FALL 2005/WINTER 2006 DWSD’s artistic...

WATER POWER 1FALL 2005/WINTER 2006

Published by and for the Employees of the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department

VOL. 22, NO. 2 FALL 2005/WINTER 2006

Inside . . .

(continued on page 2)

Greg Smith is a perfectionist. He knows agood design when he sees one. He knowsa poor design when he sees one. He’s agraphic designer in DWSD’s PublicAffairs Division. So, when the 18-yeardepartment veteran was given the job ofredesigning the logo for the AmericanWater Works Association’s MichiganSection — visually nondescript andragged from being copied over and over— Smith was confident he could easilyimprove on it.

Smith, 49, was called upon to come upwith some better alternative logo designchoices by Public Affairs ManagerGeorge Ellenwood. “The old logo lookedbad; very dated,” he said. “Georgewanted to see some fresh ideas.”

Smith soon found himself restricted bynational AWWA logo and publicationspecifications — which, amazingly, fill anentire booklet. The organization wantedto see one basic, specified designadapted by each state. However, aftersome consultation, officials of the parentorganization relaxed the uniform guide-lines and Smith was encouraged toventure “outside the box.” Twelveinnovative new logo choices werecreated. Those were narrowed to three,and finally, one.

The new logo has a crisp, modern look.Simple in design, it incorporates a circle,the “drop-of-water” national AWWAlogo, a map of Michigan, and wavy linesreminiscent of flowing water currents.The logo is done in blue and black.

AWWA-Michigan is in the process ofincorporating the new logo on all of itspublications and on its Web site.

Smith was chosen to redesign theAWWA-Michigan logo because of hiscreativity and talent. A graphic designerby profession for 30 years, he has been

one of the artistic mainstays of thedepartment since being hired in 1987. Hisgreat talent is common knowledge amongmany at DWSD, but the story of the greatchallenges he’s faced in his life is not aswell known.

He was blinded at age 12 when fourclassmates at Barbour Junior High onDetroit’s east side attacked him (“Theythought I was somebody or somethingthat I wasn’t... I had long hair back then”)and kicked at his eyes until they literallypopped out of their sockets from the forceof the blows. With blood flowing freelydown his face, Smith pushed his eyes backin before going to the hospital.

“My eyesight wasn’t that great beforethat,” Smith added, “but, after the attackand the surgery, my eyesight was 20/2500.” Sixteen years of therapy — eyeexercises —and other assistance fromBlind Services and Vocational Rehabilita-tion brought his eyes into better focus,and today’s it’s a respectable 20/70. Smithwears glasses for even better acuity.

Right after his surgery, Smith could onlysee a few inches in front of his face.

Doctors said his sight would partiallyreturn, but never be good enough for himto be an artist. Smith accepted the chal-lenge. He demonstrated his talent andended up in a certificate program from theArt School of the Society of Arts andCrafts, now known as the Center forCreative Studies.

DWSD’s artistic mainstay

Need Stamps................................2

Katrina Relif..................................3

Black History................................4

Security Corner...........................5

24 Hours on Call...........................7

Christmas Origins.......................8

Shooting the Rails.....................11

Dog Sledding..............................12

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DWSD BOARD OF WATERDWSD BOARD OF WATERDWSD BOARD OF WATERDWSD BOARD OF WATERDWSD BOARD OF WATERCOMMISSIONERSCOMMISSIONERSCOMMISSIONERSCOMMISSIONERSCOMMISSIONERSMary E. Blackmon

PresidentMarilynn E. Gosling

Vice-PresidentHilliard L. HamptonJohn E. Johnson, Jr.

Gregory TerrellCarla Walker-MillerWilliam G. Westrick

Victor M. MercadoDirector

PRODUCTION STAFFPRODUCTION STAFFPRODUCTION STAFFPRODUCTION STAFFPRODUCTION STAFFMichael Daisy

Paul GomezBarry JenningsGregory Smith

WATER POWERWATER POWERWATER POWERWATER POWERWATER POWERis published

quarterly by thePublic Affairs DivisionWater Board Building

735 Randolph, Suite 1001Detroit, MI 48226-2830phone: (313) 964-9570

fax: (313) 964-9580

City of DetroitKwame M. Kilpatrick, Mayor

Detroit City CouncilMaryann Mahaffey, President

Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr.President Pro Tem

Sharon McPhailSheila M. Cockrel

Alberta Tinsley-TalabiBarbara-Rose Collins

Alonzo W. BatesJoAnn Watson

City ClerkJackie L. Currie

Detroit Water & Sewerage Department

VOL. 22, NO.2 FALL 2005/WINTER 2006

Tired of hassling with the PostOffice for stamps? Buy yourstamps at work.

A representative of the UnitedStates Postal Service will beavailable in the first floorlobby of the Water BoardBuilding on the first Friday of

every month between 10 a.m.and 1 p.m.Terrance Coombs, ServiceGuard Manager 1, purchasinga Ben WallaceCommemorative picture andstamp display from CallieSpencer, a 39-year employeeof the U.S. Postal service.

“I would work head down, veryclose to the surface I wasdrawing on,” he said. “I wouldhave to work on one smallsection at a time; I wouldn’t beable to see the whole piece at adistance, because of my eyes.”

After five years at the artschool, he was a freelanceartist for a time, flying back andforth between Detroit and NewYork, Los Angeles, andChicago.

Seeking more stability inemployment, he secured somecontract work at the ColemanA. Young Municipal Center(formerly the City-CountyBuilding), creating etched-glass window signs. Then,Smith came to DWSD totemporarily replace a womanillustrator who had gone onmaternity leave. He’s been with

the department ever since.

Smith was determined to makeit on his own talent. So hedidn’t tell anyone about hispoor eyesight

“If I’d told them I was visuallyhandicapped,” he said,“people wouldn’t have seenthe talent, the art. Theywouldn’t have seen past thefact that I’d been blinded.”

Things have changed a lotsince he started. In the ‘80s, allgraphics work was done byhand — nothing was elec-tronic. “We had draftingtables, we did manual paste-ups; we didn’t have anycomputer graphics programs.”

From the start, he has workedon Water Power, the longest-running employee newsletter

in Detroit City Government. “Itake a lot of pride in thelongevity of Water Power; inthe layout, the readability,”Smith said. He’s also quiteproud of his extensivegraphics work on many ofDWSD’s annual reports.

Smith creates fine art — pen-and-ink drawings, watercolors,oil paintings, murals, youname it — in his spare time.He’s dabbled in photographytoo. “Anything art-related, I’minterested in it. Besides, it’s allgood discipline for my eyes,”he said.

“I love what I do. It’s helpedme to get my eyesight back,and keep it.”

by S.R. BolandPublic Affairs

DWSD’s artistic mainstay

(continued from page 1)

Need stamps?

“Water existed long before the coming of humankind, and water will exist long after the going ofhumankind. However, how we treat water during our brief passage on Earth will determinewhether we and our children pass time in a dying world or a living Garden of Eden.”

– William E. MarksThe Holy Order of Water: Healing Earth’s Waters and Ourselves, 2001,Bell Pond Books, Great Barrington, Massachusetts

TerranceCoombsphoto

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We always strive for accuracy,but sometimes mistakes happendespite the best of intentions.Such was the case with the leaditem in the Bitz ‘n’ Piecessection of the Winter/Spring2005 edition (Vol. 21, No. 3).Dying To Make A Change, afull-length, independent movie

screened at the Pan-African FilmFestival in Los Angeles, featuresLaTisha Hawkins in a leading role.LaTisha’s aunt is our own DianeLuke of Information Systems.We managed to get the name of themovie wrong in the originalposting. Sorry.

