The Rock - May 2023

Chris Soutar

Scott Daugherty

Chris has lived in the Plymouth / Canton community since 1994. Some his local favorites are: Campari’s on the Park, Basement Burger, Mexican Fiesta II, Pizza Vino, Spoons Place, Central City Dance Center.

Chris has lived in the Plymouth / Canton community since 1994. Some of his local favorites are: Campari’s on the Park, Basement Burger, Mexican Fiesta II, Pizza Vino, Spoons Place, Central City Dance Center.

csoutrar@billbrownford.com

Office:(734) 524-2715

Mobile: (734) 765-8980

Scott has lived in the Plymouth / Canton Community since 2002. Some his local favorites are: Crow’s Nest (Canton), Golf at Pheasant Run Golf Course (Canton), Spoons Place, Palermo Pizza, DCFC Soccer.

Scott has lived in the Plymouth / Canton Community since 2002. Some of his local favorites are: Crow’s Nest (Canton), Golf at Pheasant Run Golf Course (Canton), Spoons Place, Palermo Pizza, DCFC Soccer.

sdaugherty@billbrownford.com

Office:(734) 524-2773

Mobile: (555) 555-1212

Local Matters!

Please consider a donation to support The Rock. Since we began publishing more than two years ago, our goal has been to provide our readers with valuable information about the Plymouth community each and every month. Your support will help that mission survive and grow. While The Rock is sent free to every address in Plymouth, it is not free to produce.

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

MAY 2023

VOL 4 | ISSUE 5

KURT KUBAN – Editor & Publisher

Kurt is an award-winning journalist, having served as a reporter and editor for several local newspapers and magazines, including the Plymouth Observer He has been a journalist for over two decades. He founded Journeyman Publishing, which also publishes The ‘Ville, in 2017.

SCOTT BUIE – Advertising Director/Vice President of Sales

Scott has 20+ years creating advertising campaigns for clients in Metro Detroit. After managing sales for radio stations for 17 years he purchased Street Marketing, where he works closely with a variety of businesses and events. Scott and his family have lived in the Plymouth/Northville area for over 23 years.

JENNY PEARSALL – Creative Director

Jenny has been in the design and print industry for over twenty years, holding various positions in graphic design, print buying, production and print management. She also owns Bovia Design Group, a company specializing in publications and corporate branding.

BRAD KADRICH – Writer

Brad is an award-winning journalist who spent more than 20 years covering the Plymouth community for the Plymouth Observer. He also spent 15 years serving his country in the U.S. Air Force.

BRAD EMONS – Writer

Over the course of his four decades with the Observer & Eccentric, Brad established himself as one of the preeminent prep sports reporters in the state, winning many journalism awards along the way. His greatest joy is interviewing local athletes and coaches, and reporting on their efforts.

LARRY O’CONNOR – Writer

Larry is a metro Detroit area journalist whose work has appeared in The Detroit News, Jackson Citizen Patriot and the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers. When he’s not meticulously chronicling people or events, he’s avidly rooting for his favorite soccer teams -- Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic.

TIM SMITH – Writer

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

MICHELE FECHT – Writer

Michele is a longtime journalist whose first post-college reporter position was at The Northville Record b efore moving on to The Detroit News. 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, including The Rock. -Photo by Kathleen Voss

KEN VOYLES – Writer/Photographer

Ken is an award-winning writer, photographer and designer whose career has spanned nearly five decades in and around metro Detroit. He started his journalism career in Plymouth, working for the Community Crier. He is the author of two books on Detroit history, loves to travel and has finished his first novel.

BILL BRESLER – Photographer

Bill arrived in Plymouth in 1977 to work for the Community Crier. He also worked for the Plymouth Observer for many years. Bill, who taught photography at Madonna University, retired from what was left of the newspaper business in 2019 and now freelances. He’s happy to be back in the Plymouth community.

Our Green Issue

The Beatles had their White Album and Metallica had the Black Album. Well, you can probably call this our Green Issue. More specifically it’s our ‘greenhouse’ issue.

As you flip through the pages, you’ll know what I mean.

First, our cover story is about Rachel Nisch, who took over as owner of the historic Graye’s Greenhouse at Joy and Lilley in Plymouth Township. Graye’s dates back to 1918 when Alex Wnuk built his barn on the property, followed by his home and ultimately the first greenhouse in 1928. In 1945, one of Wnuk’s daughters, Sylvia, bought the greenhouse and, with her husband Joseph Graye, established Graye’s Greenhouse. The place has been a staple for flower-loving customers ever since.

In fact, when Nisch was a little girl she used to visit Graye’s every year with her father, an avid gardener, to buy cyclamen for her grandmother on Mother’s Day as well as foxglove for their garden.

In 2019, Nisch purchased the property and business from the Graye family and has been implementing some changes while maintaining strong relationships with their longtime customers. She has brought fresh energy to the place, including planting gardens for pollinating insects. And she just loves her job.

“A greenhouse is the best way to work in the dirt all year round,” Nisch said. Please check out our story on PAGE 14.

Our second greenhouse story, on PAGE 18, is a news story focusing on a developer’s plan to redevelop Sparr’s Flowers and Greenhouse, a five-acre parcel just a stone’s throw away from Graye’s at the northwest corner of Lilley and Joy roads. Sparr’s is also historic, dating back to the 1950s.

It was recently purchased by Naji Kahala, who approached Plymouth Township about having the property rezoned so he can build small-scale apartments and/ or homes, a drive-thru business (possibly a coffee shop he said) and renovate some of the greenhouse buildings on the property possibly.

“We bought the property (in December 2022) to make improvements,” Kahala told the Plymouth Township Planning Commission during an April 19 public hearing. “We inherited a lot of issues. Essentially, … that corner right now does not look great and we just want to make it get better.”

However, the Planning Commission shot down the proposal after a number of neighbors turned out to express opposition to the changes. The Plymouth Township Board of Trustees is expected to take up the issue either on June 13 or June 27.

Our last story is about a “green house” of another kind. It is about Plymouth resident Lori Sullivan, who recently published a new book called One Shade Greener at Home, which offers room-by-room guidance to reduce toxins, lighten your environmental footprint and live simpler.

In other words, it’s about embracing sustainability, which has been a thread throughout Sullivan’s career. As a marketing and business strategy professional, she created a monthly newsletter to help automotive engineers reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy. Most recently, she set the foundation for McCann Worldgroup’s sustainability strategy.

Sullivan began the green movement in her own home about 15 years ago, first in the laundry room by changing her detergent, then switching to cold water washes, and later ditching disposable sheets in favor of reusable dryer balls. She hasn’t looked back, and her book is a ‘green print’ so to speak on how anyone can follow the same path. Check out her story on PAGE 20

These three stories are great examples of why we started this magazine nearly three years ago. Our whole goal has been to inform our readers about the people, businesses and news that have an impact on our community. In this case, the stories seem to be tied together with a green theme, which is perfect for springtime reading.

Happy Spring everyone!

Kurt Kuban is the editor of The Rock. He can be reached at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com.

SWORD

YOUR VOICE: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Leave well enough alone

Thank you for allowing me to cast my opinion about changing the name of the Canton Chiefs. Just like I didn't agree with the pro teams that thought they needed to replace an American Indian name with something different, I don't believe Canton High School should make that change either. If anything, these names are a tribute, an honor to the American Indian.

Why not reverse this and actually honor the American Indian people when using their name? My vote is to leave well enough alone and don't change the name. After all, can you imagine the announcer at a game announcing, “Here are your Canton Kangaroos"? They would be the laughingstock of the region.

Rick Sikora

Proud of legacy

We have been Plymouth residents since 1994 and our two children have graduated from Canton High School as Canton Chiefs. Once a Chief - always a Chief! We agree with the intent that Chiefs reflect leadership, strength and respect and we would not like it any other way. In honor of and with high regard for Dr. E.J. McClendon and those who came before us, we are proud of the history and legacy of the Canton Chiefs.

We appreciate your time, efforts and concerns in evaluating this dilemma and hope that there will be a community survey announced and our voices and our earnest intent be recognized.

