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Canton Liberty Fest
Thursday, June 17: 4-11
p.m. (Special Sneak-Preview of the Carnival)
Friday, June 18: 1 p.m. - 11
a.m. Movie Under the Stars begins at dusk
Saturday, June 19: 11 a.m.-11
p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk
Don't miss two fun-filled days with
all of the excitement that makes a summer festival spectacular!
You're invited to experience the
19th Annual Liberty Fest, set in picturesque Heritage Park in the
heart of Canton.
Enjoy all the summer fun that folks
have come to expect: a classic car show lining the banks of Heritage
pond; a large screen movie under the stars; summer breezes filled
with children's laughter; delicious smells of festival fare; and the
sounds of talented musicians performing at the amphitheater.
The undeniable highlight of the
festival is the spectacular fireworks that light up the Saturday
night sky; our show is considered one of the most outstanding
displays in the area. A true celebration of family, friends, and
community! Liberty Fest has become a tradition for the thousands who
attend this popular annual event. Catch the excitement. Be part of
it all! |
Spring and
summer in Canton mean lots of enjoyable activities for everyone in
the family. We just played host to the annual Canton Cup soccer
tournament, which kicked off the season with over 670 teams
competing over Memorial Day weekend. Canton welcomed over 35,000
visitors who shopped in our stores, ate in our restaurants, and
enjoyed all that our community has to offer. The tournament has had
such a positive impact on Canton for the past 28 years, that the DDA
wanted to show its support for the tournament with colored welcome
banners interspersed along the district.
This month, Canton’s
Heritage Park will be alive with the sounds of summer during
the 19th annual Liberty Fest on June 17-19. This
community-wide event is a celebration of family, friends and
freedom. Each summer for nearly 20 years now, neighbors come
together to enjoy fantastic entertainment, delicious food,
and a weekend full of fun.
Every Sunday
from 10 a.m.
–
2 p.m. at Canton’s Preservation Park you can buy local and shop at
the Canton Farmers Market. There you will find fresh fruit,
vegetables, baked goods, meat and other quality products each week.
This market is not only great for our community, but it supports our
local economy and strengthens Michigan's agricultural production.
Summertime brings a wide variety
of music to Canton. You can enjoy your favorites on Thursday
evenings in Heritage Park or on Mondays in Cherry Hill Village. And
in July and August, you can catch a free jazz concert every Friday
night on Canton’s Ford Road. Be sure to check your Focus newsletter
for artists and locations.
As you can see, summer in Canton
means a lot of great activities. Unfortunately, it also means road
construction and a lot of orange barrels and detour signs around
town. The big project this summer is the widening of Canton Center
Road from Cherry Hill to Palmer. That section will be torn up all
season with periodic lane closures, but posted detours will enable
travelers to easily reach the Library, St. Joe’s, the Summit, and
Pheasant Run Golf Course, which will all be open during
construction.
On the topic of roads, we are
making another attempt to secure a share of the second round of
TIGER grant money in order to undertake a large-scale project on the
Ford/Haggerty/I-275 interchange. It is our goal to continue our
efforts to make that area safer and less congested. I will keep you
posted on any developments on that front.
Earlier this year I told you about
a new approach the municipal organization is taking in regards to
our budget. We have begun the process of a multi-year budget, which
will allow us to monitor revenues and expenditures and make
necessary adjustments along the way. Our goals are to keep the
community informed every step of the way, and remain good stewards
of residents’ money.
In related news, Canton’s bond
rating on Limited Tax General Obligation was recently adjusted to
AAA by Fitch Ratings of New York, a global credit rating agency.
This rating shows support for the decisions made by Canton’s Board
of Trustees that have put the township in a position to be able to
deal with the current downturn in the economy. It is the decisions
made over the good years to not overspend, to control costs, build
reserves and to address issues early on that have Canton in this
good financial position. Despite the poor economy of Michigan and
especially Wayne County, Canton has managed to create a community
that attracts people and businesses. While the economy is not in the
boom times of 10 years ago, Canton still sees slow growth.
Canton recently hosted three
community forums in an effort to educate residents on water and
sewer rates. The forums were designed to show residents how water
and sewer rates are calculated and to answer questions regarding the
2010 rates. The informal atmosphere made it comfortable for the 18
attendees to have an open, honest dialogue with Canton’s Municipal
Services Director, Tim Faas, and Finance Director, Rick Eva. This
was a great opportunity for all involved to roll up their sleeves
and really get in-depth with all questions and concerns about the
water rates.
A 3,000 square-foot splash pad is
currently under construction at Flodin Park, located between Morton
Taylor and Sheldon Roads on Saltz Road. This fun water play area is
funded by the Wayne County Park millage and can be found near the
existing tennis courts. Construction to this well-fed water feature
is estimated to be completed this month. Look for a grand opening
celebration later this summer.
Something that we’re really
excited about is a segment on Canton that is going to be featured on
Inside Business Review with Fred Thompson. This show highlights
Canton as a hidden economic gem, and will air once nationally and
numerous other times in our regional market. Canton will receive
tremendous exposure from this effort. We will be sure to let you
know when it will be airing and on which channels.
Until then, please remember that
Canton is a safe and vibrant community, and we are committed to
maintaining the quality of life you have come to expect as
residents. Even with all of the wonderful activities going on this
summer season your safety is our top priority. |
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