April 2015 – News Briefs

Wayne Memorial High School JROTC cadets competed in the Brigade Drill Competition in Kentucky last month. They were the runners up in the Academic and Exhibition Drill Competition, next they will compete in the National Championship in Kentucky this summer

Leader Dogs
A representative from the Leader Dogs for the Blind will present the process of training these special friends at 6:30 p.m. on April 8 at the Wayne Public Library. A four-legged friend will be on hand to display his/her obedience skills. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Wayne Library. Please call to register 721-7832.

Coffee with a Cop
Join your neighbors and police officers for coffee and conversation from 9-11 a.m. on April 18 at McDonald’s, 35111 W. Michigan Avenue. The event will provide an opportunity for Wayne city residents to ask questions, raise concerns and get to know Police Chief Al Maciag.

Trivia Night
SS. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 32500 Palmer, Westland is hosting Trivia Night at 7 p.m. on April 25. Doors open at 6 p.m. The cost is $20 per team if you pre-register or $30 at the door. Maximum of four people per team. Price includes 10 rounds of questions, popcorn, and either a hot dog or pizza. Additional food items and beverages (beer, coolers, pop, water, coffee) available for purchase.
There will be raffles and mystery prizes.
For more information, call Kathy Hansen at 734-716-4436.

Boy Choir performs
The First Congregational Church of Wayne, 2 Town Square, Wayne, will host the Boy Choir of Ann Arbor at 4 p.m. on April 26. Admission is complimentary and there will be a free will offering. Directed by Dr. Thomas Strode, the Boy Choir of Ann Arbor offers a wonderfully varied program of sacred, secular, classical, and popular selections.  Their 2011 concert at First Congregational Church of Wayne was warmly received and we look forward to their return. The public is welcome.

AARP Smart Drivers Program
Refresh your driving skills with this course. Learn defensive driving techniques, proven safety strategies and new traffic laws and rules of the road. Class is for anyone 50 years and up. Offered Tuesday, May 5th & Wednesday, May 6th from 9:30-1:30 p.m.
Upon completion, you will receive a certificate that may qualify you for a discount with your auto insurance.
$5 AARP member and $20 all others. Must pre-register by Thursday, April 30th at 734-721-7460.

CROP Walk
The First Congregational Church of Wayne, 2 Town Square,  is hosting the 21st Wayne-Westland CROP WALK on May 3. Registration is at 2:30 p.m. and the Walk starts at 3:00 p.m.
CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, and is sponsored by Church World Service, better known as CWS. CWS is an international relief, development and refugee resettlement agency.
This is the 21st annual walk, which has been held the first Sunday in May since 1995.  Money raised by the walk is used by CWS to provide food, medical care, disaster relief and self-help development efforts for needy people throughout the world, including the United States.
Twenty-five percent of the money raised at the walk will be donated to local organizations, which include-St. Mary’s Outreach (Bolde Food Depot), Salvation Army, Good Hope Lutheran Food Pantry and the Wayne-Westland FISH Community Food Pantry.
The Walk is open to everyone, including all churches, all groups, and families, as well as individuals; and pets are welcome.
The walk will go through downtown Wayne.
If you need further information, please call the church at 734-729-7550 or visit www.fccow.org.

St. Mary School open enrollment
St. Mary Catholic School in Wayne is accepting applications for preschool through eighth grade students. Call 734-721-1240 to make an appointment to visit the school, meet teachers and the principal, view classrooms and see work done by students. Registration and tuition information for the 2015-2016 school year will be available. Families may also inquire about Tuition Assistance Programs. St. Mary is a diverse school, which offers a multitude of enrichment programs that students can explore beyond the core curriculum including student council, National Junior Honor Society, choir, bells, band, scouting programs, sports, Academic Olympics and before and after school care. For more information, email schooloffice@stmarywayne.org.

Outdoor Recreation
Spring is coming and there are lots of activities to enjoy at the Wayne Community Center. The skate and bike park and the tennis courts will be open and free. There is a one-mile walking, running or biking track around Attwood Park and kids of all ages enjoy Planet Playscape.

Senior Services News Briefs
The following programs are offered by the Senior Services office at the Wayne Community Center, 4635 Howe Road, Wayne. For more information on any of the programs, please call 734-721-7460.

Tai Chi Class
The Wayne Senior Services is looking to start a new beginners Tai Chi class on Tuesdays at 9 a.m.
Sessions are for 10 weeks and the fee is $65 per session.
This no impact exercise program builds balance and strength without the soreness of the usual exercise programs.
Great for memory as well. No equipment or special clothing to purchase.

Rummage Sale
The First Congregational Church of Wayne will have a Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 23 and 24 and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 25. Bag Day is April 25.
Wayne residents who are interested in running for City Council in the November election have until 4 p.m. on April 21 to submit their paperwork. Nominating petitions are available at the City Clerk’s office at the temporary site of City Hall, Vandenberg School, 32101 Stellwagen. Petitions must be submitted with a minimum of 25 but no more than 50 signatures of persons registered to vote in the City of Wayne. Also, candidates may not be in monetary arrears to the city.

May Ballot
Voters will have three issues on the May 5 ballot. They are:
State Proposal 15-1, is a proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales tax from 6% to 7%. The funds generated from this increased tax would go to the School Aid Fund and local governments. It would also provide additional money for roads.
The City of Wayne will also have two proposals on the ballot.
Proposal No. 1 will ask voters to amend the city charter so that police officers and firefighters are excluded from the retirement system effective July 1, 2015. If approved, they would become members of a separate retirement system under PA 345. The accumulated contributions to the current employee’s retirement system made by or on behalf of police officers and firefighters would be transferred to the Act 345.
Proposal No. 1 is will ask voters to approve up to 3 mills ($3 per $1,000 of the taxable value of all property in the city) for five years. If approved, it will generate $1,068,000 per year.
Proposal No. 2 will ask voters to adopt an Act 345 retirement system for police officers and firefighters. If approved, there will be a board of trustees to manage and operate the system. These funds would be separate from the city’s general fund.

