The Ville - January 2026

LOCAL JOURNALISM MATTERS

Please consider a donation to support The 'Ville. Since we began publishing more than seven years ago, our goal has been to provide our readers with valuable information about the Northville community each and every month. Your support helps that mission survive and grow.

And while The 'Ville is sent to every address in Northville at no cost to readers, it is not free to produce.

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

Journeyman Publishing 16435 Franklin Northville, MI 48168

You can also make donations via PayPal to kurtkuban@gmail.com. Thank you in advance.

KURT KUBAN – Editor/Publisher

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

CRAIG WHEELER – Creative Director

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

MICHELE FECHT – Writer

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

Publisher

Here is a list of people who contributed to local journalism last month.

We appreciate your support!

• Chet Belecki

• Walter & Janet Covert

• The Heid Family

• Wayne & Mary Kay Pryce

• Barb & Tom Soyster

• Lew & Laura Tillman

• Amy Zubor

• Mimi Kibbey

WENSDY

VON BUSKIRK – Writer

Wensdy graduated with a degree in journalism from Wayne State University. Her first job was working as a reporter for The Northville Record. Now, as a freelance writer and editor, she works for a variety of magazines, and is excited to get back to her roots in The ‘Ville. -Photo by Kathleen Voss

KEN VOYLES – Writer/Photographer

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

TIM SMITH - Writer

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

MARIA TAYLOR – Writer

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

BRAD

EMONS - Writer

Over the course of his four decades with the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, 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.

BRYAN MITCHELL - Photographer

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

Putting a spotlight on service people

If you’ve ever been to the Northville City Car Wash, you are probably familiar with Tom, the older gentleman who seems to be there during all hours of operation. I’ve never had many words with him over the years, but he has always seemed like a no-nonsense kind of guy.

That’s fine by me. What’s important is the fact that Tom makes sure things are running smooth at the car wash, especially when it gets busy as it often does. And he always does a good job, just like the rest of the crew over there.

I was thinking of him when I stopped by recently on one of those bitter cold days when most people wouldn’t even think about working outside. Yet, there he was spraying down cars as they entered the bay. Water was freezing on his clothes. His fingers looked as if they were so cold they were going to fall off. Yet, he just kept at it. No complaints. Just doing his job.

If you think about it, there are tons of people out there in our community just like Tom. People doing the tough, often thankless jobs that are necessary for a functioning town. The waitresses and bartenders who make our watering holes more personable. The workers who bag the food at the grocery store. The guys on the DPW crews who show up to fix broken water mains in the middle of the night. The dental hygienists who clean our teeth and keep us smiling.

The list goes on and on.

I’ve been wanting to do a monthly feature on people like Tom for some time. After seeing him freezing his you know what off, I think it’s time.

Starting next month, we’ll begin running the new Spotlight On Service (thank you Ryan Kelly for coming up with that name) feature next month.

The reason I’m telling you about it now is because I need a little help from our readers. My hope is to have people nominate their favorite service people in town. If you know someone in town, perhaps a waitress or bartender, or someone like Tom, please email me (see end of this column) their name and where they work. If you have a contact for them, that would be helpful, too. And tell me why you think they should be spotlighted in The ‘Ville. Hopefully I’ll have some great recommendations by the time we publish next month.

The other reason I’m telling you now is that we are hoping to find a local sponsor for

this new feature. If you own a business and would like help make this monthly feature a reality, please reach out to me or our advertising director Scott Buie at scottbuie@ thevillemagazine.com or (313) 399-5231.

Unfortunately, we were recently notified our printing costs are going up in 2026 (happy new year!), so we could use some financial help to produce the new feature, which I think will be really popular with our readers. There are so many everyday people who do excellent jobs but don’t get much credit. This is a chance to change that.

So, please email me those recommendations and let’s get this feature off the ground. Who should we feature first?

CORRECTION:

In the December 2025 issue, our story about the fall Northville High sports teams, we had some incorrect information. All four Northville singles tennis players including freshman Zach Johnston (No. 1), senior Amogh Mavatoor (No. 2), senior Dhruv Laungani (No. 3) and junior Sagar Nandwana (No. 4) all finished 1-1 on the day as the Mustangs placed eighth in the team standings with nine points at the MHSAA Division 1 boys tennis finals, Oct. 17-18, at the Midland Tennis Center.

In doubles, going 1-1 were seniors Rohit Maddali and Michael Rogala (No. 1), along senior Siddarth Ram and junior Nathan Sarma (No. 3). Ram and Sarma had received a first-round bye before falling in the quarterfinals to Troy’s Nate Wanstreet and Jackson Kraus in straight sets.

Senior Anikait Pundhir and sophomore Pranshu Gande (No. 2), along with senior Kevin Xu and junior Xuncheng Meng (No. 4), each fell in their state finals doubles openers.

And for the record, the duo of Ram-Sarma were runner-up at No. 3 doubles at the Novi regional won by the host Wildcats.

Also, in the same article, we did not list senior offensive lineman Anthony Testani as making the KLAA AllConference football team.

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

Your Voice

‘A dangerous whirl’

So, we finally have our vaunted traffic circle; the safer alternative, we have been assured, to a traditional light-controlled intersection. Safer for whom? Certainly not pedestrians, who are now being admonished to cross Seven Mile between St. Lawrence Estates and Wing Street - a full block to the west. Cumbersome guidelines informed by fear of liability?

What about accessing the two-mile trail along Sheldon Road? What about the inevitable uptick in foot traffic as a result of the expanding Downs? Why didn’t this “improvement” place greater emphasis on the plight of hikers and bikers trying to negotiate this dangerous whirl of nonstop traffic?

If traffic circles ostensibly diminish accidents, why is the roundabout at Oakland County’s Pontiac Trail and Martin Parkway ranked the third worst intersection in the state?

Ken Kilpatrick

Development fatigue

In regard to the article, “Out With the Old (November issue)”, I was surprised by Supervisor Mark Abbo’s comments when showing his support for redeveloping the Northville Plaza property. Mr. Abbo says, “It’s all good.” Perhaps he does not drive during rush hour on 7 Mile from Haggerty to Sheldon.

Traffic is a concern. What does “a psychiatric hospital on Seven Mile Road that had 2,000 patients” have to do with the road handling today’s traffic? The hospital closed in 2003 (when 10,000 less people lived here) and 2,000 patients were not commuting daily. The Plaza development is just the most recent in a constant barrage of construction projects.

A major theme of the Tipping Point Theater’s charming comedy, “A Very Northville Christmas,” is that Northville still sees itself as a small town. I’m not sure that is true. With the increasing population density I am feeling the effects of a serious case of ‘development fatigue.’

Aside from the increase in traffic, the development we are seeing in our community is creating a host of environmental stressors. We are straining water resources and infrastructure and increasing solid waste, as well as air, noise, and light pollution.

We can widen roads, construct roundabouts, dig more landfills, and daylight all the rivers we can to accommodate more people, but there goes the small town charm. It seems we will soon be one big subdivision from here to South Lyon. I’m afraid it’s not all good, Mr. Abbo. It’s urban sprawl.

Louise Hopping

Plethora of grocery options

In last month’s issue, Editor Kurt Kuban mentioned being thankful for the quirky businesses of Northville. As a caregiver, what I’m thankful for are the multitude of groceries. Within five miles of downtown there are three Kroger, two Busch’s, Meijer, Trader Joe’s, Fresh-Thyme, Target, Costco, Cantoro, and coming soon are Nino Salvaggio and Whole Foods. May they all survive. Now if we could just get a Culver’s.

