Look inside for _ M O N E Y a C A L L TO ACTION + S A V I N G USA WEEKEND Coupons — INSIDE Family help The VFW Hall in Plymouth will be the PLYMOUTH A GANNETT COMPANY site for a spaghetti din­ ner fundraiser to help a local family through tough times. The Pat Savage fam ­ ily o f Canton has been struck by devastating medical news. Pat Savage was recently PRICE: $1 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011 • hometownlife.com diagnosed with stage fo u r esophageal cancer, which has metastasized through his body, ren­ dering him unable to w ork. His w ife, Joanne, recently went through a major surgery. The District will study facility use Savages have three sons: Colin, Jack and Nolan. By Brad Kadrich im Supt. Jere­ Hughes was careful to point ally done by the district’s hous­ The spaghetti dinner Observer Staff W riter my Hughes the out the study, which CRESA offi­ ing committee. Board Vice Pres­ fundraiser takes place go-ahead to sign cials said would likely take some ident Dianne Gonzalez pointed 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. When the Plymouth-Can- a deal w ith P lan­ 12 weeks, wasn’t necessarily out housing studies have gener­ 22, at th e VFW Hall, ton Board of Education consid­ te Moran CRE- about closing a school. ally been done in-house. Hughes 1426 Mill, Plymouth. ered closing F iegel E lem en ta­ SA to conduct a “It goes beyond closing said he would comfortable doing Cost is $10 for adults ry School over the su m m er as facilities study schools, it goes to whether (facil­ it in-house, but recalled the push- and children 12 and a cost-cutting move, trustees throughout the ities) are being used efficiently,” back the last time the district older; $5 fo r children and administrators drew fire district, with Hughes said. “Because of Fiegel, tried. 11 and younger. Those H u g h e s from people in the community an eye toward people are expecting (CRESA) “It took a long tim e, it w as very who can't make the because the choice appeared to determ ining w here b e tte r effi­ to tell us what school to close. contentious,” Hughes pointed dinner b u t w a n t to be made without much study. ciency can be had. But we’re looking at whether any out. “A lot o f people w ould like help can make dona­ That won’t be the case should T he deal w as fo r a m inim um buildings could be converted, at a third-party recommendation. tions to the Pat Savage the board consider closing a $39,750, but the board gave the attendance balance between The kind o f d ata this com pany Support Fund at Chase school during its 2012-2013 bud­ H ughes p erm ission to go 20 p er­ particular schools.” brings to the table, I don’t think Bank. get discussion. cent above that if unforeseen CRESA’s work would like­ TVustees Tuesday gave inter­ expenses occur. ly supplant the work tradition­ Please see STUDY, A3 Fewer judges A package of bills to eliminate 45 trial court judgeships was un­ Film m aker boosted by local setting, talent veiled Thursday in the state House by House Judiciary Committee By M att Jachman Chair John Walsh and Observer Staff W riter Vice Chair Kurt Heise. The bipartisan legis­ Michigan’s tax incentives for the movie lation is based on the industry have been curtailed, but those who findings o f th e 2011 work in the business still find the Plymouth- Judicial Canton area an attractive place for on-location Resources filmmaking. Recom­ The latest local project is The House, an menda­ independently produced drama about a young tions couple and the criminal investigation that report, changes th e ir lives. compiled “That really is the lead character,” said by the screenwriter, director and actor John Bosley H e is e State of theJilm ’s central figures, Jack and Anne Court Peterson. “That’s the dynamic of the story.” Administrative Of­ Bosley, who plays Jack, spoke Thursday dur­ fice. The report also ing a b rea k in shooting a t th e house of D eb­ recommends reducing ra C hristian, ju s t o ff N apier Road. I t’s a grand the number of Michi­ brick colonial on five acres in Superior Town­ gan Court of Appeals ship, and Christian said hosting Bosley and his judges fro m 28 to 24. crew h as been nothing b ut positive, and that "These reforms are she’s glad to contribute to Michigan filmmak­ necessary fo r creat­ ing. ing greater efficiency ‘If I can help somebody’s dream come true, in our