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The announcement last week that
Thornton Creek Elementary in the Northville
School District won the $50,000 grand prize in
a national essay contest for inclusive play-
grounds was a 'cause for celebration' for 12
motherswhoworked on the project.
Awarded by Landscape Structures and
NAESP, the grant will go toward replacing an
18-year oldplay structurewith a new, inclusive
design that will benefit not only the students at
ThorntonCreek but the community aswell.
Written by two mothers from the play-
ground committee, the winning essay explains
how existing programs like Circle of Friends
and Peer Pals help children with special
needs bond with other children in general
education. These programs depend on the
playground as their space to work with each
other. As one of the writers, Karen Wang,
explained, “One of my favorite things about
Thornton Creek is the fact that the playground
is truly an outdoor classroom, where kids
cheer each other on and explore the flora and
fauna.
“Peer-to-peer support programs like the
Circle of Friends and Peer Pals teach valuable
life lessons both to kids with special needs and
typical kids - and that can only be done on a
playground, not in a classroom. Students in the
Sprouts autism program really depend on the
playground for sensory input.”
A Cause For Play began last May when a
committee of 12mothers brainstormedways to
update the play structure. One of the co-chairs
of the committee, Claudia Ordonez, said, “Our
playground was built 18 years ago. At that
time, we did not have as many safety precau-
tions as we have today. It is time for an
update.”
“After all, our playground is not only being
used during recess. We have other programs
that benefit from it so we are designing the
newstructure based on all those needs.”
With the support of school principal Alison
Epler and district administrators, the commit-
tee designed a comprehensive playground
with the assistance of Superior Play in
Brighton. Design elements include a roller
slide, monkey bars, a merry-go-round spinner
and a dome where students like the Sprouts
can retreat for some quiet time.
Co-chair Amy Scotto DiVetta is coordinat-
ing one fundraiser, focused around children´s
birthdays. Scotto DiVetta details how “birth-
day celebrations give parents the opportunity
to donate to a lasting and inclusive project.
With their donation, parents have the opportu-
nity to have lunch with their child on their
birthday and bring them a special lunch or
treat to celebrate their child's special day.”
Their name also gets posted on the school
sign. This initiative has already raised over
$1600, and was introduced only one week ago,
she added.
Other events that the playground commit-
tee has organized to reach their fundraising
goal of $100K include a quilt raffle, a Dannon
Danimals yogurt label drive, a January con-
cert from a local band and a family fun run in
the spring.
“So far, there has been an amazing
response from the parents and staff in the
school. Some of the most heartening fundrais-
ing examples come from the students and par-
ents themselves. One student took it upon him-
self to run a lemonade stand, donating all of
his $26 in profit for a newplayground. We have
also had children ask for playground dona-
tions instead of presents at birthday parties.
Some kids have handed over their allowance
envelopes.
“The committee loves this kind of sponta-
neous giving. Seeing the support for the proj-
ect makes all the hard work worthwhile,”
ScottoDivetta said.
Parent volunteers and community mem-
bers will be asked to come together for a ¨com-
munity build¨ inAugust 2013.
More information onhow thiswinning proj-
ect is available at acauseforplay@gmail.com.
and ACause for Play onFacebook.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
7
October 25, 2012
Robert A. Ficano
County Executive
In the Matter of: McClaughrey Drain
NOTICE OF MEETING OF BOARD OF DETERMINATION
Notice Is Hereby Given
to you as a person liable for an assessment or a public cor-
poration subject to assessment that the Board of Determination will meet on
Thursday,
November 1st, 2012, at 5:30 P.M. at the
Romulus City Hall, City Council Chambers,
11111 Wayne Road, Romulus, Michigan 48174, to hear all interested persons and evi-
dence and to determine whether the
McClaughrey Drain
(Drainage District No. M-003),
as prayed for in the Petition to clean out, relocate, widen, deepen, straighten, tile, extend
or relocate, dated June 5, 2012 is necessary and conducive to the public health, conven-
ience or welfare, and whether said drain is necessary for the protection of the public health
of the
City of Wayne, City of Romulus and Van Buren Charter Township
in accor-
dance with Sections 72 and 191 of Act No. 40, P.A. 1956, as amended.
Proceedings conducted at this public hearing will be subject to the provision of the
Michigan Open Meetings Act and you are further notified that information regarding this
meeting may be obtained from the County Drain Commissioner. Persons with disabilities
needing accommodations for effective participation in the meeting should contact the
Wayne County Drain Commissioner at the number noted below (voice) or through the
Michigan Relay Center at 1-800-649-3777 (TDD) at least 24 hours in advance of the
meeting to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance. Minutes of the meeting
will be on file at the Wayne County Drain Commissioner’s Field Office, 797 Central St.,
Wyandotte, Michigan 48192.
You Are Further Notified
, that persons aggrieved by the decisions of the Board of
Determination may seek judicial review in the Circuit Court for the County of Wayne
within ten (10) days of the determination.
Dated: October 12th, 2012
Kenneth M. Kucel, P.E.,
Wayne County Drain Commissioner
County of Wayne
400 Monroe, Suite 400
Detroit, MI 48226
Telephone 734-285-7233
Publish: October 25, 2012
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations
for Wayne County, Michigan (All Jurisdictions)
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has
issued a preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, Flood
Insurance Study (FIS) report, reflecting proposed flood hazard determinations within
Wayne County, Michigan (All Jurisdictions). These flood hazard determinations may
include the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special
Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway. Technical
information or comments are solicited on the proposed flood hazard determinations shown
on the preliminary FIRM and/or FIS report for Wayne County, Michigan (All
Jurisdictions). These flood hazard determinations are the basis for the floodplain manage-
ment measures that your community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being
already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National
Flood Insurance Program. However, before these determinations are effective for flood-
plain management purposes, you will be provided an opportunity to appeal the proposed
information. For information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, as well
as a complete listing of the communities affected and the locations where copies of the
FIRM are available for review, please visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/plan/pre-
vent/fhm/bfe, or call the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-
FEMAMAP (1-877-336-2627).
