The Rock - March 2026

PLYMOUTH’S NEWS & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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KURT KUBAN – Publisher

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

SCOTT SPIELMAN – Editor

Scott graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Journalism. He covered western Wayne County for more than 12 years at several publications before transitioning into corporate communications and media relations. A Canton resident, he has also finished his first novel and is hard at work on his next.

SCOTT BUIE – Advertising Director/Vice President of Sales

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

JENNY PEARSALL – Creative Director

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

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.

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.

SUE VOYLES – Writer

Growing up, Sue always knew she wanted to be a writer. She has written for many publications over her long career in public relations and journalism, and taught English and journalism at Schoolcraft College. In 2022, she received the national Headliner Award from the Association for Women in Communications.

KEN VOYLES – Writer/Photographer

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

BILL BRESLER – Photographer

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

BRYAN MITCHELL – Photographer

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

SEAN POWER – Photographer

Sean is a freelance photographer who is originally from Chicago, where he spent many years in the world of broadcast television. He and his family moved from Chicago to Northville in 2021. He lives with his wife, Angelique (a 2025 Detroit News "Michiganian of the Year"), daughter Sadie, a cat, and an English black lab.

content in this publication without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Comments are welcome at kurtkuban@therockmagazine.com .

At some point there has to be accountability

I didn’t always get along with Jerry Vorva, but I’m sorry to see him go.

I met him after his term in the State House as he was running for city commission during a particularly contentious (for the time) election. This was obviously prior to his move to Plymouth Township. I was skeptical of his run for the township clerk spot and even more so after he won it, but I think he’s done a good job in the role—and the people of Plymouth Township obviously agree, since they voted for him six times (including primary and general elections).

Cancer, even in the best of circumstances, is not an easy thing to deal with. To go through that kind of life-sapping, physically-draining treatment with a smile on your face while upholding the duties of a very busy office at the same time is something worthy of admiration and respect. I tip my hat to him and wish him the best.

I wasn’t entirely surprised to hear Vorva, in addition to his health concerns, list the “toxic” environment at township hall as one of his reasons for deciding to move on just 16 months after he was elected to run the office for a third time. You may have seen all the recent news coverage after an offhand remark from Trustee John Stewart at a board meeting offended female employees at township hall, prompting Treasurer Bob Doroshewitz to ask him to apologize. That simple request sparked a confrontation between them, allegedly initiated by Stewart, and heard by many first-floor staff.

I was surprised, however, to learn of the lawsuit Vorva filed against Stewart for allegedly charging at him during a closed session, fists clenched. Vorva filed the lawsuit last year after a police report did not result in charges. Stewart has since claimed the lawsuit was “frivolous” and that he has never charged anyone in his life.

“You can't have a public official acting that way in public, or in private and, without any accountability, it will continue.”

When I went to Stewart's office on March 10 to get his side of the Vorva lawsuit story — at his invitation, by the way — he called the police on me. So, there I was talking to four of the city’s finest on the corner of Main Street, explaining I was just a guy extending a professional courtesy and trying to get both sides of the story.

I don't harbor any ill will toward Stewart and I don't expect an apology. He didn’t offer one to the employees he inadvertently offended — and I don’t think he meant to offend anyone, which is why I was surprised he didn’t just say, “I didn’t mean it that way and I apologize if I offended anyone. It wasn’t my intent.” And I suspect he won’t offer an apology for wasting city resources, either. I've since apologized to both police chiefs and city manager Chris Porman and intend to thank the dispatchers the next time I'm at township hall. I assure you, the only danger I pose to anyone is bad puns.

I think it’s still an issue, no matter what side of the fence you’re on. You can’t have a public official acting that way in public or private and, without any accountability, it will continue. Word is getting around. Meetings are public. The actions and reactions of the board are easy to find online. The last thing in the world anyone should want is for a developer, potential business owner, resident, or potential resident to walk in on one of these altercations at township hall or witness them at a meeting and have staff shrug and say: This is nothing new.

That’s not good for anyone.

Correction: In the February issue of The Rock, I inadvertently included the wrong hours for the Plymouth Historical Museum. The Museum is open from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is not open on Thursday. My mistake: I read the website wrong and I apologize for the error.

The people have spoken

I appreciate Editor Scott Spielman’s concern for the tone of civic life in Plymouth. We all want a community where people feel respected, where public service is valued, and where disagreements don’t turn personal. But January’s column leaves out an essential truth: many residents who raised concerns over the past year did so respectfully, openly, and with a deep love for this city. They were not attacking individuals, they were challenging decisions.

I respect anyone who volunteers their time to serve in public office. But it’s important to be honest about the dynamic some commissioners helped create. Throughout the debate over the Champion PUD and the broader planning issues, some commission members repeatedly dismissed and spoke down to residents who disagreed and referred to engaged citizens as a “vocal minority." That phrase was used to minimize legitimate concerns, not to foster dialogue.

The November election proved just how wrong that characterization was. Plymouth saw its highest voter turnout in 30 years. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because residents who were told they were a “minority” decided to speak up, and then they voted. An incumbent was voted out. Two candidates supported by those same residents finished as the top and third highest vote getters. That is not a fringe. That is the community speaking loudly and clearly.

The people have spoken, and they are not done. We stand together to protect what makes Plymouth the community we love.

Scott Lorenz

Let’s all ‘be better’

I appreciate The Rock. Local journalism faces stiff headwinds, but your magazine fills a void for reporting, opinion and events and reaches everyone's mailbox. That's a good thing!

I also appreciated your Note From The Editor in January's edition entitled "I hope you can be better..."

Public service like that of resigned City Commissioner Colleen Pobur should be lauded. I said as much on public record at the City Commission meeting prior to her resignation. Commissioner Pobur got a raw deal because she dared to defend herself against the bullying behavior and campaign of a perpetually angry resident. However, she nor any other Commissioner does not serve at the pleasure of the loudest, wealthiest, or angriest residents. They serve -- really volunteer, for the whole community -- for the residents who don’t spend every other Monday at Commission meetings, because they have lives, jobs, kids.

I campaigned this past fall for City Commission, and nearly won a spot. I ran a positive campaign. I saw this negative "tenor" firsthand, being criticized in mass negative mailers for being endorsed by Democrats. I'll let you in on a secret: I got endorsed by Republicans and independents, too. It was a non-partisan election and I ran as I am: A trusted neighbor. But negative campaigning for a commission seat in our little city by anonymous groups is ridiculous and shameful.

I encourage positive and interested newer generation residents to not be swayed by vocal ‘angries’, and to get involved and bring their intelligence, energy and new perspectives to our local commissions. Plymouth (both now and in the future) needs you.

Jim Mulhern

traffic, infrastructure limits, stormwater capacity, and neighborhood scale is not disrespectful — it is responsible citizenship.

There also appears to be an assumption that longevity confers moral authority — that because someone has “been around a long time,” their perspective should outweigh that of residents living with the daily consequences of these decisions. Experience matters, but it does not place anyone beyond scrutiny.

Many of us did not want to get involved. But when nearly 95% of attendees at the Cultural Center spoke against the Champion PUD project — and it was approved anyway — it became clear our concerns were not being heard. That was the spark.

We are not anti-development. We are anti-unchecked development and predetermined outcomes. Respect does not mean or require silence. Civility does not require compliance.

If overwhelming public opposition can be heard and disregarded repeatedly, the issue is not the tone of the residents — the real issue was deaf ears and/or the process itself.

Mike & Mary Gladchun

Editor’s Note: The Champion PUD project was not approved. The developers removed the plan from consideration because they could not meet city requirements for the requested rezoning.

Refrain from political commentary

I usually read your comments in The Rock. I have noticed that you use the section to further your political agenda from time to time and this is not appropriate.

