Press Release | Office of the Mayor | This Week in Westland : January 7, 2017

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

This Week in Westland

January 7 - January 15, 2017

Christmas Tree Recycling Pick Up - Once again, as part of Westland's Mission Green initiative, the City of Westland will be recycling Christmas trees. If you had a natural Christmas tree in your home this year, bring it to the DPS yard on Marquette where it will be chipped and used as mulch at various locations throughout the Ctiy. You can also p lace it at the curb next week to be picked up on your regular trash pickup day. Trees should have all decorations, lights and tinsel removed and will be accepted from January 4 through the 15.

Scheduled Upcoming Civic Meetings - Residents are invited to attend the upcoming City meetings. Below is a list of the meetings with their date, time and location.

Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) -
This is a nine-member board that is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council.

Under the supervision and control of the EDC, this authority implements an infrastructure improvement plan within a specified district.

Meets on Tuesday, January 10 at 8:00 a.m. at Westland City Hall, located at 36300 Warren Rd.

Friends of the Library - An independent group of local residents and library users that helps support and promote the Library and its mission. The Friends fund special programs and collection enhancements in the Library by raising funds from membership dues, and selling used books and other library promotional merchandise (T-shirts, tote bags, etc.). The Friends promote the Library and reading in the community.

Meets on Tuesday, January 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the William P. Faust Public Library, located at 6123 Central City Parkway.

Don't hibernate this winter! Visit the Mike Modano Ice Arena at 6210 N. Wildwood, for a variety of winter programming.

TimBits "Learn to Play Hockey" begins their 12 week program on January 7 at 11:30 a.m. and runs through April 8. TimBits is for kids from 4-9 years old. Players must have a USA Hockey registration and birth certificate. The cost is $60.
Open Skate will be held on January 10 and January 12 from 2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. The cost is $6/child and $7/adult for residents and $0.50 for non-residents. Skate rental is $3.
Friday Night Glow Skate runs from 7 p.m. - 9:20 p.m. on January 13. The cost is $8/child and $9/adult for residents and $0.50 for non-residents. Skate rental is $3.

Jefferson Barns has a number of free activities and programming available during the week. Residents are encouraged to come check out all this community center has to offer.

Library Hours - Monday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Friday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Learning Center Hours - Monday through Thursday 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Boxing Gym Hours - Monday through Friday 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Youth Assistance Program Tutoring - Wednesdays 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
LifeCare Pathway to Success/Computer Literacy - Tuesday and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Beaumont Hospital Diabetes Nutrition - Wednesday 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Pickle Ball - Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (*What is it?*) Pickle Ball is easy to learn and fun to play for individuals of all ages. It is traditionally played on a badminton-sized court with special pickle ball paddles, made of wood or high-tech aerospace materials. The ball is similar to a wiffle ball, but is slightly smaller. The lower net and wiffle ball allow the game to be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, while still allowing more competitive players to test their skills.

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.