Last time I wrote my column, I introduced myself to you as a community. For the last month or so I have introduced myself to you as individuals.
In return, I was introduced to Clarkston as individuals, and in some mosaic fashion, was introduced to Clarkston as a community.
Even though it’s still early, I thought I’d share some of my first impressions thus far.
As with most new jobs, the usual barrage of questions seems to follow a familiar pattern. It starts with people asking about me, and ends with them asking about themselves.
For the first few weeks I got used to answering questions like where I grew up and how I like the job so far. Now a month later, the questions are less about me as a writer, and more about my opinion as a newcomer to the area. I guess once people have formed their opinions about someone, the next thing they want to know is what that person thinks of them.
Admittedly, I am still very new to the area, and about a quarter of my day is still spent learning new things about the community. During most interviews, I still have at least one instance where someone will mention something in passing about the community and I will not know what they are discussing. Despite my best efforts, I think that will continue for a while ? due to how much there is to know , and the fact that our ‘condensed? version of the history of Clarkston consists of thousands of pages in our archives.
But enough about me, here’s my thoughts on you.
One thing I noticed is that most people are very blunt. That is really not a bad thing, but I have to admit I was surprised to see it so frequently. It is fairly common for people to become nervous when talking to a reporter because they know everything they say might become part of the public record.
So it’s also common to deal with people who are more concerned with saying something that sounds good than saying something that sounds sincere. Sometimes that can go too far and the statement becomes so vague that it’s hard to remember what it’s even about. So far, I have not had any experiences like that.
I appreciate that people are concerned about sounding bad, but more so I appreciate those who recognize that we’re in the business of gathering and reporting information. So when people are blunt, it makes my job easier.
I found it impossible to ignore Clarkston’s sense of community, regardless of whom I talk to. Clarkston residents clearly care about their community and everyone in it. Since I started conducting ‘People Polls,? I have noticed that finding someone who doesn’t feel strongly about things that affect the community is a challenge. Whether building a Wal-Mart down the street or deciding what they’re favorite community event is, people really seem to care about this area.
Sure, you may like to toot your own horn a bit, but what’s wrong with defying the old adage that no news is good news? Personally, I found one of the benefits in working for a community paper is having the opportunity to report as much good news as you do bad, and sometimes more. Clarkston is definitely a community that likes to celebrate successes, and I’m happy to help you do that.
Just remember, I have to work just as much when the news is bad.

People sure can get worked up over semantics. Never mind the dictionary, it will only give you half the story.
Truth be told, semantics seem to be the center of a lot of disagreements ? and real communication gets lost.
Feedback about our series on school redistricting is mixed. Some are happy we’re looking at the effects of the changes, some are worried we’re ‘stirring the pot? unnecessarily. Everyone’s entitled to his or her opinion of course (this column is proof of that), but the number of comments focused on semantics is interesting.
Were certain schools actually overcrowded? It depends who you ask. The numbers all say the same thing, but what do you mean by overcrowded? Some would argue that operating near a building’s capacity is not really overcrowded, while others may think having four sections of each grade is far too many. Semantics.
Are class sizes too big? Again, depends on your definition of big. I’m willing to bet even the teachers disagree on what constitutes a normal class size. Semantics.
Were all the changes necessary? That’s the million-dollar question, and unfortunately, there’s no definitive answer. Necessity is subjective and a concept most will disagree about. Semantics.
Not surprisingly, many people would prefer to forget about redistricting now that the shift is over. Going through everything again, in some viewpoints, seems unnecessary. But again, you have to ask, how do you define necessary?
We’re not trying to open old wounds and stir up arguments now that things are moving on. The main objective of this ongoing series is to examine the reasons given for redistricting and to see if the set goals were accomplished.
However, sometimes the story is not about the ends, but the means. We have to look at both, even in retrospect. Now that things are over, we have the opportunity to not only evaluate the changes, but also the process that led to them.
