43rd Plymouth Ice Festival will begin tomorrow

    When the original organizers of the Plymouth Ice Spectacular” first suggested the event more than 40 years ago, it is doubtful they anticipated the success the event enjoys today.
    The 43rd Plymouth Ice Festival officially begins tomorrow throughout the downtown area and is expected to bring as many as 100,000 visitors into the community during the three-day event, according to organizers of the event.

    Depending on who is telling the story, the history of the “spectacular” as it was first called, includes the names of many public officials and familiar names associated with the development and growth of the community. All accounts agree, however, that it did begin about 43 years ago. It was in 1982, according to most versions of the tale, when local businessman Scott Lorenz proposed the idea of an annual winter celebration in Kellogg Park after watching a feature story on 60 Minutes about a snow and ice festival in Sapporo, Japan.
    Lorenz told his fellow business owners that the segment showed thousands of people from throughout Japan flock into Sapporo to view the giant images of buildings, cartoon characters and assorted subject carved from ice and snow. In an interview several years ago, Lorenz said he was confident the event would bring business to downtown Plymouth.
    “If they could do this Sapporo, I knew we could do this in Plymouth,” Lorenz said during that interview several years ago. He said he wanted to create an event to bring commerce to downtown merchants and restaurants during the slow retail period after the holidays.
    His efforts have obviously proven successful in the past four decades as the event is now rated as one of the top winter events in the state by some tourist bureaus. The crowds have recently reached an estimated 100,000 people coming to view the artistry of the carvers and enjoy the family activities during the three-day event.
    Lorenz said the purpose of the event was to bring the community a unique event while providing local retailers and restaurant owners a “much needed shot in the arm” during the slow months in sales after the holidays.
    During his tenure managing and organizing the “Ice Spectacular” as it was originally called, Lorenz made several trips to Japan and Canada to recruit artists and teachers to participate in the ice carving exhibition. He also negotiated agreements that continue to exist today, including a relationship with local culinary colleges to have students exhibit during the show.
    Lorenz, however, said there are many other people who deserve recognition for the continued growth and longevity of the event. He said after his epiphany about having an ice festival in the city, he tried to recruit volunteers and sponsors for the event. He said the first two men he talked with about his idea were his father, Ralph, who at that time owned the former Mayflower Hotel and Hank Graper, the city manager at the time.
    While the elder Lorenz thought his son’s idea was “crazy,” Graper talked to downtown businesses and secured $1,000 in early donations. With that money and “lots of walking and talking,” the duo hosted the first ice festival 45-days after Lorenz saw the 60 Minutes feature.
    With Lorenz as the leader of the event and Graper working behind the scenes, the script for success lasted for more than 10 years.

    Current City Manager Paul Sincock, who worked as assistant manager under Graper, said his former boss was dedicated to the ice-carving event from the beginning.
    “The festival came along at a time when there was a downturn in the economy,” said Sincock, during that previous interview. He credited Graper with realizing the potential of this event as not only an economic engine, but also as an entertaining event which would bring the community together.
    “He’s the guy that got things moving and kept them moving along,” Sincock said.
    In 1992, the spectacular event faced a crisis when Lorenz decided to step down as organizer for the event during the same time Graper’s contract with the city expired. With the festival dates set and the two leaders leaving, a local real estate developer- along with members of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce- stepped in.
    “I was asked to help out with raising money,” said the late Jim Jabara, a former city mayor who became more involved with the event after then chamber President Pam Kosteva teamed him up with Tom Caviston to raise the necessary proceeds to keep the event afloat. The team was able to generate $140,000 and Lorenz credits Jabara and his fellow fundraisers for keeping the ice festival alive during that perilous time.
    Management of the event was then entrusted to Mike Watts of WattsUp who organized the ice festival for several years and guided the community event through some difficult economic times. In 2009, the ice festival was nearly retired due to the difficult economy, when the decision was made to hire Sam Walton of Signature Professional Group to manage the event. Walton began a recovery effort and when he moved on, James Gietzen of JAG entertainment took the helm of the event.
    Gietzen rejuvenated the event adding more family and participant events while expanding the number of carvings on display and the number of artisans who demonstrate their skills during the famous ice-carving competitions and several other features which have become traditions at the festival.
    The ice festival, thanks to major community sponsors, continues to be free and open to the public and with 100,000 visitors expected this year, has regained the enormous popularity that Lorenz once envisioned as he watched 60 Minutes more than four decades ago.

