Glenn bounces back with win, CI Honitflfjvvn ^ Putting you In touch Thursday wtth your world January 14,1999 Serving the Westla^ © IVOIUME 34 NUMBER G4 WLSKAND .'(Vlif HK.AN • 62 PV.ES • http://ObservereccL-ntric.com SEVLNTt-FiVE- CfcV^ C IMS Bom«Town ConuBuaicsUon* Network, U*- .V3- Storms keep city snowed under Tt» Oh—tvm woutd Vk* to tWura you in th» Nb. 14 *»cttf w*Wng and Officials hoped for a warming trend as West* City road crews have received most­ could escape winter.by delving into a •mfywrury wctton. ly favorable comments about their good book -r has had problems. W«;r* pMttring to ran testimonial* on land was hit with several more doses of nappy 'nwriagM from coupla* tnet nava snow this week on top of what was already snowplowing efforts - aside from a The library reopened Friday after baen marrtad 25 yaars or mom. few isolated complaints. ' closing for two days due to a faulty Submtastona, tockxKng a waddtng photo, on the ground. A snow emergency was Dittmar held out hope for a warm­ radiator control valve that spewed and a racam photo, must be mailed by declared to give plows room to get through. ing trend and'an end to wintry hot water and steam in the front Wednaaday, Jan. 30, to Special Project? ed Jan. 2. weather that has plagued.the city lobby, Library Director Sandra Wil­ Editor Ralph R. tcntlnaw, Otnervet BY DARRELL CLEM STAFF WRITER Westland Public Services Director this month. son said. Newspapers, 36251 Schoolcraft, Livonia dclemOoe.homecomm.net Richard Dittmar warned all residents "Our guys are tired. Our equipment "We had to close for two days," she 48150. Pleats include a serf-addressed, is tired," he said Tuesday as more said. stamped envelope for the return'of your A new Westland snow emergency to heed a snow emergency that he snow fell. Water and chemicals spewed and photographs. loomed Wednesday as city work crews said would start Wednesday morning Even the Westland public library - ruined two benches and left a black We're aiaa planning a story on brides­ battled new accumulations this week, and possibly last 48 hours or longer. a place where it seems residents maids and groomsmen and would HKe to in the aftermath of storms that start- "Keep cars off the street," he said. Please see SNOW, A2 hear from people who have been one or the other at least Ave times. Please contact Special Projects Editor Ralph ft. Echttaew by Friday, Jan. 22. Call him at (734) 953-2054, or send e-mail to rechtinawffoe^omacomm.net. IN THE PAPER TODAY COUNTY NEWS • • - - A Tech center: Schoolcraft wasn't one of the eight finalists when $30 mil­ lion in state technology grants was passed out Tuesday. But Schoolcraft may have a second chance at state Jobs Commission money for advanced infor­ mation technology train­ ing. /A 7 COMMUNITY LIFE Over there: Kim Wis- niewski needed help car­ ing for her four children. So did Nancy Malone, the mother of three chil­ dren. They found just what they needed through au pair programs./Bl AT HOME STAFT PHOTO BY TOM HAKLEY Quiet refuge: Vanessa Pettway of Westland, who is thinking of going back to school, researches different occupations at the Antique opportunities: William P Faust Public Library in Westland Monday. The library provides a warm, quiet refuge during the bad weather, but the Birmingham's St. James library has faced its share of weather woes. sponsors an annual antique show to raise money for charities./D6-7 Snowplows hit 3 cars; city to pay for repairs BY DARRELL CLEM repairs. same time -just a few houses away. members looked out of windows after STAFF WRITER The owner of a third damaged vehi­ hearing loud noises and saw a city. [email protected] That came as welcome news to REAL ESTATE Patrick Derrig, who said his 1987 cle didn't contact the Observer. truck leaving the scene around 10 The city will pay for repairs to three Cavalier Z-24 suffered an estimated Dittmar said no city drivers notified p.m. Jan. 6. Lookin' good: Builders vehicles hit by snowplows during $l,20fcfo $1,800 in damages on the him of the accidents, but he said the Dittmar said the damaged vehicles street-clearing efforts prodded by night oTJan. 