POOL TO CLOSE while renovations take place

Northwest Pool, located inside Northwest Park off of Van Born, will be closed on Monday, August 10, through Thursday, August 13.

The deck of the pool is being restored.

The pool will reopen for regular business on Friday, August 14.

MDOT PLANS to repair Telegraph-I-94 sound wall

The "sound wall" located around the I-94 and Telegraph Road bridge is scheduled to be repaired soon, with equipment arriving on site either this week or next.

The Michigan Department of Transportation was in Taylor earlier this week for a public hearing on the matter, held at the Taylor Sportsplex. Adam Penzenstadler, MDOT projects and contracts administration engineer, said the department has scheduled the work. It is required to repair the cracking and deterioration that is occurring around the top of the posts of the current sound barrier. That wall was built in 2010. The cracking has been caused by fabrication methods that did not meet contract specifications when the barrier was installed. There are no structural problems with the wall, but the renovations will eliminate the cracking that is occurring near the top of the pillars.

The original contractor was found in default, according to MDOT officials, and an insurance company settlement will be used to fund repairs by a new contractor. According to MDOT, Z Contractors, a firm specializing in bridge and concrete construction, will do the work. The project will cost about $750,000 and the resulting new barrier should be good for at least 30 years.

Contractors will be working five days a week, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., through early next year.

They will be working from the roadways out, so residents should not see much activity.

Look for further updates here at www.cityoftaylor.com as they become available.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS at Sportsplex Saturday

WXC (Warrior Extreme Cagefighting) 59 Homeland Pride Pro MMA is coming to the Taylor Sportsplex on Saturday, August 8.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with the fighting beginning at 7.

The main bout pits Josh Robinson against Johnny Bedford for the WXC Bantamweight Championship.

Ticket prices range from $1,000 for the limited-seating VIP table of 10; $100 for Gold seating (first-row cage side); $60 cage side seating (rows 2 through 5); $35 for general admission (floor, rows 6 and over); and $25 for bleacher seating.

Order tickets online by clicking here.

To see a promotional video on the event, click here.

Other match ups include the co-main event featuring Dequan Townsend against defending champ Tenyeh Dixon for the WXC Welterweight title; Calie Gutler against Lindsay Garbatt for the WXC Strawweight title; Drew Morris vs. Keith Bullock for the Featherweight crown; Evan Cutts vs. John Schultz in a welterweight match; Devon Brown against Oliver Vazquez in a featherweight match; Jake May vs. Trent McGuffin in a featherweight match; John Mosley and Troy Lamson in a lightweight match; John White and Billy Ward in a welterweight match; Malcolm Gordon and Shawn Mack in a flyweight match; and Travis Pettengill vs. William Vincent in a light heavyweight bout.

For more information, call (734) 693-4353. 

The Taylor Sportsplex is located at 13333 Telegraph Road, south of Northline.

CAR SHOW to benefit cancer victim

Cars, bikes, custom and custom vehicles are all welcome to support "Linda's Cancer Fight" starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 8, at Northwest Park.

NW Park is off Van Born Road between Beech Daly and John Daly on the City's north end.

There will be door prizes, raffles and plenty of food. Registration is from 10 to noon. Judging starts at noon with awards handed out at 3 p.m.

There is a $25 entry fee.

CLOWN AROUND at the Farmerr's Market

The Taylor Farmer's Market sponsored by Oakwood Healthcare will be back in business at 11 a.m,. Friday, August 7, in Heritage Park.

This week's theme is "Clowning Around," and a face painter and balloon artist will be available for the children from noon until 3 p.m. The market will also give away free freezer pops to children attending.

The market is open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Oakwood's Ruth Sebaly will be the featured walker, leading the community walk around the the park at 10:30 a.m. right before the market opens.

The market has been averaging about 1,000 visitors per Friday. Plenty of fresh produce is available. It's also a great place to go for lunch or a snack -- BBQ, Mexican, pastas, perogies, popcorn and much more. No admission charge.

FORMER MAYOR to be honored in park dedication

Former Mayor Donald L. Zub will be honored during a park dedication at 11 a.m. Friday, August 7.

The City of Taylor last night proclaimed that a small neighborhood park on Haig Street between William and Dudley be named "Zub Park." The dedication will take place on August 7 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The public is welcome and free ice cream will be provided by Culver's.

Donald Zub was mayor of Taylor from 1977-81. Before that, he served on City Council for four years. In 1962, the Zub family moved into the neighborhood near that park. Zub and his wife raised three children and also have three grandchildren.

Before moving to Taylor, Zub served in the U.S. Army during the Korea War (1952-54).

Mayor Rick Sollars and the City Council proclaimed "Zub Park" during the August 4 council meeting. Councilman Charley Johnson, who grew up in that neighborhood and once played in that same park, read the proclamation and spoke glowingly of the former mayor as a friend, city official, veteran and neighbor. Johnson's brother still lives in the neighborhood.

Mayor Sollars credited Councilman Johnson, the entire council, parks department and the community development office with the renovation and naming of the park. Last summer, the Kennedy varsity baseball team volunteered to paint and rehab the park. Recently, thanks to the efforts of Community Development Manager Jeff Baum, federal funds were used to do further improvement including signage, a completely new playscape and new fencing between the park and neighboring homes.

"This has gone so well that we'd like to try and expand this program to other 'pocket parks' in the City," the mayor said.

Zub, who appeared in front of City Council along with his son, was moved. "This has been a tough day," he said, pointing out that he attended the funeral of a close friend earlier. "But I will remember this for the rest of my life."

The park is currently open. And again, the public is invited to the dedication ceremony and festivities at 11 a.m. Friday, August 7.