This is where semantics comes into play a lot. Sure, numbers can be spun to prove any point, but arguing over the meaning of subjective words is even easier. Rather than rehash old arguments that have no effect on the current situation, look at what effects they had at the time and if those concerns were addressed.
This brings me to a similar situation involving several parents and the school administration. Two weeks ago, The Clarkston News reported a story about a group of parents upset about a particular bus stop. Having heard both sides of the story (and the issue is complicated) the situation boils down to the definition of the word ‘unsafe.?
The parents think the current bus stop is unsafe. Likewise, the administration thinks moving the bus down the road is unsafe. Both could spend weeks compiling evidence to back their claims, but the problem is both sides have a different idea of what is ‘unsafe.?
Don’t get me wrong, I have no doubt both have the same goal, but they have different ideas of what would meet that goal.
Opinions shouldn’t be discounted of course, but squabbling over how you define a few words will never solve the real problems. Somewhere in the maze of sematics, the message can get lost.

Regardless of what, if any, holiday you celebrate this time of year, there are certain sayings most people get used to hearing in December. One is ‘good will toward men (and women for that matter).?
Yet, it seems like this is the time of year where we show the least amount of goodwill towards the people who help us buy everything we need for the holidays. I’m talking about your average retail worker. I’ve vented my frustration about this in the past, but the upcoming holidays and associated rush of rabid shoppers rekindled my burning dislike for the way we treat retail workers.
As over-commercialized as Christmas is, to many, the holidays are more about gift-giving than faith and family these days. Major retail chains could not be happier to help support our habits either. Billion-dollar corporations holding ridiculous sales and online stores make spending your paycheck easier than ever.
But such conveniences come with a price, and one most shoppers seem to forget. Retail workers get treated more and more like vending machines the closer we get to the holidays.
I, like many people, worked retail at one point or another to help pay the bills. That meant working many Christmas Eves on the front lines of the retail war, often open to close. The long hours, tireless work and seemingly endless clean-up (it’s amazing how much people can trash a store in one day) never bothered me; the customers did. Not all of them of course, just the ones filled with angst, impatience and an overblown sense of entitlement.
Many, if not all, retail workers have at least one ‘customer horror story? to share. The person who shows up as they are trying to lock-up for the night and has an hour of shopping to do, the one who thinks posted store hours are merely a suggestion or the one who waits until the last possible day to buy something they ‘have to have? and take it out on a cashier when the store is sold out. Sound like anyone you know? Anyone you’ve met? Any of you?
This is not an argument for poor customer service of course. The holiday season should not be a free-for-all for disgruntled cashiers to take out their frustrations on your average shopper. No, respect must be reciprocal. But between the two sides, retail workers should be cut a little more slack, especially at this time of year.
All I’m asking for is people to extend some respect, perhaps a little more than usual, to retail workers this time of year.
Sure, we can all say we work hard, we earn our paychecks that pay for the things to help us celebrate. Retailers work just as hard, and I think even harder than we do in December. I’m guessing most people who work outside of retail do not see much change between their work day on Dec. 23 and their work day on March 23.
If, for some crazy reason, you go shopping on Christmas Eve, especially in the afternoon, take a look at the person who helps you find those last-second gifts or rings you up when you are done. Odds are they’ll have a very tired look on their face. If you wish anyone a happy holiday, they are the one.
They may not wish you the same. They may not even smile. That’s not the point. When your interaction with them is over, you get to go to a party or go home, but they keep toiling so others can do the same. They deserve credit for that.

Happy New Year to everyone. Here we are in 2006 with a whole new year of potential ahead of us.
So many people like to start the new year by forgetting about the previous one the moment it is over. We build the holiday spirit up for months in this country, yet come Jan. 2, we seem to leave it all at the curb like so much used wrapping paper and boxes. The holidays are over so let’s move on, right? Shut off the outdoor lights, take down the decorations and please stop playing Christmas music 24 hours a day on the radio.
