AUGUST 29 • 2024 | 19

publishing house to pick up a new 
printing of the book I’d recently 
written about Northland Mall. 
Then I wanted to visit the place 
Grace called “home.”
Alas, I knew the school had 
been demolished long ago, but 
I’d seen photos of the historical 
marker that was planted at the 
site. 
I decided to drive around where 
the school stood proudly for so 
many years. Ironically, I spotted 
a street called Oak Park Drive. I 
then asked a few people who were 
walking in the area if they knew 
the whereabouts of the former 
school. Their reply. “Sorry, we 
don’t live around here and have 
never heard of the school.” After 
driving for about an hour, I 
became disappointed because no 
marker could be found. Instead, 
all I saw was a BMW dealership 
where Grace Elementary had 
once stood. Deflated, I turned my 
car around and headed back to 
Oak Park.

DONNING A 
DETECTIVE HAT 
The next day, I put on my former 
mayor’s hat and made a few 
phone calls. With patience, I 
eventually found the historical 
offices and phone numbers for 
the state of Ohio and for Akron’s 
Summit County. I emailed one 
director and left a voice message 
for the other. They had no new 
information to share. 
Then, I had another idea. I 
contacted the BMW dealership 
to see if they had anything to 
do with the missing historical 
marker for Grace Elementary 
School. A kind receptionist, 
Ashley, said she’d ask around. 
Ashley called me back in less than 
15 minutes after checking with 
the staff — and as Grace would 
frequently say, “BINGO.” The 
BMW dealership was “storing the 
marker.” 

But why, I wondered. It wasn’t 
their property, and it wasn’t right.
I felt like the “Little Engine 
That Could’ and kept pushing 
forward to make the right 
connections. The historical 
marker agencies were previously 
told that the employees of the 
dealership had no idea about 
the location of the marker. They 
offered no encouraging news, and 
no one wanted to make waves or 
rattle the system.
I continued my uphill search 
to find the right person. After 
some research, I discovered that 
the owner of the dealership had 
authored books and spoke about 
“unlocking your past to create a 
better future.” 
I watched an interview and 
read about the owner’s books 
to gain an understanding of his 
position on “success.” The owner 
spoke about a humble approach 
while climbing the ladder to a 
better life. I thought this owner 
might be sympathetic. 
But lo and behold, after speak-
ing to the general manager of the 
dealership several times, I seemed 
to be spinning my wheels. I tried 
reaching the owner, to no avail. 
Regrettably, no one followed up 
on my requests to “do the right 
thing.” Some stories end happily, 
and some don’t — this one is 
in limbo. After seven months 
of exploring the possibilities 
of restoring the marker in the 
community, I pushed the pause 
button. 
I may never get the chance 
to take photos with the Grace 
Elementary School Marker and 
walk in the steps that my mother, 
Grace, took 100 years ago. I put 
my best foot forward — who 
knows what the future may hold? 
Hopefully, my dream will come to 
fruition. The clock is still ticking. 

Jerry Naftaly is the former mayor of Oak 

Park. 

FREE
DELIVERY

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING SERVICE BACK TO 
PHARMACY FOR A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU!!

10% 
SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT
Not Valid on Prescriptions

MAKE MAPLE PHARMACY… YOUR PHARMACY!
MAKE MAPLE PHARMACY… YOUR PHARMACY!

• Low Price Medications

• 90 Day Supplies

• Durable Medical Equipment

• Diabetic Supplies

• Natural Supplements, Vitamins and Nutraceuticals

• Compounding bio-identical hormones, 
pain creams & other medications

• Blister Packaging Available

MAPLE
MAPLE PHARMACY
PHARMACY

IMMUNIZATIONS 
AND SHINGLES 
SHOTS AVAILABLE

Now offering 
the COVID 
Vaccine!

MAPLE PHARMACY OFFERS:

5829 Maple Rd., Ste. 129, West Bloomfield, MI 48322

248.757.2503

www.maplepharmacyrx.com

Specializing in Cosmetic Surgery &
Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery

DANIEL SHERBERT, M.D. F.A.C.S.

Certified by The American Board of Surgery, 
The American Board of Plastic Surgery & Fellowship 
Trained in Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery

W est Maple
Plastic Surgery

(248) 865-6400

5807 W. Maple • Suite 177 • West Bloomfield

 Awaken

 theBeauty 
 Within...