Golfing world turns attention Iween power: Pre-adolescent tweens spend millions - their to Oakland Hills leader? Hannah Montana. Sports, B4 Inside today's Newspaper 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com no contest to 4 felonies BY ALEX LUNDBERG OBSERVER STAFF WRITER A Stevenson High School student has entered a plea agreement in the case of a fatal traffic accident in front of a Livonia golf course in mid- May. Daniel Aldo Andreassi, 16, pleaded no contest to four felo- ny counts before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Deborah A. Thomas Thursday morning in exchange for a sentence of five to 15 years. The judge set a BY SUE MASON Thursday, Aug. 28, sentencing OBSERVER STAFF WRITER date. In the plea agreement, the A Westland resident says there's no record will show convictions TOM HOFFMEVER|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER politics involved in her questioning a as an adult on charges of man- Mary Denning shows the paper model of the planet Mars that she used create an out-of-this-world wedding cake. Wayne-Westland school board member slaughter with a motor vehicle, who maintains that his primary residence operating a motor vehicle while is in Westland, not Midland where he now intoxicated causing death, works. operating a motor vehicle while Nancy Froreich is challenging the state- intoxicated causing serious ment made by Trustee Frederick Weaver bodily harm and felonious at the school board's July 14 meeting. She driving with sentences to run contends that, according to Michigan elec- concurrently. In exchange for tion laws, Weaver can't serve on the board the plea, the charges of second- because his residence isn't in the local degree murder and minor in school district. possession will be dropped. "I'm an election inspector, I work with Andreassi had been charged elections; this just didn't look right," said and bound over for trial by 16th Froreich. "I know you have to be a resident District Court Judge Robert BY JULIE BROWN 'That's the most unusual wedding cake I've ever done, and registered voter and meet the age Brzezinski in July as an adult, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER requirement to vote. What triggered this is meaning he could have spent the dark spots and the craters. It looks good to me.' that you can only have one residence." the rest of his life in jail if Mary Denning has had some MARY DENNING, cake shop owner Weaver last month announced that even convicted on the most serious unusual baking requests over the though he works in Midland, his Westland charge. years, but one last week really took home is his primary residence. However, Andreassi was charged in the cake. f "Very nice, it turned out very she said. "A lady called from the according to paperwork Froreich received connection with the May 18 "That's the most unusual wedding good," she said. "I'm not an astrono- Summit to ask how she should cut from the Midland city clerk, Weaver death of 20-year-old Westland cake I've ever done," she said of a mer, but I thought it looked like it." changed his address to Kingston Court in resident Anthony Cosenza. Mars-like wedding cake. "I had to it. They're into astronomy and all It could be cut like a traditional Midland on June 12, a month before he According to court testimony, match all of the dark spots and the that." wedding cake, she said. It has sup- announced that he had put his Westland he was traveling faster than craters. It looks good to me. 1 was Denning had scientific ques- ports and cardboard to separate it. home up for sale because of the state's eco- 100 mph on Seven Mile Road really pleased they came here to tions for them which they could The batter was lemon, cherry nut nomic difficulties, which resulted in his when he struck Cosenza's car have me do it." answer. The baker went online to do and marble, with two marble layers voter registration being changed as well. broadside. Cosenza was killed The owner of Mary Denning's research, but the couple helped with and one each of the others. The Westland City Clerk's Office has con- instantly in the accident, His Cake Shoppe in Westland created answers. "I was proud. I like doing some- firmed that Weaver's Westland voter regis- girlfriend, Amy Adams, also of a cake like the planet Mars (the It was a big cake — the bottom thing different," Denning said. "It tration is no longer valid. Westland, was injured in the top half) for an engineer bride and was about 20 inches and "it was at makes my job more fun." Reached at a church conference in accident. groom couple. Denning put on the least eight inches high" — so deliv- NASA has taken some heat Houston, Texas, last week, Weaver said he Adams, who is scheduled to finishing touches Friday