You also state that "We're living in a time when a president can use an offensive slur..." Well, you just did that. Did you mean when Biden called Trump a Nazi or when he called a reporter a dumb ass?

By the way, I am an independent who has mostly voted for the Democrat nominees in every category however there is no longer a Democrat Party. Please refrain from such political comments either way.

Carole Smith

SMART buses are a bust

It’s election season, so hold on to your wallets. Once again, it’s a new tax for buses that voters in Wayne County neither want nor need.

For 30 years, Northville and Plymouth opted out of paying into and using SMART. Now, a new tax is on the August ballot, and it will be subject to only a county-wide vote.

This bus system is wasteful, highly-subsidized, and a bad idea. The average bus has only 3.8 passengers on it, and that’s down 14% from 4.5 passengers in 2023. That full-size diesel bus, with less than four passengers, takes up more space, weighs twice as much, and emits more emissions than three cars combined.

While 83% road funding comes from fuel taxes or vehicle registration fees, SMART’s revenue of $183 million includes only $6 million from fares. The bus subsidy is 97%.

Worst of all, there is no guarantee of service anywhere. SMART makes promises, but leaves out that locations proposed to Oakland County in 2022 are not in place four years later.

The tax will not fund transportation for seniors, the disabled, or veterans. We already have transportation funded and operated locally, and not impacted at all by this new tax.

Taxpayers have had enough. They do have the power to send a message to SMART: make do with what you have.

Column missed the mark

We read the editor’s note in the January 2026 issue of The Rock - “I hope you can be better…,” and believe it misses why so many residents became involved in the first place.

Those who spoke during recent planning and zoning debates have been portrayed as part of a “negative campaign,” as if disagreement were uncivil. It was not. It was civic engagement. Questioning density,

Matthew J. Wilk Patty Pozios

Editor’s Note: Thank you, as always, for reading and for submitting letters to the editor. We appreciate both and look at this space as a community forum where you can weigh in on issues we cover or you want to bring to our attention. We have allowed for longer letters in recent months, but due to lack of space we need to ask letters be limited to about 150 words.

SOUND OFF: Please submit your letters by emailing Editor Scott Spielman at scottyspielman@gmail.com. Letters should be no more than 150 words. We reserve the right to edit all letters.

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“I was also the crime prevention officer. I would do security surveys for different businesses,” he added. “I lived in the city. My philosophy was if you’re policing a people, it’s best to be part of the community so that you go to church with them, you see them at the theater, you run into them at the grocery store, so when you’re policing them, you’re cognizant of that. It was just my thing.”

The position ultimately helped launch his career in politics. He worked in real estate after his dismissal from the police force and mentioned to clients and prospective clients that he was also running for city commission. He was elected in 1989 with 1,669 votes—the most ever for a Plymouth commissioner. He served on the commission until he was elected to the state house of representatives in 1993 and represented the Plymouth community in Lansing for one term.

BACK IN OFFICE

Jerry Vorva has battled health issues for about four decades, but the selfdescribed ‘tough hillbilly’ has never let them keep him down.

Still, at 74 and facing ongoing health challenges—as well as a busy election season—he decided enough was enough. Vorva, the township clerk since 2016, submitted his resignation to the Board of Trustees on Feb. 18. His final day overseeing township elections, records and finances was March 13.

“I would have stayed longer if other circumstances were not in play, but it’s time,” said Vorva, a former police officer and state representative.

A LONG CAREER OF SERVICE

Vorva was born in Alabama. His father was a marine and Jerry spent the early part of his life moving around the southern U.S. as his father was transferred

to different Marine Corps bases from North Carolina to Southern California. He moved to Kalamazoo in 1968 and settled in the City of Plymouth in 1974, at first working for the Packaging Corporation of America on Sheldon Road. While working as a supervisor there, he saw an ad in the old Community Crier— the city was looking for a new police officer.

While he admitted he wasn't crazy about the salary offered at the time, Vorva was intrigued. He applied and was hired.

“I always liked the idea of community policing,” he said. “I was always the person who did the kiddie-cop stuff: when the Boy Scouts needed to come through, or the Girl Scouts or some other organization, I was the one who did the tours. All the other guys didn’t want to do it, but I thought it was good PR.

making sure the public was satisfied. This is not a guy who was hiding in his office or taking three hour lunches. He’s at the counter, helping people and answering questions and making sure people had the ability to vote and that people were getting their money’s worth.”

Vorva was reelected in 2020 and 2024, despite ongoing health challenges. He said he had every intention of finishing his current term, but his health and the aforementioned ‘other circumstances’ forced his hand.

“I really love the job. I love interacting with people,” he said. “It’s just been wonderful. I would probably do it longer, but I need to spend some time with myself. I need to work on my bucket list.”

HEALTH AND OTHER ISSUES

Vorva, who has been living with a pacemaker since his 30s, was officially diagnosed with colon cancer in 2017, but said he had been having issues for a year

After returning to real estate, Vorva moved to Plymouth Township in 2015 and was recruited to run for township clerk. He joined former supervisor Kurt Heise—another former state representative—as they canvassed neighborhoods. Heise credits Vorva’s unflagging determination in keeping his own campaign afloat after he was initially kicked off the ballot. Heise was first elected as a writein candidate in 2016.

Heise said Vorva was an important part of the ‘township turnaround team’ tasked with cleaning up township policies and practices left over from the previous administration.

“I always told people that the clerk’s office is the front desk at township hall. When people come into that building, most of them don’t know where to go and they make that turn and the go to the clerk’s office. Jerry understood that better than anyone. He was the face of township hall—he and his staff—and they’ve done a great job,” Heise said.

“For him, it was always about

prior to that. Doctors initially told him he had kidney problems, but he wasn’t convinced. He said the diagnosis was not a complete shock.

“I knew something was wrong. I wasn’t surprised, because I wasn’t buying all the kidney stuff,” he said. What followed was an aggressive form of treatment: radical surgery, followed by off-and-on-radiation and hormone treatments. “It was not any fun, but it is what it is. I’m still here. I’m a tough hillbilly.”

The treatment was working— until last year, when he learned the cancer had metastasized and moved into both of his lungs. His care team told he would essentially need treatment for the rest of his life.

That, combined with the prospect of a busy election cycle, helped make the decision for him.

“I don’t want to go through an election season, taking treatment,” Vorva said. “It takes a lot out of you and this job, done right, with the size of the staff I have, means you’re working for 75 days straight. That means weekends, holidays—I’m not going to have my staff do it. They’re going to get burned out. So I do it. So I said: ‘Will I be able to effectively, under treatment,

asked him to quit interrupting the township attorney. Stewart also recently came under fire for comments he made about first-floor female employees during a discussion over the purchase of $30,000 worth of gym equipment for township hall. Those comments prompted Treasurer Bob Doroshewitz to ask for an apology from Stewart, which resulted in a shouting match initiated by the trustee and overheard by employees at township hall.

Stewart has since said he will not apologize for those comments. Township Supervisor Chuck Curmi has said he will not ask him to.

“They never sanctioned him. They never said anything to

"I don't work at Township Hall,” he said. “If I'm not around Township Hall, how can I be part of the toxicity?"

Other than that, Stewart had no additional comments about Vorva's claims against him.

He did, however, say he was not in favor of accepting Vorva's

“I really love the job. I love interacting with people. It’s just been wonderful. I would probably do it longer, but I need to spend some time with myself. I need to work on my bucket list.” Jerry Vorva

work those kinds of hours? I’m not a spring chicken anymore. I decided it was time.”

The ‘other circumstances’ he mentioned include what he described as a toxic environment in township hall that has worsened since the 2024 election. Last year, Vorva filed a lawsuit against Township Trustee John Stewart, alleging Stewart charged him during a closed session meeting in which Vorva

him,” Vorva said. “That’s part of my problem. You can’t allow that kind of behavior to go on. He’s always been aggressive like this. The second he gets challenged, he gets aggressive. If you watch some of the meetings he’s always yelling at people.”

