Governor Schwarzenegger Makes Cover of National Review

Troy City Council Regular Meeting Agenda — 3/2/09

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.
Current Agenda

Retirement of Troy's "Faith the Fire Dog"

From Troy's Community Affairs Department...

First Lieutenant Tonya Perry of the City of Troy Fire Department has announced the retirement of Faith the Fire Dog. Her last appearance will be for the Troy Senior Citizens on Feb. 23 at the Troy Community Center.

Born March 25, 2000, Faith, the popular red & white tri-colored Border Collie, began working for the Fire Department in January of 2001. She was only nine months old when first introduced at Community Kaleidoscope, an annual family event at the Troy Community Center.

During the last eight years, Faith has worked with her owner /handler Lt. Perry to educate more than 40,000 children and adults. She has appeared at pre-schools, churches, businesses and community events. Faith the Fire Dog has also worked in other cities for special events, including the employee picnic at Severstal North America, Inc.’s Dearborn steel factory. She even performed an educational program for Leader Dog for the Blind puppy owners at Groveland Oaks Park. She especially enjoyed working with special needs adults and children, and senior citizens.

A recent diagnosis of Addison’s Disease has forced Faith to hang up her fire prevention education collar. However, Faith’s important fire message of “once you’re out, stay out” will continue to echo in the minds of the countless number of individuals she educated, reminding them never to go back into a burning building.

Faith will continue to stay at her home, which she shares with Lt. Perry, in Troy. She hopes to fill her retirement with lots of fetch and Frisbee playing with neighborhood kids and herding the geese of Troy.

2009 Always a Tiger Highlight Video

Troy City Manager Nelson Hired as President of the Columbia Association

Thanks to the tip from http://twitter.com/VerhoefsVerdict, I've learned that Phil will soon be leaving Troy. Read the story below from the Baltimore Sun.

Phillip Nelson, city manager of Troy, Mich., has been hired as president of the Columbia Association, the homeowners association in the Howard County community of about 100,000 people. Nelson, 59, was selected Monday night by the group's 10 board members. Nelson, whose term begins May 1, was not available for comment yesterday. He will replace Maggie J. Brown, who has held the job since 2001.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.briefs261feb26,0,2666278.story

Ashes to Ashes: The Beginning of 40 Days and 40 Nights of Lent

In light of the start of the Lenten season, National Review Online contacted a few of their spiritual advisers to explain why Lent is important, and what lessons it can teach us.

Here's a post from Mollie Ziegler Hemingway...

At one of my former newspaper jobs, Fat Tuesday was a huge celebration. And yet when some of us showed up the next day with ashy smudges on our foreheads, we’d politely be notified we had dirt on our faces. Referred to throughout Scripture as a sign of sorrow, mourning, repentance, and mortality, ashes are imposed on the head as a powerful reminder that we are sinners who will die. They’re made in the sign of the cross to direct us to Jesus Christ as the way to forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in heaven. They shouldn’t be worn to be showy or boastful but to serve as witness. And the practice is meaningless — hypocritical, even — unless there is a corresponding repentance and change of behavior. No one likes to think of his or her sinfulness or mortality — we all wish Fat Tuesday were more meaningful than Ash Wednesday. It’s important that we not confuse the important spiritual disciplines of Lent with the true purpose of Lent: to fix our eyes on Christ and to ponder the purpose, reasons and necessity of our Lord’s suffering and death to earn our salvation.

Read more at...
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YzBjNTRlNmYzOTBkNWM2ZWUwOTU0MWJiNzQ2M2I1NjM=

Troy Police Crime Report 2/23/09 - 2/24/09

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

Community Services Section
Lt. Chuck Pappas 524-3447

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
Monday, February 23, 2009 - Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Murray Rothbard on Economic Depressions

The late Murray N. Rothbard was the author of Man, Economy, and State, Conceived in Liberty, What Has Government Done to Our Money, For a New Liberty, The Case Against the Fed, and many other books and articles. He was also the academic vice president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.

His comments below from 1969 shed light on our current economic crisis.

