March 30,2008
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Program uses yoga and Author profiles local self-reflection to resolve TV celebrities food issues - March 30,2008 75 cents WINNERS NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com Extensive BYDARRELLCLEM Hix Road between Warren and aty's oldest. Federal and state dollars will Westland Public Service Director mer), and we're hoping to finish OBSERVER STAFfr WRITER Joy will be closed to through traf- Another city project will be used to pay for the bulk of the Kevin Buford said signs will it right around Labor Day so fic, possibly from June until early involve resurfacing Ann Arbor projects. The combined costs of be posted directing drivers to we can reopen the bridge when Motorists traveling along two September, for a city project that Trail between Hines Drive and the repairs will top the $1 million Newburgh. • school starts back." Westland roads will face delays involves replacing a bridge over Merriman Road. Those repairs mark, according to city officials. "We're trying to work around Wild said a new, wider, stron- and detours this summer as work Tbnquish Creek, Mayor William are expected to start as early as The bridge project will force the school year," Buford said. ger bridge with proper shoulders crews make long-awaited repairs, Wild announced. May and possibly continue into through traffic to use an alter- "We're hoping to close the road city officials confirmed. The bridge, built in 1937, is tre- the fall, Wild said. nate north-south road, and when school lets out (for the sum- Please see ROADWORK, A2 Woman, 68, killed crossing Van Born Road A 68-year-old Westland woman was struck and killed Friday morning while she was walking across Van Born Road between Middlebelt and Inkster, police Officer Tom Lessnau said. The woman, whose identity hadn't been disclosed by police, was walking north- bound across Van Born near Admiral around 6:30 a.m. when two westbound vehicles approached her, Lessnau said. A motorist driving in the inside lane managed to avoid the woman, but the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck in the outside lane apparently didn't see her in time to avoid hilling her, the officer said. The driver of the Ford F-150 was described as a 43-year-old Dearborn Heights man. The woman was taken to Oakwood PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Hospital/Annapolis in Wayne, where she The cast of the John Glenn High School spring musical, 'High School Musical,' rehearses the opening number, 'Start of Something New.' Playing lead roles in the production are died, Lessnau said. Megan Walker as Taylor (front row, from left), Lauracindy Plaque as Gabrilla, Dayna Krushlin as Sharpay, Matt Benyo as Ryan, Jacory Frowner as Zeke, David Sumlin as Chad, and Neither alcohol nor speed appeared Joseph Franklin Blouse as Troy. • . to be a factor in the accident, he said. The investigation was continuing Friday afternoon. The woman was not walking in a cross- walk at the time of the accident, Lessnau said. BY SUE MASON - By Darreli Clem OBSERVER STAFF WRITER For Dayna Krushlin and Megan What: Disney's 'High School Musical' Walker, it was a given that they would Who: Presented by the John Glenn ' be the assistant directors of John Theatrical Guild Glenn High School's spring musical. When: 7 p.m. Thursday through They were the only students in Sheri Saturday, April 10-12, with a matinee at Grove's drama directing class who 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12 wrote the essays needed to earn the coveted positions. < *•» Where: John Glenn High School, But there also was some planning Marqtiette, west of Wayne Road, that went into landing what most Westland Relay for Life likely are the prime jobs on what is Cost: $8 for students ages 17 and turning out to be the biggest pro- under and $12 for aduits. Tickets can BY JULIE BROWN duction in Grove's 13 years at the be ordered by sending your name, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Westland high school. address and telephone number, num- "We passed up being play direc- ber of student and adult tickets need- The weekend of May 31-June 1 will be a tors to be the musical directors," said The cheerleaders - Courtney McKinney (front row), Amy Selewski, Jordan Burgess, busy one for local cancer-fighters, with both Krushlin. "This is bigger and better Nikki Zurban (back row), Kimmie Shepers, Tyia Echois and Sarah Melias - perform the ed to [email protected]. They also Westland and Garden City holding Relay for and we can dance." "Wildcat Cheer" during rehearsal of the spring musicaf. will be available for purchase 7 a.m. to Life fund-raisers. The bigger and better is the stage 3 p.m. weekdays in the school's main The Westland event will run 24 hours, 10 production of