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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.
The
are welcome at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com .
Forgive me for waxing nostalgic, but I’m currently channeling my inner Don Henley. “I got the call today, that I didn’t want to hear—but I knew that it would come…”
The ‘call’ was about someone moving on, but not in the way Henley meant when he sang about it in Heart of the Matter back in 1989. It was about Paul Sincock, Plymouth’s City Manager, announcing his retirement from a position he held for nearly 25 years.
For those who weren’t around in those days, let me provide a little context. I was in the room when then- (and current) City Commissioner Colleen Pobur made the motion to appoint Sincock to the top spot in the city. He might not admit it today, but he was blinking back tears when he—hesitantly, at first—accepted the job. It got me in the feels, too. He had every right to be hesitant, too. That was a crazy time in Plymouth’s history. Back then, the average tenure for a city manager in Michigan was about three years. The city had gone through several exhausting and frustrating searches for a long-term solution for the manager spot—I think they went through four managers in as many years—and morale at city hall wasn’t all that high. The politics alone would fill a book.
I remember exactly what Sincock, who was the director of the Municipal Services Department and Acting City Manager, said at the time: “I’m not doing this because I want to get on the express train of city managers around Michigan. I’m doing this because this is where I want to be.”
AND,
It’s easy to see the impact he’s had on the city during his tenure in the manager’s office (and in the decades of work with the city prior to that). You can look at the thriving downtown. You can drive along Mill Street where the former Bathey property—once one of the biggest eyesores in western Wayne County, not to mention a drain on city finances—has been transformed into a beautiful, viable neighborhood. Those are just two of the obvious physical signs of the sustained growth the city has seen in the past two decades.
Behind the scenes, his work was even more important. His smart, proactive leadership helped stabilize the community. When the State of Michigan was balancing its budget on the backs of local municipalities by reducing State Shared Revenue, Plymouth handled it better than most. When Covid hit, city hall pivoted quickly and was up and running again within days, providing the same services city employees always had. He’s assembled a small but mighty team of municipal employees dedicated to working together to serve the community. During the past 20-some years, city hall has evolved to serve as a model of governance for towns of all sizes.
Well, anyone who knows Sincock will know that he won’t just disappear. His Plymouth roots are strong; he’ll be active in service groups, I’m sure. He will remain on the job for 90 days after his July 21st announcement was accepted by the city commission.
Residents and business owners alike have little cause to worry, too. The transition to the next city leader will be in no way as chaotic or lengthy as it was prior to Sincock taking the job. A main part of the city’s strategic plan is staff development, training and succession—it’s so important that a five-year staffing projection is the second of four overlying goals identified in it. That’s another thing good leaders do: prepare for who comes next.
We’ll have more details about that, as well as a longer write up about Sincock and his many achievements in our next issue. But until then, I just want to salute a man who has done so much for the greatest small town in America. Thanks for everything, Paul.
WHAT A LEGACY, INDEED.
Scott Spielman is the editor of The Rock. He welcomes your feedback or letters to the editor at scottyspielman@gmail.com.
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.
I think it would be neat to keep the historic pieces at Graye’s Greenhouse and make a destination within the township, similar to what’s going on in Old Town: perhaps a few dining places, some small businesses/shops, definitely an ice cream parlor, walking paths with benches, perhaps a small cozy event space. Parking will be the challenge, though. I’d steer away from housing, but that’s just me.
Camille Forster
Just reading your article about Grayes greenhouse. I’m sad they’re not doing as well as I thought but I totally understand. Many businesses are struggling right now.
I like the idea of a community space. It could be cool to have a place I could bring my dog for a cup of coffee or maybe like a small soup and sandwich spot (I’m thinking like Uncle Cheetah’s in Grand Rapids, if you are familiar). But my initial thought was, what about something like the Planterra Conservatory in West Bloomfield? You could host events big and small, maybe build another building specifically for these events. The greenhouse could be its regular store front and also double as the florist for the event space.
Planterra is super expensive to host an event there and always booked out so I’m assuming they must make a good revenue. It could be a cool way to partner with other small businesses in the community, mobile bars, caterers, etc. The only thing I would suggest is maybe making Grayes a little more affordable for people like me who fell in love with Planterra, but can’t afford it.
Britany Brasseur
I am a senior at Tonquish Creek Manor. This is a senior residence for those of us on fixed incomes. I am very concerned about Brookside development plan to build 20 condos and a new, smaller church. I don’t believe the church down-scaling is a problem, but the real problem is the plan to build additional housing.
There is already a strained parking situation. Our building rents a small portion of this property for our residents and we still don’t have enough parking. We are forced to park on Joel or Sheridan streets and the property owners are already upset that we park in front of their homes. There’s no room for visitors either.
Putting condos on this property will displace almost 20 more seniors. We are all over 62 and most of us are disabled. As seniors, we’ve paid our dues in taxes and community service. Some of us are still active. We desperately need this area to alleviate the strained population in our area.
Cheryl Goodreau
I read your article about the Brookside development. The objection for Plymouth people is that it violates zoning codes. Good luck with that. Plymouth Township used that argument for the Five Mile property, and it was disregarded and now we are going to have a Meijer store against strong objections. So much for zoning.
Mary Clark
We live down the street from the proposed PUD project on Ann Arbor Trail and are very much against this plan. This site needs to remain zoned as single family residential for many reasons, including the increased traffic volume, deterioration of the road and the historical nature of Ann Arbor Trail. Adding 20 condos would be an eyesore to one of the grand entrances to downtown Plymouth. This property should be kept with the current nature of this street and have it remain zoned single family residential.
Laurie Krawczak
I would like to share my opinion on the Brookside development project on Ann Arbor Trail. I am 100% in favor of this project. I feel the plan was thoughtfully planned and designed. Having standalone units along Ann Arbor Trail is very smart and helps the project blend more into the neighborhood. Fixing up the Tonquish Creek area is a definite plus of the plan. I certainly hope the project continues to move forward.
Paula Nemeth
I have lived in Plymouth Township since 1984 and my children live here also. Like many, I have fond memories of things which have come and gone, including Bill Knapps, Friendly’s, Daly’s Drive-in, S&W Hardware, Ann Arbor Road House and the Box Bar, to name a few. And I have also seen a number of buildings become unviable and replaced with other establishments, including the Mayflower Hotel, Masonic Temple, Markham Building, Saxtons, and now the Elks Lodge. Things change, plain and simple. The development proposed for the current site of the Christian Science Church seems pretty consistent with the residential changes (large homes sandwiched into small lots) we have witnessed over the last 5-10 years—that horse left the barn some time ago. If the increased traffic bothers people, find a way to get a left turn lane on Ann Arbor Trail at Sheldon Road.
Randy Jost
I’m not sure why the citizens are even asked? It’s obvious by your own article the City Planning Commission made their deal without taking residential input seriously. I moved here in 2017 to be with the man I married. He spent years establishing himself in this community, as a resident and small business owner. He loved it and supported everything about it. He’s gone now, I think he would be embarrassed at the greed. Plymouth is losing desirability.
Brigitte Delezenne
I live and work in Downtown Plymouth and am a five-generation resident. I am appalled by all the condos in the Brookside development plan. It comes down to money for developers. I agree, it is too dense as it is. The water table and infrastructure is failing, the amount of traffic on that corner is dangerous to us and our children as it is. Adding more traffic there is not the answer. We are a neighborhood of houses, not condos.
Look at Royal Oak. We are a smaller city. People want to live here because of that. Trying to cram a size-ten foot into a size-five shoe is what you are letting these developers get away with. I will not vote for that.
Lisa Wright
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Golf fans will have a chance to see professional players like Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Brooks Kopeka, Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson up close during the highly anticipated LIV Golf Team Championships planned for August.
Taking over the Saint John’s Resort, the three-day tournament will be held Aug. 22-24 on the Cardinal golf course nestled along Five Mile Road and Edward Hines Drive in Plymouth Township. The tournament will feature some of the world’s top players as well as a fan “village,” concerts (including one by Imagine Dragons) and various opportunities to volunteer on the course, host a private or corporate suite or just walk the fairways and watch some of the biggest names in golf.
LIV organizers say fans can expect three days of top notch golf that will help put Plymouth squarely on the map when it comes to pro golf destinations. More than 30,000 fans, volunteers, sponsors and media are expected to be on hand.
Adam Harter, LIV’s chief marketing officer, said the tournament’s “supercharged” style of golf fuses “high-stakes” team competition with immersive fan experiences.
“This is a one of a kind (event) in Michigan,” says Harter. “Whether you're a sports fan, music lover, foodie, or family looking for an outing, this is for you.”
The Plymouth competition is the finale of a 14-event global season with competition ranging from Europe and South America to the U.S. and Middle East.
For local business and community leaders, the first-time event offers an excellent way to showcase Plymouth, with its wonderful dining options, both in downtown and Old Village, and, of course, the area’s small town vibe of quaint neighborhoods, numerous cultural gems, eclectic shopping, and family
activities that help bring together its diverse population.
Even though this year’s Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Gail Grieger said she isn’t very familiar with the LIV format, she is still eager to see how it unfolds in August.
“I think that it’s very positive for us to be hosting the LIV golf tournament,” says Grieger. “It’s going to be great for business and it will showcase Saint Johns, which is a real jewel in our community. It should be very exciting.”
Don Soenen, a prominent Plymouth business leader and owner of the Chicane restaurant located in Old Village, has spoken with organizers several times and is excited about the potential impact for the community.
“We’ve never experienced anything quite like this before, but I have to believe it will be great for Plymouth,” says Soenen. “I would think it will have a significant financial impact on the community with 30,000 people coming here. They’ll need places to stay or eat and we will plenty to offer.”
LIV Golf is a professional men's golf tour that launched in 2022. It features both individual and team formats. The LIV name refers to the Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at LIV events.
