The Rock - March 2025

CELEBRATE AT EVERY TURN

Experience elegance and versatility at Chicane, the premier banquet venue for both weddings and corporate events. Our stunning Apex and Circuit rooms accommodate up to 120 guests and can be seamlessly combined for grand receptions or reserved separately for more intimate gatherings. Whether you’re celebrating your dream wedding or hosting a high-impact business event, our state-of-the-art digital equipment ensures flawless presentations and seamless connectivity.

For weddings, our expert planner and hospitality team bring your vision to life with personalized service and a luxurious, indulgent menu crafted by our masterful culinary team. For corporate gatherings, from conferences to gala dinners, we provide a sophisticated setting with advanced audiovisual capabilities to enhance your event.

At Chicane, every detail is designed to impress. Let us create a truly unforgettable experience, tailored just for you. Book your event today!

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. l Friday & Saturday: 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. 885 Starkweather St. l Plymouth•MI•48170 l 734-228-6888 l chicane.com

Local Journalism Matters

Please consider a donation to support The Rock. Since we began publishing more than four years ago, our goal has been to provide our readers with valuable information about the Plymouth community each and every month. Your support is vital if you would like to see us survive and grow. The Rock is sent free to every address in Plymouth, yet is not free to produce.

LOCAL Matters!

That is the foundation of this magazine. If you find it of value, please consider supporting it. We need your support.

Please send donations to: Journeyman Publishing 16435 Franklin Northville, MI 48168

You can also make donations via Pay Pal to kurtkuban@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance,

Publisher

Advertise in The Rock

• Reach 21,000 addresses every month.

• We direct mail to every address in the 48170 zip code.

• Our locally-owned and produced publication is an affordable way for your business to reach the entire Plymouth market.

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

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.

are welcome at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com

Our local downtowns will be experiencing lots of change

Buckle up, folks, because things are about to get pretty crazy in our local downtowns. Plans are either under way or just getting started that will elevate downtown Northville and downtown Plymouth to the next level as their respective Downtown Development Authorities (DDAs) have major projects in mind.

The Downtown Development Authority Act is, in my opinion, one of the most effective pieces of economic development legislation ever enacted in Michigan. First approved in 1975, it was designed to encourage historic preservation and allow for the purchase and disposal of real property. It was amended about six years ago to provide additional funding methods for public improvements within those districts as well as to clarify the legal mechanisms city officials can use to do so.

The funding mechanism can be a bit confusing, because the revenue for the projects does not come directly from taxpayers. What the DDA act does, in a nutshell, is allow cities to establish a downtown district. After the creation of the district, any increases in property values—through improvements, sale, building expansions or just the typical annual property value increases — are then set aside to pay for improvements in the district.

While the base tax level (established when the DDA was formed) still goes to municipal coffers, the increases are not tapped by regional authorities and are dedicated to those DDA districts. That’s why you can see sidewalk enhancements or street improvements, planters, trees and other projects in our downtowns.

That’s definitely the case in Plymouth and Northville, where downtown improvements over the years have made a tremendous difference, both in appearance and functionality. Both downtowns are popular not just with residents but with plenty of visitors who spend money at our shops and restaurants. The DDAs deserve a lot of the credit for the success.

In fact, both DDAs are looking to build upon that success and have plans to make more improvements.

In Plymouth, the DDA is launching its five-year master plan process, which will likely include features like a new streetscape and additional trees. It will also address parking and, most likely, pedestrian safety. It’s just the beginning of the process and they’re doing it the right way, with nearly a year of planning and seeking public input before any formal design is realized or construction started. Remember, there is a lot to take into consideration, including the needs of the businesses while the town is being torn up.

A year from now, however, downtown Northville may look dramatically different, as multiple projects will be under way this building season — many of which would be a major accomplishment on their own. This month Northville city and township leaders closed on the former McDonald Ford property on Seven Mile, which will be the new home of the Northville Farmers Market and be a hub of future community gatherings.

There will also be major renovations at Ford Field park, the daylighting of the Rouge River and construction of new park on the site of the former Northville Downs, where the first phase of construction of a major multi-use development will take place this year. It’s going to be a busy 2025.

It's certainly an exciting time to be involved, and I encourage everyone to make your voice heard. These are projects that will dramatically change our communities for the foreseeable future and it’s important to weigh in, to ask questions, to offer suggestions and, most of all, feel a sense of pride that our local leaders have steered us toward the right path.

I personally like to see the accommodations made for cyclists, and hope to see more of it, as well as some work to address the short walkway along Tonquish Creek near downtown Plymouth—it’s not much to look at now, but it could be a major jewel in the community. As always, I thank you for reading and welcome your feedback. What do you all think?

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.

Leave God out of it

In the last publication of The Rock, there was an opinion piece by a former public school teacher who took a lot of pride in the Chief mascot and argued against the new Cobra mascot. Quoting the former teacher, “All Christians must take offense to the nefarious mascot the institution now claims.” It was also stated that this may be the downfall of PCEP.

There is one really important thing to remember in this ongoing conversation: Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is a public institution designed to serve all students and not just one religious group. The good news is that the Chief mascot is not being taken away from Canton alumni. They are still free to have Canton Chief reunions and take pride in their former high school mascot.

Moving on as Canton Cobras has not been easy for many. The important thing to remember is to keep religion out of the continued conversation.

Michele McElroy

Stop the ‘SAVE’ Act

I strongly encourage you to call your U.S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to vote no on the upcoming SAVE Act, which would require presentation of one’s birth certificate or passport in order to vote. This affects women—in particular those without passports—since one’s birth certificate would not reflect the correct name of a woman who has taken her husband’s last name in marriage; thus, she would be ineligible to vote.

I urge you to educate yourselves further as this may affect a woman in your life or in your neighborhood.

Sandra Vala

Support all students

My grandsons are attending three different schools in the PlymouthCanton district. One is at Bird Elementary, one is at West Middle School and the oldest is at Salem High School. They are all feeling comfortable, safe and are getting a good education.

Some of their classmates receive additional support services for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This is a good example of why equity is an important feature and value of our public education where each child is given a fair chance to be a successful adult. If funding is cut for these types of accommodations, this quality of education will cease. Please continue to support the staff and administrators who are caring and interested in their students’ success. Encourage them to keep up the hard work and let them know they are appreciated for their efforts.

Cheryl Howard

Keep it up!

Thank you for the honest and transparent note in the most recent edition of The Rock about the township board meeting. I really enjoyed your statement in the last paragraph and I appreciate you bringing this mindful observation of the new administration to the township. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Keep doing what you’re doing.

Kerry Cragin Biskelonis

A bad decision

I just read about the newly elected Chuck Curmi making a decision to close the sprayscape at our local park. I, for one, find this to be a bad decision on his part.

It’s clear there was already a solution to the problem of chlorine runoff to the nearby creek. Two solutions actually and one was approved in the 2025 budget. I think Curmi is out of line to make this decision without at least running it by board members. He made a bad decision and should take another look and try to remedy his mistake. The $300,000 price to fix the issue does not seem unreasonable. What does seem unreasonable is having that wonderful sprayscape closed down.

I hope others will speak to this issue and have Mr. Curmi get the problem resolved ASAP. Many people probably won’t see/read the article and may not be aware of his decision. I think they will be pretty upset when they find out. I hope he’ll realize his idea is not what’s best for the community.

That park and waterscape are enjoyed by so many in the neighborhood. Karen Neal

Fix the sprayscape

It is extremely disappointing to learn that Chuck Curmi seems to believe that he, too, "is above the law.”

We have a duly elected board of trustees to participate in the democratic process of managing Township business. Let’s follow the rules and regulations established to govern the Township. If, as reported in your article in The Rock, the funds were allocated in the 2025 budget to do a permanent fix, let’s move forward and get it done so it will be available for at least part of the summer.

The spray park is a great opportunity for socialization by our young community members. As we experience more extremes in temperature, the opportunity to cool off in the spray park is a welcomed, fun activity. The park is a popular community asset. Welcoming those among us as neighbors is the right thing to do.

Thank you for writing about this issue and bringing it to the attention of Township residents. The Rock is a valuable magazine to keep us informed.

Edwin Page

Park needs to be safe for kids, too

Regarding the closing of the sprayscape in Plymouth Township, I would first like to make clear that I am not an expert in chemistry, environmental standards or health standards. However, the article has given me cause for concern, and I wish to share those concerns with you.

