Kudos for Memorial Day Program

A heap of thanks to Campbell Richmond Post 63 and the Clarkston High School marching band for a remarkable Memorial Day program at Lakeview Cemetery in Clarkston. While I have not been a regular attender to this parade and program, it was a moving experience. Several hundred people came out to hear the names of 800 veterans buried at the cemetery read by Post 63, as well as the Star Spangled Banner and Taps played by the high school band.

The parade to the cemetery included the American Legion drum and bugle corp leading a couple of restored WWII vehicles with veterans followed by the high school marching band with citizens folowing behind marching to Lakeview Cemetery, located on a rise between Deer Lake and Middle Lake, sometimes called Cemetery Lake. It was an especially pretty day and standing on the knoll between the two lakes, the cemetery was a very restful spot. In the crowd were grandparents, parents, and grandchildren as well as others paying their respects. Some people rode their bikes while others walked the 1/2 mile from town.

The Clarkston community opened Lakeview cemetery in 1850 and there is still space for burials today.

Unlike other Clarkston parades on the 4th of July or Labor Day, there was a smaller crowd of probably 500 or so in attendance. But this was not a parade to entertain, this was a program to remember.

All those standing or sitting under the pine and hardwood trees learned about the significance of Memorial Day from the history of the day shared by Barney Schoenfeld, Post 63 Commander to the reading of the Gettysburg Address by retired Calvary Lutheran minister Dr. Robert Walters with a little history of the battle in which 51,000 American men lost their lives.

Some of the older crowd remember the name of Decoration Day being associated with the what is called Memorial Day. Decoration Day was declared after the Civil War in 1868 and the day was renamed Memorial Day in 1971 under President Lyndon Johnson.

Two Warthog planes flew over the cemetery during the program which ended with a wreath laying and rifle volley followed by taps.

As many of the crowd listened to the 800 names being read of the veterans buried in the cemetery, there were names we were familiar with, family members, friends and other relatives who served their country in wars dating back to possible veterans of the Mexican American War, Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI and WWI, Korean War, Vietnam War, the First Gulf War, Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. It was mentioned that many veterans from the community were being buried at the National Cemetery in Holly as well as soldiers who lost their lives and were buried in the American cemeteries in Europe or Arlington Naitonal Cemetery.

A fitting rembrerance for veterans and the country was given by the community of Clarkston. If you haven't attended before, put it on the agenda for next Memorial Day.

Dr. Roberts Retires

A run of 16 years with Clarkston Schools, is a quite a feat for Superintendent Al Roberts. Roberts announced his retirement on Monday to staff and board members. In the world where superintendents may come and go, Roberts is only the fifth superintendent heading the Clarkston Community Schools system, which has existed for more than 60 years. During his tenure, Roberts has overseen the largest building expansion in the district's history, with the construction of a new high school and two new elementary schools, expansion of the middle school almost doubling the building's size and remodeling each of the other buildings.

But Roberts says, the kids are where its at. Roberts started as a sixth grade teacher, becoming a principal by the time he was 30, having his school obtain a National Blue Ribbon award, then moving from New Jersey to Ohio and becoming superintendent of a district near Shaker Heights, and then moving on to Michigan and Clarkston.

The school board has yet to meet and decide if they are willing to let Roberts go in July,let him use the district exemption for another year of employment with the district or keep him for 85 days at one third of his salary, which would follow the new teacher retirement law.

Roberts downplays the building project and wants to talk about the programs that prepare kids for jobs not yet invented. Like any good educator, Roberts talks about kids and how to prepare them for the future. Roberts says, kids need good skill sets to help them gain employment and to become productive citizens. Skills such as problem solving, project based learning,information and technology skills, working in teams, and globalization are all things today's kids need and deserve.

Roberts says public education has been beaten down in current political climate, but he believes it is still the cradle of democracy. Without public education, Roberts thinks we would have a society of haves and have nots.

Roberts notes he is really proud of the Clarkston Science Mathematics and Technology classes, International Baccalaureate program, Destination Imagination teams, and Fast Forward software that have been instituted in the last few years for Clarkston students.

"More time to spend with my granddaughter is on the agenda," said Roberts. But he also says he still has the enthusiasm and excitement to work or volunteer in the education field in the future.

Good luck as you transition to new adventures, Dr. Roberts!

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA MEMORIAL DAY 2010

Longtime Clarkston resident and Sashabaw Plains Daughters of the American Revolution member Charlotte Cooper is looking for veterans to thank this Memorial Day.

