Local voters shape future of schools, police

 

Romulus School Millage

Romulus voters have approved the renewal of a property tax that has helped pay for school operations for decades, a levy the district reports as totaling about $745,000 a year. In favor of the renewal were 5,435 or 56 percent of votes cast. Opposed to the renewal were 4,226 or 44 percent of votes cast Tuesday. District officials stressed this is not a new tax or new levy, but renewal of existing funding to support schools.

The proposal renews the Romulus Community Schools “hold harmless” millage for 10 years, from 2027 through 2036. The current authorization runs through the 2026 tax collection and will raise about $745,254 in 2027.

The proposal authorizes up to 2.5 mills, the maximum allowed by law, but the district said it would levy only the legally restricted amount, currently 1.3115 mills. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which differs from market value.

 

Romulus School Board

Romulus voters on Tuesday chose four members from a field of five candidates to serve on the Romulus Community Schools Board of Education.

The top four vote getters will serve 4-year terms on the nonpartisan board.

Porshe A. Laster received 4,412 or 22.2 percent of the votes cast; Ursula Rogers won 4,171 or 20 percent of the votes; Antoine D. Jackson received 4,123 or 10 percent of votes cast and Darcel C. Davis garnered 4,044 or 20 percent of the votes.

Nichole Smith received 3,793 or 18 percent of the total votes cast.

Laster and Jackson currently serve on the district seven-member board. Laster serves as board president, while Jackson is a trustee. according to the district website. Rogers serves as the board secretary according to the school district website.

The board members oversee district policy and operations and play a role in superintendent oversight. Members’ decisions affect students, families, teachers and staff throughout the Romulus school system.

 

Sumpter Police Millage

The ballot proposal to fund the Sumpter Township Police Department was approved by voters on Tuesday with 2,331 Yes notes and 2,235 voters saying No.

The 5-mill proposal for dedicated police operations was on the ballot for the second time.

A similar proposal on the August ballot was defeated by voters and members of the township board attributed the loss to unclear ballot language and confusion regarding the question. While the ballot language Tuesday requested 5 mills, the actual increase to continue police service in the community will be 2 mills. The current 3 mill funding will expire, leaving the department facing deep cuts if voters had not approved the proposed millage.

Officials estimate the millage will bring in more than $2.4 million in the first year. Police Chief Eric Luke said it would cost the average homeowner an estimated $250 a year.

Voters rejected the proposal in the Aug. 4 primary, 57 percent to 43 percent with 1,284 voting no and 982 voting yes.

Because the August measure also covered renewal of existing millages, that defeat meant the department lost all millage funding. Luke said that amounts to a 41 percent cut to the department operating budget.

The township had not sought a new police millage in 15 years, despite increased population and calls for service.

 

 PROPOSAL 1: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Michigan voters have again rejected a proposal to convene a state convention in which delegates work to overhaul the state constitution. The mechanism, informally called a “Con-Con,” was written into the 1963 constitution.

No votes totaled 3,043,198 or 73.8 percent while the proposal won approval from 1,081,057 or 26.2 percent of votes cast. Voters have previously rejected the proposal by strong margins in 1978, 1994 and 2010.

The rejected proposal will return automatically in 2042.

The ballot asked whether a convention of elected delegates should be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the state constitution for presentation to voters for approval or rejection.

Approval of the measure would not have rewritten the state constitution but would have required an election of one delegate for each of the 110 Michigan House districts and 38 Senate districts, 148 in all, on a partisan ballot. Delegates would have then convened in Lansing next year.

 

 PROPOSAL 2: LIMITING POLITICAL SPENDING

Voters chose to overwhelmingly approve Proposal 2, an initiated law that would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. It would restrict direct and indirect contributions from regulated electric and gas utilities, from government contractors receiving more than $250,000 a year, and from people or organizations with “substantial connections” to them.

Wayne County election officials said 3,406,591 or 81 percent of voters were in favor of the measure while 796,578 or 19 percent were opposed.

The measure will apply to monopoly utilities and large state contractors whether or not they are based in Michigan. It does not outright ban dark money spending but requires donor disclosure from groups running so-called issue ads before Michigan elections. Supporters said the companies affected are not held in check when they raise utility bills or health care premiums because they help fund the politicians meant to oversee them.

