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Six Michigan cities & Washtenaw County receive historic preservation grants

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Six Michigan cities & Washtenaw County receive historic preservation grants


Communities across Michigan will make repairs, digitalize documents for easy access, shore up a barn in the community’s historic park, all possible with a total of $250,000 in grants from the State Historic Preservation Office.

Detroit, Charlevoix, Livonia, Flat Rock, Holland, Coldwater and Washtenaw County received funds from the program, the Michigan Strategic Fund said last week.

Several will use the awards for projects to repair and improve historic buildings. The grant money comes from the federal government’s Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government program, which is administered by the state’s preservation office.

“For more than 40 years, the CLG program has helped create partnerships that support communities in their efforts to plan for, invest in and tell the story of their irreplaceable heritage assets,” said Ryan Schumaker, State Historic Preservation officer.

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Detroit will use the funds to hire a contractor for digitizing historic building survey documents, which the news release said will help the Historic Designation Advisory Board’s provide information to other city entities such as the Historic District Commission, and help property owners participate in city planning efforts.

Charlevoix will use money to replace the roof of City Hall. The building dates back to 1939 and is located in Charlevoix’s Center Historic District, which is eligible for the National Register of Historic places. The city also has other preservation work planned for the building.

Livonia will use the grant to hire a contractor to develop plans and designs for stabilizing the South Barn, a former dairy barn, at Greenmead Historical Park. The barn is part of the original Simmons Farm, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Livonia bought the park, which is nearly 200 years old and covers 95 acres, in 1976 according to the city’s website.

Washtenaw County will use its funding to hire a contractor for repairs and structural improvements to the basement and foundation of Gordon Hall in Dexter, and has partnered with the Dexter Area Historical Society for the project. The improvements will allow the historical society to rehabilitate the hall’s upper levels. Built in the 1840s, Gordon Hall was the home of Judge Samuel Dexter, who was involved in the development of Washtenaw County in its early days, according to the county.

Holland plans to hire a contractor to replace the roof at the Holland Museum. The museum includes history from Holland’s founding by Dutch immigrants through the present day, according to its website. The city and museum also have been rehabilitating the former post office built in 1914.

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Coldwater plans to use the funds — $18,000, according to the city’s website — for a structural engineering analysis on the Beech House, now used as a community center. The city has partnered with Coldwater Community Center for the rehabilitation project. The house was built by John Beech, a Civil War surgeon, according to the city’s website. It was later used as a funeral home, but sat vacant for years until a nonprofit formed to convert the building into a cultural center in 2022.

Flat Rock will use its award to host Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program training for staff and commissioners of the city’s historic district, and people interested from communities Downriver. The program’s goal is to increase local expertise in preservation.



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It’s ‘stick view’ season at Michigan’s highest scenic drive

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It’s ‘stick view’ season at Michigan’s highest scenic drive


EAGLE HARBOR TOWNSHIP, MI – The leaves are falling, but the snow isn’t flying yet: It’s “stick view” season at Michigan’s highest scenic drive.

traces the spine of an ancient fault line as it rises 700 feet above the surface of Lake Superior, ending at the summit where epic fall color stretches in every direction.

The crown jewel of the state’s scenic drives, Brockway Mountain Drive traces the spine of an ancient fault line as it rises 720 feet above the surface of Lake Superior. At the summit, visitors find panoramic views of turbulent Great Lake and surrounding forestland. It’s the tallest scenic drive between the Rocky and Allegheny mountains.

When epic fall color fades and leaves drift the ground around Brockway Mountain Drive, what’s left is “stick season views.” Visit Keweenaw invites travelers to enjoy late fall’s unobstructed views before the snow flies and makes this route impassable.Visit Keweenaw

A month ago, epic fall color stretched out in every direction. Today, the color explosion has faded and russet leaves drifted to the ground leaving behind bare trees. Some refer to this time as “stick season.”

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This U.P. drive takes you 700 feet above Lake Superior, where epic fall color stretches out in every direction

The nine-mile route to the plateau is open from May to late fall; specifically, whenever snowfall makes it impassable. At that point, it closes to vehicles and opens to snowmobiles.

Visit Keweenaw makes the argument that the late fall “stick views” are worth the drive.

“As autumn’s leaves return to the earth’s surface, tree lines and outlooks see increased visibility,” said Jesse Weiderhold, managing director of Visit Keweenaw. “Peer through trees that would normally obstruct views for more open views of Lake Superior and the surrounding Keweenaw. See further in forests and enjoy fall’s last triumph before the snow falls.”

