mm •• * 1 f ^ mm '/• & 00 fanton ©bseruer Your hometown newspaper serving Canton for 26 years kW-, v- nday, December 24, hometowanewspapers. net 75C ms ©2000 HomeTown Communications Network™ Volume 26 Number 49 Canton, Michigan Vs THE WEEK! District sees second departure The retirement of Assistant Superintendent man, who came to the district out of sense is often times you've been a Errol Goldman marks the second key Ply- private law practice. "I've planned for scapegoat, and it takes a special person it. I've always said, 'When I can go, I'm to handle a job like that." mouth-Canton change in less than a month. going to go.'" It's the second announced departure Deputy Superintendent Patrick O'Donnell left Goldman joined Plymouth-Canton in recent weeks. Assistant Superinten- Dec. 18 to head up the Fenton district. schools in July 1990, after three years dent for Instruction Patrick O'Donnell announced last week he is leaving to n't want that for himself. in private practice and 10 years with BY BRAD KADRICH Ann Arbor Schools. He has frequently become superintendent of schools for The Canton Township STAFF WRITER Goldman, for 10 years the Plymouth- the Fenton school district. [email protected] Canton School District's assistant been the diving rod for controversy, administrative offices will The departures leave Plymouth-Can- superintendent for personnel and leading the district in contract negotia- Errol Goldman has seen friends and ton with a couple of big sets of shoes to be closed Monday and employee relations, announced his tions. colleagues reach the point of retire- fill, according to Kathleen Booher, retirement this week, effective Jan. 17. "I think you've had a real hard job," Tuesday for Christmas ment, then be unable, for whatever board member Sue Davis said. "My break. They will reopen at reason, to take advantage of it. He did- "It just seemed like time," said Gold- Please see RETIREMENT, A6 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Summit on the Park is It's a rock 'n roll Christmas at Bentley open 8 a.m.-noon today Home and closed Monday: Nor- mal hours resume Tues- day. 'lottery' The Canton Public Library W is closed today and Mon- day. It will reopen at 9:30 planned a.m. Tuesday. Trash pick-up will be one • CHERRY HILL VILLAtiE day later than scheduled for all Canton residents BY HEATHER NEEDHAM STAFF WRITES this week and the week of [email protected] Jan. 1. The builders of a neotraditional style home development in Canton's Cherry Hill Village say they want all WEEKEND the people interested in buying the homes to have an equal shot at getting Happy New Year: Summit in. That's why they're using a lottery on the Park's Banquet system to assign prospective buyers a and Conference Center meeting time with village builders. will host a New Year's The times will be set at an invitation- only informal breakfast 7 a.m. to 9 Eve Party beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001 at the p.m. Sunday. The evening Plymouth Manor Ballroom. includes hors d'oeuvres, Meetings with builders will be scheduled until 8 p.m. Saturday, and dinner, deluxe bar, a mid- The play's the thing: Daniel from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. night snack and music by Valet parking, light refreshments and Conklin as "Elfis," performs entertainment for kids will be provid- Silver Sounds DJ. At during the annual Bentley ed. midnight there will be a Elementary Christmas So far 1,100 people have called champagne toast with the play, "Elfis and the Sleigh inquiring about buying a home in the party continuing until 2 Riders," a holiday musical village, which will encompass 1,300 by Teresa Jennings. Direct- homes on 338 acres, said Tina Bassetty a.m. Tickets at $95 each ed by Carole Brooks and spokeswoman for Biltmore Properties, are on sale 9 a.m.-4p.m. one of the village's three builders. John Hiemstra, the play The development will also include Monday through Friday. was followed by a sing- retail and commercial areas as well as Call (734) 397-6800 to along with parents and rel- lr*' % a town square with pedestrian fea- charge by phone. atives. In the photo at right, wr tures such as walkways and fountain. John Dunklee, 6, (left) and Cherry Hill Village is located at Cherry Hill and Ridge, and is the site brother Matthew, 4, sit on of a crossroads village founded in INDEX dad Philip's lap as they 1834. Apart ments/E4 Malis/C6 watch the holiday produc- Interested buyers have until Tues- day, Dec. 26, to request an invitation Arts/CI Movies/C4 tion. Sister Sarah was a to the breakfast. They can either call Auto motive/HI New Homes/El chorus member. For