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Bond proposal called
'right thing to do'
To the editor;
I amwriting this letter to share a
few key reasons why I think sup-
porting the Technology Bond
Proposal on the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot
is important.
First, I believe support for the
Technology Bond will enable
Northville Public Schools to keep
pace with the advancing electronic
tools and expanding new informa-
tion that are vital to education and
student success at college and
beyond.
Second, I believe that the Five
Star rating for Northville High
School,
reported
on
SchoolDigger.com, is important to
Northville in more ways than I can
list. My short list includes the posi-
tive impact on our housing values
and occupancy rates. School rat-
ings consistently rank high in the
decision process for new homebuy-
ers and neighborhoods with top
school ratings see higher home val-
ues. Graduation rates are consis-
tently higher as well, as are the
acceptance rates into top universi-
ties. To maintain this Five Star rat-
ing it is important for students to
work hard, parents to provide solid
values, educators and administra-
tors to give their best and for citi-
zens to foster support and commit
to sustained educational excel-
lence.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
October 11, 2012
They've come a long way in a
year and ahalf.
In March of 2011, officials in the
City of Romulus were faced with
the unpleasant task of closing the
community library due to a lack of
funds to support the facility.
That's when the Friends of the
Romulus Library was formed and
these volunteer residents fought
hard for enough time to devise a
plan to save the facility they con-
sidered crucial to the quality of life
in the city. Their success is a trib-
ute to everyone involved in the
effort.
Today, the library is open six
days a week and offers programs
so popular that several even have
waiting lists. That increase in
hours, in programming, in materi-
als is due to the Friends of the
Library and the city Library Board
that was established to help imple-
ment a plan to save the community
service. That group hired the cur-
rent director, Patty Braden on July
1.
Under her direction, volunteers
from the community who had a
serious desire to ensure that the
City of Romulus continued to have
library services available, worked
diligently to operate the facility
which is now integral to the com-
munity it serves.
Braden said the facility is back
on solid footing, with additional
staff, more volunteers and more
services for the community.
As further evidence of their suc-
cess, during the budget process
this year, city council members
were able to allocate .2 mills to
fund the facility, without increasing
taxes to the public.
Braden said she and the library
board have worked together to
improve the facility since she was
hired. Library hours were
increased as new staff members
were hired. Library hours were
expanded from 29 to 35 hours a
week. In August, it was open 45
hours per week. It is now open 50
hours per week, an important
benchmark because it meets the
minimal standards for Class V
libraries.
Three part-time library assis-
tants and two part-time library
pages have beenhired alongwith a
part-time youth librarian. The
library made good use of an
unpaid intern, as well, who put in
360 hours and worked on several
projects, including an update of
the librarywebsite.
The library now has an
enhanced collection, as older and
damaged materials have been
weeded out. Patrons can now
download music and ebooks for
free, as long as they have a library
card. A fiberoptic cable line
replaced the old T-1 line, making
the internet faster and saving
money at the same time. In August,
the library was able to renew the
Scott Smith is probably getting
really annoyed.
Not as annoyed as several other
people in my life, including my co-
workers and beloved spouse, but
annoyed, nevertheless.
It seems I've been having a bit of
trouble withmy attention span late-
ly. Focusing on starting and com-
pleting any single task seems to be
pretty elusive forme these days and
I am sure my conduct is trying the
patience of most of the folks with
whomI interact.
See, when Scott opened his new
shop next door to our offices, I
couldn't wait to get my nose in his
beautiful new door and see exactly
what he had done with the décor
and what kind of new stuff he had
in stock. For those who don't know,
Scott had the Penniman Gallery for
like 18 years and recently moved
over to Forest Avenue with his new
shop, Opndohr, Hey, that's not a typo
that's how he spells it. Anyway, he's
our new neighbor and I'm giddy
about it because I love his shop and
now it's a 90-second trip, if I walk
really slow.
As he unlocked the door last
week, I nearly knocked him over as
I pushed my way in and, sure
enough, I found a perfect, and I
mean perfect, gift for a friend.
