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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
3
May 3, 2012
I
NKSTER
- W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Several defendants charged with
offenses like drunk driving, shoplift-
ing and drug possession won't be
going to the 18th District Court
house in Westland for their trials
tomorrowmorning.
Instead, they will appear before
Chief Judge Sandra Ference
Cicirelli and Judge Mark A.
McConnell at Stevenson Middle
School where their hearings on the
charges will take place before a
roomful of students. The actual tri-
als are part of Law Day, a program
that has been in existence since
1979 and which is designed to give
the public and students a better
understanding of the court system.
The program offers a realistic
view of our court system, noted
Cicirelli. She and McConnell will be
hearing actual cases 9 a.m. until
noon at the school tomorrow.
“I think it's important for the
public to see the legal process in
action and even more important for
the youth of our community to see
the serious consequences of violat-
ing the law,” said McConnell.
“It's a great learning opportunity
for the students. They not only learn
about our Michigan laws, but they
also see first-hand what the penal-
ties and consequences are for viola-
tions of those laws. The judges
select cases that they feel are espe-
cially relevant to the students,” said
Cicirelli.
Despite reports in the news
about youth apathy or violence, it is
often the case that the students par-
ticipating in Law Day are not only
interested in the legal process, but
ask pertinent and thoughtful ques-
tions of the judges, attorneys, law
enforcement officials and the gov-
ernment representatives, she added.
“The 18th District Court closes
each Law Day session a little more
encouraged about our children”, she
added.
The financial picture in the City
ofWaynewill soon look a lot clearer.
City council members were set to
vote on the beginnings of a proposed
merger of the fire departments of
Westland and Wayne on Tuesday
night and host public hearings on
the 2012-2013 budget, as well as a
potential Special Assessment
District (SAD) that would be
imposed on residents and business
owners to keep the street lights
operating.
The fire department issue, dis-
cussed and voted on already in
Westland, would provide one fire
chief supervising both departments.
Mel Moore, the Wayne Fire Chief,
and Mike Reddy, who helms the
Westland Fire Department, would
retire and Reddy would return as a
sub-contractor with administrative
duties for bothdepartments.
The move would save both
municipalities money, according to
Westland Mayor Bill Wild. Wayne
would fund $50,000 of Reddy's
salary.
Moore's retirement agreement
was on the May 1 Wayne City
Council agenda; it will be effective
onMay 14. Deputy Fire Chief Shawn
Bell will be appointed acting fire
chief until Reddy's contract goes
into effect on July 1. Those actions
were pending council approval, and
the votewasn't known at press time.
Special assessments were mailed
out recently to residents and busi-
ness owners whose properties are
adjacent to local and major roads in
the city that currently have street
lighting. The additional bills range
from about $30-$60 yearly for resi-
dents, while some business owners
have reported assessments of sever-
al hundred dollars. The assess-
ments, if approved by the council,
would be for 10 years to pay for the
maintenance and operation of
streetlights in the city.
The city will host a public hear-
ing at 7 p.m. on May 15 at the Wayne
Community Center on the issue and
meet at 8 p.m. for a public hearing
on the proposed 2012-2013 budget in
which the city will levy the same
millage as last year.
This year, during National
Women's Health Week May 13 19,
TheNational Kidney Foundation of
Michigan will be educating women
about how to prevent and manage
diabetes and offering health educa-
tion and information through vari-
ous Inkster-area events.
Events planned by the kidney
foundation include a Free Health
Screening Day from 9 a.m. until 4
p.m. May 14 at the Western Wayne
Health Center, 2500 Hamlin Road,
Inkster. Health screenings for high
blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and
more testing will be offered. There
will also be counseling and educa-
tion for tobacco usage, folic acid
supplementation, and other health
matters.
Another event will take place
from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. May 15
which includes nutrition and fit-
ness education also at Western
Wayne Health Center, 2500 Hamlin
Road, Inkster. The day will include
education on healthy eating and
exercise and a fitness instructor
will give fitness demonstrations and
tips.
A
Work/Life
Balance
Presentation is planned for 11 a.m.
May 18 at YWCA of Western Wayne
County, 26279 Michigan Ave.
Inkster. Participants can learn
about the connection between
physical health and mental health
and find out about free community
programs that are available to bet-
termanage personal health.
A Day with "JENNIE" JJ's Way is
planned from 6-9 p.m. May 19, also
at YWCA of Western Wayne County,
26279MichiganAve. Inkster.
Participants can learn about
women's wellness "JJ's Way" as
Jennie educates about her innova-
tive model to eliminate racial and
class disparities in prenatal health
and improve birthoutcomes for all.
To inquire about any of these
events, contact Jodi Burke (800) 482-
1455. For information about manag-
ing and preventing diabetes, check
out the National Diabetes
Education Program at ndep.nih.gov
or call the National Kidney
Foundation ofMichigan..
This programis funded by grants
from the Office on Women's Health
and the Centers for Disease Control
andPrevention.
Health events planned
Law Day takes courtroom
to middle school classes
The assessments, if
approved by the council,
would be for 10 years to
pay for the maintenance
and operation of
streetlights in the city.
”
Council set to vote on budget
Birthday
surprise
Kevin and Shyvonne
Watson, who were
married last year on
Coronado Beach in
San Diego, CA, cele-
brated the groom's
birthday with a sur-
prise cruise present-
ed by the bride
recently.
Kevin
Watson is the grand-
son of Lovell West of
Inkster.