NHL Meltdown Puts Freeze on Whaler Cash
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s Hollywood outsiders OBSERVER LIFE SECTION C 1- ' * Your hometown newspaper serving Plymouth and Plymouth Township for 119 years PLYMOUTH SUNDAY February 20 2005 75 cents (Dbsmrer V olum e 119 N u m b e r 5 2 ivww.hometoivnlife.com © 2 0 0 5 H o m e to w n C ommunications N etw ork NHL meltdown puts freeze on Whaler cash BY TONY BRUSCATO tenth of the Whalers more than that It won t be too detrimental Red Wings around, die Plymouth STAFF WRITER $1 million budget to our organization ” Whalers have seen ajump m atten The Whalers consist of players John Folino, founder and for dance According to Pete Krupsky, Wednesday’s not-too-surpnsing ranging m age from 16 to 21 mer player of the American director of communications for the announcement that the National Because the OHL is a develop Transmissions Rhinos in Whalers, the team is average 3,200 Hockey League finally canceled mental league, without the NHL Plymouth, said the cancellation of fans per game, which is up about its season hit the Plymouth there is no money coming from the NHL season is disappointing 100 from last year Whalers hard m the pocketbook the big league for developing It’s a classic example of very ‘Traditionally, in the past, we We’re out about $100,000 players And, it doesn t help the passionate parties refusing to did not draw well in the fall, but because were not getting money Whalers players, who Vellucci budge until it’s too late, said this year the interest started from from the NHL, said Mike said get paid $50 a week, to go Folino, who played recreational the beginning of the season,’ said Vellucci, president, general man along with housing and schooling hockey on the Rhinos for nearly Krupsky “The NHL lockout has ager and coach of the Ontario Our players are trying to get 20 years ‘It will come back in helped us, but not to the extent Hockey League team There cur drafted by the NHL, and we’ve Detroit, eventually, but a lot of people seem to feel rently is no agreement between got two guys who are rated for the goodwill has been lost ‘We’re selling our product as the NHL and Canadian Hockey top round this year,’ said Vellucci ‘ TJie players should realize they family-oriented entertainment, League, so until the player agree It’s not good if it extends for too had it pretty good the past seven and I think the public has really ment is settled we will continue to long years with the last collective bar taken to it,’ he said Plymouth goalie Ryan Nte and his Whalers teammates could be out that money But, eventually this will be set gaming agreement,’ he said feel the pinch of the cancellation of the NHL season That money relates to one- tled,’ he said 1 have to imagine Without the NHL and Detroit tbruscato@oe homecomm net County: City OF still on hook for underpass bills BY TONY BRUSCATO STAFF WRITER As Plymouth city commissioners lean toward rescinding earlier resolutions to spend $503,250 as the citys share of the $12 million Sheldon Road underpass project it still may cost a bundle of cash to get out ' Wayne County officials plan to be at Monday s city commission meeting to give an update on the project, which has been nearly six years in the making, but without a shovel in the ground The county s Director of Engineering, Hassan Saab, said Plymouth has a right to pull its financial PLEASE SEE UNDERPASS, A2 Foundation hosts PHOTOS BY TOM HOFFMEYER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ron Basse rink manager at the Plymouth Cultural Center, runs the Zamboni along the rink resurfacing the ice for the next round of activities scheduled at the rink March fund-raiser BY TONY BRUSCATO performing arts in our Smoothin' out the rough spots STAFF WRITER district, added Kody ‘Its a chance to get Nearly 200 Plymouth- dressed up (cocktail said driving the Zamboni is a Canton performing arts attire) and show our sup- Zam boni driver toughjob students will perform for port’ It’s got studded tires, but it still slides,” said Baase “And, An Evening of Kody said the sale of keeps skaters Excellence, a Plymouth- $100 tickets will be lim while you re driving you have to Canton Schools fund ited to 250, and will turn on the water that cleans the raiser by the district's included a strolling din off thin ice ice, and making sure you’re lay Educational Excellence ner, performance by the ing the right amount of lce-mak- Foundation ten groups and a cham mg water so it doesn’t puddle The March 4 event at pagne reception after BY TONY BRUSCATO “You need to make sure it’s the Village Theater at wards The EEF is also STAFF WRITER smooth so the puck doesn’t go Cherry Hill in Canton selling $50 tickets for flying or a figure skater doesn’t Township will feature those who want to view Ron Baase has never laced