Charlotte has 100 business cards from Wreaths Across America with a picture on the front of the Arlington project (wreaths placed on graves at Arlington National Cemetery at holiday time) and the following message on the back

WE want to

THANK YOU
For your service and sacrifice,
We promise to REMEMBER the fallen,
HONOR those that serve and their families and
TEACH our children the value of freedom.

Thank you from Wreaths Across American and YOU SIGN YOUR NAME.

Wreaths Across American is trying to touch a half million veterans this Memorial Day with these cards. The cards are free, with $5.00 shipping from Wreaths Across America.org

Think about the surprise of a veteran when given a thank you card by a neighbor, resident, or total stranger this Memorial Day.

As of May 2009, Wikipedia says there are 1,445,000 active duty military personnel with a force of 850,000 men and women in the military reserve.

It would be interesting to note how many of these active duty personnel are men and women from Clarkston and Independence Township, who are serving in today's military.

There are only about 10% of our population that have served and are veterans. Serving in the military is an honorable endeavor in many families. In WW II, most everyone was touched by the military but not as much in the world of today.

As you reflect on Memorial Day, maybe you'll look at desertangel.org and pick up a few items to take to the Clarkston Congregational Church for the Miracle boxes they send to the troops. And remember our neighbor from Brandon Township, Joseph Miracle, who died July 5, 2008 from wounds sustained in the Watapor Valley of Kunar Province, Afghanistan. That's what Memorial Day is all about.

Tell me your stories and consider thanking a veteran this Memorial Day

Community Awards Breakfast

The Community Award winners announced this morning were amazing. Sometimes we watch television shows that show a community in action, but we live in ust such a community with giving individuals. While only seven deserving folks were honored today, I believe there are many many more of our neighbors who work to make the community a great place to live.

One of our neighbors spends her extra money to support the students in need at North Sashabaw Elementary. That new lunch box or new school supplies, a North Sashabaw student comes to school comes from our neighbor who feels blessed and wants to pay it forward.

A high school student who raised three puppies for Paws with a Cause is heading to college next year to major in pre-med.

The Citizen of the Year has opened her farm to provide horseback riding for 120 kids with special needs 52 weeks a year.

The Business Person of the Year, is a relatively new resident of the community but he dived right in. He helped raise $15,000 for SCAMPERSHIPS for childrens with special needs, while bringing in a couple of thousand visitors to the dine and shop in area businesses.

We have a one of a kind garden that was honored under community beautification. Today's audience heard that Clarkston has the largest Healing and Renewal garden in the United States covering five acres. Have you been for a visit?

When money is not available, the Clarkston/Independence community collaborates to create programs for families. Did you attend the cyber safety seminar or the anti bullying program or learn about educational funding in the state.

If you are an 80 year old widow living in our community, who do you ask if you need help with renovation or cleanup around your home. Well Clarkston has a group that goes to work the last weekend of April and doesn't leave until the job is done.

The winners of 2010 Annual Clarkston Community Awards Breakfast were:

Community Beautification/Preservation - McLaren Garden of Healing and Renewal Garden on the McClaren Health Campus on Sashabaw Road.

Community Collaboration - Clarkston Parent Teacher Association District Council, Elizabeth Egan President

Community Enhancement - Christmas in Action Clarkston, Diane Midgley President

Adult-Youth Volunteer - Carla Bell

Business Person of the Year - Kevin Harrison, KH Homes

Youth of the Year - Amanda Martin

Citizen of the Year - Nancy Heussner, Executive Director of O.A.T.S.

Great job! Clarkston Community Church for hosting a community event.

Community Awards Breakfast

The 25th Annual Community Awards Breakfast is coming Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Clarkston Communtiy Church, Youth Activities Room, 6300 Clarkston Road (on the bend of the road across from the high school). Cost of breakfast is $8.00 according to Linda Mladenoff, CoChair of the event. Mladenoff said the church is happy to host the event for the first time. She is working with representatives from Clarkston State Bank, Clarkston Schools, Independence Township on the award breakfast. The Clarkston Community Team, members of the church, are always looking for ways to impact the communtiy shared Mladenoff.

Tickets can be reserved by calling the Clarkston Communtiy Education office, 248 623 4327.

The categories for the Community Awards Breakfast are Citizen of the Year, Youth of the Year, Adult-Youth Volunteer, Business Person of the Year, Community Beautification/Preservation, Community Enhancement, and Community Collaboration0 Team Effort. I think it is important to recognize the many members of the community that work to make Clarkston and Independence Township a better place to live.

