A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
September 14, 2017
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Superintendent of Van Buren
Public Schools Pete Kudlak said
at a recent meeting that a lawsuit
filed by four teachers has reached
an “agreement in concept.”
His response came to ques-
tions from Sherry Frazier, a for-
mer member of the Van Buren
Public Schools Board of
Education and a current trustee
on the Van Buren Township
Board of Trustees. She requested
answers from her former school
board colleagues regarding the
lawsuit during a recent meeting of
the board.
Frazier asked questions
regarding the expense and status
of the lawsuit filed against the
school board by four teachers at
Savage Elementary School who
were accused of cheating on state-
mandated tests last year.
Frazier said that she had
hoped for a report on the lawsuit
at the last meeting before classes
resumed this year. She reminded
the board members that a great
deal of time and taxpayers' money
had been dedicated to this issue
andmentioned the involvement of
Kudlak who spent time listening
to and reading legal depositions.
She estimated that the district
has spent more than $500,000 on
the lawsuit to date.
Kudlak responded noting that
the teachers and the district have
“an agreement in concept” and
that attorneys were continuing to
finalize the “paperwork.” He said
that he hoped the matter would
come before the board again at a
meeting thismonth.
School Board President Keith
Johnston reminded Frazier and
the audience present that that dis-
cussion of a legal matter is a sub-
ject for closed-door sessions and
is not for public comment. Frazier
said that the funds already spent
on this issuewould have been bet-
ter used on classroom needs
rather than the lawsuit filed by
the teachers in federal court June
3 last year, citing employment dis-
crimination. The suit named the
school district, all the boardmem-
bers at the time with the excep-
tion of Frazier, former
Superintendent of Schools
Michael Van Tassel, former school
principal Amy Gee and district
Curriculum Director Jeff Moore
as defendants.
The teachers, Pamela Bradley,
Michelle Komaromi, Brent Held
and Rebecca Tennis, were
ordered out of their classrooms by
VanTassel andwere subsequently
marched out of the building in full
view of their students, following
an investigation by the Michigan
State Board of Education and a
district investigation by attorneys
whichwas orderedbyVanTassel.
No criminal charges were filed
against the teachers.
allowed to participate. Glow
sticks are not considered ade-
quate lighting for the vehicles or
floats.
Performing during and fol-
lowing the Parade of Lights, will
be the Ringo Starr Tribute
Band, “Ringer Star” from 8 until
8:30 p.m. followed by the band,
Fifty Amp Fuse from 9-11:30
p.m.
There will be multiple food
trucks for spectators available in
the main festival intersection
near Clark's Car Care (36110
Goddard Road). These will only
be availableFriday night.
The festival also places
emphasis on the history of the
city. There will be a number of
old-fashioned events for families
and the museum and other his-
torical structures will be open
for tours.
Hunt Street will be closed
from Goddard to Bibbins over
the three-day weekend.
Goddard Road will be closed
from Moore Street to the rail-
road tracks beginning at noon
on Friday through the duration
of the three-day festival week-
end.
“The DDA is proud to contin-
ue to support this special com-
munity tradition,” said Maria
Lambert, director of the
Downtown
Development
Authority and co-chair of the
PumpkinFestival Committee.
Music and entertainment will
continue from 1 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Saturday and from noon until 6
p.m. Sunday. The Romulus
Ministerial Alliance will present
ecumenical services at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday on stage at the Romulus
Historical Park.
The annual bingo benefit
hosted by City Councilman
William Wadsworth to raise
funds for the Friends of the
Romulus Animal Shelter is set
for 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, 2 to 11
p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m.
Sunday at the Romulus Senior
Center, 36525Bibbins.
From noon until 2 p.m.
Saturday free children's games
will take place including pump-
kin-rolling at noon, sack races at
12:30 p.m., marshmallow race at
1 p.m., and pumpkin pie-eating
at 1:30 p.m. The “Punkin
Chuckin” contest begins at 3:30
p.m., is open to all ages and has
cash prizes for the winner in
each age group who throws a
pumpkin the farthest.
Another new attraction this
year will be the free mobile
video game trailer which is
sponsored by the Romulus
Police Department. This special
feature will only be available
from5-10 p.m. Saturday.
Throughout the weekend,
there will be a rock-climbing
wall, a bucking bronco and
inflatable attractions, as well as
a special free Pumpkin Painting
tent open all weekenduntil dusk
which children of all ages enjoy.
Romulus Boy Scout Troop
872 will serve the annual all-
you-can-eat pancake breakfast
from 8 a.m. until noon on
Saturday and from 8:30 a.m.
until 11 a.m. on Sunday at
Historical Park. Breakfast
includes pancakes, sausage, cof-
fee and juice. Admission is $5
for adults; $3.50 for seniors.
Children 4 andunder are served
freewith an adult purchase
Spaghetti dinners will be
served from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday
at the Community United
Methodist Church at Olive and
Bibbins streets.
