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No. 47
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
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November 21 - 28, 2012
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
Well-known Wayne busi-
nessman Gerald Dennis
“Jerry” Steinhauer, founder of
Professional Insurance, died
peacefully at home, surround-
edby his familyNov. 15.
See page 2.
The Romulus Helping
Hands is about to enter the
holiday season with a pantry
that is low on supplies and
needs help to provide for the
less fortunate in the communi-
ty.
See page 3.
Plymouth Community
United Way and the Plymouth
Whalers are hoping it will rain
a torrent of teddy bears Dec. 1,
at CompuwareArena.
See page 5.
Santa will be the star at the
Northville Winter Market, and
there will be plenty of other
attractions at the annual event
planned for noon until 8 p.m.
Dec. 1.
See page 4.
Belleville resident Ruth
Bleeker would like to see a
lighted Christmas tree at the
Five Points intersection down-
town and proposed the idea to
the city council recently.
See page 2.
Vol. 127, No. 47
Vol. 65, No. 47
Vol. 65, No. 47
Vol. 12, No. 47
Vol. 12, No. 47
Vol. 127, No. 47
Vol. 65, No. 47
Vol. 65, No. 47
From hotcakes to back-
packs, Starfish Family
Services in Inkster has upcom-
ing events to help parents and
children in the area through
the holidays and into the New
Year.
See page 5.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
A $95,000 state grant to the
recreation department will be
used to help encourage physi-
cal activity and healthy eating
programs in the Wayne-
Westland schools.
See page 2.
The City of Romulus is mourn-
ing the loss of long-time public ser-
vant and elected official Jimmie
Raspberry.
Known to many as 'Mr.
Romulus,' Mr. Raspberry died on
Nov. 19 at the age of 91. Hewas the
first black political leader in the
community.
“He loved this community, he
absolutely loved this community,”
said Council President Leroy
Burcroff. “He wasn't afraid to go to
bat for what he believed in. He
dedicatedhis life to it.”
An active United Auto Workers
(UAW) member, Mr. Raspberry
worked for Ford Motor Co. from
1942 to 1974.
His service to Romulus started
in 1955, when he was elected as a
constable in Romulus Township.
He served in that role until 1961,
when he was elected as a town-
ship trustee. He served as trustee
until 1970 and helped as the town-
ship transitioned to a city.
One of the first members of the
Romulus City Council, he served
several stints on the board, from
1970-1973; 1975-1985 and from
1987-1997.
“He was such a wealth of
knowledge,” said Councilwoman
Eva Webb. “There was nothing
that anyone could ask him about-
especially about the city-that he
didn't knowabout. I appreciate the
advice he gave me and I've always
regarded him as one of the finest
council persons who has ever sat
up here in this city. He will be
missed.”
“Everybody loved him,” added
former clerk and current
CouncilwomanLindaChoate.
He was known for keeping a
copy of the city charter at his right
hand during council meetings. He
was also the first mayor pro-tem in
the city. He served on the Planning
Commission andWater and Sewer
AdvisoryCommittee, too.
“He was a great guy,” said
Romulus Mayor Alan Lambert,
who served with Raspberry when
he was first elected to council. “I
learned a lot from him. He taught
me well and he dedicated a lot of
his time to this community.”
Councilman John Barden said
he also helped Romulus business-
es. He helped get his brother,
Don’s, cable company off the
ground and supported him in his
fight against the cable giants.
“He really looked out for the
underdogs,” said Barden. “He was
a well-respected person, and he
will bemissed.”
Mr. Raspberry was married to
his beloved wife, Cleo, for 45 years
prior toher death.
Among his survivors are his
children, Kennith Raspberry;
Rose Raspberry-Fisher and Lisa
Raspberry; 12 grandchildren; 17
great-grandchildren; many other
relatives and a host of friends and
admirers.
His funeral took place at
Pleasant Valley A.M.E. Church in
Belleville and he was buried in
Romulus Cemetery.
Canton Leisure Services is
teaming up with Canton
Goodfellows to help brighten
the holidays for families in
need in theCanton community
See page 4.
