what the festival actually does for the community.

People don’t really realize that all the money raised and everything that goes into it gets put right back into the community. It’s pretty cool to see it all come back around.”

For more about the festival, visit plymouthfallfestival.com.

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BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINTS NEW MEMBER

‘ROSIE’ BENEFIT PLANNED Local filmmakers Mark Salloum and Keith Famie are working on their next documentary project, Homefront Heroines: Women of WWII and they’re looking for help.

They, along with Plymouth business Vitrine, are hosting a “Rosie Bingo Night” from 6-9:30 p.m. Sept. 29th at Plymouth Manor to raise funds for the film and to support the Gilda’s Club of Metro Detroit.

The manor will be decked out in 1940s glamor to celebrate the enduring legacy of the "Rosie the Riveter" generation.

"This evening is entirely about honoring the extraordinary legacy of the women who reshaped American industry during World War II, while actively supporting individuals fighting their own brave battles today through Gilda's Club Metro Detroit," said Salloum, who partnered with Famie to form Bending River Films. "Partnering with Vitrine and Plymouth Manor allows us to celebrate local history, create a spectacular experience for our community, and secure the vital funding needed to bring these critical historical narratives to audiences everywhere.”

The event will feature eight high-stakes games of ROSIE Bingo, with premium prizes awarded to winners of each round, as well as raffles that feature extraordinary experiences and exclusive items, including: Lunch with an Original Rosie, Michigan Flight Museum Tickets and a Behind-the-Scenes Production Day, where the winner will spend a day on a future filming session with the professional crew of Bending River Films.

For tickets or more information, visit www.BendingRiverFilms.com.

10 | The Rock

The PCCS board appointed Joseph Tollefson to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Trustee Sheryl Picard.

Tollefson, the parent of a P-CCS elementaryage student, spent 11 years supporting high school juniors and seniors in Chicago Public Schools through a career and technical education (CTE) partnership nonprofit, serving as Program Director and Director of Corporate Partnerships.

He is currently the Senior Director of Workforce Partnerships at Propel America.

He was one of 13 people who applied to fill Picard’s spot on the board.

“Selecting one candidate from such an outstanding group of applicants was not an easy decision,” said board president Anupam Chugh Sidhu. “We believe Mr. Tollefson's experience, perspective, and commitment to serving students, families, and our community will make him a valuable addition to the Board of Education.”

“The tremendous interest in this appointment reflects just how deeply our community cares about the future of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools," Merritt added. "The Board and administration are grateful to every individual who applied and shared their passion for public education throughout this process."

Tollefson’s appointment expires in December. He—or anyone else interested—will have to be voted in to fill the final two years of Picard’s term. That race will also be on the November ballot.

PENN HOSTS ‘TROUBLED WATER’ Water is central to Michigan’s identity, economy and way of life. On Thursday, Sept.

10, Friends of the Penn will host a free screening of Troubled Water, an adventure and conservation film exploring the significance of the Line 5 pipeline issue and grassroots efforts to protect Michigan’s most precious natural resources.

The screening will take place at The Penn Theatre and will be followed by a panel discussion featuring representatives from leading Michigan environmental organizations. The panel will explore some of the greatest threats facing water quality across the state and the actions individuals and communities can take to help protect Michigan’s waterways. The free show starts at 7 p.m.

Featured panelists include: Megan Tinsley, Water Policy Director, Michigan Environmental Council; Samantha Pickering, Public & Environmental Health Policy Manager, Michigan Environmental Council; Nichole Keway Biber, Michigan Water Justice Organizer, Clean Water Action; and Andrew Berg, Development Director, Friends of the Rouge.

Ellen Elliott, executive director of the Friends of the Penn, said this is the first time the organization has worked with the Michigan Environmental Council.

“We’d like to do more with them,” she said.

“This is an important topic and I think the Penn Theater is a great place to help get the word out.”

SCHOOLS SEEK FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS The Plymouth-Canton Community School District (PCCSD) will ask voters for $135 million over the next decade to fund improvements in infrastructure, safety and technology needs throughout schools in the community.

The PCCS school board voted recently to put a 10-year, 1.5 mill sinking fund levy on the November ballot. If approved by voters, the 10-year levy would generate about $13.5 million annually to support building repairs, infrastructure improvements, technology upgrades, and safety enhancements—without the district taking on any new debt, said School Superintendent Monica Merritt.

“A sinking fund represents a smart, responsible investment in our students and our community," she said in a prepared release. "Our community has consistently demonstrated its commitment to educational excellence, and this proposal provides another opportunity to protect that investment. From improving roofs and parking lots to updating technology that supports teaching and learning, these funds would help us maintain learning environments that prepare every student to learn, prepare, and thrive."

A sinking fund is a dedicated property tax authorized under Michigan law that can be used only for capital improvements. Districts throughout the state have used them for projects like repairing and renovating school buildings, replacing roofs, upgrading heating and cooling systems, improving security, and modernizing technology infrastructure. They are different from bond requests, in that a sinking fund does not allow a district to borrow money and pay interest over time, making them a more fiscally conservative way to address ongoing facility needs while preserving operating dollars for teaching and learning.

The district also cut costs recently by offering buyouts to eligible staff members, and 120 employees elected to participate, including: 112 teachers, three administrators, three support employees and two building administrators. The district won’t know how much they will save from their budget until September.

If approved, the proposed 1.5-mill sinking fund would cost about $25 per month for a home with a taxable value of $200,000 (market value of $400,000) or $300 per year. Additional information about the proposed sinking fund, including frequently asked questions and allowable uses of the funds, will be available on the district's website, www.pccsk12.com, as the November election approaches.

WHAT IS A SINKING FUND? A Building & Site Sinking Fund is a voterapproved property tax millage authorized under Michigan law that provides funding for eligible school building improvements, repairs, technology infrastructure, transportation-related capital purchases and safety improvements.

Unlike a bond proposal, a sinking fund is pay-as-you-go, meaning the district does not borrow money, incur debt or pay interest.