Curmi did not respond to requests for comment on this story. Stewart said he disagreed he was part of a toxic environment at Township Hall.

resignation before April 21, which would trigger an election to fill the Clerk position this year, beginning with a primary election in August. If Vorva's resignation becomes official after April 21, the board could instead appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of Vorva's term ending in 2028. He said he was in favor of current Trustee Sandy Groth, who has experience working in the Clerk's office, filling that role.

"By far, she is the most qualified," Stewart said of Groth. "She could hit the ground running on April 21st."

The board of trustees would need to approve both the timing of Vorva's resignation and the subsequent appointment of Groth (or anyone else, for that matter). Meaning Stewart would need three other votes to go along with his plan.

Vorva, for his part, said he made sure the township was ready for the upcoming election season.

“I’ve tried to get everything

set up as best I can,” he said. “I was hoping they would appoint someone and I could go over everything with them, but that’s not my call. I can only do so much. But everything is set up, pretty much—I mean, they still have to go through all the functions and do all the things that statutorily they have to do. There’s deadlines for everything.”

He said he will start checking items off his bucket list after he leaves the office for the final time. Up first is a tour of Europe, followed by a visit with his son in Australia—with a stop in Hawaii on the way. Then he hopes to revisit the great places in America that he visited as a child—the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and more.

In the meantime, he said he’s proud of the work he’s done at the township—and the people who helped him do it.

“I really like this job. I really like working for the people,” he said. “My staff is great. We pride ourselves here that we try to keep good records. We pride ourselves on running a really tight ship. We’ve had almost zero issues.”

Publisher Kurt Kuban contributed to this story.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Given the rapidly approaching election season, what is the best way for the township board to fill the clerk vacancy in the short term and the long term? Email your opinions to editor Scott Spielman at scottyspielman@gmail.com.

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Patrick Reinke. “We’ve had good conversations with a lot of high school students that come through here, and have had some interest in public sector careers.

“Even those that aren’t quite 18 yet, who have a year or two left in school, we’ve invited them to reach out to us in the future, (about) some of the opportunities we have with internships. Hopefully, they do reach out.”

That optimism about planting seeds in tomorrow’s work force was shared by many others at the fair, presented by the Canton Career and Technical Education Department.

Near the main entrance of the event was a small table occupied by Kelly Boon of Plymouth’s Aunt Millie’s Bakery – a company that makes and supplies hamburger and hot dog buns for area restaurants including Culver’s and Burger King.

For six hours on Feb. 19 in the Canton High School auto shop, job-hunting students tapped into the best of two very different worlds.

Hundreds of students from Plymouth-Canton Educational Park attending the fifth annual Career and Employment Fair could retreat to the old tried and true methods of face-toface networking and seeing for themselves which of the approximately 50 business partners sparked enough interest to dig deeper.

They also could see some of the future career paths potentially opening up for them, in a myriad of fields such as landscape design, public safety, mechanical engineering and the very shorthanded nursing field.

“If nothing else, it gives them the experience of sitting down and doing face-to-face

networking,” said automotive technology teacher Chad Woodring, who helped put the event together. “Kids like to be on their phone texting and doing things blindly, like that. This provides a way for them to learn how to do face-to-face. And we’re hoping that some of them do earn gainful employment.”

OPENING MINDS

Whether coming in as part of a class assignment or stopping by out of curiosity, students left armed with folders of information and plenty of ideas and notions about what the future could hold.

“It’s really important,” Salem High School senior Xander Burnett said. “This helps them open their mind and open their eyes to other things, other than just one specific path that they’ve seen.”

Burnett’s mom is a dispatch officer for Northville Township

Police, and he was able to convince the department to participate in the career fair.

“I think generally the questions we’ve been getting asked today is ‘What does a day look like in this occupation?’ ‘What are the things you like about it?’

‘What don’t you like about it?’” noted Northville Township Lt.

“It’s to get our name out into the community more and to also find some summer workers that could potentially be full-time workers and advance within our company,” Boon said.

Boon smiled when asked how busy she was, as Canton sophomore Kelton Shinn got ready to sit down across the table from her.

“I feel like I’ve talked to over 3,000 kids already,” she said.

Following their exchange,

Shinn said he was compiling ideas and information that could become handy in the future.

“I’m interested in the restaurant business, interested in managing and running (it),” Shinn said. “But I’m also interested in joining the Navy. They offer a great career program that I’m interested in. I think it’s a good thing what they’re doing here in offering

company’s Matt Schacht, whose father Dan started the Plymouth business in 1991.

Matt Schacht told students about the range of projects the company does, such as hardscapes, architectural design, installation of brick pavers, trees and sod as well as pruning.

“I really think the job is what you make of it,” Schacht said. “If you put effort in, you’ll be able to take out some really interesting skills that you didn’t know were so applicable.”

CHANCE TO EXPLORE

Nearby was a station for the Excellent Choice Health Training Center in Garden City, where Salem senior Ella Wells was preparing to visit longtime nurse and company owner Roxane Eskridge-Garner.

“I’ve been thinking about it (a career in nursing),” Wells said. “Just learning more about assisted care and what I could be doing right now to get into nursing.”

Eskridge-Garner, who has

Garner said. “If they’re not ready for college they can pick a skill to become a certified nursing assistant, a phlebotomist, EKG technician. But we are doing the skill sets where they are done in one month. They can go out and get a job, they’re making money and then that gives them a little bit of time to decide what they really want to do.”

The training center also offers the opportunity for students at least 18 years old to attend with free tuition through the Michigan

Montyne Barbee, Canton High assistant principal and director of technical education.

Barbee said the wide variety of businesses on hand was intentional, “to try and give them the opportunity to meet with businesses, learn about careers, sometimes careers they didn’t even know about. And we have really great community partners and they really show up for us every time.”

students the ability to figure out what they want to do career-wise.”

Not far from the Aunt Millie’s Bakery table was one for Hines Park Lincoln Quick Lane, often with a line of well-dressed students eager to talk to Scott Daniels.

Daniels said the career fair is invaluable, especially with the way on-line applications tend to impersonalize the job-hunting process for people of all ages, abilities and interests.

“What I look for mostly with students is the vibe, the atmosphere,” Daniels explained. “If you’re willing to learn, anyone is trainable. I’m looking for people that are like-minded, want to get into the automotive field, who kinda eat, breathe and sleep automotive.”

Work ethic leading to opportunity also is in the cards at The Old Village Landscaper. Talking to students was the

logged more than 35 years in the field, welcomed Wells and other students throughout the day who were inquiring about what kinds of jobs they might be able to apply for.

“What we’re out here doing is trying to let them see what skills they can get,” Eskridge-

Achievement Scholarship.

“We’re trying to let them know that these are services out here that the state of Michigan says ‘Hey, come to school. We’ll pay for it.’”

Many of the businesses at the event found out about it from the Plymouth or Canton chambers of commerce, said

Career center coordinator Maggie Styes echoed her colleagues about the many ways attending a career fair could impact young lives.

“There’s a few different things we want them to understand,” Styes said. “One, we want them to get the experience of interviewing in a, hopefully, non-threatening environment. Where they feel comfortable because they’re in their school environment.

“We want them to work on interviewing, on those interpersonal communication skills. And we want them to have the exposure to all the different businesses, all the different areas that they could potentially go into as a career field.”

Without a doubt, the career fair proved to be an eye-opener, as students made connections, exchanged pertinent information and left with tangible strategies for the future.

Although just 21 years old, Kirsten Simms’ meteoric hockey journey can only be described as a whirlwind with many more chapters to be written.