Shining example

 Former mayor, county commissioner ends 21-year career in local government

    Wayne County Commissioner Abdul “Al” Haidous was hailed as a pioneer and inspiration to a new generation of county leaders during his final commission meeting in December.
    Haidous (D-Wayne) chose not to seek re-election this fall after serving 10 years as a county commissioner.

    A native of Lebanon and long-time resident and former mayor of Wayne, Haidous received tributes from numerous colleagues and county officials during the meeting.
    Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans praised Haidous as not just an outstanding Arab American but a great American and dedicated community leader.
    “He has been, in my mind, a real statesman. We may not always have agreed on everything but he has never been disagreeable,” Evans said, noting there were times when Haidous prompted a 180-degree shift in his opinion on certain issues.
    Other county officials, including deputy Executive Assad Turfe, Undersheriff Mike Jaafar, Homeland Security Director Sam Jaafar, and Health and Human Services Director Abdul Al-Sayad credited Haidous as a personal inspiration.
    Turfe cited Haidous’ 2001 election as mayor – two months after 9/11 and in a city with only 10 Arab American residents – as a turning point for the community and county at large.
    “We had thought we could only be employees of a department, we could only be staffers but you showed us there is a way,” Turfe said.
    Others cited their personal ties to the Haidous family.
    Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) noted that her father was a frequent customer of Al’s Friendly Market, the Wayne business Haidous and his wife, Mary, operated for some 35 years.
    Commissioner David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) remembered playing sports at the Wayne recreation center now named in Haidous’ honor.
    Incoming District 11 Commissioner Al Wilson said he expected to work closely with Haidous on community issues, including those involving infrastructure and the environment.
    Commissioner Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn), a longtime friend, was among those who called Haidous, “the perfect example of the American Dream.”
    Haidous first emigrated from Lebanon to Africa before arriving in the United States as a young man.
    He operated his family market for 35 years and was instrumental in garnering support from the Ford Wayne Assembly Plant to create a local youth baseball league.
    In addition to his roles as county commission and mayor, Haidous also served on the Wayne City Council and Zoning Board of Appeals and many other city bodies.
    He has served 10 years as chair of the SMART regional transportation authority board and was the county commission representative on the Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport Authority Board.
    He and his wife are the parents of five children, several of whom attended the ceremony, and 12 grandchildren.
    The commission’s 11th District includes Wayne, Belleville, Flat Rock, Romulus, as well as Sumpter, Van Buren and Huron townships

Northville Township names new deputy treasurer

    Longtime Northville Township Board of Trustees member Mindy Herrmann has accepted the role of deputy teasurer for the 32,000-resident community. She was sworn in recently by Clerk Cynthia L. Jankowski at township hall.

    Herrmann was appointed by Treasurer Jason Rhines to fill the vacancy left by Trustee Scott Frush, who died suddenly Jan. 11.
    In this role, Herrmann would perform the duties of the treasurer in the event Rhines is absent, ill or otherwise unable to fulfill the responsibilities of a treasurer.
    “Scott Frush left big shoes to fill,” said treasurer Rhines. “I’m confident Mindy Herrmann is an excellent choice for this role. She has a long history of protecting public funds. She always has our residents, our taxpayers, top of mind when making any decision. Thank you, Mindy, for stepping up after Northville Township lost a longtime champion of the community.”
    Herrmann has served on the board of trustees since 2008. She currently is on the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission and is chair of the Pathways Committee.
    She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy, then joined the Marine Corps, where she spent 28 years as an officer, retiring from service in 2016. She also graduated from a master’s level Marine Corps program called “Command and Staff,” a course dedicated to strategizing at the highest level. Currently, she is executive director of both the Eastern District of Michigan Federal Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan Chapter.
    On her off time, she has a passion for physical fitness, enjoys pickleball and has called Northville Township home for 24 years. She is married to Fred, an attorney, whom she met at the Naval Academy. They have two adult daughters who graduated from Northville Public Schools, one who is currently the assistant cross-country running coach for Northville High School, her alma mater.
    “It’s a privilege to give back to this wonderful community, where our family has thrived through the years,” Herrmann said. “I take my responsibility of helping oversee Northville Township’s public service delivery seriously and this new responsibility will benefit from my years of experience working on projects with complex goals and budgets. I’m looking forward to helping our residents in a new capacity.”