The Delapaz Family Times have changed

We need to change the name of the Canton Chiefs. My daughters both attended Canton High School. Times have changed and there’s no reason to try to stop the march of change. Trying to stop the passage of time and attitudes will only prolong the division. Our community isn’t the kind of community that wants to be behind, so, for the sake of unity, we need to just make the change now.

Tim Roraback

Chiefs are leaders

Both my sons graduated from Canton High School. I never associated " Chiefs" with an Indian context. The definition of Chief is: “a leader or ruler of a people or clan ("The chief of the village").” I see nothing offensive about the Chiefs and believe we should keep the name. Chiefs are leaders. I consider myself to be a very " progressive" person on many levels,

but think changing the name is not necessary.

Karen O'Keefe

Don’t change nickname

I disagree wholeheartedly with changing the nickname of the school. A "Chief" is an honorific still used today. Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Police, etc. are all common examples of the "Chief" label being used as an honorific. The idea that a "Chief" only has a negative connotation is nonsense. Maybe some of this effort would be better spent on educating these kids on why they still should want to be called a "Chief" today.

Justin Morrow

Ask the tribes

You asked for our thoughts on the Canton High Chiefs article. Mine are:

Very interesting article about the Canton High Chiefs nickname, but with all this effort and talk on the subject, it seems ridiculous that the article did not mention, or maybe no one has bothered with the following. How could no one have taken the time to contact the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan and ask their opinion?

Ask them to take a simple informal survey of their members (or allow CHS to do it) on if they support dropping the "Chief" name, prefer the name is kept, or don't care either way. I feel if:

- A significant portion (like 40%) want it dropped, and the rest don't care, then CHS should drop it.

- A majority want the name kept, keep it.

- If most of the tribal members don't care, or the results are fairly mixed, then do what the students, alumni and community want.

- If after two valid attempts to get a response from a tribe, then take it as they don't care.

Mike Fisher

Proud to be a Chief

I am one of the 1975 Canton High alum who thinks the move to change the Chiefs nickname is because of the grooming and indoctrination of kids to be offended instead of maybe thinking it’s a way of honoring diversity. Making people think about the Indians in their various pronouns that help us remember that these people/groups contributed to the areas we now live. Think on the positive aspects of it instead of trying to find an incident where people were unjustly treated.

I was a part of the group of students who came together for 9th grade at Central High

School to be split between Salem and Canton from sophomore through our senior years.

I remember the vote for the Chiefs. I also cheered for the Canton football and basketball teams as well as played for the Canton baseball team. Since I moved away in the early 80's, I have enjoyed my chances to return and see fellow graduates, and have been excited with what they made of themselves as business owners, teachers, executives and lawyers contributing to the community. They’re making Plymouth a better place to live.

With our 50th Reunion coming up in 2025, I look forward to the conversations with my fellow alum -- to hear about what they did, who they’ve become, what legacy they would leave through their kids and grandkids. I will be disappointed if any of those conversations have to be about the name change from the Canton Chiefs (which I am proud to be) to something ridiculous as the Canton Kangaroos or even the Canton C's.

Paul Major Remove the ‘i’

I believe the most practical new nickname for Canton H.S. would just be to remove the “i” and become the Canton Chefs. It would be much easier for their rebranding as they would only need to remove the one letter from their current signage.

Jokingly, Sonnet Stork Teach leadership skills

Regarding the proposed name change for Canton High School, the Webster Dictionary defines a Chief as: “the head of a body of persons or an organization; Leader.” The Oxford Dictionary defines a Chief as: “a person with a high rank or the highest rank in a company or organization.” If you Google search the meaning of Chief, you will get pages of these types of definitions. In the article from the April edition, it was noted that the original intent of choosing the name Chiefs was because it reflects leadership, strength and respect.

Aren’t we trying to teach our youth to have strength and show leadership and encourage pride? How does a kangaroo portray these principles? Not to mention, in the world we live in today, aren’t there more pressing issues with our education system to worry about? Thank you for allowing input on this matter.

Jennifer Coykendall

Tackle other issues

Websters Dictionary defines the word

"chief" as the head or leader of a group or organization. Nowhere in the definition is any reference to Native American Indians, hence the terms chief engineer, chief justice, chief executive, commander in chief, police chief, etc. The name Chief is an appropriate name for Canton high school reflecting a proud heritage of a school that strives to be a leader in their community. As a 40-year Plymouth resident I strongly urge the district to retain the Chiefs name and spend their time tackling other pressing issues affecting our proud community and school district rather than this trivial "cancel culture" matter.

Tony Nagi

What about ‘Chefs’?

Perhaps the school can consider a slight editing change. Chiefs = Chefs. Make the excess “i” into a meat cleaver. Seems cheaper than switching to some kind of animal.

Barbara Korte

Name is not disrespectful

The whole idea that the school nickname needs to change is a product of all of the worst parts of the culture in America today. People that can’t imagine a way to accomplish anything great create imaginary dragons they can slay to become heroes in their own story. My kids were Chiefs. My son was on the lacrosse team when this insanity started. They had magnificent, professional, and expensive Indian graphics put on their helmets and they were forced to remove them by the woke mob.

The truth of the matter is there is nothing disrespectful about using a nickname related to American Indians. If using the name is an act of aggression against whatever the name represents why not just eliminate nicknames? Why take it out on eagles or kangaroos?

We tear down statues and it doesn’t change history. We make words taboo and it doesn’t change history. We change team names and it doesn’t change history. The inmates are running the asylum and burying their heads in the sand instead of acknowledging history and learning from it. Meanwhile, we reside in a country that has continually confronted actual injustice and changed laws and culture for the better. We should be celebrating that every day.

Don’t change the name and ignore the woke mob.

Tony Pashigian

Catering to builders

The proposed wastewater treatment plant is another example of stupid government catering to rich builders. I knew that when they built the water pumping station on Ann Arbor Road and Napier it was only a short time before this idea

of a wastewater treatment facility was going to happen. The ideal location should be next to the landfill on Five Mile west of Napier -- either on landfill property or acquired property on Five Mile. I find it amazing that so many people purchase homes next to existing landfills and then complain of the smell and the traffic from the trucks. Placing the treatment plant here isolates it from the existing and planned homes. Either location will still, with the right wind direction, cause the smell just like the landfill to be dispersed over both the new and the old homes. That is why 50 years ago the landfill was placed in the country and not the city. Now they are building the city around it and people are buying into that idea.

Thank you for all you do to enlighten us.

Earl Baker

Opposed to wastewater plant

As a Plymouth Township resident for 55 years, I oppose the proposed Salem wastewater plant abutting Napier Road. The suggested site seems to deliberately optimize the Salem interest by selection of a plot on their easternmost border, given that the wind direction is statistically most probable from the west. This means that the massive residential complex that begins right on the east side of Napier Road would be almost always saturated with the airborne smells of the plant. This can’t be right.

Bob Ervin

Will add to odor

I live in Plymouth Township and I oppose building the Salem Township sewage treatment plant. It’s bad enough that the mountain of garbage, the Arbor Hills landfill, smells up Plymouth Township. And why does Michigan allow Canada to bring their garbage to our state and dump it in our landfills?

Jan Barta

Not in our backyard

I find it hilarious that Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise is opposed to the Salem sewage treatment plant. "Communities tend to put their least desirable element on their borders so that the smell of a sewage treatment plant goes into somebody else's back yard. I don't think anybody wants a sewage treatment plant right across our border," he said. He doesn't have a problem putting the horse track at Five Mile and Ridge, right at the border. He doesn't have a problem with the horse manure smell permeating the neighborhood's right next to the track, not to mention those houses north of Five Mile in Northville.

People in the area of the landfill have complained for years about the smell, and

due to a lawsuit there is finally a legal remedy to the situation. But now the people that live near the proposed horse track are going to have to put up the smell of horse manure, the possibility of contamination of the nearby creek with the runoff from horse manure, horse washing, hay from the barns, and gravel from the parking areas.

I live directly south of the track (there are two manufactured home developments and a condo complex between Five Mile and North Territorial Road). We don't want to smell a horse track in our backyard.

