The body of a sailor whose mother lives locally has been positively identified after a U.S. Navy destroyer collided with an oil tanker Monday near Singapore.
Official say that divers found the remains of electronics technician 3rd class Kenneth Aaron Smith of New Jersey. He was one of ten sailors thought to have been killed in the incident. Smith's mother, April Brandon, lives in Milford. Brandon says her 22-year-old son grew up in Novi and relocated to Virginia with his father as a teen to prepare for the Navy through the ROTC, following in his fatherâs footsteps. The announcement follows a candlelight vigil Wednesday night in Milford's Central Park, where area residents gathered to show support for Brandon, presenting her with a prayer quilt.
Smith's father Darryl Smith released a statement saying, âKenneth was a great young man, son, and Sailor. He truly loved his family, the Navy, and his shipmates.â He also recognized and thanked âthe brave crew of USS John S. McCain, and all the search and rescue personnel who are still hard at work with a difficult task.â
Itâs the second major collision in the last two months involving the Navyâs 7th Fleet. Seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided in waters off Japan. The Navy has since dismissed the commander of the 7th Fleet "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command." (JK)
Body Of Missing Sailor IdentifiedBody Of Missing Sailor Identified
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Site Plan For Condo, Duplex Community Reccommended For ApprovalSite Plan For Condo, Duplex Community Reccommended For Approval
The long awaited phase 2 of a housing development in Oceola Township has received a recommendation for approval by the planning commission.
Capital Custom Homes presented the site plan for the second phase of the Pine Ridge Community at a special meeting of the planning commission, Thursday night. The development will be built on Eager Road, on the south side of M-59. Oceola Township Supervisor Bill Bamber said it will have 88 units, with 2/3 being condominiums, and the remainder being duplexes. The developer had made a couple changes since the commission had last seen the site plan. A fishing pier and tot lot playground that had been planned to be put in have been scrapped. They will also be adding some sidewalks where there previously werenât and connecting a woodchip path to them at an access point, as well.
This planned unit development was originally approved 15 years ago. Bamber said that part of that reason was the economy, and the other part was one of the original developers taking the money and running off with the other developerâs wife. The commission unanimously passed a vote to recommend approval to the township board. The board will vote at their next meeting, Thursday, September 7th. (MK)
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Ciesielski Appointed As New Linden SuperintendentCiesielski Appointed As New Linden Superintendent
Linden Community Schools no longer has an interim superintendent.
The Linden Board of Education voted last week to make Interim Superintendent Russ Ciesielski the permanent super. Ciesielski was appointed to serve as interim superintendent effective July 1st, following the retirement of former superintendent Ed Koledo. The Tri-County Times reports that Ciesielski is a 1991 Linden High School graduate who came back to the district in 2001 as an educator. He has served as a teacher, athletic director, assistant principal and most recently, principal at Linden High School. He also served as the interim superintendent while Koledo was on active duty with his Michigan National Guard unit when it was deployed overseas in 2015.
His goals for the district include continued growth in student achievement, more communication and transparency with stakeholders, development of a new strategic plan and a long term vision of a successful district. The vote to make Ciesielski the permanent superintendent passed 5-1, with board Vice President Steve Murphy casting the lone dissenting vote. In June when Ciesielski was named interim superintendent, Murphy also voted against that decision saying he would have preferred Curriculum Director Julie Brown take the position. (JK)
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Construction Begins On New Hotel In Brighton Construction Begins On New Hotel In Brighton
Construction crews began work this week on the new Candlewood Suites, which is going in across Library Drive from the Homewood Suites by Hilton, off Challis Road, in Brighton.
The City Planning Commission approved the latest site plan last October. The developer allowed the original site plan to expire after the economy tanked and re-applied for a new site plan last year. Developer âMikeâ Shammami of Brighton Hotels LLC says his reason for reviving the project is that, âThe economy is better, itâs more stable.â
Shammami plans on a 3-story, 90-suite hotel. All rooms will be one-or-two-room suites, each with a kitchenette where guests may cook or microwave their meals. Shammami says the hotel will also have a âmini martâ with canned goods, microwavable foods and snacks available for hotel guests. âItâs geared toward a more extended stay,â he says, and as a result, there will be no cafeteria or continental breakfast. The hotel will have a heated, indoor pool and an âoversizeâ fitness center. It will also feature an outdoor picnic area for barbecues and a gazebo.
