From Jim Nash (D-Farmington Hills) Oakland County Commissioner I am writing to ask the public for their help with an important issue. Last winter, I hosted a “Road to Reintegration” event, bringing together veterans, Michigan National Guard, Veterans’ Affairs (VA), state and county veterans agencies and county human service agencies. We discussed issues veterans and families of those still deployed face, the services available to them, and how we can better connect needs to providers. [...]

From former Oakland County commissioner Eric Coleman, Southfield: A famous quote by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. says, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” The recent actions by Republican leaders in Oakland County and the state of Michigan to strip voters of their rights and to ostracize elected officials because of their minority [...]

From Joe Hargrove, Commerce Township: Here’s a few of the many reasons why (GOP presidential candidate Mitt) Romney is bad for Michigan and the country: 1. Romney supports tort reform — a misguided policy that severely limits or completely eliminates our civil right to hold a company accountable if they harm or kill. Example: Michigan’s 1996 Drug Immunity Law, a product of tort reform, prohibits Michigan residents from suing a drug manufacturer if their FDA-approved [...]

From Marge Loula, secretary, Alpine Valley Ski Patrol: On behalf of the Alpine Valley Ski Patrol, I would like to thank Shumakers Ski/Snowboard at Alpine Valley for donating helmets and wrist guards to give away at our safety week event on Jan. 28. The kids enjoyed the raffle and making safety posters. They learned to be more aware of others around them on the ski hill and terrain park areas. The helmets and wrist guards [...]

From Judy Rubin, Tri-Community Coalition Executive Director; Tobacco Free Oakland Coalition Co-vice Chairperson: It can be difficult talking to your kids about risk behaviors like tobacco use, and it’s easy to feel as if your words don’t make a difference. But, in fact, research shows that parents are a very influential factor in their children’s decision-making. Positive identification with parents is associated with decreased cigarette use. That’s why it’s so important to start talking about [...]

From Mike Jackson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters: As recently reported in our Detroit media, Michigan’s unemployment rate continues to decline, now at the state’s lowest level since September 2008. Michigan also added 67,000 net new jobs in 2011, including in manufacturing and professional and business services. Yes, we still have our work cut out for us. However, the future does look stronger with the resurgence of our domestic automotive industry [...]

From Dave Renwick, Wolverine Lake: As a village of Wolverine Lake resident it is with some concern for clarity that I read your article “Public hearing on sanitary sewer SAD scheduled” (Page 13, Jan. 25, 2012 Spinal Column Newsweekly). Curiously missing from the “happy face” information the village spoon fed to the Spinal Column is the bombshell President (John) Magee dropped at the end of the January meeting, that being that once the lake is [...]

From Nick Tuza, Wolverine Lake: These days, most letters (to the editor) seem to be doom and gloom or complaints, but I wanted to write this letter to thank a mystery woman whose act of kindness and compassion really meant a lot to me and my wife at a very sad time. We arrived at the Wixom Veterinary Clinic at the crossroads of Pontiac Trail and Wixom Road with our dog who was fighting for [...]

From Carol Starr-Nash and Mark Nash, Wixom: Our family would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Mark Grimm, owner of Mega Printing in Walled Lake, for making the wonderful “Welcome Home” law signs for our son, Austin, who recently returned from his year-long deployment in Afghanistan. We so appreciated his very kind gesture and wish to acknowledge his generosity and caring.

From Renee Miller, Walled Lake Northern High School Head Volleyball Coach: I am writing in response to the article in last week’s (Jan. 11, 2012) sports section adding a player to the All-Area Volleyball team (“Mutrynowski added to All-Area Volleyball team”). The article was brought to my attention by another coach who questioned me about how this occurred. The athlete added is a quality player and was an important part of our team’s success last [...]