Front Lines NOTEBOOK Maccabi 'Artists' Six Detroit area teens participated in the first JCC Maccabi ArtsFest in Baltimore in August, along with 175 Jewish teens from around the country. Rachel Pad and Alexandra White, both of West Bloomfield, focused on vocal music; Jonathan Werber of Bloomfield Hills was Detroit's Jonathan Werber worked with in star reporting; Deena Martin of Sylvan Lake participated in musical theater; Rebecca Pad of West Bloomfield was in visual arts; and Jarryd Elias of Bloomfield Hills was in instrumental music. The Detroit delegation head was Patty Ceresnie of West Bloomfield. Jonathan Werber was among seven teen journalists led by Phil Jacobs, former edi- tor of the Detroit Jewish News and now editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times. The team covered the JCC Maccabi ArtsFest for the Jewish Times cover story Aug. 25. Werber, a photographer, took pictures for that story and a photo spread in the In Aug. 31 issue. ArtsFest was coordinated by former Detroiter Arlene Sorkin, who now works for the national Jewish Community Centers Association in New York. Rebecca Gardner, staff photographer for Art Benefits AIDS More than 300 of Detroit's most promi- nent artists will donate original pieces of art to be auctioned at the 11th annual "Art Works for Life" starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn. The event benefits the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project (MAPP). "Art Works for Life" will feature a live with auctioneer Jim Miller, a silent auc- tion, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, valet or self-parking and live musical entertainment. Holocaust survivor Zygie Allweiss' story about his survival left one stu- dent in tears. Moved by his words, Kelsey Warner of New Covenant Christian School in Lansing, wrote a poem to Allweiss called "The Day That Changed My Life." Read Warner's poem on JNonline.us. Look under Opinion on the left for Robert Sklar's Editor's Notebook for Sept. 7. Latest From Israel the flowers. Owner Brad Cochran told the Royal Oak Daily Tribune that he contin- ued to maintain the graves into August, but - reluctantly stopped after a promised partial payment did not arrive after 75 days. Cochran continues to maintain the graves in two sections of Oakview owned by Congregation B'nai Moshe because the synagogue has a separate contract with him. Suzanne Jolicoeuer, cemetery commis- sioner for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth in Lansing, last week could not give a timetable for the state's investigation into Mikocem's invest- ment of the cemetery trust funds. She said the investigation "was ongoing" by her enforcement division. - Alan Hitsky, associate editor Helping Hands School-age kids taking part in the Oakland Schools Homeless Student Education Program now enjoy backpacks filled with school supplies thanks to the National Council of Jewish Women-Greater Detroit Section, which coordinated the volunteer packers. Three-hundred kids in kindergarten through 12th grade will benefit. Local dentists donated the toothbrushes. The Michigan Friends of Education donated Moved By Survivor Laurie Freeman writes weekly about her adventures with China Punim, her 4-year-old daughter adopted from China. Follow the fun. Only at JNonline.us . Just click on JBlog on the menu on the left. Dried Flowers The heat and lack of care at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak is affecting the plantings on the graves — except in the two sections owned by Congregation B'nai Moshe of West Bloomfield. The company that plants and cares for the flowers has taken the cemetery owner to arbitration because it claims it is owed $250,000 for work on 3,000 graves at 11 area cemeteries owned by Mikocem. Mikocem, an Oklahoma corporation, is being investigated by Michigan and Tennessee over allegations that it removed more than $60 million from cemetery trust funds for prepaid burials and perpetual care. Mikocem owns 28 cemeteries in Michigan. Insta-Bed Floral Systems in Royal Oak has the contract to plant and maintain This Week JBloq - Alan Hitsky, associate editor the Baltimore Jewish Times. AlenlIne books. The average age of a homeless person in Oakland County is 9, but it's dropping each year. About 1,000 kids enroll annually in the program. Another 300 backpacks will be filled with school supplies in January. Volunteer pack- ers again are sought. Call (248) 355-3300, ext. O. - Robert A. Sklar, editor Acts of Power XIII, Lynne Avadenka Honorary chairpersons for this year's benefit are Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. Honorary host is Fanchon Stinger of FOX2 News-Detroit: Among the participating artists include Matthew Gross, Lynne Avadenka, Ed Levine, Marcia Freedman, Jeffrey Abt, Ray Katz and Linda Soberman, Carl Demeulenaere, Jeanne Bieri, Mel Rosas, Sergio De Giusti, Claudia Shepard, Stephen Magsig, Anne Fracassa, Eric Mesko and many others. The Midwest AIDS Prevention Project (MAPP) is a nonprofit, community- based organization that provides HIV- AIDS education programs for commu- nity groups throughout the Great Lakes Region. Reservations are $85. For a complete list of participating artists, reservations or for more information, call (248) 545- 1435 or visit www.artworksforlife.org . - Keri Guten, story development editor Want the most current news from Israel? Check our streaming news from Ynetnews:com for continuous updates and longer news, opinion and feature stories. Just visit JNonline.us and click on a scrolling story on the left. Web Extras Here's your chance to get ahead of the printed issue of the JN. In this spot look for a stories that deal with breaking news. Just visit JNonline.us and click on Web Extras on the left. Poll Results: Which political party is friendlier to Israel? Democratic Party: 22% Republican Party: 65% Neither. It's not a partisan issue: 13% This week's question: Should countries that do not rec- ognize Israel's right to exist be allowed to contribute troops to the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon? Visit the JNonline.us homepage to cast your vote. 2006 9