No. 08
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
February 25 – March 2, 2016
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
The
controller
at
Beaumont Hospital - Wayne,
has used a reward for his
philanthropic efforts to
establish a Hero Wall at the
hospital, honoring the med-
ical teamat the facility.
See page 7.
The Northville School
District is now home to three
of only nine Lighthouse
Schools in the state with the
designation of Ridge Wood
Elementary as a Lighthouse
School.
See page 3.
Vol. 131, No. 08
Vol. 69, No. 08
Vol. 69, No. 08
Vol. 16, No. 08
Mayor Leroy Burcroff
said officials are discussing
the best way to get the mes-
sage out to the public about
water safety in Romulus in
the spirit of transparency.
See page 2.
Vol. 131, No. 08
Vol. 69, No. 08
Vol. 69, No. 08
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Westland City Hall will
soon be filled with original
creations by local artists
from the Three Cities Art
Club who have agreed to dis-
play their work at the new
building.
See page 6.
Canton Leisure Services
was honored with two
mParks awards this year, an
Excellence in Therapeutic
Recreation Programming
Award and a Special
BrochureAward.
See page 3
Vol. 16, No. 24
Detectives from the
Inkster Police Department
and Michigan State Police
Special Investigation Section
are currently investigating a
thirdhomicide in the city.
See page 4.
A community forum esca-
lated into a somewhat heat-
ed debate regarding the
Plymouth
Arts
and
Recreation Complex (PARC)
last week.
See page 5.
Roksana Sikorski entered a guilty plea
Monday, admitting to assault with intent to
murder in the knife attack on her Plymouth
Township family in 2014.
Sikorski, 15 at the time of the attack, has
been incarcerated since she was arrested,
along with her then 22-year-old boyfriend,
Michael Angelo Rivera, at his Detroit
apartment Oct. 15, 2014, the day after the
attack.
Sikorski is scheduled to be sentenced by
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge James
Callahan onMarch 28, just before she turns
17. She and Rivera had both been charged
with offenses including conspiracy, assault
with a dangerous weapon, felony assault
and using a computer to commit a crime.
The two, according to prosecutors, had
planned to kill her family as they slept by
slashing their throats.
The motive, according to police investi-
gators, was a plan for the two to run off
together and for Rivera to avoid statutory
rape charges her parents had filed in
response to the sexual relationship
between the two.
Sikorski attacked her younger brother,
12, with a 6-8 inch knife, slashing at his
throat and severely wounding him before
he ran to a bathroom to escape her, accord-
ing to investigators. During the attack,
according to police, Sikorski and Rivera
were in constant contact by texts on their
phones, as she asked for instructions and
advice on killing her family.
The attack on her brother woke her sis-
ter, 11, whose screams roused her parents
and Sikorski allegedly fled the Heather
Hills subdivisionhomewithRivera.
While Sikorski initially confessed to the
See
Attack,
page 5
Despite the allegations of a
city employee, Westland offi-
cials are confident that the
water in the community is safe.
Last week, Department of
Public Services employee
Frank Raymore told members
of the city council during a regu-
lar meeting that he could no
longer remain quiet about his
suspicions of contamination
from lead water pipes in the
city. He told the council mem-
bers that he was making the
claims under the provisions of
theWhistleblower Act, a federal
provision that prevents the dis-
ciplining or firing of an employ-
ee who publicizes wrongdoing
on the part of an employer.
Raymore alleged that when
he was called out to the site of a
water leak in the center of a
street, he dug up the roadway to
expose the pipes and discov-
ered they were lead. He says he
was told to fix the leak and
rebury the pipe by his supervi-
sor, instructions Mayor William
Wild said are consistent with
the policies in the city.
“We have an outside contrac-
tor who has the equipment and
the skill to replace these lead
pipes,” Wild said. “We replaced
one in September, one in
October and a third one we dis-
covered wasn't lead.” Each
replacement cost the city about
$3,000,Wild said.
“Nothing would lead us to
believe there is any health
threat to any Westland resident
fromthewater,”Wild said.
But, he added, as a precau-
tion, he was going to request
funding from the members of
the City Council at a special
meeting Monday to provide free
water testing in the area
Raymore alleges may still have
leadpipes.
“The area he (Raymore) is
discussing is bordered by
Palmer and Glenwood and
Wayne Road and Wildwood,”
Wild said. There are about 910
homes there and we will offer
free water testing to put resi-
dents' minds at ease.” Wild said
See
Water,
page 6
Celebration of spring
Ancient Chinese tradition to take place at Village Theater
Celebrating a tradition that is thou-
sands of years old, the Canton Commission
for Culture Arts and Heritage
Multicultural Committee will host the 2016
Chinese Spring Festival at The Village
Theater at Cherry Hill at 7 p.m. Saturday,
March 12.
Joining the festivities providing main
stage entertainment are choral perform-
ances by: the Michigan Chinese Choir, the
Canton Philharmonic Choir, the March
Wind Choir, the AM Choir and the New
Century Chinese School youth chorus.
Also featured will be duets and small
group performances by Yangtze Melody
Group and Xin Yun. Pop music of the
Desert Island Band will also entertain
crowds during the special celebration that
will include Chinese Yo-yo, Tai Chi, and a
traditional Chinese instrumental perform-
ance by the Troy Chinese Classic Music
GuzhengTeam.
The evening will include a special guest
performance by Shuping Ma, a notable
opera singer in China and the U.S. She is
a graduate of Sichuan Music College in
China and was a vocal professor at Xinhai
Music College in Guangzhou. Shuping Ma
has performed at theDetroit OperaHouse,
and throughout China and the U.S. and is
the director for three areaChinese choirs.
The art of traditional Chinese folk and
classical dances will be shared by Cherry
Blossom, Shihui Dance Group, Michigan
New Century Chinese School, Clivia
Dance Group, Ann Arbor Jade Dance
School, the Ann Hua Waist Drum Team,
Ann Hua Chinese Dance Group and the
Senior Chinese American Golden Years
Troupe.
Event-goers can also enjoy a free punch
and cookie reception starting at 6 p.m. In
addition, a variety of cultural displays will
be available in The Village Theater lobby.
Tickets to this special Chinese celebration
are $5 per person. The performance will
be on the main stage and seating will be
reserved.
Tickets can be purchased, and printed
at home or held at will call, anytime from
at no extra
charge. The box office is open between 10
a.m. - 2 p.m. weekdays. Tickets can also be
ordered by phone, (734) 394-5300 x3, with a
Visa or Mastercard between the hours of
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. weekdays. If tickets are
available, they can also be purchased one
hour prior to programtime.
The Village Theater at Cherry Hill is
located at 50400CherryHill Road, Canton.
For more information on the 2016
Chinese Spring Festival or other perform-
ances scheduled at The Village Theater at
Cherry
Hill,
visit
or call
(734) 394-5300.
Nothing would lead us to
believe there is any health threat
to any Westland resident from the water.
”
Westland to test residents’ water
Teen pleads guilty in knife attack on family
Van Buren School Board
members named current
Human Resources Director
Shonta Langford Green as
interim superintendent,
replacing Michael Van
Tassel.
See page 4.
Roksana Sikorski
