Westland awards $280,000 in business grants

More than 45 Westland businesses will be awarded a total of $280,000 in grants under the Westland CARES Small Business Relief Program.  The average grant award totaled $5,000.  Funds will be dispersed in the upcoming weeks upon execution of grant agreements between the City of Westland and the grantees.  A list of businesses who receive funds will be available upon completion of the agreements. There is no obligation for businesses to repay funds unless information provided through the application process is deemed to be fraudulent. 

Former fire chief mourned

After a private service last Thursday for former Plymouth
Township Fire Chief Larry Groth, the funeral procession
passes by Township Fire Station 1 on Haggerty Road.
A restored 1936 Seagrave Safety Sedan fire wagon
owned by the Detroit Fire Department led the procession.
The antique vehicle reserved for fallen firefighter
comrades and other dignitaries was retired in
1967 and later converted for use as a hearse.

Former Plymouth Township Fire Chief Larry F. Groth, Sr. was conveyed to his final resting place in Mount Hope Memorial Gardens last week in a 1936 fire wagon reserved for  fire department dignitaries.
Chief Groth, 78, died on June 27, 2020. He moved to Plymouth with his family in 1950 and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1960 and immediately joined the City of Plymouth Fire Department. In 1965, he joined the Plymouth Township Fire Department where he was steadily promoted, becoming chief in 1979. He served as Plymouth Township Fire Chief until his retirement in 2003.

League of Women Voters is offering election information

The League of Women Voters of Dearborn-Dearborn Heights is urging voters to prepare for the upcoming Aug. 4 primary election and the Nov. 3 general election by visiting VOTE411.org.
The website, which the national League of Women Voters launched in 2006, serves as a “one-stop-shop” for nonpartisan election related information and responses to relevant questions for federal and state races and ballot proposals.

Work set to begin at Fish Hatchery Park in Northville

The strip of land shows the close proximity of the
pond to Johnson Creek. File photo by Liz Cezat. 

Work is expected to begin within the next few weeks on the rebuilding of the Johnson Creek riverbank and pond at Fish Hatchery Park in Northville.
The work has been in planning stages for several years and is an effort to improve the park area and the Rouge watershed, officials said.
Anglin Civil, LLC, of Livonia, was awarded a contract in the amount of $963,090 to perform the earth-moving and restoration work. The project will bring to life a design created last year by Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. (ECT) of Ann Arbor, with engineering support from Soil Materials and Engineers (SME). SME designed the wall replacement that keeps the pond separate from the creek.

Happy Fourth of July

Inkster veteran’s military 
service rewarded with new roof

Lloyd G. Lockett, a U.S. Army veteran, had a very special Fourth of July last week.
Inkster Mayor Patrick Wimberly and representatives from Habitat for Humanity visited his Sylvia Street home to help him celebrate a brand new roof being installed as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project. Owens Corning donated the roofing material which was installed by Tittle Brothers Construction, a local family owned business which donated the labor for the installation.

Inkster sailor completes 7-month carrier deployment

A 2011 Inkster High School graduate returned home June 16, marking the end of a seven-month deployment aboard USS Harry S. Truman. Since departing its homeport of Norfolk, VA in November 2019, the aircraft carrier sailed in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Lorenzo H. Bonner is a personnel specialist aboard the carrier. As a personnel specialist, Bonner is responsible for supporting overall command readiness.
“My job on many occasions consist of emergency travel,” said Bonner. “Whether a member is injured or a loved one is hurt or worst case, passes away, I love the fact that I know the job well enough to confidently accomplish my job to get my fellow sailors back home.”

On the job

Police chief retires, signs 
contract to remain with city

Westland Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik has announced his retirement but he isn't going anywhere soon and will continue to serve the community.
In an employment strategy that is expected to save the city about $280,000 during the 5-year contract Jedrusik signed with the city, he will retire and collect some of the benefits he has accrued during his 25 years with the Westland Police Department while continuing to work as the police chief under the terms of the new employment contract.

