frontlines >> letters
How to Send Letters
We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer ones will
be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and title of the
writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic cop ies must be hand signed. Send letters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield,
MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885; e-mail, letters@the jewishnews.com . We prefer email.
•
jare
www.jarc.org
JFS Is Addressing
Transportation Gap
In response to the story "The 'Keys' To
Independence" (Nov. 10, page 1) and
the editorial "Good Time to Review
Transportation Plan" (Sept. 29, page 36),
I wanted to share other information
about Jewish Family Service's transpor-
tation for older adults.
Through a competitive selection pro-
cess under a regional plan for human
services transportation, JFS was award-
ed contracts for assisted transporta-
tion services through Job Access and
Reverse Commute and New Freedom
programs from SMART, a public transit
provider. This funding not only allowed
JFS to expand its driver force and oper-
ating hours, but also work in partner-
ship with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B
(AAA), SMART and other local agencies
to develop a mobility management
plan for older adults in the community,
including access to after-hours rides.
This plan will include a central phone
line for community mobility needs
coordination, a website where older
adults and people with disabilities can
make a request, and a team of special-
ists trained in mobility management,
including AAA and JFS staff.
In addition, JFS was awarded a
Beverly Foundation STAR Award for
Excellence and $10,000 in recognition
of the quality of its services responding
to the mobility needs of older adults.
JFS is also working with other local
community organizations to address
the growing needs of older adults
through various collaboratives, includ-
ing OAK 65 (an Oakland County Senior
Planning Coalition study), the Regional
Senior Collaborative and the Regional
Elderly Mobility Alliance.
Like any complicated problem, there
is no silver bullet solution to helping
older adults access needed and desired
transportation. JFS is doing what it can,
partnering within and outside of the
Jewish community, to create solutions
in order to serve people now and to
ensure service into the future.
For further information on any
service that Jewish Family Service pro-
vides, call (248) 592-2313.
Perry Ohren, CEO
Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit
West Bloomfield
O.P. Mayor Naftaly Led
With Fiscal Responsibility
I felt compelled to write after reading
the article about the Oak Park Mayoral
election ("Neophyte Wins Election:' Nov.
17, page 9). There are details that were
missing, and the residents should have
the facts.
First, Mrs. McClellan received heavy
support from public safety though none
of the officers live in Oak Park. They
are the second highest paid in the state.
Mayor Naftaly didn't cut their pay. An
independent arbitrator, reviewing both
sides, determined that economic condi-
tions made it difficult for the city to
continue to pay high wages. All other
employees made concessions in pay and
benefits.
Second, more than $35,000 was
spent on an election for a job that pays
$6,000. Seventy-two percent of that
money came from outside of Oak Park,
mostly from Huntington Woods. I am
concerned by the potential involvement
of outsiders in our community govern-
ment.
Third, the bond proposal for the
upgrade to the city buildings was
passed both by council and the citizens
of Oak Park. Taxes were not raised, and
yet we will soon have a municipal com-
plex that will make us proud.
Mayor Naftaly led Oak Park with hon-
esty and integrity and fiscal responsibil-
ity. Those of us who have worked in the
city or have friends and family living
there value and appreciate his exem-
plary qualities.
I expect nothing less from the new
mayor.
Iris Mickel
Farmington Hills
Whether as a volunteer
or donor, your generous
support will benefit the
men, women and
children JARC serves.
>> roundup
Ryan Braun
Brewers' Ryan Braun
Wins NL MVP Award
NEW YORK (JTA) — Ryan Braun, the
slugging outfielder for the Milwaukee
Brewers, became the first Jewish Most
Valuable Player in nearly five decades.
Braun, the son of an Israeli-born
Jewish father and a Catholic mother,
was named the National League MVP.
He received 20 of 32 first-place votes
and 388 points in voting announced
by the Baseball Writers' Association
of America. Los Angeles center fielder
Matt Kemp was second with 10 first-
place votes and 332 points.
Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles
Dodgers in 1963 was the last Jewish
player to win the award. Other Jewish
players who have been named MVP are
Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers
in 1940 and Al Rosen of the Cleveland
Indians in 1953.
Braun batted .332 this season with
33 home runs, 111 RBIs and 33 steals
to help lead the Brewers to the Central
Division title.
Some have taken to calling the Los
Angeles-reared Braun "The Hebrew
Hammer:'
"I am Jewish," Braun said last year.
"It's something I'm really proud of. But
I don't want to make it into something
more than what it is. I didn't have a bar
mitzvah. I don't want to pretend that I
did. I didn't celebrate the holidays.
"It's a touchy subject because I don't
want to offend anybody, and I don't
want groups claiming me now because
I'm having success. But I do con-
sider myself definitely Jewish. And I'm
extremely proud to be a role model for
young Jewish kids."
Steve Isenberg, who
participates in JARC's
Shetzer Independent Living
Program, loves sharing
his passion for reading
with others, and recently
began hosting a weekly
"Storytelling with Steve"
at JARC's Rosen RRR
program. Although he is
blind, Steve is an avid
Braille reader who is gifted
with a broadcast quality
voice. His audience seems
to enjoy the experience as
much as he does.
Help JARC continue...
Jonathan Pollard
VP Biden Meets With
Jewish Leaders On Pollard
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Vice President
Joseph Biden met with several Jewish
American leaders to discuss the case of
convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard.
During the Nov. 21st meeting, Biden
reportedly listened to seven American
Jewish leaders, who made a case for the
severity of the sentence and the support
of U.S. political leaders for clemency,
Ynet reported. The newspaper did not
name the participants.
Biden promised last month that
15arricrc.
DONATE
TODAY
atjarc.org/donate
and help us reach
our goal for 2011!
Roundup on page 6
December 1 • 2011 5