JEWISH RENAISSANCE Front Lines DIGES - Advertising Sales 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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