A
SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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AGE
4
October 27, 2011
C
ANTON
BLOCK building gets
new landscaping
3 graduate from SWAT school
Lions’ plan charity poker event
The B.L.O.C.K. Youth and Teen Center is
a lot more attractive these days, thanks to a
landscaping makeover donated by The
Brickman Group, LTD., a Canton-based
landscaping company. BrickmanGroup staff
members dedicated a full-day to the beautifi-
cation of the yard and surrounding outdoor
areas at The B.L.O.C.K. and installed a vari-
ety of donated plants and trees under the
guidance of a landscape architect.
The project consisted of removing shrubs,
adding new perennial plants and mums, as
well as installing new pear trees. Brickman
Group employees also spruced up the lawn
by adding mulch and creating beds around
the building and landmark sign. Excess
overgrowthwas also cleared fromthe area.
"We love doing our part to help a good
cause," said John Shourd, operations manag-
er of the Brickman Group of Canton. "I
decided to nominate The B.L.O.C.K. as one
of our Founders Day community service
projects since I drive by the building every
day and saw it could really benefit from a
makeover. Any time we can help out chil-
dren within our community makes it a good
community service project."
Stephanie Pavlo, a recreation specialist
with the township said special thanks were
in order for area vendors who were also
instrumental in the landscaping project.
Plants, trees and shrubs were donated by
Northville Farms, Rushton Farms of South
Lyon, Michigan Greenscapes of Canton, and
Canton Topsoil. Breakfast for the landscape
workers was provided by Tim Horton's,
located at Belleville Road and Michigan
Avenue and additional beverages were
donatedby theCantonLiquor Store.
"We were extremely excited to hear that
TheB.L.O.C.K. would receive thismakeover,"
said Pavlo. "Our staff was so impressed by
the selflessness of the Brickman Group and
their desire to improve our building's exteri-
or."
The B.L.O.C.K, which stands for Building
Leaders Out of Canton'sKids, provides a safe
and secure environment year-round.
The B.L.O.C.K. is located at 44237 W.
Michigan Avenue in Canton. For additional
information about The B.L.O.C.K, call (734)
398-5570 ext. 2 or visit Cantonfun.org.
roads. They raked leaves, removed brush
piles, collected fallen tree limbs and plant-
ed grass seed.
“These types of service projects
strengthen our community while provid-
ing a satisfying, fun and productive experi-
ence for the individuals who help make a
difference in our community,” said Brad
Sharp, Canton maintenance manager.
“Our volunteers are an indispensable part
of the equation which helps us meet criti-
cal community needs that would be diffi-
cult to fulfill without their support.”
Canton Township maintains three his-
toric cemeteries, Kinyon, Downer and
Sheldon. Kinyon was first established in
1840 on a strip of land purchased from
Moses Bradford. The name Kinyon was
eventually given to the cemetery because
of the active interest taken by Mr. andMrs.
Orrin Kinyon, who provided many of the
site improvements and oversaw its main-
tenance andupkeep.
Kinyon Cemetery includes three-
dimensional or upright marble and slate
markers in addition to obelisk headstones.
More than a dozen Civil War veterans are
interred at the site.
Three Canton Public Safety employees
have joined an elite group of westernWayne
County officers.
Canton Police Ofc. Matthew Burdt and
Firefighters Matt Niemczewski and Frank
Palumbo were among 22 graduates to suc-
cessfully complete the strenuous, two-week
program at Schoolcraft College and become
state-certified as SWAT (Special Weapons
andTactics) officers.
This class was the first in the history of
the WesternWayne Consortium SWAT class-
es to have all the participants graduate.
During the two-week course, the partici-
pants took part in extensive physical train-
ing, weapons systems, and building search-
es. They were required to successfully com-
plete a physical skills test along with an
extensive written examination on all sys-
tems and procedures taught during the
course.
Firefighters Niemczewski and Palumbo
will serve as Tactical Emergency Medical
(TEMS) officers with Burdt, and four fellow
Canton police officers currently assigned to
the 19-member Western Wayne Special
Operations Team. Currently, 15 police offi-
cers and four TEMS officers from Canton
Township, Livonia, City of Northville,
Northville Township, City of Plymouth,
Plymouth Township, Redford, Van Buren
Township and Wayne comprise the special
response team which has been in operation
since 1989.
Members of the Canton Lions Club will
be selling poker chips at the 3 Kings Poker
Room Nov. 11, 12 and 13 to raise funds for
Penrickton Center for Blind and
Handicapped Children and the Leader
Dog School.
The chips can be used in Texas Hold
'Em and other games of chance during the
three days.
According to Larry Wegrzyn, president
of the Lions Club, funds from the charity
event will also be used to purchase eye-
glasses for local school children and senior
citizenswho need visual andhearing aids.
The poker room is located at 8669 N.
LilleyRoad (south of Joy) inCanton.
For more information or to get involved
with the Canton Lions Club, contact Bill
Van Winkle at (734) 254-9404 or
Cantonlions.org
Cemetery
FROM PAGE 1
Matthew Burdt
Matt Niemczewski
Frank Palumbo