While I won’t fight to keep ‘Jingle Bell Rock? on the air any longer, I think some of the holiday spirit is worth keeping around all year.
The spirit of giving gets a boost from the season, but also seems to fade into memory with the rest of the holidays. Though many are compelled by the holiday spirit to donate time, money, food, toys, etc. to charitable organizations, donations suffer from severe drop-off as the new year begins.
Taking a moment to remember those less fortunate than ourselves is not too much to ask of anyone and hopefully that moment does not pass by without meaning.
Clarkston is a community with a lot to give, but two weeks ago when I visited Lighthouse North and Clarkston School bus drivers had two buses full of donations to drop off, I was told donations were significantly lower than last year. Even with the bus drivers (who deserve a round of applause) nearly doubling what they gave the previous year, donations were still coming up much shorter.
What happened? The obvious guess is natural disasters. The devastating tsunami, hurricanes and earthquakes of this past year have opened people’s hearts and wallets to help. As many of you have read in our paper, nearly every group imaginable tried to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in some fashion this year. Every bit of that help is appreciated, I am sure. Every penny really does count and as uplifting as seeing the community reach out is, the efforts cannot stop there.
We have a large number of people in need right here in Michigan. You do not have to go far to see the effects of poverty and unemployment. With no major disaster to blame, the poor and homeless in our own neighborhoods get overlooked because their plight doesn’t make headlines. When people are freezing and starving, it shouldn’t take a Robin Hood to come to their rescue.
Is it just me or does it seem like every time a major disaster strikes, those taking in donations are surprised by the amount of support a community shows? I cannot help but think they are always surprised because the rest of the time there is a general apathy towards donating money.
Giving to groups like Lighthouse and the American Red Cross should not be good deeds people check off at holidays or in response to major disasters. These are things we should all be doing whenever we can.
Churches, schools and other non-profit organization should not be the only ones holding food drives and fund-raisers. No matter how much or how little you can spare, you’ll never have a hard time finding someone who needs it.
Lighthouse North can be reached at 248-620-6116
The American Red Cross can be reached at 1-800-HELP-NOW

When there’s a new school project or a team wins a major competition, I can’t do enough to publicize their success. No surprises there, people like to celebrate their successes and I certainly don’t mind helping them.
But covering Clarkston Schools means more than Fun Runs and LEGO competitions. The business side to districts is complicated and cryptic at times. Still, people need to read about this aspect of education as much as they do the fun stuff.
Yet when I cover the Clarkston School Board, I’ve enountered more than once some school board member’s preferences for us to look at the decision, and ignore the discussion. Apparently, reporting on the discussion, including quotes that illustrate the debate that occurs, is ‘targeting.? We could debate the relevancy of quotes for eternity, but I’ve already voiced my opinion on wasting time with semantics.
Regardless if the board votes 7-0 on every item before them, the public has a right to know how and why they came to that decision.
Recent reporting on the school millage discussion is unnerving for some. Not surprising, certain people would prefer we leave the issue alone. No complaints have asked for a retraction, correction or apology though. Apparently, we’re telling the truth, and that alone bothers them. They’re simply upset we have the audacity to report and editorialize on the process.
When discussing non-homestead millages, the community needs to be as informed as possible on the issue, especially if some find the topic difficult to understand. If you’re going to ask the public for the equivalent of $7.9 million and they don’t understand the issue, this is the school board’s problem. Board members answer to the voters, not the other way around.
My job requires me to report what’s going on, and unless the school board finds a way to circumvent the Open Meetings Act or the First Amendment like they did the Headlee Amendment, I will continue to be at every meeting in the front row.
Maybe everyone won’t understand all the facets of non-homestead millages, but that’s not the point. This proposal involves millions of dollars, every student in the district and every business owner in the community. If that’s not enough reasons for us to report the board’s discussion, nothing will be.
