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Winter Weather Tips
With the arrival of the bone chilling cold weather comes the heartbreaking reminder that the lives of many companion animals will be threatened this winter. Dogs and cats left outside for long periods of time, or permanently, will be unnecessarily forced to "weather" the harsh snow and extreme cold of a Michigan winter - a strong dose of reality during this otherwise festive season. Yet this life and death crisis is completely preventable by simply allowing pets to reside inside where they can thrive and provide us the companionship we desire.
The Michigan Humane Society strongly urges that all pet guardians allow their animals to reside inside, especially during extreme weather. However, if people need to leave their dogs or cats outdoors for any length of time, they are required by Michigan state law to provide them with adequate food, water and shelter. Adequate shelter for dogs, as defined by state law, means a well-built, insulated, slant-roofed dog house. The interior should be just large enough for the dog to stand and to lie down comfortably. It should be slightly elevated from the ground for air circulation. The door should face away from prevailing winds and have a protective flap to eliminate drafts. Clean, dry straw should be provided for bedding rather than towels, rugs or blankets which absorb moisture and freeze.
Several types of inadequate shelter frequently encountered by investigators include an unheated garage or shed, a dog house that is too large or lacks straw, or dogs simply tied out to a porch, fence or deck with no shelter at all.
The following additional tips will help guardians care for their companion animals responsibly during cold weather:
- When temperatures plummet, companion animals should not be left outside for any length of time. Bring small or short-haired pets in when temperatures reach 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit. Larger breeds and thick-coated dogs may remain outside, with adequate shelter, to about zero degrees.
- Precipitation and wind chillshould also be taken into account.
- Cats should be kept indoors or at least brought into a warm, animal proofed garage during severe weather.
- Roaming cats often seek the warmth of car engines, so be sure to knock on the car hood or honk the horn before starting your car to give them a chance to escape.
- Increase food by 10-20 percent for dogs left outside during the winter months. The extra calories are needed to help an animal to stay warm.
- Regular access to clean, unfrozen water is also critical. Check drinking water frequently - every few hours - to ensure that it is unfrozen.
If an animal is cold to the touch, or his paws and ears are pale, he may be suffering from frostbite. Move the animal to a warmer area and contact your veterinarian immediately. |
| Journey to Better Heatlh |
"Your Journey to Better Health" is a program developed by Mayor William R. Wild and St. Mary Mercy Hospital staff, offering residents key information to help residents lead healthier lives.
The next seminar will be held on December 15th at the Friendship Center at 1:00 p.m. The topic will be Heart Healthy Eating. Please call the Friendship Center to let them know you're attending at (734) 722-7628. This event is open to all residents, so come and begin your journey to better health! |
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| Report from Mayor Wild |
 Dear ,
It is hard to believe that the holidays are upon us and 2010 is almost over. On Friday, November 12, I delivered my 2010 State of the City Address; if you were unable to attend here are some of the highlights.
In 2010, my City Administration and the Westland City Council worked together to create a $55 million, two-year balanced budget that protected close to $2 million in fund balance. This was the first time in the City of Westland's history that a multi-year balance budget was implemented.
"Mission: Green" brought much excitement to the City of Westland with curbside recycling, energy conservation and the DTE Energy Community Garden. Westland residents recycled over 12 million pounds of trash in the first year of the City's award winning curbside recycling program, that is a 458% increase over 2009. With a $731,000 federal grant, the city is in the process of completing an overhaul of the heating & cooling systems at the Mike Modano Ice Arena, the Bailey Recreation Center and the Westland Police Department. These upgrades are expected to reduce the City's energy costs by 28% or $125,000. On Earth Day 2010 the City of Westland dedicated its first community garden in partnership with DTE. The garden produced several thousand pounds of fresh produce that was distributed through Gleaners Food Banks to residents throughout southeast Michigan. Westland also opened a new Farmers Market that was a unique partnership between the Westland Parks & Recreation Department, Westland Shopping Center and the Westland TIFA Board. These efforts among others, led SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, to name the City of Westland as Metro Detroit's first sustainable community in its coveted Sustainable Community Recognition Program.
The City's Community Development Department oversaw a two million dollar Neighborhood Stabilization Grant that allowed the City to acquire 58 properties, demolish 22, rehabilitate 26 and reconstruct five homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The City also raised the walls on its first project in conjunction with the Wayne-Westland Community Schools Building Trades Program.