The Pan-African Film Festivalwas established in 1992 and isthe largest and most prestigiousblack film festival in NorthAmerica. It is also the largestBlack History Month event inthe US. For more information,visit www.paff.org.

Oops!


Remembering the needs ofeveryone served by the DetroitWater and Sewerage Depart-ment is a top priority for MaryE. Blackmon, who, in 2003,became the first African-American woman president ofthe Board of Water Commis-sioners (BOWC).

Blackmon, appointed byMayor Coleman A. Young in1988, is only the secondAfrican-American to sit on theBoard. Her lengthy resumehas one running theme: publicservice. “I enjoy working withdifferent publics,” she said.

“It’s important for all commis-sioners to not only reflect theneeds of their constituents,but to also represent theservice area as a whole.”

Blackmon was appointed torepresent the City of Detroit,but “you have to considerwhat is in the best interest ofthe whole department and allthe customers” when servingon the Board. She believesthat all of the commissionersachieve that balance. “Eachcommissioner brings localissues to the table,” she said,but “the needs of the Depart-ment come first with all of us.”

Blackmon is a retired Directorof Public Relations andAssociate Director of Urbanand Civic Affairs withAmeritech (now SBC). A 10-year member of the DetroitBoard of Education, she has,since 1982, also served on theWayne County RegionalEducational Service AgencyBoard of Education.

When she joined the BOWC,it was very much male-dominated, but that wasn’treally a problem. The chal-lenge for her was being theonly non-engineer type. “Ilearned a lot; I’m not atechnical person, and therewas quite a bit of technicalknowledge among themembers already on theboard. I asked a lot ofquestions – and I got accusedof making meetings longerbecause of all my questions –but in the long run, I think ourcustomers were well served.The public always needs anassurance that adequate timeis spent on certain agendaitems; that important issuesare appropriately discussed.”

During her tenure, Blackmonhas witnessed very positivechanges at DWSD. “Out-reach to our suburbancustomers has improved a lot,especially under our last twodirectors,” she said.

For the future, “I’d like all thetalk of possibleregionalization of our depart-ment to cease,” she said.“Our wholesale cost structureis equitable and I would liketo see some of our customerswho protest their rates realizethey are getting excellentvalue for their cost. Ofcourse, we want to continu-ally improve services andmake pertinent data availableto our customers. We want towork with them on a collabo-rative basis.”

Other priorities for Blackmoninclude forging a betterworking relationship with theCity Council, fostering bettercommunication and under-standing with the local newsmedia, and promoting DWSDas a “first-class utility” with“top-notch” services.


Photo by Paul Gomez

Keeping all the customers satisfied

Mary E. Blackmon

Hurricane Katrina, a Category 4hurricane, slammed into theGulf Coast on August 29,leaving more than 1,100 deadand hundreds of thousandshomeless, and flooding the cityof New Orleans. Propertydamage is estimated at $35billion.

The DWSD Hurricane KatrinaRelief Fund is helping individu-

als and families in the NewOrleans area recover from thedevastating effects of thestorm, one of the worst to hitthe Gulf Coast in recordedhistory. Department employ-ees have contributed $8,375to the effort. $5,410 of that willgo to the Red Cross, and$2,965 to the Salvation Army.

hurricane victims in the Spring2006 edition of Water Power.

If you or a co-worker have astory to share about how youhelped victims of Katrina, letus know by calling 964-9572, orby e-mail at [email protected].


Katrina Relief FundDWSD employees to the rescue

Thanks to the Cultural Changecoordinators, MichelleWright-Bailey (OPMA) andNeil Moore (EngineeringServices) for taking theinitiative. And, thank you to allwho contributed to the relieffund!

Be sure to read about how oneof DWSD’s employees traveledto New Orleans to help

Here’s something to think about.A new study – “A triumph of Marketing:Pay for Bottled Water if You like the Tastebut don’t kid yourself it’s healthier thantap water.” – published in July by HealthWatch in the UK concluded that “bacterialevels (in tap water) can increase if it’skept at room temperature.”

by Michael DaisyPublic Affairs

Source: AustralianConsumers’ Association

New bottled water studyResearchers found that bottled watershould not be given to babies unless itis boiled first.

The study concluded that youngchildren should be given tap water todrink because of the dental benefitsfrom fluoride.


Innovationknows nocolorIt’s likely that everyonereading this has heard of andknows something about thelife of George WashingtonCarver; how he overcamedifficult conditions throughhis own efforts.

Despite the widespreadbigotry of the times in whichhe lived, Carver was anhonest-to-goodness Americansuccess story. More than 300different products derivedfrom the humble peanut werethe result of his scientificdiscoveries. Then there are thehundreds of other productsmade from sweet potatoes,pecans, and soybeans.

Carver rates a special place inthe annals of Americaninnovation. But he’s far frombeing the only clever Ameri-can black man (or blackwoman, for that matter). Thefollowing individuals repre-sent only a small sampling ofblack American genius.

Lewis Howard Latimer wasthe only black member ofThomas Edison’s team ofresearch scientists. He wasinstrumental in the develop-ment of the first electric lightbulb.

Nathaniel Alexander ofLynchburg, Virginia, patentedan ingenious folding chair foruse in “churches, schools, andother auditoriums” in 1911. Hisdesign included a book restthat could be used by theperson in the seat behind.

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919) established a hair careempire on the success of her“Madam Walker’s WonderfulHair Grower” product, “a scalp

conditioner and healingformula.” She was the firstknown African-Americanwoman to become a self-mademillionaire.

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) was a renaissance man;self-educated scientist,astronomer, inventor, writer,and anti-slavery publicist.Widely celebrated, he was oneof the first black Americans togain distinction in science. Hefabricated the first watch evermade in America (it was madeof wood!), and was a memberof the surveying team that laidout the Federal territory (nowWashington, D.C.) in 1791.

In 1988, Patricia Bath, becamethe first African-Americanwoman doctor to receive apatent for a medical device.The method she developed forremoving cataract lenses(patent no. 4,744,360) revolu-tionized eye surgery.

Newark, New Jersey’s JohnStandard should be a name asfamiliar to us today as that ofHenry Ford, John D.Rockefeller and Willis HavilandCarrier. Despite incorporatingimprovements into the designof the then standard refrigera-tor in 1891 that made it moreefficient, he remains unknown.

Alice Parker invented a newand improved gas-heatingfurnace in 1919 that providedcentral heating.

Jan Matzeliger (1852-1889)was an immigrant from DutchGuiana. He invented a shoelasting machine that allowed asole to be attached to a shoe inone minute. His inventionrevolutionized the shoeindustry in America.

On April 9, 1974, Phil Brookswas credited with inventing “adisposable syringe.”

Known as the “Black Edison”,Granville T. Woods was anextremely prolific inventor.Among his many inventionswas a device that allowed anengineer to know preciselyhow close his train was toother trains. The devicegreatly reduced the number ofaccidents and collisionsbetween trains. Woodsbecame a full-time inventorafter Alexander Graham Bell’scompany purchased the rightsto his telegraphony. Woodslater successfully defendedhimself against a patentinfringement suit broughtagainst him by ThomasEdison over who couldrightfully claim credit forinventing the multiplextelegraph.

In 1821, Thomas Jenningsbecame the first African-American granted a patent. Heused the initial proceeds fromhis “dry scouring” (a drycleaning process) to purchasethe freedom of his family. Hespent much of the rest of hisearnings on the abolitionistcause.

Bessie Blount was a physicaltherapist whose experienceswith injured soldiers WorldWar II led directly to hercreation of an electrical device

that allowed amputees to feedthemselves.

