Bloggers Weigh In on Book Challenges and More in This Week's Blogs

Bloggers from across the area are updating our Local Voices section weekly. Check out their newest contributions below. If you are interested in starting a blog on Patch, it's easy! Simply log in and click "Start A Blog". We look forward to hearing from you!

Book Challenges

Following the story of a Northville parent voicing concerns about her child reading “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl," blogger Tony Lollio took to the local voices section on Patch to share his views. Lollio writes, "I can see both sides of the issue. Our freedoms of speech and press should be valued and defended, but sometimes that means standing up for those you disagree with. Civil liberty is not a one way street. I assume that those who disagree with Mrs. Horalek, also respect her right to express her opinion to the school district; or does freedom of speech only apply to those who wish to fling insults at her?"

Pure Michigan and Founders Brewing Co. Launch Craft Beer Contest

Founders Brewing Co. and Pure Michigan need your help to select a beer that represents the state. In their first blog, Pure Michigan writes, "With the craft beer craze continuing to sweep the state of Michigan and summer approaching, Pure Michigan and Founders Brewing Co. have teamed up to give fans and craft beer enthusiasts a chance to pick a Founders beer style that best represents Pure Michigan. The beer chosen by fans will be featured in the Founders tap room in downtown Grand Rapids throughout July as part of Michigan Craft Beer Month"

Farmington Hills Among 26 Michigan Communities to Receive Loss Control Achievement Awards

In his latest blog, Matt Bach writes about an award Farmington Hills won. Bach writes, "The city of Farmington Hills was among 26 Michigan communities to have earned statewide honors for their outstanding efforts in maintaining safe work environments. The Michigan Municipal League Workers’ Compensation Fund (mml.org/insurance) has issued its annual Loss Control Achievement Awards for 2012-2013 to the communities listed below. The certificates were mailed to community winners Thursday, April 25."

The Kelsey Smith Story- A Story Of Heartache & Hope

Local blogger Bryan Bentley shares the story of a young woman, and the steps her family has taken since her death to change laws across the nation, in his latest blog. Bentley writes, "The Kelsey Smith Foundation today does many things. They do safety Awareness Seminars, and they also work with outside organizations, to provide self defense training, and among other activities, they also promote nationwide, the Kelsey Smith Act. The Kelsey Smith Act provides law enforcement with a way to quickly ascertain the location of a wireless telecommunications device if a person has been determined, by law enforcement, to be at risk of death or serious physical harm due to being kidnapped and/or missing."