VOTE NOV. 3, 2026

DEVELOPMENTS HEADED TO MILL STREET The City of Plymouth Planning Commission granted preliminary approval at their August meeting for two developments that would radically change the look of Mill Street.

The first was for Plymouth Arena, a proposed indoor sports facility that would be located at 350 S. Mill, between Ann Arbor Trail and the Townes at Mill Street Development.

The plan, according to owner Victor Darolfi, is to renovate the existing 25,000 building used by the Serene Landscape Group and add on another 100,000 square feet to include indoor soccer fields, batting cages and other sports-related facilities on the five-acre site.

“We are making this a multi-sport complex with the ability to adapt,” said Darolfi. “The goal is to make this a training hub for metro Detroit.” The 100,000-square-foot fieldhouse would be about 100 feet tall, with a translucent façade.

The planning commission voted unanimously to grant a special land use for the facility—the land is currently zoned for heavy industrial use—but postponed approval on a preliminary site plan, citing concerns about traffic. The commission wanted a traffic study and some other conditions addressed prior to granting preliminary site plan approval.

“This is definitely not a finished proposal,” said Planning Commission Chair Hollie Saraswat.

The other project is for the Foundry Lofts at Mill Street, a multi-family housing unit located near the juncture of Ann Arbor Trail and Mill Street, the site of the old lumber yard. The most recent proposal shows a reduction of the multi-family units from 81 to 78. The project will include 56 one-bedroom apartments, 19 two-bedroom apartments and three studios.

Also, the six townhomes that were previously proposed for the site have been removed from the plan; that allows for an expansion of the public open space. The total open space on the site is now 26,000 square feet, which would include a public 17,000-square-foot park featuring a playground and a gazebo. The developers said the plan would be to deed the land to the city, but enter into an agreement where they (the developers) would maintain it.

The commission voted unanimously to grant preliminary approval for the Planned Unit Development (PUD) as well as the site plan. The developers will need to return to the commission for final approval before the plan heads to the Plymouth City Commission for their consideration.

The Rock | 11

than thrilled with the final result.

“The wind section, those four guys had probably one of the single hardest days in the studio of any of the musicians,” LeBang said. “I got every ounce I could out of them before they left, because I didn’t know if I could bring four guys in at the same time again.”

VALUABLE RESOURCE

T

he opening seconds of rocker John LeBang’s “International Man of Sexy” hits as hard as one would expect, with a pulsating bass coupled with an aggressive lead guitar and a room-shaking backbeat.

Soon, a different sort of sound kicks in: an assertive horn section courtesy of downtown Plymouth’s Harris Conservatory of Music.

As unlikely as that might seem, the contributions from Randolph Regal (trumpet), Nate Glitman (saxophone), Justin Zak (French horn) and Larry Rife (clarinet) takes the opening track of LeBang’s new Electrogasm to a musical place that echoes Phil Spector’s famous Wall of Sound productions of the 1960s and 1970s.

The Harris quartet also put their collective stamp on two other tracks, the title track and “King of the Family,” to provide enough flair and fusion to help LeBang create a banger of an 12 | The Rock

eclectic album – LeBang's first in about 20 years.

Electrogasm was released in May and features a video for “International Man of Sexy.” The video, shot at Livonia’s PROCAM and playing on Facebook and YouTube, has a James Bondesque feel to it, elevated by the dazzling vocals of LeBang and Detroit singer Tosha Owens.

Meanwhile, there was a large array of guest performers – 37 to be exact – on the album, which was recorded at Landsbury Lane Studio in Farmington.

“That was pretty amazing, that he got 37 different people on this (album),” Regal said. “Different guitar players for different songs. He (LeBang) did a lot of networking.

“I hadn’t been in a recording studio since I was a trumpet student,” Regal added. “It was about 50 years ago; I was in this rock group trying to be the next Beatles. I do a lot of

other playing, but recording is challenging, it’s a lot different.”

For Glitman, it was a completely different experience.

“I’m more classically trained, so it was my first time doing anything of this caliber,” Glitman said. “I’ve been in recordings for concert bands, but nothing like going to someone’s studio and doing it for a rock project.”

Both had some reservations about how they performed during the September 2025 recording session, but LeBang was more

The matchmaker of sorts for LeBang in his quest for a “cinematic” yet “funky” horn section was Conservatory of Music owner/creative director Brian Harris, a veteran drummer himself who worked with LeBang on previous projects.

“When it came time for me to come back after 20-some years of not doing albums, I reached out to all these people and I wanted a wind section for certain tracks,” LeBang explained. “I thought that, with the cinematic vibe that ‘International Man’ has, or the title track—which is a kind of funky, groove song—and then the song ‘King of the Family,’ which is like a Mafia (chestbeating) thing going on about being a better man. All of those really needed that expanded section. And I was having trouble finding reliable people.

So, Brian and I go way back, he’s a groomsman in my upcoming wedding. I said ‘You got the Conservatory, what do you got?’”

Harris said he knew he had just the perfect guys for the task at hand.

“I just thought it was a great match,” Harris said. “Because, of course, our horn people here are very talented. He (LeBang) knows if he’s looking for legit players that I can be a good resource for him.”

A couple weeks later, in summer 2025, Harris reached out to LeBang and asked the rock artist to meet some of his musicians at a Plymouth restaurant. With introductions

out of the way, the gig was theirs.

Not long afterward, demos of some of the album’s eight tracks were playing inside the music store at 445 S. Harvey Street. The musicians then went to work on creating—almost from scratch— potential parts that could work as overdubs.

“I just kept listening to them (the demos) and writing down the structure of the piece,” said Regal, also a trumpet instructor for Harris. “We just threw together arrangements and we’d come and

practice them. We made up the music as we went.”

LeBang eventually was invited to listen in during one of the rehearsals – with Regal, Glitman, Zak and Rife improvising while the album demos played on a stereo system.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” LeBang said. “Here, for the first time in my life, I was the audience to my own songs being played to me—and not with rock-and-roll guitars. It was a four-piece wind section with one of my favorite instruments – the French horn.

“I’m sitting there getting goosebumps. They’re playing

‘King of the Family;’ now we’re hearing the song in a whole different light.”

