By Carolyn Marnon – Sixteen year-old Antoine Perry, Jr. was in 29th District Court on December 28 for allegedly murdering a 19-year old outside HYPE Recreation Center on November 26, 2018. Antoine faced four charges: homicide-felony murder, armed robbery, and two charges of felony firearm.
Three Michigan State Police cars and three City of Wayne police cars were seen outside the courthouse while police officers filled the halls outside the courtroom.
The Honorable Judge Laura Mack presided over the court proceedings. She instructed those present that no pictures were to be taken of the defendant’s face or of any minor testifying before the court. She also made it clear that anyone who was testifying that day or who would testify in downtown Detroit was not allowed to view the proceedings.
The first witness was a 16-year old girl who said Antoine had been her boyfriend for a few months before the incident occurred. She said he had told her via Facetime that he was going to “jug” something. According to UrbanDictionary.com, “jug” means to steal.
Later that day, she and Antoine were hanging out in a garage with other friends where “we play music and conversate.” While they smoked weed, Antoine pulled a gun out and started playing with it. The witness said she told him he was trigger happy and that he needed to chill out.
Plans were made to get more weed. She said he told her he was going to take the weed from the weed guy.
The group pulled up behind HYPE where Antoine and another friend got out of the car. Antoine took her phone with him to text the weed guy. A bit later, the friend is running back to the car, shaking, saying “Twoin really blew that nigger” because he didn’t give him the weed. Antoine then shows up at the car, and she sees the gun. She testified they were all scared. Her sister, who was driving the car, takes off and then stops in front of Franklin Middle School. She said Antoine had dropped her phone and she wanted it back.
The second witness was in the HYPE parking lot, getting ready to work out. He said he noticed two African-American men standing by the corner and didn’t think anything of it. He went about gathering his workout gear and water bottle when his attention was then diverted back to the men. A car had pulled up to them. One went up to the driver’s side door and then he said the car took off at a high rate of speed with the person holding onto the door while it was being driven. The person tumbled from the car while firing several times at the vehicle driving away before running toward the corner of the building.
The final witness was Officer Michael Bolton of the Wayne Police Department. He says he received a report of a shooting. The victim was in the main lobby of HYPE bleeding from his stomach. Outside, he found three bullet shell casings and a phone about 3 inches away from the casings. Officer Bolton said the defendant walked up saying he was looking for his girlfriend’s cell phone. The defendant was detained at that time.
During testimony, sobs could be heard in the courtroom.
Judge Laura Mack said testimony showed probable cause. The defendant was placed at the scene of the crime with a gun. The witnesses were credible. The case was bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court.
On January 4 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in downtown Detroit, Antoine Perry stood mute as a plea of not guilty was entered by the court. The court ordered a competency evaluation. The competency hearing is scheduled for March 1.

By Carolyn Marnon – In her free-time, she likes doing triathlons where she swims, bikes and runs!
She has lived in Michigan all her life, except for a short period of time spent in Wisconsin.
She loves reading Young Adult novels and social science non-fiction books.
She was recently certified as a scuba diver and prefers warm water on her vacations.
And she lives in Northville with her yellow lab, Einstein.
Who is this woman? She is Jody Wolak, the new Library Director at your Wayne Public Library.
After a 10-year career in marketing, Jody decided to switch careers. While working full-time in marketing, she worked on obtaining her Master in Library Science. She enjoyed problem solving and being creative, but she also always loved libraries and literature.
Her first library jobs were both part-time jobs as Children’s Librarian at the Rochester Hills library and at the Wayne library. She moved on to full-time employment at the William P. Faust Public Library of Westland as the Teen Librarian.
Before coming back to the Wayne library as its director, Jody spent less than two years as the Youth and Teen Director at the Chelsea library.
The job as Wayne Library Director has turned out to be more than she expected. “I knew I loved working with children and loved reading and books since I was a young child,” said Jody. “I enjoy doing library programs for children to adults and seniors. I think my marketing background has been very helpful in promoting the library and our services and making connections in the community. I’m looking forward to doing more of that here in Wayne.”
She goes on to say, “Libraries are so much more than books and reading. We’re a place for the community to gather, a place to see your friends, and a place to expand your horizons!” Jody and the approximately 16 employees of the library are here to serve the needs of the community. The library recently conducted a survey to learn what the community felt the priorities were for the library after a ballot measure was passed in August giving the library 1 mil in additional funding. The most urgent issue to address is the leaking roof. Although expanded library hours, more programming and additions to the collection (books/DVDs/magazines) are being considered, the library board wanted to know where to focus their efforts and where the biggest impact could be made using the feedback they receive from the surveys to inform their decisions.
The library board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Surveys were collected through January 3. The board will be able to look at the surveys at their January meeting. Jody expects the library board and staff will have their initial plans ready to share with the community in February or March. Until then, stop into the library and welcome Jody back to the Wayne library.
“We’re entering a period of growth where we’ll be able to expand our services,” said Jody. “Please come check us out if you haven’t been here in awhile.”