The latest accomplishment for the Plymouth native and University of Wisconsin All-American was putting an Olympic gold medal around her neck after Team USA defeated longtime rival Canada, in overtime, 2-1, thanks to Megan Keller’s game-winner on Feb. 16 at the Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy.

Keller, a four-time Olympian from Farmington Hills, joined Simms as the only two Michigan players on the Team USA roster. Playing on the fourth line, Simms’ lone point in the tourney ironically came when she

notched a goal during the Group A prelims in a resounding 5-0 triumph over Canada.

The U.S. won all six games, including a 5-0 triumph over Sweden in the semifinals, after a 6-0 quarterfinal victory over host Italy. Other group wins came against Czechia (5-1), Finland (50) and Switzerland (5-0).

“The Olympics are something I dreamed about over and over in my head growing up,” said Simms in an Instagram post for Elite Prospects Hockey.

“Winning the gold medal alongside my childhood heroes and longtime friends is an indescribable feeling and something I’ll cherish forever.

“The biggest thing is being around the veterans who have been there and done it multiple times. Watching how they prepare and compete, and carry

themselves every day, on and off the ice, taught me so much. Those lessons will stay with me the rest of my life.”

Simms got to celebrate with her immediate family who made

the trip including her father Bill, an avid hockey follower; mother Karen, a former soccer player and now teacher at Northville’s Hillside Middle School; and older brother Billy, who now attends Cleary University.

“It was the first game that her brother was at,” Karen Simms said of the prelim game against the Swiss. “We came to Italy and we landed on Monday and he was sick, so he couldn’t make first game, but the first game that he made was the one that she scored. So, that was pretty cool.”

Billy, who once played for the Johnstown (Pa.) Tomahawks of the North American Hockey league before a broken tibia prematurely ended his career, proved to be a driving force in Kirsten’s early hockey development.

Billy dragged her to rinks and proved to be a role model.

“My brother was the one who first got me into hockey,” she said. “I wanted to do everything he did, so watching him fall in love with the game made me want to experience for myself. All it took was a single season and I was hooked for life.”

SELF MOTIVATED

Kirsten attended Our Lady of Good Counsel grade school and gravitated to all different types of sports early on, including track, soccer, basketball and softball.

Karen Simms called her “a sporty little kid” who wanted to keep up with her older brother.

In the eighth grade, Kirsten got more serious about hockey, juggling her training while attending Hillside Middle School where her mom taught.

In grades 9-10, Kirsten went to a select academy program in Rochester, N.Y. for two years before COVID hit.

She returned home for her junior and senior years to play for Little Caesars while

taking virtual learning courses through the Plymouth Canton Educational Park before eventually graduating from Salem High.

And while she was around home, Kirsten proved to be selfmotivated during her free time.

“It’s funny, we live in the same

neighborhood where she was born and she would be out in the driveway, shooting pucks and they [neighbors] would hear the slap of the puck, the slap of the puck and the music that was going,” Karen Simms said. “And they would comment on it. Now they’re like, ‘Oh, now we know why she was doing that for hours and hours on end.’ It was all her.”

Simms competed at the 2020 U-18 Women's World Championship, winning gold while adding two assists. She also played for former Badger Mellissa Channell for the Little Caesars Under-19 Team, leading the team to gold at the 2022 USA Hockey National Championship, and the Honeybaked Under-19 team.

Simms represented the U.S. at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship at LaBahn Arena in Madison, serving as an alternate captain and posted five assists while leading the U.S. to silver.

LEADING

THE BADGERS

When it was time to play college hockey, Simms went with the top-notch facilities, scenic campus and the winning tradition of the University of Wisconsin hockey program under the tutelage of head coach Mark Johnson, who knows all about winning Olympic gold. He was an important member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” USA hockey team.

Simms’ four years for the Badgers have been nothing short of spectacular with 98 goals and 135 assists through 151 games (entering this year’s WCHA playoffs and NCAA tournament).

In her 27 games as a senior, Simms had racked up 24 goals and 30 assists as the Badgers (323-2) won its 11th WCHA regular season title.

During her junior year, Simms scored the game-winning goal to beat Ohio State, 4-3, in overtime to capture its fourth National Championship in seven years and

eighth overall.

Simms earned First-Team AllAmerican and WCHA honors two years in a row. During her freshman year (2022-23) the Badgers won the NCAA crown as she was named to the AllTournament team.

Yet there is still unfinished business following an Olympic gold.

“I want to finish my senior year the right way and bring home Wisconsin another WCHA title and National Championship,” said Simms, who was one of six current or former Badgers on Team USA to win the gold.

In addition to her parents and brother attending the Olympics, Kirsten’s grandparents were able to go along with some aunts, uncles and a cousin.

“It was a dream come true,” Karen Simms said. “Literally from the time she was little from the first Olympics that she remembers, she wanted to play in the Olympics. She just had that goal kind of her whole life and she got to play with the women [Kellar] that she was idolizing [at a young age]… It was just incredible.”

Whether she’s on or off the ice,

Kirsten is considered dedicated and hard-working, with a great personality.

“She’s really good with kids,” Karen Simms said. “On Fridays she didn’t train, and so she would volunteer to help out with the more severe special ed kids (at Hillside). She’s got a great heart.”

GOING PRO Simms, who will graduate from Wisconsin with a degree in Communications, plans to parlay her Olympic gold and All-American collegiate career into the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

And it’s just another chapter in her hockey diary that has yet to be written.

“It’s something I’m really excited about,” said Simms, who said she is working on being more productive without the puck. “I’ve had friends and teammates make the league, and I’ve spent a lot of time talking to them to prepare myself for the next step in my career. I’ve always aspired to play with and against the very best at each level, and the PWHL is the next evolution of that.”

whose staff includes assistant coaches Justin Demers and Mark Meyer. “And then it was a bonus that the men also won. She (Molly) was super excited to watch the games.”

Kristin Demers whose daughter, Claire, 7, is one of the team’s younger players agreed.

“Especially this year, with the women’s Olympics team taking the gold, that was a really exciting moment in our household,” Demers said. “That Claire saw these women that are role models to her, that she can look to and say ‘Man, I could really go somewhere in this sport.’ It’s a really fun game for her, she absolutely loves it, she has lots of great friends on the team. But I think seeing women making it their livelihood and making it big like that was super inspiring for her.”

GROWING THE BRAND

Coach Smyth is hopeful that other Plymouth parents pick up on the momentum and sign up their girls for the Lady Flyers in late March or early April, so that a new 10-Under house team can be added to the mix.

When the Plymouth Lady Flyers are at the hockey rink, it’s hard not to recognize their excitement and pure joy.

For a group of young girls between ages 6-8, the sun rises and sets over a sheet of ice –whether at Plymouth Cultural Center or the Mike Modano Arena, where games and practices happen. Consider a recent practice, where the Lady Flyers 8U team hoisted their multicolored hockey sticks in triumph, following another hour working on drills – the team is preparing for state playoffs in their division – and just having fun to boot.

Women’s hockey is becoming increasingly popular, with Team

USA’s recent gold medal victory in Italy—a team of players who not all that long ago were just like Ivy Leibow, Molly Smyth, Luna Miles and the rest of the Lady Flyers. And hey, it doesn’t hurt that Plymouth’s very own Kirsten Simms was part of that goldmedal championship squad.

“I really like the Lady Flyers,” said 8-year-old Molly, with a bright smile on her face following practice. “It’s fun. And I want to keep playing until I’m probably… nineteen.”

THE STUFF OF DREAMS

Could the daughter of head coach Andrew Smyth perhaps be planning far enough in advance where she might someday be part of a USA Hockey juggernaut? Who knows, but those are

the kind of dreams now being hatched by these youngsters. Parents, too, might be just as excited about the possibilities.

