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The area lost a great treasure
last week with the death of Cathy
Horste.
Mrs. Horste was a woman who
had both a tremendous interest in
history and an impact on the
future. She was the first woman
police officer in Van Buren
Township where she and her first
husband, Robert Hortse, lived.
That came after her career as a
SeniorU.S. Customs inspector.
She was a woman on the cutting
edge of a movement toward equali-
ty for women in the workplace. Her
tenure with the customs service
was the impetus for her first book,
a history of customs offices in
Michigan. She and her collabora-
tor, Diane Wilson, also wrote Water
Under theBridge - AHistory of Van
Buren township" and "Joining
Together, a History of the Michigan
Federation of Junior Women's
Clubs."
Mrs. Horste’s contributions to
her community are nearly incalcu-
lable. She was the beacon of the
past, constantly shining and illumi-
nating the future in her role as offi-
cial VanBurenTownshiphistorian.
She fostered a respect for the
past, for the history of the commu-
nity in which she lived, and urged
the protection of history as a guide-
post to the future. Her pride in her
community kept her active and
willing to serve even when illness
seemed to sap her strength. The
founder of the Belleville Area
Historical Society, she fought for
the preservation of the past and
worked diligently to instill a
respect for the history of her com-
munity in everyone shemet.
Her work as a historian will not
diminishwith her loss. She insured
the continuation of her ideals with
the firm groundwork she put in
place at the Historical Museum
and with her books and her work
throughout the community.
Whenever a question arose
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
May 31, 2012
Throughout the country, valedic-
torians, salutatorians and celebrity
guest speakers are chewing erasers
and cursing their keyboards as they
attempt to write a pithy and valu-
able commencement speech for
the graduates of 2012.
They should have met my moth-
er, Mildred.
My mother had advice for every
situation and incident in life. No
matter what occurred, Mildred was
confident it could have been avoid-
ed or fixed if the "dummies" in
question had listened to her. Now, I
admit, most of this advice was gen-
erously lubricatedwith alcohol, but
the woman was right most of the
time. Too bad I didn't know it back
then.
Mildred's number one tip?
Keep your mouth shut. When you
don't know, don't pretend you do.
Just shut up. More importantly, you
can't learn anything from anybody
while you are talking. Speak only to
ask questions. This advice will get
you farther than that degree in far
eastern religious studies or
romance languages, I promise.
Whenever somebody tells you, "I
won't ever lie to you," they are lying
or at least being disingenuous. Do
not be fooled.
Clean up after yourself. In every
aspect of your life, from the bath-
room to the corporate boardroom.
If you make a mess, or a mistake,
clean it up or fix it.
Never arrive at a party or social
event empty handed or early.
Likewise, never, ever show up late
for an appointment ormeeting.
If it's your fault, say so. Then
apologize.
When people tell you, "It's not
themoney, it's the principle," it's the
money. It is absolutely, positively
themoney. It always is.
When anyone tells you that you
have the wrong opinion of them,
they just aren't like that, trust your
first instinct. First impressions are
rarelywrong.
If your partner in a relationship
hits you, or cheats on you, he or she
will do it again, no matter what
they say. If that's OK with you, shut
up and stay. If not, find an escape
and use it no matter how humiliat-
ing. Do it fast.
If you find a lump, unless it's in
the gravy or pudding, see a doctor
no matter how expensive or incon-
venient.
There is a reason it is called
underwear. Boxer shorts and bra
straps should not show under or
through your clothing. Ever. No
exceptions.
If you use anything, from tools to
aKleenex, put it away or dispose of
it yourself. Nothing is as indicative
to an employer, potential sweetie
or loan officer of your maturity or
responsibility as a demonstrated
ability to take care of yourself in
everyway.
Do not ever let anything, work,
drugs, shopping, shoes, money, mis-
ery or love, control you. Do not
ever, ever give up control of your
life to anything or anybody, no mat-
ter how much you love them or it.
You need to be in charge of you at
all times. The only exceptions are a
child or a pet.
The stuff you see on TV and in
the movies isn't real. It isn't. Life
isn't really that good, bad or dra-
matic
and
happy endings
are rare.
Life is full of
problems andmessy. Deal with it.
Watch the news and stay
informed. But remember, these
guys are human, they make mis-
takes and, these days, are paid to
entertain rather than inform.