David Baldwin

‘A disgraceful reflection’

I was shaken after watching an ICE officer shoot and kill an innocent woman in her car in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. We are witnessing a lawless administration terrorizing communities, endangering lives in the name of making us safer and then trying to cover up what really happened. It is a disgraceful reflection of where we have fallen as a nation, and it should grieve us all. I am dumbfounded that such cruelty still finds support. This administration has successfully tapped into the vein of the abnormal, and mobilized a legion of enablers who find power in the very cruelty that should be revolting to us all.

Bob Gutowski

Keep library at current location

As we discuss the future of our public library, I think we should expand it at its present site.

Dr. Richard C. Spinale

Don’t engage with bullies

“Ignore the bullies and they’ll stop. They only do it for attention.”

That was the common advice given to kids by parents when I was growing up. It was good advice — just not always easy to follow. Back then, confrontation often meant risking physical harm; and it always got worse before it got better.

Now the bullies are online. They can’t physically harm you, and if everyone truly ignores them the algorithm won’t spread their posts. Yet, it seems today we are conditioned to fight back, which only gives these attention-seekers exactly what they want.

Social media platforms reward engagement, not truth. They promote whatever’s trending. So the most effective tactic really is the oldest one: ignore them — completely. Don’t react. Don’t click. Don’t like, laugh, or respond with an emoji. Don’t share or comment — even to correct misinformation or “put them in their place.” Every bit of interaction fuels their reach.

Instead, try this:

Ignore the post and move on. Put your time and energy into things that are positive and worth supporting.

If you want to share your perspective, make your own post about the topic — without linking to the others content.

Use the tools available. Those three little dots on the corner of most posts aren’t decoration — they’re options to report harassment, misinformation, abuse, or even block the poster. This is the only way to respond without amplifying harmful content.

In physical spaces, ignoring a bully could feel impossible — the threat was tangible, and silence might only push them further. But online, where visibility equals power, the best defense truly is to deny them the audience they seek.

Steve Narowitz

SOUND OFF

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

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GOING WITH THE FLOW

Locals getting the hang of Wayne County’s first roundabout

By Tim Smith | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

After three long years of planning, the muchanticipated traffic circle at Seven Mile and Sheldon Road in Northville is open for business.

So far, reviews following the roundabout’s Dec. 19 opening have mostly been positive as residents, businesses and commuters from nearby communities are discovering the quickest and safest way to go from Point A to Point B might not be a straight line any longer.

“It’s a matter of paying attention, being alert as you come up to that intersection,” Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull said. “People will become more familiar with it. Already, it is moving traffic better than it ever had before. Yes, it’s an intersection. But it is an intersection. It is not a straight road going one way or another.”

Although the main traffic circle is open, the project is not 100 percent completed. There is some work remaining on some of the adjacent entry points, as well as additional curb installation to come.

An official ribbon cutting ceremony is slated for the spring, said Turnbull, adding that most responses to the

roundabout’s unveiling so far have been positive.

“It’s worked very well,” Turnbull said. “It’s one of the first times you’ve done something where you got so much positive reinforcement from citizens or people going through it.”

Yet there also have been some residents worried about

roundabout and the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists attempting to cross it.

Resident Ken Kilpatrick wrote a letter to The Ville that there are “cumbersome guidelines” making it unsafe for pedestrians, in particular, to make their way across Seven Mile between St. Lawrence Estates (located east of the multi-million dollar roundabout) and Wing Street.

ROUNDABOUT RULES

Following are the “dos” and “don’ts” about navigating a roundabout, as provided by OHM Advisors:

Do the following

1. Slow down as you approach a roundabout.

2. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.

3. Yield at the entry point to vehicles already in the roundabout, as they have the right of way.

4. If there is traffic present in the roundabout, wait for an opening and then enter it.

Do not do the following 1. Do not stop while inside the roundabout.

2. Do not pull over inside the roundabout.

SMOOTH SAILING

But St. Lawrence Estates’ resident Carol Schrauben does not share that opinion.

“I love it, you know what, I think they’re going to get used to it,” Schrauben said. “I’m glad to see they’re building a walkway across for our community to access. So we can cross one lane – then stand for a minute – and cross the other, which will be safer. I know everybody is thrilled to have Sheldon open again.”

Schrauben said she has been taking the roundabout for a test drive almost every day and after

her first couple excursions it has been smooth as can be. It was important to remember to look in all directions and pack a little patience when rolling into the roundabout.

“The biggest issue I had initially is you’re so used to not looking left. So, the first two times I went, I went ‘Ooh, there’s something coming that way.’ You had to create a new habit.”

Schrauben also has a triedand-true plan for when traffic might be crazier, or when it might be a bit tougher to exit her subdivision.

“What I call them is ‘mom turns,’” Schrauben explained. “If I have a problem going straight, let’s say I happen to be at what we have as a rush hour, right? … Or I have a problem going left. Then I go right and get around to where I need to go.

“You have the roundabout. So If I have to go west, I go east on the roundabout to go west. Or if I have to go north on Wing or north on Sheldon, I go east on the roundabout to go north. You’ve got options.”

Northville resident Jim Roth, owner of Good Time Party Store and Custard Time on Seven Mile for more than five decades, said he has not personally experienced any problems using the roundabout.

“Even if I’m going uptown for something I go out of my way and go that way through the roundabout,” Roth said. “I’ve used it as many times as I can and I have not seen any problem whatsoever.”

Roth added that he likes how overall traffic flow is improving thanks to the traffic circle –even if construction barrels initially slowed a different kind of traffic, namely customers

It’s a learning curve for most people. But it moves traffic so much better than the old intersection.”

Northville

Police Chief Alan Maciag

going to his store. Business already is on the upswing as people learn how to use the roundabout.

“We lost a lot of customers here (during construction of the roundabout) and I knew it was going to happen,” Roth said. “Any time you disrupt something it changes people’s flow.

“Over the last 2-3 months we lost maybe 40 to 100 customers a day. But it (the roundabout) opened the weekend before Christmas and then we saw an immediate increase in customers.”

Roth noted that once final construction touches such as curbing are completed, and after motorists get some experience with the roundabout, any anxiety about using it should subside.

“For people who are skeptical, we definitely want to take some of the fright out of it,” Roth said. “It’s not that hard to go through. Just be on your toes and slow down. I think it’s really great.”

LEARNING CURVE

Turnbull and Police Chief Alan Maciag confirmed the roundabout has had a mostly safe launch, with only two minor car accidents reported since Dec. 19.

“Be alert, be attentive,” Turnbull instructed. “The whole county, the whole area is learning.”

Turnbull added that an estimated 130 hours of deliberations were conducted, including public town halls, to ensure that the first roundabout in Wayne County is as safe and easy-to-use as possible.

Another key element to the design of the project, Turnbull continued, was how the roundabout “was moved inward and used some of the land from the Downs to make it perfectly flat and extremely large. It’s one large circle. That makes it safer, more space within. And not multiple lanes going around, but just one lane.”

Driving conversations about employing a large and flat footprint for the roundabout were officials from engineering

consultants OHM Advisors, who have published weekly newsletters detailing progress of the project.

“It’s a learning curve for most people,” Maciag said. “But it moves traffic so much better than the old intersection.”

Maciag said both reported accidents took place when drivers failed to yield to other vehicles already within the roundabout. Not yielding is one of the “don’ts” prescribed by OHM.

There are separate righthand-turn lanes for each of the four directions, Maciag continued, “so you don’t have to go into the roundabout to make a right turn. That makes it even better because you’re feeding less cars into the roundabout.”

According to Wendy Longpre, director of strategic planning and special projects for the city, getting used to the roundabout will ease any initial concerns or worries.