The primary purpose of a sprayscape should be for children to enjoy a safe, fun activity during summer months. The article mentions the relationship of chlorine safety for wildlife (fish) and potable water that is safe for people. The article fails to indicate what is safe for childrenthe main purpose for having a sprayscape. Since children are definitely not fish, I fail to understand the input by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) as the only reason for closing the park.

I care deeply about anything to do with the safety of young children. Please ask the board to step back and look into this further. As for the comment about the closure being somehow racially motivated, please, all children should be protected from environmental hazards. Please be color blind to this situation.

Marlene M. Landry

A great place for families

Read your article regarding the McClumpha Park sprayscape being closed for the 2025 season. I would like to see it fixed and opened by Memorial Day. Although I don’t know all the details, I often go up there in the evening and it is great to see all the families and kids enjoying the water and the park.

I hope this is not political since it will affect a lot of little children. Thanks for writing the article.

Mike Kavulich

At Edward Jones, we’re in it for the long haul. We’ll be with you every step of the way as you celebrate life’s biggest milestones. Let us help you work toward them.

We’re ready when you are. Contact us today.

John A Birchler CFP®

Financial Advisor

1176 South Main Street Ste A Plymouth, MI 48170 734-454-4653

A chiropractic visit can help heal your body naturally and could help you avoid taking medications or having surgery.

We are excited to offer the next level of natural healing, from spinal decompression to laser therapy to nutritional advice. We can offer you choices to getting better, naturally

Experience true health with our holistic approach. Our integrative approach addresses the cause, not just the symptom.

Still dealing with gut issues — IBS/SIBO, Leaky Gut?

Dr. Adam Mashike specializes in digestive issues. Make a call today!

Three ideas have played a big part in what’s made Don Soenen a legendary local business and community leader, a hard driving man who built a wide-ranging and successful career around technology, music, and auto racing, and who is now -- at age 78 -- starting a new venture.

What are they? Be decisive; be kind to people; and be ready to take calculated risks. Soenen may not call them a philosophy, but they are certainly part of what drives him to do what he loves, including opening the new Chicane restaurant in Old Village.

“I believe in being decisive, but also just be kind to people and understand how much risk you're able to manage,” says the Plymouth Township resident. “I tell people that all the time.”

Even though Chicane is a commercial venture, unlike his philanthropic efforts converting

old Plymouth High into the Plymouth Art & Recreation Complex (PARC), helping save the Penn Theater or leading the Michigan Philharmonic, among others, Soenen hopes it will become something that helps keep the community special and be transformative as a new destination.

“One of our guests recently told me that when she walked in it didn’t feel like Plymouth,” he says. “I wasn’t sure that was a good thing or not. But she meant it in a good way, how different it is yet feels right. It reflects this community, I believe. We’re still pretty traditional, and a relatively conservative community.”

Soenen sees Chicane as a traditional steakhouse that leans toward upscale, yet is modern and vibrant--a place for everyone, with live entertainment and delicious food.

“It takes us back in time, like

a supper club,” he says. “People would go out, have a nice meal, enjoy great music and it was easy going, even if you were all dressed up.”

Still, if you ask Soenen, who has lived in the community for over five decades, what drove him to build and open Chicane, he’ll also focus on how the restaurant and special events venue reflects his personal journey, starting as a young boy living on a farm to being an automotive engineer, owner of numerous businesses, a race car driver, concert promoter and passionate philanthropist.

As for the style of Chicane’s food, Soenen remembers his days as a youth when his mother made amazing pork chops from the hogs on the farm.

“I’m a farm kid at heart,” he says, “that’s why I wanted the best pork chop in town on our menu. I love the idea of entertaining through music so that’s why we

have great music every single night. It’s called Chicane in honor of a racing term.”

BEING DECISIVE

There have been many big moments for Soenen, whose journey began in a remote part of Minnesota. Early on he committed to making tough choices when he needed to and working to fulfill his dream of being an engineer. He got a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and went to work for Ford. Later on he would add an MBA from Wayne State. But his first moment of decision happened while working co-op at a Ford plant in St. Paul.

“They went on strike and my boss said I could stay and wait it out or I could go to Dearborn, Michigan,” Soenen explains. “I packed my bags and left for Dearborn that weekend.”

Soenen spent more than 12

years with Ford, eventually moving to the sixth floor of the world headquarters in Dearborn. He married Colleen and, after some apartment living, landed in Plymouth in 1969, though he’s not sure that was a decisive move.

“We just kind of stumbled on it,” he says. “I really have a fondness for this community. We built four homes here. What I’ve done here isn’t for financial gain, it’s for the community.”

Faced with a new career decision – Soenen wasn’t sure he wanted to stay with a big company – he joined a couple of partners in

Stage music venue in Canton Township. Fondly remembered by many, the Ford Road concert venue drew dozens of national acts beginning in 1979. He also got involved as an owner with the Token Lounge, a legendary Westland venue on Joy Road that still exists.

Eventually Soenen sold Center Stage in 1983, but not before working closely with the famous Brass Ring productions to bring big acts to Canton, including entertainers like the Police, Tina Turner, Dire Straits, Harry Chapin, the Specials and Hall and Oates.

“We presented all styles of great music performers,” says Soenen, who cherishes one photograph he still has from that era. “I remember when Rodney Dangerfield was on Johnny Carson and Carson asked him where he was performing next and Dangerfield says a hot new nightclub in Detroit called Center Stage.”

MOTORSPORTS JUNKIE

1980 and purchased an emissions testing company, Sensors Inc. of Saline, leaving Ford behind.

Four years later he sold the company to Dynatech Corporation and stayed on, though Soenen was again soon faced with another dilemma.

“Here I was working for a big company again and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life talking to stockholders and stuff like that,” he says.

Dynatech was selling some of its subsidiaries and Soenen jumped, buying up three smaller companies. He would eventually help manage 14 companies and own four. Later he would buy back Sensors.

Soenen next turned his love of music, especially old time rock and roll, into a business venture. He built and opened the Center

Ready to experience more, Soenen began his racing career later in life, eventually amassing 500 podium appearances over nearly 30 years of racing everything from stock cars and Trans Am to open-wheel, sports car and rally events.

Soenen always had a passion

schools where he met a driver named John Cloud. They hit it off over lunch and he invited Soenen to come to Daytona.

“I bought a car that day,” he says.

But things didn’t go as planned the first time out. Driving a Thunderbird at his first race at Sebring, Soenen was running over 100 miles per hour when he “got into trouble” and slammed into a concrete barrier. Unhurt, he got back to the pit area and asked anyone who would listen if he could “rent” a car.

Undeterred, Soenen picked up a stock car a week later--and so began a journey that led to his Soenen Motorsports, with 60 employees and several drivers racing from Indy and Daytona and across the country.

In 2004 Soenen was given the Bennett Award as a National

for automobiles--even as far back as far back as the farm and dreamt about the Indy 500. Eventually he decided to test his skills at several race driving

Driver of the Year for his racing skill and achievements in “Historic Sportscar Racing Series,” covering all race classes including stock car and Trans Am.

Though Soenen Motorsports is no more, and he stopped racing around 2020, his passion for cars shows in his garage with his collection of more than 13 cars, half a dozen motorcycles and walls full of medals, trophies, cups and racing memorabilia. His favorite is his white Mustang Cobra, but his most valuable is a Ford GT.

LASTING LEGACY

Sometimes it’s hard to assess what it means to be nice to people. Some think it is just smiling or laughing, to others it may be sharing a meal or a moment, and for still others it might be helping a cause. It can also be about family. For Soenen, it’s all these things.

Being married to Colleen for 50-plus years, raising four children and enjoying eight grandchildren, he knows the power of family. Each year he showcases his grandkids in an advertisement in the Michigan Philharmonic program book, setting aside his own deeds to share how important his family is.

But it’s also about service. Soenen led the Michigan Philharmonic for 18 years and remains on the board, having helped transform the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra into a regional philharmonic. He serves on another half dozen boards and has several passions for organizations like Lost Voices, the Rotary Club and PARC.

Continued on page 8

Continued from page 7

The Plymouth Chamber of Commerce is honoring him this year for his work with its annual Legacy Award.

Soenen is well-known for helping save the Penn Theater, along with other community leaders, as well as purchasing a CSX caboose on display at the Plymouth Historical Museum. Most don’t know that Soenen likes to play Santa Claus at the Old Village Association holiday party.

