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EWSPAPERS OF
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September 19, 2013
W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Series star to appear at
Blue Bloods charity viewing
Blues, Brews & Barbecue
event will begin tomorrow
One of the guys watching the season pre-
miere of Blue Bloods next Friday night may
look very familiar to the other patrons of US
12AmericanGrill.
Probably because he's one of the stars of
the show.
Gregory Jbara , a graduate of Wayne
Memorial High School, will be attending a
charity viewing party at US 12 American
Grill beginning at 8 p.m. Sept. 27. Jbara, a
Tony award-winning actor, is a member of
the cast of the serieswhich stars TomSelleck
and DonnieWahlberg. Jbara will be bringing
along cast-signed Blue Bloods items to be
raffled off for charity during the viewing
party, according to JohnGoci, US 12 owner.
Thosewho donate a dollar ormore for the
Champions of Wayne charity will receive a
personally autographed photo of Jbara. The
broadcast of Blue Bloods season premiere
will begin at 10 p.m. Goci said there aremore
than 30 TV screens with surround sound and
live music by The Social Bandits will follow
the show. The event is for those 21 and older,
he stressed.
There is a suggesteddonation of $10 at the
door, Goci said, and proceeds from the event
including autographs, photos and raffle pro-
ceeds will all benefit the Champions of
Wayne charity.
“Once Sept. 28 was confirmed for the
Champions of Wayne Gala at the historic
State Wayne Theatre to premiere
Infiltrators, an action film inwhich I play the
villainous Erik Volker, John Goci generously
offered to host theBlueBloods viewing party
the night before at Us 12 American Grill to
raise even more money for Champions of
Wayne,” Jbara said.
Infiltrators was produced by former
Wayne resident and Wayne Memorial High
School alumnus Sally Helppie, who will also
be in town for the premiere event.
“It's nice to see a local kid who grew up
here andwho went to our public schools and
conquered his profession but never forgot
where he came from. This is our opportunity
to honor him and share in his success while
helping a great program that is making a
huge difference in our students,” Goci, vice-
president of the Wayne Westland Board of
Education, said.
US 12 American Grill is located at 34824
MichiganAveWest inWayne.
Formore information, call (734) 722-3170.
Blues, Brews and Barbecue in
Westland will feature one of the best-
known names in blues music, some
unique microbrews and several great bar-
becue recipes this year.
The third annual event will take place
from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21 and contin-
ue from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday
night on the grounds of Westland City
Hall.
The headline entertainer Friday will
be Robert Penn, known as the Motor City
Blues Gentleman. Penn has played
behind B.B. King and opened for the
Bobby Blue Band, Little Milton, Johnnie
Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles,
Coco Taylor, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins
and several other blues greats.
Penn grew up in Inkster and is consid-
ered amaster of the blues. Also appearing
on stage Friday is local artist Gabrielle
Wild, sister of Westland Mayor William
Wild.
A professional singer, she will perform
at the annual POW/MIA program preced-
ing the opening of Blues, Brews and
Barbecue and then open for Penn.
There will be community groups on
handwithbooths during the event and the
participating restaurants will be bringing
their barbecue best to entice appetites.
Participating this year are Hickory BBQ,
Longhorn Steak House, Westland
Charhouse, Famous Dave's, Malarkey's,
Texas Roadhouse, Biggby Coffee, Dairy
Dan, The Original and Kona Ice and Max
and Erma's. Michigan craft beers will be
offeredbyAshley's ofWestland.
This year, Friday night will also beBike
Night where local bikers will find
reserved parking for bikes as well as bike
memorabilia andbike themed giveaways.
The festival resumes at noon Saturday,
Sept. 21, with more brews and barbecue
and five more local performers. The line-
up includes; Jones N', the Chris Canas
Band, Randy Brock Group, the Rick Stel
Project andZydecoHepcats.
More about each artist in the 2013 line-
up, follow Blues, Brews and Barbecue is
on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/
allamericanbluesbrewsbbq.
Westland City Hall is located at 36601
FordRoad.
neur and civic leader, is the founding sponsor
of the Champions ofWayne, a charitable foun-
dation that benefits their alma mater.
Champions started in 2009 with 50 students
and ahandful ofmentors.
The program's popularity has rapidly
expanded in recent years with 550 students
and 130 mentors participating this past
semester.
While students at risk of dropping out
increases, the percentage of students com-
pleting 9th grade has doubled since 2009 and
one Wayne Memorial graduate begins at
Harvard University this fall. Former Wayne
Memorial principal Val Orr, said, “It's impor-
tant to understand the impact this program
has on the community. People call and ask to
send their kids to Wayne Memorial High
School. “
Bill Gray, who initiated the program in
2008, speaks warmly of his mentorship of
Wayne Memorial alumnus Tim Hammer,
Class of 2004.
“This program came out of relationships
likeminewithTim,”Gray said.
Hammer added, “From my relationship
with Bill, I had a chance to get guidance and
mentoring that most students didn't receive or
feel worthy of. It's something I was missing as
far as someone to look up to on how to suc-
ceed.”
Infiltrators will make its Midwest debut at
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the State-Wayne
Phoenix Theatre as a charity fundraiser for
Champions of Wayne. Presale general admis-
sion tickets can be purchased for $20 at
www.ChampionsofWayne.org. Tickets sold at
the door the night of the event will be $25.
“When you combine a big movie premiere
with such strong local ties to a community like
Wayne, and know that students in need will
have a better chance at success, there is no
better formula for a great night at the
movies,” said Cory Jacobson, owner of
PhoenixTheatres.
A limited number of Sponsorship
Packages are available and include reserved
tickets, valet parking, pre-party festivities, cast
meet-and-greet photo session and much
more. For more information, call Bill Gray at
(734) 812-0545.
For complete information on Champions
of Wayne or to purchase tickets for this event,
visit the website: www.Championsof
Wayne.org.
Star power
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