The Rock October 2021

OCTOBER 2021 VOL 2 | ISSUE 10

PLYMOUTH’S NEWS & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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OCTOBER 2021 VOL 2 | ISSUE 10 16435 Franklin, Northville, MI 48168 • 734-716-0783 • kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com

K U R T K U B A N – 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.

S CO T T B U I E – Advertising Director/Vice President of Sales

Scott has 20+ years creating advertising campaigns for clients in Metro Detroit.

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

J E N N Y P E A R S A L L – Creative Director

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

B R A D E M O N S – Writer

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

L A R R Y O ’ CO N N O R – 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.

T I M S M I T H – 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.

K E V I N B R O W N – Writer

Kevin was a reporter for The Plymouth Observer in 1986 and 1989-98. He also has written for The Detroit News, University of Michigan and Ford Motor Co. He is a musician as well, performing with the Ann Arbor-based folk roots band Corndaddy.

M A R I A TAY L O R – Writer

Maria is managing editor at The ACHR NEWS, reports for The ‘Ville, used to write for the 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.

W E N S DY V O N B U S K I R K – Writer

Wensdy graduated with a degree in journalism from Wayne State University.

Her first job was working as a reporter for The Northville Record. Now, as a freelance writer and editor, she works for a variety of magazines, including The Rock. -Photo by Kathleen Voss

B R YA N M I T C H E L L – Photographer

Bryan started working as a photographer more than 30 years ago, and was a staff photographer for the Plymouth Observer in the 90s. He has freelanced for The Detroit News, The Guardian, Reuters, and other publications. His photography has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the globe.

B I L L B R E S L E R – 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.

The Rock is a product of Journeyman Publishing, which assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information. Any form of reproduction of any content in this publication without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Comments are welcome at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com.

FI N D I N G A N E W H O L I DAY S P I R I T I needed a tool recently, and I ended up visiting Lowe’s and Home Depot on my quest

In this issue

to find it. At both stores, as I walked through the doors, I was greeted with massive Christmas displays, despite the fact it wasn’t even Halloween yet. Apparently the “war on Christmas” is off to a slow start this year.

That got me to thinking about all the dire warnings I’ve been hearing concerning impending empty shelves as we get into the holiday season. Apparently, if the doomsayers are right, it isn’t going to be so easy this year to shop at the big box and chain stores to find the goods we are accustomed to this Christmas.

Personally I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing. The COVID pandemic has taught us that there are more important things in life than finding cheap laptops or iPhones at Best Buy. Things like family, community, and taking time to smell the Christmas tree are far more meaningful.

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BACK ON AIR

So I’ve decided this year I’m taking a different approach to the holidays. I’m really going to try and support our community by buying from local, independent merchants and businesses. We’re fortunate to have so many great ones here in Plymouth, with a wide variety of offerings. So, it won’t be hard to find them. We’ve got a feature story this month about a great one -- Kemnitz Candies on Ann Arbor Trail (PAGE 14).

Another way to give this Christmas is to donate to one or more of the many local service organizations in our community -- clubs such as Rotary, Kiwanis and

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RIDE OF A LIFETIME

Civitans, just to name a few. If you don’t have extra money laying around, perhaps just volunteer your time.

Clubs like the aforementioned rely on volunteer help to accomplish some really great things in the community, and they are always looking for new members.

I’m a member of Rotary, and I can tell you from personal experience I’ve met some amazing people and gotten more out of the experience than I’ve put in.

If you’re not sure where to start, try volunteering this holiday season with the Plymouth Corps of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign. You know, the folks out in front of the stores and other locations around town ringing bells and seeking donations. Those people are all volunteers. If you are interested contact the Salvation Army’s Sandy

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PUMPKIN PALOOZA! Your Voice: Letters to the Editor

4

PARC thriving with eclectic tenants & ‘youthful energy’

6

Kemnitz Candies celebrating 70 sweet years in Plymouth

14

that? It’s certainly better than finding a cheap iPhone at the big box store.

Salvation Army, DDA will kick off the holidays with tree lighting

20

Kurt Kuban is Editor and Publisher of The Rock. He welcomes your feedback at (734) 716-0783 or

Salem teacher pens children’s book with ghost-chasing canines

24

Henry Ford Medical Center bringing much-needed ER space

26

Kollinger at (734) 453-5464 or sandy.kollinger@usc.salvationarmy.org. Or you can simply show up at the Salvation Army’s holiday season kick-off party Friday, Nov. 12 in Kellogg Park (PAGE 20).

As someone who’s done it, it’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit. A holiday spirit that is based on connecting with people and helping others. What’s more Christ-like than

kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com.

O N T H E CO V E R : Kemnitz Fine Candies manager Pam Finch and employee Helen Clark display a selection of their classic candy.

Photo by Bill Bresler

YOU R VOICE SCULPTURE IS WONDERFUL

Being a native of Michigan and loving my state dearly, I so appreciate the public art that depicts my home state and several of my friends’ current city. The new sculpture in Kellogg Park by Vito Valdez and Kristen Koth is wonderful. It is so full of life and human history.

Thank you for featuring it in your magazine!

Suzanna Nichols

SIGNAGE WOULD HELP

Thanks for your article last month about the new sculpture. I appreciated the insight and story behind the new art feature from the DIA. I hope the City of Plymouth will invest in some signage to tell part of the story of the art piece. Before reading your article, I was completely at a loss looking at what seems like a random collection of things put onto a brick pillar. Your article helps to properly communicate the significance to Plymouth -- as I hope a sign or something can do for all to see.

Dominic Smith

SENIORS UNDERSERVED

‘UNIQUE AND IMAGINATIVE’

I love the new sculpture “City at the Crossroads”. It is incredibly unique and imaginative. The painted tiles are stunning. When you slow down and examine the sculpture it tells a beautiful story of the past. It is grand! Let’s get more of this type of art in downtown Plymouth.

Kevin Milligan

COVER IT BACK UP

I really wish this were a parody article. That thing is the ugliest "sculpture" I have ever seen. It looks like what one would expect if they gave a 7th grade class a few weeks to collaborate on something silly. Okay maybe the brick work would be a stretch.

Seriously though - it's embarrassing. First, we had to walk past it "covered up" for months as though to grow intrigue or interest in what was coming. Now I wish they would cover it up again. It's hideous. And weird. And then there is a flower pot stuck on the top. I can't.

