Livingston County Daily Press and Argus from Howell, Michigan • 8

BA DAILY PRESS 4 ARGUS-Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Opinion MVINQCTON COUNTY OAIIV Press' Argus Richard Ramhoff PRESIDENT PUBLISHER Rich Periberg EXECUTIVE EDITOR Maria Stuart MANAGING EDITOR Mike Malott NEWS EDITOR Buddy Moorehouse METRO EDITOR Our fundamental purposes are to enhance the lives of our readers, nurture the home towns we serve and contribute to the business success of our customers. Sign, signs, everywhere there's signs Maria 0 1 STUART Smoking in Cars with Kids: Invasive bill would be nightmare to enforce In early November, state Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, introduced a bill that would make it illegal for anyone to smoke in his or her car if there was a minor inside. The details haven't been worked out, Moolenaar said, but the idea is that it would be a civil infraction, comparable to a traffic ticket. "Much like not wearing a safety belt, being exposed to secondhand smoke in the close quarters of a car puts children at tremendous risk," Moolenaar said in a prepared statement.

He referred to pneumonia, bronchitis, lung cancer, ear infections and children's prolonged colds, coughs, sinus infections and asthma. We have no doubts that Moolenaar's heart is in the right place with this legislation he wants to protect children but we feel this bill is far too intrusive. He says he's been promised a hearing on the legislation, but it's our hope that it dies before getting that far. Make no mistake, we agree with Moolenaar that adults shouldn't be smoking in cars with minors inside. Adults shouldn't be smoking anywhere, but if that's the choice they make, it's still a legal activity.

We just don't feel this bill is warranted. One of the basic concepts of legislation is that it be fairand even-handed; this bill is neither. To begin with, why stop at smoking in cars? Why not prohibit adults from smoking in a house if there's a minor inside? Or at a restaurant if there's a minor inside? Putting aside the fact that enforcing this bill would be a nightmare. Do we really want our police spending all their time pulling over smokers? It's simply an intrusion that's not warranted. There comes a point where government sticks its nose too far into daily life, and this is one of those points.

Again, we agree with Moolenaar that adults shouldn't be smoking around kids. But they need to make that decision for themselves. It shouldn't be up to Lansing to make that decision for them. being able to help those in need, and that's just what the Empty Stocking Fund has been doing for over 40 years. What was started by then-publisher Allen Nequette as a way to ensure happy holidays for all county kids has grown into a yearlong effort.

While the fund helps our needy neighbors during the holidays, it also sends kids to a week of sleep-away summer camp who could not afford to go otherwise. I had a hunch this year's holiday campaign would be a challenge poor economic conditions have increased need at a time when most of us are tapped out after donating to this year's hurricane relief efforts. But I've seen readers start to open their hearts and wallets to help their less-fortunate neighbors, which touches me deeply. The Empty Stocking Fund solicits cash donations for gift checks that go to needy families in our community to buy whatever they wish for their holidays. Some families purchase toys for their kids; others buy the fixings for an elaborate holiday meal.

Some, I am sure, use the donations to pay their heat bills. The nice thing about the fund is that it allows families to plan and prepare their own holidays. Every penny donated to the Empty Stocking Fund stays in Livingston County, and every penny goes directly to a needy family. There are no administrative costs' with the fund. If you'd like to make a donation, no matter how large or small, make your check out to the EMPTY STOCKING FUND, and mail it to my attention at the Daily Press Argus, 323 Grand River Howell, MI 48843.

We will run a thank-you ad during the holidays, so be sure to let me know how you'd like to be thanked. Maria Stuart is the managing editor of the Livingston County Daily Press Argus. You can reach her by calling (517) 552-2856, or by sending e-mail to her at mstuartgannett.com. I have fallen in love with the new wayfinding signs that have been popping up throughout Howell. The signs distinctive, tall, graceful and familiar-feeling direct people to attractions throughout the city.

In all, there will be about 80 of them scattered about, telling people where the main features are in town. The signs were developed by Corbin Design of Traverse City, considered one of the wayfinding experts in the United States. The firm, which has also done sign projects in Lansing, Chelsea, Petoskey and Traverse City, was part of the Design Michigan group that visited Howell two years ago. After the visit, the Design Michigan team recommended installing signs throughout the city to point out parking lots, municipal buildings and other landmarks and attractions. In the spring, kiosk signs for pedestrians will be installed.

Hats off to the city and the sign designers for creating such a wonderful addition to the community. Getting ready for 2006 With the holidays and the end of 2005 fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions. Experts generally say that resolutions don't mean much without a plan. We all want to be thinner, healthier and nicer. We all want to smoke less, read more and learn to play the piano.

