RE?E«>EHCEOMOf WU.L1AM P.FAUST Mbiic Ubmry of Wcsttomt More online at hometownlife.com 7b cents WINNERS OF OVER 100 STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS SINCE www.hometownlife. com BY DARRELL CLEM record for her as she faces a hearing from the Westland-based program, conviction, and she has been charged as a STAFF WRITER today on charges of uttering and publish­ housed at the Dorsey Community Center second-degree habitual offender. ing the check and embezzling $1,000 or in the city's Norwayne neighborhood. Terry Carroll, interim Westland hous­ A woman who oversaw a family assis­ • more. She is free on a $5,000 personal She is accused of forging a woman's ing and community development direc- tance program for the city of Westland bond. name on a check and keeping some of the tor? said the city has since investigated has been charged with embezzling money Cramier-Oncza was employed by an money. The charges surfaced after the every check that Cramier-Oncza handled intended for a client. outside agency to oversee the federal client came forward with allegations that and has talked with her former clients. Tonya Cramier-Oncza, 39, faces a hear­ Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which she had been defrauded by Cramier- "We are certain that this is the only ing today in Westland District Court fol­ provides assistance for cars, schooling Oncza, according to Westland police Sgt. time that there was an inconsistency," he lowing allegations she cashed a check and and necessities to help clients become Michael Harhold. said. kept some of the money, authorities said. independent. City officials have since learned that the Cramier-Gncza A not-guilty plea has been placed on Cramier-Oncza has been terminated defendant also had a prior fraud-related dciem@fiometown!ife.com I (734) 953-2110 For mare photos of Tuesday's dedication ceremony, visit our Westland Photo Gallery online at www.hometownlife.com. BY SUE MASON STAFF WRITER As Sara Clevenger, Jordan Berry and Ashley Omey see it, widespread publicity about a second gymnasium at STAFF WRITER elevated levels of lead in Wayne Memorial High School Central City Park. :: , means someplace other than a Westland's summer festival Wild ordered the 100-acre' hallway to work on their rou- will likely remain in the city's park fenced off in early civir '.-ri'l'T '..'<*> Up! t\i S-.hii yt-dV .'Ktn>ar; until the DKQ can "We have a place to prac­ i-ven if Central City Park is conduct more thorough test­ tice/' said an excited Berry, still fenced off due to contam­ ing for lead and other con­ who joined her fellow mem­ ination, officials decided taminants, including possible bers of the varsity cheer squad Tuesday. 55-gallon drums. in performing during the ded­ "I think we can make it Festival Chairman Kenneth ication of the Alumni Arena work," Mayor William Wild Mehl said Monday that, due addition Tuesday afternoon. said Monday evening, during to uncertainty about where "Now we have a place to do talks with festival organizers the festival would occur, our cheers, before we had to and Westland City Council organizers are far behind in think about our spacing," members. booking vendors and enter­ added Clevenger. Most festival activities tainers. Sitting on a bench in one of occur near Westland City "All these things are a prob­ two new locker rooms, the Hall and the Bailey lem," he said. "It's trouble­ three teens checked out the Recreation Center, although some" new digs, admiring the lock­ the crowd often spills into the Mehl and some other festi­ ers — "They're humongous," park. This year, officials val leaders also implored Omey said — and the new fit­ decided to keep people off the elected leaders to actively ness room. partially contaminated site. promote the festival, saying Students like Clevenger, City officials plan to ask city officials in past years Berry and Omey, played a Wayne County officials and seemed more intent on pro­ major role in the dedication, IUM HAWLEV STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER the Michigan Department of moting another event, the from the presentation of the Wayne Memorial Principal John Afbrecht (from left) Wayne-Westland school board President Fred Weaver, Environmental Quality for American Cancer Society's colors by the school's JROTC Superintendent Greg Baracy and Wayne Mayor A! Haidotis had the honors of cutting the ribbon to officially open permission to use feneed-off Relay for Life. color guard to the singing of the new addition to Wayne Memorial High School's Alumni Arena Tuesday afternoon. park land for the popular "Why isn't there an effort the national anthem by the fireworks show, although the put into the festival like there Vocal Dimensions and the future." ry with her teammates as the later. "But we start practicing crowd would be kept outside is Relay for Life?" Mehl playing of the fight song by "I have spent eight, nine, 10 girls volleyball became