morning ery was a bit of a challenge. through the years for spending on was unaware that changing the address on have her arm rebroken and set and her husband delivered the cake "My husband's strong so he can space travel, but Denning's price his driver's license would trigger a change in with plates and pins soon, felt to the Summit on the Park center in carry it," Denning said of the cake was more down to earth. his voter registration. ambivalent about the plea deal. Canton in time for the Friday wed- for the Shannon Dong-Thomas "It was $600," she said. "That's news to me," said Weaver. '5I wasn't "Nothing is going to bring ding reception. Coffee nuptials. aware that would happen. I didn't realize Tony back," she said. "But this The bride and groom had pro- She hoped it wouldn't be consid- Mary Denning's Cake Shoppe is at that it would change my voting privilege or I at least assures that he does vided a model of Mars for Denning ered too good to eat and would be 8036 N. Wayne Road in Westland. For more wouldn't have done it." some time." to work with, and the, baker was enjoyed and served. information, call (734) 261-3680 or visit Adams' mother, Kim, said pleased with her work. "That's their wedding cake," www.marydenning.com. Please see ADDRESS, A3 she was worried Andreassi would get the minimum, five years, which would free him at age 21. Andreassi's attorney Jerome Sabbota said the plea arrange- Senior citizens going for gold at annual ment was best for everyone. "The prosecution had causa- BY 0ARRELLCLEM horseshoes and less physical contests Township and Van Buren Township Hines Park for a morning run, break- tion issues/'-'he said. "But the OBSERVER STAFF WRITER in baking, photography and Pinochle, plan to compete in four age categories: fast with Wayne County Executive guidelines for second-degree among other events. 50-59, 60-69,70-79 and 80 and over. Robert Ficano and opening day cer- murder are 15 to life, it was Beijing isn't the only place to earn an Westland will serve as this year's offi- Seniors will compete for gold, silver emonies, including a veterans honor not worth the risk. This is an Olympic medal this summer. cial host, but competitions will be scat- and bronze medals. guard, the singing of the national isolated incident in Dan's life, In all, 566 senior citizens are prepar- tered among other communities, too. "I think it's a wonderful program for anthem and a parade of cities in which one day that will affect him for ing to compete in the 2008 Western "We've really been trying to market seniors," Garden City senior Director representatives of participating com- years." Wayne County Senior Olympics, with this not only to get the involvement Cheryl Stepanian said. "It stresses fit- munities will display their local flags. Andreassi's parents echoed opening ceremonies set for the morn- up, but also to show that any activity ness and staying active and healthy." Westland Mayor William Wild will the same sentiments, saying ing of Monday, Aug. 18; in the Nankin is better than no. activity," Westland In its fourth year, the Senior welcome the crowd, and an Olympics that the person being portrayed Mills Recreation Area of Hines Park in senior Director Barbara Schimmel- Olympics event has steadily grown, torch will be lighted. in the media is not the person Westland. Marcumsaid. and 566 participants beat a July 31 The games will end with a celebra- they know. The five-day event will feature a 10- Seniors from Westland, Garden City, deadline to enter this year's contests. tion and awards banquet on Aug. 22 at mile bicycle race, a football tess, a soc- Canton, Plymouth, Livonia, Redford, Westland again has the most seniors Westland's senior Friendship Center. [email protected] cer-ball kick, tennis matches, a swim- Wayne, Belleville, Dearborn, Dearborn involved, with 130 this year. (734) 953-2109 ming competition, volleyball, golf, Heights, Inkster, Northville, Sumpter Ori Aug. 18, seniors will gather in [email protected] | (734) 953-2110 © The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers 0 . For Home V * vi' , APARTMENTS D3 Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C10 Volume 44 CLASSIFIED C7-D4 (866) 887-2737 Number 22 HEALTH B3 HOMETOWNLIFE C1 Joss C8 NEW HOMES D1 ,<* -.i- '> OBITUARIES C4 -•'*•• "Si. A OPINION A9 REAL ESTATE D2 SERVICE GUIDE D2 SPORTS Bl Dream Cruisers gear up for new events Observer S Eccentric j Sunday, August 10,2008 A2 (W) LOCAL NEWS Www.hometownlif6.com AROUND WESTLAND WHERE HOMETOWN STORIES UNFOLD ment and get $10 off registra- for Westland residents south'of HOMETOWNLIFE.COM Class reunion tion fee for registrations at or Michigan Avenue is 10 a.m, to John Glenn High School Class For an expanded version of before the open house.