Police seeking identification of trailer theft suspects

Westland police are attempting to identify two persons of interest in a theft of a black dual axle “PJ” trailer.
Two men were seen at the site of the new Cleavers Meat/Deli, which is not yet open, located at 28762 Warren Road at about 10 p.m. June 22, police said.  The subjects were seen at the location and shortly thereafter one of the men leaves the location with the stolen trailer.
One man is described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s. He is about 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 8-inches tall and has an average build.

Village Arts Factory project awarded honor by state preservation network

What is now known as the Village Arts Factory 
started as a dilapidated industrial warehouse.

The Partnership for Arts & Humanities in Canton Township recently received the 2020 Government/Institution Award from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network.
The award was granted for the work of the group on the rehabilitation and revitalization of the Cherry Hill Ford Factory complex, located in Cherry Hill Village.
The Partnership for the Arts & Humanities is a small nonprofit that took on a very big challenge in the Cherry Hill Village. What is now known as the Village Arts Factory started as a dilapidated industrial warehouse.
The ramshackle building was once the site of Henry Ford's final, most unique and least publicized industry. Unlike other village-based industries Ford operated, he dedicated this one to providing employment and residence opportunities to disabled veterans of World War II.

One more time

Belleville resident wins 2nd
Lottery Powerball jackpot 

Thomas McIntyre of Belleville won his second Powerball
prize in April, the day before his birthday and the
day before he planned to retire. 

Luck struck a second time for a Belleville man who won $250,000 from the Michigan Lottery playing Powerball online.
Thomas McIntyre, 65, matched four of the white balls and the Powerball - 01-33-35-40-69 and PB: 24 - in the April 22 drawing to win a $50,000 prize. Thanks to the Powerplay, his prize was multiplied by five for a $250,000 prize. He bought his winning ticket online at MichiganLottery.com.
The is McIntyre's second big Powerball win. In October 2019, McIntyre won a $100,000 prize playing Powerball online.
“You never really expect to win a huge Lottery prize, winning for a second time is truly unbelievable,” said McIntyre. “Just like when I won in October, the first person I shared the news with was my mom.

County confirms 13 cases of COVID-19 in Romulus businesses

Thirteen cases of COVID-19 in two Romulus businesses have been confirmed by the Wayne County Public Health Division.
The department announced Sunday that 12 cases of the virus are connected to the Playhouse Club employees or patrons and another positive case is an employee of Checkers restaurant in Romulus.
The Wayne County communicable disease team recently completed a case investigation and tracing for the confirmed cases in Romulus. Those testing positive have been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days and until their next COVID-19 test shows no sign of the disease.

Wayne police chief’s performance commended by council

Members of the Wayne City Council unanimously agreed to a letter of commendation for Police Chief Ryan Strong during their meeting last month.
The request for the commendation was presented to the council members by City Manger Lisa Nocerini who said she had received the letter recommending the honor from police Lt. Finley Carter.
“I could not agree more,” Nocerini said of the praise Carter directed at Strong's leadership and decision making particularly during the pandemic in the City of Wayne.
“I strongly support these accolades.”

Wayne Public Library Plaza Pickup service is now available

The new Plaza Pickup program at the library is
available at the Veteran's Plaza doorway to the facility.

Wayne Public Library Director Jody Wolak had some good news for city officials and residents recently.
Wolak told members of the Wayne City Council that the library would begin opening again for public use in phases, ensuring the safety of users and staff members with each service returned for public use.
“We're going to follow all safety recommendations,” Wolak  told members of the Wayne City Council at their June 16 virtual meeting.

Schools of Choice enrollment now open in Plymouth-Canton

Members of the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education recently approved new deadlines for Schools of Choice applications.
The Schools of Choice program allows students from outside the school district to attend Plymouth Canton schools. The new resolution will allow a maximum enrollment of 200 students in kindergarten through 10th grade for the 2020-21 school year, according to a prepared statement from the district.

Help wanted

Jo Ann Gardner, above,  is looking for some volunteers to help install the Butterfly Garden that is being added at Banatoi Park/Sherwood Pond in Sumpter Township this week. Today and tomorrow, July 9 and 10, volunteers are need to spread soil to start a pathway around the garden area. On Saturday, July 11, various foliage and plants will be put in the ground and donations of plantings are welcome.