Press Release | Office of the Mayor | This Week in Westland : July 23, 2016

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

This Week in Westland

July 23, 2016 - July 31, 2016

Incredible Science Machine - What takes 18 people more than 10 days of 1800 combined work hours to build in order to attempt a new Guinness World Record? It is the Zeal Credit Union Incredible Science Machine: World Edition. The public is invited to attend this free record breaking event at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the Westland Shopping Center. For the second consecutive year, Zeal Credit Union is supporting chain reaction builders in their attempt to break new records. This year they will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest domino circle field and the American record for the most dominoes toppled. Beginning a week in advance of the July 23 event, 18 builders from the U.S. Canada, Austria and Germany, will work around the clock setting up more than half a million objects, including 250,000 dominoes and thousands of other common items, to create the Incredible Science Machine (ISM). The massive chain reaction project is being led by head builder Steve Price, a Canton native and recent graduate of the Michigan State University College of Engineering.

Downtown Development Authority

Meets on Thursday, June 28 at 12:00 p.m. at Westland City Hall to discuss general business

to see the meeting agenda, please click here

Westland Farmer's and Artisan Market Kid's Day - The Westland Farmer's Market will be held from 3 - 7 p.m. every Thursday in the new, beautiful Farmer's Marketplace, located in Central City Park. This is the ultimate site for farmers, growers and producers to sell their own products directly to the public.

Free Shredding and Drug Disposal Day - Do you have a growing pile of papers and financial records that you no longer need but aren't comfortable just throwing away? How about prescription medications that you no longer need or expired over the counter pills? You can get safely get rid of all these things on Friday, July 29 at the Friendship Center, located at 1119 Newburgh Road. From 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., an industrial shred truck will be in the parking lot and will take care of your unwanted documents in such a way that you will have no security concerns. They will also be accepting medications that you no longer need and properly disposing of them This free service is available to all Westland residents.

Westland's 6th Annual Blues, Brews and BBQ - Restaurants are lining up to participate in Westland's signature event of the year, Blues, Brews and BBQ at Thomas H. Brown Central City Park. Being held August 5 and 6 to take advantage of warm weather, Blues, Brews and BBQ will feature several talented musicians, including headliners Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, Thornetta Davis and Westland's own Josh Gracin. This year the event has added professional pit-master BBQ'ers Hill Billy Bone BBQ, Heaven on a Roll, Stick a Pig in it, Harold Ole Daddy BBQ, Smoke Ring BBQ and Uncle Bebe's BBQ with their professional on-site, slow cooked, authentic BBQ. They will be joined by returning local favorites Famous Daves and Texas Roadhouse. For some additions outside the tradition BBQ realm, we have Harvest Kettle Corn, Detroit Mini Donut and Lemonade, Heavenly Hot Dog and On the Border. As in previous years, the event will also feature a wide selection of Michigan craft beers, and soft drinks. New this year will be the addition of a wine selection. The event will begin on Friday, August 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will continue on Saturday, August 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Parking for this event will be free this year at the 18th District Court, John Glenn High School and the William D. Ford Career Technical Center on Marquette and at the Westland Friendship Center, located at 1119 Newburgh Rd. Free shuttle buses will be provided from the Marquette Rd. and Friendship Center locations on Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

But wait....there's more! As a part of the City of Westland's 50th Anniversary Celebration the event closes with the largest fireworks display in the city's history on Saturday at 10 p.m. This will be a musically choreographed fireworks display that you don't want to miss!

Sign-Up Now For This Year's All American BBQ Throwdown - Registration for this year's All American BBQ Throwdown is now open! Do you have what it takes to be Westland's Amateur BBQ Champion? The event starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 6 which is the second of this year's 2 day Blues, Brews and BBQ event on August 5th and 6th. The event is open to backyard BBQ'ers and the registration fee is $30. For more information, and to register for this event, please click here

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles. Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.