The Rock - December 2022

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

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Publisher

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KURT KUBAN – Publisher

DECEMBER

2022 VOL 3 | ISSUE 12

16435 Franklin, Northville, MI 48168 • 734-716-0783 • kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com

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.

BRAD KADRICH – Editor

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.

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 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.

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

To A Degree

‘VILLAGE’ HELPS 63-YEAR-OLD NAVIGATE A COLLEGE EDUCATION

When I was in the U.S. Air Force, I had a chance to get a college degree and squandered it. I was young and busy playing sports and perfecting my golf game.

OK, that part didn’t work out very well, but I digress.

Fast forward nearly 30 years after my Air Force career ended, when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer creates the Michigan Reconnect program. It’s a state-funded program designed to afford adults (26 and older) who don’t have a college degree the chance to get a two-year degree at a community college in their area.

As I was writing a story about it for another publication I thought, “What the hell?” I applied and was accepted. I then applied at Macomb Community College and was accepted.

After more than 30 years of regret, I was finally at least on the road to my Associate in Arts degree.

It hasn’t been easy, though ironically my Air Force career wasn’t completely squandered in the education arena. A boatload of credits from my military education and career transferred to Macomb, leaving me halfway to the associate’s degree before I even started (thank God for that).

Just as thankfully, nearly all of the classes I’ve taken have been on-line. I never could have done this had I been required to go on-campus for all of my classes. There simply wouldn’t have been time (which, of course, would have been merely an excuse) working a couple of jobs.

At first it was weird, uttering the phrase, “I have homework to do,” having to “get to class.” Things I haven’t had to worry about since 1977.

I’ve stumbled a couple of times. There was the Algebra I class that nearly broke me. The first time I took it, I was so intimidated by it that I dropped it, kicking that can further down the educational road.

I finally tackled it the following semester, taking a virtual class that included face-time with an actual professor, who encouraged and cajoled me across the finish line.

Then there was the decision to take three classes in the final semester (which culminated in my Dec. 16 graduation). Three classes – including one on campus – was a bit much, but to do anything else would have meant delaying my graduation, and I didn’t want that.

While there have been some stumbles, there have also been great moments, not the least of which has been going to school with my granddaughter, Maycie, a 2022 graduate of Utica High School who has classes in the same building as my geology class and who greets me every day when I get to school.

I’ve learned a lot, though I guess I won’t know how much I’ve retained until a volcano erupts and I’m able to identify the reasons why.

I don’t write about this experience in an effort to brag about myself; I really don’t have that kind of ego. I guess I’m writing about it in the hopes that some other 63-year-old will read it and overcome some of the same doubts and fears that I’ve had (walking into a classroom of 18- and 19-year-olds is intimidating!) and give themselves a chance.

If they do, I hope they have the same kind of support system I’ve had throughout this whole experience. My children, my friends and my family have been incredibly supportive, especially in the times when I wondered, “Why the hell am I doing this?”

My bosses at my other job have allowed me the time to go to class two afternoons a week in this final semester, an incredibly generous thing to do.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Apparently, it takes a village to raise a 63-year-old man, too. Thankfully, I had my village.

Brad Kadrich is now a college graduate and the editor of The Rock. He can be reached via email at bkadrich@comcast.net.

In this issue

Federal grants will help restore Wilcox and Phoenix lakes

88.1 radio veterans now leading the Plymouth DDA

Salem soccer, Canton swim teams lead the way for P-CEP

City leaders looking at paid parking for downtown

A wonderful season of Michigan Phil music

Turning the page: Local author pens Bob Seger bio

ON THE COVER: It was a magical night when Santa visited downtown Plymouth on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The popular event, which features magic, music and the jolly old elf himself parading around town, was a big hit with families, especially the children. Photo by Bryan Mitchell

ANNUAL VIGIL ILLUMINATES KELLOGG PARK

WHERE’S WENDOVER SANTA GETS A BIG PLYMOUTH WELCOME

When the Community Crier changed hands in 1998, it was sad day for many Plymouth fans of the iconic community newspaper who enjoyed the Crier, especially during its heydays in the 1970s and 1980s.

The mystery that followed – the disappearance of its legendary publisher who created a powerful example of community journalism – has rarely been discussed let alone revealed, leaving some to ponder just what happened.

You see, with the paper’s demise, owner W. Edward Wendover packed his bags and, with his wife, Sally, left the community he grew up in and loved, closing a chapter in Plymouth’s newspaper history.

But he also began a new chapter, one as the author of what he likes to call tongue-in-cheek “prepositional” murder mystery novels, all of them featuring friends and people he knows from Plymouth.

Later fulfilling a dream he and his wife had before her death, they converted and began taking refuge in a school bus to live and travel across North America. Today Wendover travels alone, sometimes visiting dozens of states in a year and coming to Plymouth as recently as this past fall.

So yes, you could say “mystery solved,” but only somewhat. There’s more to this tale of a nomad, no longer missing, with a passion for travel, writing, cooking and meeting people.

FROM NEWSPAPERS TO BOOKS

After he joined as a co-owner when the paper was founded in 1974, Wendover went on to run the Crier for 24 years, carrying on the grand newspaper tradition in Plymouth started by the Mail in the 19th century. The Mail itself was defunct by the time Wendover launched his “rag,” having been bought up and reinvented by a corporate publishing conglomerate.

When he graduated from Plymouth High and then Michigan State, Wendover headed to the east coast to cut his teeth with big city newspapering. He had worked for the Observer chain for a few years as well as Ingham County and Hartford (CA). He attended Woodstock, protested against the Vietnam

War and nurtured a hatred of Richard Nixon.

After he returned to Plymouth he got involved as an owner of a weekly paper that would compete with the Plymouth Observer. Over the years the Crier was known for its hard-hitting news coverage, strong opinions and outstanding sports and community life features. It also played a crucial role in the annual Fall Fest with a special edition unlike any before or since.

Besides the Crier Wendover helped lead a First Amendment challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court over the Detroit News and Free Press merger, taught journalism and ethics and worked as a chief-of-staff to a state politician. He is also a past president of the Michigan Press Association (MPA), an organization that gives awards for journalism excellence, something the Crier enjoyed for decades.

The local mystery first began when Wendover was forced to sell his newspaper over a legal battle with another business owner. With that over, he went to Lansing for a while, then to Missouri to work in the news business and then to northern Michigan.

He also began tinkering with mystery novels, the first one being “Murder at the Penniman Deli,” set around Plymouth in an era when the Penn Deli was a fun little shop along Penniman Avenue, well before the plethora of restaurants began springing up. He’s now published five books plus a cookbook.

The most recent book is called “Murder under the Bus,” perhaps an allusion to his home on wheels.

“They’re a bit tongue-in-cheek and with political satire,” says the 74-year-old nomad who has visited 45 states and provinces over the past seven years. “The most recent one is about corporate intrigue at a Grateful Dead festival in Florida,

but I put Plymouth people in pretty much all of them.”

PREPOSITIONAL MYSTERIES?