In 1885, Sarah Good becamethe first African-Americanwoman granted a U.S. patent.She invented a cabinet bedthat she sold in her Chicagofurniture store.

Dr. Charles Drew (1904-1950)discovered that blood, ifseparated into its liquid andplasma components, could befrozen and preserved for longperiods of time for laterreconstituting and use.

And, the world’s first African-American heavyweight boxingchampion, Jack Johnson,patented a type of socketwrench in 1922.


Sources:About.com

The Great Idea Finder

Black History

Image courtesy ofAbout.com

BenjaminBanneker in1795 from thecover of oneof theFarme’rsAlmanacs hepublishedbetween 1792and 1797


When planning for emergen-cies, it’s smart to be preparedfor the worst-case scenario.

After a major disaster (a floodor bad tornado, for example) ittypically takes three days forrescuers to reach everyonewho needs help. If you’reamong the victims stranded bya catastrophic act, it’s impor-tant to be able to survive thatinitial 72-hour period.

That’s the idea behind a 72-hour emergency kit. It’scontents depend upon whatyou include in it, and can costanywhere from nothing to $300

or more, depending on yourimprovisational skills. Thereare companies that sell suchemergency kits that may ormay not meet your disaster-survival needs. But fortu-nately, it isn’t hard (or expen-sive) to cobble together an

food, a battery-powered radioand batteries, warm clothing,blankets, and a flashlight.Other ingredients will dependon your personal situationand needs.

There is an excellent guidepublished by The OregonInstitute of Science andMedicine on their Web site.Visit http://www.oism.org/ddp/72hour.pdf.


Emergency preparation

Think it can’t happen to you?Think again.

The importance of securingDepartment-issued equipmentand vehicles has beenstressed repeatedly. Still, thereis always someone whoshould know better who getscaught unaware.

Theft is the most commoncrime of opportunity. There’salways someone waiting for anopportunity to commit anunlawful act. Keys to doorsand vehicles should never beleft lying around or in vehicles.And, it is never acceptable toleave the vehicle running whileunattended, no matter howinconvenient it may be. Doingso could inconvenience youeven more.

Keys should be in your pocketor secured when not in use. Athief will drive off with avehicle; regardless of howmany emblems it has, if giventhe chance.

Roll up windows, lock doorsand pocket the keys, or followyour division’s policy. Never

leave tools or other depart-ment- issued equipmentunattended, even for a shorttime. Exercise the same carewith your personal property.It is always best to bring onlywhat you need to work.

should be given to how thingsmay appear to the public. Forexample, you may be on breakand taking a power nap. To acitizen it appears you aresleeping on the job.

If you stop at a party store fora non-alcoholic beverage andexit the store with a bottle in abag, it may appear to a citizenthat you have a bag contain-ing something you’re notsupposed to be consuming onthe job.

Maybe it’s not fair, butappearances do count.

Finally, always maintain acourteous and professionaldemeanor. While the vastmajority does what’s expected,there is always someonelooking for dirt and anopportunity to exposesomething negative. Don’tmake their job easy for them.

by Emma AnthonySecurity

Security Corner

If an incident occurs, notifyyour supervisor and security atyour location, or call the 24-hour number at 964-9600.

Security ReminderWhen in the field, alwaysfollow department policy andprocedures. Consideration

Your DWSD equipment is your responsibility

emergency kit filled with basicnecessities that will help youand your family survive onyour own until help arrives.

A well-stocked, 72-houremergency kit should includebasic things like water, dry


Not many people know exactlywhat lurks beneath the streetsof Detroit…eight, 12, even 20feet below the surface. Dr.Mohammad A. Gill is theexception.

Dr. Gill, former AssistantGeneral Superintendent ofEngineering for the DetroitWater and Sewerage Depart-ment (DWSD) – he retired inSeptember – can tell youabout egg-shaped, horseshoe,arched, and cylindrical sewers,not to mention flow-throughside slots. He knows a certain110-year-old sewer is made ofhand-laid brick, not concrete.He can tell you about hydro-logical events and waterpressure and sedimenttransportation and infiltrationand seepage and… well, youget the idea.

In two decades with thedepartment, Dr. Gill made hismark on the nation’s third-largest water utility. In doingso, he has positively affectedthe quality of life of everyman, woman, child, and petthat drinks DWSD water oruses DWSD wastewaterservices. Dr. Gill is, however,quick to soft-pedal hiscontributions, and quietlyremarks only that he’s had a“good career.”

His story is a winding,convoluted one – much likethe sewers that snake belowour streets and roads. Born inEast Punjab, India in 1935, Dr.Gill found himself relocated atage 12 due to a major historicevent – the partition of Indiainto the two states of India(primarily Hindu) and Pakistan(primarily Moslem). He earneda bachelor’s degree in civilengineering from PunjabUniversity, Lahore, Pakistan,in 1956, and went to work atthe Warsak Dam in northwestPakistan. He supervised theconstruction of a 39-foot-diameter, power tunnel in hard

rock for a hydroelectric projectstill in use today.

He moved to northern Nigeria,in 1961, to work on roadconstruction and irrigationsystems. He entered a doctor-ate program at the Universityof London’s Imperial Collegeof Science and Technology in1967 and spent more than twoyears in Britain. With his Ph.D.in hand in the summer of 1970(his dissertation was entitled“Local Erosion in RiverChannels”), he returned towork in Nigeria. Two yearslater, he took a faculty positionat Ahmadu Bello University, toteach hydraulic engineering.

Dr. Gill found university lifeparticularly rewarding. Hewanted to continue an aca-demic career, but in the UnitedStates. Since he had familymembers already in the Detroitarea, he decided to immigrateto the U.S. in 1983. That’swhen his career took a radicalturn.

Although reuniting with familywas a positive, other prospectsweren’t so bright. “My goal tobecome a full-time universityprofessor in America didn’twork out,” he said.

But academia’s loss was metroDetroit’s gain, for in August1985, Dr. Gill joined DWSD asan associate engineer in thePlanning Section. He immedi-ately put his expertise in

hydrology and hydraulics touse. Almost four years later hewas promoted to seniorassociate engineer in theUrban Design EngineeringSection.

In 1992 he became an Engineerof water systems. A little over ayear later, he was named HeadEngineer of Water Systems,and in January 1998 he waselevated to Assistant GeneralSuperintendent of Engineering.

Throughout his professionallife, he published about 50papers in national and interna-tional trade journals. But thepractical application of hisideas has involved designing,reviewing and modifyingcomplex, technical plans forcountless water and sewerprojects throughout southeastMichigan.

He cited two projects that hebelieves represent his mostimportant work for DWSD:· Review of the design/construction of a 72-inch watermain from the Adams Road.pumping station to Franklinthat efficiently delivers waterto parts of Oakland County.· Recommendations forimproving the design of theUpper Rouge Tunnel forincreased effectiveness.

Dr. Gill has also receivedacclaim from his peers. Heearned the prestigious J.C.Stevens Award from theAmerican Society of CivilEngineers in 1990, for hisdiscussion, “Critique of theRegime Theory for AlluvialChannels,” published in theJune 1987 issue of the Journalof Hydraulic Engineering. Inaddition, Dr. Gary Parker,former Director of the St.Anthony Falls Laboratory,University of Minnesota,dedicated his e-book, Riversand Turbidity Currents, to Dr.Gill, “an outstandingmorphodynamicist.”

A long and winding career path

Dr. Gill freely credits those withwhom he’s worked for hissuccess. “I want to thank all ofmy colleagues in the Engineer-ing Division for their continu-ous assistance during mytenure at DWSD,” he said,“and I also want to acknowl-edge the cooperation of otherdivisions, which they extendedgenerously when it wasneeded.”

