EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY FOR THE REVIVAL OF … · 2017-03-21 · A NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR...

A NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR VOL. 1 ISSUE 15

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Pontiac NewsJuly 22 - July 31, 2009

Dr. Maridada

Support the Pontiac Promise Zone Scholarship FundThe POH Riley Foundation Board of Trustees, supporters and friends invite you to come aboard and join us in our efforts tosupport the Pontiac School District. On Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., the Foundation will host a special“Cruising for Education” charity event to support the Pontiac Promise Zone Scholarship Fund. The four-hour dinner cruise

will be held aboard the spectacular 138-foot Ovation Yacht in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. This special event will allowcorporations, foundations, organizations and key leaders an opportunity to come together to support this worthy cause.

For information contact: Teresa Rodgers at (248) 338-5310. More about this event on back cover!

LANSING - House and Senate leadersrecently announced a major deal that willkeep the North American International AutoShow in downtown Detroit by allowing forthe modernization of Cobo Hall. The agree-ment comes as a result of bipartisan collabo-ration among the House, the Senate, theGovernor and leaders in Southeast Michigan. It now awaits the Governor's signature.

"I commend everyone who worked hardto make this deal a reality, including SenatorBishop, Mayor Bing, Oakland and MacombCounty Executives, lawmakers on bothsides of the aisle, and Wayne CountyExecutive Bob Ficano, who initiated theprocess," said House Speaker Andy Dillon(D-Redford Township). "Cobo plays a vitalrole in Southeast Michigan's economy. Theagreement we've reached will protect thejobs of thousands of Michigan workers andkeep the North American International AutoShow in its home in Detroit."

The deal struck will provide for a 30-year lease to a regional authority made up ofrepresentatives from Detroit and Wayne,Oakland and Macomb counties, as well as arepresentative appointed by the Governor.The lease agreement requires the authorityto renovate, rehabilitate and expand theaging facility.

"Our primary focus throughout thisprocess has been to keep the NorthAmerican Auto Show at Cobo Hall whilealso ensuring that Michigan did not lose thisimportant event to another state. Thecompromise reached should accomplishthat goal," said Senate Majority LeaderMike Bishop (R-Rochester). "In keeping theAuto Show here in Michigan , we not onlypreserve an important part of our state'sculture and history, but we hold onto $600million in revenue at a time when our statestruggles with sinking revenue levels. I wantto thank all the participants in this processfor seeing the wisdom in a timely resolutionand look forward to the City Councilaccepting this agreement.”

Hundreds of thousands of visitors cometo Cobo Hall each year from acrossMichigan and the country, many to visit the

North American International Auto Show,one of Michigan's signature events. In addi-tion to being responsible for more than16,000 direct jobs, it is estimated that Cobobrings in hundreds of millions of dollars inrevenue annually to Southeast Michigan'seconomy.

"This is great news for Detroit and thetens of thousands of workers whose liveli-hoods rely on a strong, vibrant Cobo Hall,"said State Representative Shanelle Jackson(D-Detroit), who has worked tirelessly toresolve this issue. "Cobo is part of the fabricof our community, and with this moderniza-tion plan, not only will we keep the AutoShow in Detroit , we'll attract the sort ofevents that demand a world-class conven-tion center. This will help revitalize Detroit's recovery and boost the entire state'seconomy."

State Senator Jason Allen (R-TraverseCity) said: “I want to congratulate membersof the Legislature, local government offi-cials and leaders of the Detroit Auto DealersAssociation for moving forward with acompromise to secure the future of theNorth American International Auto Show inDetroit. I think this compromise is fair andbalanced not just for the city of Detroit, butfor the entire state of Michigan. For years,Detroit has been known as the Motor Citycapital of the world. We have enjoyed thatdesignation, and the North American AutoShow has been an important part of ourstate's economy and history. Its continuedpresence here in Michigan, especially inDetroit, was our primary focus."

State Representative Bert Johnson (D-Detroit), Chair of the Detroit Caucus, alsopraised today's deal.

"We've reached a bipartisan agreementthat works for both Detroit and thesurrounding suburbs," Johnson said. "All ofSoutheast Michigan benefits from thehundreds of millions of dollars in economicactivity that Cobo creates for our economy,and all of Michigan benefits from the world-class events that are held in downtownDetroit. This is a great day for our city andour state."

Cobo Deal StruckHouse, Senate agree to leasing deal to

modernize Cobo, keep Auto Show in Detroit

The Obamas land inGhana for Historic Visit!

The School District of the City ofPontiac Board of Trustees has named the2008 Michigan Superintendent of the YearDr. Thomas G. Maridada II to serve assuperintendent of the 7200-student schooldistrict. Dr. Maridada and his cabinet willbegin on Monday, August 10, 2009.

Dr. Maridada has been an educator formore than 20 years and holds a Doctorateof Education in Educational Leadershipand Policy Studies. His experiencesinclude major successes as Superintendentof Inkster Public Schools, Director ofLearning Services at Wayne County

Regional Educational Service Agency(RESA), Principal and Assistant Principalsin Southfield Public Schools and teacher invarious Oakland County school districts.

A public reception is scheduled forWednesday, August 12, 2009 from 12:30p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Odell NailsAdministration Building located at 47200Woodward Avenue in Pontiac. The meetand greet is planned to give students,parents, church and business leaders andthe entire school community, the opportu-nity to personally welcome Dr. Maridada tothe Pontiac School District.

Pontiac School BoardAppoints Renown

Educator toSuperintendent PostDr. Thomas G. Maridada II

Takes the Helm of the PontiacSchool District on August 10th

US President BarackObama, First Lady MichelleObama and their daughtersMalia and Sasha disembarkfrom Air Force One uponarrival in Accra, Ghana onSaturday July 11, 2009.

See full text of PresidentObama speech to theGhanaian Parliament andmore photos on Pages 6 & 7.

To Pontiac commu-nity members who vote!

The topic of mydiscussion is “yes peopledied for the right tovote…and we shouldexercise thatright….but we shoulddo so with intelligence!“

For many years Iserved As OaklandCounty's RecruitmentSpecialist. My job

involved the following: Meeting with department heads to get a

clear understanding of their staffing needs! Drafting job descriptions that clearly

define the duties of the jobs! Conducting assessments and surveys to

determine the qualifications needed toperform the jobs!

Evaluating people who have applied todetermine if they meet the minimum qualifi-cations!

Performing salary surveys to determinethe appropriate salary range for jobs!

Attending job fairs, advertising andconducting resume searches on the web,placing newspaper and other ads andreaching out to various communityresources to find qualified people was alsopart of my duties and responsibilities!

We also make sure that a representativenumber of qualified minority and femaleapplicants have applied and had beenaccepted - before we close the applicationprocess.

Conducting structured interviews todetermine who is the MOST qualifiedperson for a particular job is also a part ofthis process.

Because of the events of MondaySeptember 11, 2001 - a position titledChief-Building Safety WAS ESTAB-LISHED at the County.

We were contacted by the department todevelop a job description.

This job is responsible for the securityand inspection of all County, owned, oper-ated and leased buildings and grounds.

To qualify for this job you need to be ahigh school grad or have completed GEDrequirements;

Have 7 years experience as a policeofficer …including 2 years of supervisoryexperience; …and have a valid driver's orchauffer's license

In order to ensure that we select the mostqualified person for this or any other job, wedevelop and conduct a test or oral evaluationof qualifications which includes a battery ofjob-related questions to determine theKSA's of each candidate.

K =Knowledge S = Skill A= Ability

For the Chief position appropriate jobrelated questions could include:

1. What experience or training have youhad as a police or security officer?

2. Have you had supervisory experience..if so …how much.. And what level of staffdid you supervise?

3. Have you had experience coordinatingor developing security procedures andsystems?

After each qualified candidate hascompleted this objective process the bestcandidate was then selected!

I submit to you that we should follow asimilar process in selecting our mayorand other elected officials.

Appropriate questions for mayoral candi-dates should include:

1. What experience have you had as achief executive officer of a multi-milliondollar business or as mayor or manager of acity?

2. What experience have you had super-vising and overseeing the development,presentation and management of a $100+million dollar budget?

3. Have you had experience selecting andsupervising department heads and other highlevel officials?

4. What experience have you hadreviewing, analying and completing busi-ness deals involving 100's of millions ofdollars?

The candidate with the most KnowledgeSkills & Abilities to best address the aboveand other job related questions and issuesshould be elected as our next mayor!

Over the past 30+ years of my involve-ment in politics…..I have been appalled bysome of the silly reasons that people vote forcandidates - a few of my favorites are:

1. He/she has the most yard signs 2. Girl he is fine! I am going to vote for

him because he looks so good!3. He/she is a democrat - Be emphatic

vote straight democratic 4. He/she is a republican5. We need a black person in that office6. We need a white person in that office7. Vote for anybody but that guy!In my humble opinion we should NOT

select a mayor, City Council person orschool board trustee or any candidate forany elected office based on any criteria otherthan Knowledge, Skills and Abilities(KSA'S).

When we go to the polls we must cast anintelligent vote for the most qualified candi-date that is available!

Forget the Personal Stuff…Pontiac is onthe verge of degenerating or falling to thelowest level in its history.

WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TOHAVE UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUALSAT THE CONTROLS DURING THISTIME IN PONTIAC'S HISTORY!

Please Pontiac voters let's use ourvotes wisely……this time!

The Pontiac News July 22 - July 31, 2009

PUBLISHER & CONTENT EDITORR. Frank Russell

CONTENT & NEWS EDITOR: Elaine Smith-WrightAFRICIAN CORRESPONDENT: Kofi Annorh

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:Clifton Walker, Attorney Earlean Baggett-Hayes,

Dianthia Spann, Elaine Smith-Wright, Rev. James Keys, Michael Reed, Quincy Stewart III, Michael Hohauser.

PHOTOGRAPHER: TBDADVERTISING MANAGER: Kashif Russell

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Christopher Riley OFFICE MANAGER: Mary C. Russell

DESIGNER & PRINTER: Michigan Web Press

CONTACT INFO:TELEPHONE: (248) 758-1411

FAX: (248) 451-1653 PO Box 431412, Suite #1

Pontiac, MI 48343www.thepontiacnews.com

[email protected]

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Inside Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Cast a Wise Vote

Bad Faith Insurance . . . . . .3

What's Happening in Pontiac 4

EFM Fred Leeb Blog

Money Matters . . . . . . . . . . 5

Africa & World News . .6 & 7

Health Matters . . . . . . . . .10

Educational Matters . . . . .11

Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Voices In The Community .13

Oakland County Clerk . . . .14

Community Calendar . . . . .15

WE MUST USE OUR VOTE WISELY

The Pontiac News is dedicated to providing balancednews about The City of Pontiac and surrounding communities!

The Pontiac News was founded and established inFebruary 2007 and will be published bi-weekly beginning inAugust 2007. As a major community and the county seat ofOakland County we believe that The City of Pontiac shouldhave a newspaper that is dedicated to providing informationand news about this great and historical city.

The Pontiac News is a community minded newspaper thatwill not only serve readers but also businesses and local organ-izations and will strive to be the paper of record for localmunicipal units including The City of Pontiac, and the PontiacSchool District.

This bi-weekly newspaper, The Pontiac News, has beenestablished to cover areas in our retail zone including Pontiac,Auburn Hills, Waterford, Bloomfield and other nearby commu-nities (and other school districts).