“Each title uses a preposition, so it just fell into place to call them prepositional murder stories,” Wendover said from a location in Florida, where he often heads during the winter months. “I’ve got three or four more in the tube.”

bus, which also includes a full kitchen, bathroom and sleeping quarters, Wendover jokes that his wife called the bus a book mobile, but like many who live a wandering existence it is his home NOT away from home.

“You meet a lot of people on the road, that network is really strong,” he explains. “Some have $300,000 RVs and others are living out of their trunks.

As a former police beat reporter Wendover said it was natural for him to gravitate to writing about crime.

“Once a night cop reporter it’s sort of in your blood, and there’s plenty of real stories that you just can’t make up,” he says. “It’s great material to build from.”

Writing from a desk on the

The cool thing is that my two granddaughters think living on a bus is the coolest thing in the world.”

In October he attended the first bookfest held in Plymouth’s PARC, visiting with new and old friends. He also attended a fundraiser at the Plymouth Historical Museum. Wendover does a few book shows and some signings and works closely with

Plymouth-based printer Greko, who print his books and manages his web page.

“They are good people and I have a good arrangement,” he says.

Where Wendover parks his

he took the bus to the 50th anniversary of Woodstock in 2019. With police everywhere and vehicles and people needing special passes, his sharply painted bus was “waved through” by the police.

“Obviously looking at the bus and me, they knew I belonged there,” he says.

Another time while staying in a federal campground with some other nomads, the pandemic lockdown went into effect.

“First they turned off the water on us,” he shares. “Then they bolted the outhouses closed. That got everyone, especially the women, pretty upset, so we just took over a federal campground. When the authorities showed up, they looked around and tossed their hands in the air and left. They didn’t want to be in the New York Times I guess.”

home on wheels during visits to Plymouth or most anywhere else is also a mystery, though he often stays in the driveway of friends or state parks or area campgrounds. Sometimes he disappears deep into the wilderness, like his recent twoweek stay in the Everglades.

There’s also plenty of stories from his travels, like the time

Besides life on the road, and seeing amazing sights, Wendover says that like so many things it’s really about the network of people around him.

“We hang together,” he says. “We help each other, we fish and cook together and deal with life together.”

Mystery solved.

Editor’s Note: Ken Voyles worked at the Community Crier for eight years. His first novel is not a murder mystery.

BRINGING OUT THE BRILLIANCE

in every single kid since 1968.

The world needs one-of-a-kind thinkers, doers, and dreamers. That’s where Greenhills School comes in — a school wholeheartedly dedicarted to teaching students the art of thinking imaginatively, ingeniously, and inventively. Classes are playgrounds for the curious, and teachers are given time to focus on their students. To get to know them. And to draw out the genius within.

I Light This Candle

Holiday vigil comforts parents who’ve lost a child too soon

Story by Brad Kadrich | Photos by Bill Bresler

When her son, Brendan passed away in 2011, Anne Ahola discovered an inspirational speaker and musician named Alan Pedersen, and his music comforted her.

When Pedersen’s song, “I Light This Candle,” was played at the candlelight vigil hosted by the Livonia chapter of the Compassionate Friends, Ahola sang every word.

And it again brought her comfort.

“His music was a big part of my grief journey,” said Ahola, who lives in Royal Oak and makes the trek to Plymouth on the second Sunday of every December to attend the annual vigil. “To be here, and to hear that song, and to have that kind of support… people don’t understand unless they’ve been through it.”

It’s a common refrain from those attending the vigil sponsored by the Compassionate Friends, a self-help organization offering friendship, understanding and hope to bereaved families that have experienced the death of a child.

It’s part of a worldwide candle lighting

designed to light candles in every time zone, creating a circle of light surrounding the globe. It’s a ceremony the Livonia chapter has conducted every year – except the pandemic year of 2020 – in Kellogg Park.

Membership in the group and attendance at the vigil has been a major comfort to Cindy Stevens of Westland, one of three co-leaders of the chapter – Mary Hartnett and Joyce Gradinscak are the others – whose son, Justin Bolin, died in January 2002.

Stevens remembers attending her first Compassionate Friends meeting shortly after Justin died and vowing never to return.

“I always said I wouldn’t come back, because all I did was cry all the way home,” Stevens said.

Gradinscak’s son, Adam, died in 2005. Being part of Compassionate Friends – and now one of its leaders – has been a great support to her.

“It has helped me immensely to know other parents” who’ve been through it, she said. “People don’t know what we go through. The grief is horrendous.”

Marcia Rodeheffer of Commerce lost

her son, Grant, in 1999, and she’s been to every vigil since then, except one she missed because of a massive snowstorm.

And it hurt her terribly to miss that one.

“I sat at the kitchen table and cried,” she recalled. “It’s just a very special event. Your loved ones never really leave you…(the vigil) is one event we do not miss.”

Joyce Gradinscak, who lost her son Adam in 2005

People don’t know what we go through. The grief is horrendous.”

A Long Time Coming

Federal grants will help restore Wilcox and Phoenix lakes

By Tim Smith

After getting ignored for decades, it finally is “go time” to restore two historic manmade lakes originally created in the early 1900s to help power adjacent Ford Motor Company manufacturing facilities.

And no more will birds literally walk on top of Wilcox Lake near Old Village in Plymouth or Phoenix Lake in Northville, which are both choked with years of sediment build up.

Excessive brush and invasive plants and trees also will be removed to open sightlines and give residents and visitors alike more reason to treat the lakes with more respect.

“We have a legacy of industry, we are in the arsenal of democracy, we sit in the rust

belt,” said Old Village resident Marie McCormick, chair of the Rouge River Advisory Council and executive director of Friends of the Rouge. “So pre-1972 Clean Water Act, you just had no point-source regulation whatsoever. It was a free-forall dump fest, you just dumped things as a way to get rid of them.

“So now we are taking action. It’s like turning a freighter. It’s a long, slow process but we are very lucky to have, now, really a lot more focus on the Rouge.”

An estimated $5.6 million in federal EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants have been approved to bring back to health and relevance both Wilcox and Phoenix lakes, which are both impoundments of the Middle Rouge River.

The GLRI funds have been received by the Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC), which in turn will field bids from companies by the end of 2022 with hopes of work starting in the spring or summer of 2023.

“The big news was the EPA funded the implementation phase, which is allowing us to go out to bid and hire the contractors this winter,” said John O’Meara, project coordinator for ARC. “The way EPA works, they have provided money for a design grant that included Phoenix and Wilcox.”

O’Meara noted that the project team submitted permits to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and permit approval enables bids to go out and construction to begin.

FINALLY SOME ACTION

According to local environmentalist Bill Craig, the GLRI “put money on the table and we got some of it. That helps us work on our habitat projects. It’s been a long time coming.”

Like with Nankin Lake along Edward Hines Drive in Westland, near the Livonia border – where motorists and pedestrians alike can’t help but notice unsightly, bulging bags that resemble gigantic, overstuffed Hefty bags – there will be considerable dredging of Wilcox Lake in order to deepen it and provide fish and other habitat a chance to survive.