A touch of history

Canton Township unveils new facility at former Ford factory site

Canton Township officially opened The Factory, a new multi-use activity center, with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 22. The building was originally a historic Henry Ford factory transformed through multiple federal, county and local grants.

Canton Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak led the festivities, which included special remarks from Wayne County Economic Development Executive Director Anthony Cartwright, Wayne County Commissioner Melissa Daub, as well as Canton Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director Jon LaFever.

Significant funding for the fully renovated $3 million facility was provided by Wayne County, with appropriations from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021-State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA/SLFRF).

Once used as a small factory site operated by Henry Ford that employed disabled World War II veterans to make auto components, the 6,400-square-foot facility will now provide space for youth development, therapeutic recreation, health and wellness, arts and cultural programming, as well as enrichment classes, community events, and private rentals, township officials said.

Located at 50625 Cherry Hill Road, The Factory will also host Canton Parks, Recreation & Community Services programs, special events, workshops, and enrichment opportunities.

An open house event to help celebrate the completion of the facility is planned for 10 a.m. until noon Saturday, Nov. 7. For additional information about The Factory, visit www.cantonmi.gov/1384 or call 734/394-5360.

Calendar cars

The Sumpter Township Police Department was selected to appear in the upcoming 2027 Ford Motor Co. annual Police Vehicle Calendar, an annual publication the automaker publishes to promote law enforcement. Sumpter police officials were required  to submit a photo by a very short deadline for inclusion in the national calendar. Officials said the invitation to participate was an honor since only 12 departments across the country are offered the opportunity annually.  Gabby Tilley of Miles Laura Photography LLC in Carleton came to the rescue and captured the photo for inclusion on the nationally distributed calendar. The photo was taken at the entrance to the Metropark at Bemis/Savage roads, just past the booth, looking east, police official noted.

Federal grant to fund new Plymouth Canton schools safety device

A new emergency communications system estimated to cost approximately $1.2 million is being planned for Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (PCEP), with the goal of improving radio communications for police and other public safety personnel inside school buildings.

Township officials announced the $1 million in grant funding at the Oct. 27 meeting of the board of trustees. Officials thanked Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Sen. Elissa Slotkin for their support in obtaining the funds.

The proposed project calls for installation of a Motorola bi-directional antenna system, also known as a distributed antenna system (DAS), designed to strengthen public safety radio signals throughout the Plymouth-Canton school facilities.

The antenna will enable public safety personnel to communicate by radio throughout P-CEP buildings. It is a network of hubs and nodes connected with hardwiring through multiple floors and buildings with hard to penetrate surfaces. There is no rooftop antenna involved in the installation. The system is designed for security and to reach areas that cannot be penetrated by external cellular services, officials noted.

The project was identified in connection with the Canton Township Board of Trustees regular meeting. According to officials, the proposed system is expected to be funded entirely through the federal grant, eliminating the need for a local financial match.

The project represents a substantial investment in emergency communications at the educational park, which encompasses Plymouth, Canton and Salem high schools.

Reliable radio communication is an essential component of emergency response, particularly in large school facilities where conventional radio signals can be weakened or blocked by walls, building materials and the layout of interior spaces, according to national safety officials.

A distributed antenna system uses strategically placed antennas to carry radio signals throughout a building, helping eliminate areas where communications may be unreliable.

For police officers, school resource officers and other emergency personnel, improved indoor radio coverage can make a critical difference when responding to an incident requiring immediate coordination, safety professionals said.

The proposed Motorola system is intended to improve communications for public safety radios throughout the Plymouth-Canton campus buildings.

Canton Public Safety officials have previously reported improvements to communications between the dispatch center and personnel working at P-CEP.

In its annual communications and dispatch program appraisal, Canton Public Safety described the installation of a UHF antenna at the Canton Police Department, along with the creation of a new radio talk group. Those improvements were intended to provide more seamless communication with school resource officers and P-CEP security personnel during emergency situations.

The newly proposed distributed antenna system would represent an additional step toward improving communications within the school facilities themselves, police said.

The estimated $1.2 million project is reported to be 100 percent grant-funded, meaning no local matching contribution is anticipated.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

City tailgate party planned

Romulus is hosting an afternoon of Detroit football and team spirit at the Historical Park Pavilion from noon until 5 p.m. Nov. 8.

The game will be shown on a big screen beginning with the 1 p.m. kickoff and guests are invited to bring favorite tailgate supplies to share with friends and family.

