By Carolyn Marnon – Sixteen year-old Antoine Perry, Jr. was in 29th District Court on December 28 for allegedly murdering a 19-year old outside HYPE Recreation Center on November 26, 2018. Antoine faced four charges: homicide-felony murder, armed robbery, and two charges of felony firearm.
Three Michigan State Police cars and three City of Wayne police cars were seen outside the courthouse while police officers filled the halls outside the courtroom.
The Honorable Judge Laura Mack presided over the court proceedings. She instructed those present that no pictures were to be taken of the defendant’s face or of any minor testifying before the court. She also made it clear that anyone who was testifying that day or who would testify in downtown Detroit was not allowed to view the proceedings.
The first witness was a 16-year old girl who said Antoine had been her boyfriend for a few months before the incident occurred. She said he had told her via Facetime that he was going to “jug” something. According to UrbanDictionary.com, “jug” means to steal.
Later that day, she and Antoine were hanging out in a garage with other friends where “we play music and conversate.” While they smoked weed, Antoine pulled a gun out and started playing with it. The witness said she told him he was trigger happy and that he needed to chill out.
Plans were made to get more weed. She said he told her he was going to take the weed from the weed guy.
The group pulled up behind HYPE where Antoine and another friend got out of the car. Antoine took her phone with him to text the weed guy. A bit later, the friend is running back to the car, shaking, saying “Twoin really blew that nigger” because he didn’t give him the weed. Antoine then shows up at the car, and she sees the gun. She testified they were all scared. Her sister, who was driving the car, takes off and then stops in front of Franklin Middle School. She said Antoine had dropped her phone and she wanted it back.
The second witness was in the HYPE parking lot, getting ready to work out. He said he noticed two African-American men standing by the corner and didn’t think anything of it. He went about gathering his workout gear and water bottle when his attention was then diverted back to the men. A car had pulled up to them. One went up to the driver’s side door and then he said the car took off at a high rate of speed with the person holding onto the door while it was being driven. The person tumbled from the car while firing several times at the vehicle driving away before running toward the corner of the building.
The final witness was Officer Michael Bolton of the Wayne Police Department. He says he received a report of a shooting. The victim was in the main lobby of HYPE bleeding from his stomach. Outside, he found three bullet shell casings and a phone about 3 inches away from the casings. Officer Bolton said the defendant walked up saying he was looking for his girlfriend’s cell phone. The defendant was detained at that time.
During testimony, sobs could be heard in the courtroom.
Judge Laura Mack said testimony showed probable cause. The defendant was placed at the scene of the crime with a gun. The witnesses were credible. The case was bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court.
On January 4 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in downtown Detroit, Antoine Perry stood mute as a plea of not guilty was entered by the court. The court ordered a competency evaluation. The competency hearing is scheduled for March 1.

By Carolyn Marnon – In her free-time, she likes doing triathlons where she swims, bikes and runs!
She has lived in Michigan all her life, except for a short period of time spent in Wisconsin.
She loves reading Young Adult novels and social science non-fiction books.
She was recently certified as a scuba diver and prefers warm water on her vacations.
And she lives in Northville with her yellow lab, Einstein.
Who is this woman? She is Jody Wolak, the new Library Director at your Wayne Public Library.
After a 10-year career in marketing, Jody decided to switch careers. While working full-time in marketing, she worked on obtaining her Master in Library Science. She enjoyed problem solving and being creative, but she also always loved libraries and literature.
Her first library jobs were both part-time jobs as Children’s Librarian at the Rochester Hills library and at the Wayne library. She moved on to full-time employment at the William P. Faust Public Library of Westland as the Teen Librarian.
Before coming back to the Wayne library as its director, Jody spent less than two years as the Youth and Teen Director at the Chelsea library.
The job as Wayne Library Director has turned out to be more than she expected. “I knew I loved working with children and loved reading and books since I was a young child,” said Jody. “I enjoy doing library programs for children to adults and seniors. I think my marketing background has been very helpful in promoting the library and our services and making connections in the community. I’m looking forward to doing more of that here in Wayne.”
She goes on to say, “Libraries are so much more than books and reading. We’re a place for the community to gather, a place to see your friends, and a place to expand your horizons!” Jody and the approximately 16 employees of the library are here to serve the needs of the community. The library recently conducted a survey to learn what the community felt the priorities were for the library after a ballot measure was passed in August giving the library 1 mil in additional funding. The most urgent issue to address is the leaking roof. Although expanded library hours, more programming and additions to the collection (books/DVDs/magazines) are being considered, the library board wanted to know where to focus their efforts and where the biggest impact could be made using the feedback they receive from the surveys to inform their decisions.
The library board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Surveys were collected through January 3. The board will be able to look at the surveys at their January meeting. Jody expects the library board and staff will have their initial plans ready to share with the community in February or March. Until then, stop into the library and welcome Jody back to the Wayne library.
“We’re entering a period of growth where we’ll be able to expand our services,” said Jody. “Please come check us out if you haven’t been here in awhile.”

