April 7, 2011 Online at Hometownlife.Com
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BEER TRACKER Hometown life I; NATE PARSONS EXTOLS THE BENEFITS OF GOING DARK W* W O M . \ ^ FOOD, B8 § 1 J r U SUBSCRIBERS - FIND YOU 1 :1 ’{ r WOMAN WITH TODAY'S ME i I THURSDAY April 7,2011 The Observer & Eccentric . Newspapers Volume 46 Number 91 $1.00 hom etow nlife fl com a G a n n e t t c o m p a n y I N B R I E F Sctooftaifi C ity u ses w ebsite for block g ran t survey Residents of the Wayne- BY LEAK ROGERS year consolidated planning process for loans, infrastructure repairs, public out the month of April. Westland Community Schools OBSERVER STAFF WRITER^ the CDBG program. The planning pro services for seniors and youth, and “There are seven questions on prior can hear lawmakers talk about cess includes a number of components, much-needed jobs,” said Inglis, add ity needs — high, medium or low,” said the crisis in education fund- - Westland residents can provide including study sessions, public hearings ing that public input is a vital part of Inglis. “It’s another way to get public ing at a legislative forum at 7 input on the planning for the federal and, for the first time, a citizens survey. the planning process for the city’s fair input.” p.m. today at the Dyer Senior Community Development Block Grant The purpose of the planning process, housing programs, affordable housing The second CDBG public hearing Center in Westland. program without having to make a Inglis said, is to determine the city’s needs, homeless and special housing before the City Council is scheduled for Participating will include visit to City Hall. housing and community development needs, and other non-housing related 7 p.m. Monday, April 18. Sens.- Glenn Anderson, Patrick “We’re doing a survey on how to needs and how best to, use the city’s community development needs. For more information, or to request Colbeck and Hoon-Yung spend the money,” said Westland resources to address those needs. The The survey will be online and can the survey in an alternative format, Hopgood and state Reps. Community Development Director city currently receives federal CDBG, be accessed through a link in the city’s contact Deb Richardson, Community Richard LeBlanc, Dian Slavens, Joanne Inglis. “We’re required to hold HOME partnership program and monthly e-newsletter or on the website Development secretary, at (734) 595- Bob Constan and Kurt Heise, a public hearing arid we’re having an Housing Voucher funds. through the Community Development 0288, Ext. 2630. who will talk about Michigan online survey.” “These funds provide decent and Department pull down tab. government and the proposed The survey is part of Westland’s five- safe housing, rehabilitation grants and Surveys can be completed through [email protected] | ¢313) 222-5428 cuts to K-12 education. The audience also will be able to submit questions in writing. The forum is sponsored by ... D ifferen t w ay to g et fro m A to B ’ Farm ers M arket the Wayne-Westland school board in partnership with all of the district’s bargaining units. The D^er Center is at n e w the district's administrative offices, 36745 Marquette, west of Wayne Road, in Westland. season, location Surplus food The City of Westland will dis BY LEANNE ROGERS tribute surplus federal food at OBSERVER STAlF WRITER ' several locations this month. All residents north of With snow and/or freezing rain Michigan Avenue can pick up and 60-degree temperatures pro their commodities 10 a.m. to 2 jected in the same week, it’s starting p.m, Thursday, April 21, at the to seem like spring in Michigan. Dorsey Community Center, In less than a month, Westland’s 32715 Dorsey, south of Palmer. Farmers Market will return for a new season Residents of Westland liv that will run ing south of Michigan Avenue Tuesdays, May should pick up their commodi 3 through Oct. ties from lO-a'm’. to (p.m., the 25. Shoppers ISM second Monday of the month visiting the at St. James United Methodist weekly market M i l l Ih HH] Church, 30055 Annapolis, will notice between Henry Ruff and 1 1 1 1 two changes * - Middlebelt. The phone number — the market is (734) 729-1737. will now be Senior citizens living in . located in the Taylor Towers will pick up their Westland City food at Taylor Towers and Hall parking lot and will open an must call their building manag hour earlier at 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. er for their day of distribution. During its first year, the mar Greenwood Villa residents also