By Sarah Shurge – According to Priority Health, one in five kids struggle with mental health.
This is why Priority Health partnered with Canines for Change to launch Priority Pups – a program sponsoring trained facility dogs to be placed in selected school districts to ease anxiety and support kids as they learn.
Madden, the nearly two-year-old Goldendoodle, is the facility dog that was placed in the Wayne-Westland Community Schools District.
“He is super chill. He brings calm wherever he goes; lots of happiness and smiles for both the staff and the students,” said Amanda Faughnan, Madden’s handler and WWCSD Supervisor of Mental Health & Support Services.
Madden officially joined the district in Winter 2025. We first got him in April 2025 from Canines for Change when he was six months old. Canines for Change trains and places dogs for seizure alert, diabetes, mobility support, autism assistance, and facility work (like Madden).
Madden had to go to puppy bootcamp for facility dogs, where he worked one-on-one with an instructor daily. When Madden turned one, he took a certification test to become a certified facility dog.
“He passed with no problems, but it still was a lot of hard work along the way,” said Faughnan.
The work started long before Madden was even in the picture. “This was a two to three years process– trying to find the right fit for the school district,” said Faughnan. “This program is the right fit.”
The district owns Madden and has two co-handlers for him (Faughnan and Molly Hester, First Grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary School) to use him with the district crisis team.
Madden works at Hamilton Elementary four days a week, but if a situation is going on at another building, he can go there and support. He has been to every building in the district, from babies to senior center.
“I saw the value of it in other districts and being a dog owner myself, I see value. Looking at students that might need emotional regulations, I felt this would help bring a calm to that,” said Faughnan.
Faughnan has worked in the district for over 17 years. “With mental health issues continuing to be on the rise, any support we can offer students and families is needed,” said Faughnan.
Faughnan is hoping to grow the program in Wayne-Westland, however, funding is the problem. Priority Health is only able to fund one dog.
If you are interested in helping with continued sponsorship of Madden (with food, veterinary bills, etc.) or sponsoring another dog, contact Faughnan via email FaughnanA@wwcsd.net or call (734)419-2035.
“I want to give a shout out to Priority Health and Canines for Change. Without help this wouldn’t be possible. Priority was an awesome partner to work around getting Madden, and Canines for their continued help,” said Faughnan.
For more information about Canines for Change, visit caninesforchange.org
For more information about Priority Pups, visit priorityhealth-.com/about-us/priority-pups. There you can see which pup is placed at which school. You can also watch the Fox 2 coverage of Madden and the other facility dogs in Michigan.
Madden’s siblings are all working in different districts across Michigan. They are the first Priority Pups to be placed in Metro Detroit.

Welcome back to another Spotlight Series with Sarah! The series where the writer gets to know the city more personally, while the readers get to know the writer better in the process.
The end of August was loaded with lots of rain, followed by terrible heat and humidity. Both of those types of weather have prevented me from being able to walk my dog, Zeke.
Rain is a no for me because I have a terrible immune system and would catch a cold immediately. Heat and humidity is a no for Zeke because dogs can overheat very quickly in high temperatures.
Because walks outside have been a no-go, I look for other ways for Zeke to get physical exercise or mental stimulation. Sometimes I take him for car rides, stop by pet stores, or take him to get a pup cup.
On Tuesday, September 1st, that’s exactly what I did. It was another 90 degree day, but I decided to take Zeke for a car ride to Dairy Queen to get a sweet treat to cool off.

Zeke getting ready to devour his pup cup.