His biggest contribution to community culture may have been acting as a driving force for saving Central Middle School (originally Plymouth High School) and turning it into an arts and recreation center known as PARC.

Today Soenen is president of PARC, which houses more than 50 local organizations offering music, dance, education, theater, art, culinary and fitness programs. The nonprofit may not have happened if people like Soenen

had not stepped in. It was another moment for being decisive.

“I got a call on a Sunday that we needed to act quickly and get a meeting with the school district who owned the land,” he says. “The next morning we had a meeting and were ready to get a deal to take over the land and building.”

TAKING RISKS

Soenen, who wakes up at dawn or earlier every day, has a busy schedule with his new restaurant, which often keeps him up until after 11 p.m. He is proud of his Belgian heritage and the fact that all four of his grandparents came

885. And he certainly asked himself why he needed a new venture at his age.

“It was about doing something for the community,” he repeats. “So I assessed the risk. You’ve got to be prepared to take calculated risks. I understood how much risk I was willing to take on and I could handle.”

to this country to farm.

“Just be nice,” he smiles, “though that can sometimes be hard for the Belgian in me. Generally, I really believe that.”

He’s also about taking risks, clearly, and Chicane was a big one. Never interested in political office, Soenen believes he can do more as a private citizen.

“When you take the lead and commit to something it allows you to exert influence and get others to join us,” he says. “I don’t worry about what others think-except maybe my wife.”

Like many she must have wondered seven years ago why Soenen bought the former Station

Now every night on Tuesday through Saturday you’re likely to see Soenen walking through the restaurant and talking to people, telling them stories, perhaps explaining what a chicane is (a twisty turn on a race track) or just enjoying himself.

“My fun comes from spending time with people,” he says. “I just like being around others. I’m also about people needing to do what they want to do, and if it’s not right, then change it.”

Final story. After selling Sensors Inc., Soenen would later buy it back. Then in 1998 he sold it to his employees. He called it a classic win-win, and just maybe another example, of doing right by people.

There's Something Special About Folk Music

Music, friendship and creativity thrive at the BaseLine Folk Society

By Kevin Brown | Photos by Bill Bresler

On a chilly winter night, it’s warm as a campfire hootenanny inside the Plymouth Community Arts Council building on Sheldon Road.

That’s where the BaseLine Folk Society meets on the third Saturday each month, September through May. Roughly 60-100 folk music lovers consistently attend. Some perform in the open mic portion of the show, playing 10-minute spots. Featured performers play 30-minutes. Attendees hear everything from folk and bluegrass standards to “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover” or even “Viva Las Vegas,” by an acoustic guitar-based band. It’s not a secret society. But if it’s a conspiracy you seek, know this one welcomes all to share

good feelings.

“I think that is something special about folk music, that it

evokes a communal spirit,” said Stephanie Sorenson, a long-time attendee and now BaseLine board

member. She met her husband at a BaseLine meeting. “So many of our patrons are recurring attendees and you'll see during the pre-show and intermission times that everyone is busy chatting and having a nice conversation with each other.”

BaseLine president Cathy Miller stepped to the microphone to open the meeting. She sings her original song “Welcome to BaseLine”:

“Well here at BaseLine there’s one thing for sure

If you got troubles well, we’ve got the cure

Listen to the music and your cares will wash away

And you’ll be happy that you spent another day. Here at BaseLine.

We welcome you!”

It’s Miller’s ninth year as president. “I love this music because it has meaning and comes from the heart and can move an audience to laughter or tears,” she said. Her duties include facilitating BaseLine’s seven-member board meetings, scheduling featured performers, writing and distributing a newsletter, “and assuring that the warm, welcoming atmosphere that we have worked so hard to achieve continues.”

Miller said her most satisfying moments include the times performers return, and say it feels like coming home.

On this night, songs ranged from Woody Guthrie, Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot numbers to “Unchained Melody” and a rousing acoustic version of the Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” performed by the threepiece acoustic featured group “Voices of Chaos.” Patrons pay a $7 donation to attend the 7-9:30 p.m. meeting.

WHAT IS FOLK MUSIC?

“Folk music tells a story of people and times to be remembered,” Miller said, like narrative ballads, love songs and hymns, work songs, sea chanties, children’s songs and songs of protest and social change. Most performers are amateurs, but several have performing experience. They include Marty Kohn, a long-time metro Detroit Free Press journalist and folk musician, and wife Laura Kohn, tuning their guitars in a back room before an open mic spot.

Marty explained he got into folk music during the late 50s-early 60s folk boom days. He was inspired to learn fingerpicking from records of Mississippi John Hurt, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Rev. Gary Davis – who inspired Peter, Paul and Mary.

“All they will call you will be deportee,” the couple sings, covering Guthrie’s “Deportee” about a 1948 plane crash that killed 28 deported Mexican migrant workers. The social commentary echoes today.

Sorenson was introduced to folk music through her father, who played clawhammer banjo. “I was totally captivated by the sound. It was simple and pure. I

NORTHVILLE ROOTS

The BaseLine group was formed by Mike Mullen in the mid-2000s as an open mic at the Northville Art House, then grew so popular that a larger location was needed a few years later. Mullen said some of the performers then still perform at BaseLine now.

later took up playing the fiddle and guitar and I discovered a wonderful community of musicians. It was nice to hear people carrying on the tunes of centuries past, as well as more recent figures like Woody Guthrie, Elizabeth Cotten and Pete Seeger,” she said.

A Complete Unknown, the recent Bob Dylan bio pic – much of it focused on Dylan’s early ‘60s folk music days in New York City’s Greenwich Village – has won a big audience and an extended theatrical run, which suggests folk music, rooted in tradition, indeed lives in the present.

“Folk music was a part of my life growing up in northern Michigan,” said Sara Thompson, who also serves on the BaseLine board. “My oldest brother Richard played the guitar, and I loved listening to him sing. He introduced me to a baritone ukulele, and pretty soon I was strumming along with him around a campfire. I’ve always loved to sing, too. Songs by The Kingston Trio; Peter, Paul and Mary; and many others filled our home with music.”

She learned of BaseLine through Cathy Miller, a coworker.

“Folk music is really about blending traditional acoustic sounds with storytelling from the perspective of the common man and woman,” Sorenson said. “Despite folk music's often simple composure, it expresses a rich wisdom about life's trials and joys that gives listeners reason for pause and reflection.”

The BaseLine Folk Society hosts monthly open-mic nights at 7 p.m. on the third Saturdays of the month, September-May, at the Plymouth Arts Council building, 774 N. Sheldon Road in Plymouth. Admission is $7 admission, and memberships are available. For more information, find them on Facebook or send an email to bfspresident4u@gmail.com.

Downtown Plymouth Ready For A Facelift

New streetscape, pedestrian improvements among ideas for 5-year DDA plan

By Scott Spielman

Officials in the City of Plymouth are beginning to envision what the next phase of downtown improvements will look like.

The city Downtown Development Authority (DDA) adopted a five-year strategic plan recently that will be implemented

engagement program will determine that. We’re in the project of developing a request for proposals to kind of guide us. That’s going to be the first step.”

The strategic plan identified key areas to improve within the downtown district, as well as top priorities within those areas. The key areas include everything from the streetscape, itself, to pedestrian crossings, downtown trees, pathways, additional art and, of course, parking.

“We want to look at things like improving the walkability of Main Street across from the park, maybe expanding sidewalks, changing traffic flow,” Plymale said. Among the top priorities are:

• Prepare a streetscape improvement plan to enhance aesthetics

• Make landscaping consistent throughout the DDA

• Review opportunities to maximize sidewalk areas

• Create a proactive community engagement plan

• Resurface existing parking lots, as needed

• Create a plan to reconstruct or replace the central parking structure

• Maximize the number of available parking spaces

• Address downtown tree issues

• Create brick pathways consistent with those in Kellogg Park

• Evaluate the potential for public wi-fi in downtown Plymouth

residents, and ensuring they are kept informed and involved throughout the process.

“That’s part of the process, too: the communication with the businesses,” he said. “The first year will be planning and public engagement. Probably the design phase and the development of the community engagement plan will happen this year. I don’t anticipate any construction on that in 2025.

“We want to make sure we do all of this work on the front end so this isn’t a surprise to people and there’s a real opportunity for full community engagement,” he added.

It has been more than 10 years since the downtown streetscape

beginning this year. The plan includes refreshing the streetscape and other enhancements, said DDA Director Sam Plymale.