True, non-homestead millages and Headllee rollback issues affect every district in the state, but we only write about their potential effects in Clarkston.
Might that be because we only cover Clarkston Schools?
Also, our opinion hasn’t changed on the subject. We were against passing an excessive millage the last time the district tried (and succeded) and we’re against it now.
Meanwhile, voters are the ones who actually get to decide what happens, so why leave them in the dark? Since all we cover is Clarkston Schools, the public can find what they need here before they vote in May. The fact that voters approved a similar millage 10 years ago is not a valid reason to approve the new one. Clarkston has changed a lot in the last decade, and many people who live here now moved in after voters approved the previous millage. They should be given a better reason to vote yes besides ‘it’s the way we did it before.?
Their money, their children, their decision ? voters have a right to all the information.

When there’s a new school project or a team wins a major competition, I can’t do enough to publicize their success. No surprises there, people like to celebrate their successes and I certainly don’t mind helping them.
But covering Clarkston Schools means more than Fun Runs and LEGO competitions. The business side to districts is complicated and cryptic at times. Still, people need to read about this aspect of education as much as they do the fun stuff.
Yet when I cover the Clarkston School Board, I’ve enountered more than once some school board member’s preferences for us to look at the decision, and ignore the discussion. Apparently, reporting on the discussion, including quotes that illustrate the debate that occurs, is ‘targeting.? We could debate the relevancy of quotes for eternity, but I’ve already voiced my opinion on wasting time with semantics.
Regardless if the board votes 7-0 on every item before them, the public has a right to know how and why they came to that decision.
Recent reporting on the school millage discussion is unnerving for some. Not surprising, certain people would prefer we leave the issue alone. No complaints have asked for a retraction, correction or apology though. Apparently, we’re telling the truth, and that alone bothers them. They’re simply upset we have the audacity to report and editorialize on the process.
When discussing non-homestead millages, the community needs to be as informed as possible on the issue, especially if some find the topic difficult to understand. If you’re going to ask the public for the equivalent of $7.9 million and they don’t understand the issue, this is the school board’s problem. Board members answer to the voters, not the other way around.
My job requires me to report what’s going on, and unless the school board finds a way to circumvent the Open Meetings Act or the First Amendment like they did the Headlee Amendment, I will continue to be at every meeting in the front row.
Maybe everyone won’t understand all the facets of non-homestead millages, but that’s not the point. This proposal involves millions of dollars, every student in the district and every business owner in the community. If that’s not enough reasons for us to report the board’s discussion, nothing will be.
True, non-homestead millages and Headllee rollback issues affect every district in the state, but we only write about their potential effects in Clarkston.
Might that be because we only cover Clarkston Schools?
And our opinion hasn’t changed on the subject. We were against passing this type of millage the last time the district tried (and succeded) and we’re against it now.
Meanwhile, voters are the ones who actually get to decide what happens, so why leave them in the dark? Since all we cover is Clarkston Schools, the public can find what they need here before they vote in May. The fact that voters approved a similar millage 10 years ago is not a valid reason to approve the new one. Clarkston has changed a lot in the last decade, and many people who live here now moved in after voters approved the previous millage. They should be given a better reason to vote yes besides ‘it’s the way we did it before.?
Their money, their children, their decision ? voters have a right to all the information.

My soapbox is often a place to stand and be critical, which may give some the false impression that there is nothing I like about Clarkston Schools. This could not be further from the truth though.
My disagreement with a few moves by the administration have no effect on how I view other aspects of the schools. Regardless, sharing some positive feedback seemed like a good idea.
Sit, listen and repeat does not work for everybody, but most grading is done in such a manner. So whenever a school pursues a way for students to learn through different methods, I am happy to see the opportunity given to students. Fortunately for tactile learners, those academically left-handed students who learn best by doing rather than hearing, there are many opportunities in Clarkston to learn their way.
When a student consistently receives low grades, some might be quick to point blame. Is the student at fault? The teacher? They can only do so much. So look at the class. Look at the method.
