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June15, 2023 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 3

BELLEVILLE - SUMPTER
BELLEVILLE - SUMPTER

Invasive plant species threatens township park

Sumpter Township trustees She explained that during
are attempting to find ways to efforts to clear the plant from
control or eradicate an invasive the park, volunteers once had a
species currently attacking com- good-natured contest to see who
munity parks. could pull out the longest root of
The species is autumn olive, a the species and the winner was
plant which is flourishing near a root 28 feet long. She said cut-
Sherwood Pond and in Banotai tings of the plant have to be dou-
Park. During the May 23 meeting ble bagged and taken to a land-
of the trustees, the conse- fill as branches cannot be used
quences of allowing the plant to for making wood chips used as
continue to propagate were mulch by gardeners. Gardner
brought to the attention of the explained that the plant can
board members by Jo Gardner, a grow on any mineral surface
volunteer who spends time and home gardeners using wood
attempting to beautify the town- chips as mulch could find the
ship parks. plant growing in their yards
Gardner told the board mem- within a few years. She
bers that while she was not a explained that the plant is so
certified horticulturalist, she intrusive, it could begin to affect
spent many hours learning what real estate values in the commu-
she could about the autumn nity. “There have been town-
olive plant. She told the board ships and small cities where that Sherwood Pond at Banotai Park
members that the species has has occurred,” Gardner told the had no one from the board, no needed in the playground, on resource for the township.
doubled in mass at Banotai Park trustees. “They're very nasty,” one from businesses come out the beach and the volleyball “We're not going to get rid of
in the past three years. Autumn she said. and nobody showed up at either court. That is not what we (vol- it, but we've got to get it under
olive is a problem for parks as Gardner came to the board park.” She said while Home unteers) are there for. I think we control,” she said.
the plant displaces native members to plead for more help Depot had promised volunteers, need a park person, a forestry Deputy Supervisor and
shrubs. It threatens native with general maintenance and a date change had canceled that person who really knows what Trustee Tim Rush, who chaired
ecosystems by out-competing help at the pond and in the park. offer. we need and knows the invasive the meeting, said he had some
and displacing native plant She explained the lack of volun- “Changing the date at the last species,” Gardner said. contacts with the DNR he could
species, creating dense shade teer help was placing the bur- minute is a problem. Some of She noted that the state ask for advice and direction
and interfering with natural den of cleaning up the park for the people who volunteered are Department of Natural regarding the situation. “Let's
plant succession and nutrient spring and fall on only three vol- not going to come back,” she Resources (DNR) and Michigan see what they can do and see
cycling, plant specialists unteers. She said that during the said. have programs, grants and stew- what kind of programs are avail-
warned. last scheduled clean up, “we “There is a lot more work ardships and could be a possible able,” he said.
Belleville Rotary Club presents annual scholarships

Members of the Rotary Club Krishna Sharma and Sean zens, communities and other discussed the importance of attendees, the scholarship com-
of Belleville presented six $5,000 Tinsley. The Charles B. Cozadd charities in carrying on their civic engagement as the students mittee, and any others whose
scholarships to Belleville-area Community Service Award for work. move forward in their lives and work made the evening possible.
graduates during the 78th service to school and other stu- Each of the awardees careers. Since its inception, Rotary
Annual Scholarship Program dents was presented to Luke thanked Rotary and spoke about “The Rotary is happy to cele- Club of Belleville has awarded
May 23. Budd while the Donald Juchartz his or her plans going forward brate these amazing young indi- $642,500 to Belleville High
The awards presentation took Award for Community Service and how the scholarships will viduals, who have all contributed School students as part of the
place at Belleville High School was presented to Ethan Delaney. assist in reaching academic so well to their communities, club scholarship program. This
and included school administra- During the meeting, Belleville goals. their school and their families,” year, as in recent years, the pri-
tors, parents, family members Rotary Club President Mary Jo Van Buren Township Clerk Suchy said. mary funding source for the pro-
and Rotarians. Suchy offered a welcome, Leon Wright was the guest After the presentations, gram has been the Charles B.
The four Academic including an explanation of what speaker during the award pres- Suchy, who is also the chairper- Cozadd Rotary Foundation
Scholarships went to Hope Rotary is and a summary of club entation. He offered words of son of the Scholarship which assists the club in the
Copeland, Samantha Pause, activities helping individual citi- inspiration to the awardees and Committee, thanked all the funding many projects.