Downtown Development Authority members Kim White Jenkins, Mayor John Rhaesa, Jim Demmer, and Director Lori Gouin, present Wayne Garden Club members with a plaque recognizing over 100 years of service in the City of Wayne.

By Sarah Shurge – “They’re very, very much appreciated,” said Lori Gouin, Wayne Downtown Development Authority director.
The Wayne Garden Club was presented with a plaque by Gouin during the city council meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 for over 100 years beautifying Wayne.
“We’re proud. It’s quite an accomplishment to have an organization going that long and being a positive part of the city,” said Claudia Bukalew, Wayne Garden Club treasurer.
The Wayne Garden Club was established in 1916 and became a federated organization in 1945. It is a member of the Michigan Clubs and the National Garden Clubs.
The purpose of the club is to promote good gardening practices, conservation, and beautification of the City of Wayne.
There are approximately 23 club members at the current time. The board consists of: President – Mary Baryo, Vice President and Historian – Carolyn Marnon, Recording Secretary – Lois VanStipdonk, Corresponding Secretary – Cynthia Quint, and Treasurer – Claudia Buckalew.
Buckalew has been in the club for four years, and treasure for three years.
“My favorite part is the friendships you make and the fact that we can share our love of gardening,” said Buckalew.
The club is responsible for two Blue Star gardens, the gardening around the museum, and some plantings in Goudy Park.
Gouin stated that the plaque the club was presented with will be posted in Goudy Park after the wildflower beds are enhanced in the spring.
The club will be assisting the Wayne Historical Society with plantings along the Old Cemetery on Michigan Avenue next to the theatre.
The club has gone on field trips such as: the Oudolf Gardens on Belle Isle, the gardens at the Detroit Zoo, the Hidden Gardens in Tipton, and the Mathai Gardens in Ann Arbor.
“It’s a wonderful group and you make such good friends. Everyone has the same enjoyment from what we’ve learned in our workshops,” said Bukalew.
The Wayne Garden Club has meetings at 12:30 p.m. at the Wayne Public Library (usually the second Wednesday of the month).
Meetings are usually open to the public and last for 2-3 hours with a light luncheon (usually). If the meeting has a program that requires a fee, there will be a notification to reserve a spot.
“We are always looking for new members to help with our gardening endeavors and to enjoy the pleasure of learning new gardening techniques and possibilities with us,” said Buckalew.
The upcoming schedule for the Wayne Garden Club is:
April 9th – 12:30 p.m. at the Wayne Public Library: Brian Hintz from Birds Unlimited, Canton, speaking about gardening for hummingbirds.
May 14th – 12:30 p.m. at the Wayne Public Library: ADAPT – A presentation by the organization on helping people to develop native plant gardens and perennial gardens.
June 11th – 6:00 p.m. at Flowers in the Mitten: The club will have their annual meeting and then Rachel Botu will have a workshop to create a spring floral arrangement.
July 9th – 12:00 p.m.: Field trip to visit the Growing Hope Garden in Ypsilanti.
August 13th – 12:30 p.m. at the Wayne Public Library: Speaker to give a presentation regarding the Oudolf Gardens on Belle Isle.
September 10th – 12:30 p.m.: Field Trip to the Motor City Grounds Crew in Detroit (tentative on weather).
October 8th – 12:30 p.m. at the Wayne Public Library: Indigenous Gardening.
November 12th – 10:30 a.m. at the Wayne Historical Museum: Help decorate for the holidays, followed by a luncheon.
“I think it’s such a great organization. We could really use more members to do more than we do now,” said Buckalew.
For more information about the Wayne Garden Club, you can find them on Facebook by searching “Wayne Garden Club” or email waynegardenclub@gmail.com.
“Wayne is a delightful town to live in, it’s got quite a history. Anything we can do to help beautify it with planting trees and flowers, we’re all for doing that,” said Buckalew.
Thank you to the Wayne Garden Club for over 100 years of beautifying Wayne!

Wayne resident Shannon Rochon, newly elected Board Trustee for the Wayne-Westland School District.

By Sarah Shurge – In the November 2024 election, among the many things we voted for, we voted on our board members. Those members took office in January.
School board members are essential because they act as a liaison between the community and the school. They are responsible for setting the vision and goals for their district, ensure accountability for student achievement, but most importantly, advocate for students.
Andrew Ambrus and Shannon Rochon are newly elected and have received six-year terms. Fred Weaver was re-elected for a six-year term.
Rochon, a Wayne resident, serves as the Board Trustee for the Wayne-Westland School District.
“In this role, I am committed to advocating for our students and ensuring that their needs are met,” said Rochon.
The new officers are: President – Kimberly R. May, Vice President – LeWanna Abney-Mitchell, Secretary – Melandie Hines, and Treasurer – Andrew Ambrus.
“As the newly appointed chair of the Student Achievement Committee, I am eager to evaluate our students’ test scores and implement effective strategies to enhance academic performance throughout the district,” said Rochon. “My goal is to ensure that every student has the resources and support they need to succeed.”
Rochon was sworn in at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, January 27th, surrounded by his mother, Lavette Rochon, and daughter, Shannon Raquell Rochon.