There is a large awning over the side of the building where the window you place your order is at. This is great because Zeke and I got to stand in the shade while I placed our order and I didn’t have to worry about him being in the sun for too long or overheating.
If you’ve never been to Dairy Queen before, you might be overwhelmed with the amount of options on the menu. There are Sparklers, Coolers, Shakes, Smoothies, Misty Slush, Moo Lattes, Sundaes, Cones, and much more.
I ordered a small S’mores Blizzard for myself (since I still needed to hit the gym that day) and a pup cup for Zeke.
Zeke kept putting his front paws on the counter to get lots of attention from the Dairy Queen employees.
Once our order was placed, we walked to the front of the building on Wayne Rd. to the pick-up window. Zeke knew he was getting a treat and he was ready the second the window door opened.
The employee did the signature Blizzard move by turning my Blizzard upside down before handing it to me, along with Zeke’s pup cup.
I took Zeke to the picnic tables on the Chestnut St. side of the building to enjoy our treats.
Zeke’s pup cup was vanilla ice cream with a Milk-Bone dog treat on top and he devoured it within a few minutes. No complaints from Zeke.
My S’mores Blizzard was the perfect treat on such a hot day. The soft serve was creamy with crushed graham crackers and marshmallow filled chocolate pieces. Every bite truly tasted like a s’mores.
There are so many different items I want to try on the menu, but every time I come back to Dairy Queen I always get the S’mores Blizzard because it’s a limited time item and I know it’s going to be amazing every time. Dairy Queen has been in Wayne since the 1950s. “Dairy Queen is an awesome company to represent,” said Mike Petrou, Dairy Queen owner. Petrou and his wife, Jenn, purchased the business from his parents, John and Anna Petrou, in 2015. John and Anna had owned the business for 27 years. Before them, Petrou’s parents’ aunt and uncle, Pete and Eileen Lekas, owned the business for 40 years.
To Petrou, Dairy Queen has been a family business for almost 80 years.
Petrou has two favorite parts about his job. The first being the customers and how multiple times a week, someone will come to the business and mention how they used to come here when they were younger and talk about all the changes within the city. “I just let them tell their story. It always puts a smile on my face. And for this business to be part of that story, it’s awesome,” said Petrou.
The second favorite part being his staff. “We’re a very small business in a small city able to provide jobs for teenagers or people that maybe couldn’t find a job anywhere else. The fact I can do that is really rewarding,” said Petrou.
Dairy Queen will close for the season in mid-October and re-open on March 1st.
“On opening day, it doesn’t matter if it’s snowy or sunny out, people will come out. The community embraces us with open arms,” said Petrou.
Some of Dairy Queen’s best-selling items are: Peanut Buster Parfait, banana split, and (since the 80’s) Blizzards, specifically Oreo, New York cheesecake, and Reese’s. Some of their new items are: Fruity Pebbles shake and for fall cravings: Pumpkin Pie Blizzard and Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Blizzard. Make sure you try some of Dairy Queen’s new or best-selling items before it closes for the season.
Dairy Queen is located at 3007 S Wayne Rd and is open 12 – 9 p.m. Sunday – Saturday. For more information about Dairy Queen, call (734) 729-1020. “We love our Wayne community, we appreciate you, and it’s because of you that we have a job and are able to serve the community,” said Petrou.

The Annual Senior Health & Information Expo will be Thursday, October 22nd.

By Sarah Shurge  – If you are a senior or know any seniors, mark your calendar because the 4th Annual Senior Health & Information Expo will be Thursday, October 22nd, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at HYPE Athletics (4635 Howe Rd).
The event is being brought to you by the City of Wayne Commission on Aging in cooperation with HYPE Athletics. The Commission on Aging was established for the purpose of promoting the enrichment of the lives of the aging who reside in Wayne.
The event will have free blood pressure screenings, vendors, and a free, light lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. (RSVP preferred).
Types of vendors attending the event: Home Health Care, Elder Law Attorney, Medicare Insurance Agent, End of Life Planning, Senior Living Centers, Wayne Westland Federal Credit Union, Senior Resource Centers, Wayne Police, Wayne Fire, Wayne Library, The Senior Alliance, Western Wayne Family Health Centers, Wayne Metro Action Agency, Mary Kay Beauty, Massage Therapy, and National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.
Vendor Cost: $50.00
“Holding an event like this is important as it brings many valuable resources, services, and opportunities together for older adults in one accessible place,” said Cathy Broge, City of Wayne Community Development Administrative Assistant. “Having an opportunity to gather this critical information in person as opposed to online is invaluable.”
Broge has been working with the City of Wayne for 43 years. She has been in her current role for almost four years.
“My favorite part of my job is having the ability to serve the community in numerous capacities. I have always loved working with people,” said Broge.
The City of Wayne Commission on Aging hosts presentations at different times of the year using the vendors who participate in their expo.
They have a Senior Self Defense Class for the month of September on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers. On Thursday, September 8th, at 3 p.m. there will be a Medicare 101 class.
For more information about the Senior Health & Information Expo, contact Cathy Broge by email at cbroge@cityofwayne.com or call (734)895-9184.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

History takes flight in Wayne County as a drone loaded with automotive parts prepares for the first public test flight of Jack Demmer Ford’s autonomous drone delivery program. The demonstration marks a milestone for the use of drone technology to transport automotive parts in metro Detroit. Photo by John Rhaesa

