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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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AGE
6
January 17, 2013
OK, I admit it. I'mcranky.
In my defense, however, I have
a lot to be cranky about. If the rest
of the world would just adopt
some common sense rules of con-
duct about a lot of things, life
would be far more pleasant for all
of us, especiallyme.
My mother had a rule for just
about every situation and she
imposed her will without any vari-
ance for anyone. She did not suf-
fer fools gladly and if her rules
were broken, there would be an
appropriate consequence.
Often the severity of that conse-
quence was determined by how
much alcohol she had consumed,
but consequences would invari-
ably ensue.
Despite that little flaw, she did
have some very solid ideas about
how lives should be lived with
regard to respect for others.
For instance, she strongly
believed that other people could
act like fools only until their idiocy
impacted her or her family. Then,
their rights to stupidity or negli-
gence ended and hers to inflict
retribution, or at least a correc-
tion, began.
This all came to mind during
the Christmas holidays when, like
everybody else in the world, I was
out shopping.
I fully understand that clerks in
stores want to be personable and
charming to shoppers, but if there
is a line of 12 people, just end the
chitchat and get on with finalizing
the sale, OK? I could have
detailedmy car in the time I stood
in some of these lines while the
happy, happy, happy clerks chat-
ted with everyone in line about
their day, their shopping, their
families, as if they really gave a fly-
ing fig.
My mother would have had a
few choice words for them includ-
ing some obscenities, once again
dependent on the amount of alco-
hol consumed, as she called for a
manager. That, or she was also
very good at simply pushing her
cart to themost obvious spot possi-
ble andwalking away haughtily.
Then we get to the fools who
think that movies are interactive
activities.
Seriously.
When did it
become accept-
able to talk
back to the movie screen and
shout at the actors?When did hav-
ing conversations about the plot,
the size of Tom Cruise's new
capped teeth (which, by the way
are way, way too big for his face)
during the movie become OK? I
paid $20 to sit here, you jerk, and
it wasn't to listen to your running
commentary.
When you go to the movies,
shut off your cell phone and your
mouth. Watch the movie, and dis-
cuss it later, people. There are oth-
ers in the theater, like me, who
don't give a rip about what you
think. My mother would have
thrown her popcorn at them---first
ensuring it had lots of that axle
grease they pass off as butter.
Then we get to the fools who
want to tell the pharmacist all
This weekend, an area tradition will fill the streets of
downtown Plymouth when the 31st Annual Ice Festival
opens with a formal ceremony tomorrow night in Kellogg
Park.
Don'tmiss this one.
For the past three years, producer SamWalton has tried to
come up with new, innovative and current attractions each
year----while keeping the events and features that are the
most popular with the crowds who fill the streets. This year
he has come up with some things that we predict will make
visitors of all ages smile and shake their heads inwonder. He
has concentrated on making the festival more interactive by
having events and displays that allow visitors to actually par-
ticipate rather than just walk by and look at the art of master
ice carvers.
What we've heard to date of his plans appears to have
accomplished his goal. There will, for the very first time at
the festival, be ice skating in Kellogg Park. Walton worked
diligently with city officials to ensure that the skating surface
would be as large as possible to accommodate as many
skaters at one time as he anticipates.
Skates will be provided and the attraction is, like every-
thing else at this event, free.
The cross-country skiing demonstrations and lessons, with
equipment provided, are also free as is all the snowboarding
visitors want to do on the expanded and extended grind rail
onForest Avenue nearE.G. Nick's.
He's planned at least one other interactive display that
will make every little girl under the age of 10 demand to visit
along with his plan for a piano built of ice that will actually
play. When it comes to imagination and dedication, Walton
has clearly demonstrated his ability to understand current
trends and the preferences of his audience, all of them from
kindergarten on up. And, while we were sworn to secrecy
about one of his newest ideas, we can say this much to those
who plan to attend. Do not forget your cell phone as Walton
has devised aunique and interactiveuse for those, too.
