THURSDAY February 19 2009 CANTON Win a yearlong movie pass to Emagine The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers Theater Volume 34 See hometownlife.com * Number 68 OBSERVER for details. 75 CENTS online at hometownlife.com ©A.M.P.A Connection District targets stimulus for green projects BY BRAD KADRICH stimulus package and renewable siums, particularly at Plymouth OBSERVER STAFF WRITER energy incentives expected from High School, which can reach Granholm to help them get some temperatures as high as 95 degrees Administrators in the shovels in the ground. during the summer, and covered, Plymouth-Canton school district "With 300 acres (at the park) solar-heated walkways to provide The Canton Public Library is are hoping the recent emphasis and a lot of rooftops, there are cover for students moving between seeking community input as it being placed on renewable energy a lot of options to employ these the park's three buildings. embarks on a process to create a by both President Barack Obama kinds of projects," said Ken strategic plan for the future. and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Jacobs, the district's deputy COST CONCERNS "With declining revenue and Granholm is a sign of good things superintendent. "The park pro• Athletic director Sue the current economic climate, it's to come for the district. vides an economy of scale for a lot Heinzman got the ball rolling very important to know what our With some $14 million in of these projects. We're in a posi• when she took a request to air BILL BRESLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER community wants and needs from "green" projects on their wish tion to employ a lot of different condition the Plymouth gym to our library," library Director Eva list at the high school park and things because of our size." Jacobs, but the $200,000 initial District officials said covered walkways between Davis says. "A plan to guide us for various middle schools, admin• At the top of the district's wish expense made it cost-prohibitive. buildings at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park were the next three years will help us istrators are hoping to take list for renewable energy projects considered as part of the 2004 bond issue, but were focus our efforts and resources to advantage of money in Obama's are a way to cool off the gymna• Please see GREEN, A6 considered a 'want' and not a need. best serve the community." The library has contracted with Susan Kennedy, owner of Canton- based K2Communication Plus, to facilitate. Kennedy will oversee research to gain an understanding of user needs, expectations and experience with the Canton Public Library in order to provide a framework for the strategic plan• ning process. Residents may give feedback in a number of ways. Eight focus group sessions were held in early February to gather the opinions of specific user groups. The Canton Public Library Web site, www. cantonpl.org, has a strategic plan page with updates and a blog comment format to encourage community response. Web users may also contribute through the library's Facebook and Twitter accounts. Strategic plan comment boxes are located throughout the library to collect feedback cards and discussions with staff are encouraged. "We really value the input of community stakeholders and look forward to hearing their com• ments," Davis said. Canton Mocha Moms, Inc., a support group for stay at home mothers of color, is recruiting new members. The group will hold an informational session 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canton Public Library community room, BILL BRESLER I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 1200 S. Canton Center Road. The Canton chapter has estab• lished itself in the community The power of song by hosting events such as Mom's The Reverend Robert Jones plays American roots music for a group of local fifth and sixth graders during 'African American History Through Artist's Eyes' at the Village Theater Night Out, Couples Game Night in Canton. It was more than just a performance, however. Jones, along with local folk artist Matt Watroba, explained and demonstrated to the children how folk music is the root and various fun play dates for of the blues, gospel, rock 'n roll and even today's rap, and that diversity - in people as well as music - should be celebrated. For the story and more photos, please see page A2. youngsters. Part of the national organization of Mocha Moms, the group's mission is to support and encourage women of color who choose to make parenting a priority. Local charities seeing a boon from gaming events Mocha Moms, Inc. welcomes people of all genders, reli• BY TONY BRUSCATO licensed Texas Hold 'em poker tourna• gions, races, educational back• OBSERVER STAFF WRITER ments, charitable groups are now able WHAT DO YOU THINK? grounds, and income