N, FLIRTY, EDGY FASHION FOR THE HOLIDAYS HO LIDAY LIGHTS: Visit the SUBSCRIBERS, FIND YOUR COPY INSIDE TODAY'S NEWSPAPER Wayne County Lightfest through Dec. 31 Officials call for recreation survey Township will use $50,000 to conduct query to ask “I want to see what people center or perhaps a few or Public am enities want,” said Treasurer Ron some combination of those residents what they want in recreation upgrades Edwards, who sat down M on­ features - or none of them. He Conzelman and Edwards day, along with Clerk Nancy expects officials w ill narrow say they see a need for public By M att Jachman To that end, officials have Conzelman, to talk about the down the project to several recreation facilities in the Staff Writer set aside $50,000 in the town­ effort. “They come up with options, each w ith a price tag township. Communities with ship’s 2014 general-fund bud­ better ideas.” attached, based on survey such am enities are m ore suc­ If Plymouth Township resi­ get proposal for a professional Edwards said he envisions a re s u lts . cessful at attracting and re­ dents want township-run rec­ survey of residents’ recreation project “totally paid for with “It gives us something to act taining residents, they said. reation programming - any­ wants and needs. The total $13 taxes” that could include m ulti­ on,” Edwards said of a survey. “Lots of people say, ‘W e thing from a new walking trail m illion budget plan w ill be purpose fields, walking, run­ “You’re hearing from the con­ would like to have a Summit in to a full-fledged recreation voted on Tuesday at the town­ ning and bicycling trails, a dog stituents that pay the bill.” the township,’” Conzelman complex - township officials ship Board of Trustees m eet­ park, a skateboarding area, a are ready to listen - and act. in g . gymnasium, pool and fitness See SURVEY, Page A2 Turnout big for silencing trains Dozens show up to show support for ‘quiet zones’ By M att Jachman Staff Writer A push to quiet train horns at Plym outh’s railroad cross­ ings packed the Plym outh City Commission meeting room M o n d a y . Resident N eil Lobron, who has researched federal rail­ road regulations and advocates rail “quiet zones” - areas where operators can sound train horns only in emergency situations - form ally ad­ dressed the commission during a Monday budget meeting and brought more than 80 backers of quiet zones with him to city Artist Janisse Lahti Larsson painted the Penn Theater's m ovie posters, which all have a small touch of Plymouth, if one looks closely. h a ll. Lobron has a plan he says would put in place extra safety precautions at the city’s seven rail crossings for a net cost of Painted posters perk $47,000, m aking quiet zones, which must be approved by the Federal Railroad Adm inistra­ tion, feasible. Hushing train horns, he said, would improve the quality of life in the city, up Penn’s lobby especially for those who live near crossings, and result in an Local artist decorates theater’s walls with paintings “It’s just an act of love,” estimated $36 m illion citywide Larsson said M onday at the increase in property values. depicting movie posters from past decades theater. “I don’t have a lot of “It’s not easy. It’s difficult. money, but it’s something I Nothing worthwhile is ever B y M a t t J a c h m a n The Wizard of Oz a n d o th e r can do to give back.” Larsson easy,” said Lobron, who of­ Staff Writer classics already decorate the said she can imagine grand­ fered to help officials research exterior of the Penn, painted children going to the theater the issue before m aking a qui­ Hand-painted movie post­ the works in August, after in the future and telling et-zone proposal to the federal ers - each with something Penn fans Linda Clements friends that their grand­ government. extra for sharp-eyed pa­ and Jim Hutchings offered m other painted the posters. “There’re a lot of things you trons- now grace the inner to finance the project. Lars­ can do w ith the additional lobby of the Penn Theatre, son, of Plymouth, tackled the M o r e c o l o r property-tax revenue,” he thanks to two donors and a project for just about the The posters replaced the a d d e d . local artist. cost of m aterials, said Ellen black-and-white glamor The 'Superm an' poster includes Janisse Lahti Larsson, Elliott, executive director of shots of m ovie stars that the cupola from the Plymouth Safety m easures whose depictions of scenes Friends of the Penn Theatre, Gathering, photos by bill bresler | Quiet zones - in place in 570 f r o m Gone With the Wind, which runs the movie house. See POSTERS, Page A2 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER communities across the coun­ tr y , a c c o r d in g to L o b r o n - r e ­ quire additional safety devices at rail crossings in order to warn motorists of approaching trains. Such measures could Coffeehouse event to benefit Grace Centers of Hope include track side warning horns, extra crossing gates and Espresso Elevado, a coffee 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. happy holiday, but help them Tickets to Espresso Eleva- road medians that cannot be bar and small-batch coffee Tickets are $25 each; the menu s ta r t a n e w l i f e , ” s a id e v e n t do’s Holiday Soiree can be driven over, preventing driv­ roaster in Plymouth, w ill host w ill include smoked salmon, coordinator Am y Hall, an reserved by calling 734-904- ers from going around cross­ a holiday fundraiser for Grace stuffed endives, spiced cream Espresso Elevado barista. 8323, em ailing elevadosoi- ing gates. Lights, bells and Centers of Hope in Pontiac, cheese and other appetizers, Soiree guests are also en­ [email protected] or stopping by other existing warning and which offers a variety of pro­ which w ill be paired w ith a c o u ra g e d to b r in g a t o y th a t the shop at 606 S. M ain, on the safety devices would continue grams to help people over­ variety of coffee beverages. can be placed under the shop’s southwest corner of M ain and to be used. come drug and alcohol addic­ “Our staff decided to give Christmas tree and w ill be W ing. Soiree admission w ill be The location of Plym outh’s tio n s . the event proceeds to Grace donated to the U.S. M arine lim ited to 30 people; the dead­ seven crossings would call for The first Holiday Soiree at Centers of Hope so that we Corps’ Toys for Tots cam ­ line for ticket purchase is three quiet zones, Lobron says. Espresso Elevado w ill be 6:30- can not only give a fam ily a p a ig n . S u n d a y . See TRAINS, Page A2 O b s e r v e r & E c c e n t r i c © The Observer & Eccentric IN D E X hometownllfe.com M E D IA Volume 127 • Number 34 Business................... A11 Homes.................... B11 Services......... ......... B11 A GANNETT COMPANY Crossword Puzzle.... B10 Jobs................. .......B10 Sports... B1 Entertainment..... .... B6 Obituaries...... .........B5 Wheels.......... ......... B11 Home Delivery: (866) 887-2737 | Return Address: 29725 Hudson Dr., Novi Ml 48377 Food..................... ... B8 Opinion.......... .......A12 ♦ J L C o m m unity ♦ W* Financial ♦ *Subjett to credit application and approval. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) may vary and is dependent on individual credit history and other factors. Stated rate includes .25% discount with automatic transfer from Community Financial checking account. lo oooo 1^64807m *oan amount $3,000. Maximum term is 12 months. Not available for refinance of existing Community Financial loan, offer expires 12/31/13. Federally insured by NCUA. (sf Equal Housing Lender. ©2013 Community Financial ♦ * V f t * A2 (P) 0 & E Media | Thursday, December 5, 2013 L O C A L N E W S hom etownlife.com Edwards said, referring interrupted his conversa­ SURVEY to private gym member­ TRAINS tion there w ith a prospec­ ships. Edwards said he tive buyer. Continued from Page A1 would be against any Continued from Page A1 “Those horns on those membership fees for a trains shake m y house said, referring to the township recreation In the absence of qui­ and it really is disturb­ public recreation and center for residents or et-zone measures, train ing,” resident Penny community center in people who work in the operators are required to Kazmierski said. Canton Township. to w n s h ip . sound train horns as their The effort, Edwards trains approach cross­ Plan critiqued said, would involve not Vote next year? ings. A 2006 regulation Neil Lobron, who is spearheading a campaign to reduce One resident spoke just facilities, but town­ Edwards said he sees change made quiet zones the noise of trains as they pass through Plymouth, makes a against the proposal, ship-run recreation decisions being made po ssib le. pitch Monday for railroad "quiet zones" before the however. Noah Allor, a programs. Many of the by officials within six Lobron compared the Plymouth City Commission and a standing-room-only city employee, said he athletic programs in months and a vote on a property value he said is crowd at city hall.