and their families. The Torah's dedica-
tion and memorial march are coordi-
nated by Rosenstein, Rabbi Mann,
Jack Wolfe, the Shul's Rabbi Kasriel
Shemtov and his wife, Itty.
For information on the Torah dedi-
cation and memorial march or for
reservations for a buffet dinner at the
Shul following the march, with a sug-
gested donation of $18, call the Shul
at (248) 788-4000. •

A Call To Action

U-M student enters the Ann Arbor City Council race.

KAREN SCHWARTZ
Special to the Jewish News

"I said to myself, 'This is already a
beautiful area; why waste all this
money renovating it when there's so
many other places that really need the
money?'"
After finding support for his conclu-
sion — and disagreeing with other
council decisions — he decided to take
action.
"I said someone should do some-
thing about this, and I decided to run
for city council," he said.
Most of his campaigning, like the

expand the area by 167 structures —
but raise the cost of living for its resi-
dents and students.
Ann Arbor
This action, he said, also would con-
11 niversity of Michigan sen-
tribute to driving out more local busi-
ior Rick Lax, 21, remem-
nesses because of rent inflation. He
bers helping his grand-
he Detroit Jewish News took
cited the absence of Decker Drugs, for-
mother, Lillian Jaffe Oaks,
two awards in business
merly located on State Street, and
stuff her campaign envelopes when he
reporting this summer that it
other stores that closed earlier this year.
was no more than 5 years old. Now
didn't even know about.
"If I were on City Council, I would
she is returning the favor, giving Lax
The Detroit Chapter of the Society
oppose this plan," Lax said. "I realize
help and advice as he runs for a seat on
for Professional Journalists gave the
that this plan has a good goal, historic
the Ann Arbor City Council in the
Jewish News eight awards at its award
preservation, and if done in a volun-
Nov. 4 election.
banquet in June. But editors at the
tary manner, that'd be OK;
He hopes to make win-
paper did not see two more among
but right now, it's not OK.
ning an elected office a
the extensive list of categories.
It's unfair to the people, the
family tradition. . His grand-
Two stories that appeared in the
students and residents who
mother served as a
paper's Business Outlook special sec-
live in the area."
Southfield City Council
tion in April 2002 took first and sec-
Sarah Tasman, 21, a
member for eight years and
ond place in the business-reporting
University of Michigan senior
as an Oakland County
category for newspapers with less
from Louisville, Ky., said she
commissioner for seven.
than 50,000 circulation.
would definitely like to see a
Lax, originally from West
Freelance writer George Dila won
student-voice on the council.
Bloomfield, is one of three
first place for "Electronic Savings," a
"If there's a student repre-
people fighting for the seat
story inspired by the Jewish News'
sentative, I know he is going
in Ward 1, running against
devastating fire in January 2002.
to speak more about the
incumbent Robert Johnson,
Dila's story outlined steps that busi-
issues I care about," she said.
a Democrat, and Robert
nesses should take to protect their
"I think a lot of student and
Haug, a Green Party candi-
data from disaster. •
community issues overlap,
date. The council has 10
Freelance writer Ed Nakfoor won
and I don't think students
members, two from each of
second place for "What's In Store?"
should feel isolated. When
the city's five wards, who
talking to local independent retailers
people ask me where I'm
serve a two-year term, with
about their economic outlook.
from, I say Ann Arbor. I like
— Alan Hitsky one term expiring each
being part of Ann Arbor."
University of Michigan student Rick Lax gets campaign advice
year. Democrat Kim
Lax said his message to resi-
from his grandmother Lillian Jaffe Oaks.
Groome currently holds the
dents and students alike is
other Ward 1 seat and will
that he should be their candi-
be up for re-election next
date of choice because he will
• There has been a late change in
year.
work hard and listen to his
the opening date and location for
Running as an independent, Lax
petitioning he did to collect signatures
constituents, qualities he said a candi-
the movie The Secret Lives of
plans to send out a mailer, put up signs to become an official candidate, will be date needs to have.
Dentists, featured on page 64 in
and hold a fund-raiser, appealing to
done door-to-door.
With an interest in politics sparked by
today's JNArts & Life section. It
both students and Ann Arbor resi-
"It's going to mean walking to as
his Jewish background, including his
will premiere Friday, Sept. 12, at
dents. Ann Arbor is home to about
many houses as I can, telling people
grandmother, who took him to political
the Main Art Theatre in Royal
114,000 people, including roughly
what I'm about and asking them for
events and is now showing him the
Oak. Please call the theater to ver-
36,000 students.
their vote," he said.
ropes, Lax said he is running a campaign
ify show times, (248) 542-0180.
"This campaign is for anyone who
So far, Lax said most people were
on his politics and what he believes, a
• The name of Rabbi Julie
thinks Ann Arbor can be a better place
very receptive. "They saw I was serious campaign about the issues and a plat-
Schonfeld, the Conservative move-
than it already is," he said.
about running, knew what I was doing form he thinks can make the city better.
ment's Rabbinical Assembly direc-
Lax said he sees Ann Arbor as a
and talking about, and they seemed
He recalls going to a cultural show
tor of rabbinic development, was
"great place," but also recognizes
willing to support my candidacy."
in Southfield with his grandmother,
misspelled last week ("Charting
improvements can made and feels he
and watching how people responded to
Career Paths," Aug. 29, page 17).
could speak out on changes that would
her, seeing how many people she
• Regarding "Embracing Israel"
The Issues
positively affect the community.
seemed to have affected.
(Aug. 29, page 25, the Jewish peo-
He said his decision to run for pub-
In addition to the State Street Area
"And I remember thinking, 'Wow,
ple were exiled 1,933 years ago,
lic office came after reading in the
Improvement Project, Lax said central
it's awesome that one person can do so
dating back to the destruction of
newspaper last year that the council
issues include parking tickets and tow-
many good things for all these peo-
the Second Temple.
was going to spend $5.5 million reno-
ing as well as the Washtenaw-Hill
ple,"' he said. El
vating the State Street area.
Historic Area Expansion, which would

113

Belated Kudos

T

.

Corrections

9/ 5

2003

15