“Over the next couple of years, we’ll be looking at giving downtown a little bit of a facelift,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what that’s going to look like. The design firm and the community

Other concepts include exploring options for alternatives for turf grass and look into better management, along with bringing more public art to the DDA area.

Plymale said the process is just getting under way, and the most important aspect of the work now is developing a plan to seek public engagement, including business owners and

was last improved. Plymale said there are opportunities to look at some out-of-the-box kind of projects, such as raising Penniman Avenue in front of the Penn Theater so it is at the same level as Kellogg Park. That would allow for the extension of event space in front of the downtown jewel, making it more of a Europeanstyle square. In that concept, the

is the way to go.” That alone will be a complicated process, since most of the roots are entwined.

“Obviously parking is always a big thing,” he added. “If there’s areas where we can have parking during this process, that will be part of the discussion, as well.”

Figuring out how to phase that out will be part of the process. We don’t have a definitive timeline right now, but this is the cornerstone of our five-year planning process. We anticipate this taking the full five years.”

curb would be eliminated and replaced with bollards. Plymale said it would probably be a point of discussion throughout the planning process, but he wasn’t sure how practical it would be.

“It’s something we have talked about before,” he said. “It would still be used for motorized traffic but it really naturally enhances the event space. We’ll be taking a look at it, but I don’t know how cost-effective it would be.”

Among the certainties will be

a refreshed streetscape, new trees and plenty of discussion about parking—both to accommodate it through any construction and how to maximize it, long term.

Many downtown trees are in distress, he said, and most have outlived their expected life cycle. Plus, they’re all the same kind.

“A tree replacement program is almost a certainty; it doesn’t mean every tree in the downtown,” he said. “I think having a diverse species throughout the downtown

Plymale stressed that this is just the beginning of the plan and there will be plenty of opportunities for anyone who wants to weigh in on the discussion to do so. The first step, he said, is to develop a request for proposals and choose a design firm to help guide officials through the work. A comprehensive engagement plan will be part of that initial request for proposals.

“We need to get somebody to come in and come up with a proposal,” he said. “Part of the planning process is: how does all this construction happen? You don’t want to tear up all of the downtown at the same time.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The Downtown Development Authority is starting to develop a new five-year strategic plan for downtown Plymouth. A big part of that process will be engaging with the public, both residents and business owners. What would you like the DDA to focus on as it looks to make improvements to the downtown area?

Email your opinions to Editor Scott Spielman at scottyspielman@gmail.com.

When life gets crazy, Bonnie Springstead turns to hockey.

And the 67-year-old plays a lot of hockey, competing in men’s rec leagues and drop-in contests at the Plymouth Cultural Center and other ice arenas in the area.

“First of all, it’s the stress relief,” said Springstead of her insatiable desire to lace up the skates and jump over the boards.

“When you’re on the ice you can’t think about anything else except hockey. You’re exercising but you don’t know you’re exercising. It’s fun, it’s the most fun and it’s not easy to find things where you’re really having joyful fun all the time.

“Hockey is therapy.”

Springstead, who as a young girl

skated on a canal in Grosse Ile but didn’t actually join a league until age 42, discussed her affection and “addiction” to hockey during a pre-game interview at the Plymouth Cultural Center -where she plays right wing for t he Leafs squad in the Tuesday morning Over-60 men’s league.

Often referred to as “The Pest” during games because of her forechecking prowess and sneaky skills in the offensive zone, Springstead always possesses a smile and warm demeanor as soon as the final horn sounds, hanging out with guys who might just have worn themselves out trying to knock her off the puck.

“I like to think I have a good rapport with all of them,” said Springstead, known simply as Bonnie by most of the PCC staff

and league members. “I’m sure I have people who don’t like me and I have my fans, too. But the guys have been great. They’re accepting. If they get mad at you they get over it right away. I think that’s the best thing about playing with men, they don’t hold a grudge. Once you’re off the ice it’s over.”

PLAY THE GAME

Springstead, a Canton resident, insists that players don’t treat her any differently because of her gender or the fact she is slight of build at just 5-foot-2 and 120 pounds.

“If I come in the zone and the defenseman backs off that really makes me mad,” said Springstead, who also subs in men’s leagues and drop-in programs in Westland, Redford and Farmington Hills,

logging as many as eight games a week. She also subs for Plymouth Cultural Center’s Wednesday morning Over-70 men’s league and occasionally skates in drop-in sessions there.

The positive rapport goes both ways, with league veterans such as John Wilson happy that the league (and an adjacent drop-in program on Mondays and Fridays) has Springstead on board.

“Bonnie is well liked and respected in the league,” said Wilson, who Springstead originally connected with around the new millennium to join his then Over-40 league, having stumbled across an on-line advertisement.

“We enjoy having her, as well as a couple other ladies in the league,” noted Wilson in a recent

e-mail. “She has been with us the longest. She's very competitive and a fast skater. You have to watch out for her and not take her for granted. She has a good awareness of the game.”

The league keeps changing its name as the decades roll by, but the main ingredients of hockey, camaraderie and fun remain as evident as ever.

STICKING POINT

Meanwhile, if there are any downsides to playing in a men’s league, she explained, it’s the cramped and less-than-desirable places she uses to change into her hockey gear.

“It’s just some of the places where I have to get changed,” Springstead continued. “There’s broom closets, medical supply rooms, ref rooms, even bathrooms.”

Following games, she might briefly discuss the action in the team room before returning to her changing area.

“I like to think I know all of these guys really well,” Springstead said. “For one thing, when you do drop-ins (on Mondays and Fridays, also at

PCC) there’s coffee and donuts after. I’ve been playing with these guys for 20 years at least so I think I know most of them.”

Although Springstead these days is a hockey-playing vagabond who on one particularly busy day logged four games in three locations, she always has been drawn to the sport – at least once she met her future husband Andy (a former high school goaltender) while both attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she earned an accounting degree.

Springstead’s love of the sport started to grow during her “hockey mom” stage, watching sons Adam and Chris play. Her third son, Patrick, has disabilities and lives in a center not far from where Bonnie and Andy reside.

“I never put hockey skates on until my kids were in high school,” she noted. “I don’t know why I started. I was scared of getting hurt. But once I put the equipment on I was addicted. It was when you realize you can fall and it doesn’t hurt.”

At first, she skated in a Downriver women’s league and did drop-in sessions at Yack Arena in Wyandotte.

After Adam and Chris went off to college, Bonnie saw an advertisement about John Wilson’s Plymouth league.

“When you’re on the ice you can’t think about anything else except hockey. You’re exercising but you don’t know you’re exercising. It’s fun, it’s the most fun and it’s not easy to find things where you’re really having joyful fun all the time. Hockey is therapy.”

— Bonnie Springstead

“He (Wilson) used to have a lot of women in his league and by the time I joined I was the only one,” Springstead continued. “He had a drop-in here, and that’s how I got into this league.”

Once Springstead found a new hockey home there was no looking back.

“I’ve never had a break,” she said, with a laugh. “I just get more and more obsessed.”

Hockey has been a godsend on many levels for Springstead, but it’s not all she has on her plate.

“Absolutely, it (hockey) gives me more energy to finish the day out for whatever I have to do,” said Springstead.

In some ways, Springstead has always gone “all-in” on what matters most to her. Before recreational hockey grew into a strong interest, it was learning to be a home-care worker and advocate. Today, she continues coordinating Patrick’s care.

Rolling up her sleeves in the “complex world of disabilities” underscores that virtually anything can be a passion.

But she admits hockey has given her an incredible outlet since lacing up the skates for the first time.

“When you’re in that stage of life, and I was in my forties, you just have to have a passion or else you lose your zest for life,” said Springstead.

For more information about hockey leagues and open skates at the Plymouth Cultural Center, visit the city’s website at www. plymouthmi.gov and click on recreation.

Plymouth-Canton Students Qualify for Prestigious Scholarship

National Merit Scholars represent top 1% of high school students nationwide

It has been another banner year for students in the Plymouth-Canton Community School District.

Nearly two dozen P-CCS seniors met the academic requirements to be eligible to apply for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship, according to school officials. Twenty-two were eligible and awards will be announced later this month.

“We are proud of our National Merit Scholarship finalists from Canton, Plymouth and Salem high schools for working hard and showing they are among the best students in the country,” said P-CCS Superintendent Monica L. Merritt.