The total project cost is estimated at $9-10 million. Shammami says construction of the new University of Michigan Brighton Health Center South medical complex â which is now under construction â was a âplusâ in his companyâs plans, but not an overriding factor in the decision to go forward. He says that Vail Inc.âs purchase of the Mount Brighton Ski Area and infusion of $10 million worth of upgrades to that facility was serendipitous, but not a factor in the decision to proceed.
Construction of the Candlewood Suites is just one aspect of what is rapidly becoming a hotel âdistrictâ in Brighton. The Hampton Inn & Suites opened in April of this year; construction is set to begin soon on a 4-story Holiday Inn nearby, at Nemco Way and Murphy Drive. As a result, the current Holiday Inn Express and Suites near Grand River and Challis Rd. is going to be âre-badgedâ and become part of another hotel chain. And the Homewood Suites by Hilton on Challis Road at Library Drive, opened several years ago. That will make five hotels within a 1/2-mile radius in Brighton.
Brighton city officials have said that construction of the new, 297,000-square foot U/M Brighton Health Center South has much to do with the recent hotel construction activity. The $175 million facility is scheduled to be completed in late 2018. (TT)
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Residents Gather To Pray For Racial Harmony Residents Gather To Pray For Racial Harmony
A local church held a service last night aimed at bringing the community together to pray for an end to racism, and reconciliation between races.
Pastor Judith McMillan of the First Presbyterian Church in Howell led the service with encouragement and a strong belief that peace among people can be found with the power of prayer. The event was created by the congregation in a response to the violence and white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia two weeks ago.
Throughout the service, McMillan addressed hard truths about the prevalence of racism and the need for individuals to respond and stand against acts of hate. She says it is critical not only for members of the church, but for all people, to talk deliberately and openly about racism and unbalanced power.
Though she is from Troy, McMillan is not ignorant to Howellâs reputation of association with the Ku Klux Klan. White Supremacist leader and Michigan Grand Dragon Robert E. Miles moved to the Howell area in the early 1960's, holding cross-burnings on his farm north of town, most prominently in the 70's and 80's, until his death in 1992. Despite that history, McMillan says the area is full of many people who reject his ideas and are actively seeking an end to bigotry, and recounted an incident in 1994 when local clergy and other members of the community held a ceremonial scrubbing of the courthouse steps the day after a KKK rally to demonstrate that hate was not welcome in the community.
McMillan says the congregation hopes to hold similar events in the future by partnering with other local churches and groups. She hopes these services will open hearts and foster inclusion and diversity. Among racism, bigotry, and prejudice, McMillan says there is another sin that all must be aware of and continually fight against: complicit silence. (DK)
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Independent Competency Exam For Teen In Murder Case GrantedIndependent Competency Exam For Teen In Murder Case Granted
A Fenton Township teen charged with fatally shooting his friend has been granted a request for a second mental competency opinion.
16-year old Abdurrahman Ahmed Akl is being charged as an adult in the shooting death of 18-year-old Brady Morris. Charges pressed are for Open Murder, Receiving and Concealing a Stolen Firearm, and two counts of Felony Firearms. Police arrested Akl on March 4th after responding to a 9-1-1 report of a male with a gunshot to the head. Authorities say evidence indicates that Akl and Morris, who were friends, were alone on the first floor of the residence when the shooting occurred. Other members of Aklâs family and one guest were on the 2nd and 3rd floors. According to the autopsy report, Morris was shot from behind at point blank range on the top left side of his head. Police were met by Akl outside and arrested him without incident, securing a semi-automatic pistol they found on the front porch.
Aklâs attorney, Frank Manley, requested an exam to determine if Akl was mentally competent at the time of the incident, which was granted. The exam was performed by state mental health professionals and found Akl competent. Earlier this month, Manley requested a second assessment, this time by an independent third party. Manley claimed this is warranted because the while the stateâs final report declared Akl competent, their interim report deemed him incompetent for trial. The lawyer said that due to the serious nature of the case, an independent review is greatly needed. District Court Judge Mark MacCabe granted the request. Akl is scheduled to next appear in court on October 18th. (MK)
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Bishop On "Jobs & Economy Tour" Of 8th DistrictBishop On "Jobs & Economy Tour" Of 8th District
When Congress reconvenes next month, Livingston Countyâs Congressman plans to take back what he learns on a tour of local businesses.