Cold war

  Communities offer warming centers during extreme weather

    The excessively cold conditions forecast for the entire area during the next week have prompted several communities to open warming centers for those who may not have adequate heat in their homes.
    In general, when the wind chill is 32° and above, it’s safe to be outside health officials advise. In temperatures 13° to 31°, indoor breaks should happen every 20-30 minutes. For wind chills of 13° and below which are predicted, activities should be moved indoors and outside of the cold as frostbite can set in very quickly. Hypothermia, medical experts advise, is another danger which can set in very quickly in severe cold temperatures

    Hypothermia occurs when an individual’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). Hypothermia can lead to health problems like heart attacks, kidney problems, liver damage, or death. Warning signs include: shivering; exhaustion; confusion; memory loss and fumbling hands.
    Infants and older adults are especially at risk for hypothermia because they have a harder time regulating their body temperature. Medical conditions in older adults can also increase risks. Even a small drop in the surrounding temperature or a short time spent outside in the cold can cause a large drop in body temperature in infants and older adults. According to the National Institute on Aging, living in a poorly heated home can also cause hypothermia.
    In the case of hypothermia medical care should be sought as soon as possible and the individual should be taken into a warm room and any wet clothing removed. Warm, non-alcoholic drinks are advised and warming the core of the body (chest, neck, head and groin) using an electric blanket is recommended.
    Frostbite can happen when air temperatures fall below 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius). In wind chills of -16.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-27 degrees Celsius), frostbite can occur on exposed skin within 30 minutes. Although frostbite can happen anywhere on the body, it typically affects exposed areas like the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. During the early stages, individuals will likely feel pins and needles in the affected areas, followed by numbness. These areas will eventually turn white and start to appear waxy, hard, and cold to the touch.
    Frostbite victims should seek immediate medical care and get into a warm car or room; try not to walk on frostbitten feet or toes; put the frostbitten area in warm (not hot) water; use body heat, such as an armpit, to warm the frostbitten area; cover the area with a clean cloth—if fingers or toes are frostbitten, wrap each one individually; do not rub the frostbitten area and avoid touching hot surfaces with the frostbitten area
    To prevent hypothermia and frostbite experts advise individuals to dress in layers and wear warm clothing and waterproof shoes to protect hands, feet, nec and face. Avoid alcoholic drinks as they increase the loss of body heat and keep moving to stay warm.
    Pets are subject to both frostbite and hypothermia so dogs should not be outside for more than 15 to 30 minutes. It’s crucial to keep dogs warm in such severe temperatures, experts advise. The most commonly affected areas of frostbite on dogs include dog paws and paw pads, ears, and noses.
    Warming centers are currently available in:


CANTON TOWNSHIP
Summit on the Park
46000 Summit Parkway
Canton, MI 48188
(734) 394-5460 

www.summitonthepark.org
Hours: 

Monday through Friday 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Canton Public Library
1200 S. Canton Center Road,
Canton, MI 48188
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.—6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.—6 p.m.
Sunday: Noon—6 p.m.

CITY of INKSTER
Booker Dozier Recreation Center
2025 Middlebelt Road
Inkster, MI
Open 24 hours.