“This is the largest number of Merit finalists from P-CCS I can remember,” said Frank Ruggirello, communications director for the school district.

The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes fewer than 1% of high school seniors across the country. Finalists take part in a rigorous application process that takes into account students’ PSAT/NMSQT scores, academic performance, leadership roles, community service, employment history and other awards they’ve earned.

The National Merit Scholarship program offers three types of scholarships. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships. In addition, more than a hundred corporations and business organizations will sponsor another 770 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. Lastly, about 150 colleges and universities fund 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

More than 30,000 students applied for those scholarship opportunities. Of those applicants, about 6,870 students will receive scholarships.

“We are thrilled to see our students earn the opportunity to win a National Merit Scholarship, and we look forward to their continued success,” Merritt said. “We are committed to ensuring our students get a world-class education that prepares them to excel and succeed beyond high school, whether they choose college or a career.”

For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit www. nationalmerit.org.

Canton High School

National Merit finalists are:

SANJANA ADDEPALLI

YANNA CHAMISO

SHOURIK DAS

AADITYA M. DESAI

TAMAKI IMAI

ANVI JAMPANI

DEENA KHALIL

RISHI NAIR

MIHIR SHASTRY

ALOK SWAMINATHAN

HANNAH THOMAS

Plymouth High School

National Merit finalists are:

SIDDHARTH IYER

ARIVAN MUDALIYAR

EUNICE QIAN

SIMRAT SIDHU

ARUSH VATUL

Salem High School

National Merit finalists are:

JURNOOR S. DHILLON

DHRUV V. HEGDE

ROHIT MAHESH

SAHANA G. SHANKAR

ASHRIYA S. SUNKARA

ETHAN P. ZHANG

Peek Inside Your Health: Full Body MRI Screenings Unveil Silent Issues Before Symptoms Arise

(SOUTHFIELD, MI) Full body MRI clinics have gained national attention lately, as TV personalities publicly share their personal full body scan experiences. One actress credits the scan for saving her life after doctors dismissed her unexplained pain for months. After various tests, including a CT scan, had “unremarkable” results, the pregnant actress became her own advocate, searched out a full body MRI clinic and discovered she had pancreatic cancer. Thanks to early detection the tumor was removed successfully.

As a general rule, when symptoms occur related to cancer, it usually has progressed to stage three or four. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screenings only cover about 29% of cancers with 71%

occurring outside of where doctors are able to screen. However, full body MRI scans can detect cancer in every organ from the top of the head through the genitals and can detect it very early.

For a long time, full body MRI scans were available only in select areas outside of Michigan, requiring expensive flights like in Vancouver or California. However, this changed when a clinic opened in Southfield, making these scans available to Metro Detroit residents.

“Our advanced MRI screening can detect cancers very early when they are as small as a pencil eraser and are more easily treatable. If cancer goes undetected, however, it can grow into stage three or stage four with difficult treatments. We can also identify conditions such as brain, abdominal, chest,

and groin aneurysms,” stated the founder of the Southfield clinic called Bionicc Body Screening.

The primary focus of Bionicc Body Screening is to deliver peace of mind, offering a comprehensive and detailed imaging of the body’s internal structures. The ultimate hope is for excellent health. However, in the event that something is detected, the advanced screening aims to catch any potential issues at their earliest stages. This approach offers the best opportunity for successful treatment outcomes, should the need arise.

Robert B., age 50, opted for a full body scan from Bionicc Body Screening and a very small tumor was detected. He said, “It saved my life. Their MRI found a

kidney tumor that had been missed by a recent CT scan. I cannot recommend this service more.”

Take the first step to learn more about full body scans by visiting www.BioniccBodyScreening. com and request a free, no obligation Information Kit. Request it today and you’re also guaranteed a copy of their FREE eBook, Catching Cancer Before It’s Too Late! (This is a limited time offer.) Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC

In 2003 when Nan Washburn founded the Celebration Youth Orchestra in Plymouth -- now called the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra -she had no idea that a 7-year-old autistic boy from Dexter would end up becoming an acclaimed classical musician in part because of his experience with the organization.

More than two decades later, Stuart Ross Carlson, that child with a gift for music, debuted his exquisite viola concerto on a cold January weekend with the Michigan Philharmonic, performing under the direction of Washburn, its music director and conductor.

“Stuart is quite simply remarkable, both as a person and as an exceptional musician,” says Washburn. “His musical gifts were certainly apparent when he joined our youth orchestra so many years ago and it has been truly an honor to watch him grow into the extraordinary young man he is today.”

The story of Carlson and music goes back to March 8, 1996, when he was born prematurely at U-M Hospital. He spent more than three months in the hospital. That is where he was first exposed to music, thanks to the medical team who played classical and popular recordings in his incubator. Three years later, he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.

“I first started playing an instrument when I was 2 years old,” explains the 29-year-old Ann Arbor resident. “One of

my earliest memories was when I played a toy Casio piano for many hours in the day.”

When asked in school at age 10 what instrument he wanted to play, Carlson chose the violin, saying he was fascinated by the pizzicato sound (which means plucked strings).

One might say that his journey to becoming a professional violinist and violist and soughtafter composer and arranger began right here in Plymouth, with the Philharmonic’s youth orchestra.

“We would go to concerts in the area,” says Jack Carlson, Stuart’s father and now his business manager. “I am sure we went to a Michigan Philharmonic concert, and we must have found out about the youth orchestra. I remember

his audition with Ariel Toews who conducted the youth orchestra.”

While the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) goes back to the 1950s, when it was known as the Plymouth Symphony, it was Washburn’s revitalization of the program that has grown it into a notable classical youth ensemble that has more than 100 students ages 8 to 18.

A highlight of the MPYO are the side-by-side performances with the Philharmonic’s professional musicians. One such performance stands out for Carlson.

“The moment that sparked my interest the most to become a professional musician was when I did the side-by-side performing the Shostakovich Festive

Overture,” says Carlson, who is a member of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and regular performer and soloist with the Michigan Philharmonic. “Seeing the professionals up close was key. And Nan Washburn has been amazing with me both during my time with the youth orchestra and Michigan Philharmonic.”

Longtime Philharmonic Executive Director Beth Stewart marvels at what Carlson has been able to do.

After graduating from Dexter High School, Carlson went on to study at the University of Michigan, earning multiple degrees in violin, viola and composition.

As his artistry and ability grew, so did Carlson’s opportunities to hone his passion and share it with the world. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by ensembles across the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.

One interesting opportunity came from 800 miles away, in Topeka, Kansas.

PUBLIC TELEVISION CONNECTION

About 10 years ago, Carlson arranged a selection of traditional carols for string quartet, which he published as “Carols of Christmas.”

“It has been beautiful to watch Stuart grow in his talent and artistry from the time he was a student in our youth orchestra program to performing as a professional with the Michigan Philharmonic and soloing on two of his own compositions with the orchestra as well,” says the Plymouth resident. “Stuart has taken the challenges he was given and turned them into extraordinary musical gifts which he generously shares with everyone.”

“The concertmaster for the Topeka Symphony had purchased Stuart’s carols online and used them to do performances,” explains Jack Carlson. “During the pandemic, he was asked to put together a quartet to perform for a Christmas special for KTWU, Topeka’s public TV station and they gave us a call. They wanted to perform three of Stuart’s compositions and we agreed.”

The public television tie was especially meaningful, says the elder Carlson, since Stuart and his younger brother Justin enjoyed watching PBS children’s programs, especially “Arthur,” which was Stuart’s favorite.

Fast forward to May 2021 when Carlson received an email from KTWU General Manager Valerie VanDerSluis.

“She asked if I could provide music for their latest four-part series, ‘Portraits of a Landscape: Seasons.’ They sent the music and images from a previous production. Just seeing those

images gave me ideas for what I could do,” says Carlson, who enjoys being a ham radio operator and hosts a weekly internet radio show of music from the 2000s called “My 2k” on Z103.com.

“Portrait” combines film of diverse Kansas landscapes across all seasons. Combined with original music by U.S. composers like Carlson, the show conveys everything from prairies in the winter to seas of golden wheat. The show aired nationally in 2024 on most PBS stations.

While Carlson estimates he’s created at least 20 original compositions since receiving a software composing program for his 12th birthday, there are also a number of performances that occupy special places in his mind.

