Livingston County Daily Press and Argus from Howell, Michigan • 7

Wednesday, October 14, 1998-THE LIVINGSTON COUNTY PRESS-7A News briefs Part of Washington Street closing for two hou rs on Halloween ight HOWELL HOWELL GBBDS High school hosts alternative medicine lecture Dr. Steven Ingersoll is giving a lecture on effective non-drug treatment for attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, dyslexia and other ailments. The lecture will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.

in the cafeteria of Howell High School. 1200 W. Grand River in Howell. To reserve a seat, contact Carle Lockwood at (810) 632-2208. West Washington Street will be closed to all traffic on Halloween from 6-8 p.m.

For more information, call (517) 546-3502. officials recommend that children are accompanied by at least one adult when trick-or-treating. and they should remain on sidewalks at all times. "It's council's call," he said. "We strongly recommend we don't close streets at night." The.

council is expected to contact First Presbyterian Church officials about using the church's parking lot to ease some of the traffic woes. Mayor Pro-tern Geral-: dine Moen, who also suggested some service organizations be contacted for volunteers, said people usually park there anyway. The Department of Public Works will have to dole out overtime pay" in order for workers to raise and remove the barricades. By Kerry Lefere STAFF WRITER Halloween could be more manageable for residents of the Washington Street area this year, with the Howell City Council's approval of a road closure for trick-or-treaters. Mayor Paul Rogers said at the regular council meeting that 4,000 to, 5,000 kids cram those streets each year, largely because of the neighborhood tradition of elaborate decorating.

He suggested a two-hour closure from Center to George streets only, which the council unanimously approved. The catch is that residents must volunteer to man the barricades at each end of the street. No vehicles will be allowed through the area Humane from 6-8 p.m. The city will provide orange safety vests that are used during local festivals for the volunteers. "I think we should at least try it for a year," Rogers said.

A neighborhood survey on the matter, which resulted In only 12 responses out of a possible 45, was completed by the city police department last week. The majority of residents who did respond agreed with the proposaj. which originally called for a closje from Walnut to Isbell streets. Howell Police Chief Roger Goral-ski opposed the closure, citing an increased risk for children due to cars that ignore the barricades. City Manager Mike Herman reported that a street was closed only once before for Halloween, and because no one stood at the ends of the street, drivers went around the barricades.

Goralskl said law enforcement Council retreat moved The Howell City Council city staff retreat has been moved from the Harley Hotel in Lansing to the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce. The two-day retreat was moved closer to grant more accessibility to the public and reduce costs. The city had to pay a $300 cella-tion fee for the two rooms it had already reserved at the Harley Hotel, but the chamber space is provided free of charge. The city will shell out some money for catering. The retreat is set for Oct.

30-31, For more information, call (517) 546-3502. LIVINGSTON COUNTY ft Society going to the dogs (and cats) Group moves into new offices on Dorr Road By Maureen Patzer STAFF WRITER Chaperones and sponsors needed for Boo Bash A group of local teens are hoping to add a major trip to their Itinerary in 1999, with a costume party as their starting point. HonieTown Newspapers Venturing Crew, a club dedicated to outdoor activities and community service, is organizing a fund-raiser to help with expenses for the outing the first annual Boo Bash, a costume party and dance for middle and high school students. The dance will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight on Halloween at the Howell Armory, 725 Isbell.

Disc Jockey "Rockin' Ron" of Milford will man the turntables throughout the night. Tickets are $8. But before anyone shows up in their best sheet with eye holes, organizers are seeking community members to donate refreshments and items for door prizes. Adult chaperones are needed as well as are students or adults interested in creating decorations for the event. To volunteer or to purchase advance tickets, call Linda Neff at (517) 548-2000 Ext.

49 or (517) 548-1547. She can also be reached Thompson Lake Dam project hearing set A public hearing on the $500,000 Thompson Lake Dam project spearheaded by a state Department of Environmental Quality' inspection that deemed the structure unsafe is set for 9 a.m. Saturday. Comments on a proposed assessment district, which could cost lakefront property owners an average of $76 per year over 15 years, will be heard in the Livingston County Courthouse at 200 E. Grand River, Some residents are concerned the assessment is not properly shared by local governments, lakefront property owners and those For more information on the hearing, contact the Livingston County Drain CoiiuBissioner's office at (517) 546-0040.

Adopt-A-Family applications started The Salvation Army Livingston County Corps began last week taking applications for the Christmas Adopt-a-Family program. Applications are accepted from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 6-8 p.m. Mondays, at the Salvation Army church.

503 Lake in Howell. Families must bring proof of residence, income, expenses and number of children when they come in to apply for the program. For more information, call the Salvation Army church at (517) 546-4750, and ask for Kay. I ,4 Jk A i 'i my It took 26 years and thousands of volunteer hours to build, but the Human Society of Liv-Ingston County is, ready to throw open its doors and welcome the public to its new administration building in Genoa Township. Located at 2464 Dorr Road near I-96, the 1.10 0-square-foot home was donated to the Humane The Humane Society of Livingston County shows pets available for adoption at Pet Supplies'.

Plus at 8307 W. Grand River Ave. in Brighton each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call (810) 229-7640.