“Wilcox will have dredging,” O’Meara explained. “And right now if they choose to do the bags, which we think 90 percent of anybody who bids on it will, you will see a similar setup at

Wilcox as you did at Nankin.”

Those porous bags are filled with lake water and mud, and over time, the water slowly seeps back out.

“You can see those big bags, that’s what they dug out of there,” Craig said of the Nankin Lake project. “Before they even did that work, basically the birds were walking on water. The water was two inches deep. And there was no fish there. So they did some dredging and now they have a deep hole there.”

Craig said Phoenix Lake, which is smaller and not as accessible to the public, will not have any dredging done as part of the endeavor.

“They’ll do some invasive species management (along Northville Road near Five Mile Road), they’ll put some sand here and put some rocks over here and secure some trees over here. Get (remove) some incidental trash, tires, whatever they can,” he said.

“This project will create pockets of really deep water, as well as fish structure and habitat so (fish) have places to hide, then survive over the winter and grow

up nice and big and fat so we can fish them,” McCormick said.

“They also will address some of the invasive terrestrial species like buckthorn, honeysuckle, Russian olive, black locust, Norway maple.”

And the best indicator that the projects are on point will be whether fish and other creatures are healthy or not.

“They (fish) need the clean water, and obviously, we need clean water, too,” Craig stressed. “If you have fish and the fish are doing good, that means your water is doing good.” Applauding the okay of GLRI money and what these environmental projects will soon mean for the region was Nancy Darga, chair of the Northville River Restoration Task Force.

Darga said the Rouge River has had “great need to remove sediments and restore degraded shorelines,” which resulted from the growth of manufacturing.

“Seeing action (taking) place to clean up Wilcox Lake and improve riparian edges of Phoenix Lake -- former mill ponds -- is an example of pooling resources to revitalize the Rouge watershed in a noticeable way,” Darga noted.

Darga, former chief of design for Wayne County Parks (upon which Wilcox and Phoenix lake properties are located), added that a lot of incremental work already has taken place along the Rouge “that is transforming it from a river that caught fire 50 years ago to one that supports aquatic life and recreational opportunities.”

REVERSING COURSE

Environmentalists and dedicated civic groups have toiled for decades in hopes of getting funding needed to reverse habitat degradation of the Rouge River Watershed.

In 1987, the Rouge River was designated as an Area of Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. There were 14 Beneficial Use Impairments connected to the Rouge,

from

including Wilcox and Phoenix.

But it took decades for Ford Motor Company’s industrial activity during much of the 20th century to ultimately turn those impoundments into pollution pits.

“The impoundments that are the result of damming the Rouge River served as an important energy source to power each of these satellite manufacturing facilities that Henry Ford used to manufacture specific parts for automobiles and the arsenal of democracy,” McCormick explained. “You know, parts for airplanes and ships.”

Craig said the planned cleanup work can finally lift what has been a dark cloud over the entire Rouge watershed.

“It’s an Area of Concern. Under that designation the entire watershed gets a bad name,” Craig stressed. “Of course, the whole thing isn’t totally polluted. But you have to take in all that territory in order to come to the satisfactory results at the end, where the Rouge River pours into the Detroit River.”

There could potentially be recreational upgrades made by Wayne County Parks, partnering with communities in the Alliance of Rouge Communities (including member municipalities such as Plymouth and Northville).

“It’s not only these projects that make the improvement,” Craig said. “It’s the work that’s actually done by ARC, in those communities. It’s the work that cities (and townships) do to meet

their permits, to help improve water quality going to that river in the first place.

“What we do on the land ends up in the water, so it doesn’t make any sense just to fix a part of the lake, a part of the river,

and keep throwing the same junk back in.”

ARC’s O’Meara, meanwhile, described the projects as a “win-win” for the environment and public.

“You get the habitat returned but at the same time you’re able to potentially add some upgrades to the amenities that the public use in the area,” O’Meara said. “And increased habitat of the lakes will hopefully increase the fisheries’ habitat and such, which allows for sport fishing.”

Although the millions of dollars finally being directed toward Rouge rehabilitation and revitalization is a major get for the region, also crucial to the lakes’ longtime health are continuing efforts made by community groups.

“We have gone out in partnership with the city of Plymouth and Wayne County Parks and have done two huge invasive species removal days with local volunteers from Old Village and Plymouth Pollinators,” said McCormick a board member on the latter group. “The clean-up is not trash, really, it’s invasive species removal. Before, it was so dense and so thick, the understory, you could not see the water.

About 20 individuals went

out in June 2022 to remove a ton of physical biomass. More treatment and trimming took place in October and McCormick promises the work will continue in 2023.

“Having an opportunity in your community to connect to a place like that is so unique, and such a powerful way of developing future water stewards – people who care about the river and the lake,” McCormick emphasized. “Because they can feel like they’re making a difference and this is such a tangible way of doing it.”

INFORMATIONAL MEETING

At 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, representatives from Wayne County and the Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC) will attend the Old Village Association meeting on the second floor of the Bearded Lamb Brewing Company in Plymouth’s Old Village (149 W Liberty Street), where they will discuss restoration plans for Wilcox and Phoenix lakes. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

INVASIVE SPECIES TREATMENT

SPAWNING & NEAR SHORE HABITAT

SPAWNING & NEAR SHORE HABITAT

EMERGENT PLANTINGS

SPAWNING & NEAR SHORE HABITAT

Edward Jones is celebrating 100 years of impact

John

Next time you listen to WSDP, the high school radio station better known around Plymouth as 88.1 The Park, that voice you hear might someday become a mover and shaker in local political or business circles.

Well, yes, that might be pouring it on a bit thick. But consider that Plymouth Downtown Development Authority director Sam Plymale is a late 1990s product of 88.1 The Park. And that Plymale’s new administrative assistant is a more-recent alum of the station – namely, Max Jenkins, who graduated in 2018 from Plymouth-Canton Educational Park.

“There’s a lot more to Max than just his experience at 88.1 The Park,” said Plymale, with a knowing nod. “During the interview process, Max really showed his knowledge of the community, his capability from a communication standpoint and he kind of hit the ground running. He’s been doing a great job for us over the past few months.”

Don’t forget that Plymouth

City Manager Paul Sincock (the veteran P-CEP press box announcer) also worked on the award-winning station during his own high school years.

“It’s quite a gang we have here,” joked Jenkins, a Michigan State University graduate brought on board at the DDA just a couple months ago.

MOVING THE NEEDLE

But according to 88.1 The Park station manager Bill Keith, it is no surprise that former members in the world of broadcasting are crushing it in the world of community service.

“The majority of our students pursue careers outside of broadcasting but the skills they develop at 88.1 translate so well to any career path,” Keith explained. “They get hands-on experience as communicators and leaders through their work.

“It’s exciting to see the students learn the importance of teamwork and responsibility through their successes and setbacks.”

There are roughly 3.1 miles separating the cozy DDA offices on Penniman in downtown

Plymouth (where Plymale and Jenkins are the lone full-timers) to the Salem High School location where Keith and assistant station manager John Kreger coach up the student broadcasters, reporters and sales representatives on what it takes to fill the airwaves with news, views and music.