6. snow trucks are so heavy that shouldn't have been parked on the expect another banner snowstorm 1999. A snowplow that hit his car on employees might not have even street because a snow emergency had year. /Fl "We hit three vehicles," Westland Parkwood kept going, and it appar­ noticed they had sideswiped the two been declared, but he conceded that Public Services Director Richard ently was the same truck that hit vehicles on Parkwood. Wade Crall's company van about the Derrig and Crall said other family INDEX Dittmar said. "We will pay for the Please see HIT, A2 • Obituaries A2 • Classified Index F3 Disabled man plagued by leaky apartment roof Real Estate F3 Crossword F5 BY DARRELL CLEM mated 300 gallons of water into buck­ for me," Thomas said, adding that his returned from a morning break. He Jobs F9 STAFF WRITER ets that he struggles to empty. wife is aging and can't effectively lift said to ask for Bob or Martha but did­ dclem9oe.homecomm.net Home & Service G7 "It's almost a steady stream of buckets of water, either. n't provide last names. water," Thomas, 59, said Tuesday. Help may be coming soon, the When readied later, a man who G10 With two legs amputated and one Automotive arm rendered useless from a stroke, He claimed that Westwood Village's Observer finally learned Tuesday, but said he w;1s Rob - again, no last name • Opinion AlO-11 Tommie Thomas said he faces a gru­ management has failed to address a getting an answer wasn't easy. - refused to cooperate. • Calendar B4 eling snowstorm problem. bedroom water leak that has plagued One man who answered an office "I've pot no comment, sir. Goodbye," A leaking roof at his Westwood Vil­ him and his 69-year-old wife since phone simply laughed at the inquiry lie said • SporU CI lage apartment has dumped an esti­ last Thursday. about Thomas' problem and suggest­ i Real Estate Fl "They haven't been doing nothing ed calling back after other workers Please see ROOF, A2 HOW TO REACH US WinterFest melts down to kids' activities program Newsroom: 734-953-2104 Newsroom Fax: 734-591-7279 BY DARRELL CLEM 199f) isn't dead yet, but this year's Winter­ • Large, inflatable slides and other playthings will E-mail: ty«ctwtimto«.hom««omm.rMt STAFF WRITER Fest will be reduced to a mere five hours fill the Bailey Center gymnasium. dclemGoe.homecomm.net Nlghtllne/Sports: 734-953-2104 from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at the • Max the Moose puppets will lead children in a ^¾^¾ Bailey Recreation Center. sing-along Reader Comment Line: 734-953-2042 In its fifth year, Westland's WinterFest will be scaled back dramatically fro,m past What's more, organizers are gearing the • A yoyo exhibition will show children an old Classified Advertising: 734-591-0900 Wintered events that included sleigh rides, dances, U! >-V' entire festival toward children's activities. hobby that is seeing renewed popularity Display Advertising: 734-691-2300 ice sculpture displays, pancake breakfasts, li\ 1 "We tried to do a lot of different things • Skits will be performed by Westland All Stars. Home Delivery: 734-591-0500 musical performances and running competi­ last year and it just didn't work." Westland • Magician Randy Shaw will perform. tions. Parks and Recreation Director Robert Kosows- • Children will get to see a show featuring live Organizers estimated last year's attendance at a ki said. "We're seeing that the kids are what wo birds, snakes and other living things. disappointing 800 to 1,000 people, and they said really have to aim at, and we're really looking to put • Youngsters will attend an arts and crafts show- events such as musical performances drew embar­ on a show for them." to create their own keepsakes. rassingly small crowds. Organizers say the success or failure of 1999's Win­ • Food such as pizza and popcorn will be sold "I don't seo a big outcry out there for the Winter­ terFest may determine whether the city will even By appealing to a younger crowd, organizers hope Fest," co-chairwoman Sharon Scott said Monday. bother with an event in 2000. 6 W174 10011 6 The festival that started as a three-day event in Among this year's attractions: Plenso seo WINTERFEST, A2 wm The Observer & Eccentric/ THURSDAY, JANUARY 14,1999 ,PW **S£ •vW from page Al Ilsil <!HMrt» »<>N »o«ftonth# Hit\ from page Al WfflU ' :¾¾¾- ".& ».-'*#' *wfc njt&fV **1 WtUIAM r* #A»»l Click. The phone slammed 'said., '•' J&evkt&Hfr.* down.Thomas had said it would­ confusing information had .,-. :¾. .,#s,V. ^^wiaewV.-fSP -Ab^^^^ /S *mm • *Th« taction!* are • DPSWroctof Rtehard 1 n't be easy getting answers from appeared on local cable TV. ^••ft**^- V.! v^^lfJf.'^S.^B* " f^^fW* . Apjfi. management at the apartment stuck twtw«tn a rock Dtttmar urged retkfentt IKWpif, Jin, Derrig and Crall said they just •f W««tl*M*4 complex on Joy Road between and a hard spot/ want their vehicle repairs paid not to park on dty wSSOXE* to Newburgh andHix.'.. .-..• by the city, although early on it stroote until thoy are StOOPTthe Finally, however, so»e Ivelp ^ Richard Wade appeared they might face some cime from Richard Wade, prop­ sure the snow •mor- : •*»•«#«««% awite.