He enjoyed the farewell galahosted for him at the JulianMadison Building. “I particu-larly appreciate the efforts ofCarol Rizzo, Tranise Shaw, andDonna Jackson,” he said.

“One of the highlights of thatday was a letter of commenda-tion from the Board of WaterCommissioners,” he added.“That was especially gratify-ing.”

Now that he’s retired, Dr. Gill isenjoying more time at homewith his wife, Fauzia. The Gillshave three sons – Salman,Faheem, and Shuaib; and onedaughter, Farheen.

Faheem has followed some ofhis father’s footsteps; he’s amechanical engineer withToyota. Shuaib is a softwareengineer with Compuware andFarheen is employed withNetwork Source One Inc. as asupport specialist.

Dr. Gill is a longtime contribu-tor of politically-orientedarticles to various online,international publications. Heis toying with collecting someof his essays into a book. “Myson Faheem is pushing me todo that,” he said. “He’sworried that I won’t keepbusy.”

There doesn’t seem muchchance of that happening.


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Iceland – Hangikjöt, smokedmutton. A yuletide specialty isLaufabrau or leaf bread. Theseare very thin sheets of doughcut into fancy patterns andfried.

Greenland – Duck, reindeerand musk ox.

Ghana – Specially cooked riceand a stew made of goat orchicken eaten before Christmasservices. Christmas dinnersinclude rice, chicken, goat,lamb along with a variety offruit such as mangoes,oranges, cashews fruits.

Zimbabwe – Fresh roast ox orgoat, cornmeal porridge, bread,jam, tea and sugar.

Russia – Members of theRussian orthodox churchcelebrate Christmas onJanuary 6. Traditional Christ-mas dinner is meatless, butfestive. Special porridge called‘kutya’. Made of wheatberriesand other grains that symbolizehope and immortality. Plus itincludes honey and poppyseeds which represent happi-ness, success, and untroubledrest.

Australia – Christmas downunder is a summer affairfrequently eaten on the beach.The traditional meal oftenconsists of turkey, sometimeswith ham. On the side, flamingChristmas plum pudding fordesert or Pavlova, a meringueconfection that can beadorned with kiwi fruit andpassion fruit.

Singapore – Turkey, ham,roast beef, homemade stewedpie, curry devil (a traditionalspicy dish made of sausage,hambones, roast pork,potatoes, carrots, cucumbersand cabbage).

Traditional holiday dishes around the world

Cuba – roast pork with blackbeans served over rice, friedmashed plantains and “Yucca”a tuber known in the U.S. astapioca.

Brazil - turkey, ham, coloredrice, served with vegetablesand fruit dishes.

Ecuador – chicken, roast lambor turkey, with baked potatoes,fruit, and a sweet bread called“capirotada”, cakes andcookies.

Source: Christmas.com

One of the most vital supportservices within DWSD is itsMaintenance and RepairDivision. It is responsible formaintaining the thousands ofmiles of water and sewer mainsthat provide our customerswith high quality drinkingwater and wastewater treat-ment service around the clock,365 days per year.

Clarence Dishman, Superinten-dent of Water SystemsMaintenance and Repair,knows how to deal with brokenmains. He has spent his entire25-year career in the Mainte-nance and Repair Division,beginning as a Water SystemsHelper, and working his wayup through the ranks.

If there is a problem with a pipe– whether it transports waterto customers, or carrieswastewater to the WastewaterTreatment Plant for processing– it usually means a serviceinterruption somewhere. That’swhy Dishman and his crewsare so vital.

“At the Maintenance andRepair Division, we’re on 24-hour call. It’s our job torespond to any water and/orsewer complaints. A good

majority of the calls we receivenaturally are on an emergencybasis.

“We get these calls sevendays a week, 24 hours a day.Every call is investigated. Theoperator gets as muchinformationas pos-sible.

“Some-times we’reable tosolveproblemsover thephone, butin mostcases it’sgoing totake a fieldinvestiga-tion. So,whereverwe havecustomers … they give us acall and we respond.

“If it’s a water main break …(inthe suburan areas) we respondto that situation just as wewould to a situation right herein the city. We send peopleout, and determine if theproblem is ours. (In otherwords) is it a DWSD facility.

“Then we have to … determinehow we are going to effectrepairs, if it warrants shuttingdown the water or sewer main.

“There really isn’t a lot ofdifference between an eight-inch water main, or a 96-inch

water main.If they’rebroken,they bothcan causeproblems.The samething is truewithsewers. Ifyou have asewerfailure …and youhave(sewage) inyourbasement,that’s a

cause for concern.

“We have some large diameter(interceptor) sewers which pickup (smaller trunk) sewers fromcommunities. If one of thosefails, the difference is themagnitude is greater. (Thepossibility is for) more base-ments filled up.

“So, all of these concerns areaddressed. We go out and lookat each individual case, and (ifit’s ours) how are we going torestore sewer and/or waterservice.

“Depending on the size of the(sewer) failure, it could bequite a project. For example,the sewer failure on 15 MileRoad.”

When we get a call about aproblem with a sewer, we doour investigation “…which isthe same on a small sewer as abig one, we actually look intomanholes and see if the seweris flowing.

“If you have a (failure) on asewer, you’re going to haverestricted flow … of sewagegoing through that pipe. Andalso especially in this case (ofthe 15-Mile Road interceptorcollapse), you’re subject tohave sewer backups becausethere are several large-diameterpipes that flow into this one.So that means (you could)have a backup into communi-ties.

24-hours on call

Clarence Dishman


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If any City Department can claim to be acultural melting pot, it is DWSD. OurDepartment features employees who areeither directly from or who have roots inalmost all of the world’s seven conti-nents excepting, of course, Antarctica.

As you might expect, our people have avariety of different ideas about enter-tainment, and come in a pleasingly exoticassortment of colors and beliefs. We area true rainbow coalition.

So it should be no surprise that many ofus aren’t Christian, or don’t automati-cally associate Christmas with the end ofthe calendar year. Join with us now aswe honor a sampling of joyous holidaytraditions enjoyed by those of otherfaiths and from other lands.

HanukkahWhile Hanukkah is not the major Jewishholiday, similarities to Christmas areimpossible to avoid. Gifts are exchanged,and family is celebrated. Hanukkah orChanukah means dedication in Hebrewand commemorates the Jewish defeat ofthe powerful Greek army in the yearsbefore our common era (B.C.E.).

KwanzaaAfrican-Americans celebrate Kwanzaafrom December 26 through January 1.Founder Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga saidthe purpose of Kwanzaa is to seek “aconnectedness to African cultural identity,provide a focal point for the gathering ofAfrican peoples, and to reflect upon theseven principles that have sustainedAfricans.”

Kwanzaa is derived from a Swahili phrasemeaning “first fruits”, and was firstobserved in 1966. The double-a at the endof the word distinguishes the Americancelebration from the African harvestfestival. Like Christmas, Hanakkuh, andDiwali, Kwanzaa gives folks a chance tocelebrate family and friends.

When you take the time to look beyondthe superficial differences such aslanguage and skin color, we have more incommon with each other than differences.


The history of Christmas traditions datesback more than 4,000 years. The Yule log,caroling, gift giving, and other traditionswere well established long before theobservance of the birth of the ChristChild, chosen to be on December 25 byJulius I, the Bishop of Rome in 350 AD.[ Funmuch.com ]

The 12 Days – In ancient Mesopotamia,the god Marduk did battle with themonsters of chaos in order to renew theworld each year with the arrival of winter.To assist their god, the Mesopotamianscelebrated a festival, Zagmuk, to bring inthe new year. The festival lasted 12 days.

