The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by State Rep. Jim Townsend, a Royal Oak resident. The letter was read at the Royal Oak City Commission meeting on Monday: I am writing to you today to urge your support for the Human Rights Ordinance for the City of Royal Oak. The next great hurdle in the struggle for civil rights in our country centers on the equal freedom and rights of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered (LGBT) Americans. The promise of equal rights for all Americans remains unfulfilled when it is still legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Adopting the …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Sheryl Hunter, a Royal Oak resident: Most of us remember our first dates going to the movies.  That has been recently eliminated at the Royal Oak Emagine Theatre.  My 16-year-old son and his girlfriend were dropped off at the Emagine for a double date, meeting their 17-year-old friends.  They were greeted by a Royal Oak Police officer at the ticket counter who informed them that they could not purchase tickets for any show after 6 p.m. without an ID showing that they are over 18. There was a misleading sign on the door that led them to …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Mollie Decker, an architecture student at the University of Detroit Mercy:  As a masters level architecture student, one would think I am constantly aware of the buildings and architecture that surround me. I would love to believe this is true, but it is easy to be oblivious of the beauty in our built environment unless one is given a reason to rationalize it. My historic preservation class at the University of Detroit Mercy, taught by Stephen Vogel, encouraged me to start thinking about the architecture that makes up the streets of downtown…

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin: January is School Board Recognition Month, a time to salute the work of our volunteer school board and to celebrate community-governed schools. The role of our school board is to articulate our district's vision, mission, and goals and to develop policies to achieve them. The school board encourages continuous improvement in student learning and advocates at the local, state, and federal levels in support of public education. Most critically, the school board makes decisions which affect our children: what …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Charlie Withers, a Royal Oak resident: Today will mark the 21st anniversary of the tragedy at the Royal Oak Post Office—a tragedy that was preventable if management hadn’t created a hostile work environment. The Post Office, 21 years later, still refuses to accept any responsibility. In 1991, the Royal Oak Post Office was under the guise of the Detroit District that chose to ignore complaints about the conditions that prevailed at the Royal Oak Post Office. If anything, they condoned the extreme actions that were being taken against the …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Scott Newport of Royal Oak: The other day, Jay, a lumber associate and I were loading 2x4s onto a cart at Home Depot. We weren’t paying much attention to the pile as it grew. I guess when buddies are working and talking at the same time, space and surrounding noise have little impact. And for sure counting takes a back seat. That evening, just after dinner, my 81-year-old dad stopped by to visit his 13-year-old grandson. Noah was fulfilling a Royal Oak Middle school, social studies assignment from Mrs. Bodine, which was to interview a …

As a retired Administrator of the 44th District Court, I want to encourage you to vote for Derek Meinecke for District Judge for the City of Royal Oak.  I watched Derek grow up, become a loving husband to Mandy and their three children, and presently an excellent prosecutor. He came to the 44th District as a law clerk for Judge Daniel Sawicki and later became an Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor, a position he has served for the last 12 years, prosecuting criminals with a strong determination to put away the bad guys. It is not surprising that the Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Bob and Carol Hennessey of Royal Oak: We have come to you before when we needed to move the Veterans Monument to a more dedicated place to show respect to our Veterans and the wonderful people of this community have come though with flying colors. We are coming to you again to help us support Carlo Ginotti for 44th District Court. We have had the privilege to work with Carlo for many years on different committees and have found him to be an honest hard working family man that does what he says he is going to do such as working to continue to…

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Tom and Dian Wurdock of Royal Oak: My wife and I have had the opportunity to meet Derek Meinecke and his family on many occasions. I also have known Judge Dan Sawicki for many years and have found him to be an outstanding and fair judge. I believe that Derek shows many of the values that Judge Sawicki has displayed over the years. We are happy to ba associated with Derek and wish him the best in his endeavor to become our next District Judge. Tom and Dian Wurdock

