Polling Concerns Birmingham Presbyterian church displays anti-Israel posters to precinct's Nov. 2 voters. On CDs, our rates be the Is happen to highest i n town. Small bank-highest interest, big bank-lowest interest. What's wrong with this picture? Maybe that's a question you should ask your bank next time you stop in. Better yet, open a CD with Paramount Bank. At Paramount Bank, we're committed to continually outperForming other banks when it comes to CD rates. We're also committed to outperForming other banks when it comes to customer service. 2.90%o' 3.15%APY* 12 Month CD 18 Month CD Farmington Hills: 31000 Northwestern Highway, Suite 150, (248) 538-7600 Birmingham: 1732 West Maple Road, (248) 723-4800 www.paramountbank.com PARAMOLAT BANK You've never seen a bank like this! 11/19 2004 24 FDIC extend my apologies to Mr. Schonberg, who was very upset. This is my responsibility. We've d Schonberg of Birmingham always had polling places in woke up early on Election churches, but never before had a Day, Nov. 2. He lined up complaint or a concern." with others waiting to vote at the She said she is looking at all First Presbyterian Church of precincts and at necessary changes. Birmingham, a block from his "She assured me this situation house. What he didn't expect were would never happen again in the political posters that he spotted Birmingham," Schonberg said. inside the church on the wall enter- Political material of any kind is ing the polling booth area. not allowed while waiting in line, "There was no way to Kellman said. "As far as the avoid seeing these posters, ADL is concerned, the case especially if there was a line is closed," she said. "I was and you had to stand out- pleased that the city of side the doorway that was Birmingham did what it's inside the church," supposed to do — satisfy Schonberg said. the citizen." "The first was a picture of The ADL, along with the wall Israelis are building the Jewish Community with words like 'This wall is Council of Metropolitan bad, it divides faiths,"' Detroit and the American Schonberg said. "The poster Jewish Committee-Metro next to it described a Detroit Chapter, is meet- Presbyterian governing ing this Friday to talk council condemning Israel, about the next step. its occupation of Palestinian Meanwhile, Sharona [land] and saying that this Shapiro, AJCommittee Presbyterian body had Detroit area director, visit- begun un divesting from all ed the polling site after companies that invested in hearing complaints. She Israel and urged others to called Senior Pastor L.P. Kellman do the same. Jones, who agreed to meet Schonberg was really with Shapiro and a delega- upset when he saw the person in tion of rabbis on Nov. 24. front of him intently reading the posters. He said he almost ripped Anonymous Threat them down but thought better of it. "They have the right to express Unfortunately, the situation is whatever they want, but the city of more complex than this issue, Birmingham should not subject Jews Kellman said. to seeing this," he said. On Nov. 13, the Presbyterian Birmingham City Clerk Nancy Church (USA)'s Louisville, Ky., Weiss, who is responsible for polling headquarters received a handwritten places, agrees with Schonberg, and letter threatening arson attacks met with him and Anti-Defamation because of the church's policies League-Michigan Region Director toward the Middle East. The Betsy Kellman to discuss the matter Associated Press reported that all several days later. U.S. Presbyterian churches have "Regretfully, nobody called been put on high alert. me about this on Election Day," The letter threatened to set Weiss said. Presbyterian churches on fire while Schonberg did not call the ADL people were inside in retaliation for or Weiss until a couple of days later. "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish atti- "I could have taken care of it tudes," said Jerry L. Van Marter, immediately," Weiss said. "I did director of the Presbyterian News SHARON LUCKERMAN StaffM•iter 12141 tICUV, LENDER *Annual percentage yield for balances of S500 minimum. Rates effective 11/12/04. Rates subject to change at any time without any notice. Penalty for early withdrawal.