By Sarah Shurge – Jack Demmer Automotive Group, in partnership with drone technology companies Airspace Link, and blueflite® with support from Centrepolis Accelerator, announced the launch of an autonomous drone delivery program for automotive parts in metro Detroit.
A press release on Tuesday, August 25th, stated that the initiative deploys drones to deliver high-demand parts within a 12-mile radius of Jack Demmer Ford dealerships in Southeast Michigan – one of the first commercial drone delivery programs in the U.S. automotive industry.
“This groundbreaking program allows us to move critical parts faster than ever before, helping reduce repair delays, improve efficiency, and get our customers back on the road sooner,” said Mark Hatfield, Jack Demmer Ford Parts Manager.
The program addresses logistics challenges for dealerships, such as traffic congestion, workforce shortages that delay parts delivery, and slow vehicle repairs.
By flying parts over congestion rather than through it, the drone delivery network creates a more efficient automotive supply chain. “It’s not just about speed—it’s about delivering the level of service, innovation, and customer care that our customers have come to expect from Jack Demmer,” said Hatfield.
The program is funded by a $740,000 grant from Michigan’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Activation Fund. The AAM Activation Fund is a collaborative effort between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Aeronautics Commission, the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) which is part of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
“The Jack Demmer project is exactly the kind of real-world deployment the Advanced Air Mobility Initiative was designed to catalyze,” said Justine Johnson, OFME Chief Mobility Officer. “Drone delivery of automotive parts in metro Detroit demonstrates that Michigan’s supply chain strengths and our growing aerial mobility ecosystem are a powerful combination. This is what it looks like when state investment, private innovation, and Michigan ingenuity work together.”
Airspace Link’s AirHub® Drone Operations Management System (DOMS) provides the critical infrastructure for the program, managing airspace coordination, real-time operational oversight, and safety compliance across the delivery network.
“Safe, scalable drone delivery doesn’t happen by accident — it requires the right digital infrastructure underneath it. That’s exactly what Airspace Link’s AirHub® platform provides,” said Ana Healander, Airspace Link Co-Founder and Vice President of Customer Success.
Following the successful completion of pilot test flights in the metro Detroit airspace, the program is now moving into live commercial operations. The Ann Arbor through Detroit drone route will be the operational environment.
“The Detroit area is the perfect place to prove what drone logistics can do. Blueflite® was built to solve exactly this kind of challenge — delivering critical goods quickly, reliably, and autonomously in complex urban environments,” said Tyler Bruder, Business Development Lead at blueflite®.
Per the press release, the program is expected to generate critical operational data to inform regulatory policy, accelerate industry adoption of drone logistics, and serve as a national model for scaling drone delivery across the automotive sector and beyond.
“What we’re doing in metro Detroit today is a preview of how supply chains will operate everywhere tomorrow,” said Bruder.

The first 120 children who purchase a breakfast ticket will get to adopt their very own 7-inch stuffed Fire Dog on Saturday, October 10.

By Sarah Shurge – Mark your calendars and prepare to show up hungry, the City of Wayne Fire Department Annual Pancake Breakfast returns on Saturday, October 10th.
Everyone is invited to stop by the Wayne Fire Department (3300 S. Wayne Rd) from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. for breakfast, family fun, and a chance to support an important local cause.
Each breakfast includes: three pancakes (you may return for more), three sausage links (limited to only three), and your choice of milk, chocolate milk, orange juice, water, or coffee.
Tickets are: $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 10 and under.
“Your breakfast does more than fill your plate; proceeds help support the Wayne Fire Department Public Education Fund,” said Lisa Kubany, Wayne Downtown Development Authority Marketing and Events Director.
The event will have raffles, face painting, games, and family fun.
This year, the Wayne Fire Department has a surprise planned for its youngest guests.
The first 120 children who purchase a breakfast ticket will get to adopt their very own 7-inch stuffed Fire Dog. Each child can name their new Fire Dog and take it home after breakfast. (There are only 120 available, so families hoping to adopt a Fire Dog will want to arrive early).
Please plan ahead when arriving at the Fire Department. Parking directly behind the Wayne Fire Department is reserved for handicap parking only.
Public parking is available on surrounding side streets and in the parking lots behind the storefronts between Ash and Elm Streets on both the east and west sides of Wayne Road.
“Guests who park across Wayne Road should use extra caution when crossing this busy roadway. Families are encouraged to keep children close and cross carefully,” said Kubany.
Would your child like to celebrate their birthday at the Wayne Firehouse? For $10 per ticket, guests can enter for a chance to win a birthday party at the Wayne Fire Department. Tickets are on sale at the Fire Department. The drawing winner will be announced Tuesday, October 20th. (You do not need to be present to win).
Be sure to attend the City of Wayne Fire Department Annual Pancake Breakfast.
“Come meet members of your Wayne Fire Department, enjoy breakfast with your neighbors, and help support the department’s public education efforts,” said Kubany.

