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January 10 – 16, 2019 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 02 www .associatednewspapers.net

ENTERPRISE Plymouth Ice Festival begins tomorrow
THE BELLEVILLE
ENTERPRISE

Vol. 134, No. 02
The Belleville Commun- The sounds of chain saws Dueling Chain Saws
ity Chorus will begin and snow-making machines Competition will all return.
rehearsals for the 13th sea- will start filling downtown This year, a partnership with
son at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14 Plymouth today as prepara- Michigan First Credit Union
at First United Methodist tions are well under way for the will bring a huge, 20-block
Church. 37th Annual Plymouth Ice sculpture to the event along
See page 4. Festival which begins tomor- with a petting farm and pony
row and continues through rides and DTE has sponsored
Sunday. the unique, 100-foot snow slide,
THE CANTON James Geitzen of JAG enter- which is always a huge crowd
EAGLE tainment which produces the pleaser, Geitzen said..
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“I enjoy the whole thing, I
event said that the only real
Vol. 72, No. 02 concern is the weather, but really do,” Geitzen said. “I'm
Evalino Productions has some exhibitors and attractions really pleased it is so successful
formally launched a new the- have taken extreme measures and keeps just getting bigger
ater company to present to ensure that even Mother and better and attracting larger
classic adult and young/adult Nature can't interfere with the crowds.”
productions at The Village fun. Last year the event drew
Theater at Cherry Hill. Sun and Snow will be mak- nearly 100,000 visitors during
See page 5. ing snow using machines round the three-day weekend he
the clock if necessary for the noted and this year, he expects
cross country ski trail they between 100-150 sculptures
THE INKSTER install in Kellogg Park and the throughout downtown
LEDGER STAR snow slide will use a synthetic Plymouth to bring in an equally
LEDGER STAR
Vol. 72, No. 02 product to make sure everyone large crowd.
has a good time.
The annual Collegiate Ice
Michigan State Police are This is Geitzen's fifth year at Carving Competition, present-
investigating a shooting that the helm of the event and the ed by Genisys Credit Union,
left two Inkster men in criti- seventh year he has been will host two carving competi-
cal condition following a involved in organizing and pre- tions, which will include partic-
shooting that took place senting the festival. ipants from several Michigan
Christmas night. This year, he doesn't plan to colleges and universities. The Photo by Robert Lovelace
See page 3. make many changes in the Ice individual competition will at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13. One of the most popular fam-
Festival, which continues to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. Teams of two carvers will work ily attractions of the festival,
THE NORTHVILLE grow in both popularity and 12. Competitors will have three together to build and sculpt Geitzen said, is the Blue Care
EAGLE scope. The fan favorite attrac- hours to carve before their cre- their ice carvings. Network Cross-Country Skiing
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ations are judged by a team of
The winners of each contest
Zone presented by Sun and
tions such as the Ice
Vol. 19, No. 02 Playground, the DTE Energy expert ice carvers. will be announced and receive Snow. Seasoned professionals
Those with substance Foundation Tubing Run, Fire The ice-carving team compe- trophies each day around 3
abuse issues can get help and Ice Towers, and the titions will take place beginning p.m. See Festival, page 2
Recovery program 24/7 for Commission ‘updates’ Northville Downs plan
from Growth Works Inc.,
which offers a Rescue
residents of Canton and A developer's plan for neigh- Northville School District.
Northville townships. borhood housing bordered by ” Residents also commented that
See page 5. Other concerns expressed
commercial buildings at the cur- the developer's current commer-
rent Northville Downs horse included traffic congestion cial space doesn't meet master
racing track property remains and pedestrian safety. plan requirements and daylight-
THE PLYMOUTH under consideration by mem- ing the river needs to ensure
EAGLE bers of the Northville Planning including business owners, and tioning the houses so they don't that the entire Rouge watershed
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Commission members.
is protected.
Vol. 19, No. 02 Commissioners voted 6-3 at others interested in the pro- obscure the park fronting River City contracted engineers,
First Presbyterian Church the Dec. 18 meeting to refer the posed development. It was the Street and providing an expand- OHM, presented an analysis of
in Plymouth has been sued preliminary Planned Unit second meeting about the PUD; ed area for the Farmers Market. options for improved traffic flow
by the family of a 5-year-old Development (PUD) back to the the first took place Oct. 2, 2018, Wertheimer is now request- and determined that installing a