The league features 13 teams, each with
“It’s going to be great for business and it will showcase Saint Johns, which is a real jewel in our community. It should be very exciting.”
Gail Grieger, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Chairperson
four players. Competition consists of 54 holes played over three rounds, using a shotgun start format where all players begin simultaneously on different holes. Scoring involves counting all four players' scores in each round, with the lowest score being dropped in the final round.
“Team golf changes everything,” says Harter. “LIV brings together the world’s top players in a highstakes, team-based competition that’s unlike anything else in the sport. Rivalries are real, every swing impacts the team’s standing and the energy on the course reflects that.”
For LIV players, he adds, the Team Championship represents the pinnacle of this season-long journey.
Detroit rebranded the property as a high-end hotel that included a golf course built back in 1979. In 2021, the Archdiocese donated the site to the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, which revamped and renovated the entire property, added high-end restaurants, banquet facilities and expanded golf amenities.
“The Cardinal is a standout course, visually stunning and designed for elite play,” says Harter, who added that Saint John’s provides the ideal backdrop with world-class hospitality and Midwest warmth.
Here’s a brief look at the schedule as currently planned (subject to change):
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22
10 a.m. - Gates, Hospitality and Fan Village Open
12:15 p.m. - Shotgun Start 1st Round
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
8 a .m. - Gates, Hospitality and Fan Village Open
10:15 a.m. - Shotgun Start 2nd Round
A fter Golf (2:30 p.m.) - Imagine Dragons at the Concert Stage
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
11 a.m. - Gates, Hospitality and Fan Village Open
1:05 p.m. - Shotgun Start Final Round
the community for more than a week setting up, practicing and preparing for Plymouth’s first major golf tournament, a first he’s excited to see and experience.
Wes Graff, president of the Plymouth Chamber, is intrigued by the possibilities represented in hosting a major sporting event in the community, and assumes the thousands of fans and supporters will make a positive financial impact in ways typically associated with a large event.
The Cardinal, which opened less than two years ago, features centuries-old trees, strategic bunkering, undulating greens and winding fairways framed by water features. It is a 7,002-yard, par-72 championship course designed by Raymond Hearn with stunning views over its 200 acres.
Originally a Catholic seminar, Saint John’s eventually closed down, but the Archdiocese of
A fter Golf - Podium Ceremony; (7 p.m.) Swedish House Mafia concert
“Fans can expect a thrilling playoff environment filled with pivotal head-to-head team matchups, momentum swings and championship energy,” says Harter. “Whether you’re following a favorite team or discovering a new one, the on-course experience will be immersive, fast-paced, and unforgettable.”
The LIV Golf Fan Village, at the heart of the team showdown, includes interactive activities for all ages along with plenty of food and beverage outlets, like food trucks and more. There will also be several unique golf challenges for fans of every age and skill level.
Tickets to attend the tournament are now on sale, by visiting the LIV Golf website at www.livgolf.com/tickets. Options range from single-day grounds passes to three-day passes or hospitality suites like Club 54 and Birdie Shack. All ticketed fans also get access to headline concerts by Imagine Dragons (Saturday at 2:30 p.m.) and Swedish House Mafia (Sunday at 7 p.m.). For families, children 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.
Volunteers are needed for the championships, offering a unique behind-the-scenes experience. To volunteer register at the livgolf. com website under Saint John’s tournament. Information on hospitality suites, both private and shared, is also available on the LIV website.
Even though the golf is played over just three days, Soenen says the entire LIV team will be in
“Our events consistently generate meaningful economic activity for host communities, and Plymouth is poised to experience the same,” says LIV’s Harter. “The tournament weekend will bring a measurable boost in regional commerce.
Fusing sports and a “festivallike” atmosphere, LIV organizers, and local boosters, expect the championships to put a national and global media spotlight on Plymouth and its potential as a world-class destination for sports and entertainment.
“Plymouth has been an incredible partner,” Harter says. “The community’s energy and excitement are palpable. We’re proud to host our season finale here and believe this will be a defining moment for sports and entertainment in Michigan.”
When Mark Salloum was visiting his mother at a rehabilitation center about six years ago, he met a man who served under General George Patton. He ended up talking with him for more than two hours.
“He had some incredible stories,” said the Plymouth Township resident. “It got me inspired, initially, to say I really want to share these stories—not just the war stories about the battles, but the people and what their experiences were like.”
He soon heard more, when a small group of World War II veterans shared their personal stories during the Memorial Day ceremony in downtown Plymouth. Salloum, owner of Highway Media, was hooked.
“I walked away and said: that’s it. I’m committed to making this happen. I knew this would be my next project at that point,” said Salloum.
That was the beginning of “A Salute to Our WWII Generation – Let Us Not Forget,”
a documentary about the lives of WWII servicemen and women that will debut at The Penn Theater in November. Salloum, who had previously produced “Plymouth, Michigan: A Rich History,” collaborated again with Keith Famie, former Survivor contestant who ventured into filmmaking after a successful Food Network show on the film— and brought in students from the Plymouth-Canton Community School District to supply an educational component to it.
The film follows the lives of 26 veterans through interviews with family members, videos and more. Every branch of the military is represented, including Tuskegee Airmen, the Mont
By Scott Spielman
Point Marines—the first African American Marines—and original Rosies.
“It’s a movie that will look at the impact of the war on their lives and their service before, during and after,” said Salloum. “It’s not a war movie. We are certainly going to hear about some of their experiences in battle, but it’ll be about the impact of the war on their lives. That’s what separates this from other WWII documentaries that are out there.”
Another aspect that will make it different is the inclusion of Plymouth-Canton students. Salloum reached out to the school district and was eventually connected to Chris
Belch, who was planning a veteran-related project with his Michigan History class.
“We hadn’t started it yet, but I had this vague idea for a project, where students would do personal interviews with veterans—from Viet Nam, Korea or more recent wars,” said Belch. “I didn’t have the entire project put together, but I had this idea of what I wanted to do.
“I didn’t have the lesson fully hashed out, and then along comes Mark, making the film,” he added. “He wanted to how students remembered the greatest generation, how they remembered the contributions of the men and women who fought for our
It was a perfect match. Obviously, with a switch to a WWII focus, the likelihood of personal interviews dwindled. There are only about 50,000 WWII vets living today and every day there are fewer.
In addition to watching the videos, talking with families and other research, the students visited the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly and the Michigan Heroes Museum in Frankenmuth.
The entire project, from choosing subjects to the field trips and parade participation, was planned in about three weeks.
“I wasn’t sure if it was going to work,” Belch said. “Now that the project is over, it succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. It worked much better than I anticipated. It was remarkable to see the transformation in the students over the course of the last two months.
Belch and his students instead turned to the Plymouth Historical Museum, which has an archive of veterans’ videos that were filmed more than 10 years ago, the Library of Congress, through its Veterans’ History Project, and interviews with veterans’ families. Students picked a veteran, researched them and did a presentation on them in front of the class. They also walked in the Memorial Day Parade, each carrying a 11x17 foamboard picture of “their” vet. Salloum suggested some veterans to research, but many students opted to do presentation on their own family members who served.
“We wanted them to be Plymouth-based, as much as possible and we also wanted them to be people we had researched,” Salloum said. “We wanted to capture the emotions of the kids going through this experience.”
“You could really the passion starting to develop between the students and these families,” he added. “It was really a deeply moving experience. I think we were able to get a pretty good idea of what their lives were like.”
The students agreed.
“It is important for students to research local heroes because it humanizes the roboticized U.S. soldier, and it puts a story to a face and picture,” said Issac Demetter, a Salem High School senior.
“This was a powerful experience because I got to hear personal stories about how things happened during the war, which makes you resonate with the person more. I also got to learn more about his life away from the war,” added Jena Hadi, a junior at Plymouth High School. “[This project] is important because it gives students a chance to think about everything on a deeper level. It also helps them visualize the struggles that individuals faced that helped our country in the war, rather than looking at the bigger picture.”
“I think it disproved the notion I had in my mind that people who fought in the war didn’t really do anything besides solely fighting,” said Anissa Camarena,
who researched Benjamin Elisburg during her senior year at Canton High School. “Learning about personal experiences he had with the men in his station, as well as [hearing] stories, proved just how human they were. He had good and bad times and did silly things with the guys he got to know over the course of the years he fought in the war. It also was interesting to see what he was doing beforehand and what he had planned before knowing he was going to have to go to war.”
said Emilia Muncy, who graduated from Salem. “Those classes made the war feel almost fake in a way, but this project was completely humanized. Obviously, I knew that real people fought in the war, it just didn’t feel real until this assignment.”
Salloum talked about several veterans at the Memorial Day ceremony in downtown Plymouth. He said he’s looking forward to fully sharing their stories when the film debuts at The Penn during the middle of November. It will then be broadcast on PBS in December or January.
Although his passion project is nearly completed, Salloum said he is still looking for some additional funding. With a goal of $100,000, he’s launched Operation Honor, where he’s looking for 100 people to donate $1,000 in honor of a loved one who served. With the donation, the WWII veteran of choice will be honored by displaying his/ her picture in the closing credits, along with their name, branch, and years of service.
“It put a lot of their sacrifices into perspective. When learning about World War II in American and World History, all we learned about was why the war started and when it happened,”
“This will be a wonderful way to honor those who have served,” Salloum said.
For more on the film, the process of putting it together, or to donate, visit www.ww2heroes.com.
Reunions never got old, especially after 50 years. Just ask 15 members of the 1975 state championship Plymouth Salem baseball team, who celebrated their Class A title run during the weekend of June 13-14.
Team members, some traveling from far distances, first participated in the annual Wayne Sparkman Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing at Links of Gateway in Romulus while continuing to honor the memory of their late coach, who passed away unexpectedly in 1988.