up a trip m the ruts,” he added ttyGhaidlile school the performances and pair of ice skates, but he calls the The Zamboni carries up to 250 g-foftps and eight others attend the afterglow Plymouth Cultural Center ice gallons of water, and Baase has from Plymouth-Canton Only 400 total tickets for rink his home to determine how much to lay on Educational Park. the event will be sold For the past seven years, Baase the ice, depending on the tem It’s going to be a “My initial goal is to has been a fixture driving the perature and condition of the ice showcase of the excel make $10,000,’ said Zamboni around the Cultural At most times, Baase is shaving lence that’s in our school Kody “It’s our first time, Center rmk for 10 minutes each Ron Baase talks about his time maintaining the ice at the Plymouth Cultural Center off an eighth of an inch of ice district,’ said Carole so we’re hoping for a sell hour, after skating practice, and how after all the years, he still doesn't skate surface and replacing it with Kody, EEF executive out hockey games and open skates fresh water that will freeze as a director ‘The EEF will Superintendent Jim I don t skate, and never had It started as a part-time second “After the first few months it got new top layer be making a $500 dona Ryan will be the master before in my life,’ said Baase, rec job to earn extra money But, sev tinng But, when we started giv You get 10 minutes, and they tion to each of the 10 of ceremonies ognizing the irony “I still don t eral years later Baase gave up his ing the Zamboni rides to kids, it expect the ice to be instant,’ said performing groups People always say skate, and don’t get out and try” trade as an automotive techni got me excited again Putting the Baase “The entire event is the prove that you’re doing However, Baase said he does cian to become a full-time rmk little kids on your lap and letting Compared to a car, looking showcase the excellence good things in the enjoy getting out on the manager them steer That put the fun back over the front of the Zamboni in our schools, and our Zamboni, cleaning and resurfac ‘It’s a blast, I love it,’ said in it’ way of giving back to the PLEASE SEE FUND-RAISER, A4 ing the ice at the Cultural Center Baase, who lives m Garden City While it looks quite easy, Baase PLEASE SEE ZAMBONI, A7 C O N T A C T U S INDEX Coming Thursday in Filter Apartments £2 Automotive FI Newsroom (734)459 2700 Classified Index 0 2 A r t o f w a r Circulation 1 866 887 2737 Crossword Puzzle 04 Classified 1 800 5797355 For the Record A4 Exhibit and film Community Life Cl series at Cranbrook Health C6 Jobs E5 A rt Museum see Obituaries C5 Iraq through the New Homes D1 Service Guide E5 artist's eyes Sports B1 < * i / A 2 ( P ) Observer & Eccentr c 1 Sunday February 20 2005 NEWS BRIEFS www honMtowniffe.com county officials “Too little, too Charlie Brown Toccata and Fugue m D Minor UNDERPASS late’ The DuBois Little Theatre by J S Bach The concert takes "Our heart is m seeing this presents You’re a Good Man, place m the Nave of St John’s FRQMPA§|A1 project go forward, but the Charlie Brown, March 10-11 at Episcopal Church, 574 S support, T>ut the city has an reality of it is we’re not the 8 p m and March 12 at 2 30 Sheldon The concert is free, obligation to pay its part of the same community we were six and 8 p m in the Canton High however, a free-will offering engineering fees years ago,’ added Greene We School theater This delightful, will be accepted at the door to ‘They are liable for about a can t take the kind of (finan energetic musical is based on help support the senes third of the engineering cost,” cial) obligations now that we the popular Charles M Schulz For more information, call said Saab*, “We don’t have the committed to then comic strip Peanuts (734) 453-0190, Ext 16 total qojit, bht it could be sub Commissioner Michele Tickets are $8 each and are stantial Right now, it’s close Potter said she feels coerced by available m the theater after PCAC auction to abouta million dollars the county, after hearing of the school to 6 p m and just out An evening of Black Satin According to the county, it figures relating to engineering side the theater dunng the and Pearls is planned for this will still cost Plymouth approx costs high school lunch penod They year’s “Artful Affair’ presented imately $333,000 to get out "The last time we backed out also can be purchased through by the Plymouth Community immediately the engineering costs were members of the cast and crew Arts Council at 5 30 p m Mondays presentation will about $80,000 I d like to see For information on special March 19 at the VisTaTech be the second time county offi the actual bills and numbers,’ rates for groups of 20 or more, Center at Schoolcraft College cials have tried to convince Potter said ‘I still don t see call (734)