“Being elected felt incredibly rewarding, as if a significant purpose in my life was being fulfilled,” said Rochon.
Reading the pledge was his pastor, Virgil Humes, Senior Pastor of New Hope of Wayne.
“My faith forms the foundation of my guiding principles,” said Rochon. “I admire my pastor as a man of integrity and a respected leader in our community and having him participate in the ceremony emphasized the importance of community and values in our educational system.”
Rochon has lived in Wayne for the past eight years and is an active member of New Hope Church in Wayne. He also hosts annual events for youth, aimed at providing enriching experiences and opportunities for growth.
His journey in public service began during high school as an intern for the late Congressman John Conyers. Rochon’s background includes involvement in local, statewide, and national elections, as well as advocacy campaigns
“I decided to run for the Wayne-Westland School Board because I am deeply passionate about the educational opportunities available to our students. I believe that every child deserves a quality education and the support necessary to thrive,” said Rochon.
Rochon originally ran in the special election for State Representative in District 25.
“I wanted to be part of the decision-making process that shapes our schools and directly impacts our community’s future,” said Rochon.
Since being elected, Rochon has enrolled in courses offered by the Michigan School Board Association.
“In the past three months, I have completed over six courses, which have equipped me with valuable knowledge and tools to better serve as a school board member,” said Rochon.
Rochon has a deep love for music, and throughout his life, he has incorporated it into his efforts in community organizing.
“I would like to share my excitement about launching a Wayne-Westland Community Choir. This initiative aims to build bridges between individuals by singing together and serving our community,” said Rochon. “Through music, we can unite and create a positive impact on the lives of those around us.”
All ages, skill levels, and musicians are welcomed.
If you’re interested in being a part of the Wayne-Westland Community Choir, email Rochon at rochonshannon@gmail.com.
“I genuinely care about the future of our students in the Wayne-Westland School District and I am dedicated to fostering connections among people to enhance our community’s well-being,” said Rochon.
We congratulate Rochon and the other newly-elected board members, and we thank them for what they do for our community and schools!

Welcome back to another Spotlight Series with Sarah!
The series where the writer gets to know the city more personally, while the readers get to know the writer better in the process.
When I started my column last year, my very first spotlight was on Karma Coffee & Kitchen, a hidden gem in Wayne with delicious food and treats.
After that first spotlight though, I was worried that I bit off more than I could chew (pun intended) and all my future spotlights would be restaurants or food related. However, as it turns out, restaurants are the topic that I wrote about the least this past year.
So, this month, I wanted to do something different. I decided to do a double-spotlight on two restaurants that have something in common – shawarma.
If you haven’t noticed by now, I love food. I’m a big eater and I’m willing to try anything once. For some reason, shawarma is something I’ve never really got around to trying. But for my column, I was willing to try it. Twice.

Amo Sami’s Shawarma is located at 38800 Michigan Ave. and is open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

On Friday, March 21st, I stopped by Amo Sami’s Shawarma. Amo Sami’s is connected to a gas station, so once you walk inside, look for the blue wall at the back of the building.
I was greeted quickly by an employee and asked if I was there for pick-up or to order. I said, “to order” and asked what are two of their most popular items. Chicken Shawarma Sammie and Chicken Fattoush Sammie were the answers, so that is what I ordered.
There were a few customers already waiting for their order, but I didn’t have to wait long for mine to be completed. I also received some pita chips and hummus to try.
My mom is not adventurous when it comes to food, but my brother, Solomon is, so I had him try Amo Sami’s with me. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started eating. The Chicken Fattoush was really good, but it had a lot going on when you bit into it. The Chicken Shawarma was delicious but absolutely loaded with pickles.
I’m not a fan of pickles. In fact, I hate pickles. But I had planned to just pick them out and give them to Solomon (since he loves pickles) but it was a bit challenging because there were so, so many. So, if you aren’t a pickle fan, like me, I would definitely recommend asking for no pickles. But if you are a pickle lover, I would absolutely recommend this item for you.
Both items were delicious on their own, but I’d recommend using the garlic dip that’s given. It puts the food a step above. The pita chips were fresh and very seasoned. The hummus was smooth and creamy.
Between the Chicken Fattoush and the Chicken Shawarma, Solomon equally enjoyed both of them, but I think I preferred the shawarma more (even with having to pick out the pickles).
The following day, Saturday, March 22nd, I stopped by Billi’s Shawarma.

