Thanks for memories

Dear Editor,
Thanks to Don Rush for the humor and memories of our youth (Don’t Rush Me column, “Remind Me Again, Why Did I like Playing Football,” Aug. 24, 2016).
Have a great year and yes, those were some very good years. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach some very special young men during my youth.
Walt Wyniemko
(Walt was Clarkston High School head track coach for 26 years, head football coach for eight years and JV coach for seven years)

Good Samaritan search

Dear Editor,
In these times of disharmony and racial tension, here is a story of redemption.
When a 93-year-old woman’s car breaks down while driving on I-75, it is a frightening experience.
As I was driving back from my daughter’s home, July 21 around 1:30 p.m., just south of exit 91 at M-15, I felt something tugging on the right side of the car. At first I panicked and then told myself to calm down. I took three deep breaths and pulled my car over to inspect the damage. There was a large piece of rubber my tire was dragging. I tried to move it but it wouldn’t budge. I was stuck out here on my own.
I realized I needed help. Call 9-1-1, I thought to myself. I went for my purse to fetch my phone. After a few minutes of frantically searching, I remembered giving it to my great granddaughter. Never give your phone to a 2 year old. I did not get it back. Now what?
Nervously I looked out at the heavy traffic praying for help. My son said I should have waved my panties to get attention, but at my age I think that might have scared people away. After 15 minutes of waiting and thinking about my next steps, a young African American man stopped. He approached me and said, “Ma’am, my name is Axelrod ( or was it Acacia? ) and I am not here to hurt you, but I stopped to help you.”
I wondered why he felt the need to explain that he wasn’t here to hurt me. Of course I thought he stopped to help me. Then, I remembered reading about the young black men being shot by police and the violence that happened in Dallas. Is that why he felt the need to tell me that he was here to help?
I smiled at him and said, “You look like an angel dropped from heaven to me!” When I said that, he hugged me. Never have I felt more safe than in the company of this stranger.
He looked at the car and diagnosed the problem. He told me the wheel cover had come undone. He tried to remove it unsuccessfully. Then, he retrieved a crowbar from his trunk and pried the cover loose.
Now that I could drive again he asked me to take the car to my mechanic as soon as possible. He told me he would follow me down the road for a mile or so to make sure the car was safe. Such random acts of kindness cannot go unnoticed. If more people thought about being kind instead of correct all the time, the world would be a better place.
I waved good bye and later realized I did not get his full name nor number. I would like to find that gentleman who saved a stranded woman on the highway to thank him and offer him a tray of my much sought-after chocolate chip cookies.
Alyce Gilroy
Auburn Hills
(Ed. note: Call us with info at 248-625-3370 and we’ll pass it along)

Too much Detroit

Dear Editor,
I am glad to hear of people helping others when needed, however, I am beyond sick of hearing over and over about people donating to Detroit and it’s people.
There are so many people in all the other communities who cannot afford things and are having hardships, and not able to provide supplies and clothes for their children.
Enough on Detroit, the give me, give me city. Enough. We once were some of those other people, when Detroit was flourishing, and we had to tough it out on our own, working out ways to provide for our children.
Charlene Liggett
Independence Township

Concerns over park

Dear Editor,
I have to agree with Cory Johnston (“Depot Park needs some fixing,” Aug. 24). I have been horrified that anyone in any level of government would think the construction of the pathway from the beautiful Clark Family Bridge to M15 would in any way be acceptable. It fails to meet the most basic of safety, ADA, or any construction standards. I question the competency of anyone who would suggest that this construction was in any way acceptable and am flabbergasted that openly voiced concerns have been routinely ignored.
I am also concerned with the quality of water flowing in the Mill Race. In a word “ew”.Sometime last year the DPW staff added pea gravel in the conveyance that runs from just beneath the Fabulous Rain/Native Plant garden to the Mill Race. I’m not sure what they were thinking, but every bit of this has been, as would be expected, transported into the stream. The conveyance is highly erodible and would benefit greatly by using geogrid for long term stabilization. It could be installed by staff with a bit of elbow grease, and lined with Native Plants for long term filtering of runoff and stabilization.
Back to the South Bridge. Along the banks of the creek on the N side, the W side of the Bridge, there is mass erosion happening. This began during construction, and is continuing to degrade. It would be somewhat easily stabilized with installation, not just here, but at the other access points to the river, with Native Plants that would also filter runoff and protect the quality of this feeder stream. Since many like to access the creek here, you could easily construct an erosion resistant pathway at low cost, that would also be safer than the current access. All of these suggestions would beautiful the entire bridge area, protect the water quality, and stabilize from erosion.
I was told once by a former council member that I will not name, as it was told to me “off the record”, that one of the drains in the DPW garage was not sealed and that it discharged into the millrace. I would personally like to see that dye traced to demonstrate whether or not this is indeed the case, and if it is, for it to be sealed.
Finally, I do not think the water quality, over all, in this stream is very high. Just my observation wi a degree in Hydrogeology and 26 + years working around water. No Data here. It would, either way, be improved by adding in riffle structures, some boulders, into the stream, to create areas where the water could be aerated and oxygen would be added to the water. I would also encourage additional native plantings all along the river bank for greater beauty, filtration, stabilization…..and the potential for an outdoor classroom area for students to learn about biology and water quality. Local childrens art projects would add a delightful spark as well. By creating a native plant boundary, you would also reduce the amount of ecoli from goose droppings from entering the water way, especially on the W side of the park, behind the Gazebo. Add a few benches, memorials etc, and the Park would take on an even lovelier glow.
This park is fabulous as the article states, but it has significant deficiencies that would be not only easily addressed, but cost effective to do as well. There are MANY local experts that would be easy to engage in such projects that have been begging for the approval to do such things over the years. Why doesn’t the City engage with them?
PS. I would encourage the City to, rather than install additional traditional lighting such as what was installed at the New Bridge, to instead consider LED lighting that is less invasive and more cost effective. And MAYBE even switch up the lighting at the bridge in the future. And Not just LED, but hey, why not go Solar? Just a thought.

Tammie Heazlit

Independence Township