Press Release | Office of the Mayor | This Week in Westland: November 21, 2015

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

This Week in Westland

November 21, 2015 - November 29, 2015

Wayne County Lightfest - The Wayne County Lightfest is now open and will be open through December 31 from 7-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6-10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Visitors enter Lightfest at Hines Drive and Merriman Road in Westland and exit onto Warren Avenue dear Telegraph. The address for the Lightfest is 7651 Merriman Road in Westland. The fee is $5 per vehicle to enter. Lightfest features more than 47 giant animated holiday themed displays. Don't forget to visit Santa's Workshop at Warrendale Park at the end of the Lightfest drive.

City Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday - All City buildings will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. This includes the 18th District Court and the Westland Public Library. Trash collection will not take place on Thursday, November 26 and will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week. All city office buildings will re-open on Monday, November 30.

Friday Night Glow Skate - The Mike Modano Ice Arena has re-opened for the season and Friday Night Glow Skate is back. Glow skate will run every Friday from 7 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. and will cost $8 for kids and $9 for adults for residents. The cost is 50 cents more for non-resident. One glow in the dark accessory will be given will the purchase of admittance to glow skate. The Ice Arena is located at 6210 Wildwood.

Small Business Saturday - Residents are encouraged to shop locally this holiday season. In an effort to keep dollars in the local economy, Mayor William R. Wild will give free gift cards to winning residents at local businesses in Westland's Shop and Dine District. Mayor Wild is joining mayors across the nation promoting local shopping this holiday season. On Small Business Saturday November 28, Mayor Wild will visit several local small businesses and raffle off a variety of gift cards ranging from $10 to $50 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. "Statistics show that for every $100 you spend locally, $66 stays in the local community," said Mayor Wild. "That means your dollars are helping to build parks, libraries and improve fire and police departments."

Mayor Wild to give out gift cards at the following locations:

9:00 a.m. - Leo`s Coney Island - 36595 Warred Rd.

9:35 a.m. - Jonna`s Market - 8631 N. Newburgh Rd.

10:10 a.m. - Firing Line - 33000 Ford Rd.

10:30 a.m. - Nankin Hardware - 35101 Ford Rd.

10:50 a.m. - Ken's Country Produce - 37182 Ford Rd.

11:10 a.m. - Westland Mall 1st location (Layers) - 35000 Warren Rd.

11:35 a.m. - Westland Mall 2nd location (Warm Tidings) - 35000 Warren Rd.

To see the event flyer for Small Business Saturday, please click here

SAVE THE DATE - City of Westland Deck the City Hall Event - This year, the City of Westland will be holding its annual holiday event on Wednesday, December 2 at Westland City Hall, located at 36300 Warren Rd. The "Deck the City Hall" event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with sing-a-longs, musical performances and of course welcoming Santa and Mrs. Claus to Westland. After the City Hall is lit up attendees will be welcomed inside for story time with local dignitaries, arts and crafts, cookies and cocoa and a chance to meet and have your picture taken with Santa. The cost of admission for this event is one unwrapped toy, a non-perishable food item or a monetary donation which will benefit the Westland Goodfellows. To see the event flyer, please click here

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles. Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.