SUMPTER TOWNSHIP
Sumpter Township Community Center
23501 Sumpter Road
Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open after-hours when needed

WAYNE
(734) 721-7400
Hype Recreation Center
4635 Howe Road,
Wayne, MI 48184
Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.—11p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.—10 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m.—8 p.m.

WESTLAND
Westland City Hall
36300 Warren Road,
Westland, MI 48185
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. –5 p.m.
(734) 467-3201
Westland Fire Station 1
35701 Central City Parkway,
Westland, MI 48185
Monday-Sunday: 8 a.m. –8 p.m.
Westland Fire Station 3
28801 Annapolis Road,
Westland, MI 48185
Monday-Sunday: 8 a.m.—8 p.m.
Westland Police Department
36701 Ford Road,
Westland, MI 48185
24 Hours (Lobby Area)
Jefferson Barns Community
Vitality Center
32150 Dorsey Road,
Westland, MI 48186
Monday-Wednesday: 9 a.m.—7 p.m.
Thursday-Friday: 9 a.m.—5 p.m.

Check it out

Plymouth Noon Rotary Club Chicken Barbeque Chairperson Eric Joy presented a check to the Plymouth Rotary Foundation that represented the proceeds from the annual Rotary chicken Barbeque that took place last September. Committee members presented the $47,500 check to the Rotary Foundation board members. Accepting the check was Joy’s father, Tim Joy who currently serves as the treasurer on the foundation board of directors. All the proceeds from the event will be used to fund local civic programs in the community.

Plymouth prepares for 43 Annual Ice Festival event

    Every winter, downtown Plymouth transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland. Again this year, the highly anticipated 2025 Ice Festival will take place Jan. 31 through Feb. 2, when downtown Plymouth will host an ice-filled spectacle, bringing the community together for three days of frosty fun and stunning ice sculptures. This year promises to be bigger, better, and more dazzling than ever before, with something for everyone to enjoy, organizers said.

    The centerpiece of the Ice Festival is undoubtedly the jaw-dropping collection of ice sculptures. Another popular event allows visitors to watch as talented ice artists carve enormous blocks of ice into intricate works of art. From life-sized sculptures to whimsical designs, each ice sculpture is crafted with precision and skill by professional carvers. The artworks will line the streets of downtown Plymouth in addition to those on exhibit in Kellogg Park.
    The Ice Festival has become a tradition will local families who attend each year to enjoy the sculptures and the various activities. The festival offers an atmosphere of family fun along with seasonal snacks like hot cocoa and freshly baked treats.
    Visitors can sample the flavors of winter as food trucks and local vendors offer warm comfort foods, snacks, and beverages.
    In addition, visitors can browse the Winter Market at The Gathering where local artisans and craftsmen will showcase their handmade goods—from winter accessories to one-of-a-kind art pieces.
    One of the highlights of the 2025 Ice Festival is the Ice Carving Competition. Skilled artisans will compete in live carving demonstrations, transforming blocks of ice into mesmerizing works of art as visitors look on. Audience members will have a chance to see the ice artists in action, each with their own unique techniques and vision. The competition promises to be an exciting, high-energy event, organizers said.
    “The 2025 Ice Festival is a perfect way to spend time with family, friends, or loved ones during the winter season,” they added.

Northville Township wins budget presentation award

    The new, interactive budget book produced by Northville Township received high praise from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), earning the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2025 budget.

    The achievement reflects the commitment of Northville Township “to meeting the highest principles of government budgeting,” the GFOA notification said. Reviewers positively assessed how well the budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device. More than 1,700 governments competed in the awards.
    While this marks the 12th consecutive year winning the award, it’s the first time Northville Township has submitted an online budget to the GFOA Budget Awards Program.
    Northville Township introduced the live budget in October 2024. It partnered with OpenGov to enhance transparency and provide residents with a budget that is easier to understand and navigate, officials said. Users may access the township budget data by fund, department, revenues and expenditures. Not only is the scope of information more substantial than was previously available in a static PDF format, but the financials are also updated daily to see the most current data possible with every viewing, they added.
    “This online budget was a labor of love, and we’re extra proud of GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award this year,” said Northville Township Finance & Budget Director Wendy Hillman.
    The interactive tool includes personnel organizational charts, in-depth stories on new initiatives and a five-year capital improvement plan. Clickable icons allow users to choose whether they want to display graphs showing changes over the years, a pie chart for a single year, or download portions into Excel.
    Users may browse through all the departments that support our community and click on links that offer more information. Eventually, Northville Township will introduce video content to the budget book as well.
    “Northville Township firmly believes in transparency and watching each taxpayer dollar we spend,” said Township Treasurer Jason Rhines. “This GFOA honor lets the Board of Trustees and our residents
know that we are succeeding on many levels, fulfilling our core purpose to connect, engage and serve the community.