The idea behind science labs ? the concepts can be learned through seeing them in action ? can be applied to nearly every subject and should be.
Nobody would question the best way to learn photography is to practice. Reading instruction manuals and being told what buttons to push will help, but eventually you have to grab the camera and try for yourself. But college-level or specialty classes are not the only subject areas that can benefit from hands-on lessons.
Watching the CHS Mock Trial team practice in dress rehearsal two weeks ago really impressed me. Even with the complicated concepts that go into legal disputes, the CHS students seemed to have a firm grip on them. This was obviously the result of seeing the application of these ideas in a realistic setting. Simply answering questions on a scantron just wouldn’t be the same.
Though only an annual event, the Reality Store at Sashabaw Middle School is a great example of how tactile learners can practice math. The practical uses for all those math equations becomes clear when trying to figure out what car you can afford on your salary and where you can afford to go on vacation.
Likewise, the annual SMS camp program offers students fun ways to apply problem-solving skills in interactive games and science lessons while exploring a bog.
Regardless of age, I think some people will always prefer to learn through some type of game or activity instead of a lecture. I know I do. Seeing practical applications of science by observing animals in a natural habitat does more than reading an entire textbook for me, and I know I’m not alone.
Speaking of camp, I can only speak of the theory, but I like the ideas behind the Camp Invention program as well. Not a camp in the traditional sense, the program at the elementary school level again allows students to learn and practice concepts through hands-on activities and interactive tactile learning. This year will be a first for Camp Invention in Clarkston, so I can only hope parents take advantage of the new opportunity and register their children for the program.
These are just few examples of course, but programs like these are diamonds in the rough for tactile students. Some students who might otherwise be C+ average could receive straight A’s in the right learning environment, so I’m glad Clarkston has them to offer, and I hope to see more chances for the ‘lefties? in the future.

Let me start my column by seeing how accurately I can see our readers? minds and make my election predictions. The Clarkston School’s non-homestead millage will pass by a 65-35 margin and Joseph Armstrong will be the next member of the school board. This time next week we can talk about how good/bad my guesses are.
The day is almost here at last. The seemingly endless debating about Clarkston School’s non-homestead millage and minimal debate amongst school board candidates will soon be turned over to voters and put to rest.
With that mind, the best thing for this community is to have high voter turnout. Regardless of how you vote, the only true representation of Clarkston can be achieved if everyone is heard.
In the months preceding this election, loyal readers know we’ve bombarded you with information about the school’s millage request and I’ve tried to show you where some of that money goes.
Since late November, we have run stories on a fairly consistent basis on this millage and related issues. We’ve taken you inside school board meetings as the board members debated ballot language. We’ve looked at the laws that effect the ballot language and sifted through district salaries. My editor Jenny and I have also voiced our opinions several times and asked for yours in return.
Now the time has come back for us to sit back and watch what you do with all this information.
Saying that every vote counts seems cliche at times, but the sentiment rings true. Voter turnout is predictably lower for school elections. Last time a millage and school board election was held, less than eight percent of registered voters turned out. Come on Clarkston, can’t you do better than that?
If the direct connection between the ballot issues and the average voter is hard to see, people tend not to bother with exercising their democratic abilities. In short, if it takes more than one sentence to explain how an issue effects someone, they likely don’t care enough to vote on it.
The practically non-existent race for the open school board seat is hardly going to draw anyone in either. That was quite literally the case at ‘Candidates Night.? There was palpable tension in the air as the few people who were obligated to be present took note of the empty board room. Not one person in this community cared enough to show up and ask a single question. Do people actually care that little about who will win?
I can only hope that is not true. This is your community, this is your money, these are your schools, so let your voices be heard and vote. Don’t let apathy keep you from taking an extra 10 minutes that could effect the community for the next 10 years.