Players then gathered at the Plymouth Knights of Columbus Hall that same Friday before making a group trip on Saturday afternoon to the Tigers-Cincinnati Reds game at Comerica Park. They capped off the night for dinner at Rose’s Restaurant in Canton.
“The nice thing is a lot of these guys still live in the area and because we have our (class) reunion with Canton high school every five years…so there’s a lot of guys that we’ve seen,” said the team’s ace Tom Willette, who carried the bulk of the pitching load that season. “And then there were some of those guys we don’t see too much anymore. The response was good, everybody I got ahold of was available. It’s great to get together and see the guys again.”
The state baseball championship capped off a storied 1974-75 athletic season at Salem, where the football team finished undefeated at 9-0 in the fall to win the mythical state title followed by the basketball team reaching the Class A semifinals at Michigan State’s Jenison Fieldhouse.
“The year before they won the
By Brad Emons
state (boys) golf championship,” said Brian Gilles, who was Sparkman’s assistant before winning six league baseball titles in eight years as the Rocks’ head coach. “The team had great athletes at every position. Two pitchers like Tom Willette, who went to N.C. State, and Brian Wolcott, who went to Michigan State. They were just good athletes at every spot. They could run, throw and hit…there were no weaknesses on that club.”
Gilles, who coached and taught at Salem, made the trek in from Chicago.
“Some of these guys I haven’t seen in 50 years,” he said. “It’s awesome. You don’t realize you're done with the season and some of them you’ll never see again. That’s why I had to get here.”
There were plenty of stories go around during that weekend, but the topic of conversation always seemed to center around beating arch-rival and No. 1-ranked Canton, 9-0, for the district championship.
The Chiefs, winners of the Western Six League, sported a 22-3 overall record and were rated No. 1 in the Associated Press, Detroit News and Detroit Free Press statewide Class A polls coming into the matchup. Meanwhile, Salem had won the Suburban Eight League with a 10-4 record, but entered the district with a pedestrian 14-6 overall record.
In the pre-district, Salem
downed Northville, 4-1, and then both teams took care of business in the district semifinals at Southfield as Canton ousted Livonia Stevenson, 7-1, while Salem took care of Livonia Franklin, 12-6.
“They were ranked No. 1 in the state and we knew we had a pretty good chance at beating them,” Willette said. “The biggest thing about that was Fred Crissey, who was a helluva baseball coach at Canton, made a mistake and pitched his good pitcher (Bill) Parson in the first semi-final game.”
In a calculated move, Sparkman decided to start senior Chuck Thomas, No. 2 in the rotation, against Franklin in the district semifinal while saving the senior Willette for a possible matchup against Canton, who went with Chris Martucci and John Young.
The Rocks jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first two innings and coasted home for the victory as senior right fielder Doug Tripp had four hits in the win, while
Willette, a fireballing left-hander, finished with 15 strikeouts on a two-hitter while walking only one against the Chiefs, who sported a .290 team batting average.
“I actually hit a home run, the only home run I ever hit in high school,” Willette said. “We just pounded them. It wasn’t even close.”
In the aftermath of the 9-0 victory, Sparkman told Community Crier sports writer Doc O’Connor, who was also Salem’s scorekeeper and statistician: “As a ballclub, we met this challenge with determination and desire with an overwhelming victory. Maybe now Plymouth – Salem will get the recognition deserved all season long. I take off my hat to the players, and the fans for their support.”
Meanwhile, Crissey was quoted in the Crier saying: “The score was not indicative of the two ballclubs. I take nothing away from my boys, they never quit.”
Crissey then added that the Chiefs couldn’t afford to give up so many runs early in the game with a pitcher like Willette on the mound.
“Tom’s the best in the area,” he said.
Ironically, the day of the district championship also happened to be prom night.
“The best thing – and I didn’t go to the prom – it was a combined prom between Salem and Canton,” Willette said. “And the Canton baseball players that were there, I heard, were not happy. They were not happy at all.”
After the victory over Canton, Salem then brought home the regional title at Dearborn High with a 6-1 over Adrian followed by a 6-0 triumph over the host Pioneers.
That put the Rocks into the state semifinals at Wyandotte Memorial Park the next Saturday against Hazel Park, which lost to Livonia Churchill the previous year in the Class A final.
In the semifinal, Willette struck out 13, allowed just two hits and walked five in a nailbiting 3-2 victory.
The Rocks took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on junior Charlie Johnson’s RBI triple scoring junior Howard Inch, who had walked. They added a run the next inning on junior Dave Pierce’s shot off the left field
fence scoring senior Tim Dillon.
Salem led 2-0 heading into the seventh, but Hazel Park rallied for its two runs off Willette to knot the game at 2-all.
In the bottom of the seventh, Pierce walked on a 3-2 pitch and was sacrificed to second by Wolcott for the second out. Tripp then beat out a slow roller to short for an RBI infield single and Pierce, who was stealing third on the play, alertly scored all the way from second on the play after getting the green light from Sparkman, the third base coach, for the walk-off victory.
In the state championship game that same day (June 14) against Bay City Handy, the Rocks would not be denied in a 5-3 victory, but it didn’t come without a few anxious moments.
Salem jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI singles by Willette and Inch, but Handy countered with three runs in the top of the second off Thomas, the starter.
Willette came on for Thomas in the fifth inning with the Rocks trailing, 3-2, but Salem scored
Continued on page 12
three times in the bottom of the fifth.
Willette’s second RBI single of the game made it 3-all, scoring senior Dan Moore, while Pierce also scored on the play on a Handy outfield error to put Salem ahead, 4-3. The Rocks added another run during the inning on Johnson’s RBI groundout single scoring Wolcott.
Willette got into a bit of a jam in the top of the sixth when Handy got two runners aboard, but got out of the pickle thanks to a one-handed grab by Tripp in right field.
Willette then nailed down the victory by striking out the side in the top of the seventh to give Salem its first-ever state baseball crown.
“Tommy threw the smoke and I threw the junk,” Thomas said. “That’s how it ended up being. He couldn’t pitch all the time… we were both left-handers. I got the chance to start it and he started the game before. He was able to get us there and I threw a few innings and he completed it. I got us to the point where he could come in and finished it up.”
The celebration afterwards still resonates.
“I jumped out of the dugout once we got it,” Johnson said of the final. “It was exciting. It was a thrill. I think there was a picture of it somewhere…it was something nobody ever expected. We weren’t supposed to be there. Canton was. That was the thing. That’s all we heard all year how good Canton was.”
Willette, a fifth-round draft pick of San Diego Padres who turned down at $25,000 bonus before opting instead to accept a scholarship at North Carolina State, was the ironman on the mound all season for the Rocks.
quizzes about situations and stuff like that. It was kind of funny because he was a P.E. teacher and football coach, and then he became a counselor. And he was very rigid.
“He just let us do our thing, I guess. He was smart enough to just let us go out and play.”
The Rocks became more of a loosey-goosey group during that 1975 season under Sparkman.
He went 14-1 with one save, sporting a 1.12 ERA. In 95.6 innings, he struck out 179 batters. Thomas, who was a member of Salem’s ’74 Class A title golf team, finished with a 4-3 record with four saves and a 0.69 ERA in 51 innings.
The team’s top hitters that season included Pierce (.365), Wolcott (.345), Inch (.338), Tripp (.333), Johnson (.333) and junior John DenHouter (.318).
Inch and Willette each had 16 RBI to lead the Rocks.
Senior Vern Nagel was Willette’s primary catcher, while the other varsity team members included seniors Kirk Brannock and Tom Davis, along with junior Brian Bogenschultz. Sophomore call-ups for the state tournament included Tom Chiatalas, Tim Lilly, Pat McKendry, Bobby Smith and Mitch Symonds.
“We just kind of played flawless baseball,” said Willette, who later became the district-
wide athletic director for Salem, Canton and Plymouth highs. “I think we made only one error the entire time in the state tournament run. Timely hitting, good hitting…”
Despite being gone now for 37 years, Sparkman’s legacy as their head coach has not been forgotten.
“Sparky was a really good coach,” Gilles said. “He worked the kids hard and he was really fair with them. He did a good job.”
Sparkman played football at the University of Michigan.
“Wayne was a heckuva guy and I actually got to know him a little bit after I got out of high school on a little bit more of a friendship level, and a coach and student-athlete level,” Willette said. “He was a football guy. And knew football, but he always said, ‘I don’t know a lot about baseball, but I read a lot of books. He was always giving us
“We just had fun and to be honest, I don’t think we knew any better,” Willette said. “The two years before when I played in the 10th grade on varsity we won seven games. Our junior year we won either eight or nine games. We just went out and played. Honestly, I don’t think we took ourselves too seriously. Obviously, we were serious when we were on the field. There was a reporter that came out after we won the district or regional, maybe from the Detroit News, and he told Sparkman, ‘I’ve never seen a bigger group of immature guys in my life.’”
But somehow it all worked as the Rocks finished 21-7 overall.
“And I think that’s what it was,” Willette said. “We were just a group of guys that jelled and played very well together. We were only 14-7 going into the state tournament and won seven straight games. Again, look at the guys here tonight. Guys come back. It was just kind of a special group.”
The baseball Rocks staged a reunion 25 years ago and also gathered as a group when they were inducted into Salem’s Hall of Fame, but the 50th was special in its own unique way for a closeknit team.
“We blended together and we all got along,” Thomas said. “Good group. There wasn’t any individual that thought he was better than the other. Everybody liked each other.”
(Southfield, MI) The late Dr. Warren Ringold knew firsthand the devastating impact of late-stage cancer diagnoses. As a respected family physician, he witnessed countless patients battling illnesses that could have been detected earlier. His own grueling battle with late-stage cancer ignited a passion, leading him to create Michigan’s first MRI full body screening center called Bionicc Body Screening.
