E-Newsletter, October 24, 2008

MRS. MARY LITTLE RECEIVES LOCAL HEROES AWARD:

I am pleased to congratulate Mrs. Mary Little for being named a Local Hero by Bank of America. This year, I had the privilege of nominating Mrs. Little for the Bank of America Charitable Foundation Neighborhood Excellence Initiative "Local Heroes Award.” The award was created by Bank of America to honor community role models and their efforts to improve their communities. Each local hero is able to direct a $5,000 grant donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to an eligible nonprofit of their choice, and is recognized at a public ceremony celebrating their local neighborhood achievements. Mrs. Little was chosen for this award for the decades of hard work and dedication that she has provided to the citizens within her community. Mrs. Little is one of five local heroes who will be receiving this award in the Tri-County area. Congratulations Mrs. Mary Little!

To read about my efforts to work with Mrs. Little to clean up obscene advertising in our community, visit my website: http://www.senate.mi.gov/hunter/pr.php?id=995.

 

BLOCK WATCH SUMMIT – TACKLING VACANT PROPERTIES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

The Detroit Vacant Property Campaign (DVPC) will be launched this Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Boulevard. This meeting will help residents learn how to deal with vacant and abandoned properties in their neighborhoods. Each participant will receive the “Vacant Property Toolbox”—a handbook of critical information to assist in dealing with these properties. Refreshments will be served. This meeting is sponsored by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Detroit in collaboration with Community Legal Resources. For more information call Jacqueline Burau at 313-596-8222 ext. 24.

 

OCTOBER IS CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

Many citizens use the Internet to keep in contact with family and friends, manage their finances, conduct research, enhance education, conduct business, and get the latest news. We all play an important role in securing our cyberspace and it’s important that we work together to improve the security of Michigan's information infrastructure and economy.

Below are some tips on how you can maintain good cyber security:

  • Use anti-virus software. Anti-virus software (as long as it is updated regularly) is designed to protect you and your computer against known viruses.
  • Do not open e-mail from unknown sources. Watch out for files attached to e-mails, particularly those with an "exe" extension — even if people you know sent them to you.
  • Use hard-to-guess passwords and keep them private. Change your passwords regularly and don't give your passwords to anyone.
  • Disconnect from the Internet when not in use. Turning off the Internet makes sure that someone else on the Internet can't enter your computer and cause harm.
  • Back-up your computer regularly. To avoid losing any data on your computer, back up all household computers onto external media such as CDs or diskettes.

 

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2009 ‘MICHIGAN CELEBRATES SMALL BUSINESS’ EVENT

Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) is now accepting applications for their annual awards honoring outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners in a variety of categories, including Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. This program is sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and each year recognizes and celebrates the contributions, innovation and energy of 50 diverse second-stage companies in Michigan.

For nomination categories and forms, visit: http://www.michigancelebrates.biz. Nominations must be submitted by November 14, 2008 to be considered.

 

INKSTER ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY

The Inkster Department of Parks and Recreation will host their annual Halloween Party on Thursday, October 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The party will be held at the Booker T. Dozier Recreation Complex at 2025 Middlebelt Road. Children in the sixth grade and under are invited to come in costume for an evening of games, prizes and refreshments. A costume contest will be held. For more information please call 734-728-7530.

 

WITCH WANDA TO VISIT JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. LIBRARY

Witch Wanda will visit the John F. Kennedy Jr. Library in Dearborn Heights on Wednesday, October 29, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. She will read a scary story and will also be joined by a magician. The library is located at 24602 Van Born Road. For more information please call 313-791-6050.

