The Ville - July 2025

LOCAL JOURNALISM MATTERS

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

Journeyman Publishing 16435 Franklin Northville, MI 48168

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Thank you in advance.

Publisher

KURT KUBAN – Editor/Publisher

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

CRAIG WHEELER – Creative Director

Craig has been in the creative industry for over 30 years. He has developed a diverse background in that time, but publication design has been his passion during the past 20 years. Craig enjoys chasing his young daughter and providing moral support to his lovely wife.

MICHELE FECHT – Writer

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

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, and is excited to get back to her roots in The ‘Ville. -Photo by Kathleen Voss

KEN VOYLES – Writer/Photographer

Ken is an award-winning writer, photography and designer whose career has spanned nearly five decades in and around metro Detroit. Eons ago he kickstarted 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.

TIM SMITH - Writer

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

MARIA TAYLOR – Writer

Maria is managing editor at The ACHR NEWS, a B2B publication based in Troy. She has worked as a reporter for the Northville Record, Novi News and Plymouth Observer, and once had her photo on the cover of TIME. She lives in Farmington and, as a self-avowed history nerd, routinely risks her life by standing in the road to photograph old buildings.

JOHN C. HEIDER – Photographer

John Heider was the The Northville Record and Novi News photographer from October 1996 until September 2017. He lives in Ann Arbor and enjoys fishing, hunting, gardening, cooking, feature writing, woodworking projects and the symphony.

BRYAN MITCHELL - Photographer

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

A View From The ‘Ville

A shut and open case

If you haven’t heard by now, the streets in downtown Northville are back open for vehicular traffic.

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Charlene Elder decided in favor of Let’s Open Northville, a group of business owners and local residents, who sued the city to overturn the seasonal closures of Main and Center streets. The decision came on July 9, and the city complied, opening the streets on July 14 after making all the necessary arrangements, including having the traffic signals updated to reflect the change. See our story on Page 10.

The court’s decision has been applauded by many people who have been clamoring for this for a while now, including some of the downtown business merchants who say the street closures have led to less business. Others were very upset about Elder’s decision, including some business owners who say the closures have been great for business. Many of them are imploring city leaders to appeal the ruling, which they have until July 30 to do so.

Let’s Open Northville attorney Kyle Konwinski said the city’s decision to close the streets was “arbitrary” and not only harmed local businesses on Main and Center streets, but also violated the Michigan Constitution in multiple ways. The city, on the other hand, argues that it owns the right of way on the downtown streets, is responsible for managing them, and therefore has control over them.

Judge Elder agreed with Let’s Open Northville, citing an 1840 plat map that dedicated the streets for public travel.

This has been an incredibly divisive issue for several years now, pretty much since the pandemic ended. If you remember, the pandemic, and the fact that businesses were largely shut down to avoid spreading Covid, was the reasoning for closing down the streets in the first place.

Many of the business owners I reached out to don’t even want to go on record because they are afraid of losing business from people who disagree. Not surprising, considering there have been death threats, fake social media accounts set up to make council members look bad, and so much acrimony that it is overshadowing all the incredible things happening in town. About 99% of the communities in Michigan would love to be positioned where we are.

In the aftermath of Elder’s ruling, the City Council had a special meeting on July 15, where they had a closed session with their legal counsel about the ramifications of the decision and what would happen if they appeal. Although the council did not make any

decision at that meeting, it still brought out plenty of people who are very much engaged. There were about 100 people in attendance and another 200 online. People were able to make public comments, and it was quite clear this issue is still dividing the community.

There have also been multiple television news crews downtown reporting on the story, asking business owners and visitors what they think. The State of Michigan and organizations like the Michigan Municipal League are also keeping a close eye on how this all turns out.

The outside interest is not surprising, considering Elder’s ruling and the outcome of this case could have major implications for communities outside of Northville, where streets have been similarly closed. Detroit, for example, is shutting down the main thoroughfare through Greek Town, which will be pedestrian only when it reopens after a major renovation.

Ultimately it will be the council’s decision whether or not to appeal the court’s ruling. Based on the conversations I’ve had with some city leaders, they do believe there are grounds to appeal the decision. However, this may no longer be about what the law allows, but what the political fallout will be if council decides to pursue an appeal. Or, frankly, if they choose not to.

One of the arguments I’ve heard is the city will just be throwing away taxpayer money if they decide to appeal, but that is not the case. The city’s membership with the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority would cover further legal costs associated with the lawsuit.

So, what it really comes down to is if three members of council decide it’s worth pursuing. And it is worth noting three members are up for reelection this fall – Mayor Brian Turnbull, and councilmen John Carter and Andrew Krenz.

While I have been saying for several years the best way to settle this is to put the issue on the ballot and let the voters decide, this fall’s election may end up being a referendum on the issue depending on how Turnbull, Carter and Krenz decide to move forward.

People interested in running for council or mayor had until July 22 to turn in their paperwork to get on the ballot. That was after we went to press, but this may just be a catalyst for people to run. We’ll let you know next month.

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

Your Voice

Veterans need community support

As the leader of VFW Post 4012, it is my responsibility to oversee not only the post home, located at 438 S. Main Street and its physical needs, but also the Veterans Plot at Rural Hill Cemetery. Maintenance of our building and its mechanicals is an ongoing drain on our limited funds, and the Veterans Plot demands monetary attention as well.

In conjunction with our Northville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4012 Auxiliary, we are devoted to serve our community, and local veterans and their families. Over the holidays and throughout the year, monetary assistance, food baskets, turkeys on Thanksgiving and gifts for children at Christmas are some of the community services we provide.

On Memorial Day, VFW 4012 marches in honor of our fallen veterans. We march through town, stopping at Oakwood Cemetery for a prayer and 21gun salute, again on the bridge entrance to Rural Hill for our Navy tribute, and finally to the Veterans Plot at Rural Hill for our service memorializing the veterans who have given their lives in service to our country. For the hundreds who turned out, lining the parade route through town, all those who joined us at the Veterans Memorial ceremony, and other concerned citizens, I write this letter to bring attention to the deteriorating condition of the Veterans Plot at Rural Hill.

The asphalt walkways are in disrepair needing removal and resurfacing. The headstones need cleaning/straightening and the entrance arch needs refurbishing along with the post and chain link barrier. All the necessary work along with a fund for general maintenance is in excess of $15,000, a sum beyond Post 4012’s resources.

Northville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4012, an IRS 501c19, is registered to do community service, and is currently accepting donations for the above-mentioned work. Please consider donating to: Northville VFW Post 4012 Veterans Cemetery Fund at 438 S. Main Street, Northville, MI 48167.

Edward C. Huyck

Koski is appreciated

I read the June 2025 issue of The ‘Ville with more interest than usual.

(Not that I’m not always interested!) I am a proud graduate of ThornappleKellogg High School in Middleville, Tony Koski’s prior school. I recently attended the TK Alumni Golf Outing and several people asked about Tony, Northville High School’s principal. It seems that he was as well-loved there as he is here.

I plan to mail a copy of the June issue to the TK Alumni Association so that they can see how much he is appreciated here in Northville. How nice that he’s right there on the cover.

Thanks for your hard work to provide a great publication.

Never appease tyrants

Robin Schleh

Commander,

Northville VFW Post 4012

The June issue of The ‘Ville contained a letter in which the writer took you to task for “fanning the political flames” by publishing a letter critical of President Trump. The writer claims the “overt political comments” do not belong in a local “lifestyle” publication. If this were normal politics in normal times, I might almost agree with the writer, but these are not normal politics, and not normal times.

When I see large law firms, universities, and media outlets trying to appease Trump by making concessions to his demands, I see British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returning from his meeting with Hitler in 1938, declaring to the British population that the concessions that were made to Hitler in this meeting would deliver “peace for our time.” Within a few months, Hitler launched his Blitzkrieg invasion of Poland, and within the next year bombs would be falling on London. Appeasing tyrants never delivers the results you hoped for.

We have gone from a country that aspired to the words of the poem on the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free” to a country where masked ICE agents snatch people out of their homes, schools, and places of work, and pack them off, with no legal process, to prison camps in foreign countries. And Trump “jokes” that native born undesirables might be next on that list.

We can all play nice and not fan the flames, but then we need to be prepared to answer the questions from our children and grandchildren, “How did you allow this to happen?”

John D. Webster

Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@thevillemagazine.com. Letters must be 150 words or less. We reserve the right to edit all letters.

The Veterans Plot at Rural Hill Cemetery.

Northville High School Principal Tony Koski poses for a photo during the Senior Car Parade in May. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

Q&A with

Dr. Jason Vieder, Vice Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Henry Ford Health

Dr. Jason Vieder, Vice Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Henry Ford Health

Accidents happen, and most people will hit their head at some point. Often, it’s just a minor bump. But in some cases, a head injury can be serious—even life-threatening. How do you know when to shake it off and when to seek emergency care?

