The Passion To Publish

1,1 y 18-year-old son Dan called me to the phone
last Sunday evening with a loud, "Big D! ...
Dad, it's for you."
On the other end was Jewish News Business
and Systems Manager Brigette Thompson, reporting that
smoke had been detected in the Jewish News offices. Our secu-
rity company notified the Southfield Fire Department.
Clearly, something was wrong.
"Can you stop by the building?" she asked. "It'll take me a
little longer to get there."
Over the years, we have received our share of alarm calls. An
intrepid raccoon tripped motion sensors. Heavy winds rattled
windows and doors, triggering alarms. About 10 months ago,
burglars smashed through a window and door before being
routed by members of the Southfield Police Department.
But this one was different. The call didn't come in the mid-
dle of the night. In fact, my wife, Gina, and I were just head-
ing out the door for a quick dinner.
"Care to join me?" I asked her. "We need to swing by the
Jewish News first."
Driving south on Franklin Road, we were
greeted by a sea of flashing red lights at
Regency Office Centre, our newspaper home
since the late 1980s. Seeing the road blocked,
I turned into a little-used back entrance of
the complex and pulled around a curve.
Directly in front of me, flames were shooting
through the roof of the building. Gina and I
ARTHUR M. screamed, hugged, got out of the car and
HORWITZ received reassurances from the firefighters
Publisher
that the building was vacant.
At that moment, planning began for pub-
lishing the Jewish News you are holding in
your hands. Calls were made to Editor Bob Sklar, Information
Technology Director Greg Day, Controller Craig Phipps,
Associate Publisher Dave Neill and Don Lifton, one of my
business partners. We assembled at the scene, along with
Brigette Thompson, and watched in shock as flames engulfed
the entire main wing of our building.
Even at the scene of the fire, we began planning to acquire
the computers, phone lines and space needed to get this week's
paper out. By the time the fire was extinguished, most of the
Jewish News staff had gathered in disbelief at the site, along
with many community friends.

cerned friends and community-building partners. An
announcement by Dave Neill that this week's issue would
total 116 pages plus a 24-page Style at the Jewish News glossy
insert brought enthusiastic applause.
By 4 p. m. Tuesday, longer-term temporary space was
secured in the JARC building at 30301 Northwestern
Highway in Farmington Hills. Crews worked into the night
to move and restore our base of operations.
The instinct to publish comes with the territory. The Jewish
News hasn't missed an issue in 60 years, and it wasn't about to
do so now Our friends and acquaintances in the publishing
industry weren't going to let us miss an issue, either.
Among those offering to provide office space, equipment,
press time and staff were the Daily Tribune in Royal Oak, the
Spinal Column in western Oakland County, Webco Press,
Between The Lines, Detroit Newspapers Inc., Hometown
Communications, the Oakland Press and the Macomb Daily. -
The Port Huron Times-Herald and its operations director, Bob
Perini, which also prints the Jewish News, offered their staff,
equipment and a virtual blank check to realign our press
schedule.
Also offering to help in whatever way possible were the
Cleveland Jewish News, Baltimore Jewish Times, New York
Jewish Week, Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, the Jewish
Standard of New Jersey, Connecticut Jewish Ledger, Jewish
Telegraphic Agency and our sister publication, the Atlanta
Jewish Times. Former Jewish News staffers from around the
country offered to come to Detroit to assist in producing the
paper.

Jewish News Delivered

We recognize and never take for granted that you, our valued
readers, invite us into your homes every week and treat us like
extended family members. The efforts of our entire staff were
incredible. Their passion to serve you with a publication of
quality and distinction was never compromised. In a crunch,
they delivered.
This week, we may have soot in our hair, a smoky stench in
our clothes and fatigue in our bodies, but it will take more
than a devastating fire for us to pass on the opportunity to be
a part of your lives every week.
My heartfelt thanks to all who offered assistance, encourage-
ment and expressions of concern.
B'shalom,

❑

Springing Into Action

Ten hours after the fire started, we began restoring and pro-
ducing this issue's content in the ballroom of the nearby
Embassy Suites Hotel in Southfield.
By Tuesday, the room was bi17zing with energy, nurtured by
food trays, bag lunches and other consumables sent by con-

Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher

LETTERS

TENDER

Our Thoughts Are With You

I was glad that your staff is back up
and running, following this week's
devastating fire. It's certainly a testa-
ment to the will and resolve of the
Jewish News staff to be back in-oper-
ation less than 24 hours after the
blaze.

The Jewish News has always been a
support to the American Lung
Association of Michigan in our
efforts to educate the public on the
prevention of lung disease and the
promotion of lung health. Please
know that the thoughts and good

will of the entire staff of our associa-
tion is with your staff as you work
to rebuild. Our best to you all.
Doug Klegon
chiefexecutive officer
American Lung Association
of Michigan
Southfield

271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
248.258.0212

Monday-Saturday 10-6
Thursday 10-9

R Y N

Open a Tender Charge Today

2/1

2002

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