Billi’s Shawarma is located at 35600 E Michigan Ave. and is open Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Billi’s is also connected to a gas station, so once you walk inside, look to the right of the building.
Again, I was greeted quickly by an employee and asked if I was there for pick-up or to order. I said, “to order” and asked the same question: “what are two of your most popular items?” Chicken Shawarma and Fattoush Salad was the answer and what I ordered. However, I learned my lesson from yesterday and ordered the shawarma without pickles.
It didn’t take long before my name was called that my order was completed. I was in and out within minutes.
Solomon was busy that day, so I tried Billi’s on my own. The shawarma had beautiful grill marks and was loaded with meat inside. There was garlic dip already inside, which was a nice touch.
I’m not a big salad person, but I must admit I did enjoy the Fattoush Salad. It was covered in dressing and had a nice crunch with the pita strips on top. Also, the salad was huge, like so huge that I couldn’t finish it in one sitting.
Between the Chicken Shawarma and the Fattoush Salad, I preferred the shawarma more.
Between Amo Sami’s Shawarma and Billi’s Shawarma, I genuinely liked both places.
When it comes to the battle of the shawarmas, you can decide for yourself. Both places are connected to a gas station, so you can fill up your tank and fill up your belly.
Amo Sami’s Shawarma had its ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. “It’s been going extremely well,” said Ali Faraj, Amo Sami’s Shawarma owner. “We’ve grown so much since October with repeat customers and new ones trying us out. We must be doing something right.”
Amo Sami’s Shawarma originally started out in a food truck parked at a gas station in Wayne, moved locations, and then returned to Wayne in the existing building of the same gas station where it originally parked.
“It feels like home. We’re back to seeing familiar faces that missed us, and we missed in return,” said Faraj. “There’s nothing like a brick-and-mortar. It gives people a roomier feel.”
Amo Sami’s Shawarma has three locations: Dearborn, Sterling Heights, and Wayne. Some of Amo Sami’s Shawarma’s bestselling items are the chicken shawarma and the Amo Sami (chicken, fries, pickles, and coleslaw.)
Faraj and Ali Fawaz, another Amo Sami’s Shawarma owner, are both from Wayne. Faraj has been a Wayne resident since 2015. “Wayne is a blue-collar city that works hard for their paychecks, we want to give them a tasteful treat,” said Faraj. “We’d love for everyone to check us out. We’ll give them the best meal they’ll have.”
Amo Sami’s Shawarma is located at 38800 Michigan Ave. and is open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information about Amo Sami’s Shawarma, visit amosamis.com/wayne/ or call (734)329-2392. To order online, visit: amo-samis-wayne.square.site. You can find them on Facebook and Instagram by searching “Amo Sami’s Shawarma.”
Billi’s Shawarma has been in Wayne since 2017. “We have a simple menu, everything is fresh, and everything is great,” said Taher Akhdar, Billi’s Shawarma manager. “Everyone that tries it comes back.”
Akhdar has been manager for seven years and is the brother of the owner of Billi’s Shawarma.
“My community is great, I love Wayne,” said Akhdar. “In seven years, everyone is nice and happy. They love the food and come back every week.”
Some of Billi’s Shawarma’s bestselling items are the chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and fattoush salad. “We’re happy in Wayne and happy in our corner of the gas station,” said Akhdar. “We want to stay in Wayne for a long time. Everyone is welcome.”
Billi’s Shawarma is located at 35600 E Michigan Ave. and is open Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. For more information about Billi’s Shawarma, call (313)231-3700. You can find them on Facebook by searching “Billis Shawarma” and Instagram by searching “billysshawarma.”
Be sure to check out Amo Sami’s Shawarma and Billi’s Shawarma and be on the lookout for the next Spotlight Series with Sarah!

Back in the 1820s and 30s most of the area immediately outside the few downtown streets was originally settled as 40 – 80 acre farms. This land was mostly wooded with white and yellow oak with some poplar mixed in. The original landowners would have to cut the trees, pull or burn the stumps and do something with the wood.
The first sawmill in Wayne was built in 1832 along the Rouge, just west of the present Wayne Road bridge, so that was one option. When the railroad came through Wayne in 1838 farmers could also sell the wood they had cleared to them for a decent price. After clearing the land, nearly everyone would plant an orchard of pear and apple trees, as these would take many years to mature.
Wheat, sheep and corn became the biggest cash crops for early settlers. Everyone would have a milk cow or two, and some hens for eggs. Women and children would usually manage a kitchen garden near the house growing other vegetables and fruits. Women would also often make butter and sell it or trade it for other food and commodities.

Harvest time at the first sawmill in Wayne. Photo courtesy of The Wayne Historical Museum

