Metro

DIGEST

Changing from page A13

their rights of way to
the road commission,
jections, by 2011 we're expected to have a
especially when their
$2 million budget shortfall. I'm currently
businesses will suffer
developing a plan to address this crisis
while the road is closed
without increasing the financial burden
for widening.
on residents. My goal is to protect and
"With property val-
insulate our township as much as possible
ues sinking, I envision
Larry Brown
from the fallout of Michigan's economic
a three-to-five-year
crisis while still providing essential ser-
financial plan to assure
vices:'
we have the money to
Feld also wants to expand electronic
continue [an enjoyable] quality of life he
banking for all treasurer office functions
says. "And I want to return professionalism
and provide a forum for senior citizens so
and respect to board meetings."
they can easily access township services.
Brown is married with two children and
Married with three children, he belongs
belongs to Temple Israel, West Bloomfield.
to the Shul-Chabad Lubavitch, West
Chairman of the
Bloomfield.
Planning Commission,
Gene Farber, 61, sees
Trustees Race
budget constraints as
Four Jewish Democrats and a Republican
the "immediate prob-
are vying for the four trustee positions to
lem" and would review
replace Stuart Brickner, Deborah Macon
all township programs
and Robert Sher, who didn't seek trustee
and policies, includ-
re-election, and incumbent Robert Spector Gene Farber
ing a reversal of the 25
who was ousted in the primary.
percent pay increase (to
Leading all primary
$125 per meeting) the
votegetters was Steven
board voted for itself last year. He would
Kaplan, 54, with one
scale back the Orchard Lake Road widen-
vote short of 6,000,
ing project and pursue downtown devel-
seeking to return to the
opment.
township board. He has
A Bingham Farms attorney, Farber is
been a Macomb County
married with three children and is a 33-
assistant prosecutor for
year resident. He's also a member of the
Steven Kaplan 21 years. He's married
State Oil and Gas Advisory Committee
with two children, has
and is on the Temple Kol Ami Building
lived in the township
Committee, West Bloomfield.
since 1995 and is active in B'nai B'rith and
Howard Rosenberg,
the local Jewish Parents Institute.
56, is a West Bloomfield
"I would go after additional revenue by
chiropractor, a mem-
selling the naming rights to the township
ber of the Parks and
hall and public safety building, just like
Recreation Commission,
corporation or individual naming rights
a 24-year resident, who
on sports stadiums around the country:'
is married with two
he offered. "We also could sell our police
children. "We need a
and fire dispatcher services to nearby
fresh start on the board,
Howard
communities, passing on 911 calls to the
and I want to establish a
Rosenberg
proper authorities. Because of declining
solid working relation-
property values, we must reduce expenses
ship among members and determine our
to maintain essential services.
priorities and how we're going to revitalize
"I foresee Orchard Lake Road as a
the township;' he said. "We also have to
downtown-type, cobblestone street with
prioritize the road commission's work; we
four lanes, a lower speed limit and speed
need to stabilize our property values."
bumps."
Lone Republican
He added there must be a return to
trustee candidate John
more friendly board meetings; treating
Cyrus Mohyi, 20, lives
residents courteously, but limiting com-
with his parents in the
ments by board members and residents to
township, was his high
two-to-three minutes per subject.
school's class president
Larry Brown, 63, a 22-year resident
and attends Wayne State.
and a retired CPA, wants to "fill the
"West Bloomfield homes
empty stores" at the Orchard Lake-Maple
John Cyrus
are not being assessed
Road intersection as part of a downtown
Mohyi
properly;' he declared.
development and updating of the master
"Our assessing proce-
plan. But he says it's bad business to ask
dures are completely out of touch with
Orchard Lake Road merchants to donate
property values. They need realigning to

A14

October 9 • 2008

better reflect property values and avoid
higher taxes. I would meet with our asses-
sor immediately to get this straightened
out."
He wants to streamline township proce-
dures and make better use of computers.
"I'm part of the younger generation that
uses high technology and analytical skills;'
he adds.
Although no Republicans ran in the
primary to succeed retiring Township
Clerk Sharon Law, Democratic nominee
Cathy Shaughnessy's name will still be on
the Nov. 4 ballot. She
could only lose through
an organized write-in
campaign.
Shaughnessy, 51, a 20-
year resident, is married
with one daughter. She
defeated Sheryl Mitchell
and Heddie O'Connor
Cathy
in the primary. The job
Shaughnessy
pays $106,224. ❑

WISN/11111111111/1/01/1

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111,

"1141111111111.11110".

Precinct Changes

Two voting precinct locations have
changed for West Bloomfield resi-
dents since the August primary.
For the Nov. 4 election, Precinct
12 has switched from Drake Park
(due to overcrowding) to Temple
Israel on Walnut Lake Road. Precinct
21 has changed from Henry Ford
Hospital (due to construction work)
to the Friendship Circle on Maple
Road.
Whereas split-ticket voting was
disallowed in the primary – resulting
in the disqualification of 728 absen-
tee ballots alone – voters will be
permitted to cross over and vote for
a mixture of Democratic, Republican
and other candidates Nov. 4.
Deadline for voters to turn in
absentee ballots to Township Hall
is 8 p.m. on Election Day, the same
time that the polls close. The polls
open at 7a.m.

-Bill Carroll

New Klez Director
Kidz Klez of Michigan has begun
its new season of rehearsals and
performances.
This ensemble was
founded in 1996
by the late Cantor
Stephen Dubov.
It consists sixth-
through 12th-grade
students in the
Alan Posner
Detroit area.
Upon acceptance,
students undergo training in the style
of klezmer music and the band main-
tains a steady schedule of high caliber
musical performances. Alan Posner
is musical director of the band this
season. He is a senior at the University
of Michigan, studying Instrumental
music education.
Kidz Klez rehearsals take place
1-2 p.m. most Sundays at the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield on the third floor of the
Frankel Jewish Academy. Auditions
will be held starting Sunday, Oct. 26,
for students interested in joining the
band.
For information, contact Lisa
Barnett, kidzklezmom@sbcglobal.net .

Temple Sarcophagus
Jerusalem/JTA — Archaeologists
discovered a sarcophagus fragment
identified with one of the high priests
who served in the Second Temple. The
fragment made of hard limestone,
discovered in salvage excavations
along the security fence north of
Jerusalem, bears the inscription "Ben
HaCohen HaGadol."
Though it is impossible to tell
which priest's son the inscription
refers to, the sarcophagus should
probably be identified with one of the
priests that officiated in the Second
Temple between 30 70 C.E., according
to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Pools and cisterns, public and
residential buildings and agricultural
installations that range in date from
the end of the Second Temple period
to the early Islamic period have been
discovered during the course of the
excavations. The area is associated
with the tribe of Benjamin where the
priests resided during the Second
Temple period.
The fragment apparently was
moved from its original location
approximately 1,000 years ago and
was used in the construction of a later
Muslim building that was erected
atop the ruins of the houses from the
Second Temple period.

-

