Page 1 - Eagle pages 07 14 11.qxd

No. 29

NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢ July 14 -20, 2011

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William "Blue" Brooks, a teacher and long-time announcer at WayneMemorial High School athletic games died last week at 82.

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Romulus will host a grand re-opening celebration at the city library this month as the facility attempts to increase hours and services independ-ent of the county system.

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The Spotlight Players will present The Music Man in September and are seeking cast members from 8-99 years of age. Auditions have been set tomorrow for local actors.

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The Ottawa Longrifles re-enactors are camping at Mill Race Historic Village this weekend. They will have free demonstrations of authentic 18th century life

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The Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education has adopted a budget that includes a deficit of nearly $500 per student. The district must now submit a plan to reduce the loss by law.

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Vol. 126, No. 29

Vol. 64, No. 29

Vol. 64, No. 29

Vol. 11, No. 29

Vol. 11, No. 29

Vol. 126, No. 29

Vol. 64, No. 29

Vol. 64, No. 29

It's going to be difficult to improve on the perfection of the Inkster Summer Music Fest last weekend which drew about 15,000 visitors for the music and fireworks.

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For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.

The purchase of updated radios and a new ambulance vehicle were approved for the Westland Fire Department by members of the city council at recentmeetings.

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The world's most famous mili-tary demonstration team will be flying high during Thunder Over Michigan July 23-24.

They will be much closer to Earth July 22, however, when they visit the Michigan Institute of Aviation Technology (MIAT) in Canton.

Blue Angels Team members including a pilot, maintenance technicians and support staff will tour MIAT and conduct a presen-tation in the MIAT hangar the day before their appearance at the annual air show.

According to Charles Hawes, president of MIAT, the visit pro-vides an up-close, personalized experience for thosewho attend. “Students and visitors canmeet the team members, hear stories about their individual back-grounds and careers, and partici-pate in a question and answer ses-sion,” statedHawes.

This is the third year the Blue Angels have visited the school. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Call (800) 447-1310 for more information. The campus is locat-ed at 2955 Haggerty Road, just north of Michigan Avenue off I-275 exit 22 inCanton.

The Navy Flying Teamwill star in the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show at Willow Run Airport on Saturday and Sunday, July 23-24. They havewonworldwide acclaim for their daring precision flight skills anddemonstrations

The Blue Angels will be push-ing their F/A-18 Hornets to the limit, displaying their speed, preci-sion and daring maneuvers, a spokesman from the Yankee Air Museum noted. “Fat Albert,” the Blue Angels' support aircraft, will also be part of the show. The team is stationed at Forrest Sherman

Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL during the show season. The squadron spends January through March training pilots and new team members at Naval Air Facility El Centro, CA. the spokesman said.

The United States Air Force F-16Viper East DemoTeamwill also

be returning to the show this year and will be led by pilot Capt. Ryan “Rider” Corrigan. The F-16CJ is a single-seat, multi-mission fighter with the ability to switch from an air-to-ground to air-to-air role at the touch of a button. With its light-

One of the newest pieces of equipment being put to use at Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run airports doesn't have wings and sure can't fly. Nevertheless, officials are hoping it becomes an invaluable asset at the facilities. It's a farm tractor that will be used to help plant and harvest bioenergy crops on airport-owned property, the first effort of this kind in the Midwest, according to air-port officials. The strategic initia-

tive is a partnership between the Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports and Michigan State University Extension Service.

“How does aviation protect itself in the future against the depletion of fossil fuels and the uncertainty of foreign sources of energy?” asked Interim Airport CEOGenelleM. Allen. “Part of the answermay be to grow it.”

The AgriEnergy Technology Demonstration project is support-ed by a $476,000 grant awarded by the Michigan Energy Office of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

“Wayne County Airport Authority has been interested in exploring the potential of develop-ing airport-ownedproperty around both airports for bioenergy produc-tion for some time,” said Allen. “If successful, this project could

attract businesses to the vicinity of the airports that would produce alternative fuels for use in aircraft and other vehicles. This project has possibilities for not only bring-ing economic development to Southeast Michigan, but also pro-tecting land around our airports fromfurther encroachment.” Together, the two airports have approximately 1,700 acres of prop-

The life of the renowned Dr. Weldon Petz will be celebrated at the Plymouth Historical Museum with a live performance of the Michael Shirtz Quartet from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19.

Dr. Petz died April 28 at the age of 88. He began his career as a trombonist in an orchestra with Jimmy Dorsey and Johnny Long, and worked with many others such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, and Abbott & Costello. Dr. Petz even started his own orchestra, the Tommy Weldon Orchestra, which operated from 1947 to 1953. He eventually sought a career in edu-cation, but continued to focus on music, and furthered his career as a historian focusing on the Presidential history of Abraham Lincoln, music, and education. The Michael Shirtz Quartet, led by Dr. Petz' grandson, is a unique

jazz ensemble that plays tradition-al jazz with a blend of contempo-rary, folk and Gospel-like textures. The quartet is based in Ohio. Shirtz has selected some of his grandfather's favorite tunes and will provide commentary during the performance.

In the late 1990s, the Plymouth museum purchased most of Dr. Petz' vast Abraham Lincoln collec-tion, which is permanently on dis-play and offers insight into the life of the 16thPresident.

Admission to the museum and the performance are free and open to the public July 19. Light refreshmentswill be served. The Plymouth Historical Museum is located at 155 S. Main St., one block north of downtown Plymouth.

For information, visit www.ply-mouthhistory.org or call (734) 455-8940.

See Crops, page 2

See Thunder, page 2

The annual Canton Camp Out and Family Movie Night is set to begin at 6 p.m. tomorrow inHeritage Parkwith plenty of family activities. The movie this year isDespicableMe.

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Thunder Over Michigan

Blue Angels present air show, visit local school

Bioenergy crops planted at area airports

Concert will celebrate life of renowned musician

The Michael Shirtz Quartet, let by Dr. Welson Petz' grandson, will per-form some of Dr. Petz favorite music in a memorial tribute to him next Tuesday in Plymouth.