But they are much, much closer in spirit around the closeknit communities of Plymouth and Plymouth Township.

“The experiences with 88.1 The Park, it really got me out in the community,” recalled Plymale. “I tell this story a lot of times when I go back to talk with students at 88.1. As a 14- or 15-year-old I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Joining the radio station really set me on my path.

“I finally figured out something I wanted to do, it helped me build confidence with public speaking and with talking to community leaders,” he added.

Over the course of his high school career, when the station was called “The Escape,” Plymale did it all and discovered

radio was his “first love.” He covered local news and sports (even announcing the Salem boys soccer team’s title run in 1997) while finding enough time to be production director and public service director.

“I also got to work with Nick Gismondi on a lot of Detroit Ambassador hockey games we were broadcasting at the time,” Plymale said. “The Ambassadors were essentially like the farm team for the (Plymouth) Whalers, they played out of the old Compuware, which is now USA Hockey Arena.”

Telling a similar tale is Jenkins, a social media whiz who can easily shoot the breeze while at the same time getting right down to the core of myriad issues at hand.

For example, when he wasn’t working local news beats, helming a classic rock program or handling on-air duties, he was fundraising director his senior year of high school, catapulting 88.1 The Park to raise more than $50,000 in ad revenue, the highest total to that point.

“It was great experience,

in my opinion something you couldn’t get anywhere else as a 14-to-18-year-old,” Jenkins said. He carried his burgeoning media and communications talents to Michigan State University, where he worked for the NPR affiliate in East Lansing while earning a dual major bachelor’s degree (in international relations and journalism).

FAMILIAR FACES AND PLACES

His hiring at the DDA came just months after graduating from MSU. Now he gets to return to the place he’s called home virtually his entire life, impacting the lives of friends, neighbors and everybody else in Plymouth.

“I grew up going to the events downtown,” Jenkins noted. “It was a real formative part of a lot of my friendships in my childhood. To have the opportunity to work for the city, to see how the sausage gets made in some of those regards, is both really interesting and very fulfilling.”

a Wonderful Life” at the Penn Theatre, parking availability proved elusive for many patrons.

Public parking concerns have long been an issue in downtown Plymouth, and both Plymale and Jenkins are keeping that conversation going with residents and city officials on possible improvements.

“Kind of the hot issue currently in Plymouth revolves around parking,” Plymale emphasized. “That’s always being discussed, parking inventory, whether we should do paid parking. It’s not just with community leaders either. You have to talk to people in the community, people that live here, business leaders, and take the pulse to help guide your decision making.”

Talking directly to people (or communicating via social media platforms) and taking action are tasks both already are wellversed in – components essential to success in radio or working for a city.

from the mid-to-late 1990s, up through a two-year stint (200608) at CBS Radio and Metro Networks, Plymale performed news, traffic and sports-coverage duties.

Then, starting in 2012, Plymale transferred his background to the DDA – where he began as an intern for longtime director Tony Bruscato (who died on May 6).

Moving from intern to parttimer to full-timer, he learned all he could from his mentor about all things DDA. When Bruscato’s health started to waver in recent years, Plymale prepared himself for the top job and was more than ready to take it on last spring.

THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK

continues to be an essential through-line.

And over the next several months, well into 2023, Plymale and Jenkins are teaming up on what could be an exciting, transformative project – the potential makeover of the Downtown Development Authority website, www. downtownplymouth.org.

He’s getting a front-row view. On Dec. 1, for example, when the Christmas in Plymouth event collided with the muchanticipated screening of “It’s

For Plymale, mastering various radio duties proved to be a personal smash hit from the get-go.

From his tenure at 88.1

“I kind of worked my way up,” said Plymale, who also worked with Bruscato during their time together at CBS Radio and Metro Networks. “I learned a lot from my time at the radio station as a high school student back in the late 1990s, but I also learned a lot from Tony about how to handle yourself in the Plymouth community. It was invaluable experience working with Tony.”

From high school to now, collaborating with colleagues

“What we’ve been talking about for this project is more of a facelift, really,” Jenkins said. “We want to give it a more modern and current look. We’ve looked at a lot of municipal websites both around the country and around the world and we’ve noticed a lot of great design choices that…we’d like to implement.

“Both to make it easier to navigate and to make it a little more interesting for residents and visitors when they come to the website.”

Whenever that project is realized, expect Plymale and Jenkins to return to their 88.1 roots to talk all about it. They (and Bill Keith, of course) wouldn’t have it any other way.

A

SANTA BRINGS THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO PLYMOUTH DURING ANNUAL PARADE

fantastic visit

By Brad Kadrich | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

Magician Joel Tacey wowed a large and enthusiastic crowd in downtown Plymouth’s Kellogg Park for about an hour on the night after Thanksgiving, as he has the last several years.

Eventually, the kids in the throng started to get restless, because the star of the show was about to come on.

As it happens Tacey, who bills himself as Michigan’s Family Funny Man, was just the opening act, warming up hundreds of kids and their parents for the real star, Santa Claus, chauffeured in, as always, by the PlymouthNorthville Fire Department.

Tacey didn’t mind being the sidekick. There’s a reason he’s done it the last 12 years.

“Plymouth is a classic hometown of America,” he said. “This event is fun because it’s the kickoff of the holiday season. I love the Christmas spirit.”

Plymouth resident Ian Fazica said the arrival of Santa in Plymouth is one of many family friendly events the city hosts. It’s one of the reasons he and his wife, Megan, like the city.

“They do a lot of things like this,” Ian said. “It’s a family town. It’s something the kids look forward to.”

As they have since the pandemic hit, city officials took Santa’s arrival parade through the

city’s many neighborhood parks. There was some discussion in 2020 of not having Santa come to town, but that notion was quickly dispensed with, Plymouth City Manager Paul Sincock said.

Instead, it was rerouted from happening solely in Kellogg Park to a series of visits to the city’s neighborhood parks, and residents responded.

Plymouth Mayor Nick Moroz said the learning experience was a valuable one.

“We learned a lot during the pandemic,” Moroz said. “What we learned is to bring visits like this to the people. And everyone loved it.

“This is fantastic!” he added.

In addition to the performance by Tacey in Kellogg Park, a number of children helped city officials flip the switch to light up the large Christmas tree in the center of the park. There were plenty of “oohs” and “ahs” when the tree came to life.

The highlight of the night, however, was Santa, who ditched his sleigh for a ride on a city fire truck. He received the key to the city from Mayor Moroz, and made sure to visit with many of the families who attended the popular event. Megan Fazica was in the crowd and raved about the event.

“I love that our daughter gets to come up here and see Santa,” Fazica said.

Growth Works was established in 1971 and since its inception has continued to provide clients with extraordinary support as they navigate the challenges of substance abuse and juvenile delinquency.

The average human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times in its lifespan. Not to mention, the blood your heart pumps throughout your body will travel 12,000 miles in one day.