The Pontiac News will be distributed to over 25,000homes in The City of Pontiac and nearby communities and over1,000 area businesses, organizations and agencies. We willeventually create a computer database for all addresses in thezip codes contained in the basic Pontiac News circulation area.A computer program will be designed to generate labels for allhouseholds and businesses in those zip codes in order to reacha total of more than 30,000 homes and businesses in our retailarea by mail or by door to door delivery service.

In addition to better serving the business community withexpanded circulation to cover the retail zone, The Pontiac Newswill have a great product for readers. We will often feature full4 color pictures on the front page and occasionally elsewhere inthe paper. We will also have the Associated Press wire for newsfeatures, local writers to augment our local news, and featurecoverage. The Pontiac News web site will be launched in thenear future to expand and supplement our news coverage andadvertising reach.

We will continue to find better ways to serve ourcustomers.

About The Pontiac News

The list of Mayor/City CouncilCandidates for 2009 Primary

scheduled for TuesdaySeptember 15th are listed below

Mayoral CandidatesRay D. Alexander Damon Ferguson Bradley Gibbs Leon B. Jukowski Sandy-Michael E. McDonald Clarence E. PhillipsDonald L. Robinson, Sr. Everett L. Seay

City Council District (1)Wilbert T. AlexanderJaniece GagePatrice WatermanWilvern Charli Yarbro.

City Council District (2)George Williams

City Council District (3)Mary PietilaMarc A. SeaySherman Williams II

City Council District (4)Randolph Carter

City Council District (5)Ron HarmonDonald Watkins

City Council District (6)Lee A. Jones

City Council District (7)Kermit Williams

Please study each of these candidates andvote based on Knowledge, Skills andAbilities!


The Pontiac NewsJuly 22 - July 31, 2009

In a move to protect Michigan consumersfrom some of the most outrageous practicesin the home, auto and health care insuranceindustries, State Representatives VickiBarnett (D-Farmington Hills), Lisa Brown(D-West Bloomfield) and Ellen CogenLipton (D-Huntington Woods) todayannounced a package of bills that willtoughen penalties and rein in corporateleaders who promote a culture that deniesconsumers' legitimate claims. The legislationis modeled after laws in 46 other states thathave taken aim at "bad faith" insurance prac-tices.

"Insurers should not be able to get awaywith bullying people into dropping a claim ordelaying payment so they can collectinterest," Barnett said. "And whileconsumers are waiting for an insurancecompany to do what they promised, they canface mounting bills - maybe even bankruptcyand foreclosure. It's absolutely shocking thatMichigan is only one of four states that don'thave laws to protect consumers from thisreprehensible practice."

Bad faith insurance practices consist of aset of tactics to delay or deny legitimate

property, automotive or health care claims inorder to maximize a company's bottom line.Such practices can have devastating conse-quences for consumers while reaping profitsfor companies.

Jo Anne Katzman of Bloomfield Hills, aformer claims adjuster with AllstateInsurance Company who became a whistle-blower, saw firsthand why consumers needstronger protections against the wrongfulpractices of the insurance industry. Katzmansaid managers regularly threatened thatadjusters would lose their jobs if they didn'tdeny enough claims. She also was orderednot to pay a claim she knew was valid.According to multiple reports by BloombergNews, both Farmers Insurance and Allstatehave employee incentive programs foradjusters who deny the most claims.

"I could no longer look people inthe eye knowing our insurance companywould turn its back on them in their hour ofneed," said Katzman, who worked forAllstate from 2002 to 2003. "The employeeswho regularly delayed or denied claims wereawarded with promotions and rewards.Having worked on the inside, I can tell you

that no one is in good hands with Allstate orwith any other insurance company untilMichigan toughens its consumer protectionlaws. "

The House plan will: • Strengthen consumer protections by

punishing insurance companies that illegiti-mately deny consumer claims with penaltiesincluding a $1 million fine.

• Punish corporate leaders who know-ingly foster or encourage wrongful denial ofclaims by making the misconduct a felonythat could result in four years in prison plus a$50,000 fine.

• Create a whistle-blower protection planto shield employees who report that an insur-ance company is engaging in wrongfuldenial of claims.

• Require insurance companies to repair aconsumer's credit rating when harmed bywrongful denial of coverage.

"Not only does this plan create much-needed consumer protections in Michigan, itholds corporate leaders accountable," Liptonsaid. "For far too long, insurance companieshave been able to turn their backs on our

residents when they needed help the most.With this plan, we're sending a message loudand clear: People come ahead of the profitsof powerful insurance companies."

Michigan's current law offers little or noprotection against bad faith insurance prac-tices, and the state's lack of penalties acts asan incentive to encourage companies tobreak their promises and exploit residents.According to the 2007 Bloomberg Newsreport, insurance companies even makemoney by low-balling claims and collectinginterest when they delay a consumer's claim.

"Too many residents have watched theirlives fall apart as powerful insurance compa-nies profit by dragging their feet and denyinglegitimate claims," Brown said. "Residentspay hard-earned money to insurance compa-nies to be there when disaster strikes. Thisplan will force companies to keep theirpromises and punish those who don't."

Note: Video testimonials by wrongfuldenial victims and whistle-blower Jo AnneKatzman are available at housedems.com/wrongful-denial.

Oakland Dems: Bad FaithInsurance Practices Must End Plan cracks down on companies that

deny residents' legitimate claims

LANSING - In a movethat will aid strugglinghomeowners trying tohold on to their piece ofthe American Dream,State Representative TimMelton (D-Pontiac) votedfor a compromise planreached with Senateleaders that will extend a

90-day lifeline to residents at risk of foreclo-sure who seek help. The plan, originallyproposed by House Democrats in February,awaits action in the Senate.

"In these tough economic times, it isimportant to have a Legislature that standsup for our citizens," Melton said."Thousands of families across Michiganhave lost their homes because of situationsout of their control. It is important to me thatthe residents of Pontiac and Auburn Hills -and all Michigan residents - have the oppor-tunity to work with their lenders in order tokeep their homes."

After weeks of negotiations between theHouse and Senate, the two chambers came toan agreement that will allow the House

Democrats' plan to be sent to the Governor.The plan will create a 90-day lifeline forhomeowners at risk of losing their home whocommit to working with their lender and ahousing counselor. Counselors are availablethrough the Michigan State HousingDevelopment Authority (MSHDA) and theU.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD).

According to RealtyTrac, Michiganranked sixth in the nation in foreclosures inthe first quarter of 2009, with more than33,000 properties in foreclosure. In 2008,more than 145,000 Michigan propertiesstatewide were in foreclosure - a 21 percentincrease from 2007 and a 108 percentincrease from 2006. In the first four monthsof 2009, Oakland County saw 6,919 homesfall into foreclosure.

"Because of the foreclosure epidemic, thevery fabric of our neighborhoods andcommunities is beginning to unravel,"Melton said. "Keeping our families in theirhomes will help get us through these tougheconomic times. I applaud my colleagues forcoming together for our families and passingthis very important plan."

Melton: 90-DayForeclosure LifelineAgreement Reached

House passes plan to help homeowners, awaits action in the Senate

Law Offices ofCYRILL C.. HALL,, P.C.Attorney And Counselor At Law

Dr. Harry L. Riggs Building149 Franklin Blvd

Pontiac, Michigan 48341(Phone) 248-333-7880 (Fax) 248-333-7924

Email: [email protected]

Melton

TPN has decided to publish the informa-tion presented by Mr Leeb the EmergencyFinancial Manager, in this blog he respondsto various questions and concerns that are onthe minds of citizens of Pontiac.

The opinions expressed in this blog arethose of Mr. Leeb and do not necessary reflectthe official position of the City of Pontiac.

Welcome to the City ofPontiac blog. This is aneffort to keep you (the citi-zens) better informed ofwhat is happening in citygovernment and this alsowill be a vehicle for you tokeep us (the city administra-tion) better informed of yourconcerns.

Through this blog, we will try to answeryour questions and discuss key issues on aweekly basis. You are encouraged to sendquestions and comments [email protected] or to 47450 WoodwardAve., Pontiac, MI 48342, Attn: BLOG. Wewill read your comments and they will help usdetermine your interests in specific areas. Themost frequently voiced questions andcomments may be reprinted on the blog. We

hope that you find this site both helpful andinformative!

I would like to start this issue off by sayingthank you to all of the residents and stake-holders who are reading the Blog. I would likerespond to several e-mails that have been sentto the blog. In the future, I will try to respondmore quickly.

*The following e-mails have been modi-fied to withhold identity of the sender andinformation that was deemed inappropriatefor this forum ( e-mails to us are in LowerCase and responses are in Caps).

– Fred Leeb, Emergency FinancialManager

County Sheriff’s Proposal As a resident I wish to thank you for your

service to our city, and for your initiatives todate to improve city administration andfinances. I also wish to thank you for yourresponse to my letter, in which I stressed thejustification for, and apparent absence of, anyobjective evaluation of the County Sheriff’sproposal as an alternative to continuedfunding of the Pontiac Police Dept. In yourresponse you reassured me that this evaluationwill take place prior to the date on which thegrant winners are to be announced, to possibly

provide more officers for Pontiac PD.However, when I look at your blog, I again

become confused. You talk about the grantapplication, as Val Gross does, as if it is theonly game in town for expanding publicsafety. There is no mention of the possiblealternative that may not require a grant (akamore tax money) and could be pursued imme-diately. Is it is morally/ethically right tocompete for public monies before looking atavailable and more cost-effective alterna-tives?

Mr. Leeb I dearly hope that you are nottempted to appease the incumbents at the costof your detachment and objectivity. It will notbe financially responsible, nor fair to the resi-dents who still pay taxes, for you to give theSheriff’s proposal short shrift. I believe youwill find many residents ready to support youin looking at alternatives, including me, ourblock club, and the Citizen’s DistrictCouncils, plus many others. We are waitingand watching to hear from you on this.

Mr. Leeb please reassure those of us whowant to rebuild Pontiac, by getting started onthat evaluation of the Sheriff’s proposal, andby letting us know in a public forum that alter-natives to Pontiac PD are being objectivelyanalyzed and results reported.

EFM: As you read on the blog, awards areexpected to be announced in late august.Between now and then, it is still our intent todetermine the option that provides the bestlong-term police coverage for Pontiac. Hadwe determined that keeping the departmentwas the best option for the city, but did notapply for the grant, then we would have madea big mistake. By applying for the grant, weare keeping every option open, whether it beonly the Pontiac PD, only the county sheriff,or some collaborative effort of multiple lawenforcement agencies as exists now. At thistime we do not know what the most cost effec-tive alternative is. Please keep in mind thatleast expensive and cost effective are not the

same. Furthermore, no final decision has beenmade.

When a decision is reached, it will bebased on what the available data suggests isthe best alternative for a vibrant Pontiac.

Silverdome update An amicable deal could not be completed

with the current bidder on the Silverdome andthe site is once again available for new bids.As stated in the first posting of this blog, thecity will now consider alternative methods ofdisposing of the property.

We are very aware that the delays in thesale process that already have gone on foryears have cost the city many millions ofdollars. We intend to move this sale to a fasttrack procedure that may be finalized verysoon.

Police Department News The mobile command unit is up and

running; check the Police department websiteto see when it will be in your area. The mobilecommand unit is an excellent opportunity forcitizens to interact with the Police Departmentand to get answers to many frequently askedquestions.

