A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
A
UGUST
11, 2011
Boy, did they get the wrong num-
ber.
The Republican Party wants me
to send them a "generous donation"
so they can defend themselves
from those nasty, bullying
Democrats who are calling them
bad names. The Democrats want
me to send them whatever I can to
help in the fight against those
meanies in the Tea Party who are
hurting their feelings.
Poor babies.
Look, if what has been going on
in Washington for the past month
didn't convince all of us that we
made some serious errors in the
voting booth, this has to do it.
Sounds a lot like immature, ado-
lescent whining from the
Republicans to me----which sort of
echoes the Democrats constant fin-
ger-pointing and claim that "those
guys" are keeping them from doing
their jobs. These short-sighted, rad-
ical, knuckle dragging fools have
put our country on the brink of
political collapse by using our
economy as a pawn in their parti-
san power struggle. These are sup-
posed to be
leaders.
Representatives looking out for our
best interests. Protecting us from
exactly the crisis they just caused.
GEEZ!
Every one of them, Republicans,
Democrats, Tea Partiers,
Independents, every one of them
involved in this latest demonstra-
tion of political gamesmanship
should be sent packing. There was
only one adult involved in the
entire situation and he's the guy
they are all trying to blame this
mess on.
Seriously, one of the splinter
groups has now hired Karl Rove to
make sure the tax breaks for the
upper income bracket remain in
place so the economy continues to
struggle right up until the next
election so they can ensure
Obama's defeat.
See, they don't give a rat's
patootie about the woman in
Westland with five children whose
husband is serving in Iraq.
Whether she gets her allotment
check on time so she can feed her
children is of no consequence to
these fools. That she almost had a
breakdown from the stress of their
tomfoolerymeans nothing to them.
Defeating the other party and
winning the election is all that
counts. This army wife and her
children are acceptable collateral
damage to these guys who all get
their paychecks, their insurance
benefits, their auto allowance and
more perks than I can list right on
schedule.
The seniors in Northville who
live on Social Security checks are
also acceptable
casualties to
these creeps in
Washington who sit on their well-
padded butts thinking about who
they will email photos of them-
selves to next.
What iswrongwith this picture?
You are. I am. All of us whowent
to the polls and thought we were
choosing responsible adults who
would represent the best interests
of our community and our country.
Guess what. We messed up. Big
time.
What we sent to represent us is
a group of party loyalists with one
goal: do whatever the party leaders
tell them and damn anyone who
gets in the way. Most of these peo-
ple don't have the sense of a sack of
snot and trying to ascertain the real
motives of the party politics they
are asked to support at the cost of
logic and common sense would
never occur to them.
Welcome
back the
Pumpkin
Festival
Congratulations are in order.
Last week, Wayne officials, residents and lots of children,
gathered for the official grand opening of the new
Walz/Avondale playground.
There were smiles all around as children enjoyed the 10-
foot lookout towers, spiral and racing slides, a therapeutic
swing, activity panels and a webscape. Adults, however,
seemed more impressed with the fitness equipment for
grownups, installed adjacent to the playground.
When the kids go to the park to play, mom or dad can go
right along with them and do more than sit on a bench and
wait patiently. They can demonstrate good healthy exercise
habits that will build their health, while setting an excellent
example for their impressionable offspring.
Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Nathan Adams
seems justifiably proud of the newplayground and particular-
ly enthused about the adult equipment offered.
"This (adult exercise) promotes an environment where the
kids will see the example of their parent continuing to engage
inhealthy, fun activities throughout their lives," Adams said.
Wewholeheartedly agree.
We fully understand the financial difficulties that all our
communities face right now, but should the opportunity arise
for new playground or park installations, we would solidly
support Adams' contention that having equipment for adults
at the same site, well within eyesight of the children's equip-
ment is a great ideawithmultiple benefits.
This entire installation, of both the adult and children's
equipment, was donewith the help of volunteers from the city
and community. Rather than paying for the labor-intensive
installation, the city scheduled volunteer community builds to
install the playground and fitness equipment, saving consid-
erable expense. Businesses and merchants in the city donat-
ed food and beverages for the volunteer workers, too, making
this a real community effort.