“While your heart has remarkable capabilities, it also has limitations, especially as it ages,” says Benjamin Swanson, M.D., a cardiologist at the new Henry Ford Medical Center –Plymouth.

environmental factors such as smoking, injuries, genetics and more, your “heart age” may be older than the age on your driver’s license.

The difference between male and female hearts

Heart disease (also known as coronary artery disease) is the leading cause of death for both men and women. However, it can affect women differently due to several factors:

Steps to minimize your risk of heart conditions

The good news is there are ways to slow down and potentially even reverse the effects on your aging heart. These include:

1. Nutrition: Eat heart-healthy foods and consider a plantbased diet, which is especially good for your heart. Limit your salt intake and sugarsweetened beverages as well as other foods with added sugar.

2. Exercise: Aim for a target of 150 minutes per week. This exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous or even require a costly gym membership. The key is doing something that you love. For example, walking, yoga and gardening are excellent, lowimpact ways to move your body.

3. Weight management: Maintaining a healthy weight can lower your risk of developing heart conditions and other diseases. If you’re overweight or obese, even a moderate amount of weight loss can help.

activities to your routine, including ones that make you laugh.

6. Alcohol: Minimize your consumption. Long-term drinking above the guidelines can cause issues with blood pressure, your heartbeat and even your heart’s structure. In addition, for people age 65 and older, alcohol has a stronger effect and stays in your system longer.

7. Tobacco: If you smoke or use tobacco products, work on quitting.

By the time you reach age 65, you’re at greater risk for heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, atrial fibrillation (which can feel like an irregular or racing heartbeat) and other related conditions.

So, if you’re looking to live far into your golden years, here are facts to know about your aging heart and some tips to keep it going strong.

Your “heart age” versus your biological age

If you’re 62 years old, that means your heart is also 62, right? Not necessarily. Due to stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise,

• Physical differences: Women’s hearts are smaller, beat faster and tend to have narrower blood vessels.

• Endometriosis: Women who have had endometriosis may be at a higher risk for blocked coronary arteries.

• Pregnancy: Conditions that can develop during pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, can put added stress on your heart.

• Menopause: Changes in blood pressure can occur around the time of menopause which can put you at a greater risk for developing heart disease.

4. Blood pressure: Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with hypertension, a daily blood pressure reading with a home monitor is a great way to know if you’re at increased risk for developing it or related heart conditions.

5. Stress: It’s no coincidence that more heart attacks happen on Mondays and during the holidays, which are some of the most stressful times we face. Stress can impact your aging heart, so add fun and calming

“Although an aging heart is a normal part of life, you have far greater control over your heart health than you might realize,” Dr. Swanson says.

A healthier lifestyle, understanding your individual risk and a yearly heart check are important prescriptions for every age.

The new 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.

FALL SPORTS ROUND-UP

Salem soccer, Canton swim teams lead the way for P-CEP

By Brad Emons

in the 200 IM (2:09.95).

The foursome of Newman, Gurgel, sophomore Tayla Smith and Tabar placed sixth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:33.27). Smith also added a tie for 12th to score points in the 50 freestyle (24.27) and took 22nd in the 100 freestyle (54.65).

Meanwhile, Salem took 20th in the team standings with 22 points led individually by junior Claire Hammill, who was ninth in the 50 freestyle (24.10) and 11th in the 100 backstroke (58.47). Senior Mackenzie Erickson contributed a 12th in the 1-meter diving event (326.25 points).

Salem’s 200 medley relay team of junior Amelia Pan, sophomore Raegan Kleinglass, junior Camila Soto and senior Olivia Niemenski took 16th (1:57.26 after going 1:52.91 in the prelims).

With another fall athletic season in the books for the three high schools from the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park – Salem, Canton and Plymouth – attention now turns to the winter sports cart.

But it’s time to reflect and take one more look back in the rearview mirror for the fall of 2022, which was highlighted by several noteworthy performances, both individually and team.

Here’s a capsule look at what transpired during the 2022 fall sports campaign.

SOCCER

On the heels of its run to the MHSAA Division 1 semifinals (see our November issue), Salem continued to earn postseason accolades after finishing 19-5-2 overall under coach Kyle Karns.

The Rocks captured the West Division (11-1-2) of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association and defeated East champion Dearborn Fordson in the first-place crossover

for the conference title, 4-1, before earning district and regional crowns.

Salem senior forward Foster Garrett was named first-team All-State, while senior midfielder Griffin Ellis was voted secondteam. Salem junior goalkeeper Tommy Verash also earned honorable mention honors by Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Senior midfielder Alex Greene was third-team All-State for Plymouth (5-11-4), while Canton (9-6-7) was represented by senior defender Christian Presley, who made honorable mention.

Earning All-KLAA honors for Salem included senior defenders Dylan Clayton, Bill Brouchek and Logan Harkins, along with senior midfielder Jack Kroll, senior forwards Mark Masai and Atanas Popov, Ellis and Garrett.

Canton senior defenders Reese Austin, Elliot Cialone and Presley also made All-KLAA along with senior midfielder Wesley Hart and junior forward Donovan Thomas,

while Plymouth was represented by senior defender Rohan Parikh and Greene.

SWIMMING

Despite a disqualification for a false start in the 200-yard medley relay finals, Canton earned a top 10 finish in the Division 1 finals held Nov. 18-19 at Oakland University.

Ann Arbor Pioneer (322) and Northville (218) finished one-two in the final team standings, while the Chiefs took eighth overall with 112.5 points highlighted by one relay All-State (top eight) and six individual All-State (top eight) performances.

Canton freshman Hannah Gurgel was outstanding posting thirds in the 200-yard individual medley (2:06.18) and 100 backstroke (56.05). Teammate Natalie Tabar, a senior, added a sixth in the 500 freestyle (5:04.43) and seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:52.62), while junior Elizabeth Newman placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.11) and seventh

Salem’s 400 freestyle relay tam of Pan, Soto, junior Jil Mueller and Hammill added a 17th in the 400 freestyle relay (3:42.18) while junior Katie Stewart also was a state qualifier with a 20th in diving (209.70).

Plymouth was led by state qualifer Ella Hornbacher, a senior took took 17th in the 500 freestyle (5:22.37) and 25th in the 200 freestyle (2:00.51). Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ 200 medley relay team of senior Lainey Weissman, freshman Victoria Setyabudny, junior Kendal Swatosh and senior Jackie Stoddard placed 20th (1:55.37).

At the KLAA meet Nov. 3-5 at Novi, Northville ran away with the team title with 1.047 points followed by Brighton (670), Canton (540) and Salem (527).

Plymouth was seventh with 105.06.

Canton senior diver Maddie Wingle, who was 24th at the D1 finals, was the KLAA champion with 405.30 points, while Gurgel captured the 100 backstroke crown in 56.50.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

At the regional 6 meet, Canton

scored 97 points for a runnerup finish behind champion Northville (46) to earn a trip to the Division 1 finals at MIS where the Chiefs placed 27th overall with 587 points.

