wfmm^v^^*rT*^^^j^^*j*Bim mmmmm'mmmmmmmmmmmmmm&m&m infant simulator teaches about parenthood, B4 HomeTown I OMM1 JM< ATHINH MHWIIH' Putting you In touch Sunday with your world M$y 16,1999 Serving the Westland Community for 34 years 4> VOLUME 34 NUMBER 99 WESTLAND, MICHIGAN • 76 PAGES • http://observer-cccontric.coni SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS ' ©view ItW Ho—Town CamuiilMrtoM: N«l werfc , Inc. notorec vote There's gotta be a better way! Mayor Robert Thomas is opposed to a vote on East, west, north and south - wher­ ever you look in Westland, road con­ construction of a new recreation center and struction is under way. It's tough to City Hall in Westland. Councilman Glenn get to work, to school and in some Anderson had recently suggested taking the cases the grocery store and shopping issue to the voters, malls. BY DARRELL CLEM ballot for city voters to decide. The Those of you behind the wheel on I- STAFF WRITER . 275 between Five Mile and 1-696 or [email protected] mayor was out of town when Anderson on Newburgh dodging orange barrels unveiled his plan earlier this month. know that's true. , Mayor Robert Thomas said he is City officials are considering building against asking Westland voters to a new recreation center and City Hall Complaining does no good. We want decide the fate of a new recreation cen­ with revenues already being collected to know what you're doing about it. ter and City Hall. in a special taxing district north of Have you found alternate routes? Ford Road. We're interested in hearing from Thomas, noting that new buildings "We don't'go out and ask people for a you. Please fax your responses to wouldn't require a tax increase, said vote to spend money that we're already (734) 591-7279, e-mail them to Com­ elected officials should have the authorised to spend," Thomas said. munity Editor Beth Sundrla Jachman courage to decide the issue. at [email protected] or "I don't agree with doing this whole He compared Anderson's proposal to mail them to the Observer at 36251 ballot proposal," he said Wednesday asking voters to approve money for Schoolcraft, Livonia 48150. during an interview. snow plows, computers and other ser­ His statement came after he was vices that Thomas said elected officials Your tips will be shared with fellow asked for his opinion on a proposal by are paid to provide. commuters. Westland City Councilman Glenn "That's our job, and we're supposed Anderson. to make those decisions," the mayor Anderson called for placing the issue said. "If you don't have enough guts to of new buildings on the Nov. 2 election THE WEEK ~"~ Please see VOTE, A4 AHEAD Mayor's book how-to Safety first: Westland on political success Center will present a 8TAIT PHOTO BY TOM HAWUY "Safety Day" 11a.m. to 6 Bibliophile: Darnique Adams is the top reader in the acceler­ BY DARRELL CLEM cially people p.m. Sunday with dis­ ating reading program at Lincoln Elementary School. STAFF WRITER who've never done [email protected] plays and activities for it before," former children and adults. Offi­ For nearly 20 years, he read water Westland Mayor meters, plowed city streets, installed Thomas Taylor, cers from the Westland underground sewers, drove a local bus, who read the book, Police Department, fixed water system leaks, trimmed said. "It's very Detroit Police Department She hits the books overgrown trees and captured stray frank and candid." dogs. Thomas is just and firefighters from the "I was one of the few^dog -w**d«rt starting to market Westland Fire Depart: that never got bit," Robert Thomas his 113-page book. ment will participate. said. "I guess I was meaner than the RobertThomat The idea came dogs." after he noticed a But he was bitten by a political bug lack of campaign manuals during his BY DARRELL CLEM teacher aide Kathleen Ritter, who that prompted him in 1989 to launch a first bid for office. His has sold 3.0 STAFF WRITER keeps track of the books that stu­ copies to buyers as far away as Madi­ dclem9oe.homecomm.net workingman's campaign to defeat then- MONDAY dents read. "She really stands out Mayor Charles Trav" Griffin. son, Wis., and Washington, D.C., who arnique Adams has read 110 for our school." Thomas won by a mere 200 votes, found his Web site City Hall: The Westland books since November, earning Darnique often reads before she- toppling- an -established political (www.winelect.com). City Council will meet 7 Da No. 1 ranking in Lincoln Ele­ goes to school, every chance she gets machine and stunning his skeptics. "We don't anticipate selling a lot of mentary School's accelerated read­ while she's there, after she gets Now, halfway