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ICHIGAN
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AGE
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July 25, 2013
Letters
The Golden Hour Club in
Wayne marked 60 years of service
to local senior citizens lastmonth.
Congratulations really are in
order for the group which, like
many others throughout the area
communities, provides somuch for
seniors in the community. These
groups plan activities, host parties
and luncheons, take weekend
trips, go shopping and help seniors
continue an interactive social life.
All those services are worthy of
high regard and praise, but these
groups and the various directors
do so much more for those who
have reached those “golden years.”
We know of program after pro-
gram senior directors have helped
older residents find to help them
with everything from sorting their
medications to paying their taxes
and taking computer lessons.
These clubs and departments are a
vital resource in every community
and no matter what budget cuts or
spending crisis looms, nearly every
local elected official knows that the
budgets for these programs and
access to the services these groups
provide are crucial to the welfare
of the entire community.
Yes, we aren't that naïve, we are
well aware that many officials do
not threaten cuts to senior pro-
grams only because they fear the
organized backlash and negative
publicity this growing contingent
could unleash at the voting booth.
They are correct to a degree
because as the senior population
booms, the sophistication and
political savvy present is certainly
a force to be reckoned with.
Seniors, after all, vote. Regularly.
We would, however, like to
believe that the senior services are
being protected because these peo-
plewho have paid their dues for so
many years have now earned the
respect and the responsibility of
thosewho control some of the serv-
ices offered to them during their
retirements.
Let's face it, Grannie isn't the
stooped, gray-haired addlepated
and forgetful creature she was
once stereotyped to be. And
Granpa can probably still perform
feats of skill many of those in their
40s only dream about. These are
not the doddering old fools many
adolescents believe them to be.
They are educated, sophisticated
and knowledgeable. Their physical
abilities may have slowed a bit,
and there is often a slight delay in
mental processing, but none of that
impacts on the amount of experi-
ence, wisdom and clear logical
thinking most of these seniors
exhibit. Should there be any doubt,
visit the upcoming Senior
Olympics and watch some of these
people in action.
So we congratulate Wayne's
Golden Hour Club on the 60 years
of service and thank all the others
throughout the communities who
continue to grow and change along
with the senior citizens they now
serve.
OK, so it doesn't take too much
to get me riled up these days. It
seems like our federal, state, coun-
ty and local officials collaborate to
keep me constantly amazed at the
debilitating effect of elected office
onbrain function andmorality.
But this latest foolishness has
really stokedmy simmering fury.
Now, I admit, if I weren't person-
ally affected by this situation, I
probablywouldn't be so angry. But I
am. Personally affected and really
angry.
See, I am the grandmother of
some pretty exceptional children.
Yes, I know, every grandmother is,
and if that's true, every one of them,
and the parents of these same
exceptional children, should be at
least as outraged as I am, if not
more so.
Here's the thing. When my
daughters-in-law send my grand-
children off to school every day for
five or six hours, they, and I,
assume they will be safe. Seems to
me that as parents and grandpar-
ents we have a right to expect that
much from those who manage our
school tax money. Our kids should
be safe.
Simple enough everyday safety
precautions should be in place.
The building should be inspected
by professionals to ensure that
there is no frayed wiring to spark,
that piles of paper or trash bins
don't block the doorways and halls,
that light fixtures are not shorting
out and that plugs are not over-
loaded with the various audio visu-
al and computer equipment now
used in schools. Let's face it, even
in the newest of buildings, bad
habits creep in and sometimes the
immediate risk isn't all that obvi-
ous.
And because we all tend to be
careless, local communities have
fire marshals or inspectors who
periodically go through businesses
and buildings to remind us of the
safety precautions we should be
taking.
Let's say, oh I don't know, that
you are a dog groomer. Once a year
or so, the fire marshal or inspector
will probably stop by to make sure
your smoke detectors work, the
building fire sprinkler system is in
good repair and that you don't have
three hair dryers, a clipper and
your coffeepot all plugged into one
20watt outlet.
Seems reasonable, right?
Just about every business in any
community gets a visit from one of
these people once a year or so, just
as a precaution. Don't get me
wrong, here, nobody likes it. I
mean, they are probably very nice
people and all, but nobody wants to
be told they have to spend money
on fixing frayed wires or refilling
fire extinguishers.
The local school buildings don't
have to worry about those visits,
however, because the local fire
marshal is not permitted to inspect
the school where your children,
and my grandchildren, spend five
or sixhours a day.