The Wayne Historical Society will bring local history to life this fall with its 13th annual Cemetery Walk, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Old Wayne-Michigan Avenue Cemetery.

By Sarah Shurge – Help preserve the history of Wayne and keep our cemetery clean and beautiful!
Join the Rotary Club of Wayne and Wayne Historical Society for the annual cemetery clean up day on Sunday, September 27th from 1 – 3 PM at the Old Wayne Cemetery (next to the Phoenix State Wayne Theater).
Cleaning products and gloves will be provided. Please bring rakes.
“It’s an old cemetery that needs love. It’s sad seeing everything overgrown or headstones broken because they’re old,” said Trish Hampton, Rotary member.
The Wayne Rotary and Wayne Historical Society have mutually adopted this cemetery and have held headstone cleaning workshops and repaired / replaced several veteran memorials within the cemetery.
“We need all the help we can get. The city is trying to get some money towards this cemetery but it’s just not in the budget,” said Hampton.
The Historical Society is currently updating Find-A-Grave Memorials with photographs and obituaries from the Wayne Historical Museum Archives.
“All those people in that cemetery are who made Wayne. We wouldn’t be here without them. We should honor them,” said Hampton.
Hampton has been a member of the Wayne Rotary for over 15 years and was the former president until July 1st.
The Rotary Club of Wayne is an organization of individuals who live or work in Wayne and contribute their time, talents, and treasure to improve the quality of life in Wayne and around the world.
“My favorite part is making a difference every single day for people,” said Hampton.
The Rotary Club is looking for more people to join. They meet every Tuesday at noon in the Thomas Kelly Room in the Wayne Public Library.
If you are interested or looking for more information about the Rotary Club of Wayne, visit waynerotary.com, find them on Facebook or Instagram at “waynerotary”, or contact them at waynerotary@gmail.-com.
If you have any questions regarding the cemetery clean up day, contact Hampton at (734) 890-6934.
Please join the Rotary Club and Historical Society for the annual cemetery clean up day in preparation for the 13th annual Wayne Historical Society Cemetery Walk.
The Cemetery Walk will be on Sunday, October 4th from 1 – 3 PM at the Old Wayne – Michigan Avenue Historical Cemetery grounds.
The walk is organized by volunteers and staff of the Wayne Historical Society and Museum and is free to the public (donations appreciated).
Guests will wander the cemetery and enjoy an outdoor theatrical performance and “meet” those buried there and hear their life story.
The Wayne Historical Museum will provide cider and donuts for attendees and have merchandise for sale.
The event also seeks to educate people about Wayne’s unique history and the importance of preserving cemeteries
Don’t miss out on both the Cemetery Clean Up Day and the Cemetery Walk!

Back-to-School Fun at Goudy Park — Puffer Reds owner Eric Williams and crew pass out Adidas backpacks donated by Puffer Reds during Wayne’s Back-to-School Movie Night on Friday, August 21, at Goudy Park. Wayne families gathered for an evening of community fun while local partners helped students get ready for the new school year. Photo by John Rhaesa

By Sarah Shurge – As summer vacation comes to an end, Back-to-School events were hosted to send kids back to the classrooms on the right foot.
On Tuesday, August 18th, Wayne-Westland families attended the Back-to-School Fair at John Glenn High School. The event had inflatables, a dunk tank, rock climbing wall, petting zoo, face painters, and a DJ.
2,000 backpacks were passed out to students.
“We also gave away water bottles, provided a free dinner through our Food Services Department, and had over 50 community partners who met with families to provide resources and giveaways,” said Jenny Johnson, Wayne-Westland Community Schools Communications Director. All of this was provided by the event sponsor Recovery Action Network (RAN). RAN is a peer-based support group that is committed to serving the Western Wayne County community. This organization supports all pathways of recovery with educational seminars, community resources, recovery activities, community service events, and more.
RAN had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Recovery Community Center in Wayne (35112 W. Michigan Ave) in June 2025. This space serves as a welcoming and safe environment for people in recovery and those seeking support.
A special thank you to the event sponsor, RAN, for helping make this event possible and supporting our students and families, and a thank you to all the staff, volunteers, and community partners who helped make the evening such a success.
On Friday, August 21st, Wayne families attended the Back-to-School Movie Night at Goudy Park. Families enjoyed dancing, games, activities, and finished the evening with a showing of “Barnyard” under the stars.

Community Leaders Join Back-to-School Celebration — Mayor John Rhaesa, Councilman Don Quarles, State Representative Peter Herzberg, Brett Macek and Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman pose for a photo during Wayne’s Back-to-School Movie Night at Goudy Park. Below: State Representative Peter Herzberg passes out backpacks to local children at Goudy Park.

