MARDI BOWLER GRAS RECIPES FOOD, B7 ffiilSTLAND A GANNETT COMPANY TAX PREP TIPS, TRAVEL, HOME AND. MUCH MORE SUBSCRIBERS - FIND YOUR COPY OF INSPIRE WITH TODAY'S NEWSPAPER -PRICE: $1 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012 •hometownlife.com. City's residential property values continue to drop By LeAnne Rogers That drop is slightly rate increase. boring communities'— property values dropping Observer Staff Writer higher than the 9 percent "We still have the fore­ a 10.1 percent decrease 2.5 percent while Plym­ average decline in resi­ closure issues and that's in Wayne, a 14.7 percent outh Township residential Despite reports of 'i dent property values last hurting us," said West- drop in Garden City and property values actually Last year, Leonard Sa- improving home sales in year but better than ear­ land Assessor James 16,3 percent decline in increased 2.5 percent. bala was in the groove the Detroit metro area, lier double digit decreas­ Elrod. "The more stable Inkster. The common denom­ to win the Big Wheel. Westland's residential es. As a result of the drop, communities are more inator among the com- • Grand Prix at the Nurs­ property values will be residents can expect to affluent and rebounding By the numbers munities seeing resi­ ery School Olympics. -. down an average 9.7 per­ see an average 9 percent quicker." * Livonia saw a 4.2 per­ dential property val­ cent on assessment notic­ • decrease in their proper­ Westland's residential. cent decrease in residen­ ue decreases is the large es hitting mailboxes this ty taxes unless they are property values dropped tial property values. Can­ Go for gold month. also seeing an millage less than some neigh-, ton also saw a decrease in Please see PROPERTY, A2 Bring your young­ sters and have a great time cheering them on to victory as they "compete" in games First-time owners find plenty to like with NSP home especially designed for them at the annua! Nursery School Olym­ By LeAnne Rogers pics 10 a.m. to noon Observer Staff Writer Saturday, March 3, at the Bailey Recreation A lifelong Westland Center, 36651 Ford, resident, Shirley Jones Westland. doesn't have to think for "Events" include long when asked what she the Big Wheel Grande . likes best about owning Prix, the Marshmallow her first home. Shot Putt and Obstacle "It's ours and no one Course. Every child will can tell me;what to do. I receive a certificate of want to get a dog. That ' participation. will be soon, too," said The Olympics is for Jones, who moved into youngsters ages 18 the house on Carlson with months to 5 years. Pre- husband Wage in Decem­ registration is encour­ ber. "We're first-time aged, but not required. homeowners — first time The course takes about everything." 30-45 minutes so chil­ ___ The couple had been dren can register right renting a house before _•_ up to 11:30 a.m. buying a home that been The event is free of foreclosed, acquired by charge, with all admis­ the city and rehabilitat­ sions being sponsored ed. through the Neighbor­ by the Wayne Masons hood Stabilization Pro- 112. Also supporting gram. the event are the West- "It was cheap and a good land Parks and Rec­ investment," said Wage reation Department, Jones, a Wales native who Westland Civitan Club, was used to brick homes • Dads' Athletic Club of and slate roofs. "I like the Westland, Westland. oversize garage. It's my Christian Union and. man cave, a hidey hole." Westland Jaycees. For more, informa­ Total rehab tion, call (734) 722- • The three-bedroom, 7620. 1,200-square foot ranch has an oversize garage and also a large wood­ en shed in the backyard. Indoor sale Home Renewal Systems, one of the contractors Space is available for hired by the city to reha­ an indoor garage sale bilitate and sell blight- that will be held 9 a.m. Wage and Shirley Jones stand in front of their first home located on Carlson. The couple purchased a foreclosed home to 3 p.m. Thursday and that had been rehabilitated and offered for sale through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Please see HOME, A2 Friday, March 22-23, at the Westland senior Friendship Center, 1119 : Newburgh, south of Ford Road, Westland. -W construction program LPS board: No bond The sale is a fund­ raiser for the center. Six-foot-long tables are proposal on May ballot $10 for two days, avail­ receives award from state able on a first come, By Karen Smith lion in improvements in first serve basis. Sign Observer 'Staff Writer three areas: technolo­ up at the center's front By Sue Mason gy and equipment, fine desk. Observer Staff Writer The Livonia school arts and major facility For more informa­ board will not ask vot­ . renovations. A $190 mil­ tion, call (734) 722- A collaboration ers