•-••-•^•P-FP • • I* '^'-'•'* ij , liny !• fiM »• IF T- ipi^ji^iiiMy^iiiup ^m^wt^x a| .sai IffPlfipP^I- lomeTfcwn COMMUNICATIONS N E T W O R K * a $ •" Your hometown newspaper serving Westlandfor 35 years • M ' t mm ***». Thursday, March 2, 2000 hometownticwspapers.net 75c Volume 3fl Number 78 Westand, Michigan CSOOo HomeTown Commuriicationa Natwo**' IN THE PAPER Senior director gambles, loses TODAY Sylvia Kozorosky-Wiacek, director of the saying her "improper use of time and a "I take full responsibility for both of Senior Resources Department, has been sus­ city vehicle" at Motor City Casino will them," Kozorosky-Wiacek said, "and I pended by Mayor Robert Thomas after it was coat her $2,754 in pay. am sorry," Thomas conceded that Kozoroskyr She said Tuesday that she and the discovered she and two employees visited a Wiacek made "several" improper trips employees gambled with their own COMMUNITY LIFE Detroit casino to gamble during work hours. from the city's senior Friendship Cen­ money. She conceded going to the casi­ ter to the ca«ino, but he said he no "on occasion, several times" and said Missionary work: A moth­ BY DARRELL CLEM for two employees who accompanied believes she has learned from her mis­ she played the 50-cent slot machines. STAOT Warren her and for using a city van for gam­ take. dclem9oeiiomecomm.net *I want to take my punishment and er and daughter from bling outings. "If she did it again I'd terminate her, get it over with and get on with my life Livonia travel to Costa Facing an unpaid, two-week job sus­ "1 made a poor judgment, ajjd I'm and I think she knows that," the mayor and my work," Kozorosky-Wiacek said, Rica with several area pension, Westland's senior citizen very sorry," she said. "I'm going to take said. / tears rolling down her cheeks. resources director Tuesday made a my punishment as directed by my Thomas announced a one week, "i feel that I have embarrassed my United Methodist church­ tearful apology for gambling at a mayor." unpaid suspension for Friendship Cen­ staff .,. and I am sorry for my family, es to help construct a Detroit casino during work hours. Mayor Robert Thomas placed the ter maintenance employee Mike Sig- the mayor and all my friends," she Weeping inside her office, Sylvia longtime senior director on a two-week worth, who drove the van, and for part- building in a remote Cen­ Kozorosky-Wiacek also accepted blame suspension that Btarted Wednesday, time worker Nancy Guaetta. tral American village. /Bl Please D*ECTO*,A2 Benefit: A First Step bene­ fit March 26 mixes fash­ ion fun with a good cause. /Bl AT HOME Fixing H up: If you own an old piece of furniture, don't throw it away. See if BY DAMELL CLEM STAFF WRrrER it can be restored with dclemQoe.hontecomm.net new upholstery./06 Arrested twice for driving drunk, a 39-year-old father of. two credits a Westland court program for helping ENTERTAINMENT him stay sober for 18 months now. Tom, who didn't want his last name used, thought he'd face a big fine and Music: The Chieftains monthly visits to an uncaring proba­ will play traditional Irish tion officer after his second arrest.. "It's pretty much a revenue issue for music, including some a lot of cities." he s;ud. "They just want songs from their newest your money." CD, during a March 8 Tom didn't realize that Wetland 18th District Court, according to. local concert at Hill Auditori­ judges, has one of the most intensive um in Ann Arbor. /El probation programs in southeast Michigan Judge C. Charles Bokos forced Tom Dining: FiHd out why to report every u:i'fk. ~ rather tfo.m David's New York Deli in SLUT PHOTOS BT MATTHEW TAIUKUSI every month - for .probation appoint­ Livonia is one of the Looking good: Brittney Neighbor (centerj and Leanna Moland (right) practice at the Bailey ments, Tom's other choice - jail. Center with the rest of their team, the Westland Stars. Tom had to blow into a Hre;ilhalyzei- Take-out Guy's favorite each probation visit ami often had to lunch stops./E8 give urine samples ro prove he was clean. ''The probation officers wanted to know what was going on in my life REAL ESTATE Stars have reasons to cheer! They .seemed genuinely int.ere*ted' in seeing that I'stayed out of trouble." Tom. a home improvement .store sales­ A good Job: If you like to BY DIANE GALE ANDREASSI win-at-all-cost coach. They should be man, said. "When you>e reminded SPECIAL WRITER work with your hands, learning, growing, having a good every week; it helps*. heerleading is a lot more than a time and enjoying what