Check out local faces at local events Psychotherapist looking to start support group for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. March 16,2008 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com BY DARRELLCLEM vote Monday night on a $260,000 whether administration officials are The cumulative effect has made it finances. OBSERVER STAFF WRITER fuel-related budget amendment. That doing what they can tp rein in costs. difficult to predict gas costs — always Of the $260,000 budget amend­ marks a 68 percent increase over Mayor William Wild responded a guessing game of sorts for budget ment, $173,334 would chip away at As residents feel the painful pinch what officials had budgeted to keep that not only are fuel costs soaring, planners. the city's general fund surplus, which of rising gas prices, officials who steer more than 400 vehicles rolling for the but city vehicles have had a busier Still, Pickering asked the adminis­ has been hovering just over the $2 Westlandf s city budget are grumbling, spending year that ends June 30. year removing snow from streets, tration for a comparison of fuel con­ million mark. The remaining $86,666 too. In recent talks, Councilman Charles responding to police and fire emer­ sumption between last year and this could come from the water-sewer In a remarkable sign of troubling Pickering called the increased costs gencies, and making rounds to fix year, saying he viewed the 68-percent times, the Westland City Council will "unprecedented" and questioned ruptured water mains. increase as troubling for the city's Please see FUEL COSTS, A3 A League of ^¾¾¾¾¾¾-¾¾^1¾.^ r; ?^:;;gw?-.'; Garden City man charged with robbery of Women talk about life as professional baseball players hall patrons BY SUE MASON BY DARRELL CLEM OBSERVER STAFF WRITER OBSERVER STAFF WRITER heryl Napsha admits she's What: Hear about the All An 18-year-old Garden City man was excited. Ten years after discov­ American Girls Professional arraigned Friday in his hospital bed follow­ Cering there was such a thing Baseball League from two of its ing accusations he robbed one patron and tried to rob another outside a Y/estland bil­ as women's professional baseball, player Mary Moore and Helen she'll get the chance to hear first­ liards parlor. hand what it was like to play ball for "Fil" Steffes Michael Christopher Aldrich, who the All American Girls Professional When: 11 a,m. Saturday, March was beaten and had cuts on his legs, was Baseball League. 29. assaulted around the time he is accused of The director of the William P. Where: William P. Faust Library, a robbery outside The Ivory Room on Ford Faust Public Library in Westland, 6123 Central City Parkway, near Farmington Road. But police Sgt. Thad Napsha has organized a Women's north of Ford, Westland. Nelson said Friday it hadn't been deter­ History Month presentation about Information: For more infor­ mined whether Aldrich's assailants were the the AAGPBL by two women who same people he allegedly approached outside played in the league — Mary Moore mation or to save a seat, calf the billiards hall. the library at (734) 326-6123. The alleged incident started unfold­ Please see BASEBALL, A3 ing around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, when Aldrich is accused of brandishing a BB gun, MARY MOORE approaching a group of people leaving The Ivory Room and demanding their wallets, Nelson said. ** fc - i One patron told the gunman he didn't ** have a wallet, but a second victim gave his up after the gun was pointed at his stomach, Nelson said. The suspect then fled on foot as the vic­ According to Mary Moore's baseball card, the Lincoln Park native scored 76 runs had tims chased after him into Garden City, 88 hits and 48 RBIs during her career as a second-baseman in the All American Girls Nelson said. A struggle ensued after they Professional Baseball League. caught him, but he broke free and ran away until police captured him in the middle of Ford, the detective said. The suspect apparently was returning to the area near the billiards parlor to try to find two friends who had earlier accom­ panied him, although they aren't charged in the holdup and the attempted robbery, Nelson said. An investigation hadn't revealed whether Aldrich was beaten up by The Ivory Room patrons or by someone else, Nelson said. "He could have been beaten up before all this happened," the detective said. Aldrich was arraigned Friday, by Westland 18th District Judge Sandra Ference Cicirelli on charges of armed rob­ bery and assault with intent to rob while armed. A not-guilty plea was entered for him, and he