Salem and Plymouth finished sixth and eighth with 112 and 213, respectively, at the Willow Metropark regional.

Canton senior Cara Newman, who placed third at the regional (18:55.1), just missed All-State honors (top 30) by one place in 31st with a time of 19:00.77.

Newman was followed by junior Alexis Pickerel, 167th (20:26.1); junior Nora Schley, 209th (20:54.04); sophomore Yana Chamiso, 228th (21:13.36); sophomore Rosa Brody, 233rd (21:18.77); senior Sanya Ahmed, 235th (21:25.33); and freshman Mya Pickerel, 242nd (21:38.43).

Meahwile, Salem junior Lily Hetzel earned an individual state meet qualifying spot with an 83rd (19:45.35) after taking 12th at the regional (19:22.8).

At the KLAA meet, Brighton (51) came away with the crown with Northville (91) and Hartland (100) finishing second and third, respectively. Canton (140) took fifth, while Salem (230) and Plymouth (335) placed ninth and 12th, respectively.

Newman was third individually in the KLAA in 19:27.3, while Hetzel added a 12th (20:01.2).

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Plymouth scored 270 points to bring home a sixth-place team finish in the Division 1 state finals held Nov. 5 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

The Wildcats were led by All-State (top 30) performers Sean Byrnes, a senior who ran 15:48.46 for 5,000 meters, along with senior Alex Bobak, who placed 18th in 15:58.16.

Plymouth’s other three scorers included senior Tyler Gaylord, 105th (16:54.53); sophomore Mussen, 144th (17:11.94); and sophomore Jeff Chadwick, 145th (17:12.88). The Wildcats two other state meet performers included junior Anirudh Krishnan, 169th (17:23.75) and senior Jackson Trombley, 251st (19:35.99).

Two other P-CEP state meet performers included Salem senior Elliot Carey, who placed 80th (16:41.73) and Canton sophomore

Mark Dicken, who finished 213th (17:51.02).

Plymouth qualified for the state finals by finishing runner-up in the Regional 6 meet on Oct. 29 at Willow Metropark in New Boston.

Northville won the team title with 35 points followed by Plymouth (51) and Livonia Churchill (102). Canton was fourth (120) and Salem was seventh (175).

Brynes was runner-up individually in 15:35.3 in the regional, while Bobak was third in 15:42.1. Carey qualified with an eighth (16:01.1) and Dicken was 14th (16:20.2) to also earn a trip to MIS.

At the KLAA meet Oct. 22 at Huron Meadows Metropark in Pinckney, Northville (43) took the team title followed by Brighton (62) and Plymouth (67) to round out the top three.

Byrnes was runner-up to Northville’s Brendan Herger in 15:40.4, while Bobak was eight in 16:14.2.

GIRLS GOLF

After taking third in the Regional 2 tourney, Plymouth earned yet another trip to the MHSAA Division 1 finals placing 10th overall with a twoday total of 353-360-713 on Oct. 14-15 at Battle Creek’s Bedford Valley Golf Course.

Rochester Adams earned the team title with 629 strokes followed by Brighton (676), Rochester (681) and four-time defending champion Northville (683).

Junior Brooke Morris placed 10th individually for the Wildcats with an 80-80-160 total en route to first-team All-State honors by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association.

Other state finals finishers for Plymouth included junior Sydney Mazur, 39th (90-88178); freshman Annie Flavin, 43rd (86-93-179); senior Natalie Cusmano, 78th (103-99-202); and sophomore Reagan Brydges, 85th (97-111-208).

Northville captured the Regional 2 tourney Oct. 6 at Washtenaw Golf Club with 324 followed by Ann Arbor Skyline (358) and Plymouth (360). Canton added a seventh (411) and Salem did not figure in the team scoring.

Morris was third (80); Flavin, sixth (83); Mazur, 17th (93); and Brydges, 29th (104) to lead Plymouth at the regional, while Canton junior Alyssa Calabrese was 19th (94) and Salem senior Maya Laesch 20th (95).

In the KLAA postseason tourney Sept. 30 at Kensington

Metropark G.C., Northville won the team title with 318 followed by Brighton (320) and Plymouth (344), while Canton (401) placed ninth and Salem did not figure in the team standings.

Top performers included Morris, seventh (81), Flavin, tied for 10th (83); Mazur, 14th (85), and Laesch, tied for 19th (91).

To start the season on Aug. 23, Northville won the KLAA preseason tourney at Kensington with 309 followed by Brighton and Plymouth with 313 and 348, respectively. Canton was fifth with 373 and Salem did not score.

The P-CEP top four individually included Morris, fourth (77); Flavin, tied for 10th (83); Calabrese, 14th (85); and Canton’s Kaitlyn Olenjnik, 17th (90).

BOYS TENNIS

In the Regional 3 tourney hosted by the P-CEP schools, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice swept all four singles flights and all four doubles to win the title with 24 points, while Plymouth was runner-up with 12 as the Wildcats booked a trip to the state finals Oct. 14-15 in Holland.

Salem finished third with 10 points, while Canton was fourth with four at the regional.

Among Plymouth’s regional singles runners-up included

sophomore Ben Fernandez (No. 1), senior David Wu (No. 2), sophomore Harish Narayan (No. 3) and senior Krish Patel (No. 4).

Salem juniors Nikunj Dixit and Bharadwaj Gade finished runner-up at No. 3 doubles, while Plymouth sophomores Pawan Ramayhanam and Sanath Reddy were second at No. 4.

At the state finals, Wu reached the semifinals at No. 2 singles before losing to Rice’s Patrick Cretu, 6-1, 6-1. Wu defeated Patrick Barna of Rochester

Plymouth (2-7, 2-5) had four players earn All-KLAA honors include junior running backlinebacker Jaxon McCaig, junior wide receiver-DB-specialist Luc Damiani, senior tight enddefensive end Orlando Daniels and senior running backlinebacker Evan Cosgrove.

The Wildcats’ junior offensive lineman Idrys Cotton also made All-Region 4.

Senior running back Robert Jones earned All-KLAA honors for Salem (1-8, 0-7).

Following the fall season, Canton coach Andrew LaFata announced he was stepping down. LaFata posted a 29-20 overall record in five seasons with four Division 1 playoff appearances. His best season came during the COVID-19 truncated 2020 season when the Chiefs finished 8-1.

VOLLEYBALL

During the KLAA and West Division season, Canton (4-5, 2-5), Salem (4-5, 2-5) and Plymouth (2-7, 1-6) produced a total of five all-conference players.

Earning first-team honors for Canton included senior middle blocker Sydney Low and senior libero Angelina Konini. Salem was represented by senior outside hitter Kirei Quinn and junior middle hitter Elise Hudak, while Plymouth sophomore outside hitter Tara Creekmore also made All-KLAA.

Adams, 6-1, 6-2, in the opening round and Novi’s Cole Anderson in the quarterfinals, 7-6, 4-7, 7-5.

Bloomfield Hills scored 35 points to win the state championship, while Northville and Troy finished second and third with 25 and 24, respectively.