“Sometimes it really is (about) familiarity and people may be a bit hesitant,” Longpre stressed. “But if they slow down and stay to the right, they should be able to become more comfortable with it after (they’ve) been through the intersection a couple times.”

Longpre said the Northville roundabout might be “a bit different for people” because of the use of multiple medians that not all traffic circles have.

“And so that might be confusing for drivers,” Longpre said. “But it does help with pedestrians crossing, it makes it safer for pedestrians. Because then you can get across one lane of traffic, stand in the median before you move to the next lane.

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“I think it’s a better roundabout for pedestrians than some other roundabouts are. I think the medians help clarify where cars should go.”

DRIVING APPS

Longpre added that different colors and textures in the concrete, not visible during the winter months, should help people traverse the roundabout more easily.

“Our center island is a darker gray, so you can tell when you’re on the roadway versus when you’re in the center island or the median,” Longpre explained. “That’s just one more thing that differentiates between the traffic lane and the pedestrian and bicycle pathways.”

Perhaps the biggest hiccup in

the roundabout being open to traffic is the lack of driving apps such as Google Maps updating Seven Mile and Sheldon from an intersection to a roundabout.

Maciag said the Waze driving

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Now that the first roundabout in Wayne County has opened in Northville on Seven Mile at Sheldon, people have mixed feelings. Do you have any tips or words of wisdom for motorists who might be intimidated or uncomfortable navigating a roundabout? How do you feel about the new roundabout? Please email your opinions to Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@thevillemagazine. com.

app, however, recently did make the necessary update, and that the others should quickly follow suit.

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“You hope that you’re not driving by the app, that you’re driving through the windshield, reading the signs and everything,” Maciag emphasized. “… It’s signed so well, with the yield signs and where to go and everything, I don’t see it being an issue.”

Meanwhile, there indeed may be a few wrinkles to iron out over the next several months, particularly as drivers,

further learn the new lay of the

potential problems will be quickly handled should they arise.

“I’ve liked everything about it,” Schrauben said. “Honestly, the things I’m concerned about a little bit are pedestrian and bicycle traffic. But we won’t know how that flows until we get to it.

“And, truly, this is my perspective. I have confidence that if there are issues that need to get ironed out, we’ll get them ironed out. The city will take care of any safety issues.”

Prom.

Mom Prom

Northville’s ultimate girls’ night out benefits local schools

This iconic rite of passage is glorified in movies and mythologized as the culmination of the high school experience. Picture DJs, limos, and young couples crowding the dance floor in their finest attire. Now, fast forward post-graduation, take out the men, and add a charitable component. Meet Mom Prom.

Founded in 2006 in Canton, by Betsy Crapps, Mom Prom is a ladies’ night out for charity where women get glammed up to dance and raise money for a cause. It has since become a national phenomenon, with hundreds of events and even a Hollywood movie in the works.

Four years ago, friends Shannon Horton and Danielle Berwick brought Mom Prom to Northville and it’s grown beyond the pair’s wildest dreams.

“It’s such a positive, fun night out,” Shannon says.

By Wensdy Von Buskirk

As they plan this year’s event at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth on Friday, April 17, they reflect on Mom Prom’s success, why it resonates so deeply with attendees, and the mission at the heart of it all.

MOM PROM MEETS NORTHVILLE

I meet Danielle and Shannon at Saint John’s Resort on a recent winter afternoon, where we grab a table in Five Restaurant, the resort’s swanky dining room. They’ve invited Renee Sarb, a fellow mom who helps with marketing and social media. Between them, the three have seven children in Northville Public Schools—six at Winchester Elementary.

Dressed in trendy attire and chic high heels, they settle in at a cozy table to share their story. It all started when they attended the Canton Mom Prom in 2022.

“We were there with two older friends and they said ‘you guys could do this’,” Danielle recalls. “We thought, can we do this? Should we?”

The concept was too good to pass up. They communicated with Betsy, who crowns Mom Prom organizers across the country in a somewhat informal fashion.

Prospective hosts must sign a letter of permission to protect the integrity and purpose of the trademarked concept.

“You start with zero dollars and you end with zero dollars. All the money has to go to charity,” Danielle explains.

After filling out the paperwork and receiving Betsy’s blessing, the work began. They started small, booking One Under in Livonia, a venue with a capacity of 180. Danielle made deals and fronted deposits out of her own pocket, wondering if anyone would come. They spread the word through their social networks and Facebook groups, drawing 168 attendees and raising $3,300 for the Winchester Elementary School PTA.

Post-event surveys were overwhelmingly positive and they knew they were onto something.

Northville Mom Prom continued to grow, attracting more people, raising more money, and expanding to the Meeting House Grand Ballroom in Plymouth. In 2025, they sold 300 tickets in just six weeks, attracting 14 sponsors and 70 auction items from 63 businesses, bringing in $17,500 for Kids Table.

For the 2026 event, they’ve reserved a ballroom at Saint John’s that holds 400 guests, and tickets sold out in just 48 hours. This year’s proceeds will benefit the Northville Educational Foundation.

So, what is it about Mom Prom that makes it so successful? Nostalgia plays a part.

As we chat, the organizers reflect on their own prom memories. Shannon attended El Camino High School in South San Francisco, California. She wore a long silver backless dress and piled into a limo with a big group of friends.

“I just remember having so much fun

dancing the night away,” she says. “I feel like you don’t have a care in the world that night.”

Two friends from her “90210 Crew” even flew out to attend Northville Mom Prom, and are now hosting the concept back home in California.

Danielle went to prom all four years at Melvindale High School and served on the planning committee. She remembers hoop dresses, French-tipped nails, and packing the dance floor to Nelly’s “It’s Getting Hot in Here.”

“We still dance to that at Mom Prom,” she says.

Renee ended up marrying her date from Dearborn’s Divine Child High School prom. This year, she’ll leave her husband at home but may wear the same gold dress.

“We’ll see if it still fits, that’s my goal,” she says.

DRESS TO IMPRESS

Fashion definitely factors into Mom Prom. Women have their hair and makeup done and wear formal gowns they rarely get the chance to show off. Some find dresses at department stores, others pull them from the back of their closets or score secondhand finds.

From Local to Viral

The idea for Mom Prom began in 2006, when founder Betsy Crapps was sorting through old keepsakes, including her prom dresses, and joking with friends about what to do with them. One night, she and a dozen girlfriends decided to dress up, go out to dinner, and dance. They laughed so hard, she says, “my face hurt.”

What started as a one-night joke became something bigger. Crapps rented her church gym, charged $10, brought in a DJ, and donated the proceeds to a local homeless shelter. Eighty women showed up. They raised $800, and a movement was born. By 2011, Mom Prom had gone viral after national media coverage, even earning a parody on Saturday Night Live. Today, there have been more than 1,000 Mom Proms across 46 states, typically about 100 each year, all required to be for charity. Crapps still tries to attend several events annually, including Northville’s.

Now, the story of Mom Prom is heading to Hollywood. Crapps recently signed a film deal with the creators of the Bad Moms franchise, read the script, and confirms that the heart of Mom Prom is built into the movie. One of the executive producers, she notes, also worked on Elf—her favorite movie. “It’s really, really funny,” she says, adding that the project has been years in the making.

Despite the scale of the phenomenon—the biggest Mom Prom to date raised $115,000 for foster care in Texas—Crapps says the mission hasn’t changed: women showing up for one another and giving back.

— Compiled by Wensdy Von Buskirk

Continued on Page 16

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Some groups go all in with themes like matching sequined skirts, wedding gowns, flapper dresses, or colorful wigs.

Ann Davis, a longtime Northville resident who has attended every Northville Mom Prom, has been known to rock ’80s hair.

“It’s a cool event where women can celebrate together,” Davis says. “But the number one thing that attracts me to it is the charitable cause.”

