PIPELINE City, businesses brainstorm on parking rules Field fundraiser Field Elementary School BY MATT JACHMAN “I don’t know how I stand on this hosts a fundraiser for one F OBSERVER STAFF WRITER issue,” Mayor Dan Dwyer told the crowd of the school's fifth-grade Monday. “I’m looking for as much feed­ V teachers, Nicole (DeMink) .v i 5 / ■ Plymouth officials are seeking to man­ back and information as I can get... so I V ' fjL Runyan, recently diagnosed age growth and have a balanced business can make a good decision.” . with cancer. mix downtown, and nothing illustrates Using a marker and sheets of paper c 4 The "Get in the Ring with that better than the debate over parking. taped to the wall, Commissioner Mike ‘ & Runyan" pasta fundraiser That debate continued Monday dur­ Wright wrote down the pros and cons, takes place 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, ing an informal meeting at City Hall, suggested by the audience, of accepting April 5, and will feature many with business owners and Downtown all payment-in lieu-of-parking petitions, other fun activities at the Development Authority members joining rejecting all, or accepting some and y r p school. Runyan is the mother Plymouth City Commission members in rejecting others, which Dwyer called the of four young children and discussing how to use an ordinance that trickiest option. is currently unable to work allows the city to waive parking require­ while undergoing treatments. ments for new developments in exchange JUDGMENT CALLS Donations can be sent for cash. “Any time you use judgment you have to Field Elementary (Attn: Dubbed the payment-in-lieu-of-park- the potential for the perception of unfair­ ing option, the four-year-old law has ness,” the mayor said. Runyan Fundraiser). Field B ill BRESLER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Elementary School is located never been used, but two projects sched­ The commission next month will take It's mid-day, and the parking structure is nearly full. City commissioners and business at 1000 S. Haggerty in uled to come before the commission will provide test cases. Please see PARKING, A6 owners are wrestling with parking issues as more development comes to town. Canton. Biz buzz Frank Yaquinto at Compari's/Fiamma Grill plans to open a third restaurant in Parents take district's the space vacated by UBS on Main Street. According to officials at the Plymouth Downtown y Development Authority, din­ sad story to Lansing ers can look for The Sardine Room to open by the end of BYBRADKADRICH High School and anotherer - the year. The Sardine Room OBSERVER STAFF WRITER at Pioneer Middle School.- O l is expected to have small “We’re their constituents, plates and a raw bar, includ­ All kinds of voices — the We’re a different voice, T m / ( o n - * ing shrimp, oysters and crab governor, legislators, state sort of my kids’ union rep­ claws on ice with an open and local school officials — resentative. I’m their voice, kitchen. Capacity will be have been railing in the wind and I want them to be heard. over the state of public school Somebody needs to advocate about 70 patrons. funding in Michigan. for them.” Meanwhile, Yogurt Palooza Two Plymouth women are will soon be opening at the leading the charge to make FIX ISN'T LOCAL Mayflower Centre. Owners sure there’s one other voice Paton said the commit­ Craig Turk and Christopher that gets heard in the argu­ tee originally formed over Tomei hope to be open by ment. i concerns about rising class May 1. The kids. sizes within the district. It Turk said Yogurt Palooza Denise Zander and Sheila wasn’t long, she said, before will feature 14 rotating yogurt Paton are Plymouth mothers they realized the committee flavors and a 14-item toppings with skin in the game — they should be broader in scope. bar, ranging from healthy each have two children She and Zander believe — fruits to candy. The cost is attending Plymouth-Canton and school district officials per ounce, with the average Community Schools. The have said for years — the yogurt and toppings costing moms got heavily involved funding problem isn’t going about $4. with a committee to main­ to be fixed locally. tain low class sizes in PCCS They’ve turned their atten­ Calley speaks schools, but that committee tion to legislative issues. For Lt. Gov. Brian Calley will be has morphed into something instance, there’s a House bill circulating now that would the guest speaker Monday, with a bigger scope as the fight has raged over what’s cut kindergarten funding in April 11, at Canton's Economic happening to school funding. half for districts that offer Club Luncheon. The luncheon Now, the Legislative half-day kindergarten. Since will be held at the Summit on Action Network is busy let­ Plymouth-Canton is among the