 

DEARBORN HEIGHTS LIBRARY OFFERS “START YOUR OWN BUSINESS” CLASS

If you are interested in starting your own business but don’t really know how to go about that, then you can attend a free program offered by SCORE at the Dearborn Heights Caroline Kennedy Library. This presentation will be held on Thursday, October 30, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Program Room A. Because starting your own business can have such an impact on a family, SCORE asks that married individuals bring their spouses to the presentation. Please pre-register by coming to the circulation desk or calling 313-791-3800. The Library is at located 24590 George Street, three blocks west of Telegraph Road and two blocks north of Ford Road. SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Association. SCORE stands for Service Corps of Retired Executives. The group’s purpose is to help a new generation of aspiring business owners realize their dream. SCORE Detroit has groups throughout the Detroit area.

 

CHANGE A LIGHT, CHANGE MICHIGAN: CFL BULBS AVAILABLE AT A DISCOUNT IN OCTOBER

Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs are available at a discount at participating Meijer, Menards and Kroger stores to celebrate the national “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign. For a limited time, CFL bulbs will be available for 99 cents at those participating stores. Michigan joined the campaign with Governor Granholm’s proclamation of “Change a Light Day” at the beginning of the month. If every home in Michigan made the change to CFL bulbs, the state would save more than 202,988,578 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. CFL bulbs can save consumers $30 or more in energy costs over the bulb’s lifetime because they use 75 percent less energy than a regular light bulb and last up to 10 times longer.

 

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR ADULTS

Parents of trick-or-treating kids can get so caught up in the fun themselves that they might forget some simple safety ideas that could save everyone some trouble. Having a fun and safe Halloween is easy and below are some tips that can help.

  • Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them.
  • The best bet is to make sure that an adult is going with them. If you can't take them, see if another parent or a teenage sibling can go along.
  • Know what other activities a child may be attending, such as parties or school events.
  • Explain to children the difference between tricks and vandalism.
  • Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.
  • Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on.
  • Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets and crossing when the lights tell you to will help make them safer when they are out trick-or-treating.

DTE ENERGY AND CONSUMER’S ENERGY OFFER UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE

With winter just around the corner, it’s important we begin preparing ourselves and our houses for the colder weather. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy offer a number of programs to help customers with their energy bills.

Payment assistance programs offered to customers include:

  • Medical emergencies program to postpone shutoffs in the event of a medical issue;
  • Shutoff protection plan to spread future bills out over the year and to include equal monthly payments on an unpaid balance in order to avoid a shutoff.
  • Some consumers and all senior citizens regardless of their income also qualify for DTE Energy’s Winter Protection Plan. This program protects seniors and low-income customers from shutoff between November 1 and March 31. During this period, customers must pay a portion of their estimated annual bill plus regular payments on any past-due bills. After March 31, the required bill payments will increase to cover winter bills.

Many assistance programs are available by calling 211 at United Way. Programs that are available include:

  • Low-income weatherization that includes caulking, weather stripping, and insulation;
  • THAW, the Heat and Warmth Fund, which helps people facing a shutoff and who have exhausted all federal and state funding programs.
  • There is also the State Emergency Relief Program to help with paying energy bills. This program can be accessed through your local Department of Human Services office or the Energy Assistance Hotline at 800-292-5650.

 

U OF M DETROIT CENTER HOSTS HOW TO START A BLOCK CLUB PROGRAM

The University of Michigan School of Social Work and the Skillman Foundation/GNI are sponsoring a “How to Start Your Own Block Club” program at the U of M Detroit Center on Monday, November 10, 2008. Presented by Alice Thompson, CEO of Black Family Development, the program will discuss how block clubs can fight crime and find ways to encourage young people to get involved in their local communities. People attending the meeting will receive a manual on the ins and outs of establishing a block club. The program runs from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Parking is available in the parking structure behind the center’s building ($4.00) or on the street. To register please call Tammy Miller at 313-593-0918.

 

TALK TIME WITH TUPAC: COFFEE HOUR TIMES & LOCATIONS

Detroit Coffee Hour: Every First Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
Mary's Grill, 20804 Plymouth Road

Dearborn Heights Coffee Hour: Every Third Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
McDonald’s, 6412 North Telegraph Road

Inkster Coffee Hour: Every Second Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
McDonald’s, 27125 Cherry Hill Road