The Pumpkin Pub will be
open throughout the weekend
with special entertainment fol-
lowing the acts on the main
stage from11 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Members of the Romulus
Historical Society andHistorical
Commission will open the his-
torical museum, Kingsley House
and Freight House from noon
until 5 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday. Children's old-fash-
ioned lawn games and checkers
contests will begin at 11 a.m.
There will be a free balloon
artist from2-4 p.m. Saturday and
face painting from 1-3 p.m.
Sunday.
Off-site, a white elephant
garage sale is set for 10 a.m. until
6 p.m. Saturday and and noon
until 4 p.m. Sunday at St.
Aloysius Catholic Church at
Neville Street and Ozga Road,
just a short walk from the
Festival grounds.
Festival information is avail-
able at
/
pumpkinfestival.
Pumpkin
FROM PAGE 1
Frazier asked questions
regarding the expense
and status of the lawsuit...
”
Teachers’ lawsuit
may be settled
Friday, Sept. 15, 2017
6 - 11 p.m.
Bingo Benefit for the Animal Shelter
- Romulus Senior Center 36525 Bibbins
6 p.m.
Pumpkin Festival Officially Opens
8 p.m.
PARADE OF LIGHTS
presented by the Romulus Rotary
PARADE OF LIGHTS
- All entries must be lighted. There will be a $100 cash prize for the first place
winner in each division. This year, Parade line-up will begin at 6 p.m. in the Romulus City Hall park-
ing lot, 11111 Wayne Road. The parade begins promptly at 8 p.m.. For more information contact
the Romulus Rotary at (734) 276-1455 or visit
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017
8 a.m. - Noon
Pancake Breakfast
at the Historical Park Boy Scout Troop #872,
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
St. Aloysius White Elephant Garage Sale
Neville Street/Ozga Road
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Cruisin' 2017 Car Show
Goddard Road at Hunt Street (734) 941-1727
Pumpkin Painting Tent.... ALL DAY beginning at 11 a.m.
Noon
Pumpkin Rolling Contest
at Historical Park (Hunt Street/Goddard Road)
12:30 p.m.
Sack Races
, at the Historical Park
1 p.m.
Marshmallow Race
at the Historical Park
1:30 p.m.
Pumpkin Pie-Eating Contest
at the Historical Park
2 - 11 p.m.
Bingo Benefit
for the Romulus Animal Shelter at the Senior Center 36525
3:30 p.m.
Punkin' Chuckin
- join us on Goddard Road near the railroad tracks.
Throw pumpkins as far as you can-Cash prizes!!
5 - 7 p.m.
Spaghetti Dinners
at the Community United Methodist Church
(Olive and Bibbins Street) Children under 5 eat for FREE
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017
8:30 - 11 a.m.
Breakfast with the Boy Scouts -Troop #872
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tractor & Lawn Tractor Show
- 10th Annual
Romulus Historical Park (Goddard/Hunt)
Noon - 4 p.m.
St. Aloysius White Elephant Garage Sale
- White Elephant Sale
on Neville Street and Ozga Road.
Pumpkin Painting Tent.... ALL DAY beginning at noon
1 - 6 p.m.
BINGO for the Animal Shelter
- Sr. Center
Noon - 6 p.m.
Romulus Arts Council "Pumpkin Pub"
Supporting our Scholarship Program
Entertainment in Historical Park
Friday, Sept. 15, 2017
6 - 8 p.m.
Stay Tuned
Bob Seger and Rod Stewart tribute 8:00 pm
8 - 8:30 p.m.
Ringer Star
Ringo Starr Tribute
9 - 11:30 p.m.
The Original
FIFTY AMP FUSE
- Main stage
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017
Noon - 1 p.m.
Karate Demo
1 - 3 p.m.
Julie Anne and Robert Bruce
- Freight House Stage
3 - 4 p.m.
Step in Line - Line Dancing
- Gazebo area
4 - 6 p.m.
Full Tilt
at the Freight House Stage
6 - 9:30 p.m.
Square Pegz
- Main Stage
9:30 -11 p.m.
RARE EARTH
- Main Stage
11 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Tequila Mockingbirds
- Pumpkin Pub
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Romulus Ministerial Alliance Ecumenical Services
- Freight House Stage
Noon - 12:30 p.m.
TBD - Freight House Stage
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
TBD - Freight House Stage
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Jam Knights
- Freight House Stage
3 - 4 p.m.
10th Street Tuesday
- Freight House Stage
4 p.m.
Parade of Lights winners and Cutest Baby and Pet
Contest winners are announced
- Freight House Stage
4:30 - 6 p.m.
Rustbelt Revival
- Freight House Stage
Historical Park schedule of events
Saturday, Sept 16, 2017
11 a.m.
Children's old-fashioned lawn games
Noon - 5 p.m.
Museum and Kingsley House open for tours.
2 - 4 p.m.
Balloonmeister
- Marc Meyer
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017
11:00 am
Children's old-fashioned lawn games
Noon - 5 p.m.
Museum and Kingsley House open for tours.
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Face painting for kids
- Tina Sorice