The Chief of Police would like to remindall citizens that there is a city curfew forminors and that it is being enforced. Childrenbetween the ages of 12 and 16 should not beout between 12 midnight and 6 AM. Childrenunder 12 are to be in by 11 PM.

The Chief would also like to report thefollowing:

• 16 of the last 20 homicides have beensolved and the defendants have been prose-cuted or are preparing for trial at this time.

• 2 individuals recently convicted ofmurder are believed to be responsible forapproximately 75% of reported shootings.

• Since January, there have been 15 felonyconvictions, 33 misdemeanors, and 27 civilinfraction citations.



What’s Happening In Oakland County

What’s Happening In Pontiac

Fred Leeb

City of Pontiac Blog

Paul Turner,Congressional Liaison toCongressman Gary Petershas set up shop in variouscities throughout thedistrict. The purpose ofsetting up a temporaryoffice is to allowconstituents the opportu-nity to come and sharetheir ideas, concerns or

complaints and basically communicate anyproblems they have regarding issues on theFederal Government level. It is an opportu-nity for people to come and actually have theirconcerns reach the Congressman and allowhim and his liaisons the chance to work on theissue, assign it to someone else in the properdepartment or branch of the Governmentmore able to handle your particular situationin order to see the problem resolved. Suchmatters could include but are not limited toSocial Security case issues, Internal RevenueServices (IRS) concerns, Medicare problems,Housing Urban Development (HUD),Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF),Immigration and any of the host of otherdepartments listed under Federal GovernmentDepartments.

Community office hours will be madeavailable from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. with a liaisondispersed to each city located within theCongressman’s district. Office hour avail-ability will be established on a monthly to bi-

monthly basis. Pontiac will be set up on a bi-monthly basis at this time with theCongressional Liaison. Other cities maypossibly receive bi-monthly services as well.

All constituents will receive the same serv-ices no matter which city they reside in withinthe district. Constituents in Pontiac willreceive the same services offered in Troy,Auburn Hills or Rochester. Constituentsshould look at this as an opportunity to comeand voice their concerns that they feel theymay need assistance with when dealing withFederal Government issues as well as infor-mation that needs to reach the Congressman.Some issues that may appear to be a local orState problem may be looked at by theCongressman if it has a Federal Governmentconnection. The Congressman’s office liaisonwill take a look at each issue on a case-by casebasis to determine which department or indi-vidual would be best suited to assist eachconstituent in receiving an answer or a solu-tion that will help them.

The following dates have been establishedfor the city of Pontiac:

August 4, 2009 August 12, 2009September 1, 2009 September 9, 2009October 6, 2009 October 14, 2009November 3, 2009 November 11, 2009December 1, 2009 December 9, 2009

Submitted by Elaine Smith-Wright

Gary Peters

What’s Happening In Washington

Oakland CountyExecutive L. BrooksPatterson recently willreleased first quartereconomic developmentstatistics for the Main StreetOakland County programand honored seven MSOCmember communities fortheir recent recognition bythe National Trust for

Historic Preservation.The presentation was held on Thursday,

July 16, at the new Rosie O’Grady’s Restaurant& Pub, 279 W. Nine Mile Road in downtownFerndale.

The communities honored were:Farmington, Ferndale, Holly, Ortonville,Pontiac, Rochester and Walled Lake. Pattersonpresented a representative from each of theseven community Main Street Oakland Countymembers with a plaque honoring them for theiraccomplishment.

Kathy LaPlante, a representative from theNational Main Street Center in WashingtonD.C., was on hand for the presentation. Countycommissioners from each of the communitieswere invited to attend. The Men of GraceGospel Choir from Pontiac also performed.

The grand opening of the new RosieO’Grady’s and its $3.4 million expansion, tookplace immediately after the presentation.

Oakland County ClerkAnnounces | STAR | Awards

Three employeesHonored for

Exceptional Serviceand Suggestions toSave Tax DollarsRuth Johnson, the

Oakland County Clerk& Register of Deeds,honored three Countyemployees with newSTAR Achievement

Awards for their exceptional service and

suggestions that improve office efficiency andsave tax dollars. “Our employees are hard-working, dedicated and constantly review theway we do business to make sure we areproviding the best possible service at the lowestpossible cost,” said Johnson, who created theSTAR (Serving Taxpayers & Residents)Achievement Awards. “We wanted some wayto recognize employees’ ingenuity, determina-tion to improve our office and understandingthat we have to be good stewards of publicmoney. I’m very proud of them.”

STAR Achievement Awards were given to:• Stephanie Schroeder, a longtime county

employee and chief deputy in the LegalDivision, for her suggestion for onlinemarriage license applications. The online appli-cations save couples a trip, including gasmoney and travel/parking time, to the court-house to apply for the license. The onlinemarriage license application, which required achange in state law, recently received nationalrecognition. Today, more than half of themarriage license applications submitted to theClerk’s Office are submitted electronically.Schroeder lives in Troy.

• Linda Nembhard, a custodian respon-sible for the cleaning of the Oakland CountyCourthouse, Linda was honored for her hardwork and her honesty. Nembhard discoveredan $11,000 diamond ring in one of the court-house restrooms and promptly turned the ringin so it could be returned to its rightful owner.“That lady was only married two weeks,” saidNembhard, smiling as she held her award.Nembhard, a 31-year county employee, lives inPontiac.

• Denise Bristow, the Tract Index super-visor in the Register of Deeds Office, wasrecognized for her exceptional customerservice and for her efforts working with federalauthorities to combat deed and mortgage fraud– an ever-growing white collar crime wherehomes are stolen “on paper” and re-mortgagedbefore the true owners are even aware whatwas happened. Bristow, a 35-year countyemployee, resides in Independence Township.

Seven Main Street CommunitiesHonored by County Executive

L. BrooksPatterson

Ruth Johnson



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“Just what are my requirements to getapproved for a car loan?”

• U.S. residency - and at least 18 years ofage.

• Gross monthly income of at least$1,500.00

• Flexibility - Remember, you may not beapproved for the vehicle of your dreams.Make sure, it is reliable transportation thatyou can live with for 1-2 years whilerepairing your credit.

“What if I have a recent repossession on my credit record?”

• This does not have to be a problem.

“I am currently in a bankruptcy” - or, “Ihave a bankruptcy on my credit history. Will

this keep me from getting a car loan?”• Again, this does not have to be a

problem.

“How much of a down payment will I need?”

• There is no specific answer to this. Eachdealership may require a different downpayment. Your down payment will alsodepend on the vehicle you wish to purchase -and on your own unique credit situation.

“Do credit inquiries affect my credit rating or credit score?”

• Yes, they do. Unfortunately the moreinquiries you have on your credit report, themore of a “desperation” case you may appearto be. If you have 14 inquiries and wereturned down by each of the credit companies

with whom you applied, this informationremains on your credit report. The next timeyou apply for credit, the rejections are avail-able information to anyone investigating yourcredit. Also, you will lose one to three pointsfor each inquiry on your report.

“I have no credit history with anyone. Can I get approved for an auto loan?”• Yes, it is definitely possible. Believe me,

everyone has to start somewhere. Many deal-erships are happy to work with first-timebuyers.

“Will my auto payments be reported to the credit bureaus?”

• Wow! Terrific question! Stay away fromany dealership who deals with financecompanies that don't report to the creditbureaus. When you have established goodcredit patterns, you want it to be a part ofyour credit record. Make sure your dealershiphas relationships with finance companies thatreport to credit bureaus.

That's about it for this week. If you've gota question I didn't cover in this column,

please contact me by writing this newspaper,or by phone (800) 758-4606, or calling medirect at (248) 431-2955, or through mywebsite, www.reginaw.com. I would like tomeet my readers. You are always welcome tostop by Auburn Pontiac-GMC at 500 S.Opdyke Rd. (about a mile south of theSilverdome) and ask for Regina. If you're inthe market for a new Pontiac or GMCproduct, or a clean, dependable pre-ownedvehicle, let me put my 13 years of experienceto work for you.

In the meantime, here are a few safety tipsfor driving on these icy roads you'll find inMichigan this year.

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourselfplenty of room to stop. Allow at least threetimes more space than you would normallyleave between you and the car in front of you.

2. Turn your lights on to increase yourvisibility to other motorist.

3. Please keep your lights and windshieldclean.

Safe-driving, everybody!

Here are the facts on buying a car with “so-so” creditMoney Matters

Regina Woodard

Text of President Barack Obama's speechSaturday in Accra, Ghana, as provided by theWhite House:

OBAMA: Good afternoon, everybody. Itis a great honor for me to be in Accra and tospeak to the representatives of the people ofGhana. I am deeply grateful for the welcomethat I've received, as are Michelle and Maliaand Sasha Obama. Ghana's history is rich, theties between our two countries are strong, andI am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as president of the UnitedStates of America.

I want to thank Madam Speaker and allthe members of the House of Representativesfor hosting us today. I want to thank PresidentMills for his outstanding leadership. To theformer presidents , Jerry Rawlings, formerPresident Kufuor , vice president, chiefjustice , thanks to all of you for your extraor-dinary hospitality and the wonderful institu-tions that you've built here in Ghana.

I'm speaking to you at the end of a longtrip. I began in Russia for a summit betweentwo great powers. I traveled to Italy for ameeting of the world's leading economies.And I've come here to Ghana for a simplereason: The 21st century will be shaped bywhat happens not just in Rome or Moscow orWashington, but by what happens in Accra,as well.

This is the simple truth of a time when theboundaries between people are overwhelmedby our connections. Your prosperity canexpand America's prosperity. Your health andsecurity can contribute to the world's healthand security. And the strength of your democ-racy can help advance human rights forpeople everywhere.

So I do not see the countries and peoplesof Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as afundamental part of our interconnected world... as partners with America on behalf of thefuture we want for all of our children. Thatpartnership must be grounded in mutualresponsibility and mutual respect. And that iswhat I want to speak with you about today.

We must start from the simple premisethat Africa's future is up to Africans.

I say this knowing full well the tragic pastthat has sometimes haunted this part of theworld. After all, I have the blood of Africawithin me, and my family's ... my family'sown story encompasses both the tragediesand triumphs of the larger African story.

Some you know my grandfather was acook for the British in Kenya, and though hewas a respected elder in his village, hisemployers called him "boy" for much of hislife. He was on the periphery of Kenya'sliberation struggles, but he was still impris-oned briefly during repressive times. In hislife, colonialism wasn't simply the creation ofunnatural borders or unfair terms of trade , itwas something experienced personally, dayafter day, year after year.

My father grew up herding goats in a tinyvillage, an impossible distance away from theAmerican universities where he would cometo get an education. He came of age at amoment of extraordinary promise for Africa.The struggles of his own father's generationwere giving birth to new nations, beginningright here in Ghana. Africans were educatingand asserting themselves in new ways, andhistory was on the move.

But despite the progress that has beenmade , and there has been considerableprogress in many parts of Africa , we also

know that much of that promise has yet to befulfilled. Countries like Kenya had a percapita economy larger than South Korea'swhen I was born. They have badly beenoutpaced. Disease and conflict have ravagedparts of the African continent.