Tradition required the king to die at theend of the year after swearing hisfaithfulness to god. To spare the kingthis unpleasantness, the people chose acriminal to take the place of the real king.The mock king would be dressed inroyal clothing and accorded all therespect and privileges of a real king for

the 12 days of Zagmuk. At the end of thefestival, the mock king would be strippedof his royal robes and put to death. Couldthis also be a cruel precursor to ourtradition of April Fools?[ Prime.org ]

Christmas – Saturnalia, the Romancelebration in honor of the god Saturn, iswidely believed to be the origin of theChristmas celebration established by earlyChristians. Saturnalia was observed withmuch gaiety, parades, festive meals andthe exchanging of gifts. Homes werecommonly decorated with garlands oflaurel and green trees lit by candles.[ About.com]

Eggnog – This familiar seasonal concoc-tion was originally made with beer. Nogwas a strong ale made from beer, sugar,egg yolks, lemon rinds, and cinnamon thatwas popular in 17th century England. Inthe colonies on this side of the Atlantic,Nog was a derivative of Grog, which

referred to a drink made with rum.[ Classbrain.com + History Channel ]

Caroling – Groups of costumed singersand dancers traveled from house tohouse entertaining during the Kalends ofJanuary, a period of celebration associ-ated with the beginning of the new solaryear in ancient Rome.[ Pennsylvania State University ]

Mummers – The costumed entertainersof ancient Rome are believed to be theorigin of all the various groups ofMummers around the world, such as the15,000 mummers in full costume regaliawho parade through the streets ofPhiladelphia each year on New Years Day.[ City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ]


Over the Rainbow

Christmas origins

The menorah, a candelabrum with ninebranches, is the symbol of Hanukkah. Foreach of eight succeeding days and nights,a new candle is lit. This eight-day periodrepresents the eight days that a single-day’s worth of oil burned in the templefollowing the Jewish victory over theGreeks.

DiwaliThe Hindu members of our family observeDiwali, a five-day celebration of the newyear that falls in the Hindu month ofAshwin. Known as the Hindu festival oflights, its arrival is announced by thesound of firecrackers. In the spirit of itsobservation, it too has similarities toChristmas.

Celebrants dress up in their finest andspend the time visiting family and friends.Gifts are exchanged, enemies forgiven, andfriendships are renewed all amid a brightlylit and joyous atmosphere.


Looking for somethingdifferent to do this Christmasholiday? If you have the time,you may want to check out St.Charles Christmas Traditionsin scenic St. Charles, Missouri,just outside St. Louis. It’sabout 560 miles from Detroit,roughly a good day’s drive.

Founded in 1765 by a French-Canadian fur trader, St. Charleswas Missouri’s first statecapital, and is the oldest cityon the Missouri River.

St. Charles Christmas Tradi-tions has been observedannually for the past 15 yearsor so. The idea of organizerswas to marry the joy of theChristmas season with thehistory that is an integral partof this area (Daniel Boonelived here for a spell, andmembers of the Lewis andClarke expedition came here to

get outfitted and organizedbefore setting off up theMissouri). Visitors to thefestival are treated to a livinghistory lesson in the evolutionof this wondrous season.

The festival features over 20international Santas and “livinghistory” characters likeEbenezer Scrooge, St. Nicholas,and the Nutcracker. There’s hotroasted chestnuts, hot wassail,

office buildings dating to St.Charles’ tenure as state capital– three-course dinner anddinner theatre.

This year’s festival opens onNovember 25 and runs throughDecember 23 on succeedingWednesdays, Fridays, Satur-days, and Sundays. For moreinformation, visitwww.stcharleschristmas.com.You can also contact thefestival’s managing director,Randall Kopchak [email protected],or by calling (314) 341-3852.You can also contact the St.Charles Convention andVisitors Bureau by calling 800-366-2427.


Tiny Tim Cratchitt – thecharacter that best repre-sents the salvation of themean-spirited and miserlyEbeneezer Scrooge inCharles Dicken’s A Christ-mas Carol – suffered fromdistal renal tubularacidosis (type 1). At least,that’s according to Dr.Donald Lewis, an assistantprofessor of pediatrics andneurology at the Medical

Christmas time travel

College of Hampton Roads inNorfolk, Virginia. The ailment– not understood until the20th century, but its symptomswere treatable duringDicken’s time – was a kidneydisease that made Tim’sblood too acidic.

Dr. Lewis, who apparentlyhad some time on his hands,studied the medical literatureof the time. He learned that

sufferers of this ailmentwould have been treatedwith an alkali solution,which would quicklycounteract the acidity inthe blood.

Just thought you mightwant to know.

by Michael Daisy,Public Affairs

The Poinset-tia is knownas the Flowerof the HolyNight inMexico.ChristmasEve is knownas Holy Nightin Mexico.

Source:Santas.net

“That presents a different setof problems. However, they’reall still the same.

“If you have a backup youhave to get rid of the water, oryou have to get rid of thesewage. You just can’t let itstay there.

“There are several differentways to do it, generally we’lltake some sewer cleaningmachine … and hopefully bustthrough. But when you have afailure on a sewer, a collapse,whether it’s a big sewer, (or) asmall sewer, you won’t be ableto break through. No amount of

cleaning is going to solve that.The only way that you canstart to give the customersrelief, which is the first step, isto set up some emergency-type pumping from a manholein order to keep that sewagedown.

24-hours on call

(continued from page 7)

“That does two things,alleviates your floodingconditions, and gives yousome time to start investigatingto try to determine exactly whatthe problem is.

by Michael Daisy,Public Affairs

Of A Christmas Carol

warm pretzels, kettle corn, andstrolling carolers in Victoriangarb singing period Christmascarols.

Every weekend there’s a Santaparade, and performances bythe Lewis and Clarke Fife andDrum Corps. Weekends arealso the time for Christmasbanquets. Banquets feature atrolley ride through the city’shistoric district – original

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Since the first time I sawA Christmas Carol as a littlegirl, I’ve always loved movieswith a holiday setting. I watchthem throughout the year, andkeep an eye open for theChristmas-in-July festivals themovie channels occasionallyrun.

Taking time out from hecticholiday preparations and last-minute shopping, nothing ismore relaxing than relaxing witha bowl of popcorn and prepar-ing to have my heart warmed!

Here are some of my favorite,not necessarily “classic”,movies. Look for them ontelevision, the video store, ortreat yourself to a DVD. Theymake great gifts too!

It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946.James Stewart, Donna Reedand Lionel Barrymore.

The Bishop’s Wife, 1947.Loretta Young, Cary Grant andDavid Niven. Remade in 1996 asThe Preacher’s Wife withWhitney Houston and DenzelWashington.

A Christmas Carol, 1951.Alastair Sim. My favoriteversion of Charles Dickens’story.

O’Henry’s Full House, 1952. Acollection of short storiesfeaturing The Gift of the Magiwith Jeanne Crain and FarleyGranger.

Santa Claus Conquers theMartians, 1964. The title says it

all. So bad it’s funny! John Calland a young Pia Zadora.

A Christmas Story, 1983.Darren McGavin, PeterBillingsley and Melinda Dillon.All Ralphie wants for Christmasis a Red Ryder BB gun. Thebaby boomer classic and mypersonal favorite.

Prancer, 1989. Sam Elliott.A young girl believes she hasfound Santa’s reindeer.

Home Alone, 1990 and HomeAlone 2: Lost in New York,Macauley Culkin, Joe Pesci,Daniel Stern. You can’t see onewithout wanting to see theother!

