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Source:
The Detroit News

Dearborn, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. is drawing a line in the asphalt. After the manager of the company's Dearborn Truck plant exiled non-Ford vehicles to the far side of the parking lot, similar restrictions are being enforced at Ford factories around the country.     

Chevrolets, Toyotas and almost anything else not built by Ford are no longer welcome in the prime parking areas at Batavia Transmission LLC in Ohio, Woodhaven Stamping or at any of the factories in Ford's Rouge complex in Dearborn. Similar policies are being considered at the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake and the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. The parking lot at the Ford plant in Hapeville, however, still allows non-Ford products, said Steve Stephens, president of UAW Local 882.

And, at General Motors's Doraville factory, drivers also do not face discrimination if they drive non-GM vehicles, said plant spokesman Michael Merrick. "The majority of our plants now have such parking policies," said Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari, adding that many of these policies had been on the books at plants but were ignored. "What Dearborn Truck has done has reignited the enforcement of those policies."

While the parking rules may not make a major impact on Ford sales, they show that workers are rallying behind the automaker's effort to stop its market share slide and stanch North American losses. Ford says plant management and union leadership are working together on the parking restrictions.

Rob Webber, the manager of the Dearborn Truck plant, announced the new parking rules on January 23. Word of Webber's rules spread to other plants after the ban hit the news. The day after learning about the Dearborn Truck, security at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri began enforcing an existing ban on non-Ford vehicles in its prime parking areas. According to UAW Local 249, which represents workers at the plant, the company will place a sticker on any car or truck parked in those areas reserved for only Ford vehicles and record the license plate number. If those workers parked in the Ford areas a second time, their vehicles would be towed.

"Ford is serious," said Jim Stoufer, the local's president. "We support buying Ford products. It's our livelihood. It's going to be a fight for survival." However, he said the union would like to see the ban applied to all foreign-made vehicles, including foreign brands owned by Ford such as Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. Since Ford owns controlling interest in Japan's Mazda Motor Co., its vehicles also are exempt at most facilities. "The union's stance is union made, American made," Stoufer said, noting that only American made cars and trucks can park at the union hall. "We don't want to tell our members they can't buy another vehicle that's made by the UAW." Gattari stressed that there still is no official, corporate-wide policy against non-Ford vehicles. "It's truly a grassroots initiative," she said. Webber's parking restrictions have also spread to the rest of Ford's Rouge complex, where his factory is located. He is happy to see the campaign to get Ford employees to buy what they build grow, adding that most of the workers at the Rouge are enthusiastic about it. "Ford employees are definitely fighting back," Webber said.

But not everyone at the Rouge is applauding the new restrictions. Rex Nagy, a veteran skilled trade worker at Dearborn Truck, says he has taken to driving his son's Ford F-150 pickup to work because the rules require him to park his Chrysler in the back of the lot. Nagy said he bought a Chrysler because he got a better deal through a relative who works for DaimlerChrysler AG, adding that Ford should not tell him how to spend his money. "It's kind of hard to swallow," he said.    

(Obituaries Courtesy The Standard Times)
Note: Due to recent requests, we will be adding family survivors to our customer’s obituaries as space allows.

Arthur M. Martin, 83, of New Bedford died Monday Jan. 23, 2006, at New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital after a long illness. He was the husband of Rosaria T. "Sadie" (Giammalvo) Martin; they recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. A lifelong resident of New Bedford, he was the son of the late Antone F. and Hortense (Medeiros) Martin. He was a communicant of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Mr. Martin owned and operated A-1 Auto Driving School, which was one of the first commercial driving schools in the area to offer driver's education in a classroom setting. He co-sponsored legislation with Rep. Edward Coury to allow foreign-born applicants, who so request, to be permitted to take written examinations in connection with the issuance of a license in their native tongue. An Army veteran of World War II, he received the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater campaign Medal, the American Theater Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He enjoyed working for Sam Giammalvo Auto Sales and the Union Street Bus Co. in his retirement. He was a member of the National and State Auto Driving School Association. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Ann Lemieux and her husband Robert, of Acushnet; a son, Charles Martin and his fiancée Pam Picaro, both of Dartmouth; a brother, Antone Martin Jr. of New Bedford; four grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Charles M. and Edward Martin.

 Christos N. Psichopaidas, 68, of New Bedford died Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a long illness. He was the husband of Maria (Papageorgiou) Psichopaidas; they were married 33 years. Born in Pardali, Sparta, Greece, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Eugenia (Pandos) Psichopaidas. He lived in New Bedford 31 years; he previously resided in Stamford, Conn., for 13 years. He was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Bedford. Before coming to this country at age 25, he served in the Greek army for two years. For more than 30 years, Mr. Psichopaidas owned and operated Everybody's Pizza in East Freetown. He was family-oriented, and enjoyed having family and friends over to visit as often as possible. Survivors include his widow; two sons, Nicholas C. Psichopaidas and Demetrios C. Psichopaidas, both of New Bedford; three brothers, Konstantinos "Gus" Psichopaidas of New Bedford, and George Psichopaidas and John Psichopaidas, both of Stamford; three sisters, Anastasia Skrepetis, Panagiota Vlahakis and Georgia Eliopoulos, all of Stamford; and many nieces and nephews.

