A
SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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AGE
5
October 26, 2017
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I
NKSTER
- R
OMULUS
Amazon is on schedule
Welcoming services set for new pastor
A very special welcome is
being planned for the newest
pastor at Smith Chapel A.M.E.
Church in Inkster.
The Rev. Cindy Rudolph will
be honored at a welcome wor-
ship service sent for 11 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 29 at the church.
There will be a reception with a
meal immediately following the
service.
Rudolph was appointed as
the 18th pastor of Smith Chapel
A.M.E. Church, the first Black
church in Inkster which was
organized Oct. 5, 1924. She was
named to her post by theRt. Rev.
John Franklin White, bishop of
the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. The Welcome Worship
Service coincides with the
nationally-recognized Clergy
AppreciationMonth.
Rudolph has been a minister
for more than 17 years. She pre-
viously served as Senior Pastor
at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in
Conowingo, ML and Bethel
A.M.E. Church in Reading, PA.
During her tenure, she launched
new ministries, expanded com-
munity outreach, established
children's programming and
reduced debt at her posts,
according to a prepared release.
Rudolph has also served as
the Minister to Youth at St.
James A.M.E. Church and at Mt.
Calvary A.M.E. Church. She is a
graduate of Rutgers University
in New Brunswick, NJ where
she received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in communications.
After working in mass media
and corporate venues, she
enrolled in Drew University in
Madison, NJ to pursue her reli-
gious studies. Following her
studies at both Drew and the
I n t e r d e n o m i n a t i o n a l
Theological Center in Atlanta,
GA, Rudolph received her
Master of Divinity degree from
Drew, graduating with Magna
Cum Laude honors. She is also
the recipient of several distinc-
tive awards and honors and was
ordained by the African
Methodist Episcopal Church in
April of 2002.
Rudolph and her husband,
Dr. Lawrence Rudolph are the
parents of a daughter, McKenna,
3.
Earlier this month, Rudolph
led
a
Recommitment-
Dedication-Coming Home serv-
ice, the first in the history of the
church.
Reservations for the Oct. 29
service are requested and avail-
able by contacting Dr. Myra Ford
Jenkins, (313) 980-8007.
The Smith Chapel A.M.E.
Church is located at 3505Walnut
St. in Inkster.
As state and regional officials attempt
to lure additional investment and jobs
from Amazon to the State of Michigan,
projects already planned have moved at a
brisk pace.
Officials from the state, Wayne County,
Oakland County and regional interest
groups are hoping to lure the retail giant
to Michigan in an effort to bring millions
in investment and as many as 50,000 jobs
to support a new headquarters.
Meanwhile, a distribution facility in
Livonia has started to operate and con-
struction on another, in Romulus, is well
underway.
"The project is moving at light speed,"
said Tim Keyes, economic development
director for theCity of Romulus.
Initially dubbed 'Project Mercury,' the
Amazon distribution center has quickly
taken shape since it was announced just a
few short months ago. Land has long been
cleared on the site, which is off Ecorse
Road, west ofMiddlebelt and near the I-94
interchange. The center will be an 865,000
square-foot building that will be construct-
ed on 85 acres of land. It's expected to
bring between 1,600 and 2,500 jobs to the
community.
Romulus leaders have helped the
developers make an ambitious timetable
by approving all zoning as well as a $14
million bond issue to expand and recon-
struct the roadways needed to support the
facility. The plan will be to extend Vining
Road north to Ecorse, reconstruct and
expand about 4 miles of Ecorse Road and
install the needed traffic control improve-
ments. Keyes, along with Mayor Leroy
Burcroff and other city officials, also suc-
cessfully petitioned for a $5 million state
incentive inLansing.
Additional tax revenue from the $40
million project will fund the repayment of
the bonds. Developers said they anticipate
the facilitywill be operational next year.
Romulus voters can 'Meet the
Candidates' at a special event from5:30
until 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30 at the
RomulusAthleticCenter.
The meeting is sponsored and
organized by The Greater Romulus
Chamber of Commerce and is open to
the public.
Mayor LeRoy D. Burcroff and Clerk
Ellen Craig-Bragg are unopposed in
their bids for reelection while
Treasurer Stacy Paige is being chal-
lengedbyUrsulaL.Wester.
Voters will be asked to choose seven
from the field of city council candi-
dates that includes: Kathy Abdo, John
Barden, Tomeka Boles, harry Crout,
Sandra Crout, Edward Martell, Jess D.
McAnally, Paris McCarthy, Celeste
Roscoe, Tina M. Talley, William
Wadsworth, Sharon L. Walker, Eva
Webb and Virginia Williams. Abdo,
Barden, Roscoe and Wadsworth are
incumbents.
Light refreshmentswill be provided.
All candidates have been invited to
participate in the meeting to allow the
public to meet and speak with them on
a personal level, according to a pre-
pared statement from the chamber
office.
The athletic center is located at
35765NorthlineRoad inRomulus.
For more information, contact the
chamber office at (734) 893-0694 or
.
Voters can meet council
candidates on Monday
The Rev. Cindy Rudolph