Republican Mike Bishop has been hosting a Jobs & Economy Tour across Oakland, Livingston and Ingham counties, âmeeting with area employers and employees to hear their stories, get input and find ways to implement their ideas at a national level.â Bishop, who sits on the House Ways & Means Committee, hopes to use the insight from these meetings when the House reconvenes in September.
Included in the tour was a swing through Brighton, where Bishop and Pam McConeghy from the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce met with several small businesses to learn about their day-to-day operations including the Shawn Pipoly Agency, Beverly Raeâs Inc. and Main Street Cheese Market. Among the issues Bishop says they discussed were simplifying the tax code, the high cost of health care for small businesses and the way online retail is competing with brick and mortar shops.
Other stops included to Pratt & Miller Engineering in New Hudson, which specializes in developing advanced technologies for use in the defense, automotive and power-sports industries and to Bekum America Corporation in Williamston, a global machinery manufacturer. Bishop says a major highlight of their discussion included the need to improve and promote apprenticeship programs at the national level so that students can better transition directly into the workforce. (JK)
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Local Microbiologist & Nigerian Doctor Partner Up On Infant Mortality StudyLocal Microbiologist & Nigerian Doctor Partner Up On Infant Mortality Study
Infant mortality is on the decline in one African nation thanks to a partnership between a Livingston County microbiologist and a Nigerian doctor.
Nigeria has one of the highest mortality rates in pregnant mothers and their babies. As an expert in deadly pathogens and genotyping, Shannon Manning of Oceola Township was contacted by Dr. Nubwa Medugu for help in analyzing samples she collected in hopes of reversing this trend in her home country. Manning is a Professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at Michigan State University and says that one of the biggest dangers pregnant women in Nigeria face is Group B Streptococcus, or GBS. GBS is a bacterium that can cause sepsis or meningitis is newborn babies. It typically colonizes the mother, who might not know she is carrying it because it part of her normal microbiome. During pregnancy, the pathogen can make its way up the placenta, contribute to membrane weakening, and cause early birth, still birth, or neonatal infection.
Manning said that in the 1970s GBS was a serious concern in the United States. Policy changes that helped make it easier for women to be tested, and antibiotics to help those that tested positive, have made birthing more safe for the mother and child. Manning said one of the biggest issues is that proper medical assistance and the antibiotics are hard to come by in Nigeria. Meduguâs study showed that mothers carrying GBS were 8 times more likely to deliver a baby with complications from it in Nigeria as opposed to the United States. As result of this research, Medugu and her peers have begun to routinely check for GBS infections back home. A copy of Manning and Meduguâs study is published in the current issue of Clinical Microbiology and Infection. (MK/JK)
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"Livingston for Love Rally" Calls On Community To Stand Against Hate"Livingston for Love Rally" Calls On Community To Stand Against Hate
Leaders of an event set to be held in downtown Brighton are asking community members to join them in spreading the message of love.
A handful of events have been held in the area lately that focused on solidarity instead of division. A similar gathering, the Livingston for Love rally, will take place at the Brighton Mill Pond Sunday at 1pm. Messages denouncing hate and proclaiming love will be given by speakers from St. Paulâs Episcopal Church, Indivisible 8, and the Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton.
Pastor Julie Brock of the Community Unitarian Universalists says a history of white supremacy and racism is associated with Livingston County due to the presence of a KKK leader in the 1970s and 80s. She feels that history is the reason why the rally is so important for this area. Brock says they want people who are on the margins to know that there are people in the community who love and support them.
The goal of the march, according to organizers, is to denounce violence, oppression, and hatred, and proclaim love. Brock says the rally will spread positivity with songs, chanting, bubbles, and glitter signs.
Additional information about the rally can be found on the "Livingston for Love Rally" Facebook page, a link for which is posted below. (DK)
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Western-Themed Fundraiser To Benefit LACASA Set Next MonthWestern-Themed Fundraiser To Benefit LACASA Set Next Month
A fundraiser event next month will help raise funds and awareness of domestic assault programs in the county.