Martha Ann (Wardick) Maloney, 76, of Fairhaven, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, unexpectedly in St. Luke's Hospital. She was the widow of Arthur G. Maloney Jr. Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Gladys (Burgess) Wardick. She was a lifelong resident of Fairhaven and a member of Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford. She was a 1947 graduate of Fairhaven High School. Mrs. Maloney enjoyed playing piano and attending her grandchildren's sporting events at Fairhaven High School. Survivors include two sons, Arthur G. "Mickey" Maloney III and Patrick Maloney, both of New Bedford; two daughters, Ann M. Ponte of Fairhaven and Kathleen "Kay" Frates of New Bedford; a sister, Nancy Murdy of Oxford, Ga.; 11 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Henry Wardick Jr.

James C. Lynch, 68, of Mattapoisett died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a long battle with heart disease. He was the husband of Barbara A. (Gaspar) Lynch. Born in New Bedford, the son of the late John C. and Julia A. (Harrington) Lynch, he lived in New Bedford before moving to Mattapoisett in 1983. Mr. Lynch was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church in Mattapoisett, where he was a Eucharistic minister. He was a yard foreman at Sturtevant & Hook for many years until he retired. Mr. Lynch was an avid golfer and a member and former executive director of the ParTee Golf Association. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, travel and gardening. Survivors include his widow; two sons, Mark Lynch and his wife, Erika, of Wallingford, Conn., and Scott Lynch and his wife, Amy, of Norwood; a sister, Margaret M. Dixon of New Bedford; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late John C. Lynch.

Lucien O. Lavoie, 81, of Marion, died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, peacefully at home. He was the widower of Georgette (Girouard) Lavoie. Born in St. Basile, New Brunswick, Canada, he was the son of the late Medard and Alphonsine (Daigle) Lavoie. His family moved to Gardner during the Depression, where he attended the Holy Rosary School, then entered the Order of the Marist Brothers in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. from ages 14 to 21. He taught for one year at St. Ann's School in Lawrence, where he had Robert Goulet as a student in the sixth grade. He enlisted in the Navy for four years during World War II. He attended the U.S. Naval School of Photography in Pensacola, Fla., then served aboard the aircraft carrier USS F.D. Roosevelt as a photographer. He toured most Mediterranean countries including Portugal, Gibraltar, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, France and Greece. His ship also visited Trinidad, Haiti and Guantanomo, Cuba. Mr. Lavoie met many celebrities, such as Pope Pius XII. After his discharge from the Navy, he attended and graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, majoring in art education. In 1954, he began his teaching career at Tabor Academy in Marion, where he stayed for 40 years. He also coached hockey, soccer, lacrosse and was a dorm master for 23 years. In 1964, he studied in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. In the 1990s, he traveled to Arizona and New Mexico. Much of his artwork, including paintings, weldings, wood carvings, photos and aluminum projects have been exhibited in Boston, Providence, Las Vegas, Hyannis, Falmouth, New Bedford and Marion. Survivors include a daughter, Monique Lavoie and her husband, Paul Corbeil, of Thornton, Colo.; a son, Regis Lavoie and his wife, Joyce, of Mattapoisett; a brother, Roger Lavoie of Worcester; two grandchildren; his good friend, Bob Mogilnicki; and many in-laws, nephews and nieces. He was the brother of the late Roland, Gil and Doris Lavoie and Therese Manseau.

Mary Elizabeth (Wellman) Magnan, 59, of New Bedford died Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, at home after nearly a seven-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was the wife of artist John Magnan. Born in Marquette, Mich., she was the daughter of Elizabeth Wellman and the late Robert Wellman of Marquette. She lived in New Bedford for 35 years. She and her late husband, Allen Scott, were the first homesteaders in the Waterfront Historic District after its restoration in the early 1970s; they purchased the Caleb Spooner house on Centre Street. They operated a scrimshaw business. In 1976, she founded and for five years coordinated the Centre Street Summer Festival, for which she received a commendation from the city. She was a founding member of AHA! nights and later served on its steering committee. She was a founding member of Arts New Bedford. She participated regularly in New Bedford Historical Commission discussions. She twice restored her home, for which she received the Delano Award in 1997, granted by the Waterfront Historic Area League. In 2005, the city planted five trees in her honor at the corner of Water and Elm streets. Her cancer diagnosed in 1999, she promoted a sculpture exhibit created by her husband. She became a national voice for ovarian cancer awareness. She served with the Ovarian Cancer Research Program of the Department of Defense. Her advocacy led to the naming of Mary Magnan Boulevard in her honor in Madison, Ga. The boulevard and the art exhibit at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C., will live on in her name. Ms. Magnan graduated from Graveraet High School in Marquette, Mich., in 1964, and in 1994 received a bachelor's degree in psychology, cum laude, from UMass Dartmouth. Survivors include her widower; her mother; a son, Travis Scott of Key West, Fla.; two brothers, Robert Wellman of Marquette and William Wellman of Dumfries, Va.; and two sisters, Margaret Turcotte of Milwaukee and Gwenyth Berryman of Weidman, Mich.