Dean Koenigsknecht

COMMUNITY PRESSURE WORKED

As your recent headline said, students in Plymouth-Canton Community Schools are indeed “masked up” in school. And it’s having a positive impact: A recent University of Michigan study shows students in districts with mask requirements have a far lower chance of getting COVID-19 than students in districts without.

Yet the story neglected the role of community members in pushing for a mask requirement starting August 3.

That’s the day P-CCS unveiled a pandemic plan that did not “follow the science.” In fact, it went directly against national and state guidance for schools. Only after community

SOUND OFF 4

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members sent hundreds of emails and 1,000 petition signatures to district leadership, and spoke at Board of Education meetings despite heckles and jeers, did the leadership change its plan. Several board members also called for changes.

Thank you to all who spoke up for masks in P-CCS schools. Our kids are safer because we did.

Kara Gavin I’d like to know where Plymouth Township and the City of Plymouth are with the long-range recreational plan they were working on? It could be Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise is taking the lead, not sure, but it was my understanding Kurt was working in tandem with the City to better include recreational opportunities for the growing active senior population in particular.

Currently many of us travel to other communities to play pickleball and participate in other recreational activities.

We want walkability, or at least closer availability of classes and other outdoor and indoor activities.

I’ve noticed a number of folks online are proposing outdoor pickleball facilities be included in the overall plan so we don’t have to travel outside the Plymouth community. Everyone is traveling to Northville, Canton, Farmington and other municipalities to play and participate at other municipal senior recreational facilities. Currently, most of the Plymouth PARC outdoor recreational outdoor classes are geared toward younger, working folks.

The retired, and retiring Baby Boomers are a large, underserved population in recreation.

Anne Frank

REMEMBERING MEREDITH

Thank you so much for the wonderful article “You Never Forget” in last month’s issue. As Meredith Whalen’s teacher, seeing her name being remembered for the special woman that she was meant so much.

Thank you!

Jodi Ring

Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com. Letters must be no more than 150 words. We reserve the right to edit all letters.

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PROVING THE SKEPTICS WRONG

Despite obstacles, PARC thriving with eclectic tenants & ‘youthful energy’

By Larry O’Connor

P

lymouth Arts & Recreation Complex Executive Director Gail Grieger was bowled over by the sheer bustle pulsating around her one night.

On the PARC football field, Little League’s Plymouth-Canton Steelers were snapping through

their drills as Plymouth Christian Academy’s team members returned serves on the nearby tennis courts.

Inside the 150,000 square foot facility at 650 Church Street, where the original Plymouth 6

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High School built in 1917 remains, Michigan Philharmonic huddled in one of the band rooms for its annual meetings while Forever After Productions rehearsed for an upcoming children’s play.

Adding to the hallway cacophony, students played violins and pianos in a number of music studios in the converted facility that opened in 2015.

Basketballs bounced off the hardwood floor in the gym while Plymouth/Ann Arbor Fencing Club members jousted in a separate area on the first floor.

“Oh, there was also swimming. The Canton Cruisers were training in the pool,” said Grieger, who oversees the daily operation of the nonprofit PARC. “And those are only the things I know about.”

Had Grieger listened hard enough, she might have heard her boss, PARC board of directors president Don Soenen, whistling a robust tune of “I told you so" from his third-floor office.

BEEHIVE OF ACTIVITY

PARC has overcome skepticism from the onset, a failed millage in 2018 and a crippling pandemic to become one of the most thriving arts and recreational facilities in the state. The 64-room site that later served as Central Middle School is at 95% occupancy while organizers are busy adding a luster to its 104-year-old edifice.

Tenants include an array of entities–large and small –representing nonprofits, educational, recreational and arts interests.

Friends of the Rouge, the Michigan Philharmonic, Steppingstone School, Forever After Productions, Plymouth Family YMCA, Acorn Glassworks and Central Clay Studios are among those operating out of PARC. To call the site a beehive of activity wouldn’t be hyperbole either since Bees in the D inhabit a space on the third floor and maintain four active beehives on the roof.

“What I am most proud of is, if we hadn’t stepped up and done this, it was going to be bulldozed and we would have had 300 condos here,” said Soenen, whom folks call the mastermind behind the recreation and arts complex.

“I think to be able to preserve this site, all the athletic fields, the school and what we can bring to the community is a major, major achievement.”

What the businessman turned community activist is most pleased with is PARC has achieved its vision without a dollar of debt.

The facility has relied on donations, notably $3.3 million from Mark and Patty Malcolm and their company Malcolm Central LLC to buy the 16 acres from Plymouth Canton Community Schools in February 2015. Similar generosity has ushered PARC through turbulent times, including a crushing millage defeat in 2018.

When the tax request tanked, PARC board members weighed selling 10 acres of property to raise $5 million for needed

renovations. Turns out, they didn’t need to part with valuable land as the nonprofit tapped private sources and foundations as well as local and state grants.

Among those who stepped up were Wilcox Family Foundation, Margaret Dunning Foundation, Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan and Michigan Council on Arts and Cultural Affairs.

As a result, the moonscape parking lot was repaved, which coincided with the installation of

23 rain gardens–totaling 23,000 square feet–that capture 250,000 gallons of water from each rain event.

‘INCREDIBLY DIVERSE’ Friends of the Rouge, who moved in three years ago, collaborated with PARC on the rain gardens, securing a matching grant through the Section 319 of the Clean Water Act 1987, which deals with mitigating non-source pollution. Nearby Adams Street, which had been a source of flooding, has benefited.

Friends, which brings awareness about the need to clean the Rouge River watershed,

said McCormick, whose greatgrandmother went to Plymouth High School. “It’s no easy business. You truly believe in the mission and I think PARC has really exemplified that through the variety of tenants that they selected to operate here and their continued commitment to improving the space.”

Ongoing renovations to the Wilcox Theatre is one example.

Initially, PARC officials wanted to transform the former school’s cafeteria/auditorium into an 800-seat venue. Those plans were scaled back to a gathering place with 300 retractable stadium-style seats after the

“In retrospect, I think we were fortunate because the world has changed a bit, too,” Soenen said.

“Packing 800 people into an auditorium on a regular basis is much more difficult than it might have been two or three years ago, with pandemics and everything else going on. So I think we’ve got the right size.”

BUSINESS MODEL

occupies 2,700 square feet in the former school library.