The Plymouth Noon Rotary
Club presented the annual Public
Safety Awards during their regu-
lar luncheonmeeting last Friday.
The Plymouth Township
Police Department selected Sgt.
Todd Seipenko as Officer of the
Year and the honor went to Ofc.
Justin Bulmer of the City of
PlymouthPoliceDepartment.
Huron Valley Ambulance
Paramedic Marcus Sutherland
and Northville Fire Department
Lt. Jim Davison were also hon-
oredduring the annual ceremony.
The presentation was co-
chaired by rotary Club members
JohnWarner and JohnFolino.
“It's sometimes easy to forget
they're also heroes,” in addition to
being fathers and husbands,
Warner said during the presenta-
tion. “At least for today, wewant to
make sure we honor these
heroes.”
Siepenko is an 18-year veteran
of the township police depart-
ment.
Davison, who retired from the
Canton
Township
Fire
Department,
joined
the
Northville Fire Department
about two years ago.
Bulmer has been with the
Plymouth Police Department for
four years, and received high
praise from Police Chief Al Cox
during the presentation.
“All command knows that if we
give him (Bulmer) an assignment,
it will be done in the way that it
should be and often above and
beyond that,” Cox said.
Sutherland has been a para-
medic with HVA for four years
and was praised by Paul Hood,
vice-president of the company.
The Plymouth Township Fire
Department did not participate in
the awards ceremony this year.
Built in 1946 - and after serving
millions of mover-goers in Wayne
County with an old-fashioned
charm - the State Wayne movie
theatre has undergone a modern
21st century facelift.
A grand re-opening and film-
cutting ceremony took place last
Saturday and officially revealed
the new State Wayne Digital
Theatre.
The public was invited to an
open house and tours of the newly
renovated theater offered a
behind the scenes look at the latest
in digital projection technology in
the film projection rooms. The
open house included a chance for
children to personally meet with
Santa Claus and get their wish lists
in early, and see “Puff” the infa-
mous State-WayneDragon.
“I have a great love for the clas-
sic movie theaters across America
and the State-Wayne is one of the
finest inMichigan, a real gemright
here in our own backyard,” said
Cory Jacobson, owner of Michigan-
basedPhoenix Theaters and a life-
long movie theatre operator. “Our
work here maintains the iconic
environment movie-goers have
enjoyed at State Wayne since the
1940s, and we have completely
upgraded all of projection systems
to provide the highest quality digi-
talmovie presentation available.”
State Wayne Phoenix Theatres
marches into its seventh decade of
operation with new Christie
Digital Projectors, and Dolby's lat-
est 7.1 Digital sound systems, new
QSC speakers and amplification -
all run from GDC computer
servers. New, larger screens have
been installed and for the very
first time RealD XL 3-D will be
presented. Gone are the days of
splicing together miles of 35mm
film and the concern of scratches
affecting a quality presentation for
viewers.
“This is a huge win for movie
goers in the Wayne community,”
Jacobson added. “While many of
us grew up on the original 35 mil-
limeter film versions of movies at
State Wayne and other movie
houses, inmy three decades of the-
ater management, I can honestly
say today's new digital presenta-
tion cannot be beat. It is so superi-
or in sound clarity and detailed
visual precision that I wouldn't
want to see a movie any other way.
The sound is crisp and the picture
is superb. Whether it is the first
performance or 10,000th showing,
it is simply a perfect presentation
every time.”
Phoenix Theatres has also
updated the lobby with better
lighting, an updated menu of con-
cession stand food and beverages -
Officers of the Year honored by Plymouth Rotary Club
Death of ‘Mr. Romulus’ is mourned
Jimmie C. Raspberry
Plymouth Ofc. Justin Bulmer
and his biggest fan.
Paul Hood and paramedic
Marcus Sutherland
Police Chief Al Cox and
Justin Bulmer
See
Theatre,
page 2
Grand–reopening
Historic State Wayne Theater
celebrates digital makeover