The Plymouth Ice Festival has been copied by several
local communities in an attempt to mimic the success of this
terrific event.
Walton estimates that there will be about 100,000 visitors
at the three-day event, the majority of whomwill be from out
of the area. The impression they will have of the community,
the businesses and the residents will depend on the atmos-
phere, the attractions and the organization of the event.
It's no small responsibility, but we think the Ice Festival
Committee made a wise decision in choosing Walton and
Signature Professional Group four years ago to manage the
festival for the first time and we think this, the fourth year at
the helm, will demonstrate that the decision to make the
event a for-profit venture this year solely in Walton's hands
was equally aswise.
Walton has brought new ideas, new attractions and
refreshing consideration for the entire demographic of the
area. He takes that responsibility very, very seriously and
devotes more time and energy than imaginable to ensuring
the success of the event.
Aswe saidbefore, don'tmiss it.
The Plymouth Ice Festival has been
copied by several local communities
in an attempt to mimic
the success of this terrific event.
”
City commission made right call for festival
Economy
didn’t stop
goodwill
Once again, we are amazed at
the generosity of our neighbors.
Throughout the entire area, in
all eight of the communities we
serve, the kindness and charity of
those who live here during the hol-
iday seasonwas overwhelming.
Nobody has to be reminded that
these are still really tough times
for many residents in our commu-
nities. Tougher for some than oth-
ers, but the need this year was
greater than ever according to both
United Way and The Salvation
Army who were among the agen-
cies who collected the most in
donations during the holiday
donor campaigns. We smile every
year at the rivalry between the bell
ringers from the Plymouth
Kiwanis and Rotary clubs who
attempt to outdo one another with
collections. Rumor has it that this
year the Kiwanis members collect-
ed twice what the Rotary bell
ringersmanaged.
The Goodfellows in every com-
munity outdid themselves this year
with their work to help children
and families have a joyful and
happy holiday.
Those are wonderful organiza-
tions and the good that each of
them do throughout the area is
unparalleled, but we cannot help
but think of the smaller charities,
too. The efforts of the students at
Northville schools to help Civic
Concern, the hat and mitten drives
in Inkster where a women's group
also collects and provides warm
coats for schoolchildren. The
Helping Hand in Romulus which
did so much this year. There is a
church in Inkster that gives away
clothing for men, women and chil-
dren and this month, the Lions
Club members are continuing
their efforts to help those who
My mother has been gone for several years now, but the
lessons she instilled about courtesy and consideration
remain, especially when I'm confronted with so many people
who did not benefit from her brand of parental guidance.
”
A few lessons from the Book of Mildred
Letters
History prompts resolution
To the editor;
New Year's Day came and went
with the usual fanfare. The ball
dropped at midnight at Times
Square, toasts, resolutions (normal
and unusual), expressions of hope
for the New Year and reflections
on our historical past and implica-
tions for the near termfuture, 2013.
Unfortunately, very little was
said about the historical implica-
tions (and almost nothing in reflec-
tion) of the 150th anniversary of the
Emancipation Proclamation. This
brief statement (the Proclamation)
was probably the most significant
event in American history of the
19th Century. President (Abraham)
Lincoln thought this to be so andhe
said asmuch.
The Proclamation itself was a
very carefully worded instrument
written by President Lincoln him-
self. He consulted his cabinet, but
with the exception of the deletion
of one word and the question of the
timing of its issuance, it was his
product alone.
It abolished slavery, an evil that
had exited since its introduction in
1619. Its immediate effect was lim-
ited because of its terms. The
implications of the Proclamation
were extensive-life changing for
those in bondage and nation chang-
ing for the United States of
America. It was limited in its
immediate effect because of
President Lincoln's self-imposed
definition of his authority. He
issued it pursuant to his authority
in the Constitution as "Commander-
in-Chief." All of this changed (the
limitations) with the adoption of
See
Goodwill,
page 7
See
Rules,
page 7
See
Letters,
page 7