LAYING DOWN TRACKS Within weeks, the Plymouth musicians were at Landsbury Lane for a single, grueling, hours-long recording session to officially put down their previously worked-out parts for the three tracks.

Regal and Glitman remembered leaving that session not confident they had done their best work.

They were paired in one of the studio’s rooms as they worked from afternoon to late night, repeating their parts. Zak was sequestered elsewhere while Rife worked on his bits in the main recording area.

“That was the challenging part,” Glitman said. “Because we usually practice next to each other, doing cues and stuff like that. You can’t do that in a studio like that very easily.”

Whatever their worries or personal expectations might have been, their performances were perfectly captured on the album.

LeBang had a special request for the title track.

“We needed a little bit of a counter-rhythm from the horn section in ‘Electrogasm’,” said LeBang. “They came up with something where the saxophone plays off the rest of the band.

It was just nice and sweet and

exactly what I wanted. With everybody, I was like ‘Here’s the song, but I want you on the song.

You do it your way, put your energy into it. That’s what I think really elevated the entire project.”

Now that the album is finally out, available through his website and at brick-and-mortar stores such as Dearborn Music in Farmington, would LeBang entertain doing some live shows?

Perhaps including his favorite horn section?

LeBang chuckled and only said a major announcement is being prepped for late August. He would not hint at what that might be for.

“I’m just lucky it’s my album,” said LeBang, referring to the massive group effort required to get it recorded and ultimately

mastered at Jack White’s Third Man Records in Detroit.

“Because these people command attention on their own. Every single one of them.”

With the rock recording experience behind them, Regal, Glitman and Harris said there would be time to do Saturday afternoon “Tiny Concerts” in the breezeway next to Harris Conservatory of Music.

In addition, they and other musician/instructors team up to perform mostly classic rock as part of the SongSmith Band.

They opened up the Friday night Music in the Air series at Kellogg Park with a concert on May 29.

Harris said the community performances dovetail with his business’ mission statement of being professionals who serve residents and other musicians in the community.

“When somebody starts on staff and starts teaching here, it’s not just about starting to teach,” Harris said. “You really are joining a club of musicians.

I think it’s important to have a vibrant musician’s clubhouse.”

For more information about Harris Conservatory of Music, visit www.HCOMmusic.com or call (734) 725-9926. To learn more about John LeBang and his Electrogasm album, visit www.JLeBang.com.

The Rock | 13

O

n any given day in Plymouth’s Old Village, you’ll find a cheerful mix of residents and business owners working together to create something unique.

With a new Tax Increment Financing district now on the books and an Intergovernmental Agreement freshly signed with Wayne County to look into improving a connection with Hines Park, that momentum in building and Old Village is poised to become a destination of its own.

“I think people are inspired by our little area at the moment, with all the things going on,” said Jan Waller, who sits on the volunteer Old Village Association board. “People want to live here.

We are seeing investments.

Businesses are investing here.

And we’ve got the [Corridor Improvement Authority] coming, which is exciting.”

14 | The Rock

The CIA, developed over the past year and approved by the Plymouth City Commission this year, is a tax increment financing authority similar to the Downtown Development Authority. It went into effect with the new fiscal year. It relies on increases in property values to direct funds within the district.

Jon Buzuvis, the economic development director for the city, said he estimates it will bring in about $24,000 in its first year and accumulate throughout its 25-year plan, ultimately providing up to a combined $12 million for the area.

“This is going to be a wonderful thing in the future,” said Pete Mundt, another OVA board member. “We’re not going to see anything major in the next five years, but this ensures that progress will continue 10, 20, 30 years from now.”

Mundt, like other Old Village residents and business owners, has

been working behind the scenes to build up the eclectic community and said he’s exciting to see the defined commitment from the city.

“There are a lot of needs in other parts of the city and I totally understand that. Over the last several years there’s been more investment in Old Village, but this is a way to make sure there’s an everlasting commitment of funds to be put into Old Village—and that hasn’t always been the case.

In the past several years, they’ve really stepped it up and tried to prioritize OV a little more.”

Described as Plymouth’s ‘other downtown,’ it has its own attraction to the eclectic mix of businesses and the residents who sometimes live next door.

It’s what drew Jen Preinitz to the neighborhood. Preinitz owns and operates Detroit Muscle, a strength-training gym on Junction Street. She bought the existing gym about five years

ago, rebranded it, and has been involved in the community ever since, sponsoring the growing list of public events. Now, she’s looking for a home nearby.

“These are the kind of people I’d like to build a community with,” she said. “I’ve been very blessed to have a business with a lot of space, a lot of energy. I wanted to build a community space. It’s the kind of community I want to be a part of. I want to be an asset to the community.”

Opening up a business and then moving in has been a modest trend in the neighborhood. It’s what first drew Latricia “Trish” Horstman, an Old Village Association member who was appointed to the city commission in January to the area. She had been riding her motorcycle down from Lansing and fell in love with the community. When the tattoo shop she worked in closed down, she opened her My Little Needle parlor on Starkweather.

Waller, too. She said she and her husband, Mark, are on the fifteenth year of a two-year sabbatical from Australia, where they lived before Mark moved to the states for his job with Ford Motor. She her family visits, she said, they tell her she’s living in a movie.

“I love living here. Front porches are so quintessentially American.

We don’t have them in the U.K. I love that about here,” Waller said.

“One of the lovely things about Old Village is that we’re in the heart of a residential area. When you open a business here, you’re a neighbor.

You’re not just a business owner.

We know each other. Everyone says hi to each other. That’s what people love.”

Horstman said she has hopes that neighborhood charm remains, even as development picks up.

“I’ve seen the growth and that’s the thing I love,” she said. “For 20 years, some of us have worked really hard to bring some attention to the beautiful charm that’s here in the village. It’s the eclectic and sort of artistic side of town. That part I love. I love that we’re getting some well-deserved attention.”

of the village if it’s too built up.

You do have that intermingling— each building is serving its purpose—and it might be a business next to a home next to an apartment, next to something industrial. It’s all kind of intermingled and it’s really cool.

