Graduationshowed educators’devotion

I would like to thankthe Merritt Academy char-ter school in New Havenfor inviting me to addressthe graduates at theircommencement on June10.

After having previouslyvisited Merritt Academy, Iwas honored to be invitedback to partake in theirgraduation ceremony.

This is a school withextremely dedicatedteachers, staff and admin-istration that I can tellcare a great deal about thesuccess of each and everystudent.

The graduation cere-mony was very personal-ized, and the educators’devotion to their studentswas evident.

Every one of the gradu-ates from MerrittAcademy are planning toattend college this fall,which I think is a greattribute to this school’seffectiveness in preparingits students to succeed inthe real world.

I’m so proud to havesuch an outstanding char-ter school in my districtand again appreciate theopportunity to speak tothe graduates. I look for-ward to following the suc-cess of these studentsthroughout the years.ANDREA LaFONTAINE

State Representative

Support appreciated in current economic times

On behalf of theRichmond Class of 2011and Richmond 2011Project Graduation com-mittee, we would like tothank all of the businessesthat made the SeniorProject Graduation Party ahuge success! It is really aGREAT feeling to knowthat we still have the sup-port of the local business-es even in the toughest oftimes. We would like tothank:

Richmond Good OldDays, Kirk and LuciaMarshall, Richmond LionsClub, Shepherd Lincoln,JEB Roofing, MarcilesFashions and Bridals,Belle River CCU, Ted’sConey Island, Michigan

OMS, Kiwanis Club ofRichmond, RichmondInteriors, Achatz Catering,First State Bank, Mail BoxStop, New Image Dental,Richmond CommunityTheatre, American EnergyServices, TeltowContracting, D&ELandscaping, SnydervilleLions, Richmond MasonicLodge, Pine Tree Acres -Waste Management,Richmond InsuranceCenter Agency, RichmondPolice OfficersAssociation, RichmondState Police Canine unit,Flower Carousel, LittleCaesars, Village CafÈ,Fosters Blue FlamePropane, McDonald’s,Maniacis Banquet Center,Fantastic Sams, DairyQueen of Richmond,Pradko,Gallagher &Slanec, Richmond ForestGolf Course, RichmondMeat Packers, GeorgetownEntertainment, RobsSuper Car Wash, Kroger,

Water To Go, Best Buy ofChesterfield, Shellinz HairSalon, Diamond Laundryand Cleaners, andRichmond High School.At this time I would like tosend a few extra thankyous out to Jim Williams(food), Darrin Fistler (DJ),Judy Tonkovich (hand-made blankets), KathleenGallagher (fortune teller),Eric Sparby and MikeCerre, Memphis FireDepartment volunteer(paramedics), CountryCruisers and all the clas-sic car participants, andto all the “Parents” whovolunteered their time tomake this a very specialfun time that our seniorswill not soon forget!

CONGRATULATIONSCLASS OF 2011!RENEE SPARBY,PresidentTERI RIX, Vice PresidentKIM GALANTE, TreasurerMARILYN FRANK,Secretary

Clay residentslosing services

I am writing inresponse to the article inThe Voice newspaper onthe most recent publichearing for ClayTownship’s proposed2011-2012 budget. Therewere some errors in thearticle and I would like toclarify the issues for theresidents of ClayTownship. I was in atten-dance at that meeting.The reporter stated that atthat meeting the boardvoted to eliminate theoffice manager’s position,which did not happen.The position of the officemanager has never beenopenly discussed at anyboard meetings. She alsoreported the board laid-off one police officer. Thatalso did not happen. Infact, at that meeting thetownship board approvedpromoting a reserve offi-cer to a part-time officerposition. After speakingwith me on the phone theday after the meeting thereporter misspelledemployee names andquoted incorrectly theirlength of service to thetownship.