Elizabeth Rizzo

Live with it

Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise is ramrodding the development of every available square foot of land in Plymouth Township and now has his well-heeled buddies up in arms in Country Club Village. He cannot control Salem Township’s destiny. Nobody seemed to mind the landfill out there before they started developing the surrounding property for residential use. He didn’t want to work with Salem Township so now he has to live with it. I have been a resident of Plymouth Township since 1984 - when it was an aspirational community.

Randy Jost Little upside

Why should Plymouth Township bring in the Northville Downs race track, and put it in our technology corridor? That sounds crazy. Surely, this is prime real estate for technologyrelated industries. Why would we want a race track in the middle of it? Our closeness to U-of-M, with its richness of students, intellectuals and starter businesses makes it an ideal location. The race track in Northville is something of an eyesore, with its huge parking lot. Its revenue base has been shrinking. Northville's plan for a replacement shows how much more profitable the land can become if used for different purposes.

This sounds more like a short-term idea to generate a small amount of revenue with little upside over the years -- years that could be put to much better use by finding more technology-based industries, in keeping with the current long-term plan for that part of Plymouth Township.

Jeaneane Havstad

SOUND OFF Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com.

Plymouth Library celebrates a century of service to community

Story and photos by Ken Voyles

For 100 years the Plymouth community has been blessed with an institution worthy of celebrating.

This year the Plymouth District Library marks a unique centennial, having faithfully served families and book lovers of all ages, adapting to technological changes and maturing into an indispensable part of Plymouth’s cultural fabric.

Born in June of 1923, and regularly expanded into the facility residents see dominating between Main and Church streets, the library is planning celebrations throughout the year, beginning with a centennial gala held earlier in May.

The May fundraiser drew more than 200 people for an evening of music, food, speeches and an occasional nod to Margaret and Bessie Dunning and the Hough family foundation, patron “saints”

of the library who made what we know as the Plymouth library such a viable and special place.

For Mike Pappas, the library’s board of trustees president, the most important message about

and the library’s bookstacks. He smiled thinking about how libraries have dramatically changed over 100 years and yet Plymouth has been able to avoid becoming a “dinosaur”

Pappas’ other main point was an even more heartfelt one.

“This celebration is about thanking people, people who care about this great institution, people we serve here and people of our Plymouth community,” said Pappas. “The altruism in our community is unreal. There’s a great love of this library and people who support us, like our friends of the library, make a real impact.”

From small beginnings as a branch of the Wayne County Library to its various homes in Plymouth – starting at the Plymouth Village Hall, moving to the Burgess House and eventually to the modern versions of the building we see in downtown – the library serves a large community of patrons annually.

the centennial, and one he shared during the gala, was a simple one.

“Survival,” said Pappas, looking around at gala guests

by its thoughtful approach to programming, types and styles of materials, technology and by staying relevant to the community.

Today its collection of 213,000 physical pieces and millions of digital titles draw more than 200,000 users annually while the more than 600 programs each year offer a wide range of activities serving young and old alike. It’s also home to more than 600 meetings and events for local groups and is well served by hundreds of volunteers who help maintain and keep the library a place both fresh and inviting.

Besides the look back over its

history, the gala was a chance to share more information about the Centennial Grounds Improvement project planned for this year. Funded by Friends of the Library donors and the Wilcox Foundation, the project calls for landscaping improvements all around the library, better access from the Main Street “porch” and a new amphitheater and gardens between the building and city hall.

Other centennial celebrations planned for 2023 include a special ongoing prize program for patrons, pop-up parties and “birthday cake days,” as well as an ongoing historic exhibition throughout the library that showcases a decade by decade look of memories to remind viewers of the history and longevity of Plymouth’s cultural heartbeat.

The centennial celebrations don’t stop there. Also planned is

a Birthday Storytime in June, a celebration of children’s literature in July and an allages “makes faire” in August. Additional plans for the fall will be announced soon.

Besides residents who use the library, another special group of local men and women work diligently behind the scenes to ensure its ongoing success.

The Friends of the Plymouth Library not only support the library financially but its 50 or so volunteers provide practical support to the day-to-day operations and community activities.

“People come to the library to do so much more than borrow books,” says Heather Pacheco, the community relations specialist at the library. “It’s hard not to go on and on about our digital learning tool use, our database access (including all the issues of Plymouth’s long-running newspapers), and our language learners. We are a library of things, for people, and have amazing tools in our lab.”

The library is also developing plans to invite businesses, families and individuals to sponsor an engraved paver as a part of the amphitheater stage this year and is urging residents to get involved to remember a 100-year history worthy of celebration.

Even as supporters and friends of the

library like to point out that circulation hovers around a million pieces a year, the shape and form of the building we see today continues to evolve to meet people’s needs. Not bad for a facility which has regularly expanded and now stands two stories with over 50,000 square feet of space and staff ready to help and serve.

It’s a comfortable and safe space that Plymouth residents truly love and respect. It’s also a 100-year history unparalleled in the community.

For more information about the Plymouth District Library, visit plymouthlibrary.org.

How to spot migraine symptoms early

So you can take action sooner

If you suffer from migraine headaches, you’re not alone—at least 1 in 6 people in the U.S. experience these severe headaches that can stop you in your tracks.

Migraine headaches typically start slowly and build up to a throbbing pain. They often start on one side of the head, but can generalize to include both sides of the head. During a migraine headache, you may also experience nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. These symptoms, which you’re more likely to experience if you’re a woman or have a family member who has migraine, can last for a few hours to several days.

“The good news is that there are many treatment options for migraine sufferers,” says Kendra Hamilton, M.D., a neurologist at Henry Ford Health. “The key is

to recognize the early stages of migraine, when treatment can be most effective.”

Migraine aura

A flash of light, spots or blurring in your vision are some of the classic symptoms (known as auras) that can occur hours before a migraine headache sets in. These symptoms may not be

Adults and children should be on the lookout for these changes so they can take steps to prevent or reduce the severity of a migraine episode.”

Understanding migraine triggers

Another way of preventing or limiting migraine headaches is to understand what can trigger your headache.

“People who experience migraine headaches have brains that are more sensitive to changes within their bodies and environment,” Dr. Hamilton says.

• Loud noises or strong smells

• Skipping meals

• Stress and anxiety

“There are some lifestyle changes that can help prevent migraine headaches or reduce their frequency,” Dr. Hamilton says. “Get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and practice relaxation techniques and meditation to combat stress. Regular aerobic exercise also reduces your risk for migraine headaches.”

Migraine headache treatments

as-needed medications should be discussed with your doctor.

noticed or may be tough to ignore.

About 75% of migraine sufferers don’t experience aura. Instead, they may experience “prodrome” symptoms that include fatigue, food cravings, more frequent urination and mood changes.

“Aura and prodrome symptoms vary from person to person,”

Dr. Hamilton says.

“It’s important to pay attention to what you experience prior to a migraine headache.

You may not be able to control body changes that trigger a headache, but it’s helpful to know if you’re at increased risk so you can avoid some triggers and find the right treatment. In women, hormonal changes can trigger migraines. Pregnant women may experience more migraines at the beginning of pregnancy. Women in perimenopause have fluctuating estrogen levels and are also more likely to get migraines. While there’s not much you can do about normal hormonal swings, there are other triggers you can avoid or minimize, including:

• Alcohol

• Caffeine and some foods (chocolate, processed meats and aged cheese)

• Dehydration

• Fatigue

Your primary care physician or a neurologist can help identify the right treatment based on your medical history and the frequency and severity of your headaches. There are two main types of treatment:

• As-needed: If you experience occasional migraine headaches, over-the-counter pain relievers—such as ibuprofen or prescription medications to block nerve pathways that cause migraine headaches—are most effective when taken as soon as the first signs appear. In addition, a new generation of wearable devices provide electrical stimulation to reduce or stop headache pain, as an alternative to medication. The frequency of using

• Preventive: For people with frequent or severe migraine headaches, you may take a daily pill or have monthly or quarterly injections. The newest migraine-specific medications, CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) monoclonal antibodies, have been effective in reducing migraine episodes. Some patients may also benefit from treatments such as Botox. Both disrupt different nerve pathways in the brain that trigger migraines. “There’s no reason to suffer,” Dr. Hamilton says. “When migraine headaches get in the way of everyday life, see your doctor to find a treatment that provides relief.”