Mom Prom-goer Shannon Kantner agrees. New to Northville in 2023, she was searching for a way to connect with the community and give back when she discovered Mom Prom. She attended in the dress her oldest sister wore to prom in 1988, a turquoise lamé number with oversized puffy sleeves.

“We felt so much love all night,” she says.

Last year, she and her group gathered for a pre-party and prom-style photos in her friend’s backyard.

“It felt like high school, but in the best way possible,” she says.

But you don’t have to have fond high school memories to attend. You don’t even have to be a mom. At its core, Mom Prom is about creating a safe, celebratory night out that supports a meaningful cause.

To wrap up our interview at Saint John’s, Danielle, Shannon, Renee, and I walk down to the ballroom where this year’s event will take place. Danielle admits she’s nervous as she imagines filling the cavernous space

with a DJ, photo booth, food, open bar, and hundreds of women on the dance floor with glow wands or whatever prop they dream up this year. But every risk they’ve taken so far has paid off.

“You have to see it for yourself and experience the vibe,” Shannon says. “The smiles are ear to ear.”

“It’s like a Taylor Swift concert but we’re not Swifties,” Danielle says. “It’s just happiness and kindness and fun.”

Saturday, February 7, 2026

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Doors open at 8:30 AM

Northville High School

45700 Six Mile Rd

Northville, MI 48168

Parenting with Confidence

No registration neededJoin us for this FREE event!

Join us at Northville Parent Camp for a welcoming, community-centered experience rooted in Parenting with Confidence. From early parenting moments to supporting kids on the path toward independence and college, Parent Camp brings people together for real conversation and guidance around today’s digital world— including AI and social media—while strengthening family communication and mental wellness.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Thoughtful TED-style talks from experienced voices

A wellness fair connecting families to local resources

Breakout sessions centered on relevant topics

A community coming together to learn and support one another

To learn more about Northville Mom Prom sponsorship opportunities or to join the ticket waiting list, visit northvillemomprom.org. For more information visit www.supportnef.org/parent-camp

FEATURING TED TALK SPEAKERS:

Matthew Swartz, Evolving Lives, Inc

Aaron Baughman, Michigan Virtual

A Perfect Combo

Relocated Little Salumi now sharing space with Stackwood Studios

By Kurt Kuban | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

If you are a sandwich aficionado, you may have been wondering what happened to The Little Salumi, the little gourmet sandwich shop that has been located on Main Street for the past four years.

Fear not. The shop owned by Northville’s Jessica Poole has moved down the road – about a half mile – into the Stackwood Studios building at 446 S. Main Street.

Poole had to make the move after being informed by the owner of the building that there were other plans for her space, and she needed to be out by the end of December. After a monthslong search for a new space, which she described as frantic and often frustrating, Poole inked a deal with Stackwood owner Kara Adkins to occupy about 800 square feet of space.

Poole closed the doors of her

original spot on Dec. 23 and immediately started renovating the Stackwood space to fit her needs. She finally got the green light from county health

particularly tough year for her, personally. When she was notified that she would have to move, it came at a time when her husband, Corey McPherson,

department to open the new location on Jan. 16.

Poole said the move has “reinvigorated” her, especially coming on the heels of a

30, which also marked the 4th anniversary of her opening the business.

Poole called the search for a new place “a wild goose chase” that had a lot of dead ends and disappointments.

A LOT IN COMMON

Then she ran into Adkins, and it almost seemed like destiny. Poole and Adkins attended Northville High School together, and were a year apart, graduating in 2000 and 2001 respectively. They are also from well-known Northville families.

At the time, Stackwood was only using a small portion of their building. She and her husband, Darrell Adkins (also an NHS alum), had been considering finding a tenant for the rest of the building, which they purchased in 2022.

“It was something we talked about doing. It was just figuring out what that would be. The space was just sitting there being unused,” Kara Adkins said. “When this came along, it seemed like a perfect fit. We’re two female, likeminded business owners. We’re both moms. We have a lot in common.”

was consumed with finishing law school, and they had a 1-year-old daughter at home. She also lost her father, Richard Poole, who passed away on Dec.

Since Poole announced the move, there has been a little confusion about Stackwood Studios, however. No, Stackwood is not closing. They are just occupying less space. They still have a 500-squarefoot studio, where Kara shoots hundreds of headshots for Northville High School students (she shoots most of the NHS composite photos). She also shoots lots of the NHS sports team photos, as well as senior photos. She is also well known for shooting local business portraits, and does the occasional wedding gig.

Situated in the historic Beal Town neighborhood, the Stackwood building has quite a history of its own. Built in the 1920s, the building has served many functions over the years, including being a garage, gas station and Northville Tire Center, a Firestone dealer.

MORE SPACE

and Williamsburg are still on the board. In fact, Poole actually added a new sandwich, called the Georgia, a turkey Rueben named after her daughter.

While she was closed and doing the renovations at the new location, many of her loyal customers came in to wish her luck, and also hoping to find out when they could expect again get their Little Salumi fix.

Rene Zugaro, a Little Salumi regular, stopped by several times in early January wanting to know when she could again get a Lainey’s Chicken Salad, which is her favorite.

Poole said the new location is perfect for her, and offers lots of advantages over her previous location. For one, it’s almost twice the size at about 800 square feet. This will allow her to have a couple tables and benches for patrons. In the summer she will have outdoor tables on the patio, as well.

Another big benefit of the move is there are parking spaces for patrons. At the old location, customers sometimes found it difficult to find on-street or nearby parking.

The Little Salumi hours will continue to be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. on Sundays.

As for her menu, not much has changed. Fan favorites like the Muffaletta, Caprese Classic

business is because it’s in my community. I love my community,” she said. “It’s really important to me to be here. Northville is the only place I would even consider doing this.”

For more information about The Little Salumi, visit thelittlesalumi.com or call (248) 773-7640. For more information about Stackwood Studios, visit stackwoodstudios.com or call (248) 347-4900.

“I’m having chicken withdrawals,” joked the Novi resident, who estimated she eats at the Little Salumi twice a month and more often in the summer months.

“I remember walking past the place one day, so I decided to go in. I was impressed. It was so good. I’ve been going back ever since,” Zugaro added.

Poole said she is happy to have the move behind her. There was never any doubt the new place would be in Northville.

“The reason I started this

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Mustangs Honor Roll

NHS to celebrate latest Hall of Famers later this month

◁ By Brad Emons ▷

Northville High athletics will once again celebrate another stellar Hall of Fame class as 10 new members and four teams will be inducted during the weekend of Jan. 30-31, 2026.

The 10 individual inductees and teams will be recognized during halftime of the Northville-Brighton basketball game on Friday, Jan. 30 followed by a banquet Saturday, Jan. 31 at Northville Hills Golf Club.

This latest class features seven student-athletes, two coaches/administrators with another receiving that Lifetime Achievement Award.

Northville will also celebrate its four-time MHSAA Division 1 championship girls golf teams, coached by Chris Cronin, from 2018-2021.

Introducing the 2026 Northville Hall of Fame class.

STUDENT-ATHLETES

Ryan Huzjak: In 1990 as a junior, Huzjak quarterbacked the Mustangs to an 8-4 overall record and a trip to the Class A semifinals while earning AllWestern Lakes and All-State honors.

The 1992 grad earned a total of nine varsity letters including three each in football and

basketball, two in track and one in baseball.

Huzjak was a two-time AllWLAA pick in football; secondteam as a junior and first-team as a senior in basketball; and a WLAA champion and state qualifier in track in the 800- and 1,600-meter relays.

During his senior year (1991) in football, Huzjak was named to the Detroit Free Press Fab 50 players by Mick McCabe.

