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EWSPAPERS OF
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January 12, 2017
Calendar of events
actually had to call Sears
Holdings corporate offices to
verify the news of the closing of
the store, opened in 1966.
The city did receive an offi-
cial notice of closing from
Macy's, which opened as a J. L.
Hudson's in 1965 and was the
original anchor store in the
Westland Shopping Center.
That store was among the 68
closures announced by the cor-
poration in a downsizing move
last week.
The notice informed the city
that layoffs of the 160 Macy's
employees at the Westland
store would begin this month
andbe complete byMarch 31.
Wild said that the city had
anticipated the closing of
Macy's, although they did not
have any official notice in
advance of the announcement
last week.
“The store has been a part of
the community since the begin-
ning,” Wild said. He added that
the city is also concerned about
the continued operation of
Sears in the mall in light of the
announced closing of the
Kmart.
Wild said Westland Mall has
newownership and that the city
will work with them to help
develop theMacy's site.
“The mall is still viable,”
Wild said. “The Kohl's there is
the top grossing store in the
entire nation and has been for
several years.”
Wild added that a new H&M
store is coming into the
Westland mall which should
attract a lot of younger shop-
pers.
“It's definitely a change of
the marketplace,” he said and
“a correction in the business
model.”
Wild said he was confident
that the Macy's site would be
redevelopedwithin a short time
and that the 11-acre Kmart
property was still a viable loca-
tion.
“The city will be involved in
helping market the site,” he
said. “We keep a good record of
the inventory of property in the
city and have them all listed on
the city website. We'll be very
active in trying tohelp.”
He said he didn't believe that
the closingswere any indication
of any economic downturn in
Westland, but rather a change
inmarketing across the country.
“It stresses the fact that we as
a city need to distance our-
selves from a dependence on
retail. We have been slowly
attracting new businesses in
our industrial park and we will
continue to market to those
businesses,” he said.
Wild said he had several
calls from residents about the
closing of Macy's wondering if
there was any action the city
could take.
“We have reached out to the
corporate office, but I doubt
that there is anything we can
do,”Wild said.
In addition to the Plymouth
Township and Westland loca-
tions, Kmart announced the
closing of the original store in
GardenCity open since 1962.
Keller Williams Realty of
Plymouth.
For more information, call
(734) 394-5300 or visit
tonvillagetheater.org
INTHECITYOFROMULUS
The City of Romulus will cel-
ebrate the life and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. with a
march beginning at 8 a.m. Jan.
16 from Romulus Middle School
toRomulusHighSchool.
Shuttle Service will be pro-
vided from Romulus High
School to the Middle School
from7 a.m. until 7:45 a.m.
The celebration, titled “The
Dream Still Matters,” is being
organized by the City of
Romulus,
the
Romulus
Ministerial Alliance and the
Romulus Community Schools.
For more information about the
celebration, contact the Rev.
Arthur Willis, committee chair-
man at (313) 701-2423 or City
Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg at (734)
955-4545.
Participants will meet at
Romulus Middle School at 7:30
a.m. and the Community March
will begin at 8 a.m. when a conti-
nental breakfast in the Romulus
High School cafeteria, spon-
sored by the Romulus Rotary
Club, will be served.
At 9:30 a.m. a celebration of
Dr. King's life and achievements
will take place in the high school
auditorium.
INWESTLAND
In Westland, a Freedom Walk
and Celebration will take place
starting at the Westland Public
Library at 9 a.m. Monday. The
walk will travel to Westland City
Hall where light refreshments
will be served and a celebration
is planned. The event is expect-
ed to continueuntil 11 a.m.
The library is located at 6123
Central City Parkway. Bus serv-
ice from Westland City Hall on
Warren Road will begin at 8 a.m.
and take participants to the
library for thewalk back.
The City Hall celebration will
begin at 10 a.m.
Closings
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(BYC) and tickets are priced at $50 per person.
The ticket price includes a three-course buffet
meal, beverages, beer and wine. Tables of eight
can be purchased at a discount rate of $360, offi-
cials said.
The evening will include an awards ceremo-
ny during which the recipients of the Ted
Kuckelman, Leona Van Buhler and Business of
the Year awards will be honored. Entertainment
will be provided by Dueling Pianos and a silent
auction is also planned as part of the evening.
Chamber of Commercemembership awardswill
also be presented.
Chamber officials are currently accepting
items that can be used as part of the silent auc-
tion. Donated items can be picked-up for the
convenience of local merchants or businesses,
officials said. To purchase tickets or for more
information, contact the chamber office at (734)
697-7151.
Distinguished youngwomen sought
The next Distinguished Young Woman pro-
gramwill take place March 10 and preparations
are already underway to findparticipants.
An orientationmeeting for young womenwho
are juniors in high school will take place
Monday, Jan. 23 at 37955Glenwood inWayne.
The program format has changed, organizers
said, and the program now focuses on junior
rather than senior high school students.
Any high school junior who lives in Wayne or
Westland can register at any time at
guishedyw.org and clicking onApplyNow.
Those who enter will be contacted with more
detailed information regarding the orientation
meeting, organizers said.
Friends andChamber on a roll
The Romulus Chamber of Commerce and the
Friends of the Romulus Library will host
Bowling Night At Romulus Lanes beginning
with registration at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28.
Bowling will begin at 8 p.m. and the $20 per
person fee included three games, shoe rental,
pizza and pop. There will be a 50/50 raffle and a
cashbarwill be available.
The event is limited to 72 bowlers and is usu-
ally a sell out.
Romulus Lanes is located at 37452 W. Huron
RiverDr.
For ticket information, call (734) 893-0694.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Friends
of theLibrary and theChamber of Commerce.
Butterfly balls return inCanton
Back by popular demand, the Butterfly Balls,
a Valentine's tradition, return Feb. 10 and 11 to
the Summit on the Park, offering a unique expe-
rience and plenty of special memories. Dads
and daughters can enjoy an evening of dancing,
refreshments, a special butterfly souvenir, and
the popular balloon drop that caps off the festivi-
ties.
Dads and their dates can choose from three
dances, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 or 2 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Feb.11.
Semiformal or dressy-casual attire is recom-
mended. No corsage pre-saleswill be available.
Ticket sales end Feb. 1 and each participant
is required to have a ticket for entry. Tickets are
available at the Summit on the Park front desk
for $10.50 for residents and $13.50 for non-resi-
dents.
These dances traditionally sell out, organizers
said. Formore information, call (734) 394-5460
Winter market planned
The first of threemonthlyWinterMarkets will
take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb.
26 in the Summit on the Park Banquet lobby,
located at 46000 Summit Parkway.
Markets are also scheduled for March 19 and
April 23 at the Summit. More than a dozen local
vendors will be featured. Michigan goods avail-
able include: baked goods, artisan cheese and
bread, frozen and dried pastas, hoop-house
grown produce and more. For the latest infor-
mation, visit
market.
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