Puttiog oew faces 00 the u.s.military - Canton Public Library

www.hometownlife.com LOCAL NEWS Observer & Eccentric I Sunday, December 18, 2005 (C) A
Friends strike deal to purchase Penn Theatre~"i
BY TONY BRUSCATO
STAFF WRITER
When Brian West saw the
flyer about efforts to save the
Penn Theatre in downtovm
Plymouth earlier this year, he
was curious about the future of
the landmark t,!lll.t:&.been . sir
standing acrosS'~e-~treet froM'
Kellogg Park since 1941.. C
"I researched the Penn on
the Internet, and there was a
posting by Jennifer (Philpot-
Munson) about efforts to save
the theater," s'lid West, 37, the
creative ditech.i--for an advertising
agency. ".r thought
maybe I could provide some
kind of tharkyting and advertising
suppod:' I
West, who lives not far from
the Penn, wandered to the
Coffee Beanery, where nearly
50 other people gathered to
talk about what could be .done
to save the historic theater,
which - at the time - was
being threatened with demolition.
"There was a lot of brainstorming;'
remembered West.
"Our main objective was to
reach as many people as we
could, let the people know the
building was in danger of
being demolished. We had no
ideas, at that point, what
might be done."
A core group went on to start
the Friends of the Penn, a
preservationist group whose
purpose is to save the Penn from
the wrecking ball, and remain a
viable venue for Plymouth's
family entertainment. .
Be careful what you ask for.
After months ofnegotia-
tions, Penn co-owner Chris
Knight announced he and his
partner, Pat Tortora, have
agreed to sell the theater to the
Friends for $1.2 million.
"They have to see if they can
raise the money;' said Knight,
who reportedly paid $975,000
for the old theater. "If they can
raise it, a deal has been struck."
The Friends of the Penn
have two months to determine
if they can come up with the
money. Not only to take ownership,
but refurbish the theater,
which has been dark for
nearly two years. The group
put down a $10,000 deposit.
'We have 60 days for due'
diligence to evaluate where we
are with fund-raising;' said
West. "Our hope is we're able
to do what we can to secure
the building without having a
Rotary yule 'party packs them in
BY JULIE BROWN
STAFF WRITER
Erma Thompson and Larry
Slavin were all dressed up
with someplace to go last
Sunday afternoon.
The Canton residents and
friends were waiting at the
Plymouth Cultural Center for
the doors to open for
Plymouth A.M. Rotary's sixthannual
senior Christmas party.
"1 think it's lovely;'
Thompson said. "I thin)< it's
very nice."
Slavin agreed, and appreciated
the help of the hard- '
working Youth Leadership
Plymouth and Interact students.
(Interact is Rotary's
high school program.)
"It's nice that they have it.
This one I look forward to;' he
said. "those teenagers are so
energetic. They want to help
so much."
The 200 seniors came from
Tonquish Creek Manor in
Plymouth, Independence
Village in Plymouth Township
and the community in general.
"We have lots of entertainment,"
said organizer Steve
AI{'xandl'owski, a Rotarian.
Tl'(,fI' \\,1" "ine('r/Q')IH?,-
the Central Middle School
eighth-grade girls' choir under
director Janine Grady, storytelling
by Judge Ron Lowe of
the 35th District Court, Miss
Harriet's Dancers under the
direction of Miss Terry, and
Dr. Tom Clark as
pianist/soloist.
Evola Music of Canton furnished
the piano, said organizer
Bob Scoggius, who came
up with the party idea years
ago.
"We do it to honor our seniors
in our community for all
they've given to us. We want
to honor them with a special
night at Christmas time," said
Scoggins, retired city of
Plymouth police chief and
past club president.
The Youth Leadership
Plymouth and Interact students
do an excellent job,
Scoggins said, and seniors
respond well to the presence
of young people. "It's that
energy they bring," he said.
Santa wrapped things up
Sunday with a visit and
singing of Christmas carols.
Alexandrowski and
Scoggins find the party has
been a popular event. The
partv helps "show them how
them," Scoggins said. "We
keep them in the spirit."
Rotarians again contributed
to the success of the event
with such varied tasks as decorating,
helping to serve
meals and cleaning up.
Rotarian Nick Schultz of
Sealant Equipment &
Engineering made a contribution,
along with Ruth Martin
of Remerica Hometown One
and Bill Pratt of Management
and Tax Services. Larry Bird
of Gabriala's in Plymouth provided
gifts at cost, and fellow
Rotarian Kathy Hosten, who
does catering, made the fancy
desserts.
"It's an especially hard time
of year for many seniors,"
added Alexandrowski. "I'd say
it's one of our best projects. I
don't think anything else we
do reaches so many people:'
Plans are already under way
for next December's event,
offered free of charge to seniors
attending. Plymouth A.M.
Rotarians continued their holiday
endeavors Wednesday
night by hosting a party for
Infant and Preschool Special
Education Program families
at Tanger Center.
Looking ,for Ladies
tired .of DOing round ~nround
on the fitness merry-go-roundl
FITNESS LIFE STYLE
Coaching
is the
evolution of
personal training
r-----~r-----~ I Rejuvenation II Rejuvenation I 8465 R0NDA I Personal Training II Personal Training I CANTON
IF R E E IIF REEl (bel. Lilley & Haggerty)
I, .. I 734-260-6221
II IIIIONE 45 MinuleIn-Home II734-459-2572
TWO 30 MinulePersonal Personal TrainingSession.
I Tra}~~3~:I~~f"s II We bring:~~3~:,:~n"o youl I "'-- [#%m".~
I
L
Mustbe'akenwithina1weekPeriod'll I ~"'~AnoNA,~L~~!~:
One coupon per customer only. One coupon per customer only.
Not valid wllh olher oflers. II Not •• lld wllh olheroners. ... Over 12 Years Experience
I' ')~ I 1
... IlIlIlD DmII lBlD IIlIR!lI IlIIIiI I!ml - - - - - OE08398250
land contract:'
Preliminary estimates indicated
the group needs about a
million more than the purchase
price to renovate the theater.
An agreement to purchase
the building is only the first
step.
"Our advisory board has told
us we have a solid plan," said
West. "We're not only trying to
save the Penn, but make it a
first-class venue for affordable
entertainment in the center of
downtown.
"We're going to encourage a
harmonious relationship
between all the arts and commnnity
groups, so they know
we are trying to re-open the
theater for the entire community,
not just as a movie the.
ater;' he said. "By doing this,
we will help secure Plymouth's
future as a first-class visitor
destinatlOn:'
West is quick to point out
that the Friends of the Penn
"haven't done anything yet,"
because the deal hinges on
fund-raising, some of which
they hope to get from the
3,000 subscribers to the
group's e-mail updates.
"The theater has not been
saved, it's merely the first
obstacle that's been cleared;'
said West. "But, it's no denying
this is a good thing."
The Plymouth Community
Arts Council has been
approached about contributing
financially to the Penn Theatre
project.
"That has been discussed by
our board, but we have not yet
committed;' said ~tena Greene,
I
I
executive director. 'We're t; 1
exploring all options. Certajhly, I
being downtown and centrally I
located is a benefit for ns and I
all non-profit cultural pro- I
grams~ ~
Knight, who remembers. 1 I
going to the Penn to see fl I
movies as a child, is hopeful) 'I
the Friends can come up with
the money. ."
'We (Knight and Tortoraj~ I
hope they do it, they are a gOod I
fit for Plymouth because th