May 1998
Even President preferspierogi over pretense at the Polish Village Cafe BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
When President Bill Clinton made a stop in Hamtramck two years ago hehad the option of dining later at any of a number of high-class, and expensive,area restaurants.
Instead he paid a surprise visit to the Polish Village Cafe, 2990 Yemans,just off Joseph Campau behind Shopper's World (that's Federal's for youoldtimers) where he feasted on the Polish Platter, one of the cafe's specialties.
Nestled in the basement of what was once a "gentlemen's hotel and rathskeller"primarily for Eastern European immigrants, the restaurant is steeped inboth history and atmosphere.
The menu, which features primarily Polish fare such as golabki, pierogi,kielbasa, nalasnieki and fried chicken liver, provides a wonderful surpriseto first-time visitors: generous sized servings at incredibly reasonableprices, a throwback to the days when blue collar workers from nearby DodgeMain and other local plants expected a man-sized meal for their buck andgot it.
The Village is open for lunch at 11 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. from Tuesdaythru Saturday. Sunday hours are from 1 to 7 p.m. The Cafe is closed onMondays.
See the Hamtramck Online Restaurant Guide fora full directory of the city's many eateries.
May 1998
Country life comesto Hamtramck for first "Little Farmers' Day" at Zussman Park
BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
Since so many of Hamtramck's kids have never visited a farm, the farmwill visit Hamtramck on Sunday, May 17.
Dubbed "Little Farmers' Day" by organizers from the Hamtramck Art Collaborative(365-2846, ask for Dorica), the event will feature pony rides, gamesand a petting zoo that features cows, chickens, pigs, rabbits, sheet, andeven a llama.
Activities will begin at noon and run until 5 p.m.
Food and refreshments will be sold, and a beehive exhibit will featurejars of fresh honey for sale.
May 1998
The Berries are Bloomingthis Weekend at St. Florian's 30th Annual Spring Strawberry Fest
BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
It's strawberry time again at Florians.
Hamtramck's main street has become Strawberry Festival Blvd. in honorof St. Florian Church and School's 30th annual Strawberry Festival, a galathat is second only to the Labor Day Hamtramck Festival in attendance.
Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, the streets around the school willfill with people eager to sample the ethnic cuisine and rich strawberrytreats that make springtime in Hamtramck official.
As Polish and contemporary music from a variety of bands plays in thebackground, revelers can try their luck and pit their skills against themany attractions in the Las Vegas Room in the school gymnasium.
It's one more reason why people are starting to say, "It's happeningin Hamtramck!"
Check out the scheduleof events here. 
May 1998
Localman wants to bring wrestling back to Hamtramck
BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
(Mad Irish Eddie Fagan's next match will be at South Lyon High School,11 Mile and Pontiac Trail, Friday, May 29, at 7 p.m. Get further informationfrom Eddie himself at (313) 893-0065.)
Former Hamtramck High student Eddie Fagan, 23, has two goals in hislife: wrestle in the WWF and bring big-time wrestling back to Hamtramckwhere it flourished up until the early 1980s.
Mad IrishEddie Fagan is making a name for himself in the Michigan wrestling circuit.
PHOTO BY LEONARD WAS
HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
Fagan, (right) who trained in Texas under the tutelage of "Gentleman"Chris Adams, a popular wrestler of the 80's, is working with school boardmember Alan Shulgan to stage a semi-pro wrestling match at the CommunityCenter in May.
"If we can't get the Community Center, we'll rent the biggest hall inHamtramck and fill it," said Fagan, who has pledged a portion of any moneyhe makes off the promotion to charity.
Fagan expects to make it into the WWF "in another couple of years."
"I wanted to come home and put on a show for the people where I camefrom," he said. "It would be good for the city."
Wrestling runs deep in Fagan's blood. His grandfather, "Grandpa" Elmo,a former coal miner who later became an official in the United Mine Workersunion, is a wrestling legend in Pennsylvania.
Mad Irish Eddie's bodyguard, "The Bouncer," Bryan Motyka,and manager "Shillelagh" Sean Sullivan watch Fagan during a recent match.
PHOTO BY LEONARD WAS
HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
Fagan's role model is WWF wrestler Bret Hart "who's actually a wrestler,"Fagan said, "not just a showman."