Bubbies Pizza will be on-site with pizza available for purchase.

Historical Park is located at 36095 Goddard Road.

 

Whiskey Joe book signing set

Children’s author Jill Andra Young is celebrating the launch of two new additions to her beloved Adventures of Whiskey Joe series with a special book event from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at E.G. Nick’s in downtown Plymouth.

The evening will also feature special guest Suzanne LaCroix, who will be introducing her new book, Maple’s Winter Walkabout.

The Adventures of Whiskey Joe children’s book series features a clever Basenji whose curiosity and determination take him on exciting adventures. The signing is open to the public.

 

Veterans’ Wreath ceremony donations sought by Romulus

The City of Romulus will once again participate in Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 19 with a wreath laying ceremony at noon at the Romulus Memorial Cemetery

Wreaths are $17 each. Donations can be made through Romulus VFW #9568's Page at: https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/32596/Overview

Order forms are available at City Hall and the Romulus Public Library and will be accepted at the Community Development Office in City Hall. Information is available at  (734) 955-4539 or jhobbs@romulusgov.com.

 

Water lines being inspected

The City of Romulus is identifying and documenting water service line materials throughout the city. Contractors will be performing exterior inspections at properties in all areas to identify existing water service line material.

There is no cost to property owners for these inspections.

Restoration of the site will be dependent upon the service line material found Officials caution residents not to remove utility marking flags in the areas inspected, as they are needed to safely complete the work.

More information is available from the City of Romulus Department of Public Works at 734-955-8755.

 

Romulus Christmas  Tree Lighting ceremony planned

The official Romulus Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is set to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 at  Romulus Historical Park 11147 Hunt St. Tree Lighting takes place at 6 p.m.
Organizers have planned pictures with Santa, hayrides, live reindeer, petting zoo, photo ops, activities, and entertainment for the whole family.

For more information, call Romulus Recreation at (734) 941-8665.

Hope for the Holidays

The Northville Township Police Department is kicking off our annual Hope for the Holidays drive this month.

New toys for children ages 4–16; new winter clothing for children ages 4–16 and Meijer and Kroger gift cards are being sought for distribution to local families in need.

Donations can be dropped off through Dec. 15 at: Essential Services Complex – 40911 Seven Mile Road or Northville Township Hall – 44405 Six Mile Road

Local businesses can also sponsor a family. Contact Community Service Officer Andrew Domzalski at adomzalski@northvilletownshipmi.gov to learn more.

Romulus school board

Five candidates will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for four open seats on the Romulus Community Schools Board of Education, including three current board members seeking new terms.

Nonpartisan candidates on the ballot for the four-year terms are Darcel C. Davis, Antoine D. Jackson, Porsche A. Laster, Ursula L. Rogers and Nychole Smith, all Romulus residents. Voters can choose up to four.

Laster and Jackson currently serve on the district seven-member board. Laster serves as board president, while Jackson is a trustee, according to the district website. Rogers serves as the board secretary according to the school district website.

Davis, Laster, Rogers and board member Paris McCarthy hold seats with terms ending this year. McCarthy does not appear on the county candidate list. Jackson and Smith would be newcomers to the board.

The board members oversee district policy and operations and play a role in superintendent oversight. Members’ decisions affect students, families, teachers and staff throughout the Romulus school system. Voters can find election notices and sample-ballot information through the City of Romulus election information page.

Sumpter police millage

Voters in Sumpter Township will decide next Tuesday whether to fund the continued level of police service in the community.

Members of the township board are hoping clearer language on the ballot will encourage residents to approve the question which will increase the police tax by two mills, three months after voters rejected the same request. Township officials fear that a second “no” could force deep cuts or even the end of the police department.

The proposal would raise the police levy from three mills to five. Officials estimate it would bring in more than $2.4 million in the first year. Police Chief Eric Luke said it would cost the average homeowner an estimated $250 a year.

Voters rejected the proposal in the Aug. 4 primary, 57 percent to 43 percent with 1,284 voting no and 982 voting yes. The township board members then voted unanimously to approve revised ballot language and send the request back to voters in November.