More than 300 backpacks (with school supplies) were given away.
“The Wayne Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a wonderful success,” said Lisa Kubany, DDA Marketing and Events Director. “Being back in Goudy Park felt like home.”
A special thank you to the event sponsors and partners: Puffer Reds, State Representative Peter Herzberg, Wayne-Westland Federal Credit Union, Frazier’s Towing and Auto Repair, CrossPointe Community Church, First Congregational Church of Wayne, AKA Sports and Custom Apparel, Lanterns Church, Wayne Youth Services, Wayne Public Library, The Dance Academy, and Sponsorship Solutions and Park It.
Thank you to the food trucks that attended the event: Emelias Taqueria (E Guac n Roll), Fun Food Express, and Rainy’s Ice Cream Truck.
“A huge thank you also goes to the City of Wayne DPW crew and all of the volunteers who generously gave their time and energy before, during, and after the event. Your hard work helped make the entire evening possible,” said Kubany.
Congratulations to all the kids that received a backpack at these events and good luck to all the Wayne-Westland students this upcoming school year!

With winter already approaching soon, many will be wanting to make their old house warmer, more comfortable and to lower bills. Sometimes work done to accomplish this actually can make things worse or waste money, so here are a few tips when working on old houses.
Many people’s knee-jerk reaction to an old house is to replace the original wood windows, but this is usually wasted money. Only 7-10% of heat is lost through windows, and while it sounds like a lot, it’s nothing compared to the 35% lost through the attic, 25% lost through walls, and 15% lost through floors. Windows are actually at the bottom of the list in terms of heat savings, and you will never recover the cost of replacement in fuel savings.
With the average cost of vinyl replacement windows for a home nearing $15,000-$20,000+, you would only save about $210 per year on heating, meaning it would take 70 YEARS to break even. Vinyl windows also only last 15-20 years before needing replaced, so again the cost is never recouped.
To properly insulate old wood windows, you can add foam or plastic air sealing strips to tops and sides of a sash. Spring bronze weatherstripping is also a great air sealer along the sides. Adding a storm window on the outside, or even the inside, will also give you equivalent R-value to a new vinyl double glazed window.
Keeping your original wood windows also keeps the look of your house historically correct on the inside where the sash may match your woodwork, and from the outside where the proportions are kept. Air sealing old windows can be done by any homeowner, and storm windows can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of replacement windows.
Let’s get to the big-ticket items though, roofs and walls. Attics should be first if you’re looking to keep a house warmer and reduce bills, remember it is the biggest area of heat loss, up to 35% or more. Homes should have 12 inches or more of blown-in insulation in the attic and be properly vented at the eaves and ridge.
Even if your attic was insulated years ago, as it settles and compresses you lose R-value. Most homes can have attic insulation blown in for less than $5,000 so it is a worthwhile investment.
Many homes built before the 1930s have little to no insulation in the walls or attics. To insulate walls the best option is again blown-in. An insulation company will come out and drill holes at the top of your exterior wall, blow in insulation to the cavity between studs, then fill and cover the holes like they were never there.
For attics and walls in old homes, avoid expanding foam and spray foams. They hold too much moisture and can cause rot in old homes not designed for it. Stick to blown-in cellulose or fiberglass.
If your home is on a crawlspace, insulating the floor above the crawlspace with just basic fiberglass insulation can save you up to 15% and can be done yourself. Insulating the rim joist around your house in your basement or crawl space is also another overlooked area where heat is lost.
If you’re unsure what your home may need, there are services out there that do home energy audits. They cost around a hundred dollars, but they inspect your home’s insulation, use thermal cameras to look through walls, and make a plan for you to get the most bang for your buck.
They may recommend installing insulation foam behind outlets and switches, taping and sealing HVAC ducts, sealing around exterior vents, or a multitude of other things. They may also recommend replacing an old furnace. High efficiency 98% furnaces with AC run around $15,000, and along with air sealing and insulation can drop your winter gas bill by as much as one-third.
Heat pumps are also becoming increasingly common, and can be used to supplement heat as well as AC, though they do increase your electric bill. In Michigan right now it is cheaper to heat with gas than electricity, so if your home uses electric baseboards or electric supplemental heat, it may be more efficient and cheaper to switch to gas. In summary, if you know your house has poor insulation, start there first. Money spent on insulation is money well spent. Get a home energy audit if you can to find your homes’ weak spots, which will then give you a plan to move forward.

