Jeffery Garbus, the owner of Record Graveyard on Carpenter, is ready for Record Store Day this Saturday.

By Charles Sercombe

          Record lovers, tomorrow is your day.

          And Hamtramck is well stocked for the annual worldwide Record Day celebration taking place everywhere that there are vinyl records to be purchased.

          On Saturday, Hamtramck’s three independent record stores will open their doors to what’s hoped to be a throng of shoppers.

          At Detroit Threads, 10238 Jos. Campau, owner Mikel Smith will once again host a day-long record spinning party with DJ’s from Detroit Militia slapping down the vinyl, starting at noon.

          Here’s the line-up so far:

- Annix

- Neil V

- Brent Scudder

- DJ Disc

- Big Joe Hix

- Todd Weston

- Superjoint

- Jason Garcia

As the name implies, at Detroit Threads you can not only shop for records, you can also check out some pretty cool clothing, most of it gently used and all of it nicely priced.

The selection of records ranges all over the place including rock, soul, electronic, hip hop, blues and on and on.

Mikel Smith, the owner of Detroit Threads, will host a rotating group of DJ’s for Record Store Day.

Just a block or so down the street is Lo & Behold, at 10022 Jos. Campau. The store is a newcomer to the Hamtramck shopping scene, opening about two years ago.

Inside is a record hunter’s dream, packed with crates and crates of albums. Besides records, there are a ton of other items or peruse, including clothing and “books, lots of books,” said owner Richie Wohlfeil.

Hamtramck’s most well known used record store, Record Graveyard, now has a new home at 2610 Carpenter — just down from Turtle’s Bar.

Owner Jeffery Garbus remodeled the inside of the former neighborhood market, which is attached to his house in the back. Once again, you’ll see records crammed everywhere, making record shopping in Hamtramck a hunter’s paradise.

Garbus is discounting his merchandise by 20 percent. He also has some special releases made just for the day. In the spirit of things, The Review copped a two-single issue of some rare Seeds (of “Pushin’ Too Hard” fame) sides.

Very cool.

Record Store Day has grown by leaps and bounds since starting out in 2007, which some say is not necessarily a good thing.  

Garbus griped that the celebration has now been taken over by “record labels.”

It’s now to the point where outlets have to sign up to be a part of a distribution network. On Record Store Day, many artists release special, one-of-a-kind vinyl issues.

This year’s “Ambassador” for Record Store Day is Detroit native Jack White, who is no stranger to special releases and Hamtramck.

White now lives in Nashville and has his own record label, Third Man Records, which specializes in vinyl. White’s original band, the White Stripes, got their start at the Hamtramck Blowout years ago.

And if you are lucky enough to be in Nashville on Saturday, be sure to stop by White’s store where you can cut a live recording of yourself in an old-fashioned recording booth.

What in the world are we talking about? Go see for yourself at thirdmanrecords.com.

The city maintains about 200 vacant lots and is looking for residents to adopt them and turn them into community gardens.

By Ian Perrotta

This summer there is a “lot” for you to do in Hamtramck   

Not as in activities, but as in a parcel of land that you can adopt. If you’re looking to start a community garden over summer, then the Community & Economic Development Department has a deal for you.

          In an effort to trim the amount of properties the city needs to mow and help cut costs for the city, the folks in the CED Department are looking for residents who are interested in maintaining a lot of their own.

          “Right now the city has about 200 lots that it is maintaining,” says CED Department Coordinator Susie Stec. “We’d definitely like to see the community step in and take care of a few.”

          To that end, the city is offering its vacant lots up for adoption to community members.  There is no cost to apply and no fees associated with the adoption — other than what you put into the lot.

          So far the city has approved the use of about two dozen lots. Typically an application process takes just one week to be approved, and permits last until the end of the calendar year. 

          “It’s not something we are actively soliciting for,” says Stec. “But when someone applies we definitely respond with enthusiasm.”

          For more information contact the Hamtramck Community and Economic Development Department at (313) 874-7700.