Why do business cycles tend to be recurrent and continuous? Because when the banks have pretty well recovered, and are in a sounder condition, they are then in a confident position to proceed to their natural path of bank credit expansion, and the next boom proceeds on its way, sowing the seeds for the next inevitable bust. But if banking is the cause of the business cycle, aren't the banks also a part of the private market economy, and can't we therefore say that the free market is still the culprit, if only in the banking segment of that free market? The answer is No, for the banks, for one thing, would never be able to expand credit in concert were it not for the intervention and encouragement of government. For if banks were truly competitive, any expansion of credit by one bank would quickly pile up the debts of that bank in its competitors, and its competitors would quickly call upon the expanding bank for redemption in cash. In short, a bank's rivals will call upon it for redemption in gold or cash in the same way as do foreigners, except that the process is much faster and would nip any incipient inflation in the bud before it got started. Banks can only expand comfortably in unison when a Central Bank exists, essentially a governmental bank, enjoying a monopoly of government business, and a privileged position imposed by government over the entire banking system. It is only when central banking got established that the banks were able to expand for any length of time and the familiar business cycle got underway in the modern world.

Read more at...
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rothbard/rothbard183.html

1986 Troy Homicide Solved

On November 4, 1986, Officers from the Troy Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at Firefighter’s Park, which is located on Square Lake Road just east of Coolidge Highway in Troy. The vehicle was reportedly parked for an extended period of time with its lights on near the exit drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered the vehicle with its engine running, driver’s door open, and a male subject lying on the ground next to the vehicle. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of gunshot wounds. Investigators recovered spent shell casings at the scene suggesting the murder weapon was a .22 caliber semi-automatic weapon. In addition there was an opened envelope and a quantity of paper cut up in the size and shape consistent with paper currency scattered around the crime scene. The victim was identified as Gregory Hofstetter – 23 years old – from Bloomfield Township.

Let It Be......LCMS, Inc

This ISSUE with LCMS, Inc remains unresolved. This video describes how bizarre the whole thing is!

If you feel so inclined there is a petition at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/trademark/ (no donation required)

Spotlight on Troy — 2/23/09

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

The Hammer of God by Bo Giertz

As I read through my regular blogs of Lutheran pastors I was delighted to find Pastor Paul T McCain write about The Hammer of God.  I read this book about a year ago and it was amazing!

The Hammer of God was written by Bo Giertz, a Swedish pastor. It is a fictional and theological book that shows the power of God's Word over spiritual deadness, rationalism, pietism, and liberalism.

The story is set within the parish of Odesjo over a period that reaches from the late 18th century to the middle of the 20th century. The book clearly illustrates the constancy of the Gospel over  and against the the rationalism of the Enlightenment, the subjectivity of Pietism, and the relativism of Liberalism. It's Law and Gospel!!

It's really three stories in one:

• The Hammer of God


• Jesus Only


• On This Rock

The title of the book, The Hammer of God, is based on Jeremiah 23:29, "Is not my word like a fire? Says the Lord. And like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces?"

There's a study guide at Concordia Fort Wayne:

http://www.ctsfw.edu/academics/faculty/pless/giertz.htm

Even though you can't hear them at all, a person's a person, no matter how small

"Even though you can't hear them at all, a person's a person, no matter how small."     Horton the Elephant.

I can add nothing to what this 12-year-old girl has to say about abortion.

Transfiguration of Jesus

According to Wikipedia, in some liturgical calendars (e.g. the Lutheran) the last Sunday in the Epiphany season (that immediately preceding Ash Wednesday) the Transfiguration is observed. In the Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican churches, the Feast of the Transfiguration is observed on 6 August and is considered a major feast, numbered among the twelve Great Feasts in Orthodoxy. In all three churches, if the feast falls on a Sunday, its liturgy takes the place of the Sunday liturgy.

Troy Police Crime Report 2/16/09

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

Community Services Section
Lt. Chuck Pappas 524-3447

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
Monday, February 16, 2009

Troy Police Awarded for Traffic Safety Program

From the Troy Police...

The Troy Police Department has received an award for excellence in traffic safety by developing a Traffic Crash Avoidance Program for a Troy Community Coalition “Dare to Prepare” program sponsored by AAA of Michigan.

ELCA Releases Documents from ELCA Task Force on Sexuality -- Clarification

We are members of a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation.

There is often confusion in America when a person reads a story about Lutherans.  There are different Lutheran church bodies and there are  fundamental differences between them.

The largest Lutheran church 'body' in America is the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in American).  The second largest Lutheran church 'body' is the LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) followed by  WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.  There are other smaller Lutheran churches.

The ELCA made the news this week.  The conclusions represent the ELCA official synod position and DO NOT represent all Lutherans! This is important for non-Lutherans in particular to understand.