“I think there’s a lot of role models for them to look at,” said Andrea Roth Leibow, Ivy’s mom. “The other very cool thing is, being from Michigan, we have our phones out and we’re Googling these women and where they played and where they’re from. One of them is from Plymouth, one’s from Farmington Hills and ‘Oh my goodness, they played for (local youth) teams that we know. Could that be us?’ Yeah, absolutely.”

“My daughter was all in on the Olympics, especially on the women’s team winning the gold,” added Coach Andrew Smyth,

The players on the current 8U team, for the most part, would then graduate to the 10U squad; newer, younger girls would then replenish the 8U roster for the 2026-27 season that begins next month.

“Right now we’re working the phones, using social media outlets, trying to increase the

brand, that Plymouth is dedicated to growing the girls game,” Smyth said. “We’re already starting to do some 10U drills to make sure this team is prepared and then anybody that’s coming is going to acclimate nicely.”

Those drills include full-sheet drills, rather than those confined to smaller areas of the ice, as well as fine-tuning technical skating, passing skills and a little bit of systems work, he said.

The extra work didn’t seem to bother the girls too much. Shortly after practice, 7-yearold Claire Demers was spotted zooming around the perimeter outside the rink on her roller blades. Luna Miles, 8, who said she signed up for the Lady Flyers

And it’s not just about playing a sport they are learning to love.

“All year I’ve been saying that this has been the most amazing thing for Ivy,” Roth Leibow said. “It is not hyperbolic to say she has grown so much this year. It’s genuinely been a life-changing experience for her. She came into this as a kid who was a little more nervous, and (now) there’s not a world where I thought she was going to be a kid that’s on the ice, being aggressive, being assertive— and she just loves it. These girls aren’t checking each other into the boards, but she’s tough. She gets back up. And the relationships they have with each other is the most incredible thing.”

Kristin Demers said that

one of the assistant coaches. “And over this past year I’ve seen such growth in their friendships and how much they care about each other. The teamwork has built so

olds Amelia Downs, Ella Sohmer, Sophia Li; 8-year-olds Florence Graham, Gionna DiStefano, Maddie Hingst and goaltender Mamee Meyer.

“One thing they have in common is this love for the sport. And over this past year I’ve seen such growth in their friendships and how much they care about each other. The teamwork has built so much in the past year as well, and that’s been really fun.”

Kristin Demers, whose daughter, Claire, plays for the Lady Flyers

after being disappointed that a previous team she wanted to join did not have girls on it, said she was already looking forward to the next game or practice.

“It’s really, really fun, and just a fun sport,” Luna said.

So was 8-year-old Ivy Leibow, who loves “getting to hang out with my friends a lot. It’s really fun, I get to make new friends, too.”

LOOKING TO EXPAND

Even more new friends could be just around the corner, with so-called “interest skates”

planned for 2:15-3:05 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at Plymouth Cultural Center and 6-6:50 p.m. at Mike Modano Ice Arena on Wildwood in Westland. It is open to players looking to join the next 6/8U team to be coached by Nate Hingst or for the fledgling 10U Tier 3 team coached by Smyth.

the Lady Flyers is a special way for girls from different schools and neighborhoods to bond, experience something together and hopefully spark years of friendship and hockey.

“One thing they have in common is this love for the sport,” said Demers, whose husband is

much in the past year as well, and that’s been really fun.”

The kids want that fun to continue beyond the end of March, when this season officially concludes—and they aren’t alone. Also on the 2025-26 Lady Flyers 8U team are 6-year-olds Alice De La Fuente and Poppy Hill; 7-year-

“Our goalie, she’s like a brick wall back there,” boasted Roth Leibow.

A netminding whiz might help the Lady Flyers win more games, but the team standings are secondary to the camaraderie and full-on hockey bliss.

But as happy as they are to be together – friends and teammates in every moment – there might be one thing that could lift them up to a higher plane.

That might be getting a phone call from local Olympic gold winner Kirsten Simms, with the Lady Flyers hopefully getting to meet her someday at their favorite downtown Plymouth ice rink.

For parents wanting more information about the Plymouth Lady Flyers, send an email to coach Andrew Smyth at asmyth@phaflyers@gmail.com.

Rock

Plymouth Pulse

April 2026: City Highlights Edition

Downtown Parking Deck Set for Major 2026 Renovation

Major renovation of the Central Parking Deck is planned for spring 2026

Work will primarily address structural repairs on the eastern section, with minor fixes elsewhere.

The 1983 structure requires routine major repairs every 3–5 years plus annual maintenance.

The project is out for bid, with award expected March 9

A 2024 engineering report estimates the deck has about 20 years of remaining lifespan, with continued maintenance planned.

Bulk Leaf Pick-up to Resume

DMS will resume leaf hauling, starting in Area A (north of Ann Arbor Trail and west of CSX railroad track) and Area D (south of Ann Arbor Trail and east of Main Street) starting in late March/ early April. All four zones will get their leaves collected.

For any additional questions, please contact Municipal Services at 734-453-7737

Service details can be found at:

Passport Service Available

The City of Plymouth provides passport services by appointment for NEW passport applications only

Services are available at City Hall from 9:00 a m to 2:00 p m , Monday through Friday

Schedule your appointment here: tinyurl.com/CityofPlymouthPassportServices

Travel.state.gov now provides a service where you may renew routine passports online

Upcoming Board & Commission Meetings

Programs & News

City of Plymouth Recreation

Cornhole Leagues - Spring

Date & Time:

Mondays, April 6 - May 18, 2026 6:30 - 9pm

Thursdays, April 9 - May 21, 2026 6:30 - 9pm

Location: Plymouth Cultural Center

Registration ends April 2 or when program is full

Go to tinyurl.com/CityofPlymouthCornholeLeagues for more information!

Back by Popular Demand! Grand Experience - Mackinac Island

Dates: October 18 - 21, 2026 (3 nights, 4 days)

Location: Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island

Trip is intended for travelers aged 50+

(those under 50 may accompany a 50+ relative/friend)

Go to tinyurl com/TheGrandExperience for more info!

Summer 2026 T-Ball League

For Boys & Girls Born in 2020 & 2021

Date: June 15 - August 6, 2026

Locations: Games take place at Miracle League Field, Practices take place at City of Plymouth parks

Registration: March 1 - April 30, 2026

League is non-competitive and is designed to introduce kids to baseball / softball

General information can be found at: tinyurl com/CityofPlymouthTballLeague

Stonefly Search

Surveying Since 1998

Spring Bug Hunt

Saturday, April 11, 2026 TheRouge org/Bug-Hunts

10:00am - 4:00pm

Meet at Jack Wilcox Theater

Plymouth Arts & Recreation Center, 650 Church St., Plymouth

Questions? Email Monitoring Manager, Lauren at leaton@therouge.org

Program supported by

Keeping A Balance

School district takes on AI for the long haul

By Tim Smith

In many ways, AI is like a wrecking ball shattering the norms of the way teachers teach and students learn. But in Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, educators, parents and community leaders want to make sure a new normal evolves out of any debris left behind.

To that end, a district-wide task force focusing on artificial intelligence was established in 2025 followed by the January 2026 debut of a crucial high school program, “Understanding and Using AI Responsibly.”

The class is an elective taught at Canton High School but open to students from all three high schools at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park.

And the SchoolAI computer software is now being used in the elementary, middle and high schools with the intent that kids of all ages begin getting comfortable with AI – as well as realizing old-school education isn’t entirely vanishing.

“I think we’re going to always need that human connection” between teacher and student, said Jennifer Curry, a longtime

administrator in the WayneWestland district who was named PCCS’s chief academic officer last summer. “Regardless of the latest technology, whatever comes up with AI, that will never, ever, ever replace human connection.

