April 2021 News Briefs

Big Green Detroit partnered with Wayne-Westland Community Schools to support #PlantASeedDay. They delivered 300 microgreen kits to Hamilton Elementary School in Westland last month just in time to celebrate the first day of spring. What is Big Green? For almost ten years, Big Green has been teaching kids to garden-from planting and watering to harvesting, cooking and everything in between. In 2019, they hosted the first-ever Plant a Seed Day to inspire even more people to take an active role in their local food system starting with one simple action — planting a seed.

Wayne Rotary is teaming with Wayne Main Street and Friends of the Rouge to host Rouge Clean-Up Day on Saturday, April 24, from 9:00 a.m.-Noon. All volunteers are welcome. The Wayne Rotary is celebrating Earth Day by cleaning up the Great Lakes Watershed. Volunteers are needed to walk along the trails and streets along the Rouge River in Wayne to pick up garbage. Light refreshments will be provided. Volunteers should meet at Goudy Park at 9:00 a.m. wearing comfortable clothes and shoes, bringing gloves and any tools they might have for picking up trash. Trash bags will be provided. Wearing of masks will be required and social distancing is expected. If weather does not permit clean up on April 24, the event will be rescheduled to May 1, same time/location.

Former City Councilman Christopher Sanders rejected two plea deals last month that would have prevented jail time in a 2017 false police report case that is before the Third Circuit Court. His attorney John Cahalan told Third Circuit Judge Donald Knapp on March 17 that “He (Sanders) would like to decline those offers and proceed to trial on this matter.”
Sanders is accused of paying someone to plant a starter pistol and fake drugs in a city employee’s car. The person Sanders is alleged to have paid is Jimmie Lee Chandler of Van Buren Township. Chandler has already pleaded guilty to attempting a false felony report and received 18 months of probation, fees and community service if he can’t pay the fees.
Sanders is reportedly maintaining his innocence in this incident.

Michelle’s Pieces and the Wayne Historical Society invite you to Arting at the Wayne Historical Museum on Wednesday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 with a portion being donated to the museum. Attendees will create a beautiful 8 x 10 stained glass mosaic in a design of their choice. To purchase a ticket, go to artingathome.com/ticket-booth-%26-shop/ols/products/arting-at-the-wayne-museum
Join the Wayne Historical Society for the first in-person lecture of 2021 on Thursday, April 8, at 7:00 p.m. at the Wayne Historical Museum. Members of the 102nd US Colored Troops reenactment group will talk about the history of the group and what was like for African American soldiers during the Civil War. This program will be out on the lawn. Please social distance, dress for the weather and wear masks.

Join the Historic Walking Tour of Michigan Avenue on Thursday, July 22, at 7:00 p.m. The tour is free and starts at the Wayne Historical Museum. The tour will begin at Biddle, walk east to 2nd St and then go west to Elizabeth. The one-hour tour will show buildings and items of historical note on both sides of the street. Comfortable shoes are a must. Please wear masks to be courteous.

Judge Breeda O’Leary and the 29th District Court were proud to participate in the Eviction Diversion Program, which helped 96 families in the City of Wayne who were facing eviction remain in their homes. Of the 40 participating communities, the Court had the 5th highest participation rate, and was the smallest community in the top 8. This could not have been accomplished without the hard work of the staff and the willingness of local landlords to participate.

Cruisin’ US 12 has announced that Saturday, July 10, 2021, will be the date of the next annual car cruise on Michigan Avenue in Wayne. During the cruise a 1919 Harroun car will be on display at the Wayne Historical Museum. The Harroun is one of less than 3,000 made in Wayne between 1917 and 1922 and is the only known surviving example. Mark your calendars to come out and welcome this car back to Wayne (for the day) after 100 years!

New homes will be available in Wayne this spring! Infinity Homes is currently establishing a V.I.P. list of individuals looking to have a new home built this Spring at Kiwanis Park in the City of Wayne. Be sure to reach out to Mary Kelley at 646-627-9528 to place yourself on the list for a brand-new home in Wayne today.
Members of the Wayne Police Department participated in National Reading Month in March by posting videos of officers reading. The event was kicked off by Police Chief Ryan Strong with a serious, non-foolish book chosen by his children named The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak. Officer Priebe read Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester. He even sang a few lyrical lines. Officer Colwell read If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff. Officer Arndt read his daughter’s favorite book, How to Build a Haunted House by Frank Tupta. The many voices of Sgt. Perez read Billy Bloo is Stuck in Goo by Jennifer Hamburg. Officer Turner read I Was so Mad by Mercer Mayer. Lt. Carter read It’s Not Wrong or Right It’s Just Different by his mother-in-law Kathy Jones. Sgt. Amore read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.

The Wayne Bicycle Club is rolling on out in 2021. This group is for all who love to ride, build and/or customize their bicycles. All ages are welcome. Meet at the State Wayne Theatre at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings. The group rolls out at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page to see when the next ride will be.

The Wayne Public Library is open to the public. You will need to enter through the doors by the Veterans Plaza. Browsing is limited to 30 minutes for grab and go service. Please do not visit if you are sick. The plaza pick-up service is still available if you wish to do no-contact pick up of materials. Call the library for more information.

The City of Wayne now has a Wayne County COVID-19 testing site. Two new, cost-free testing sites with reportedly shorter waiting times were opened in Wayne and Dearborn, both sites at HYPE locations. The sites are open 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
HYPE Athletics Center — Wayne, 4635 Howe Road, Wayne, MI 48184
HYPE Athletics Center — Dearborn Heights, 23302 W. Warren Avenue, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127