2010 has also been a busy year for the City of Westland's Economic Development team as we continued efforts to attract new business to the City. In March, the City of Westland hosted "Eggs and Opportunities" at the popular Leo's Coney Island and invited real estate developers, brokers, investors and commercial real estate professionals for an insider's look at development opportunities in our All American City and the formation of our new "Fast Track" team was announced.
With the holiday season fast approaching, the City of Westland will be launching the 2010 holiday "Shop and Dine" campaign. This program is a key part of the Economic Development Department's strategy geared towards branding the Westland Shopping and Dining District as a destination for shoppers in southeast Michigan and to promote the long term retention of these coveted retailers and dining establishments. I hope you will consider buying your holiday gifts here in Westland.
Stay tuned in January of 2011 as I will be kicking off my "Passport to a Healthy City" campaign with the goal of becoming the Healthiest City in Michigan; giving every resident the tools to create a healthy lifestyle through education, exercise and a well-balanced diet. Another goal is to make Westland a total walkable community with the development of 124 miles of sidewalk in the next five years.
Lastly, for an update on Central City Park, we have launched a new website, www.allwestland.com, that will be your best source for the latest information on the park including pictures and videos of the progress.
If you were unable to attend the 2010 State of the City Address, you may watch it on the city's website or on the city's government access channel WLND.
As always, if I can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
Mayor William R. Wild |
| Upcoming Dates - December 2010 | |
Mark your calendar...
| Dec. 1 | Zumba @ Library, 1 p.m. | | Dec. 4 | Green Job Training @ Library, 1 p.m. | | Dec. 5 | Friday Movie @ Library, 7 p.m. | | Dec. 6 | City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 7 p.m. | | Dec. 7 | Family Movie @ Library, 1 p.m. | | Dec. 7 | Holiday Taste Fest @ Hellenic Cultural Center, 6 p.m. | | Dec. 8 | Business Seminar @ Library, 9 a.m. | | Dec. 9 | Coffee Hour @ Library, 9 a.m. | | Dec. 8 | Annual Tree Decorating Event @ City Hall, 4:30 p.m. | | Dec. 8 | Fireside Chat @ Library, 6 p.m. | | Dec. 10 | Christmas Celebration @ Friendship Center, 12 p.m. | | Dec. 12 | Friday Movie @ Library, 7 p.m. | | Dec. 13 | Meet Santa on WLND @ Library, T.B.D. | | Dec. 14 | Christmas Ornament Workshop @ Bailey Center, 6 p.m. | | Dec. 18 | Open Mic @ Library, 7 p.m. | | Dec. 19 | Bowling with Santa @ Town and Country Lanes, 1 p.m. | | Dec. 19 | Friday Movie @ Library, 7 p.m. | | Dec. 20 | City Council Meeting @ City Hall, 7 p.m. | | Dec. 20 | Friends Book Sale @ Library, 10 a.m. | | Dec. 21 | Friends Book Sale @ Library, 12 p.m. | | Dec. 23 | City Offices Closed in Observance of Christmas Holiday | | Dec. 24 | City Offices Closed in Observance of Christmas Holiday | | Dec. 24 | Family Movie @ Library, 1 p.m. | | Dec. 30 | City Offices Closed in Observance of New Year's Holiday | | Dec. 31 | City Offices Closed in Observance of New Year's Holiday |
For more information on each event click on the calendar of upcoming events at www.cityofwestland.com. |
| Wayne County Lightfest | |
Wayne County Parks is currently hosting their annual Lightfest. Bring the family to see this wonderful holiday light display from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. from November 18 until December 31, 2010 (closed on Christmas Day). There is a $5 donation per car.
December 7, 14 and 21 will be Toy Nights. Wayne County will be lending a hand to provide toys to disadvantaged children in Wayne County. On these three nights, the community is invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy in lieu of the suggested $5 donation fee. Visitors are also welcome to contribute the recommended donation. Wayne County considers the donations an opportunity for the people of the community to partner with the County in an effort to make a difference in children's lives.
New for 2010 are 17 brand new displays for everyone to enjoy, including a sports themed area, dinosaur displays and much more! Lightfest features more than 35 giant animated displays and more than one million lights; it is the Midwest's largest and longest light show. The complete Lightfest route is over four miles of Hines Drive.