“You need to have conversations. You need to learn how to (solve problems), to build relationships. So that having a teacher in front of you is truly one of the most important things that can happen.”

The mid-2020s is an obvious time of change in education, with AI bringing computer technology to the forefront. With that is the potential of some become overreliant on it instead of using it as an important complement to actual teaching.

READY FOR THE FUTURE

But in Plymouth-Canton schools, the task force led by Curry will not be a one-and-done concern. It will remain intact for as long as is needed to ensure AI stays in its lane – giving enough room for other essentials of learning to have theirs, too.

“We’re going to keep going,” Curry said. “We’re working on our purpose and vision (of the

task force) and we’re also working on the portrait of an AI learner in Plymouth-Canton. Along with student and staff AI rights and responsibilities. So the task force drives all that work.”

Curry said the emerging AI learner will be equipped with the traits and skills required to succeed in the 21st century.

“We want them to be collaborators, critical thinkers, communicators, innovators,” Curry cited, “(as well as being) goal-directed and resilient (and) ethical and global citizens.”

She stressed that a key mission of the task force is to work with five pillars – personalized learning, equity and access, teacher support, data-driven decisions and future-ready skills.

“We’ll work around those pillars to say ‘Now, what is the impact? How do we see them (students), strengthening their AI literacy, demonstrating original thinking, leveraging those AI tools such as SchoolAI or Gemini.

“And then how are we as a district strengthening our role as leaders by promoting that innovation, equity and along with that, strong data-privacy protections that we need.”

Curry added that the launching of the task force and high school class are only kicking off the multi-layered effort. Next up is the development of teacher-leader teams at all three levels of the district.

Those teams will communicate to the task force what changes are happening with AI as they impact education, along with crucial input from district parents.

Teacher leaders not only will offer input to the district task force, but also help answer the question “What does this look like in the classroom?”

“We just have to stay on top of all the latest research,” Curry continued. “Whether we’re reading about it, going and seeing it, because (AI) is constantly changing from the tools, just how it’s used. We always want to make

sure we’re being responsible and following all the ethics behind it.”

GAME CHANGER

Helping inform how student AI profiles might be constructed is the loss of teacher-student connection that transpired in the Zoom years during and immediately following Covid.

“We thought ‘Oh, technology can do X, Y and Z,’” Curry said. “And now, we’re seeing the research says ‘Too much screen time.’ So I think it’s constantly just keeping that balance, of what is needed on the screen versus what is (needed) when screen times are off.

“It’s always us keeping that balance, so we give everybody the tools they needs for the future, but at the same time realizing

they do need human connection, communication, problem solving.”

Although many people across all walks of life are trying to figure out what the AI revolution might mean for them, educators such as Hal Heard look forward to tackling the challenge.

“It’s a game changer in a sense,” said Heard, executive director of student services at Canton High School. “Because it can level the playing field, as far as students that need extra support, tutoring, things of that nature.

“And in the classroom, there has to be a shift of how we teach students. Not like the education I received, where it was all ‘sit and get.’”

Michigan Doctor Diagnosed with Late-Stage Cancer After Experiencing Just

One Symptom

It’s the call no one wants to get. But for one local doctor, it became a mission to save others from the “Blind Spot” in modern medicine.

(Southfield, MI)

Softball Size Tumors Silently Grew

You feel fine. You have no aches.

endured brutal treatments and cruel side effects. Tragically, the cancer later returned as a brain tumor.

A Father’s Legacy, A Son’s Mission: Full Body MRI Scans Without a Doctor’s Referral

your insides. Unlike CT scans or X-rays, this machine emits NO radiation and is completely non-invasive.

You pass your annual physical with flying colors. You think you’re safe. But what if something sinister is silently growing inside you right now, waiting to strike? That is the terrifying reality Dr. Warren Ringold faced. As a respected family physician for 40 years, he knew the rules of medicine better than anyone. He felt perfectly fine until a sudden onset of shortness of breath sent him to the ER. The diagnosis was a shockwave: Stage 4 cancer.

(South eld, MI) e late Dr. Warren Ringold knew rsthand the devastating impact of late-stage cancer diagnoses. As a respected family physician, he witnessed countless patients battling illnesses that could have been detected earlier. His own grueling battle with late-stage cancer ignited a passion, leading him to create Michigan’s rst MRI full body screening center called Bionicc Body Screening.

Raising Awareness

But before he passed, Dr. Ringold left behind a legacy—and a warning—for the rest of us.

Full Body MRI Scans Without a Doctor’s Order

The “Dirty Little Secret” of modern medicine: Here is the hard truth your insurance company won’t tell you: The current healthcare system is reactive, not proactive.

Today, his son Ryan carries on this mission. ough not a medical professional himself, Ryan’s dedication to his father’s legacy drives him to raising awareness of this service for families of Michigan.

“Every week I learn of another person who felt perfectly ne, only to wake up with an unexplained symptom and discover they have stage four cancer. Once symptoms manifest cancer is usually advanced,” says his son Ryan. “My father never wanted another family to su er the emotional and physical hardships that our family and he endured. He wanted to save lives.”

Dr. Ringold discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs silently growing inside his body after experiencing shortness of breath. His treatment was brutal. He su ered cruel side e ects. After his cancer went into remission, it returned a year later as a brain tumor. Dr. Ringold believed there had to be a better way. He envisioned a future where individuals could take control of their health and detect potential problems before they escalated. In his nal days, Dr. Ringold passionately advocated for MRI full body screenings, a proactive approach he believed could empower individuals to take control of their health.

Bionicc Body Screening o ers elective, full-body MRI screenings that provide a comprehensive picture of your internal health, going beyond what traditional checkups often reveal. State-of-the-art technology can detect tumors as small as a pea, aneurysms, risk of stroke and a multitude of other conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Screenings include scans of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, hips, shoulders and spine.

A Life Saved

Standard medical screenings (like mammograms and colonoscopies) only catch 29% of cancers. That means 71% of tumors grow undetected in areas doctors aren’t even looking at.

By the time you feel a lump or pain, it is often Stage 3 or 4. As Dr. Ringold warned, “Once you have symptoms, cancer is usually advanced.”

Mark B. and his younger brother decided to visit Bionicc Body Screening last spring for a proactive screening because cancer ran in their family. Mark was skeptical until his results returned a 3-centimeter mass on his lung, which tested positive for cancer. He had three-fourths of his lung removed. He credits the scan for saving his life. Meanwhile, his brother’s results were clean.

It scans the brain, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and spine, looking for tumors as small as a pencil eraser. It can also detect silent killers like aneurysms and stroke risks before they become life-threatening emergencies.

Take Control: No Doctor’s Order Required The traditional medical system makes you jump through hoops. At Bionicc Body Screening, there is no red tape.

Scans are safe, non-invasive, emit no radiation and are available without a doctor’s referral. Scans can detect tumors, aneurysms, stroke risk and other conditions.

While he felt healthy on the outside, tumors the size of softballs had been silently growing on the inside. He

The Technology That Sees What Doctors Miss: Determined to stop this tragedy from happening to other families, Dr. Ringold founded Bionicc Body Screening in Southfield, Michigan’s first MRI full-body screening center. Using advanced MRI technology, Bionicc provides a “high-definition movie” of

$200 savings offer. Book an appointment by calling 1-833-BIONICC. (833-246-6422) Scans

• No Doctor’s Referral Needed: You are in charge of your own health.

• No Insurance Hassles: This is an out of pocket, elective service for those who prioritize peace of mind and proactive care.

• Immediate Answers: Don’t wait for a crisis to find out what’s going on inside your body.

Do not wait until you feel a symptom. A small tumor today could be a major problem tomorrow. The only difference between a tragedy and a survival story is early detection.