LACASA Center will hold one of its largest fundraisers of the year next month. The 7th annual Denim & Diamonds event is set for Saturday, September 30th in Marion Township. Raffle prizes include a diamond worth $6,000. The event will include Wild West gambling, live music by Kari Holmes, line dancing, acrobatic horse shows, cigar & spirits saloon, bonfire & gourmet sâmores and then a grand finale fireworks display to cap off the evening. It will be held at the Cross W Ranch on D-19, which has a rustic barn with a horse arena. Renee Chodkowski, better known as The Great Foodini, will be the eveningâs emcee. The self-described âfoodieâ is known on the national and local food-show scenes.
Tickets for Denim & Diamonds are $100 each and include a country smokehouse buffet dinner, beer & wine, gambling-loot starter kit, entertainment and parking. To learn more about the event, visit the link below. (JK)
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Man Headed To Trial In Two Seperate Child Molestation CasesMan Headed To Trial In Two Seperate Child Molestation Cases
A Westland man has been bound over on charges connected to incidents said to have occurred at a birthday party in which he allegedly molested several young boys.
37-year-old Andrew Joseph Arnett was bound over to Livingston County Circuit in two separate cases on Thursday. Arnett was originally charged with two counts of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of accosting a child for immoral purposes. He was recently charged with five additional counts; three of which are 2nd degree CSC and two counts of accosting a child for immoral purposes. Brighton police say those charges stem from inappropriate contact between Arnett and at least four boys under the age of 13 that allegedly occurred at a birthday party in January.
Earlier this month, Arnett was arraigned in a separate case on three counts of 2nd degree CSC and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes. Court records indicate those incidents occurred in June in Hamburg Township. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Future court dates for Arnett have not been scheduled at this time. (DK)
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Keller Williams Moves Into Former Citizens Insurance BuildingKeller Williams Moves Into Former Citizens Insurance Building
A building that has been a longtime staple in downtown Howell is the new home for a real estate company previously located in Brighton.
Keller Williams Real Estate staff officially moved in to the former Citizens Insurance building on the corner of Byron Road and Grand River Friday. The structure was built by Citizens Insurance in the mid-fifties and even designated as a bomb shelter during the Cold War. It was completely vacated by the company in 2013, when it consolidated all of its operations into its headquarters at M-59 and Highlander Way in Howell.
Ann Hernandez-Gabler, Team Leader and Associate Broker at Keller Williams, says staff was very excited to make the move into the buildingâs second floor because their previous location was much smaller. She says some employees call the companyâs new home the âgrown-up buildingâ.
The entire process only took about two months, but it wasnât until Friday that Keller Williamsâ sign was removed from its old location and placed on their new building. Hernandez-Gabler says so many members of the community have worked at the long-standing, iconic structure and it is perfect as a central location. She says everyone has been very welcoming. During Fridayâs move, staff had a little time to celebrate, but the company isnât slowing down.
Even though the dust is still settling, Hernandez-Gabler says theyâll be back to work this weekend because âthereâs no down time in the real estate worldâ. (DK)
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War Dog Buried in Michigan War Dog Memorial Near South LyonWar Dog Buried in Michigan War Dog Memorial Near South Lyon
Around 200 people gathered Saturday for the burial of Cena's ashes at the Michigan War Dog Memorial in Oakland County's Lyon Township. The 10-year-old black lab was interred with other military service dogs at the cemetery, where early 20 dogs are interred. State Sen. Mike Kowall said Cena "has done a fabulous job" and now "is welcomed home.â The dog was a bomb-sniffer for the Marines until retiring in 2014 when he was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. At that time Cena became a service dog for Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung, his first wartime partner. DeYoung said Cena was injured in every tour, and underwent rehabilitation for a year. DeYoung organized a celebration last month that drew hundreds before Cena was euthanized at a museum ship in Muskegon and carried off in a flag-draped coffin. A GoFundme website which has raised over $60,000 has been established to help with Cenaâs last wishes. (TT)
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Meeting To Get Local Input On Long-Range Transportation NeedsMeeting To Get Local Input On Long-Range Transportation Needs
A meeting next month will seek Livingston County residentsâ input on future transportation needs.
SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, is seeking input from residents across the region to aid development of long-range transportation plans. Public input meetings have been scheduled throughout the area to allow residents to share their priorities for the transportation system. Included in the gatherings is a meeting set up on Wednesday, September 13th at the Genoa Township Hall on Dorr Road. There will be two sessions that day. The first will run from Noon to 1:30pm and the next from 5:30 to 7pm.
Kathleen Lomako, Executive Director of SEMCOG, says the meetings are essential to receive diverse perspectives. Input from the meetings will be used to help shape priorities for the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. Scheduled for adoption in 2019, the plan will describe how billions of dollars will be invested in the regionâs transportation infrastructure and operations. As the transportation needs of the region evolve with changes in population and demographics, travel and lifestyle preferences, the economy, and technology, particular emphasis will be placed on walking and biking, traffic safety, pavement condition, transit, environmental quality and traffic congestion.
An online survey tool also provides opportunities to identify travel issues, rate approaches to improving the system, and rank overall priorities. The link is below. (JK)
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Brighton Police Youth Leadership Academy Begins Next YearBrighton Police Youth Leadership Academy Begins Next Year
Patrol officer Chris Parks, who is also the police liaison officer to the Brighton Area Schools, is instituting the academy, with the full blessing of the police dept. and Police Chief Rob Bradford. Parks outlined the planned academy at recent meetings of the Brighton Board of Education and Brighton City Council. He tells WHMI that the Brighton Police Youth Leadership Academy, as it will be called, will consist of students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades, who are, or will be, attending Maltby Intermediate School or Scranton Middle School. While theyâre not seeking high school students for the program, Parks says that they will be looking for several students in the Brighton High School leadership class to act as mentors. He explains for WHMI why theyâre gearing the program toward middle school students. Parks said they will be taking about 30 students who have applied, who will be bused by Brighton Area School buses for training and field trips in various disciplines. Besides what Parks mentioned, some of the other activities and training sessions the students will be participating in are lifesaving techniques, mock crime scene training, hunter and firearms safety, narcotics awareness training, boater safety, a K-9 demonstration with drug searches and performing community service. During the training, various resource people in the county will give presentations. At the conclusion of the training sessions, a formal graduation ceremony will be held, with successful completion earning cadets a certificate of completion. In addition, they will get their hunter safety, marine safety, first aid and CPR certification. Uniforms, backpacks, and other materials will be provided. The police academy will take place from July 9-27 of next year. There is a $25 fee for students to participate in the program, although that may be waived on the basis of financial hardship. The bulk of the funding will come from the drug forfeiture program and juvenile diversion program. (TT)
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Suspect In Foot Chase & Police Search Headed To TrialSuspect In Foot Chase & Police Search Headed To Trial
A suspect who fled from a local police post and led authorities on a chase has been bound over for trial.
28-year-old Robert Edward Culbertson is charged with driving while license suspended 2nd offense and resisting/obstructing police causing injury. He was bound over to Livingston County Circuit Court Wednesday.
Police say on August 8th, Culbertson had gone into the Michigan State Police Brighton Post to be fingerprinted but got agitated after being informed he would need to make an appointment. He indicated the fingerprints were in relation to a suspended license and a desk sergeant noticed him walk over to a motorcycle in the Brighton Township Hall parking lot. When confronted about his license status, Culbertson ran off across Spencer Road and then all six lanes of I-96.
A helicopter and a State Police K-9 unit joined in the search, though efforts to find him at that time were unsuccessful. He turned himself in a few days later. The aforementioned charge of obstructing police causing injury is due to an injury a Trooper sustained when he fell while chasing Culbertson.
Culbertson is also facing a charge of driving while license suspended in a separate case as a result of an incident that occurred April of this year. In that case, he was ordered to have his fingerprints generated just a few days before the incident involving the police search. Future court dates for Culbertson are pending. (DK)
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Woman Charged With Hiding Evidence Of Baseball Bat Attack Enters PleaWoman Charged With Hiding Evidence Of Baseball Bat Attack Enters Plea
A plea has been entered by a woman authorities say attempted to hide evidence of a baseball attack that involved her husband and one of his former employees.
In April of 2016, a fight broke out in the parking lot of the now-closed Bubba Changâs restaurant in Genoa Township. Those involved were a former employee, Guan Han Chen (aka Andy Chen), his son-in-law, Changqian Zou, Jeremy and Johnnie Hamilton, brothers and the owners of the Chinese-American Buffet, and restaurant dishwasher, Timothy Borg.