We want to be the best we can, but without a road map or a plan, how do we get where we long to go? Didn't some wise person once say the journey of a lifetime begins with a single step? So, what is it you'll be resolving to change in your life in the new year, and what will your first step be? Only you know. Me? I'm not entirely sure what I'll resolve. Last year I resolved to be more organized, and though I'm not where I'd like to be, I have made progress. I've always been a practitioner of "creative organization," a realization that dawned on me when I was looking for a phone message and discovered that I had not one, not two, not three but six different pads of paper on which I recorded my phone messages. Today, I'm down to a single spiral-bound pad for all my messages.

Weaning myself from'-my pads of paper was a'stnaJl' step for' but a giant leap for me; while I've been building on that success throughout the year, I still have a long way to go. I'd like to know what you'll be resolving for the new year. Maybe it's to exercise more so you can go to your 20th class reunion looking sharp. Maybe it's to leam to cook so you don't have to eat out as much. Perhaps you'll swear off television for a year, or travel to Italy.

Whatever your resolution, I'd like to share them with our readers. E-mail what you'll likely resolve for 2006 to Be sure to include your name and daytime telephone number so I can contact you if necessary. Empty Stocking Fund The generosity of Daily Press Argus readers never ceases to amaze and humble me. A couple of weeks ago, worried about how few donations to the Empty Stocking Fund have come in, I put out an SOS. Lots of you answered.

There is nothing more gratifying than Letters- Express yourself! save us from the idiotic rendition of our "Star-Spangled Banner" as performed in front of the world by the likes of that half-dressed, bedraggled, voiceless human being prior to the "game" Thanksgiving Day. Turn out the lights, Detroit. We'll never miss you. Bob Morlset Howe! Township Press Argus, 323 E. Grand River Howell Ml 48843.

Fax letters to (517) 548-3005. Include your full name for publication, and your home address and phone for verification of authorship. We welcome your letters on topics of local interest. The limit is 450 words, though letters of 250 words or less have the best chance of being published. E-mail letters to letters livlngstondaily.com.

Mail letters to the Daily Log Cabin Restaurant: Good to see eatery rise again from the ashes More than six years after a natural gas explosion blew up the Log Cabin Restaurant, we're glad that the place is coming back for seconds. The eatery in Genoa Township, about midway between Howell and Brighton, is back in business, serving pizza, fried chicken and steak, among other fare. Newcomers to Livingston County might not know the restaurant by reputation, but they're sure to recognize the sign along East Grand River Avenue. After the building was lost to the blast in June 1999, the only remnant of the establishment was the Log Cabin sign with the neon martini. Now we're glad to see the sign is attracting many area diners, some of them first-timers and others for the first time in a long while.

Brothers Nakos "Nick" Kovanis and Haralampos "Harry" Kovanis have owned the place since 1968. We admire their dedication to rebuilding in the community. It must not have been easy, given how the new restaurant building had to conform to up-to-date community standards on drainage, setbacks and parking, but we hope all that hard work is all for the best. We wish the Log Cabin Restaurant and its proprietors another long, successful run in Livingston County. the sculpture "Evolution One" would have responded differently had it been named "Intelligent Design One." Lee Mltnlck Consider what art does for Brighton Yikes, are we all that provincial that a little unusual art sculpture throws the whole town in a tizzy? Truly, it doesn't matter if you like it or not.

What matters is that is that it's gotten your attention, it's gotten talking, it's going to bring others into our community. Having a thriving art presence will set Brighton apart from the many other small towns in the area vying for attention from shoppers, diners, homeowners and investors. Let's not lose our perspective so quickly over one piece of unusual art Let's consider it collectively and see the results. I'm confident they'll be positive and that's good for all concerned. Cindy Snyder Brighton We sure know ugly when we see it What was the prior approval process for the thing known as "Evolution Was someone given the responsibility of examining the plans and giving the go-ahead to the Mayor's Commission on Art in Public Places? Or was there no prior Kick off holidays with nativities I have attended the Interdenominational Exhibit of over 700 Nativities from around the world for the past several years.

It is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. It is so beautiful to see so many different nativities. It is free as a gift to the community from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is from noon to 9 p.m. Friday through Monday.

It is at 1041 W. Grand River Ave. in Howell, next to the Howell Area Fire Department This is truly a great way for a family to start the holidays. Bonnie White Howl approval required, and the commission merely told to surprise us? If this is the first of 30 surprises, please stop the remaining 29 and pay the experts to just go away. The commission may well be telling the mayor that these complaining rednecks know nothing about real art, and that probably is largely true.

But mayor, we do know ugly when we see it William Pitts rUmbunj Maybe sculpture is misnamed My guess is that most of those letters complaining about National anthem needs dignity Whatever happened to a reasonably dignified presentation of our national anthem? These "new age" versions we are forced to listen to during some of our major events sicken me. My expectations aren't very high when it comei to watching the usual pitiful imitation of a professional football team like the Detroit Lions, but please i.