Huzjak went on to the University of Toledo (1993-96) where he earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors twice (1995, 1996) and was named senior captain. He threw for 6,926 career yards and 52 touchdowns during his career, while setting 13 school records.

During the 1995 season at UT, Huzjak helped the Rockets

(11-0-1, 7-0-1) earn the MAC championship. That season was capped by a 40-37 victory over Nevada in the Las Vegas Bowl as UT was ranked No. 22 in the final Associated Press poll and No. 24 in the CNN/USA Today poll.

Huzjak was also a two-time Academic All-MAC selection.

Kate Gayle MacDonaldSchultz: During her senior year in 2002, MacDonald was MHSAA Division 1 medalist shooting 75-72-147 as the Mustangs took fourth overall, while also winning regional, division and conference titles in the Western Lakes Activities Association.

The two-time team captain was a two-time state finals participant and helped the Mustangs to back-to-back

regional titles, as well as division and conference championships.

At Grand Valley State (2002), MacDonald was a two-time Great Lakers Intercollegiate Athletic Conference runnerup individual medalist and led the Lakers to three team titles as well as two NCAA Division II regional crowns and two runner-up team finishes.

At the Nationals, MacDonald helped GVSU finished second, fourth (twice) and sixth.

Currently working as a counselor at Northville High, MacDonald became coach for the Lady Mustangs in 2022 and has guided them to backto-back D1 state titles (2025, 2024), a sixth (2023) and a third (2022).

During that stretch, Northville has captured four division, three KLAA conference and four West Division championships.

Ali Arastu: As a senior in track in 2010, Arastu won the MHSAA D1 300-meter hurdles and was a two-time state runner-up. He earned multiple All-State placements and was also a member of the state qualifying 4 x 200 relay. Arastu went to have a decorated career at the

University of Michigan (201115) setting the school record in the 400-meter hurdles (46.53) while also serving as team captain in in 2013 and 2015.

He earned NCAA AllAmerican honors four times including a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2013 and a ninth in 2012, while also qualifying in 2011 in the 400 hurdles. He was also a member of the 4 x 400 Indoor relay (2012) which earned secondteam honors.

He was also a Big Ten runnerup in the Outdoors 400 hurdles twice.

Rachel Coleman: The heralded distance runner and 2014 grad remains the school track and field record holder in four events including the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter individual runs, as well as 4 x 800 relay.

Coleman was the MHSAA D1 champion in the 1,600 and runner-up in the 3,200 as a senior. She placed eighth in the 1,600 as a junior.

In 2013, Coleman was part of the D1 cross country state championship team where she placed a team-best 10th individually. She was a multiple regional champion and was four-time All-Region finishing in the top five each time.

Coleman was also a four-time All-Region in cross country and three-time All-Conference in track.

Coleman went on to run at the University of Michigan (2014-19) where she was a member of the 2016 Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor track championship teams, as well as the of the 2018 Big Ten cross country championship team. She finished 11th in the 2017 Big Ten Indoor Championships and earned U-M’s Academic Athletic Achievement Award (2016-17).

Connor Johnston: As a senior in 2015, Johnston became the MHSAA Division 1 champion at No. 1 singles after finishing runner-up in 2014 and 2013. He was also the No. 2 singles state champion as a freshman and earned All-State and All-Conference honors four straight years.

Johnston went on to the University of Michigan (2017-21) where he compiled a career singles record of 42-38 and a doubles mark of 58-34. He helped the Wolverines to four straight NCAA tourney appearances, including one Sweet 16 appearance.

Johnston, who was also Academic All-Big Ten selection, earned an NCAA tourney doubles tourney berth in 2017 and was ranked top 10 in the ITA Regional doubles rankings three times.

Laura Westphal: During her prep career for the Mustangs, the 2017 grad earned a total of seven individual and six relay (top eight) All-State honors, while also being a part of the D1 record 200-yard medley relay quartet.

Westphal was back-toback D1 champion in the 500 freestyle (2014, 2013) and a two-time runner-up (2016 200 freestyle; 2015 500 freestyle.

She was also a six-time high school All-American (three individual, three relay).

In her three seasons at Williams College (Mass.), Westphal captured four NCAA Division III titles in two seasons while leading her team to third and fourth place finishes, respectively.

Williams qualified for six events at the NCAAs and captured 12 New England Small College Athletic Conference titles.

Jake Moody: One of the most prolific kickers in MHSAA history, Moody, a 2018 grad, recorded 39 career field goals (first All-time) including distances of 58 (second Alltime), 57, 55 and 52 yards. He is also tied for second with most field goals in a game (4) and tied for fifth in a season (14).

Moody was also the starting third baseman on Northville’s 2017 D1 state runner-up baseball team.

At the University of Michigan, Moody earned All-

American honors twice, while winning the Lou Groza Award in 2021 as the nation’s top kicker. He was Big Ten Kicker of the Year twice and is only one of five Wolverines to exceed 300 points and set another school record with six field goals in one game.

In 2023, Moody was drafted in the third round (99th overall) by the NFL San Francisco ‘49ers and in Super Bowl LVIII converted three field goals, including two from 50 yards-

Continued on Page 26

Continued from Page 25

plus, in a 25-22 setback to Kansas City.

Moody started the 2025 season with the ’49ers before being picked up by the Chicago Bears where he played in two games before finishing the season’s final six games with the Washington Commanders. This season he went 19 of 23 on field goals with a long of 56 and 15 of 16 on extra points. He has played in a total of 40 NFL games with 56 career field goals.

COACHES/ ADMINISTRATORS

Dave Longridge (posthumously): Serving as the varsity basketball coach from 1961-68, Longridge guided Northville to its greatest season in school history in 1961-62 going 20-0 during the regular season while capturing Class B district and regional titles.

Eastern Michigan University where he was captain and quarterback in 1959. He also served in the U.S. Navy.

Also serving as an assistant football coach at Northville High, Longridge spent his entire professional career with the Northville Public Schools where he taught before becoming an assistant principal at Northville High (1968-74), principal of Cooke Junior High (1974-85) and principal of Meads Mill Middle School (1985 until he retired in 1997).

Ron Horwath (posthumously):

Considered one of the best leaders in the Northville Public Schools, Horwath served in a variety of roles in the district.

Horwath was a standout three-sport athlete at Detroit St. Gregory before heading to Michigan State where he played football one season before entering the Korean

That team, which fell to perennial state power River Rouge in the state semifinals at Jenison Fieldhouse, featured Michigan State All-American quarterback Steve Juday and Michigan basketball standout Dave Brown.

Longridge, a three-year letter winner in football and basketball at Dearborn Fordson High, played college football at

career.

From 1953-59, Horwath served as a math teacher and head football, basketball and baseball coach at Royal Oak until moving over to Northville Schools where he served as head football coach compiling an overall record of 47-12-3 over seven seasons. He was also Longridge’s assistant in basketball.

Horwath then moved into an administrative role with Northville Schools serving as assistant principal at the high school and junior high levels before becoming director of personnel.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Ron Angove (1973): The Northville grad played football and started his career with the Northville Public Schools where he spent 37 years in the maintenance department while taking care of all the district’s athletic fields and facilities before retiring in 2010.

Angove was best known for providing the coaching staffs and game workers with potluckstyle meals Thursday nights between the freshman and JV football games.

Now residing in Atlanta, Michigan, Angove spends his time fly fishing and bird

hunting.

CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS

Girls golf (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021): In 2018, the Mustangs captured the first of four straight titles by 31 strokes over Plymouth led by top 10 individual finishers Nicole Whatley (fourth) and Sufna Gill (fifth).

