National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2008

Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 7, 2008

Read the entire proclamation by President Bush at...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080828-1.html

American Civil Religion

Today, we listened to an excellent July 7th broadcast of Issues, Etc. on the "American Civil Religion." Pastor Todd Wilken interviewed Dr. Ken Schurb of Zion Lutheran Church in Moberly, MO.

You can listen to the broadcast at...
http://www.issuesetc.org/podcast/Show06070708H2S2%201.mp3

You can also read more about this topic at...
http://www.cph.org/pdf/124257.pdf

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/29/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 29, 2008

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin --- GOP VP Pick?

There's a profile you should read at...
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2VhMTQzMzg1YTI5YWExYmQ4ZTNiZmE2MDUzODliYzU=

She sounds like a great pick for '08!

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/28/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 28, 2008

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/27/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police    
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084 
248-524-3443  

Community Services Section  
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448  

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 27, 2008

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/26/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 26, 2008

Troy Police Honor Guard Spaghetti Dinner

Spotlight on Troy — 8/25/08

Click anywhere on the image below to view this week’s “Spotlight on Troy.”

U-verse and Troy's Government Channel

Troy's City government channel is WTRY which is only available if you have cable TV in Troy. If you have W.O.W., it's carried on channel 10.  If you have Comcast, you can view it on channel 53.

The newest cable TV provider in Troy is AT&T U-verse. Right now, WTRY is not available on U-verse. I sent the letter below to the Troy City Manager and the Troy City Community Affairs Director asking that they look into providing the WTRY feed to U-verse.

Phil and Cindy:

We recently switched our cable television vendor from W.O.W. to AT&T U-verse. I was disappointed to see that WTRY is not available on U-verse. I hope that plans are in place to offer WTRY programming through this new provider.

According to the August 9th issue of the Oakland Press, the Oxford Area Cable Communications Commission and Oxford Community Television (OCTV) have announced that they have become the first organization to design and build a broadcast system that provides local programming to the AT&T U-verse system in Southeast Michigan. The article goes on to state that OCTV's broadcast signal will be available in homes with AT&T's U-verse from Ann Arbor to the Detroit River and from Oxford to Monroe.

OCTV Station Manager Don Huegerich is quoted in the article saying, "This is a great way to promote our community within Oakland County and the surrounding areas."

An additional consideration is that as more Troy residents switch over to U-verse it would be advantageous for the City of Troy to provide WTRY broadcasts through AT&T's system.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Dave Lambert

Michigan Republican Convention August 2008

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I attended the Michigan GOP Convention in Novi on Saturday.  I saw a number of Troy residents in attendance.  If you've never attended a state convention, most of it involves listening to speeches by GOP leaders trying to "fire up" the troops for the next election.  There were also a couple of contested races for individuals who will carry the Republican banner in the November election.

Here's a photo I took of Oakland County Commission candidate Mike Bosnic and Troy GOP delegate Bob Preston.

Witt Endorses Bosnic --- Exclusive

As Chetly Zarko had reported on August 9th, John Witt had not endorsed the candidacy of Mike Bosnic for the Oakland County Commission District 19 seat. Witt was Bosnic's opponent in the GOP primary.

I attended the Michigan Republican Convention today in Novi and had the opportunity to talk to both John Witt and Mike Bosnic.

Witt informed me that he is now supporting Mike Bosnic for the County Commission. I think John made the right decision.

Troy City Council Regular Meeting Agenda — 8/25/08

Links to individual agenda items can be found at…
http://www.troymi.gov/Council/Meetings/CurrentAgenda.aspx

The complete agenda can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
http://tinyurl.com/5vdapq

County Commission Appoints Glenn Clark

According to today's Oakland Press...

County commissioners from both parties remembered Democratic Commissioner George Suarez as a gentleman Thursday morning. Then Republicans exercised their majority on the 25-member commission and appointed a conservative Republican to finish Suarez's two-year term in a Democrat-leaning district, an act county Democrats called "shameful." In straight 13-11 vote along party lines, commissioners appointed conservative Republican Glenn Clark to fill Suarez's seat in the district representing Madison Heights plus parts of Troy and Royal Oak...

I guess Oakland Press reporter Charles Crumm is very upset. In two consecutive sentences he uses the phrase "conservative Republican." I wonder if he ever uses the phrase "liberal Democrat?"

See Chetly Zarko's blog posts on this at...
http://www.oaklandpolitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=218
http://www.oaklandpolitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=219
http://www.oaklandpolitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=220

Another Biggby's Coffee Franchise Seminar in Troy

I'm still waiting for some smart entrepreneur to start a Biggby's in Troy.

For information, go to...
http://tinyurl.com/5vhqhe

Troy Community Coalition September General Membership Meeting

Thursday, September 4, 2008
7-9 PM

Featuring Justice Marilyn Kelly
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kelly will officiate at the swearing in of the Coalition's Advisory and Executive Board Members.

