Walled Lake's menorah, with the Christmas tree in the background.
Symbolic Synergy
217 N. Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI • 248.723.8310
Since
1986
STEVEN TARNOW, C.R.
BUILDING CO.
!
LONNY GOLDSMITH
StaffWriter
(248)
PREFERRED
Fax 248-932-0950
Residential & Commercial Remodeling
Building Quality Into Every Project With Unmatched Personal Service.
NARr Featuring Andersen Windows
YlA13011•L MUCLUXIII Or
waszarzasallIPMTICT
•
Licensed & Insured
WHEN RIDING A BIKE...
HELMETS ARE
A NECESSITY!
Hebrew Memorial Chapel
■
'MIMEO
111111111
EV/Ma 41=111111
IMMNI
=IN/
AIMEE
11••
■■
nos .ry Inn
26640 Greenfield Rd. Oak Park MI 48237
248-543-1622 • Outside MI 1-800-736-5033
inraiimiour
IZest
1
1 2/ 9
1997
22
VISLC,
Civic holiday displays
try to encompass all celebrations.
e../Lewo c4vo.
leaeACILIA.leNh.01A.
There also is a nativity scene, and
Santa Claus in his sleigh with reindeer.
"We obviously don't want to offend
anyone," said Loyd Cureton, director
of the Department of Public Works
for Walled Lake. "It's been our under-
standing that as long we don't empha-
size one _belief, then it's alright how we
have it."
According to American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) Interim
Director Richard Lobenthal, Cureton's
understanding is partially correct.
"Putting in Santa Claus or a
Christmas tree makes it a seasonal dis-
play (even if only one religion is
stressed)," he said. "City property can't
have a creche on its own, or even one
IV hen driving past the
Southfield Civic Center
on Evergreen Road,
something is missing
from the city's holiday display: reli-
gion.
The city chose to represent
Chanukah and Christmas with two
dreidels and a tree. Toys ranging from
building blocks to teddy bears to a
choo-choo train complete the scene
out on the lawn of the Civic Center,
which houses city offices.
"We have nothing of a religious
nature," said Southfield Director of
Community
Relations Nimrod
Rosenthal. "We are a
diverse community
of many ethnic
groups. We celebrate
the holidays, but we
do it without reli-
gious connotation."
Walled Lake made
the decision to have
an all-inclusive holi-
day display in front
of its city hall. There
is a menorah with
light bulbs that will
be turned on every
The dreidel and block display at the Southfield Civic Center.
night of Chanukah.
•