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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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AGE
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March 29, 2012
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Thomas Kuderik of Romulus,
who previously won the Volunteer
of the Year award from Waste
Management of Michigan/Ohio, has
nowbeen awarded the tophonor in
the country -- Waste Management
Volunteer of the Year among more
than 44,000 employees nationwide.
Kuderik -- who is also an active
Rotarian involved in service proj-
ects regionally and, beginning later
this year, globally -- has been a
leader with the Boy Scouts for 24
years. He has led fundraisers and
environmental projects such as
creating recycling drop-off centers
and roadside clean-up projects.
Kuderik volunteered more than
1,100 hours for the Boy Scouts in
2011 alone, and he has exceeded
1,000 volunteer hours each year for
the last 15 years.
“Tom Kuderik's commitment to
his local community exemplifies
the values of Waste Management,”
said Beth Schmucker, senior com-
munity relations manager for
Waste Management. “Tom con-
tributes so much to his community
because he believes we need to
leave this world in better shape for
the children, who are our future.
Through his work with the Boy
Scouts, Tom is a teacher of life -- he
is always there making sure the
boys learn valuable life skills that
will guide themin their own lives.”
Kuderik received this national
award in Houston, TX during a
special ceremony, and Waste
Management contributed $5,000 to
Kuderik's charity of choice.
Beyond the countless hours he
puts into working with the Boy
Scouts, Kuderik is very active with
the Romulus Rotary and performs
numerous service projects. The
most daunting and sobering event
Kuderik said he has participated in
with the Romulus Rotary came last
Memorial Day weekend, when he
and five others went to the aid of
the residents in Joplin, MS, after
the devastating tornado.
Kuderik's goals in volunteerism
are growing just as the need for
more volunteers is growing. In
2012, he is taking his efforts to the
global community. Kuderik has a
planned trip to Haiti in August,
when he and a minister from the
Romulus Rotary Club will travel
more than 1,700 miles to install
water filters for the residents.
Waste Management is the lead-
ing provider of comprehensive
waste management and environ-
mental
services.
Waste
Management makes it its business
to Think Green®, positioning the
organization to deliver lasting solu-
tions to the environmental chal-
lenges our planet will face in the
21st century. For more information
on Waste Management, go to
wm.com or thinkgreenfromhome.
com.
2 patrolmen are hired
Charter commissioners named
Schools ‘adopt’ businesses
It's not unusual to hear about business
owners and managers going back to
school, but it is pretty rare when they can
be found inmiddle school classrooms.
That's just what leaders from business-
es like Aztec Manufacturing and
Community Credit Unionhave done, how-
ever. They have joined with businesses
like Crane Funeral Home and DST
Industries, Inc in bringing their business-
es into the classroom to teach young stu-
dents about the expectations of employers
in the real world.
Romulus Middle School 8th grade
classrooms recently approached area
businesses in an effort to bridge student
learning with real-world experience,
according to teachers Scott Roark and
Heather Williams. Each of the participat-
ing businesses agreed to donate their time
and has been adopted by an 8th grade
RomulusMiddle School class.
The businesses are wide-ranging and
include Community United Methodist
Church as well as Waste Management,
along with Hopson Financial, Johnson
Lithograph, Midwest Medical Center,
PNC Bank, Sav-On Pharmacy, The
SpiratexCo. andWallinEzinFinancial
Students are researching their adopted
business' organization as well as their
industries, learning about the history and
practices while representatives of the
businesses are visiting their classroom
and sharing their background, connec-
tions to the Romulus community, employ-
ment information and position descrip-
tions, wages, benefits, and advancement
opportunities.
They are also explaining the educa-
tional needs for employment in their
organizations and what is expected of
employees and professionals, the teach-
ers explained.
The City of Belleville has already hired
two new police officers to fill open positions
in the department.
David Brooks, who was working part-time
for the department , is now full -time and Jeff
Wickhamhas also joined the force.
The vacancies were created when two
Belleville officers resigned to take jobs in
FarmingtonHills.
Wickhan, of Canton, is married and has a
daughter. He was serving as an officer at the
Monroe County Juvenile Detention Center,
working as a substitute teacher and also
working at a landscape supply company. His
previous experience include time with the
Las Vegas, NV police and the Clark County
park police. He also worked in security at the
Detroit RenCen.
He is a 1996 graduate of Plymouth Salem
High School and earned an associate's
degree in criminal justice from Schoolcraft
College. He earned his bachelor's degree in
criminology from Eastern Michigan
University in 2003.
Brooks is a familiar face, and name, in
Belleville. In addition to his tenure as a four-
day per week officer with the department, he
is the son of Van Buren Township Lt. Dennis
Brooks and Township Police Dispatcher
Terri Brooks.
According to Police Chief Gene Taylor,
there is at least one other officer currently
considering retirement which may create
another part-time opening in the department.
The Civil Service Commission has been
interviewing candidates since January in an
effort to have viable candidates to fill any
vacant position.
Nine residents have been selected to
the reactivated City of Romulus Charter
Commission.
Appointed recently to four-year terms to
expire on March 5, 2016, were Edward
Buczkowski, Anton Chastang, Lnng
Coleman, Margaret Leduc, Susanne
Oakley, Alexandria Sanders, William
Shevchik, MarkWilhide andHulenYates.
The nine residents were selected by
Mayor Alan R. Lambert and City Clerk
Ellen Craig-Bragg, who reviewed letters
from "an overwhelming response of quali-
fied candidates" interested in serving on
the commission. The nine individuals
were approved during the Monday night
city councilmeeting.
The decision to reactivate the commis-
sion was made by city council members
last December.
It has beenmore than 40 years since the
Romulus City Charter was put into place.
City officials said it is time for the commis-
sion to give the charter a thorough review.
Letters from residents interested in serv-
ing on the commission were accepted
through Jan. 31.
Craig-Bragg, who proposed the charter
review, said the commission will review
the entire 62-page charter, which governs
the day-to-day activities of city govern-
ment.
Tom contributes so much to his community
because he believes we need
to leave this world in better shape
for the children, who are our future.
”
Local man wins national volunteer honor