Take the long-term approach. This is for 2014 and 2016. Voting Libertarian means you help put MANY House and Senate seats in play for 2014 and 2016. We lament that so few congressional seats are in play; third and fourth parties change that! Your vote counts MORE if made for a 3rd party candidate. 4% of the vote in just ONE state makes a difference. It could put the U.S. Senate into one party or the other party's hands. Even if it doesn't, it gets the party NOTICED in two years. Your vote counts MORE when it is used to punish wayward incumbents. Republicans in Congress who wouldn't stop …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Royal Oak resident Marge Barnhart Syme: Please join me in supporting Carlo Ginotti as our next Royal Oak District Court Judge.When you go to the polls on November 6, 2012, or when you are filling out your absentee ballot. I was born and raised right here in Royal Oak. I met Carlo years ago through mutual friends and I have come to appreciate his commitment to our community. I have watched him work as our City Commissioner for eight years and like many of you, learned to respect his leadership and thoughtfulness even when I did not always …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Royal Oak residents Al and Yvonne Carter: We would like to take this opportunity to say we are endorsing Derek Meinecke for judge of the 44th District Court. Derek is a honest, loyal and deeply committed family man. We consider it to be a privilege to call Derek a friend. We are very proud of the positive and professional way he has conducted his campaign. Derek has very strong community ties and an immeasurable love for the City of Royal Oak! Derek has the full support from the law enforcement unions and their families. He has a solid plan …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Gerry and Kathy Boylan of Royal Oak: We're writing to endorse Derek Meinecke for Royal Oak Judge on November 6th.  Derek possesses the qualities we believe will serve Royal Oak very well in this important judicial position.  He is a man of high integrity and intelligence, very experienced in our justice system and a tireless worker.  He possesses excellent judgment and is firm, fair and consistent, all traits we value in a judge. Derek Meinecke represents the best and brightest our fair city of Royal Oak has to offer and we believe in his …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Stephen Zannetti, Jr., a Royal Oak resident: I am asking you to join me in voting for Carlo Ginotti for our next District Court Judge on Nov. 6. I am a Royal Oak resident and the president of the Oakland County Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 1, as well as a member of the Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade Committee.  I have had the opportunity to work closely with Carlo on several community projects such as the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade, to name a few.  Those of us that know him can always count …

Together, our experience with the 44th District Court and specifically probation programs exceeds 70 years.  Today’s times require an innovative and outcome driven approach to dealing with offenders much like they did when Judge Leenhouts transformed not only the Royal Oak District Court’s approach to probation but truly the entire court system across the country.  Judge Leenhouts who was elected at the age of 34, recognized the failure of the probation program as it was and implemented a new approach that caught the attention of the nation including three United States Presidents.  While at …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Larry and Ellen Kehoe of Royal Oak: As lifelong Royal Oakers, we would like to express our support for Carlo Ginotti for election as District Court Judge in Royal Oak. We have known Carlo and his family for many years and consider him to have the highest personal and professional integrity. He has outstanding legal experience at the local, state, and federal level, as well as many years of dedicated service in municipal government and to community activities in Royal Oak. We believe Carlo Ginotti is the most qualified candidate for District …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by David L. Dursumof Royal Oak: I am very pleased to be part of the Friends of Royal Oak School Committee that is supporting the Sinking Fund ballot issue. As a former Real Estate agent, I am well aware that property values are directly tied to quality schools.  It is in all of our best interest that this issue be passed. Please be aware that, by law, any Sinking Fund revenues are dedicated to make infrastructure improvement and repairs to school district facilities.  The proceeds cannot be used for teacher, administrator or employee salaries …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Philip Smith, Jr. of Royal Oak: This letter is written to express my full support for Carlo Ginotti as our next Royal Oak District Court Judge and to ask you to join me by voting for Carlo on Nov. 6 or on your absentee ballot. I am a longtime resident of Royal Oak and have gotten to know Carlo over the years through my work with Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade Committee and the Historical Society.  His commitment to our community and his deep respect for our veterans is genuine.  I have had the opportunity to work with Carlo closely on the …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Jay and Patty Dunstan of Royal Oak: Patty and I have been very fortunate to have met many wonderful Royal Oak people in the 39 years of our relationship-the past 32 of those years while married. We've raised our two children through Royal Oak Schools, watched them get married, and then were rewarded with beautiful grandchildren. Along the way we've made lifelong friends of  countless Royal Oak residents. Derek Meinecke is one of those people.  When we crossed paths with Derek a number of years ago he immediately showed us many positive …

The following letter was sent to Royal Oak Patch by Marge and Jim Johnson of Royal Oak: Derek Meinecke is the handpicked candidate of Judge Daniel Sawicki to replace him as judge of the 44th District Court of Royal Oak. Judge Sawicki groomed Derek as court clerk. Inasmuch as we feel Judge Sawicki was one of the best judges in the history of Royal Oak, we need to continue his legacy. There is a reason 37 judges in Oakland County, the three police associations, nearly every other police association in Michigan, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper, …