A head injury is most serious if it causes bleeding in the brain. One of the most dangerous areas to hit is the side of your head, just above the ears, where the skull is thinner and an artery runs close to the surface. If the artery is injured, it can lead to rapid bleeding in the brain.

If blood builds up, it increases pressure on the brain, which can cause coma or even death. Here are six key symptoms that signal a head injury requires immediate medical attention:

• Loss of consciousness: A blackout could indicate serious trauma.

• Nausea or vomiting: A brain injury can trigger nausea or vomiting— a red flag for a more serious problem.

• Weakness on one side of the body: A significant brain injury can affect movement in your arms and legs.

• Confusion or disorientation: Blurred vision, slow responses, trouble finding words, or sensitivity to light and sound are all signs of a concussion or worse.

• Seizures: If you have a seizure after hitting your head, it indicates a serious problem.

• Persistent headache: Head trauma paired with a persistent headache should raise your level of concern.

The symptoms may not appear immediately, so monitor yourself closely for several hours after a head injury. Slow, steady bleeding can cause symptoms to worsen over time. If you notice any changes, don’t wait—go to the emergency room. Prompt medical attention can prevent long-term damage or death. A CT scan can detect internal bleeding or bruising. In severe cases, surgery may be required to address an injury.

The bottom line? Don’t take chances. This is especially true for older adults, as aging makes the brain and blood vessels more fragile. When in doubt, seek medical care—your health is worth it.

To learn more about emergency and other services we offer at Henry Ford Medical Center – Plymouth, visit henryford.com/plymouth

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Coming Home to Shape the Future

Longtime Northville resident Kate Knight returns to lead DDA on a new course

By Maria Taylor

Kate Knight didn’t plan on starting a new job this summer. As executive director of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in Farmington, she was on top of her game — juggling grants, public art projects, and a wave of cultural energy that, in the past five years, has transformed a sleepy downtown into a regional draw.

But then Northville’s longtime DDA director Lori Ward retired, and a new opportunity emerged for Knight — one that felt less like a career move and more like a calling.

In May, the city lured Knight away from Farmington to replace Ward, who had served in the role for 27 years.

“At first, I was thinking of it as a lateral opportunity,” Knight said. “But it’s where I live. And

there is a great joy in serving your own community.”

And Northville is her community. She’s lived here for 23 years — ever since she and her husband first moved into a 1914 cottage in Northville Township.

“We unloaded everything, and then we came straight downtown and ordered a basket of deep-fried clams at Poole’s and had a couple beers,” Knight said.

Indeed, Knight’s Northville story started long before her recent appointment. After moving here from Detroit with a master’s degree in urban planning and three young children, she quickly embedded herself in the downtown scene — as a resident, volunteer, and eventually part-time planning coordinator with the Northville

DDA.

One of her earliest projects during her first stint with the Northville DDA? The iconic Town Square.

“It’s a vibrant public space,” she said. “It’s one of the most heavily used plaza areas in southeast Michigan.”

But that popularity comes with wear and tear. As Knight put it, “it needs some love.”

Town Square’s refurbishment is at the top of Knight’s to-do list. She’s already pulled in the landscape architects who helped bring the original design to life.

“It was so well done, even a few decades ago, that it’s worth keeping a pulse on that,” she said. “Replacing tile with high-quality finishes, upgrading the AV systems — these things support the cultural programming we’ve grown into hosting.”

Perhaps the biggest draw for Knight was the opportunity to work on the massive expansion underway at the former Northville Downs.

“The nostalgia was one thing,” she said, reflecting on her rationale for the career move. “The Downs redevelopment is another.”

While the project will bring 400 units of housing to Northville, it comes with less than 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space — a deliberate design move meant to keep the focus on the historic downtown, not compete with it.

“Change is really hard,” Knight acknowledged. “Some of the loudest voices are folks who’ve been in town for 30, 40, 50 years.”

But she’s hopeful about the blend of old and new.

“I think the current and future expectation is that we

cultivate a business mix that is first-floor-vibrancy oriented … boutiques, independents, eateries, third spaces.”

NAVIGATING HOT TOPICS

Few issues in Northville spark more debate than whether the streets should be open or closed.

“There’s been a stream of people visiting who want to tell me how it is — just to make sure I understand how it is,” Knight said with a smile. The DDA board made one recommendation; City Council went a different direction.

On July 9, a Wayne County Circuit Court judge ruled that the city must reopen the streets. Ultimately, Knight would rather let Northville residents decide it themselves.

“I think an election is a good way to settle it,” she said. “No matter how this shakes out … we have flexibility. We have this incredible bollard system, which is the envy of many, and this community has the vision to go for it.”

Another focus of Knight’s is the Cady Street corridor. Previously the back edge of the historic district, Cady Street is now staring down blocks and blocks of rapidly appearing new development — and it’s the logical access point.

“I think it will be designed and implemented with the expectation that at some point, we’re going to have a more dramatic redevelopment of that whole block,” Knight said. “Investment there is money well spent.”

Public art will play a big role in that transformation, she said. Art and cultural programming are close to Knight’s heart. In Farmington, she championed creative placemaking on a

Kate Knight is Northville’s new DDA director. Photo by Kara Adkins | Stackwood Studios

budget, where a DIA mural, a bicentennial torch, and two crowdfunded pocket parks had local leaders calling her a visionary.

“If you put in really intriguing art, more will come, and it creates an atmosphere of investment,” she said.

She envisions bringing a similar spirit to Northville, particularly along the future River Walk Park and trail system that will run along the soon-to-be daylighted Rouge River.

“We have a lot of opportunity,” she said. “The Greenway, the River Park … a trailway series of art could connect everything.”

Another idea? A retail incubator space, modeled after a pilot she worked on in Farmington, giving small

businesses a leg up and bringing new life to underused or vacant storefronts.

The ‘Ville asked Knight to look into her crystal ball and envision Northville five years from now.

“The river is daylighted,” she said. “The grass is green in the River Park. The trail system is complete — you can ride your bike from Dearborn into Northville. We have more experiential retail, and walkability is improved.”

She sees a continued evolution of the business mix, more regional tourism, and innovative housing solutions to make downtown accessible to more people.

“You have to have all kinds of opportunities for all kinds of people,” she said. “Downtowns are going to heal everything.

People want schools, trails, places to gather. They want places to run into people socially.”

‘A

REALLY SPECIAL JOB’

Outside of work, you’re likely to run into Knight right downtown.

“I’m here a lot. I’m pretty easy to find,” she said. And she’s always willing to talk shop or listen to new ideas — even when she’s not on the clock.

She’s a devoted reader and frequent traveler.

“Art is a big part of my life — I travel to see it. I like to get new ideas,” she said. And she has deep roots in the community: three kids raised in Northville schools, family memories made sledding and grabbing pizza downtown, and decades of involvement in civic life.

“I remember talking to the Starting Gate maybe a decade ago, asking them to consider putting out a couple tables and chairs on the sidewalk,” she said. “All that change has built the vibrant downtown we have today.”

Knight knows the next chapter will require just as much listening, creativity, and perseverance. And she’s ready.

“It’s a really special job,” she said. “There’s a different awareness when you’re working to get it all right in the community where you live.”

The Northville DDA, which has an annual budget of around $1.1 million, is funded by tax increment financing and a 2-mill property tax on properties in the downtown district. Kate Knight’s annual base salary is $105,000.

ENJOY THE VIBES!

Judge Orders City to Open Downtown Streets

Let’s Open Northville group wins lawsuit against city's seasonal street closures

By Kurt Kuban

The City of Northville’s plan to keep its downtown streets closed to vehicular traffic from May-November was dealt a major blow in Wayne County Circuit Court after Judge Charlene Elder ruled the closures were unlawful.

The ruling, which came out on July 9, gave the city about a week to reopen Main and Center streets. The city complied, and on July 14 vehicles were again making their way through Northville’s social district.

Elder ruled in favor of a lawsuit brought by Let’s Open Northville. In October of 2023, the non-profit group filed a legal complaint against the city in an effort to permanently reopen the closed blocks of E. Main and N. Center.

According to a statement from Let’s Open Northville, the group represented “many Northville businesses and

the court agreed,” Konwinski said.

“While many property owners were harmed financially by the city’s unlawful decision, the court’s decision to open the streets is the first and most important step in rectifying those wrongs,” he continued. Let’s Open Northville contended that businesses were harmed and some even went out of business due to the street closures.

ruling, the City Council held a July 15 special meeting to discuss the city’s next move. It was attended by about 100 people with another 200 participating online, with many making public comment. Most people were against the closures, but some argued in favor. The council went into a closed-door session with attorneys and did not make a decision.

residents who were frustrated that the citizens, visitors, businesses and school buses have all lost their vehicular usage, on-street downtown parking, and ADA access.” They also pointed out that residents on some of the side streets, including Wing Street, were negatively impacted because motorists were speeding through formally quiet streets.

