Nobody can say this area lacks
diversity.
This weekend, I dividedmy time
between a classical symphony con-
cert and some motorcycle gangs,
bothPlymouth-based activities.
Hard to say which I enjoyed
most.
Annette Horn graciously asked
me to help judge the Great Lakes
Chili Cook Off on Sunday, and not
fully understanding the task, I
agreed. After I showed up, it
became clear that I was being
asked to taste the special chili
recipes of 24 of the 50 cooks who
entered their culinary master-
pieces in the event.
Look, if anything was a clear
demonstration of my cluelessness,
it had to be the white shirt I wore. I
did wonder, I admit, at some of the
looks I got from the other judges
who sort of rolled their eyes at each
other and then at me…but I was
sure it was just that I was new and
all. Finally, one of them spoke up,
about half way through the 49 chilis
and said, “That's a gutsy move,
wearing a white shirt. Nobody
wearswhite to this.”
Well, thanks for the advice
Sancho Panza, but you could have
let me know sooner, like before I
dribbled this red, greasy stuff down
the front of me, trying not to choke
on the 14 pounds of chili pepper
some fool thought would mask the
fact that he or she can't cook worth
squat.
Look, no offense here, but some
of this stuff was bad. BAD. I swear, I
wanted to sneak a sample of one of
these out of the tent for testing
because I know, I just KNOW, that
this cook made the foul stuff with
road kill found on the way to the
contest. It had to be possum or
some such critter because nothing
in my experience, which is vast,
has ever tasted quite like that con-
coction.
Then I got to the one that was
pure grease. I could have lubed my
car with this stuff if it weren't for
the indelible stains this junk would
havemade.
That was surpassed only by the
guy who put anise in the chili.
Anise…I figured out later he or she
must have used Italian sausage as
one of the
meats, account-
ing for the taste
of licorice in
the chili. Yeah, licorice. Yech.
Then I got to the end of the
table.
Whomever cooked this stuff up
got the recipe from the great chili
gods in the sky. One after the other,
they were like a little taste of every-
thing chili is supposed to be and
more. They were perfect. Not too
spicy, not bland. Not greasy, but not
dry. They were perfect. The blend
of spices not overpowering, but
with some kick. One after the
other, perfect, perfect, perfect.
Look, I'm no slouch in the
kitchen and make a pretty good
chili if Emeril LaGasse says so him-
self, and he does. I spent time at his
cooking school inNewOrleans and
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
October 13, 2011
Trip is
high note
for band
When police were called to the campus of the Plymouth,
Canton and Salem high schools not once, but twice, last week
after threatening notes were found, they faced a trying situa-
tion.
As did school administrators, teachers anddistrict officials.
Their foremost concern had to be the safety of the students,
and while most suspected the first note to be a prank, emer-
gencymeasures had to be taken and procedures followed. That
meant locking thousands of excitable teenagers in classrooms
before sending them home early, ensuring their safety while
doing so.
Not an enviable job, by anymeans.
Despite the artificial hysteria and mass emotional hijinx of
many and the understandable and genuine fright of a few, offi-
cials and teachers cleared all three high schools in record time,
without incident, other than the backlash faced by many par-
ents when some of the students got home. There was a day
when such a note, or notes, would have been dismissed as a
common teen prank and classes would have gone on without a
ripple. Not in our society, not today. Not after Columbine. Not
after 9-11.
No, these days every threat, every hint of a threat, has to be
taken seriously because who knows what the price would be
for dismissing a real threat, a serious warning of violence to
come. We expect that the Plymouth-Canton campus is even
more sensitive to such situations after the recent charges
against a teacher for making threats and having a gun in his
car.
We'd like to thank and commend the Canton police officers
who responded to both situations, the administrators in the
building and the teachers who did their utmost to keep a
volatile situation, ripe for panic, as calm and safe for everyone
involved as possible. Let's face it, these are teens, drama is a
staple of life to them. Dealing with this situation could have led
to a situation of mass hysteria----but it didn't. The officers and
detectives kept it low key and quiet. The teachers were
informed and concerned, but professional and calm in their
instructions and information. Administrators kept teachers,
parents and the public informed as best they couldwhile keep-
ing the safety and welfare, both physical and emotional, of the
students paramount.
Feeding the fear of many parents, and some students, was
the lack of information they perceived from those in charge.