In college, I took a course called ‘Computer Assisted Reporting,? which primarily focused on using computers to analyze raw numbers and find a story in them. Sometimes that meant taking tomes of statistics, entering them into a database and then looking for trends. Sometimes, it’s as easy as looking at a short list.
Faithful readers know that for the most part, my beat is made of school coverage. Sure, there are new businesses opening, CVP productions or even the occasional car accident, but nine out of 10 of my assignments are in some way connected to schools.
For your consideration, here are some more numbers from my beat, perhaps they can give you a better idea of what I do.
10: Number of Clarkston Schools I visit or cover on a regular basis.
3-4: Average number of times I visit a Clarkston School during the week.
116: The number of items published in our paper that relate to Clarkston Schools so far in 2006 (not including this issue).
102: How many of those items either promote or celebrate an event at the schools. Roughly 87 percent.
14: Stories that examine financial issues or conflict within the district. Roughly 13 percent of our coverage.
50?50: A rough ratio of the compliments and criticisms we receive for our school coverage. Whether from comments made in person or e-mails we’re asked not to reprint, I hear a lot of different opinions on how I’m doing my job, but I get the feeling the two sides never talk to each other and their conflicting views only meet in our office.
11.7 million: How much money the district expects to have in their general fund balance after posting an estimated $4.8 million deficit this year.
14: The number of teachers who received pink slips this month.
One: The number of school board members who raised objection to said pink slips.
10.3 million: How much the district would have left if they dipped into their general fund balance to prevent layoffs and avoid classroom consolidation.
2.1 million: How much the school board has cut from next year’s budget already
2.3: How many times more the Superintendent makes than the average teacher in the district.
65-35: The margin by which I predicted the district’s non-homestead millage proposal would pass.
69-31: The margin by which the district’s non-homestead millage actually passed.
Unknown: How many teachers, staff and volunteer parents make my job a joy by welcoming me to events, providing us with photos and talking to me like I’m a person ? regardless of what they think of how I’m doing my job. The truth is, I lost count a long time ago. To them, I owe quite a bit of thanks.
So what do all these numbers mean? That is up to you to decide. Some people will think there’s a clear bias, some will think the numbers are making a good point. Of course, everyone will probably think I’m just being a blow-hard and tooting my own horn.
After all, 14 is the number of times the word ‘I? appears in this column.

It takes a lot of courage to stand up for what you believe in, especially in the face of stone cold adversity. So, Allie Swanson deserves a lot of credit for what she did at the last school board meeting on May 22.
In the last two weeks, I received numerous phone calls and e-mails about parents and students protesting a teacher at SMS not receiving tenure and being terminated. From the start, there were conflicting reports over why the teacher didn’t receive tenure, whether or not the teacher quit or was fired, and when those decisions were made.
I saw copies of letters sent to administrators, and heard about petitions circulated by students (and how they were stopped). The appropriate place, if there is one, to clarify the issue would be a school board meeting. Prior to the May 22 meeting, I was told by multiple people that a large number of parents and students would be present in protest, but they decided not to at the last minute when the teacher resigned on May 19.
That alone confuses me as I’ve heard people say the teacher resigned in February and April. So why again in May, three days before people were going to publicly protest? I tried contacting the teacher directly but he didn’t return my call. I cannot blame him for not wanting to make a public spectacle of the situation.
At the meeting, only six or seven people actually attended, and Ms. Swanson was the only one to speak.
‘You succeeded in getting rid of (the teacher) but you did not get rid of me,? she said, vowing to complete her education through the district. Her comments seemed to rebel directly against the idea that she would be targeted or branded by the administration, that she would be pressured into silence or to leave the district.
Bravo, Swanson. You may not have achieved your goal, but you did what seems many other people are afraid to do, you stood up and voiced your opinion. Why people are so afraid I’m not sure, but I’m glad you weren’t that day. Whatever started this all, I’m sure the teacher is glad someone cared enough to do what you did.