Other team members that day at Battle Creek’s Bedford Valley Golf Course included Mariella Simoncini, Katelyn Tokarz and Sedona Shipka.

In 2019, the Mustangs repeated at Michigan State’s Forest Akers (West Course) winning by 34 strokes over Grosse Pointe South led by Shipka (tied for ninth), Gill, Tokarz, Samantha Coleman and Megha Vallabhaneni.

Northville then three-peated in 2020 by nine strokes at Forest Akers (East Course) over Rochester Adams paced by Coleman (sixth), Avi Gill, Haesol Park, Tokarz and Vallabhaneni.

The Lady Mustangs then made it four in a row in 2021 at Grand Valley State’s The Meadows by 12 strokes over KLAA West rival Plymouth led by Vallabhaneni (third), Coleman, Avi Gill, Park and Meghana Lanka.

War. Horwath returned after his military service and played football at the University of Detroit where he at one time was the nation’s leading rusher (182 yards per game) before moving over to defensive back that same season.

He was drafted twice by the Detroit Lions and competed in their exhibition season before a head injury cut short his pro

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Past Tense

Time Out

Northville Watch and Clock Shop closes its doors after 52 years

By Michele M. Fecht

F

or more than half a century, Northville’s Watch and Clock Shop was the go-to location for clock and watch purchases and repairs. Founded by Melvin (Mel) Anderson along with his wife, Lois, the clock shop has occupied the northeast corner of Dunlap and Wing streets since 1973.

In December, owners Andy and Becki Anderson closed the longtime Northville business following the death of Mel Anderson on Sept. 24, 2025 at the age of 101. The historic Gothic-Revival building which housed the business is now on the market.

The Andersons reached out to builder Mike Miller who is helping with the sale of the building and plans to return the structure to residential use.

“It needs a little love,” Miller said of the structure but added that “it has good bones.” The house and its detached garage are contributing structures

in the Northville Historic District. The Northville Historic District Survey dates the house to the late 1850s60 or possibly a decade later. The garage was constructed between 1926 and 1942. It is noted that the first owner was likely Captain Solomon Gardner, whose daughter, Marie Antoinette Gardner, married Lyman Yerkes. By 1930, John Litsenberger purchased the home and resided there until the early 1970s.

“The house has great character,” Miller noted, adding that he would like to use the same template he used for the historic home at 207 West Dunlap that is kitty-corner from the former clock shop. “In a perfect world we would keep the original footprint,” Miller said but multiple additions to the one-and-one-half story

structure over many years have resulted in an irregular footprint.

While there are no buyers yet, Miller said he is excited about the possibilities for the

structure. “I think this could be a spectacular legacy,” he said. He noted that one feature he would like to retain is the iconic

pocket watch sign that hangs from a bracket on the façade porch.

It would be a fitting legacy for the longtime business that occupied the site for more than half a century. It would also honor the Anderson family who made the business a destination for clock owners.

Mel and Lois Anderson were state-licensed horologists (persons who repair or make clocks and watches). Lois was the first woman in Michigan to become a state-licensed horologist, and all three Anderson sons — Dan, Norman and Andy — also are licensed horologists. The Northville Watch and Clock Shop would eventually become the largest dealer of clocks in Michigan based on sales volume and was one of the largest in the country. Its closure ends an era.

DOWNTOWN NORTHVILLEHeart Of

Round Two

LIV Golf coming back to play The Cardinal after triumphant first year at St. John’s

By Brad Emons

After receiving positive feedback, LIV Golf has decided to run it back another year at the St. John’s Resort in Plymouth when it hosts the Aramco Team Championship, Aug. 27-30, at The Cardinal.

The announcement came after LIV Golf, which became a new rival to the PGA Tour in 2022, set up its original 13-tour worldwide schedule, which begins its fifth season on Feb. 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In 2025, the LIV Golf Team Championship debuted at the newly Ray Hearn redesigned Cardinal, an 18-hole championship course.

Over the three-day event, an estimated 40,000 spectators were able catch a glimpse of well-known pros and grand slam major winners such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Charl Schwartzel.

“We had a lot of

conversations leading up to the event, but nothing was assumed that they were coming back,” said Dustin Dent, area managing director overseeing the Pulte assets at St. John’s and The Inn at Stonecliffe in Mackinaw. “Truly, what ultimately mattered was how the community and the fans showed up to the event. The level of energy engagement and pride we saw from the golf fans made a strong statement and that’s what really played the meaningful role in getting LIV to return.”

This year’s team format hosted by The Cardinal will feature a play-in round starting on Thursday followed by the quarterfinals (Friday), semifinals (Saturday) and finals (Sunday). There will be 13 teams and five wildcard entrants.

“From the course layout for team match play to the fan experiences to world-class concerts, St. John’s Resort and the state of Michigan were fantastic hosts for LIV Golf this past season, and we can’t wait to return next August,” said Ross Hallett, LIV Golf Executive Vice-President, Head of Events.

Continuing to use the motto, “Golf, But Louder,” local fans will enjoy some of the same amenities that they enjoyed from a year ago including postround live concerts over a fourday period instead of three.

Imagine Dragons were one of the groups to play at St. John’s during the 2025 event and there are plans for an expanded party hole and fan zones, along with collaborations with local chefs and artists, as well as new hospitality offerings designed to elevate the guest experience.

“I wouldn’t say wrinkles, there’s more opportunities,” Dent said. “It is a big evolution. It allows for more fan engagement throughout the week. Specific details really haven’t been shared with us yet on exactly what that means having that four days. But as we get closer to the event, we will be able to share that out. But I would say fans can expect a more expanded experience, more opportunities to interact with the teams, and just a more overall experience with LIV Golf. It will be enhanced and in a much bigger way.”

Although figures from last

year’s event were never officially released, Dent said attendance was strong and that both St. John’s and LIV Golf were happy overall in all aspects.

“We are extremely proud how the event went last year from

operations – period -- across the board,” he said. “We had Ian Poulter tell us that the greens at The Cardinal were the best that he had putted on. I think that’s a big statement.

“From the surrounding communities we had cooperation as far as parking, volunteers . . . you name it, we felt the support. Also, local businesses embraced LIV as the tournament came near. This year, with enhanced marketing and even more community support, we are going to have an even better event than we had last year.”

As far as tweaks to The Cardinal layout itself, Dent doesn’t expect much change at all.

“We actually talked about lengthening some holes, but with the way that the course played the final day, that course is in a really good spot,” he said, “so we are going to leave it as it is.”

For more information, visit www.livgolf.com.

ICE BLOCK PARTY

Ice Festival brings new thrills, old chills to region

By Scott Spielman

As director of the Plymouth Ice Festival, James Gietzen knows all about the popular event that turns the downtown streets into a dazzling gallery of creative carvings. Just don’t ask him about the weather.

“I’m usually pretty tight-lipped about that,” said Gietzen with a chuckle. “Usually, whatever I say is the exact opposite of what will happen. The good news is we’ve been doing this so long, we know how to make it happen even if it gets hot.”

The popular festival returns for the 44th year from Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, with scheduled events throughout the weekend— and downtown—and carvings available to view all day and night. Regardless of the uncertainties of planning an outdoor event in January in Michigan—temperatures have varied from the middle 50s to well below freezing throughout its history—it’s one of Michigan’s original ice festivals and remains among the largest, and it takes a lot of work to pull it off.

“We work all year to make this thing happen,” said Gietzen, a Northville resident who also organizes Northville’s Victorian Festival. “It’s 100 percent sponsorshipdriven. There’s not anything at the festival that tax dollars pay for or anything like that.

