June 27, 2013 (WG) AS TAKING to TH E SKY
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WAYNE-WESTLAND A GANNETT eOMPANY C E L N A M E t n m SOFTBALL SPORTS, B1 THURSDAY, JUNE 2 7 , 2013 • hometownlife.com Nankin Transit’s Fernaind^z retiring By LeAnne Rogers Wayne, Garden City and Inkster. ipating community, applauded Fernan staff Writer “It is with a h e a ^ heart I come to dez’s efforts to keep tiie service oper this decision at this tim e. T here are ating despite significant funding and After nearly 20 years as the Nankin unforeseen events beyond my control,” staffing reductions in recent years. Il'ansit Commission executive director, Fernandez wrote in his resig^tion “This is one of the hardest thank R ichard Fernandez is retirin g effective letter. “I have worked very hard to .yous. I came on board when things Ju ly 1. provide transportation to citizens under were on life support Things-improved Fernandez, 77, submitted his letter difficult financial circumstances.” due to his (Fernandez) creativity,” said of resignation at a commission meeting M th rides costing $1 each way. Nan longtime commission member Mike following a brief closed session with kin I l ’ansit depends on federal and Harris of Westland, a wheelchair user. commissioners. millage revenues through the Suburban “A system like this, gives people coptrol The com m ission m et a day afte r Mobility Authority fCr Regional 'D'ans- of their lives. A lot of people aren’t Westland hosted a meeting for resi portation and contributions from mem comfortable asking for rides.” dents to voice suggestions for improve b e r communities. Many of the complaints about Nan- . m ents and concerns over th e service kin Transit centered on the difficulty of offered by Nankin liransit, which pro Applaud efforte scheduling tides.-New computerization Nankin Transit Com m ission executi>^e vides transportation to seniors and Nankin li'ansit Commission mem director Richard Fernandez is retiring handicapped residents in Westland, bers, representatives from each partic See TRANSIT, Page A2 e ffe c tiv e J u ly 1. ‘L a b e l cans, not people. I treat people e q u a l l y . Woman Tm people-driven first.” R A Y S aiU H O L ^ member of Westland's Disabilities Concerns Commission enters plea in death of her baby I Father convicted of rnurder in first degree, child abuse By LeAnne Rogers ■ staff Writer A. Westland m an has been convicted of first-degree murder and two counts of felony child abuse in the dqath of his infant son. Antonio Pepalonia Brandon, 23, was found guilty as charged Thesday following a jury trial in Wa3me County Circuit Court. The baby’s mother Nicole Susanne Roberts, 20, had previously entered N ic o le a guilty plea to second- R o b e r ts degree murder and one count of first-degree child abuse in the death of Kayden Brandon, age 2 VS months. Roberts was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday by Wayne Coim- ty Circuit Court Judge Craig Strong to to 18-40 years in prison on the m urder count and a concurrent sentence for child abuse. Facing a mandatory sentence of life in prison without a c lm c e of parole, Brandon is scheduled for sentencing on July 15 before Strong, who presided over the trial. W estland resident Ray Schuholz is a peer mentor at Comm unity Living Services In W ayne. Stephen c a n t r eu | staff photographer See DEATH, Page A2 A man with a mission Fireworks c o m p la in b Cause: Ray Schuholz advocates for disabled people By LeAnne Rogers when his father left and^his mother happy.” skyrocket staff Writer subsequently had a difficult tim e Schuholz lived ynth his foster caring for him. family - an elderly couple who are By'LeAnne Rogers To regular viewers of Westland “The system says you can’t take now deceased - in Farmington Hills staff Writer City Council meetings, Ray Schu care of your kid and tiiey put you for IS years. As tim e passed, he said, holz is a fam iliar face at the podium into an institution,” said Schuholz, he was able to got more into the An ordinance reflecting new state bringing a positive message about who was placed in the now-closed community and rehabilitated him restrictions on the hours for discharg respect, advocating for the disabled Plym outh C enter w hen he was 6 self from die time spent institution ing fireworks is likely to be adopted by or giving someone a pat on the back. years old. “I was fortunate when I alized, becoming a special education the W estland City Council M onday so it “Label cans, not people. I treat got out afte r