In many places, the hope of my father'sgeneration gave way to cynicism, evendespair. Now, it's easy to point fingers and topin the blame of these problems on others.Yes, a colonial map that made little sensehelped to breed conflict. The West has oftenapproached Africa as a patron or a source ofresources rather than a partner. But the Westis not responsible for the destruction of theZimbabwean economy over the last decade,or wars in which children are enlisted ascombatants. In my father's life, it was partlytribalism and patronage and nepotism in anindependent Kenya that for a long stretchderailed his career, and we know that thiskind of corruption is still a daily fact of lifefor far too many.

Now, we know that's also not the wholestory. Here in Ghana, you show us a face ofAfrica that is too often overlooked by a worldthat sees only tragedy or a need for charity.The people of Ghana have worked hard to putdemocracy on a firmer footing, with repeatedpeaceful transfers of power even in the wakeof closely contested elections. And by theway, can I say that for that the minoritydeserves as much credit as the majority. Andwith improved governance and an emergingcivil society, Ghana's economy has shownimpressive rates of growth.

This progress may lack the drama of 20thcentury liberation struggles, but make nomistake: It will ultimately be more signifi-cant. For just as it is important to emergefrom the control of other nations, it is evenmore important to build one's own nation.

So I believe that this moment is just aspromising for Ghana and for Africa as themoment when my father came of age andnew nations were being born. This is a newmoment of great promise. Only this time,we've learned that it will not be giants likeNkrumah and Kenyatta who will determineAfrica's future. Instead, it will be you , themen and women in Ghana's parliament , thepeople you represent. It will be the youngpeople brimming with talent and energy andhope who can claim the future that so manyin previous generations never realized.

Now, to realize that promise, we must firstrecognize the fundamental truth that you havegiven life to in Ghana: Development dependson good governance. That is the ingredientwhich has been missing in far too manyplaces, for far too long. That's the change thatcan unlock Africa's potential. And that is aresponsibility that can only be met byAfricans.

As for America and the West, our commit-ment must be measured by more than just thedollars we spend. I've pledged substantialincreases in our foreign assistance, which isin Africa's interests and America's interests.But the true sign of success is not whether weare a source of perpetual aid that helps peoplescrape by , it's whether we are partners inbuilding the capacity for transformationalchange.

This mutual responsibility must be thefoundation of our partnership. And today, I'llfocus on four areas that are critical to thefuture of Africa and the entire developingworld: democracy, opportunity, health, andthe peaceful resolution of conflict.

First, we must support strong and sustain-able democratic governments.

As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life todemocracy in its own way, and in line with itsown traditions. But history offers a clearverdict: Governments that respect the will oftheir own people, that govern by consent andnot coercion, are more prosperous, they aremore stable and more successful than govern-ments that do not.

This is about more than just holding elec-tions. It's also about what happens betweenelections. Repression can take many forms,and too many nations, even those that haveelections, are plagued by problems thatcondemn their people to poverty. No countryis going to create wealth if its leaders exploitthe economy to enrich themselves ... or ifpolice , if police can be bought off by drugtraffickers. No business wants to invest in aplace where the government skims 20 percentoff the top ... or the head of the port authorityis corrupt. No person wants to live in asociety where the rule of law gives way to therule of brutality and bribery. That is notdemocracy, that is tyranny, even if occasion-ally you sprinkle an election in there. Andnow is the time for that style of governance toend.

In the 21st century, capable, reliable andtransparent institutions are the key to success, strong parliaments; honest police forces;independent judges ... an independent press; avibrant private sector; a civil society. Thoseare the things that give life to democracy,because that is what matters in people'severyday lives.

Now, time and again, Ghanaians havechosen constitutional rule over autocracy andshown a democratic spirit that allows theenergy of your people to break through. Wesee that in leaders who accept defeatgraciously , the fact that President Mills'opponents were standing beside him lastnight to greet me when I came off the planespoke volumes about Ghana; victors whoresist calls to wield power against the opposi-tion in unfair ways. We see that spirit incourageous journalists like Anas AremeyawAnas, who risked his life to report the truth.We see it in police like Patience Quaye, whohelped prosecute the first human trafficker inGhana. We see it in the young people who arespeaking up against patronage and partici-pating in the political process.

Across Africa, we've seen countlessexamples of people taking control of theirdestiny and making change from the bottomup. We saw it in Kenya, where civil societyand business came together to help stop post-election violence. We saw it in South Africa,where over three-quarters of the countryvoted in the recent election , the fourth sincethe end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe,where the Election Support Network bravedbrutal repression to stand up for the principlethat a person's vote is their sacred right.

Now, make no mistake: History is on theside of these brave Africans, not with thosewho use coups or change constitutions to stayin power. Africa doesn't need strongmen, itneeds strong institutions.

Now, America will not seek to impose anysystem of government on any other nation.The essential truth of democracy is that eachnation determines its own destiny. But whatAmerica will do is increase assistance forresponsible individuals and responsible insti-tutions, with a focus on supporting goodgovernance , on parliaments, which check



Africa - & World News

US Presidents in GhanaOn Saturday July 10, 2009 President

Barack Obama arrived in Ghana with hisfamily, they were welcomed by thousands ofpeople angling for a glimpse of the firstblack U.S. president. Obama is the thirdU.S. president to visit Ghana in little morethan a decade. President Bill Clinton madethe trip to Ghana in 1998 and PresidentGeorge W. Bush, who has a highway namedafter him, in 2008. Photo below show USPresidents in Ghana.

Former President Jerry Rawlings , President Obama.Current President John Evens Atta Mills and FormerPresident John Kufuor

April 1998: President Bill Clinton meets PresidentJerry Rawlings

Kofi AnnorhAfrican Correspondent

Kofi provides TPN with newsabout events that are happening

on the African Continent.

Text of Obama's speech in Ghana

July 2009: US President Barack Obama speaks withGhanaian President John Atta Mills during a meetingat the Presidential Castle

Feb 2008: President George W. Bush meets withPresident John Kufuor



abuses of power and ensure that oppositionvoices are heard ... on the rule of law, whichensures the equal administration of justice; oncivic participation, so that young people getinvolved; and on concrete solutions tocorruption like forensic accounting andautomating services ... strengthening hotlines, protecting whistle-blowers to advancetransparency and accountability.

And we provide this support. I havedirected my administration to give greaterattention to corruption in our human rightsreports. People everywhere should have theright to start a business or get an educationwithout paying a bribe. We have a responsi-bility to support those who act responsiblyand to isolate those who don't, and that isexactly what America will do.

Now, this leads directly to our second areaof partnership: supporting development thatprovides opportunity for more people.

With better governance, I have no doubtthat Africa holds the promise of a broaderbase of prosperity. Witness the extraordinarysuccess of Africans in my country, America.They're doing very well. So they've got thetalent, they've got the entrepreneurial spirit.The question is, how do we make sure thatthey're succeeding here in their home coun-tries? The continent is rich in naturalresources. And from cell phone entrepreneursto small farmers, Africans have shown thecapacity and commitment to create their ownopportunities. But old habits must also bebroken. Dependence on commodities , or asingle export , has a tendency to concentratewealth in the hands of the few and leavespeople too vulnerable to downturns.

So in Ghana, for instance, oil brings greatopportunities, and you have been veryresponsible in preparing for new revenue. Butas so many Ghanaians know, oil cannotsimply become the new cocoa. From SouthKorea to Singapore, history shows that coun-tries thrive when they invest in their peopleand in their infrastructure ... when theypromote multiple export industries, develop askilled work force and create space for smalland medium-sized businesses that createjobs.

As Africans reach for this promise,America will be more responsible inextending our hand. By cutting costs that goto Western consultants and administration,we want to put more resources in the hands ofthose who need it, while training people to domore for themselves. That's why our $3.5billion food security initiative is focused onnew methods and technologies for farmers ,not simply sending American producers orgoods to Africa. Aid is not an end in itself.The purpose of foreign assistance must becreating the conditions where it's no longerneeded. I want to see Ghanaians not only self-sufficient in food, I want to see you exportingfood to other countries and earning money.You can do that.

Now, America can also do more topromote trade and investment. Wealthynations must open our doors to goods andservices from Africa in a meaningful way.That will be a commitment of my administra-tion. And where there is good governance, wecan broaden prosperity through public-private partnerships that invest in better roadsand electricity; capacity-building that trainspeople to grow a business; financial servicesthat reach not just the cities but also the poorand rural areas. This is also in our own inter-ests , for if people are lifted out of povertyand wealth is created in Africa, guess what?New markets will open up for our own goods.So it's good for both.

One area that holds out both undeniableperil and extraordinary promise is energy.Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any

other part of the world, but it is the mostthreatened by climate change. A warmingplanet will spread disease, shrink waterresources and deplete crops, creating condi-tions that produce more famine and moreconflict. All of us , particularly the developedworld , have a responsibility to slow thesetrends , through mitigation, and by changingthe way that we use energy. But we can alsowork with Africans to turn this crisis intoopportunity.

Together, we can partner on behalf of ourplanet and prosperity and help countriesincrease access to power while skipping ,leapfrogging the dirtier phase of develop-ment. Think about it: Across Africa, there isbountiful wind and solar power; geothermalenergy and biofuels. From the Rift Valley tothe North African deserts; from the Westerncoasts to South Africa's crops , Africa'sboundless natural gifts can generate its ownpower, while exporting profitable, cleanenergy abroad.

These steps are about more than growthnumbers on a balance sheet. They're aboutwhether a young person with an educationcan get a job that supports a family; a farmercan transfer their goods to market; an entre-preneur with a good idea can start a business.It's about the dignity of work; it's about theopportunity that must exist for Africans in the21st century.

Just as governance is vital to opportunity,it's also critical to the third area I want to talkabout: strengthening public health.

In recent years, enormous progress hasbeen made in parts of Africa. Far more peopleare living productively with HIV/AIDS, andgetting the drugs they need. I just saw awonderful clinic and hospital that is focusedparticularly on maternal health. But too manystill die from diseases that shouldn't kill them.When children are being killed because of amosquito bite, and mothers are dying inchildbirth, then we know that more progressmust be made.

Yet because of incentives , often providedby donor nations , many African doctors andnurses go overseas, or work for programs thatfocus on a single disease. And this createsgaps in primary care and basic prevention.Meanwhile, individual Africans also have tomake responsible choices that prevent thespread of disease, while promoting publichealth in their communities and countries.

So across Africa, we see examples ofpeople tackling these problems. In Nigeria,an interfaith effort of Christians and Muslimshas set an example of cooperation to confrontmalaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, wesee innovative ideas for filling gaps in care ,for instance, through E-Health initiatives thatallow doctors in big cities to support those insmall towns.

America will support these efforts througha comprehensive, global health strategy,because in the 21st century, we are called toact by our conscience but also by ourcommon interest, because when a child diesof a preventable disease in Accra, that dimin-ishes us everywhere. And when disease goesunchecked in any corner of the world, weknow that it can spread across oceans andcontinents.

And that's why my administration hascommitted $63 billion to meet these chal-lenges , $63 billion. Building on the strongefforts of President Bush, we will carryforward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We willpursue the goal of ending deaths from malariaand tuberculosis, and we will work to eradi-cate polio. We will fight , we will fightneglected tropical disease. And we won'tconfront illnesses in isolation , we will investin public health systems that promote well-ness and focus on the health of mothers and

children.Now, as we partner on behalf of a

healthier future, we must also stop thedestruction that comes not from illness, butfrom human beings , and so the final area thatI will address is conflict.