MEETING AN IDOL

One of the most memorable was being invited to Washington D.C. for Arts Advocacy Day in April 2013, where he performed an arrangement of Bach’s Toccata in front of hundreds of guests, including elected officials.

“About five minutes before I had to play, Yo-Yo Ma came in and sat next to me,” explains Carlson. “It’s the only time I got nervous in my life. He was a guest speaker that day, but we did not know if he would be coming to the performance.”

Attendance by the worldfamous cellist was especially meaningful for Carlson, who remembers well the musician’s guest performance in 1999 on the PBS series “Arthur.”

“That’s when Yo-Yo Ma became my musical idol,” he says.

Another special memory comes from Carlson’s opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. as one of five young people selected by the 2016 VSA International Young Soloists Competition, a program that recognizes young musicians with disabilities.

Carlson is open and honest about his autism and hopes to encourage other young people like him to follow their dreams.

“There are a lot of gifts that someone with autism can bring to the world, but sometimes it may require a little extra unwrapping to get that gift. I would also say something that I have experienced over the past couple of years is that everyone wants to be heard, supported and loved.”

ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS

Carlson’s latest musical triumph was the premiere of

Continued on page 20

Continued from page 19

his original composition, Viola Concerto in D Major, with the Michigan Philharmonic as part of its two January performances, including the popular Friday Night Live! at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The piece was created for his U-M graduate viola recital.

“When I first took composition lessons at U-M, I wanted to try to my hand at composing for a full orchestra and I couldn’t think of many viola concertos at the time, so I decided to compose something for viola and orchestra,” says Carlson.

Explaining that imagining the listener’s engagement with his music is part of his composing process, Carlson says he “wanted the audience to feel a wide range of emotions as the concerto progressed. For example, the beginning of the concerto has a

lot of tension and as it progresses it goes through a lot more beautiful and heart-catching sections. In the middle section I was thinking of it as being more energetic, but still with a lot of tension and that finally gets resolved in the last section with a lot of energy and fun.”

That composition ended up catching the attention of

DEDICATED

Washburn.

“We had such a wonderful experience working with Stuart as our guest composer and soloist in January 2020 that I thought it was high time that we bring him back again. I heard his new viola concerto played with piano at one of his recitals at U-M and was excited to ask him to perform that work with

our orchestra,” she says. “He had already orchestrated the work for chamber orchestra, but he graciously agreed to revise it to our exact instrumentation. And while modifying the orchestral parts, he also ended up making quite a few other changes to the piece strengthening and honing it, resulting in a terrific addition to the viola concerto repertoire. No surprise, Stuart also gave us a stunning performance.”

As the diminutive Carlson stood in the DIA’s Rivera Court playing his composition with such elegance and ease, the audience’s standing ovation with effusive applause confirmed Washburn’s assessment.

And to think, it all started with music in an incubator and later, here in Plymouth with our very own Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Smart Loans For Business Success

Darren R. LaLondeIngrid Runnion

Hestan,

Hestan,

Zwilling,

Zwilling,

Ankarsrum

Ankarsrum

Culinary

Culinary

Members-Only

WMichigan five years ago to put his stamp on a new course design, which reduced the number of holes on the property from 27 to 18.

The two-year course project, spearheaded by the construction firm Labar Golf Renovations, was completed in the late fall of 2023, but did not officially open to the public until May of 2024.

hen the Saudi Arabia-financed LIV Golf burst upon the scene in 2022 to directly compete with the longtime and established PGA Tour, its motto became: “Golf, But Louder.”

Three years later and without a proposed merger deal possibly on the horizon between the rival tours, LIV Golf made noise locally with a sonic boom when it was announced on Jan. 7 that The Cardinal, a newly re-designed 18hole championship course at the Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth Township, will host the season-

ending team event on Aug. 22-24.

Area fans will be able to get a birds-eye view of some the game’s premier players who bolted to the rival tour for exorbitant amounts money in the three-day, 54-hole team format.

Among those scheduled to play in Plymouth include major tournament champions Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reid, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Louis Ooosthuizen, Henrik Stenson and Charl Schwartzel.

to a different level, I think it’s going to bring a lot of eyes to southeast Michigan,” said Nick Becks, who became The Cardinal’s Executive Director of Golf last July. “The golf world is eager to see what another team championship looks like from the LIV Tour. It’s going to be busy, it will be fun, it will be exciting, and I’ll go back to busy. It’s a lot of fun to put these things together and we’ve got a great team working on it.”

With the help of Outlyer, an event management company based in Greenwich, Conn., talks began last fall and initially centered around possibly bringing a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour event to The Cardinal.

But that never came to fruition, opening the door for LIV, which began searching for a fifth tour stop on American soil for its 2025 season.

“I think it elevates the resort

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, which owns St. John’s, hired renowned golf architect Ray Hearn of Holland,

“I don’t know exactly where it was, but LIV had been working with Outlyer as well and they began searching for a location to host their team championship,” Becks said. “Since we knew

Outlyer, and they were at our facility, we toured around. We had done the whole show with them trying to obviously generate interest for the LPGA.

There’s potential modifications.”

“I thought it would be a perfect fit really to host the LIV Tour team championship, so that’s where it really started. It started all with the LPGA direction. That just kind of morphed into LIV and Outlyer coming together.”

According to Becks, the deal to bring LIV to The Cardinal and Plymouth was finalized at the end of December and announced shortly after the holiday break. Becks, who grew up in Green Bay, Wis. and now resides in Novi, brings a wealth of experience to The Cardinal. After graduating from Ferris State’s PGA Golf Management Program, Becks spent time working in Chicago and for the past 12 years served as general manager for an 18-hole property and public facility in Encinitas, Calif.

Everything will be on the table as the course will more than likely be lengthened to make certain it remains a challenge for the game’s premier players. Tee boxes and bunkers will more than likely be added. Par-5s could become Par-4s. Even-par possibly could be changed from 72 to 70.

Becks believes the conditions of the golf course that the Cardinal can provide, along with the St. John’s amenities including its onsite hotel and banquet facilities (managed by the Schulte Boutique and Lifestyle Group), will offer a premier golf experience for both the players and spectators.

He joined The Cardinal’s team in September of 2023 in commercial operations before assuming dual roles last July.

One of the major tasks leading up to the August event is to make the course conform to LIV Golf course specifications and standards. Becks said more information will come as they get into the meetings and the planning of the event.

“We have a meeting coming up with Ray Hearn and the folks at LaBar Golf Renovations and we’re going to discuss potential tweaks to the course to make it more tournament friendly,” Becks said. “Not easier by any stretch. I guess, I wouldn’t call it so much more difficult, but we may be adding a bunker on one of the holes, things like that. I don’t know if I can speak to the record on that yet because we haven’t finalized anything.

LIV Golf’s team competition –consisting of 13 teams and 52 players – will only add to experience – which also includes post-tournament music concerts each day. As the tournament draws closer in the coming months, information will be released regarding ticket sales and parking.

inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event was held June 9, 2022, at the Centurion Club near St. Albans in Hertfordshire, England.

Under the direction of CEO Greg Norman, the first LIV Golf season began in 2023 and it did

“The golf world is eager to see what another team championship looks like from the LIV Tour. It’s going to be busy, it will be fun, it will be exciting, and I’ll go back to busy. It’s a lot of fun to put these things together and we’ve got a great team working on it.”

Meanwhile, the origin of the name LIV refers to Roman numerals for 54, the number of holes played at its events. The

TV and radio commentators, as well as print journalists who contended the tour was part of the efforts of the Saudi monarchy, which has been criticized and flagged for human rights abuses and corruption, using sports to help polish their public image.

Nick Becks, Executive Director of Golf at The Cardinal

not come without controversy along the way creating a firestorm on social media from members of the entrenched PGA.

Financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf was heavily scrutinized by

“They emphasize creating more of a high-energy atmosphere running their tournaments…their tagline now is: ‘Long LIV Golf,’” Becks said. “They are moving forward and we will see where everything ends up at the end of the day. But they saw the facility with our unique venues – three restaurants (Five Steakhouse, Doyle’s Irish Pub and The Wine Grotto), the grounds, the awardwinning food and beverage team. It was an easy fit for what they want to do.”

One-hundred percent of the net profits at St. John’s support the Humanitarian Hotels initiative.

“And the beauty is, all of our net proceeds go directly to the (Pulte) foundation,” Becks said. “Essentially, we’re an arm of the charity that brings some good to the world.”