44th Annual Plymouth Ice Festival

WHEN: Jan. 30-Feb. 1

HOURS: 5-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Kellogg Park and Downtown Plymouth

HIGHLIGHTS: New zip line, petting zoo, Hot Chocolate & S’mores Porch, Crazy Craig Family Comedy Juggling Variety Show, ice carving competitions and demonstrations, Sensory-Friendly Space – Miracle League of Plymouth Tent, Ice Age at The Penn Theatre (all seats $5 all weekend long), Ice Bar & Party Tent (E.G. Nick’s Party Lot), live music Friday and Saturday nights from 8-11 p.m., and several warming stations

ADMISSION: Free

MORE INFO: plymouthicefestival.com

We’re constantly looking for new sponsors, new partners, new ways to make it special.”

Among the new aspects this year will be a zip line that extends down Ann Arbor Trail from Main Street to Union Street next to Kellogg Park. A mobile Tower will be set up at the Main Street and Ann Arbor Trail corner to kick off the experience—a 300foot aerial experience that will allow festival goers a new perspective of the activities around them.

“They’ll be able to take the event in like never before,” Gietzen said. “It’s a cool add to the festival this year. It’s something we saw a few years ago and we’ve been wanting to do it. This seemed like the right year to try something new.” Zip line rides will cost $10.

Also new will be a Hot Chocolate & S’mores Porch, located on Penniman Avenue, where festival goers can purchase a s’more kit, head to a nearby fire to toast their marshmallows and put together their treats to enjoy them on carved ice benches. Hot chocolate, coffee, and other specialty winter drinks from Continental Drip will be available, too.

“It’s another new idea we’ve been kicking around for a couple of years,” said Gietzen.

The ice carvings themselves are the stars of this particular show. There will more than 150 in all, spread throughout the downtown streets and in Kellogg Park. Each starts out as a 350-pound crystal clear block

ICE CARVING COMPETITIONS

Among the most popular attractions of the annual Ice Festival are the ice carving competitions, which are presented by Henry Ford Health. Here’s this year’s schedule:

• College Carving Competition: Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Dueling Chainsaws Competition: Saturday, 7 p.m. on the Main Stage

• Professional Carving Competition: Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

In addition, guests of all ages are invited to step inside the fun at the Interactive Ice Experience Area, where ice carvings aren’t just for viewing— they’re meant to be enjoyed. This playful space features interactive ice sculptures designed for sitting, posing, and playing, making it one of the most photo-friendly areas of the festival.

of ice—a blank, frozen canvas that artists turn into anything from popular characters to corporate logos and glittering sculptures of all shapes and sizes.

Nationally recognized, award-winning ice carvers will demonstrate their craft throughout the weekend, either on the

main stage—where the dueling chainsaws competition will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday—or in Kellogg Park, itself, with a college carving competition from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and a professional competition from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Those who enjoy a more hands-on experience can head to the Interactive Ice Experience Area, which features ice sculptures designed for sitting, posing, and playing, making it one of the most photofriendly areas of the festival. It will be filled with larger-than-life characters carved entirely from ice, interactive ice pieces to site or play on---even a specially carved ice shuffleboard table.

The Miracle League of Plymouth will bring its sensory-friendly space for those who prefer a more relaxing environment. Located on Penniman Avenue near the Penn Theatre, this dedicated tent provides a quieter, less crowded area for guests who may need a break from the sights, sounds, and activity of the festival. Guests

can interact with a small selection of ice carvings and take a moment away from the crowds, reflecting upon the festival’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and creating an enjoyable experience for all members of the community.

ASK THE DOCTOR

QUESTION:

Dr. Jacobi, I love my four kids and they love me. They feel badly for me because I have macular degeneration and find vision keeps me away from doing those things I like to do. If any of them sees something online that might help people with low vision they purchase it for me. So, I have dozens of hand-held magnifying devices that are useless because my hands aren’t free to use my computer or do other things which require 2 hands. Should I give up on using my computer or is there something you can do to help?

ANSWER:

— Dorothy M.

I have good news for you Dorothy, you can say goodbye to hand-held magnifiers. There are a variety of different devices available to help that are hands-free, so you can use your computer but do a variety of other things you have probably already given up on. The majority are in a wearable form similar to eyeglasses. You didn’t mention if there are other activities you want to do besides work on your computer, such as watching television, reading the bible, seeing the faces of your loved ones, or driving. During your initial evaluation we can determine what is needed to help you achieve each of your goals.

The first step is to evaluate how much usable vision you have. In addition, we need to identify all of your needs. The best thing to do is to schedule an appointment so I can show you how we can help.

ABOUT BEYOND LOW VISION

For more than 35 years, John P. Jacobi, OD, FCOVD, FIALVS has been helping partially sighted people get their lives back. Dr. Jacobi is a Fellow of the College of Vision Development and the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, a member of the Michigan and American Optometric Associations.

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.

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

You pass your annual physical with flying colors.

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

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

(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.

You think you’re safe.

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

Raising Awareness

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.

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 lifethreatening 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

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

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

• 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

On the Road With

Anniversary trip to Hawaii

Northville’s Curt and MaryAnne Cranford took a trip to Hawaii to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. One of their favorite stops was at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the big island of Hawaii.

“Although we didn’t see the towering eruptions, we did see lava flowing from Kilauea, the only active volcano in the U.S.,” Curt said. “Since we’ve been home we check the live cam frequently. And, of course, Kilauea has really been showing off, with eruptions as high as 1,000 feet. Quite a sight.”

Congratulations on 50 years!

From Barcelona to Buenos Aires

John and Barb Woodrich sailed on a month-long Viking Ocean cruise called the Southern Atlantic Crossing, which started in Barcelona, Spain with stops in Granada, Casa Blanca, Cape Verde, Rio De Janiero, Recife, Montevideo, Uruguay and ending in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some of their favorite stops included the Casa Rosada (Argentina’s version of the White House) in Buenos Aires and Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janiero, Brazil.

Here they are (right photo second from top) pictured with their copy of The ‘Ville in Malaga, Spain.

Vising Brazilian Hometown

Daniel and Lise Lindenmeyer traveled to Brazil in December, where they visited Lise’s hometown of Marata. A German-Brazilian village, Marata is in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

“We came back to Michigan and went from 95F to 7F,” Daniel said, after the couple returned on Dec. 31. Lise is pictured holding her copy of The ‘Ville in her hometown.

Hopping through the British Isles

Scott and Kitty Kremer of Northville recently went on a Viking Ocean Cruise of the British Isles.

The tour started in Bergen, Norway and included stops in the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. Here they are pictured in Ullapool, Scotland.

MORE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS, AP & ADVANCED CLASSES THAN ANY OTHER SCHOOL IN METRO DETROIT.

DISCOVER DCDS II 1.28.26

Our leadership in athletics, arts, and academics reflects the dynamic learning happening every day at DCDS. Experience it for yourself at our interactive open house. Tour our Stan-X genetics lab, XR film and podcast studios, and 90,000 sq. ft. fieldhouse. Discover our Middle School STEAM and dance studios, and see joyful learning come alive in our Lower School.

To register, scan the QR code or visit www.dcds.edu/discover

out & about out & about out & about

YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHVILLE THIS MONTH

SEND IT IN To get your items listed in Out & About, email editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@gmail.com.

Northville’s Centennial History

Jan. 28

Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull will make a presentation about “Northville’s Centennial History” at 7 p.m. at Mill Race Village’s New School Church. This kicks off the Northville Historical Society’s 2026 lecture series. The mayor will tell stories about Northville’s first hundred years and its 1927 Centennial Parade and Celebration. The series is funded through a grant from the Northville Community Foundation and is free and open to the public. Donations are always welcome and appreciated. For more information, visit www. millracenorthville.org.