This is an LCMS response to the Task Force Report:

"Today the ELCA’s Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality released its "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" (http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney). The report recommends a path for the ELCA’s 2009 church-wide assembly to recognize and accept publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same gender relationships of clergy in those synods (ELCA regional divisions) and congregations, which desire to approve of such relationships... (Read the entire response at Pastor Matthew Harrison's blog)

Pastor Harrison's response is also available at the LCMS website.

(Note:  There are lots of links allowing interested readers to go to the original sources of information.)

Troy Chief of Police Craft Announces Retirement

Thank you to Chief Craft for his many years of service to Troy. It was a great honor to work with him when I served on the Troy City Council. See the announcement below from the Troy Police Department.

Pappageorge Invites Homeowners to Property Tax Forums

From State Senator John Pappageorge...

Homeowners across the state and country have seen their property values decrease while their property taxes have increased. According to news reports, the average residential assessment in Birmingham has dropped by almost 15 percent and the average in Troy has dropped by more than 8.5 percent.

To help bring relief to already struggling families, I recently introduced a proposal that would prohibit increases in property taxes on homes with falling property values. If passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, Senate Joint Resolution H would be placed on the ballot in the next general election.

My office has been flooded with questions about property taxes and how to appeal them. As a service to my constituents, I am offering two separate "Property Tax Town Hall Forums" to provide expert information for those interested. The forums will feature:

* Why your property tax bill rises while your property value falls;

* What you need to know to appeal your property taxes - including step-by-step instructions; and

* A panel of experts available to answer your questions.

The events take place on Monday, February 23rd and Tuesday, February 24th and are open to the public. Complete details can be accessed on my website at www.SenatorJohnPappageorge.com or by contacting my staff at 1-877-SEN-13TH (736-1384).

Commemoration of Martin Luther

Today is the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther.

"Martin Luther, born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, initially began studies leading toward a degree in law. However, after a close encounter with death, he switched to the study of theology, entered an Augustinian monastery, was ordained a priest in 1505, and received a doctorate in theology in 1512. As a professor at the newly-established University of Wittenberg, his scriptural studies led him to question many of the church's teachings and practices, especially the selling of indulgences. His refusal to back down from his convictions resulted in his excommunication in 1521. Following a period of seclusion at the Wartburg castle, Luther returned to Wittenberg, where he spent the rest of his life preaching and teaching, translating the Scriptures, and writing hymns and numerous theological treatises. He is remembered and honored for his lifelong emphasis on the biblical truth that for Christ's sake God declares us righteous by grace through faith alone. He died on February 18, 1546, while visiting the town of his birth."    (from the LCMS website)

Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach

Oakland County Road Funding Committee To Meet February 24

The Funding Committee of the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force will meet Feb. 24 to award $17.4 million in available federal and state road funds. Because of the limited funding available, the committee has restricted the quantity and type of projects it will consider this year.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 9 a.m., Feb. 24, and will take place at the City of Madison Heights’ Fire Department Headquarters, located at 31313 Brush St., in Madison Heights.

Read more at...
http://www.rcocweb.org/Lists/PressRelease/DispForm.aspx?ID=57&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ercocweb%2Eorg%2Fdefault%2Easpx

Camp Wolverine Day 2

Dave and Alex reported in from Camp Wolverine!

"a good day at Camp Wolverine.    Wall Climb, Zip lines"

Tomorrow's weather report:

Daytime:  Cloudy with snow. High near 30F. E winds shifting to N at 10 to 20 mph. Snow accumulating 2 to 4 inches
Night: Snow along with gusty winds at times. Some blowing and drifting snow. Low near 10F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 4 to 6 inches.

The wondering is:

Is tomorrow the day that Alex has solo survival, must use a compass to find his food, build a fire, heat water and cook his hot dog while the wind blows  and the snow falls.  I'm praying for my boy!

(Dave will be inside keeping warm while Alex is outside trying to keep dry and stay warm.)

Psalm 51

I have been studying the book of Isaiah in a Women's Bible study for the last 4 months.  We spent the first half of the study reading about all the woes.  We are now in the second half of Isaiah --- the good news that the Messiah is coming.

This week our lesson is titled "Evidence of the New Life in Christ" and focuses on chapters 58 - 60.

Day 3 included a question on Isaiah 59:1, suggesting it is a humble acknowledgment of the nation's sin.

