WAYN E-WESTLAND FANS CATCH PRICELESS SOUVENIRS SPORTS, B1 SU N D AY, JU N E 23, 2013 • hoiinetow nlife.com Changes to transit services sought By LeAnne Rogers The result of the meeting - The Nankin Transit Com­ said disbandinjg the trans­ people stopped hying and Observer Staff Writer prompted by a resolution from mission Board was scheduled portation service was never asked m e w hat can v^is do to the Westland Commission on to hold its regular meeting the intention. improve service.” A capacity crow d gathered Aging calling fo r the city to Thursday, June 20. Director “I know the system can * The difficulty in getting a at Westland’s Friendship Cen­ withdraw and/or remove Exec­ for 20 years, Fernandez had no work - it worked in the late ride Scheduled - something ter with complaints, praise and utive Director Richard Fernan­ comment at the meeting, but ’80s and early ’90s, when my ham pered in pa rt by a single suggestions for improving dez in response to complaints - had requested a closed session moin was alive and used it,” dispatcher answering the services provided by Nanldn will likely mean changes in meeting vrith the board. said Elnora Ford, a Westland phone and lack of computeriza­ Transit. how the transportation service Commission on Aging member. tion - was the most cOnunpn Formed by Westland, is operated. K eep service “In the southeast part of town, complaint from Nankin Transit Wayne, G arden City and Ink­ “M y idea is not to settle for Many residents made it a lot of neighbors would like to riders. ster, Nankin Transit provides the status quo. I’m looking clear that they didn’t want to get here to the Friendship “We’ve been w ortog with transportation for senior citi­ ahead at the needs of our resi­ see the service ended, but Center, but they don’t drive. the phone system. Wie’re doing zens and handicapped resi­ dents for 10-15 years,” West- improvements are needed. You call and you can’t get dents of the four comm unities. land Mayor WiUiam \^ d said. Despite the resolution, W^d through. After a year and half. See TRANSIT, Page A2 OKs m oney fo r Main Street By LeAnne Rdgers observer staff Wjriter _ It took two motions, but after a lot of discussion, the W ayne City Coimcil voted Thesday to allocate seed fund­ ing to begin efforts to join the Michigan Main Street program aim ed at redeveloping the downtown area. The debate was over fund­ ing to continue the q i ^ ’s cu r­ rent strategy of acquiring/ demolishing blighted property for redevelopment ys. moving into tile M ain Street program . “I understand Main Street and the ramifications and what itjcan do for the city. I favor it,” Councilman Skip Monit said. “W hat I don’t favor is asking the citizens for millage W ^ a n d residents Alex Kassel and his dad Glen Kassel look at the Civil W ar exhibit at the W ayne Public Library. (in November) and being able STEPHEN CANTRELL I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER to allocate money in different directions. My personal integ­ rity is in question.’’ As it turned out, M onit pro­ viding the tie-brealdng vote to Music, re-enactors part of approve the allocation. Coun­ cilm an Jam es H enley was absent. — — Along with that $10,000 allocation in the Downtown Development Authority bud­ 1 5 0 a t get, council also approved aUocating an additional $10,000 By LeAnne Rogers to tile Wayne Library, which Observer Staff Writer was already receiving $24,600. G u it a r is t The $20,000 would be t ^ e n P eriod m usic. Union A rm y re-en­ Jim Perkins from a $98,000 line item for actors and a lecture kicked off the ofFarmington property acquisition/demoli- three-week display and series of performs Civil tion. programs commemorating the ISOth W a r e r a m u sic The changes would need to anniversary of the Civil War. a t t h e W a y n e be approved by thp DDA About 65 people turned out Monday Public Library. board, w hich last m onth had for the program at the Wayne Public approved the budget without Library, which began with a perfor­ those allocations. mance of period songs by Jim Perkins Also a DDA member. Coun­ and his band Finvarra’s W ren, which cilman John Rhaesa had found included his wife Cheryl on d^cim er no support at the recen t DDA and bodhran and their tteughter Alison m eeting for an $18,000 alloca­ on fiddle. tion to the Wayne Ripple Effect The selection of songs included a for the Main Street program. Rhaesa is a core volunteer with See