No. 50
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
December 10 – 16, 2015
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
Members of the Wayne
City Council will fill two
vacancies with appointments
within the next few weeks
with the resignation of for-
mer Mayor Jim Hawley and
the election of Susan Rowe
asmayor.
See page 4.
Tipping Point Theater
will present Kalamazoo by
Michelle Kholos Brooks and
Kelly Younger through Dec.
20with a special News Year's
Eve performance.
See page 2.
A proposed elimination of
the duty crews from the Van
Buren Township Fire
Department prompted audi-
ence comments at a public
hearing regarding the budget
recently.
See page 3.
Vol. 130, No. 50
Vol. 68, No. 50
Vol. 68, No. 50
Vol. 15, No. 50
Jayln Barnett is looking
forward to economic success
when she enters college next
year and is confident that
she will be able to effectively
handleher finances.
See page 3.
Vol. 130, No. 50
Vol. 68, No. 50
Vol. 68, No. 50
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Keith Martinez, a third-
grade student at Edison
Elementary School, helped
coordinate the 4th annual
Pennies for Patient cam-
paign, a fundraiser for the
Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society.
See page 4.
It will be a happier new
year for part-time workers in
Canton Township where offi-
cials have approved new pay
rates for employees.
See page 2.
Vol. 15, No. 24
Western Wayne Family
Health Centers, serving the
Inkster and surrounding
areas since 2005, celebrated
a grand openingOct. 29.
See page 4.
Plans to demolish three his-
toric buildings, one an
Underground Railroad site, to
make way for more downtown
parking were abruptly halted
last week by members of the
Plymouth Historic District
Commission.
After more than four hours of
discussion, including opinions
from business owners and resi-
dentswho often strongly differed
on the question, the six commis-
sion members in attendance
voted against the plan of the
Downtown
Development
Authority (DDA) to develop a 90-
spot parking lot at the corner of
Deer andAnnArbor Trail.
The proposal would have
demolished the Saxton's build-
ing and the neighboring building
which now houses a train shop
and a ticket broker. A vacant
house at 674 Maple, an adjacent
lot, would also be razed as part
of theDDAplan.
The commissioners heard
from business owners and oper-
ators along with residents, many
of whom heatedly disagreed
about the best use of the site.
More than 100 people crowded
the Plymouth City Hall meeting
room for the much-publicized
meeting last Wednesday, Dec. 2
which continued until after 11
p.m.
Historic Commission mem-
bers said more information was
needed before they could con-
sider approving the razing of the
buildings.
Daniel B. Sabo, the great-
grandson of George Anson
Starkweather (1826-1907) who
was Plymouth Village President
and Plymouth Township super-
visor, and the grandson of Karl
Starkweather for whom
Starkweather School is named,
has been adamantly opposed to
the razing of the buildings. He
quoted research by Mildred
Hanchett, who authored, The
Underground Railroad in the
WayneArea.
“Another station was said to
have been in a building now
occupied by the Saxton Feed
Company on Ann Arbor Trail,
about where Penniman Avenue
branches off below the park.
Some time ago this building was
being remodeled, and it was
found that there was a false ceil-
ing, with a space between it and
the other ceiling, where the
More than 180 Northville fam-
ilies' well-being was threatened
last month when thieves broke
into the offices of Northville
Civic Concern, a nonprofit group
that provides food and help to
needy families.
Marlene Kunz, the director of
operations for Civic Concern,
said the group is now in need of
contributions to help the families
who depend on the organization
for groceries and other necessi-
ties.
The thieves broke doors and
left records strewn around the
office while they stole food and
gift and gas cards.
Kunz said that the organiza-
tion is desperately attempting to
restock the shelves for the holi-
dayswithdonated items.
Civic Concern is seeking
donations of gas and gift cards
and non-expired canned or
boxed food - fruit, soup, cereals,
side dishes and cannedmeat/fish
products. Donations can be
taken to the Northville Civic
Concern office at 43261 West
SevenMileRoad in theHighland
Lakes Shopping Plaza . Drop-offs
may be made 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on
Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
During other hours, items can be
dropped off at Cassel's
Restaurant or World Wide
Alterations also in the Highland
Lakes Shopping Plaza. In the
downtown area, food donations
are accepted at Genitti's
Restaurant, The UPS Store,
Great Harvest Bread Company,
andNorthvilleCityHall.
The "Simply Give" program at
the Northville Meijer at Eight
Mile and Haggerty will continue
through the first of the year. The
purchase of a $10 donation card
at each register directly benefits
Civic Concern. Look for the
"Simply Give" display boards
near the registers. The Meijer
Corporation matches each $10
donation.
The break-in and theft
remains under investigation by
Northville police.
For more information, visit
m/civicconcern or call Northville
Civic Concern at (248) 344-1033
on Monday, Wednesday, or
Friday.
Use
of
Plymouth
Township water and sewer
lines is crucial to a proposed
588 unit development
planned inSalemTownship.
See page 5.
See
Parking,
page 5
The Circus is coming to the Village
Theater in Canton just in time to help ring
in the New Year. The Detroit Circus will
present a high energy performance begin-
ning at 7 p.m. Dec. 31 on the main stage,
located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road in
Canton.
Audiences will see high-flying aerial
antics on fabric and the trapeze; fire danc-
ing and eating; stilt walking and stilt acro-
batics, along with feats of mind-bending
strength.
This is an animal-free circus.
In addition to the performance on
stage, audience members can enjoy a spe-
cial preshow event starting at 6 p.m., fea-
turing on-site face painting artists and
strolling circus entertainers.
The Detroit Circus has been dazzling
audiences for the past several years with
their acrobatic skills and gravity defying
acts, according to an announcement from
the township. Members of the aerial acro-
batics troupe are known for their ability to
tie themselves into ornate poises utilizing
silks hung from the rafters and captivate
audience members with grace, poise and
incredible strength.
During this performance, skilled aerial-
ists will dance, weave and flow through
the air, while aerial hoop performers dis-
play lyrical flexibility and astonishing
strength as they contort and spin. Adagio
Acrobatic members will also amaze view-
ers with their challenging body balancing,
yoga, and flexible maneuvers requiring
two partners, who appear to push the lim-
its of physics.
These jaw-dropping performances are
sure to thrill fans of all ages. Tickets are
$20 and can be purchased online at
or in person
at the Village Theater box office from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday - Friday. Tickets
include popcorn and a non-alcoholic bev-
erage.
For more information about this per-
formance, call (734) 394-5300 or visit
.
Another (Undergroud Railroad) station was
said to have been in a building now occupied
by the Saxton Feed Company on Ann Arbor Trail.
”
Historic commission denies parking plan
Donations needed at Northville Civic Concern
Swingers...
Circus performance is
planned New Years Eve
In the spirit
Lake Pointe Bible church in Plymouth will present a live manger
scene From 6-8 p.m. Dec. 19. Included will be the babe in
swaddling clothes in the manger, young shepherds watching
over their flocks of sheep and goats and the wise men bringing
gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The hallelujah chorus will
entertain visitors while a roaring fire will keep them warm.
Refreshments will be available during the free, interactive, family
friendly event. Lake Pointe Bible is located at 42150
Schoolcraft, Plymouth, MI 48170. The living Nativity scene will
take place in the field behind the church and will proceed rain
or shine. Visitors are advised to dress warmly. Parking is avail-
able in the rear lot. Additional parking is accessible in the front
of the church with overflow parking located across the street at
the Plymouth Senior Station located at 42375 Schoolcraft Road.