GENOA TOWNSHIP Photo by ALAN WARD Humane Society board members Erin Oldford, left, and Debbie Plastow, show off the organization's new administrative offices on Dorr Road, accompanied by pets Ashley i and Casey. Dorr Road closed for rail crossing work Livingston County Road Commission announced that Dorr Road, between Challis and Grand River, will be closed from Wednesday, Oct. 14, to Saturday, Oct. 17 for a special work project. The road commission release stated the job will entail reconstructing the rail crossing to provide a smoother ride for trains and motor vehicles.

CSX Railroad crews are also expected to reconstruct the adjacent Crooked Lake Road crossing later in the fall. Walk Fur Fido helped with new office space Society by former county Commissioner Doug Reader and was actually moved from its former Marlon Township location to the Dorr Road site last year. After receiving approval from the Genoa Township board in December 1997. the Humane Society began renovating the structure. It's the first permanent address the organization will have since it began operating in 1972: now, instead of having volunteers work-.

ing out of their homes, the central location will help the group find owners for the 500 or so dogs and cats it places up for adoption each year. Livingston County residents can get their first glimpse of the structure from p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. during the group's open house.

Persons planning on attending are asked to park at the Genoa Township offices on Dorr Road south of 1-96 because of limited parking at the shelter site. A shuttle bus will be available to bring people to the new building. Phase II of the Humane Society's plans call for the construction of a HARTLAND The money will be used for Phase II of the group's campaign for construction of a permanent shelter within Livingston County. "Right now, there's not very much money available for the next phase." Benford said. "We're just starting to build up that fund." Phase II will allow for the construction of a kennel for housing animals next to the group's new administration building on Dorr Road in Genoa Township.

The Humane Society of Livingston County raised over $9,400 the weekend of Oct. 11 during its annual Walk Fur Fido at the Island Lake State Recreation Area. "The weather was perfect." said Barb Benford, Humane Society vice president and volunteer. "We couldn't have asked for anything better." Over 200 walkers raised $8,800 by asking for pledges per mile walked along a five-mile route: over $600 in funds was raised through the sale of T-shirts and hot dogs. Masuch will resign from school board Longtime Hartland Board of Education member Pat Masuch announced Monday.

Oct. 12. that she will resign from the board effective Oct. 27 Masuch is moving out of the school district, and will participate on the board through its Oct. 26 meeting.

The board then has 20 days from the date of her resignation to appoint a replacement. District residents interested in filling Masuch's seat on the board may submit a letter and resume to the board. Masuch's replacement will be appointed to serve through the end of this school year, then will have to run for election In the June school election, to retain the seat. The elected term will be for two years, board President Julie Hill said. Letters and resumes should be sent to the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education.

P.O. Box 900. Hartland. 48353. pets at the new building shortly." said Barb Benford, Humane Society vice president and volunteer.

"We'll still show at Pets Supplies Plus, and see how it goes during the transition." able only for opening its administration office. The new site, however, will allow the group to expand its adoption hours. "We plan on starting to show kennel shelter on the property next to the new administration building. The cost of that structure could run up to $500,000: right now. the Humane Society has funds avail District gearing up for safe school plan Ribbon-cutting set for new fire station A ribbon-cutting will take place Wednesday.

Oct. 21, for Hartland Township's new fire substation, located at the corner of Old 23 and ParshalMlle The ribbon-cutting takes place at 4:30 p.m., and the public Is invited. Eunice Epley, wife of the late Don Epley (for whom the fire station is named), will be cutting the ribbon. An open house will follow. Geheb named to road committee The Hartland Township Board voted Oct.

6 to name Gordle Geheb to a vacancy on the township road committee. The appointment is effective Immediately. The road committee's Job Is to advise the township board on road Improvements In Hartland. The first meeting of the Howell Public Schools Safe Schools Task Force will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.

21, at the district administration building, 411 N. Highlander Way, In Howell. administrators. That is why. she explained, the Howell task force will pool resources from the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce, the Howell Police and Fire departments, the Livingston County Mental Health Department, Howell Mayor Paul Rogers and members of the community.

Through community and staff surveys and a variety of focus groups, Parrish said information and ideas will be gathered and discussed to help develop a plan: however, the task force will not be working under any immediate deadlines. "I expect that we'll be working through the course of the school year," Parrish said. By Christopher Nagy STAFF WRITER Howell Public Schools is ready tackle violence head-on. Using the two-day. countywide "Creating Safe Schools" conference as a springboard, Howell Public Schools Is gearing up to launch full-throttle into a task force study to tailor-make a safe school plan for the district.

Assistant Superintendent for Perfbnnel and Labor Relations Lynn Parrish outlined the high points from the conference for the Howell Public Schools Board of Education on Monday, Oct. 12. The conference held at the Livingston Educational Service the event gathering information. Day two was designed to help districts draft a safe school plan of their own. "Interestingly enough, it's not really rocket science." Parrish said.

The key is the presence of a responsible adult at all times and all places. a nutshell, that's where we're headed." The first meeting of the Howell Public Schools Safe Schools Task Force will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the district administration building. 411 N.

Highlander Way, In Howell. Parrish said one of the most Important aspects to a successful plan Is to have a wide variety of input above and beyond school Agency (LESA) at the end of September and included presentations from members of National School Safety Center In California. Educators spent the first day of.