The barter system was strong here, as evidenced by an 1847 letter from the Hall family where they mentioned trading corn for apples, and one of the young daughters saving up money for cloth by selling butter and loaves of bread to the general store.
Disease was a constant worry, “Ague” (malaria), was rampant around here due to the poor drainage. The Halls had Ague nearly every year in the late 1840s, as well as an outbreak of meningitis and tuberculosis that had hit the town.
By the 1850s the average farm here in Wayne would have 2-4 horses, 2-4 milk cows, 2 oxen, 20-80 sheep, and 3-5 pigs. Potatoes became a popular crop, as well as a little rye and oats. Around 1/4 of farmers would also have a sugar bush, a place to tap maple trees to collect sap, boil it and get maple sugar. About 500 pounds of maple sugar was made here per year in the 1850s, and the practice continued into the 1900s.
After the Civil War farmers began to diversify into new specialty crops. Tobacco was grown here for the first time, and Wayne even had a few small cigar makers selling locally made product.
Eventually sugar beets also became a major staple to grow on the farms, as these would be processed into sugar. Peppermint oil also became a hot commodity in the 1890s, one farmer Mr. Newkirk was reported to have shipped 5,200 pounds of peppermint oil in one month.
Traditional farmers growing grains also had improvements as the first grist mill was built in Wayne in 1870, so farmers didn’t have to haul the crop to Ann Arbor or Detroit to grind and sell. This mill burned down in 1885 and was replaced with a bigger one in 1895. The new Lohr Mill could grind 75 barrels of corn per day and ran until 1938.
The population explosion caused by WW2 and the flight of people from Detroit after the war put immense pressure on the farms around Wayne and nearly all were sold off to become housing subdivisions. Your house is likely on land that was once a farm.
The only reminders are usually the names of some of the major roads, such as Venoy, Merriman, Hix, Hannan, Cogswell, and Howe, which are family names of the farms once on that road.
Plant a tree or a garden this summer in honor of the farmers who once called this place home.

Sheep and corn were the biggest cash crops for early settlers. Photo courtesy of The Wayne Historical Museum

By Sarah Shurge – The third annual Downtown Wayne Restaurant Week happened at the end of last month from Saturday, March 22nd – Sunday, March 30th.
“Wayne Restaurant Week is more than just a celebration of great food, it’s about community, connection, and local Wayne pride,” said Lisa Kubany, Wayne Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Marketing and Events Director.
“We encouraged the community to dine at any of our 23 participating local restaurants,” said Kubany. “To make it even more exciting, visitors could scan QR codes at each restaurant to enter to win multiple prizes.”
Guests simply had to save their receipts, take a photo, and submit them daily with each purchase. There would be three winners, each winning a $100 gift bag to dine in Wayne.
The DDA three winners were: Rachel Botu of Romulus (who dined at Tropical Smoothie), Gisele Holman of Wayne (who dined at My Place), and Wuneetha Banks of Wayne (who dined at The Red Apple).
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of Wayne, and when we support them, we’re investing in our city’s future,” said Kubany. “This event drives traffic to local businesses, encourages residents to explore new places, and promotes a sense of togetherness.”
Fox 2 News covered Restaurant Week by stopping by some restaurants in Wayne and interviewing the Mayor and some restaurant owners. You can find the video by using the qr code or visiting fox2detroit.com.
If you missed restaurant week, we still encourage you to dine in Wayne and visit any of the businesses that participated. Support local. Support Wayne!

The City of Wayne administrative team: Finance Director – Katie Sample, City Clerk – Tina Parnell – Community Development Director – Lori Gouin, DPS Director – Mike Szuch, Fire Chief – Mike Stradtner, City Manager – Diane Webb, Police Chief – Ryan Strong, IT Director – Dennis Carino, Asst. DPW Director – Dave Schmidt, Personnel Director – Alyse Leslie, and Confidential Assistant to City Manager – Rebecca Ferris. Photo by Stan Shelton

By Sarah Shurge – On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, the city council selected Diane Webb as the new city manager.
Since then, her focus has been improving the city of Wayne.
“As long as I can be an asset to the city and continue to drive improvements and increase quality of life here, I’m happy going to work every day,” said Webb.
“My administrative team is outstanding. They are all experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated. They work well together and well with me. We are all focused on moving the city forward,” said Webb. “It’s exciting and refreshing and one of the highlights working in Wayne is working with the level of professionals on my team.”
Szuch, Carino, and Ferris are all new to the team.
“The fresh eyes are exactly what the city was missing,” said Webb.
Webb has a long and diverse career that has centered around the city of Wayne. For the first 18 years of her career, Webb worked in the private sector. She was a technician in Wayne, she did customer service management, project management, and community relations.
Webb served four years as a city councilwoman in Garden City, 11 years on Wayne County Commission, and did government relations with Wayne representatives.
“My first job was in Wayne and my last job will be in Wayne,” said Webb.
Webb has been city manager for 14 months now, so it’s important to highlight the City of Wayne 2024 end of year report.
“The first year was an assessment of where we were at, what’s working, what’s not working, what challenges there are, removing obstacles so we can move forward. Laying the plans,” said Webb.
So, with the start of a new year, comes the start of a new plan.
“2025 is the implementation year. The vision coming to life. The old go away and the new being built. We should see it happen over the next two years,” said Webb.

Here are some accomplishments that have happened over the past year:
-Saved the city $1.6M by bidding out the project to decommission the water reservoir in Goudy Park. Saved the city $43K by negotiating release of former contract and rebid design work.
-Worked with the City Administration, City Council, and DDA formed a Community Engagement Team to design and plan for the revitalization of Goudy Park that will be funded through $2.27M in Grants from MEDC, HUD, Wayne County ARPA, and the DDA RAP Grant.
-Worked with DPW to remove dead trees and the growth of invasive species that closed off the riverfront in Goudy Park from public view. These efforts made the area safer while beautifying the park.
-Restored youth baseball in the city of Wayne by negotiating with leaders from both Wayne Baseball and the Westland Youth Athletic Association (WYAA) to create the Wayne-Westland Youth Athletic Association (WWCYA).
-Utilized Wayne County Park Millage Dollars to renovate the concession/restroom building at Forest Park to enable WWCYA teams to play in the city of Wayne.