Don't forget to visit Santa's Workshop at Warrendale Park at the end of the Lightfest. Santa will be there from Thanksgiving until December 23. Don't forget to bring your letters to Santa! Outside of Santa's workshop there will be a giant mailbox where kids of all ages can drop off their letters to Santa. Santa's elves will pick up the letters each night, so make sure to get your wishes in early!
Although Lightfest begins at 7 p.m., Hines Drive will be closed to traffic beginning at 5:45 p.m. nightly. Visitors enter Wayne County Lightfest at Hines Drive and Merriman, 2 ½ miles south of I-96 in Westland.
Lightfest is brought to you in partnership with Fox 2 News, the Friends of Wayne County Parks, DTE Energy, ITC Holdings, DBT Marketing and Promotional Group, McDonald Modular, Entertainment Express Luxury Limousine, Michigan Mountain Biking Association, Total Runner, Beatthetrain.com and Trails Edge store.
For more information on Wayne County Lightfest please call (734) 261-1990 or visit www.waynecountyparks.org.
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| We Promise You a White Christmas Poster Contest | |
 Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Draw a poster of what your house would look like covered in snow on Christmas Day and it just may come true! The winner will be notified Monday, December 20. If there is no snow on the ground, a truck load of snow will be placed on the winner's front lawn on December 21. If there is snow already covering the ground, another prize will be awarded.
You must be a Westland resident to participate in Kindergarten through 5th grade. The poster may be drawn at home or school and must be submitted by December 10, 2010 at 10 p.m. Please make sure to include on your poster your name, age, address, home phone number (so winner can be contacted), school and grade.
Drop off or mail your poster to:
Poster Contest
Westland Parks and Recreation Dept.
36651 Ford Road
Westland, MI 48185 |
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| Westland Welcomes MJR Digital Cinemas |
MJR Digital Cinemas has announced plans to build a new state-of-the-art digital movie theater at 6800 N. Wayne Road on the site of the closed Showcase Cinema. The existing building will be demolished to make way for the new MJR Westland Grand Digital Cinema 16. Ground-breaking on the new 65,000-square foot building is expected by the end of March with the opening in late October or early November 2011. There will be 16 screens with 3,100 seats.
Once completed, the MJR Westland Grand is expected to generate in excess of 800,000 admissions annually - something that will definitely benefit the City of Westland. The new theater will take movie watching to the next level. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art 4K digital projection, which offers the ultimate size, resolution and picture quality. The MJR Westland Grand will be the only movie theater in  Wayne County with 4K digital projection.
Additionally, the MJR Westland Grand will have all of the amenities that local moviegoers expect at MJR Digital Cinemas including a lobby screen showing continuous previews, five 3-D screens, MJR's famous "free refill" policy and the MJR Movie Rewards Club. |
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Police Partner with Managers to Maintain Apartment Complexes |
 Westland police have joined forces with apartment complex management to be proactive in addressing concerns and maintaining a safe community.
Beginning this month, managers at participating apartment complexes will receive a list of police runs to units in their development. It lets the managers see what incidents have been reported and gives them an opportunity to file a Freedom of Information Act request to get more information, if they have a concern.
"We won't charge them for the FOIA, if they are part of the program. We want to give them the most information that we can so they can be better managers and we'll be better police," Ramsden said. "The police department thinks the apartments are important and is working hard to keep them as nice as they have been."
Westland's largest apartment complexes were approached to participate in the pilot program, including the more than 1,500-unit Landings, Country Court, Scotsdale, Willow Creek, Fountain Park and Westland Meadows Mobile Home Park. |
| Westland Works! | |
 If you're a job-seeker, you probably know that in these tough economic times jobs seem to be hard to come by and yet there are a many websites to help you find an employer, but none quite like Westland Works. This program is designed to inform you of job opportunities that are available right here in the City of Westland. A variety of positions are currently listed under the "Jobs" heading on the city website. In an effort to make these postings even more available to you at your fingertips, the Westland Works program has now been integrated with the quickly growing social media site, LinkedIn. By going to LinkedIn.com and joining the group "City of Westland," you can get instant e-mail notifications of the most recent job postings on Westland Works and network with other business professionals. If you are an employer and would like the City to list a job posting for our residents, please call the Mayor's Office at 734-467-3200. By our community coming together in this joint effort we can make sure Westland Works.
