10 March 28 • 2019
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The Anti-Defamation League and the
Silent Observer, an anonymous tip line
for crime in Kent County, announced
this week they are putting up a com-
bined $7,000 in rewards for those
coming forward to tell who has been
vandalizing Temple Beth El in Battle
Creek.
Tipsters who offer information lead-
ing to the arrest of individuals who are
later sent to trial on the charges can
receive cash awards for up to $7,000,
according to a release. The reward
consists of $2,000 pledged by the Anti-
Defamation League and $5,000 from
Silent Observer.
Carolyn Normandin, Anti-
Defamation League Michigan regional
director, told the Battle Creek Enquirer
that it is “very important” to catch the
perpetrators.
Normandin said the ADL money
comes from an anonymous donor
who provides rewards for information
about similar acts across the United
States.
In January someone painted “lier”
below a symbol on a concrete menorah
on the front of the building. That same
menorah was damaged by a chisel and
hammer six weeks earlier in November
2018. No arrests have been made in
either case.
The synagogue sits alongside other
houses of worship on Capital Avenue
in Battle Creek. But it was the only
building targeted, said synagogue offi-
cials.
Temple board members told the
Enquirer that they are making prepa-
rations to repair the damage and add
extra security around the building.
Anyone with information on the
vandals is asked to call Silent Observer
at (269) 964-3888. People can also text
tips to CRIMES (274637) with SOTIP
in the message. ■
views
“Fine Lines” from page 5
Nothing makes me want to buy
something more than knowing it’
s
half price or it’
s not going to be
available anymore in a week.
Once circulation has returned to
my fingers, I’
ll do what I have to
do: put away the groceries, hide the
cookies, etc., etc., and usually that’
s
when I’
ll discover that those two
ingredients I went to the store for?
Yup, I forgot to buy them.
The trick, I’
ve discovered, is to
go to the shop with a few bucks,
just enough to cover the two
ingredients I need. (And to recite
the two items in my head the entire
way to the shop.) But even then,
the sales are going to be winking at
me. And it doesn’
t really feel like
I’
m getting a good deal if I only
come home with one box of a sale
item. I need to come home with 25,
at least. That’
s how they get people
like me. I don’
t need it, don’
t want
it, never even thought about it
before; but, hey, if they’
re going to
mark it 75 percent off, I’
ll buy out
the stock and feel like I’
m getting
a deal.
That’
s why online shopping can
be super handy. You type in what
you want, it will pop up on your
screen, come to your door. Unless
you suffer from carpal tunnel
syndrome from typing too much,
your fingers are safer this way.
But the cons include no nice little
walks in the (finally!!!) sunshine,
no socializing in the paper goods
aisle with random folks you
happen upon while shopping, no
opportunity to make the cashier’
s
day while telling jokes surely never
heard before. (“Didn’
t scan? Oh,
that must mean its free, right?! Ha,
ha, ha.”)
So, are we winning or losing out
with online shopping? Hard to tell
— there’
s yet another fine line.
Turns out there are fine lines
practically everywhere. You can
even see them between hyphenated
words! ■
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Reward Offered
for Battle Creek
Synagogue Vandal
STACY GITTLEMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Temple Beth El in Battle Creek
VIA TEMPLE BETH EL’
S FACEBOOK