Disney's High School privilege, said Grove. "They want the show done the office beginning Monday, March 31. a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday, at Jaycee Musical which will be presented "We had 100 students come out way it was done originally," she said. Park, Hunter and Wfldwood by the Mike April 10-12 at the Westland high for auditions, that shows that they "We're trying to make it as authentic Modano Ice Arena. Walkers will raise pledg- school. Seventy students are working viewed this as something special," as possible to the Broadway show and prepared, they've put the musical es and walk in teams continuously on the on the production, a modern retelling said Grove. "All the popularity and movie." first. This group has been phenom- track to combat cancer. of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. the hype has made it more exciting to The challenge facing Grove is enal, awesome." The Garden City event will be at the "We did the planning for it in the be a part of. From beginning to the , adapting the play to the size of According to Grove, students have same time but will be held on the grounds fall and the calls started coming in," end, it's been a wonderful experience." : Glenn's auditorium, which is "more been able to learn on their own and of Garden City Middle School on RadclirT said Grove. "For the kids, knowing intimate than most theaters." teach other students. Krushlin and south of Ford near the Schoolcraft College they're in a show people want to see GOOD EXPERIENCE Because it's a small stage, a simple Walker did the choreography, using a RadcliffCenter. has been exciting." Preparations have gone smoothly, wagon will be used to rotate the three video that taught them the dances.. "It's going really well," said Holly Soranno, "We just found out the mayor thanks to Disney which provides "so sets need for the production. 'It took about 11/2-twb hours to community representative/stafYpartner for bought tickets," said Krushlin. "It's many assets" to help with the produc- "The students have given 110 per- learn," said Walker who has been in the American Cancer Society which spon- kind of cool. We never really had tion. In past productions, Grove has cent," Grove said. "This has been dance for 15 years. sors the event. 'We're excited to be back at anyone come, only our parents and had to rely on karaoke music, but completely student-driven." In addition to their directing Jaycee Park again." friends." with High School Musical, Disney "They want to be here," added co- and choreography duties, the two The Westland event was moved to Jaycee The play has a cast of 40 and a has provided rehearsals and perfor- director Belinda Walakonis-Semak. seniors also are members of the cast. crew of 30. And from day one, they mance CDs as well as logos to use for "They're self-driven and they've all Please see RELAY, A2 have "viewed being in the show as a T-shirts and promotions. stepped up to the plate. They all come Please see ,A3 © The Observer & Eccentric We beat For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS D3 any offer Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE , D5 Volume 43 HEALTH B5 (866) 887-2737 Number 88 HOMETOWNLIFE C1 JOBS C7 Wireless t^ NEW HOMES W OBITUARIES C4 Only at the OPSNION A9 "APR=Annual Percentage Kate. 172 month term available on vehktonf $15,000or mete as low as 6.Q0H ApFL Credit, income and collater REAL ESTATE D2 requirements apply. Thb offef may End at any time. SPORTS B1 Ford & Merriman Rd. wucii yuw liwac uii yuwf r vvu vcsmic iwmt; § Aa**A» IBM*. *' OEosssooea j 734.421.8000 Observer & Eccentric \ Sunday, March 30,2008 (W) Www.hometowitlife.com have already signed up for the 2008 event online. That's an Man will face trial on charge FROM. PAGE A1 increase from 15 teams in 2007. "Lot of the increase is through word of mouth," said Albitus, BYDARREUCLEM distributing obscene material, to he fathered, police Sgt. Debra Sims is accused of molest- Park last year due to contamina- who has a team captains meeting OBSERVER STAFF WRITER the girl and furnishing her with Mathews has said. The baby ing the girl during the month tion issues at Central City Park, scheduled fo^ 7 p.m. Wednesday, alcohol. survived; leading up to his arrest. He the previous site. Relays have April 23 at Garden City City A Westland man will face He was ordered to stand trial . The girlfriend reported the was caring for the girl and her been held in Westknd for nearly Hall. trial amid allegations he after he gave up his right to a alleged crimes to police March siblings in their Norwayne 10 years while this will be the Each of the teams hold their molested his live-in girlfriend's preliminary hearing Thursday 1 after she left the hospital and subdivision residence while second year for Garden City.