The Village of Romeo Clerk, Marian T. McLaughlin, said that she wants people to remember the most important people are the people who live in the surrounding neighborhood. “They have had to look at the park in disrepair” and she thinks this “will do nothing but keep them happy, keep them in the neighborhood and make their life more pleasurable.”

This is just the first phase, with future plans that include a possible play area and other amenities that will foster expanded use of the park.

The park currently features a bike lock dedicated to “Teddy” Gondert, a passionate bicyclist who passed away “way too young” according to County Commissioner Don Brown.

“The bike rack dedicated to Teddy Gondert at the park, honors one of the founding members who saw an idea and put his heart and soul into leaving the community with a recreational treasure everyone can enjoy” Bruce Township Treasurer Deb Obrecht said.

The follow is a list of Candidates running for local office for the 2012 election:

Bruce Township

Supervisor

• Carl Beauvais, Republican
• Richard Cory, Republican
• James Tignanelli (Incumbent), Republican

Clerk

• Susan Brockman (Incumbent), Republican
• Dennis Jokinen, Republican
• Trese Servitto-Smith, Republican

Treasurer

• Carol Marshall, Republican
• Deborah Obrecht (Incumbent), Republican

Trustees (Two 4-year terms)

• Gary Anthony, Republican
• Mark Falker, Republican
• Ted Kasper, Republican
• Paul Okoniewski (Incumbent), Republican
• Zachary Fowler, Democrat

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Supervisor

• Dan O’Leary (Incumbent), Republican

Clerk

• Kathy Bosheers (Incumbent), Republican

Treasurer

• Joseph Fortuna, Republican
• Linda S. Verellen (Incumbent), Republican

Trustees (Four 4-year terms)

• Stanley Babinski, Republican
• Art Grimes (Incumbent), Republican
• Abby Jacobson (Incumbent), Republican
• Harold Miller, Republican
• Sebastian Previti, Republican
• Lisa Rapp (Incumbent), Republican
• James Richardson (Incumbent), Republican
• William Scarborough, Republican

Written by: Kelsey Baird

Romeo, MI – There will be a grand opening and ribbon cutting this Friday, May 18, at 228 North Main Street, with special guest Eric Gonzalez, the Director of Bands at Romeo High School.

The Jazz Band of Romeo High School will perform on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The Decker Music Studio opening will officially be held this Saturday with an Open House from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Students of the Decker Music Studio will play throughout the day plus participate in the Romeo Victorian Festival.

Anne Decker has been teaching both piano and flute since 1986 and will offer the downtown community the vast culmination of her musical performance and teaching experience.

“My impetus for moving into the community is to bring our art and our culture, having created classical groups and recitals, into the community so it becomes a public event,” an excited Decker said.

Noting the surrounding cultural centers, Decker noted the important role Romeo has played over the years, “bringing arts up into northern Macomb County (from Detroit) has been a feature of Romeo for over a century and I feel being here is continuing that legacy.”

She touches on the importance of music education in providing a well rounded education, “I think there’s a lot to be said about the discipline of the arts and what it takes to bring out the very best of what you can accomplish and also express yourself through music!”

The studio will be open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4-8 p.m., on Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. and, starting in June, on Thursdays from 4-6 p.m.

Those who are downtown for the festival are invited to stop and visit the beautiful new studio at 228 North Main and celebrate the gift of music.

To learn more about Decker and her studio’s upcoming events, visit www.DeckerMusicStudio.com, call 586-752-0824 or e-mail deckermusicstudio@gmail.com.

Attribution Some rights reserved by tacit requiem (joanneQEscober )

The baseball world (and all those without things better to do with their lives than watch YouTube 24/7) is aghast about the “incident” Wednesday night at the Texas Rangers-New York Yankees game in Arlington, Texas. It has caused outrage against innocent people and shown that same world just how cruel people can be when acting without first engaging their brains.

Let’s set the scene: The hometown Rangers are winning 7-3 in the top of the eighth inning and a foul ball is retrieved by Texas first baseman Mitch Moreland. When I was young, that ball would have gone back to the pitcher for further use, but in today’s version of baseball, it is immediately taken out of play after a single touch (by a bat, a mitt, the ground, an unsuspecting seagull hovering overhead).