"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

The question then pointed to Psalm 51.  Luther says of Psalm 51:

"Psalm 51 is one of the foremost of the psalms of instruction.  In it David truly teaches us what sin is, where it comes from, what damage it does -- and how one may be freed from it."

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

Troy City Council Liquor Violation Hearing Agenda — 2/18/09

The complete agenda can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
Current Agenda

Absent from Tonight's Troy BZA Meeting

I'll be absent from tonight's BZA meeting. Instead, I'm serving as a chaperone for the 5th and 6th grade students from Our Shepherd Lutheran School. We're way up north at Camp Wolverine.

Spotlight on Troy — 2/16/09

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

Camp Wolverine or Bus(t)

Dave and Alex are on the bus heading north to Camp Wolverine.  Camp Wolverine is just south of the Mackinac Bridge a mile or so west of I75.

There were 2 buses -- 5th graders on one and 6th graders on the other.  This is Alex's second year of camp.  This year there are 21 sixth graders and 4 parents, plus a teacher.  Should be a fun week.

Since I went last year I know that Dave will have a blast and will be a very tired puppy when he returns on Friday afternoon.  In most schools  5th graders go to camp as 5th graders, but at Our Shepherd you get to go as a 6th grader too!  The kids were so excited as they boarded the bus.  The schedule calls for learning how to muzzle load which should be lots of fun and noisy.



Thanks to Amy J for uploading photos SO FAST. Our camera is still on the bus.    Alex is in the green striped shirt and you can see the top of Dave's head.

President Washington's Birthday 2009

Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day. By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents' Day" began its public appearance. The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another President born in February, Abraham Lincoln, and often other Presidents of the United States.

Troy Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting Agenda --- 2/17/09

The agenda can be found at...
http://www.troymi.gov/committees/Agendas/Zoning/Zoning20090217.pdf

Troy City Council Regular Meeting Agenda — 2/16/09

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.
Current Agenda

Tigers Begin 2009 Spring Training

Detroit Tigers start their first official workout of the 2009 spring training camp today.  It's time for the real sport season to start!

Happy Valentine’s Day 2009

Did you know that St. Valentine, whose commemoration day is celebrated today, was honored as a noted martyr? He was put to death in the Roman persecutions for his Christian faith.

Read more at these two links:
http://aardvarkalley.blogspot.com/2008/02/saint-valentine-martyr.html
http://www.geneveith.com/putting-valentine-back-in-valentines-day/_1410/

Oops...City Council Meeting Cancelled Due to Lack of Quorum

The Troy City Council Liquor Violation Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2009 was canceled due to lack of quorum.

There is another Troy City Council Liquor Violation Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 18 in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 7:30 pm.

Meetings are open to the public. For more information on City Council agendas, minutes, or schedule changes, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 248.524.3316 or check the city web site at www.troymi.gov.

Heritage Foundation Overview of the $ 789.5 Billion Spending Bill

Michael Franc (Vice President of Government Relations at the Heritage Foundation) writes:

…Over the last three weeks the policy experts at my institution, the Heritage Foundation, have published dozens of biting critiques of literally every aspect of the House and Senate versions of this legislative monstrosity. They agree on one thing: Under the guise of stimulating the economy, this one bill contains a generation’s worth of liberal policymaking, an entire Great Society-scale agenda, one that advances the liberals’ view of man and his relationship to government enough to cause LBJ himself to turn red with envy…

Here’s a summary of the Heritage Foundation’s critiques of this legislation:

• Reversing the 1996 Welfare Reforms


• Expanding the Welfare State


• The Stealth Health Care Agenda


• Bailing Out Irresponsible State Governments


• Stimulus Bill Could Incite New Global Trade War


• The Limits of Creating Jobs through Infrastructure Spending


• 300,000 Jobs for Illegal Immigrants?


• Stimulus Funds will Be Used to Let Felons out of Jail


• Unprecedented Expansion of the Federal Role in Education


• Stimulus Bill Undermines Parental Rights

You can read more at…
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjY0NWFjMjZiZmYxMTcyM2UwYTg3Y2YwNmMxMWEzYTc=

President Lincoln's 200th Birthday

Alex recorded (via DVR) the PBS special "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.” I’m looking forward to watching it before I leave for Camp Wolverine on Monday.  Unfortunately, I forgot to record “Looking for Lincoln."  Both programs are described in the Detroit News article on Lincoln.