The group’s attorney, Kyle Konwinski from Varnum and Associates, said the city used “nothing but arbitrary reasons to close the streets.” In addition, he said Judge Elder ruled the closed streets violated the Michigan constitution in several ways including Michigan’s takings provision and due process clause.

“From the start, Lets Open Northville believed that the city violated our members’ constitutional and state-law rights, and we are happy that

While disappointed with the ruling, Mayor Brian Turnbull said city officials worked hard to get the streets open to comply with the judge’s orders. City crews took down the bollards, installed concrete barriers around the outdoor seating areas near the seven restaurants in town that use outdoor sidewalk space, and removed the publicly-owned tables and chairs that were placed in the streets. Wayne County had to change the sequencing of the traffic lights downtown.

“We did six months of work in six days,” Turnbull said.

In her 22-page ruling, Judge Elder cited, among other things, an 1840 Northville plat map that dedicated the streets for public travel and therefore had no authority to close them.

Northville City Manager George Lahanas disagreed with that opinion.

“I would say we were disappointed by the decision. I think that the city believes we have a right to a degree of control over opening and closing of the streets. And that it’s council’s purview to do so. If council doesn’t control that I don’t know who does,” Lahanas said.

The city has until July 30 to appeal the decision.

In the aftermath of Elder’s

“We received a lot of information from our attorneys and 75 pages of public comment,” said Councilman John Carter. “Everyone needs to take a minute to read through everything and develop an opinion.”

Let’s Open Northville argued that the street closures have primarily helped the seven restaurant owners who have been able to use outdoor space to expand their operations.

Mishelle Lussier, who owns both Table 5 and Lucy & the Wolf, has been a proponent of the street closures. While it has helped her restaurants, she said the closures have also created a family-friendly environment that will be missed.

“I am sad that it has come to this, but I will still make the best of our current situation,” Lussier said. “Adding cars to Main Street will not bring more people downtown. It will take away from the family-friendly, community driven vibe that was so popular this summer.”

Lahanas said having the outdoor dining has been a great thing not just the restaurants themselves, but also the community in general.

“The outside dining is beneficial to the businesses, but it’s also a benefit to the city. People love coming to our downtown. We’re fortunate.

Center and Main streets were reopened to traffic on July 14.

When you have people outdoors dining, you look down that street and see an active, vibrant street,” Lahans said. “It’s fun, it’s exciting. So dining outside helps the city, helps the downtown, helps the businesses.”

Longtime Northville attorney Richard Corriveau, who has among the plaintiffs with Let’s Open Northville, said he has been telling city leaders for some time that they were violating the law. He said many people who spoke at the July 15 council meeting had criticized the city’s attorneys, but he put the blame at the feet of city’s leadership team.

“I had told the city manager, the mayor and the council early on at an open council meeting that the closure of the downtown streets was a violation of state and federal

law. However, they all ignored me and essentially implied they were within their powers to do so and I didn’t essentially know what I was talking about,” said Corriveau. “The loss by the city and the costs they entailed to be paid by the City of Northville in defending the lawsuit are directly related to the city’s violation of state and federal law not the actions of the their attorney. One cannot make lemonade out of lemons when the lemons were initially very sour.”

Mayor Turnbull said if the city council does decide to appeal the decision, it will not cost the city any additional money. The city’s membership with the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority would cover further legal costs associated with the lawsuit, he said.

Moving forward, the mayor said the city will close down the streets for special events, including concerts, and could close them for safety reasons when there are large crowds.

“We’ve had our streets open and closed for activities since the 1800s,” Turnbull said.

Retailer Theresa Schierloh, who owns Dancing Eye Gallery at the corner of Main and Center, said she hears both sides of the argument from her customers. While the closed streets have been good for her business (she actually expanded her store footprint), she understands the arguments from the other side.

“Located so prominently, I get a lot of people through the doors who share their opinions. And I’ve heard them all.

They all have their legitimate arguments,” she said.

Schierloh said the downtown area is like an ecosystem, where everyone relies on each other. She said some of the downtown stores and restaurants would probably benefit if they had more open hours of operation and she did note that downtown retail locations are in hot demand and filled quickly if space becomes available.

While she would like to see the street closures continue, she said she is ready to move on for the good of the community.

“I’ve been here for 30 years. I’ve been through 9/11, the recession and the pandemic,” Schierloh said. “A business like mine has to be able to pivot and change with the times. I’m ready to roll with whatever happens.”

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Managing Partner

Northville Soccer Getting An Overhaul

New partnership with Envy and Jags expands options for young players

By Tim Smith

Young soccer players often daydream about rising to the collegiate or professional levels. Others might favor just learning the game with friends or neighbors and seeing where that takes them.

With a new, multi-pronged system rolled out July 1 at Marv Gans Community Park in Northville Township, kids of all ages and skill levels – whether recreational, select or premier – can choose the best path forward for them.

That’s music to the ears of soccer moms and dads all over the community, some who accompanied their young players to the perfectly manicured Field Number 12 at the soccer oasis near Beck and Five Mile roads.

“I think it’s going to be absolutely wonderful for our community, for kids learning to love the sport and combining all these groups together,” said

Clancy Hargan, a Northville community soccer mom. “I just think it’s going to be a great program for the kids to develop their love for soccer.”

In partnership with Northville Parks and Recreation, players can follow the soccer journey of their choosing.

For many, their initial foray into the sport will be

taken through Northville FC Recreational Soccer.

Players wanting more can go “select” by signing on with ENVY FC Soccer. There is also a premier option via Michigan Jaguars FC Northville. The new system replaces one which Northville Soccer Association oversaw since 1973.

The new arrangement comes at the perfect time, as

registration is now open at northvillefc.com for the fall schedule that begins in August and September.

SOMETHING NEW

“I want to thank the Northville Soccer Association for all the years they provided soccer in our area,” said Greg Morris, assistant director of Northville Parks and Recreation. “But we felt it was time to move in a different direction.

“ENVY will bring to the table a real, great connection to the community. (Northville FC and ENVY FC’s) Dan Ferrara is on the Northville Educational Foundation and is very ingrained in our community. That was an important element for us.”

Morris said a bid process facilitated the selection of Northville FC, ENVY FC and the Michigan Jaguars.

“Our main goal is to provide the best services for our community,” Morris explained. “One of the things we wanted to do was really take a look at the soccer program we have here. So, what we did was we put out a bid process, going over the different fundamentals we were looking for.”

It was decided to team up with the three organizations to make sure soccer-loving kids could find a pathway that best suited their needs.

“We have this natural progression,” Morris continued, “where we go Northville FC to ENVY to Michigan Jags if you want a premier-level soccer experience.”

Ferrara will help administer and coach the lower and middle levels, fully aware of the importance of clear communication with families

about matters such as placing young boys and girls on a rec or select team and mapping out what kind of social and athletic experience is best for them.

“I think the most important piece of all of this is we’re creating a fun, safe, developmental place for kids to play soccer,” stressed Ferrara, who played youth soccer in Northville during the 1990s. “The goal is helping these kids grow as players, helping them grow as teammates, teaching them the individual skills, teaching them teamwork and setting up a structure that meets the needs of the kids, parents, coaches and the community.

“Having great communication with the families is going to be important but also is building upon the 50-year legacy of soccer in Northville.”

LET THEM DECIDE

Parents such as Carolyn Murray and Regina Dobronski also are thrilled with the new family-community soccer partnership and welcome having a chance to decide what works best for their kids.

“I love it, I think it’s going to be so good for all the kids who are interested in soccer at Northville,” said Murray, whose 9-year-old daughter Millie is registered with ENVY while 5-year-old son Ronald plays for the Michigan Jaguars. “Just having one cohesive program that they can follow the path they want to follow.”

Dobronski’s sons Ethan and Ben (ages 11 and 13, respectively) and daughter Abigail, 8, were at the rollout at Marv Gans Community Park. She also likes the variety available for families to

consider.

“We started in rec when my oldest was four,” Dobronski noted. “They’ve all done rec and Jags. I think it will be great, we’ll have more opportunity and it’s not as competitive. … I have different skill levels with my kids and I think it’s a great idea.”

Concurring was Hargan, a Northville community soccer mom for nine years who has four children playing either ENVY or Michigan Jags this coming year. Those players are Shane, 4; Smith, 7; Sully, 10; and Sawyer, 12.

“I just think combining it is providing more opportunities depending on which pathway your child wanted to go,” Hargan said.

Michigan Jaguars FC coach Eric Rudland is just as optimistic about what the future holds for Northville soccer at all different levels.

“We’re excited about the pathway that’s very clear for players,” said Rudland, entering his 17th season as an area coach. “And we’re excited about the new infrastructure in Northville.”

Because of the different pathways, there is improved opportunity for players to find the best situation as they determine how much they want to gain from playing soccer.

