sga^PUM^ '>:<-' 'jj V <: C;<.( ' ' 'J .' be"i:0 .iJdy i >S..c .' ,•,; ' •/' t; 36'wfcreJ OCiC-'.C a'-J sa.c j'- a'.eragt S?0 ro SiO a Aot» v'. ,-..• grocery©" Fcx r<j"-e >i .v'f okaie ca.:59'-05O:; Sunday September 21.1997 Homelbwn Ultestlanb ©bserirer COJUAU -Nl< \ i ll)M> M:MM)HK Putting You In Touch With Your World" O VOLUME 33 NUMBER 31 WESTLAND, MICHIGAN • 76 PAGES • http://observereccentric.com SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS 0 1697 HomeTown Communication. Network. Inc. THE WEEK Most schools post MEAP gains i^fcl Bfci^»«# • Students in some Wayne-Westland schools posted sig­ scores and gave Walker students a dou­ stressed that year-to-year fluctuations nificant gains on the Michigan Educational Assessment ble-digit lead over statewide results. can be expected, but they vowed to try Program test, given to fifth- and eighth-graders earlier • At Edison Elementary, 63.3 per­ to reverse downward trends. cent of fifth-graders proved their profi­ Among the problem areas: Book time: The William P. this year. Educators vow to improve the scores of all stu­ ciency in science, a jump of 40.1 per­ • Hamilton Elementary fifth-graders Faust Public Library of dents at local schools. centage points that placed them far declined 26.6 percentage points in writ­ Westland is open noon to BY DARRELL CLEM Consider these new science and writ­ above the state's 36.8 percent showing. ing, with 54.8 percent of students earn­ STAFF WRITER ing results from Michigan Educational • At Adams Middle School, 88.2 per­ ing a proficient score compared to 81.4 5p.m. Sunday from Assessment Program tests, given earli­ cent of eighth-graders earned a profi­ percent in 1§96. The same students A new school- MEAP icsulis'lnslda cient ranking in writing, an 18.9 per­ also dipped 6.5 points in science. Labor Day to Memorial by-school analy­ er this year to fifth- and eighth- graders. centage-point increase that gave them • Stevenson Middle School students Day. The library is at sis of local an 11.2-point lead over state scores. dropped 10.8 percentage points in achievement test • At Walker Elementary, 84.3 per­ 6123 Central City Park­ cent of fifth-graders earned a profi­ "We are closing the gaps," Jane eighth-grade science, but still had the scores shows that Wayne-Westland Kuckel, assistant superintendent of best score among Wayne-Westland's way, south of Warren. For students made some dramatic one-year cient, or passing, grade in writing. That marked a startling increase of instruction, said. four middle schools. information, call (313) gains, outshining their statewide coun­ On the down side, some schools lost terparts in some areas. 43.9 percentage points over 1996 326-6123. ground on MEAP scores. Officials Please see MEAP, A2 MONDAY All in the family Busy hands: Orientation for the new class of Cre­ ative Photo Albums will begin 10 a.m. to noon Monday. Those interested should sign up at the Friendship Center, 1119 Newburgh, Westland, or call 722-7632. TUESDAY Sing: Livonia Civic Cho­ rus is holding auditions 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Frost Middle School, 14041 Stark Road, between 1-96 and Lyndon, Livonia. Tenor and bass voices are especially need­ ed. For details, call (313) 525-1447. WEDNESDAY Milestone: The Westland Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 35th anniversary 5-8p.m. Wednesday at Joy Manor in Westland. The event will include an electronic overview of the chamber's history. STAFF PHOTO BY TOM HAWLEY Fun time: Jennifer hyp, 9, ofWestland and baby brother Joseph take a look at the handprint that Jennifer produced and Joseph's footprints for the Westland Playscape. The tiles will adorn thePlayscape at Central City Park. The structure is now available for THURSDAY children to play on. Home Improvement: The fifth annual Fall Remod­ eling Show will open Thursday and continue YMCA helps residents get in swim of things through Sunday at the Novi Expo Center. West- land businesses partici­ All ages benefit from time in pool pating are David L Inc., BY JULIE BROWN Thermal Engineering STAFF WRITER • Adaptive Aquatics is led by Dick Davis of Livonia, Last Monday afternoon was who got involved when a friend had a stroke in Corporation and Five warm for mid-September, so the Star Air Duct Purifica­ pool at the Wayne/Westland 1979. 