February 28, 2008 Oe0sseas43
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4 •** The latest in 3* out local faces at local events el *. XOifl K^ > ( 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com for calls BY DARRELLCLEM — and, therefore, their taxes OBSERVER STAFF WRITER — decrease, he said. Elrod's office braced for a Despite a sharp decline in flurry of phone calls this week the housing market, many as 28,000 homeowners receive Westiand homeowners will assessment notices that were likely see a tax increase as their mailed Monday. The city usu new assessment notices arrive ally gets 200 to 500 inquiries this week. a year. "That's the dark side of "We'll definitely get our Proposal A," a property tax- share of Calls," Elrod said. reform measure approved In one of the quirks of by Michigan voters in 1994, Michigan's property tax laws, Westiand Assessor James homeowners could see their PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Elrod said. property values decrease, but The Rev. Jack Baker, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Wayne, blesses the new Westiand senior Friendship Center bus, called Friendship Express. Only residents who bought still get hit with a tax increase. their homes within the Here's why: last three years or so will likely see their taxable value Please see ASSESSMENTS, A3 You'll find more on the Friendship "The bus makes a big state Express c>'- cation in our Photo ment as .far as our dedica Gallery of the Westiand home page i tion to providing senior www.hometownlife.com. programs in Westiand," Schimmel Marcum said. The bus was bought BY DARRELL CLEM for $63,429 using federal OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Community Development BY DARRELL CLEM early March to formally approve Block Grant programs. OBSERVER STAFF WRITER a $10,000 study that RRSI's Westiand senior citizens A local nonprofit orga Frey said could be completed are ready to turn some heads nization, the Westiand Efforts by Westiand city lead within three months. It will when they roll up in their new Community Foundation, ers to start a curbside recycling explore a range of options, such travel bus, dubbed Friendship gave $2,400 for the detail program with no user fees as whether the city should use its Express. ing. reached a milestone Monday as own workers or hire an outside Seniors plan to board Seniors last year had a officials agreed to hire a consul company to pick up plastics, the 26-passenger GMC bus contest for naming the bus tant to investigate options and paper, glass, metals and other Friday for their first field trip, and giving it a slogan. Janet start-up costs. recyclables. an educational seminar at Shirley, Leonard Kozle and Ultimately, city officials hope Currently, residents who Schoolcraft College. The new John Westra entered the to implement a program that recycle have to drop their mate ride replaces two smaller vans. winning name Friendship could bring in new revenue rials off at the city's public ser "The sky's the limit as far Express. and reduce the amount of trash vice yard on Marquette east of as traveling now," Senior Lou and Dot Brown hauled to landfills. Newburgh. Frey, who made a Resources Director Barbara offered the slogan "On the "We've really got some great pro-recycling presentation, told Schimmel Marcum said. "The Friendship Center members Lou and Dot Brown (from left), Leonard Kozel, Road Again." Although opportunities here," Mayor officials that a curbside program seniors are thrilled. They are Janet Shirey and John Westra receive kudos and commemorative keys for country singer Willie Nelson William Wild said, during would be convenient and lead to so proud of this bus." giving the bus its slogan, On the Road Again, and its name, Friendship Express. wasn't on hand last Friday recycling talks with city coun higher participation rates. The bus is painted mostly to sing his hit song by the cil members and consultant Frey also sajd recycling can be white, but its detailing same title, local senior Jim Frey, CEO for Resource made easier by adopting a pro includes its name on the front, phrase of Westiand as an all- Wild and other officials for an Robert Cassidy did perform Recycling Systems Inc. gram that allows residents to put a slogan "On the Road Again" American city on the side. unveiling ceremony outside the The National Anthem. Hundreds of residents last all their recyclables in one con on the rear, part of a U.S. flag A large crowd of seniors last city's senior Friendship Center, year signed petitions imploring tainer without separating them near the back, and a catch- Friday joined Mayor William a social gathering spot. [email protected] | (734) 953-2110 the city to start a curbside recy — a method that left