Henry Ford Medical Center – Plymouth is located at the corner of Ann Arbor Road and N. Haggerty. To make an appointment, call (734) 928-1600, or visit henryford.com/ plymouth.

“No more Sciatica down my leg.”

—Brian, Plymouth

“I have full range of motion in my neck now!” —Hal, Plymouth

“I’m back to tossing again!”

—L. Walker

“My arm strength is back—no more pinched nerve in my neck.”

“I’m back to doing everything I want now.” —Nancy, Plymouth

“I move better now at 60 than I did at 50!” —Lynn “I’m able to play with my grandchildren!”

Competitors slice their way through Plymouth sword-fighting tournament

By Brad Kadrich | Photos by Bill Bresler

he gym at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex was transformed recently from a former high school gym into a medieval field where nearly 150 swordsmen (and women) did battle to determine the best competitive martial artists in

The combatants came from all over the world to compete in a Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) tournament hosted by the Garden City-based Ars Gladii School of Chivalric Arts.

Fighters came from as far away as Finland and Canada, as well as across the U.S., to compete.

“It’s a pretty high-level event,” said Tyler Dunham, an instructor and the treasurer at the Garden City school. “We have some pretty good competitors from all over.”

HEMA is a competitive martial sport in which sword duels depicted in surviving historical records and manuscripts are re-created at full speed with blunt steel weapons.

Competitors wear modern protective gear and the tournament included Longsword, One-handed Sword and Competitive Target Cutting competitions.

Competing is fun … I get to meet new folks to cross swords with. It’s active, and it challenges you both mentally and physically. The chances of getting sliced in half are slim, so that makes it a little easier.”

Stephen Patrias, a member of the Lansing Long Sword Guild

HEMA competitors base their fighting styles from historical sources. For example, a fighter from one school may use techniques from a manuscript

written by a 14th century master who lived in the Holy Roman Empire, while another uses techniques from a medieval Italian master.

“The manuscripts help

(competitors) to ‘feel’ the engagement, then tell them what to do from there,” Dunham said. Competitors came from different HEMA schools across the U.S. and internationally not only to show off their skills, but also to teach classes on the wide variety of historical sources and modern sports techniques, Dunham explained.

Stevi Parker came all the way from Philadelphia for the tournament figuring it was going to be fun. And on top of that, she won the B Division open.

“I came out here to prove a point … I have a very supportive team,” Parker said. “It’s a community. It’s what I like most about it.”

Stephen Patrias, originally from Chelsea but now living in Lansing, was taking part in his first HEMA event, after belonging to the Lansing Long Sword Guild.

He’s only been training in HEMA for about three months, he said.

“Competing is fun … I get to meet new folks to cross swords with,” Patrias said. “It’s active, and it challenges you both mentally and physically.

“The chances of getting sliced in half are slim, so that makes it a little easier,” he added, laughing. “At the end of the day, we’re here to have fun.”

For more information about the Ars Gladii School of Chivalric Arts, visit www.arsgladii.com.

While the term “dirt world” may not sound appealing to most people, it has become a comfortable and familiar place for Rachel Nisch, owner of historic Graye’s Greenhouse in Plymouth.

This is a story many years in the making, starting with Nisch coming to the greenhouse as a child with her father, an avid gardener, when they lived in Plymouth.

“We would get cyclamen for my grandma for Mother’s Day,” says Nisch, adding that Graye’s was the only place that had foxglove (which is still true). Even after her family moved to the Bloomfield area, she kept visiting Graye’s through her high school years.

After graduation from Cranbook Schools in 2005, Nisch attended University of Michigan to become a teacher, focusing on math and history for high school and middle school students. Landing her first job in 2010 teaching high school math in Detroit, Nisch says she was “in way over my head.” So, when the call came in 2011 from a friend in Tucson, Arizona to teach out west, Nisch packed up and left Michigan.

What happened next was the beginning of her journey to the dirt world.

While in Arizona she took a summer job working at an organic produce farm and “fell in love with it.”

“I could not get back to the classroom,” recalls Nisch, 36. “I

was supposed to be there for three months and stayed for three years.”

The teacher turned farmer came back to Michigan in 2015, taking a job at The Brinery, a sauerkraut business in Ann Arbor. Nisch quickly learned that “chopping cabbage for eight hours is tough on the wrist.” She took her farming experience to a job as a community garden coordinator at Avalon Housing in Ann Arbor in 2016-17, but she still had a heart for Graye’s Greenhouse.

A FAMILY’S LEGACY

Located at the corner of Joy and Lilley Roads, the greenhouse was built in 1928 by Alex Wnuk. His initials can still be seen on the impressive chimney of the building that houses the original coal furnace, which has since

been replaced by a boiler. In fact, all the buildings on the roughly three acres of property were built by Wnuk, including the barn in 1918 and the brick home in 1919.

In 1945, one of his six children, Sylvia, bought the greenhouse with her husband, Joseph Graye, establishing Graye’s Greenhouse. Sylvia and Joseph’s three children and their spouses: Joe and Connie Graye, Alyce and Richard Humphrey, and Mary Ann and Dan Vittore, continued to run the greenhouse until 2019, when Nisch purchased it.

“When I came back (to Michigan), I talked with Alyce Humphrey about their plans for the greenhouse,” says Nisch. “I said, ‘If you were looking to sell, I would be interested.’”

Nisch remembers the next part vividly. “Alyce said, ‘We were thinking about it’ and I put my hand on my chest and took a breath. She saw that and said, ‘Why don’t you come back?’ “I had no greenhouse experience, but Alyce and I clicked.”

No doubt one of the reasons they clicked is because Alyce had also worked as a teacher, before joining her mom Sylvia, at the greenhouse.

Nisch began her journey as a horticulturist by volunteering at the greenhouse 2-3 days a week in 2016, eventually becoming a full-time employee in 2017.

She spent the next three years learning everything she could about the business – bookkeeping from Joe Graye and a great deal from Alyce and her husband, Richard Humphrey, both in their late 70s.

“Anyone who has worked and owned the greenhouse, none of them had a horticulture background. It’s been knowledge handed down and learning by doing. Alyce showed me the ropes,” says Nisch fondly.

the house still had the previous family’s stuff in it, and they were in the process of moving out. The house was last lived in by Alyce’s mom (Sylvia), but it was used as their office, and it would rotate who would stay there as the caretaker.

“I had all my stuff in one bedroom. You wake up one day and say okay this is all my responsibility now. Mostly it was just business as usual – the plants were the same, people were the same, but I had more bookwork, ordering and all the back of the house stuff on my plate. That is not the fun part of owning a business.

I just don’t get to water plants and play with cats like I used to,” says Nisch with a chuckle.

Calling it “all-encompassing experience,” Nisch lived at the Graye’s house for three years, running the business seven days a week where people “were literally parking just a few feet from my front door.”

She has since moved out and is starting to open the home for events. “The house always had a mystique about it and people always wanted to come inside.”

‘A WILD TRANSITION’

Nisch started 2019 as the new owner of Graye’s Greenhouse, moving into the house on the property on January 1, 2019. “It was a wild transition because

“I started doing events around 2017 and invited people to come in and teach classes. In 2019 we started doing artists market and that has been really successful and brings a lot of new people to greenhouse,” says Nisch, adding that she has hosted small, intimate events like weddings, as well as photography sessions

for engagements and maternity announcements, along with workshops.

“We are just starting to use the house (for) events. We had a Christmas event,” she says, adding that she feels “the house definitely should be part of the business.”

FRESH ENERGY

No doubt her interest in math and history is playing a role in her dedication to ensuring the greenhouse’s preservation and future growth. Graye’s Greenhouse has long been known for growing unique plants, offering friendly service, and now under Nisch’s hand, providing space for creativity and community.