'I wanted to help,' said Davis, taking a break YMCA was the perfect place to be. from his duties in the pool. tion. For information, call A group of area residents were (248) 737-4478. doing more than swimming for fun, however. "They come in three times a stroke in 1979. "1 wanted to help," the way up through seniors." The INDEX week," said YMCA physical direc­ said Davis, taking a break from sessions generally have between tor Chris Cooper of Canton. The his duties in the pool. five and 10 people. I Obituaries A4 program is for people who are dis­ He teaches a similar program at "They work with him one-on- abled, including those who've • Classified Index the YMCA in Monroe. The goal is one," she said. Davis and aides J* been in car accidents, had other to "get them as far back to normal work with people on a range of Real Estate Hi head trauma or strokes. as we can," he said. "We do speech motion exercises. STAFF PHOTO BY TOM \L\*\EY Crossword Adaptive Aquatics is led by therapy with theni also." "We invite spouses if they want Dick Davis of Livonia, who got Good cause: Dick Dauis has been an Adap­ Rentals H6 The age range varies, said to come in and swim," Cooper involved when a friend had a Cooper. "We've had little kids all tive Aquatics instructor for many years. Jobs J2 Please see SWIM, A3 Homes AServl ce K4 Automotive KB • Taste Bl Woman recants statements in local carjacking 1 Health & Business CI • Arts & Leisure Dl BY DARRELL CLEM breaking into the victim's apartment ami attacking STAFF WRITER I Sports & Recreation El COURTS her when she came home from work. A 46-year-old Westland woman has recanted earli­ Gawronski told police that he threatened the er statements against an ex-boyfriend accused of woman with a knife "just to scare her." Kubitskey HOW TO REACH US The woman said she now believes that a knife fell said, reading from the statement. The suspect also threatening her at knifepoint, robbing her and car­ from a kitchen counter to the floor as she and jacking her vehicle. admitted taking the victim's purse and 1995 Ford Gawronski struggled inside her apartment - and that Probe, escaping before his subsequent arrest outside Newsroom: 313-953-2104 The victim, testifying Thursday during a prelimi­ her ex-boyfriend never held a weapon. nary hearing in Westland 18th District Court, said of Kicker's Restaurant on Plymouth Road in Livonia Newsroom Fax: 313-891-7279 "1 wns in a catatonic state at that time," she said. "I "I am very ashamed and sorry," Gawronski said in she was in shock when she told police that Glenn am no longer in a state of shock, and I remember E-mail: newftroom06eontlne.com David Gawronski, 49, threatened her with a knife. the statement read by Kubitskey what happened." Westland police Sgt John Ruresh testified that Nlghtllne/Sports: 313-953-2104 The incident allegedly happened about 5:20 p.m. The woman smiled at Gawronski as she stepped Sept. 9 at Fountain Park Apartments on Newburgh Gawronski, driving the victim's car, led him on a 60- Reader Comment Line: 313-953-2042 down from the witness stand and walked from the mph chase for a one-mile stretch on Newburgh. Road between Warren and Joy. courtroom, but other testimony supported the vic­ Classified Advertising: 313-591-0900 "I really don't remember where he touched me," she before Rurosh quit the pursuit. Livonia police spotted Display Advertising: 313-591-2300 tim's initial statements to police the Ford Probe and arrested the suspect a short lime said, adding that she may have "falsely told a cop" Westland police Sgt. Tom Kubitskey road alnud a Home Delivery: 313-591-0500 that the suspect had a knife in his hand. statement in which Gawronski allegedly ndmitted Please see CARJACKING, A2 ^mmmwmmmmimmm A2(W) The Observer/SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1997 The scores below show the percentage of Westland Schools students who earned a proficient rating on from page Al New MEAP lest results fn grades 5 and 8 the Michigan Educational * tsessment Middle school gets MEAP Program test. Taking the te$t were fifth- andelgrithgradera. • Madison Elementary suf­ • At Adams Middle fered a 6.4 percentage point drop Grade 5 Scienc School, principal Celes- 1S90 1997 MHw.nc, a new principal in fifth-grade science, but still Scboot 1996' 1997 WW***** X*** remained above the district aver­ tine Sanders credited 933; 633 +40,¾ Edffyi . p; 64.3 87.8 •23.B age. Edison William McLean has been Westland substitute teacher in gains in writing scores * 12 30.9 ' :*M.y Elllotf 30.9 52.7 421.0 School officials caution that Elliott named principal of Stevenson the early 1970s and was hired as to a concerted effort Graham 16.0 31-6 ^¢9 fr**}*" 64.6 84.0 «^,4 Middle School, leaving no vacan­ a social studies teacher in 1974, MEAP results are only one mea­ 81.4 54.8 „gj.A sure of student achievement. by department head Hamilton 20S 14.0 -e.B Hamilton-: cies in building-level top jobs for teaching at Marshall Junior Hicks 14.9 ..11.4 -3-5, Hte1<s 73;0 84.7 *1?7 the new school year.