Because the August measure also covered renewal of existing millages, its defeat meant the department lost all millage funding. Luke said that amounts to a 41 percent cut to the department operating budget. For about 15 years, the department has been funded mainly by Carleton Farms Landfill royalties and the three-mill police levy. Those royalties have sharply declined and residents have been levied costs for recent county drain improvements. Trustee Tim Rush said the department is fully funded through the end of this year

“Everything’s on the table, up to and including closing the doors,” Luke said. Rush made a similar warning, saying a police department cannot operate with only partial staffing.

Luke has argued that demand on the department has grown. He said calls for service have nearly doubled in five years, while the township population has grown by about 25 percent during the past few years. The department serves about 12,500 residents. Luke also reminded voters that the township had not sought a new police millage in 15 years.

Luke said he does not read the August result as a rejection of the police department.  He attributed the defeat to voters’ tax fatigue, being asked for too many millages in too short a time. One trustee said low turnout played a major role, and officials are counting on a larger voter turnout next week. Township officials estimated that turnout in August was about 24 percent to 25 percent.

Ballot and polling information is available at the township clerk’s office at 734-461-6201.

Romulus School millage

Romulus voters will decide next Tuesday whether to renew a property tax that has helped pay for school operations for decades, a levy the district reports as totaling about $745,000 a year. District officials stressed this is not a new tax or new levy, but renewal of existing funding to support schools.

The proposal would renew the Romulus Community Schools “hold harmless” millage for 10 years, from 2027 through 2036. The current authorization runs through the 2026 tax collection, according to district reports. If voters approve, the district estimates the millage will raise about $745,254 in 2027.

The proposal authorizes up to 2.5 mills, the maximum allowed by law, but the district said it would levy only the legally restricted amount, currently 1.3115 mills. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which differs from market value. By that math, a property with a taxable value of $50,000 would owe about $65.58 a year at the current rate.

Questions can be directed to the district at (734) 532-1600.

Proposals determine state future

Michigan voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to call the state’s first constitutional convention in more than six decades and whether to bar regulated utilities and big state contractors from political spending.

The two statewide questions: Proposal 1, on convening a constitutional convention, and Proposal 2, on limiting political donations from some utilities and large government contractors.

If Proposal 1 is approved, constitutional convention delegate elections would begin within months. If it fails, the constitution stays as it is until the question returns in 2042.

If Proposal 2 is approved, the changes would take effect as a statute prohibiting regulated utilities and government contractors’ political spending.

PROPOSAL 2:

LIMITING POLITICAL SPENDING

Proposal 2 is an initiated law that would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. It would restrict direct and indirect contributions from regulated electric and gas utilities, from government contractors receiving more than $250,000 a year, and from people or organizations with “substantial connections” to them.

As drafted, it would apply to monopoly utilities and large state contractors whether or not they are based in Michigan. It would not outright ban dark money spending, but it would require donor disclosure from groups running so-called issue ads before Michigan elections. The measure would also require disclaimers and disclosure on political communications made with artificial intelligence, including internet ads and prerecorded phone messages.

Michiganders for Money Out of Politics submitted an estimated 562,000 signatures on May 27. It needed 356,958 valid signatures to qualify. The measure survived a last-ditch challenge at the Michigan Supreme Court in early September.

The campaign is backed by groups including Voters Not Politicians, Clean Water Action and Michigan United. Co-chair Christy McGillivray said the ban targets donations from regulated utilities such as DTE and Consumers Energy and from state contractors such as Blue Cross Blue Shield. She said the companies are not held in check when they raise utility bills or health care premiums because they help fund the politicians meant to oversee them.

Supporters point to the money flowing to Lansing. In the last legislative session, DTE- or Consumers-affiliated political action committees gave nearly $560,000 over two years to the campaigns or leadership PACs of 120 of 148 legislators. A 2025 Citizens Utility Board of Michigan report found the state had longer power outages in 2023 than any other. Attorney General Dana Nessel has called the link between utility spending and state politics “the worst corruption imaginable.”

Consumers Energy has said it follows the law on compliance and transparency and uses no customer funds for political contributions.

Opponents are organized under the committee Protect MI Free Speech. Spokesperson John Sellek has said the measure would stop ordinary citizens from supporting the candidates of their choice, put nonprofit service organizations at risk of losing funding, and ultimately be found unconstitutional. He also said that people related to or contracting with covered companies would be banned from supporting candidates “simply because of who” they are connected to.