four years. T hat is no student and graduating from North will be in effect for the July 4 holiday. people equally. I’m people-driven place for no one to live. It was like Farmington High SchooL The changes in the firework^ law first,” said Schuholz. “It doesn’t being behind walls - things went on “Some foster families collect prohibits use of fireworks from mid m atter if you w alk into City H all or that shouldn’t have.” th eir checks and keep you locked in night to 8 a.m. on legally permitted a restaurant. I’m a custom er.” The change came one day after the home. They believed in me,” days. The exception would be for the ' Being an advocate for the dis Schuholz met a woman n am ed Alice said Schuholz. “They had an adopted New Year’s Day holiday, when fire abled is a m ission for Schuholz, 47. Saules, who had a son at the Ply son and other foster kids. They works would be allowed from nudnight A member of Westland’s Disabilities mouth Center. cared about Mds. They were retired until 1 a.m. Concerns Commission since 2005, “I patted her on the shoulder. I and this was a second career for “This addresses the provision that Schuholz is currently the chairman said I wanted to get out of there, them. I was very lucky to have a people most complained about,” said and also w orks 24 hours a week as a that I wanted a home,” said Schu foster family.” Westland City Attorney James Fausone, peer mentor advocate at Communi holz. “She said she’d see what she ' T here are things people dan over as the ordinance w as introduced for a ty Living Services in Wayne. could do. A month goes by and then come in life, he said, although their first reading earlier this monthl B om w ith a developm ental dis she said I was going to a home. She ability, Schuholz was 2 years old got m e to a foster famiLy. I was so See SCHUHOLZ, Page A2 See FIREWORKS, Page A2 O b s e r v e r & E c c e n t r i c © The Observer & Eccentric INDEX 1 hometownlife.com MEDIA Volume 49 • Number 11 Business......................A8 Homes............... ........B11 Services........... ......B11 A GANNETT COMPANY Crossword Puzzle.....B11 Jobs...........................B12 Sports.............. ............ B1 53174 II10007 Entertainment....... ...B6 O bituaries..................B9 W heels........... ..........B13 PRICE: $1 ' Home Deliveiv: (866) 887-2737 |: Return Address; 41304 Concept De, Plymouth Ml 48170 F ood........................ ...B8 O pinion................... AID ' 4, A2 (W) 0 & E Media | Thursday, June 27,2013 LOCAL NEWS hometownlife.com ■4< 1 Bus'^rides available for Farmers Market W estland residents “The W estland F arm bus route has been made can now catch a free ride ers Market is really possible thanks to a grant to the Westland Farmers starting to groWand the the city received from Market, held 3-7 p.m. bus route is great for . the U.S. Department of T hursdays in the parking people that have limited Agriculture’s Farmers lot of W estland City H a lf mobility or lack trans Market Promotion Pro on Ford Road, south of portation. It’s important gram . Wayne Road. everyone in our city has The FMPP offers The bus route has access to local healthy grants to help improve stops a t five locations in food,” said Mayor Wil and expand initiatives Former W ayne Meinoria) High Schools girls tennis coach Joe Nowaske is teaching the city. The goal is to liam lA^d that bolster the connec tennis classes for the W ayne-W estland Parks and Recreation Departm ent Stephen provide residents with The bus schedule is tion between agricultural CANTREUI STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER = out transportation, main available every Thurs producers and their con ly seniors, handicapped day, except July 4, sumers, while improving and low-income resi through Ihe end of the access to healthy food dents, providing access m arket season in Octo smd strengthening local Nowaske is serving up to fresh, healthy fruits ber. economies. and vegetables. The F arm ers M arket tennis as a ‘lifelong game’ W ESTLAND'S FARM ERS M ARKET By LeAnne Rogers waske started coaching new knees. My knees i 1 To The Farmers M arket From The Farmers Market staff Writer the Wayne Memorial are two years old,” said H igh School boys te n n is Nowaske, 65. “I’m a new Bus Stop Departure Arrival | Departure Arrival Joe Nowaske loves team in 2003 w ith Andy man. I’ve played tennis tennis and is hoping Raisanen, then moved to casually over the past instructional closes the girls team. year. I’ve played a lot of Our Savior Manor 3:15 p.m.! 4:30 p.m.