WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com BY DARREU CLEM next year. although Westland Shopping Center store locations in Livonia, Novi, Troy STAFF WRITER "We can confirm that we expect has weathered the economic storm. and Bloomfield Hills, Farretta said. to close our T.J. Maxx locations in T.J. Maxx will be added to a list of Other options, depending on years Westland department store T.J. Westland and Warren sometime mall-area vacancies including Service of service, may include severance Maxx will close in mid-January, end­ in mid-January; approximately 65 Merchandise, Sam's Club, Quo Vadis packages and "outplacement services" ing a 28-year run as the city faces (workers) are affected, mostly part theater, Denny's restaurant and the designed to help laid-off employees HAWLEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER another business loss amid a lingering time," she said in a company state­ old Best Buy. Mayor William Wild has find other jobs, she said. Framington, Mass.-based parent company economic slump. ment. pledged that his administration will "We look forward to continuing to TJX Inc. has confirmed its T.J. Maxx store in Annmarie Farretta, spokeswoman Westland's store is located in the step up efforts to try to lure new ten­ service the metro Detroit market and Westland will close by early next year, for Framington, Mass.-based par­ West Ridge Shopping Center on ants. at this time are not expecting to close ent company TJX Inc., confirmed Warren east of Wayne. T.J. Maxx will work "diligently" to other T.J. Maxx locations in the area," ing T.J. Maxx customers to shop at Thursday that stores in Westland and The latest closing deals another . try to transfer as many Westland and Farretta said. its other Detroit-area stores, Farretta Warren will likely be shuttered early blow to the city's core retail district, Warren workers as possible to other TJX Companies Inc. is encourag- said. Career Tech named center of excellence in engineering, science BY SUE MASON Academy of Arts and Sciences in STAFF WRITER Armada, Regina High School in South Euclid, Ohio, Traverse City Central High Wayne-Westland's William D. Ford School and University High School in Career Technical Center is flying high Ferndale. after learning that it's one of seven "The seven educational communities "educational communities" to be hon­ we are recognizing have each demon­ ored by the Convergence Education strated their dedication to bringing Foundation as a 2007 Center of Science unique, project-based learning oppor­ urn.:} Engineering Excellence. tunities to the hundreds of youth they llsn't that just the coolest thing," said serve," said Karl Klimek, the founda­ Center Principal Ginny Kowalski. "I tion's vice chairman and project orches- always knew we were good. I always trator. knew we did cool and great things here." The foundation board of direc­ The award "celebrates the success of tors came up with the award after projects, focused on engineering, sci­ tests results from the Program for ence or math, implemented within local International Student Assessment educational communities" and was pre­ showed that U.S. students are lagging sented to the William D. Ford Career behind their peers in other countries in Technical Center, Garfield Elementary science and math. School in Flint, Huron County Intermediate School District, Macomb Please see CENTER, A3 PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY} STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Vivian Cadreau looks at items provided by the Dollar Tree store in the Westland Crossings shopping center as cashier Vicki Cummins (left) and Amanda Coffey take care of another customer. Meals on Wheels seeks volunteers BY DARREU CLEM from the senior Friendship Center on STAFF WRITER Newburgh near Ford, the Kay Beard Building on Michigan Avenue near BY SUE MASON A Wayne County program that deliv­ Merriman and St. Bernardine of STAFF WRITER rt\t ers hot meals to homebound seniors Siena Church on Ann Arbor Trail near urgently needs volunteers, particularly in Merriman. The Dollar Tree at Westland Westland and Redford. In particular, the county needs Crossings has a new motto when it "In Westland, we actually have six volunteers to deliver meals from St. comes to residents at the Westland people waiting for service because we Bernardine, Scott said. Convalescent and Rehab Center: don't have anybody to deliver to them," Redford meals are delivered from Have merchandise, will travel. said Carol Scott, Wayne County Senior the Redford Community Center on The store at Warren and Central Services manager. Hemingway. City Parkway brought selected To volunteer for the Meals on Wheels In all, Meals on Wheels volunteers merchandise to the center last program, call (734) 727-7357- deliver 260 meals a day in Westland and week, letting residents like Esther The county provides 