some local cling program. Some of them officials with renewed enthusi attended Monday's meeting and asm for recycling. applauded when it became clear "It's easier than it ever that officials intend to push was," Cpuncilwoman Cheryl ahead. Graunstadt said. Resident Mary Murphy RRSI's study will even explore described herself and husband whether it would be feasible for BY DARRELL CLEM rank of ser the time that she was moved Michigan, are expected to Jim as longtime recycling pro the city to have its own recycling OBSERVER STAFF WRITER geant before by the show of support. attend Mr. Stanaway^ funeral. ponents who have advanced into processing facility, one that he died from "We're just so very thankful A fire truck that serves as a their senior years while waiting could be used by other commu Todd Stanaway, a Westiand an aggres and overwhelmed with the hearse will be borrowed from for the city to start a workable nities. firefighter who battled brain sive form of outpouring of people's gener the Detroit Fire Department, curbside program. Regardless of what plan the cancer as bravely as he worked brain cancer. osity," she said. Reddy said. "We are so looking forward to city adopts, Frey said its suc to save lives on his job, died He also was Mr. Stanaway had endured "Our department has come curbside recycling in Westiand," cess could hinge on education Sunday afternoon at his home involved with surgeries, chemotherapy and together in the grieving pro she said. "Before we go to the efforts through the media, in Warren. He was 36. Mr. Stanaway a western radiation as he fought glio cess," the chief said, adding land of glory, we want to see it." schools, neighborhood groups "He was an extremely well- Wayne County blastoma multiforme grade that counselors were brought Earlier curbside programs and billboards, among other liked firefighter, and he was hazardous materials team. four — a form of brain cancer in to help on-duty firefight twice failed when the city avenues. He said communities a greatasset to our depart His death comes 11 months that has a 5 percent survival ers cope with news of Mr. charged user fees, and officials on the front line of recycling now ment," Fire Chief Michael after friends and supporters rate. He had worked when Stanaway's death. have called it imperative for the bring in as much revenue in one Reddy said. raised more than $70,000 to he could until about three Mr. Stanaway, a 13-year new plan to avoid that pitfall. month as they formerly did in an Mr. Stanaway, husband of help Mr. Stanaway and his months ago, Reddy said. veteran of the department, Several residents urged the city entire year. Julie and father of 4-year-old family while he was battling Firefighters from across the to make recycling mandatory. "It's a good time to be doing Samantha, had earned the his disease. His wife said at state, particularly in southeast Please see STANAWAY, A3 The council is expected in this in many ways," he said. © The Observer 1 INDEX & Eccentric . $1¾ P^rksVcSe'r-'M/- TL\\.*< Newspapers For Home APARTMENTS C2 in Health Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C6 Volume 43 ! t^c-v Westiand Office Cpm>'')g wr Mu.-rM (866) 887-2737 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C6 Number 79 . ton J; "ur rrj»,?r /f*v» m IJH- r arrf-w«sf come HOMETOWNLIFE D1 JOBS CIO OBITUARIES D4 OPINION A10 PINK D6 REAL ESTATE C2 ::*:* SERVICE GUIDE C2 Inexpensive drug could prevent *•' "lUt-^t.'j^iiAs "i ^ ' •*'• -- 1 vi &*'* £ «1"^ SPORTS B1 kidney damage front dyes used during CT and other imaging scans Observer S Eccentric | Thursday, February 28,2008 (W) www.hometownlife.com AAUW ready to present 'Snow White' Nursery School Olympics rity situation, is checked rou tinely on the first Saturday of The Westland Parks and every month. BY SUE MASON Recreation Department, forarrf«xp»i$ed version of OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Westland Civitan Club, Poker Run Around tfesflsnd, visit our online Westland Junior Civitan, The Westland Chamber edition at www.hGtnetawnlffe. As an eighth-grade drama Dads' Athletic Club of of Commerce is celebrating teacher, Melissa Mosquera Westland and Westland Leap Year with Leap Year requires her students to see a Jaycees are again sponsoring Poker Run Party 6-10:30 p.m. play, and she's made it easy for the Nursery School Olympics, Friday, Feb. 29. Sponsored by age 8. Carryouts are available. them to do so by inviting them a chance for toddlers and pre the Electric Stick, Ford Road For more information, call the to see her in the Plymouth- schoolers to go for the gold in Bar and Grill, Malarkey's Irish post at (734) 525-9454. Canton AAUWs production of games designed especially for Pub, Stryker's Bar and Grill Snow White next weekend.