judicial system I ’m on b oard,” C hristian said. across the state. This is a great example Small-town setting o f cutting back on The fictional Petersons live in the real town unnecessary expenses of Greenville, Maine, and Bosley’s film opens while continuing to with FBI agents visiting their house; as they maintain a high level of investigate the killing of two girls whose bod­ service to the residents ies were found in a neighboring state. o f M ichigan," said Instead of a whodunit that unfolds from the Heise, R-Plymouth. "It's investigators’ point of view, The House shows also an example of our what happens to the couple as Jack is put effort to reform and under scrutiny. restructure government “You see more of it through the couple’s eyes at all levels." as things are unraveling,” said Bosley. It’s also about the reaction of the townspeo- Please see FILM, A5 Spartans ticket contest Our website, Home- townlife.com, is having a Facebook contest and the lucky winner will get two tickets to see the Michigan State Spartans battle the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Spartan Stadium. All you have to do to enter is click on the Spartans logo in our D on't Miss PHOTOS BY BILL BRESLER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER module and fill out a W riter/artor/director John W ayne Bosley in "The short form. James Sands is one of the producers of "The House." H o u s e ." INDEX New township budget cuts fire departm ent spending Community L ife ..... B5 Crossword P u zzle .. .. C3 Education........... A 4 By Matt Jachman cal year. The township’s next fis­ emergency medical services, due to a fall in p ro p erty values. Health.... ........... B 10 Observer Staff W riter cal year starts in January; the but haven’t spelled out exactly That’s down more than $1 million Homes............... C2 bo ard typically approves a bud­ how cuts in the department will from 2008, when property taxes Jobs................... C1 Anticipating the loss of more get every December. be made. The new budget would, brought th e tow nship m ore than Obituaries........... B9 than $900,000 from the city of Most prominent in a summary however, set aside $40,000 for $8.05 million. Services............. .. C2 P lym outh — m oney th at would of the spending plan is a $927,022 part-time firefighters, up from Other highlights of the 2012 Sports................ B1 Wheels.............. C4 normally go toward firefighting cut to the Plymouth Communi­ $10,000 budgeted this year, arid budget proposal summary and emergency medical servic­ ty F ire D epartm ent, fro m ju st township officials have said they include: es — Plymouth Township’s pro­ over $3.95 million for this year are looking to hire part-time, • A 35-percent increase in © The Observer & Eccentric posed general-fund budget for to not quite $2.98 million next paid-on-call firefighters. Clerk Joe Bridgman’s budget, Volume 125 • Number 18 2012 is reduced by nearly that year. That represents a budget The loss of the city of Plym­ from $434,983 to $591,419. Much am ount. decrease for the department of outh from the now-shared PCFD of the increase is due to the Home Delivery: The proposed budget, which m ore th an 23 p ercent. will mean the loss of more than expected costs of 2012 elections. (866) 887-2737 has y et to b e taken up by the Township officials have spoken $900,000 in annual revenue it • Expected revenue from Hill­ Board of Trustees, calls for of the need to reorganize and cut contributed. top Golf Course of $100,000, Return Address: spending in 2012 of just over costs in the department because The budget also anticipates a up from no revenue budget­ 41304 Concept Dr. $12.29 million, about 6.5 per­ of the city of Plymouth’s plan to further drop in property tax col­ ed for this year. The township Plymouth Ml 48170 cent under the nearly $13.16 mil­ leave it, and partner with the city lections, from the $7.15 budget­ lion budgeted for the current fis­ of Northville for firefighting and ed this year to $6.95 next year, Please see BUDGET, A2 IHHMH m m m m m A 2 (P ) Observer & Eccentric | Sunday, October 16, 2011 LO C A L N E W S online at hometownlife.com AROUND PLYMOUTH Downtown retailers to debut "Around Plymouth" is de­ signed to announce upcom­ ing events taking place in the community. Items will run Halloween event for kids on a space-available basis.