A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
August 25, 2016
R
OMULUS
- W
AYNE
Wayne awarded
federal fire grant
Back to school rally set
Fire house fun
The Romulus Fire Department
will host the annual open house
at Fire Station Headquarters
from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. this
Saturday, Aug. 27. The station is
located at 28777 Eureka Road.
Children and families of all ages
can participate in vehicle dis-
plays, demonstrations, fire safe-
ty exhibits, visit with Firepup like
these youngsters did last year
and enjoy free hotdogs and
chips all while meeting with
local Romulus firefighters.
Another special feature for the
day will be balloons and magic
tricks being offered from noon
until 2 p.m. For more informa-
tion, call the station at (734)
941-8585.
Once again this year,
Romulus residents can enjoy
playing bingo and helping a
good cause during the Annual
Romulus DDA Pumpkin
Festival.
The annual festival is
planned for Sept. 16, 17 and 18
this year and bingo games will
be available at the Romulus
Senior Center, 36525 Bibbins
Road from6-11 p.m. Friday, from
2-11 p.m. on Saturday and from
1-6 p.m. on Sunday. The bingo
games are sponsored by St.
Aloysius Church and the pro-
ceeds will be dedicated toward
maintenance costs for the new
Romulus Animal Shelter.
To date, the community,
under the direction of City
Councilman
William
Wadsworth, has collected more
than $220,000 along with many
in-kind contributions and labor
from various local businesses to
build and operate the shelter.
In addition to the ongoing
bingo games, dedicated to the
memory of Frank Ayers, there
will be 50/50 raffles during the
weekend.
For more information, con-
tact the Romulus Senior Center,
at (734) 955-4140, Wadsworth at
(734) 941-0616 or Joe Ozog at
(734) 941-3466.
The games are under
Michigan state bingo license
VO8580.
Pumpkin Fest bingo will aid animal shelter
The federal government will provide
funding for firefighters in the City of
Wayne following the rejection of a pub-
lic safetymillage by voters.
While the Staffing for Adequate Fire
and Emergency Response (SAFER)
grant application and required docu-
mentation had been submitted to the
federal offices months ago, the
announcement of the $994,848 grant to
fund six firefighters in the city came last
week, just as members of the city coun-
cil were debating adding overtime costs
for the department back into the budget.
The grant is expected to allay the
concerns regarding overtime costs, a
$371,000 annual expense discussed at
the meeting of the council last week.
While some members proposed adding
the amount to the already $1.5 million
budget deficit, Mayor Susan Rowe and
Councilman John Rhaesa suggested
adding in back inmonthly increments of
about $50,000.
Both suggestions seem moot in light
of the new grant which will allow the
city to comply with the requirements of
the interlocal agreement with the City of
Westland regarding staffing and comply
with the stipulations of Mutual Aid
agreements with surrounding communi-
ties. Six additional firefighters should
bring the department staffing to 18, offi-
cials said.
Wayne had beenusing overtime fund-
ing to complywith theminimumstaffing
requirement of four firemen on duty per
shift.
A Back to School Rally is planned from
11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at Wayne
County Community College at 9555
HaggertyRoad inBelleville.
The rally will feature youth and parent
workshops, vendors, community resources,
dental education, giveaways and entertain-
ment. Free backpacks, school supplied and
foodwill be availablewhile supplies last.
Children can learn about wind tunnels
and construct flying machines while learn-
ing about engineering practices and the
science of flight.
For more information, contact the
school of continuing education at (313) 496-
2704 or visit
.