more photos, see page A4 of (248) 641-3900, Ext. 217 or visit Classified /E,G,H 0bituaries/A2 www.cherryhillvillage.com and submit Classified Real Estate/E2 today's Observer. lndex/E2 Service Guide/66 STAFF PHOTOS BY PAUL HURSCHMANN Please see Crossword Sports/Bl Puzzle/E4 Taste/Dl Jobs/61 Travel/C8 Leaking roof A moment to cherish due for repair •VAN BUREN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY HEATHER NEEDHAM STAFF WRITER [email protected] +V* r>v "\T+ :% mu - ,U,*- piecemeal roof have taken a toll on South Mid- Look for your dle School. As a result, the school is getting an emergency name in today's roof repair, which will cost an estimated $20,000 to $35,000. CEI Roofing in Howell will Classified perform the work beginning this weekend. The Van Buren school board unanimously section! approved the emergency repairs at its regular meeting Monday. The problems started when a recent freeze, thaw and refreeze caused the roof to deteriorate, allowing water to seep through hallways at the building, located at 45201 Owen in Belleville. STAFF JPHOTO BY TOM HAWTBY "There's water everywhere," said Ed Ran- First touch: Cindy White holds her newbot dolph, Van Buren's supervisor of building and grounds. Barrels were set up in the school's Read about the White's birth experience in on Page D4 in today's Observer. 6 53174 10009 2 Please see ROOF, A4 to ace a classified ad: 734-591-0900 Newsroom: 734-459«2700— Home Delivery: 734-591-0500 The Observer & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2000 (C)A2 Colleagues say founding officer Canton (Dbscrucr Sayer known for his generosity as Sayre, whom he said always BY HEATHER NEEDHAM had anything to eat for a good HOW TO REACH US STAFF WRITER while. tried to live life to its fullest. [email protected] Sayre was apparently sympa- Sayre's favorite hobby was thetic to the woman's plight. fishing, which he enjoyed along Canton Police Sgt. Ernest with his wife, Joan. He is also Susan Roslek. "Ernie" Sayre was someone who Byrum said he took some of his Publisher own money and said, "I want you survived by a daughter, Leigh; never let the grim aspects of his four brothers and one sister. (734) 953-2100 job take away his sense of to take a squad car and go get [email protected] decency and generosity, accord- this lady some dinner." Byrum said Sayre also had a ing to those who knew him. The only catch was he didn't knack for four-letter words - in want the woman to know who crossword puzzles, that is. Sayre, 47, of Pinckney, died "He was always doing cross- Sunday, Dec. 18, at St. Joseph had helped her, Byrum recalled. Another time Sayre helped out word puzzles," Byrum said, Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. adding that he liked to challenge He had been battling cancer for was when he donated $100 to a memorial fund set up to help the his co-workers to beat his speed about a year and been on sick in completing them. Few did. Hugh Gallagher, leave for several months. Dell'Orco family, victims of a Sgt. Ernest 'Ernie' Sayer fatal house fire several years . Canton Public Safety Director Managing Editor He was born July 8, 1953 in John Santomauro said Sayre Garden City and was a Canton with Sayre's selfless generosity ago. (734) 953-2149 "(Sayre) came up to me and he was one of the founding officers hgallagher@ Police sergeant and officer for that he showed toward people in of the township's police depart- oe.homecomm.net more than 20 years. trouble. While on a police run in Was the first one to donate," Byrum said. Again, this dona- ment. His funeral services Thursday, 1992, they .encountered an elder- "He was very, very well liked," Dec. 21, at L. J. Griffin Funeral ly woman who was shut into a tion was anonymous by Sayre's own request. Santomauro said. "He brought a Home in Westland drew about closet. They were investigating certain amount of personality to Tedd Schneider. 200 mourners, including police what they believed was a suspi- "I cannot think of an occupa- tion where people can be more of the organization. Any time you Editor officers, firefighters and town- cious situation. have something like this hap- ship officials. "After evaluating the situa- help and more of service than a (734) 459-27Or police officer," Byrum said. pen, the person is going to be tschneiden E. Wayne Byrum, chaplain tion, we realized she was just a very, very missed. He was a oe.homecomm.net with the Canton Police Depart- very lonely elderly lady," who "They have an opportunity every day to make a difference in a highly thought of member of this ment, was the officiating minis- had most likely shut herself into department." ter.