“It’s just really cool to be in this historic space with such a wide variety of tenants who have an incredibly diverse set of services and goods to offer the community, all housed under another nonprofit,” said Marie McCormick, Friends of the Rouge executive director.

McCormick caught PARC fever. She and husband Darren have moved their family to Plymouth where daughter Winnie, 6, takes tap and jazz lessons at Artistry Dance Center in PARC and son George “Wheeler”, 3, loves to watch the Steelers play at the football field.

“I know what it means to be a nonprofit. So does PARC,”

millage was voted down.

From a setback, PARC also extricated a jewel.

During renovations, workers uncovered the 104-year-old school theater’s original wall columns and proscenium arch crowning the stage, Grieger said. The project is two-thirds completed.

“It's going to be gorgeous,” said Beth Stewart, Michigan Philharmonic executive director, whose first-floor offices are right by the theater. “And it's very cool that it has so much historical character. It's going to be a really, really nice place.”

Though the theater will be too confined to present a full orchestra, Michigan Philharmonic intends to use the venue for smaller series, Stewart said.

Other building improvements include installing weatherefficient windows throughout the century-old building. New panes have been placed in one firstfloor room as an example.

Rent runs about $12.50 a square foot at PARC. One space is open on the first floor while two are available on the third floor. The second floor is occupied.

Tenants are responsible for all renovations–painting, carpeting, fixtures–in each space.

“That is part of the business model that makes it work,” Grieger said.

Another aspect that drives PARC’s success is collaboration.

Michigan Philharmonic, which was the facility’s first tenant and occupies the former principal’s office, joined forces with the Plymouth Community Band for a pair of concerts in the PARC gymnasium.

The space was the only place around large enough to accommodate 170 musicians and audience members, Stewart said.

The philharmonic has worked

in tandem with PARC’s youth theater and dance studios, which have provided accompanying choreography during Halloween or Latin-themed concerts.

The orchestra has also partnered with Main Street Opera and sees a chance to link up with BeckRidge Chorale.

More so, about overall PARC vibe Steward said, “There’s a lot of youthful energy in this

building, which is really great in my mind.”

For more information about PARC, visit www.plymouthparc. com or call (734) 927-4090.

PARC ADDRESS: 650 Church Street PHONE/E-MAIL: (734) 927-4090 plymouthparc@gmail.com WEBSITE: www.plymouthparc.com The Rock

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Back On Air

DJ John Bommarito overcomes challenges to do what he loves

By Kevin Brown

P

op mega star Ed Sheeran appreciates Plymouth DJ John Bommarito. Before world fame dropped on the four-time Grammy-winner, Sheeran did a radio interview with Bommarito, who, for 15 years, was a fixture on station WQKL, known as “Ann Arbor’s 107one.” It was home to his popular show “The Sunday Brunch” focused on acoustic music performers.

In 2012 Sheeran had released his debut album. He was touring the U.S., opening for the group Snow Patrol. But Bommarito had a hunch the warmup act could be a good interview. Settled behind the studio microphone, he told Sheeran that "Lego House" was his favorite song from Sheeran’s record. The lyrics, Bommarito 10

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The Rock

said, seemed to be about a relationship that you can tear down and build up again.

Sheeran was surprised and delighted.

"That's exactly what it is.

You're actually the first person

to actually know that, so yeah," he said.

Other artists have also noted Bommarito’s perceptive interviewing skills.

Brian Vander Ark of the Verve Pipe – the Michigan band had a

U.S. top ten hit – was effusive about his respect for the veteran DJ. "One of the best interviewers out there," he wrote in a June 15 email to his Patreon subscribers.

“The thing about his shows is that he gets the best out of the musicians that come through.”

But those shows at WQKL ended in 2020, due to pandemic cutbacks. So Vander Ark’s vote of confidence was overwhelming.

"I sat on the floor and wept for five minutes," Bommarito said.

After his layoff, the DJ found part-time work with the U.S. Post Office and Comerica Bank, among others. Bommarito also continued to interview and present musicians through his Acoustic Alternatives video podcasts and YouTube playlists. And now, rallied by Vander Ark’s endorsement of his radio talents, Bommarito has returned to radio, his true love. In July, he began work as operations manager at Henry Ford Community College's student radio station WHFR in Dearborn.

LOVE OF MUSIC

As a boy riding in the backseat of his mom's white Chrysler LeBaron, Bommarito recalls her playing tapes of the hits of Simon

and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond and John Denver. Simon and Garfunkel particularly stood out.

“I loved the harmonies and the lyrics,” Bommarito said.

His three siblings took up musical instruments. Bommarito did try the drums. “But I couldn't keep up with drummer Stewart Copland of The Police,” he said.

Similarly, he determined he wasn't a singer. "I could play the radio," Bommarito explained.

“I loved music and I wanted to share it with people.”

As a student in Warren, he talked to an educator who ran a high school radio station – but Bommarito couldn’t participate as his school was out of district.

Just before graduation, he began working at the Record Time chain. He learned about more artists, including the Indigo Girls

he was continuing studies toward a Bachelor of Business Administration-Marketing degree. At WHFR, Bommarito was an on-air personality and folk music director. For two years, he overlapped as assistant manager at award-winning student station 88.1 The Park (WSDP) at the PlymouthCanton Community Schools Education Park. “I learned what it was like to be in a teaching role, imparting knowledge of commercial radio to these students and stepping up their game a little bit,” he said. Also at WSDP, he learned the value of connecting the local community to the radio station, by presenting and engaging in local events.

As Bommarito settles into his new duties at WHFR, he’s also creating with sponsor help

with their Simon and Garfunkellike harmonies. “My coworkers turned me on to everything from Louis Jordan to The Clash to the Cocteau Twins to Nick Lowe to The Style Council to third wave ska bands,” Bommarito said. He also worked as a record buyer.

new content under this Acoustic Alternative brand. “The concept of Acoustic Alternative is somewhat of a modern take more inspired by the MTV Unplugged concept,” he said, with singersongwriters discussing their craft and the occasional acoustic covers of pop hits.

Over Bommarito’s career, interview subjects have ranged from Colbie Caillat and Suzanne Vega to Men at Work front man and songwriter Colin Hay. Bommarito said working with Hay was a career moment, right there with interviewing Sheeran, and Vander Ark’s endorsement.