SOFTBALL SIZE TUMORS SILENTLY GREW
Softball Size Tumors Silently Grew
Dr. Ringold discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs silently growing inside his body after experiencing shortness of breath. His treatment was brutal. He su ered cruel side e ects. After his cancer went into remission, it returned a year later as a brain tumor. Dr. Ringold believed there had to be a better way. He envisioned a future where individuals could take control of their
A Father’s Legacy, A Son’s Mission: Full Body MRI Scans Without a
Dr. Ringold discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs silently growing inside his body after experiencing shortness of breath. His treatment was brutal. He suffered cruel side effects. After his cancer went into remission, it returned a year later as a brain tumor. Dr. Ringold believed there had to be a better way. He envisioned a future where individuals could take control
of their health and detect potential problems before they escalated. In his final days, Dr. Ringold passionately advocated for MRI full body screenings, a proactive approach he believed could empower individuals to take control of their health.
(South eld, MI) e late Dr. Warren Ringold knew rsthand the devastating impact of late-stage cancer diagnoses. As a respected family physician, he witnessed countless patients battling illnesses that could have been detected earlier. His own grueling battle with late-stage cancer ignited a passion, leading him to create Michigan’s rst MRI full body screening center called Bionicc Body Screening.
health and detect potential problems before they escalated. In his nal days, Dr. Ringold passionately advocated for MRI full body screenings, a proactive approach he believed could empower individuals to take control of their health.
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RAISING AWARENESS
Today, his son Ryan carries on this mission. ough not a medical professional himself, Ryan’s dedication to his father’s legacy drives him to raising awareness of this service for families of Michigan.
Today, his son Ryan carries on this mission. Though not a medical professional himself, Ryan’s dedication to his father’s legacy drives him to raising awareness of this service for families of Michigan.
“Every week I learn of another person who felt perfectly ne, only to wake up with an unexplained symptom and discover they have stage four cancer. Once symptoms manifest cancer is usually advanced,” says his son Ryan. “My father never wanted another family to su er the emotional and physical hardships that our family and he endured. He wanted to save lives.”
Bionicc Body Screening o ers elective, full-body MRI screenings that provide a comprehensive picture of your internal health, going beyond what traditional checkups often reveal. State-of-the-art technology can detect tumors as small as a pea, aneurysms, risk of stroke and a multitude of other conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Screenings include scans of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, hips, shoulders and spine.
A Life Saved
“Every week I learn of another person who felt perfectly fine, only to wake up with an unexplained symptom and discover they have stage four cancer. Once symptoms manifest cancer is usually advanced,” says his son Ryan.
A DOCTOR’S ORDER
Bionicc Body Screening offers elective, full-body MRI screenings that provide a comprehensive picture of your internal health, going beyond what traditional checkups often reveal. State-of-the-art technology can detect tumors as small as a pea, aneurysms, risk of stroke and a multitude of other conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Screenings include scans of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, hips, shoulders and spine.
Mark B. and his younger brother decided to visit Bionicc Body Screening last spring for a proactive screening because cancer ran in their family. Mark was skeptical until his results returned a 3-centimeter mass on his lung, which tested positive for cancer. He had three-fourths of his lung removed. He credits the scan for saving his life. Meanwhile, his brother’s results were clean.
“My father never wanted another family to suffer the emotional and physical hardships that our family and he endured. He wanted to save lives.”
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Mark B. and his younger brother decided to visit Bionicc Body Screening last spring for a proactive screening because cancer ran in their family. Mark was skeptical until his results returned a 3-centimeter mass on his lung, which tested positive for cancer. He had threefourths of his lung removed. He credits the scan for saving his life. Meanwhile, his brother’s results were clean.
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Just admit it: at one time or another you were entranced by the circus. Every summer or fall they would arrive in town - lion tamers, strange human “freaks,” crazy clown cars and those death defying trapeze artists soaring overhead. More than a carnival, this was about the performers and their magical presence.
Okay, so maybe you didn’t really ever want to run away and join the circus, but a childhood fascination was probably real enough to make you wonder what it would be like living on the road and performing in front of adoring crowds.
Today, despite things like Cirque du Soleil, the oldfashioned circus is a dying form of community entertainment. But there is hope in a Plymouth woman who is single-handedly striving to keep its dramatic performance style alive, teaching new generations what it’s like to swing on aerial silks, fly across a trapeze or offer the funny charm of a contortionist, mime, stiltwalker, fire breather, juggler or other forms of circus magic and dance.
Meet Micha Adams, the owner of Detroit Circus and the Detroit Flyhouse Circus School located in the Eastern Market
asked me when I might retire,” says Adams, a 56-year-old Plymouth Township resident. “I told her I love my job, and I’m not thinking about retiring but that I want to do this for as long as I can. It’s important to me to have a purpose, and that’s to hold this space we call circus open and available for others.”
That’s when Adams’ cousin reminded her of an apparent youthful boast.
“She said that that made sense because when I was young, like five or six, I was saying I wanted to run away and join the circus,” Adams continues. “Instead I created one. I run a circus, it’s absolutely true. It’s the craziest thing really.”
Despite being a “painfully shy” child, Adams said the idea of creating characters and bringing them to life in front of others brings joy to so many, including herself.
“Circus is about community, so in our studio classes we work and move in ways that support each other,” she explains. “This isn’t about competition, just exploring and learning and growing. We celebrate one another and doing something inherently thrillseeking creates deep bonds.”
area. Every day she lives a dream some of us once only imagined ever so briefly as a child. No, she never did run away from home – though she talked about it. Instead, her company, her troupe of performers, trainers and coaches, brings joy to large and small clients looking for a unique style of entertainment.
Beyond the circus companythat began around 20 years ago - Adams has been a performer all her life, and looks back even farther into her childhood to be reminded of her long-lost inspiration.
“I was talking to my older cousin a few months ago and she
Although she doesn’t perform these days, Adams leads a group of over 100 performers, men and women of all ages, who dangle, tangle, twist, contort, and dress up as they transform themselves at events throughout metro Detroit.
The circus – a school as much as anything – offers group and private lessons with a vast curriculum of traditional circus arts, as Adams calls it. Stage performers offer jaw-dropping acts as well as more simple fare like living statues, roller skaters and disco ball dancers. Training is constant, careful and designed to teach skills as well as poise, teamwork (essential to many circus acts) and confidence.
Circus is about community, so in our studio classes we work and move in ways that support each other. This isn’t about competition, just exploring and learning and growing. We celebrate one another and doing something inherently thrill-seeking creates deep bonds.
Micha Adams, owner of Detroit Flyhouse Circus School
The oldest of five children, Adams was born in Detroit and grew up mostly Downriver.
Once home she studied and began teaching yoga in New York, a practice she kept up when she eventually returned to Detroit and opened a studio in Corktown. She would also get deeply involved with a nonprofit “sanctuary farm” for rescue animals in mid-Michigan.
“I’ve always been interested in things outside the realm of what’s typical,” she says. “I’m adventurous I guess, always love creating my own kind of jobs and the arts resonated with me. I knew I could create and connect with people.”
went to school in Philadelphia and Montreal and just traveled to teachers and schools and learned how to this. It was a complete immersion.”
Adams quickly developed her passion performing, learning and being part of a different kind of community. Eventually she used her connections, especially through yoga, and opened her circus business.
Although she describes herself as athletic and strong, traditional sports were never of interest to Adams, who prefers hiking long distances across the country to playing on a diamond or court.
While in New York, Adams went to a Cirque du Soleil show with a friend and was fascinated by a woman performing with an aerial hoop.
“I said I wanted to do that,” she says. “I began researching and
At first her troupe was small, maybe a dozen performers, but as she expanded and began booking events as well as coaching and mentoring, the overlap between a “flyhouse” circus school and Detroit Circus turned her passion into a thriving business. That drive and energy helped Adams survive the pandemic when her business was labeled a gym, a “terrifying” time for her.
“It was heartbreaking,” she says, “because it’s my dream and I love what I do. Once we were able to reopen it came back slowly and steadily.”
Hundreds of people have been
through the school, some go on to be performers or coaches, others just want to experience it firsthand.
“People do this for different things,” says Adams, “some for fun and fitness or to be active, some who just want to play or workout and others love it so much they stay. They are more serious and want to perform.”
Although she found real interest in things like ceramic arts, art history and even chemistry, Adams went in a different direction after high school and began to travel widely in Central and South America.
“I did volunteer work connecting on my own and using books to discover ways I could help,” she says. “There were things like digging community wells, helping with orphanages and hurricane relief. I also found performance a big part of central American culture.”
Ultimately, Adams says, there is no one size fits all when it comes to her students. Some are young, others in their senior years. Some have dance or sports backgrounds, others just have a kind of drive and natural ability. Just how hard is it, seems like an obvious question.
“It’s way more nuanced than that,” says Adams. “It’s about specific strengths and weaknesses and your mental ability to do it. The whole point is to be there for the experience.”
The school does not work with animals and offers no classes for high-wire walking. Its most difficult skills revolve around aerial apparatus – hammocks, silks, hoops – that require constant climbing and moving.
Continued on page 16
Rock |
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Clients come in all forms, from the high-end corporate events or social soirees at the Detroit Athletic Club to backyard barbeques, children’s charities and masquerade balls. What Adams
supplies in terms of performers depends on the vision of the client.
Last fall, Adams moved to Plymouth to try and simplify her life so she could focus more on the circus business. She remembered performing in Kellogg Park and was able to find a condo in the community that she fell in love with.
“I love the community vibe,”
she says. “There’s downtown, the arts community, it’s like a little village. We have good music, festivals, it’s really special.”
Today Adams takes time to reflect on the rewarding aspects of her life.