National tribute

 Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be celebrated Monday

    Celebrations honoring the legacy of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place in several local communities next Monday. Special events are scheduled to honor the legacy of Dr. King who was assassinated in 1968.

    Dr. King was a prominent Black civil rights activist and Baptist minister from Atlanta. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech was attended by a crowd of more than 250,000 during a civil rights march in Washington, D.C., in 1963. Married to Coretta Scott King, the couple had four children. King was 39 when he was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray. He was in Memphis to support a strike by sanitation workers. Dr. King’s advocacy for justice and equality lives on across the nation through the federal holiday and beyond.
    Dr. King is widely lauded as a hero who led a nonviolent crusade against racist segregation policies and horrendous brutality against Black people. During his efforts, his views were considered radical by much of white America, including the government. Dr. King was the subject of several FBI surveillance operations, designed to collect subversive material on him.
    The Pew Research Center found that by 1966 — two years after he’d received the Nobel Peace Prize — 63 percent of Americans had an unfavorable opinion of Dr. King, “including 44 percent who viewed him highly unfavorably.” Today, 81 percent of American adults say Dr. King had a positive impact on the country.
    Jonathan Eig, author of King: A Life, told NPR in 2023 that King, a pastor who followed in his father’s footsteps, was a protest leader who did not like conflict.
    Even as he sat at the helm of anti-segregation protests, including the Montgomery bus boycott and the march from Selma, Ala., to the state capitol, Eig said King “is always going out of his way to avoid conflict with people who are his elders. ... And he really doesn’t like conflict.”
    Eig added: “He has to push himself really out of his comfort zone to argue, to debate, to really challenge some of the leaders of this country.”
    Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States where it is observed annually on the third Monday in January. Efforts to establish a federal holiday in honor of Dr. King began shortly after his assassination in 1968, with civil rights activists pushing for 15 years for the holiday, according to historical records.
    Martin Luther King Jr. Day finally became a federal holiday on Nov. 2, 1983, when President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
    It took another 17 years before all 50 states recognized the federal holiday. There will be no mail service and most banks and civic offices will be closed.

IN ROMULUS:

    The Romulus Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Walk & Celebration will take place on Monday, Jan. 20.
    Shuttle bus service from Romulus High School to Middle School will take place from 7–7:45 a.m.
    Marchers will meet at Romulus Middle School at 7:30 a.m. The march will begin from the school at 8.m. to Romulus High School where a service project is scheduled: “Romulus Community Warm-Up” from 8–9:30 a.m.
    Refreshments will be served in the high school cafeteria from 8:30–9:30 a.m.
    The MLK Celebration Ceremony will begin in the High School Auditorium at 9:30 a.m.
    The event is located at 9650 Wayne Road, Romulus. For more information, contact City Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg at (734) 942-7540.

IN WESTLAND:

    In Westland, the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Ceremony is set to begin with a freedom walk at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20 (weather permitting) followed by the ceremony at 10 a.m. at Westland City Hall, 36300 Warren Road.
    The keynote speaker this year is Detroit Pistons Chaplain Elder Jonathan M. Wynne. The event is free and open to the public. More information is available at cityofwestland.com.

IN CANTON TOWNSHIP:

    The Plymouth-Canton Interfaith Council will be hosting the annual MLK March from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Canton Public Library, located at 1200 S. Canton Center Road in Canton

Death of Northville Township Trustee, author mourned

    Northville Township Deputy Treasurer and member of the Board of Trustees Scott Frush, 53, died Saturday, Jan. 11.