Opponents also say the proposal falls short of its “money out of politics” billing. They say it would not curb spending by out-of-state groups, dark money nonprofits or unions. The campaign has drawn millions of dollars from dark money groups known for left-leaning causes. The Michigan Chamber has said it would silence employers while giving labor unions a “free pass.” A UAW-affiliated PAC spent nearly $800,000 between April 21 and July 20, according to state campaign finance filings. The initiative’s organizers have said there is no need to name unions explicitly. Like corporations, unions are already barred from giving directly to candidates in Michigan

Consumers Energy has said the measure would shift influence from Michigan companies to wealthy national donors and special interests.

PROPOSAL 1

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Every 16 years, Michigan voters are asked whether the state should hold a convention in which delegates work to overhaul the state constitution. The mechanism, informally called a “Con-Con,” was written into the 1963 constitution. Voters have rejected it by strong margins in 1978, 1994 and 2010.

If voters reject the proposal this year, the question will return automatically in 2042.

The ballot asks whether a convention of elected delegates should be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the state constitution for presentation to voters for approval or rejection.

A “yes” vote would not rewrite the constitution by itself. If a majority approves, voters would elect one delegate for each of Michigan’s 110 House districts and 38 Senate districts, 148 in all, on a partisan ballot. That would mean partisan primaries to nominate delegates, followed by a general election by mid-2027. Delegates would convene in Lansing by Oct. 5, 2027, then choose officers, set rules and hire staff. Citizens Research Council of Michigan analyst Lupher believes conflict-of-interest laws would keep current state lawmakers from serving as delegates.

Delegates could make limited changes or rewrite the whole document. Whatever they produce must go to voters, with a vote held no less than 90 days after the convention adjourns. The convention would have no time limit. The last one, which began in 1962, took nearly 10 months.

The proposal has no organized campaign behind it and a broad coalition against it. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Education Association, Business Leaders for Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan League of Conservation Voters and League of Women Voters of Michigan are urging a “no” vote. The Chamber warned that a convention risks years of uncertainty and gridlock, and Business Leaders for Michigan said opening the constitution could lead companies to pause major investments. The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Legislative Action Council also voted unanimously to oppose it.

Opposition crosses party lines. Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee and former Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette have both urged a “no” vote. Schuette said a convention “would just be a circus.” Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall has reportedly voiced support for a convention.

Supporters of a convention argue that a deliberative body of directly elected delegates could update a document that is more than 60 years old. One constitutional expert said neither party can be sure of controlling a convention, because delegates are elected directly, and that delegates would know voters could reject anything too far-reaching.

Romulus rejects TIFA probe

Members of the Romulus City Council on Monday rejected a proposal to open a formal investigation into how the city Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) approved a contract for Flock Safety license plate cameras.

The proposal came after resident James Lee questioned a gap between the dollar figure on a TIFA agenda and the contract that followed. An April 8 TIFA agenda listed a Flock contract “not to exceed” $47,500, according to an advisory Lee issued. An agreement signed the next day calls for $90,000 a year over a 36-month initial term, or $270,000 in total.

Lee said the TIFA board held no public engagement on the deal. He also has asked whether TIFA money, rather than the city’s public safety millage, paid for the cameras. Millage proceeds are voter-approved for a specific purpose, while TIFA funds are legally limited to development-related uses.

Mayor Robert McCraight told national news sources that a clerical typo explained the lower figure and that the contract is for $90,000 a year. He said the city’s legal team is reviewing the agreement.

Councilwoman Kathy Abdo, who supported the investigation, said the issue was not about removing cameras but about getting accountability and answers.

Councilman Mark Wilhide defended the technology, saying that if cameras helped recover a missing child, skeptics would change their minds.

Several council members and the mayor said they will examine who can access data collected by the city’s cameras and consider regulations. McCraight said the city would cancel the contract if outside influences violated its terms.

McCraight said the police department requested the cameras, which he said will help officers handle heavy traffic tied to Detroit Metro Airport. He also said the city is struggling to recruit police officers.

Lee’s advisory claims the questions have also been sent to the Michigan Department of Treasury. It was not confirmed that Treasury has accepted the submission or opened a review.

Flock cameras photograph passing vehicles and log license plates into searchable databases, which agencies often share. The systems have drawn scrutiny in other U.S. cities.