“I’ve met the most wonderful people,” she says. “I’m surrounded by fantastic coaches and students. It’s so rewarding when it all comes together, when the team works so hard to create specific things for a client and we get great feedback.”
She loves to tell the story of a time when she was at an event taking photos of her performers.
“People don’t usually know who I am,” she explains. “I had a woman come up to me this time and say how cool the performers were. I said ‘I know, I know them.’ She asked how I knew them and I said they were from my company.”
That’s when the woman looked at her and remarked, “They’re so good,” leaving a big smile on
Adams’ face.
For more information about the Detroit Circus and the Detroit Flyhouse Circus School, visit www.detroitflyhouse.com or call (313) 674-6424.
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By Brad Emons
This year’s Plymouth Canton Educational Park spring sports season was filled with several noteworthy performances led by Canton senior long jumper Quincy Isaac, who garnered his third straight MHSAA Division 1 individual title (see our June issue).
But there were several other top teams and performers who left their mark for the 2024-25 school year.
Here’s a capsule look back at some of the spring sports achievements at Canton, Salem and Plymouth highs.
Plymouth (15-15, 5-9 KLAA West) made a trip to the Division 1-Regional 5 semifinals before falling to Northville, 2-1.
The Wildcats scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off rival Salem (12-18, 5-9 KLAA West) for the District 16 championship, 5-4, after upending KLAA East champ Livonia Churchill, 7-5, in the district semifinals.
Senior pitcher-shortstop Tommy Rose, who signed with Eastern Michigan University, earned D1 All-State honors and was selected to the 44th Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Classic on June 20 at Comerica Park.
Rose also made All-KLAA for the Wildcats along with seniors Nicholas Riebschleger and Brady Tegen.
Canton (21-17, 5-9 KLAA West) was represented on the All-Conference team by seniors Tommy Murphy, Teddy Winstel and Kessler Blakita.
Salem’s All-KLAA honorees included senior Tyler Taraszkiewicz, along with juniors
Jaxson Wisniewski and Sawyer Schacht.
Salem (29-10, 10-4 KLAA West) enjoyed a productive year before being ousted in the Division 1-District 27 semifinals by Livonia Stevenson, 7-4.
The Rocks were represented on the All-KLAA team by juniors Shannon McAuliffe, Erin Torok and Charlie Lindstrom, along with sophomore Mikayla Roberts and freshman Theresa Distefano.
McAuliffe went 22-8 on the mound with 372 strikeouts in 179 innings while sporting an earned run average of 1.21 en route to D1 honorable mention All-State recognition. She also batted .440 with 19 doubles, a triple, homer and 47 RBI.
Senior second baseman Hannah Simko made D1 honorable mention All-State for Plymouth (12-10, 8-6 KLAA West), which lost to Salem in the pre-district, 8-1. Simko was on the All-KLAA team along with seniors Emma McAvoy and Natalie McCall, along
with sophomore Skylar Weil. Canton (12-19-1, 4-9 KLAA West), ousted in the district semifinals by Northville, 12-4, was represented on the AllConference team by seniors Mia Thurman and Ryley Frank, along with junior Avarie Spuller.
SOCCER
Salem (14-8-1, 4-2-1 KLAA West), coached by Kyle Karns, made a run to the Division 1-Regional 3 final before falling to eventual state runner-up Saline, 4-0.
The Rocks blanked Canton in the District 10 final, 2-0, after defeating Westland John Glenn, 7-0. Salem then defeated Monroe, 6-1, to reach the regional championship game.
All-State honorees for Salem included junior forward Aubrey Krischano, second-team; senior defender Cali Schwartzenberger, third-team; senior midfielder Katie Sarkesian, junior goalkeeper Addy Messer, junior forward Lauren Fowler -- all honorable mention.
All-KLAA picks for the Rocks included junior defender Ainsley Meyer, Schwartzenberger, Sarkesian, Krischano and Fowler. Honorable mention went to senior Isabelle Prantera. sophomore Peighton Wagner and Messer. Canton (7-10-3, 3-4 KLAA West), which opened district play
with wins over Livonia Churchill, 8-0, and Plymouth, 2-1, was represented by honorable mention All-Staters Addison Lockhart, a junior defender, and Emily Fagerman, a junior forward.
The Cobras’ All-KLAA picks included senior midfielder Natalie Krupka, junior midfielder Mya Pickerell, Fagerman and Lockhart. Honorable mention went to seniors Natalie Langenderfer and Campbell Appert, along with sophomore Ava Murphy, Plymouth (11-8-1, 2-5 KLAA West) defeated Wayne Memorial, 10-0, in the district opener before falling to Canton, 2-1. The Wildcats were represented by honorable mention All-Staters Kenleigh Ball, a junior forward; and Emma Johnson, a junior midfielder.
Earning All-KLAA for the Wildcats included senior defender Ella Capaldi, Ball and Johnson. Honorable mention picks included junior Mady McCarthy, junior Abbey Kuehneman and sophomore Reagan Fluharty. BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Plymouth posted five All-State performances in the Division 1 finals held May 31 at East Kentwood to score 18 points and finish 14th overall.
The Wildcats were led by junior Sean Cinzori, third place, pole
vault (15 feet, 3 inches); senior Jack Chadwick, fourth, 1,600-meter run (4:18.95); and senior Ben Mussen, sixth, 1,600 (4:19.62).
Plymouth’s 4 x 800 relay team of junior Adrian Clarke, Mussen,
junior Lucas LaPointe and Chadwick took fifth (7:50.74) to earn All-State (top eight).
Canton, meanwhile, received all 10 of its points from Isaac, who cleared 24-11½ en route to first in the long jump, while Salem junior Ben Lievense placed fifth in the pole vault (14-9) to score four.
In the Regional 6 meet on May 16 at Novi, Northville captured the team title with 163 points followed by Plymouth, fourth (65); Salem, fifth (62); and Canton, sixth (58).
Individual regional champions included Canton senior Nathan Gilmour, 400 (49.41); Mussen, 1,600 (4:17.21); Salem senior Liam Reynolds, high jump (6-4); and Cinzori, pole vault (14-6).
In the KLAA meet May 10 at Hartland, Northville took the title with 130 points followed by Canton, sixth (59); Plymouth, seventh (40); and Salem, ninth (36).
Reynolds won the high jump at 6-8, while Isaac captured the long jump at 24-1½.
Plymouth senior Izzy Krause was the lone All-Stater from the Park as she took third on the podium in the shot put with a heave of 43-7¾ in the D1 finals May 31 at East Kentwood.
In the Regional 6 meet, Salem senior Natalia Bohn hit the trifecta individually with firsts in the 200 (25.6), 100 hurdles (14.87) and 300 hurdles (44.95). Krause also won the shot put (43-3).
Northville was the regional team champion with 118.25 points, while Salem took third with 78.5. Plymouth placed fifth (56.5), while Canton was 13th (12).
In the KLAA meet, Belleville captured the team title with 79 points to edge Novi (73.5), Salem and Brighton (71 each). Plymouth took ninth with 37.5, while Canton placed 13th with 12.
Bohn swept the 100- and 300 hurdles with times of 15.02 and 47.25, respectively, while Krause added a first in the shot put (38-7¾).
for the Wildcats included senior long stick midfielder Jimmy Cleveland, senior midfielder Ian Timberlake and sophomore Liam Villalobos.
Senior Jake Vale made AllKLAA along with Cleveland, Timberlake, Villalobos, while senior Chase Knutsen was honorable mention.
Salem (5-12, 1-3 KLAA East), ousted by CC in the regional opener, 22-0, was represented on the All-KLAA squad by senior defender Jacob Van Tol, senior attack-midfielder Sam Libbing and junior attack-midfielder Kai Prinzevski. Senior Ben Smigell was honorable mention.
Junior attack Sam Lockhart and junior defender Kole Stanchina made All-KLAA for Canton (3-12, 1-3 KLAA East, which was ousted by Ann Arbor Pioneer, 16-9 in the regional opener. Senior Nick Parris was honorable mention.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Canton (3-11, 2-1 KLAA East) placed four players on the AllKLAA squad including senior attack Hannah Ahmad, senior midfielder Addison Pianczk, senior midfielder-defender June Abrahamson and senior goalie June Wilkenson. Senior midfielder Addison Prozuczek made honorable mention.
Salem (5-15, 1-2 KLAA East) placed three on the All-Conference squad let by senior defender Emilia Muncy, senior midfielder Emrie Gay and junior attack Cate Martin. Junior Zoriah Bannister made honorable mention.
Plymouth (5-12, 0-3) had two players make All-Conference led by juniors Jaclyn Schlanser and Sofia Skora, while senior Elle D’Angelo made honorable mention.
Metropark, Salem came away with the team title scoring 299 as senior Nolan Kaminski took medalist honors with a 71, one stroke ahead of senior teammate Dominic Chaput, who was runner-up with a 72.
Meanwhile, Brighton (287) and Howell (290) went one-two in the KLAA pre-tourney April 24 at Kensington.
In the combined standings, Howell (590) and Brighton (594) placed one-one, while Salem (624) took sixth; Canton, eighth, 667; and Plymouth, 10th, 676.
Kaminski tied for fourth individually with a two-tourney total of 147.
In the Division 1-Regional 5 tourney May 27 at Washtenaw Golf Club, Brighton (297), Ann Arbor Pioneer (313) and South Lyon East (317) earned spots in the state finals.
Salem placed sixth with a 324 as Chaput finished 11th with a 78. Canton took ninth with a 342 led by senior D.J. Gorski, who placed 16th with a 79. Plymouth finished 11th with a 348 led by junior Ekam Kalsi, who tied for 16th with a 79.
In the Division 1-Regional 2 tourney May 16 at Novi Middle School, Novi and Northville finished one-two in the team standings with 28 and 26 points, respectively.