 Conditions of Adopt-a-Lot program

 1. Use the property only for gardening and/or landscaping

2. Voluntarily vacate the parcel in the event of sale or other disposition by the City

3. To save the City harmless from any and all claims arising out of this use

4. To keep the premises free of weeds, debris and rubbish, and not remove top soil for any purpose

5. Not to erect any structure (excluding temporary fencing) on the premises

6. Use of the premises is not under claim of right or the predicate to a claim of adverse possession

By Ian Perrotta

          You didn’t need 80 days to take a trip around the world last Saturday (April 6). All you had to do was visit the Hamtramck Mini World’s Fair.

          Organized by Welcoming Michigan and held at People’s Community Services, the event was a celebration of the rich cultural diversity that you can find in Hamtramck. The idea was to give people a chance to discover things about their neighbors they may otherwise never learn.

          Overall the fair was comprised of two main sections. The cafeteria housed flavors of the world and offered visitors a chance to taste various cultural dishes including Bangladeshi singara, Arab and Bosnian baklava and Yemeni falafels. There was also a table with over a dozen teas from around the world.

          “The room was packed,” said Christine Sauvé, Southeast Michigan Communities Coordinator for Welcoming Michigan. “It was standing room only.”

          On the other side of the building were displays that focused on the specifics of each culture. Viewers could learn about details such as what houses are like in different cultures or what normal people do for fun in foreign lands.

          “It was really informal,” said Sauvé. “You could ask questions and not feel silly.”

          Also on display were different ethnic fashions and music styles, highlighted by a Bengali fashion show and African-American drum session. Other types of dress could also be seen during the Gwizda Polish  and Yemeni dancing shows.

          Perhaps the most unique part of the event was the Passport Challenge, which encouraged participants to visit each table to learn about all the cultures in attendance. Participants could get their “passport” stamped, and once it was full they were eligible for a raffle.

          “We wanted to do something that would bring everyone together,” said Sauvé. “And Hamtramck is such a diverse place we wanted to celebrate it. This was a perfect way to do both.”

Russ Gordon of the Human Relations Commission is looking to restore 18 flagpoles that line Jos. Campau from Caniff to Carpenter. Once refurbished the flagpoles will display flags from around the world

By Ian Perrotta

Hamtramck is often compared to the United Nations. And if Human Relations Commission (HRC) Chairman Russ Gordon has his way, it may soon have the flags of the world to back that statement up.

Gordon, along with HRC Activity Chairwoman Ismira Lokmic, has taken on the ambitious project of refurbishing the 18 flagpoles that line Jos. Campau between Caniff and Carpenter. The flagpoles were first installed during the administration of former Mayor Robert Kozaren at a cost of about $50,000.

Since then, the flagpoles have deteriorated — as have the relationships among community members, according to Gordon — but not to the point where they cannot be repaired.

“Right now there’s a divide in Hamtramck. Our goal is to try and bring people together,” says Gordon. “We want people to feel that when they come to this community, they are part of it.”

In the past, Gordon has tried various ways to bring the community together, whether through block parties, clean-ups, tree plantings or the annual International Picnic on Zinow St.

“I always say, you sweat together you get together,” says Gordon.

With the Joseph Campau International Flagpole Project  — which sort of continues a project to fix the flagpoles that was initiated by City Councilmember Bob Zwolak — Gordon hopes that people will feel welcomed by seeing the flag of their home country.

So far the project has met with considerable success. At an average cost of $844 to repair each pole, about two-thirds of the estimated $15,000 repair budget has already been raised. Gordon hopes to raise the remaining amount in time to unveil the flags on Flag Day (June 14).

To raise the rest of the cash, the Human Relations Commission is looking for businesses to sponsor the remaining flagpoles. Businesses that sponsor the flagpoles will be commemorated with a plaque placed on the pole.

“It’s a great opportunity to help your business and a good cause,” says Gordon.

Interested in sponsoring a flagpole? For more information contact Russ Gordon at (248) 842-7373.

Volunteers will be needed for a citywide clean-up, called The Clean Sweep, coming up on April 20.

By Ian Perrotta

Want to stay busy this spring?

In the next month there will be plenty of chances to volunteer and meet your neighbors. Here are just a few:

Though it may be five months away, the planning process for the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival has already begun. On Monday (April at 5:30 p.m. at Cafe 1923 there will be a short volunteer meeting to get the ball rolling on this year’s celebration.

