No. 49
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
December 21 – 27, 2017
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
Jacqueline St. Antoine, a
teacher at Franklin Middle
School in Wayne, will travel
to Finland to speak at an
international conference of
educators.
See page 5.
Northville Public Schools
have hired Steven Banchero
as the new director of opera-
tions, replacing Chris Gearns
who retired after 20 years.
See page 4.
Vol. 132, No. 49
Vol. 70, No. 49
Vol. 70, No. 49
Vol. 17, No. 49
Radio Station 96.3 WDVD
visited the Romulus Fire
Department Dec. 15 as part
of their “Salute to First
Responders” program.
See page 3.
Vol. 132, No. 49
Vol. 70, No. 49
Vol. 70, No. 49
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Westland Mayor William
Wild chose a pastel work by
Laurel Raisanen of Wayne
as his favorite entry in the
Three Cities Art Club Juried
Art Exhibition.
See page 5.
Canton Township officials
have authorized $60,000 to
increase marketing efforts
for municipal recreation
opportunities.
See page 2.
Vol. 17, No. 49
The Annual Inkster
Legends Christmas Raffle
was a "smashing success"
despite some inclement
weather, according to
founder and director Fred
Smiley.
See page 3.
The Michigan Philhar-
monic has awarded a full
year String Fellowship to
Rachel Browning, bassist
with
the
Michigan
Philharmonic
Youth
Orchestra.
See page 4.
Members of the Van
Buren Public Schools Board
of Education have rated
Superintendent of Schools
PeteKudlak as “effective.”
See page 3.
Plymouth township officials
continue to discuss the future of
Hilltop Golf Course as financial
losses at the municipal facility
continue and the current man-
agement company has request-
ed $1 million for repairs and
improvements.
The golf course, long a sub-
ject of controversy among resi-
dents and officials, is reportedly
losing as much as $100,000
annually while a loan of more
than $500,000 to the facility from
the township general fund
remains unsatisfied.
Currently, the 18-hole munic-
ipal course is managed by Billy
Casper Golf, Inc. and represen-
tatives from that independent
venture have requested renova-
tion and installation of walking
paths, concession improve-
ments, new golf carts and
removal of several trees on the
course. Those renovations and
maintenance issues could total
as much as $1 million, accord-
ing to township sources.
During a meeting last week,
Township Supervisor Kurt
Heise told members of the
board of trustees that the town-
ship does not have the funding
for those requested improve-
ments. Representatives from
the management company have
said the course would be more
attractive to golfers with the
improvements helping reverse
the annual financial losses.
Heise told the board mem-
bers that the financial losses at
the course could not continue
while he was convinced that the
golf course employees were
“doing the best they can with
what they've got.”
He suggested that golf cours-
es are being repurposed by
communities and that the
Hilltop site might be a recre-
ational area to be used for walk-
ing, jogging, bike and cross-
country skiing, with paths,
green space, pavilions and
other amenities.
He suggested forming a com-
mittee including township
trustees and residents to exam-
ine possible uses for the site
should township officials decide
to close the golf course.
Township Trustee Bob
Doroshewitz urged the board to
examine all possible solutions
before closing the golf course.
Trustee Chuck Curmi urged the
board members and the audi-
ence members not to interpret
the discussion as a death sen-
tence for the golf course.
Heise also suggested selling
off a portion of the land on the
southernmost section of the golf
course for development of con-
dominiums. He said he estimat-
ed the township could realize $2
million from the sale of that sec-
tion of the property.
Treasurer Mark Clinton sug-
gested that residents were
already concerned regarding
worsening traffic congestion
throughout the township as
more homes are constructed.
Heise said that no decision
had beenmade but themanage-
ment contract with Billy Casper
will expire inMarch of 2019 and
the township is required to pro-
vide the company with 120 days
notice if officials opt not to
renew the agreement.
Township Trustee Bob Doroshewitz
urged the board to examine
all possible solutions before
closing the golf course.
”
Future of golf course discussed
The Michigan Philharmonic
has signed a three-year contract
extension with Music Director
and Conductor Nan Washburn.
Now in her 19th season with the
Michigan
Philharmonic,
Washburn has led the organiza-
tion's evolution into one of the
most innovative and dynamic
professional symphony orches-
tras in the region since her
arrival in 1999, noted Beth
Stewart, executive director of
theMichiganPhilharmonic.
The winner of The American
Prize in Orchestral Conducting,
professional division, in 2013
and 18 ASCAP Awards for
Adventurous Programming from
the League of American
Orchestras, Washburn is one of
the most innovative conductors
working in the United States
today. For her engaging per-
formances and leading-edge
approach to concert program-
ming, critics have hailed her
work as having “perspicacity,
verve, imagination and all-
around savvy.” Under her direc-
tion, the Michigan Philharmonic
has garnered national awards
and recognition, winning six
ASCAP awards from the League
of American Orchestras as well
as First Place in the prestigious
American Prize for professional
orchestras in 2016, Stewart con-
tinued.
Before being recruited to
Michigan from California,
Washburn served as artistic
director and conductor of the
West Hollywood Orchestra for
five years; music director of
Orchestra Sonoma, the Camellia
Symphony, and the San
Francisco State University
Symphony Orchestra. Washburn
first came to national attention
as a co-founder, the artistic
director, and associate conduc-
tor of the San Francisco-based
Women's Philharmonic from
1980 to 1990, during which time
she became one of the leading
authorities on and advocates for
orchestral works of women com-
posers. For her pioneering work
in this field, she was awarded
the WIA - Jeanine C. Rae Award
for Advancement of Women's
Culture.
Washburn has put the
Michigan Philharmonic on the
map by working with and per-
forming works by many of the
leading composers in the U.S.
today, including Joseph
Schwantner, William Bolcom,
Libby Larsen, John Corigliano,
Chen Yi, Lou Harrison, Tobias
Picker, Michael Daugherty,
Jennifer Higdon, Gabriela Lena
Frank, AndreMyers andMichael
Gilbertson, Stewart said.
“We are thrilled to engage
Nan for another three years and
the artistic head of our organiza-
tion,” said Stewart. “Nan brings
the background and artistic lead-
ership we need as the organiza-
tion enters an exciting phase
with the possibility of having a
performance home for the
orchestra”.
As the Plymouth Arts &
Recreation Complex, which
houses the administrative offices
of the Michigan Phil and 36
other arts and recreational
organizations, plans to renovate
and expand the facility, a new
performing arts center is one of
the goals of the project, Stewart
said.
“Having a performing arts
center right in the heart of our
hometown of Plymouthwould be
a dream come true for the
Michigan
Philharmonic,”
Washburn said. “It is something
we have waited so long for and
would be a perfect way to cele-
brate my two decades with the
orchestra!”
For more information the
Michigan Philharmonic, concert
schedules and tickets visit
.
Philharmonic conductor’s contract
Making it merry
More than 30 children joined some local heroes Tuesday for a holiday shopping trip through Meijer in Westland. Firefighters and
police officers from Westland joined the children for the 13th Annual Shop with a Hero event. Police Ofc. James Compton, above,
was among the officers and firefighters who helped ensure families enjoyed a Christmas shopping outing. The children were also
treated to a pizza party and a visit with Santa. Meijer, the sole sponsor of the event in Westland, also provided families food gift bas-
kets for a holiday dinner. “To be able to provide a child with the joy of Christmas is an incredible opportunity,” said Westland Mayor
William Wild, “Our first responders and local charitable groups who are also participating do amazing work each year to ensure that
the children of Westland have a magical and memorable Christmas.”
Nan Washburn
