UPCOMING CONCERTS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
health & wellness >> sports
• WRCJ 941.9 FM
presents the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Neighborhood
King
Of The
TCHAIKOVSKY
SYMPHONY NO. 5
Refs
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Jeffrey Zook, piccolo
Steve Stein
Contributing Writer
Thu., May lo at 7:3o p.m.
At Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
T
27375 Bell Rd., Southfield
Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto
Haydn Symphony No. 67
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
WA'
Tickets just $251
D
T
DETROIT
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
LEONARD SLATKIN Music Director
A COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED ORCHESTRA
shoplocal
eatiocal
listenlocal
Buy tickets today at
www.dso.orgibeighborhood
or call 313.576.5111
BIG ROCK
0 00 PH 0 lis t
HOSTS
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AT THE RESERVE AND DINNER AT BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE
Treat your mom to a day of delicious food and fun by taking her to
BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE'S annual Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday,
May 13, 2012 at THE RESERVE. There will be two seatings, the first will be
from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the second from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Brunch will begin with a champagne toast and will feature a variety of
chef's stations. Cost is $47 for adults, $22 for children ages 6-11 and
$7 for children 5 and under. Cost excludes tax, tip and valet.
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BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE will also be open for dinner that evening.
Dinner menu begins at 5 p.m. Reservations are strongly suggested.
For more information, call 248.647.7774.
248.647.7774 • bigrockchophouse.com
46
May 3 2012
he Michigan High School
done it for 45 years."
Athletic Association wants to
Kaczander said parents who yell at
honor Al Kaczander for the 45 him because they think a call made
years he's been an official.
against their child will ruin his or her
But the West
chances to play in college bug him,
Bloomfield resident
but he continues to be heartened by
doesn't plan to
the 99 percent of parents who enjoy
attend the annual
games and police the out-of-control
MHSAA officials
parents.
awards banquet
The best way for an official to
Saturday, May 5, in
avoid confrontations with coaches,
Lansing. He didn't go Kaczander said, is to hustle and get as
Al Kaczander
to earlier banquets
close to each play as possible.
when he would have
"If you're out there daydreaming,
been honored for other milestones.
you can get yourself in trouble he
"That sort of recognition only
said.
means you've been around for a long
Kaczander says he likes talking to
time he said. "When I hear people tell players during games. He compliments
me I've done a good.job, that they're
and teaches them.
glad to have me at their game, or they
"A game at the high school level
wonder where I've been, well, that's all
should be a learning experience he
the recognition I need. Maybe I'll go to said. "If I can help a kid, it makes my
the banquet when they honor me for
job a lot easier."
50 years:'
After nearly a half-century of offi-
Don't bet against Kaczander making ciating high school games, Kaczander
it to 50 years. He says he enjoys offici-
says he still appreciates the ringside
ating, and that's what keeps him going
seat he gets to watch current prep stars
in the demanding, time-consuming
and future college and professional
profession.
athletes.
Kaczander, 65, is a man for all sea-
He officiated basketball games
sons. He officiates football, boys and
played by Chris Webber and Shane
girls basketball, and softball games.
Battier when they were at Detroit
He's done state finals in football and
Country Day before they went on to
softball.
star in college and NBA.
Because he played basketball in high
Sometimes traveling can be a prob-
school (Detroit Cass Tech) and college
lem for officials, but it's part of the job.
(Wayne State University), he considers
"You're 40-50 miles from home after
that his favorite sport to officiate.
a game, and there's a snowstorm:'
"Plus, you get the most exercise
Kaczander said. "So, you tell your wife
working basketball games, and you
you won't be home at 9:30, and you'll
don't have to deal with bad weather
try to make it by 11:30. What else can
outside he said.
you do?"
He finds football the toughest sport
Kaczander and his very under-
to officiate because "you have to pick
standing wife, Joyce, will be married
and choose when you have to call a
44 years in November. They have two
penalty:'
daughters and three grandsons.
Burt Hurshe of Waterford has been
There have been many times over
officiating with Kaczander for most of
45 years when Kaczander has been
the 45 years. He can't say enough good officiating, teaching and coaching
things about his officiating partner
at the same time. He was a physical
and friend.
education teacher and coach in
"Al is honorable, trustworthy, profes- Southfield Public Schools for 38 years
sional and punctual',' he said. "I don't
before he retired five years ago.
care what profession you talk about —
milkman, lawyer, company president
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