Add in the several recent public opinion polls that indicate a growing frustration with government irrespective of party preference, and this election season seems destined for intrigue. The reasons are myriad.

Unemployment statewide for the month of June was at 13.2 percent, second-highest in the country behind only Nevada.

Locally, the problem is even more acute. June unemployment statistics for the Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia area, the narrowest subdivision tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was a lofty 14.3 percent. And in April, the area was named the fourth-worst job market in the entire country.

As pervasive as unemployment has been, so too is the unrelenting foreclosure epidemic.

According to the real estate data Website RealtyTrac.com, one in 34 Wayne County houses were in some stage of foreclosure through the first six months of 2010. Again, the local figures eclipse the broader average – Dearborn’s foreclosure rate during the same period is 1 in 29 households.

Compounding the uncertainty is the electoral free-for-all that is the Michigan Legislature. The entire Senate is up for election this year, and because of term limits, a new face will fill three out of four seats when the final ballots are tallied, including the 3rd District in Dearborn where current Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman (D-Detroit) cannot seek re-election.

The upheaval is only half as much in the Michigan House of Representatives, where nearly 50 percent of seats are up for election, including 15th and 11th districts in Dearborn and the 16th and 17th districts in Dearborn Heights. The 15th and 17th are among those guaranteed to see a new representative as current office holders Gino Polidori (D-Dearborn) and Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township), respectively, are term limited.

Voters will consider all of those issues in November, but it likely will be Tuesday that proves to be the deciding factor for most races. Because of gerrymandering – the process of dividing voting districts so as to give an advantage to one party – many general elections are but a mere formality.

However, historical voter turnout numbers suggest that less that 20 percent of voters will head to their precinct on Tuesday.

Wayne Eusebrio Olaira

Officers were dispatched to a home invasion on Reuter during the afternoon of July 15, police said. By the time they arrived the perpetrators had left with an undisclosed amount of cash, as well as jewelry and electronic devices.

But neighbors witnessing the incident provided a license plate number for a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo used as the getaway vehicle, which police were able to trace back to a Detroit address.

There they found three men unloading items from the trunk of the Monte Carlo into a house and then into other vehicles on the property, police said. The men subsequently were arrested, less than an hour after the home invasion initially was reported.

Andre Turrell Harris, 24, Wayne Eusebrio Olaira, 22, and Antonio Torres, 21, were arraigned in 19th District Court on one charge each of home invasion. None entered pleas at their arraignment; a preliminary examination of the evidence against them is scheduled for Friday.

Detroit police suspect the men also may be involved in a string of home invasions in that city, Dearborn Lt. Neil Myers said. He added that police recovered some of the property stolen from the Reuter house.

Police Chief Ronald Haddad thanked the neighbors who helped make the arrests possible.

“This is once again a great example of the community staying vigilant and assisting the Dearborn Police Department in its continued efforts to combat crimes and protect citizens,” he said.

A foursome package that includes lunch, golf and dinner banquet is $480 or $125 per golfer. Sponsorships start at $100.

The event helps raise funds for the Hugh Archer Memorial Scholarship, named in memory of the longtime Rotarian and Dearborn resident who passed away in 2005 at the age of 91.

“We still have room for golfers looking for a fun outing with friends while supporting this worthwhile cause,” said Roger Miller, chairman of the golf outing committee.

Archer was a registered professional engineer whose many achievements included inventor, scientist, entrepreneur, banker, businessman, ham radio operator, sportsman, and humanitarian. He held several leadership positions in Rotary and served as president of Rotary International, the world’s largest service organization with more than 1.2 million members.

In addition to his Rotary service, Archer was active with the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, Henry Ford Hospital, the Dearborn Public Schools and many other organizations. He was founder and chairman of Spiratex Co., a plastics extrusion company in Romulus.

To celebrate Archer’s many achievements and commitment to community service, an annual scholarship award is presented to a high school senior attending a public or private high school within the Dearborn Public Schools boundaries. Selection is based on the student’s academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

“Mr. Archer’s motto was always ‘Enjoy Rotary,’” Miller said. “This outing provides a great way for everyone to do that.”

To sign up as a golfer or sponsor for the August 26 event or obtain more information, visit the Club’s Web site at www.dearbornrotary.org or email Rogerhmf@aol.com.

