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Railsplitters miss Supervisor may have Normal Park parade shot at playoffs brings family fun violated OMA law See Page 1-B See Page 1-C See Page 1-C

SUPERVISOR PARADE

The

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VOL. 18, NO. 44 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 Weave the Web:
Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See most popular stories.... WASHTENAW: Your guide to the Nov. 6 local elections.

Library sees half million in revenue losses over 4 years

By Kody Klein
Special Writer

The Ypsilanti District Library has lost over half a million dollars in funding since 2008, as a result of declining property values in the Ypsilanti area. The dropping property values have had such a stark effect on our budget,

said Jill Morey, YDL director. Total revenue for the three YDL locations in Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, and Superior Township, was $4.31 million in 2008. The budget for fiscal year 2013, awaiting approval at the November Library Board meeting, is $3.49 million.

According to Morey, 92.5 percent of the librarys budget is funded by local property taxes, so when property values began to erode, the revenue declined. Anybody that relies on property taxes is being hurt by that, Mayor Paul Schreiber said. That includes cities, library districts and schools that

depend on state property taxes. Its an issue that affects a lot of people and a lot of organizations. As a tourniquet, the YDL Board of Trustees proposed a 0.38 millage in 2010 that Angela Moloney, president of the board, said passed with overwhelming support in this community. We expected it to be the

silver bullet to save all of our problems, Moloney said. But the property taxes continued declining. Although the millage helped, it didnt stop the bleeding. While revenue increased from $3.84 million in 2010 to $3.94 in 2011, the librarys expenses
PLEASE SEE LIBRARY/3-A

Check out our video:

Normal Park Halloween parade

ore than 500 children and their parents donned their best Halloween costumes and headed down to the downtown Ypsilanti Halloween Fall Festival on Oct. 26. The festival was hosted by the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti, and featured trick-ortreating, face painting, a costume contest and the Ypsilanti District Librarys Bookmobile. Michael James Curtiss There has been an A family of Legos poses for a photo in the Library Plaza during the festival. (Photo courtesy of the annual Halloween event Washtenaw County in downtown Ypsilanti Sheriffs Ofce. We need to get that vibe universally collected from businesses within for more than 20 years, which acknowledged. DAY and organized by volunteers began with trick-or-treating. YDL By Ben Baird The downtown event also showfrom throughout the community. Community Relations Coordinator Heritage Media cases Ypsis growing businesses as Several downtown business ownDonna DeButts has seen most of the well, DeButts said, and draws new ers and organizations sponsored this evolution of the event from trick-orA 1-year-old boy was people in. years festival. Heikks Decorated treating to a full festival. pronounced dead Oct. 21 Our hope is that it brings new Apparel, The Rocket, MIX, The We just keep changing with the and the man who had been eyes to downtown Ypsi, she said. Tap Room, the Ypsilanti Area times, she said. watching the baby has since The empty storefronts in Ypsilanti Convention and Visitors Bureau, The festival provides a safe, fun been charged with allegedly have been filling up, Heikkinen said, the A2Y Chamber of Commerce, place for the community to celebrate murdering him. and thats drawing more people from Bona Sera, the Model Cave, United Washtenaw County sher- the fall season and Halloween, DAY around the state to Ypsi. Sons, Salt City Antiques, the iff deputies were dispatched President David Heikkinen said. Our businesses are destinaYpsilanti Downtown Development Its really a community event, on a report of a child postions, he said. Authority, Herbal Solutions and the he said. sibly choking at about 12:30 Heikkinen cited hearing stories of Non-Motorized Advisory Committee Hosting the festival downtown a.m. Oct. 21 in the 1100 block people traveling from as far away as all donated candy for trick-or-treat helps shed light on the positive busi- Kalamazoo to visit specialty stores of Fall River in Ypsilanti stations. nesses and people who make up the Township, according to the such as the Model Cave and World Editor Krista Gjestland can be area, said DAY member Kevin Hill. sheriff s office. of Rocks. reached at kgjestland@heritage. Theres a lot of positive thats They met Michael James The Halloween Fall Festival was com,734-429-7380 or on twitter going on, he said. Theres reasonfunded through membership dues @kgjestland. able, nice people in this community.
PLEASE SEE BABY/3-A

Ypsi man charged on death of baby

Festival provides safe, fun place to celebrate Halloween

By Krista Gjestland
Heritage Media

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invited to join in this World Community Day event. Workshops set at Community Media Lab: the Community Media Lab, located at 215 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, is offering free workshops in December. Email communitymedialab@heritage.com or call 1267-229-6037 for more information.

BRIEFLY...
Community Day: Abiding in Community is the theme of World Community Day on Nov. 2. A local celebration will take place at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 718 N. Prospect in Ypsilanti. Following a coffee hour at 9:30 a.m., the

program will take place in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Women from several Ypsilanti churches will participate, and Sarah Thornburg, director of Friends In Deed, will speak. The sponsoring organization, Church Women United in Ypsilanti, brought together women from many local congregations 70 years ago; presently 11 congregations are represented. All are

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