Un’fur’gettable

Whiskey Joe has another adventure

 

Plymouth children’s author Jill Andra Young will celebrate the release of two new additions to her Adventures of Whiskey Joe series with a book launch from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at EG Nick’s in downtown Plymouth.

The event will mark the debut of “
Whiskey Joe Goes to the Library” and the “Adventures of Whiskey Joe Coloring Book.” Suzanne LaCroix, a local author, will also introduce her new book, “Maple’s Winter Walkabout.”

In “Whiskey Joe Goes to the Library,” the series’ title character, a Basenji, follows his curiosity to the library, where he looks for books about Africa, the breed’s homeland. Along the way, he meets fascinating animals and gets closer to them than he expected.

The coloring book features scenes from both “Whiskey Joe Goes to the Library” and Young’s first book, “Whiskey Joe Gets Lost.” It also includes images of the real Whiskey Joe for children to color.

“We’re excited to celebrate these new books and share more adventures with readers,” Young said. “Whiskey Joe has a big personality and an even bigger sense of adventure, and I hope children enjoy following him wherever his curiosity takes him.”

The series grew out of a real-life escape. Young’s retired show dog wriggled out of his harness one morning and was gone for several hours before returning home safely. Young, who lives in Plymouth, couldn’t stop wondering where he had gone.

“It bothered me,” she said. “I wondered what he did while he was gone.”

That question became “Whiskey Joe Gets Lost,” in which a mischievous dog makes his way through neighborhoods, playgrounds and city streets. He spots a fountain much like the one in Kellogg Park, then heads to the police station, where his microchip helps reunite him with his owner. Young said the moral is simple: “Always have your pets microchipped so they can get home.”

Young never planned to become an author. A Plymouth resident since 1982, she studied at the Center for Creative Studies and ran a commercial photography business in downtown Plymouth for 25 years, specializing in pet portraits. She began the project by making a photo book for herself to work out what might have happened during Whiskey Joe’s outing.

“It was an accident,” she said. After she posted the cover on Facebook, friends and neighbors encouraged her to share the story more widely, and she learned to publish the book through Amazon.

Young adopted Whiskey Joe after losing her previous Basenji, Henry. She has loved the breed since she was a teenager, she said, drawn to its independence, intelligence and the fact that “they don’t bark.”

For more information, contact Young at adventuresofwhiskeyjoe@gmail.com or visit www.adventuresofwhiskeyjoe.space.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Halloween Safety Night set

The Sumpter Township Fire Department and Sumpter Township Police Department will be on hand from 6 until 8 p.m. Oct. 31 to check trick-or-treat candy for safety.

Winter gear collected will be distributed during the evening.

The fire station is located at 20550 Sumpter Road in Belleville.

 

Make a Difference Day set

On Saturday, Nov. 14, volunteers will help rake leaves and provide light outdoor work for low-income senior citizens and those with disabilities in Plymouth and Canton. Last year, 230 volunteers helped clean up 27 homes during the event.

Volunteers are being sought for the day. Sign in begins at 8:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Plymouth. Volunteer registration deadline is Oct. 31. Contact Brian Pergament at 734-453-6879 ext. 7 or brian.pergament@pcuw.org. for more information, to volunteer or to register a home for help.

Sponsors this year are Family Legacy Wealth Partners, Henry Ford Health, Tooth + Waffles Pediatric Dentistry, Meijer, Consumers Energy, and JTEKT.

 

City tailgate party

Romulus is hosting an afternoon of Detroit football and team spirit at the Historical Park Pavilion from noon until 5 p.m. Nov. 8.

The game will be shown on a big screen beginning with the 1 p.m. kickoff and guests are invited to bring favorite tailgate supplies to share with friends and family.

Bubbies Pizza will be on-site with pizza available for purchase.

Historical Park is located at 36095 Goddard Road.

 

 Whiskey Joe book signing set

Children’s author Jill Andra Young is celebrating the launch of two new additions to her beloved Adventures of Whiskey Joe series with a special book event from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at E.G. Nick’s in downtown Plymouth.

The evening will also feature special guest Suzanne LaCroix, who will be introducing her new book, Maple’s Winter Walkabout.

The Adventures of Whiskey Joe children’s book series features a clever Basenji whose curiosity and determination take him on exciting adventures. The signing is open to the public.