File photo courtesy of the city of Dearborn

Public invited to free event in tribute to Korean War veterans

DEARBORN – The Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council and a variety of Korean-American organizations will mark the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War and the 57th year of the signing of the armistice that stopped the fighting, with a service at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Henry Ford Centennial Library’s auditorium.

The public is invited.

Tribute will be paid to Korean War veterans and their families, and especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, including 26 Dearborn men.

Events scheduled are as follows:

• From 1 to 5:30 p.m., films, slides, and Korean music and cultural activities will be featured at the library.

• At 6 p.m., the Korean War Armistice Remembrance Committee will conduct the Remembrance Ceremony.

• At 7:30 p.m., light refreshments will be served at the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 75, 7900 Greenfield.

• Through July 29, Korean memorabilia will be on display in the Henry Ford Centennial Library Rotunda.

The library is at 16301 Michigan Ave.

U.S. House of Representatives
14th District
U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit) currently is the third longest-serving members of Congress and never has faced a serious electoral challenge since first winning office in 1965.

Political analysts consider the district, which includes east Dearborn, parts of Detroit and several Downriver communities, as one of the “safest” in the country for Democrats.

This year, two Republicans will vie for a shot to knock off the 81-year-old Conyers, with both candidates’ campaigns frequently evoking the fervid anti-incumbent sentiment of many voters.

They are Trenton resident Don Ukraniec, a high school teacher, and Pauline Montie of Southfield.

U.S. House of Representatives
15th District
One of only two members who can pull rank on Conyers is U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn), who recently became the longest-serving member in House history.

Dingell also faces no primary challenge and will await the outcome of a four-way Republican race. The most recognizable local candidate is Majed Moughni of Dearborn.

Moughni, an attorney and a Muslim, has raised his profile by supporting causes that have run counter to the conventional wisdom of the local Muslim community, most notably in his outcry against the recent arrest of four Christian missionaries at the Dearborn Arab International Festival in June.

Also in the race are Rob Steele, an Ann Arbor cardiologist, John Lynch of Ypsilanti and Tony Amorose of Southgate.

Michigan Senate
3rd District
In Dearborn’s only state Senate race, three Democrats will square off for a chance to face Republican Doug Mitchell in the November general election. The seat is vacant because incumbent Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman (D-Detroit) is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

The primary candidates feature Michigan Teamsters political director William Isaac Robinson of Dearborn and Detroiters Morris Hood and Mohamed Okdie. Hood is a former state representative for the 11th District. Okdie, an Arab-American, is a former member of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners and currently serves as an Eastern Michigan University regent.

Michigan Representative
11th District
First-term incumbent David Nathan (D-Detroit) will look to hold off challenges from two fellow Detroiters for this seat, which represents a small portion of northeast Dearborn.

Facing Nathan are Lynette Bowens and Deborah Davis. Bowens has done limited campaigning and filed an affidavit with the state pledging to spend less than $1,000 on her entire campaign. Davis is a grant writer and consultant with a master’s degree in business administration from Davenport University.

Michigan Representative
15th District
With four candidates vying for the Democratic nomination, including several current and former office holders, this race is Dearborn’s most contested. Incumbent Gino Polidori (D-Dearborn) cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Dearborn City Councilman George Darany will look to parlay his third-place finish in last year’s council elections into a spot in the Legislature. Facing him is current Dearborn Library Commissioner Alex Shami, who previously spent six years on the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Trustees; Stephen Dobkowski, a member of the City Charter Commission in 2006, and Linda Tafelski, a retired DPS teacher and mother of Dearborn City Council President Thomas Tafelski.

The winner will face Republican Dearborn City Council President Pro Tem Suzanne Sareini in the general election.

The only congressional race is for the U.S. House 15th District currently held by John Dingell (D-Dearborn). (See related story for more information.)

Michigan Representative
16th District
Incumbent Robert Constan (D-Dearborn) will look to best primary challenger Democrat Michael Greene, of Inkster, for re-election to a third and final term. The district includes parts of Dearborn Heights, Garden City, Inkster and Allen Park.

Both men are involved in the legal profession. Prior to his election in 2006, Constan was a practicing attorney for nearly 20 years.

Greene, meanwhile, is a court officer in Inkster’s 22nd District Court and a former Inkster City Councilmen. He was forced to resign from the council in 2007 after an opinion from Attorney General Mike Cox saying Greene couldn’t hold both positions at once.

Greene filed paperwork with the state pledging to spend less than $1,000 on his campaign, the threshold at which candidates must start reporting expenses and donations.