“Our player pathway is essentially from our Junior Jags

program and players transition and develop up to our premier teams that start at U-8,” Rudland said. “Occasionally we’ll see changes. Like we may have a player who doesn’t want to be as competitive or needs to balance their schedule, so they shift (one step down) to ENVY. And maybe ENVY has a player who wants to take the next step up in terms of their development and competition and they’ll transition over to us.”

Rudland emphasized that “at the end of the day we’re all in it to provide players the best opportunities that meet their demands.”

CHIPPING IN

Because there is a wide gap in terms of the financial hit for families from one end of the soccer spectrum to the other, Ferrara said the partnership with Northville Parks and Recreation is essential to making the system work for everybody.

Registration fees range from $200 for a rec team to $2,000 for an annual registration with ENVY FC to as much as $6,000 for the Michigan Jaguars’ elite program.

“Another advantage of working with parks and rec is the cost of rec soccer can stay low,” said Ferrara, who can be contacted at dferrara@ northvillefc.com. “Because

that’s one of their goals, making sports accessible to all members of our community.

“We offer scholarships both through ENVY as well as through the Northville Youth Network. And other local organizations have all said they’d be willing to step up if there’s kids that need resources to be able to participate.”

More than 1,000 soccer players are expected to grace as many as 20 pristine fields at Marv Gans Community Park during 2025-26.

“These fields are the best they’ve ever been,” said Rudland, giving an enthusiastic shoutout to Nathan Reilly, who is parks and facilities superintendent.

An anticipated 500 are slated for the lower level of the threetiered system, with another 180 in the ENVY FC program and up to 400 with the Michigan Jags.

For more information, visit the websites northvillefc. com, ENVYsoccer.com or MichiganJaguarsFC.com. Ferrara can be e-mailed at dferrara@northvillefc.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Northville Parks and Recreation has partnered with Envy FC and Michigan Jaguars FC to provide three levels of youth soccer, after the program was managed by the Northville Soccer Association since the early 1970s. Do you think this is a good path forward for youth soccer in Northville? Email your opinions to Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@ thevillemagazine.com.

The Northville Soccer leadership includes (front row from left) Gillian Neal, Joe Toth, Mike Meyer, (back row from left) Paul Tinnion, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation

Greg Morris, Dan Ferrara, Maggie Hughes, Zach Paquette, and Eric Rudland. Photos courtesy of Northville Soccer

Northville Shows Off Patriotic Side

4th of July parade draws big crowd downtown

with Bryan Mitchell

The community sure turned out for this year’s Independence Day Parade that made its way through Downtown Northville.

The parade featured many of the annual stalwarts, including the Northville High School marching band, scouting troops, members of the Order of Alhambra and other local service clubs, the fire department, local businesses and even a few farm animals -- and the Tooth Fairy.

Rachelle Vartanian, the founder of the Living and Learning Center, who was the winner of this year’s John Genitti Citizen of the Year Award, also rode along the parade route in a convertible.

All in all, there were lots of smiles as the community showed off its American pride.

Maintaining Stability

School district asking voters to renew district’s sinking fund

By Tim Smith

Northville Public Schools’ oh-so-important insurance policy is up for renewal.

Residents will go to the polls on Aug. 5 for a special election with a simple question to answer: Do they want the district to continue to have its so-called rainy-day fund for the next decade?

Voters are being asked to consider renewing the current sinking fund – which dates back to 2011 – for the years 20262035. If approved, the current .9357 mill levy will be extended and provide approximately $4.1 million annually to the district’s financial cookie jar. District officials are stressing there will be no tax increase from the current rate if voters pass the measure.

The sinking fund is viewed as a complementary funding source to the annual budget, preserving general fund dollars while helping tweak, repair and bolster Northville Public Schools’ 11 facilities and sites.

Since it first was approved in 2011, voters renewed subsequent measures in 2015 and 2020 – each with no increase to their property taxes.

This year’s renewal bid will be for 10 years, to guard against potentially unpredictable rate increases down the road.

“The way I look at a sinking fund is almost like gap insurance,” said RJ Webber, superintendent of schools. “Where it is an amount of monies that can be used for things that pop out of nowhere. A roof that goes bad on us. A boiler that goes bad on us.

“Or a parking lot that needs to be paved and we don’t have the monies to do so other than taking (funds) out of our general fund.”

Temporary Voting Location

For the Aug. 5 special election, Northville Township voters who normally vote at Meads Mill Middle School will vote at Silver Springs Elementary School due to construction at Meads Mill. Silver Springs is located at 19801 Silver Spring Drive. For more information, visit twp.northville.mi.us.

Areas of focus to be addressed through the sinking fund include upgrades to instructional technology (devices, networks and systems); energy and operational efficiency; health safety and security.

Where sinking fund dollars will not be used are teacher salaries or the hiring of faculty members.

“These monies are really used for the physical infrastructure,” Webber explained. “One of the ways I try to help people

understand is imagine your own home. And then multiply that (by) 100 when you look at the square footage and the buildings that we have.

“The high school alone is over a halfmillion square feet. So that’s a half-million square feet of roof, of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), of maintenance.”

With a smaller, secondary financial bucket available, Webber emphasized that money would not need to be siphoned out of the general fund – a much-larger bucket of money required for the core mission of instruction and for major construction.

Two examples of the latter are extensive projects now underway at Meads Mill Middle School and Amerman Elementary, where HVAC and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) facilities are being constructed.

“The sinking fund really helps us to cover those gaps that we can’t foresee,” Webber said. “And that helps us to do a much better job (at) upkeep of the district and attend to those issues.”

For residents to learn more about what they will be voting for on Aug. 5 (absentee voting began June 24), Webber said the district will host an upcoming questionand-answer session.

The Q&A program will be similar to one which took place in 2023, when a $134.4 million bond issue was proposed and overwhelmingly approved without increasing the tax rate.

Efforts are ramping up to provide as much information without attempting to persuade someone to vote for it, which is not permitted by election law.

But Webber stressed the administration’s top priorities are informing residents in a just-the-facts presentation, making “a compelling case of why it’s important to show up at the polls. It’s (important) that we honor the law.”

Being factually thorough with the information campaign is important for another reason, said Katelyn Rork, district communication specialist.

Namely, that is to make sure residents understand the difference between this year’s proposal (which would continue for

10 years) and the one for five years approved in 2023.

“It might be confusing to voters of saying ‘Okay, we just passed a bond in 2023, why are you now going for a sinking fund renewal in 2025’” Rork said. “Well, … these things address different things.”

Webber chimed in that the idea behind asking for a 10-year renewal “is to lock in stability, make sure that we have the stability of that going forward, so that’s the rate. There’s no increase in the ask.”

According to Rork, the bond issue is for those “big, shiny, fun” projects that can be completed while the sinking fund is “like the rainy-day thing we can use to make sure we protect the general fund.”

Yet a number of essential upgrades have

The way I look at a sinking fund is almost like gap insurance. Where it is an amount of monies that can be used for things that pop out of nowhere. A roof that goes bad on us. A boiler that goes bad on us. Or a parking lot that needs to be paved and we don’t have the monies to do so other than taking (funds) out of our general fund.”

RJ Webber, Northville Schools Superintendent

taken place via the sinking fund since 2011.

Among those cited in a district handout: HVAC and boilers, electrical and plumbing, improvements to cafeterias, sitework (such as drainage), transportation and athletics.

“Transportation has been a positive change, in that sinking fund dollars can be used to purchase buses and things like that,” Webber noted. “That is a newer piece that we may take advantage of.

“Working on athletic facilities, which (has a) high, high usage in this community, … we are improving existing facilities. We can use it (sinking fund) to improve those facilities by putting cameras up, or things of that nature.”

Northville schools are not alone in utilizing a sinking fund. According to a

district pamphlet about the Aug. 5 special election, there are 244 school districts in Michigan which do so.

Meanwhile, because voters are being asked to approve a second millage proposal in two years, Webber was asked whether he was confident the district’s recent run of success can continue.

“What I know is, in my three years here at Northville, I’ve found a community that is exceptionally supportive of our public schools. “And I’m very, very grateful for that. But I will never take their support for granted,” he said.

For more information about the sinking fund proposal, visit the district’s website at northvilleschools.org or send an email to nps@northvilleschools.org.

Past Tense

A Northville Oasis

Maybury State Park celebrates 50-year milestone

By Michele M. Fecht | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

Still reeling from the 1967 riots and facing a nearly halfbillion-dollar budget deficit, the Detroit City Council had an opportunity in 1971 to sell the former Maybury Sanatorium property in Northville Township to private developers clamoring for the 944-acre site.

The sanatorium, opened in 1921 and considered a national leader in the treatment of tuberculosis, closed in 1969 as mortality rates from the disease declined with the advent of antibiotics, vaccinations and other treatments.

1972, the parks division took possession of the property.

Following several years of demolition of the remaining sanatorium buildings, Maybury State Park opened on May 1, 1975. It would be the first state park in Wayne County.