My biggest shock whenreading the article wasBrenda Kelly’s commentson our wages. She statedthat we are making$55,000 a year and notpaying out for insurance. Idon’t have any idea ofwhere Brenda Kelly gother figures from, but sheis inflating our annual payas office staff by morethan $20,000 per year. Asfar as paying for part ofour health care coverage,that is a new proposal forall of Clay Township’s bar-gaining units with ournew contracts. At thistime all of the unionagreements are paying aco-pay toward the cost ofour health care. As soonas our union contract issettled we, too, will becontributing to the cost ofour health care. We havenever stated that wewould not pay part of ourhealth care during ournegotiations.

My issues with thetownship making theoffice staff part-time arethe increases in otherareas of the budget thatare going up dramaticallyand being funded by themoney that they takeaway from the office staff.At issue is the fact thateven though the phrag-mites program wasawarded grant money inexcess of $390,000 thetownship is using taxpayermoney to give an addi-tional $5,000 to the phrag-

mites program. Eventhough the DowntownDevelopment Authority isgiving $110,000 to thepark and the townshipreceives $40,000 fromtaxes collected from theresidents on a countymillage and must use thatmoney for the park, thetownship is giving anadditional $10,000 of tax-payer money to the town-ship park. The townshipboard has approvedincreasing what theyspend on website mainte-nance from $2,500 peryear to $10,000 per year.They have approvedincreasing road mainte-nance from $67,500 peryear to $156,986 per year.They have approvedincreasing the moneyallotted for printing theClay Connection from$3,000 to $4,000. Therehas not been an issue ofthe Clay Connectionprinted in at least fouryears. I am not againstproviding services for theresidents of ClayTownship; I am a residentmyself. I am againstspending money onthings that are not neces-sary when the economy isstruggling as it is now. Mysincere hope is that resi-dents of remember thehelp they have receivedregarding their taxes, theirwater bills, problems withgarbage collection, prob-lems with neighbors andmost recently, the FEMAflood problems. If therehad not been a fullystaffed front office for youto turn to, who wouldhave been there to helpyou? Putting the officestaff to 28 hours per weekis taking away a big serv-ice to the residents of ClayTownship; a service thatmany of you have come torely on.KATHY MROZEK, DeputyTreasurerClay Township

More taken that just bike

Friday, June 24, 2011,started out as a beautifulday for our family. Dadcame home from workearly, after completing aweek-long training ses-sion for work and “acing”his test. He decided to gofor a bike ride with two ofour children, both 10years old.

They stopped by thelake and saw some famil-iar faces enjoying them-selves at the FishflyFestival. Onward theymoved, debating on theirnext stop. The kids want-ed to make lemonade, andthey remembered Momsaying she needed somebutter. So, they decided togo to our local Kroger,which we frequent proba-bly twice per week.

Little did we know -our beautiful day was fad-ing. As the three went inthe store, for probably afive- to 10-minute trip,someone decided to help

themselves to our daugh-ter’s bike. When they cameout of the store, it wasgone. No thief in sight.

The police were called,a report was given, tearswere shed, and again, nothief was seen or found.

Everyone was remind-ed that the bikes shouldhave been locked. Or theyshould have been parkednear security cameras. Ithink the kids were leftfeeling guilty that they didsomething wrong. I knowmy husband did!

This is where we shop,this is where we live. At 3p.m. in the afternoon,how could someone feelentitled to steal mydaughter’s bike, a bike sheloved, that was given toher as a gift?

We drove around forquite some time, hopingto find a kid riding on it,so we could get it back.The police told us ninetimes out of 10, it’s a kid.So I ask you, if your childhas a bike in his or herpossession that isn’t his,or is his “friend’s,” or ifyou have any informationregarding this incident,please call theChesterfield Townshippolice. It is a darkblue/almost navy color,metallic with a slightshimmer to it. It has ablack seat, and is a boy’sstyle mountain bike.

There is a sad little girlin New Baltimore who haslost a little faith in hercommunity ... and I havetoo.NANCY ANULARENew Baltimore

Area legislatorsare eroding democracy

As we celebrate theFourth of July holidaywith all its past, whichrecognizes the past free-doms we have come toenjoy as a citizen, immi-grant, mother, father andour children. A new waveis beginning to create arapture this country hasfought against in the pastcentury from outside ourborders.