With typical wrestling-circuit modesty, Fagan added, "But I'm the best;the best there ever was and the best there ever will be!"
January 19 - 25, 1998
Mayor vows to endcity speed traps 
BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
Is Hamtramck's long-standing reputation as a "Drivers Beware" speedtrap about to come to an end?
It will if Mayor Gary Zich has his way.
Calling the city's numerous speed traps a "disincentive that visitorsnow have from coming into Hamtramck," Zych said that he wants to removethe traffic surveilance cars from the main arteries and into the neighborhoodswhere, he said, speeders pose a greater threat to public safety. 
Presently Hamtramck police issue up to 75 traffic citations a day.
Part of the revenue from the tickets is earmarked for the constructionof a new district courthouse to replace the present facilities inside CityHall.
The proposed elimination of the traps comes as welcome news for at leastone area motorist.
"I used to drive through Hamtramck every morning to buy donuts," saidJay Levine, 49, a Detroit schoolteacher. "Then I got ticketed for speedingon Hamtramck Drive. Now I go elsewhere. I felt like the City was tellingme 'You're not welcome here.'"
(Related Story: Read a profile of new Mayor Gary Zich in TheDetroit News' Accent section.)
December21 - 28, 1997
Judge denies Kozarenelection challenge
BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
A Wayne County Circuit judge has cleared the way for the Jan. 4 inaugurationof Mayor-elect Gary Zych by denying an appeal from Mayor Robert Kozarento overturn the election results. 
Kozaren had charged that placement of check-off boxes on election ballotscaused confusion among voters. While conceding that some confusionmay have arisen as a result of the placement, the judge said there wasnot enough evidence to toss out the election.
Zych won the election by nine votes. MayorRobert Kozaren Kozaren, Hamtramck's longest serving mayor at 18 years, led thecity through a difficult economic period that included the closing of theDodge Main assembly plant, Hamtramck's largest employer.
His tenure included such milestones as a papal visit, visits from bothPresidents
Bush and Clinton, inauguration of the annual Hamtramck (aka "Polish")Festival and the installation of a papal statue in a downtown park.
December 21 - 28, 1997
Councilman is singingthe blues after seeing green
BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
City councilman Robert Wozniak is upset over the white-on-green streetsigns posted by the county along Conant Avenue.
Hamtramck's street signs are traditionally white-on-blue, a featureWozniak contends helps define the character of the city and differentiatesit from neighboring Detroit.
His request to have the signs changed, however, was rebuffed by theCounty Roads Commission which oversees maintenance of the highway. Countyroad signs are uniformly white-on-green.
The Commission did give the city permission to replace the signs onits own, but city officials are not prepared to take on the expense.
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November 4, 1997 <
Election results:Zych wins disputed victory BY LEONARD WAS, HAMTRAMCK ONLINE
In one of the most hotly contested elections in recent Hamtramck history,council member Gary Zych unseated long-time Mayor Robert Kozaren by a single-digitmargin.
Unofficial results showed Zych with a three-vote victory. A later recountwidened the difference to nine.
Results of the November 4 election were:
MAYOR (2-year term)
Gary Zich 1,823
Rober Kozaren 1,814
CITY COUNCIL (five 2-year terms)
Julie Boluk 1,947
Phillip Kwik 1,815
Ellen Phillips 1,700
Robert Wozniak (I) 1,586
Michael Witkowski (I) 1,520
Joseph Karpinski (I) 1,377
John Justewicz 1,218
Elmer Birkel (I) 1,196
William Hood Jr. 867
Fletcher Miller 737
CITY CLERK (2-year term)
Ethel Fiddler (I) 2,873
CITY TREASURER (2-year term)
Joseph Grzecki Jr. (I) 2,822
BOARD OF EDUCATION (6-year term)
Marc Karpinski 1,877
Mark Moszczenski 1,651
Elizabeth DeWalls 1,072
Alan Shulgon (I) 1,035
Terrance Hale 281
BOARD OF EDUCATION (2-year term)
Betty Zwolak (I) 935
Fletcher Miller 727
Jerry Wandolowski 627
Thomas Ochab 577
Stanley Kaminski (I) 548
PROPOSAL: Levy a 5-mill tax for 10 years to fund publicrecreation and playgrounds.
Yes 1,931
No 1,754
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