ON THE RADIO

Upon entering Oakland University, Bommarito got a chance to work at its student radio station. He got more involved with radio when he moved to HFCC’s WHFR. It was next door to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where

GOOD TO BE BACK

Bommarito recently welcomed touring singer-songwriter Seth Glier to Grove Studios in Ypsilanti for an Acoustic Alternatives video podcast taping. “Seth Glier is here, and he's got a brand-new album called “Coronation.” It's good to see you my friend.”

Glier smiles broadly: "It’s good to be back. It’s good to be seen by you after all this," he said, laughing.

Glier performs two songs live on guitar and vocals. In the conversation that follows, Glier acknowledges he’s more accomplished on piano, which he’s played on others’ records. “I play guitar (on tour) because of something (songwriter) Ellis Paul said to me.”

"Pianos are heavy?"

Bommarito jokes.

Glier laughs. “What Ellis said to me one night was that the piano playing is blinding some of the songwriting. You are a good songwriter but perhaps people might not hear that through the initial impact of ‘Wow, he's a good piano player’…It changed the lane a little bit.”

Just another example of Bommarito’s ability to bring out insightful tidbits from the artists he interviews.

Now settled in Plymouth, Bommarito has been married 23 years to wife Peggy, a 1987 Plymouth-Canton High School graduate. She teaches science at North Farmington High School.

“We do enjoy Plymouth. It’s hard not to,” he said.

Bommarito also performs DJ services for weddings and other events.

To subscribe to Acoustic Alternatives or access interview clips and full interviews, go to https://medium.com/@ johnmbommarito or https:// johnmbommarito.wixsite. com/johnbommarito/acousticalternatives.

"One of the best interviewers out there. The thing about his shows is that he gets the best out of the musicians that come through.”

Brian Vander Ark of the Verve Pipe, describing Plymouth DJ John Bommarito The Rock

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he

The

Sweet Taste of Nostalgia

After 70 years, Kemnitz Candies is confectionary at its finest

By Wensdy Von Buskirk | Photos by Bill Bresler

M

uch has changed in Downtown Plymouth over the last seven decades, but one local shop has remained a constant source of magic and joy.

As owners Everett and Cindy Smith gear up to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Kemnitz Candies with a ’50s-themed party on Nov. 13, they’re still making the same chocolates, caramels, and clusters as the year Joe DiMaggio announced his retirement from baseball, and Amos ’n’ Andy premiered on CBS. “These are the original recipes from George Kemnitz,” Cindy explains. “Sometimes the ingredients change, companies stop making certain items, and you have to find the next best thing, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job keeping them up.”

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TRIED AND TRUE George Kemnitz began making candy in his Livonia basement in 1951 and opened the store in downtown Plymouth soon after.

Cindy’s mother, Audrey Hamlin, and her grandmother, Marie Swain, purchased the business in 1969 at its current location at 896 W. Ann Arbor Trail. Cindy started working there when she was just 15, alongside her sister, Kimberly, then 12.

The family moved manufacturing into a building at 1056 Cherry Street in Old Village, where you can still find Everett pulling taffy, cooking fillings, and breaking up barks at prep tables most weekdays.

“I’m the chief cook and bottle washer, or confectioner, whichever title fits,” he quips.

Business is brisk during

the holidays, the couple says.

At Easter, they churn out 51 varieties of bunnies, ducks, chickens, and crosses. Valentine’s Day is big, and they just got through a busy Sweetest Day and Halloween. Soon comes the season of peanut brittle.

“It can get tacky and stick together in the warmer months, so we start making it right around Christmas,” George says.

“We stretch it. It’s not just poured in a pan.”

Kemnitz prides itself on specialties you can’t find anywhere else, along with custom packing.

“You can get two pieces of this and 10 of that, so if your favorite is this one and your husband’s favorite is something else you can go half and half in a box,” Everett says.

Each variety bears a distinct

clue to what’s inside—a bee on top of buttercreams, M’s for maples. Nougats have a slash, award-winning cherry cordials a bullseye.

“Forrest Gump was wrong,” Everett says. “You do know what you’re gonna get if you know the code.”

The Smiths have kept up with candy trends, offering sugar-free varieties and sea salt caramels, but mostly they stick to classics.

“We have added a few things here and there to see if they would catch, but our original recipes are tried and true,” Cindy says.

LOTS OF MEMORIES Everett and Cindy live in Plymouth Township and have two sons and five grandchildren.

Their kids grew up in the shop as their customers had children

of their own and Plymouth expanded around them.

“A lot of people stop by and say ‘Oh my gosh it still smells the same. My grandma used to bring me in’,’' Cindy says. “There are a lot of memories.”

Long-time manager Pamela Finch, a Plymouth Township resident, says many employees

“I don’t think people realize how much goes into it. You’re not just at the counter, you’re in the back packaging candy, getting it ready to be shipped. When you’re in the kitchen it’s backbreaking,” says Finch, who has been employed at Kemnitz for 18 years. “It’s all done manually.

There’s a lot of work invested in every piece.”

Finch, who has a bachelor’s degree in business and pursued a Master’s degree in historic preservation, says she values the longevity of the mom-and-pop candy store.

“I think having a little bit of history in town is important. The store stands out. The candy is fresh, handmade by people who care,” she says.

Others seem to agree.

“Every day we get customers who say they grew up coming in after school to buy candy,” she says. “We’ve got people who have been coming to the store for 40 years, and recently, with more people moving into Plymouth, we’ve got tons of new customers, too.”

IT’S PARTY TIME stay for years and return for the holidays because they love it so much.

Make no mistake, though, working at the candy store isn’t easy.

As Cindy marks 53 years in the business, she’s excited to join Everett and Pamela in staging the upcoming 70th anniversary celebration. They’ve reached out to around 100 former employees,

most of whom worked at the shop as young girls in high school, or ladies in retirement.

They’ve rounded up antiques for a window display—balance scales, tape machines, a Family Circle magazine found in a file cabinet, which sold for a nickel in 1954. They’ll loop a video of Cindy’s late father, Merle Hamlin, making peppermint patties back in the day.

“Just some fun things, artifacts and stuff like that from the store, from the era,” Cindy says.

They’ll play ’50s music, and encourage everyone to dress like the decade.

“I’m looking for some poodle skirts and cardigans, James Dean outfits, Elvis Presley,” Everett says.

The Plymouth Chamber of Commerce will host a ceremonial ribbon cutting, and the community is encouraged to stop by.