Now sweeping ournation from Wisconsin,Ohio and now our formerfriendly state of Michigan:Our state representatives,senators and our gover-nors are planning -through legislative actions- a communist stateequaled to Russia andmany countries fromEurope and Eastern Asiancountries in the past.

Let’s start with SenateBill 158, sponsored bySenator Pavlov; the sixdominate provisionswould create such govern-ment with the inclusion ofthe maker of this pro-posed law.

If you have any doubtsabout this form of com-munism, look at the 47bills proposed and sup-ported by Mr. Gilbert, Mr.Pavlov and Ms.LaFontaine. Look at the

history of communism,Nazism and the implica-tion of where we are head-ed.

Our only avenue sup-ported by law is recall orthe election process. Yes,even the Supreme Courtsin Wisconsin andMichigan will questionour rights developed overmany years by familiesand activist friends.

As we finish this holi-day, it is time to get our-selves in a mode todemand these freedomswe cherish from our past.KEN HARRISPort Huron

Nothing sayshappy birthdaylike a gas priceincrease

I would like to give ahuge “THANK YOU” tothe big oil companies fortheir wonderful birthdaygift that they gave thiscountry and her citizensthis Fourth of July, 2011: a30-cent increase per gal-lon of gas. How thoughtfulof them. How will they beable to top this next year?Maybe they can get theprice up to $5 per gallon.While I’m at it, I might aswell give a big “THANKYOU” to our elected offi-cials for allowing this tohappen to the people whovoted them into office.Oops, I just realized that Ithanked both of themtogether. I hope no onegets the wrong idea thatthey might be workingtogether. HAPPY BIRTH-

DAY AMERICA! We’re stilla great country despite allof the negative thingshappening right now. Godbless America.JIM ZINGERColumbus

Look hard topolice millage

This was written inresponse to the reportabout the ChesterfieldPolice Department deficitpublished June 29. Thedepartment may be look-ing at a potential deficit inthe budget, but it may bedue to poor decision mak-ing by the chief and someboard members, thanfrom lack of revenue. Withnearly $100,000 in drugseizure money’s availableto assist the departmentwith officers of evencanine units, the money isbeing used for remodelingof the building, not main-tenance of it, but remod-eling. Was the need for anew security system in thepolice department build-ing necessary? It was a$50,000 expense that doesnot allow for a securefacility. Anyone couldwalk up to the windownear the records depart-ment and crawl over topof the very narrow counterto get into the offices. Thedepartment is throwingmoney away with noregard for what is best forthe citizens of the town-ship. In this day and agewhere families are makingnecessary adjustments totheir budgets, why are thecitizens allowing the wast-

ing of money to go onwithin their own commu-nity?

In the 1980s, I, alongwith my siblings, spentmany days helping mymother paint signs, workfundraisers and supportthe millages that seem tonever end.

I am saddened thedepartment has turnedinto a poorly supervised,financially mismanagedand officer unfriendlyenvironment. Should thetaxpayers of Chesterfieldbe faced with paying moreout of their pockets tosupport a chief’s whims ofnecessity or should theypush a millage throughwith the condition thatmoney handled within thedepartment is all account-ed for with only a “com-munity need” mindframe?

I ask that, before amillage is drawn up, vol-unteers signed up andsigns printed, that theChesterfield TownshipBoard reevaluate themanagement of the policedepartment. The taxpay-ing citizens deserve atightly run departmentwhen you’re asking forpeople to hand over theirhard earned money to adepartment that is aboutto mismanage it.CHRISTINE SHELTONSandusky

July 13, 2011

COMMENT OF THE WEEK“I think the golf course is still an important partof the city. I just wish they would make it a placewhere everyone in the city can golf.”

- “Rich” said regarding the appoint-ment of City Manager Jason Hami

as superintendant of the MarysvilleGolf Course by city council

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