The meeting will lay the groundwork for running the 2013 festival. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up and clean-up, beer sales, special activities and other events throughout the weekend.

Also this week, on Wednesday (April 10) at City Hall there will be an organizational meeting for the Hamtramck Clean Sweep.  The meeting will be located in the council chambers and starts at 6 p.m.

For the uninitiated, The Clean Sweep is an annual clean-up sponsored by the city and local businesses. Residents are invited help spruce up the town by collecting debris, edging sidewalks and performing other tasks that make the city more appealing.

Even if you don’t have tools you can still participate. In past years shovels, rakes, brooms, gloves, trash bags and other materials have been supplied. There are also dumpsters located at strategic points throughout the city.

This year there will be an electronic waste disposal dumpster at City Hall on April 18, and a tire disposal dumpster will be located on Vincent Street on April 19. The Clean Sweep will be held on Saturday, April 20.

Volunteer locations will be at Acts 29 Fellowship and People’s Community Services. Afterward, lunch will be provided to all who participate.

If you’re not too worn out from the Clean Sweep, on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hamtown Farms hosts its 2013 Spring Volunteer Day. On the agenda is a day full of planting sunflowers, Pawpaw trees and other plants.

In addition to planting there will also be learning activities for kids of all ages, as well as plenty of manual labor to do if you’re skipping the gym to help out. And like most events, lunch will be provided.

Do you know of an event in need of volunteers? Does your group or business have an upcoming activity that needs some press? Call us at (313) 874-2100 or email news@thehamtramckreview.com and let us know!

By Greg Kowalski

There’s a different feel to Easter, compared with other Christian holidays.

That may be because there is less commercialism attached to it like there is in the weeks — now months — leading up to Christmas. And Easter is a harbinger of spring, when we are at last breaking free of the long grip of winter.

Easter is the holiest of all days for Christians around the world, and this has been especially true in Hamtramck.

Hamtramck grew from a small farming village of 3,500 people in 1910 to an industrial city of 56,000 by 1930. Almost all of these new residents were Polish immigrants, who came here to work at the Dodge factory and 23 other factories that opened in the city.

And almost all were Catholics, who brought their faith with them from Poland, where Christianity has been the predominant religion for now more than 1,000 years.

The Poles joined a small group of Ukrainians and African-Americans here who also were mainly Christian. For all these groups Easter was a special time. And it was more than just a day. Holy Week leading up to Easter was — and still is — marked nearly every day with religious observances culminating with Easter Sunday Mass.

In the days when Poles made up more than 80 percent of the city’s population, the Easter celebration had an impact on the entire town. In the weeks before Easter, stores promoted flowers and new attire.

In 1945 Edwin Furs at 9243 Jos. Campau promoted a “Great Easter with a fur scarf” (silver fox — $67). And Easter simply wouldn’t be Easter with a ham or kielbasa from Kowalski, or one of the many meat markets in town. This would be combined with bread, butter, and decorated eggs, usually dyed in a pot of boiling onion peels, then packed in a basket with assorted other items and toted to church on Saturday afternoon to be blessed.

The tradition — maybe not so much the fur shopping — continues today. But not to the magnitude it did in those years when Hamtramck’s population was far larger and less diverse.

Between noon and 3 p.m. on Good Friday, the hours when Jesus suffered on the cross, Hamtramck virtually shut down. Stores closed. The library shut its doors, city operations were suspended and everyone went to church. No one even discussed the concept of the separation of church and state, and no one complained.

The churches were packed with people. In 1956 the City News reported that an estimated one million Catholics across Wayne County were expected to attend Good Friday services.

The City News, incidentally, was a politically alternative newspaper founded to compete with The Citizen newspaper. It devoted the entire front page of its Easter edition to a large Easter drawing.

Inside it carried a full page of Easter ads from such legendary Hamtramckans as Walter Paruk, who later would become municipal court judge; future Mayor William V. Kozerski; businessman Stephen Wrobel and Councilman Henry Kozak. Another full page of the paper was devoted to Easter stories entirely in Polish.

Easter Sunday, of course, was the most important day. Masses were huge. Groups like the Knights of Columbus paraded into the church and Mass was a joyous occasion. That would be followed by a massive Easter dinner later in the day.