Various candy specials will rotate throughout the day, and the first 300 people will get a complimentary chocolate bar.

There will be helium balloons for the kids, and Everett and Cindy will each release a symbolic balloon.

Guests can also sign a memory book that will be kept on display as the store continues on. The Smiths say they are proud that Kemnitz is a fixture in the community.

KEMNITZ FINE CANDIES 70th Anniversary Party WHEN: Saturday, November 13 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

WHERE: Kemnitz Candies 896 W. Ann Arbor Trail Plymouth WHO: Customers & past employees WHAT: Stop by for balloons, candy specials, and a free chocolate bar for the first 300 guests. 1950s attire encouraged!

With all the festivals, events, restaurants, shops, and excitement brewing over the new fountain in Kellogg Park, they look forward to a bright future as they celebrate their past.

“We’ve been here a long time.

We’ve seen a lot of things come and go,” Cindy says. “But the City of Plymouth, the DDA, and Chamber have done a good job of keeping the downtown area current.”

Kemnitz Fine Candies & Gifts is open Monday-Saturday, 10 am-6 pm; closed Sundays. Call (734) 453-0480 or visit facebook. com/KemnitzFineCandies.

The Rock

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RIDE of a LIFETIME

Plymouth’s Bill Gray cycles 2,400 miles across America

S

ometimes you’ve got to dip your toe in the water and take a chance.

For longtime Plymouth resident Bill Gray, 72, and two of his cohorts–longtime friend Mike Brown, 66, and brotherin-law John Mayo, 61–it was about touching the wheels of their road bikes in the Pacific Ocean and embarking on a 2,400-mile journey appropriately called on their Facebook page, “Celebrating Life on a Bike.’’

The trio–aided by their RV driver and wingman Marty Stano –successfully traversed through seven different states starting on Aug. 13 in Anacortes, Wash. and finishing Sept. 24 just as they crossed the Wisconsin-Michigan border into the Upper Peninsula.

“There is a sense of satisfaction that I did something that was worth doing,” Gray said. “We do a lot of things that are just kind of 16

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routine, mundane and inane. This had some meaning to it for me and it was something that I say, ‘I don’t got to do this, I get to do this.’ This is something I really want to do and do something, if that makes sense to me.”

The idea for “Celebrating Life on a Bike” was probably two years in a making by Brown, a construction business owner who resides in Traverse City, and Gray, a retired school psychologist. The two had done motorcycle and kayaking trips together, including a 10-day excursion to Glacier Bay, Alaska. The two had also done a 400-mile bike ride from Traverse City to Ludington before boating over to Conover, Wis. “As you get older, adventures become a little more fleeting, so

By Brad Emons

you say to yourself at 72, ‘What are you capable of?’ So, I’m not quite sure,” Gray said. “So, I Google, ‘Old Men on a Bicycle.’

And boom, a book pops up and it’s, “Old Man on a Bicycle.’ And it’s about a guy who had been an ambassador to Sudan. At 72, he rode his bike across the country, so I just read it and it was a fascinating read. And the thought was–this guy can do it. It’s a great challenge and it’s doable. I encouraged a few of my buddies to read it. Everybody enjoyed it and was interested, showed interest… you got to have a burn inside you if you want to do this thing.”

Mayo, who worked as a teacher and in IT, resides in Bay Village, Ohio, decided to take the plunge as well.

But the most valuable member of the crew was Stano, a former student of Gray’s at Wayne Memorial High who he had

known since the age of 13.

“Marty is the first guy I called.

I offered, and he said, ‘I’m interested.’ I thought he’d be a great one and he turned out to be.

He was outstanding,” Gray said.

A free spirit of sorts, Stano has a filmmaking degree from Michigan and is a runner, hiker and cyclist. He and Gray had done a couple of 50-mile bike rides together.

“I thought we could handle a third guy,” Gray said. “It was kind of cheating a little bit because we had what we call a SAG wagon. We had a little RV, so we weren’t self-supported. It made it a little more comforting.”

WHEELS START TURNING Three of the four loaded up at Gray’s house on Penniman Avenue and drove to Traverse City to rendezvous with Brown and pick up the RV. And then it was 22 hours of driving straight to the Badlands and Medora, N.D. The next stop was Missoula, Mont. where Gray stayed with Mark McGrath, an old high school friend from Garden City West.

As “Celebrating Life on a Bike” got closer to the start following 48 hours of driving, there was some anxiety that crept in even though Gray, a physical fitness fanatic, had diligently trained throughout the summer riding on an average of 50-to-55 miles per day.

“You get to Anacortes (Wash.) and that’s when you start questioning, ‘What am I doing, this is crazy,’” Gray said. “What I really didn’t realize is that I had fallen a couple of times in the last three years. One time I was in ICU for three days.”

Meanwhile, Bill’s wife Coni had some reservations as well, but Coni flew out for a few days to Montana to help support the “Celebrating Life on a Bike” effort.

“She thought I was nuts and she kept telling me, ‘You can quit any time. You don’t have to do this,’” Gray said. “But once we

left Anacortes and the wheels start turning…I had a flat tire the first day and I thought maybe it was a bad omen. I ended up having three flat tires, but that’s all part of the experience.”

“Celebrating Life on a Bike” followed detailed maps provided by the Adventure Cycling Association. They took back roads, county roads, along with the safest and most scenic routes.

“You get to the Cascades… every day you can honestly make the argument it was like the best day,” Gray said. “Every day was special. The north Cascades there were some great campgrounds.

I’ve done Glacier Bay, Yosemite and Yellowstone, but had never done the Cascades and heard wonderful things about it. I couldn’t believe the diversity of people that I saw there, lots of different colors of people.

The scenery, the mountains, the rivers, the vistas…what it is to bike the Cascades–it’s intense.

Were we prepared for it? No. Did I know I was pretty far out on the ice? Yes. Like Ernest Hemingway in the book ‘Old Man and the Sea,’ there was always that question did I go out too far?

That was the question.”

According to Gray, the highest elevation they climbed was 6,000 feet in Crystal Lake, Mont.

“I thought climbing up the hills

would be the big deal, but it was really going down those,” Gray said. “I was going 49.7 MPH, so it was a little intimidating. So, it took a while to get comfortable. I can enjoy the speed, but you have to realize it’s high stakes if you go down.”

After riding throughout the day, “Celebrating Life on a Bike’’ retired for the night by sleeping in tents at local campsites along the way. There was a “rest day” every five or six days.