Nope. That job is left to the
state. Yeah, I know. The State of
Michigan that has endured some
rather serious budget cuts during
the past few years is solely respon-
sible for inspecting the fire and
building safety at school buildings.
Solely. And the buildings are only
inspected when there is a new con-
struction, an
addition or a
renovation or
remode l ing .
Trustme. I looked it up.
The local guys cannot do a fire
inspectionwithout the express per-
mission of the school building prin-
cipal or the district superintendent.
To be fair, many district officials
are more than willing to invite the
fire marshal to take a look. They
figure the safety of the kids is their
highest priority, and if this will
help, have at it.
Charter schools, which are for-
profit businesses, like the afore-
mentioned dog groomer, have a
slightly different attitude, or so I
suspect. I don't really know
because when I ask any of them
anything, they refer me to the pub-
lic relations firm in Lansing that
handles ALL questions about any-
thing they do.
Call me overly sensitive, but it
appears officials in this state obvi-
ously think that the safety of my
precious grandchildren isn't as
important as that of a poodle in
need of a haircut or a cockapoo get-
ting a pedicure.
I'm going to suggest my daugh-
ters-in-law ask about fire inspec-
tions at my grandchildrens'' school
buildings.
You might want to do the same,
unless, of course, your grandchil-
dren get a flea dip right between
mathand geography class.
One of the most under rated and often underused benefit
in any single community is the public library.
With school on hiatus and bored children looking for activ-
ities, there is no place better to find summer adventure than
the library. The excitement and activities certainly aren't lim-
ited to youngsters, either. Local libraries provide programs
and services for all ages along with, of course, the simple joy
of being lost in a goodbook.
While many residents have rediscovered these wonderful
places during the recent economic climate, others continue
to be oblivious to the treasures available at these municipal
facilities.
If you haven't been to the library in your community, make
it a point to go. Visit just once to see how things have changed
and how much a library impacts the quality of life in each
and every community.
These wonderful places offer much, much more than
books, although, we have to admit, that like many others, the
books would be enough for us. Libraries these days offer
classes, computer learning centers, public internet access,
discussion groups, clubs, lectures, speakers and program-
ming to pique the interest of just about any one of any age.
These are wonderful places that open up worlds of educa-
tion, entertainment and enlightenment. They truly are treas-
ures in eachand every community.
They offer story time for little people, teen and adult book
clubs where fellowbook lovers can talk about and discuss the
books they love best. Speakers from just about every walk of
life and segment of history regularly visit libraries to talk
about their books, their research and share their experi-
ences.
The outdated and long-gone librarian shushing everyone
as she re-shelves books and sends out overdue notices cannot
be found, these days. She has been replaced with helpful,
knowledgeable and involved professionals who take great
pleasure in helping others find what they are looking for on
the bookshelves or at the computer stations. These days,
libraries are involved in the community and provide whatev-
er help possible to schools, senior centers and other civic
groups. They can also be the motivation for getting off the
couch, away from the TV and into a world of other, real peo-
ple.
Libraries offer one of the most important aspects of life,
connection to others, whether through books or discussion of
those books or talks from writers, historians or biographers.
Libraries offer the entire community a way to connect with
neighbors, those like-minded and with those who may offer
views that differ.
There is an entire world of new and old ideas, adventure
and knowledge available simply by visiting one of the most
valuable assets in your community.
We urge everyone, as soon as time permits, to visit these
treasures.
There is an entire world of new
and old ideas, adventure
and knowledge available...
”
Looking for adventure? Try the local library
Seniors
have earned
services
They figure the safety
of the kids is their highest priority,
and if this will help, have at it.
”
Children should be safe while getting smart
Editorial topic suggested
To the editor:
I urge your publication to pub-
lish an editorial in support of
Congress passing the Medicare
Prescription
Drug
Price
Negotiation Act of 2013. The bills
in the Senate (S.117) and in the
House (H.R.1102) would direct the
Secretary of Health and Human
Services (HHS) to negotiate with
pharmaceutical manufacturers the
prices that may be charged to
Medicare Part D prescription drug
plan sponsors and Medicare
Advantage organizations for cov-
eredPart Ddrugs.
Your readers should understand
that putting the federal govern-
ment's purchasing power towork to
save money is simply common
sense and it would save Medicare
up to $156 billion over ten years
while reducing health care costs
for seniors.
JohnFigore.
Canton