Gorgeous view can be seen from new overlook on Brockway Mountain trail

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Other activities to enjoy at the top of Brockway this time of year include wildlife observation and birdwatching, hiking and biking, and night sky watching.

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Michigan State University partially reverses policy on co-ed community bathrooms after complaint

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Michigan State University partially reverses policy on co-ed community bathrooms after complaint


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Michigan State University has partially reversed course on its decision to make all community bathrooms in its honors dorm co-ed, following complaints from students and parents who said the arrangement made them uncomfortable.

Officials placed new signs at Campbell Hall last week to label some bathrooms by gender, a shift that came after a formal complaint and survey results showing unease among residents about a $37.1 million renovation that turned all 20 community bathrooms into unisex facilities.

Parents were not notified beforehand that bathrooms would no longer be separated by gender — prompting at least one student to seek out other facilities, according to a parent’s letter.

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Michigan State University partially ended its co-ed community bathrooms in its honors dorm. (Istock/ AndreyPopov)

The facilities were the first co-ed community bathrooms of their kind at any of the institution’s 27 dorms. MSU said it moved to unisex community bathrooms at Campbell Hall to adapt to a future shift in student populations.

“Following review of the survey data, the decision was made to provide options for students,” MSU spokesperson Kat Cooper said in a statement to Bridge Michigan.

The honors dorm spans four floors and includes 20 shared bathrooms, along with five single-use restrooms. Cooper said she was unsure how many of the community bathrooms will remain unisex and how many will be assigned as male or female.

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Michigan State

The university did not notify parents that bathrooms would not be designated by gender. (Getty Images)

In an email to Campbell Hall residents, school officials said that bathrooms “will be configured as much as possible to the gender make-up of the community” on the ground and first floors, where there are two community bathrooms, and “gendered bathroom options” on the second and third floors of the dorm, where there are eight community bathrooms, as well as single-use restrooms.

“We wanted to ensure that no room moves were required as part of these changes,” the email reads. “The updates are intended to offer more choice and help residents feel more comfortable in their daily routines.”

Some members of the MSU Board of Trustees said this week that the university made the right call in responding to student and parent feedback.

Bathroom sign male and female

The dorm has four floors with 20 community bathrooms and five single-use bathrooms. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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“I’m happy that the university listens to the concerns of its students,” Trustee Mike Balow said.

“It’s important for our students to feel comfortable and to have options. This is the right move by the university,” Trustee Dennis Denno added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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Michigan family fought to stop mom’s sudden deportation. After 20 years, she had to leave

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Michigan family fought to stop mom’s sudden deportation. After 20 years, she had to leave


MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A Michigan family tried everything to stop the sudden deportation of their mother.

They spoke with a lawyer. They called state senators. And they reached out to Local 4 to share their story with our viewers.

But on Friday, Irina Sobierajska went to Detroit Metro Airport to head back to Poland, leaving the United States after 20 years.

Her family said they were told she had to leave the country within 48 hours, even though they kept up with her immigration requirements.

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“They look at her as a criminal and that’s just the heartbreaking part,” her son, Bernard Sobierajska, said. “She’s never done anything, and she’s just the nicest person in the world. I don’t get it.”

“I feel like people could find it in their hearts to not separate a family who is trying to just live a life like anybody else, and have the same opportunities and work hard,” her daughter, Patrycja Sobierajska, said.

They received a notice last week that Irina Sobierajska’s stay of removal request was denied by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.

“How can you go back to a country you have literally nothing?” Irina Sobierajska said.

She is a Polish citizen who lived in Poland for about 10 years. She’s allowed to work in the U.S. but is currently an unlawful resident because she doesn’t have legal status.

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“Her and my dad came to the country to help build a better life and start a strong foundation for my brother and myself,” Patrycja Sobierajska said.

Irina Sobierajska is also the caretaker for her husband, who suffers from diabetes, arthritis, and depression. The family fears his condition will worsen without her.

“He just doesn’t know how he is going to continue his daily life without his wife by his side,” Patrycja Sobierajska said.

“It’s just all unfair,” Bernard Sobierajska said. “I don’t think her case was looked at enough.”

ICE released the following statement about Irina’s case to Local 4:

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Irina Sobierajska was ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2014 as she was a visa overstay. She has been afforded due process as she made multiple attempts to appeal that decision with the courts, but the immigration judge’s order of removal still stands. ICE allows aliens to pursue relief from removal but when they exhaust all legal avenues to do so, ICE must carry out the judge’s removal order.

Statement from ICE

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