Township Board Spars Over Salem Sewer Solution

Critics, proponents of potential sewer line decry strong-arm tactics from Salem, state

By Scott Spielman

The Salem Springs development will eventually be constructed just west of the Plymouth Township border in Salem Township.

Officials from both communities admitted that fact recently as they debated one of the main outstanding questions brought up by the proposal to bring more than 550 homes to 1,300 acres of land dubbed the Urban Services District (USD), which is just west of Napier Road along M-14. The big question is and has always been what to do with all the sewage that will come from the development?

Developers of the planned project have met obstacles in neighboring communities. One plan was to connect the sewage lines to the Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority (YCUA) through a new sewer line that would go through Superior Township. Officials there rejected that request, however, and the rejection that was held up by the courts.

So Salem officials and the developer opted instead to construct a local wastewater treatment plant—which would be constructed just over the Plymouth Township border—and applied to the State of Michigan to get a permit for its construction.

Last April, representatives from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) hosted a public hearing on that permit. More than 800 residents

from Northville, Plymouth, Canton and Salem attended that meeting, which took place at North Ridge Church. The vast majority of the speakers opposed the idea of the treatment plant and many voiced objections to the development altogether.

Despite that opposition, EGLE has indicated that they will approve the permit unless other alternatives can be developed, according to Plymouth Township

from Salem Township, through Plymouth, Canton and Van Buren townships and connect to the YCUA facility in Ypsilanti. The Plymouth Township board, by a 5-2 vote, approved a feasibility study for such a project.

“What I’m trying to avoid is the sewage treatment plant default. That’s my concern. It’s going to be a 100-year decision, how this comes out. It’ll be 100 years in a hole or above

Supervisor Chuck Curmi. Attempts to reach EGLE directly have been unsuccessful.

AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN

Plymouth Township officials opened the door for an alternative: a new sewer line that would flow

the ground,” said Curmi, who voted to approve the study. “We are given an opportunity here to move toward a better solution which will not create the disruption in Plymouth Township with odor, predominantly. This is the alternative that will keep

Plymouth township from being another dumping ground, kind of like what Northville Township has with the landfill. It will give the optimum solution to the community, our neighbors. It’s the right thing to do.”

Trustees Jen Buckley, Mark Clinton, Sandy Groth and John Stewart voted along with Curmi, while Trustee Bob Doroshewitz and Clerk Jerry Vorva voted against it. Vorva attempted to remove the issue from the Feb. 25 agenda and bring it back at another meeting, where more residents—and state officials— could weigh in on it. That motion failed.

“I’m fine with having a discussion, but it needs to be out in the open. It’s an important issue,” said Vorva. “Whether they do one thing or another, it’s going to impact this community and we all need to be aware of it. It can’t be done at the last minute like this.”

Vorva was also concerned about a meeting that took place between Canton and Salem officials with the developers, which Curmi also attended. Vorva said he had no notice that it was going on and those kinds of correspondence typically come through the clerk’s office. He said he thought the decision had already been made, without input from the remainder of the board or Plymouth Township residents.

“It sounds to me like they’ve already decided where to put it,”

"It’s the right thing. We cannot stop development. This is the cleanest solution that has the least negative effect on

Plymouth Township."

Plymouth Township Supervisor Chuck Curmi, who indicated he would rather let a sewer pipe go through the township than have a wastewater treatment plant built in Salem Township.

he said. “There’s no need for us to do a study. It sounds like it’s all done without the board knowing it or the public knowing it.”

FEASIBILITY STUDY

The feasibility study should take a few months, according to Brian Simons, an engineering consultant representing Stantec. It would be funded by Salem Township. Salem would also be responsible for the cost of the new sewer line and its ongoing maintenance. Any issue approved by EGLE would limit the new sewer line to the Salem Springs development.

The study will look at potential alternative routes for the line. The primary option would run west from Salem Township along Joy Road, south on Ridge Road until it turns into Denton Road in Canton Township, continue across Michigan Avenue and then along Ecorse Road to the YCUA facility. Another potential route is south along Napier, but Napier dead-ends at Cherry Hill Road in Canton Township and would require another western connection from there.

The residents who spoke weren’t happy about either proposal, but generally preferred an underground pipeline over a new local wastewater treatment plant.

“I’m actually ok with the development going there, however I never in a million years thought a wastewater treatment plant would be going in across the street from my house,” said Emily Shemon, who moved to the west side of the township about three years ago, knowing the Salem Springs development was under discussion. “I really encourage the Plymouth Township board to work with Salem Township and neighboring communities to explore alternatives to the sewage plant.”

A number of residents spoke

at the meeting and voiced concerns about the density of the development on our doorstep, including Greg Burek, who said he was not in favor of the development in Salem, but didn’t see any way it could be stopped. He referred to another recent development proposed near his house in the Fox Pointe subdivision along Ridge Road: developers had proposed putting

study. The project is already going forward, he said, and much of the infrastructure is already in place.

“No matter which way you vote, that development is going to proceed within the USD,” Plato said. “The water lines are all in, we’re connected to GLWA (Great Lakes Water Authority). The sewer pipes are in. The only thing we don’t know is will that sewage go to a wastewater treatment plant

use of the right-of-way.

“This is the result of EGLE evaluating the [wastewater treatment plant] permit,” he said. “They say they’re ready to issue it and we have one opportunity— and that’s right now—to say we will entertain a study for a pipeline which contains it and does not have a sewage treatment plant on the border of Plymouth Township on Napier and M-14.

“It’s the right thing. We cannot stop development,” he added. “This is the cleanest solution that has the least negative effect on Plymouth Township.”

Trustees also said they were irked by the tactics used by the state and developer, which essentially send the message: approve a new sewer line, or else.

“I’m very angry,” Clinton told the Salem representatives. “You people could have put up anything you wanted to in Salem and you put it right next to Plymouth Township. I voted yes, but I’m not happy.”

a large residential community nearby. When the township rejected it, developers instead built a charter school.

“We’re now going to be living with a charter school right across the street from my house,” Burek said. “I’m concerned that if we play these games, calling their bluff, that our residents, ourselves, living about a mile away from the treatment plant is going will be the ones who suffer from it.”

Other speakers were concerned about flooding from the runoff coming from the proposed wastewater treatment plant.

DONE DEAL?

Ed Plato, the attorney representing Salem Township, urged the board to vote for the

in Salem Township or is it going to go down a sewer pipe down to YCUA.

“If this sewer line is not supported by each township, EGLE is prepared to issue the permit for the Salem wastewater treatment plant,” added Plato, noting Salem is already paying YCUA $70,000 annually to reserve capacity within the system. When Salem Springs is fully developed, a million gallons of wastewater will go to the facility each day.

Curmi said he thinks looking at alternatives is the best thing to do. He said the vote reflected approval for the study, alone, and the township may be able to negotiate some benefits when and if a new sewer line is approved and before the township board signs off on

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Plymouth Township officials approved a feasibility study to allow a sewer line from a proposed Salem Township development cut through the township down to Ypsilanti rather than have a wastewater treatment plant built near Napier and M-14. Do you agree with the decision, and if not, what would you like to see happen? Email your opinions to Editor Scott Spielman at scottyspielman@gmail.com.

Local basketball legend Bob Blohm nets John Wooden Legacy Award

By Tim Smith

It ’s come almost full circle for basketball lifer Bob Blohm, particularly in the parallels between his own coaching career and that of the great John Wooden.

Blohm received the prestigious John R. Wooden Legacy Award in a pre-game courtside ceremony Dec. 3 at Canton High School.

Blohm said he is more than humbled to be mentioned in the same breath as NCAA basketball coaching legend Wooden – who, before his legendary run at UCLA, coached from 1935-44 at the very same South Bend Central High School that Blohm would later attend in the 1950s.

“He coached my coaches,” said the 82-year-old Blohm.

Blohm, a Plymouth Township resident, became a coaching legend in his own right, earning a spot in the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame as well as having the Canton High School gym named in his honor a decade ago.

‘BEST OF THE BEST’

The Wooden award, presented before this season’s home opener

by BCAM executive director

Dan Young – one of Blohm’s former players – is bestowed annually by the National High School Basketball Coaches Association to deserving girls and boys coaches in each state. The award recognizes the lifetime achievement of coaches who exemplify Coach Wooden's high standards of coaching success and personal achievement.

“That (the award) caught me off guard,” said the self-effacing Blohm, who is still active with the Canton program.