in May to approve a lion bond would cost the 7632. between the Wayne- bond to finance school owner of $125,000 home Westland Communi­ improvements, but about $150 a year for 30 ty Schools and the City it expects to make a years. of Westland has been decision by Decem­ The majority of received an Excellence • ber whether it will seek respondents said they INDEX in Practice Award from a bond, when it would believe voters would Business A8 the Michigan Depart­ place the proposal on' reject a $190 million. Crossword Puzzle ....B10 the ballot, how much the Entertainment B5 ment of Education. bond proposal because Food B7 Construction Technolo­ bond would be for and it would cost too much. Homes..! B10 gy at the William D. Ford what improvements it • However, the majority Jobs B11 Career Technical Center would pay for. also said the.y personal-' Obituaries B4 was one of two programs The board has agreed ly would support it. Opinion A10 to be recognized for "a that May was too soon to Services : B11 Sports B1 successful exemplary go to voters. Take time to Wheels B12 program for its outstand­ Board Vice President listen' ing outcomes and doc­ Gregory Oke said a lot © The Observer & Eccentric umented success," said of discussion still needs Resident Loyd Romick Volume 47 • Number 77 ', School Superintendent to take place. "We're congratulated board Greg Baracy.- very much at the start­ members on not mak­ Home Delivery. "It's phenomenal work ing process of this," he ing a quick decision and , (866) 887-2737 . the students are doing in said. urged them to thorough­ the career technical cen­ Mike Koelzer (from left). Construction Technology instruc­ The district conduct­ ly and completely study Return Address: '41304 Concept Dr. ter," he said. "Their hard tor, Joanne Inglis, Westland Community Development ed a telephone poll Jan. the issue. "This is def­ Plymouth HI 48170 /work has paid off." Director, Steven Kay, William D. Ford Career Technical 23-25 of 480 registered initely the time to take % 58 ^, Center principal, and Mark Valchine, instructor, show off voters to gauge their • Please see AWARD, A2 the Excellence in Practice Award. support for $190 mil-' Please see BALLOT A2' %£F 3 * A2 (W) Observer & Eccentric | Thursday, February. 16,2012 i^KSMllNEWSlil! online at.tipmetownlife.com • acquire foreclosed and Thankful PROPERTY AWARD vacant properties and • Instructors Mark Val- Continued from page A1 Continued from page A1 provide for renovation chine and Michael Koel- or new construction and zer thanked school offi­ sale to first time home cials for their support of • stock of vacant and fore­ For many years, con­ buyers. the program. closed homes, often start­ struction technology "This partnership is "We couldn't do this er homes. students built single- an outstanding exam­ without," said Valchine. "The loans that caused homes from the ground ple of a school/commu­ "I look around this this crisis were aimed at up, but with the decline nity collaboration to pro­ room and I see people' first-time homeowners — in new home construc­ vide the opportunity for come in the room that getting them out of apart­ tion and a slow housing students'to develop con­ I know we wouldn't be ments," saidElrod. "The market, the program '•' ' struction trades skills able to do this work," foreclosures hit starter found ways to provide while providing service added Koelzer. home communities hard­ hands-on experience by to the community," said Center Principal Ste­ er. It hits us, Garden City, , working with Habitat Westland Mayor William ven Kay said the pro­ the kitchen has been cabinets and appliances. Redford and Dearborn for Humanity and Life Wild. gram has "really hus­ Heights. We have a lot of Remodeled. ! The students are tled" to provide opportu­ starter homes." responsible for every nities for the program. One thing the bud­ The assessments are Good partnership detail in the construction "They recently HOME get couldn't accommo­ based on a one-year mar­ The program also part­ of the home, are trained received a grant from Continued from page A1 date was replacement of ket study covering the nered with the Westland as estimators and work Lowe's to pay for stu­ a damaged gas fireplace. period of Oct. 1,2010, to provide the manpow­ • in every trade used to dents to become OSHA As a result, the fireplace through Sept. 30,2011. er to rehabilitate or build build or remodel a home. certified," he said. ed homes through NSP, located in the rear fami-' In Westland, the res­ new homes on proper­ Each project culminates Kay added that it ^ did extensive work on the ly room is boarded up for idential property val­ ty city acquired through in an open house that appears the city already .