1969-02-20; Saline Reporter

              Vol. 20, No. 24 — Thursday, February 20,1969
10c COPY — $4.00 YEAE
AT CITY P
ture Undecided Library Nears Completion
.-.»..
*<L-
NOT ONLY STOCKHOLDERS, but all civic-minded residents of
the area are urged to attend the annual Saline Community Hospital
meeting, in the Saline High School library, at 8 "p.m. Tuesday.
The conclave, a joint meeting of the medical staff, board of trustees, and stockholders, concerns the future of the Saline hospital and
was described in notice to stockholders as "very important".
Architect's plans for expansion, one of the possible routes the hospital could take, are explained (above) to Mrs. Mar^Woods and Mrs.
Ruben Finkbeiner of the Hospital Auxiliary, by Administrator Yin-
cent Catacuzzeno.
THE RIBBON WAS SNIPPED by Ernest
Girbach, president of the Hospital board of directors, and Dr. Eugene Garrison at a recent
open house to introduce the public to Saline Hospital's new office space, an addition on the front.
Additional expansion, virtually a necessity if
the hospital is to survive, will come up for discussion at the annual meeting Tuesday evening.-
It is open to the public.
~- ii ii-1	
Lodi Gels Zoning
Request for Trailers
Lodi Township has received
application for commercial
zoning to allow construction
of a trailer park at.the cor-
na' of W. Ellsworth and Zeeb
roads.
A public hearing has been
scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday,
March 7, at Lodi Township
hall, on the proposed zoning
change from A-l (general
farming) to C-l (local retail
and service business).
The property involved includes 80 acres in' three;par-
cels, on the southeast and
northwest corners of the intersection of Ellsworth and
Zeeb. It is now owned and
farmed by Cecil J...Glass.
The- zoning request came
from Sheldon M. Fufernlckof |
Plymouth; ' "to . develop the'
land into 'a .modem, beautiful'
mobilfe hom6 park: We'have,
such a« development at-394$)
barren , Avenue, just 2%.
mile's west of Wesfland Shop
ping Center in. Canton Township."
In his letter-to the township zoning board, Futernick
invited: "Please visit- this
development at your convenience before the hearing
of this matter. I would be
•happy to pick up anyone and
take them to > this .site."
He added: "The plan for
the land in your townslnp is
similar to' the Warren Avenue
development and we are most
willing to abide by sound
planning -that your board may
recommend for any improvements . ».„-. The plaii also "exceeds" the requirements of
your ordinance in- many respects."
Lodi Township's "ordinance
requires 3;000 square feet per
trailer in immobile home- park;
and •specifies that each must
beiseti bn either-a single slab
foundation; op. >on ■ sparallel
J   '(cohti&ued on page'2)
Dimes Total
Creeps Toward*
$3,000 Goa*
"With reports still' comihg
in, the Saline March of Dimes
has crept closer to the hoped-
for $3,000, and now stands at
$2,791.53.
One special event, is still to
take place, a dance for High-
School students only, at the
school gym after the basketball game on Friday. Admission is '50 cents per student
and all proceeds will go to
the Dimes drive.
The present total includes
$925.41 from the Mothers'
March, which was conducted
by the Child Study Club with
the assistance of the Junior
Child Study Club, the Welcome Wagon Club, and individuals.
Also included are donations
from businesses and corporations, $220; special events,
$781.11; mailers, $161, canisters, $75.86; bowling, $116;
clubs and organizations, $50;
special gifts, $105; and the
rummage sale, $244.35. No report has come in from the
Boy Scout's sale of peanuts.
The county March of Dimes
has announced that three
scholarships, each $500, are
available f6r eligible High
School students in Washtenaw County. Deadline for application is March 1; application blanks are available from
high school counsellors.
March of Dimes public education films are available to
anyone interested, and may
be obtained from, Evelyn
Sells, Ann Arbor, March of
Dimes campaign director.
FLAPJACKS TO HIKE
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The annual Pancake Supper,, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club to benefit its scholarship fund for local students,
will be served from 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. Saturday at the
High ScKool.
.Donations are $1.25 for
adults and 75c for children.
Progress on remodelling
the Schleh building ior the
Saline Library is "wonderful." Dick Cole, chairman of
the library board reported
this week. It is now hoped
that the library's move to its
new quarters can be made in
six weeks or two months.
The list of' Salinians who
have contributed their time
and know-how to the projec i
is long. Cole, who is the citj
building official, building inspector, and electric inspector, has spent countless hours
of his own time there. Alfred
and Ralph Gross, plumbers,
did the plumbing on volunteer time. All electrical work
was donated, by members of
the electrical workers' union
Don Schultz and Bill Pepper,
and Kenneth Smith and
David Alstrom. Leonard Merritt, plasterer, helped to install the ceiling and has volunteered to do the plastering.
More electrical work, lathing, and the plastering are
coming up in the near future.
Heating and air-conditioning
equipment has been installed.
The carpetting has arrived
but is not yet installed.
Shelves "-have not yet arrived.