MARKING 50 YEARS

Despite its staggering budget shortfall, the Detroit City Council voted to accept a $3 million offer from the Department of Natural Resources — considerably less than it could garner from a sale to private developers — for the purpose of turning the property into a state park. On March 14,

For half a century, Maybury State Park has attracted visitors to its bucolic setting offering nearly 1,000 acres of rolling hills, mature woodlands, walking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails, a paved bicycle path, a fishing pond, campground and much more. Coupled with the adjoining 85acre Maybury Farm, separate from the park, and managed since 2003 by the Northville Community Foundation, Maybury offers visitors a serene respite.

“People come here to unplug and to seek out greenspace,” said park supervisor Kale Leftwich, a Northville High School graduate (Class of 2001) who took over as supervisor last year. Growing up on Napier Road, Leftwich noted, “My bedroom window looked at the

park.” After stints at numerous state parks, Leftwich now heads up the park where he spent his childhood mountain biking.

“My goal has always been to be here, “ he said.

To mark its 50-year milestone as a state park, Maybury staff hosted a celebration last month that included among its guests Robert Remer, Maybury State Park’s first park supervisor (1972-1977), and Carol Romanik, whose husband Dr. John Romanik, was the Director of the Children’s Ward at Maybury Sanatorium before its closure.

“We had about 100 people here for the 50th celebration on a 100-degree muggy day,” Leftwich said.

“That’s the kind of pull this place has.”

Leftwich noted that “at its core, the park is very much the same as it was when it opened 50 years ago,”

adding that changes can be found in trees planted a half-century ago that have now matured, and the additions made to accommodate park visitors.

“We look at any and all development with a critical eye,” he said.

Leftwich said annual attendance in the park is “in the low 900,000.” Although the park “flirted with a million visitors during COVID,” he added. Leftwich also noted that while Maybury is a state park, it is also “very much a community park. We have the population to support it.”

And a dedicated non-profit team.

AN INVALUABLE PARTNERSHIP

For nearly 30 years, the Friends of Maybury State Park, an all-volunteer 501(c) (3)

The Maybury Sanatorium opened in 1921 and was considered a national leader in the treatment of tuberculosis. It closed in 1969.

Maybury opened a new headquarters in 2020.

Volunteers, including those with Friends of Maybury, do a lot of the critical work at Maybury. These volunteers removed some invasive plants.

non-profit organization, has been an invaluable partner in supporting the park through volunteerism and financial assistance whether through membership dues, donations and / or corporate grants.

Since its inception in 1996, the organization has taken on numerous projects to enhance the park experience for visitors. Projects have included nature programs such as nighttime owl prowls and nature journaling to full moon hikes and summer music on Mondays. The group also supports Eagle Scouts, helps maintain the park’s trails and improve the natural areas by removing invasives.

The organization currently has about 200 members, according to Friends President Joe Wrobel. Additional members are always welcome.

Wrobel said in addition to its programming, the Friends took on some of the larger projects to enhance the park experience for all visitors. Among those is the addition of an Action Track Chair for visitors with mobility issues. The batterypowered chair can handle woodland trails, snow, sand and up to six-inches of water and can be remotely operated by a guide. Visitors can call ahead to reserve the chair.

The most recent additions

to the park are two viewfinders equipped with EnChroma lenses that enable those with redgreen color blindness to experience a broader spectrum of distinct color.

Those with

regular vision will also notice that colors appear more vibrant.

The Friends along with the Northville Rotary Foundation and an anonymous private donation financed the two viewfinders.

Wrobel said the largest undertaking for the group has been the non-motorized entrance along Seven Mile to give pedestrians and cyclists in the community’s southern corridor access to the park. The project will provide community access to the park from all directions and link current and future trails. Identified in the park’s 2020 Management Plan, the Friends donated $18,000 the following year to support the preliminary engineering study.

Since the entrance will be constructed in a Wayne County Road Right of Way, a traffic

count study determined that a HAWK signal (high intensity activated crosswalk beacon) is required. Through generous donations and two matching grants, the project engineering and design costs of the pedestrian HAWK signal were completed.

It was announced in June that the Seven Mile NonMotorized Entrance project is fully funded, and the project has been bid out. Park leaders are now waiting for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) to select a contractor.

It is hopeful that the project will be completed in 2025. It will bring an end to a five-year endeavor to give greater access to all wishing to use one of the community’s greatest assets.

A PROPHETIC ENDORSEMENT

The sale of the Maybury Sanatorium property a halfcentury ago was not without its detractors. The sale to developers would have done much to help the city’s coffers. Nevertheless, the Detroit City Council saw its potential as more than just a land grab. A Detroit Free Press editorial on December 2, 1971, titled “Small Miracle for Maybury” perhaps said it best.

Common Council will never regret taking the credit and letting the cash go as far as the old Maybury Sanatorium grounds are concerned. A $1.5 million federal grant insures that the property will be turned into a park by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The 885-acre plot of rolling land near Northville was coveted for real estate subdivision after the sanatorium was closed

offers plenty of recreational opportunities and an extensive trail system for bikers, walkers and even equestrian riders.

down several years ago. It would certainly have brought far more from developers than the $3 million it will now bring. The city, in its poverty, was tempted. But it will be worth far more in the years to come as a park and campground where Southeast Michiganders can escape from the heat and the noise. Such facilities in the area are grievously overloaded.

Maybury is only 24 miles northwest of downtown Detroit, an easy haul for even an old jalopy loaded with a swarm of kids. It is expected to have camping equipment available for those who can’t afford such things as well as other attractions for winter and summer use.

The public doesn’t win them all, but the Maybury case is proof that if it really wants something and goes for it hard it is still possible to pull off small miracles.

For more information about Maybury State Park, check out its website at www.michigan. gov/recsearch/parks/Maybury

For further information about the Friends of Maybury State Park, go to friendsofmaybury.org

Maybury is an oasis for wildlife.

Maybury

Kale Leftwich became the Maybury superintendent last year.

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Unparallelled Success

OUnparallelled Success

Mustangs spring season filled with noteworthy highlights

By Brad Emons

n the heels of the champion MHSAA Division 1 girls tennis team and a state runner-up finish by the boys track and field squad (see our June issue), the 2025 spring sports season provided unparalleled success once again at Northville High School.

Here is a capsule look back at the other Mustang athletic teams that made their marks.

junior midfielder Mary Gugala, third-team.

All-KLAA selections included sophomore defender Sahra Al-Zoubi, senior defender Annie Hummel, senior midfielder Kendall Leutheuser, senior forward Ava Unger, Simran, Gugala and Deren.

Honorable mention went to Juliana Bohlen, Natalia Hurd and Monica Barretto.

SOCCER

Coach Jeannine Reddy’s squad made it all the way to Division 1 semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Byron Center, 1-0.

The Mustangs (14-5-3, 5-1-1 KLAA West) started their postseason tourney run by capturing the District 8 title with victories over Novi (4-0) and South Lyon East (2-0) followed by wins over Brighton (4-2) and Hartland (4-0) for the Regional 2 title.

Among Northville’s All-State selections included senior goalkeeper Simran Magnan and senior defender Amelia Deren, both on first-team; along with

SOFTBALL

Coach Scott DeBoer’s squad turned in a historic season posting school-best 35-7 overall record while capturing the KLAA championship and West Division (13-1) titles for the second straight year.

The Mustangs also repeated as District 27 champion defeating Livonia Stevenson (9-7) and Canton (12-4). They upset top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy, 1-0, in the Regional 7 semifinals on a two-hitter by junior pitcher Mary Gugala before being ousted in the regional championship game by South Lyon, 3-0.

Gugala, who tossed a one-

hitter in a 1-0 win over Salem in the KLAA championship final, led the way earning honorable mention AllState honors sporting a 23-5 record on the mound with 232 strikeouts in 170.1 innings and an ERA of 1.64. She also batted a team-best .438 with 11 doubles.

Five Northville players earned All-KLAA honors including Gugala and junior Kendall Heron (.390), sophomore Kennedi Adams, and freshmen Jocelyn Burns (.415) and Anna O’Beirne (10-2, 3.19 ERA).

BASEBALL

The defending Division 1 champs finished the season under first-year coach Mike Malley with a 26-13-2 overall record, including an 8-6 mark in the KLAA West.

Northville repeated as District 15 champs with a 4-3 victory over Novi in nine innings before making a

run to the quarterfinals. They were ousted by eventual state champion Hartland, 2-1. The Mustangs earned the Regional 4 title defeating Plymouth, 2-1, and West Bloomfield, 4-3.

All-KLAA picks for the Mustangs included seniors Nolan Coppens (infielderoutfielder), Greg Burns (pitcher-outfielder), Carson Eaton (infielder-pitcher) and Ryan O’Neil (pitcher-infielder), along with junior Justin Klepp (infielder-outfielder).