The winner will face Republican Michael Mullin, a former Public Safety Commissioner in his hometown of Allen Park.

Michigan Representative
17th District
Current officeholder Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) is term-limited and running for governor, leaving the door open for one of two candidates to take his place as the district’s Democratic standard-bearer.

Seeking that post are Phil Cavanagh of Redford Township and Dearborn Heights resident Frank Tomcsik. Both men boast strong educational backgrounds. Cavanagh is a lawyer with a master’s degree in business administration, while Tomcsik this year earned his master’s in public administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Cavanagh also is a former Wayne County Commissioner, serving four terms representing the 9th District, which includes parts of Dearborn Heights.

The winner faces Redford Township Republican Michael Adams in the general election.

Wayne County Commission
9th District
Incumbent Diane Webb (D-Garden City) is shooting for her first full term on the commission after winning a special election in 2008 for the then-vacant seat. Also seeking the Democratic nomination is Michael Todd.

Republican Michael Adams awaits the winner.

Photo by Nate German

By CHRIS JACKETT
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – Animal rights activists were outside the Civic Center on Monday to protest a circus group’s treatment of large animals ranging from tigers to two African elephants.

Florida-based Circus Pages puts on 90-minute circus shows across the country throughout the year. The organization was in Wyandotte last month and at the Melvindale Civic Center, 4300 S. Dearborn St., on Monday.

However, wherever the group takes its show, different protestors and activists seem to follow. Three activists attempted to block the doorway at the Wyandotte show June 19 before moving and then fleeing before police arrived at the scene.

At the Melvindale show, a month-old nonprofit group called the Detroit Coalition for Animal Rights and Equality held its first protest outside the Civic Center based on the multiple U.S. Department of Agriculture citations Circus Pages has received from 1992 to 2007 for treatment of its animals and lack of proper veterinary records.

“It started two months ago, but took full effect a month ago when volunteers were first recruited and protests and boycotts were planned,” said lifelong activist and Detroit CARE founder Nate German, who uses the name N. Brant in his group’s business dealings. “The two main things are probably they don’t have proof of any veterinary records since 1994, and the Animal Welfare Act has accused them of not giving (their animals) enough room or feeding them enough food, or the right food.

“I just want you to know what they’ve been through, and maybe you’ll think about going again, because going again, because they come every year.”

German said his new organization had just six activists at the event from 3 to 8 p.m. to demonstrate outside the 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. shows, but more people were planning to come protest until a police presence forced the group to move across the street.

“Considering this was our first protest, not many people were there,” German said. “As soon as word hit the police were there, people decided they were not going to come. We just had to move across the street so we weren’t on the property.
The whole goal of the organization is positive activism, not (negative demonstrations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The ringmaster came out and started badmouthing us because he thought we were PETA.”

With about 25 members after one month of recruiting, German hopes Detroit CARE can grow to the point where it has paid employees. He has set up a blog (www.detroitcare.blogspot.com) for the group and is in the process of creating a Website.

He said he created the group because animal rights activists have been taking the wrong approach.

“My whole life, I’ve been an animal rights activist, and I’ve always believed they’ve done it the wrong way,” German said, citing extremists who throw paint on fur coats or lay naked in the street. “The best way to do it is literature and peaceful protests.”

Because it didn’t have a solicitor’s license, German said his group could only hand out informational pamphlets to people who asked. He said the event went “pretty smoothly.” Despite insults from some passers-by, he said others were genuinely interested in hearing the group’s message.

“It was a very simple protest. Some things were victories, others were embarrassing,” German said. “They had a Siberian tiger that was in a cage so small it couldn’t turn around.”

Circus manager Jorge Page acknowledged the protestors, but didn’t respond to multiple questions regarding his circus’s veterinary care, stating only that his paperwork was in order if authorities need it.

“I know they were there, but I just work in the back and do my thing,” he said.

Melvindale Senior/Recreation Coordinator Ryan Massolia said protestors at the circus are common whenever it comes to town, but didn’t see any problems with Circus Pages’ arrangement last week.

“They’re here usually every year and do a show; one day with two shows,” he said. “They’re very clean and organized and they do their setup in the morning and they’re gone the next day.

“It was really cool. They do a very nice show; nice people.”

For more information on Detroit CARE e-mail nbdcare@gmail.com.