4 arrested, 3 charged in Canton mobile home shooting

Four people have been arrested in connection with an Oct. 1 shooting in which at least 50 bullets struck a mobile home in Canton Township, wounding a 1-year-old, police said. Three of the suspects now face multiple charges.

The toddler was hit twice and taken to a hospital and is recovering from the injuries, according to police reports..

Charged were El-Hadji Doumbouya, 23, of Ypsilanti; Jaylen Jackson, 19, of Canton Township; and Seth Priester, 18, of Canton Township. A fourth suspect, a 19-year-old from Detroit who has not been publicly identified, is awaiting arraignment.

The shooting took place just before 1 a.m. on Old Michigan Avenue, near South Haggerty Road and Michigan Avenue. The child’s family told local media that at least 50 bullets were fired into the home.

Canton Township police said detectives, with help from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Michigan State Police, Northville Township police, Livonia police and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, identified four suspects at multiple locations across Southeast Michigan.

On Oct. 15, police executed four search warrants with help from the Western Wayne Special Operations Team, the ATF and state police. The locations included an address on Old Michigan Avenue in Canton Township, the 6000 block of Robindale Drive in Ypsilanti and the 8000 block of Roselawn Street in Detroit. All four suspects were taken into custody, and detectives recovered several firearms, some of which police said were confirmed stolen.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office authorized charges on Oct. 17.

Doumbouya faces three conspiracy counts, including conspiracy to commit assault with intent to murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He also faces three counts of using a computer to commit a crime, the most serious of which carries up to 20 years. He was also given a second-offense habitual offender notice, which can lead to enhanced penalties.

Jackson and Priester each face identical charges: assault with intent to murder, conspiracy to commit assault with intent to murder, two other conspiracy counts, discharging a firearm in or at a building causing injury, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of felony firearm and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

The three were arraigned Oct. 17 before Judge Joe Barone of the 35th District Court. Each was given a $1 million cash bond and, if released, must wear a GPS tether and remain on home confinement. They are due back in court Oct. 30.

It was not immediately clear whether the defendants have attorneys who could comment on the charges. Police did not release a motive for the shooting.

Spooky season

Area communities continue children’s Halloween celebrations

Families across western Wayne County will have opportunities to celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating, costume activities, haunted attractions and seasonal events as communities prepare for Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Events scheduled this week include the Canton Township Scary Hill Village: Kids’ Halloween Stroll, the Northville Streets of Treats and a ghost hunt at Westland Historical Village Park. Other communities are also home to seasonal attractions, although residents should check local calendars for confirmed dates, times and registration requirements.

CANTON TOWNSHIP

In Canton Township, Scary Hill Village will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in Cherry Hill Village. Children can trick-or-treat along Cherry Hill Road between the Arts Warehouse at Cherry Hill and Saj Bakery/Greenland Market. Activities will include themed stops, photo opportunities, and Halloween-themed experiences inside the Arts Warehouse. Families also can enter a decorated stroller or wagon competition. Organizers say advance registration is required for children collecting treats, and tickets will not be sold at the door.

NORTHVILLE

The annual Streets of Treats family Halloween event in Northville is set for this Saturday, Oct. 24. The downtown celebration gives families an opportunity to visit participating businesses and enjoy Halloween activities. Residents should consult the Northville Chamber of Commerce calendar for the latest schedule and participation details.

PLYMOUTH

The Old Village Halloween Block Party is planned for this Sunday, Oct. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. More information is available on the city official calendar on the City of Plymouth website.

ROMULUS

In Romulus, the VFW will host another trunk-or-treat from 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 25. The Spookiest Yard Contest in the city continues through Oct. 30. For more information visit the Romulus Parks and Recreation website.

WESTLAND

In Westland, a ghost hunt is scheduled for 6 to 11 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 23, at Westland Historical Village Park, 857 N. Wayne Road. The city is also hosting a Halloween decorating contest through Oct. 31, with categories recognizing autumn displays, spooky decorations, and elaborate displays. Winners are scheduled to be recognized at the Nov. 16 City Council meeting.

For those looking for a more intense Halloween experience, Westland and nearby Romulus offer seasonal haunted attractions, including Hush Haunted Thrill Park in Westland and Deranged Haunt in Romulus. Visitors should check each attraction’s official website for operating dates, admission and age recommendations before traveling.

Organizers recommend checking event websites before leaving home, particularly for registration requirements, weather-related changes and possible capacity limits.