Instead of tossing it into the dugout (to be utilized later as a batting practice ball), he chose to toss it into the stands, behind the first base dugout occupied by the Rangers. Moreland didn’t necessarily soft-toss it either; he gave it a good underhanded windup before letting the ball fly away.

The ball was caught by a woman, Shannon Moore, from among a dozen reaching hands surrounding her. One set belonged to a little boy, no older than 3, with an oversize glove on his left hand, and in the arms of his father. This tyke had as much chance of catching the toss as I still do (but still harbor) of fulfilling my dreams to start at 1B for my beloved Detroit Tigers.

Anyone who actually sees the video will note a few things. First, the kid exploded in a crying tantrum the nano-second the lady catches the ball … and it’s a doozy of a hissy fit. Since it was the eighth inning (around 10 p.m. Dallas time), any parent can recognize when someone has been up too late and need to get some sleep. That child visibly resembled that remark.

Second, his parents were NOT upset about his failure to make a scoop of the throw. They were laughing throughout his ordeal, which suggests a reaction OTHER than “oblivious” on the lady’s part.

Third, Shannon Moore was celebrating her good fortune with her fiancée, Sean Leonard, because … they were going to be married that weekend, and it was a magical moment for them to share together.

Finally, as said, many others were lunging for that round piece of horsehide manufactured by Rawlings, and I guarantee you, none of them intended to share, or part, with the baseball.

Yet it seems the play-by-play announcer on the Yankee’s YES Network, Michael Kay, took it upon himself to dump all over the couple for their failure to simply surrender the ball to this shrieking child … because … he was a CHILD! The comments went viral and by the next morning, the “controversy” had exploded all over the country and blogosphere. Since then, this couple has been ridiculed, vilified and barbecued (like a cheap Texas brisket from Costco) for what one blogger labeled as being “oblivious” to this sad sack young boy.

Say what?!?!? Where is it written in any by-laws or rules or so-called “baseball etiquette” that fans MUST give up baseballs caught in the stands to the nearest cherubic child because of their age and/or gender? It doesn’t exist because it’s all horse-puckey.

Let me be the first to say what must be said. If I am in the stands, and I manage the good fortune of catching or corralling a foul (or fair) baseball in the stands, I’m keeping the darn thing. The only child who’d get it out of my cold, dead hands would be my granddaughter(s). If you want your kid to have one, YOU catch one.

It has never happened to me and I spent half my youth in Tiger Stadium in Detroit dreaming of such a moment. It is the inherent right of every ticket holder to keep balls (and bats) that fly into the seats – out of play. This poppycock about sharing with others is the kind of politically correct behavior that leads children to feel entitled to have things (instead of earning what you get).

The couple was thrilled to have (legitimately) caught a baseball from their favorite team and even took to taking camera phone photos. The parents were coddling the crying child, who stopped bawling within a few seconds (he couldn’t have been THAT upset). Besides a few minutes later, out popped a baseball from the Ranger’s dugout and into the little boy’s glove.

All was finally right in the Western world.

The couple has asked for an apology from Kay, who is also a well-known New York radio sports talk show host, for enflaming the whole situation to their detriment on what should have been the happiest week of their lives. Some baseball blogger on Yahoo! Sports also stated this: “I was more amused at the trouble their self absorption was getting them into than I was offended that the little boy didn’t get the ball. I did, however, feel for the little boy’s disappointment.”

Again, what in the hell did that guy know about the couple, the child or anything? Sadly, the Internet, and corresponding blogosphere, has permitted anyone with a big mouth and keyboard, to chime in on topics which should have remained as trivial as possible – not escalated ahead of war, peace and world hunger. I don’t know if Ms. Moore and Mr. Leonard are owed formal apologies, but a nice “I’m sorry” from someone, over the unnecessary abuse they’ve taken, would be better human etiquette.

After last season’s tragedy at The Ballpark in Arlington, when a young firefighter lost his life, falling over a rail while trying to catch a ball, for his young son, tossed into the stands by outfielder Josh Hamilton, the Rangers are very sensitive on this topic and particular habit. They have warned fans time-and-again against the dangers of overreaching for these special souvenirs.

But no one asks parents to consider how others around them will feel or react to screaming fits by toddlers simply too young to be there in the first place. Nor does anyone scold those parents for allowing the sense of entitlement to creep into a child’s life – to get whatever he or she wants at that moment (from food to toys to money to whatever) simply by smiling, looking “adorable” … or screaming their lungs out.