Book signing

Jan. 29

Northville author, business coach and mentor Todd Palmer will be signing copies of his book, From Suck to Success, from 6-8 p.m. at Dancing Eye Gallery, 101 N Center Street in downtown Northville.

Virtual Author Talk

Feb. 5

The Northville District Library’s monthly virtual Author Talk series next takes place 7-8 p.m. on Feb. 5 with author Vanessa Riley. Riley is an awardwinning author and proud recipient of the 2024 Georgia Mystery/Detective Fiction Author of the Year. Her novels include Island Queen and Queen of Exiles. Register by visiting libraryc.org/ northvillelibrary/106831.

Toy Swap

Jan. 31

The Northville District library will host a Toy Swap from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31 in the Carlo Meeting Room. Tickets are required - for all ages. Drop off gently used toys (limit of 5) in good working condition to the

Recognizing Northville’s Top Volunteers

The Northville Chamber of Commerce will host the 4th Annual Northville Community Awards Dinner on Feb. 5. Awards will be presented recognizing a variety of accomplishments, including business excellence, volunteers of the year, and the prestigious John Genitti Citizen of the Year Award.

The evening kicks off at 5 p.m. at Genitti’s Hole-In-The-Wall with cocktails and raffle basket bidding. At 6 p.m., enjoy dinner before heading down the street to walk the red carpet and watch the awards presentation at the First Presbyterian Church of Northville.

Admission is $65 for Chamber members and $75 for non-members. For more information, visit www.northville.org or email Maddy@northville.org.

Information Desk from Monday, January 26 - Friday, January 30. You will receive a ticket for every toy your drop off (limit of 5) so that you can return and “shop” for new-to-you toys on January 31. For more information, visit northvillelibrary.org.

Blood Drive

Feb. 9

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 at the Northville Community Center. Every blood donation can save up to three lives. Register by calling (248) 305-2851 or visit northvilleparksandrec.org.

Chamber Coffee Connection

Feb. 11

The Northville Chamber of Commerce will be joining with their counterparts in Plymouth for a combined Coffee

Connection from 8-9 a.m. at the new Northville Pickleball Club. It offers an opportunity for chamber members and other community members to network with one another and discuss events in the coming year. It is free for chamber members and $10 for non-members. To register, contact Maddy Wise at maddy@northville.org or (248) 3497640.

Valentine's Tea

Feb.

14

The Northville Historical Society will host its annual Valentine’s Day Tea from 1-3:30 p.m. at The Cady Inn at Mill Race Village. Join them for a Victorian-themed afternoon of tea, treats, and conversation, featuring a special presentation by Mary Salmon, owner of the Lace Museum. Tickets are $45 for the public and $40 for NHS members. To order tickets online visit

www.millracenorthville.org or contact Suemarie Klimek at (248) 348-1845, Option 2.

Fireman’s Ball

Feb. 21

The Northville Township Firefighter's Charity Fund will host their annual Firefighter's Ball from 6-11:30 p.m. at Laurel Manor in Livonia. This is the largest fundraiser for the NTFFCF, which funds many local projects and charitable causes, and also supports the families and needs of first responders. The Phoenix Theory will provide live music for the ball, which this year is themed “A Masquerade Party!” Join them for a night of dining, dancing, and donating. To purchase tickets visit www.ntffcharityfund. com/2025fb. To become a sponsor for the event visit ntffcharityfund.com/ sponsorships.

Show Your Love Variety Show

Feb.

27

Living and Learning Enrichment Center’s “Show Your Love” Variety Show will take place 6-8 p.m. at Northville High School’s auditorium. LLEC’s members and partners in the special needs community are showcasing a variety of talents from dancers, actors, singers, poets, and other entertainers. This event will feature Baseline Studio and pop-ups featuring talented members with items available for purchase. Premier VIP Admission is $50, VIP Admission is $35, and advance general admission tickets are $15. Tickets can also be purchased the night of the event for $20. For more information, visit livingandlearningcenter.org/variety. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Melissa Cooper at mcooper@llecmi.org.

Saturday February 21, 2026 6:00 p.m. $150/ticket

TDishin’

With Denise

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

Slow Down and Have a Safe 2026

here are so many old wives’ tales about New Years Eve and New Years Day. My favorite is whatever you’re doing during those two daysyou’ll do all year. How many of you were shoveling snow? My friend, Maureen, shared an old Irish tradition – a candle is lit and placed in the window as a symbol of hope, welcome and guidance for the year ahead. What the heck, I gave it a try. (I’ll let you know….)

During the holidays, I stopped for a moment to look back. We were pretty darn happy at my house. I realize how blessed I am. There are really good folks all around town. Karen Martin and Tony Albanese have been signing up bell ringers for Salvation Army for years. I’d like to recognize the scouts from Thornton Creek Pack 746 –they collected toothbrushes, toothpaste and other “stuff” for Northville Civic Concern. Many folks enjoyed Christmas in the Village (at Mill Race) and brought a non-perishable food donation – also for Civic Concern. Caring and sharing…it always brings a smile. When it comes to celebrating – who hasn’t celebrated a milestone at Rocky’s? I know I have. I was there recently – ran into Mayor Turnbull and many other locals. Janice Konjarevich was there that night with her entire family. At one point the staff brought out a cake and they all started singing happy birthday – and everyone in the room joined in.

I went over to meet her and

learned she had five boys, one girl and she was turning 90. The grandkids were all there and even a grand-dog! I was tickled how the whole room was filled with joy – as if we all were part of Janice’s family. That is the charm of our hometown. (Thanks to Janice’s daughter, Terri Passione, for her help!)

This year brings the World Cup, the Winter Olympics and the semiquincentennial – aka the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. Believe it or not – on September 11 we will remember and honor the men and women who died in NYC 25 years ago. The years sure do pass quickly – I think it has something to do with electronic devices – LOL.

Condolences to Lauren, Melissa, Jessica and their families for the loss of their dad, Richard Poole. Rich was a longtime owner

of Poole’s Tavern – where he served up not only a drink but unforgettable conversation. Donations in his honor can be made to Main Street League (mainstreetleague.com). And to the family of Ron Sinelli –heartfelt sympathy. Ron passed away in early January. When you walk through town and look down at the cement slab and see the Sinelli name – give ‘em a nod.

And speaking of Jessica Poole, her Little Salumi is moving from its original location around the corner to the Stackwood Studios building, located at 446 South Main Street. I can’t wait to check out the new digs. It’s the one place in town where I order a sandwich and don’t change any of the ingredients. Well, maybe not the only place, but a plain hot dog at Joseph’s probably doesn’t count.

The new Kilwins, owned by South Lyon residents Keleigh and Bryan Styles, opened just in time for Christmas at its new downtown location at Cady and Center streets. I haven’t been there yet – and it’s not because I don’t want to pop in. It simply has been a season of all sweets, all the time and my sweet tooth

has been busy. But it’s on my list for sure. Reviews to follow…

And, finally, this month a personal plea, to please slow down. I remember being told and telling others – “don’t rush.” It’s not just about growing up. I agree with all those that say the best part of the journey is what it took to get there. Today everyone seems to be in such a hurry. Kurt Kuban, our editor and publisher, knows firsthand, after standing on the corner of Griswold and Main streets collecting for the Goodfellow’s Newspaper drive last month. He had a couple close calls.

If you are crossing that intersection as a pedestrian, remember to wear something bright so people can see you, keep your eyes peeled and look both ways before crossing. If you can – get a safety vest. Check out how cool my coworker Gabby Tulley looks. Every day she has to cross Griswold to come to and from work, and from that short walk she can write a whole book about her encounters.

To all…have a healthy, happy and safe 2026. Slow down and enjoy the ride!