Decommissioning the water reservoir in Goudy Park.

Financial overview
of the past year:
-Began the 2024 FY with a $1.2M Budget Deficit and completed the FY with a $746K General Fund Surplus. Increased fund balance in the City’s General Fund from $8,768,153.00 to $9,514,516.00.
-Long Term Debt is listed as a challenge because the city must currently allocate $1,125,000 annually. The city has continued to pay them down and has not issued any additional debt since 2021. Two of the city’s three bonds will be paid off by 2028. Reducing expenditures by $200,000.
“Wayne has been struggling financially for at least a decade, it probably started 15 years ago. We’re not out of the woods yet – it’s a process and it takes time, but we are moving aggressively into the future in a positive way,” said Webb.
-City’s Bond Rating is still below investment grade and has been since 2016. That it is slowly and steadily improving.
-Grant Dollars Received: $9,915,884.39.
“Grants have been absolutely essential to accomplish the things we’re doing,” said Webb. “We don’t miss a grant opportunity.”
-The City received $1,766,961.72 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds which could be used for governmental services. The ARPA funding needed to be spent or obligated in full by 12/31/2024, the city did meet this requirement. The obligated funds must be spent by 12/31/2026 and they are in the process of completing the final project.
-The vast majority of the city’s ARPA funding was allocated to gearing up the Police and Fire Departments and replacing HVAC systems in all four main Civic Buildings: Police, Fire, DPW, and City Hall. The remaining dollars are being used to renovate City Hall.
-The city of Wayne secured $4.9M in State EGLE grants and $960K in Federal EPA dollars to replace lead lines throughout the city. To date, they have replaced approximately 400 lead water services.
“We’ve got the vision and we’re bringing it to fruition. Being lead-free by the end of 2025,” said Webb.
-The Community Development department secured a $50,000 Safe Streets Grant and a $17,926 MSHDA Housing Readiness Grant for facade improvements for businesses in the DDA.
-State paramedic grant has saved the city $96,217 in paramedic costs, another grant has been awarded for 2025-$53,025. (This will cover the last two firefighters to be enrolled in a qualified paramedic program).

Department accomplishments:
-The Wayne Police Department responded to 22,937 calls for service and took 2,565 reports.
-In 2024, the Fire Department responded to 4,606 calls. Of those calls 3,561 were for EMS and 1,045 were fire calls.
-The Fire Department’s new fire truck is now in service. This truck was ordered three years ago.
-The Building and Engineering department issued 410 certificates of compliance, 30 certificates of occupancy, 581 building permits, 237 plumbing permits, 243 mechanical permits, and 295 electrical permits.
-The Department of Public Works (DPW) cleaned and televised 29,303.1 linear feet of sanitary sewers. These sewers range from 6″ to 18″ in size.
“Every department is critical. Some of their work is felt more externally while others’ impact is more internally,” said Webb. “Good government is transparent. When everything is working, you don’t think about it. When your water isn’t working, then you think about it. If your garbage wasn’t picked up, then you think about it. You don’t really realize how great they are until they aren’t there.”

The parking structure will be demolished later this year.

New plans:
-The city’s Administrative Team and Wayne County Commissioner Al Haidous worked with the Wayne County Commission to write and secure a $700K Community Development Block Grant from the county to demolish the under-utilized, dysfunctional, and blighted parking structure and build a new parking lot for the library and make room for new development. (The city will relocate the Peace Memorial near Veteran’s Park at City Hall.)
“People have wanted to see parking structures go for 20 years. I’m excited for grant funding for that,” said Webb.
-The Abbey Loft development is scheduled to begin construction this Spring. Plans include six beautiful housing units with garages attached.
Webb mentioned that in the future she’d like to focus on filling vacant buildings in the DDA, as well as do more with the Rouge River like an ADA kayak ramp from Goudy and trail connectivity.
“I would love for people to launch a kayak at Goudy,” said Webb. “The city has great potential, great bones. It just needed life to be breathed back into it.”
Webb and the administrative team are working on maximizing the city’s potential.
“As great as my team is, we couldn’t do anything without the blessing from the council. The council and the mayor have been very supportive of our ideas. They help us move forward,” said Webb.
Thank you to the city’s administrative team, the support from the city council, the DDA Board, and our community stakeholders for all they do for the city of Wayne!
“I’m really looking forward to the future and seeing our visions becoming a reality,” said Webb. “It doesn’t feel like a job when you love what you do and that’s how I feel, I love what I’m doing.”

Division 1 MHSAA Individual Bowling Champion Lyman Derrick III.