“I probably slept in the RV three nights, and every other night I was in a tent,” Gray said.

CHANGING WEATHER Riding out west, there were some issues about the weather.

“The first concern was about heat,” Gray said. “It got up to 9596 degrees, so it made it harder riding long distances in that heat. We were concerned about fires and smoke, we got detoured and just dealing with the whole smoke issue. Obviously, the climbs were daunting. Wind really becomes a big factor once you get out of the Cascades. We got caught in a couple of rain storms. One there was a tornado sighted, so you really got to dodge that piece.

“You talk to people and it’s all about radar. You got to trust the radar and trust your own

judgment and how much rain you want to ride in? People are more comfortable than others.

Sometimes you get caught by the rain and have to quit for a couple of hours, so then you’re riding at night to get to the campsites, especially after a storm. That can become quite glorious.”

As far as a physical toll, Gray said he came out of it no worse for wear.

“I was pretty shocked,” he said.

“I consistently took my Tylenol every night. And a 72-year-old white guy lying in bed every night? Nature calls once or twice during the night. You got to roll out of that bed. I’m surprised I was so limber as much as I was.

“I was real concerned about sores on my rear, but we took a lot of precautions, a lot of jells and such, but we really had good gear, good pants. When you finish riding it’s always good to shower immediately afterwards. And we showered the next morning to keep things hygienically clean as you can.”

Gray said his friend Brown was fastidious about his stretching.

“He had some cramping and hip issues, but he’s tough as nails,” Gray said. “He fought through it.

He pedaled every step of the way.

He’s just a tough hombre.”

Mayo, meanwhile, ended up buying a new bike in Whitefish, The Rock

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17

Montana and it proved to be a Godsend.

“John wasn’t quite as prepared for it,” Gray said. “It was more of a (comfort level). It was harder for him to climb. But at the end of the trip…he probably lost 20 to 25 pounds. And he said to me this is the toughest thing he’s ever done.”

WOW MOMENTS Gray admitted he felt times that he would crack, especially during the some of the daunting climbs. They were nothing like Hines Parkway, that’s for sure.

“When you probably didn’t have much left in you, and you saw more hills, and you go like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Gray said. “And there was nobody to complain to. What are you going to do? Are you going to go up, shut up or up the hill? You just find it, man. And pretty soon I just looked at it like a workout.

You got a big hill in front of me?

It’s another workout, let’s go.”

There were countless highlights and “wow moments” along the way.

They stayed at the Adventure Cyclist Bunkhouse in Diablo, Minn. where they met 73-yearold Don Olsen, a retired Army veteran who turned a 120-acre dairy farm–featuring 200-to-300 pound pumpkins–into a cyclist hostel.

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They saw antelope, mule deer and cows. There were bullet holes in the sign–McGuire Creek–as they rode through Montana. In mid-September they stumbled upon two avid fisherman off the Red River.

And Gray recalls Fargo, N.D. “a great town, a cross between Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids.”

“I always thought I’d be listening to some music along the way, or that things would become boring if you will,” Gray said. “But this really wasn’t the case. Every state…Wisconsin I was shocked what a beautiful state Wisconsin is. Minnesota…

You think, North Dakota is just flat and boring…it’s got that Red River Valley there right around Fargo, the oil was there. It was just beautiful.”

Through Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Gray met many interesting people, some doing cross country bike trips as well.

They encountered an Australian couple–85 years-young–in Diablo, Minn., who had already completed the Southern Tier of the Transcontinental and now were in the midst of doing the Northern Tier, which is the most difficult as they made their way across the

country riding 25 miles per day.

They also crossed paths with a guy named Tim, from Michigan,

who was heading on his bike to Argentina. There were also a husband and wife riding cross country with their autistic son.

“You think you’re real special,” Gray said. “I met a 32-year-old gal riding on a used bike loaded, self-supportive, wearing sandals, called herself ‘Dancing on a Bike.’ She was riding in this very isolated place (in Montana) and we interacted with her. And she

grandkids around the country.

“I want to stay as fit as I can. I want to stay uninjured. I feel fortunate that I put a team together with these guys and I did this. I feel fortunate my wife is still talking to me. She’s really been supportive and I’m grateful for that.”

And what does Gray plan to do for an encore in 2022?

There’s already preliminary

had been riding from Michigan heading to Seattle and going down to San Diego by herself.

Camping out in city campgrounds and meeting people along the way. There are a lot of brave people out there.”

talk about completing the cross country trip–this time from Ludington to Bar Harbor, Maine.

That would mean dipping their wheels in Lake Michigan before heading for another deep end–the Atlantic Ocean.

But for now, it’s one goal accomplished and another “Celebrating Life on a Bike Part II” looming prominently on the horizon.

“As a 72-year-old from Plymouth, Michigan, for me to be able to get on a bike from one side of the country and head to Michigan…you have the physical ability, you have the time, you have the financial ability, and have buddies that want to do it with me. It was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Gray said. “It’s just an incredible opportunity.

This is America–from small towns to different economies and all the different polarizations that occur. What an honor to be on a bicycle backed up by an RV and I get to do this. It was fabulous.”

BACK HOME As they crossed the WisconsinMichigan border, the three riders posted a video on Facebook in front of the Pure Michigan sign to celebrate the end.

Mayo may have summed up things best when he said: “To quote the famous Forrest Gump, ‘I’m tired. I think I’ll go home now.’”

Meanwhile, following his nearly eight-week excursion, Gray had plenty of time to decompress and reflect on what he and the team had just accomplished.

“I got a lot of things to attend to here,” he said. “I was kind of being in semi-retirement, back with the schools, doing pottery, I work out a lot. Big house,

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Service, and the first 100 people to attend will get a gift from the Salvation Army.

Hundreds of people usually turn out for the free event, many bringing donations of cash or non-perishable food for the Plymouth Corps’ food pantry.

In conjunction with the lighting ceremony, several downtown businesses will be providing gift certificates to those who bring non-perishable

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he Plymouth Downtown Development Authority (DDA), along with the Plymouth Salvation Army, will host the annual Main Street boulevard tree-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12 in Kellogg Park.

The event, in which trees along Main in the city’s downtown are lighted for the holidays, is also the official kickoff of the Red Kettle campaign by the Plymouth Corps of the Salvation Army. It’s the

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group’s largest annual fundraiser.