We don’t really have districts. I love that.”

Anthony Giglio agreed. He renovated the historic home at the corner of Liberty and Starkweather streets and opened the Old Village General Store just over a year ago. Since then, it’s grown into a popular ‘bodega’ style hangout, with pizza—he said he’s sold about 5,000 in his first year—sandwiches and more.

He replaced one of the interior coolers with a video game system that boasts 4,000 different arcade games. He’s added a small stage out front, where he hosts karaoke—for all ages—on Friday nights and live music on Saturdays.

“It’s been great,” he said.

“The community has really embraced it and we’ve made that adjustment from small groceries to more of a pizza, entertainment and ice cream.” He also plans more outside, family-style events this fall.

MORE CHANGES COMING

She’s a little concerned, however, about the potential for the changes to alter the character of the neighborhood.

“The part I'm on the fence about is that I worry a little bit about that kind of thing happening here, that we lose the beautiful historic, eclectic charm

The $24,000 budget is a modest sum, said Buzuvis, but the Old Village Corridor Improvement Authority Board—which is separate from the OVA, and will recommend what to do with the CIA funds—is looking into ways they can make an immediate impact with it, perhaps with like additional bike racks or park benches, or dressing up the light poles.

“We’re talking through what kind of affordable, low-hanging fruit, low-cost things we can do that will make an impact,” he said. “We’re just kind of getting our feet under us.”

What will make a larger, perhaps more immediate impact,

he said, is an effort to create a new pedestrian connection with Hines Park. At their August meeting, the Wayne County Commission approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the city that will get the ball rolling. It will pay for initial engineering work on a proposed connection to Hines along Wilcox Road.

“It’s a concept design and preliminary engineering,” Buzuvis said. “It’s a tricky area over there with the lake and the grade. We need to figure out how it will best work. We know that it will work, we just need to figure out how we’re going to do it. It’s nice to get that moving forward. It’s been talked about for so long. We’re excited about that opportunity.”

The city has also requested a federal grant for about $850,000 to fund the actual construction work, appealing to senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin, as well as U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. He said he’s not expecting to hear back about that until next year.

“We don’t know if that will be enough to cover the entire cost of the project, but it’s one heck of a start,” he said.

The same could be said for the CIA corridor, itself, With plenty of new construction and investment—including the ongoing renovation of the north side of Liberty Street, where John Forrester is rebuilding the historic structures there—there is

potential for a larger CIA budget, sooner than city officials thought possible. Buzivis said he expects more details on the Liberty Street project to head to the city planning commission within the next few months.

Plymouth Mayor Linda Filipczak said the work and the momentum is exciting to see.

“I really like what we’re doing with Old Village,” she said.

“We’re a city that’s blessed, when you think about it, with two downtowns. I think it’s great for our city because if there’s not something going on in one area, there’s something going on in the other.”

Whether those events are larger, like the recent Bumpers, Bikes and Bands or Old Village Pride, or the upcoming Sept. 20 Chili Cook-off—with trophies created by the Old Village Potters Guild this year—or just a simple craft night at the Bearded Lamb, Mundt said you could count of active participation from residents, visitors and business owners alike.

“There’s so much diversity in the backgrounds of the people of this area and they all come to the events with different skill set,” Mundt said. “It’s really cool to see all of that come together. Good people find good people—and a lot of really good people are finding each other in Old Village.

I think it’s amazing.”

The Rock | 15

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Iconic Building Remade

Local entrepreneurs develop Plymouth’s Durr building Story and photos by Ken Voyles

I

t sounds like a fun story.

People fall in love all the time—and with all kinds of stuff: Sports teams. Music.

Food. Cars. Each other. For some, it’s the stream of events, people, inventions, and places that span history which reaches deep into their imaginations.

With local entrepreneurs Bryan Young and Mario Degrazia, it was—or, more accurately, is—a Plymouth building we’ve all probably driven by. Well, maybe their love is more specific to the building’s iconic facade.

That passion for the long-vacant Durr building on Plymouth Road next to the original Burroughs plant led the pair of friends along a two-year, multi-million dollar journey. It’s a journey where they remade an old manufacturing site into the new Durr Storage facility, and probably reinvented themselves along the way.

“This is what I fell in love with,” says Young, as he points up along the limestone columns 18 | The Rock

gracing the large entryway and more specifically to the deeply engraved “Durr” in Germanic block type sitting almost on guard over the 40,000 square foot relic now being modernized and repurposed. “Some of the people who wanted this land were talking about condos and stuff.

There was a lot of zoning issues that were in play, but we wanted to save the building and the township agreed with us.”

A resident of Plymouth, Young grew up in Canton and graduated from Salem High School. He has been a longtime realtor but now wants to focus solely on redeveloping and salvaging a piece of Plymouth’s industrial history.

The Durr building seems like it has been around forever, embedded like stone along Plymouth Road.

Young said the building dates back to 1948. Records seem to indicate Durr took over in 1978 when the giant German firm opened its new center in the township, creating a highly visible monument of sorts

that has withstood nearly 50 years in the community.

STILL IN GOOD SHAPE Founded before World War II, Durr is known world-wide as a producer of paint finishing systems, automatic washers and precision metal cleaning machines mainly used in the automotive sector. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Durr has operations in over a dozen countries with more than 2,000 employees.

Although the Plymouth operation closed more than a decade ago, at one time it employed 400 people in buildings spanning 200,000 square feet.

Durr’s Michigan operation is now located in Southfield, but what survived is centered on the beautiful front portion that attracted Young and his colleague DeGrazia.

“It was in good shape when we were able to take over the property,” says Young. “I remember coming across it for sale

and couldn’t understand why it was vacant. It’s been a long process redeveloping it, but we’re close.”

Like Young, his partner DeGrazia fell in love with the property. He helped figure out what kind of redevelopment would work to satisfy the township and give the pair an opportunity to create the new business worthy of its building’s name.

“There’s no issue with the name or what we’ve done here,” says Young when asked if Durr was involved in any way. “It’s a historic building and we’re trying to pay homage to it. Even my sister wondered why it was still standing.”

