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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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December 3, 2015
C
ANTON
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ORTHVILLE
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LYMOUTH
To subscribe to The Eagle
call 734-467-1900.
Northville School District officials
have responded quickly to a suspected
case of viral meningitis reported at
WinchesterElementary School.
According to Superintendent of
Schools Mary Kay Gallagher, the district
intends to be vigilant and “err on the side
of informing families.”
Viral meningitis is a less contagious
and virulent disease than bacterial
meningitis, and the district was not
required by county health departments
to inform parents of the situation.
Gallagher, however, sent a letter sent to
school parents immediately after the
suspected diagnosis just before the holi-
day. While there is no indication the dis-
ease has or will spread, increased clean-
ing protocols have been instituted at the
schools, including cleaning everything
that childrenmight touch.
Federal privacy laws prevent officials
from identifying the ill person and
Gallagher would not say if the individual
was an adult or child.
Gallagher did urge parents to careful-
lymonitor their children.
“If they are sick, they should stay
home,” she reminded parents in the let-
ter. Gallagher's letter included informa-
tion about the disease and causes.
While there is no specific prevention
for viral meningitis, good personal
hygiene, such as frequent hand washing,
can reduce the chances of the infection
which is a virus. Antibiotics are not effec-
tive against the disease and it is an
enterovirus, which can be passed from
person to person by stool or saliva. About
90 percent of the cases begin with com-
mon stomach viruses and most people
do not become affected with the disease
as their immune system fights off the
virus.
Gallagher said the district usually
sees a fewcases of the disease every year
and her letter was an effort to keep par-
ents informed and keep students safe.
Once again, they are the champions.
The 176-member Plymouth-Canton
Educational Park Marching Band was
crowned Flight 1 state champions at the
Michigan Competing Band Association
competition at FordField recently.
The students were also chosen as the
winners of the Outstanding Musical
Performance award, the Outstanding
Visual Performance honor and won the
OutstandingGeneral Effect category.
The Flight One competition included
the 12 largest by student population high
schools in the state. Walled Lake Central
High School took second place and
RockfordMarching Band from theGrand
Rapids area earned thirdplace.
Plymouth CantonMarching Band sup-
porters and parents waved moons and
stars during the competition, the symbols
of the group, falling silent as the band
members took to the field to perform the
2015 show E.X.O. which won the top
marks in the competition from the
judges.
The marching bandmembers are now
preparing for their trip to Pasadena, CA,
to march in the Tournament of Roses
Parade on Jan. 1, 2016. Fundraising
efforts are continuing to collect the
money to send the bandmembers, equip-
ment, instruments and props to
California to appear in the national
parade.
For more information about the group
and their fundraising efforts, access the
Plymouth Canton Marching Band web-
site.
Donors are asked to drop off new
hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, blankets,
and socks at Plymouth Community
United Way, 960 W. Ann Arbor Trail,
Suite 2, Plymouth, during business
hours 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 Monday -
Thursday and from 7:45 a.m. until 2:45
Friday. All adult and children sizes are
welcome.
For more information, call Randi
Williams at (734) 453-6879, ext. 7 or e-
mail
.
in Salem Township by almost 25 percent
and the resulting demand on infrastruc-
ture and services must be carefully
planned for,”Whittaker said.
Schostak, through a limited liability
corporation, Salem Springs, LLC, has now
requested water and sewer service for the
development fromPlymouthTownship.
While Plymouth Township Supervisor
Shannon Price, Treasurer Ron Edwards,
ClerkNancy Conzelman and TrusteeMike
Kelly were in favor of the study, which will
be paid for by the developer, Trustees Bob
Doroshewitz and Chuck Curmi were
adamantly opposed to the study, which
they characterized as a “first step” in the
process.
Kelly, who voted in favor of the study,
said the township should not be in the
business of selling utilities.
Edwards countered that Plymouth
Township already sells extra capacity to
CantonTownship andLivonia.
“You'll have to do a really good selling
job afterward to get me to vote for it,”
Kelly said.
Citing traffic congestion and a negative
effect on property values, Doroshewitz
argued unsuccessfully during the board
meeting, suggesting that even a feasibility
study regarding selling sewer capacity to
Salem Township was inappropriate.
Doroshewitz and Curmi cast the only no
votes while newly-appointed Trustee
Steve Mann abstained as his employer,
Miller Canfield law firm, represents
SalemTownship.
“Once the feasibility study is done, the
horse is out of the barn,”Doroshewitz said.
“They come to us and we're going to make
it too easy for them to put additional hous-
ing stock on the market.” He also ques-
tioned the effect of providing water to
Salem Township could have on water
pressure on thewest side of the township.
“I really don't think we should be in the
business of providing water to Salem
Township” for “very little benefit,” he said.
Doroshewitz subsequently sent an
email appeal to several people in the
townshipnoting his strong objections.
“I am adamantly opposed to our partic-
ipation as I believe it harms homeowners
west of Beck Road far more than it bene-
fits us,”Doroshewitz said in a bulk email.
Informed sources have suggested that
strong political tiesmaywork in Schostak's
favor. CEO Robert Schostak is a former
chairman of the Michigan Republican
Party and Price currently works as direc-
tor of constituent relations for State
Attorney General Bill Schuette, a republi-
can.
Meningitis warning issued
Mitten, hat drive is under way
Repeat champs
Marching band named top in state
Water
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