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January 31 – February 6, 2019 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 05 www .associatednewspapers.net

ENTERPRISE PARC ponders possible sale of land
THE BELLEVILLE
ENTERPRISE

Vol. 134, No. 05
Members of the Belleville The future of the Plymouth ” alive.”
Lions recently learned the Arts and Recreation Complex I personally The building is now owned by
club had been awarded a may rest in the hands of a PARC, a registered 501 c 3 organ-
$20,000 grant to help educate Realtor. would not go ization and both Malcolm and
the public about diabetes. Mark Malcolm, a member of through (a millage) again. Soenen said there is an immedi-
See page 3. the PARC board of directors, told acy to generating funding to con-
a crowd gathered at the Penn tinue operations at the building.
Theatre earlier this month that by those in the township, prompt- Malcolm said. To that end, they announced a
THE CANTON the sale of 10-acres of land at the ed personal attacks and inflam- The 10 acres of land includes fundraising campaign which
EAGLE site of the former Central Middle matory claims by opponents of tennis courts, green space and includes Soenen and his wife,
EAGLE
the .75 millage requested.
School was a strong possibility in
Colleen, matching every dona-
athletic fields. The sale would
Vol. 72, No. 05 an effort to fund continued oper- That millage would have hopefully generate enough cash tion, up to $100. He explained
A proposed Pulte Homes ations and needed repairs and allowed for the construction of for an emergency account and that until the end of February,
development in the Ridge maintenance at the 100-year-old an 800-seat theater, the operation pay for at least $5 million in capi- the couple will contribute the
Road-Warren Road area of building. of which was crucial to the future tal improvements. matching funds up to a total of
Canton Township will During the public forum, of PARC, according to Soenen. “In order to be financially $100,000. He explained that a
receive further study. Malcolm, along with PARC “I feel strongly that we have viable, PARC must either receive donation of $100 would be
See page 5. President Don Soenen, discount- enough people who support this a large donation to build a per- matched at $100 and a donation
ed another bid for voters' support project that we can make it work forming arts center - which is of $1,000 would also be matched
of a tax millage to fund PARC. without having to put up with all theoretically possible, but highly by the maximum of $100.
Information on donations is
THE INKSTER The November election which the bad stuff that happened improbable - or sell the excess available at plymouthparc.com
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR city but overwhelmingly rejected through (a millage) again,” the only ways to keep PARC or on the PARC Facebook page.
land,” Malcolm said. “These are
was supported by voters in the
before. I personally would not go
Vol. 72, No. 05
ruled a case of lawful self- End of an era
The fatal shooting in
Inkster last week has been
defense by the office of
Wayne County Prosecutor Closing of Courthouse Grill
Kym Worthy.
See page 4. marks demise of area tradition