DeGrazia smiles as he remembers former Durr employees stopping by during the renovation project that took two years to get everything ready for a planned opening later this month or in early September.

“They were blown away,” he says. “People who see this leave impressed.”

“We’ve created something that keeps the history here and offers a personal approach, a different way, of giving people storage options.

We can’t wait for people to come by and check this out.”

Plymouth entrepreneur Bryan Young, on transforming the Durr building in Plymouth Township Young laughs as he reminds those around him that the Durr name embedded on the building was meant to be in place for a long time.

“That was on the building,” he points. “We had to keep it.”

Young said he and DeGrazia have been looking for a project like this for a few years, biding their time for the right opportunity. As realtors the partners kept looking until one day they noticed the Durr building for sale.

“If you think about it, we’re all about engineering here,” says Young. “We have the best technology for self-storage.

There’s tons of security.

Everything is about systems for entry and use. And we’re here for the human touch.”

The Durr storage center, recreated with the help of the LaSant Building Company out of Northville, is climate-controlled and has tons of cameras. There are no normal locks or keys-instead, a client's cell phone is used for entry. And it’s “super secure,” according to its developers.

Even with that, it is also about the human element as the partners divide their time on site every day, making sure the 251 units are well looked after and that the various sizes available meet people’s needs. Units fill most of the two floors and run in size from small ones, at five feet by five feet, to the largest storage unit, running 10 feet by 10 feet.

Besides offering a variety of storage units, the company offers pickup and delivery services so that customers can call and get

their items secured without even leaving their homes. There is also some outside storage available and easy access all around.

“We’re independent from the other storage places out there,” says Young. “People have 24-hour access here and access to us. The cool thing is our technology is connected to the human element.”

GAME PLAN The human side of Young and DeGrazia is as follows: The pair met playing ice hockey at the Plymouth Cultural Center where they were players on the Spitfires, an amateur team that won a state championship in 1997.

Young lives in downtown Plymouth and has two young sons who are now playing hockey themselves. Before the Durr project he spent time working for an apparel company out of Detroit. He then moved into the real estate field.

“The game plan was always something bigger, something that

took time and capital to acquire,” he says.

DeGrazia, who has two daughters, grew up in the Novi area before settling in Canton.

DeGrazia’s experience includes construction management, helping his family at Greko Printing and local real estate. But hockey is a mutual passion.

“We’ve played hockey all our lives,” says DeGrazia. “It’s something we both love.”

Even before opening, the pair have lined up leases on nearly 50 units. They are excited to

fill the space and remind new customers that they are dedicated to serving them and to keeping the Durr name front and center as something that stands for excellence and history.

“We’re in this together,” says Young. “We’ve created something that keeps the history here and offers a personal approach, a different way, of giving people storage options. We can’t wait for people to come by and check this out.”

Pulling up, then driving away, you can’t help but see the words carved into the stone, a reminder of a piece of Plymouth that hasn’t been torn down or destroyed.

Instead it has been saved by local leaders who want nothing more than to run their business and share a story that pays homage to the Durr name.

If you want a play on words that might wrap it all up, try “durable.”

Otherwise, a pretty cool story, when you think about it.

Durr Storage is located at 40500 Plymouth Road. For more information, call (734) 228-5115 or visit www.durrstorage.com.

The Rock | 19

It's Your Business DJL BUILDERS, INC. “He’s also one heck of a carpenter,” says the proud father.

DESIGNING HOMES FOR THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE

R

elationships and family have always been at the heart of DJL Builders Inc., founded in 1992 by Dave Latawiec. More than three decades later, the company has grown into one of the leading design-build and remodeling firms serving Plymouth, western Wayne County and parts of Washtenaw County.

“We have been a familyoperated business from the start,” says Latawiec. “We believe in customer service and are loyal to our customers. We listen to what they want and respect their budget.”

That philosophy has led to a solid reputation, repeat business and countless referrals.

Known for kitchens, bathrooms, additions, wholehome renovations and new home construction, DJL Builders has completed projects throughout Plymouth, earning a name for quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Latawiec moved with his family to Michigan as a child. After earning a business degree from 20 | The Rock

Eastern Michigan University, he began his career in operations at Sunshine Honda on Ann Arbor Road (now Victory Honda of Plymouth), where he worked for nearly a decade before joining his father in the residential construction business.

“My dad had always been in the building industry in some form,” he says.

What began as a oneman business with a pickup truck steadily grew. In 1995, Latawiec opened a showroom in downtown Plymouth after fellow Kiwanis members helped him locate the perfect building.

The showroom served customers for 17 years before DJL moved into a Main Street office in 2012.

Like many businesses during the pandemic, Latawiec eventually moved into his home office, where it remains today.

Today, DJL Builders works with more than 100 trusted subcontractors and suppliers, supported by a small team of employees, including Latawiec’s son, Dave Jr., who serves as field operations manager.

Residential remodeling has changed dramatically over the years.

“The building industry has changed so much,” says Latawiec.

“Projects used to be a basement remodel or an addition for a growing family. Covid changed things with everyone trying to find office space at home.”

Another trend has been homeowners choosing to remain in their homes longer rather than downsizing, creating demand for renovations that improve accessibility, comfort and everyday living.

While kitchens, bathrooms and sunrooms remain the company’s core business, some projects stand out.

One recent renovation involved an Old Village house built in 1879. Like other homes in the area, it was constructed for workers employed by local factories, like Daisy Rifle.

“Those homes were very tiny,” Latawiec explains. “As we began our work, we found interesting design features hidden behind walls, including a brick archway that we restored.”

The renovation transformed the home’s layout, added safe access to the second floor and basement, modernized the kitchen and created a new bathroom— all while preserving its historic character.

The company’s only commercial project was at the popular E.G. Nick’s, where DJL Builders designed and constructed the outdoor patio and updated the building’s front exterior.

Those projects reflect Latawiec’s passion for architecture. As the company has evolved into a design-build firm, he now handles much of the design work himself, building on architecture classes he completed at Lawrence Tech.

BUILDING MORE THAN BUSINESS

Strong relationships have fueled DJL Builders’ success—

not only with customers and subcontractors, but throughout the community.