Old varnish was removed
by members of the library
board, Mrs. Harry Holmes,
Mrs. Charles fern, Mrs. Regis
Wolfinger, with aid from Mrs.'
Carl Moehn and Mrs. Hugh
Keveling.
The stairway and handrail
arid other woodwork and trim
were done by Mike Pogmiano,
a- registered architect; Cole;
John' Beckett, a landscape
architect; and Taylor Jacob-
sen, art teacher at the High
School. Young members of
the High School Art Club
painted'. Members of the Kiwanis- Club spent two evenings at the building, to sand
the hand railing on the stairs
and around the balcony.
"I don't foresee any prob^'
lems now," said Cole. "Everything is going fine."
"V   * ■ ' —
UESTIONED
Baring Hill May
Allow Erosion,
Resident Fears
WOODWORK AND TRIM for the new
library have been spiffed up by experts, John
Beckett (left) and Mike Pogliani.
/
ELECTRICAL WORK in the. Schleh building got a boost from Bill Pepper (left) and Don
Schultz,. members of the electrical workers'
union Avho volunteered their time to help get
the Schleh building ready- for library use.
Baton Corps
To Give 1st
Performance
The new Saline Baton
Marching Corps, fully uniformed, will give its first
performance between halves
of the varsity basketball
game on Friday, February
28.
The corps has 160 members, between the ages of 5
and 13, who have been taught
by the High School majorettes. Adviser to the group is
Mrs. John C. Michael of 1543
York Terrace.
The youngsters Will hold a
dress rehearsal at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday at the High School
gym.
•}iJirii> -
If
THE HIGH SCHOOL ART CLUB and its
sponsor, Taylor Jacobsen, spent much of Saturday and Sunday at the Schleh building, applying paint where it would do the most good.
Above, three members relax between brush
strokes.
Retired Pastor
Receives a Gift
RMH Zoning
Approved
City Council Monday night
approved ordinance 209,
which adds an RMH classification (residential, mobile
homes) to the zoning ordinance.
The new ordinance specifies,
regulations for trailer parks,
provides for licensing and inspection, and zones 11.6 acres
on Maple.Rd. for RMH.   --■■
FERE DEPAItTMENT-
GETS FOUR CALLS
Saline Firemen were called
out'four'times over the Weekend,'once" on Saturday night
for a car fire 6ft "Parker Rd.
near Pleasant Lake Rd.,5 and
three timtes'for grass fires.
CHILD STUDY CLUB
PLANS HUSBANDS' NI&HT'
• Members of the Child
Study Club 'will attend asl
University of Michigan hock-'
ey gante on the club's "Hus-;
bands'* Night''; Saturday; and;-
will then return ?to the home c
of MrYarid <Mr§. -Barry-"Van.'*
Kbeveringi v ■-*■■     <■:.
More than 400 members
and friends of Trinity Lutheran Church gathered Sunday
to honor the Rev. H. L. Engel,
who retired'from the ministry
at the end pf-1968,..after 42
years of service.' V - - • -   ■
After a special service Sunday morning, at which the
Rev. A. Baer^ of. Adrian,.was
guest speaker-,-the congregation moved to - the. Junior
High School gym for -dinner
and a program.! -   ... ,
The highlight cofi.'the occasion . came when i William,-
Kleiri, president of thfij coi%-
gregatibh; ^'-presented - Paster*
Engel and his family with the
gift of .the^ome in, vyluch <he
and his' wife." .ajid. ddii^hter, ■i
Karol; how'iiveYar 68 'Tower
Dr. .Another daughter: Mrs.
Gerald Snyder; livesjin; Jack-
sorh;;.;■ >._ l. I". ■■ £i.-a r :• _•. _ 3 ;
Featured-; speakers |Onf. th£t
program-,. w,ere JVIrs".? William,
Cavanaughjf jthe .fi^t jperson-
baptizfed ,bx Mr,- jEngpl hj Saj-j
line;   Harold Wackentjut,   a
member of the pastor's first
confirmation class .here;
Francis Lockwood, a member
of the first adult class; Mr.
and' Mrs. "Theodore Stroup,
one of the first Saline couples whose wedding he »conducted; and Mrs. Albert
Hoeft, Sr., who was president
of the ladies' Aid when Pastor Engel came to Saline.
6ther speakers on the program were the Rev. Daniel
Gjieschen,* of Adrian,' representing the Mission. "Board of
tlie Wisconsin Synod which
Mr. Engei served for many
years; arid the TEtev.'Robert
Mueller of L.ivoriia, a vice
president _ of , the , Michigan
district of px& \ 'Wisconsin
Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Ifr.' Bpgel ^egan his min-
istry^rangya -^ual parish in
Ghe^sanningr »a"^#7 ]B"r'a &Y
fo^Ypship,- in J.p26.: He, came
to Saline -in 1939 .gnd served
a% pastor ~of- pYijiity. Lutheiv
a»->£tmrglj u^ti^his resfgna-
fm& an^<fretir§B^nt.3 y , j
Mrs. John Knight, Sr.,
dropped a bomb on City
Council Monday night by saying that she wanted to talk
about "erosion", and then
asking why the following
trees in Curtiss Park had recently been cut:
Eighty trees that left
stumps four inches in diameter.
