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Levin Pushed On Health Care
A staunch Democrat has challenged the
decision of U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.,
to not hold public meetings in Michigan
in August on President Obama's proposed
health care reform. The Senate is on
recess till the Tuesday after Labor Day
"I don't know what the plan is all about ; )
Donna Wissbrun of Auburn Hills told
the JN. "It would be nice to hear the truth
about what is in this plan for the American
people. Sen. Levin's office tells me he's not
holding any meetings this month to explain
the health care program being proposed so
we constituents can understand it."
She said his staff would not put her
through to the senator for a phone con-
versation or would not set up an appoint-
ment to see him.
Tara Andringa of Levin's Washington
staff told the IN that the senator is engaged
in "a series of intense policy discussions
over the August break with policy experts,
health care providers, business leaders,
benefits administrators and others."
"As always," she added, "Sen. Levin
welcomes input from Michiganders by e-
mail or phone on any topic."
She encouraged use of the contact
center on Levin's Web site: levin.senate.
gov/contact . E-mail goes through the
Web site. The D.C. office phone number is
(202) 224.6221.
"We elected Sen. Levin and I supported
him," Wissbrun said."I'd like to speak to
him. I think we have a right to hear about
this plan."
— Robert Sklar, editor
Maple-Drake Beacon
In one of the fist such trial periods, this
week begins a one-year test of High-
intensity Activated crossWalK(HAWK)
pedestrian crosswalk beacons at the
pedestrian crossings at the Maple/Drake
roundabout in West Bloomfield.
The HAWK is a new form of pedestrian
crosswalk beacon that is lit only when it
is activated by a pedestrian pushing the
crosswalk button. It has a different configu-
ration than traditional traffic signals, with
two red lights next to each other above
one yellow light, according to the Road
Commission for Oakland County (RCOC).
The test will determine whether the
HAWK beacon is beneficial in helping
pedestrians cross the approaches to a
roundabout.
"Safety is the top priority of the Road
Commission for Oakland County, and
we are continually striving to find ways
to enhance safety for both motorists and
Quotable
"Jewish law cares about
how we feel, not merely
about how we act. It
should. To live as a Jew is
not merely to walk through
the world behaving
correctly — that would
reduce Judaism to rules of
moral etiquette. To serve
God is to serve God with
all of ourselves, with our
minds and bodies and
emotions."
— Rabbi Daniel Greyber, the California-
pedestrians," said RCOC Managing Director
Brent Bair. "This test will help us learn
whether the HAWK is a way to enhance
pedestrian safety at roundabouts."
RCOC has hired Western Michigan
University and North Carolina State
University to conduct a study of the HAWK
beacons at the roundabout, and, in particu-
lar, their impact on blind pedestrians.
Bair cited studies that have docu-
mented substantial safety benefits from
converting previously signalized intersec-
tions to roundabouts.
For example, the Federal Highway
Administration documented a 90 percent
reduction in traffic fatalities at intersec-
tions converted from traffic signals to
roundabouts. The Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety documented a 37 percent
reduction in total crashes at intersections
converted from traffic signals to round-
abouts in addition to reduced fatalities
and injuries.
"There is virtually nothing else that we,
as an agency, can do that will result in a 90
percent reduction in fatalities," Bair said.
"We feel strongly that roundabouts are a
huge safety enhancement for motorists and
pedestrians in Oakland County. However,
if there is any way to even further improve
safety, we will always take a look."
ECO (#!-__ Judaism
• Buy only what you need. Buy less.
• Buy used and recycled instead of new.
• Buy only Energy Star appliances, equipment, electronics and machinery.
www.energystar.gov .
• Buy carbon offsets. www.nativeenergy.com .
• Buy programmable thermostats.
• Buy energy-efficient vehicles. www.fueleconomy.gov
• Do not buy more than you need. For example with cars, choices such as four-
wheel drive, all-wheel drive, larger engine size, vehicle weight and tire size
influence the amount of fuel your vehicle uses. Consider the four-cylinder as
opposed to the six-cylinder. Chances are you will not find it under-powered.
www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.
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Jewish Thought On The Environment
"Protecting human health and the diversity of life is a value emphasized in
Torah, Talmud, and rabbinic literature throughout the ages - beginning with the
commandment in Genesis for Adam and Eve to serve and protect the Garden of
Eden. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there He put
the man whom He had formed."
— Genesis 2:8
Please contact Michigan Coalition on the Environment & Jewish Life for global
warming presentations: (248) 642.5393 ext. 7, mi-coejl@jfmd.org or www.mi-coejl.org .
Voices of Conservative/Masorti Judaism,
Source: MI-COEJL, copyright 2009
fall 2009.
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