girl, claiming the church was applicant, Randy Wertheimer of when the initial plan was pre- ing a tax abatement of $9.5 mil- roundabout at Seven Mile and
negligent in protecting the Hunter Pasteur Homes, for “fur- sented. lion to cover the cost of environ- Sheldon Road would be the best
child from a sexual assault. ther information”. The commis- Wertheimer, CEO of Hunter mental factors that need to be way to alleviate traffic conges-
See page 2. sioners are asking for more Pasteur Homes, made several remedied at an estimated cost of tion and improve safety for both
financial information and want changes to the original plans fol- $4.5 million as well as building drivers and pedestrians.
the developer to adjust aspects lowing the October meeting in 160 additional parking spaces Other concerns expressed
THE ROMULUS that would bring the PUD closer response to feedback from com- that were not part of his original included traffic congestion and
ROMAN to the city master plan in terms munity members who attended plan, estimated to cost another pedestrian safety; the opinion
ROMAN
$5 million.
that meeting. Wertheimer
of commercial space, parking
that townhouses would not be
Vol. 134, No. 02 and site density, they said during termed these changes “commu- Community representatives suitable for older residents, and
A community celebration the meeting. nity benefits,” which include offered several comments dur- the need for more or less com-
titled Standing Up For About 150 residents attended day lighting the Middle Rouge ing the meeting noting that there mercial space in the develop-
Democracy will begin at 7:30 the meeting at Hillside School River on the property; reposi- is room for new students in the ment.
a.m. Jan. 21 in honor of
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Grant from foundation funds purchase of PARC site
in Romulus.
See page 3. The failure of a ballot millage ” donated $3.5 million to purchase
question may have temporarily The Jack Wilcox Theater will the school and property from
discouraged supporters of the the Plymouth Canton
Plymouth Arts and Recreation be a legacy to Jack's commitment Community School District, said
THE WAYNE Complex (PARC), but they are they were pleased with the
EAGLE far from defeated. to the Plymouth community. transfer of ownership.
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“With the loss of the millage
A grant from the Community
Vol. 72, No. 02 Foundation for Southeast making the viability and sur-
Memorial services for Michigan has facilitated the pur- “The breadth of organiza- Family Foundation. The Jack vival of PARC so uncertain, we
Karen Ann Norton are chase of the Plymouth Arts and tions at PARC provide a valued Wilcox Theater will be a legacy are delighted and grateful to
planned for Saturday, Jan. 12 Recreation Complex by PARC, a service to many in the communi- to Jack's commitment to the have found a way forward that
at the Harry J. Will Funeral 501c3 non-profit corporation. ty,” said Mariam Noland, presi- Plymouth community,” Soenen will keep the historic building
Home in Wayne. The transfer of ownership dent of the Community said. alive with such great organiza-
See page 4. was finalized Jan. 2, according to Foundation. A millage question on the tions and activities for the bene-
PARC President Don Soenen. In addition to the grant from November ballot, seeking 0.75- fit of the community,” the couple
The 16.6-acre site near down- the Community Foundation, the mill tax hike for 20 years was said in a prepared statement.
THE WESTLAND town Plymouth has been home Wilcox Family Foundation pro- approved by 2,765 to 2,544 in the Details about the changes in
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EAGLE to the PARC since Central vided a contribution of $200,000 City of Plymouth, but was defeat- plans at PARC necessitated by

Vol. 72, No. 02 Middle School was closed by the as part of a $1 million multi-year ed 7,106-4,762 by voters in the millage failure will be com-
Plymouth Township. The ballot
pledge, concurrent with PARC
municated in a public meeting
Plymouth-Canton school district
Newly-elected State Rep. in 2015. More than 25 arts, becoming the owner of the prop- proposal would have provided at the Penn Theatre beginning
Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) recreation, and education erty. A portion of the pledge is necessary maintenance at the at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16.
was named an assistant dem- organizations are presently designated to provide a 150-200 100-year-old school building and The Penn Theatre is located
ocratic whip for the 100th based at PARC, including the seat theater in the existing funded the construction of an across from Kellogg Park in
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Philharmonic, theater building, Soenen explained. 800-seat theater on the adjacent downtown Plymouth. For more
See page 4. groups and artists in various dis- “We are honored by the sup- property. information, contact Soenen at
ciplines. port of the prestigious Wilcox Mark and Patty Malcolm, who (734) 927-4090.

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