This equipment, now installed and readily available, may
even encouragemore parents to accompany or take their chil-
dren to the park, knowing they can get their needed workout
at the same time the youngsters work off the excess energy
storedupduring the day.
The benefits of adult exercise have all been more than
well-publicized lately. It fights off dementia and Alzheimer’s,
reduces stress, helps with weight control and reduces the
instance of the myriad of diseases and health problems
causedby overweight.
We hope this park lives up to the expectations and hopes of
Wayne officials and that it does attract users of all ages. We
also hope that as finances permit, other communities will fol-
low Wayne's lead and provide adult equipment along with
that usually installed for children.
It would be nice to think that parents could become more
interested in going to the playground for exercise than their
children.
This entire installation, of both the adult and
children's equipment, was done with the help of
volunteers from the city and community.
”
These are supposed to be leaders.
Representatives looking out for our best interests.
Protecting us from exactly the crisis they just caused. GEEZ!
”
‘Community’ playground lives up to name
Welcome back.
The Romulus Pumpkin Festival
will return this year after financial
cutbacks forced organizers to can-
cel the event last year.
This year, the Romulus
Downtown Development Authority
has taken on the task of organizing
and sponsoring the festival.
We think that's a really big deal
and here's why: the benefits of
these community events and festi-
vals is invaluable. There is no way
to put a price tag on the involve-
ment of the public in helping
organize, volunteering, participat-
ing in the parade or any of the
other hundreds of jobs, large and
small that have to be done to make
thesewonderful events happen.
We applaud this use of the
resources of the DDA and feel that
the benefit to the entire community
from this event will be one of the
best investments that could be
made in their community. It builds
community spirit, it boosts morale,
it provides an opportunity for peo-
ple to find out who their neighbors
really are and it a very good time.
And, we love the Pumpkin
Festival.
Above all, it's fun. It really is.
This year, there is a pumpkin deco-
rating event, a canning contest, pie
baking, pumpkin growing and sun-
flower growing displays and con-
tests. Where else can you find such
down to earth fun? There are flying
dog contest and exhibitions, a pan-
cake breakfast a white elephant
sale car show and a pumpkin
rolling contest. Personally, we can't
wait for the pumpkin pie eating
contest planned for Sunday this
year.
But we have to admit, probably
our favorite event is the official
Parade of Lights that opens the
event. This parade is sponsored by
the Romulus Rotary Club, and the
participants come up with some of
the most creative and humorous
displays around. One year, there
was a lighted school bus that had
white Christmas lights from stem to
stern. It was a hoot.
The Rotary Clubs throughout
this area organize and-or sponsor
so many terrific community build-
ing events, they each deserve their
due. And nobody anywhere can say
that these people lack a sense of
humor-just attend one of their
meetings and the good-natured
teasing and comedy will make you
welcome andhoping to return.
This Parade of Lights, and the
other events at the Pumpkin
Festival, speak of a city with a
sense of humor, well-aware of it's
roots and with a keen sense of fun
andpurpose.
We applaud the organizers and
appreciate the Herculean effort
that has gone into finding the
My only contribution is my 2-cents worth
See
Fools
, page 7
See
Festival
, page 7
Letters
School Blitz seeks donations
To the editor:
The Back 2 School Blitz 4 needs
your help. Of the 59 families regis-
tered so far for assistance, 22 of
these families are from Belleville.
This number is expected to rise as
we are expecting 350 children this
upcoming school season.
OnAug. 18, from1-6 p.m., wewill
be collecting school supplies at
Trinity Episcopal Church. The
church has graciously opened their
parking lot and is supplying volun-
teers for this effort. First United
Methodist Church and Open Arms
are collecting school supplies.
I've visited the Belleville
Chamber of Commerce and met
with Rachel Hearn and they too
lend their support to this wonder-
ful endeavor.
We really need to get the word
out in the Belleville community
about this event that is by the com-
munity, for the community.
Will you please help spread the
word? You can "like" The Salvation
Army PlymouthCorps" on facebook
and link to the event posting there.
In these final weeks before the
"big event", please consider how
you can support this event. As
always, please email or call if I can
be of any help.
Laurie Aren
Director, Family&Community
Ministries
The SalvationArmy
PlymouthCorps