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| Facebook Fan Count! |  The City of Westland has reached a milestone with its online communications. On November 11, 2010, Amanda Diaz became the 1,000th City of Westland Facebook Fan. With widespread popularity of the semantic web and the concept of connecting content from various sources, the City has made a presence in the social media realm by launching pages on Facebook, Twitter, Nixle, LinkedIn and Livestream and integrating content ranging from photos to WLND videos on these sites. |
| DPS Updates |
The City of Westland Department of Public Service would like to thank all of the residents that have bagged leaves and placed them at the curb as compost. This year compost season will end on Friday December 3, 2010.
 The Mayor has been working with the current waste hauler, Midwestern Sanitation Incorporated, and the composting facility that receives the leaves from the City of Westland to allow residents the ability to have the leaves collected after the scheduled cutoff date to accommodate residents with several trees that are still holding on to their leaves. Please stay posted to the City website and WLND cable channel for an update.
Lastly, as we approach the winter season we want to remind all residents to remove their cars from the streets when a Snow Emergency is declared. |
| Grand Opening of the Loan Closet |
 The Westland Fire Department has officially opened its Loan Closet to make it easier for residents to request and pickup Mmedical items such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches, walkers, etc.
The Fire Department has and always provided help to our citizens beyond the traditional response to fire and medical calls. This Loan Closet is another fine example of how they continue to help those in need. Any citizen who has a wheelchair or any other item that they no longer need related to medical assistance is encouraged to donate that item to the loan closet.
The requesting of an item is a very simple process. There is a short request form that can be downloaded and filled out off of the City's website: www.cityofwestland.com/firedepartment.html. Just click on the link, fill out the required fields and the requested item will be made available for pick up at the Central Fire Station located on Ford Rd. |
| NSP Homeownership Opportunities |
The City of Westland, under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, is working with Home Renewal Systems and Guy Construction Services to renovate and offer for purchase foreclosed houses in Westland to qualified homebuyers. The NSP program provides opportunities for qualified individuals and families to purchase a newly renovated home.
The federally funded program requires that the houses be sold to families with incomes based on the number of persons in the household. For example, the maximum income for a single person is $58,700 and for a four person household is $82,900.
Individuals and families must qualify for a mortgage and attend a homebuyer counseling session. If needed, down payment, closing cost and credit counseling assistance are available.
As part of the City's "Green Initiative," each home in the program is evaluated for energy efficiency improvements during renovation. Where possible, homes are raised to Energy Star standards. A Homebuyer Warranty is also provided.
 Interested persons can contact Home Renewal Systems at (866) 996-9754 or www.homerenewalmi.com and Guy Construction Services (via National Faith Homebuyers) at (313) 255-9500 for more information on how to qualify for homeownership under the City of Westland's NSP Program.
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| Open For Business |
 The City of Westland welcomed new and reinvesting businesses to the City throughout the month of November. Wayne Medical Center moved down a couple doors to its brand new facility located at 1203 S. Wayne Rd. (between Palmer & Cherry Hill). They have opened their doors as an urgent care center and family physician. If you are looking for a unique gift at a great price, stop on by Advanced Consignment this holiday season located at 34694 Warren Road just west of Wayne Rd.
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| November in Review | |
 The month of November was filled with festivities, many of which kicked off the 2010 holiday season. At the Friendship Center, Westland seniors enjoyed their annual Thanksgiving Celebration where the City administration and local dignitaries served attendees a feast. Celebratory activities continued over at City Hall with their traditional Holiday Tree Lighting that included an award presentation for the "What Christmas Means to Me" essay contest, a Christmas sing-a-long, an original reading by Nancy Spinelle, guest appearance by Santa and Rudolph, a performance by Jacquese Milosar and the official tree lighting.
In addition, several "green" events took place this month that included Farmers Market Appreciation Day and a Green Ceremony for the new wind turbine at the William D. Ford Career-Technical Center.
November also highlighted our "All American City" by welcoming home Westland native and Detroit Red Wing, Mike Modano, at the unveiling of two new silhouettes on the outside of the ice arena named in his honor. To wrap up the month, Mayor Wild returned to his alma mater, John Glenn High School, to give his 2010 State of the City Address and local high school seniors vied for the 2011 Wayne-Westland Junior Miss title. |
| City of Westland Municipal Departments | |
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| City Council | |
   
James R. Michael A. Christine Adam
Godbout Kehrer Cicirelli Bryant Hammons
President President Pro Tem
  
Bill Meriem Dewey K.
Johnson Kadi Reeves
*Click the above pictures to e-mail the respective Council members. |
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