By Sarah Shurge – Congratulations to Lyman Derrick III on being crowned champion at the Division 1 MHSAA individuals bowling tournament on Saturday, March 1st, at Thunderbowl Lanes.
Derrick is a Wayne Memorial sophomore and one of only three underclassmen to make the top 16 for match play, and the only one to make it to the Final Four.
Derrick finished 4th at Regionals the weekend before qualifying for States.
On Saturday, Derrick shot 227, 227, 225, 183, 247, 230, averaging 223 for the six-game qualifying block. He qualified 5th in the top 16 to make it to match play.
“He was absolutely locked-in,” said Christine Day, Wayne Memorial Bowling Coach.
Derrick beat the reigning 2024 State Champ twice, shooting 257 and 233 to beat him both games by a total of 46 pins.
“Lyman was so focused on his bowling and making good shots that he didn’t even know that he had won the final match,” said Day. “When he finished his last frame (not realizing he had beat him by 45 pins the first game), he thought it was close and came up to me and asked ‘so, did I win? Or did I lose?’ I had to quietly tell him the good news as his opponent threw his last shots.”
When the game was over, Derrick was finally able to celebrate and his teammates (who had come out to watch him) all lifted him up and cheered for him.
“The team was skilled and supportive of each other this season, but they really grew together in the last couple months,” said Day. “They won the Conference tournament the week before and never gave up when they qualified at Regionals. We fell short in the semi-finals but not for a lack of team effort. They absolutely belonged amongst the best in the State.”
This is Day’s 10th year coaching Wayne Memorial bowling. Her first four years were with just the girls, and the last six years have been both boys and girls Varsity and JV programs.
“I’ve had a great group of kids who represent the school well on and off the lanes, and many who continue to do so years later,” said Day. “I have kept in contact with the 2023 State Champs team, and they were happy to come out and visit with this year’s team when I asked them to. Those same champions came out to support this year’s team over the weekend.”
Congratulations again to Derrick on his victory!

Volunteer manager of the Open Closet, Lynn Boertje, and Malynda Garcia, Director of the Outreach Center in the food pantry.

By Sarah Shurge – “Our first priority is the people that are coming through the door and helping them,” said Lynn Boertje.
Boertje is life-long Wayne resident, has attended St. Mary Parish, Wayne her entire life, and volunteers at St. Mary Community Outreach Center.
St. Mary Parish, Wayne is the oldest Catholic parish in western Wayne County, founded in 1862. The St. Mary Community Outreach Center opened on September 3, 2003.
The Outreach Center hosts the Food Depot and the Open Closet Clothing Bank.
“The center services people in Wayne, Westland, and Canton areas. It helps with food and clothing. It helps those that are in dire need,” said Malynda Garcia, St. Mary Community Outreach Center director.
The Food Depot is open 9 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Monday – Friday, where people can receive a basket of food.
Those in need can call to make an appointment, or brand-new families/individuals can just show up so they can get put into the system.
Clients will need to bring their ID and two pieces of mail to verify their address (if they are new), including every member of the household, and minor children need a birth certificate to prove they are in the home.
“I know a couple of clients that are getting cut from food stamps, so we’re there to help,” said Garcia.
The Open Closet Clothing Bank is open 10 a.m. – noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. There is a $1 entrance fee to get in and then you can pick clothing/items you want.
Clients have 20 minutes to shop the racks. They have options from clothing, shoes, bedding, small household items, kitchen appliances, kids’ toys, car seats, luggage, etc. It all depends on what items people have donated.
Clients are allowed two visits per month to shop at the Clothing Bank. They can come anytime they are available.
“$1 for like 10 bags of clothes is better than the Salvo where you have to pay for individual items,” said Garcia.
Garcia has been attending St. Mary Parish for 13 years, volunteering with Community Outreach Center since September 2023, and has been the director since November 2023.
“My favorite part is seeing people that are truly in need – the happiness they get from the help they need,” said Garcia.
St. Mary Community Outreach Center is completely volunteer based. Boertje has been volunteering there since last fall.
St Mary is the only church Boertje has gone to. She went to school there. She raised her children there. Her husband and she were married there. She is the president of the parish council, she handles the linens, and is on the team that counts the money.

Volunteer manager of the Open Closet, Lynn Boertje (right) and one of her hardest working volunteers Lisa Uhlian.