Publish:
October 25 and November 1, 2012
CITY OF WAYNE
PUBLIC NOTICE
ELECTION NOTICE TO THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED VOTERS OF
THE CITY OF WAYNE, COUNTY OF WAYNE, MICHIGAN
Absent voter ballots for the City of Wayne General Election of November 6, 2012, are
available through the Wayne City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 3355 South Wayne Road,
Wayne, Michigan for those persons who are physically unable to attend the polls or are 60
years of age or older. The voter, before the issuance of a ballot, must complete an applica-
tion for a ballot.
The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
Persons qualified to vote absentee may vote in person in the Wayne City Clerk's Office
until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5, 2012.
Matthew K . Miller
Publish: October 25, 2012
City Clerk
N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
Write on
Essay wins $50,000 grand prize
Robert Bosch Corp. executives presented
the Plymouth Township Trustees a check for
$30,000 just before the regularmeeting of the
board last week. The donation is to be used
to help fund the construction of a $350,000
warming pavilion inside the townshippark.
At the July 17 meeting of the board,
trustees voted 5-1 to accept a Land and
Water Conservation Fund Grant for $100,000
to build the new pavilion at the north end of
the township park near the baseball dia-
monds.
According to township officials, this is a
reimbursable grant, which means the town-
ship will need to fund and build the pavilion
within two years before obtaining the
$100,000 the state. Supervisor Richard
Reaume provided the $350,000 cost estimate.
Reaume said the boardmembers have plans
to use a $41,000 Wayne County grant initially
targeted for a drinking fountain, along with a
$25,000 grant from the Johnson Controls
Foundation and the Bosch Corp. donation to
fund the construction.
Three months ago, when residents ques-
tioned the cost of the pavilion at a regular
meeting, board members did not respond.
Just before the Aug. 1 deadline to accept the
grant, or risk forfeiture, it was revealed that
township officials had dedicated $86,000 to
the project and would need to raise an addi-
tional $164,000, provided design and con-
struction costs don't exceed initial cost pro-
jections.
There was no discussion at the Oct. 9
meeting when township officials and Bosch
executives posed for a photo with a 5-foot
long plywood sign resembling the check.
The 17thAnnual Great LakesRegional
Chili Cook-off and Motorcycle Show on
Oct. 14 included more than 60 different
chilies prepared in The Gathering in
downtown Plymouth along with 19
restaurant prepared chilies in Kellogg
Park.
Thewinners of the chili contestswere:
Best Booth, *LeoBuk
- Nuclear Chili - Trenton
People's Choice, *Chris Thompson
- IrishFireChili - Westland
Salsa 1st Place, *KenKostal
- IslandHeat Salsa - Marblehead, OH
Chili Verde 1st Place, * JimStoddard
- AlienChili - Coppell, TX
RedChili 1st Place, *RichardChauvin
- Southof theBorder Chili
- WindsorOnt. Can.
Restaurant Chili Challenge
People's Choice,
* TAPatMGMGrandDetroit
Best Judged, *RubPubBBQ
- Detroit andWarren locations
The Chili Bike Show sponsored by
Motor City Harley Davidson on Ann
Arbor Trail was the place to see Harley &
non-Harley motorcycles. Trophies were
awarded in 17 categories to the bike show
participants.
The 7thAnnualMotorcycleChili Rides
drew hundreds of bikes. The rides began
at Dick Scott's Classic Motorcycle dealer-
ship in Livonia and Motor City Harley
Davidson inFarmingtonHills.
Net proceeds from the event will go to
WesternWayneHabitat forHumanity and
PenricktonCenter forBlindChildren
Other restaurants included in the chal-
lenge were: Compari's On The Park,
Doyle's Tavern, E.G. Nick's, , Ironwood
Grill, Nico & Vali Italian Market, Penn
Grill & Bar, Plymouth ROC, Rusty Bucket
Corner Tavern, Sean O'Callaghan's, The
Courthouse Grille Albert's On the Alley,
Famous Dave's, Greek Islands,
BoneHeads BBQ, The Picnic Basket
Marketplace and Fox Hills Golf &
Banquet Center.
Sponsors of the event this year includ-
ed, MGM Grand Detroit - Motor City
Harley Davidson in Farmington Hills -
Dick Scott's Classic Motorcycle's in
Livonia - Fox 2Detroit - Greko Printing
and Imaging - TheObserver&Eccentric
Newspapers - Sportswear Specialties
Inc. - Majic Windows - Caviston
Insurance Agency - Community
Financial - The Concept Factory Web
Design - Allstate Insurance, Cheryl
Bowker Agency - 94.7 WCSX Classic
Rock - Hansons Windows - 101 WRIF -
PODS Portable On Demand Storage -
DTE Energy - GFS Gordon Food
Marketplace - Monroe Bank & Trust -
PNCBank - E.G. Nick's.
Donation will help fund new
warming station at pavilion
Lora Leneschmidt
Special Writer
Winning chili cooks named
Members of the Thornton Creek Playground committee accept a very large check for new
playground equipment. From the left are Claudia Ordonez, Amy Scotto DiVetta, Lori
Leneschmidt, Karen Wang, Principal Alison Epler, contest judge Ingrid Kancic and Lance
Shipman from Superior Play.