Fire Dept. seeks SAFER Grant
Wayne-Westland Fire Chief Michael Reddy updated city council on the possibility to add more firefighters to the city.
“We applied for a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant again for six firefighters,” he said. If the grant is approved the six firefighters for Wayne would be fully funded by the federal government with no cost to the city.
Westland has also applied for 13 firefighters. If both grants were approved, this would bring the Wayne-Westland Fire Department staff to 90 firefighters.
“Wayne has a better chance because of its financial situation,” Reddy said. “Wayne has a better shot but we applied in both cities.”
If Wayne receives the grant and Westland doesn’t the firefighters will still go to the Wayne Fire Station.
The grant will provide for the firefighters for two years. They city does not have to commit to keeping them after if they cannot afford it.
“They get hired for two years and then can be laid off. We don’t need to keep them on for an additional two years,” Reddy said.
The grant has been submitted and is moving forward to the review process. The grants will be awarded in July and cities will immediately receive the funds and can start the hiring process.
Wayne currently has 12 firefighters and is incurring daily overtime costs. The grant would provide $1.2 million for the firefighters and reduce the overtime costs.

Crosspointe Church ministry addition
CrossPointe Community Church is planning a 5,000 sq. ft. addition to their building. The new addition will be used for a Children’s Ministry Center.
Pastor Phil DiLernia said they would be able to offer more services to the community and the youth. CrossPointe currently has about 350 members.

Sometimes Travelers Group
Come, leave the planning and transportation to us. Anyone 30 years & older is welcome to join.
We offer day, overnight and extended trips. Transportation is via a deluxe motorcoach.
Dues are $5 per fiscal year (July – June).

Senior Brigade Series
The Wayne Senior Services Office in conjunction with the Attorney General’s Office is offering the Senior Brigade Series. All are free. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is preferred.  For further information or to pre-register, call 734-721-7460.

Identity Theft Presentation
Wednesday, May 13 – 2:30 p.m.
Topics: How to recognize and avoid identity theft. How to protect yourself and what to do if you become a victim.

OnLine Safety
Wednesday, May 20 – 2:30 p.m.
Topics: Email safety tips. Learn to recognize and avoid online scams. Basic computer security measures. Helpful online resources and General online safety tips.

Residential Care Choices
Wednesday, May 27 – 2:30 p.m.
Topics: How to choose a nursing home. How to choose home healthcare. How to recognize and report abuse or neglect and ways to keep your loved ones safe.
Silver Sneakers
Seniors come check out our Silver Sneakers Classes at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Have fun and move to the music through a variety of exercises designed to increase muscular strength, range of motion and activities for daily living. Chairs are available for seated or standing support if needed.

Silver Sneakers Stretch Yoga
Classes are offered at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and 1 p.m. on Friday at Wayne Community Center. Stretch Yoga offers a variety of safely designed movements to increase flexibility and balance, with breathing exercises to promote stress reduction and mental clarity.

Doll House Display
The Wayne Public Library will have a dollhouse on display during the month of April. This hobby has been enjoyed by the Cook family for generations. They are providing the dollhouse to show that this is a hobby that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Stop by and see it.

Hospice of Michigan to Offer Variety of Grief Support Groups
Hospice of Michigan will offer a variety of free support groups this spring in Southeast Michigan that are focused on dealing with grief.
Each of the groups will provide a safe and supportive environment for participants to express their feelings and better understand the grief process as they deal with the death of a friend or family member.
Support groups include Grief Share –
An ongoing nondenominational Bible-based grief program that is held weekly 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Faith Community Church, 14560 Merriman Road, in Livonia and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Romulus Wesleyan Church, 37300 Goddard Road
Hospice of Michigan also offers a series of Living On support groups. These ongoing groups are held on different days in several locations throughout Southeast Michigan, including:
Second Tuesday of each month at Wayne-Oakwood Hospital, 33155 Annapolis, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Advance registration is required for all groups and events. To register, contact 888.247.5701 or visit http://www.hom.org/our-services/grief-support-groups for more information.

St. Mary Parish and School 4th Annual Fundraising Auction
Saturday, May 2, 2015.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m.  Must be 21 and older.  Buffet dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. and is provided by The Avenue American Bistro.  Silent and live auction featuring a Channel 4 News Ruth to the Rescue Shadow Day; four Disneyworld Park Hopper passes; tuition raffle; and much more.
Early Bird price of $35 before April 19th and $45 starting April 20th.  34516 Michigan Ave., Wayne, MI  For more information, call 734-721-1240 or e-mail auction@stmarywayne.org.
Community Forum: Understanding the “Roads Proposal”
Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., Westland City Hall, 36300 Warren Road, Westland, MI  After a brief presentation about the Roads Proposal, by the Michigan Municipal League, city and school officials will share information about the Proposal’s impact on the cities and Wayne-Westland Community Schools.  A question and answer session will follow the presentation.  Sponsored by the City of Westland, City of Wayne, and Wayne-Westland Community Schools.
Wayne High all class reunion
Wayne High Alumni Association 30th annual all class reunion banquet is May 15th 5 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at Wayne Tree Manor 35100 Van Born Rd Wayne Mi. Graduates and all those who attended Wayne High School or Wayne Memorial High School and guests are invited to join us. We will be honoring the class of 1965. Tickets are 30.00 each before May 1st and 35.00 after May 1st. For more information contact waynehighalumni@aol.com or Sharon Scott at 734-722-4651.