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December 31, 2020 – January 6, 2021 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 53 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Buyer withdraws from Wilcox Mill art center project
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Plans for a community art
Vol. 135, No. 53 center at the historic Wilcox Mill
Sumpter Township in Plymouth have been with-
Supervisor Timothy P. drawn.
Bowman recently expressed Plans for the art center, sub-
his appreciation to those mitted by the Art Foundation
who donated to help commu- established by renowned local
nity children this year. artist Tony Roko, had included
See page 3. establishment of an art studio, a
sculpture garden and an art cen-
ter. Roko planned to purchase
THE CANTON the mill property from Wayne
EAGLE County and county commission-
EAGLE
Vol. 73, No. 53 ers had approved his plan and
the sale of the historic mill in
In a year-end wrap-up to 2019, despite public protests.
members of the Canton “For the business model that
Township Board of Trustees, we proposed, the project com-
a lobbyist reported an event- bined with the economic impact Plans to remodel the abandoned Wilcox Mill into a community art center have been withdrawn.
ful lame duck session in of the pandemic, just became
Lansing and Washington, unfeasible,” Greg Hoffman, approved by the county for the had of making it a community decision to say we are not going
D.C. executive director of the Art site and made the decision to gathering space around the idea to bait-and-switch the communi-
See page 2. Foundation, said. He added return the property to county of art, it was not financially ty.”
that he and Roko did not want to ownership. viable,” Hoffman said. “Tony
alter the plans already “Looking at the model we and I really had to make the See Mills, page 6
THE INKSTER
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR
Vol. 73, No. 53 Friendly rivalry

State Rep. Jewell Jones
(D-Inkster) partnered with Kiwanis, Rotary clubs
local leaders to provide win-
ter coats for children and compete for Salvation
seniors in need last week.
See page 5. Army contributions

THE NORTHVILLE Julie Brown
EAGLE Special Writer
EAGLE

Vol. 20, No. 53 On Monday, Dec. 21, staff and volun-
teers of the Wayne-Westland Salvation
Richard Corriveau of
Northville has been appoint- Army had their fingers crossed - and
ed to the Michigan Civil prayers in abundance too.
Rights Commission, by Gov. The corps, serving the cities of
Gretchen Whitmer. Wayne, Westland, Inkster, Romulus and
See page 5. New Boston, set a $130,000 fundraising
goal this Christmas season. Envoy
Andrew Barylski noted this year
THE PLYMOUTH fundraising is down.
EAGLE
EAGLE “People are not as willing to get out Plymouth Township Trustee John Stewart, left, and Supervisor Kurt Heise ring bells for

Vol. 20, No. 53 and bell ring” as in the past, Barylski the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign Dec. 11 at the Plymouth Kroger store. No
totals as to the winner of the decade-long rivalry between the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs
said. Donations by check, cash or money
Christmas with the First order payable to The Salvation Army as to which collected more during the holiday effort.
Ladies at The White House remain more than welcome, taken to or raise more money. cially, with 25 percent or a little better
is a popular exhibit now on sent to: 2300 S. Venoy Road, Westland, “I always do it every year. A little of the total of $185,000. You can see how
display at the Plymouth MI 48186. The corps is south of Palmer camaraderie. We see a lot of nice peo- important this friendly competition is,”
Historical Museum, 155 S. Road on the west side of Venoy. ple. It's a fun time,” said Tony Bruscato, Bailey added.
Main St. in downtown “People have been generous. We're who directs the Plymouth Downtown John Buzuvis, community develop-
Plymouth. going to make every effort to raise the Development Authority. ment director for the city of Plymouth, is
See page 4. dollars,” he said. The in-person Red Maj. Keith Bailey of the Plymouth Rotary Club of Plymouth Noon presi-
Kettle portion of bell ringing always Salvation Army said the corps kettle dent. He said, “It adds up to a fun kind
THE ROMULUS wraps up Dec. 24. goal is $185,000 this year, with donations of cordial competition. It's been a friend-
ROMAN the Plymouth corps of The Salvation via check encouraged at the 9451 S. ly competition for a great cause for lots
ROMAN
Donations are also still being taken at
of years.”
Main St., Plymouth, MI 48170 office.
Vol. 135, No. 53 Army, which serves Plymouth, Canton, Checks there should be made out to: The Kiwanis-Rotary tradition is like-
The Romulus Police Northville and Belleville. Plymouth Salvation Army. ly some 20 years old, and Buzuvis noted
Department introduced a The Rotary Club of Plymouth Noon Of the Kiwanis-Rotary “rivalry,” among Plymouth City Hall department
new recruit last week to help and Plymouth Kiwanis Club have for Bailey notes: “It has been great for the heads there are both Kiwanians and
brighten up the holidays in years volunteered as bell ringers for the corps. I am amazed at the amount of Rotarians. Some even like to razz each
the community with a little Plymouth corps. Each service club took money both clubs raise for the Plymouth other about the rivalry.
tongue-in-cheek humor. a Friday-Saturday December weekend, corps. Sometimes it can be a huge per-
See page 3. vying to see if Rotary or Kiwanis could centage of the total goal. This year espe- See Rivalry, page 6

THE WAYNE
EAGLE Love-less
EAGLE
Vol. 73, No. 53 2 large retailers announce closings of Canton Township locations
Philip Kaplan, the long-
time owner of Northside Two major retailers have four months ago, and JCPenney closure of 15 stores is part of a ”
Hardware in Wayne, died Dec. announced plans to close loca- officials have announced that “store optimization strategy that
21. Mr. Kaplan and his brother, tions along Ford Road in Canton both respective stores will close began in June with our financial
Sidney, acquired Northside Township. as part of operating reductions. restructuring.” The retailer The Canton Township
Hardware in 1955. Loves Furniture, which In an official statement, plans to close about 200 stores store is expected
See page 4. replaced Art Van Furniture only JCPenney management said the nationwide through next year,
according to a spokesperson as to begin liquidation
part of the Chapter 11 bankrupt-
THE WESTLAND cy filings which took place earli- sales in January.
EAGLE er this year..
EAGLE
The Canton Township store is
Vol. 73, No. 53 expected to begin liquidation
The City of Westland sales in January and will close Loves Furniture and
Finance Department has to the public in mid-to-late Mattresses re-opened the for-
reopened to the public for March, corporate managers mer Ford Road Art Van
tax and water bill payment said. The Canton location built Furniture store in September.
services. Staff members will in 2007 is currently leased by That new building first opened
be available during normal JCPenney and is the only metro in 2018 and was subsequently
hours of operation to process Detroit location being closed. It closed by Art Van which shut-
in-person payments. is one of the few stand-alone tered all stores and liquidated
See page 5. Photo by Sean Rhaesa stores operated by the retailer. company assets.

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