Park ting Lansing know what par­ those (it would cost the dis­ and begins ents think about what’s going trict some $4 million), that at 11:30 on, using a voice that doesn’t bill caught the committee’s a.m. belong to a school official. attention right away. Brian “I think hearing from Paton was in Lansing last Calley is educated, informed and con­ week testifying before a the second Diva Day cerned parents who bring the House committee. youngest Ladies are invited to attend Plymouth's third annual Diva Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 2. The first personal perspective — here’s “I get it,” Paton said about Calley lieutenant 500 divas will get a free feather boa. More than 30 shops, boutiques, salons and restaurants will present special what it’s doing to my kids the bill. “The proposal makes governor offers, unique refreshments and chances to win Diva Day prizes. For more on the event, please turn to page B7. — not coming from the per­ some sense, but you can’t do in Michigan's history. Before son holding the purse strings it this year. I gave them the being elected to this position, ... makes it a lot harder to Plymouth-Canton story.” Calley served two terms in just turn it off,” said Zander, the Michigan Legislature as a who has a child at Canton Please see PARENTS, A3 state representative. In that Police: Be wary of tax scams, cautious with info role, Calley served as minor­ ity vice chair of the House Tax Policy Committee, where he BY MATT JACHMAN promises of a bigger refund ware protection, taxpayers OBSERVER STAFF WRITER shouldn’t leave paper returns worked with lawmakers from in order to obtain sensitive Spring into a New information, creating fly-by- in the open, Angelosanto said, both sides of the aisle. Tax time is also prime time night tax preparing compa­ either at home or at the tax The Economic Club hosts for con artists and identity nies, and stealing identities preparer’s office. “The devil’s Car Today! semi-annual luncheons with thieves, and taxpayers should either electronically or by in the disorganization,” he special guest speakers. The proceed with caution and a simply looking at unguarded said. luncheons were developed healthy skepticism in order to tax returns or going through We've Lowered with the purpose of introduc­ protect themselves, police say. the mail. SHRED IT ing Canton's business and Scammers try to take Tax forms should be Unneeded documents Our Auto Loan professional sector to leaders advantage of taxpayers in kept particularly secure, should be shredded, complet­ in the areas of manufacturing, several ways, said Officer Angelosanto said. ed electronic returns should Rates government, entertainment, Anthony Angelosanto, “It’s got so much personal be renamed in a manner that health care and economics. the Plymouth Police information on there,” he said. doesn’t give them away and The luncheon is open to Department’s crime preven­ “Everybody in your family’s saved on a thumb drive, and anyone who wishes to attend. tion specialist. Those include going to lose their identity.” those who hire someone to The cost is $20. Reservations setting up phony charities and In addition to taking pre­ do their taxes should make are required and can be made luring donors by touting tax cautions with computerized sure that person keeps their by calling (734) 394-5185. deductions that don’t really returns, such as computer exist, baiting people with firewalls and virus and spy- Please see SCAMS, A6 C ommunity Financial Home Delivery: right here right for you (866) 887-2737 INDEX www.cfcu.org • (877) 937-2328 Return Address: Apartments ....... .......B10 Crossword Puzzle ... ..BIO Real Estate ........... ..BIO 41304 Concept Dr. .......B12 ..BIO ports ... B1 Plymouth MI Automotive ....... Home & Service....... S .. .............. 6 53174 10007 8 48170 Career Builder ... ........ B11 Obituaries............... ... B5 -Strictly Business ... .. A5 Federally insuredtby NCUA tsT Equal Housing Lender. ©2011 Community Financial 1 * 1 m ini MMM HUSH ■■■MMMMMMMMI I r A2 (P) Observer S Eccentric | Thursday, March 31,2011 LOCAL NEWS online at hometownlife.com Calling all bug hunters for Rouge spring bug hunt Volunteers are needed for Friends of the Rouge’s annual Spring Bug Hunt on Saturday April 30. Interested volunteers must pre-register by April 15. Children are welcome when accompanied by a participat­ ing adult. The event begins at 9 a.m. The Pure Art of Michigan exhibit at the Plymouth Community Arts Council features art like 'Da Yooper Mobile/ at the University of Michigan- Dearborn’s Environmental Interpretive Center. Volunteers are assigned to Open exhibit features Michigan art teams of 4-8 people that each travel to two sites where they These bug hunters worked on the Tonquish Creek last year.