Cpl. Matthew Edwards

Police said Edwards, 31, was shot and killed about 6 a.m. while responding to a call of a breaking and entering in the 12400 block of Pine Street in the Coppertree Apartment complex.

The report said a man was trying to enter an apartment through a window. Edwards and his partner arrived and in the parking lot confronted a 36-year-old Westland man matching the description of the burglar.

Witnesses said Edwards was speaking with the defendant when they saw the defendant pull out a gun and shoot Edwards.

Edwards’ partner returned fire, shooting the defendant several times. The defendant was taken to a nearby hospital and was undergoing surgery.

Edwards was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Edwards joined the Taylor Police Department in January 2005 and was a decorated officer, officials said. Edwards, who was named Officer of the Year in 2008 by the Police Officers Association of Michigan, is survived by his wife and two children.

Police said he is the first officer killed in the line of duty in the history of the Taylor Police Department.

On behalf of the entire city, Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand extended his sympathy to Edwards’ family and to all department officers and personnel.

Lamarand also expressed gratitude to the community for the outpouring of support.

Funeral arrangements were pending at press time.

The Heritage Days moniker returns after being mothballed last year, when a scaled-down celebration dubbed Founders Day Week-end was held.

The festivities will be off to the races on Friday with two new events, the 1 Mile Mayor’s Youth run at 5:45 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. by the first Half 8 Heritage Run. Local cover band Fifty Amp Fuse will rock the Library Stage under the Big Top from 7 to 11 p.m.

The 36th annual Heritage Day Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from St. Pius X Catholic Church, 14101 Superior, and winds west across Dix-Toledo Road and continues along Superior around the baseball diamonds and concludes in the Southgate Municipal Complex.

Mothers of Southgate Leadership will be the grand marshals for the parade. Group members include Anna Bergeron, mother of Southgate Community School District Board of Education member Joel Bergeron; Carol Farrah (former state Rep. Barbara Farrah); Jo Gardner (City Treasurer Sheryl Denman); Maria Graziani (Patricia Graziani, Southgate school board); Barbara Joaquin (Darlene Pomponio, Southgate school board); Patricia Kandrevas (state Rep. Andrew Kandrevas); Beverly Rauch (City Council President Phillip Rauch); and Patricia Tansley (City Councilwoman Carol Batko).

Activities during the three days will include tours of the museum, where actors will play former President John Quincy Adams and his wife, Louisa; as well as entertainment, food, free face painting, a car show and arts and crafts.

On Saturday, a vignette from “Les Miserables” will be performed by the Southgate Community Players’ Youth Theatre on the Park Stage.

The Kid-O-Lympics will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the activity field. Heavy funk act the Third Coast Kings, comprising Southgate Anderson High School students and alumni, will perform on the Library Stage from 12:30 to 2 p.m. The Downriver Community Band will play from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the Park Stage.

At 5:30 p.m., police and firefighters will square off in a volleyball matchup, followed by a golf ball drop with a $1,000 prize at 6:30 p.m. at the activity field.

Top Shelf Tuna takes the Library Stage from 7 to 11 p.m., with the day’s events capped off colorfully by fireworks at dusk presented by Dick Genthe Chevrolet.

Other Saturday activities include visits with K-9 Officer Apollo, Chalk Walk 2010 and inflatable playscapes.

The 20th annual Heritage Cup golf scramble tees off at 8 a.m. Sunday at the city’s golf course. Hungry golfers then can refuel from 1 to 5 p.m. at Taste of the Town, with some 14 restaurants participating, including Applewood Nursing Center, Beirut Gardens, Buffalo Wild Wings, G. Philip’s Cafe-Catering-Cooking, Mallie’s Sports Grill, Old Chicago Pizza & Pasta, Pico de Gallo, Southgate Bakery and Subway of Southgate.

“Taste” tickets will cost 50 cents, with each food vendor offering tastings for one to two tickets. Awards for best presentation and peoples’ choice will be given out at the conclusion of the event.

Solitaire, a one-man accordion act, takes the stage from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, concurrent with the food tasting and a new feature for this year, the Heritage Classic Car Show.

Proceeds from the car show will benefit the Southgate Honor Guard; a $100 prize will be awarded to the Best of Show.

Family fun, food and museum tours will run throughout the weekend.

Organizers advise checking with the information booth for a complete listing of activities.

The event is presented by the city and its volunteer commissions. For more information call (734) 258-3022.