    “This was such a shock,” said Northville Township Supervisor Mark J. Abbo. “We were all caught off guard by Scott’s untimely passing. He was not only a colleague but a dear friend, and the suddenness of it makes the loss even greater.”
    Mr. Frush was first appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of trustees in 2019. Township voters elected him to a four-year term in 2020 and then re-elected him in 2024. He was named Deputy Treasurer in January 2021.
    Mr. Frush was a finance and investment professional, as well as a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida. He earned his Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation in 2000 and his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification in 2003. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University and the University of Notre Dame, Mr. Frush was the author of 11 personal finance and other books published by McGraw-Hill and was working on a book detailing the history of the Northville community.
    Mr. Frush provided sound financial advice to his clients and brought that same commitment to the taxpayers of Northville Township, officials said. His legacy includes helping the township earn an AAA bond rating, reducing water rates and generating more than $10 million in interest earnings on required reserves.
    Mr. Frush also took pride in the special committees on which he served. They included the Northville Parks and Recreation Commission and the Historic District Commission. He also was recently appointed to the Washtenaw County Commissioners’ Materials Management Planning Committee.
    “Scott dedicated his life to making Northville a better community,” said Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull. “As a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Scott worked to ensure that opportunities for all Northville residents both young and old were available.”
    Prior to his involvement with the board of trustees, Mr. Frush was a board member and treasurer of the Northville Educational Foundation and the Friends of the Northville District Library.
    He also was a 2019 recipient of an EMU Alumni Achievement Award. Mr. Frush served as president of the Eastern Alumni Association Board from 2002-2008.
    “It was in Scott’s DNA to help people, whether it was for his alma mater, his family or for Northville Township,” added Township Manager Glenn Caldwell. “Scott’s dedication and love for our community will be deeply missed.”
    Mr. Frush is survived by his wife of 19 years, Christina, and their two high-school aged children, Gabriella and Ryan.
    Northville Township Hall flags will be flown at half-staff in remembrance of Mr. Frush.
    Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. today, Jan. 16 at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 W. Six Mile at Newburgh roads, Livonia. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a 10 a.m. viewing tomorrow, Jan 15, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 47650 N. Territorial, Plymouth. The interment will be at Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia.

Million Dollar golf tournament set at St. John’s

    Some of the best professional golfers in the world will be competing for millions of dollars in cash in Plymouth Township this summer.

    LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed golf league will sponsor a team competition Aug. 22 through 24 at the newly renovated The Cardinal at St. John’s Resort in Plymouth Township.
    The LIV tournament was part of four additional events recently announced as part of a swing through the Midwest. The competition at The Cardinal will complete the season. The new course opened in June last year and has received high praise from those who have played there.
    While the PGA Tour is still considered the gold standard in professional golf LIV Golf has added some superstars in the sports to the roster. Phil Mickelson was one of the first big names to sign with the league. LIV also has some of the current best players in the world including Jon Rahm (two-time major champion, former No. 1 player in the world), Bryson DeChambeau (two-time major champ, defending U.S. Open winner), Brooks Koepka (five-time major winner) and many others play on the cash-rich tour. All are expected to play in Plymouth in August.
    LIV schedules 14 events a year, including the one in Michigan, and plays just three rounds per tournament, as opposed to the usual four rounds standard across professional golf, according to the organization website.

43rd Plymouth Ice Festival set for Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 2

    Visitors to the Plymouth Ice Show this year certainly won’t be disappointed in the sculptures filling Kellogg Park and throughout the downtown area Jan. 31, Feb.1 and 2.