An example of community was Graye’s introduction of a Pollinator Garden, designed and planted by Plymouth Pollinators last year. “That used to be the vegetable garden and then we planted zinnias there. We collaborated with Plymouth Pollinators, and they brought a lot of volunteers and cranked it out in one day,” says Nisch.

As with the acquisition of any longstanding business, there are the “regulars,” customers like Nisch and her father who have been coming to Graye’s for years to purchase the houseplants that have been cultivated from seeds

or cuttings, as well as vegetables, flowers, and perennials, all grown there.

Continued on page 16

Continued from page 15

“I was really nervous about the regulars. I was worried that people would be upset,” explains Nisch. It turns out, however, she had no need to worry.

“People think I am Alyce’s daughter all the time. She reassured the regulars. Now that we are in year five people have totally embraced it. I hear only amazingly kind things every

single day,” says Nisch. “People say ‘I am so glad you took this over.’ Every year they would come and worry it would not be open. The regulars are excited about someone here bringing fresh energy.”

It also helped that the founding family remains involved, with both Alyce and Richard on the property quite often.

“Richard is the main seed guy. He seeds all the tomatoes and a lot of the annuals and perennials,” shares Nisch, adding, “He has decided this is better than being at home watching TV. He feeds the cats every day.”

It turns out that cats are important residents at Graye’s. Richard’s cat lived on the property before passing away last year at age 19. Currently, there are two felines that Nisch calls “the main marketing team,” a tabby named Monte and Marzipan, a black cat.

“People love to come visit the cats. Little kids come and share their stuffed animals with them.”

They are also the favorite subject of the photos that are snapped and posted to social media by visitors. Of course, it takes more than the Humphreys, two cats and Nisch to make the greenhouse a success.

Jessica Anchor started working at Graye’s in 2019, providing a friendly smile and kindness to the customers as well as handling events and social media. This year, Isabella Quiroz joined the business and is “knee deep in transplanting zinnias,” according to Nisch.

Reflecting that the greenhouse

is “still family-owned but has shifted genetics a bit,” Nisch has truly embraced her vocation in the dirt world.

“A greenhouse is the best way to work in the dirt all year round.”

Graye’s Greenhouse

OWNER: Rachel Nisch

ADDRESS: 8820 N. Lilley Rd, Plymouth

PHONE: (734) 453-1220

WEBSITE: grayesgreenhouse.com

DEVELOPER PROMISES

But Sparr’s Greenhouse redevelopment plan fuels opposition

By Tim Smith

Since the 1950s, Sparr’s Flowers and Greenhouse in Plymouth Township has always kind of been there, a sturdy and reliable business along Joy Road near Lilley.

But in 2023 the multi-building business – including several greenhouses and a single-family home used as Sparr’s sales office –and adjacent five-acre tract needs a facelift, according to new owner Naji Kahala.

“We bought the property (in December 2022) to make improvements,” Kahala told the Plymouth Township Planning Commission during an April 19 public hearing. “We inherited a lot of issues. Essentially, …that

corner right now does not look great and we just want to make it get better.”

But Kahala’s vision of turning a hothouse into a hot destination for housing and commercial space might be on ice following a 5-1 recommendation by the planning commission to reject the R-1 to C-2 rezoning. The township board will take up the issue either June 13 or 27.

At the public hearing, a large and vocal contingent of residents living in the quiet neighborhood to the north and west of Sparr’s (42510 Joy) reiterated Kahala’s project would negatively impact their quality of life and not be in tune with the township master plan.

Sore spots included traffic and noise concerns, worries that the influx of homeowners would threaten existing teacher-student ratios in Smith Elementary and East Middle schools while potentially overloading nearby Tonquish Creek.

Without the conditional rezoning, Kahala would not be able to turn the nondescript parcel into something his architect Scott Wright told planners would bring a “wow factor” to the corner – with a streamlined Sparr’s anchoring a blend of modern-looking, smaller-sized residences (both homes and apartments), retail space and possibly a drivethrough coffee shop.

If the rezoning were approved, three single-family homes along Lilley and several greenhouses on the northern portion of the property would be demolished.

DIFFERING TAKES

Plymouth Township Planner Laura Haw, senior principal planner at McKenna, said during a later interview McKenna had recommended that the rezoning get the green light and that “we don’t see how the redevelopment of that site would negatively impact the adjacent residents. If anything, it would make it more of a walkable, vibrant neighborhood.”

But the planning commission, in its motion, “didn’t find that it was a harmonious transition of

land uses, which we found that it was,” Haw continued.

Despite the unanimous opposition from residents, which included three letters read into the record, the township board is “the ultimate authority and they’ll make their findings,” said Haw, adding that it is possible but not likely that the board would reject the planning commission’s recommendation.

Haw stressed that the proposal would bring “missing middle housing” to the vicinity, which could be in the form of smallscale apartments and/or homes.

“So this isn’t a three-story, giant apartment building with 100 units,” Haw said. “These are smaller buildings with a few units that fit more with the scale of the neighborhood.”

Haw noted findings of housing statistics determined in the 2021 American Community Survey that 78.2 percent of Plymouth Township housing stock was comprised of single-family homes and that only 17 percent of that stock was renter-occupied. The township “lacks diversity” and is “underserved in terms of rental housing options.”

Among the letters read by Gail Greiger of the planning commission was one submitted by nonprofit organization Friends of the Rouge.

“Redevelopment of this parcel will result in vegetation removal and creation of additional impervious surfaces that can lead to increased sedimentation and unstable flows in Tonquish Creek,” stated the letter, written by FOTR executive director Marie

McCormick. “These conditions are detrimental to the aquatic biota that live in Tonquish Creek.”

During a telephone interview in early May, McCormick applauded residents who came out to oppose the redevelopment.

She urged township officials to “be more creative and thoughtful in how they approach development and not just look at it from the perspective of how many tax dollars can we acquire in the next 1-5 years. But think about a long-term strategy for quality of life.”

IMPORTANT TO SPEAK OUT

About the residents who went to the public hearing, McCormick said she was “proud of them for showing up and speaking out for their community. Because that’s a tough pill to swallow, when you’ve lived there for your whole life and then, especially when you have that greenspace you kind of anticipate being there.

“I have no idea what kind of buildings they are planning to put on that, but having residential neighborhoods that are adjacent to small pockets of greenspace is really inherent to the quality of life.”

Although she underscored Friends of the Rouge is not against development itself, she emphasized that a zoning change from residential to mixed-use commercial typically “would just mean more parking lots, more infrastructure.”

But the applicant’s architect tried to convince planning commissioners that the

redevelopment plan would bring plenty of new life to the area, and retain some of the heritage of the site.

“The owner wants to keep Sparr’s. He wants to keep the flower shop, he wants to keep the greenhouses,” Wright said. “We have talked about removing the older, seriously dilapidated greenhouses to the north of the commercial building – the old house that functions as the sales office.

“The furthest north home is in pretty extreme disrepair. So that also was purchased as part of this. In the very corner of Joy Road and Lilley Road it makes perfect sense for a small commercial (building) which we’re looking at, 6,500 square feet, a possible drive-through (business). And then the balance of that property we’re proposing multi-family. We want people to go ‘Wow’ when they come in from Canton, north into Plymouth.”

McKenna’s Haw, meanwhile, addressed Friends of the Rouge’s concerns about the project’s environmental impact on Tonquish Creek.

“I would hope not,” Haw said. “I say that because there’s many regulations that new development has to meet, in terms of storm water and environmental protection. This couldn’t be a negative to the creek.

“They would have to go through full engineering, with the county and maybe even with the state. There are many levels of protection built in. So they wouldn’t be discharging into the creek.”

According to a letter from residents of nearby Revere Avenue, rezoning the property to C-2 “allows for development that is unpredictable in size and scope, it neglects to preserve the current open space and offers no protection for a gentle transition between the existing single-family dwellings and land proposed as future mixed use.”