Canton placed fourth with 11 points led by singles semifinalists Saee Pawar, No. 1, a senior; Alyssa Mocanu, No. 2, a junior; Caitlyn Laidlaw, No. 3, a junior; and Michelle Mykytenko, No. 4, a freshman.
Salem, which tied for seventh with four points, had freshman Kavya Jhaveri (No. 2) reach the semifinals.
BOYS LACROSSE
Plymouth (7-9, 3-1 KLAA East) defeated Ann Arbor Huron, 12-6, before falling to state runner-up Novi Detroit Catholic Central, 21-3, in the second round of the Division 1-Regional 8 playoffs.
Honorable mention All-Staters
The Wildcats did reach the Region 2 regional semifinals before being ousted by South Lyon, 20-1, after defeating Canton, 9-8, and Salem, 15-7.
In the KLAA postseason tournament May 22 at Kensington
Plymouth, which tied for ninth, earned its lone point at No. 3 doubles by senior Audrey Kelly and sophomore Aralyn Johnson.
In the KLAA West dual match standings, Canton placed fourth at 4-3 followed by Salem, fifth (34); and Plymouth, seventh (1-6).
Full Digital Edition with expanded news coverage available August 1 on website: plymouthmi.gov
City of Plymouth voters will go to the polls on Tuesday August 5 to reduce the number of candidates from 9 to 8 in the race to elect four citizens to serve on the Plymouth City Commission in November. One election to eliminate one candidate!
The City features four distinct precincts. All registered voters may cast their ballots at the Plymouth Cultural Center, 525 Farmer St. According to Plymouth’s City Charter, no more than 8 candidates may run for 4 City Commission seats at Tuesday, November 4 general election. Because nine candidates filed to run for office, one must be eliminated in August before the general election.
City of Plymouth voters will elect four (4) candidates to the Plymouth City Commission in November. Voters will elect three Commissioners to 4-year terms, while the fourth-place finisher earns a 2-year term. But first comes the August primary. Here are the 9 candidates vying for the 8 seats, listed in alphabetical order: Joe Elliott, Jennifer Kehoe (incumbent), Alanna Maguire (incumbent), Kristin McHale Johnson, Nick Moroz (incumbent), Jim Mulhern, Ronald Picard, Scott Silvers and Karen Sisolak.
No one injured at Westborn Market crash
Fire and HVA officials had to extricate the driver through the rear of the vehicle, but no one was hurt at this car accident during Independence Day weekend.
Many “old timers” recall when the Bathey Manufacturing Plant on Mill Street, just south of Plymouth Road, was running three shifts a day, employing many college students with summer jobs in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Well, that was a long time ago.
Most of us now recall an old, vacant, blighted (and contaminated) Bathy site – until now!
Thanks to a public-private team effort, spearheaded by the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the City of Plymouth’s Economic Development Department, the old Bathey site has been transformed into an environmentally-sound Pulte Homes residential area: 76 new townhouses (Phase 1) and 29 single-family houses (Phase 2). That adds up to 105 new families who will increase the City’s population and tax base, along with additional retail growth and advancement. The development features walkways and paths which connect to BOTH Main Street and the Old Village business district.
Plymouth City Commissioners have approved almost $3 million in infrastructure and preventative resurfacing projects for 2025. Construction began after the July 4 Independence Day holiday The projects include:
1.Reconstruction of Holbrook St. from Plymouth Road north to the railroad tracks.
2. New water main on the west side of Holbrook from Plymouth Road to the railroad tracks.
3.New sanitary sewer on Holbrook from Spring to Liberty.
4. Several spot repairs to the sanitary sewer system.
5. New storm sewer within the intersections and at the low points of the storm system.
6. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades at each City intersection, plus elimination of a very steep sidewalk transition on the west side of Plymouth Road.
City of Plymouth has launched a new Nixle “Mass Notification” service which allows Plymouth residents and businesses to receive emergency alerts. Registered citizens and businesses may receive alerts in three different ways:
1.
2. Email; 3. Voice Mail message.
The notification service is very flexible, based on your personal needs. It allows you to choose HOW you want to receive emergency alerts – by text only, by email only, by phone only, any combination of 2 of the 3 delivery methods, or you may choose to receive all three communication methods. To register for the emergency notification system: tinyurl.com/CityofPlymouthEmergencyAlerts. Or, sign-up by texting: TEXT 48170 to 888777.
July 17 Plymouth Community Band (7 p m )
July 18 Hollywood Night (Steve King & The Dittilies) (7 p.m.)
July 23 PCAC Wilcox Wednesday (Noon)
July 24 Plymouth Community Band (7 p m )
July 25 ’90’s Night (Larry Less & Back in Day Band) (7 p.m.)
July 30 PCAC Wilcox Wednesday (Noon)
July 31 Plymouth Community Band (7 p m )
August 1 Wally Donoghue Car Show (Larry Lee & the Back in the Day Band) (7 p.m.)
August 6 PCAC Wilcox Wednesday (Noon)
August 8 Sports Night (Theo Gridiron & Friends) (7 p.m.)
Aug. 13 PCAC Wilcox Wednesday (Noon)
Aug. 15 Thunderbirds Celebrate 70 Car Show (Zang) (7 p.m.)
Aug. 20 PCAC Wilcox Wednesday (Noon)
Aug. 22 Military App. Night (Geff Phillips & Friends) (7 p.m.)
Aug. 29 ‘60s Night (Magic Bus) (7 p.m.)
(August 1 digital edition)
1. Recreation Fall Programs.
2. Complete Public Meeting Notes.
3. Plymouth Police Leadership Awards.
4. Additional Primary Election information.
5.2025 Infrastructure Project Update.
6. Passport Inspection Award.
7. First Responder Recognition Night
8. Updated concert & event schedules. Residents may subscribe to the digital edition of the monthly PLYMOUTH PULSE Newsletter: tinyurl.com/CityofPlymouthNewsletter
It’s election season, again, this time in the City of Plymouth.
There are four open seats on the commission— three four-year terms and one two-year term—with nine candidates running to fill them. The top eight candidates will be on the November ballot and the top three vote-getters then will be elected to the fouryear terms.
The Rock sent out a questionnaire to each candidate; their answers are below:
Name: Joe Elliott
Age: 58
Family: My wife Ellen and I have 2 adult children, a daughter-in-law, and a grand-dog.
How long have you lived in the community? Nearly 33 years.
Political or Community Service Experience: City of Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals (Appointed in 2016, chairperson since 2021); Volunteer with Friends of the Penn since 2006, (Secretary, Technology, Infrastructure, and Renovation Project Manager).
Professional Experience:
I recently retired after a 39-year career as a chassis systems engineer with a large automotive supplier. Over the course of my career, I’ve managed teams, budgets, product development, and project priorities. In my most recent role, I served as a technical project leader working on vehicle safety features (anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability control.)
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role? As a project leader in the automotive industry, my job was to clearly understand customer needs, develop a plan to meet them, coordinate teams to execute that plan, and ensure the final product met all requirements—on time and within budget. I also had to maintain open and consistent communication with all stakeholders throughout the process. I would bring that same approach to the city commission: listen, plan, collaborate, and communicate transparently.
Why did you decide to run for this office? I’m running because I care about this community. I’ve seen growing frustration among residents who feel their voices are not being heard on key decisions. I believe
the city needs greater transparency—especially around priorities, decision making, and budgeting. My goal is to bring a steady, thoughtful, and responsive approach to city government—one that reflects the priorities of our residents.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth? 1. Infrastructure. The city of Plymouth faces serious infrastructure challenges that demand long-term thinking and responsible fiscal planning. The central parking deck will eventually need to be replaced, but there is currently no funding plan in place. Many city-owned surface lots are also deteriorating without clear strategies for repair or replacement. 2. Rebuilding Trust in City Government. In recent years, residents have grown increasingly frustrated with the disconnect between City Hall and the community. We need a more engaged, transparent approach that builds trust and reflects the will of the people. 3. Growth and Affordability. Plymouth is a highly desirable city thanks to its walkable downtown, historic charm, strong community identity, and convenient location. The challenge is to welcome new people and new economic opportunities without destroying what makes Plymouth special.
At the same time, we face a growing affordability gap. Rising home prices and property taxes are making it harder for young families and first-time buyers to settle here. What recent issue would have you tackled differently? I would have handled the parks and recreation millage issue differently. Before proposing a tax increase, I would have first advocated for better communication about the current state of parks and recreation funding— specifically separating the parks budget from the recreation budget to give residents a clearer picture. Then, I would have engaged the community to understand whether current funding levels matched their priorities and expectations. If there was strong support for expanded services, I would have explored partnerships with neighboring communities or alternative funding options such as user fees, sponsorships, or support from private entities. A tax increase should not have been the first option. If a millage still proved necessary, the city should have presented a clear, prioritized plan outlining exactly how new funds would be used.
Name: Jennifer Kehoe
Age: 54
Family: Married with two
children, ages 19 and 22
How long have you lived in the community? Since 2000
Political or Community Service Experience: Planning Commission (7+ years); Brownfield Commission (7+ years); Girl Scout Troop leader for 5 years
Professional Experience: I hold a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Science (MS) in Toxicology from the University of Michigan. My professional background includes research in cancer and kidney cell signaling, as well as several years of teaching middle school science at a private school. I also took time away from my career to stay at home and raise my family.
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role?
Working in research taught me the importance of attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and a strong grasp of complex issues. As a commissioner, I’ve applied those skills
by thoroughly analyzing policies rather than simply approving them without question. My time as a stay-at-home mom allowed me to become deeply involved in the community and schools, helping me build strong connections and a better understanding of what matters most to people.
Why did you decide to run for this office?