Designer Wearhouse’s owner Zaina Clark

By Sarah Shurge – For over 40 years, Designer Wearhouse sat at the corner of W. Michigan Ave and Wayne Rd. If you were stopped at either red light, you could stare into the store’s windows and see the latest fashion on display.
Now if you’re stopped at a red light and look into the store’s windows, you see something else – sale signs.
Everything in the store is marked 20 – 60% off due to Designer Wearhouse’s owners Zaina and Jeff Clark retiring. “We’re not going out of business, we’re just retiring. I had to call it quits at some point,” said Zaina Clark.
Clark has put off retiring for over five years for her customers. “The store has been more than just a business. It’s been about the people and relationships,” said Clark.
Clark didn’t always want to run a business. She has a background in the medical field. But her husband, Jeff, was working for someone in the building that is now Designer Wearhouse and he mentioned that it was a good location on a busy corner and would be a good place to do a clothing store.
With zero business experience, she jumped into it blindly. “Many people helped me learn the business – vendors, clothing shows. God put me in the right place with the right people to guide me and teach me,” said Clark.
Jeff helped Clark with the business, working more in the background. “He’s my partner in life and also in business,” said Clark.
And Clark’s business has been a success.
“My selection, my windows, and word of mouth – those things made me successful,” said Clark. Clark didn’t mind carrying extra inventory of all sizes for all her customers.
“I had something for everyone,” said Clark. “If I didn’t have the size, I got the size that people wanted. I tried to keep a selection and always thought about what my customers would like.”

Zaina Clark straightening up the store during the liquidation sale.

More than Clark cares about the items she stocks on the racks; she cares about making people happy. “It’s about sharing with customers beyond the sale. That personal touch,” said Clark. “I’m so grateful for what my customers have done for me and for staying loyal to me.”
When Clark announced her retirement, she received mixed responses from her customers. Some were happy that she was retiring, while others were upset the store would be closing. All still showed their support for her and her business.
“I wanted to close earlier but because of the overwhelming response from my customers, as a thank you, I brought in more new merchandise to give customers an opportunity to buy at a discount,” said Clark.
All new items coming in will be offered at 20% discount, while other items are marked down more.
Designer Wearhouse will be closing towards the end of August (no official date yet).
“None of us have the promise of tomorrow. It was a hard and emotional decision, but I have to let the business go,” said Clark. “I’m extremely grateful and feel blessed to be there this long. God has blessed me with having chosen the perfect place to have a business and be successful. I thank every person that has walked in that store, and every employee that has worked for me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
In her retirement, Clark is excited to pursue traveling, taking care of her family, and volunteering. “I’m looking forward to seeing where God guides me next. It feels like there’s something else I’m supposed to be doing,” said Clark.
Designer Wearhouse is located at 35028 Michigan Ave, and is open 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Monday, and 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. Hours on Monday might change due to demand. For more information about Designer Wearhouse, call (734)595-7445. You can find Designer Wearhouse on Instagram by searching “@designer_wearhouse-_wayne” Be sure to check social media for a surprise the last week of August.
“I’m proud that I did well as a woman in an industry that is typically male dominated,” said Clark. “They may not have taken me seriously at the beginning, but they learned that I knew what I was doing.”
Designer Wearhouse still has plenty of merchandise, but things are going fast and inventory changes daily. Don’t miss out on the liquidation sale!

Welcome back to another Spotlight Series with Sarah!
The series where the writer gets to know the city more personally, while the readers get to know the writer better in the process.
As the city’s main writer, I’m in the know. Whether it be an event is happening, a business is opening, or one is closing, I know about it and I’m writing about it. But since having my column, sometimes now when a business opens, I get to experience it and review it instead.
When I was told a story was needed for the new restaurant opening in Wayne, I jumped at the chance for more content for my column. Per usual, I asked my neighbor, Autumn, if she wanted to get dinner and catch up since our last night out. And per usual, Autumn was down.
So on Wednesday, July 29th, Autumn and I went to Wayne Family Diner for dinner.
We arrived a little after 7 p.m. and were told that typically they are open later but would be closing early that night at 8 p.m. Even though they were closing within less than an hour, we were still welcomed to sit down and order.
Autumn and I always like to order multiple items and share, and this meal would be no different. The menu was loaded with lots of delicious sounding options, so it was hard to make a decision.