When the company’s advertising budget was “basically nothing,” Latawiec realized community involvement was one of the best ways to build both relationships and business.

He has served as board chair of the Plymouth Community Chamber and has been a member of Kiwanis for 39 years.

“We are a major sponsor for the Wilcox Wednesday Music in the Park for kids,” he says.

The company also supports the Fourth of July Parade, Historical Museum and Salvation Army, among many other local organizations and events.

Decades of community involvement have made Latawiec a familiar face around town.

“One morning my daughter and I were having breakfast downtown and she said, ‘Now I know what it’s like to have breakfast with a movie star. I can’t go one sentence without someone coming up and saying they know you,’” says the father of five with a smile.

Now 71, Latawiec says the values that guided him from the beginning remain unchanged.

Family ownership. Strong relationships. Quality craftsmanship. Listening to customers. Giving back to the community.

“If I can’t do something 110 percent,” he says, “I don’t do it.”

After more than 30 years in business, that commitment continues to define DJL Builders— and the homes and relationships the company has built along the way.

DJL Builders Inc. OWNER: Dave Latawiec PHONE: (734) 259-5355 EMAIL: info@djlbuilders.com WEBSITE: www.djlbuilders.com

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Plymouth Pulse

Pulse AugustPlymouth 2026: City Highlights Edition August 2026: City Highlights Edition

Read the full digital Plymouth Pulse for more news and updates at plymouthmi.gov.

Created & paid for by the City of Plymouth | 201 S. Main Street, Plymouth, MI 48170 Read the full digital Plymouth Pulse for more news and updates at plymouthmi.gov.

Created & paid for by the City of Plymouth | 201 S. Main Street, Plymouth, MI 48170

New Park Sponsorship Program New Park Sponsorship Program Creates NewOpportunities Opportunities Invest Creates New toto Invest in PlymouthParks Parks inCity City of of Plymouth JulyJuly was Parks and Recreation tocelebrate celebratethe the parks and public spaces was Parks and RecreationMonth, Month, a a time time to parks and public spaces thatthat bringbring our our community together.

AsAsPlymouth theimportant importantrole role parks play in enhancing quality life,City the City community together.

Plymouthrecognizes recognizes the parks play in enhancing quality of life,ofthe Commission unanimously newPark ParkSponsorship Sponsorship Program during its regular meeting on July Commission unanimouslyapproved approvedthe the City's City's new Program during its regular meeting on July philanthropic partners to 20, creating new opportunities for residents, businesses, civic organizations, and 20, creating new opportunities for residents, businesses, civic organizations, and philanthropic partners to investinvest future Plymouth'sparks. parks. in the future of of Plymouth's in the The new program builds onPlymouth's Plymouth's long long tradition partnerships andand establishes a clear, The new program builds on traditionofofcommunity community partnerships establishes a clear, transparent framework for supporting park improvements through voluntary public-private partnerships. transparent framework for supporting park improvements through voluntary public-private partnerships.

Developed a priority identifiedin inthe the City's City's 2022–2026 Plan, thethe program encourages investment in Developed as as a priority identified 2022–2026Strategic Strategic Plan, program encourages investment in beautification projects, accessibility improvements, sustainability initiatives, recreational amenities, and other beautification projects, accessibility improvements, sustainability initiatives, recreational amenities, and other enhancements that benefit the entire community. enhancements that benefit the entire community.

Whether it's funding flowers, trees, benches, or playground equipment—or contributing to larger capital Whether it's funding flowers, trees, benches, or playground equipment—or contributing to larger capital improvements—every donation helps strengthen Plymouth's parks. The program also welcomes in-kind improvements—every donation helps strengthen Plymouth's parks. The program also welcomes in-kind contributions, including professional services, materials, equipment, and volunteer expertise. Sponsors may equipment, expertise. may contributions, including professional materials, choose to support a specific park or services, make a general contribution to theand parkvolunteer system, with the CitySponsors Commission choose to support a specific park orwhere makethey a general to the benefit. park system, with the City Commission ensuring investments are directed providecontribution the greatest public ensuring investments are directed where they provide the greatest public benefit.

The policy also establishes consistent sponsorship recognition while making clear The policy also establishes consistent that naming rights are reserved for clear sponsorship recognition while making contributions, are not thatexceptional naming rights are reserved for automatically granted, and remain exceptional contributions, are not subject to City Commission approval. Prior automatically granted, and remain subject commitments and existing park names will to City Commission approval. Prior continue to be considered and respected. commitments and existing park names will Parks have always been strengthened by continue to be considered and respected. community partnerships. As we celebrate have been strengthened by Parks Parks andalways Recreation Month, the City invites partnerships.

As we celebrate community everyone to consider how they can help Parks and Recreation Month, City public invites preserve and enhance thesethe valued everyone howtothey can help spacesto forconsider generations come.

Residents and organizations interested in supporting preserve and enhance these valued public a park for improvement project or learning more spaces generations to come.

Residents about sponsorship opportunities are and organizations interested in supporting a to contact Administration. parkencouraged improvement projectCity or learning more about sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to contact City Administration.

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Locations Plymouth

Park

Locations

Fairground Park

Garden Club Park

Amenities: Dog Drinking Fountain Benches & Picnic Tables Playground Soccer & Softball Volleyball & Basketball

Amenities: Tetherball Benches & Picnic Tables Grill Pavilion Playground Soccer & Softball

Harding/Joy

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Sutherland/Forest

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Kellogg Park

Main/Ann Arbor Trail

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Amenities: Dog Drinking Fountain Benches & Picnic Tables Grill Pavilion Playground Soccer & Softball

Amenities: Benches Pavilion Picnic Tables Playground

Park

N. Holbrook/Spring

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Amenities: Baseball Diamond

Amenities: Gazebo Benches Grill Picnic Tables

N. Holbrook/Caster

Plymouth/Haggerty

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Pointe Park

Rotary Club Park

Amenities: Monuments Benches

Amenities: Benches Picnic Tables

Amenities: Dog Drinking Fountain Benches & Picnic Tables Pavilion Playground

Wing/Herald

Starkweather/Mill

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Starkweather Park Farmer/Mill

Harvey

Amenities: Dog Drinking Fountain Benches & Picnic Tables Pavilion Playground

Amenities: Gazebo Benches Picnic Tables

Amenities: Asphalt & Natural Trails Benches

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Amenities: Dog Drinking Fountain Benches Pavilion Picnic Tables Playground

Did you know?