After many years on the Planning Commission,
I felt that my unique perspective on smart growth could help guide Plymouth toward a healthy and vibrant future. The city is beginning a major downtown redesign, and I am deeply invested in creating an outcome that will serve the next generation.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth?
1. Transparency and community engagement. We need to keep residents informed and involved in decision-making. This leads to better policies that reflect the community’s actual needs and priorities.
2. Smart, thoughtful growth in Plymouth. This is imperative to preserve Plymouth’s character while meeting future needs for housing, jobs, and infrastructure. The right growth will ensure sustainability, economic vitality, and a high quality of life for all residents. 3. Doing more with less. Rising inflation is causing our expenses to grow faster than our tax revenues. To address this, we are strengthening partnerships and actively pursuing grant funding to help bridge the gap.
As always, we remain committed to making long-term, financially responsible decisions.
What commission accomplishment are you most proud of?
Re-engaging the City Commission with Old Village and helping to drive economic development, including the upcoming Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) that will capture the growth in tax revenue and reinvest it into Old Village. I contributed to the development of a new policy that supports and regulates the platform-style outdoor dining now commonly seen throughout downtown. Promoting environmentally friendly policies by encouraging the use of native and pollinator plants and advocating for ordinances that limit impermeable surfaces while requiring landscaping in residential areas.
Name: Alanna Maguire Age: 40 Family: I am married to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. We have two twin sons who recently graduated from Michigan State University.
How long have you lived in the community? I have lived in Plymouth my whole life, other than when I was in college (Ann Arbor) and graduate school (East Lansing).
Political or Community Service Experience: I am an incumbent Plymouth City Commissioner. I am also an active member and
trustee of the Plymouth Democratic Club (PDC).
Professional Experience: I am a senior accountant for an international engineering consultancy where I manage the financial matters for our offices in Plymouth, Washington, D.C., and Mexico City. I also manage accounts receivable for our offices in Canada, Texas, and Florida.
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role? I have been serving as a city commissioner for almost 4 years now, so I believe I have good and relevant experience for the job. In my professional life, I have sharp analytical skills and work with numbers and budgets every day. I work with clients and colleagues from around the world, which has strengthened my ability to communicate with people from many diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Why did you decide to run for this office? I am seeking reelection for a second term because I want to continue building on the progress we have made as a commission over the past four years.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth? Plymouth, like any municipality, is not without its challenges, but we have a beautiful and professionally run city. If reelected, I want to continue focusing on sustainable and green infrastructure, diverse programming and services for city residents (especially senior services), and fostering an inclusive, welcoming community.
I have been the strongest advocate for funding the Plymouth Community Council on Aging and better integrating senior programming into our city services. I also believe in keeping downtown parking free, increasing public-private partnerships to support Parks & Rec facilities and activities, and fostering greater transparency and accessibility in government. Lastly, Plymouth has an affordable housing problem. Having diverse housing stock is important, but that doesn’t just mean the types of structures. Plymouth is becoming unaffordable for too many people. Affordable housing is a problem across this country, and it will take the support of local, state, and federal leadership to address it.
What commission accomplishment are you most proud of? I am most proud of my advocacy for sustainable development and promoting green infrastructure and design. We must meet the challenges of the next decade, and there is no greater challenge than addressing the climate crisis. During my tenure, I promoted more rain gardens, more land acquisitions for public parks, voted for an impervious surface ordinance to reduce flooding, and got the City of Plymouth to participate in the Michigan Municipal League’s “Green Communities Challenge,” where communities across the state are scored on how sustainable and green their cities and towns are. We started at the bronze level and have worked our way to silver status.
I also worked with our Department of Municipal Services to increase access to kitchen waste composting, among other things.
Name: Kristin McHaleJohnson
Age: 39
Family: I live in Plymouth with my wife and our two daughters.
How long have you lived in the community? Since 2016
Political or Community Service Experience: This is my first time running for public office.
Professional Experience: I’ve spent my career as a product and technology leader in the fintech and HR tech industries. I currently lead largescale teams and manage complex initiatives focused on solving problems, improving systems, and delivering real-world results for users and organizations.
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role? My background in building teams, launching systems, and managing multimillion-dollar budgets has trained me to ask tough questions, stay grounded in the data, and collaborate across differences. I know how to bring people together around a shared goal and make sure the work gets done efficiently,
transparently, and with accountability.
Why did you decide to run for this office?
While I care deeply about our community, I’m also motivated by what’s happening nationally. I believe local leadership matters more than ever, and I want to make sure Plymouth continues to be a place that values fairness, inclusion, and community.
More specifically and recently, I’ve been frustrated by the lack of action around our parks, especially when spaces have been boarded up for more than two years with no clear path forward. Our parks are one of Plymouth’s greatest strengths, and I want to ensure we’re planning thoughtfully, budgeting wisely, and investing in the resources that matter to residents.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth? 1. Parks and Infrastructure. We need a real plan for maintaining and improving the green spaces and public amenities that define this community. 2. Sustainable Development. As we grow, we must balance new opportunities with the character, values, and environmental health of our city. 3. Community Engagement. Residents deserve more transparency and more consistent opportunities to be part of the decisionmaking process.
What recent issue would you have tackled differently? I would have prioritized creating a strategic plan and funding roadmap for our park system long ago, especially for sites that have been boarded up for
years. These spaces aren’t just amenities; they’re part of our community identity and letting them sit unused signals missed opportunities for connection, recreation, and civic pride. We personally chose our home because we were within 200-300 yards of two different parks. Both now have key pieces of the play structures boarded up with plywood – with no plan in place to raise funding to replace them.
Name: Nick Moroz Age: 41
Family: Leigh Moroz (wife), Zoe Moroz (daughter, 6), Beau Moroz (son, 3)
How long have you lived in the community?
Almost 13 years, since 2013. Before that, I lived in Northville.
Political or Community Service Experience: Plymouth City Commissioner 2017-present; Plymouth Mayor Pro Tem 20192021; Plymouth Mayor 2021-2023; Rotary Club of Plymouth (Club Service Chair, Memorial Scholarship Chair, Chicken BBQ, etc.); Miracle League (Buddy and announcer); Plymouth Democratic Club; Know Our Neighbor Committee (2017-2020)
Professional Experience: With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of innovation,
entrepreneurship, advanced manufacturing, and public service, I’ve built a career that bridges technical expertise with strategic leadership. I have led nationally recognized university innovation programs, co-founded and scaled deep-tech startups, founded a successful handcrafted product business, and served as an elected city official. Director of Entrepreneurial Practice, University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship (2018–Present); Chief Technology Officer and Founding Member, Detroit Materials, Inc. (2014–2017); Vice President of Engineering and Co-Founder, CSquared Innovations, Inc. (2010–2013); Founder, Detroit Bat Company (2012–2015)
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role? My professional experience has uniquely prepared me to serve effectively on the Plymouth City Commission by equipping me with a combination of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and a results-driven mindset. As Director of Entrepreneurial Practice at the University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship, I lead multimillion-dollar programs that require collaborative problemsolving, long-term planning, and the ability to navigate complex systems—skills directly transferable to municipal governance.
Combined with my experience already serving as a Commissioner, Mayor Pro Tem, and Mayor, I understand the responsibilities of this role and how to deliver for residents with transparency, care, and vision.
Why did you decide to run for this office? I’m running for re-election to the Plymouth City Commission because I believe in the power of local government to make a real difference in people’s lives, and I care deeply about the future of this community. I bring a strong track record of collaboration, transparency, and results, shaped by both my public service and professional experience leading innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives. Plymouth is a special place, and my wife and I are proud to raise our children here. I’m running to continue strengthening our neighborhoods, improving safety and accessibility, and ensuring smart, fiscally responsible growth for years to come.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth? The top three issues facing the City of Plymouth are 1. strengthening neighborhood resilience, 2. advancing proactive public safety, and 3. ensuring long-term financial sustainability. As our city continues to grow and evolve, we must reinvest in infrastructure and modernize zoning to support development that reflects Plymouth’s charm, promotes housing diversity, and preserves walkability. Public safety must also remain a top priority—not just through emergency response, but through better street design, pedestrian access, and technology that makes our city safer and more inclusive for all. Tying these priorities together is the reality that our ability to fund city services is increasingly constrained by the
Headlee Amendment and Proposal A, which automatically roll back our tax rate even as costs rise. That makes strong fiscal stewardship more important than ever— we need to be creative, collaborative, and efficient in how we deliver services and fund major initiatives.
What commission accomplishment are you most proud of? As a commissioner, I was most proud of the work I did to bring people together to achieve meaningful progress for our community. The passage and implementation of the streets millage was a major milestone—it improved nearly every aspect of our city’s infrastructure, added critical pedestrian crossings, upgraded utilities, and significantly enhanced quality of life across our neighborhoods. I also played a key role in advancing two major redevelopment efforts: the Bathey site and the Pulte townhomes project. These initiatives revitalized underused spaces, expanded housing options, and aligned with our city’s long-term vision. Both projects truly leveraged my full range of skills—from strategic planning and creativity to collaboration and coalition-building— and reflected my commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for Plymouth through teamwork, transparency, and thoughtful execution.
Name: Jim Mulhern
Age: 60
Family: Wife Jeanne, Kids
Ian & Olivia, Pugs Simon & Winston
How long have you lived in the community? Thirty years, at Arthur & Blanche
Political or Community Service Experience: Planning Commissioner from 2010-2018; Chair of Planning Commission from 2014-2018
Professional Experience:
I am an executive at Henry Ford Health and a small business owner in media.
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role? I’ve worked independently, in teams and in leadership throughout my professional life. I’ve been part of committees who had to evaluate strategies and projects. I’ve also presented to committees and executives on strategies and projects and I’ve been on local commissions where I had to listen, ask questions of applicants and listen to citizens. So, I have a lifetime of being on both sides of the desk – and the dais. From those perspectives, I know how to listen, critically evaluate, and be part of a functioning body who has to deliberate, work together and make informed decisions.