Michigan’s first MRI Full Body Screening Center –Located in Southfield

FULLY PROMOTED PLYMOUTH It's Your Business

Where Swag Meets Community

No matter what you call it, swag, merch, trinkets, branded products or logo’d apparel, the promotional products industry is alive and well in downtown Plymouth.

According to industry leaders Promotional Products Association International and Advertising Specialties Institute, the market is worth more than $25 billion, covering apparel, drinkware, bags, tech products and more given to clients, employees, business partners, and others.

No matter whether your order is for hundreds of polo shirts or just a handful of coffee mugs, Fully Promoted Plymouth owners Tom and Gina Castle are ready to help businesses elevate their brand presence.

Since opening six months ago in Westchester Square at 550 Forest Avenue, the Castles have jumped right into the local business community.

That isn’t surprising, given the Northville couple’s background.

in the corporate world, it was very challenging to find good apparel and have promotional products with value,” explains Tom, adding that their products are guaranteed.

While many promotional products businesses operate only online, the Castles wanted to have a showroom.

“It’s important for customers to come in, see products and try them on if needed. I can order an item so they can see it. That way, you don’t have to pay for embroidery without seeing how it looks,” says Gina. “I won’t sell anything if I know it doesn’t wash well.”

The couple agreed that Plymouth was the right place to start their new chapter in business.

“We love Plymouth,” says Tom with a smile.

well as an ice sculpture during the Ice Festival. They look forward to participating in this year’s July 4th parade.

“Community involvement is very important to us,” says Tom. “Our biggest challenge is telling people what we do. We are so much more than a T-shirt shop. For example, we can support a golf outing with custom items.”

While apparel, pens, and hats are always popular, Tom and Gina each have their own favorite product.

“Mine is an umbrella branded with your logo and whoever you give it to can download an app, which will notify them when it’s forecasted to rain and reminds them to take their umbrella,’” says Gina.

“I retired from the U.S. Army in 2012 and later worked as a corporate executive,” says Tom, who earned a business degree and MBA from DeVry University. “I was ready for a change and wanted to open a business with my wife.”

Gina stayed home for 20 years raising a family. She also volunteered with veteran groups, parent clubs and youth sports, among others.

“I love swag and use themes for everything. I enjoy the marketing side and building relationships with customers and other businesses. When we were looking for a franchise to buy, Fully Promoted was at the top of our list,” says Gina, who earned a degree in communications/ public relations and psychology at University of Michigan.

Fully Promoted, part of United Franchise Group, was founded in Florida in 2000 and now has 250 locations worldwide.

“We take pride in helping businesses get their brand out there. I know from my experience

“We consider ourselves community ambassadors and want to offer great products in a great community,” says Gina, looking around their showroom filled with high-quality merchandise, including Plymouth and Detroit items.

“For both of us, this gives us a bigger stage to do more in the community,” adds Tom. “For our grand opening, we created three baskets to raffle off to benefit three different charities.”

Toys for Tots, Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Disease, and veterans’ organizations are among the charities the Castles champion.

They also host a Veteran Coffee Connection at the store every Tuesday at 8 a.m. that welcomes local veterans.

In just a few short months, the Castles have enthusiastically plugged into the local community, joining the Plymouth and Canton Chambers, as well as Plymouth Rotary where they formed a subcommittee with a goal of identifying vets who need assistance.

Fully Promoted sponsored a holiday tree in Kellogg Park, as

With his military background, Tom has a special product that is close to his heart.

“We have a challenge coin that we make, and we can brand anything on them. Coining people is a very high honor in the military. Now law enforcement, first responders and companies are doing it.”

Whether you call it swag, merch or trinkets, one thing is clear: Fully Promoted is thriving right here in Plymouth.

FULLY PROMOTED PLYMOUTH

OWNERS:

Tom and Gina Castle

ADDRESS: 550 Forest Ave. (Suite 4), Plymouth, MI

PHONE: (734) 359-9955

WEBSITE: fullypromoted.com/ locations/plymouth-mi

HOURS: Monday-Thursday, 9 am-5 pm; Friday, 9 am-2 pm; Saturday by appt. only; Closed Sunday

things and she can, too.”

Paying it forward also includes a group of women Anderson relies on for support and inspiration.

In today’s lingo, the group — Marnie, Chelsea, Abbie and Kelsie — would likely be called Anderson’s tribe. They are now part-time employees who help with everything from working at hat bars, local markets, festivals, and private events for business and consumers, as well as backend operations and providing creativity for products.

“They are all hardworking women who like to join forces,” says Anderson. “When I was at Fall Fest for the first time, I had so many customers I was overwhelmed. Two of them came to see me and they jumped in and helped me on the spot.”

Anderson’s boyfriend Chris serves as a sounding board and helps at events. She also reaches out to her father and brother, who both own businesses, for advice.

And then there’s JoJo.

You’ve no doubt heard the saying that small business owners wear a lot of hats. In the case of Heather Anderson, that’s true in more ways than one.

A year-and-a-half ago, the Old Village resident was looking for a little more excitement in life. That desire became reality in August 2024 with the creation of HazelBlue Hats & Apparel, more commonly known as HazelBlue Hat Bar.

The custom hat company offers trucker and baseball hats, winter beanies, makeup bags, belt bags, stadium bags and tote bags — along with its very popular hat bars (more on those later).

Born and raised in Morgantown,

West Virginia, Anderson came to Michigan more than a decade ago, eventually landing in Old Village three years ago.

“I’ve always been a hat wearer, either wearing a trucker or baseball hat or a beanie,” she says.

“The company logo is me wearing my hat backwards, which is my favorite way to wear it.”

While Anderson calls HazelBlue a “side hustle that turned into a business,” the West Virginia University graduate is no stranger to the hard work that comes with entrepreneurship.

“My dad has a distribution company, and my mom is a retired nurse,” says Anderson, who works at the University of Michigan in project management.

“Seeing the hard work of my parents, watching them making ends meet, I will never forget it. I am trying to pay it forward.”

ROOTED IN FAMILY

Paying it forward for Anderson starts with her nine-year-old daughter, JoElla, who helped inspire the name of the business and is proudly called her mom’s number one employee.

“JoJo is blue-eyed and I have hazel eyes, so the name represents my daughter and me,” she explains. “I want to show her the sky is the limit — that you can be a mom, have a career and still try new things. Working hard is the foundation of it, for her to see that her mom can do

“She’s become a little entrepreneur herself. She is learning to shake people’s hands and look them in the eye. Being able to bring her now and then to business things – it’s a confidence booster,” adds Anderson, who says that her project management skills have helped her in the business.

HazelBlue sells through its online platform, hazelbluehats. com, promoted via social media, as well as through inperson sales at local events.

“I really enjoy working for myself and enjoy bringing people along the way,” reflects Anderson.

Like any successful business, HazelBlue is fueled by its customers — mostly moms — and its unique customization, often featuring fun and unusual patches, bling and other add-ons.

“We offer the option to create your own hat based on your own design. You start with a blank slate and add on as much or as little as you like,” says Anderson.

Besides being a hat wearer and lover herself, one might wonder how Anderson landed on a hat business.

“It’s a cool way to personalize something for yourself and makes a great gift,” she explains. “I saw something similar and decided to take it and do it my own way. And hats were it. With apparel, sizing can be complicated, so I saw hats as a more streamlined option. The sizing is more universal, that’s what makes it so great.”

Her desire to pay it forward also shows in her commitment to using local suppliers and small businesses whenever possible for hats and patches.

While Anderson and her team design many of the patches in-house, manufacturing is outsourced. Organizations and companies can request custom patches and specific hat styles for events.

“We were invited to a yacht club this summer where they had just one hat style and a few patches for people to pick from,” says Anderson.

WHAT’S A ‘HAT BAR’?