A Salvation Army brass band will play holiday music in Kellogg Park beginning about 6:30 p.m. and the short ceremony will start at 7 p.m., with a youngster throwing the switch to turn on the lights. Also providing entertainment will be the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Choir and WOMC 104.3-FM. There will be free hot chocolate and coffee, courtesy of E.G. Nick’s and Gordon Food

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For more information about the Plymouth Corps of the Salvation Army and its Red Kettle campaign, visit www. misalplymouth.org or call (734) 453-5464.

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ABOUT THE BOOK Scout Manchester: Ghost Terrier of England (Book One: Chillblain’s Castle) is self-published by author David Krzisnik’s Motor Car Publishing Detroit. It is available in paperback ($8.99) on Amazon, as well as digitally through Kindle Unlimited (where it is free until Dec. 15).

Twitter @scoutmanchester (“Scout is posting things, not me,” laughed Krzisnik.)

‘SPOOKY

Facebook AG Powell Scout Writer

STUFF’

Salem teacher encourages reading with ghost-chasing adventure

By Tim Smith

D

avid Krzisnik is passionate about classic, scary stories from the likes of local television legend Sir Graves Ghastly. Also near and dear to his heart are family history, jolly old England and canines.

The Salem High School English teacher is an ambitious writer who somehow managed to mix those disparate interests and pursuits into a whirlwind children’s book – Scout Manchester: Ghost Terrier of England, which by the way is attributed to Krzisnik’s pseudonym A.G. Powell.

“I’ve always been a fan of classic horror films from the olden days,” Krzisnik explained.

“I thought that it would be funny if she (Scout Manchester) chased ghosts and pulled ghosts out. It kind of developed from there. I have three interests or loves in life: history of England, my dogs 24

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and ghosts. You know, spooky stuff.”

But why go with the name “A.G. Powell” instead of David Krzisnik on the cover?

“If you see my last name, no offense to my Slovenian grandfather, but it’s butchered a lot,” said Krzisnik, a Canton resident. “It’s hard to pronounce, and even harder to spell. So I wanted to go with a pseudonym that’s easy and the A.G. comes from my paternal and maternal grandfathers.”

That would be Anton and Genore, respectively. As for the last name, Krzisnik said it honors one of his favorite actors in William Powell.

“I figured it’s a nice, easy name and I’ll pay tribute to my love of the old Hollywood films with his name,” the first-time author said. “It’s a lot easier than Krzisnik!”

CANINE INSPIRED Meanwhile, the ghost-busting canine characters of the book – Scout and Duncan, whose job is to protect Chillblain’s Castle –were created to in part honor Krzisnik family pooches both past and present.

The main character is derived from the family’s 12-year-old Toy Manchester Terrier – incidentally named Scout.

The book character Scout is a three-legged Toy Manchester (naturally) from England who happens to be decorated by the Queen with an “Order of the Collar” as shown on the front cover.

“She is very much aware of the fact,” Krzisnik said.

Krzisnik’s own Scout does not have a leg missing, but has the feisty spirit and attitude described throughout Scout

Manchester: Ghost Terrier of England.

“I would always joke that if my Scout talked she would have this British accent,” he noted. “And kind of have a little edge to her.”

Scout’s sidekick in the book is “a gruff, bare-bones Scotsman” Duncan, actually based on the Krzisnik family’s beloved Shetland Sheepdog Penhow (nicknamed Penny) who passed away in 2014 at age 13. Duncan is missing an eye and thus wears a patch.

“So you got a three-legged dog and a one-eyed dog that team up to make sure evil doesn’t advance upon the world,” said the author about the tale’s main plot. “They are trying to solve a solution.

Soon after Scout gets there (to Chillblain’s Castle) she thinks it’s business as usual. But the owner of the castle disappears as does

Scout’s human (a woman named Saffron) and that’s when she needs to rely on Duncan.

“She (Scout) is a lone wolf and says it herself (within the chapters). She’s highly decorated and does things her way. But right off the bat her human disappears as does the owner of the castle (a British bloke, Mr. Grimsby).

“And that’s when the story really takes off and the two dogs have to solve the mystery and locate their humans.”

The interaction between the book’s canines was informed from the Krzisnik family’s own dogs. One big difference is he turned the real-life Penny from a female into a male dog (Duncan) to capitalize on the former’s personality as well as help spur plot development.

“Penny already was seven or eight when we got Scout,” he said.

“We thought they would get along great and snuggle up together.

But not so much, as Penny was an older dog set in her ways.

“They would play, but Penny always checked Scout, kind of kept her in line. And that kind of playful spirit comes up in the story. Scout is the top ghosthunting dog in Britain and my line (for her) is always ‘She knows it.’”

LONDON TOWN TALES Krzisnik and his wife, Dawn, have always had a thing about Great Britain, too. So, it’s no surprise his various book ideas feature the United Kingdom.

“I’ve been interested in writing, I started my first story over 20 years ago,” he noted.

“My background also is theater and I have a bachelor’s in theater from Wayne State. I trained in a program in Oxford, England one summer which was run by the British American Drama Academy.

“My wife and I are kind of Anglophiles and so we were very lucky to honeymoon there (in 1996).”

The ideas have been bouncing around the 53-year-old Krzisnik’s head for a quarter-century. So what took him so long to turn his Scout Manchester concept for a book into reality?

Things like marriage and adopting premature twins (a boy, Holden; a girl, Evelyn) in 2014 were big-time reasons to procrastinate. He also began his teaching career at Salem High School in 2009.

So there’s that.

“My joke is it took nine years (to write the book), give or take about five or six when the twins arrived and I didn’t have much time,” Krzisnik recalled. “And it was writing early in the morning, before school since I worked full-time.

“I tried to write every day but I was not always achieving that. Then it went through major revisions, too.”

Krzisnik also didn’t map out how the story would go, which he surmised contributed to the rewrites he needed to make.

“That’s what I loved about it (the writing process),” he said.

“I just started typing with the blank page and went where the characters took me. All of a sudden a major scene or character would develop and pop into my head.”

Once the self-proclaimed “morning owl” finished his manuscript, he started to look for a publisher. Eventually, he opted to self-publish it and hooked up with longtime friend Dan

Roth (a graphic artist and native Detroiter now living in Georgia) to create the cover art.

That cover features a billowing ghost hovering above Chillblain’s Castle with Scout Manchester – with a red “Order of the Collar” around her neck and a smirk of cockiness on her face – standing tall in front of the front entrance.