Also, be sure to read this posting on Lincoln by William J. Bennett & John Cribb at...
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YzU4MTk2NTI3MTAwMDgwN2YyNTZmMjdhNDVmNGUzZDQ=

TYA Program on "Teenage Sex - At What Price?"

Troy Youth Assistance is offering a program for parents and children between grades 6 to 12 that will identify the physical and emotional expense of early sexual activity. The program will be held on March 16, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Troy Community Center. The presentation will feature an expert panel on the subject.

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in four young women in the United States between the ages of 14 to 19 is infected with at least one sexually transmitted disease. The costs and consequences of teenage sex can lead to a lifetime of difficulties. Early sexual activity can turn children into parents before they reach adulthood. STDs can result in long term and sometimes-indefinite health concerns such as infertility and cervical cancer

The five presenters will include Pastor and Parenting Educator Larry Cranston and an Abstinence Mentor from Bethany Christian Services, Donyelle Williams. The panel will also include, Nurse Lynn Bell from the Oakland County Health Department and Student Assistance Program Coordinator for Troy High School, Colleen Tropea. Also speaking will be Julie McMurtry from the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

The program will feature a frank, no-nonsense video presentation by Pam Stenzel, called “Sex Still Has a Price Tag.” A former high school counselor, Ms. Stenzel talks to a coed high school audience about the dangers of uninformed choices.

Troy Youth Assistance is committed to strengthening Troy youth and families by preventing and reducing juvenile delinquency, child neglect, and child abuse through casework services and community involvement.

Troy Police Crime Report 2/11/09 and 2/12/09

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

Community Services Section
Lt. Chuck Pappas 524-3447

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 & Thursday, February 12, 2009

State of the City Address on February 12

Mayor Louise Schilling will highlight the current state of the community and offer a glimpse into Troy’s future at this year’s State of the City Address on Thursday, February 12. Sponsored by HealthPlus of Michigan, the luncheon will be held at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, at 11:30 am. Mayor Schilling will address her audience at 12:30 pm. Area business professionals and residents are invited to attend.

“I look forward to this opportunity to pause and reflect not only on our challenges, but also on our opportunities,” Schilling said. “I look forward to providing a review of the City’s present state of affairs and also a forecast of why Troy will continue to be a great place in which to live, work, play and invest.”

Reservations can be made through the Troy Chamber of Commerce. The cost is $26 for Troy Chamber members and $36 for non-members. An additional $5 will be charged to those registering for lunch the day of the event. Residents who wish to only attend the Mayor’s presentation (no lunch) at 12:30 pm may do so for free by notifying the Chamber ahead of time.

To make your reservation, call the Chamber at 248.641.8151 or e-mail theteam@troychamber.com.

Troy Police Crime Report 2/9/09 & 2/10/09

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

Community Services Section
Lt. Chuck Pappas 524-3447

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
Monday, February 09, 2009 - Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Kieschnick Threatening Lawsuit Against Wilken and Schwarz

Mary Ellyn and I have two questions for President Kieschnick and "LCMS Inc."
1. Is this the best way to spend the funds of our Synod?
2. What good purpose will be served by this decision?

According to Chris Rosebrough:

Last march the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) cancelled the Issues, Etc. radio program. It created a huge brouhaha and ultimately the Issues, Etc. radio program was resurrected and their audience is larger and stronger than ever. Apparently, this isn't sitting well with LCMS President Gerry Kieschnick who is now threatening a lawsuit against Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz over the Issues, Etc. trademark (a trademark that the LCMS abandoned in 1999 and a trademark that the LCMS has no intention of ever utilizing again).

Read the rest of the post at...
http://www.extremetheology.com/2009/02/kieschnick-threatening-lawsuit-agaist-todd-wilken-and-jeff-schwarz.html

Also, click on the "Issues, Etc." image below to learn more.

City of Troy Celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday

The Troy Public Library and the Troy Museum and Historic Village are teaming up to commemorate Lincoln’s 200th birthday. “Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, and we just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to honor such a special bicentennial,” Library Director Cathy Russ said.

Saturday, February 14 at 10 am, the Troy Museum hosts a special “We Love Abe” event including treats and activities for children, youth and adults.

Monday, February 16 at 1 pm, celebrate Lincoln’s birthday during mid-winter break at a 200th birthday party of the event at the Troy Museum.

Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 pm, enjoy “Common Cents,” a lecture at the Troy Museum about symbols on the penny and more.

Thursday, April 2 at 7 pm, local Lincoln historian, Jerry Zaetta, offers a presentation at the Library about Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, including events leading up to and following Lincoln’s assassination.

Thursday, April 30 at 2 pm, come join Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln for a “President Lincoln Tea” at the Troy Museum and hear these re-enactors speak about the lives of the 16th President and First Lady.

The Library is located at 510 W. Big Beaver Rd, 248.524.3532. The Museum is located at 60 West Wattles Road at the northwest corner of Wattles and Livernois, 248.524.3570.

Spotlight on Troy — 2/9/09

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

Troy Police Seek Two Suspects in Home Invasion and Shooting

Troy Police are looking for two suspects who invaded an apartment in the 2200 block of Dorchester and shot a 23 year old man. Officers responded to the Dorchester address after receiving a call by the shooting victim’s girlfriend. The Home Invasion – Shooting occurred at approximately 3:17 am, on Saturday 2/7/2009.

Upon arrival Troy Police Officers found the resident who had suffered a single gunshot wound to an extremity. Preliminary investigation suggests that the victim and his girlfriend arrived home after leaving a Detroit nightclub and found two assailants waiting for them within their apartment; one suspect was armed with a handgun. The male victim was shot as he attempted to flee the apartment after the initial confrontation. His injuries do not appear life threatening at this juncture.

Suspect #1 – Described as a black male, 5’9”, medium build, early 20’s, wearing a black “Puffy” type down jacket, dark clothing, and a hat or cap. He was in possession of the handgun and is responsible for the shooting.

Suspect #2 – Described as a black female wearing a white nylon winter jacket with a hood. The hood had brown fur edging.

This is an unusual crime for the city in general and this area in particular. The investigation is on-going and at this juncture, detectives do not believe the incident was a random act. It is possible the suspects targeted the victim, but as of yet, it is not clear why. Robbery may be a motive. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Troy Police Department at 248-524-3477. A reward is available through Crime Stoppers. Callers can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP and remain completely anonymous. As additional information becomes available, updates will be provided.

Michigan FRUA Winter Party

Today, Michigan Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA) held their Winter Party at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy. We were entertained by the puppeteers (trained in the former Soviet Union) of PuppetART of Detroit.

Troy City Council Liquor Violation Hearing Agenda — 2/11/09

The complete agenda can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
Current Agenda

Mark-to-Market Suspension Monday?

According to Iain Murray...

The Dow is heading up, and it's not because Senatorial opposition to the stimulus is weakening. It started with the news yesterday that the Administration is on the verge of getting one huge thing right and will announce a suspension of certain mark-to-market rules on Monday.

If true, thanks are due to President Obama's Administration.  As Iain says, "the Administration is on the verge of getting one huge thing right."

Read the entire post at...
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MDFjZTliZmY1NmNmMmZjMDgwNWE1YmVjOWUzNGE0Y2E=

Channel 7 Says Switching to a Credit Union Could Pay Off

It’s a question every smart consumer should be asking - when you put your money in the bank, what does your bank do for you?

View the video at...
WXYZ Says Switching to a Credit Union Could Pay Off

 

Sen. Stabenow Wants Hearings on Radio Accountability

This morning, radio host Bill Press asked Michigan's own Senator Debbie Stabenow whether there needs to be a balance to right-wing talk on the radio dial.

BILL PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW: I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

Read more at...
Sen_Stabenow_Wants_Hearings_on_Radio_Accountability

Maybe Senator Stabenow should do some research on the First Amendment!

Update on the Valkyrie Movie Review

On January 1, I had a short review on the movie "Valkyrie."  Uwe Siemon-Netto, scholar-in-residence at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo, offers another perspective on this motion picture.

Here's an excerpt...

Bryan Singer’s film “Valkyrie” starring Tom Cruise as Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, the German colonel who tried to kill Hitler, requires footnotes: What motivated Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators, and what was the Nazis’ ultimate goal? A new, definitive biography of SS leader Heinrich Himmler provides an answer. “There’s no doubt about Himmler’s anticommunism and anti-Semitism; he wiped out both groups mercilessly,” writes historian Peter Longerich, “but basically he was much more engrossed with Christianity. The conflict with the Christian world, in which he grew up, was of truly existential significance to him.” According to Longerich, Himmler considered it his life’s calling to coalesce the fight against Christians with his idea of resurrecting the lost world of (pagan) Germania. While anti-Semitism and anticommunism were core elements of Hitler’s entire National Socialist movement, de-Christianization linked to re-Germanization “was the quintessential task of the SS in Himmler’s mind,” Longerich writes in his 1,000-word tome (Longerich, Peter. Heinrich Himmler, Biographie. Munich: Siedler Verlag, 2008; 275).

