0SH ,VI RENAISSANCE Front Lines IG DETROIT JEWISH NEWS E Advertising Sales Publisher/President Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitzxrenmedia.us Sales Director: Keith Farber How Could It Be? T kfarber:.4 , renmedia.us Account Executives: Ann G. Abrams, Jan Haskell, Melissa Litvin, Heidi Martin, Rick Nessel, Marlene Norris he poet Longfellow once wrote, "Things are not what they seem:" There are many "mysteries" in our daily lives, oddities. Then, there are those things that happen to us and for which there seems to be no explanation. In the first cat- egory, consider the Bermuda Triangle, a region in the Atlantic Ocean where disappear- ances continue to defy explanation. For those "seri- ous" followers of the mysteries, seek out information on Bermuda-traingle.org and other such sites. When famous people are involved, our interest in a mystery increases proportion- ally Aviatix Amelia Earhart is a prime example. Speculations about her disappear- ance in 1937 still fascinate. Where do socks disappear to from the time they enter the wash cycle? Is the solu- tion to be found only in buying one color sock so that no matter what disappears, there is always a match possible? In the home, another mystery that pops up often is how things get broken. No one is ever near them, has handled them, has seen them or even knows about them and yet the shards are evident. Astounding! Have you ever searched for some lost item and it always seems to appear in the last place you look? Amazing. (Of course, it never occurs to anyone that when he finds the item he stops looking; hence, the last place.) Why is it that all of the lines in the store, at the bank, at a ticket window, etc., move faster than the one I am in? And if I change position, the line I left starts to move with the speed of light. When next you complain about an elect- ed official, on any level of government, stop to consider that no one admits to voting for the person. Is that not amazing? Elections and mysteries are synonymous. Well, I guess the best advice is that offered by the poet Robert Bridges, who said,"Why things are as they are or whence they came: thy task is first to learn what is." -7 Senior Sales Assistant: Kim Metzger Business Offices Customer Service Assts.: Maya Brodsky, Jan Shain Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner Collections Analyst: Hazel Bender Creative Services creative,'Ie'-theiewishnews.com Creative Director: Deborah Schultz Production By VERTIS INC. Site Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Jeffrey Meyer, Pam Sherevan, Michelle Sheridan Photography Staff Photographers: Angie Ban Editorial Editor: Robert A. Sklar rsklarthejewishnews.com Associate Editor: Alan Hitsky ahitskythejewishnews.com Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kconen:_=2thejewishnews.com Arts Editor. Gail Zimmerman gzirnmerman . ..11,thejewishnews.com Senior Writer: Shelli Liebman Dorfman sdorfmanC , thejewishnews.com Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin School Tradition To End The Oak Park Alumni Association will hold its 15th and final annual luncheon on Aug. 18. Former Oak Park High School physical education teacher Howard Stone is giving up the reins and no one is stepping forward to replace him. The association grew from a weekly breakfast of former teachers. In 1995, the group telephoned others and 65 showed up for a reunion luncheon. That event led to two newsletters per year and a growing list of staff and former students participating. After outgrowing two restaurants, the association moved its annual event to Glen Oaks Golf Club in Farmington Hills in 2004. Last year, 250 attended and there are 350 on the newsletter mailing list. But Stone is "retiring" as the main force behind the reunion after undergoing heart surgery So the final event is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 18, at Glen Oaks. For information, call Stone, (248) 738-8441, or Judy Domstein, (248) 831-4238. — Alan Hitsky, associate editor dannyraskin•sbcglobal.net Columnists: George Cantor, Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein Copy Team: ECO(7,___Judaism Senior Copy Editor. David Sachs dsachs©thejewishnews.com Copy Team Assistant: Sy Manello smanello,Tthejewishnews.com Summer Platinum: • Plant evergreen shrubs and trees on the north side of the building to block cold winds. Plant leafy (deciduous) trees on the southern and western sides of the building to block the sun and to cool the building. • Reduce lawn size and plant drought-tolerant native plants and herbs. • Dig up unneeded concrete and plant there. • Restore native plants along streams and repair stream ero- sion. • Join a community garden. • If fertilizing, use organic or slow release fertilizer. • Better yet, reduce or eliminate the use of fertilizers. Use organic compost instead. • Reduce or eliminate the use of weed killers. Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin•:_lthejewishnews.com Executive Editor: Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman:=Thejewishnews_com Young Adult Advisory Board Gayle Friedman Gold, Jordan Glass, Rabin Schwartz, Brad "Bubba" Urdan Published by Jewish Renaissance Media Chairman: Michael H. Steinhardt President/Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz?-Tenmedia.us Chief Operating Officer: F. Kevin Browett kbrowettArenmedia.us Controller: Craig R. Phipps Editorial Director. Robert A. Sklar IT & Circulation Director: Deanna Spivey Fulfillment circuiaticnciesk,IthejaecishneA - s.com Customer Service Manager. Zena Davis Federation/Foundation Fiscally Sound The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and its banking/real estate arm, the United Jewish Foundation, are both financially well managed. That's the word from Charity Navigator, the largest and most-used indepen- dent evaluator of charities. It gave them the coveted four- star rating, reflective of being among the top 12 percent of charities rated. The honor was based on the "ability to efficiently man- age and grow (their) finances," according to a July 1 letter written by Ken Berger, president and chief executive offi- cer of New Jersey-based Charitynavigator.org . The Federation and Foundation each "executes its mis- sion in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America:' Berger added. He said the Foundation has earned three consecutive four-star evaluations. Dorothy Benyas, Federation's chief financial officer, said "this designation gives our donors confidence that any gift to the Federation or Foundation will be used effectively and will have the greatest impact possible." — Robert Sklar, editor A8 July 30 • 2009 Jewish Thought on the Environment "Then the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." — Genesis 2:7 Please contact Michigan Coalition on the Environment & Jewish Life for global warming presentations: (248) 642- 5393, ext. 7, or mi-coejl@jfmd.org . \C-COEJL. cop•r , c , t 20:7^? Our JN Mission The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied adver- tisers, contented employees and profitable growth. Departments General Offices: 248-354-6060 Display Advertising: 248-354-6060 Fax: 248-304-0032 Circulation: 248-351-5174 Classified Advertising: 248-351-5100 Fax 248-304-0049 Deadline: Monday, 4 p.m.: Editorial Fax 248-304-8885 Deadline: All public and social announcements must be typewritten and received by noon Tuesday, nine days prior to desired date of publication. 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