Word on the Street Are you prepared for an emergency? Editor’s Corner
Michigan Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 7-13 and an emergency preparedness fair is taking place in Marshall on April 9. Officials say it’s never too early for citizens to make a plan to take care of themselves. Do you have a plan for yourself or your family if an emergency were to take place?
by John Hendler I don’t mean to brag, but I have a birthday coming up this week. Please, gifts aren’t necessary. Where does the time go? Did this one just sneak up on me or what? It seemed like yesterday when I was fretting over turning 30 and fretting even more when I turned 40. Now, I’m only one year away from the big 5-0. Book ’em Danno. Hey, it’s my birthday; I can go with this wherever my skittish brain’s train of thought takes me. I think most of us do this when we’re kids-we check out the famous people that were born on our birthday and the famous events that occurred on that date. I haven’t found many well-known celebrities who share the same birthday as me, unless you count Nancy McKeon, the girl who played Jo Polniazek on the TV show The Facts of Life and Robbie Rist, the boy actor that played cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch. Robert Downey Jr. was born a year after me and comedian David Cross, who played the character Tobias Funke on Arrested Development and I were born the very same day. And let’s not forget Alicia Silverstone. My friend Walsh’s dad was also born on April 4, but he was Canadian. April 4, 1968 is the day that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and April 4 is also the date that President William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia in 1841 after only 30 days in office. Edgar Buchanan, the actor who played Uncle Joe on Petticoat Junction died on April 4, 1979. Lots of curves you bet, even more when you get, to the Junction. On my 11th birthday, Hank Aaron hit his 714th home run to tie Babe Ruth. On my 18th birthday, I saw snow for the first time. On my 19th birthday, North Carolina State shocked heavily favored Houston to win the NCAA men’s basketball championship; you know, the one where coach Jim Valvano was running all over the court looking for somebody to hug after his team won at the buzzer. Five years later, Kansas upset heavily favored Oklahoma. I went to my first Major League Baseball game, albeit a spring training game on April 4, 1976 and saw Reggie Jackson hit a home run to win the game for the Baltimore Orioles over the New York Yankees. Staying with the baseball theme, on April 4, 1948, 84-year-old Connie Mack challenged 78-year-old Clark Griffith to a race from home to first base. The race ended in a tie. Well, I’ve rambled on enough, so I’ll simply say, Happy Birthday To Me. By the way, wouldn’t singing Happy Birthday To You be the logical song of choice for parents to sing to their newborn child right there in the delivery room? Just asking. Until next week, may the good news be yours.
Donald Gray, Battle Creek
Andrew Bies, Marshall
Steve Douglas, Livonia
“I have a fire extinguisher, but other than that, I don’t really prepare or store anything for a disaster.”
“I stock up on water, food, firearms, gas, generators. I’ve been through it (severe weather situations) too many times already.”
“I do not prepare at all. I don’t have water or flashlights or even candles. I’ve never thought about needing to prepare, but I probably should at least have the basic preparation items.”
Hayley Hunt, Chelsea
Joe Upshur, Chelsea
“When I was a kid, we always had a safety plan, but as an adult, I don’t have a plan.”
“I always make sure to have water on hand in case of an emergency situation.”
Jenny Ertman, Royal Oak
Letters
“I think I do some preparation things naturally - I make sure to have working flashlights, batteries and candles, and I know to head to the basement in case of a weather emergency.”
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paper & i expresses thanks to the Marshall community
To the Editor: We would like to express many thanks to all of the people in Marshall and surrounding communities for the overwhelming support and kindness shown as we opened our new business in downtown Marshall. Our store, paper & i opened its
doors on Feb. 19. What a wonderful feeling for us to become part of the downtown retailers. We want to thank the city of Marshall, the ad-visor&chronicle, the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce, the florists and many other businesses that have
already touched us. There are too many individuals to mention, but each one of you has done something extra to help us get started or encourage us. Our customers have been great cheerleaders for the store with many supportive ideas and positive feedback. We
hope to be able to serve you in an inspiring and fun way for many years to come. Thanks for the awesome welcome. Audrey Hoffman (and the Hoffman family), Owner of paper & i
Why is Marshall High School’s prom in Kalamazoo? To the Editor: Marshall prom in Kalamazoo? Really? We received a letter from Marshall High School informing us that the junior/senior prom would be in Kalamazoo instead of Battle Creek because of a scheduling conflict. The letter stated it was a short 40-minute drive. What it should have said is “it’s a 40-minute drive on I-94,” which we don’t even like to drive. Let’s send our kids out on I-94 with a car full of friends who are all excited about the night ahead. Let’s hope the driver stays focused. The late night drive home will be accompanied by tired semi drivers and other potentially weary travelers. A lot of these kids have older cars and some of them don’t even
drive, which leaves their parents with hours to fill while waiting for the prom to end. Not only do they (we) have the cost of prom tickets ($27), but also dresses, tuxedos, dinner, flowers and now, gas to Kalamazoo. We hope they don’t have to pay to park. They (MHS) rationalize this by saying a lot of kids go to Kalamazoo to eat, which may be true, but a lot of kids don’t. After a late night of fun, we would prefer our children to be closer to home to ensure they and their date return home safely. We’re wondering why we don’t pay back the community we so often ask for donations. They all come through for us several times a year. We have
Cedar Crest and the Marshall Activity Center, which are both large enough to accommodate this event. Better yet, let’s have it at our high school, which we did for many years. The cost of that venue is nothing. Prom tickets would not need to be so costly if we utilized what we have. Let’s support our community. We have discussed our concerns with many other parents who are as puzzled as we are about this situation. We just don’t get it. Crystal Elliott, Roni Blanchard, Marshall
Final vote on Oaklawn overlay district is April 1 To the Editor: The City Council has scheduled a final vote on the proposed Oaklawn Hospital zoning plan for Monday, April 1. It appears our council is maintaining its steadfast support of this plan that will
give the hospital maximum development flexibility. Under this plan, future hospital leaders will not need to answer questions or deal with objections. They will be permitted to demolish tax-paying structures, build tax-exempt surface
parking lots and add buildings up to 80 feet in height next to residential properties. This meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Council’s approval could sound the starting gun for the largest de-
molition project in the history of our town with unknown consequences. Keith Mengel, Marshall