Not all of this has changed, of course. The Masses are still held. Families still take baskets to the church on Saturday to be blessed and many people take off from work between noon and 3 p.m. on Good Friday to go to church.

The biggest difference between then and now is scale. In days past, kids from St. Florian, St. Ladislaus and Queen of Apostles schools would pack the churches six days a week. And their parents would join them, along with many more, on Sunday. Today the schools have been closed by the Archdioceses, and replaced with charter schools. Hamtramck is far more diverse, and church attendance is declining in many parts of the world.

It doesn’t do any good to lament what we have lost through the years. But it’s possible to cherish the past while focusing on the future. After all, Easter is a time of renewal, and it looks like it will be celebrated for many years ahead.

Greg Kowalski is chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Commission.

Koscuizsko Middle School teacher Therese Comor (center) appeared on ABC's "The View" as part of the show's "Hilarious Teacher" competition. She earned rave reviews from hosts Joy Behar (left) and Whoopi Goldberg (right).

By Ian Perrotta

Last Tuesday (Feb. 26) Koscuizsko Middle School teacher Therese Comor appeared on ABC’s “The View” as part of the show’s “Hilarious Teacher” competition.

Although she didn’t win, she did a fantastic job and earned rave reviews from the hosts. Curious about what the experience was like, we caught up with Comor and got the low-down straight from the stand-up.

How long have you been teaching?

I have been a teacher now for 15 years! Wow! Am I getting old? My first year teaching was in Georgia and then I moved back to Michigan and have been teaching here ever since.

What do you teach?

I currently am teaching Supplemental Reading classes for middle school students (7^th and 8^th graders).

What made you want to be a teacher?

I became a teacher because I like helping kids.  I like teaching reading because literacy is a vital skill that will last their entire life time.  I often don’t see the results until years later when students come back to visit.  That is one reason I really like Hamtramck — I am always running into former students.

How long have you been performing stand-up?

I have been a stand-up comedian since 2009.  So about 4 years.  I had just started working in Hamtramck and took a Stand-Up Comedy Class at Macomb Community College with Martin Arakelian.  For graduation we got to perform at Mark Ridley’s.  I just continued from there.

Do you perform regularly?

I do perform regularly at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. Usually during Wednesday Open Mic Nights.  I have also performed at Joey’s in Plymouth and at Gilda’s Laughfest in Grand Rapids.

Are there any benefits to being both a comedian and a teacher?

I think one benefit of being a comedian and teacher is that there are some times when I should be crying but I can laugh because I see the humor in the situation.

Another reason middle school and comedy works is because there is not a tougher audience than a group of pre-teens and teenagers — sometimes I can test out material without them even knowing about it.  I also do that with friends and family, too.

Do you have any long-term plans for comedy?

My future plans include a website that will include my blog and podcasts.  I also would like to continue building my fan base by using Facebook and Twitter. I just really want to start marketing myself for appearances and shows.

Given the opportunity, would you give up teaching for comedy?

I think for me to give up teaching it has to be a position that will last a while and has good benefits.  I would also need an opportunity that feeds my soul like teaching, so something working with people would be great.

How did you come to appear on The View?

I received a notification from a good friend that The View was looking for “Hilarious Teachers.”  I emailed the link to my comedy DVD and they picked me (and four others) out of quite a few people.

Did the show pay for your travel and accommodations?

The show paid for my plane ticket and a nice boutique hotel around the corner from Times Square.  They also had cars and drivers to get me around the city.  I do have to say that the really modern shower faucet was way above my educational knowledge, so I accidently wet the entire bathroom before leaving for the show.

What was the studio like?

I believe on a good day the studio holds around 240 people.  That day it seemed like a full house.  It was a lot different than working in the clubs.  In a comedy club you can only see the first few tables around the stage.  In a studio you can see almost everyone, even if it’s an outline.

What was taping the show like? Were you nervous?

They did let me rehearse in the studio first, but during the show I was nervous.  Taping the show created some anxiety because it’s live — not a tape — and there are no “re-dos.” The studio was pretty large, and there are a lot of people that work there behind the scenes so the studio is pretty packed.

I met two really great associate producers: Vinny Napolitano and Johnathan Faulhaber.  They helped me work through the material and made sure I felt good about the day.  I met lots of other producers but I can’t remember their names but they were all super nice.

