Bloggin’ on the Edge

21

Sep 2007

Decision time

Posted by Scott Spielman at 11:46 AM | Comments | Permanent Link

Well the next month—maybe even the next week—may go a long way toward determining the fate of the Historic Wayne Theater.

The group received an extension from the Dangerous Building Board on Wednesday, and an offer of compromise: bring the building up to a ‘white box’ status—that means clean up all the internal code violations and other issues—and board it up. Then come up with a new plan.

The theater board is getting together this weekend for a heart-wrenching vote on what to do; they still need about $30,000 just to do that.

Most of the people involved here have been working at it for decades. Meanwhile, the majority of the community is either not paying attention or just doesn’t care.

I don’t understand it. This is something that, if the plan comes to fruition, would give the City of Wayne an indentity unique to any other community in western Wayne County. It would draw people in, businesses too.

Why doesn’t anyone care about that?

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20

Sep 2007

An entertaining meeting?

Posted by Scott Spielman at 11:05 AM | Comments | Permanent Link

It’s hard to believe, but there might be some entertainment value at the Northville Township Trustee meeting tonight.

One of the things on the agenda is a public hearing for a Special Assessment District (SAD) to pave for road improvements in a couple of township subdivisions. These are normally as dry as plaster dust, but this one may feature the input of Tony Bauss, who always has something to say.

Normally, I’d say if the residents are willing to pay for a SAD, then go ahead and do it. I’m not sure here; the costs have gone up dramatically, and support is dwindling. I’d look for a convincing majority before I signed off on it.

You could make the argument that improving the road is just like performing routine home improvements—a new roof, a sun room, etc—but the difference with that is that each individual homeowner decides how much, if any to spend on his or her home. A SAD forces a hefty tax hike on residents who don’t want to pay, as well…

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17

Sep 2007

A disappointing trip

Posted by Scott Spielman at 9:55 AM | Comments | Permanent Link

I took a sad trip into Westland yesterday.

I went to the Cost Puls World Market on Warren Road to find out the store was closing and relocating to Allen Park. (They also have locations in Novi and Ann Arbor).

I’d always had a fondness for the store, with its overpriced beer and knicknacks. Maybe it couldn’t compete with Merchant of Vino in Dearborn on the former and IKEA on the latter.

Whatever the reason, I’ll be sad to see it go. Now I guess I’ll have to order my caffeinated Penguin mints online, now….

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14

Sep 2007

"Urgent: it's time to act...."

Posted by Scott Spielman at 4:09 PM | Comments | Permanent Link

That’s how the email from the office of Gov. Jennifer Granholm started.

It came across today and urged residents to contact their representative to urge them to act on the budget bills pending today. There are 16 days until the state has to approve the 2007-2008 fiscal budget.

It’s time to act, she said.

Well, yeah. Of course, you could apply that to any other day in the last several months, too.

Of course, the email contained the same kinds of finger pointing I’ve grown so tired of in the Politics Before Progress State of Michigan. If we don’t act now, the big bad Republicans in the senate will introduce a series of devastating cuts that will impact schools and public safety and so on.

She also points out that she’s made more in government cuts than any other governor before her.

I do think she’s made some progress there, but I should point out the majority of those cuts came in the form of revenue sharing taken away from local communities. They’re responsible for shrinking local public safety departments, taking away D.A.R.E. programs and the like.

The villainy here is not represented by one side or the other; it’s in the sad lack of cooperation between the two.

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14

Sep 2007

Good time for a food drive

Posted by Scott Spielman at 11:38 AM | Comments | Permanent Link

The John Bolde Food Depot hummed with activity before its regular hours Wednesday morning.

Representatives from the Ford Motor Company plants in the city of Wayne drove up in clean Ford Explorers—clean save for the fact that they were packed with food for the Outreach Center.

The plants had put on a food drive to support the center, which provides necessities to needy families throughout Wayne County.

It was a good time for the drive, too, according to Shelli Jump, who coordinates the center. Like at other charities, donations tend to dry up during the summer when traditional donors like schools are out on recess.

For those who want to help out, there are several ways to do so. You cn drop off donations there (they’re looking for items like hot and cold cereal, crackers, stuffing mix, canned vegetables, and of the ‘helpers’—hamburger, chicken or tuna—as well as things like shampoo and bar soap.

The center is located on the corner of Sims Ave and Second Street in the City of Wayne.

There is also an upcoming euchre tournament at 7 p.m. on Sept. 29. It’s $20 to get in, with check-in beginning at 6:15 p.m. You’ll have to pre-register, though, because it’s limited to the first 160 registrants. Call (734) 721-8745 for details.

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