Chen, a cook that had recently been fired, had returned to the establishment with Zou to collect back wages and personal belongings. An argument between Chen, Zou, the Hamiltonâs, and Borg escalated in the parking lot and Zou was reportedly attacked with a baseball bat by Johnnie Hamilton. His wife, Angela, allegedly hid the bat after the attack and was charged with tampering with evidence. She appeared in Livingston County Circuit Court Friday and pleaded no contest to an added count of lying to a police officer. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the original charge against her. She is set to be sentenced September 28th.
Johnnie Hamilton is facing charges of assault with intent to murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. His trial is tentatively set for September 11th.
Jeremy Hamilton, who allegedly used the bat to smash up Chenâs 2008 Honda Odyssey during the incident, was sentenced last month to three yearsâ probation. Timothy Borg, who is said to have attacked Zou as well, was originally charged with assault with intent to murder. He was sentenced earlier this year to three to 10 years in prison after pleading to a reduced charge. (DK)
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Osprey Monitoring Efforts Increase As Birds Make Return To RegionOsprey Monitoring Efforts Increase As Birds Make Return To Region
Wildlife biologists are stepping up efforts to monitor ospreys, including those at a local metropark.
The birds of prey had all but disappeared from the area because of pesticide pollution but are coming back. Four osprey chicks were fitted this year with "backpack" GPS units enabling scientists to track the birds' movements and seasonal migration patterns. The chicks were hatched on platforms at Michigan State University's Lux Arbor Reserve in Delton, at Kensington Metropark in Milford and on Fletcher's Pond near Alpena.
Julie Oakes of the state Department of Natural Resources says the units will provide information about dangers that confront migrating ospreys, such as predatory great horned owls. The DNR began relocating ospreys to southern Michigan in 1998. The region now has at least 60 active nests. (JK)
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South Lyon Fire Department To See Improved Insurance RatingSouth Lyon Fire Department To See Improved Insurance Rating
Property owners in South Lyon may see a drop in their insurance rates due to an improved fire service rating for the local fire department.
The rating from the Insurance Services Office, or ISO, will improve from a 5 to 3 effective December 1st. The lower the rating, the better the score, which will place South Lyon in the top 1% of communities across the state. South Lyon Fire Chief Mike Kennedy told the South Lyon Herald that he is estimated there will be a 15 to 20% insurance premium reduction as a result.
ISO ratings are determined by factors rated across three components; the fire department, water system and 911 communications. Since the last ISO audit, the South Lyon Fire Department has made improvements to staffing, training, equipment and apparatus. Chief Kennedy also said the 2014 Drinking Water Revolving Fund grant project that replaced water mains and improved hydrant distribution downtown had a significant impact on the reduction. He recommended property owners check with their individual insurance providers about a reduction in premiums based on the improved ISO rating. (JK)
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"Livingston For Love" Rally Draws Crowd Of Over 250"Livingston For Love" Rally Draws Crowd Of Over 250
An event that sought to encourage the community to love all people with no exceptions drew in a larger crowd than anticipated.
Indivisible, St. Paulâs Episcopal Church, and the Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton, held their âLivingston for Loveâ rally at the Brighton Mill Pond on Sunday. Event organizers say the message they intended to send was that every human being has worth and is deserving of love, and the importance of showing that love to one another.
The rally was heavily attended, as organizers say they stopped counting after 250 people. Community members made signs with positive messages, chanted together, and sang songs about world peace. Julie Brock, Pastor of the Community Unitarian Universalists, says she believes more people are recognizing the extent of their connection to other human beings and are demanding that that connection is acknowledged and reflected in the words and actions of the countryâs leaders. Brock feels gatherings like Sundayâs rally begin a chain reaction of positive interactions.
The rally came together as a reaction to the white nationalist march and violent acts that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia just a little over two weeks ago. In response, event leaders shared ideas about how racism has been combated in the past and what can be done to continue to do so in this day and age.
Afterwards, those in attendance marched around the millpond singing and carrying signs speaking messages of love. Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Deon Johnson, from St. Paulâs Episcopal Church, says, âDarkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that.â (DK)
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