Read the entire article at...
http://concordia.typepad.com/vocation/2009/02/christian-charity-the-nazis-final-foe.html

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="198" caption="Carl Friedrich Goerdeler"][/caption]

Daniel Pearl and the Normalization of Evil

Great opinion piece in today's Wall Street Journal by the father of Daniel Pearl.

Here's an excerpt...

Those around the world who mourned for Danny in 2002 genuinely hoped that Danny's murder would be a turning point in the history of man's inhumanity to man, and that the targeting of innocents to transmit political messages would quickly become, like slavery and human sacrifice, an embarrassing relic of a bygone era. But somehow, barbarism, often cloaked in the language of "resistance," has gained acceptance in the most elite circles of our society. The words "war on terror" cannot be uttered today without fear of offense. Civilized society, so it seems, is so numbed by violence that it has lost its gift to be disgusted by evil.

Read the entire article at...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123362422088941893.html

Michigan GOP Ready for Gov. Granholm's State of the State

The Michigan Republican Party held a press conference earlier today in front of the Capitol Building. This press conference highlighted the Granholm/Cherry administration’s atrocious jobs record and the various ways Lt. Gov. John Cherry has been responsible for Michigan’s present state. The conference included Ed Boettcher, a Northern Michigan masonry business owner, fed up with the tax and regulation structure and Andrew Cowell, a 2007 Michigan State University graduate, who commented on how the economy has limited his employment options.

The Michigan GOP is hauling out the Michigan Republican Party Jobs Clock to show that Michigan has lost over 400,000 jobs since Granholm/Cherry have been in office (1 every 8 minutes). The party is also towing out the Michigan Republican Party Tax Check to show that the Granholm/Cherry tax increases of 2007 have cost Michigan families and businesses over $1.6 billion ($39 every second).

Troy Police Crime Report 2/2/09 - 2/3/09

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

Community Services Section
Lt. Chuck Pappas 524-3447

DAILY MEDIA CRIME SHEET
Monday, February 02, 2009 - Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Correction: Arrest and Arraignment for 11/6/08 Home Invasion

From Troy Police Lt. Chuck Pappas...

Be advised that the person that is going to be arraigned today for our Home Invasion that I put out yesterday has been changed to 11am today.

I've corrected the time in yesterday's blog post.

Spotlight on Troy — 2/2/09

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

Arrest and Arraignment: 11/6/08 Home Invasion

From the Troy Police...

Home Invasion – Forced Entry
Occurred – 11/06/08 Approximately 7:30 am

Warwick St. – On Thursday November 6th, 2008 at approximately 7:30 am an unknown subject forced entry into an occupied residence by kicking open the front door. The homeowner who was physically assaulted by the suspect was told that he wanted money and jewelry. The victim did turn over a small amount of cash and the suspect took assorted jewelry, including a small pendant necklace with a blue sapphire circled with small diamonds. The suspect also demanded the cars keys to the homeowner’s vehicle. Taken from the residence’s garage was a 2007 Red Mercury Mountaineer similar to the car shown in this photo. The stolen vehicle has been recovered and an arrest has been made of the suspect who committed this horrific crime.

On January 27, 2009, the Oakland County Prosecutor issued an eight count felony warrant for the suspect who has been arrested for this Home Invasion. The eight count warrant includes charges such as Robbery – unarmed, Home Invasion – 1st Degree, Carjacking, and more.

This suspect will be arraigned in the 52-4 District Court in Troy on February 3, 2009 at 11:00 am 11:30am in courtroom B, in front of the Honorable Judge Martone.

Granholm Promotes Federal Stimulus Package

According to today's Detroit Free Press, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she is optimistic a proposed federal stimulus package could help reverse Michigan’s severe economic downturn.

Will the projects listed below really help Michigan?

• $1 billion for Amtrak

• $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts

• $400 million for global-warming research

• $2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects

• $650 million on top of the billions already doled out to pay for digital TV conversion coupons