Why did you decide to run for this office? First and foremost, it is because I love Plymouth and I am positive about Plymouth. Most people reading this I suspect are as well. I want it to remain a great place to live, do business, and visit. Secondly, I’d been asked by multiple
neighbors to run. I listen to my neighbors. I’d been asked in prior years by the city commission to accept an appointment, but declined. I could not commit the time and energy at the time due to my professional life. Now I can, and I feel like it’s time to give back. Lastly, knew that I had the experience to do this job, and I have the temperament and judgment to do it effectively. I can join an effective commission and add value from day one.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth? 1. Quality of life. Balancing progress and development while maintaining the character and desirability of the city. 2. Finances. Responsible budgeting and spending taxpayer dollars to maintain our excellent city services and staff. 3. Community. Remembering, communicating and reinforcing that we are a community, so that we can function as an excellent city and a “neighborhood of neighbors.”
What recent issue would have you tackled differently? I oversaw multitudes of meetings, analyzed literally hundreds of packets of applications for a host of developments. So, to pinpoint one issue I’d have handled differently is a tough ask. I asked myself after virtually every meeting “Could I have handled that differently?”
I do this in business every day. If you want to improve, these are the questions you ask. What I’d say is I would have talked to more people who I didn’t know who live in town and asked for their general opinions. The city needs and deserves
commissioners who listen, take in the data, the objective facts, and can be trusted to do their representation based on the law, the Master Plan, and reason.
Name: Ron Picard
Age: 63
Family: Married Sheryl Phillips in 2010. I have one child, four step-children and two grand-kids. How long have you lived in the community? I’ve lived in the City of Plymouth for 15 years, since marrying Sheryl who’s lived in our house since 1986.
Political or Community Service Experience: I’ve always been someone who steps up and gets involved. It started in high school when I coached our church’s girls basketball team. Since then, I’ve held leadership roles in churches and community choirs, coached youth sports and robotics teams, and organized class reunions, block parties, and family vacations.
Professional Experience: I recently retired after a 40-year career in software development. Over the years I’ve worked both independently and as part of teams, often mentoring junior developers. Much of my work involved navigating projects with multiple stakeholders, each with their own priorities, timelines, and goals. I had to understand what
each group needed, find common ground, and help the team deliver solutions that worked for everyone.
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role? My experience has taught me how to listen, problem solve, and work with people who have different priorities. I’ve worn many hats—project lead, mentor, collaborator—and each role sharpened my ability to bring people together, manage complexity, and follow through. That kind of experience, balancing competing interests while keeping a project on track, is directly relevant to the work of a City Commissioner.
Why did you decide to run for this office? I love this city, but in recent years, I’ve become increasingly concerned about decisions and proposals that don’t reflect the priorities of residents. I’ve watched too many meetings where citizens show up frustrated and upset, feeling like their voices aren’t being heard. That shouldn’t be normal. We need Commissioners who truly listen to the community. I’m running to ensure residents have a stronger voice in the decisions that shape our future.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth? 1. Communication. The city has worked hard to communicate to residents, but what’s missing is communication with residents. The Parks & Rec millage is a good example. If the Commission had listened to the community’s priorities, they could’ve proposed a version that passed easily. Instead, the
millage failed not once, but twice. The message is our neighborhood parks will only be maintained if the residents support unrelated and unwanted projects. That’s not how trust is built. 2. Managing Growth. When experienced planning commission members were replaced, it delayed meaningful action on communityfocused development. The Champion PUD is a good example. Trying to push our population above 10,000 residents isn’t a good enough reason to approve a project that residents overwhelmingly oppose. Let’s grow by making Plymouth more attractive for young families, not by forcing unpopular developments. 3. Parking. This issue never goes away. Instead of quick fixes, we need a long-term budget plan. Maintaining the parking deck is becoming a growing annual cost. We can’t just hope voters will approve a big bond down the road. It may not be a flashy campaign promise, but planning ahead and living within our means is essential to Plymouth’s long-term success.
What recent issue would have you tackled differently? When “We Can Do Better” signs began popping up around town, it was a clear message from residents. They wanted to be heard and involved in setting priorities, but the city’s outreach often missed the mark, like survey questions asking what the Parks and Recreation department should do if the city had unlimited funds. That doesn’t help us set priorities or make tough decisions. When asking residents for more money, the goal should be a millage that brings
us together, not one that divides us. We need to clearly explain why we can’t maintain our parks within the current budget, especially when other cities can. And above all, we need to make sure we’re prioritizing what residents want, not pet projects pushed by a few individual commissioners.
Name: Scott Silvers
Age: 58
Family: Married, with one daughter, and two grandkids
How long have you lived in the community? 23 years
Political or Community Service Experience: Served as planning commissioner from 2015 to 2025, including role as vice chair. Responsibilities included reviewing land use proposals, guiding sustainable urban development, and shaping long-term planning initiatives to benefit the community. Actively contribute as trail coordinator for the Motor City Mountain Biking Association since 1995, overseeing trail design, maintenance, and volunteer engagement to enhance regional outdoor recreation and promote environmental stewardship.
Professional Experience: Currently serve as Architect and President of Hartsilvers Architecture & Design.
How do you think your
professional experience prepares you for the commission role? As President of Hartsilvers Architecture & Design, I’ve built and led a successful small business, managing expectations, delivering results, and solving problems every day. This hands-on background prepares me to serve with accountability, transparency, and a deep understanding of what it takes to get things done for Plymouth.
Why did you decide to run for this office?
After a decade of service on the Plymouth Planning Commission, I saw firsthand the importance of thoughtful leadership in shaping our community. When my tenure concluded, I knew my work wasn’t done. Running for city commissioner is a natural next step—bringing the perspective of both a longserving public official and a small business owner.
As President of Hartsilvers Architecture & Design, I understand how to balance vision with execution, meet goals, and deliver results.
What do you think are the top three issue facing the City of Plymouth?
1. Transparency in local government that ensures open communication, accessible decisionmaking, and accountable leadership that earns public trust. People want to know they are being heard.
2. Protecting Plymouth’s unique character by advocating for policies that preserve the city’s charm, history, and livability— balancing growth with the values that make Plymouth truly special. It’s why we choose to live here.
3.Smart Budgeting for city projects by committing to responsible fiscal management—tackling deferred costs and funding
initiatives in ways that serve residents wisely today and into the future. We need to do better.
What recent issue would have you tackled differently? N/A
Name: Karen Sisolak
Age: 63
Family: My husband Jeff and I have been happily married for 33 years and have three grown sons. How long have you lived in the community? We moved to Plymouth in 1998 when the boys were ages 1, 3, and 5.
Political or Community Service Experience: I served for eight years (2016–2024) on the Plymouth Planning Commission, including six years as Chair. I currently serve on the board of the Plymouth Old Village Association.
Professional Experience: After earning an engineering degree from Penn State University, I was hired by Ford Motor Company, where I built a career in Information Technology. While working, I earned a master’s degree and advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, eventually managing IT departments of 40 to 80 employees with budgets up to $13 million. In 2000, I stepped away from my career to focus on family, returning to the workforce in 2004 and working for a variety of companies before officially retiring in 2018.
How do you think your professional experience prepares you for the commission role? A career in information technology might seem quite different from serving on a city commission, but it has prepared me in many important ways. Early in my career, I developed strong analytical skills, learning how to break down complex problems, ask the right questions, build consensus, and implement practical, costeffective solutions.
I managed departments spanning multiple largescale projects, led global teams, and oversaw vendor relationships. I bring deep experience in project management, process improvement, and strategic planning, all of which are essential when evaluating city operations, reviewing budgets, and planning for the long term.
Why did you decide to run for this office?
I absolutely love the City of Plymouth. This community has given so much to our family, I feel compelled to give back. I credit our city leaders for much of the progress we’ve seen, but I also believe we can do better.
Residents deserve a real voice in shaping the future of our city, not just during elections, but throughout the decision-making process. After attending most city meetings in recent years, I’ve observed that public input often comes after decisions are already made. That’s not meaningful engagement.
I want to change that by advocating for a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, a more transparent and inclusive Capital Improvements Planning (CIP) process, and a pragmatic long-term strategy for maintaining
our infrastructure, including the parking deck, roads, parks, and public buildings. When we listen to residents early and often, we make smarter decisions and strengthen our community.
What do you think are the top three issues facing the City of Plymouth?
1. Lack of long-term infrastructure planning. We’re nearing the end of our current road bond funds, the parking deck is aging, and our public buildings and parks need investment, but there’s no clear plan to address these challenges. 2. Limited public engagement.
Surveys asking a few high-level questions, sent to only a portion of the community, and an opportunity for 3-minute public comments are not sufficient. It’s the City Commission’s role to ensure that policies reflect the values of the community. When engagement is ineffective, it leads to costly missteps like the failed millage proposals which erodes public trust. 3. Need for stronger fiscal oversight. While the City maintains a balanced budget, we must go deeper. Spending priorities should reflect community values, and that requires transparency, detailed discussions, and more public involvement. What recent issue would you have tackled differently? After the first failed Parks and Recreation millage, I would have pushed for a comprehensive community-wide survey to assess needs, priorities, and support for a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, something I publicly advocated for. Survey results would have guided meaningful conversations about options and longterm planning.
Photos by Bryan Mitchell
Downtown Plymouth was once again draped in patriotism on the 4th of July, when throngs of people flocked to the city for the Good Morning USA parade.
Thousands attended the annual parade, which took place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. along Main Street. Dressed up in red, white and blue, parade-goers saluted and celebrated Plymouth service clubs, marching bands, police and fire vehicles, veterans’ groups, politicians and more.
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