Senior Citizens Can Help the Economic Outlook in Independence Township

A new economic sector is emerging in Oakland County, called the Aging Industry. Most people don't think of Oakland County or Independence Township as a retirement destination but within the next five years, more retirees will be living in Oakland County and Independence than children 0 -18 years of age. From an economic standpoint, with each 100 retirees that continue to live in the county or township, $4 million dollars will be spent in the local economy each year and $1.4 million spent on healthcare. According to Oakland County's Preparing for the Silver Tsunami the average income of a household for residents 65+ was $41,201. Seniors spend 92% of their monthly income locally (in the townshiip or close by). In 2008, according to the report, seniors spent approximately $5.7 billion in Oakland County.

A couple of Independence Township officials stated the goal of the township was to create jobs. While I don't agree with this statement, I do think that the township government should consider in their planning, and visioning what services and businesses would be most appealing to retaining senior citizens.

With the McClaren Hospital complex on Sashabaw Road, doctors visits are closer for some residents. Insight into the needs of aging, transportation, housing, active lifestyle programs and nutrition should serve businesses and governmental units in preparing for this changeover of demographics.

First Congregational Church Clarkston

Clarkston and Independence Township have over 30 churches around the township. Each of the churches brings support to our community. The First Congregational Church located at Clarkston and Pine Knob roads is one of the newer churches, moving from Pontiac in 1990. The Congregation Church is one of the oldest denominations known as the church of the Pilgrims The congregation has become very active in the community. Each Saturday, the church members man the Kids Closet from 9 to 12 and offer clothing and food for children and families. The church is generous to the community providing use of their building for pickleball for the senior citizen center participants five times a week in their gym. (activity similar to tennis). On May 15, the church will host a Desert Angels Sew In to make neck coolers for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afganistan. The church hosts a Cub Scout group and Boy Scout council. Viewing the church's website, you find a Perennial Exchange on May 22 and a martial arts class, Church Ladies Chapter of Red Hat Society, and a Two by Two group for couples and singles. Thanks Congregational Church for sharing your facility with groups and making the Clarkston community stronger through your service to others and God.

More information is available online at firstcongregationalchurch.org

Independence Township Cemeteries

Visiting Ottawa Park Cemetery on Dixie Highway on Mother's Day was a bit shocking. The City of Pontiac owns Ottawa Park Cemetery and many family members and former residents of Clarkston are buried there. While talking with people who were putting plants and flowers on their loved ones gravesites, the discussion was the upkeep and how the cemetery grounds have gone downhill in the last few years. When trucks and backhoes are driven across the grassy areas, ruts are still visible in the ground from a year ago. People said this wasn't the way it was a couple of years ago. While standing and talking with a long time resident, he pointed out how grave stones were damaged by the equipment and never repaired. While residents say they have called and talked to Pontiac city officials, nothing seems to change.

Cemeteries are expensive for governmental units to maintain. Independence Township owns three cemeteries, Lakeview on White Lake Road, Sashabaw Plains on Maybee Road, and Case Cemetery on Dartmouth Road in the northeast section of the township. Sashabaw Plains and Case cemeteries were taken over because the people who were in charge grew older and were unable to maintain the cemetery. Sometimes younger volunteers are hard to come by.

Our neighboring township Orion has no cemeteries. Interesting how cemetery ownship happens. Sometimes you will find small cemeteries next to older churches in the area. While the congregation may want to move to a larger space, they have made a promise to maintain the gravesites.

Independence Township under the DPW Directdor Linda Richardson seems to be doing an excellent job in maintaining Lakeview Cemetery where I stopped to make another visit to relatives' gravesites on Sunday. The cemetery sign said it was created in 1850. Knowing that community of Clarkston began in 1832, you wonder where people were buried prior to 1850.

New Grocery Store

I would love to have a Trader Joe's in Independence Township. We have the space where Farmer Jacks used to be. I believe Independence Township residents would like a specialty grocery store like Hillers or Colasanti's or Whole Foods. Trade Joe's personnel say the company adds 20 to 22 stores a year. Right now, the Rochester Hills store is the closest to Clarkston and Independence Township. The Chamber of Commerce did a survey a couple of months ago on the need and wishes of residents for a new grocery store. Interesting to find out the results. We have Rudy's but the market is limited with limited parking. We don't want to lose one store for another, so we need to have some variety. Let me hear from you on your thoughts about a specialty grocery.

Smoking in Restaurants and Law Enforcement

In talking with a local law enforcement officer about what restaurant and bar owners will do about anyone who continues to smoke in their establishment, he said that barkeepers and restaurant managers may call for the police if they cannot get smokers to quit. Deputies and police officers if called to the establishment, could cite the person for trespassing if they don't get the message about smoking.

Hopefully, this will not be how we use our police officers. But with every good intentioned law, there is an unintentional consequence.