Since it was his opening night, and
the place was filling up rapidly, I
was trying to be courteous and told
Scott I'd come back for the item the
next day.
It's been a week and I haven't
gottenback there yet.
Awhole week and I haven't been
able to find time to walk down-
stairs. Really?
Yep. It took me the whole week
to figure out that my inability to
concentrate has to do with some
free floating anxiety and stress I am
experiencing regarding an upcom-
ing surgical “procedure” looming in
my future. I'm sure I'm just fine and
dandy and not at all worried about
it, but of course, I can't think, can't
concentrate, can't get anything done
and ammore easily distracted than
a 2-year-old in a room of shiny
objects.
I realized this in the middle of
the night when I
remembered I
hadn't found
time to get back to Scott's shop to
pick up that gift and my excuses
sounded lame even tome.
For example, I was on my way
last Saturday when I got distracted
by a loud clanging and banging out-
side, only to find that Frank
Agostini from E.G. Nick's had sent
some of his staff upherewith a very
long section of some kind of metal
pipe which he needed to store next
door.
So, of course, I got involved talk-
ing to Frank about one thing and
another, and then had to get home
to fix dinner so didn't make it to see
Scott.
I was here working on Sunday,
too, but Scott wasn't open, or at least
not while I was here. Then came
Each year, we are impressed with the Diamond of the
Community Award recipient chosen by the Commission on
Aging inWayne.
Who wouldn't be? After all, these are folks who have
reached the age of 70 or older and who still contribute to the
good of their community and perform a great deal of volun-
teer and civic work to make their city a better place for
everyone.
This year, however, the commission members have cho-
sen such an outstanding citizen to honor, we cannot help but
compliment them on their choice and congratulate the hon-
oree who will be the guest of honor at a dinner next week
and then officially recognized at the regular meeting of the
WayneCity Council.
This year the commission has chosen Bridget Kelly for
the award and her name will be inscribed on the plaque of
winners at the Wayne Community Center. She'll get a very
nice engraved plaque recognizing her volunteer work and
community service and even a small cash award, along with
the official city resolution. She deserves all of it and somuch
more.
Kelly is one of those quiet forces of nature who are never
public about the work they do and the services they con-
stantly perform to help others. She hasn't held public office,
doesn't get on a soapbox about her politics and is always just
there with a smile and a helping hand. She usually left the
politics to her late husband, Tom, who served on the Wayne
City Council and in the stateLegislature. She continues to be
active with the Wayne Rotary Club where they were both
members andnowserves as the treasurer of the group.
While her four children are grown, she continues to be
very active with the Wayne-Westland schools, serving on
fund raising drives and volunteering for many charitable
causes along with helping to raise scholarship money and
funding for programs at Wayne Memorial High School. She's
also active with many programs at St. Mary Church, all
involving helping otherswhomay need a handup or improv-
ing the lives of children.
The nominating letters suggesting Kelly for the honor this
year didn't really emphasize all those activities, though.
What they did touch onwasKelly's constant personal dedica-
tion to helping others, to offering her own time to help those
facing difficulties in life. They talk about the constant emo-
tional support Kelly offers to friends and neighbors and her
constant smile and kindwords for everyone.
We couldn't agreemore.
Public service of any kind is admirable, but Kelly's gentle,
kind and unassuming constant spirit of charity, goodwill and
help for her fellow citizens is truly a treasure to all those
who know her, to those she has helped and to so many who
are completely unaware of the time and effort she has dedi-
cated to improving their lives.
We think the Commission on Aging made a terrific and
worthwhile choice inKelly because she personifies the shin-
ing example of a trueDiamond of theCommunity.
A new
chapter
for library
I can't think, can't concentrate,
can't get anything done and am more easily distracted
than a 2-year-old in a room of shiny objects.
”
She hasn't held public office, doesn't get on a
soapbox about her politics and is always just
there with a smile and a helping hand.
”
No excuse for my constant ‘excuses’
‘Diamond Award’ winner shines brightly in Wayne
See
Library,
page 7
See
Letters,
page 7
See
Excuses,
page 7
Letters