Hey, you’ve got to earn your foul balls by the old school method – you catch it, you keep it. Otherwise, you’ll never learn how…

- Link to Download Flyer -

Each begins at 7pm. and is loaded with plenty of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

Come to perform.  Come to listen.  All are welcome.

April 27, 2012

May 25, 2012

June 22, 2012

Phone: (586)752-5700
Web: http://www.starkweatherarts.com

The record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO arrives in Romeo this April! Let us “Razzle Dazzle” you for an evening as Romeo Theatre Company brings back the roaring 20’s with a vengeance. Show-dates are April 20th-28th at the David L. Olson Auditorium in Romeo High School.

Murder, Greed, Corruption… Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, who is desperately attempting to avoid a murder conviction and dupe the public, media, and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly. She hires Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.
With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, there is a reason Chicago has won 6 Tony Awards and is one of the longest running musicals.

So join us for “All That Jazz” April 20, 21, 27, and 28th at 8 p.m. or the matinee on April 22nd at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online at www.showtix4u.com . For more information, or to purchase tickets in person, please contact director, Kendra Walls online at kendra.walls@romeo.k12.mi.us or by calling (586) 281-1154.

Due to the subject matter, Chicago is recommended for a mature audience.

Here are some results from the latest event.

Romeo 121 to Port Huron 11
Romeo won 16 out of 17 events
16 different girls earned their varsity letters.  Congratulations Girls!
Girls sweep all 4 relay events
4×100 Rebekka Nurmala, Julie Kort, Natalie Peterson, and Sarah Kort  00:54.7
4×200  Rebekka Nurmala, Julie Kort, Natalie Peterson, and Sarah Kort 1:58.0
4x 800 Rose Propst, Amanda Gardner, Alica Arnold, and Shelby Jackson 12:48.5
4×400  Haylee Murray, Autumn Klein, Rose Propst, Justine Barla 5:00
Field Events:
High Jump- 1st Elizabeth Betzing 4’9, 2nd Jody Bosheers 4’0
Pole Vault- 1st Kiersten Brown 6’0
Long Jump- 1st Bosheers 14’9’’, 2nd Bailey Edwards 13’4’’
Double Sweep in Discus and Shot:
Discus- 1st Sloane Brunner 92’1’’, 2nd Erica Perry 80’5’’, 3rd Charissa Gerow 77’6’’
Shot- 1st Brunner 34’9’’, 2nd Perry 31’7’’, 3rd Gerow 30’0’’
Running events:
100 Hurdles- 1st Peterson 16.38, 2nd Kelsey Alcon 19.22
100 meter- 2nd S. Kort 13.32, 3rd J. Kort 13.75
1600meter- 1st Jackson 5:26, 2nd Arnold 5:34, 3rd Abbi Willey 6:44 (SWEEP)
400 meter- 1st Justine Barla 1:09, 2nd Klein 1:09.77, 3rd Danielle baker 1:13 (SWEEP)
300 Hurdles- 1st Peterson :52.13, 2nd Propst :55.28
800meter- 1st Arnold 2:35, 2nd Haylee murray 2:53, 3rd Willey 3:01 (SWEEP)
200meter- 1st S. Kort 0:27.57, 3rd Barla 0:29.55
3200 meter- 1st Jackson 12:37, 2nd Gardner 14:14.0 3rd Kiiskila 15:28 (SWEEP)

Received at 1:11 PM March 23, 2012

Hello. This is Nancy Campbell, Romeo Community Schools Superintendent. This is an emergency alert. Both Romeo High School and the Romeo Engineering and Technology Center are in lockdown. We have a report that a student saw a student with a gun at Romeo High School. Police are at Romeo High School and an investigation has begun. Parents – Do not come to either school to sign your students out. You will not be allowed to enter RHS or RETC. We will remain in lockdown until we are advised by the police to lift that status. I will continue to send Instant Alerts via phone and email with updates.

While the address for the property is addressed off South Main Street, the proposed entrance for the facility is located on E. St. Clair. The site for the building is situated to the east of St. Clements Church property , and to the south of the properties on Spring Street.

The project has been presented to the Commission under a Planned Unit Develoment application. This allows flexibility for the Village, as well as for the developer. It will ensure that current code requirements are being met in the design phase, along with consideration for future planning of the site, and the Village’s Master Plan.