Twenty-four with stumps
five inches around.
Twenty-two that left six-
inch stumps.
Fifteen that left seven-inch
stumps.
Eight of eight-inch girth.
Two nine-inchers, three
ten-inchers, and two 11-in-
chers.
Councilmen's faces showed
increasing shock " as Mrs.
Knight held up a slice from
a 10-inch tree and went on
with her list:
Three trees had been cut
leaving 12-inch stumps. Two
had been 14 inches in diameter. Two had been 16 inches
in girth. One had a diameter
of 20 inches.
She had acquired her statistics just by counting the
stumps, »in a walk through
Curtiss Park, Mrs. Knight
said. And, incidentally, why
the recent removal of:
Seven, walnut trees, or
other varities, ranging from
12 to 21 inches in diameter,
that had been near the entrance to the park?
A willow tree "that used
to stand by the river and
made a little grassy glade
where people used to fish? It
had two major branches, one
44 inches in girth and one 33
inches. I've been told it was
removed because drivers kept
running into it, but it stood
about 15 feet from the roadway."
Another willow tree closer
to the road, with "four arms
of about 20 inches each"?
(Actually, though the roster sounded as if the entire
park had been denuded, there
are still many shade trees
there, she explained later.
"There are hundreds of trees
still standing. You might not
notice, if you're not familiar
with the park . . . hut if you
look, you can see they've been
thinned, aiid there are big
gaps.")
The stumps of small trees
are too numerous to count,
she said, but "they are
significant in that they do
hold soil on a hill" and there
are already three sizeable gullies, on the hillside there.
The hill east of the roadway in the park "is a unique
feature, and besides, it holds
the cemetery up," she noted.
She recalls an incident years
ago when she "saw a human
skull sticking out of the'hill".
The sexton (then Chris Volz)
"told me that every once in
a while a grave on the edge
of the hill washes out".
In 1930, Saline Boy Scouts
planted  "hundreds  of trees"
to help hold up    the    bank,
. Councilman    Jim    Gross recalled.
* The removal of underbrush,
second   growth,    and   small
trees has left "a perfect corridor for    the    motorcylists
that frequent the    place by
night,"   Mrs.   Knight   said.
"But what else is it good for?
There used to be berry bushes  and a    patch  of    morel
.mushrooms., The   pine   floor
wasi lovely; there was a little
t grape vine that came down.
-There were wild;flowers-along
dthes paths that children had
.-.made. Now.   it's    all    gone,
.cleared like aiv expressway."
She continued: "There used
to be deer there, and the
children could see a raccoon
in a tree. We shouldn't remove the browse and cover
for animals. We should have
a little nook left for wild
life."
"We can't change what has
been done," Mrs. Knight concluded, "but we should have
a better sense of direction
from now on." She asked that
Council "give more direction"
in future tree-cutting and ap-
(continued on page 2)
Factions
Reach Accord
On Sidewalks
The long-standing Russell
St. Sidewalk War came to a
sudden end this week when
residents offered . . . and
Council accepted ... a compromise solution.
Although the factions never argued about the shape of
the conference table, they
have disagreed on nearly everything else for at least 10
years. Bone of contention
were five lots on the south
side of Russell St. where
there is no sidewalk . . . and
successive city councils have
thought there should be.
The trouble came from the
fact that four of those five
homes are on a hill, with
a steep bank down to the
street and there are six large
handsome trees near the curb.
Ten years ago, the problem .
was not so much solved as
postponed, by running the
sidewalk out to the curb, so
that pedestrians could either
walk past those five homes
in the street, or cross the
street.
More recently, in a program to complete sidewalks
throughout the city, council
set up Assessment District 56
including those lots, and city
engineers prepared specifications for a sidewalk across
them to Lewis St.
The first plan offered by
the engineers would have
saved the trees by placing the
walk behind them, up the
hill . . . and would have required seven steps to bring it
down to street level. Owners>
objected strenuously, on the
grounds that the steps would
present a hazard to pedestrians on" icy days and a danger to cycling children who
might be caught unawares
and sail off the edge.
Then the engineers designed a level sidewalk right
along the curb . . . which
would entail removal of all of
the trees. Again, the home -
owners said "no". And there
the matter rested, uneasily,
until this week.
The compromise was suggested in a letter to Mayor
Hugh Keveling, signed by
owners of four of the five
homes involved: Mr. and Mrs.
John Mader, Mr. and Mrs.
Edwin Hering, Amanda and
•Herman Mayer, and Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Kern. The remaining lot, owned by Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur Heininger,
is not directly affected by the
new plan, since there the sider
walk can be placed at the
curb without endangering, any
trees.
The letter suggested combination of the two plans: a
sidewalk up the- hill^ behind
the trees, then dpwn.a set of
easily-curving steps to. curb
level, then back- around- behind more tries.:It specified
(continued on page; 2)