Municipal Services 1231 Goldsmith

734-453-7737

Tonquish Nature Walk

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Byron/Dewey

plymouthmi.gov

Knights of Columbus

Amenities: Benches & Picnic Tables Grill Pavilion Playground

Wilcox Park

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Kiwanis Park

Markham Park

Elm/S. Evergreen

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City records show that Kellogg Park was a declared public park as early as 1867 City Hall

201 S. Main 734-453-1234

Plymouth Cultural Center 525 Farmer 734-455-6620

Plymouth Downtown Development Authority 831 Penniman 734-455-1453

2026 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Smooth Transitions Three Park teams looking to shake up the reconfigured KLAA

By Brad Emons | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

T

he Kensington Lakes Activities Association held its annual high school football media day on Aug. 6 at Northville’s Hillside Middle School and here’s a sneak preview of what to expect for the 2026 season for Salem, Plymouth and Canton.

With the departure of the three Livonia Public Schools (Churchill, Franklin and Stevenson) to join the Lakes Valley Conference this fall, the KLAA has once again reconfigured its divisions.

In the KLAA’s Black Division preseason coaches’ poll, Northville was given the nod as the favorite followed by 24 | The Rock

Belleville, Dearborn Fordson, Plymouth, Salem and Canton.

In the KLAA Gold, Howell is the favorite to take the division title, followed by Brighton, Hartland, Dearborn, Westland John Glenn, Wayne Memorial and conference newcomer Dearborn Heights Crestwood.

(Howell is also the favorite to claim the overall crown.)

Here is the preseason preview of the three Park teams.

SALEM ROCKS (5-5, 3-4 KLAA West) The Rocks will certainly miss record-setting throwing quarterback Luke Creighton (Northwood University), along with linebackers Landon Garrett

III and Nye Turner – all of whom earned All-KLAA honors.

“We graduated 22 seniors last year, but we have 18 seniors this year,” fourth-year coach Landon Garrett said. “Our senior class is extremely talented, we have a lot of talent there, a lot of skilled players. Our junior class might be one of the hardest-working classes that I’ve had.”

Salem, it appears, does have plenty left in the tank for the upcoming season as Garrett will continue with the philosophy: “Team unity, believing in each other.”

“And that’s the big thing with these guys,” the Salem coach said. “Our big focus is one team,

one mission and finish and still family for us. If those two classes come together, because we have a lot of skill set and a lot of hardworking guys, and if we put it together and it falls in place, it will be a lot of fun to watch.”

One key component for the Rocks will be 5-11, 174-pound senior wide receiver and defensive back Caleb Chinyazda, who earned All-KLAA honors.

“I’d say my main role is to do a little bit of everything and to lead the guys,” said Chinyadza, who has offers from Grand Valley State and Calvin University.

“Last year we had a big senior class, and they kind of left it to us to fill in.

“Expectations for this team are just continuing to do what those seniors did for us last year. They set the role and the standard, which was to get better and improve our record. Last year our motto was: ‘Burn the Boats,’ and we burned the boats, no more burning the boats and keep that going.”

Meanwhile, senior Braylen Bowie will be switching

positions taking over the quarterback duties.

“I played running back and outside and inside linebacker last year,” he said. “I’m going to try and play inside linebacker, too.

We are definitely going to try and feed our run game, get started with the run. I’m definitely a dualthreat. I’ve had to get my speed up and I wanted to get stronger in the legs also.”

Senior Parker Wagner will also have an expanded role playing both sides of the ball. He started primarily as wide receiver last season.

“I started out this year and didn’t play a ton at linebacker, but this year I’m going to do both,” he said. “We had some good linebackers last year, but I’m excited to step up and make things a lot better. I gained a lot of weight and got stronger in the weight room. And we definitely have some good players to step up.”

Other key returnees for the Rocks include three-year varsity offensive and defensive tackle Coulton Hall, junior two-way tackle Kayden Wright, senior center Ryan Best and senior running back-DB Nate Kava.

One of the team’s promising newcomers is sophomore running back-DB Payton Myles.

Salem opens its season Thursday, Aug 27 at Utica Ford.

“We are returning three offensive line starters this year,” Garrett said. “Defensively, no new wrinkles. We will be bigger than we’ve ever been up front.

But we are returning, as far as DBs go, three of our four, which is nice for us as well.”

Penn, the head of Plymouth’s maintenance staff, inherits a program that went 13-32 in five seasons under Souldourian.

Penn played football at Adrian College and began his coaching career at Garden City as an assistant and defensive coordinator where he spent 12 years before joining Mike Sawchuk’s staff at Plymouth in 2016.

Penn, who believes it will be smooth transition, was named interim coach by Plymouth athletic director Chaka Johnson.

“Greg had it set up where the offense and defense did their things,” Penn said. “He just kind of oversaw everything, quality control, input when he saw something, things like that.

It’s really not going to change other than not having a yes or a no coming from somebody else because I got to make that decision on my own now. In terms of structure, that it. I’m on my own for defense. The OC and myself, we always did a good job of bouncing ideas off each other.

PLYMOUTH WILDCATS (3-6, 1-6 KLAA West) The Wildcats are under new management as longtime assistant coach Matt Penn, the former defensive coordinator, takes over for Greg Souldourian, who resigned in July to take a teaching job in another school district.

‘Hey, what do you think on this?

Do you think this will work? Is this going to be trouble or what not?’ And he would do the same thing for me. So, there’s really not much changing.”

Lost to graduation were AllKLAA picks Max Hornbacher, a linebacker, and Brady Lorenzetti, an offensive lineman, but one player Penn can build the program around is 6-3, 250-pound senior offensive lineman Hayden Schultz, who is coming off a stellar track season where he placed 10th overall in the Division 1 shot put state finals.