Did you meet any “famous” people?

I walked past Brooke Shields.  I also sat in the makeup room with Kate Gosselin.  I got a chance to meet four of the regular hosts (Barbara Walters was sick).  I also met the other judge Mario Cantone.  He was hilarious — he called me prosciutto!  When I got back to Detroit, I met the local ABC morning crew: Alicia Smith, Vic Faust, Erin Nicole and Keenan Smith. They were very kind as well.

How have the kids reacted to your appearance on the show?

Most of the kids have been congratulating me.  They have been saying I did a good job, or I was funny, or they saw me.  Most said I was funny.  Some had no idea what had happened.  Several keep asking me to tell them a joke.

Even though it’s only been a few days, has anything changed for you since your appearance?

I have had many people tell me that I have inspired them with my appearance.  They are mostly women who said if I can do stand-up on national TV, anything is possible.

Although I did not win The View’s “Hilarious Teachers” contest, I feel like I do have the tools to be a success in the entertainment industry.  This experience gave me a taste of what is possible so now I have the drive to keep going.

The minute the producers called me and said I didn’t win, I began thinking of Jennifer Hudson.  She did not win her season of American Idol, but since then she’s won an Oscar and she’s living her dream.  I think I can do the same.  I can also show others that anything is possible.

Therese Comor’s next show is on Wednesday, March 27 at 8 p.m. at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. For more information check out Therese Comor on Facebook (www.facebook.com/apluscomedy) or follow her on Twitter (@apluscomedy). You can also watch her appearance on The View at http://tinyurl.com/theviewcomor.

Looking for a new way to explore Hamtramck? If so, then the Downtown Development Authority has a deal for you.

This Saturday (March 2) the DDA is sponsoring the first annual “Hamtramck For Two” event throughout the city. The all-day affair seeks to attract couples to the city so they can shop, drink and dine.

Though the final details and participating businesses were not available at press time, it’s safe to say that there should be a decent turnout. Essentially, participating businesses will display the “Hamtramck For Two” poster in their window and will offer special discounts to couples.

One restaurant that is definitely participating is Polonia, which will offer a bottle of wine for just $5 to any couple that buys two dinners. Another participating business is Srodek’s Campau Quality Sausage Co. For just $29.99 a couple can get a feast of one pound of smoked kielbasa, one pound of fresh kielbasa, one dozen pierogis of any variety, a pack of golabki and one bottle of wine ($9.99 or under).

In other DDA news, next Thursday’s (March 7) DDA Board meeting at 9 a.m. at City Hall will feature a very important presentation concerning the organization’s future.

For the past two years, the Hamtramck DDA has been a member of the Michigan Main Street Program – a grassroots, four-point approach to economic development and historical preservation in historic downtowns – at the Associate Level, but this year it intends to apply for Select Level membership.

Acceptance into the Select Level of membership will provide thousands of dollars in training and services to the Hamtramck DDA and its businesses. But in order for the DDA to succeed, it will require a partnership with various community members and organizations.  To that end, the DDA invites anyone interested in participating to attend the meeting.

“While the DDA will do most of the heavy lifting, the success of the Main Street program and its communities is contingent on partnerships between the people and groups that make up the community,” says Darren Grow, director of the DDA. “We hope to partner with elected officials, city employees, residents, business owners, the library, block clubs, and any other civic, cultural or religious organizations willing to do so.”

The Polish community isn’t laughing at a YouTube parody of Paczki Day, Hamtramck and Poles. They are demanding the film be removed from YouTube.

By Charles Sercombe

A parody video of Paczki Day and Hamtramck is not tickling the funny bone of the Polish community.

A film by John Kerfoot called “Pure Michigan: Fat Tuesday” has raised protests from the Piast Institute in Hamtramck and the Polish Consulate General in Chicago. They are demanding the film be taken down from YouTube.

In the film, the narrator says on Paczki Day “everybody is Polish, which means they are all fat and stupid.”

He also uses the derogatory term “Polack.”

Dr. Thaddeus Radzilowski, President of the Piast Institute, said the language and image of Poles in the film is not unlike Nazi propaganda from the 1930s that was used to degrade Poles.