Albania – Gézuar KrishlindjetArmenia – Shnorhavor Sourp DzunountAruba – Bon Pasco, andBon AnjaBangladesh – Shuvo Baro DinBolivia – Feliz NavidadBrazil – Feliz NatalFinland – Hauskaa JouluaGreenland – Glædelig Jul, andJuullimi Ukiortaassamilu PilluaritHaiti – Jwaye Nwel

Hungary – Boldog KáracsonytIsrael – Mo’adim Lesimkha

Monaco – Festusu NataleCaymen Islands – Merry Christmas

Saudi Arabia – Mboni ChrismenThailand – Ewadee Pe-e Mai

Turkey – Yeni yiliniz kutlu olsunUganda – Webale KrismasiVatican City – Buon Natale

Malta – Il-Milied it-TajjebNigeria – Merry Christmas

Non-biblical sources are the reasonNativity scenes always include three wisemen. In the biblical account of Matthew2:11 is mentioned only wise men bearingthree gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.And, as Matthew is the only biblical textin which a reference to the wise menappears…

Ah, the power of suggestion.

Neither is it known if they were kings.They are identified only as “wise men.”They were most likely scholars, or evenastrologers. Something else not men-

tioned in the Bible is the mode oftransportation used. They couldhave traveled on foot, for allanybody knows.

Finally, Matthew 2:11 states “…theysaw the young child…” Not aninfant. Only shepherds viewed aninfant. The wise men seem to havecome along sometime after the fact.


Source: Snopes.com

What doyou callpeoplewho areafraid ofSantaClaus?

Christmas classics

The Nightmare BeforeChristmas, 1993. Directed byTim Burton. The favorite of myGeneration X kids.

While You Were Sleeping,1995. Sandra Bullock, BillPullman. A romantic subwayworker rescues her dream manfrom a mugging. Mistaken forhis fiancée, she finds herselffalling in love with his familyincluding his brother. Funnyand sweet.

by Suzanne Stapleton,Commercial

Claustrophobic

Hot Cockles was apopular game aroundChristmas in medievalinto Victorian times.Pretty simple rules. Oneplayer was blindfoldedwhile other players tookturns striking him or her.It was up to the blind-folded player to guesswho was delivering theblows.

Source: Corsinet.com

Merry Christmas around the world

How many wise men?


DWSD has lost another one ofits essential employees.Chitralekha A. Joshi, WaterProduction & OperationsManager, has left the MainOffice Building for the moreattractive pastures of retire-ment.

Joshi was a classic example ofsomeone who came upthrough the ranks afterbeginning her DWSD career as

a Junior Chemist at WaterWorks Park in 1979. From thereshe did a stint as a SeniorChemist at the NortheastWater Treatment Plant, movingon to Springwells as theSupervisor of Filtration in 1986.In 1991 she was elevated to theposition of Plant Manager atSouthwest Water TreatmentPlant. Joshi returned toSpringwells as its PlantManager in 1998, where sheremained until she moved intothe Water Board Building totake up residence in BobMalloch’s old office followinghis retirement. It was underJoshi that the Department’sWater Quality Division wasinitiated.

“I had the unique opportunityto work at four out of five of

DWSD’s water treatment plantsduring my career,” she said.

Actually, she’s been at all fiveplants, if you count the waterquality investigations she wasa part of at the Lake HuronWater Treatment Plant in the1980s.

Northeast Plant Manager ErnieAlix, who worked for Joshi,said, “was a hard working anddedicated professional.

“She was always sharp as atack and had a beautiful way ofseeing issues,” he said. “Shegave you a lot of perspectiveof the possible consequencesof actions. She was a goodforward thinker.”

Looking for somethingdifferent? Something fun, andinexpensive? Something thewhole family can do together?

Have you ever consideredpocket billiards (or pool as it’smore commonly known)? Poolis probably the farthest thingfrom the minds of many peoplewho have never played. It’snot the game itself that’s theproblem. It’s the other things –the stereotypical images oflowlifes hanging out in dimlylit, smoke-filled pool halls –that cause distress.

“The Noble Game of Billiards,”as it was known in the 19th

century, suggests it existedexclusive within the realm of

bluebloods and nobility. Notso. From its inception, poolhas been played by people,both men and women, at everylevel of society. Commonerswere familiar enough with itthat Shakespeare mentioned itin his play, Antony andCleopatra.

Billiards evolved from a lawngame resembling croquetplayed in Northern Europe inthe 15th century. If you’ve everwondered why green feltseems to be a traditional tablecovering it’s because it is. Thegreen was meant to simulategrass indoors.

Table railings were onlyintended to keep balls from

falling off the table at first.They resembled riverbanks.Bank shots evolved as thegame grew in popularity andplayers experimented.

The stick used to strike the balloriginally included a large headcalled a mace. Because of itssize, however, players found ithard to use. Increasingly theybegan using the handle, calleda queue, meaning “tail”. Thatevolved into cue.

The Father of his Country,George Washington, report-edly won a billiards match in1748. Michael Phelan isconsidered the father ofAmerican billiards. He was thefirst American billiardscolumnist. His articles rou-tinely appeared in Leslie’sIllustrated Weekly. For ourpurposes here, it was Phelanwho won $15,000 in the firstimportant match to be held inthe United States. That matchtook place in Detroit onJanuary 1, 1859.

FarewellWhile on her last full day onthe job in August, Chitralekharefused to be specific abouthow she plans to spend herretirement, saying only that“I’m planning to enjoy mygrand nieces (Sophia, four-and-a-half; and Elena, two-and-a-half).”

Beyond that, “I plan to takeone day at a time.”

Of course, she’ll be able tostay tuned to the latestDepartment gossip from herhusband, Surendra C. Joshi, anAnalytical Chemist in DWSD’sWastewater Operations Groupat the WWTP Analytical Lab.


Shooting the rails

So, how did a dignifiedleisurely pursuit end upidentified as a game played byruffians in smoke-filled,raunchy pool halls? Probably,because in addition to themany genteel practitioners ofthe game, there were a goodlynumber of ruffians. Nonethe-less, devotees of the gamehave fought for respectabilitywhile deflecting determinedassaults by politicians andreligious leaders.

While those raunchy oldholes in the wall where thegames were played in the badold days were predominatelyfilled with men, today’s poolhalls are vastly different.

There are some bars with pooltables out there that do fit thestereotypical image of a poolhall. But, there are alsoestablishments that are clean,well lit, and … respectable.These are places where men orwomen can comfortably honetheir skills. Most of these


Photo by Paul Gomez, Public Affairs

Chitralekha A. Joshi

f

Jeanette Lee (“The Black Widow”), one of theworld’s top ranked women players, takes aim.

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Winter. Icicles, snow, andfrigid temperatures. Time tohibernate indoors, ignite thefireplace, make some cocoa,and cuddle up with a goodbook or video, right?

Naaah. It’s time to bundle up,get outside, hitch up the dogs,yell “Let’s Go!” and hit thetrail.

Sled dog racing, or mushing,has been a popular wintersport for decades. The firstmajor sled dog races were theAll Alaska Sweepstakes series,a formidable 408-mile race heldin the Nome area from 1908through 1917. Scotty Allanand Leonhard Seppala weretwo well-known early Alaskandog drivers.

However, it was the historic“Great Race of Mercy,” a relayof 20 dog teams that deliveredlife-giving diphtheria serum tochildren of isolated Nome inthe harsh winter of 1925, thatcemented the image of tough,wolfish Northern dogs in thecollective mind of the Ameri-can public. The dogs andtheir drivers – includingSeppala – became nationalheroes, and a husky namedBalto became a media darling.However, folks more well-informed about the serum runknow it was another dog,Togo, that took the lead in therelay’s longest and mosthazardous stretch.