through his third, four- books this year," Thomas, 48, said p.m. Monday at City ing program. home and before she falls asleep at year term, Westlarid's longest-serving Wednesday during an interview, Hall, on Ford at Carlson An 11-year-old fifth-grader, night. mayor is revealing how he rose to claim although he and his publishing partner Darnique proves she understands "I don't watch a lot of TV," she the city's top job. - wife Jill - plan eventually to launch a in Westland. what she reads by passing multiple- said.. TV is pretty bbi^ng. Books are His new, self-published book, "How national marketing campaign. choice computer tests for every book good for you. You can never read too To Run For Local Office," is aimed at she finishes. much in life." teaching other political candidates how High road "She has definitely acquired the to win an election. It sells for $19.95. Thomas refrained from writing a WEDNESDAY love of reading," said Lincoln Please see LEARN, A4 "I think it's tremendously helpful to name-dropping, trashy, tell-all book. anybody running for office, but espe- Please see SUCCESS, A3 Looking good: Liberty Park senior community will honor its residents age 90 and older 4p.m. Young gardeners find green thumbs at library Wednesday at 35700 By JULIE BROWN earning Junior Master Gardener certifica- Wildlife STAFF WnrrgH —-^~r .-. ••• -•-• ;—^• !—••• - •».• • t —•--•*• -»»t. ."ffT""* ;••—y—•• * -*—_ • •• "• Hunter Ave., Westland. jbrowtt&oe.homecomm.net tion. refuge: The theme is "Salute the She hopes the gardening students acquire Melissa Gardening's good for mind, body and soul, "a basic knowledge of all aspects. And hope­ Stars." and that's just as true for the younger set. fully develop a lifelong love of gardening." Talerico, 11, Young gardeners have been showing their Gonsior has been working on her own gar- of Westland green thumbs in a Junior Master Gar­ . den, weeding and watering. "I always get paints her dener class, sponsored by the Friends ^V XK ¢^ a lot of energy from the class, too." pot toad INDEX of the Library at the William P. " ^ The students are interested, she home at the Faust Public Library of Westland. o*- <* said, "talking a mile a minute and ^ gardening The class is taught through the \rr> asking interesting questions." • Obituaries A2 => cla$s at the • Classified Index £6 Michigan State University Cooper­ During a recent session at the ative Extension Service, in this case library, students worked at four sta­ Westland Real Estate El Wayne County's. "I like it because it tions. They learned about beneficial library. Crossword £8 teaches you a lot about plants and how critters in the garden, such as toads Jobs ' 01 to take care of plants," said Margaret ' and groundhogs. Gardening helps young Mueller, 10, a Westland resident who is people get exercise, be outdoors, and acquire Home & Service H6 being home-schooled. a love for living things and connection to the Automotive H7 She intends to help her mother in their earth, Gonsior said. • ; • Taste Bl garden. She had help in the class from lone Sher­ • Health & Fitness B4 The six-week class, which ends May 17, man and Mary Singer, master gardeners, has 19 students ages 7-11, said Marian Gon­ and Sharon Mazguth and Betty Carter, who • Arts A Leisure CI sior of Westland, site coordinator and master are working on certification. Mazguth is a • Sports & Recreation Dl gardener. The class hopes to develop a gar­ den outside the library, with the students Please see GARDENERS, A3 8TA1T PHOTO BY TOM HAWUY HOW TO REACH US Newsroom: 734-963-2104 Business rebounds from fall fireForu m scheduled Newsroom Fax: 734-591-7279 American Power Wash, 1251 S. Wayne Road in learned by having the fire. It's not something yon BY KEELY WYGONIK E-mail: bJachmanOo«,homecomm.nft Westland, will celebrate its grand reopening follow­ can even imagine without it happening to you." STAFF WRITER Nighttine/Sports: 734-953-2104 ing a fire last Oct. 16. There will be a "Free Monster The fire was traced to a propane leak, Green said; [email protected] Reader Comment Line: 734-953-2042 Giveaway" with participants registering to win a the business had insurance. Suburban arts educators will discuss the cur­ Classified Advertising: 734-5910900 year's supply of pizza courtesy of Toarmina's Pizza, a "That's very, very important, to have insurance," rent state and future of arts education in tho lat­ set of concert tickets (six available to win) from Men he said. "Insurance is a must." est in a series of discussions on the arts in our Display Advertising: 734-591-2300 on The Move, or a gas barbecue grill from American Festivities will begin 6 p.m.