they do." "It didn't take long to figure out that these guys will pay you bunch of pretty girls jumping But winning is good, too, Lay said, this is probably a damn good program," until you can earn even up and down and yelling. explaining that she vividly remem­ he said. "If I hadn't had this program, 1 C bers what, it was like to be on a soft- more./FL It's about athletics,.teamwork, probably would've been in trouble building self-esteem and mustering ball team that captured the state again in no time." up courage, according to Toni Lay, championship when she was 17. Tom had to .stay in the program for a • coach of the Westland Stars cheer- "When we made the last out it was year, although .the court gradually INDEX leading and dance team offered like everything was in slow motion," reduced his visits from weekly to through Westland Parks and Recre­ Lay said. "Itell the girls that there is monthly. nothing that feels as good as knowing Apartments/PS Crossword/P8 ation. "The whole time they're weaning you The team will use all those virtues that you were the best and reached down," he said. At Home/D . Entertainment/El your goal It's like you've won the A pause: Co-captain Tara Automotive/09 Jobs/FlO : March 5 during the Showcase Ameri­ Tom also had to attend a meei infr ca state and regional championships. Stanley Cup 'or World Series or any­ Freni (clockwise), captain and listen to people who lost family Claasifled/F.O Obituaries/A2 thing like that'' "I always tell the girls, 'It's not if Melissa Richards "and Brit­ members'in drunken driving accidents Classified Opinions/ A12-13 you win or lose, but did you have a The girls agree. tney Neighbor take a break to And he had to visit a therapist. Index/til Real Estate/Fl great dance?'" Lay said. "I'm not a play a counting game. "The jury's still out on the therapy Community Service Guide/08 Please see STARS, A3 Please see COURT, AT Life/*t: Sports/Cl Signature-seekers work toward an elected clerk BY DAHREIX CLEW \ the 2,715 voter signatures they need to believe it's a position the people should now want to seize the councils authori­ STAFF Waraa seek a ballot proposal on whether the decide." ty for choosing a clerk by pushing a dciemtOoe.homecomm.net clerk's job should become an elected The issue arose after a four-member ballot proposal to amend the city char­ Westland residents angered by the post, starting in November 2001. council majority fired Gibbons on Jan. ter, firing of City Clerk Patricia Gibbons "I don't think it will take us too long l# - four days after President Chartes "1 think the clerk.should be answer 1 embarked Monday on a petition drive, to get the signatures,' proposal sup^ Tray* Griffin placed tier on ieav<\ t<K>k aoif 141 u.-v mill Af .Mimuil I.K nihi lit JHU amid hopes of making the council . porter Brenda Gracin said. *The way I her keys and ordered her out of her our city clerk in office." Gracin said appointed post a voter-elected position. and others see it, the city clerk is just office . Councilman Richard l.eBlautr. who Residents will have 90 days to collect below the mayor in importance, and we The actions angered residents who '• Please w CLERK, A7 wins for photos, editorial page -' 'V-tii&iliii'YViri ' ii^w^j^iiSMS^jAsfciNi'llatf^rtrtfl^ The Westland Observer has received respohsiNe for the editorial page. two first-place swards from the Subur­ The contest covered Oct: 5, 1998, to •'S'r '•' >*-*}' ban Newspapers of America, they are Oct. 6, 1999,'.'and.included suburban for Beat Editorial Page and best fea­ newspapers in the United States and ture photo story or series, for photogra- Canada Different Observer edition* frf 'flW,!**"1*?'* «»ri«« on skater received a total of 16 award* HartaelL "We are'proud of the recognition w? HartaeH, » US, pairs figure skating receive from the SNA, a competition champion, graduated last year from with our peers in the suburban news­ John Olenn High School Hawley's paper business,** said Hugh Gallagher. story was titled "Danielle: A Day in the Observer managing editor -It affirm* »T»n • Pitonnni T»Ai m*i rv Life.' that we are doing « good job in serving Winners: Dan ielie Ftartnell inght> wnx thr suhjrt't of a photo xtorv 71 fry+.. Community Editor Julie Brown is Heaae see &W&H4, Af Ay ^ Hawtey* He dxxtumenlvd thf skatir'a suiior year. • hrri :ul / U S')| l)WO Mnivf:rc>nm 7:¾A «»si - ? 1 oa Home Delivery 734-591 0500 ;Hfv[™f;"^;;::v:^!';:';,' — ;'J>- m mm mgmmm mmm MAtiOUUCK Kennedy, 57, of Plymouth Town­ Services for Josephine ship will be 2 p.m.