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ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 4 November 23, 2011
BELLEVILLE - CANTON - NORTHVILLE
New school leader
is hired by district
Canton Tree Lighting is planned
Arrest made in shooting
Michael Van Tassel, the principal at
Belleville High School, has been selected as
the new superintendent of the Van Buren
Public School District.
Van Tassel was selected by a unanimous
vote of the members of the school board fol-
lowing his second interviewwith the group.
Van Tassel joined the school district in
1990 and served as the director of bands
until 2005when he became an assistant prin-
cipal at the high school. He served as the
assistant principal until 2007 and then again
in 2009, before accepting the promotion to
principal.
He submitted an application for the
superintendent's position through the
Michigan Leadership Institute, the firm the
board hired to facilitate a rapid search for a
replacement for retiring Superintendent of
Schools Thomas Riutta. He was reportedly
the only internal district candidate to apply
for the position.
The requirement that the superintendent
hold an Educational Specialist Certificate
from the State of Michigan was amended by
the board members as Van Tassel does not
meet that criteria. He has a comparable
number of graduate level credit hours,
according to a district spokesperson.
Hewill beginhis new jobFeb. 1, 2012.
Ring in the holiday season at the 33rd
Annual Canton Tree Lighting from 6-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 30 at theSummit on thePark.
Township officials first lit an official tree in
1978 and the event continues to grow, attract-
ing residents of all ages. The event will include
a variety of indoor and outdoor activities
including seasonal entertainment, children's
crafts, and refreshments along with a visit
from Santa Claus, who's coming to town for a
special appearance.
Guests will discover a Candy Land theme
drizzled throughout the event décor, refresh-
ments, entertainment and activities.
Along with Santa, guests will include the
Gingerbread Man, the Grinch, as well as a
friendly giant Snowman. There will also be a
Tree Lighting Marketplace featuring hand-
crafted Michigan-Made items for gifts and
stocking-stuffers.
Hot coffee drinks, hot cider and hot choco-
late along with sweet holiday treats all avail-
able for purchase fromDay DreamCafé in the
Summit Lobby. Refreshments will also be
available for purchase from Heavenly Hotdog
in theSummit Gym.
D&MArt Studio will be on hand with fanci-
ful face painting, while Westbrook Salon will
help add holiday shimmer and shinewith a lit-
tle well-placed tinsel. Guests can decorate
sugar cookies, make a candied craft andwatch
and listen to holiday favorites performed by
groups like the Plymouth Christian Academy
Choir, the Plymouth Canton Educational Park
Strings, Spotlight on Youth, Dancin' Feet, and
the a cappella vocals of Voices inHarmony.
The official Tree Lighting Ceremony will
take place at 6:30 p.m. as Township Supervisor
Phil LaJoy, with the help of good girls and
boys, will use a little holiday magic to flip the
switch and light the tree and begin a dazzling
display of thousands of twinkling lights syn-
chronized to classic holiday music in a newly-
addedholiday light show.
For additional information call (734) 394-
5460.
DeMario Campbell, 19, of Canton was
arraigned last Wednesday in 35th District
Court on one count of carrying a concealed
weapon, a 5-year felony, and one count of
reckless use of a firearm, a 90-day misde-
meanor.
The charges stem from an incident that
occurred the previous Sunday when Canton
Police police were called to High Velocity
Sports Complex on Michigan Avenue after
reports of a gunshot fired in the parking lot.
Campbell was still on the scene when police
arrived and he was immediately taken into
custody. Witnesses told officers that prior to
the shot being fired into the air, the suspect
was involved in a disagreement inside High
Velocity and a
handgun was
produced.
Campbell is
scheduled for a
p r e l imi na r y
court examina-
tion on the
charges on Nov.
28.
Judge James
A. Plakas set
bond for
Campbell at
$10,000, with
conditions. DeMario Campbell
Teamwork
More than 100 teams participated in the 7th annual Michigan Flag Football State
Tournament at Wal led Lake
Northern High School Nov.12
and 13. Two Northville teams
brought home trophies and run-
ner up honors from the event.
The Northvi l le Seahawks,
coached by Mike Ellis, took run-
ner up honors in the Michigan
Youth Flag Football 2nd Grade
Division while the Northville
Redskins, coached by Vic
Faust, won runner up honors in
the Open 2nd Grade Division.