During the KLAA West season, Plymouth finished 5-2, while Canton and Salem went 3-4 each.

FOOTBALL

Canton (3-6, 2-5 KLAA West) had four players represented on the all-conference team including senior linebackers Andon Locke and Antonio Correa, along with junior defensive back Caleb Williams and junior running back Devon Pettus.

Both Williams and Pettus also earned All-Region 4 honors by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

Canton honorable mention selections include senior outside hitter Kennedy Parks and senior setter Ella Binder, while Salem was represented by senior outside hitter Lexie Wisniewski and junior libero Sarah Nelson. Plymouth sophomore DS Hannah Simko and libero Kendall Elmy were also honorable mention.

In Division 1-District 17t action, Livonia Churchill eliminated Canton, 3-1, while eventual state runner-up Northville ousted Salem, 3-0. District host Northville beat Plymouth in the second round, 3-0.

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Ingrid Runnion

Darren R. LaLonde

Anyone who’s been observing the City of Plymouth over the last several decades could certainly be excused for feeling a sense of “déjà vu all over again.”

In the latest of a series of meetings, the Plymouth City Commission voted to direct the city administration to come up with a plan to increase revenue through – wait for it – paid parking.

Commissioners voted at a Nov. 21 meeting to develop a plan to implement paid parking in an attempt to generate a revenue stream that could help pay for maintenance of the current parking system, including the aging parking deck in the downtown area.

The administration will also consider other ways to increase revenue, but paid parking seems to be the most likely to produce enough revenue to maintain and improve downtown parking.

Plymouth Mayor Nick Moroz pointed out the estimated cost of maintaining the parking system over five years is some $3 million to $5 million.

“We have funds coming from businesses…and paying property taxes,” Moroz said. “We do not have funds coming from people who are using parking, so I think paid parking makes sense. We don’t have the funding for maintaining (parking areas) we currently have,” he added. “And we’ve all set this vision for growing our downtown. I think it is very reasonable to have paid parking pay for maintaining the parking system.”

The Nov. 21 meeting of the committee of the whole, a joint meeting with Downtown Development Authority board members present, was the latest in the series of meetings on the issue.

• The city conducted a Strategic Planning meeting in November 2021 to discuss the city’s five-year plan.

• Jan. 18 – The commission adopted the new plan, adding a one-year task to decide on a direction for paid public parking.

• In September, the city commission and the DDA board reviewed studies that laid the foundation for the latest discussions.

It’s hardly the first time city officials have taken up the issue. As City Manager Paul Sincock pointed out at the Nov. 21 meeting, since the 1970s, the city has had:

• 11 different parking committees

• 12 different parking surveys

• 10 parking policy updates

• 19 parking changes, including the installation, and subsequent removal, of parking meters on downtown streets.

There are other options:

• Raising the city millage rate.

• A special assessment district, which would have to be approved by a majority of the businesses in the district. It was pointed out at the Nov. 21 meeting that a 2019 study showed a SAD would not generate enough revenue.

• A bond issue, which would require passage by voters.

One way or the other, most commissioners agreed, funding to maintain the current system, including the parking structure, needs to be found.

“I’m in favor of paid parking,” Mayor Pro Tem Suzi Deal said. “The reality is…we still have to maintain the system that we have…we are struggling (to do that) now. We have to find a way to service this. Is it a millage? Is it a bond? Is it paid parking?

“I don’t want to lose (the goal) of us growing,” she added. “I don’t want to look up four years from now and ask, ‘Why didn’t we do this then?’ It’s going to be an ‘ouch’ for six months or a year, (but) we have to address the problem that’s at hand.”

Michigan Philharmonic’s 77-year community legacy continues

By Ken Voyles

As one of Plymouth’s oldest and most important cultural jewels, the Michigan Philharmonic continues to give back to the community, often in ways we don’t think of about during the hectic holiday season.

Besides performing its popular “Holiday Pops” concert at First United Methodist Church, throughout December the Philharmonic created a special fundraising appeal called the “12 Days of Giving” seeking financial support as it prepared for the second half of its 77th season.

“Like so many cultural organizations we depend on people to not only survive but to thrive,” said Chris Belcher, longtime president of the Philharmonic’s board of directors. “Everyone is asking for help this time of year. We’re

no different, and yet I personally believe we are because we try to focus on what we do for the community, more than just asking for donations.”

Philharmonic works to give back to the community.

So what does the Philharmonic do for Plymouth and the music lovers throughout metro Detroit? During its 12-day campaign the organization reminded supporters of the following key aspects to the Philharmonic’s ongoing legacy:

• Create “adventurous” concerts with many unknown women and minority composers.

• Help student musicians experience the joys of performance.

Each one of the Philharmonic’s “12 days” reminded residents that they have a vibrant and powerful voice for music in the community, but more important to organizers the 12 days spotlighted just how much the

• Summer travel programs that reflect regional focus.

• Bring classroom music instruction to several school districts.

• Develop unique new kids activities like this year’s “Tiny Tunes.”

• Host special guests and artists from across the country, often with world premieres.

• Reach a wider audience through video recordings, radio shows.

• Seek music rights from obscure composers not normally sought after.

• Share insights, information about the music it performs.

• Offer meaningful connections to a rich community history.

• Honor loved ones through legacy gifts.

• Remain a historic organization funded by local donors and arts grants.

For Beth Stewart, longtime executive director of the Phil, live performances throughout Plymouth are just one of its hallmarks, and that its real

historic legacy continues only thanks to volunteers, donors, board members like Belcher and the community that buys tickets for each concert.

“We’ve had a wonderful season so far and just love showcasing our community and what we can do for it,” Stewart said. “We hope our music excites everyone, leaves them feeling joyous and offers young and old a memorable experience. We don’t do this alone, so thank you to the entire community.”

MAHLER, BROADWAY AND EARTH DAY

The second half of the Philharmonic’s 77th season begins in January and features four diverse concerts. Led by longtime music director and conductor Nan Washburn, the Phil will offer

an ode to our planet on Earth Day in April at Salem High School’s renovated auditorium.

First up in 2023 is the Sunday, Jan. 22 concert, “Miniature Masterpieces: Magical Mahler,” to be performed at St. John’s Chapel in Plymouth beginning at 2 p.m. The performance showcases Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4” with soprano Audrey Kline, and a piece by Peruvian composer Jimmy Lopez Bellido called “Avec Swing for Chamber Ensemble.”

In February the Phil is Broadway bound for a oncein-a-lifetime journey into the music of noted Jerry Herman. A “Broadway Legacy Concert” is on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Garden City’s O’Leary Performing Arts Center. It features a cast of top Broadway performers, celebrating classics from shows like “Hello Dolly,” “Mame,” and “La Cage Aux Folles.”

TINY TUNES CONTINUES AT PARC

The Michigan Philharmonic’s unique “Tiny Tunes” series continues with two shows in 2023, taking children on a magical, musical journey where they will discover the beauty of music in its purest form – the sounds of the symphony.