    James Gietzen of JAG Entertainment who produces the event each year, said there will be plenty of spectacular artwork displayed on city sidewalks in front of nearly every business along with the larger carvings on display in Kellogg Park. In addition, several traditional festival features will be back to entertain crowds.
    The event is expected to see as many as 100,000 visitors this year as the event continues to attract crowds from throughout the area. As the audiences and crowds grow, Gietzen continues to add features while ensuring the events families have come to enjoy return each year.
    The tubing run, always one of the most popular events at the festival, will be back along with the Family Petting Farm and pony rides. Last year, the animals attracted a large crowd of younger visitors, all eager to touch and pet the various animal visitors. The pony rides are especially popular, Gietzen noted, as the animals are calm and well cared for. The petting farm and pony rides will be located next to the ice playground this year.
    A record crowd is expected again this year at the Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 event unless Mother Nature decides to send one of the 40- or 50-degree temperature fluctuations experienced in the area lately. The weather is always the uncontrollable element in producing the event. Gietzen said temperatures in the high 30s or low 40s would be ideal for maintaining the artistry of the sculptures and be reasonably comfortable for visitors. Gietzen said weather that is too warm is just as damaging to attendance as uncomfortable cold.
    Gietzen and his crew have faced both extremes in their experience at the Ice Festival, along with about the worst weather phenomena for the event: rain. He and the crew have seen years where despite their efforts to cover the sculptures with tented tarps and awnings, rain has pretty much destroyed the sculptors’ work.
    “Weather is always a factor,” Gietzen said, “but this is always such a great opportunity for families to have something fun to do during the colder weather. It really is a good time.” He said he believes people look forward to having a fun destination after the holidays.
    The Ice Throne in Kellogg Park will be available for family photos as it has been for several years along with an interactive ice playground for children. The Hot Spot, located in The Gathering across from Kellogg Park will be open during festival hours to warm up visitors.
    The Hot Spot is provided annually by Ehlers Heating and Cooling. The Gathering will also be the place local vendors, artisans and visitors will have information available and items for sale.

Suspect in phone scam of elderly facing charges

    A third attempt to defraud an elderly Canton Township woman was thwarted by police who arrested a man attempting to collect $25,000 from the victim.

    Police reports said that the woman received a telephone call from a man claiming to be a “senior fraud officer” at her bank investigating activity on her account. The caller used a convincing story to persuade the victim to withdraw large sums of money from her account which would then be retrieved by the caller’s co-worker. The fraud attempt took place, police said, in mid-December and the cash was picked up from the victim at her residence.
    The scam was successful, police said, twice over a four-day period. Prior to the third attempt to entice the victim to withdraw cash, the woman’s family members noticed the unusual bank activity and large withdrawals and contacted the Canton Police Department.
    Just prior to a third attempt, the victim’s family members noticed unusual bank activity and contacted police. When the suspect arrived at the Canton residence on Dec. 17, attempting to pick up the $25,000 in cash, Canton detectives were on the scene and arrested the suspect Li Biao, 30.
    Biao was arraigned on one count of fraudulent false pretenses $20,000-$50,000 a 15-year felony and one count of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, a 2-year felony.
    Bond was set at $100,0000 cash, with GPS tether by 36th District Magistrate Delphia Burton.
    “This is a tragic example of elder exploitation financial abuse, with the suspects defrauding and stealing from the victim by taking advantage of her vulnerability due to age,” Canton Police Support Services Capt. Joseph Bialy said.
    “We strongly encourage family members, friends and caregivers of the elderly to watch out for warning signs such as a sudden change in financial habits, missing funds, unexplained large withdrawals, new beneficiaries on accounts, or a new individual with excessive control over an elderly person’s finances. Please report any findings to your local police department,” Canton Police Support Services Capt. Joseph Bialy said.
    “This is a tragic example of elder exploitation financial abuse, with the suspects defrauding and stealing from the victim by taking advantage of her vulnerability due to age,” Bialy added.