In another letter, residents said because Ann Arbor Road (less than a mile from Sparr’s) is the township’s Downtown Development Authority with “ample opportunity for dining, shopping and future commercial development, …it is not necessary for commercial development to impose on residential neighborhoods outside the DDA.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Plymouth Township officials are considering rezoning the historic Sparr’s Flowers and Greenhouse at the corner of Lilley and Joy roads to accommodate a proposed mixed-use development. Do you think the land should be rezoned and what would you like to see happen with the property?

Please email your opinions to Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@ therockmagazine.com.

If you’ve wanted to make your home more environmentally sustainable but don’t know where to start, a local author is here to help.

Hailed as “the Marie Kondo of sustainability,” Plymouth resident Lori Sullivan just released her new book One Shade Greener at Home. It offers room-by-room guidance to reduce toxins, lighten your environmental footprint and live simpler.

“The point of the book is that little steps over time keep building,” Sullivan says. “I’m

Sustainability has been a thread throughout Sullivan’s career. As a marketing and business strategy professional, she created a monthly newsletter to help automotive engineers reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy. Most recently, she set the foundation for McCann Worldgroup’s sustainability strategy.

At home, she started striving toward a greener life about 15 years ago. She began in the laundry room, first changing her detergent, then switching to cold water washes, and later ditching disposable sheets in favor of reusable dryer balls.

From there, she continued researching ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Two years into her quest she launched a small business called One Shade Greener to help other homeowners and companies learn about climate change and how they could make a difference.

Her new book reflects all the information she’s compiled.

of the home, from the family room, kitchen, and bedrooms, to bathrooms, garage, backyard, and beyond.

As Sullivan goes room to room, she recommends specific actions and products, with

consulting, she admits it’s an ongoing process to go green.

“You can’t make big change overnight,” she says. “If we all just keep moving in that positive direction together we’ll keep making a bigger and bigger impact.”

still on a journey making changes, but starting with one step and adding to that over time makes a big difference.”

“It’s honestly more of a resource I could have used along my own journey. I finally decided that it was time to get the book written and get it out there,” she says.

Published in January, the 290-page book is structured with chapters devoted to each area

“fast five” tips that can be implemented right away.

She shares anecdotes about her own family that make the advice relatable. Her husband Todd, daughter Sydney, who just got her own home, and son, Noah, who is finishing up at Michigan State, are supportive of her efforts.

As Sullivan spreads the word about sustainability through corporate talks, home parties, and private

One Shade Greener is available in print and e-book editions through Amazon. Find more information and a link to purchase the book at Lori Sullivan’s website, OneShadeGreener.com.

FIVE FAST WAYS TO GO ONE SHADE GREENER

1. Consume Less: Before bringing new products into the home, determine if you can avoid the purchase.

2. Remove Plastic: Consider alternative products and packaging that eliminate plastic waste.

3. Eat Less Meat: Shift a few meals a week to a lighter meat, vegetarian, or vegan option.

4. Embrace Secondhand: Become familiar with secondhand communities online and in your area.

5. Check the Label: Before any purchase ensure you consider the parts and ingredients.

Pain, Numbness, Burning in the Hands

Feet?

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Our mission is to help individuals and families restore hope, embrace change, and improve their lives.

A Blank Canvas to Create

Local couple brings sense of community to their Old Village business

By Susan Voyles

The old proverb “Necessity is the mother of invention” has been applied to many entrepreneurs over the years. When they see a challenge in their business that lacks a ready solution, they often come up with one on their own. This would be the case for Becca and Patrick LaMar, owners of Studio Neue in Plymouth’s Old Village.

Located

invites microbusinesses that are often home-based, especially in the creative trades like photography and graphic design, to use the space to ply their trade or for meetings.

“There is such a need for support for small businesses, especially for creative businesses,”

Heylo Creative, based out of her Plymouth Township home. “A lot of us are working at home and we need a space sometimes to have client meetings.”

With room to host 50 people, Studio Neue is also much more than a working space. The husband-wife team have booked everything from baby showers to workshops and training sessions, and even weddings. With two large west-facing windows, Becca describes the space as having a “a light airy vibe to it.”

ALWAYS NEW

Back to the idea of a blank canvas, the LaMars say their inspiration came from a visit to a local co-working space.

be so many things.”

The space they created and branded as “A blank canvas to create” opened in May 2022.

says Becca, an Eastern Michigan University graduate who majored in graphic design and is owner of

“I went to a similar space in Ann Arbor and the idea of getting a door code and walking in and doing what we needed to do resonated. My vision was to allow businesses to look more professional for their clients, and help them get out of their homes,” says Becca. “It’s nice to have something that you’re not tied to, but then you can use it when you need it. The space could literally

That’s where the term “neue” comes into play. Neue means new in German and is also the name of a typographical font. “The neue term is that it’s (the space) constantly changing,” notes Becca, while acknowledging that it also gives a nod to her profession of graphic design and branding. Her design skills are evident in the business’ website, which features a clean, open feeling complemented by professional and fun photos of the space.

Becca is often the face of the business, arranging tours and forging relationships with vendors who can provide customers with various services at Studio Neue,

at 384 Starkweather in a former TV repair shop, Studio Neue (pronounced new)

while her husband Patrick handles finances and operations. She and Patrick are from Livonia, where they knew each other growing up, and also attended Eastern Michigan University, where Patrick studied broadcast and communications.

“He is five years older than me. I was good friends with his younger sister, who is my age,” says Becca with a smile. “Fast forward to college, when one of my roommates started hanging out with Patrick’s best friend and we reconnected when I was 20 and he was 25.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Married for seven years, they are now busy running their business while raising their two young daughters, Logan and Kaye. Patrick also currently works as a manager for Roush Automotive.

SPACE TO BE IMAGINATIVE

While Studio Neue functions at times as a co-working space, its raw cement floor and exposed ceiling accented with stylish light fixtures is purposefully designed to spark a variety of imaginative uses of the 1,100 square foot space.

“Some people are creative and see the blank space and know exactly what they want to do. Others don’t know what to do with that space, but once they see how other people use it, that inspires them,” explains Becca.

For those customers who need help with their event, Studio Neue has created a network of preferred vendors, who provide services ranging from photo

booths to a mobile macaron truck to event planning.

Other features, like a rotating backdrop, couches, table, chairs, benches, counterspace, bar cart and clothing rack, lend themselves to a variety of scenarios at Studio Neue. Customers can choose from hourly pricing rates up to a full day for use as a studio space or event space.

“The small bookings are like photo shoots and people using it as office space. People have done a brand open house to meet the owner for a popup shop for example,” says Becca, noting there was a leather workshop hosted by a Metro Detroit business this past February.

“That was our first workshop. I am good friends with Sarah Daley, who owns The Little Design Co. It has really sparked inspiration for other business owners. We try to bring an aesthetic to everything we do to elevate the experience.”

FOSTERING COMMUNITY

Working with other small businesses in the community is important to the LaMars. “All of it is about the community, but helping the smaller businesspeople, too,” notes Becca.

That is where the Neue Markets come in.

“The markets were one of the biggest dreams from the beginning. We wanted to find a way to support the smaller

local product-based businesses,” explains Becca. “In my mind, it always had an elevated level. It’s all about curating the market for people. We try to keep the vendors fresh and innovative. We have a variety of different vendors – stuff you wouldn’t typically see. We want people to have an overall experience.”

Admitting that she was “winging it” for last year’s three markets, Becca is already getting ready for the Summer Market on Saturday, June 3. Aiming not to overlap industries, vendors are invited to apply for a spot. The Fall Market is planned for Saturday, September 9 and the final market is set for Small Business Saturday on November 25.

“I think people want to support small businesses around the holidays, but they want to meet them in person,” she says. “We try to showcase the people behind the brand for the

markets. We have the owner of the business send in a video to introduce themselves to the audience.”

One of those vendors is Lauren Bradford, owner of Holistically, who uses space in the Proud Mitten Kitchen at PARC to provide plant-based meal prep and catering.

“When you are part of the Market at Studio Neue, you leave with relationships that are also equally valuable to the sales you do that day,” says Bradford, who is also on the Studio’s preferred vendor list and attends the monthly Neue Collective networking meetings for local women business owners. “We have done bigger markets with more foot traffic and consistently do better at Studio Neue in comparison.”