The entire family can enjoy series with concerts specially designed for young children and performed in the Jack Wilcox Theater at PARC in downtown Plymouth. Performances are held on Saturday mornings and feature Philharmonic musicians and longtime conductor Nan Washburn.

The final two concerts are as follows:

Saturday, Feb. 25

Rhythm & Dance Showcases the interplay of dance and music on stage, also with student dancers.

Saturday, May 6 Live with the Michigan Phil Youth Orchestra

A perfect introduction to our popular youth ensembles.

The series is sponsored by: Michigan Arts & Culture Council, Michigan First Mortgage Company, DTE Foundation, Colonial Kiwanis Club of Plymouth and the Noetzel Family Foundation.

shows focused on Gustav Mahler, along with a Peruvian composer; a tribute evening that spotlights the music of Broadway composer Jerry Herman, with a cast of New York singers; a look at three different musical dimensions; and

Then in March the Phil focuses on three dimensions of sound and music during a “Music in 3D” concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 19 in the First United Methodist Church of Plymouth. Sounds include Dvorak, a European master of rhythm and folk music, then on to the modern, innovative music of a Chinese composer Dai Wei and a lovely concertino for harp by a legendary French woman composer that features the Phil’s own Maurice Draughn.

The season finale is a loving look to our planet during a Earth Day performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 at Salem High School. “Overture for our Earth” comes alive

with sounds and stylings that highlight the world around us. The performance includes pieces

about eagles, wasps, whales, pine forests and a world premiere by Erik Santos called “PAN for Oboe and Orchestra” with the Philharmonic’s own oboist Chris Wheeler.

The Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MYPO) also gets in the act this year performing with the Phil during the April concert and by hosting its own spring concert on Tuesday, May 2 in the Jack Wilcox Theater at PARC in Plymouth.

Tickets for all of these shows can be purchased through the Philharmonic website (michiganphil.org) or by calling (734) 451-2112.

Eknew it was a book he had to write, but his subject would never cooperate.

Despite that Mount Fuji-like hurdle, the academic, author, and musician completed “Turn the Page: The Bob Seger Story,” a biography on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Michigan favorite son.

Balian brainstormed the idea with Mike Novak, Detroit entertainment attorney and a mutual friend of the legendary rocker. Balian and Novak were returning from a book distributor relating to another project Balian was working on when the subject turned to the lack of published works on the rock star who has sold 75 million records.

“He turned to me in the car—I'll never forget it—and he said 'There is no biography on Bob Seger and you should write it,'” said Balian, whose band Andromeda opened for Seger’s and other Detroit musical acts in the late 1960s. “And so I did.”

Balian dedicated “Turn the Page” to Novak, who died in 2013.

As expected, the publicityreticent Seger didn’t participate in the 280-page project. Thus, the biography is unauthorized.

"That said, his wife (Juanita

to cover, and I am still alive," Balian said. "So, I guess that is a good thing."

While "unauthorized" bios carry a reputation of containing unsubstantiated gossip, Balian and his two research assistants set out to write fact-based account of Seger's six-decade, hit-laden career.

Balian interviewed Seger’s longtime guitarist Drew Abbott and Detroit music icon Mitch Ryder, who “offered some interesting input.”

Otherwise, he relied on past interviews the artist had done with Rolling Stone, Birmingham-based Cream magazine, The Detroit News, and Detroit Free Press.

“Turn the Page” contains 240 footnotes.

"If we couldn't document something from more than one source, then we did not put it in the book,” said Balian, who has a doctorate in education. “We were adamant about making this an accurate account of Bob Seger's personal life and career.”

SEGER’S ROCKY ROAD

Seger’s musical journey in the 1960s and early ‘70s resembled an arrhythmia patient’s echocardiogram reading.

After modest success with

TURN THE PAGE

By Larry O’Connor

Local author pens biography of Bob Seger’s ramblin’, gamblin’ journey

Bob Seger and The Last Heard, the Ann Arbor native landed his first major record deal with Capitol Records in 1968. The single “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” reached No. 17 on the national charts a year later but the newly named Bob Seger System hit a wall commercially.

Seger released a solo album, which didn’t sell and Capitol soon dropped him.

"It's interesting: Any other band with a Capitol contract would have been dancing out in the middle of Woodward Avenue, but Bob's first contract with Capitol ended in disaster,” Balian said. “Of course, everyone in the record industry knows each other.

“Other record labels wouldn’t touch Bob after Capitol had let him go, so it was a real downer for Bob and the band at that point.”

Seger's alliance with music producer and manager Edward "Punch" Andrews would see him through dark times, Balian said. Andrews started his label, Palladium, which enabled Seger to release songs while he continued to perform live with various ensembles as loyal Detroit fans supported him.

CKLW-AM program director Rosalie Trombley also did her part, giving the rocker’s heartfelt

music much-needed airplay.

Seger discovered the right chemistry with bassist Chris Campbell of Plymouth, drummer Charlie Allen Martin, saxophonist Alto Reed, and guitarist Abbott, which formed the core of the new Silver Bullet Band. Capitol Records re-signed him in 1975, releasing "Beautiful Loser" with the single "Katmandu."

A two-night performance at Cobo Arena in September 1975 would change Seger's fortunes forever. The double-LP "Live Bullet" released in April 1976 is hailed as one of the greatest live

albums of all time, selling six million copies.

He parlayed his live recording success into a studio triumph with “Night Moves,” whose title track hit No. 4 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. The October

1976 album release also reached six million in sales.

Seger's prolific songwriting garnered national acclaim as a string of hits followed. He entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012.

Balian endeavored to do more than chart Seger’s success, though. He wanted to paint a composite of an uncompromising artist, one whose perfectionist streak nearly cost him at a pivotal juncture.

"He was against the ‘Live Bullet’ album being recorded at all," Balian said. "He felt The Silver Bullet Band, which was early in its formation at that point, was not ready for a live recording, but Punch talked him into it.

“That album would have never happened if it was not for Punch Andrews.”

Seger also keeps a tight rein on his music. He avoided the MTV video craze and is reluctant to lend his music for commercial purposes. One notable exception is the "Like a Rock" ad campaign with Chevy Trucks, which reportedly came about after a

WHAT’S IN THE BOOK

Northville author, academic and musician Edward Sarkis Balian examines Bob Seger’s story in "Turn the Page", which he said is the first and only complete Seger biography. In the book the author answers the following questions and more:

• Who is the young woman Bob is singing about in “Night Moves”?

• What is a “grasser?”

• What was Bob’s connection to Beatle, John Lennon?

• When and where did Bob meet the Eagles’ Glenn Frey?

• Who was the super-model that inspired Bob to write “Hollywood Nights”?

• Why did Bob turn down playing the Woodstock festival?

• In 1969, why was Bob actually replaced as the lead singer in his own band?

• Why did Bob never appear on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand?

• Who is the subject of Bob’s hit song, “Beautiful Loser”?

• Why did Bob turn down a Motown recording contract?

• What did Bob see as the real key to his career success?

Corner of Ann Arbor Road and N. Haggerty

Jennifer Stephens-Hoyer, M.D. Emergency Medicine