Which leads to the obvious

question: What exactly is a hat bar?

In Anderson’s words – an activation event.

“You create the hat in person at these events. You can pick up the product and feel it. We press on site and you take the hat with you that day,” she explains, adding that HazelBlue has done 100 events since its opening, and as many as 5-8 hat bars in one month.

Perhaps the most exciting and memorable event was a pop-up in Detroit for the 2025 Detroit Tigers Opening Day.

“Opening day was wild. One of the hats we did was a twotone hat in orange and white and we had all the patches,” says Anderson. “The coolest thing was seeing a sea of people walking around wearing the hats.”

While Anderson is proud of what she has created, it’s people who bring that level of excitement she was looking for a few years ago.

“I have had so many people come up to me and say they saw someone with a hat on, and they said it has to be a HazelBlue hat,” she says. “I have made such wonderful friendships with customers that have allowed the business to grow exponentially.”

For more information about HazelBlue Hats & Apparel, visit https://hazelbluehats.com.

Our Spring Break Staycation package is designed for an ef for tless escape for you and your family. From our indoor pool to in-room movie night, this is the per fect oppor tunit y for a quick getaway.

us in the Atrium Ballroom on Easter Sunday and enjoy seasonal favorites, chef-driven specialties, and decadent desserts, plus photos with the Easter Bunny.

Making Connections City seeks funding for pedestrian pathway from Old Village to Hines Park

By Scott Spielman

Along-sought connection from the City of Plymouth to Hines Park may be on the way, but city officials say they don’t expect a definitive answer this year.

The city commission approved a resolution of support this month for the project, which would see a non-motorized pathway constructed along Wilcox Road to the popular linear park that stretches from Northville to the outskirts of the City of Detroit. The resolution was a needed step to secure federal and Wayne County funding to help offset the cost of the project.

“I’m excited about this and super supportive,” said Commissioner Jennifer Kehoe. “We’ve been talking about this and planning for it for almost the entire five years I’ve been on the commission. Let’s cross our fingers.”

The potential pathway has been on the city’s list of projects since they adopted a five-year strategic plan in the early 2020s but, due to costs and other reasons, has remained out of reach.

City Manager Chris Porman said there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon regarding the cost of the project as well as the engineering of it. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell had recently

reached out to the city looking for projects that might be eligible for federal funding. Because the pathway had been in the hopper for so long, it was an easy task to submit it, despite a relatively tight timeline for applications.

“We were able to put the package together,” Porman told the commission. “It’s been all hands on deck to get everything together to submit something.”

Federal funds, if available, would not be awarded until

2027, however. In the meantime, Porman said his office was working with Wayne County Commissioner Melissa Daub to see if the county would cover part of the engineering costs.

The project may be eligible for some cost-sharing, because it would also support Wayne County’s “Connecting the Rouge” Initiative, which seeks to create additional pedestrian access to the river and its associated parks. Designing the project while

waiting for word on funding is worthwhile, because it will need to be done no matter when the pathway is constructed.

“We’re looking at least another year out before we even hear if this is an eligible project,” Porman said. “We anticipate the potential to do the engineering sometime this year and we still look forward to partnering with Wayne County on the project.”

He estimated that the project could cost as much as $850,000, which is why federal funding will be crucial to its development. The slope along Wilcox is challenging, he said, and working with the county and federal government is important because the city does not own the road or its right-of-way.

City Commissioner Latricia “Trish” Horstman, who also serves on the Old Village Association board, said she was optimistic about the project.

“One of the things that comes up often when we talk to residents in the Old Village area is that it’s difficult to get down to that region from the village,” she said. “There’s no sidewalk. It’s difficult. This is something that citizens have been voicing their concerns about for a while.”

DESIGN.

OUT& ABOUT

WE’VE GOT SPRING FEVER!

Spring Fever in the Park returns to Kellogg Park from March 27-May 5. The fourth annual event features spring-themed displays created by local businesses, organizations, and community groups. As in the past, each creation will be required to incorporate flowers somewhere in the design. Visitors are invited to walk through the park and enjoy the collection of creative spring installations. For more information or to sign up, visit the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce at www.plymouthmich.org

EASTER BREAKFAST

The Plymouth Community Council on Aging is hosting an Easter pancake breakfast at 10 a.m. on April 2. Tickets are $10 for members and $12 for non-members. For more information call the Plymouth Township Friendship Station at (734) 354-3222 .

TRIVIA NIGHT @ THE LIBRARY

The Plymouth District Library will host a trivia competition from 6:30-8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8 in the Walldorf/Dunning Room. Organized by Dee Beaver on the second Wednesday of alternating months, this competition offers you a chance to test your knowledge and have some fun. Drop in alone or with friends to answer questions from a wide range of categories — math, science, history, current events, and more. Prizes will be awarded to the top trivia teams. Bring your own snacks. No registration required — just show up and play. For more information, contact Dee Beaver at dbeaver@ plymouthlibrary.org or (734) 453-0750 ext. 205

SPRING ARTISAN’S MARKET

The Spring Artisan’s Market returns to downtown Plymouth from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Located in Kellogg Park, the Gathering and along Penniman Avenue, the event features unique artisan goods, family-friendly entertainment, and delicious treats. Vendors will showcase a wide variety of unique and high-quality products ranging from handcrafted jewelry and pottery to homemade soaps and candles. There will also be Kid Creator booths with items created by locals aged 14 and younger. Non-profit groups will be on site, as well. For more info, visit the Plymouth Downtown Development Authority website, www. downtownplymouth.org

HISTORY OF CHRIS CRAFT BOATS

The Plymouth District Library will host a program about the history of the Chris Craft Boat Company beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 in the Walldorf/Dunning Room. Presenter Gary Cornillie will discuss the remarkable story of the company, established around the turn of the century in Algonac, Michigan. The founder of the company, Chris Columbus Smith, was to pleasure motor boats what Henry Ford was to motor cars. Registration required.

To register email Holly Hibner at hhibner@ plymouthlibrary.org or call (734) 453-0750 ext. 213.

GHOSTS OF PLYMOUTH WALK

The Plymouth Historical Museum is hosting its annual Ghosts of Plymouth Walk event beginning at 5 p.m. on April 25. Hear the tales of early Plymouth from the characters themselves. The 90-minute walks begin at 5 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes, visiting locations up and down Ann Arbor Trail in Plymouth. Participants should meet at Kellogg Park. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 per person the day of the Ghost Walk (if the walk is not sold out ahead of time).

Groups of eight or more should contact the Plymouth Historical Museum for a group rate of $15 per ticket. For more information, visit www. plymouthhistory.org or call (734) 455-8940

MENTAL HEALTH FAIR

The Plymouth-Canton Community School District is hosting a Mental Health & Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25 in Kellogg Park. The event features more than 100 booths and local resources, along with activities designed to support mental health and wellness for all ages. There will be therapy dogs on site, too. Last year’s event drew nearly 3,800 people. For more information, visit https://www.pccsk12.com.

GARDEN TIPS

Experts from Growing Hope will provide valuable information about preparing gardens for a successful growing season at the Canton Public Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 15. Whether you’re planning to grow fresh vegetables or simply want a beautiful flower garden, this session will provide practical tips and guidance to help your garden grow.

The Community Foundation of Plymouth is sponsoring the free event, but registration is requested. To register visit localimpactalliance.org, or call Natalie McLaughlin at (734) 495-1200

Join us for our 14

Red Shoe Affair

This signature event features: Saint John’s Resort, Plymouth Saturday, April 25, 2026

Live and Silent Auctions

Cocktails and Dinner

Mission-Focused Program

Afterglow featuring Fifty Amp Fuse

Sponsorships & tickets now available

Promote your business and help Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor keep families close when it matters most.

www.rmhcannarbor.org/redshoeaffair

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