Police and Fire Training Center
4850 John R
South of Long Lake
Troy, MI 48085

Monthly meetings are open to the public, light refreshments are served.  Join the Coalition for an educational presentation, lively discussion, and information sharing.

Oberweis is Now Open in Troy

The new Oberweis (http://www.oberweisdairy.com) is now open. It's located at 6854 Rochester Road, just south of South Blvd.

Mary Ellyn and I rode our bikes there tonight. As you can see from the photo, I like their ice cream.

Who Should be McCain’s Running Mate?

Here's your opportunity to "vote."

Go to...
http://www.nationalreview.com/polls/?poll_id=1

I cast my vote for former Ohio Congressman John Kasich.

Spotlight on Troy — 8/18/08

Click anywhere on the image below to view this week’s “Spotlight on Troy.”

Natural Law and Social Conservatives

I read a good article in today's WSJ Opinion Journal. It's entitled, "Huckabee and Social Conservatives" and is written by Ryan Anderson, a Phillips Foundation fellow and assistant director of the Program in Bioethics at the Witherspoon Institute of Princeton, N.J. He is also former assistant editor of First Things.

You can read it at...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121901226896448001.html?mod=opinion_journal_federation

I find much that I agree with in the article.  (As a Lutheran, I do not agree with the statement of Thomas Aquinas that "we do not offend God except by doing something contrary to our own good.")

After reading it, I'll ask Mary Ellyn to see if we can borrow or buy "Rediscovering the Natural Law in Reformed Theological Ethics" by Stephen Grabill and "Retrieving the Natural Law: A Return to Moral First Things" by J. Daryl Charles.

Consumer Reports Available at the Troy Public Library and Online

All you need is an Internet connection and a Troy Library card. The Library provides online full text of all the Consumer Reports from 1999 to the present.

Read more at...
http://www.troymi.gov/CommunityAffairs/PressRelease/ConsumerReportsAvailableTPL.htm

Troy Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting Agenda --- 8/19/08

The agenda can be seen by clicking...
http://www.troymi.gov/committees/Agendas/Zoning/Zoning20080819.pdf

Oakland County GOP 2008 Summer Convention

I attended part of last night's Oakland County Republican Convention. It was held at Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield.

Because I had a long day at work yesterday (7 am - 6 pm) I left the convention after listening to an hour of speeches.

Here's a photo of County GOP Chairman Dennis Cowan presiding at the convention.

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/15/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 15, 2008

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/14/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 14, 2008

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/12/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 12, 2008

Last Year for Softball and Baseball at the Olympics

Apparently this will be the last Olympics at which baseball and softball will be official sports.  That's a true shame.

I don't often agree with Mitch Albom, but I agree with him when he says...

If they're looking for sports to trim, they always could lose the ribbon twirling, overly theatrical rhythmic gymnastics competition, which totally has been dominated by Russians and ex-Russians since 1988.

Read the rest of the story at...
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080813/SPORTS17/808130388

Ballot Language OK'd for Proposal to Freeze Troy City Millage

According to today's Free Press, "the Troy City Council on Monday approved ballot language from a citizen-initiated petition that asks the city to freeze the tax rate for operating and capital costs at 8.1 mills.  The proposal, which will be on the Nov. 4 ballot, asks that the council not be allowed to increase the millage rate without the issue first being put to voters."

Northfield Parkway Road Work?

According to an email I just received, signs just sprouted up on Northfield Parkway informing residents that they are just about to start what appears to be major road work just South of Long Lake.

The email from a Troy resident states...

Here is what I do not understand.. we are 2 weeks from the start of school, and if you have ever been through there in the morning during the school year, the Troy High Drop off traffic is a MESS. They have had all summer, why not do this project while there is no traffic for the school, and schedule another project for fall. With construction It will be a mess on that road to be sure!

I understand the frustration. Thanks to the State and Federal governments, road construction projects are often timed according to when the funds are made available.

Precinct Delegate Results Are Now Available

They're now on the Oakland County Clerk's webpage.

The Republicans are at...
http://www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/assets/docs/08_rep_precint_del.pdf

The Democrats are at...
http://www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/assets/docs/08_dem_precinct_del.pdf

Commentaries on the Russian Invasion of Georgia

Keep the people of Georgia in your prayers.

Listed below are a number of good commentaries on the Russian invasion of Georgia.

Is Russia morphing into another USSR?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080812.wcogeorgia12/BNStory/specialComment/

Georgia on our Conscience
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Njk5YWYwOTk4MDgyODg1M2Y5NGFhYjBlYTlkZTI0MzY=

How the West Can Stand Up to Russia
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121850039382131705.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

Vladimir Bonaparte
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121849981801531625.html?mod=opinion_main_review_and_outlooks

Welcome Back to the 19th Century
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121848870627030979.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

Putin Bares His Soul
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDMyZjI1NGU4YmY4OTk3MDgyMTE5YWE2YTE0MmNjZjA=

Russia Goes Rogue
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08122008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/russia_goes_rogue_124032.htm

Russia's Power Play
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102156.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Russia Blames the Victim
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/opinion/12cornell.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=svante%20cornell&st=cse&oref=slogin

The Obama Fan Club

Spotlight on Troy — 8/11/08

Click anywhere on the image below to view this week’s “Spotlight on Troy.”