Read the papers. It's time con-
suming, often dull and a chore. Do
it anyway. You'll be surprised at the
times and circumstances when it
proves invaluable.
Never get on an elevator with a
cat. Never.
Always wear pressed clothes to
work, no matter what everybody
else does or what's "cool." Pay to
have clothes ironed or find the
time to do it yourself. Image is
everything. A caution, however, do
It has begun. Campaign season.
Veteran politicians and newcomers alike have filed peti-
tions with the Wayne County Clerk hoping to win terms as
elected officials at the local, county and state level.
This isn't going to be pretty.
Already, challenges have been filed to petition signatures,
claiming that candidates submitted signatures of residents
who are not registered voters or didn't complete the petitions
correctly or had them signed on the wrong side of the street,
or anything else political opponents can conjure up to dis-
suade them from the ballot. We find it disheartening, indeed,
to see the kinds of political antics that are already in play in
our local communities where we, honestly, had hoped for
more adult conduct.
And the rumor mill has already begun working overtime
before the campaign has really begun. One candidate is
rumored to have already sent an inspector to his likely oppo-
nent's residence to issue him citations for ordinance infrac-
tions. We have no idea if that is true, but that the rumor per-
sists, speaks volumes. There are lots of other rumors, too.
One candidate allegedly rear-ended a school bus recently
and had the incident covered up as a benefit of his incum-
bency.
True? We have no idea. What we do know with certainty,
however, is that this campaign season isn't going to be about
issues as much as it is about perceptions. That gives us great
pause.
In Washington, D.C., the politicos all quote the slogan, "All
politics is local." We are beginning to fear that the kind of
political strategy, shenanigans, spin and conduct that controls
elections in our capitol has trickleddownward into our towns
like a slow moving but toxic substance that corrodes ethics
and impactsmoral conduct.
Our residents and voters are smart people----smart and
busy people. They don't have time to watch every meeting on
cable TV or much less, attend. They don't have time to read a
synopsis of the conduct, good or bad, of those they elected to
preserve their best interests. They vote for and elect local
leaders in the belief that these people will do what they
should do, represent the wishes of the people and watch out
for thewelfare of themajority of residents at every turn.
That can only be accomplished if candidates are more
interested in the issues facing the elected office they are pur-
suing than in the power, salary or prestige that is perceived to
accompany amunicipal title.
We urge all the candidates to address the issues, the slug-
gish economy, the budget deficits, the cuts in service, the ris-
ing costs of health care and staffing, themanagement of prop-
erty and assets, the attraction of new business rather than
base their campaigns on rumors, innuendo, intimidation or
threats.
We are going to urge voters at every level to look carefully
and seriously at the way every candidate conducts their cam-
paign. Those who stoop to negative attacks, who attempt to
smear their opponents, who lie or dissemble or who are
disingenuous about their records or their goals are not wor-
thy of the office. The way they conduct their campaigns is a
clear indicator of the way they will conduct the business of
the community.
We are also more than suspicious of those who promise to
take actions andmake changes far removed from the author-
ity of the office they seek.
These candidates should each be held to a higher stan-
dard of conduct guidedby a strictermoral compass.
A place
in history
”
Candidates need to focus on real issues
We are going to urge voters
at every level to look carefully and seriously
at the way every candidate
conducts their campaign.
See
Advice,
page 7
See
History,
page 7
If your partner in a relationship
hits you, or cheats on you,
he or she will do it again,
no matter what they say.
”
Mildred’s life lessons for the class of 2012
Letters
Councilwoman is commended
To the editor:
One of the items on the agenda
for theWayne City Council meeting
ofMay 22was to accept the resigna-
tion of Donna McEachern from the
city council.
Thismust have been a very diffi-
cult decision for someone who has
served the city for more than 20
years, not just on the council, but
through many boards, civic groups
and previous work with the cham-
ber of commerce, aswell.
I didn't always agree with her
decisions, but I know she always
had her heart in the community.
She should be commended for her
unwavering service that never fal-
tered, even though she faced
health challenges that would have
been daunting to someone not as
strong as she is. Shewill bemissed.
I hope the council carefully
weighs who should be appointed to
follow in her footsteps, and finish
out her term.
Scott Spielman,
FormerWayne resident