“It is hard to believe that in the early 21st Century one would hear such open expression of virulent and vicious racism,” Radzilowski said in a press release.

He noted that Nazi propaganda depicted Poles as “less educated, less cultured, slovenly and utterly deficient in habits of personal hygienic.”

Dr. Thaddeus Radzilowski, President of the Piast Institute, said the language and image of Poles in the film is not unlike Nazi propaganda from the 1930s that was used to degrade Poles.

“Compare those descriptions with Kerfoot’s statements that Poles are ‘fat and stupid.’ They are people who ‘look like zombies.’ Their city is ‘ugly and gray.’”

The Polish Consulate also weighed in on the issue, demanding YouTube remove the film because it violates YouTube’s rules against hate speech. The Consulate said the use of the word “Polack” is considered “a derogatory reference to a person of Polish descent.”

Since the film was first posted on YouTube on Feb. 11, the filmmaker posted an “apology.”

Mayor Karen Majewski said that it wasn’t really an apology. Instead, she said, Kerfoot, who is a film instructor at Wayne State University, delivers the apology in a “snarky” manner.

“He makes a mockery of his own apology,” Majewski said. “It quickly morphs into a parody of an apology.”

In an ironic twist, Majewski said Kerfoot was hired in the past by the Polish Day Parade Committee to film the parade. The film he produced on the parade, Majewski said, “was really beautiful.”

“Why would he burn that bridge?” she added.

This isn’t the first time Kerfoot has faced criticism of his parodies on the state’s promotional ads called “Pure Michigan.” He has focused his lens on other communities and ethnic groups and drawn heat.

Kerfoot does have his fans who say his jabs are only meant to entertain.

On his Facebook page, Kerfoot had this to say about the latest controversy:

“I’ve pissed off the entire Polish population. meh. But a friend asked me ‘Aren’t you worried somebody might try to kill you?’

“I’ve thought about that, and I thought it would be cool to be assassinated. Think of the class of people I’m in with; Abe Lincoln, JFK, Martin Luther King. And me … an asshole who said shit about pollacks (sic) in a video. Love it.”

By Ian Perrotta

What fruit or vegetable holds the most electricity? Does the color of light affect the amount of energy it produces? And how would you go about figuring those things out?

The answers to all of those questions and more could be found last Monday at the Community Center during the annual district-wide Hamtramck Public Schools Science Fair. The event featured the top projects from each school in the district.

For most students, participation in the fair was optional, which is something that Dickinson East Elementary School fifth grade teacher and science fair coordinator Eva Klikovac says actually makes for better projects. According to her, letting students decide on their own whether-or-not to participate results in better experiments.

“If a child wants to do it, they do a better job,” she says. “And the children really do give it their all. Lots of work and effort goes into creating the projects.”

For those who do participate, there is a lot of work involved. Each student must first come up with a question they would like to answer, and then a hypothesis laying out how exactly they can test their theory. An experiment is then conducted, the results are recorded, and a conclusion is made.

And to make things even more difficult, rather than just being a demonstration each experiment must have some sort of measurable variable, as well as a hypothesis that can actually be tested. The end result is that the experiments don’t just explain how something works, but why.

In order to actually build and conduct the experiments, students were allowed to work in Klikovac’s class before school from 7:30 to 8 a.m. and after school from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.  They also had an opportunity to work on their projects in prep class.

If that sounds like dedication, it definitely is. Klikovac has been coordinating the science fair for about 15 years now, and during that time she has expanded the scope from just 7th and 8th graders to one that includes 6th graders as well. This year, there was even a 5th grader who participated.

After the district-wide fair, the next contest is in March at Cobo Hall. Students moving on to this round must first enter online, providing an abstract of their project and information about themselves. If their applications are approved, the projects will be judged on March 13 and displayed for the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 14 and 15.

So, other than learning, what’s the best part about participating?

The costs are covered by the district, which pays for display boards, materials for experiments, entry fees, ribbons and food for events. And when it’s all over, each child gets to go to the Detroit Science Center and see an IMAX movie.

“I truly believe in math and science, and I’m so proud of each student. But if it wasn’t for the administration’s support we wouldn’t be able to do this,” says Klikovac. “It’s really a collaborative effort between parents, students, teachers, and the administration.”