The applause that followed Swanson’s comments was silenced by a short response from Dr. Roberts, who said due to privacy laws, staffing issues cannot be discussed publicly. Even though Roberts ‘commended? Swanson, following the meeting most board members fled the room.
Joan Patterson and Ron Sullivan stuck around and spoke briefly with Swanson and a few of the adults who showed up in protest. Tears were shed, emotions were expressed, but no answers were given.
I knew these board members could not disclose any more information, and their decisions to talk were more for comforting and attempting to act as peacemakers rather than problem-solvers, but at least they tried. I decided to extend some courtesy in return and not eavesdrop on their conversation and have them worry about being quoted.
However, I was disappointed to see Dr. Roberts leave the room without further comment to Swanson. With the emphasis placed on taking care of each of the 8,000 students in the district, this was the perfect opportunity to show support. I can respect the reasons for not being able to discuss the issue publicly, but I cannot respect the dismissive attitude you gave this child.
I only hope the next student who comes to a board meeting for something other than receiving an award gets more respect.

Sometimes, the most important messages are the ones we take for granted, the ones we feel are too clich? or too obvious to point out. So when I say my column is a reminder to tell the people you care about how important they are, I hope that people will not roll their eyes but continue to read. This is not my story, but one I feel I have to tell.
My older brother is a cancer survivor. Eleven years ago, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at age 15. Fortunately, the disease manifested physical symptoms so quickly that it was caught early. Also, this form of cancer is common enough that treatment has, to a degree, become standardized.
Even so, I was 14 at the time. My other siblings were just barely in the double digits, so trying to understand the nature of the situation was nearly too much to handle. We were shielded from witnessing the worst of our brother’s experience.
My grandmother, however, was not as fortunate and lost her battle with cancer in the summer of 1997. I will forever remember, in great detail, the last day I saw her. My mother and I visited her at home. She was laying on a couch, unable to get up or move with much freedom. For the most part, I sat in the corner of the room; a fly on the wall while everyone else participated in the conversation. I will always feel guilty for wanting to leave. I was uncomfortable seeing her like that, and in my mind thought I would have more time to appreciate her company when she was better. I gave her a hug good-bye and felt one of the most energetic and lively people I ever knew become fragile in my arms. I never saw her alive again.
With these memories still fresh in my mind, I spent some time with the parents of Lauren Hart to hear her story (albeit it an abridged version). Since I took this job, I have not had a more difficult assignment to maintain journalistic neutrality. I can only hope I did a decent job retelling the story of someone I never met, but whose story hit very close to home.
Parents should never have to bury their children. Even more so, children should not be given a death sentence just because their illness is not a common one.
For the last five years my family has hosted an annual fund-raiser to support the hospital who undoubtedly saved my brother’s life. Surely the money we raise only scratches the surface of what is needed, and that helps combat the most common and researched forms of cancer.
Hearing there are no major sources of funding for these ‘orphan cancers? and that no major progress has been made in treating them in the last two decades is beyond frustrating: it’s unacceptable. Hospitals like St. Jude should not be rarities in this day and age, and we should support them in their endeavors while pressing others to join them.
With all that’s been said and done, nobody can snap their fingers and fix these problems, and the scary part is that nobody knows who may be afflicted next. Major breakthroughs take time, but telling the people you care about how important they are shouldn’t.
I am sure the Hart family would agree with me that no matter how much time you have, it’s never enough. You never know when those closest to you might be taken away, so make sure they know just how important they are.

Reporters do not follow typical 9-5 schedules, at least not most of the time. The news rarely follows banker hours, so reporters do not either. The community dictates our hours most weeks, but there are a few shifts that can be considered ‘normal.?
Those days usually start with checking in to look over all the faxes, e-mails, phone messages and drop-offs that may have come in while we were away.