Blohm just finished his seventh season as one of veteran Canton boys basketball coach Jimmy Reddy’s right-hand men (Ryan Waidmann is the other).

For many seasons, Blohm coached the girls and boys programs at Salem High School before moving over to Canton.

In a press release announcing the award, Young noted that Blohm was “instrumental in helping girls basketball grow in the 1970s and early 1980s in Michigan.” Receiving the boys award was former Maple City

Glen Lake High School coach Don Miller.

“I can’t think of another coach that is more deserving of this honor from the John Wooden family” than Blohm, added Young.

In the first three decades of Blohm’s long tenure, he was able to coach girls’ teams in the fall and boys’ teams in the winter. It wasn’t until fall 2007 when a ruling by the United States Supreme Court forced Michigan high schools to offer girls and boys basketball simultaneously.

Reddy said Blohm was instrumental in his own development as a Canton junior varsity player nearly three decades ago.

“Bob was my JV coach when I was a ninth grader in 1997,” Reddy said. “Bob was the first coach I had that actually showed me how to catch a ball properly. How to throw a pass properly. What a power dribble was. I played a bunch of basketball growing up and I was finally being coached properly. And obviously he’s the best of the best.”

Reddy emphasized that his former coach and current assistant

was well-deserving of the award.

“He’s the best basketball coach this place has had,” Reddy said. “And he’s probably, if not the best then one of the best coaches this place has had in any sport. And any award that has John Wooden’s name attached to it means it’s pretty special and important.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Just don’t go overboard with praise anywhere within earshot of Blohm, who is still an effective communicator and motivator without needing to yell or scream as some coaches sometimes do. He watches carefully and picks his spots to impart information to players.

Of course, having the CHS gymnasium named in honor of his own coaching legacy and earning the Wooden award to boot are wonderful accolades to be sure. But really, just having the chance to make a difference in the lives of young athletes is enough of a reward for Blohm.

He gets a particular joy watching his players do something in a game that they

BCAM's Dan Young presents the John R. Wooden Legacy Award to Canton assistant boys basketball coach Bob Blohm during a pre-game ceremony on Dec. 3

any sport. And any award that has John Wooden’s name attached to it means it’s pretty special and important.”

Canton basketball coach Jimmy Reddy, on Bob Blohm getting the John R. Wooden Legacy Award

had worked on in practice.

“You feel good as a coach about that, because that means you’ve done some work with them to show them how to do it the right way,” Blohm said.

With a nod, Blohm said his late wife Wendy – who passed at age 73 in December 2017 – would have been thrilled about the Wooden Legacy Award.

“Here’s the deal,” he said. “Her uncles went to Central High School and were taught by Wooden. The connection on both

moon. She’d have loved it.”

Blohm calls himself a disciple of John Wooden, owning a copy of the legend’s book Practical Modern Basketball, stashing it on his coffee table and still referring to it from time to time. Wooden died at age 99 in June 2010.

Blohm’s run as a coach dates back to 1975 when Salem head coach Fred Thomann added him to his staff.

“We were fortunate to have good people (student-athletes) to coach, both at Salem and at

it’s easier to walk into the gym and get things done and work with them. They accept the responsibility to do well.

“I’m just humbled by it (the award). John Wooden was a phenomenal coach and the fact that he was at my school (South Bend Central)…well, I told Danny (Young), you know what? That’s a great connection. I’ll take that, I’ll accept that, not only for here but for South Bend.”

“I don’t think I could go anywhere else now,” Blohm said. “This has to be it. I love it here, the great memories for me are here.” “He’s

characteristic Reddy said both Wooden and Blohm have shared.

“They’re teachers of the game,” Reddy noted. “And let’s teach it while we’re playing it, right? He’s teaching as the kids are playing instead of standing and talking the whole time. I would think that would be a common relation between the two.”

Blohm hopes to continue plying his craft at Canton High School for as long as he can.

Knowing how to communicate in a way that motivates and instructs without being heavy handed is a coaching

Touring New England

While on vacation in New England last fall, the Skoug family visited a number of sites including Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine, and took the opportunity to snap a picture in Salem, Massachusetts, famous for its 1692 witch trials. Pictured in Salem with their copy of The Rock are siblings Meganne and Kenneth, who are both Salem High School graduates. “They are Rocks, so it seemed appropriate to take The Rock with us for a photo,” said mom Becky Skoug.

The next time you head out of town, take along a copy of The Rock, snap a photo, and let us know where your travels take you. Our readers would love to know! Please email the photos to kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com. We’ll feature the photos in an upcoming issue.

OUT& ABOUT

LOST VOICES CONCERT

March 22

Lost Voices is hosting its 2025 St. Pat's Party for Lost Voices, a benefit concert featuring the renowned Kitty Donohoe & Friends, with special guests Gretchen Pleuss and Mike Ball. This show will take place at 7 p.m. in the Wilcox Theater at the Plymouth Arts and Recreational Center (PARC), located at 650 Church Street. There will be beer, wine, soft drinks, and sandwiches from the world-famous Zingerman’s Delicatessen available for purchase. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25. For those looking for an enhanced experience (and to help more Lost Voices kids), Gold Circle Tickets are available for $75, which include a meet-and-greet with the artists, reserved seating, a Zingerman's sandwich, and more. Proceeds from the concert will go towards supporting the non-profit Lost Voices, dedicated to bringing healing to kids who have experienced severe trauma through the power of music and storytelling.

For more information or to order tickets, visit www. lostvoices.org

WIZARD OF MENLO PARK

March 27

Michael Woloszyk will “bring history to life” when he presents “Thomas Edison: Wizard of Menlo Park” at 1 p.m. at the Friendship Station, 42375 Schoolcraft in Plymouth Township. The program is being put on by the Plymouth Community Council on Aging. Woloszyk’s presentations and impersonations are informative, humorous and entertaining.

BEST OF BILLY & ELTON

April 5

The Penn Theatre will host The Geff Phillips Band, which will perform a special

tribute show featuring the greatest hits of Billy Joel and Elton John beginning at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). General admission tickets are $20 ($30 for side section reserved or $35 for center section reserved). Tickets can be purchased at the Penn Theatre box office during movie times or online. To purchase tickets online or for more information, visit www. penntheatre.org.

STATE OF THE COMMUNITY LUNCH

April 15

The Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce will present this annual event from 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Cultural Center. The event will include community leaders from the Plymouth

community who will provide updates on things happening around town. To purchase tickets, contact Mary Nyhus at Mary@ plymouthmich.org or (734) 453-1540. For more information, visit www. plymouthmich.org or contact the Chamber.

POTTER’S GUILD MARKET

May 2-4

The Village Potter’s Guild of Plymouth is opening its doors for their annual Spring Market the weekend before Mother’s Day. The sale will take place at 326 N. Main Street (just north of the railroad tracks, in the building behind Sidecar Slider Bar) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 2-3 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. The Spring Market features work of guild members as well as invited guest artists, offering a variety of functional and decorative ceramics for purchase including mugs, bowls, platters and vases, along

with a variety of garden and home decor items. For more info, visit www. villagepottersguild.org

SPRING ARTISAN’S MARKET

May

3

The Plymouth Downtown Development Authority is bringing the annual Spring Artisan’s Market to The Gathering from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on May 3. The event marks the beginning of event season in the city with artisan goods, familyfriendly entertainment, and plenty of treats. More than 60 vendors will be on hand, showcasing a wide variety of unique and high-quality products, from handcrafted jewelry and pottery to homemade soaps and candles. There will also be Kid Creator booths, where artists 14 and younger will offer their unique treasures. Local nonprofit groups will take part, too. For information visit www. plymouthmich.org.

We make dream homes a reality.

Ashwin Building Company is a family-owned home building & remodeling business based in Northville, Michigan with 35 years of experience in construction, home remodeling, and contracting. Blending time-tested construction practices and design, we personally strive to provide the best services to our customers before, during, and after project completion.

Let us bring your vision to life and create a space that truly reflects your style and personality. Contact us today to begin your journey to a beautiful home!

When every moment matters, we’re just minutes away.

Dr.

At Henry Ford Medical Center – Plymouth, you can get ER services, close to home.

Whether you live in Plymouth or nearby, we’re proud to bring full-service, 24/7 emergency care closer to you. With easy access and an experienced ER team, we’re ready to handle any emergency. And we’re just a few minutes down the road.

Jennifer Stephens-Hoyer Emergency medicine physician