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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
February 7, 2013
W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
This winter, thousands of fami-
lies in out-Wayne County are going
without heat in their homes.
Families in many local neighbor-
hoods are forced to decide between
feeding their families or heating
their homes.
In an effort to provide help to
those in such desperate need,
Wayne Metropolitan Community
Action Agency will host the 17th
Annual Walk for Warmth from 9
a.m. until noon at Westland Center
on Feb. 23. The Walk is the largest
fundraising event of the agency and
raises funds to assist families in
need of utility assistance.
The agency has received thou-
sands of calls for assistance this
winter, but budget cuts have had a
significant impact on the agency's
ability to provide emergency utility
assistance this season, according to
said Wayne Metro CEO Louis
Piszker.
“There is a tremendous need for
utility assistance and Walk for
Warmth funds really help us pro-
vide a valuable service” said
Piszker.
Community supporters are
encouraged to start a team with co-
workers, friends and family. Teams
consist of at least five members and
are eligible to win awards. Awards
will be presented in both youth and
adult categories for: Best Team
Name, Most Team Spirit, Highest
Total Pledges and Largest Team of
Walkers. “It's really a lot of fun.
Teams get pretty competitive and
it's all for a great cause” said
Piszker.
Walkers can also create a unique
fundraising website and raise funds
online at www.firstgiving.com/
waynemetro. Walkers can e-mail
their page to friends and family and
encourage them to make a safe and
secure online donation to support
thewalk.
The first 300 walkers who raise a
minimumof $15 will receive an offi-
cial Walk for Warmth T-shirt.
Westland Center is located at 35000
W. Warren Ave. The Walk for
Warmth will include entertainment,
team awards and door prizes. As
the Community Action Agency for
the forty-two communities in Out-
Wayne County, Wayne Metro offers
over 50 programs to assist income-
eligible community residents.
For more information on the
Walk
for
Warmth,
visit
www.waynemetro.org or call (734)
246-2280 ext. 123.
There is a tremendous need
for utility assistance and Walk for Warmth
funds really help us provide a valuable service.
”
Walk For Warmth set at Westland Center
Ripple Effect meeting
reveals downtown priorities
More than 80 people attended the Wayne
Ripple Effect meeting recently to help chart
the future of downtownWayne.
According to organizer Sherrie Brindley,
those who attended were asked to complete
a survey of their top three priority projects of
the downtown area. The majority rated a
destination restaurant as their top priority
with 45 votes. That was followed by 38 votes
for fun activities downtown and another 27
votes for a canoe launch in the downtown
area.
White lights garnered 19 votes and a cof-
fee shop was the priority of 13 of those sur-
veyed. Residential development downtown
was a priority for 11 and outdoor music con-
certs were a priority for 10 who attended.
Seven of those in attendance wanted to see a
Main Street manager and six wanted public
art. Five voters choose benches as a priority,
two wanted more Christmas décor and only
onewantedbike racks in the downtown area.
The group, formed to help plan the future
of downtownWayne, includes local residents,
business owners, property owners and
school officials, Brindley said.
She also said that the group was inspired
about the future of downtownWayne but that
they are in need of in-kind services such as
office space, legal advice, accounting and tax
services and the biggest need, cashpledges.
The group meets at 6 p.m.on the third
Thursday of eachmonth at theWayne Public
Library, and is open to the public.
The Ripple Effect is a citizens' action
group dedicated to creating a more vibrant,
inviting and visually appealing downtown
where residents enjoy spending their leisure
time andbusinesses prosper.
“We aim to accomplish this goal by team-
ing up with ambitious and positive volun-
teers who are willing to offer time, materials,
ideas and/or talents in an effort to beautify
downtown”Wayne, Brindley said.
Schools elect new officers
Wayne seeking distinguished alumni
The top two choices of voters in the
Wayne-Westland Community Schools
Board of Education election last
November were sworn into office recent-
ly.
Top vote getter SallyMadison and close
second Frederick Weaver took their oaths
of office for the six-year terms on the
board.
Madison, of Westland, thanked her
family and friends for their support and
said that it was an honor to have been
elected to the board.
Weaver, who is also a Westland resi-
dent, resigned from the board in 2008. He
was appointed in August 2011 to fill the
vacancy created when William Grabiel
resigned.
He, too, thanked the voters for their
support.
Carol Middel of Canton Township, was
elected to a second term as president of
the board and Thomas Buckalew of
Wayne was chosen as vice-president. John
Goci of Westland will serve as secretary
and Shawna Walker of Westland will con-
tinue to serve as treasurer of the board.
Superintendent of Schools Greg
Baracy presented Middel with the presi-
dent's gavel.
Wayne Memorial High School is seeking
nominations for the annual distinguished
alumni medal, which is awarded annual at
commencement ceremonies.
Nominations of graduates who have distin-
guished themselves professionally or in their
community are being accepted until Feb. 25 at
the Office of the Principal, Wayne Memorial
High School, 3001 Fourth St., Wayne, MI 48184.
More information is available at (734) 419-2206.
Winners are each is presented a medal
inscribed with the official school seal com-
memorating their achievements during gradu-
ation ceremonies in June.