After looking over the information we’ve collected, we have to quickly decide what would be considered ‘newsworthy.? The first step in doing this is finding out if the stories involve Clarkston or the surrounding communities. If not, we know our readers would prefer to look elsewhere for that information. If the story is relevant to the community, our duty is to report it.
The next step is finding out what information can be substantiated by evidence or testimonials and what can be filed away under ‘rumors.? The grapevines in Clarkston are thick and long reaching, so we hear a lot. Until any of what we hear is proven to be true, we cannot do anything. This may sound complicated, but usually resolved with one quick phone call.
After weeding through all the information we have and determining what can be obtained for the paper, we take these assignments and figure out where they fit in the schedule.
From there comes the part people in this community are probably most familiar with ? seeing us at events taking photographs and interviewing people. This is the most active part of the job where we act as the eyes and ears of the community as well as a filter for the incoming information. We are barraged with information and have to determine what is true and what our readers will find interesting.
Once all the information is obtained, we spend hours at our office on Main Street deciding how we can report as much as possible to our readers with the space we are provided.
Once a week, we spend almost an entire day cleaning up the writing, choosing which photographs to use and using our computers to design the pages.
This is just the way our job is done, and I’m sure we view our work the same way many other people view their jobs: as what keeps the wheels of Clarkston turning .
So to avoid the interference modesty can pose to a request like this, I would like to hear from readers about who they think are the parts that keep this community moving. I would like to spend a day in their life and share it with our readers so we don’t forget what keeps a community like Clarkston the way it is.
You can reach me by calling 248-625-3370 or e-mail at ClarkstonNews@gmail.com

Well, by the time this column is in print the Woodward Dream Cruise is over. However, I doubt that means you wouldn’t find people still cruising around the intersection of 13 Mile Road and Woodward if you looked.
Even though it seems sacrilegious to say so when you live anywhere near the Motor City, I know I’m not alone when I say I hate the dream cruise. To me, the whole event seems like a colossal waste of time ? though I’m not sure who is wasting more, the people who spend hours driving in circle or the people who spend hours watching them drive in circles.
Spending some time at the SCAMP Concours in the Park and reading a recent article in The Oakland Press about how ‘everyday? cars ‘irk? cruisers gave me even more reason to hate the cruise.
Being a ‘car person? is not a necessity to appreciate a car show. The SCAMP program was run the way one should be: with cars on display, music, entertainment and most importantly people who were courteous to each other.
It is very difficult to feel bad for those ‘irked? cruisers who are upset by ‘everyday? cars driven by people who have the audacity to use a public road. Cruisers overblown sense of self-importance has caused the dream-cruise to overflow their own rules, which is why I have such issues with them.
Cruisers seem to forget those ‘everyday? people still work and live in that area everyday and Woodward remains an open public road. Even though I use Woodward several times a week, I would not mind seeing the road closed off for the day of the cruise. The key word in that sentence is ‘day.? Even though people claim the dream-cruise is a massive one-day event, anyone who works or lives around Woodward knows over-anxious cruisers and spectators are out there a week early holding up ‘everyday? traffic. Even this would not be so irksome if those cruisers played by their own rules and stayed in the two outermost lanes since they insist on driving 25 mph even if in Wednesday afternoon rush hour.
Now, if you’re a cruiser or a cruiser-watcher, don’t start writing that angry letter or e-mail just yet. Hear me out. I was nowhere near Woodward on Saturday, the day set aside for you and the cruise even though I have every legal right to be there. I always stay away on Saturday out of respect. Heaven forbid I drive by in my everyday vehicle and ‘irk? the god of old cars. Why should I have to stay away the rest of the week, especially when so many cruisers do not show respect in return?
There’s no reason the Dream Cruise should be a nightmare for other people. People who live and work around Woodward should not have their daily lives turned upside down because cruisers can’t follow the simple rules of etiquette they established.
Until some changes are made, cruisers probably shouldn’t expect any sympathy for not getting the respect they feel they are entitled to when they don’t return the favor.
Now you can write that angry letter.