Precinct Delegate Results?

I've checked the City Clerk's web page and the County Clerk's looking for results from last week's Precinct Delegate elections.  Nothing posted yet.

Free Press: To Make Our Cities Healthier

See the article in today's Detroit Free Press entitled, "To make our cities healthier, think regional."

The opinion piece can be found online at...
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/OPINION01/808100360

Any steps toward greater regionalization should only take place after substantial reform of local government takes place.  Local autonomy must also be preserved.

Witt Hesitates on Endorsing Bosnic --- OaklandPolitics Exclusive

See Chetly Zarko's blog post at...
http://www.oaklandpolitics.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=C277B12B4FC45273D7713CBC8D07C82C?diaryId=210

Troy City Council Regular Meeting Agenda — 8/11/08

Links to individual agenda items can be found at…
http://www.troymi.gov/Council/Meetings/CurrentAgenda.aspx

The complete agenda can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
http://www.troymi.gov:85/LibertyIMS::/User=WebUser;Pwd=WebUser;sys=City%20Of%20Troy&Cmd=GetRawDocument;Folder=%2338;Doc=1611

UPDATE: Once again, there's something wrong with the complete agenda.

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/8/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 8, 2008

Message to the Road Commission of Oakland County

Please fix the timing of the traffic signal at Long Lake and Livernois!  The east-west traffic backs up at rush hour in the morning and afternoon.  Yet, the north-south traffic seems to have few cars waiting.

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/7/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police    
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443  

Community Services Section  
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448  

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 7, 2008

Michigan SafetyNet

Michigan Attorney General, Mike Cox, has partnered with SafetyNet to provide the quickest possible way to report an Internet abuse, including pornography that intentionally targets kids and sexual predators who use the Internet to stalk children.

Read more at...
http://www.michigansafetynet.org/index.html

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/6/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 6, 2008

Michigan State Primary Election Live from Troy Precinct 10

Mary Ellyn and I voted around 7:30 pm tonight at Kensington Community Church.  According to the voting machine, over 200 individuals had voted in our precinct today.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-760421387817722009&hl=en]

Michigan GOP Primary Results Online

The Michigan Republican Party will post GOP Primary Results as they become available online at http://www.migop.org/.

In addition Chairman Saulius "Saul" Anuzis and MIGOP staff will live blog election results at his blog, That's Saul, Folks!, throughout the evening.

Check both sites throughout the evening for election updates.

Troy Police Crime Report --- 8/5/08

TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Charles T. Craft, Chief of Police
500 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3443

Community Services Section
Lt. Gerard Scherlinck 524-3447
Sgt. Robert Kowalski 524-3448

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
August 5, 2008

Spotlight on Troy — 8/4/08

Click anywhere on the image below to view this week’s “Spotlight on Troy.”

Why a New Tax to Support the Detroit Zoo?

I received an email from GOP activist David L. Wisz calling for a "No" vote on the proposed Detroit Zoo Tax.

Here's an important point he makes in urging a "No" vote...

...It should be understood that even if the Detroit Zoo Tax passes only in Oakland County, the Zoo Tax will go forward and leave Oakland County as the only suburb which provides outside funds to the Detroit Zoo with the failed government of Detroit left to operate in its business-as-usual routine. The Detroit Zoo will continue to be owned by the City of Detroit and run by The Detroit Zoological Society whose directorship is appointed by the City of Detroit...

I have two additional concerns. First, how do I hold the Zoological Society accountable for the use of my tax dollars. Second, with all of the unmet infrastructure needs in Oakland County, why should the Detroit Zoo go to the "front of the line?"

August Primary Election - Tuesday, August 5

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday.

The Primary Election candidates and proposals can be found at..
http://www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/division_committee/elections/20080805_election/title_page.html

David Law Receives Important Endorsement for Oakland County Prosecutor

From the desk of Chairman Glenn Clark...

On Tuesday, August 5th, we have the opportunity to nominate an experienced prosecutor, legislator, and Republican leader as our next Oakland County Prosecutor - - David Law.  As a State Representative, David has led the fight to protect our children and our families. His approach to tough justice is what we need in a changing world where we fear for the safety of our families because of criminals who prey on our children.

Comerica Park Tour

This was Tiger Baseball week at the Lambert household this week. Last Saturday night, Alex, Mary Ellyn, and I went to the Tiger's game against Chicago White Sox. Today, I took the afternoon off from work so that Alex and I could go on a tour of Comerica Park.

The photo below is in the Visitor's dugout.

The One

Click the image below to watch this great video.