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Free computer classes continue to be
added to the schedule at the Romulus Public
Library.
The library will offer two free classes this
month, Powerpoint II from 9 to 10 a.m.and
Excel II from 10 to 11:30 a.m.on Friday, Aug.
24.
Library Director Patty Braden said the
classes are presented as a follow-up to the
courses provided earlier in the summer at
the library and are part of her mission to
expand free programming at the facility.
Library Assistant Michele Rinehart and
volunteer Nikki Chisholm have provided
classes inWord, Excel and PowerPoint at the
library. The library also offered a class called
“Getting Around Ebay and Craigslist” taught
byLibrary InternLeahWilliams.
Previous classes taught patrons basic key-
boarding skills, how to use a mouse and how
to navigate the Internet, among other skills.
“The people who came to our first classes
didn't have a lot of experience with comput-
ers, but they learned very quickly,” Rinehart
said. “Now, they are using their class skills.
They learned to put their resume online.”
The idea of free classes was presented at
a Friends of the Romulus Library meeting
that Chisholm attended. Chisholm, a charter
school teacher, has seen the effects of com-
puter classes in Ypsilanti, where she used to
live and offered to teach the classes.
Braden said computer use is high at the
library. She said users often ask questions of
staff on computer use. The need for comput-
er classeswas evident.
Chisholm said classes are very relaxed
and students show great enthusiasm.
“They're great,” she said. “The classes are
open to everybody and we're getting many
adults, includingmature adults.”
The classes “have met my expectations
because they're meeting our patrons' expec-
tations,” Chisholm said. “That's our goal: to
fulfill their needs. People come to the library
seeking knowledge. They should be able to
find it here.”
Romulus resident Sandy Dubyak said she
signed up for a basic computer class because
her familywas using a computer and she did-
n't have the knowledge to use one. She said
the classes have been informative and the
teachers have beenpatient andhelpful.
Library patron Mike Patrias said he want-
ed to learn more about computers so he
could apply for a job and search for driving
directions.
“Kids went to school and learned comput-
ers,” he said. “My job has always kept me
busy. In this day and age, you've got to know a
lot about computers.”
Library hours of operation expanded
from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Mondays,
Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The library will
continue to operate from noon to 5 p.m. on
Fridays.
For more information on current classes
or to register, call the library at (734) 942-7589.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
August 9, 2012
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Back to School Blitz
Salvation Army organizers hope to fill bus with school supplies
Romulus Library offering
free computer program classes
The Salvation Army Plymouth
Corps is partneringwithVanBuren
and Plymouth-Canton school dis-
tricts in effort to fill a bus with
school supplies for a special “Back
to School Blitz” on Saturday, Aug.
25.
“The Van Buren Public Schools
District is acutely aware of the
increased difficulties families are
facing due to the challenging econ-
omy. School supplies tend to get cut
from a family's budget during hard
times.” said Paul W. Henning, com-
munications specialist for
Balanced
Communications
Services and devoted supporter of
Van Buren Schools. “We are proud
to partner withThe SalvationArmy
in this effort to bring necessary
school supplies to our students
whose families simply cannot
afford them.”
Donations are being accepted
from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at
the Twisted Rooster, 9729 Belleville
Road. The Back to School Blitz is
sponsored by The Wilcox
Foundation, Wayne County
Sheriff's Office, as well as through a
special donation fromPayless Shoe
Source.
“The difficult economic times
continue to hit parents on every
front,” said Laurie Aren, director of
family and communityministries at
The Salvation Army Plymouth
Corps Community Center. “The
Salvation Army, as well as other
churches in the Belleville Area are
experiencing high numbers of
calls, not just for food, but for finan-
cial assistance to keep the lights on
and a roof over people's heads.
Helping a family with school sup-
plies is just one way that we, as a
community, can help families
stretchalready limitedbudgets.”
Many children look forward to
arriving on the first day of school
with new notebooks, backpacks,
and new writing supplies, but it's a
different story for children whose
families cannot afford these items.
RealBARBQ of Canton at 42452
Ford Road at Lilley in Canton will
be offering a free dessert to any
customer who brings in school sup-
plies valued at more than $5 until
Aug. 17. Collected school supplies
will then be given to the Salvation
Army as part of the Back to School
Blitz program.
A list of commonly requested
items is available at the Van Buren
Public School District Web site at
www.vanburenschools.net. For
more information, call The
Salvation Army Plymouth Corps at
(734)453-5464.
Founded by William and
Catherine Booth in London,
England in 1865, The Salvation
Army is a faith-based, non-profit
organization dedicated to serving
people in need without discrimina-
tion.
This past year, The Salvation
Army ofMetroDetroit was involved
in providing 3,194,802 million
meals and 687,203 nights of shelter
for the homeless. The Salvation
Army uses $.85 of every dollar
raised to provide direct services to
people in need each and every day
of the year. For more information
about The Salvation Army, call 877-
SAL-MICH,
or
visit
www.salmich.org.
The difficult economic
times continue to
hit parents on every front.
”
Library Assistant Michele Rinehart and volunteer Nikki Chisholm guide patrons during a free
computer class at the Romulus library.
Photo by Dave Gorgon