Column for August 5, 2004
I love to write this column. I enjoy meeting the readers and hearing their stories. Last week the band was playing in Warren. On the way home, in the middle of the night, I stopped at the Bray's hamburgers on 9 mile and Dequindre. Inside with the juke box playing and the smell of greasy burgers in the air, a Bob Seger looking guy asked if I write a column in the Farmington Gazette. I said I do, but how would he know about that in Warren? He told me he worked in Farmington and often eats at Green's burgers and they always have a copy of the paper there. Hmm a guy who looks like Bob Seger, eats greasy hamburgers and loves the paper. God bless America.
I heard from Zak Stelmaszek. He played guitar in the Mad Carousel band, but has recently joined the Cruzin Jupiter band. If you haven't heard of Cruzin Jupiter yet, keep an eye out for them. I have herd many good reports about this band. Zak says you can see the band at the Penalty Box Bar on Plymouth Road in Livonia.
Ground was finally broke for the Orchard Condominiums at 33300 Slcocum. The development will requires the demolition of a 14,000-square-foot retail space for the 32 residential townhouse units. The $5 million downtown project is expected to be completed by June 2005.
I know all kinds of people who have old Cell Phones laying around the house. Now you can donate them to Life Inc. The nonprofit organization provides emergency cell phones to the elderly, disabled and battered women's shelters. I like this idea a lot. The organization will even make arrangements for pick-ups. For more information call (800) 585-5503 or www.cellphonesforlife.org.
Another great event coming up is the Dearborn Heights Firefighters 12th annual Chili Cook-Off benefit and family picnic. This event is open to the public and takes place Saturday, August 21 noon till dusk at the "upper" Parkland Park on Ann Arbor Trail between Telegraph and Evergreen. Food and Beverages will be available. It is an all ages, free event, with fun games, contests and over $10,000 worth of kids and adult prizes. All the proceeds go to the children of the Great Lakes Burn Camp. There will be face painting, a moomwalk, Fire Engine water shower display, and Benny and the Jets band concert. To enter a chili of for more information call Bill Herman at (313) 277-7713.
To reach Ben E. call (313) 730-1627 via E-mail benejets@aol.com and see the web site Bennyandthejets.com.