Togo, Seppala’s leader, isremembered today not only forbeing a hero and a brilliantlead dog, but also as one ofthe dozen or so foundationdogs that launched the entireSiberian Husky breed in theUnited States and Canada.When the Siberian Huskybreed caught on in the “lower48” beginning in the 1920s, sodid mushing.

As a winter sport, mushingoffers variety. Enthusiastscan enter recreation races –just for fun – or, become moreinvolved as a professional,traveling various racingcircuits. The sport attractsplenty of women, too.

Although all mushinginvolves dogs and a sled,there are different events toattract fans. Races usuallyfall into one of three catego-ries: sprint, mid-distance, anddistance. Sprints are short,generally under 30 miles.Mid-distance races are fromaround 30 miles up to about150 miles; and distance races(such as the 1,100-mileIditarod and Yukon Quest) gobeyond 150 miles in length.Distance races always includerest stops for dogs anddrivers; often, mid-distanceraces do too. Sprint and shortmid-distance races are runstraight through. Musherswho race in the sprintcategory often enter races inthe three-, six-, or eight-dogdivisions. Longer distancesusually mean larger dogteams, with at least eight dogson a team. “Unlimited”

division races (in either sprintor distance racing) refer toevents open to large teams,usually with 12 dogs or more.

There are junior-level races, forkids and young teenagers.Youngsters often continueparticipating as adults.

To get into mushing, you startwith the dogs, of course;you’ll need at least three tohook up a team. You’ll want tochoose dogs that can pull andrun well. Siberians are stillvery popular sled dogs,especially for recreationalracing. Some professionals stillrun them. But since the 1950s,crossbreeding with houndsand other non-Northern dogshave furthered the capabilitiesof the so-called “AlaskanHusky,” a catch-all term forany super-mutt purposefullybred to pull a sled very fastthrough the snow. Today’sAlaskan Huskies are the mostpopular dogs with pros. Theseare the Iditarod dogs.

Incidentally, “husky” is ageneric term that refers to anyNorthern-type working dog,such as the Siberian Husky,

Alaskan Malamute, andSamoyed. “Husky” doesn’trefer to build or hardiness – it’ssimply a corruption of esky,which is derived from “Es-kimo.”

Although most mushers useAlaskans or Siberians, someuse pointer and hound mixes.Actually, any hardy, strongdog with a desire to run can bedrafted into recreational sleddog service. Some amateurssimply harness the family petsif they show an aptitude forracing.

Proven sled dogs, or puppiesof good sled dog stock, cancost between $300 and $1,500each. These canine athleteslive to run and often yelp andleap with joy when led to theirharnesses. They eat special,high-performance food, oftensupplemented with raw meat.

Besides the dogs, otherequipment comes into play.Ganglines, necklines, tuglines,collars, and harnesses are allnecessary to attach dogs to asled. The sled itself is a

The ‘other’ winter sport

Dog Sledding

Jay Tindall and his team in action.


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The author with Roman and Queenie,waiting for snow to quench their racingpassion.

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specialized piece and canrange from $400 beginnermodels to high-tech, pro unitsfor well over $1,000. Dogsneed protective “booties” fortheir paws in long races orsevere conditions. Yes, thishobby or sport can getexpensive – so, for the novice,cheaper, used equipment is theway to go.

You’ll need to get your dogsused to running increasinglylonger courses in the fall tobuild stamina before raceseason. Most mushers havethree-wheeled training carts oruse motorized ATVs. Bothdogs and mushers get aworkout, because duringtraining and racing, there aretimes (traversing steep hills,for instance) when the drivermust push or run alongsidehis or her sled.

Race terrains vary from flatground to hilly, woodsy routeswith creeks and rivers.

Incidentally, you don’t yell“mush.” “Mush” (from theFrench “marche”) is too soft-sounding a command. Theproper command to start yourdogs running is “hike” or“let’s go.” “Gee” means turnright, and “haw”, left. Othercommands, like “on by,” to tellyour dogs to ignore anotherteam or a distraction on thetrail, and “whoa” are importantones to remember.

In Michigan, sled dog racinghas been popular for decades– explorer Olaf Swenson, anauthority on Siberian Huskies,lived in Michigan in the early20th century and actuallyimported Siberian dogs fromRussia. Since Swenson’s time,Michigan has continued to bea sled dog haven. Today, thereare hundreds of enthusiasts inthe state. Many are membersof either the Mid-Union SledHaulers (MUSH) or the GreatLakes Sled Dog Association

(GLSDA). Both sponsortraining days and races.MUSH is more for the recre-ational enthusiast, whileGLSDA caters to those whodesire a higher level ofinvolvement in the sport.

Notable Michigan mushers arelongtime racers Lloyd andMary Gustafson of CaribouCreek Kennels, who runAlaskans; Randy DeKuiperand Jason Rodenhouse, whoalso race Alaskans; DaveSchaefer of the U.P. with racingSiberians; Dan Seperic, withhis Seppala Siberians; and theHolly-area’s Jay Tindall, a 30-year-mushing veteran with hiskennel of about 25 SeppalaSiberians.

Most professional-level racestypically offer some compensa-tion to drivers who finish inthe top five or 10 places. Sometop mushers even make aliving at it, and don’t have a“regular” job.

So… why do it? What’s thelure of braving the winterelements and trying to harnessand drive all that dog power?

Exhilaration, according toTindall. “It’s fun. There is no

other feeling like going fast ona sled behind a team of dogsrunning full tilt,” he said. A16-dog team can move alongat more than 20 miles per hour,although most distance teamsaverage around 8 to 12 mph. Afast-traveling team can lift thesled runners off the snow oncurves; it’s good to rememberto hang on!

A common misconception isthat mushers aren’t consider-ate of their animals. Althoughthere are isolated reports ofabuse at the hands of irre-sponsible racers, the vastmajority of mushers have greataffection for their dogs. Theyknow that kind treatment,adequate food and water andplenty of rest, results in bettercompetition and a morefulfilling mushing experience.

“I care about my dogs,” saidTindall, “and I depend onthem. To deny them food orrest or otherwise mistreat themwould not only be wrong, itwould make my team lesseffective.”

Devices like whips or prodsare outlawed in virtually allsanctioned competition.

Mushers are usually also dogbreeders; most can waxrhapsodic about the ancestryof different lines or strains intheir sled dogs’ pedigrees.Breeding is part art, partscience. Simply breeding twohigh-performing dogs togetherdoesn’t guarantee star off-spring.

“Breeding is tricky,” saidTindall, who has bred most ofhis own Seppala-line dogs.“It’s not for the novice or thecasually-interested.”

Tindall advises that those whowant to get into recreationalmushing to find a mentor andmaybe purchase an experi-enced lead dog that’s too oldto make it with a competitiveteam any longer. “You canlearn a lot from a driver whohas experience,” he said.“Listen to everything they tellyou. And if you get a wise oldlead dog, he or she will notonly train your other, youngerdogs – that dog will train you,too.”


Mahanvir PrasherIt is with great sadness that wemust report the passing ofMahanavir Prasher, 57. His deathcame as a shock because it wasso unexpected. Mr. Prasher was achemist by training in his nativeIndia. He came to work for theCity of Detroit in 1977. At DWSD,he rose through the ranks up tohis most recent position ofSewage Plant Operations Superin-tendent, through which hemanaged the Department’s CSOefforts within the WastewaterOperations Division. “He wasvery well liked by his co-workers,both seniors and juniors,” said

Mr. Prasher’s Brother-In-Law,Remesh Shukla, acting Superinten-dent of Engineering. “He would goout of his way to help you.”