The softball team had one of its best seasons ever, reaching the regional final. Photos courtesy of Northville Athletics

The girls soccer team made it all the way to the state semifinals before losing.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

Coach Tim Dalton’s squad captured the KLAA West Division dual meet title with a 5-0 record and repeated as Division 1-Region 6 champions on May 16 at Novi with a teambest 118.25 points to topple the host Wildcats (90.25) and Salem (78.5).

Senior Callie Seiler was regional champion in the 400-meter dash (58.67) and teamed up with sophomores Lucy Feller, sophomore Colette Lozo and freshman Alexandra Mooradian for a first in the 4 x 400 relay (4:03.06).

Junior Molly Kate Coates, freshman Naya Abuyasin, freshman Tatum Mooradian and Lozo added a victory in the 4 x 800 relay (9:46.15).

In a closely contested KLAA meet on May 10 at Hartland, Belleville captured the team title with 79 points followed by Novi (73.5), Brighton and Salem (71 each) and Northville (70).

BOYS CLUB VOLLEYBALL

Coached by Erin Morrisey, the Northville boys club volleyball team reached the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association Division 1 semifinals on June 6 before falling to host Hudsonville, 25-10, 25-19, 25-15, which repeated as champion.

After capturing the district, the Mustangs (28-5) defeated host Novi Detroit Catholic Central (25-22, 25-21, 2523) and Novi for the regional crown for the second time in school history. Northville then eliminated Utica Eisenhower (25-21, 25-20, 25-13) in the quarterfinals to reach its firstever Final Four.

Northville also captured the Kensington Conference outright at 9-1 for the third time in four years.

Senior outside hitter TQ Setla earned D1 secondteam MIVCA All-State honors, while senior liberodefensive specialist Will Weyburne and junior opposite hitter Julian Janisse were both honorable mention All-State. Senior Ascher Bustos earned Academic All-State.

First-team All-Kensington choices included junior Jude Butler-Shriner, Setla, Weyburne and Janisse, while senior Evan Bachert made honorable mention.

For the 2025-26 school year, boys volleyball will become an official MHSAA sport.

BOYS CLUB ROWING

The Northville Rowing Club, coached by Nick Bickes, took 19 athletes to the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championship Regatta, May 24-25, in Pennsauken, N.J.

The Varsity 4+ team of senior Ryan Kretschmer (stroke), senior Owen Johnston (stroke), senior Marc Boissinot, junior Benny Siddall and senior Calista Ye (coxswain) brought home the program’s second national title.

It was the closest race at the SRAA meet with the three medal winning crews all finishing within a half-second of each other.

The Freshman 4x team of Grant Czarnecki (stroke) Sawyer Bell, Harry Gies and Colten Swiderek (bow) also made NRC history earning a bronze, while the Junior 4+ and Varsity 1x made it to the semifinal round.

At the Midwest Scholastic

Championships, May 10-11, at Kent Lake in Kensington Metropark, a total of 2,200 athletes representing 50 teams from eight different states competed, with NRC earning a pair of gold medals.

The Men’s 4- team of Kretschmer (stroke), Johnston, Boissinot and Siddall (bow) took first along with the Novice 4x+ of freshman Josh Koshko (coxswain), Czarnecki (stroke), Bell, Gies, Colten Swiderek.

Junior Liam Stuart added a silver in the 1x.

Meanwhile, the Junior 4+ team of junior Yusef Hariri (stroke), junior Colin Oleksinski, sophomore Dominik Avery, sophomore Luan Aziz

Scholastic Rowing Association of Michigan championship on May 17-18 at Kent Lake at Kensington Metropark.

Among the state champions included the varsity 8+ team of senior Ye (coxswain), junior Jacob Hudyma (stroke), junior Bennett Binkert, junior Daniyal Marvin, Kretschmer, Johnston, Siddall, Boissinot and Stuart (bow).

Also taking gold was the second varsity 8+ team of Patel (coxswain), Hariri (stroke), junior Luke Montgomery, junior Justin Gorski, Oleksinski, senior Vasili Dimopoulos, senior Cormac Dooley, senior Richard Carlos and sophomore Luan Aziz (bow).

(bow) and sophomore Nikash Patel (coxswain) captured a bronze along with the Novice 8+ team of Koshko (coxswain), Czarnecki (stroke), Bell, Gies, Swiderek, freshman Krish Dinesh, freshman Reed Bermingham, freshman Ben Margrif and freshman Andrew Leung (bow).

NRC also captured first in the

The varsity 4+ team of Kretschmer (stroke), Johnston, Boissinot, Siddall (bow) and Ye (coxswain) added a first along with the freshman 4+ team of Czarnecki (stroke), Bell, Gies, Swiderek (bow) and Koshko (coxswain).

Continued on Page 28

The volleyball team made it all the way to the state semifinals.

Northville's Varsity 4-team earned a first in the Midwest Scholastic Championship at Kent Lake.

Continued from Page 27

Meanwhile, state runner-up finishers for NRC included third varsity 8+ team of sophomore Karthik Gankidi (coxswain), junior Josh Park (stroke), junior Roen Ash, senior Oliver Fischer, sophomore, Adrian Caushi, sophomore Alec Simonelli, junior Austin Bermingham, sophomore Avery and junior Hector Garcia (bow).

The second varsity 4+ team of Hariri (stroke), Oleksinski, Avery, Aziz (bow) and Patel (coxswain) captured a silver, while 2- duo of Dimopoulos and Dooley added a bronze.

NRC also competed in the US Rowing National Championships, June 12-15, at Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla. as the 4- crew placed 10th, while Stuart added a 27th in the 1x.

GIRLS CLUB ROWING

It was a spring season full of highlights as the NRC women’s team finished as state runnerup and helped the program, along with the boys, take second overall in the combined at the Midwest Scholastic championships, best in program history.

The 4- team of senior Megan Gibbons (stroke), junior Megan Lauster, senior Emma Broglin and senior Maud Grobben (bow) were Midwest champions and placed fifth in the US Rowing Nationals.

The Junior 4+ team of sophomore Bella Barretto (stroke), sophomore Abby Pearson, junior Reid Shelton, sophomore Karla Long and junior Emma Lou (coxswain) took runner-up honors in the Midwest and made it to the semifinal round of the SRAA Nationals.

The Varsity 4x team of Gibbons (stroke), senior Payton Bobak, Broglin and Grobben (bow) added a silver medal the Midwest regatta.

In the state finals, the Varsity 4x team of Gibbons (stroke), Lauster, Broglin and Grobben (bow) earned a gold medal.

Meanwhile, the Junior 8+ team of sophomore coxswain Natallie Caccavaro, sophomore Aashka Patel (stroke), junior Morgan Sokolowski, sophomore Isabella Barretto, Lauster, Shelton, Pearson, sophomore Megan Kiszka and Long (bow) placed runner-up.

The Varsity 2x team of Gibbons (stroke) and Grobben (bow) also took a silver medal.

BOYS LACROSSE

The Mustangs, under coach Connor Kehoe, finished the year 7-12 overall, including a 2-2 record in the KLAA West and 5-4 mark in conference crossovers.

Northville opened Regional 7 play with a 6-3 win over Howell before falling to Brighton in the second round, 13-3.

Junior long-stick midfielder Nick Wessner and senior FOGO Alex Roberts both earned honorable mention All-State honors, while Mustangs’ All-KLAA selections included senior Alex Pearson, junior Ghazi Ismail and junior Will Frauenheim, while junior Zane Ader earned honorable mention.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Coach Kayley Dahring’s squad posted a 9-10 overall record including a 1-3 mark in the KLAA West and 5-3 in conference crossovers.

Northville defeated Livonia United in the Division 1-Region 2 opener, 13-5, before falling to

Brighton in the second round, 20-5.

Junior attack Addison Gubing made both secondteam All-State and All-KLAA. Sophomore midfielder Karissa Dahring earned honorable mention All-State and AllKLAA honors, while sophomore midfielder Anabelle Bednarz earned honorable mention AllState and All-KLAA honorable mention.

GOLF

The Mustangs placed fifth overall in the KLAA with a combined two-tournament total of 619 as Howell and Brighton finished one-two with 590 and 594, respectively.

In the KLAA pre-tourney April 24 at Kensington Metropark, Brighton scored 287 to take first while Northville

placed fifth with a 314 as senior Dominic Gaudino placed 10th individually with 75.

In the KLAA post-season tourney May 22 at Kensington, Salem placed first with a 299, while the Mustangs took fifth with a 305 led by junior Brayden Burns, who shot 74 to place fifth individually.

The Mustangs capped their season with a seventh-place finish in the D1-Regional 5 tourney May 27 at Washtenaw Country Club with a 327 total.

Brighton (297), Ann Arbor Pioneer (313) and South Lyon East (317) garnered the three state team qualifying berths.