ket was located on Wayne Road in must pick up their food items the east parking lot at Westland at the complex. Shopping Center. For the month of April, apple Debbie Dayton of Westland talks about her experiences and the changes her life went through after she became blind at the age 44 due to “It will be great to have it at City juice, mixed vegetables, peach diabetic retinopathy in Keith Famie's "Can You See how I See?" which airs on WTVS Channel 56 on Sunday, April 10. Hall, there are 35,000 cars that es, sliced carrots, tomato soup, pass along Ford Road,” said Parks UHT milk, frozen whole chick and Recreation Director Robert Kosowski. “It’s a good transition. ens and possible additional W estland w om an featured in Fam ie’s ‘Can You See' docum entary Eventually, we’ll have the market in items will be distributed. Central City Park.” The program is adminis BY SUE MASON that airs on WTVS Channel 56 in a HER EXPERIENCES The earlier starting time for the tered by the Wayne County OBSERVER STAFF WRITER two-part series at 6 p.m. Sunday, April In the film, Dayton shares her expe market is aimed at people who might Office of Senior Services, 10 and April 17- riences and the changes her life went want to stop by on their way to work, which determines the food Debbie Dayton isn’t amazed at what Produced by Emmy Award-win through after she became blind at the said Kosowski. allocations, distribution sites Patrick can do for her in different situ ning director/producer Keith Famie, age 44 due to diabetic retinopathy. She “We’re going to have weekly enter and dates of distribution. For ations. She was in a store in Florida the documentary, Can You See How I also talks about the impact having a tainment at the market. We’re really more information, call the and asked him to take her to a shop See?, follows the stories and journeys leader dog has had on her life. looking forward to having it here,” Dorsey Center's surplus food ping cart. He did. of several blind individuals as they “I hated to have to hold onto some he said. “It was great having it at the hotline at (734) 595-0366. “He’s a true blessing,” said Dayton. refuse to let blindness hold them back one’s arm, I hated to be dependent on shopping center.” Patrick is Dayton’s guide dog, her from achieving their dreams. Dayton, others,” said Dayton. “That was the big The market will be set up in Ei]| Scramble four-legged “people person” who has a Westland resident, is the only person reason I went to Leaders Dogs. With the parking lot between Westland The Westland Jaycees will helped her regain her independence. featured in the film who uses a guide a leader dog, my life changed totally. City Hall and the Westland Police sponsor the 14th annual Easter She and Patrick are featured in a 110- dog, “everyone else uses a cane,” she Egg Scramble Saturday, April minute film about blind individuals said. Please see DAYTON, A2 Please see MARKET, k t 16, at Jaycee Park at the cor ner of Hunter and Wildwood in MORE CHOICES, MORE FLAVOR, MORE VALUE Westland. The Easter Egg Scramble, which will kick off at1 p.m., is M ayor delivers budget to council a free event for children age 11 and under in the Westland BY LEANNE ROGERS “I get the sense talking to other communi community. In addition to OBSERVER STAFF WRITER ties that we’re farther ahead than some others,” the scramble, there will be said Wild. “In my discussions with council, pictures with the Easter Bunny Last year as part of preparing a two-year they seemed to received it (the proposed bud and other activities for kids budget, Westland made spending cuts through get) favorably. I don’t think it was really a sur to choose from while they are a number of changes, including some layoffs, prise — we’ve been working on this for several waiting for their turn on the early retirements, attrition and a millage years.” field. increase, in part generated by the number of The process oflooking longer term at city The Westland Jaycees are a police and firefighters who started collecting budgets began when the city had a five-year local organization dedicated their pensions. financial projection done by auditors Plante to training young leaders Unlike a lot of other communities, this year and Moran which showed increasing deficits through community service. Westland Mayor William Wild has presented each year. The two-year budget — both years For more information, call the council with a balanced budget proposal were presented but only the 2010-11 budget (734) 626-0067 or visit www.