2,800 hot meals a 130 in Redford, Scott said. Alexander do some holiday shop­ day to homebound seniors 60 and older Aside from providing hot meals, the ping. who can't fix their own meals due to program also provides a safety net by "I like it," she said, "especially physical or mental disabilities, Scott said. having volunteers check up on home- since I cannot get out." Seniors may make donations to the bound seniors. "Honestly, it was amazing," said program to offset costs. Volunteers, "It means that somebody checks on assistant store manager Amanda including one 90-year-old Redford man, them every day," Scott said. Coffey who worked the sale with use their own transportation to deliver Volunteers have to pass a background her mother, Vicki Cummins, who hot meals between 10 a.m. and 12:30 check, have a good driving record and also is a Dollar Tree cashier. "The p.m. Monday through Friday. In some "just have a good heart," she said. "It is a residents were so happy. One lady Westland Convalescent and Rehab Center resident Esther Alexander buys Christmas cases, cold lunches are brought along for lot of work, especially in the winter when told me she hadn't been out shop­ presents from items brought to the center by the Dollar Tree. weekends. it's snowing." ping in five years." The county has a kitchen staff that Volunteers also have to agree to help Bring the store to the residents "We had two huge carts fall of gifts for their families." works overnight to prepare the meals, out one day a week, delivering meals to was the idea of the center's events items — socks, scarves, note cards, "They picked so much stuff that which are distributed through 41 nutri­ 15 to 20 seniors. They get paid 36 cents planning committee. Member greeting cards, crayons, pencils, we couldn't fit it all on the tables, tion sites throughout Wayne County. a mile. Cathy Horton and Judy Bianchi, pens, coloring hooks, children's we had to sell down and then "Westland and Redford are the areas Some volunteers have complained that the center's marketing manager, toys, stuffed animals," said restock," Coffey said. where we really need volunteers right their mileage expenses haven't increased visited the store and selected items Bianchi. "It was nice because it now," Scott said, "hut we could use them along with rising fuel costs. suitable for the elderly shoppers. ' allowed the residents to purchase Please see STORE, A3 everywhere." "If we paid more for mileage," Scott Volunteers in Westland deliver meals said, "we'd have to serve less meals." D The Observer & Eccentric INDEX We beat For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS D3 any offer Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C8 Volume 43 CROSSWORD PUZZLE D5 (866) 887-2737 Number 58 HEALTH B5 AT&T < HOMETOWNLIFE CI Wireless** • lock your Rate at! JOBS CIO •». for the first 60 months! NEW HOMES Dl Only at the "^aw OBITUARIES C4 • Payments as low as f «A OPINION AH .jj-i • PLUS: Receive a REAL ESTATE D2 Ford A Momman Ad SPORTS , B1 Garden CHy 734.421 8000 Observer & Eccentric | Sunday, December 16,2007 (W) www.hometownllfe.com Franklin focuses on , writing skills BY REBECCA JONES Those are just two programs are asked on the Michigan STAFF WRITER he highlighted at the school Educational Assessment board's committee meeting, Program, Michigan Merit Under the new graduation held at Franklin. It was the Exam and assessments like requirements, there's no room first of three school improve­ EXPLORE and PLAN, which to fall behind, said Franklin ment presentations that the are precursors to the ACT col­ High School principal Dan board will hear this year. lege entrance exam. Willenborg. The 1,863-studenthigh Franklin's scores have come Parents of ninth-graders school recently received its in near state averages, but who failed one or more class second straight "C under recent reports show the school this fall were invited to learn Michigan's school report card posting passing rates that sur­ about "a fight worth fighting." system. pass the state's in social stud­ "This is serious stuff Franklin's goals, under the ies, math and language arts. right now in ninth-grade" North Central Accreditation "Our performance goal is Willenborg said in a report to process are to improve stu­ to score consistently above the school board Monday, dur­ dents' writing abilities and state averages on standardized ing a presentation about the reading comprehension, said tests," Willenborg said. TOM HAWLEYI STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER school's improvement plans. David Bjorklund, chairman A higher percentage of Getting prepared for the annual Christmas Day dinner hosted by St. Dunstan Catholic Church are Susan Massey More than 100 parents and of the school improvement advanced placement students (left), director of Christian Service, Judy and Bruce Larry, coordinators of the dinner.