Let me be clear: Africa is not the crudecaricature of a continent at perpetual war. Butif we are honest, for far too many Africans,conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun.There are wars over land and wars overresources. And it is still far too easy for thosewithout conscience to manipulate wholecommunities into fighting among faiths andtribes.

These conflicts are a millstone aroundAfrica's neck. Now, we all have many identi-ties , of tribe and ethnicity; of religion andnationality. But defining oneself in opposi-tion to someone who belongs to a differenttribe or who worships a different prophet hasno place in the 21st century. Africa's diversityshould be a source of strength, not a cause fordivision. We are all God's children. We allshare common aspirations , to live in peaceand security; to access education and oppor-tunity; to love our families and our communi-ties and our faith. That is our commonhumanity.

That is why we must stand up to inhu-manity in our midst. It is never justified,never justifiable to target innocents in thename of ideology. It is the death sentence of asociety to force children to kill in wars. It isthe ultimate mark of criminality andcowardice to condemn women to relentlessand systemic rape. We must bear witness tothe value of every child in Darfur and thedignity of every woman in the Congo. Nofaith or culture should condone the outragesagainst them. And all of us must strive for thepeace and security necessary for progress.

Africans are standing up for this future.Here, too, in Ghana we are seeing you helppoint the way forward. Ghanaians shouldtake pride in your contributions to peace-keeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon ...and your efforts to resist the scourge of thedrug trade. We welcome the steps that arebeing taken by organizations like the AfricanUnion and ECOWAS to better resolveconflicts, to keep the peace and support thosein need. And we encourage the vision of astrong, regional security architecture that canbring effective, transnational forces to bearwhen needed.

America has a responsibility to work withyou as a partner to advance this vision, notjust with words, but with support thatstrengthens African capacity. When there's agenocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia,these are not simply African problems , theyare global security challenges, and theydemand a global response.

And that's why we stand ready to partnerthrough diplomacy and technical assistanceand logistical support, and we will standbehind efforts to hold war criminals account-able. And let me be clear: Our AfricaCommand is focused not on establishing afoothold in the continent, but on confrontingthese common challenges to advance thesecurity of America, Africa and the world.

In Moscow, I spoke of the need for aninternational system where the universalrights of human beings are respected, andviolations of those rights are opposed. Andthat must include a commitment to supportthose who resolve conflicts peacefully, tosanction and stop those who don't, and to helpthose who have suffered. But ultimately, itwill be vibrant democracies like Botswanaand Ghana which roll back the causes ofconflict and advance the frontiers of peaceand prosperity.

As I said earlier, Africa's future is up to

Africans.The people of Africa are ready to claim

that future. And in my country, AfricanAmericans , including so many recent immi-grants , have thrived in every sector ofsociety. We've done so despite a difficult past,and we've drawn strength from our Africanheritage. With strong institutions and a strongwill, I know that Africans can live theirdreams in Nairobi and Lagos, Kigali,Kinshasa, Harare, and right here in Accra.

You know, 52 years ago, the eyes of theworld were on Ghana. And a young preachernamed Martin Luther King traveled here, toAccra, to watch the Union Jack come downand the Ghanaian flag go up. This was beforethe march on Washington or the success ofthe civil rights movement in my country. Dr.King was asked how he felt while watchingthe birth of a nation. And he said: "It renewsmy conviction in the ultimate triumph ofjustice."

Now that triumph must be won oncemore, and it must be won by you. And I amparticularly speaking to the young people allacross Africa and right here in Ghana. Inplaces like Ghana, young people make upover half of the population.

And here is what you must know: Theworld will be what you make of it. You havethe power to hold your leaders accountable,and to build institutions that serve the people.You can serve in your communities andharness your energy and education to createnew wealth and build new connections to theworld. You can conquer disease and endconflicts and make change from the bottomup. You can do that. Yes you can ... because inthis moment, history is on the move.

But these things can only be done if all ofyou take responsibility for your future. And itwon't be easy. It will take time and effort.There will be suffering and setbacks. But Ican promise you this: America will be withyou every step of the way , as a partner, as afriend. Opportunity won't come from anyother place, though. It must come from thedecisions that all of you make, the things thatyou do, the hope that you hold in your heart.

7Ghana, freedom is your inheritance.Now, it is your responsibility to build uponfreedom's foundation. And if you do, we willlook back years from now to places likeAccra and say this was the time when thepromise was realized; this was the momentwhen prosperity was forged, when pain wasovercome, and a new era of progress began.This can be the time when we witness thetriumph of justice once more. Yes we can.Thank you very much. God bless you. Thankyou.

Mosaic Ghana AfricaIn October 2009, Mosaic Ghana Africa will

lead a business development, investment andcultural tour to Accra, Ghana in West Africa.The delegation will include various Oakland

County, State of Michigan and other U.S.based executives of small, medium, and largeU.S. firms representing a variety of business

sectors.The overall focus of the trip will be commer-cial, cultural and investment opportunities forOakland County, State of Michigan and otherU.S. companies, including joint ventures, pre-sented by the continuing market liberalizationand privatization underway in this country. InGhana briefings and one-on-one business

appointments will be arranged for members ofthe government, business and cultural dele-gation”. For information regarding this trip

contact 248-758-1411 or email [email protected]



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Health Matters

Pontiac, MI - Medical Residents from theFamily Medicine program at Doctors’ Hospitalof Michigan (www.dhofm.com) take patient-centered family medicine seriously. Over thepast two years the second-year residents havevolunteered to be one of thirty-six residencyprograms in the country to take part in “TheRocking Chair Project (RCP).” For their partin the RCP, participating residents not onlyfollow the progress of new mothers throughouttheir pregnancies, delivery, and aftercare ofboth mothers and their babies, but they alsodeliver and set up a brand new rocking chair inthe homes of their new moms. Since 2007,DHM residents have delivered and assembled12 rocking chairs within Pontiac and thesurrounding areas

Research compiled in 2007 by the EdwardZigler Center for Child Development andSocial Policy Child Study Center at YaleUniversity reinforces the importance of theRCP in supporting normal brain developmentfor infants, the postpartum recovery formothers, and bonding between mothers andtheir infants. Family Medicine Resident, Dr.Sameer Ohri, discovered the RCP at a medicalconference three summers ago and introducedit to the DHM's Family Medicine Residencyprogram. Dr. Tracy Juliao, Director ofBehavioral Medicine & Health Psychologist

within the Family Medicine Residency, hasspearheaded the coordination of this programat the local level.

The RCP, founded by Dr. Michael Mageeand his wife, Patricia, began as a local programin a Rhode Island residency program in 2000.In 2004 the RCP partnered with the AmericanAcademy of Family Physicians Foundation toexpand the program nationwide. The nation-wide efforts of the RCP create opportunities foreconomically disadvantaged mothers toreceive rocking chairs and home visits from thesecond year resident physicians who are caringfor them.

Doctors' Hospital of Michigan (DHM),www.dhofm.com, is accredited by The JointCommission and is Michigan's first physician-owned acute-care hospital with a unifiedmission to deliver the highest quality, cost-effective, and compassionate healthcare innorthern Oakland County. DHM is home to avariety of health-related services including:Family Medicine Residency Program, familymedicine practices, Acute Medical Surgery,Physical Therapy, Radiation Oncology,Emergency Centers (Pontiac and Waterford),and several out-patient clinics. In addition,DHM is home to Euro-Peds(www.europeds.org), the first hospital-basedIntensive Pediatric Physical Therapy program

DHM Family Medicine ResidentsSpearhead Rocking Chair Program

New Mothers Receiving Medical Care Plus Rocking Chairs for Home

Dr. Michael Cutler, MDConsider these staggering statistics:

according to the American DiabetesAssociation, about 24 million people sufferfrom diabetes and a whopping 5 millionpeople are undiagnosed and don't even knowthey have the disease!1 Overall, 54 millionAmericans suffer from some degree ofblood sugar imbalance and insulin resist-ance.1 Most of these people have type IIdiabetes, which is largely preventable with ahealthy diet low-carb, low-sugar diet.

As a practicing physician, I was nevertaught any primary preventative measuresfor my patients. At most, I was given somedetective tools, such as screening bloodsugar in "at risk" patients. It baffles me, as Ilook back, that I couldn't see the huge gap inmy medical school and residency training.We did nothing to prevent diabetes and didvery little to address the underlying mecha-nisms that stimulate abnormal sugar metab-olism!

The main focus of conventional medi-cine today is still all about using prescriptiondrugs to lower blood sugar, which is too lateif you want to reverse the disease itself.There is no question that people withdiabetes experience an elevated risk for avariety of other illnesses including heartdisease and stroke, blindness, peripheralnerve disease and pain, kidney damage andfailure, impotency and skin disorders.

In a 2003 report, published in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition,childhood obesity rose to 16% of childrenbetween ages 6 and 11 (95th percentile of

body mass index for age) plus an additional14.3% were from the 85th to the 95thpercentile. This report pointed out that asthese children's body weights increased, sodid their consumption of fast foods and softdrinks, trending up by nearly 300%!2

I shudder when I read articles like theone reported in the October 2005 Annals ofInternal Medicine, which tracked 4,000adults over 30 years for the development ofobesity. It verified that becoming abnor-mally overweight now has a current trendsuch that nine out of 10 men and seven outof 10 women will become overweight! Withobesity playing such a huge role in diabetes,heart disease, arthritis, hypertension, depres-sion and many cancers -- no wonder theresearchers concluded, "more effectiveprevention and treatment strategies areurgently needed."

Herbs to Help with Diabetes Control If you have been diagnosed with insulin

resistance or high blood sugar levels, thereare certain nutrients you can take to helpcontrol and even lower your blood sugarlevel.

Several herbal preparations have beenused to control blood sugar levels beginningas early as 1550 B.C.3 Here are a few of theherbs that have been adequately studied todetermine their actual effects and potencies.

• Gymnema sylvestre (leaf). This age-oldherb from tropical India destroys sugar tastewhen the leaves are chewed and is oftenpromoted as an appetite suppressant forweight-loss. More importantly, several small

placebo-controlled trials show thatgymnema extracts lower blood sugar levelsby enhancing the action of insulin. Animalstudies indicate that gymnemacan doublethe number of insulin-producing cells in thepancreas, and bring blood sugar levels tonormal. Research findings also indicate thatgymnema can improve blood sugar controlso that smaller doses of oral diabetes drugsare needed. Several human trials clearlyshow quite a significant improvement in

blood sugar levels with gymnema.4 • Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-

graecum). Fenugreek has been found toimprove glucose levels, presumably bydecreasing absorption of glucose in thesmall intestine. One large fenugreek studyexamined participants with poorlycontrolled Type II diabetes and found anaverage fasting blood sugar decrease from

DHM Family Medicine Resident Dr. Frank Adjei assembles a rockingchair in a Pontiac mother’s living room – made possible by theCenter’s participation in a national project that provides new moth-ers with the rocking chairs and home-centered care.

Avoid the Risks of Blood Sugar Imbalance andDiabetes with These Simple Herbal Solutions

See Diabetes page 15

By Casey Gane-McCalla

Gane-McCalla is awriter, editor, rapper,producer and actor. He isa Columbia UniversityGraduate and previouslyworked in the non-profitsector.