Northville’s top finishers included Gaudino, 11th (78); senior Giovanni Savone, 23rd (80); freshman Owen Gagala, 34th (84); and senior Cameron McVittie, 41st (85).

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Dr. Francisca Kartono, DO

a Doctor’s Referral

(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 Doctor’s Referral

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.

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.

Raising Awareness

FULL BODY MRI SCANS WITHOUT

(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.

Full Body MRI Scans Without a Doctor’s Order

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. “My father never wanted another family to suffer the emotional and physical hardships that our family and he endured. He wanted to save lives.”

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.

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.

A LIFE SAVED

LIMITED TIME OFFER - Learn more now. Visit BioniccBodyScreening.com to download a free Welcome Information Kit and $200 savings offer. Book an appointment by calling 1-833-BIONICC. (833-246-6422) Scans are safe, non-invasive, emit no radiation and are available without a doctor’s referral.

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.

Located in South eld

It's Your Business Ajeless Health & Medical Spa

Science Over Myth: The New Age of Aging Well

Ajeless helps clients defy time and reclaim vibrant health

The quest to find the proverbial fountain of youth to reverse aging and improve health has been going on for hundreds of years, with the most well-known tale being Juan Ponce de León’s exploration of Florida in 1513.

Today, there’s no need to search for mystical healing waters. Since 2016, Ajeless Health and Medical Spa in downtown Northville has helped thousands of individuals slow down aging, achieve better health and improve their overall lives through cutting-edge science and medical treatment.

Ajeless owners Dr. Aylmer Evangelista MD and his wife Dr. Jennifer Rhee-Evangelista MD are board-certified physicians who have dedicated their

practice to optimizing health through anti-aging therapy, hormone optimization, medical weight loss and other noninvasive treatments.

“Hormone optimization should not be called hormone replacement therapy because everyone has some level of hormones in their body,” explains Aylmer Evangelista, an Internal Medicine physician who practiced at many local hospitals and ran his own private practice before going full-time at Ajeless.

OVERCOMING MISCONCEPTIONS

While hormone optimization and anti-aging treatments have been around for several years, there have been

increased her energy.

While this isn’t news to Evangelista, the discussion by Berry and others has increased interest in hormone optimization.

“When Halle Berry came out big time with testosterone therapy benefits, we saw more people coming in for help,” says Evangelista, who has specialized in hormone treatment for 16 years.

Address: 118 MainCentre, Northville, MI 48167

Phone: (248) 465-8000

Website: ajeless.com

misconceptions. In the last year or so, prominent celebrities and influencers have been changing people’s perceptions.

One of them is actress Halle Berry, who has spoken out about how hormone optimization helped her manage menopausal symptoms, improved her sexual health and

Hormones play a key role in health, with imbalances often causing extreme fatigue, mood swings, depression, anxiety, weight gain, joint pain, loss of sexual function, lack of sleep, and brain fog. These symptoms are often the reason people come to Ajeless.

“Hormones really decline in the 50s. Very often I see older couples who want to help their marriage or on the brink of divorce because they are losing their sexual desire,” says Evangelista, who also counsels patients on sexual wellness and intimacy.

Hormones not only help with sex drive, but provide important benefits for bones, skin, brain and heart in both men and women. Getting expert help for hormone therapy and avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” approach is important.

Actress Halle Berry has been an outspoken proponent of hormone therapy.

“I look at a patient’s blood test and see what their chemical levels are, along with key hormones and vitamins to determine what needs to be optimized,” says Evangelista, adding that benefits of treatment include cognitive clarity, improved memory, relief from depression or anxiety, increased muscle and bone strength, lower cholesterol and blood sugar, and enhance overall performance.

When Evangelista talks about the advantages of hormone therapy, he not only speaks as a physician but also from personal experience. About a decade ago, he started testosterone therapy to address his own health issues and prescribed it for his mom, who had osteoporosis. Today, the 47-year-old Evangelista is a picture of energy, health and youth. His mom, age 86, is free from fractures.

When it comes to hormone optimization, Evangelista wants patients to know that not all therapies are equal. Ajeless uses bio-identical, plant-based hormone pellets made by BioTE Medical LLC.

The pellet, which is injected under the skin, lasts up to 4-6 months and keeps patients at an optimal state. “I use BioTE because it’s natural, safe and has the same molecular structure as human hormones,” says

I want to encourage people who are experiencing health or weight issues that it isn’t over for them. And if you are already healthy, I want to make you healthier.

Dr. Aylmer Evangelista, owner of Ajeless Health and Medical Spa

Evangelista.

While hormone optimization is a key service of Ajeless Health and Medical Spa, patients can also obtain many skin and body treatments ranging from Botox and chemical peels to body sculpting and cellulite treatment, and many others.

The team at Ajeless are also experts in regenerative medicine, a non-surgical field dedicated to restoring function to damaged tissue and organs within the body by drawing on its natural ability to heal and regenerate. Treatments include Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy (PRP), and peptide therapies to trigger the body’s regenerative process to promote healing and even relieve pain.

DRAMATIC RESULTS

Weight loss and lifestyle optimization is another focus at the clinic and one where patients Evangelista have seen dramatic results.

“We take an overall health approach versus a band-aid approach, where there’s always a pill to address a concern. I give patients counseling to help them improve their nutritional status and give up unhealthy habits and be more active,” he says.

One patient who has seen life-altering results is Sherry Rinaldi, a nurse who came to the clinic in 2017, weighing 328 pounds. Her blood work showed low levels of thyroid, testosterone and estrogen, which were contributing to

weight gain and low energy levels.

Rinaldi lost 111 pounds in the first year, thanks to Evangelista’s treatment that combined hormone optimization, a medical weight loss program and ongoing health guidance. Today Rinaldi weighs 138 pounds, is feeling healthy and looking great.

“I want to encourage people who are experiencing health or weight issues that it isn’t over for them. And if you are already healthy, I want to make you healthier,” says Evangelista, who calls his practice an antiaging clinic.

“I always say health is your wealth. Invest in your health and you will be happy.”

Investing in health by working with the team at Ajeless Health and Medical Spa is certainly a better bet than looking for that mythical fountain of youth.

Dr. Aylmer Evangelista and Ajeless support many community efforts, including the OLV golf outing.

Sherry Rinaldi, an Ajeless patient since 2017 when she weighed 328 pounds, is today down to 138 pounds. She says her life has been transformed by Ajeless.

World’s Top Golfers Coming to Saint John’s

Here’s

what you need

to know about upcoming LIV Team Championships

By Ken Voyles

Golf fans will have a chance to see players like Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Brooks Kopeka, Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson up close during the highly anticipated LIV Golf Team Championships in August.

Taking over the Saint John’s Resort, the three-day tournament will be held Aug. 2224 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 along the course, host a private or corporate suite or just walk the fairways alongside some of the biggest names in golf.

LIV organizers say fans can expect three days of top notch golf that will help put Plymouth and Northville squarely on the map when it comes to pro golf destinations. More than 30,000 fans, volunteers, sponsors and media are expected. For local business and community

leaders, the event offers an excellent way to showcase downtown Northville and Plymouth, especially the wonderful dining options in the Northville and Plymouth downtowns and surrounding areas.

Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo, who pointed out three of the Cardinal’s holes, including 17 and 18, are

actually located in Northville Township, said the tournament should be a boon for local restaurants and businesses.

“I suspect a lot of our merchants will be very, very busy. It’s a really good opportunity for them,” Abbo said.

Even though this year’s Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Gail Grieger said she isn’t familiar with the LIV format she is eager to see the event happen in the community.

“I think that it’s very positive for us to be hosting the LIV golf tournament,” she says. “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 in Plymouth’s 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 also have a significant financial impact on the community with 30,000 people coming here. They’ll need places to stay or eat.”

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 four players. Competition consists of 54

Talor Gooch, shown celebrating with fans after a recent LIV Golf victory, and Sergio Garcia, signing a hat for a fan, are two of the major golfers scheduled to play at The Cardinal. Photos courtesy of LIV Golf

The Cardinal golf course at St. John’s will host the LIV Team Championship Aug. 22-24. Photo courtesy of The Cardinal

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.

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 seminary, Saint John’s eventually closed down, but the Archdiocese of 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.

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

• After 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

• After Golf - Podium Ceremony; (7 p.m.)

Swedish House Mafia concert

The LIV Golf Fan Village, at the heart of the team showdown, say organizers, includes interactive activities for all ages along with plenty of food and beverage outlets. There will also be several unique golf challenges for fans of every age and skill level.

Volunteers are needed for the event and

can register at the livgolf.com website under Saint John’s tournament. Hospitality suites, both private and shared, are available for the competition. Information is available on the LIV site as well.

Even though the golf is played over just three days, Soenen says the LIV team will be in the community for more than a week setting up, practicing and preparing for Plymouth’s first major golf tournament.