After the horrors seen at colleges and high schools in this coun-
try, many parents were frightened and not getting information
fromtheir children only fueled that fear.
They all need to take a deep breath and try to tamp down
their justified concerns and try to understand that those in
charge are doing their very best to control thousands of teens
in a volatile and unfamiliar situation. Their fears and concerns
are more than understandable and fully justified----but they
exacerbate an already difficult situation.
Going to school shouldn't be hazardous to one's health or life
threatening. But these days, even in a demographic area like
Plymouth-Canton, it can be. That's an ugly truth no one likes or
wants to face, but these police officers, administrators and
teachers faced that threat in a professional manner, putting the
safety of the students first and setting an example of calm
behavior these teens could, and inmost cases, did, emulate.
We remember when teachers' jobs were to educate, to
inform, to impart knowledge. They didn't also have to be the
last line of defense against threats to the lives and welfare of
their students. Will we soon require self-defense and threat
assessment training as part of an educationdegree?
A sad commentary, indeed, on the changes in our society
today. Once again, we commend all involved for the handling of
this situation.
We've all learned a lesson fromit.
Dealing with this situation
could have led to a situation
of mass hysteria----but it didn't.
”
Look, if anything was a clear
demonstration of my cluelessness,
it had to be the white shirt I wore.
”
Police, administrators, teachers deserve high marks
There are 176 students in the
Plymouth Canton schools who
have a unique opportunity next
month.
If each of them can pay the
$1,000 or so in expenses, they can
get on one of seven buses Nov. 21,
travel to New York and take the
miles long hike in the annual
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,
no matter the weather, playing
their musical instruments all the
way. The young people are all
members of the award-winning
marching band in the Plymouth-
Canton district and have won
numerous awards for their per-
formances. They have been hon-
ored so often, in fact, that they are
the first band from the State of
Michigan to receive an official
invitation fromMacy's tomarch in
the parade, a fact their proud par-
ents and members of the Music
Boosters are quick to quote.
There have been several
fundraisers for the group during
the year. The bingo games during
the Fall Festival, water sales dur-
ing Art in the Park and the annual
craft shows at the high school.
They still need help, having
raised about half of themore than
$100,000 needed to cover all their
expenses for the trip.
Being the best doesn't come
cheap.
We wish them well and want
them, and their parents to know,
how much support they have in
their home towns. We're very
proud of them and the entire
community should also take pride
in their achievements.
Often, during high school
years, the one sustaining element
is involvement in a music pro-
gram where success is almost
guaranteed. If they can play, they
Now this was a weekend to remember
See
Weekend
, page 7
See
Band
, page 7
Letters
Republican candidate lauded
To the editor:
I must disagree on many of the
opinions you wrote in your October
6th editorial. Yes, it is true that
when Republicans were in control
of the White House and Congress
from 2001-06, they did grossly over-
spend and cause massive deficits.
However, since the Dems con-
trolled the House from 2007-2010,
and Senate from 2007 to the pres-
ent, and especially when Obama
took office in 2009, these deficits
and debts have skyrocketed. The
fact that you continue to blame
Bush and Republicans for the cur-
rent messwhenObama has been in
office nearly three years is a very
poor excuse.
When it comes to the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan, saying it is
the fault of Republicans that we
are still there is also false.
Democrats could have voted to cut
off funding as far back as 2007, but
chose not to. It is clear to be that
many elected Democrats do not
want to end thewar inAfghanistan,
and have even gone as far as to
send troops to Libya. Obama could
have vetoed any war funding, but
has not done so.
I will agree with you that the
majority of the Republican candi-
dates are not ideal, and have
indeed been part of the overspend-
ing and limiting of civil liberties,
just like their Democrat counter-
parts. However, Congressman Ron
Paul and to a lesser extent former
New Mexico governor Gary
Johnson are not part of this group.
Ron Paul not only wants to reduce
government on a large scale, he
also believes in ending wars,
restoring civil liberties, and retun-
ing many of the federal govern-
ments powers back to the states, as
stated by the Tenth Amendment of
theUSConstitution.
I feel out of all of the current
candidates, Ron Paul is by far the
best person to lead this country
back to prosperity.
KeithButkovich,
Wayne
Parade winners announced
To the editor:
Another successful light parade
See
Letters
, page 7