“I think it’s been a pretty good transition so far, definitely different this year,” said Schultz, who has an offer from Lawrence Tech. “But like coach Penn says, ‘Nothing changes, the goal is still the same, still working every day toward the same goal.

“Everyone just has to come together and be gritty, just work together and be one oiled machine.”

Senior Cullen Dixon, who earned a couple of spot starts last year, takes over the quarterback duties. He will also play defensive back.

“I got some good varsity experience last year,” Dixon said. “I’ll definitely take that experience into this year and learn from some mistakes I

learned from last year. I’ve definitely become more mature and more experienced as a quarterback this year.”

Dixon will be a passing threat who can scramble as well.

“I like to take pride in running the ball a little bit and obviously throw the ball a little bit,” he said. “I play baseball, so it comes into play a little. In a lot of our schemes, I can be a dual-threat on offense. We’ve got a lot of good offense, a lot of returning players and we will give the defenses a lot of good looks… throw in a lot of motion and we’ve got a lot of speed. We are going to have that work to our advantage and I’m looking forward to it.”

Other key senior returnees for the Wildcats include seniors Kaiden Moore (DB/wide receiver), Andrae McSween (DB/ wide receiver), Joel Dewberry (DB/wide receiver), Ryan Grezlak (wide receiver/DB) and Abdel Eldow (linebacker/running back).

They are joined by varsity

Continued on page 26 The Rock

| 25

Continued from page 25 junior returners Liam Korte (offensive/defensive line), Gabe Watson (offensive/defensive line) and Gabe Christensen (quarterback/linebacker).

Among the promising newcomers include Xavier Williams (running back/DB), Charlie Voden (running back/ linebacker), Yahya Hammoud (offensive/defensive line) and Ethan Soper (kicker).

The Wildcats open their season Friday, Aug. 28 at Monroe.

“It’s going to look a little different (offensively), a little old school, but they look bigger up front and we are faster overall everywhere and we’ve got guys to get the ball to,” Penn said.

“And if we do, then things will happen.

“Defensively, we will be a little more multiple, but I got to take care that I don’t overload them with specific rules and stuff like that. I just want them playing fast and aggressive, and having a lot of fun.

Penn’s biggest adjustment taking over the head coaching duties is juggling his time management during his work day—unlike Souldourian, who was a teacher in the building, giving him more flexibility.

“I’m trying to crush this in right after I get off my shift at 2 p.m. working maintenance to get things done and still get home at a reasonable time,” he said.

CANTON COBRAS (1-8, 0-7 KLAA West) Second-year coach Eric Newton is optimistic the Cobras can right the ship after four straight losing seasons.

“The prognosis…just trying to compete,” Newton said. “We had a good summer. We had about 90 percent attendance-wise in the summer workouts. The kids are really buying in and selling out, holding each other accountable.

We have 19 seniors coming back and 12 juniors that played as sophomores, so we should have 26 | The Rock

good depth there on both sides of the ball.”

Third-year varsity player Zion Malone will lead the way on both the offensive and defensive lines.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound senior is committed to Grand Valley State.

Malone made a huge commitment during the offseason.

“I’ve been doing conditioning on and off the field with our defensive line coach,” he said.

“I’ve been just trying to get into better shape and have been working with my uncle (Kanye Gardner, who played offensive tackle at Wayne State and Detroit Cass Tech) and my teammates.”

And Malone likes what he sees heading into the Cobras’ season opener Thursday, Aug. 27 at Livonia Churchill.

“It’s a matter of buying into the program,” Malone said. “I’d say this year, unlike the last couple of years, we’ve actually been locked in with what we’ve been doing this summer, especially paying attention and not messing around.

Lombardo and Johnathan Chesnut, junior quarterback Dylan Parrish, junior linebackertight end Jordan Banko, senior running back-linebacker Alex Ryce, senior defensive back Sam Spril, senior defensive backwide receiver Jaden Neshiewat and senior linebacker-tight end Braden Schimmel.

Promising newcomers included juniors David Hull (wide receiver), Evan Armour (wide receiverdefensive back) and Tyler Usher (wide receiver-linebacker).

“Defensively we brought in a new defensive coordinator (Mike Suchy),” Newton said of the former Melvindale head coach.

“He’s done a ton of work. He’s been around. He’s been coaching for 25-plus years, mostly in the Downriver area. He’s been doing great things this summer with the kids. They are really picking up on it. Communication is the big part and he has those guys talking and flying around to the ball.

“Just a few new wrinkles offensively, but a lot of what we did the first two years when That’s what’s going to help us and I took over, kind of 10 or 11 get back to what we used to be.” personnel, spread the ball out.

Another key returnee is fourth- I won’t say that you won’t see year varsity member Elliott Patten, a Jack-of-all-trades who will play defensive back, running back and wide receiver.

The 5-9, 185-pound senior, who made All-KLAA last fall and also ran track this spring as a sprinter for Canton, will more than likely have an expanded role this season.

“I envision playing a little bit more in the backfield, but other than that pretty much the same thing, kind of being an all-around player wherever they need me,” said Patten, who has interest from NCAA Division II school Davenport University. “If they it (the Wing-T), but it’s still on need me to go out to slot, then Canton’s blood to run that.”

I’ll be there. If they want me at And there’s one major mission running back, I’ll be a running for the Cobras, who last made the back. On the defensive side Division 1 postseason in 2021 I’m playing more of a DB role, when they finished 7-4. a safety more than linebacker “And ideally, you want to get basically this year.

Canton back to the playoffs, so Other key returnees include that’s our goal,” Newton said. senior two-way linemen Nathan

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My mother has macular degeneration and her vision has continued to worsen. At this point, she can’t drive and struggles to watch television and read. Is there anything to help her function better?

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Depending on her sight, driving may still be a possibility.

26850the Providence Suite Novi,faces, MI 48374 Usually bigger goalsPkwy include tasks150 like •seeing photos and reading so she doesn’t become isolated and can maintain some independence. Holding magnifiers

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