“I’m really involved there. It is my home. I can’t imagine going to mass at a different parish,” Boertje.
Boertje had been with her husband since 1980, and they always volunteered and gave back. After her husband’s passing in June 2023, Boertje decided to volunteer all of her free time to volunteer work, which includes the clothing bank at the Outreach Center.
“There are days that I walk out with happy tears that I’ve been able to help somebody. That’s what it’s all about,” said Boertje.
In order for St. Mary Community Outreach Center to be able to continue helping the community, it needs your help through donations: clothing, food, or monetary.
If you’d like to donate clothing items, there is an extreme need for the following items: plus size men’s clothing, larger men’s shoes, and kids’ clothing (6 month – 2 years). However, all clothing items are welcome.
If you’d like to donate food items, there is a need for non-perishable foods.
You can drop off clothing donations in the parking lot off Sims St. during the clothing bank hours, and you can drop off food donations to the parking lot off 2nd St.
“We appreciate everything the city has done for us in the past and hope they continue to help us out in the future,” said Garcia.
Flowers in the Mitten has partnered with St. Mary Community Outreach Center.
If you are unable to drop off donations during the Outreach Center’s hours, you can bring food donations to Flowers in the Mitten’s shop and they will deliver it to the Outreach Center during their open hours.
Every donation enters you to win a bouquet of the month certificate good for 12 months.
Flowers in the Mitten is located at 34852 W. Michigan Ave, and is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday.
St. Mary Parish is located at 34530 W Michigan Ave. The St. Mary Community Outreach Center is located at 34646 Sims St.
Hymns and readings are: Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (English), 2 p.m. (Spanish), Saturday 4 p.m. (English), and Monday and Friday 9 a.m. (English).
Parish office hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday (other times by appointment). Confessions are Saturday 3 – 3:30 p.m. (or can be scheduled).
For more information about St. Mary Parish, call (734)721-8745 (press 2), visit their website at stmarywayne.org, or e-mail parishoffice@stmarywayne.org. You can find them on Facebook by searching “St. Mary Catholic Church Wayne, MI”
“There are a great number of people that are in need. For us to have a facility like this where we can help people, that’s our mission. We’re unique. We’re truly a service center,” said Boertje.
Thank you to Garcia, Boertje, and all the other volunteers that keep St. Mary Community Outreach Center running!

Wayne resident, Eula Underwood celebrates her 104th birthday with her granddaughter and Mayor John Rhaesa.

By Sarah Shurge – Wayne resident, Eula Underwood just celebrated her 104th birthday!
Underwood was born March 7, 1921 in Clairton, Pennsylvania.
In her younger years, Underwood lived in Warren, Ohio where she graduated from high school and met her first husband. Shortly after graduating high school, Underwood married and gave birth to three sons before becoming a widow.
Eventually, Underwood remarried and gave birth to her youngest son, Filippo, in June 1945. Filippo is her only living child and who she lived with in the city of Westland and then the city of Wayne.
Underwood now lives at Pine Creek Manor, a long-term care facility in Wayne where she is enjoying life. Underwood has six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.
We wish Underwood a very happy 104th birthday!

Did you know that Wayne used to be one of the largest Carriage and Sleigh makers in the US?
It all began in 1882 when local businessman John Steers wrote in his newspaper “The village presents a rather dull appearance, as farmers are engaged in haying and harvesting”. He pointed out that Wayne at the time was a small farming village, and there was no draw to “Bring people to town”. Around that time many people began to complain that there were no jobs outside of farming, and some were afraid that jobless youths would end up in saloons. In 1887 a citizens improvement committee of 10 people was set up to convince a company to move to Wayne and build a factory. The Prouty and Glass Carriage Company had been established in Detroit in 1881 and occupied a whole block on Randolph Street. It was a private company owned by Fayette Prouty and John Glass. While initially successful the factory on Randolph was far away from rail lines that were necessary to ship the carriages all over, hurting productivity.
The company was approached by the committee from Wayne in 1887, and were successfully swayed with the large amounts of open land and easy rail

Factory of Prouty & Glass Carriage Company at Wayne. Photo courtesy of The Wayne Historical Museum

access to ship their products. In 1888 they bought 3 acres along the railroad tracks just west of Elizabeth Street for $8,000 and built a new factory. The factory would initially employ about 50 men, ranging from woodworkers to painters to blacksmiths. In 1889 the move and new building had put the company in a lot of debt, so it had to go public and offer stock to survive.
Many local Wayne families and business owners bought the stock to keep the business going. After a few years the company had flourished and was employing over 150 men. It is noted that P&G buys and cuts their own lumber, bends and finishes its own wood, makes its own forgings and metal parts, and paints and upholsters its own carriages all in house. Work was 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. six days a week, and men would drop a token with a number on it into a box to record when they came to work. A few women did work on site in the bookkeeping, payroll and upholstery areas. Workers went on numerous trips to Boblo Island and Sugar Island, and the annual Carriage Makers Ball was the highlight of the winter season in town. There was also an employee brass band that played at town events and parades, and many P&G workers made up the volunteer fire department.
A large addition was built in 1895 increasing production, and their carriages were sold nationwide in the Sears Roebuck catalog. Over 60 different types of carriages and sleighs could be ordered, with custom colors and upholstery. Around 1910 the company experimented with the fad of bicycles, but never made many.
Competition from automobiles began to spell doom for Prouty and Glass. Allegedly Henry Ford approached P&G about buying the factory to make cars in, and the ownership gave him a rude and harsh NO. In 1915 all operations at the factory stopped due to low sales of carriages. In 1916 the land, buildings and equipment were sold for $40,000 to Harroun Motors, a car company.
Much of the original Prouty and Glass plant was incorporated into the new Harroun Plant, but a fire in the late 1920s burned down many of the original buildings. Part of the original brick 1888 2-story building survived however on Elizabeth Street into the 1990s, before it was torn down for a parking lot for trucks.