levels. to raise as much money in several days Do you think local charities should be able tpput on (state licensed) poker Anyone who supports the mis• The economic downturn has not bode than they can organizing multiple fund• tournaments to raise funds for their causes, or should they be limited like sion of Mocha Moms, is wel• well for charities and nonprofit organi• raisers throughout the year. one state legislator is proposing? E-maii your opinion to Editor Kurt Kuban come to join. All are welcome. zations as they struggle to raise enough "In 2008, we raised less than $20,000 at [email protected], or post a comment on,our Web site at www. For more information, visit money to help those in need. However, www.MochaMoms.org. hometownlife.com. with the increased popularity of state- Please see GAMING, A6 Index Second Canton Wal-Mart to sport new look APARTMENTS ... C3 AUTOMOTIVE ...C6 Consolidation CAREER BUILDER ... C5 BY TONY BRUSCATO eral merchandise," Baker added. would be aesthetically pleas• CROSSWORD PUZZLE .. ... C3 OBSERVER STAFF WRITER "We still have entrances... at the ing to the pedestrian and the FILTER B8-9 grocery, general merchandise customer. This will be the stan• Re-finance FOOD S WINE ..BIO Wal-Mart officials Tuesday and garden center." dard." OBITUARIES ... B6 told the Canton Township The Planning Commission Wal-Mart's first store, at Ford High Rate Debt PUBLIC SAFETY ...A3 Planning Commission demo• voted unanimously to send its and Lotz roads, is also getting a & Save! REAL ESTATE ... C2 lition of an old cement fac• recommendation to the Board makeover to update the outside SPORTS ...Bl tory on the southwest corner of of Trustees, which could vote design. STRICTLY BUSINESS .. ... B5 Michigan Avenue and Belleville in favor of the new store at its Last year, Wal-Mart opened Consolidate your Road will occur soon to make March 10 session. 166 new stores, but company higf^ fate credit card debt For Home way for a second Wal-Mart store Aysha Moore, an architect officials say this year that num• 5 into one low Delivery call: in Canton. with James F. Sims in Dallas, ber will be between 125 and 140. monthly payment. "We're just finishing up our Texas, said Canton will be one Baker said the Canton project (866) 887-2737 permits with Wayne County ... of the first communities in the was moved forward for one and hope to get that work start• nation to sport the new Wal- main reason. COMMUNITY ed this spring," said Rebecca Mart look. "Wal-Mart is mov• "They think Canton is a good Baker, an engineer with Wade ing forward to having a more place to build a store. It's still a Trim, which represented Wal- recognizable brand, so that you vibrant community," she said. Mart. "Tentatively the store con• can go to a Wal-Mart anywhere Meijer, which has a store at GANNETT struction should begin this fall, in the country and identify it, Ford and Canton Center roads, with the store opening sometime just like you would a Best Buy or has also announced plans to ^UTH CANT 3N NORTHVILLK Novi build a second store at Michigan late summer of next year. Circuit City," Moore said. "They & are subfW to credit appto¥<sl , SSIKS m basesS OR km an- "We are still talking about wanted to come up with a build• Avenue and Morton Taylor. IT wfcjdual efedit hisKny. - HCVk Your sawiglfefeK'msurtd^ to »250^00 and ba«4«i^rh e )u8 felth *«* credit ofJheUi 173,000-square-foot supercent- ing design that would work with •wsnt f8t Equal Housing L r*cte?. C2009 Community nasi 6 53174 10007 S er, which is groceries and gen• cities all over the country, but [email protected] I (313) 222-2637 OE08B43B86 A2 (O Observer & Eccentric | Thursday, February 19,2009 LOCAL NEWS online at hometownlifexom Finding similarity in diversity Village Theater program gives students unique view of black history BY TONY BRUSCATO OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Hundreds of fifth- and sixth-graders converged on the Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton Tuesday to learn that the music of days gone by is the root of even today's biggest hits. 'African American History Through Artist Eyes' also showed students how music played a big part during the days of slavery and the civil rights movement. "All the music we listen to today — on television, radio or iPod — all that stuff came out of folk music," said musi• cian Robert Jones, in between playing his harmonica on stage in front of students from Plymouth Christian Academy in Canton, and Plymouth-Canton Schools Fiegel and Miller elementa- The fifth grade students join in singing "We Shall Overcame." ries. "When you look at this who came to this country show folk music is the root Theater Director Jennifer music closely, you discover and brought their music with of the blues, gospel, rock 'n Tobin, all Plymouth-Canton there are a lot more simi• them from all over the world.