the in there this week." the fence. asked. the marching band. hours a day here, this has first school team to use the The man of the hour, how­ The only other access to the Elected leaders responded There was even a student become my second home, part court. They presented a. brief ever, was Supt. Greg Baracy park may be an east-end that they support the festival representative, Olivia - of my extended family," she demonstration as part of the who was lauded for his parking area, where festival by hosting it on city property LaFortune, who told school said. "On behalf of the stu­ dedication. "vision" by school board vendors could park their and by approving such events officials and guests that dents, I want to thank the "We won't play there President Frederick Weaver. vehicles. as the fireworks show. attending Wayne Memorial school board and the commu­ because there's not enough , "This just didn't happen, it Some festival organizers Early in Monday's talks, has "given me the opportuni­ nity for their vision." bleachers and they come to indicated they have the jitters ties to secure a positive LaFortune also made histo­ close to the court," she said PLEASE SEE GYM, A4 about the 37th festival, due to PLEASE SEE FESTIVAL, A4 BY DARRELl CLEM STAFF WRITER needed for a road. He said that portion the group's treasurer, Dennis Sparks, said would be offset by creating a small wetland of developers. A showdown is looming this month elsewhere on the site. Council President Charles Pickering has between developers and residents fiercely But a citizens group's lawyer, Michael scheduled a study session for 6 p.m. at odds over a proposed subdivision on Grant, had earlier filed a still-pending peti­ Monday, Feb. 12, at City Hall to resume Westland's southwest side. tion with the state allegingthatenvjron- talks about the Maida Woods project. He Royal Oak-based developers Kentmoor mental officials didn't properly assess the said opponents and developers will have LLC this week submitted to city officials a wetlands area. The group - called the ample opportunity to address elected offi­ site plan for 35 single-lot homes - scaled Westland Homeowners Committee for cials. back from 41 - on the south side of Palmer Environmental Conservation and Smart Officials could decide the issue as early between John Hix and Hannan. Growth - is demanding a new study before as Tuesday, Feb. 20, during a council busi­ D.W. Krane, one of the developers, said the Westland City Council votes on the ness meeting. the revision protects 2.5 acres of state-reg­ project. The controversial Masda Woods project would be built in the left area shown in ulated wetlands except for "a sliver" of land "They're trying to ramrod this through," PLEASE SEE MAIDA WOODS, A3 this picture. Critics say it would disrupt the natural land and displace wildlife. ) The Observer - & Eccentric l-Vs#... Coming For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS B8 Delivery call: WESTLAND AUTOMOTIVE C7 Volume CLASSIFIED B7-C8 (866) 887-2737 36375 Warreii Srf at C&ntr$ City Parkway Nsmib* r , CROSSWORD B7 Latest 734-326486 HOMETOWNLIFE.COM D1 MEXICAN CRRl technology ffeurritos JOBS C3 MOVIES E22 improves fit entree get one entree KJacos 08!TUAR!ES AM lives \ with pun.fuse of drink! •Sachos OPiRIOK 16-7 ftmiu 1l> I til llifi in n Or.. EVr'rr B7 visuaHV \ i SERVICE GUIDE C2 *j More! Ih^ fast, casual environment mm S&RTS A2 (w) Observer S Eccentric [ Thursday, February 1,2007 LOCAL NEWS www.hometownllfe.com Coe had hits in music, philanthropy MARSHALL HONOR ROLL Named to the honor roll for Abb'i Kuehn, Sharon Kumari, Christine BYALEXLUNDBERG while but put his college plans city. He said Coe was a very the first marking period at Lamerson, Delant E Landrum, Rachel. STAFF WRITER on hold to pursue a career in entertaining singer who would Marshall Middle School were: Landry, Sabrina Lawrence, Rebecca music. Mr. Coe was discovered do fund-raisers all the time for Joshua Abraham, Kristen Acosta, Lawrukovich, Steven Leblanc JjF, Caftlln Jamie Coe, born George by "Mac the Knife" signer groups like the Livonia Victoria Adcock, Bisi Ajetunmobi, Lenard, Ashley LeSarge,||elar}ie Colovas, was known nationally Bobby Darin, who convinced Symphony Orchestra. Aaron Alholinna, Bradley Alholinna, Libres, Amberlyn Lilygi^ipefin as the leader of Jamie Coe and him to change his name. "He was very likable" Jamie (George Colovas) Coe and Rachael Alholinna, Alexandria Alien, Lombard, Maveric^li^usKi..^ the Gigolos, but was known Over the years, he recorded Kirksey said. "I was saddened then-Grand Prix racer Robbie Buhl at Malcolm Alien, Daniel Ammons, Cierra Jacob Lower, Kyle LWr, Jeffrey locally as a businessman who several songs including what to hear of his death." the "Racing for Kids" benefit for Anderson, Heather Anthony, Shyenne Luke, Ramil Manibog, Ray Majibog, was constantly active in chari­ would become his best-known, City Council President Jim Children's Hospital.