was scheduled for a March 27 preliminary hearing that will determine whether he*should stand trial in Wayne County Circuit Court. If convicted, Aldrich could face penal­ ties ranging up to life in prison. Although he was in a hospital Friday, Cicirelli set a $10,000/10 percent bond. Nelson said it appeared the defendant's father was going According to her baseball card, the highlight of Detroit native Helen "Fil" to post $1,000 so that his son wouldn't be Fiiarski's career was playing third base for the league champion Rockford Mary Moore (left) and Helen Steffes (right) pose with producer Penny Marshall during jailed when he left the hospital. Peaches in 1945. filmmgof "A League of Their Own" at theBaseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NX dclemUJh ometownlife.com | (734) 953-2110 5 The Observer & Eccentric INDEX We beat For Home Newspapers NEW VEHICLE LOAN APARTMENTS D3 any offer Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C11 Volume 43 HEALTH B5 (866) 887-2737 Number 84 * Up to 60 Months** f HOMETOWNLIFE CI AT&T*?-' JOBS C8 Wireless%- * No Down Payment ^ Hdft NEW HOMES D1 *•— * No Payment for 90 days OBITUARIES C6 Only at the OPINION m *APS = Annual Percentage Rate. **72 morthlermavallable ortveWdes of REAL ESTATE 4*> $15,000 or more as low as 6,00« APR, Credit income and collateral D2 ,./-:/ requirements apply. This offer may end al any time. SPORTS B1 Ford A fln^iriman Rri Garden City GAWETF •pi m <«4 MA* Observer S Eccentric | Sunday, March 16,2008 A2 (W) LOCAL NEWS Www.hometowntife.cDm Church presents annual Easter drama BY SUE MASON Parker. "This is more of a musi­ are performing in the produc­ families and jobs. We'll get OBSERVER STAFF WRITER cal drama with the main part tion and another 20 are working serious about it the last week. being the Lord's Supper and the behind the scenes on costumes, We'll get everybody together to The passion of Christ and the passion scene with the crucifix." sound and lighting. The drama rehearse." Lord's Supper will come to life "According to Weathers, the will be presented one night only It also will be a family affair Friday when Merriman Road theme of the production is how at 7 p.m. Friday at the church on for Parker who will handle the Baptist Church presents its Jesus changes lives. Mixed Merriman, south of Ford. lighting for the production as annual Easter drama, The Cross with historical vignettes will be This is Weathers' second well as perform a duet with his ofLove. scenes in a park where a couple year directing the drama. A wife, Cindy. Son Evan is doing Directed by church member interact with a homeless man, talented singer known for his a reprise of last year's perfor­ Russ Weathers of Livonia, the delivering the message that Elvis impersonation, he's also mance as Jesus. musical drama will feature Jesus cares, he said. plays the role of the Centurion. The Easter drama will be held vignettes taken from previous "When you do a cantata, the The cast has been rehearsing in the church's sanctuary which productions as well as several music is written and the dia­ for about a month in "bits and has seating for 600 people. It's more modern stories, said pastor logue is written, but this was a pieces," but it will kick into high free of charge and open to the Wayne Parker. little harder," he said. "We had to gear this, week. public. "Because Easter is so early, write narrative to segue with the "The hardest part with this "We don't want to just do it for Jesus, played by Evan Parker of Garden City, talks to his disciples Peter, time was short, so we're not parts together." has been getting everybody ourselves," said Weathers. "We played by Ken Michalek of Westland; James, played by Roy Gray of West i a rid, doing a whole Passion play," said A cast of 25 church members together," he said. "We all have want other people to come." and Peter, played by Cliff Englehart of Westland. ys hearing Westland man faces trial on assault charges case BY DARRELL CLEM ous assault, felony firearms Reid and his 28-year-old struck by the bullet, Harhold OBSERVER STAFF WRITER and domestic violence, for an girlfriend had argued about said. She did, however, crash incident that authorities said their relationship before the her car into a neighbor's fence. BY DARRELL CLEM hospitalized with pregnancy A Westland man will face happened Feb. 21 on Genessee woman started driving away Reid is accused of fleeing OBSERVER STAFF WRITER complications involving a baby trial on charges he tried to Court in the Norwayne subdi­ from their residence, police the scene, but police said he boy he fathered, police Sgt.