New Year—New Rules

 2025 brings new laws for employers, schools, sellers and unemployed

    The confetti is vacuumed away, the streamers discarded and the silly Happy New Year hats a thing of the past. Following the celebrations, the reality of some new laws face consumers, schools and employers beginning this year.
    The new laws include a requirement at schools must meet CPR and AED requirements by the end of 2025. Last April, state lawmakers enacted a pair of bills that will require schools to have unlocked and easily accessible automated external defibrillators. In addition, there must be individuals in the building with current certifications for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of AEDs by the 2025-26 school year.
    Employers face new rules including a requirement that sick time is provided for all employees. Beginning in February, employees must earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours. worked.
    Businesses with 10 or more employees will have to allow workers to use up to 72 hours of paid sick leave if accrued. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees will have to allow workers to use up to 40 hours of paid sick leave if accrued, and up to 32 hours of unpaid sick leave.
    Additionally, employers will see two minimum wage increases effective this year.
    The minimum wage increased to $10.56 an hour for adults and $8.98 an hour for minors on Jan. 1. The lower hourly rate paid to workers expected to make up the difference in tips, including servers and bartenders, jumped to $4.01. Under current law, the tipped minimum wage is 38 percent of the standard rate.
    Those rules will only be in place until Feb. 21. On that date, the hourly minimum wage will increase to $12.48 an hour for adults and $10.61 for minors. The tipped minimum wage will increase to $5.99 an hour.
    Benefits for unemployment in the state will increase to 26 weeks from the current 20 weeks.
    The change also will increase the maximum weekly benefit from $362 to $446 this year and then $614 in 2027. It’s the first increase in unemployment compensation since 2003.
    The legislators also approved a one-time income tax credit up to $10,000 off their state income taxes for live organ donations.

    And while eggs have been a contentious political news topic, consumers shopping at Michigan grocery stores will only be able to purchase eggs from “cage free” chickens.
    The law excludes producers with 3,000 or fewer chickens.

Presidential Inauguration could overshadow MLK Day events

    This year, the Presidential Inauguration and the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will overlap throughout the nation.
    Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and Canton Township have recognized this unique overlap and several events to honor Dr. King’s legacy will provide an opportunity for civic engagement and family education, according to a prepared statement.
    School and township leaders suggested activities to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. including applying for a scholarship. Seniors attending Plymouth Canton Community Schools high schools are encouraged to apply for the MLK Essay Scholarship. All entries are due by Jan. 24 and the winner will be awarded a college scholarship sponsored by College Tutors of Canton. The winning writer will have the opportunity to present their essay in front of Canton Township and district officials. More information and the essay prompt can be received from students’ school counselors.
    The Heritage Park Story Trail will feature “When Martin Luther King Jr. Wore Roller Skates” by Mark Weakland all month long in January. This family-friendly story trail is in Heritage Park, located behind the Canton Administration Building, 1150 S. Canton Center Road.
    For those who may want to attend a traditional march, the Plymouth-Canton Interfaith Council will be hosting its annual MLK March on Jan. 20 at the Canton Public Library, located at 1200 S. Canton Center Road in Canton.
    The day is also an opportunity to donate food or clothing to a local organization in celebration of Dr. King’s legacy, officials suggested. “Dr. King showed us shows us that when everyone works together and supports one another, we can make a better world for future generations,” the prepared released noted.
    Information at local libraries and internet searches can provide a wealth of resources to use to learn about the past and can be a great tool to help put things in perspective, the statement continued.
    Officials also suggested watching the famous “I Have a Dream” Speech and experience the iconic words of Dr. King that were delivered 63 years ago online to remember the man who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his dedication to civil rights and social justice.
    For additional information on how to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on MLK Day, visit www.cantonfun.org.

Warm Welcome

The annual Coats for Kids drive in Romulus was successful this year as volunteers sorted and labeled donations of warm coats, hats, gloves and mittens for children in the community. Volunteers said the club was able to present nearly 100 coats to students in need in the community.

Benched

    Michael McNamara, a longtime Westland assistant city attorney and prosecutor has been elected to

serve as judge of the 18th District Court of Westland alongside his former colleague, Judge Mark McConnell.McNamara earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and began his career as a trial attorney and litigator at a large Michigan firm. As he takes on his new judicial role, McNamara said he is committed to upholding justice and maintaining the highest standards of integrity for the residents of Westland.