For the LaMars, Studio Neue is not just another small business, but also a way to contribute to and participate in the Plymouth community.

“Business has been amazing. We had goals when we came in and we far exceeded our goals. I feel like we’ve just been getting started,” says Becca. “I know there is so much more we can offer to the community.”

Being located in Old Village has also energized the couple. “The other business owners have really welcomed us with open arms.”

Whatever business or event comes to their blank canvas space next, it’s sure to be creative.

The Rock |

It’s really, really hard not to call Karen Ochman “Plymouth’s pierogi lady.” It’s so hard in fact now that we’ve said it, there’s no going back. But this tough Polish woman, who grew up in the community and still lives here, is much more than just a gourmand.

A Plymouth “gal” through and through, as Ochman describes herself, the one-woman entrepreneur is also a hardnosed battler who can’t easily be dismissed as some farmer’s market favorite. Yes, she makes good food, and really good pierogi is exactly her thing, but she also defines herself by her faith and her fight with breast cancer.

With a relentless drive and a

feisty energy Ochman has created a successful business for herself, one that area families, friends and many local vendors adore. Although Ochman founded Polish Pantry Pierogi in 2017, her passion for her product – and life -- goes way back, back to her mother.

“I’m one strong-willed, stubborn Pole,” says the 55-yearold Plymouth resident. “I kick butt. I get things done since it’s just too hard to say no to my customers.”

For Ochman everything has meaning, from her mom’s rolling pin lovingly “retired” and hanging on the wall over her work kitchen, to the design of her logo.

Growing up as one of seven children Ochman’s family lived

at Joy and Ridge. She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel and graduated from Salem High School before first going to Western Michigan and then graduating from Madonna University with a business degree. That’s when she left Plymouth to work in Washington D.C., but she soon came home to work in sales and marketing for various auto-related firms.

“I’m a Plymouth gal through and through,” she says. “I remember loving Fall Festival and the pet show and I worked at Karl’s Cabin to help pay for college. I’ve come full circle. Now people call me ‘Pierogi Karen.’”

WHERE HER HEART LIES

That part of the story begins

with her mother Virginia, who passed away in 2013. For nearly 50 years Virginia’s homemade pierogis were a staple and tradition for the family, especially during the holidays.

When her mom passed away, Ochman took up the challenge to continue the family tradition making pierogis by hand. Her family was impressed, as were friends, and soon she began selling them independently.

“I took a leap of faith and decided to leave the corporate world and do this instead,” Ochman says from her kitchen one spring morning. “When I’m working I look out my window and I can feel my mom’s presence. I like to think about what she might say to me. I retired her rolling pin and she is with me when I make pierogis.”

Pierogi are a staple of Polish food and are widely available, but Ochman’s are handmade every week. In fact she makes as many as 3,000 pierogis in a given week during her busy season. That’s somewhere in the hundred thousand range annually.

To make her pierogi to scale Ochman built a commercial kitchen in the back of her home in 2014. It has plenty of modern equipment but for Ochman there are only two essential tools – her mixer and her hands.

Elements to the pierogis are simple – dough and filling, which

Story and photos by Ken Voyles

Plymouth woman proudly hand crafts business success

Karen Ochman, discussing her late mother, Virginia

is mostly potato, but she sells other “flavors” as well. There are a few “special” ingredients that she wouldn’t share as she

and the Rusty Nail in Canton. She has nearly a thousand regular customers who order her pierogi on a weekly basis.

“My focus is on my customers,” she says. “I make my pierogis fresh every week so they are as fresh as possible. There’s plenty of pierogis out there but mine are handmade and not mass produced.”

Before she built her commercial kitchen, Ochman would often host pierogi parties and get friends together to make them. She hasn’t expanded her sales efforts to other area farmer’s markets or bigger commercial enterprises because at heart she remains a local woman focused on delivering the best product she can. She also works hard not to raise her prices or skimp on the size of the pierogi or their fillings.

St. Thomas a’Becket Catholic Church in Canton, Ochman faced her toughest personal challenge in 2021. The pandemic had already hampered her business, though it did not collapse, but the breast cancer diagnosis she received that year was life changing.

“I was lucky it was found early,” she says. “It was nothing if not earth shattering. Since then I’ve had to have five major surgeries.”

Ochman will never forget the day she found out. She was in her kitchen working when the call came and the doctor’s announcement nearly floored her – literally. But she dug deep inside and found her own fighter’s nature to resist the desire to give up, become depressed or stop her passion for working and making good food.

from Krakow, Poland, remains one of those who strongly support her pierogi passion.

“My father sometimes comes to the market and we have four generations of us there together,” Ochman says. “We have a great time and I am so happy they are with me.”

Stop by Ochman's new booth – her camper “Poppy” – this summer and you will quickly come to understand the meaning of one woman’s success story,

explains that making the dough just right is really where all the work begins. If she’s not happy with the dough, it gets tossed out.

“Mine are artistic, made with love,” says Ochman. “It’s usually just me in the kitchen but my family helps sometimes and my great niece Abby Taillard has developed a dill soup we sell at farmer’s market.”

Besides being a farmer’s market staple in Plymouth each summer, Ochman’s pierogi are available at Westborn Market, the Deadwood Grill in Northville

Her business logo carries great meaning – the word “the” is made up of the number seven, standing for her brothers and sisters, a rolling pin for her mother is the ‘h’ and the ‘e’ is shaped like a cardinal, a bird she often sees outside her window while working.

“I know I am a niche, but I love it,” she says. “We’re all one big pierogi family.”

This year she purchased a small red camper she named “Poppy” that she will use when the Plymouth Farmer’s Market opens in May. Besides her kitchen, which is framed with historic Markham air rifle building bricks she purchased, it is her pride and joy.

“I like to keep things simple and appreciate what I have,” she says. “I like the business I have now and I feel very blessed.”

THE TOUGHEST BATTLE

A woman of faith who attends

“I said screw you cancer and fought the fight,” she says. “And I went back to work that day. I was also blessed by so many who supported me during the struggle.”

Today Ochman’s 97-year-old father, John, a first generation American whose family came

as a cancer survivor, a business woman and a pierogi artist.

For more information, find The Polish Pantry Pierogi on Facebook or call (734) 451-9889. They will have a booth at the Plymouth Farmers Market Saturday mornings (8 a.m.12:30 p.m.) through Oct. 21.

When I’m working I look out my window and I can feel my mom’s presence. I like to think about what she might say to me. I retired her rolling pin and she is with me when I make pierogis.”

What You See Is What You Get

Accountability has equaled success for MacFarland Painting

By Larry O’Connor

Once John MacFarland brushed aside his parents’ expectations, he turned his painter’s cap frontward and poured his passion into building a model home improvement business.

Nearly two decades later, MacFarland Painting is a testament to the contractor’s credo: Take care of the customer and the business will take care of itself.

The company specializes in upscale painting and carpentry work for home and commercial structures. MacFarland’s expertise extends from exterior and interior painting—including cabinets—to staircase remodeling and trim carpentry.

The firm’s website (www.macfarland painting.com) features a gush of glowing customer reviews.

earn money while going to college. The 2000 Livonia Stevenson High graduate attended Wayne State University, majoring in criminal justice and political science.

His parents Bill and Grace MacFarland— both longtime educators—wanted their son to pursue an academic profession. Yet John felt more grounded in the building trades.

“I liked the independence, the problem solving,” said MacFarland, 41, who transferred to Eastern Michigan and earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management. “So, I started to work my own jobs.”

While learning his trade, though, MacFarland often found himself among a hastily assembled group of laborers who were paid under the table. The crew could be less than dependable.

MacFarland vowed his company would be a tightly-run, above-board outfit.

On his first big commercial assignment, the Studio 324 Hair Salon at 324 S. Main Street in downtown Northville, MacFarland was somewhat overwhelmed. He enlisted a supervisor from his former painting troop to see the job through.

“That was a little intimidating because it was a larger project and it had a lot of exposure right there on the street,” MacFarland said. “There were certainly some hiccups with it being a very old wood-constructed building that needed some serious love.”