THE NORTHVILLE Julie Brown required to operate a success-
ful restaurant.
EAGLE Staff Writer “I'm 77 and worked 80 hours
EAGLE
Vol. 19, No. 05 As the doors closed for the a week,” he said. A former
final time at the Courthouse Plymouth resident, Messina
Underage decoys visited Grill on Plymouth Road, owner now lives in Northville. He
12 retailers in Northville Sam Messina didn't have too said he is looking forward to
Township last month, many regrets. visiting his family in Arizona
attempting to purchase ciga- He has witnessed wedding and California but has no plans
rettes but not one of the 12 receptions, proms, anniversary to move from the area.
stores agreed to sell to dinners, baby showers and the He came to the Hillside
decoys. rites of passage for decades of with no restaurant back-
See page 2. families celebrated within the ground, he said and “took on
walls of the 84-year-old restau- one of the most complex
rant. restaurants without any expe-
THE PLYMOUTH “It just wasn't meant to be,” rience. The School of Hard
EAGLE Messina said of his efforts to Knocks, just by being here Sam Messina
EAGLE
secure a new owner for the
every day,” he said. “I think just
Vol. 19, No. 05 three story, 16,000-square-foot in general we've kept it a won- vive, you have to adapt.” it's all about hospitality. You
The six Girl Scout troops building that has become a tra- derful, successful experience. After buying The Hillside create an experience for your
of Bird Elementary School dition for generations of area We're closing it because of old Inn from then-owner Jacob guests.”
will host a drive-through families and businesses. age.” Stremich, Messina added an Messina sold the business in
cookie sale from 10 a.m. until Messina has been at the Messina agreed that there outdoor patio and later hired 2001 following DeMichelle's
4 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 2. beloved restaurant for more has been change in the restau- Chef Ernesto DeMichelle, for death, but the buyer defaulted
See page 2. than 35 years and said he is rant business, with delivery, whom the restaurant was and Messina returned to the
now looking forward to retire- casual dining and prepared renamed in 1990. restaurant, now renamed The
ment and spending time with supermarket food. “He was the heart and soul Courthouse Grill.
his family. “Just tremendous amounts of this place,” Messina said. One of Messina's most loyal
THE ROMULUS He bought what was the of change,” he said in an inter- DeMichelle was at the restau- and grateful clients is Judge
ROMAN
ROMAN Hillside Inn in 1983 and has view from the iconic building rant for 10 years prior to his Ronald Lowe of the 35th

Vol. 134, No. 05 seen a lot of changes in the next to the 35th District Court. death. District Court.
industry since then. One of the “But that's not unique to “He told me restaurant “I came to town in 1982.
Black History Month in things that hasn't changed is Plymouth or the restaurant operation was a million little
Romulus will be celebrated the amount of hard work that is industry. If you're going to sur- details. At the end of the day, See Farewell, page 2
with two annual events that
have become a tradition in
the city. 2 house fires call for area Mutual Aid
See page 3.

Don Howard a structure fire on Forest Drive from Plymouth Township,
THE WAYNE Staff Writer in Northville Township Northville City, Livonia and
EAGLE explained Northville Township Novi fire departments it took
EAGLE
Professional cooperation
Vol. 72, No. 05 and teamwork among several Fire Chief Brent Siegel. He more than an hour to bring the
fire under control with a total
said his first units responded
A meeting with represen- community fire departments within four minutes of the 9-1-1 of 30 firefighter-paramedics.
tatives of Schafer was crucial in battling two calls to find a working fire in First units to arrive were the
Development regarding pri- major house fires, one in the kitchen and basement of township command unit, lad-
vate development plans for Northville and one in the large two-story single fami- der truck (fire engine) and two
both Jaycee and Kiwanis Plymouth, recently. ly home with walkout base- ambulances. All total, six fire
parks is set for next week at Bitterly cold sub-zero tem- ment and three-car attached engines and four ambulances
the library. peratures created difficult con- garage. were dispatched to the home.
See page 5. ditions for the firefighters last According to a report from He said it took the fire depart-
Sunday evening responding to Siegel, even with mutual aid ment 3 ½ hours before all the Amelia St. Photo by Don Howard
hot-spots were completely cial reports. The home was
THE WESTLAND extinguished and 5 hours insured and the fire depart-
EAGLE before firefighters could leave ment is working with the
EAGLE

Vol. 72, No. 05 the scene. The 3,800 square homeowners and their insur-
ance company. There were no
foot brick colonial suffered sig-
Grants from the Michigan nificant damage to the first reported injuries.
State Police and other floor kitchen and basement, Just hours after fighting the
sources will fund traffic Siegel said. fire in the city of Northville,
improvements, parks and The cause and origin of the Northville Township fire fight-
improvements at the fire are still under investiga- ers were asked for mutual aid
Jefferson Barns Vitality tion and the loss estimate of response at 225 Amelia St. in
Center. structural damage has yet to be
See page 4. Forest Dr. Photo by Matt Zmuda determined, according to offi- See Fires, page 2

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