CIVIL WAR, Page A2 S e e F U N D IN G , P a g e A 2 Norwayne group sets Neighborhood W atch m eeting By LeAnne Rogers activities. “There are problems with difference in a community,” ity-of-life issue. Observer Staff Writer “Forty-five people had drugs, teen vandalism and he said. “We a re trying to m ake signed up and our flier hadn’t copper pipes being stolen “A police officer can only Norwayne a community of Norwayne residents are gone out yet,” said Norwayne from houses,” Hubbard said. patrol proactively so much. choice -a place to raise your invited to learn about making resident Brenda Hubbard„an “We are trying to resolve This is ± e people in the neigh­ kids,” Hubbard s^d. “We want their community safer organizer of the meeting. “I’ve neighbor coni^cts and, if borhood talting responsibility to come togethei] as a commu­ through a Neighborhood been talking to people door-to- needed, get the police in­ for policing their own commu­ nity. We want people to take Watch program. door and passing out fliers. volved.” nity.” pride in where they live.” An informational meeting We’ve been working reaUy Although organizers call An active Community Everyone is invited to at­ with Westland Police Officers hard.” the program Neighborhood Watch program is probably tend the meeting. To reserve a Burke Lange and David Ar- Organizing a Neighborhood Watch, Westland Police Chief the biggest stepping stone spot or get more information, chambeau is scheduled for 6 Watch program is an effort to Jeff Jedrusik said police refer residents can l^ e toward ' call Hubbard at 734-729-3833. p.m. Monday, June 24, at the bring the community together to it as Community Watch. reducing crime in their neigh­ Dorsey Community Center. with the police department to “In my opinion, it’s prob­ borhood, Jedrusik said. [email protected] Refreshments will be served help address crime problems ably the one program that For Hubbard, reducing 313-222-5428 and there will be children’s in Norwajme, Hubbard said. actually, truly can make a big crime in Norwa3me is a qual­ TMtten LRogers@Observer Bps O b s e r v e r & E c c e n t r i c ' © The Observer & Eccentric INDEX homeiownllfe.com | Volume 49 • Number 10 Crossword Puzzle. L ife.................. ...... B5 .C 4 A GANNETT COMPANY H ealth.................... O bituaries........ ... „..B 8 6 53174 10007 “8 Services............. PRICE: $1 Home Deliveiy: (866) 887-2737 | Return Address: 41304 Concept Dr., Plymouth Ml 48170 Jobs..................... ... C l Sports................. ...... B1 t y 4 0 $1.50 O F F $1.00 O F F A D U L T D I N N E R B U F F E T ADULT LUNCH BUFFET Dine-In Only Dine-In Only Watch your food being cooked! HlBflCtlW LL Sushi • H uge Buffet Adults only. Maximum 2 adults oer coupon. I Adults only. Maximum 2 adults m coupon. Cannat be cnmtilned wHh any other oners or dtonm ts, Cannot be comhined with any other oners or discounts. MrtvalM with kMa price or mholM avs. Bmheeduly 4,2013 Hot valid with kids price or on holidays. Expires July 4 ,2 0 1 3 ., 6539 N. Wayne Road • W esllaiid • 734.729.5688 A T 1 4 0 7 2 5 i A2 (W) 0 & E Media | Sunday, June 23,2013 LOCAL NEWS hometownlife.com pensions, taking those CIVIL WAR FUNDING expenses out of the general fund. Continued from Page A1 Continued from Page A1 “We really appreci­ ate the Ripple Effect tune about a young Irish Wasnie Ripple Effect. and M ain Street. 1 immigrant who fled the would ask your pa­ famine only to end up Q uestions plan tience this year,” Hai­ conscripted into the ' During the council dous said. “I under­ Union Army and losing a m eeting, R haesa ques­ stand Councilman leg in battle. tioned whether the Rhaesa’s concerns and Civil War re-enactors DDA had a plan for proposal. We need to Ibdd Willis-Redfem, a downtown redevel­ vote on what is before m aster sergeant, and opment and also the us.” Westland resident Guy $459,000 in DDA money Purdue, a private, turned going into the city gen­ New investm ent ourin full uniform to Todd W illis-Redfem Oeft) and W estland resident Guy Purdue, dressed as Michigan 24th eral fund. Wayne Ripple Effect discuss the 24th M ichi-' Volunteer Regiment soldiers w hose members were m ostly from W ayne County, and “I don’t see th at the m em ber Cindy Scho­ gan Volunteer In fan t, speaker Tim Moran applaud the band. St e p h e n c a n t r e l l | st a ff photographer DDA has a plan or a field commented that which was manned pri­ vision for the future.