Wayne Family Diner owner Lisa Siniarski, scissors in hand, is joined by Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa, members of the Wayne City Council, city administration, diner staff and friends as they prepare to cut the ribbon and celebrate the Wayne Family Diner with the community. Photo by Natalie Rhaesa

But eventually we landed on Cajun chicken alfredo and the Wayne wrap (chicken, bacon, green peppers, onions, and Swiss cheese, wrapped in an encrusted parmesan garlic wrap).
The alfredo came with a choice of soup or salad, so we ordered chicken noodle soup for Autumn’s daughter Mya. The wrap had the option to upgrade a side of fries, which we did. I asked for a side of ranch as well (of course).
Shortly after ordering, our server informed us that they had a large to-go order of three chicken alfredos that used the last of the noodles, so she asked if we’d mind having bowtie noodles as a substitute. Neither Autumn nor I minded. In fact, I love bowtie noodles.
Not long after that, our server brought out the chicken noodle soup with a side of oyster crackers. It was the classic, homemade-style and looked comforting. Then came our alfredo with garlic bread, followed by our wrap with fries.
We were impressed with how quickly everything came out and everything looked delicious, but Autumn and I couldn’t resist the alfredo.
The sauce was creamy and tasted homemade. The chicken was tender and seasoned well. Instead of eating a little bit of everything, Autumn and I finished the alfredo and decided to take the wrap home for leftovers.

Wayne Family Diner owner Lisa Siniarski (seventh from left) is joined by her friendly staff inside Belle and Brooke’s Ice Cream Parlor, where they’re ready to welcome the community and serve up plenty of smiles and sweet treats. Photo by Natalie Rhaesa

With less than an hour to order and eat, we still received friendly and quality service.
After boxing up the food we didn’t eat, I made my way over to the cash register to pay when I noticed the display of all the sweet treats. Y’all should know by now, but I love a sweet treat, so I had to check them out.
There was: strawberry shortcake, carrot cake, cheesecake, Dubai chocolate cake, birthday sprinkle cake, cherry pie, very berry crumble pie, apple pie, and a vast amount of ice cream flavors, including: Superman, strawberry, rocky road, s’mores, pecan praline, blueberry waffle cone, brownies to the moon, Traverse City cherry fudge, and many more.
I ordered two scoops of the lemon blueberry cheesecake ice cream for Autumn and I to share, which we did as we walked around downtown Wayne enjoying the first concert of the summer. (If you don’t know anything about the concerts in Goudy Park, read my other article about it.)
The next day, I heated up my wrap in the microwave for lunch. The encrusted parmesan garlic wrap didn’t get soft or soggy, instead it remained crispy with every bite. I added ranch and was pleasantly surprised with how well it reheated and still tasted delicious the second day.
When Autumn ate her half of the wrap, she also said the wrap was delicious and had a nice flavor combination.
I didn’t forget about Mya’s soup – she said the broth was flavorful.
Even though Autumn and I didn’t get to sit and stay for as long as we wanted, we still had a great time at Wayne Family Diner and I would definitely go back to try more items on the menu.
Wayne Family Diner had its grand opening in Wayne on Monday, June 1st. Its ribbon cutting ceremony was on Tuesday, June 16th.

Wayne Family Diner is located at 5006 South Wayne Road.

“I appreciated everyone coming and showing up. I’m emotional and it was a very emotional day but it was amazing. This has been a dream of mine for forever and I still cannot believe I did it,” said Lisa Siniarski, Wayne Family Diner owner.
Siniarski has been serving in this area for 28 years, including at L. George’s Coney Island and the same building she now owns back when it was Scooby’s 20 years ago.
“I remember telling the owner I was going to own the place someday. Something about the building spoke to me back then. I wanted to make it look like home,” said Siniarski.
And that has been her goal with Wayne Family Diner – making it feel like it’s grandma’s house where you come in for a family meal. “It’s homemade cooking – literally recipes that I know from mom and grandma’s cooking,” said Siniarski.
Some of Wayne Family Diner’s best-selling items are: country fried steak, meatloaf, specialty waffles, and eggs benedict on Sunday.
Wayne Family Diner has 32 different flavors of ice cream.
“Ice cream is something that all ages like and will come in for. 32 flavors means there is something for everyone, regardless if they have allergies or don’t like chocolate,” said Siniarski.
Siniarski is big on feedback, whether it be an ice cream flavor suggestion or a problem with your service. “Come to me about it. If you have a flavor suggestion, I’ll get it. If you have a problem, tell me. I’d rather fix it for you than you leave here unhappy,” said Siniarski.
Wayne Family Diner is located at 5006 S Wayne Rd, and is open 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Tuesday, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wednesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday.
For more information about Wayne Family Diner, call (734) 329-2157. Siniarski is working on a website within the next few weeks. You can find them on Facebook by searching “Wayne Family Diner -with catering, ice cream parlor & homemade desserts”.
“This is what I want to do, this is my dream, and I want to stay here, but the only way I can stay open is if people come. I’d love for people to come see what we have to offer,” said Siniarski.
Be sure to check out Wayne Family Diner and be on the lookout for the next Spotlight Series with Sarah!