MacFarland Painting doesn’t use subcontractors, which is a tenet in sustaining a smooth operation. The firm employs 60 people.

the process.

“They did away with that; I don't really understand why,” he said. “I think that it increased some accountability.”

MacFarland Painting has remained on top of the trends in an evolving industry. High-tech materials have long replaced those deemed environmentally unsafe. Paint products are more precisely mixed, matching color palettes to suit customer tastes.

As he reflects on the company’s success, MacFarland thinks of his late parents. He recalls his mother Grace meticulously going through a mountain of paperwork every morning at the kitchen table, a byproduct of her job as Livonia Public Schools director of student services. She died in 2019. MacFarland gained his organizational prowess from her. The craftsmanship gene came from his father Bill, who was a shop teacher before becoming principal at Livonia Churchill High. Bill MacFarland retired as an assistant superintendent at Dearborn Heights Crestwood School District. The senior MacFarland, who died in 2020, added an addition to the family home by himself.

MacFarland Painting serves southeast Michigan, including in Plymouth and Northville where MacFarland encountered his first daunting job as a newly minted contractor.

In November, the company celebrated a major milestone, opening a 4,000-squarefoot showroom at 30881 Schoolcraft Road in Livonia. MacFarland Painting also has a base in Highland Township.

MacFarland Painting has come a long way since the founder first wielded a soft bristle.

Like many, MacFarland honed his home improvement skills by painting houses to

“I like to own the product that we sell,” the owner said. “So, our people seeing us at the beginning and end of every day is a level of accountability. With subcontractors, they're just transient by nature at times. If someone's hiring MacFarland Painting, I think you should be paying MacFarland Painting staff to do the work and not just a middleman.”

Those shopping for home improvement services should weigh customer reviews, MacFarland said. Google and social media testimonials have almost eliminated the need for references.

The state stopped requiring painters to be licensed in 2019, which adds a twist to

Neither parent approved of his decision to become a full-time contractor when he was in college, though. They thought their son was entranced by dollar signs.

His father later worked for him in retirement, helping sell some projects as business peaked.

“I took great pride in handing him his business card and saying, ‘Remember when you told me I was an idiot for not going down the political science path and staying in the academic world?’ And he's like, ‘Yeah, I don't want to talk about that,’” MacFarland said.

For more information about MacFarland Paining visit www.macfarlandpainting.com or call (734) 564-6664. Their Livonia Showroom is located at 30881 Schoolcraft Road.

OUT& ABOUT

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN

Thursday, May 25

The Plymouth Community Arts Council has partnered with The Penn Theatre to offer Exhibition

On Screen, a series of art films at The Penn. On May 25 at 7 p.m., the Penn will show Pissarro: The Father of Impressionism, a film biography about Camille Pissarro and his impact on the art world.

On Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m. the series continues with Tokyo Stories, a film that documents 400 years of dynamic art – ranging from the delicate woodblock prints of Hokusai and Hiroshige, to Pop Art posters, contemporary photography, Manga, film, and brand-new artworks that were created on the streets. For more information about the series, visit www.plymoutharts.com

MUSIC IN THE AIR

Friday, May 26

The Plymouth DDA has released the schedule for its annual Music in the Air concert series. The popular concerts take place at 7 p.m. Fridays in downtown Plymouth’s Kellogg Park. The concerts start May 26 and continue through Sept. 1 (there is no concert during Art in the Park weekend). Here’s the upcoming schedule:

May 26 Local Heroes (rock favorites)

June 2 The Shawn Riley Band (classic rock/celtic)

June 9 The Ones and Twos (Motown/dance/ R&B/rock)

June 16 Collision Six (dance/pop)

June 23 Star Farm (80s tribute)

June 30 Theo Gridiron (R&B/soul)

For more information, call the Plymouth DDA at (734) 455-1453 or visit www. downtownplymouth.org

MEMORIAL DAY PROCESSION

Monday, May 29

The annual parade starts at Veteran's Park and proceeds through Plymouth neighborhoods. Local veterans and other groups take part in the parade, including VVA Chapter 528 with its color guard. For the exact route of the parade, visit www.plymouthmi.gov

MUSIC IN THE PARK

Thursday, June 1

The Plymouth Community Band kicks off its annual summer Thursday Night Music in the Park series in Kellogg Park. The show begins at 7 p.m. Each concert is free, courtesy of a generous contribution from the Wilcox Foundation, and will continue each Thursday night in June and July (except for Art in the Park week). Under the direction of Carl Battishill, the PCB is a group of volunteer amateur musicians who have entertained the Plymouth community since 1960 with their marches, novelty numbers, instrumental and vocal features, pop/rock, and concert pieces. For more information, visit plymouthcommunityband.org

SHRED/ELECTONIC RECYCLING DAY

Saturday, June 3

The City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township will host this event from 9 a.m.-noon at the Plymouth Cultural Center, 525 Famer. City and township residents will be able to shred up to five file-sized boxes or bags for shredding. In addition, electronic items can be dropped off to be recycled. Acceptable items include computers, phones, copiers, cords, DVD players, cameras, coffee makers, lithium batteries, microwaves, holiday lights and more. For a full list of what will and won’t be accepted, visit www.plymouthmi.gov

WINES OF THE WORLD

Friday, June 9

This event, which is the Miracle League of Plymouth’s largest annual fundraiser, is moving to a new location this year -- the top floor of Northville Square (133 W. Main Street) in downtown Northville. Organized by the Detroit Wine Organization, the event will feature more than 100 wines, spirits and cocktails, a strolling dinner, live music and a silent auction. It will also raise funds for a new charitable group called The Kids’ Table, which helps get food to children in need. Tickets are $125 each or $225 for a pair. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www. miracleleagueofplymouth.com or www.kidstablemi.org

SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE

Saturday, June 10

The Plymouth Pollinators will host this sale from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Adams Street alongside the PARC building in downtown Plymouth. The group will be selling a variety of Michigan native plants for different soil types, wetness, and sunshine levels. This event is in partnership with Michiganense Natives who are kindly donating a portion of the sales to Plymouth Pollinators to support future projects. For more information, visit plymouthpollinators.org or email plymouthpollinators@ gmail.com

PRAISE FEST

Sunday, June 11

Kellogg Park in downtown Plymouth will host this event put on by OLGC from 2:30-6:30 p.m. It will feature praise and worship and an afterglow tailgate. To RSVP for the tailgate or to sign up to volunteer, visit www.olgcparish.net

YOUTH SUMMER KICK OFF

Wednesday, June 14

The Plymouth District Library will host this end of the school year kick off from 1-3 p.m. It will feature some fun crafts and activities on the Lower Level. No registration required, while supplies last. This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted. For more information, contact Lauren Baker at lbaker@plymouthlibrary. org or (734) 453-0750 ext. 277.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE MURDER MYSTERY

Saturday, June 24

Plymouth Historical Museum (155 S. Main Street) will host this mystery theater from 6-9 p.m. The story is about legendary Swiss chocolatier Olivier Venesse, who is holding his last and final session when he is found drowned in his own drinking chocolate. Attendees will help solve the dastardly murder, while enjoying pizza and cookies. Tickets are $25 per person and are on sale now by calling (734) 455-8940 x0 or visiting plymouthhistory.org.

We Understand Commitment

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A Birchler, CFP® Financial Advisor

1176 South Main Street Ste A Plymouth, MI 48170-2113 734-454-4653

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY

Hold hybrid, in-person and online business or group meetings effortlessly with our large screen, high speed internet, and brand new audio and two-way video capabilities.

FLEXIBILITY

Rooms can be set up in banquet or classroom style with either round, long, or a combination of both tables. We can help arrange catering, or you may bring your own food. Alcohol service is also available.

HOLD YOUR MEETINGS, RECEPTIONS AND PARTIES AT THE PLYMOUTH CULTURAL CENTER

BANQUET ROOM

Perfect for large meetings, receptions and parties, the banquet room features a stage and dance floor, remodeled restrooms, as well as a catering kitchen and full liquor service.

MEETING ROOM

The smaller meeting room seats up to 50 people for meetings and parties.

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