Tickets to attend the tournament are now on sale, by visiting the LIV Golf website at www.livgolf.com/tickets. There are 3-day passes available, as well as individual day passes.

Phil Mickelson celebrates with a teammate at a LIV Golf tournament. He is expected to play at the upcoming tournament at The Cardinal. Photo courtesy of LIV Golf

Teeing Off for Change

FASHION THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

start SeaSwing and swap plastic waste for golf style

By Maria Taylor NHS grads

On a breezy oceanside golf course in Florida, three lifelong friends from Northville — Joey Minghine, Matson Heid, and Andrew Keris — were enjoying their first “nice” boys’ golf trip after college.

The green was stunning. Waves were crashing just a few feet away. And then the beauty of the game was marred by the harsh reality of plastic pollution. As they watched, three different water bottles and a bag of chips washed up on the beach in front them. It really bothered them.

“Being of a certain age and generation, you’re a bit more tuned into the environment. It rubs you the wrong way,” said Minghine.

So they started talking, and came up with an idea: Why not combine their love of golf with their values and their

individual talents, and actually do something about it together?

For this trio, the idea wasn’t that far-fetched.

“Unlike a lot of best friends from high school, we survived college. We stayed best friends to this day, and for probably two, three years now, we’ve been kicking around the idea in our head of like we want to do something,” Minghine explained. “We all have good jobs. We all have a little bit of free time. We all had a bit of an entrepreneurial mindset, but we never really knew what that something was.”

Thus was born SeaSwing, a sustainable golf apparel brand officially launched in March 2025. Their mission: to clean up the oceans while making golf fashion more conscious, creative, and communitydriven.

The SeaSwing product line started with polos and quarterzips made from recycled plastics. But sustainability at SeaSwing runs deeper than the fabric. Their packaging is also eco-friendly, and they’ve partnered with 4ocean, a global nonprofit that pulls plastic from oceans and coastlines. A portion of every SeaSwing purchase helps fund the cleanup effort. There’s even a tracker on the website that shows how much plastic has been removed, and shoppers can see it tick upward in real time when they make a purchase. Right now, they’re at 40 pounds of plastic, which is the equivalent of about 800 plastic bottles.

“We’re pretty proud of that for starting out,” said Matson. “A big, big part of our goal is to hit those milestones: 100 pounds, then get to 1,000 within a year, five years, etc.”

But make no mistake — these clothes aren’t just good for the planet. They’re made to perform.

“We’ve all tried different golf shirts, different brands — Peter Millar, TravisMathew, you name it,” Heid said. “We wanted ours to be, obviously, ecofriendly, but also be a product we believed in ourselves. So we took what we loved from each and created something fun and high-quality.”

To bring that vision to life, the trio enlisted a designer from California to give their polos a modern, West Coast-inspired flair.

“We wanted something fresh,” Heid explained. “Something you’d be excited to wear on and off the course.”

Their signature print features dolphins and hammerheads,

starfish, turtles, jellyfish, horseshoe crabs — all the sea creatures their brand works hard to protect.

“At SeaSwing, we are redefining what it means to be a golfer by combining a love for the game with a commitment to the planet,” their website proudly states. “Our mission is not just about creating highquality golf apparel. It is about building a community that values sustainability as much as performance.”

BUILDING A BRAND

With limited capital for traditional marketing, SeaSwing has taken a guerrilla approach to building its brand. They’ve signed ambassadors — including college players and one professional on the Advocates PGA Tour (APGA) — to create social content and promote the gear organically.

Marketing is a team effort.

“We all run the socials — Instagram, TikTok, you name it,” Minghine said. “That’s kind of our linchpin — not just people that are going to help promote the product, but we want people that will go make a TikTok video wearing it, talking about it.”

And that strategy is paying off. Their follower count is climbing steadily, and SeaSwing merchandise is already being sold at a golf club in Florida.

“We’re seeing kind of a snowball effect,” Minghine said. “We’re not trying to be the biggest, yet, but we want to be the most authentic.”

While their day jobs still pay the bills, all three founders are eyeing a future where SeaSwing becomes their full-time pursuit. Next up is additional men’s apparel, like pants and long-sleeved shirts, hats, more

Lifelong friends and Northville High graduates Andrew Keris, Matson Heid and Joey Minghine show off some of the golf apparel they designed and sell through their SeaSwing product line.

accessories, and — critically — a women’s line. Heid, a finance professional by trade, said the numbers make the case. While golf remains a predominantly male sport, a look at the demographics shows the women’s side of golf “growing at a really good rate, percentagewise.”

The guys are the first to admit: Women’s fashion is not their forte — which is why, down the road, they’ll be bringing on someone who knows women’s fashion.

“With male clothing, we felt like we had varying-ish enough body sizes that we could try on stuff and make sure it would fit,” said Minghine. “So a big thing for us is we definitely are going to want to bring on a female partner at some point, to make sure it’s going to be what the

female market actually wants.”

The team is already brainstorming new designs and eyeing retail partnerships to bring SeaSwing gear into golf clubs across the country.

Their five-year dream? To be in golf clubs nationwide, outfit a player on the PGA Tour, keep hitting milestones for plastic removed from the ocean, and maybe even quit their day jobs to work on the brand full-time.

NORTHVILLE ROOTS

Minghine has a confession: In his own words, he’s a “terrible” golfer. He picked up golf in college. But the other two on the SeaSwing team — Keris and Heid — both played for the Northville golf team in high school. Now, they’re ready to bring it full circle.

“Something that we

MDishin’ With Denise

Denise Jenkins, who is a board member with the Northville Historical Society, is an avid writer and proponent of the arts. She is also plugged into what’s happening in Northville. Contact her at denisemjenkins@aol.com.

Finding the Good in Today's News World

ore and more I hear people say, “I don’t watch the news anymore”. On one hand it saddens me…on the other, I’m sorry to say – neither do I. It was my job for many years and when I gave it up some of my colleagues said – I walked away and never looked back. True, but not completely. I choose “good” news – and it really is not that hard to find. And I want to spread a little bit right now.

A couple weeks ago, on a Sunday, I simply went to church at Our Lady of Victory and there it was. Violet Culp was recognized, by Fr. Denis Theroux, with the Pillars of Faith - Service to God pin, signifying completion of four hard-earned awards. They are the Girl Scout Catholic Religious Awards: Family of God, I Live My Faith, Marian Medal and Spirit Alive. I have watched Violet grow up in our community, and am proud to know her and recognize there

are young people like her in my hometown. Congratulations, Violet!

A few weeks before I was wowed by the new event space at the Inn at St. John’s for the Living and Learning Enrichment Center’s 2025 Hopes and Dreams Gala There were more than 600 attendees. They raised more than half a million dollars from ticket sales to a silent auction, a live-ly auction and of course, many generous sponsors. The highlight for me was a group of gals who performed “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman. I started tapping my feet – then movin’ to the music – and ultimately shedding a tear or two at the powerful

performance of four young women who truly meant every word they sang. Bravo! Tuscan Café had a recent face lift. I’ve had many a meeting there lately and it was a seamless transformation. The other day I thought –something is different. The refrigerator cases are probably

a long overdue benefit for all… but the leather bench seating is stunning. Nicely done, Will Hundley, who is the owner. And by the way…congratulations on 30 years in Northville (this August) –in this current location since 2021. I am proud to say I’ve been a customer for at least 25 years, and although the location is ideal – the old, skinny shop with high top group seating was so convivial…I loved engaging in random conversations. The atmosphere has changed but the good news is my special-order grilled turkey and cheddar on rye is still tasty as ever.

My condolences to the family of my dear friend “Aunt” Mary Ware, the longtime Northvillian who passed away in June at the age of 103. She will never be forgotten. She and I shared friends and family from Turrivalignani, Italy. At her memorial I was reminded of her long-standing commitment to our Northville community, cupcakes and manners -which she professed “never go out of

style.”

So, in her honor, may I say “thank you” to those who accepted my invitation last month to come celebrate 50 years with Dr. William Demray of Preservation Dental. It was a blast and with the help of a dunk tank we were able to donate more than $1,000 to the Declan Carter Foundation. Again, thanks.

This all speaks to the power of “good” news.

Back row (L to R): William and Carole Jean Stockhausen, Juliet and Todd Culp

Front Row (L to R): Dr. Rachel Stockhausen, Violet Culp, Fr. Denis Theroux, Penelope Culp

Will Hundley at the renovated Tuscan Café.

"Aunt" Mary Ware

Mayor Brian Turnbull, and city council members Laura Genitti and John Carter celebrate with Dr. William Demray at the unveiling of the 50-year exhibit at Preservation Dental.

“Jamey and his team are amazing. Their marketing strategy had our home sold within 3 days of listing for well over asking. With Jamey, you will not only get a well-respected professional, but an amazing team with Jean and their secret weapon, Diana. Great people, great expertise, and now, great friends! We really enjoyed working with Jamey and will continue to recommend him to anyone in the market.”