There is a majorcrisis going on inAmerica. If we do notavert this crisis we may

see the destruction of America as we know it.We will no longer be able to compete withother countries, thousands more people willbe unemployed, our cities will becomecenters for poverty, violence and drug addic-tion.

No, this crisis is not our financial crisis orthe collapse of of the auto industry. Thiscrisis is way more severe than either of those.The crisis is the collapse of the urban educa-tional system, a crisis has been swept underthe rug by the American media and govern-ment for years.

The urban education crisis is hardly anew one for years the American governmenthas neglected the educational needs of thepoor African Americans and Latinos who

occupy many of our city centers.It is no coincidence that the cities with the

highest drop out rates also have the highestcrime rates and highest murder rates.Students who are unable to obtain qualityeducations find opportunities in the world ofdrugs and crime. The cycle continues fromone generation to another, in poor neighbor-hoods with poor schools plagued by crimeand no opportunity gives birth to anothergeneration with the same problem.

Bailing out the urban educational systemis not just a money problem. For too manyyears Americans have fought against things,communism, drugs poverty isn’t it time tofight for something? If Americans are tosolve this problem first we must realize whata major problem it is and realize that thefuture of our country is at stake. As in mostproblems the solution must come from hardwork, innovation as well as funding.

By baling out the urban education systemwe would not only reduce the crime rate,relieve our overcrowded jails and providejobs for inner cities, we will also be breakingthe cycle that keeps poor people of color inthe same neighborhoods, repeating the samecycles of violence, drugs and poverty.

We have seen the heights a person ofcolor can reach when given the proper

education and opportunities in BarackObama. How many future leaders, innova-tors, artists and businessman turn to crime ordespair because of a lack of educationalopportunities.

As someone who has worked in the someof the worst schools in Boston and the SouthBronx, I’ve seen the overcrowded class-rooms, the over-stressed, unpreparedteachers, the metal detectors at the door, thegangs and lack of art and athletic programsto keep students interested in school.However I’ve also seen the desire to learn,the thirst for knowledge and the belief in theUSA as a beacon of opportunity.

In Baltimore last year, students went on ahunger strike to protest the cuts in afterschool programs. John McCain said onething that I agreed with during the campaignand that was that education is the civil rightsissue of the 21st century. While de juresegregation has been gone for more then 50years from our public school system, thesystem is still inherently separate andunequal.

The few blacks and latinos lucky enough

to live in neighborhoods with decent schoolsystems have a fair chance at the Americandream, the masses who are trapped in innercities with few routes out. Because propertytaxes fund school systems, rich neighbor-hoods get lots of money to fund their schoolswhile poor neighborhoods are forced tosuffer, creating a class and race based formof de facto segregation.

Bailing out the urban education systemwill take more than money. It will takepeople willing to sacrifice and believe in thefuture of this country. If Obama can inspirepeople to work for him to get elected hope-fully he will be able to inspire people tofollow his lead and work as communityorganizers in urban neighborhoods.

Here’s some of the national High schoolDrop out Rates According to The Wall St.Journal

Baltimore: 65% of all students drop outChicago: 45% of all students drop outColumbus: 60% of all students drop outDetroit: 75% of all students drop outLos Angeles: 43% of all students drop outNew York: 53% of all students drop out



Educational Matters

Droppin’ Out: The Real American Crisis

The Pontiac Schools are having the 50/50Summer Reading Theater again this year at the

Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac.The Date is August 20, 2009 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

All children Must be accompanied by an adult. The children will have a Spelling Bee Competition, A TalentShow, Word Bingo, Storytelling, Readers, Scrabble Games,

Essay Contest, Children Games, Puppetry, Art Contest.All Children who attend will get a Book.

Prizes: Bikes and gift cards, etc for Children and Adults.Children can not receive a prize without an Adult.

Free Food for all.Entertainment, Face Painting and a Clown.

Ages: 1 to 18 years oldIf you know of any child that lives in the city of Pontiac please

tell them to be there. You must be a Pontiac Resident to attend.

THIS HANDBOOK WILL HELP PARENTS TO IMMEDIATELY:

• Help Your Child to Develop a Sense of Responsibility.• Help Your Child To Read Better and Get BetterGrades and Test Scores In School.•Help Your Child With His/Her Homework.

TYPICAL READER COMMENT:• After reading and applying the material in this hand-book my ability to help my child has increased 100%.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS AMAZING HANDBOOK:• Contains Tear Out Work Sheets & Charts To HelpYou Help Your Child.

• Sixty Ways to Help Your Child Learn.• Ten Steps to Improved Reading.• What The Research Says About Parental Support.• Getting Along With Others.

IRON CLAD GUARANTEE:• If you're not completely satisfied with this handbookafter you have it for 10 days, return it for a full refund.

IT WORKS!• Hundreds of parents have already used this hand-book and are now helping their children succeed inschool, friendships and in sports.

THIS HANDBOOK WILL HELP THE STUDENT TO IMMEDIATELY:

• Get Better Grades In School• Get Better Test Scores

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS AMAZING HANDBOOK:• How To Prepare For Class• What To Do After Class• What To Do During Classes• Test Taking Strategies• Contains Tear Out Worksheets and Charts To HelpYou Get Better Grades

TYPICAL READER COMMENT:• After reading and applying the material in this hand-book my grades went from a (D-) to a (B+).

IRON CLAD GUARANTEE:• If you are not completely satisfied with this hand-book after you have it for 10 days you may return itfor a full refund.

IT WORKS!• Hundreds of students have already used this hand-book and are now getting better grades in School.

Clip Coupon and mail to: The Youth Development Institute P.O. BOX 431016 - PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 48343email: [email protected] send Me_____ Copies of THE PARENT SUCCESS KIT AT $14.95 each plus $2.00 Postage andHandling. It is my understanding that if I am not completely satisfied with the book after 10 days of receipt, Ican return the book undamaged for a full refund. [ ] Money Order Enclosed [ ] Check Enclosed (Make Payable to Youth Development Institute)

Name____________________________ ____________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________ State ______________Zip _________________

Phone Number_____________________ Email Address__________________________________________

Clip Coupon and mail to: The Youth Development Institute P.O. BOX 431016 - PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 48343email: [email protected] send Me_____ Copies of THE STUDENT SUCCESS KIT AT $14.95 each plus $2.00 Postage andHandling. It is my understanding that if I am not completely satisfied with the book after 10 days of receipt, Ican return the book undamaged for a full refund. [ ] Money Order Enclosed [ ] Check Enclosed (Make Payable to Youth Development Institute)

Name_____________________________ _____________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________ State ______________Zip _____________________

Phone Number_____________________ Email Address__________________________________________

THE STUDENT SUCCESS KITTHE PARENT SUCCESS KIT

Casey Gane-McCalla

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By Christian E. WellerThe United States is in the middle of a

severe retirement crisis. Data released by theBureau of Labor Statistics today show thatolder workers are hanging on to their jobslonger and are struggling more to find a newjob if they lost their old one than at any timein almost three decades.

The retirement crisis is largely due tomassive losses in retirement wealth. Totalretirement wealth losses in all retirementsavings plans amounted to an inflation-adjusted $2.8 trillion—in 2008 dollars—between 2007 and 2008. But these massivefinancial market losses only apply to thoselucky enough to have retirement savings.Even before the crisis hit, only 45.1 percentof all private sector workers participated in aretirement plan—a traditional pension or anindividual savings account—through theiremployer, down from 50.3 percent in 2000.The remainder of the workforce must makedue with Social Security and a job well pastthe retirement age—if such a job can beobtained.

Workers in their prime earnings yearshave not been spared from this decline.Among workers between the ages of 45 and54, the share with an employer-sponsoredretirement savings plans was 57.4 percent in2007, the most recent year for which dataare available, down from 63.8 percent in2000.

The lack of access to retirement savingscoupled with a massive financial marketcrisis leaves older workers scrambling forother sources of income. Social Security stillremains the bedrock of retirement incomesecurity in the United States, but benefits forthose retiring today are less than they were

for previous generations due to benefitcuts—a higher normal retirement age—enacted in 1983. This leaves wage earningsas the primary pressure valve for cash-strapped retirees.

The irony that our current answer to theretirement crisis is to work longer should notbe lost on anyone. We are only now reapingthe fruits of decades of failed retirementincome policies that place too muchemphasis on individual responsibility andtoo little emphasis on income security.

Today there are more older workers inthe labor force than was the case in the past.The employed share of the population 65and older, for instance, was 15.9 percent inthe second quarter of 2009. This was slightlybelow its last peak of 16.4 percent in thesecond half of 2008, but well above anylevels since 1971 prior to the current crisis.

Older workers also seem to be bettersituated to hang on to their jobs thanyounger workers amid the turmoil on WallStreet and the massive layoffs on MainStreet. The employed share of workersbetween the ages of 55 and 64 was 61.1percent in the second quarter of 2009—down from 62.3 percent in the fourth quarterof 2007—the last quarter before the reces-sion started. The employed share of workers65 and older stayed the same, standing at15.9 percent in both the fourth quarter of2007 and the second quarter of 2009.

In comparison, the employed share ofworkers between the ages 25 and 54dropped from 79.7 percent in the fourthquarter of 2007 to 76.1 percent in the secondquarter of 2009—a decline that was 200percent larger than the decrease in theemployed share of the population between

the ages 55 and 64.Older workers clearly are able to main-

tain their position better than youngerworkers in this crisis, often because of aphenomenon known as job lock. They arekeenly aware that finding a new job in thecurrent situation is somewhere between verydifficult and near impossible and thuscontinue to work in their current employ-ment to find more income support than inthe past.

Those older workers who lose their jobs,though, do not go quietly into retirement anymore as had been the case in the past. Theunemployment rate for older workers hasreached record highs as job seekers remainlarge unsuccessful in finding new employ-ment. The unemployment rate for workersbetween the ages of 55 and 64 averaged 6.5percent in the second quarter of 2009, itshighest level since the first quarter of 1983.And the unemployment rate for workers 65and over was 6.2 percent in the secondquarter of 2009, its highest level since thefirst quarter of 1977.

Older men are especially vulnerable inthe current labor market. The unemploymentrate for men between the ages of 55 and 64averaged to 7 percent and that of men 65years of age and older averaged to 6.5percent in the second quarter of 2009,compared to 5.9 percent for women in thesame age groups.

There are also substantial racial differ-ences in the employment prospects of olderworkers. In the second quarter of 2009, theemployed share of whites between the agesof 55 and 64 was 62.3 percent compared to52.3 percent for African Americans in thesame age group. The employed share of

workers 65 years old and older was 16.1percent for whites and 14.7 percent forAfrican Americans.

Older African Americans also struggledmore than whites in finding a new job. Theunemployment rate for African Americansbetween the ages of 55 and 64 was 7.9percent in the second quarter of 2009,compared to only 6.2 percent for whites.And the unemployment rate for AfricanAmericans 65 years old and older was 7.0percent in the second quarter of 2009compared to 6.2 percent for whites in thisage group.

The double onslaught of a financial crisisand a major recession has left older workersbetween a rock and a hard place. The deci-mation of their life savings has themhanging on to their jobs longer or unsuccess-fully looking for a new job to a larger degreethan was the case in the past.

Using employment as a pressure valve ifthe best laid retirement savings don’t workout as planned is not a viable solution. Theanswer to the current retirement crisis has tocome from policies aimed at helpingworkers build more retirement wealth intraditional pensions, in individual savingsaccounts and in Social Security. Workinglonger will not become the new retirement,but saving more will.