Meanwhile, although the main characters have physical handicaps, Krzisnik made sure not to dwell on that point in the manuscript.

“I’ve worked with a lot of students who have had physical challenges over the years,” explained Krzisnik, putting on his teacher’s hat for a moment. “And most of them never let that deter them in anything. It never became a major focus of who they are and I thought about that one day.

“Scout needs something other than just to be the top ghosthunting dog. I’ve had students with disabilities but you’d never know it. I thought ‘I’m going to do that with her.’ One of those lightbulb moments.

“I did a bit of research and saw three-legged dogs do awesomely.

They run and they jump. I said that there’s a nice tidbit to make her a little more unique.”

‘CHOICE READING’ Now that Scout Manchester is out, Krzisnik is hopeful it will help kids in upper elementary and middle school find it a fun enough read to entice them into perusing more books – whether in physical form or via digital platforms.

And, who knows, maybe even high schoolers might get the bug to check out his spooky but endearing 34,000-word story.

“Get kids reading, as an English teacher that’s our goal,” said Krzisnik, who is assisted in the classroom by co-teacher Jamey Badger of Plymouth. “The movement now is called ‘choice reading.’ “…They pick their books.

We have Barb Dinan from the Plymouth District Library who

“So you’ve got a three-legged dog and a one-eyed dog that team up to make sure evil doesn’t advance upon the world.”

David Krzisnik, on the main plot of Scout Manchester: Ghost Terrier of England

comes in and talks to kids. She is in charge of teenage, young adult stuff. She will bring books to Salem and kids are able to check them out through me, so they are reading things that interest them.”

Encouraging reading is in the DNA of writers and teachers alike, ostensibly to help connect young people “to their own worlds, their own lives, their own futures” and spark what could grow into a lifetime passion.

Now that Krzisnik has his first published work, does he have anything cooking for further adventures of Scout and Duncan?

He is planning a second book in what he hopes will turn into a series. But there could be an interesting plot twist.

“There definitely will be another Scout book, maybe about coming to America. ‘On holiday,’ as the Brits say,” said the author with a chuckle. “She’ll encounter a situation where she has to put her ghost-detecting skills to work. So it ends up being a working vacation for her.”

It’s safe to say there likely will be plenty of early mornings creating at the computer keyboard for A.G. Powell.

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Henry Ford Medical Center Coming 2022

HenryF o rd. c om/Ply m out h T ow n sh i p

Closer To Home Henry Ford Medical Center bringing much-needed ER space, other services to community

W

hen the new Henry Ford Medical Center - Plymouth opens in the fall of 2022, as anticipated, it will bring residents of Plymouth, Canton and Western Wayne County a new emergency room, something lacking in the community.

According to Henry Ford officials, operating rooms, specialty clinics, expanded access to specialists, treatment options and other healthcare services will also be available inside the three-story, 120,000-square-foot facility.

The building that is quickly rising at the southwest corner of Ann Arbor and Haggerty roads will change the local landscape and boost the local economy by returning activity to the long vacant site. The new medical center is expected to serve 170,000 to 200,000 visitors with

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300-plus Henry Ford team members caring for patients and visitors -- and supporting surrounding businesses.

Henry Ford currently operates two medical centers in the area, mainly offering primary care such as internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics: Henry Ford Medical Center - Canton on Haggerty Road and Henry Ford Medical Center - Plymouth on Beck Road.

“We are excited to build on our long relationship with this vibrant community by offering additional high-quality, trustworthy healthcare in another convenient location,” said Steven Horger, director of Ambulatory Regional Operations for Henry Ford Health System. “Building an emergency room as part of a medical center is a massive undertaking.

It’s also important to overall community health

and safety. Altogether the new medical center honors our mission to improve health, wellness and in turn the community at large.”

In November the current Henry Ford Medical Center in Plymouth will change names to Henry Ford Medical Center - Beck Road. The newer, larger Henry Ford Medical Center will take its name and become Henry Ford Medical Center Plymouth.

Henry Ford Health System is made up of five acute care hospitals and 50-plus medical centers across Southeast Michigan with two under construction in Plymouth and Royal Oak. The new Henry Ford Medical Center- Royal Oak is scheduled to open this fall.

“The new Henry Ford Medical Center Plymouth moves us one step closer to our goal of keeping patients within 15 minutes of regular, emergency and preventive medical care they need,” said Douglas Ditri, Henry Ford Health System’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of System Ambulatory Operations.

“For the Plymouth area in particular there is a need for emergency care,” Ditri said. “Knowing we can be the healthcare organization that steps up the level of community care and healthcare access is an

Inside the new medical center, which is designed with an emphasis on light, comfort and ease of use, will be: • Emergency department • 2 operating rooms with the option to add two additional ORs • 11 procedure and treatment rooms • 81 exam and treatment rooms • A pain clinic • Gastroenterology specialists and procedure spaces • Dermatology and cosmetic surgery clinic • Urology clinic • Ear, Nose & Throat and Audiology specialists • Center for Integrative Medicine, including acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, massage, other complementary care • Functional Medicine expertise

honor and a privilege.”

You can watch the progress of the construction of the new facility by visiting https:// app.oxblue.com/open/ lhf/HFHSPlymouth.

• A pharmacy • Laboratory services • Radiology services • Additional primary care options

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THE ROCK I N F O C U S WITH K EN VOYLES

Pumpkin Palooza!

T Popular

Halloween celebration marks

he Halloween season is definitely embraced in Downtown Plymouth, something that was evident at the 10th Annual Pumpkin Palooza celebration on Oct. 24.

Organized by the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, the event featured plenty of activities for the kids including trick-ortreating, face painting, and costume contests (for both the kids and family pets).

Between 8,000-10,000 people filled up the closed down streets of Downtown Plymouth, according to Wes Graff, chamber president.

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10 years

“Like many of Plymouth’s outdoor events this year, the turnout was outstanding,” said Graf, who noted the tremendous support of their volunteers and sponsors.

Sam Pymale of the Plymouth DDA, who brought his family to the event, said the Chamber and City employees did a great job spacing out the crowds. “The event was fantastic. The rain held off until the end,” he said.

Plymouth-based photographer Ken Voyles was on hand and captured the sights and scenes of another successful Pumpkin Palooza.

We can’t wait until next year!

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