Christian E. Weller is an AssociateProfessor at the University of MassachusettsBoston's Department of Public Policy andPublic Affairs, and a Senior Fellow at theCenter for American Progress.

© Center for American Progress "Thismaterial [article] was created by the Centerfor American Progress

Retirement: The Retirement Crisis in the Labor Market



LARRY JONES CPA

Dr. Harry L. Riggs Building149 Franklin BlvdPontiac, MI 48341

(248) 333-7414

“Experience you can trust.”

LAW OFFICE OF DARRYL P. MITCHELL

Attorney and Counselor at Law

Office 248-333-0220 • Home 248-454-0762Fax 248-333-7924 • Email - [email protected]

Dr. Harry L. Riggs Building

149 Franklin Blvd.Pontiac, MI 48341

My purpose for writing this book is toreach all those out in this world who arehurting and to meet them where they are withthe message that, “Yes you can make it.

The road map to your success begins inyour head.” We must take control of ourthoughts if we ever hope to do somethingdifferent with our life because our thoughtsgo on to shape our attitudes, which in turngive way to our goals and how we see themthrough to fruition. The mind in all its intri-cate details will work for you or it will sabo-tage all your good intentions. We must bevery careful what we feed into our subcon-scious mind.

I want this to be a book that reachespeople from every socio-economic stratumand gives them the confidence and directionthat is needed to sustain consistent growth.Then, I believe we as a nation will be in abetter position to make this world a moredesirable and safer place to raise our fami-lies.

In today’s world it is obvious that weneed someone we can turn to for help.Sometimes we try everything we know howto do and find that it is still not enough. Inthose more trying situations we need asavior; we need someone who is omniscient,omnipotent and omnipresent and knowswhat we’re going through. We need someonewith the power to orchestrate an answer toyour issues and who will be there for youthrough thick and the thin. I believe thatsomeone is my Jesus. He is truly the only onewe can turn to for the answer to the questionswe face today, tomorrow and everyday wewake up.

In this book, Jerry shares many examplesof people who overcame various obstacles tobecome successful. You will definitely find acommon thread that will get you up and getyou moving!

As you journey through this life, thesuccesses Jerry shares will help you navigatethe minefields and allow you to move fromwhere you are to where you want to be.

Mrs. Smith-Wright started out as a Mass Communicationsmajor at Oakland University and now holds a B.A. degree inNursing Home Administration and the Certificate ofGerontology and Sociology of the Aging from Wiley Collegealong with a MBA Degree from East Texas Baptist Universityin Management. She also holds a Certificate in Filmmaking,Screenwriting and Directing from the Motion Picture Instituteof Michigan.

Dear Elaine,My husband has been offered a new job in Texas that doesn’t pay as much as the job I still

have here in Michigan. Right now we are depending on my income and his unemployment tomeet our expenses and we have really cut back on our spending so that we are still able to putsomething in our savings. He really believes that we should try to sell our house, pack up ourchildren and have me leave my job which does not transfer. He feels that with my back-ground I should easily be able to get another job in this new state. That may be true but myreservations include all of the hassle that would be involved in moving. With the housingmarket being in the shape it’s in, I don’t think we’ll be able to sell our home any time soon sothat could mean paying two notes or in order to sell it we may have to take one heck of akilling to get rid of it and sell it for less than what we owe. Then to uproot our children fromour family and friends when two of them are in high school and looking forward to prom andgraduation with their peers seems so heartless. I think if we were to weigh the pros and cons,the cons outnumber the pros in moving right now. I’m trying to be sensible and rational andhe just wants to get out because he’s a man who wants a job so he can provide for his family.I don’t think he realizes that when you add it all up the income we have right now would stillbe more than what we would have with his new job and me receiving unemployment. I wantto support my man but he is really not looking at this thing with a critical eye. Any sugges-tions?

Signed,Settled Down

Dear Settled,Believe it or not, you seem to be the one who’s thinking clearly right now. You have a

number of valid points for remaining right where you are. If you had said that your husbandwas being offered a salary which would increase your income far beyond what you arereceiving right now or even matched what you now get, I might have a second thought aboutyour situation. But as you know, if you decrease your income you will have to find anotherway to supplement your income just to meet your expenses. That will bring a lot morescenarios you will need to take a look at. Sit down with your husband and outline all of yourpros and cons on paper so that he can actually SEE the problems that you will inherit with thekind of move he is suggesting. You could suggest that you put your home up for sale and ifyou’re able to sell it for what you need to get out of it then you will consider moving or saythat you would be more willing to move once your teens have finished school and are off tocollege. Believe me; either way you look at it, the two of you have really got some more plan-ning to do before you make such a big decision and move. Good Luck!

Ask Elaine.comBy Elaine Smith-Wright



Voices in the CommunityGet Up and Get MovingDiscover Your Dreams

& Purpose in LifeBy Jerry Walker

ERA Majestic RealtyContact Andrea Wright at

248-396-4585Provider of all Real Estate Services

BiographyJerry J. Walker an ordained

minister since 1996 has traveled tovarious states ministering to people.God’s will for their life. He ardentlybelieves that God has a desire forpeople to reach their highest poten-tial in life.

Jerry was born and raised inPontiac Michigan, served in themilitary in the United States Army inthe early 70’s and received an honor-able discharge. He is a successfulbusiness owner, married for over 16years, a devoted husband, father andgrandfather

For information regarding How to OrderOr for more information please call 866.421.6927Please send Money Order or Cashier Checks to:

P.O. BOX 37675 – OAK PARK, MI 48327

Subscribe to or Advertise in The Pontiac News

Call 248-758-1411 orEmail [email protected]



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Oakland CountyClerk Ruth Johnson istaking her show on theroad with a newMobile Office that willprovide clerk services- including access tomillions of birth,marriage and deathcertificates, courtrecords and property

documents - in an effort to reach out to all ofOakland County communities.

The pilot project kicks off 11 a.m. to 1p.m. on Tuesday, July 28 when the MobileClerk's Office stops at the Novi Civic Center,45175 W. 10 Mile Road.

“Our office in Pontiac can be a long wayfor people, especially with gas prices today,”said Johnson. “We've put most of our serv-ices on our website, but we realize that thereare people without Internet access or thosewho may be more comfortable with personalservice. Our Mobile Office pilot project willoffer convenient one-day stops in each of thewestern, eastern, northern and southernportions of the county.”

Mobile Office employees will havecomputer access and printers so they canprovide customers with on-the-spot copies ofbirth certificates, death certificates or otherpublic records. Normal copy fees will apply.The pilot project, modeled after a successfulprogram in Macomb County, will offer many

services, including:• Certified Copies of Birth, Death and

Marriage Records, • Marriage License Applications• Notary Public Applications• Registration of Assumed Names and

Co-Partnerships• Military Discharge Forms• Passport Applications & Photos • Copies of Property Records and Deeds• Oakland County Circuit Court Records• Identity Protection Information• Voter Registration • Absentee Ballot Application FormsJohnson said she hopes that the Clerk's

Mobile Office stop in Novi on July 28 willprove convenient for residents in the south-west portion of Oakland County. “Anyone iswelcome to join us to take advantage of thisone-stop service,” Johnson said, stressingthat there is no additional expense associatedwith the Mobile Office because resources,including employees and computers, aresimply being redeployed in regional loca-tions.

Additional Mobile Office stops will beannounced shortly.

“Our job is to get citizens the bestpossible service at the lowest possible cost,whether we are serving them at our mainoffice in the Oakland County Courthouse inPontiac, online at www.oakgov.com/clerkrodor with our Mobile Office,” said Johnson.

Oakland County Clerk'sOffice Going on the RoadFirst-ever Mobile Office Will Visit

Novi on Tuesday, July 28

The first annual “Christmas in July Ball”is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, at thePlaymakers U Facility located at 1150Featherstone on the grounds of the PontiacSilverdome.

The formal event will benefit the PontiacYouth Assistance Organization which ischaired by Mr. Bruce Turpin with otherboard members including Pastor DouglasJones, Mrs. Juanita Green, Mr. EugeneHawkins and PYA Director Ms. MaryStewart. The Pontiac Youth AssistanceOrganization helps children and familiesprevent delinquency and child neglect withinthe community. Funds provide direct benefitto youth and their families for activities theymay not otherwise be able to afford such asfamily counseling, parenting classes, skill-building, recreational programs, andtutoring.

Christmas in July will incorporate aChristmas theme displaying images of awintry wonderland including trees, lighting,decorations and Santa’s helpers, all bene-fiting at- risk children in the City of Pontiac

where attendees will demonstrate that thespirit of giving is year round.

“This event promises to be both excitingand inspiring.” said Derek Denham, one ofthe Playmakers U founders and owners.“We’re looking to raise a record amount ofmoney to assure that the Pontiac YouthAssistance Organization can continueproviding excellent services and qualityprograms to the at- risk youth in the City ofPontiac.”

The Black Tie affair will be hosted byformer television news personality andcurrent WJLB on air talent, Mr. CharlesPugh with a National key note speaker to benamed.

The event will include complimentarychampagne, a strolling buffet, a dessertstation, a silent auction, live entertainmentand a sizzling fashion show sponsored byVintage Prodigy of Royal Oak.

For more information on becoming asponsor or a volunteer, please contact Mrs.Juanita Harper at 248.841.3962

Ticket cost is $75 and tables are $725

Playmakers U presents“Christmas in July”

A Black Tie Charitable Affair

Pontiac Sports Performance company supports local youthorganization with fund raiser

Ruth Johnson


Community Calendar


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Bloomfield Hills/Woodward EstatesNeighborhood Association MeetingAlton • Arthur • Astorwood • Bassett • Bagley • BloomfieldBondale • California • Cedardale • Colorado • Crystal • LakeCrestwood • Dellwood • Ditmar • Earlmoor • Fulton • Fern•Fisher • Franklin • Fildew • Highland • Harrison • HarveyHillsmont • Howland • Hughes • Luther • Montana • Motor

Nebraska • Nevada • Pearsall • Pleasantview • Rapid Rockwell • South Boulevard • Wilson • Wyoming

Saturday August 8, 2009 - 1:00 – 2:30 PMFranklin Elementary School

Guest Speaker:Open Forum to Meet & Greet all Candidates that are running

for political offices in the City of Pontiac in 2009!Please attend and voice your concerns

Velma Stephens - President

PALACE SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT and RocSpace presents

THE SECOND ANNUAL FAITH AND FUN FEST SUMMER JAM

for Youth and Young AdultsWednesday July 22nd, 2009 @ 7pm

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151 mg/dL (baseline) to 112 mg/dL after 24weeks.5

• Ginseng root (Korean and Americanginseng). Ginseng has been studied andused as a treatment for infections anddiabetes generally for up to three monthswith repeated courses. One study showed asignificant reduction in post-prandialglucose versus placebo in Type II diabetes.6

• Citrus aurantium (orange bitters). Thisherb stimulates the sympathetic nervoussystem, thus increasing metabolism andlowering appetite.

• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Milkthistle is extremely good at cleansing theliver, an important factor in diabetes. Indoses over 1,500 mg per day, loose stools asa result of increased bile flow and secretioncan occur.7 This desired effect makes it theherb of choice for any liver-related diseases,including liver toxicity associated with acet-aminophen, anti-psychotics, halothane, andalcohol.8

• Green tea. Green tea helps increasemetabolism and reduce chronic disease. Itsignificantly reduces food intake, bodyweight, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.In one study, green tea increased insulinactivity by about 15-fold, an effect of theactive ingredient, EGCG.9

• Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus).Bilberry leaves have a reported weak anti-diabetic activity and have been shownexperimentally to lower blood sugar levelsconsistently by 26% in rats.10 In folk medi-cine, its blood sugar-reducing effect istouted so that it is a common constituent in"anti-diabetic" teas.11

• Cinnamon. This spice increases sugarmetabolism in rodent fat cells 20-foldaccording to a report in Diabetes Care.Researchers found that less than one-halfteaspoon of cinnamon daily for 40 dayssignificantly dropped blood sugar levels in60 study participants with Type II diabetes.

• Devil's claw (Oplopanax horridum).The Devil's claw plant reportedly containsinsulin-like substances, but its chemistry isstill under investigation. The root can bemade into a tincture and just five drops onthe tongue can help stop sugar cravings.

Blood sugar imbalance and diabetes are

both treatable without risky prescriptionmedications if you are willing to take anhonest look at what you eat, examine howactive you are, and monitor how much stressyou experience every day. To helpnormalize elevated blood sugar levels,consider one or more of the supplementsrecommended in this article.

References1. American Diabetes Association,

Cowie CC, et al. National Health andNutrition

Examination Survey 1999-2002.Diabetes Care. 29(6):1263-1268, 2006.

2. American Journal of ClinicalNutrition, Dec 2003. Vol. 78, No. 6, 1068-1073.

3. David Fitz-Patrick, D. Diabetes andHormone Center of the Pacific, Ala MoanaPacific Center, Honolulu, Hawaii;http://www.endocrinologist.com/herbs.html.

4. Shane-McWhorter, L. DiabetesSpectrum. 14:199-208, 2001.

5. Sharma RD, et al. Nutr Res. 16:1331-1339,1996.

6. Vuksan V, et al. Arch Intern Med.160:1009-1013, 2000.

7. Luper S.: Altern Med Rev. 3:410-421,1998.

8. Pepping J: Am J Health Syst Pharm.56:1195-1197,1999.

9. Richard A. Anderson, RA, Ph.D. Fromthe University of California in SantaBarbara but on behalf of the USDA'sAgricultural Research Service in Beltsville,MD.

10. Cignarella A, et al. Thromb Res.84:311-322, 1996.

11. Wichtl MW: Herbal Drugs andPhytopharmaceuticals. Bisset NG,Ed.Stuttgart, Germany, MedpharmScientific Publishers, 1994.

[Ed. Note: Michael Cutler, M.D. is aboard-certified family physician with morethan 17 years of clinical experience. He is agraduate of Brigham Young University andTulane Medical School. Dr. Cutler's practicefocuses on integrative solutions to healthproblems, and behavioral and nutritionalmedicine. For more information, visitwww.truehealth.com.]

Diabetes from page 10



POH Riley Foundation to host “Cruising for Education” PONTIAC - The POH Riley Foundation invites the community to come aboard the spectacular Ovation Yacht in St.

Clair Shores July 25, 2009 for the “Cruising for Education” charity event.

All proceeds will benefit the Pontiac Promise Scholarship Fund to assist the Pontiac School District in raising dol-

lars to ensure that all students have an opportunity for a brighter future.

In early June, the POH Riley Foundation hosted a “Cruising for Education” kick-off reception to announce the ini-

tiative. Nearly 100 Pontiac alumni, community supporters and city activists gathered on the 4th Floor Terrace of

POHRMC to learn how they can join the POH Riley Foundation in helping Pontiac students receive a FREE COLLEGE

EDUCATION.

Dr. Linda Paramore, Interim Superintendent of the Pontiac School District, calls the POH Riley Foundation a “cata-

lyst” for its efforts to raise money for the scholarship fund.

“I am proud of the POH Riley Foundation for stepping up to be the leader in this effort,” Dr. Paramore said.

“Sometimes, we sit back and wait for someone else to take the lead. But when you have a foundation make this type

of commitment, you begin to make things happen. Teresa's energy and passion for this cause is contagious.”

POH Riley Foundation: A Proud Community Partner“Cruising for Education” was organized by Teresa Rodges, Executive Director of the POH Riley Foundation. A

proud graduate of Pontiac Central High School, Rodges said the foundation's goal is to raise $50,000. To date, the

foundation has raised $30,000 for the Pontiac Promise Scholarship Fund.

“Many students from Pontiac are low-income,” Rodges said. “But I truly believe if we give them the opportunity

to receive a free college education, they can achieve anything.”

Congressional Liaison Paul Turner III attended the kick-off reception on behalf of Congressman Gary Peters.

Taniesha Clanagan, Office Manager of State Representative Tim Melton, was also in attendance.

“We applaud the POH Riley Foundation for spearheading this initiative, and we are excited to partner with you in

raising dollars to benefit Pontiac students,” Turner said.

Clanagan added: “We are excited and proud of the POH Riley Foundation and POH Regional Medical Center for

demonstrating their leadership in this effort. The commitment to the Pontiac School District by POH has been

tremendous.”

Margaret Elam, a Role Model for Pontiac StudentsMargaret Elam, an 18-year-old Pontiac Central High School graduate who will attend Michigan State University in

the fall, served as the guest speaker of the evening.

Margaret is a two-year participant of the Osteo-CHAMPS scholarship program, where local students attend a pre-

college enrichment summer program at Michigan State University sponsored by the POH Riley Foundation.

“I stand before you as living proof that students from Pontiac can succeed,” Margaret said. “Before attending the

Osteo-CHAMPS program, I was very shy. But because of the POH Riley Foundation, I was able to attend MSU, and

now I am one step closer to achieving my dreams.”

Benefitting the City Pastor Douglas Jones, Chair of the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition and Committee of 50, said providing a

free college education for Pontiac youth will be just as beneficial to the city as it will be for students.

For that reason, he and the Committee of 50 have endorsed the POH Riley Foundation as a credible fundraising

body for the initiative. Teresa Rodges will serve as the Pontiac Promise Scholarship Fund Chairwoman on the

Committee of 50.

“I view this as a great opportunity for our students, and as a motivating factor for improving the city's overall

image,” Pastor Jones said. “Having the POH Riley Foundation as a leader in our fundraising efforts is outstanding.

This foundation has established itself through its successes and performance as a credible organization to help the

Pontiac School District.”

Dr. William D. Strampel, D.O., Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University, said he

is eager to see the city of Pontiac thrive.

“POH is one of our 30 major partners,” Strampel said. “The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine started in

Pontiac in 1968, then moved to MSU in 1969. So this is like home to us. Just like the residents of Pontiac, we want to

see the city grow and thrive. The way to do that is by providing a future for the city's youth.”

“I am originally from Kalamazoo,” said Dr. Brian Yancey, Principal of Pontiac Central High School. “If that effect

is replicated here, it definitely has the ability to revitalize the city and retain our talent.”

Giving Back to the CommunityPatrick Lamberti, President & CEO of POHRMC, reminded community leaders that it is their responsibility to help

local youth succeed.

“We need to find ways to help our children educate themselves,” Lamberti said. “Having a quality of life without

furthering your education no longer exists. For those of us who have reached success, it is time to give back.”

Dr. Tressa Gardner, E.R. Director at POHRMC and Chair of the POH Riley Foundation Board of Trustees, was born

and raised in Pontiac. She is a graduate of Pontiac Northern High School.

“The one thing that connects us all is the future of our students,” Dr. Gardner said. “I'm a product of Pontiac

schools, and I want to make sure the students who come from Pontiac have the same opportunities that I did, to

attend college and achieve their dreams.”

QTMC (Quest To Make a Change) Music Group, led by father and son duo David and Steve Coleman, performed

a song at the event titled “Feels Good.”

“This song is about being in a position to have a positive change in the community,” said Tachunda Burkes, who

collaborates with QTMC. “Having a positive impact on our youth and being able to inspire them is what we're all

about.”

If you would like to make a donation or attend the POH Riley Foundation's Cruising for Education event, please

contact Teresa Rodges at (248) 338-5385 or visit www.pohregional.org and click on POH Riley Foundation Events.

50 N. Perry Street • Pontiac, MI 48342248-338-5000 or 248-338-5385

www.pohregional.org

Dr. Brian Yancey, Pontiac Central High SchoolPrincipal; Ellen Ferguson, former PontiacNorthern High School Teacher; Magaret Elam,Pontiac Central High School Graduate; Dr. LindaParamore, Interim Superintendent of the PontiacSchool District; and Gina Elam, mother ofMargaret Elam.

Tiffany Sharp, POH-Clarkston ER Employee;Forrest E. Milzow, POH Riley Foundation Boardof Trustees; Rochelle Loyer, POHRMCCommunity Educator; and Dr. David Kellam,Cruising for Education Honorary CommitteeMember.

N.Z. Bryant of Patterson-Bryant, Inc.; PastorDouglas Jones, Chair of the Committee of 50and Cruising for Education Honorary CommitteeMember; and Dr. Bruce Turpin, Chair of thePontiac Youth Assistance Board of Trustees.

Dr. Tressa Gardner, Chair of the POH RileyFoundation Board of Trustees and Cruising forEducation Honorary Committee Member;Anthony Morton of Oakland University; and LizAllen, POHRMC Physician Liaison.

Rodger Davis of Cobb's Funeral Home; JudgeLeo Bowman, Chair of the POHRMC Board ofTrustees and Cruising for Education HonoraryCommittee Member; and Melvin Lee of XeroxCorp. and Pontiac Youth Assistance.

Leah Searcy, Director of Operation for POHS;Patrick E. Lamberti, President and CEO ofPOHRMC and Cruising for Education HonoraryCommittee Member; and Laura Gibbard,POHRMC V.P. of Human Resources.

Rick David of United Way for SoutheasternMichigan; Teresa Rodges, Executive Director ofthe POH Riley Foundation; and Dr. William D.Strampel, D.O., Dean of the College ofOsteopathic Medicine at Michigan StateUniversity.

David Coleman, Tachunda Burkes, and SteveColeman of QTMC (Quest To Make a Change)Music Group.

Leona Patterson, OLHSA (Oakland LivingstonHuman Services Agency); Paul Turner,Congressional Liaison to Congressman GaryPeters; Dr. Robert Brewingston of OaklandPrimary Health Services; Karen Brewingston; andDr. Preston Thomas of Oakland Primary HealthServices.

Carol Turpin, wife of Dr. Bruce Turpin; Nellie B.LaGarde, POH Riley Foundation Board ofTrustees and husband Ted LaGarde.

Walter Moore, former Pontiac Mayor and cur-rent Committee of 50 Vice-Chair; Fran Fowlkesof the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition;and Sandy-Michael McDonald, PontiacDowntown Development Authority Director.

Arthur Fowlkes of Chief Financial Credit Union;Larry & Teresa Rodges, Executive Director of thePOH Riley Foundation; Pastor Douglas Jones,Chair of the Committee of 50 and Cruising forEducation Honorary Committee Member; andWalter Moore, former Pontiac Mayor and cur-rent Committee of 50 Vice-Chair.

“Cruising for Education”

EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY FOR THE REVIVAL OF … · 2017-03-21 · A NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR...

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