Mr. Prasher is survived by hisloving wife, Nirmal; and sons Raj,25, in his final year of the Dentistryprogram at the University ofMichigan; and Anuj, 23, a medicalstudent in his final year at WayneState University. He is alsosurvived by both parents, fivebrothers, and one sister. His kindand gentle manner will be sorelymissed.


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January 22, 1950 – October 12, 2005

The ‘other’ winter sport


Always one of the mostpopular features in WaterPower are those whichacknowledge the accomplish-ments of our co-workers. Wenever seem to get enough.

Here’s a service award storywith a twist. The awardees arehonored by the governmentagency responsible forkeeping a regulatory eye onwhat we do at DWSD, theMichigan Department ofEnvironmental Quality.Impressive!

The Edward Dunbar RichService Award is named forMichigan’s first Commissionerof Public Health (he served1913-41) and acknowledgesexcellence in the waterworksindustry in Michigan. Awardsare presented each year at theAWWA Michigan Sectionannual meeting. Assistant

Director Pamela Turner was theonly recipient from DWSD ableto make it to this year’sceremony in September atBoyne Highlands Resort. Sheappears here with otherrecipients.

“The prerequisite for eligibilityis 25 years of meritorious andfaithful service in the water-works industry in Michigan inany capacity whether it is plantoperator, meter reader, billingclerk, etc., regardless of a full-or part-time basis...”

DWSD employees honoredthis year are:

Anthony Alston, Plant Mainte-nance Foreman, Southwest

Imad Bakkar, Senior WaterSystems Chemist, Southwest

Leonard Caruso, PlantMaintenance Mechanic, LakeHuron

Ulysses Freeman, Senior WaterSystems Chemist, Lake HuronMark A. Garbarino, SeniorWater Plant Operator,Southwest

Michael J. Heide, Senior WaterSystem Chemist, Water WorksPark

Everlyn Hubbard, CommercialOperations Specialist II,Commercial Division

Chitralekha Joshi, WaterProduction and OperationsManager (Retired)

Richard A. Keintz, Supervisorof Filtration, Lake HuronRay Kuznia, Senior WaterSystem Chemist, Lake Huron

George H. Fenkell is a familiar-enough name to folks atDWSD. His name is on a lot ofplaques. Not only was heGeneral Manager (1918-38)during one of the department’simportant growth periods, butFive Mile Road in Detroit isalso known as “Fenkell”.

Recognition at DWSD is not aproblem. Elsewhere, unfortu-nately, it is. Even within thewater works industry, whereFenkell made so many contri-

butions during his long anddistinguished career. “He was avisionary, not only for (Detroit)but at the state and nationallevel,” said Ervin H.A. Stahl,PE, Historian/Archivist for theAmerican Water WorksAssociation (AWWA),Michigan Section.

“Fenkell was really a visionaryfor the water works industry,but he is not recognized …inthe national AWWA.”

That was the impetus behind apresentation at the MichiganSection annual meeting atBoyne Highlands Resort inSeptember. Stahl retired fromLayne Northern/Layne Westernin 1991. He spent 41 yearsthere, primarily in municipal,ground water supply develop-ment. Layne is a nationally-recognized specialty contractor.

Wm. Elgar Brown of theMichigan Department of

Environmental Quality helpedhim put the power pointpresentation together, whichincluded some vintage photosprovided by this writer.

Stahl and Brown hope to getthe support of the MichiganSection behind an effort tohave Fenkell inducted into theAWWA Water Utility Hall ofFame.

Fenkell headed for Hall of Fame?

Water service awardsLeslie L. Luther, Water PlantOperator, Lake HuronMohammad L. Peracha, SeniorWater System Chemist,Southwest

Truman Peters, Head WaterPlant Operator, Water WorksPark

Thycodathu Philip Shajahan,Water Plant Manager, South-west

Pamela W. Turner, AssistantDirector, Water Supply Opera-tions

Richard J. Welby, Senior WaterPlant Operator, Lake Huron

Congratulations to all for theiryears of hard work anddedicated professionalism.


Each year at its annual meeting,the AWWA’s national con-gress inducts one or twoindividuals based on theirlasting contributions to thewater works industry. Michiganis well represented in the Hall.

Gardner S. Williams (1982) andTheodore Leisen (1993) are thetwo members with direct linksto DWSD. Ever heard of them?

Fenkell, on the other hand, wasin charge of the design andconstruction of the watersupply for Erie, Pennsylvaniaat the turn of the 20th century.In 1902 he was awarded theprestigious Norman Medal bythe American Society of CivilEngineers for a paper he wroteabout the flow of waterthrough pipes. As generalmanager of this department, hepresided over construction ofthe (then) world’s largest water

George H. Fenkell(1873-1949)

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Wm. Elgar Brown, ModeratorTimothy McNamara (ChairElect, Michigan Section), andMichael Daisy at the MichiganSection meeting inSeptember.

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A recent work order brought Emery J.Kish – a Finish Painter employed in thePaint Shop at CSF – full circle for thesecond time since his arrival at DWSD in1988.

Kish was assigned to do some touch-upwork on the mural of the west wall of theconference room at the Northeast WaterTreatment Plant in June. It turns out themural – “a sort of abstract of waves,” saidKish – was originally painted by his father,Emery H. Kish and another painter in 1976.

The mural was one of six designs they

painted on buildings around the City. Allwere winning designs from a contestamong students in the Detroit PublicSchools System.

As we noted earlier, this was the secondtime. The younger Kish’s first time was in1988.

While Emery J. was getting ready to starthis DWSD career, Emery H. was finishingup his 38 years with the City. Dad’s lastday was on a Friday. The son’s first day inthe same paint shop was the Mondayimmediately following.

Emery J. not only replaced his dad, he gothis locker, too. This was after Emery H.sold him his house so he could move toEast Tawas. “Yeah, I got his locker, evengot his house,” said Emery J. “I goteverything.”

And because Emery J. Kish’s name wasonly one character different from hisfather’s, he made a lot of people in HumanResources happy to boot. Talking aboutstarting off on the right foot.

by Ernie AlixNortheast

All in the family

The 2005 Softball Leaguefeatured some exciting games.Weather was great and fansupport was incredible.

DWSD began inviting otherdepartments to compete in oursoftball league three yearsago: Transportation, 36th

District Court, and PublicWorks. The bus drivers wonthe league for the third time,with Something Special (formerDWSD Heavy Repair Sectionemployees) finishing second.

DWSD’s softball team traveledto Indianapolis over the

weekend of September 23-25 tocompete in the Industrial WorldSeries Softball Tournament forthe sixth time. Each year,employees look forward to thisthree-day event.

Camaraderie and respectdeveloped during this weekendwas overwhelming. Our team ismade up of employees from allsections and levels of theDepartment. We strive to createan atmosphere that captures theDWSD employee-managerrelationship, where everyoneworks toward a common goal, towin! Our team got tremendous

support from 30-to-40 co-workers, family members, andfriends, who traveled with usto cheer the Department teamon. I can’t begin to tell youhow important that is.

Although we fell short of ourgoal this year – finishingseventh – we gave it our bestshot. Thanks go out to oursponsors: Process Controland Instrumentation, L.L.C.;Arcadis F.P.S., WilliamHightower; Inland WatersPollution Control, Inc.; andTeamsters Local 214.

Corporations from around theworld sponsor teams tocompete in this tournament.And with DWSD’s help andthe support of our sponsors,we look forward to meetingour goal next year.

Anyone interested in sponsor-ing and/or supporting ourteams’ efforts can reach me byphone at (313) 492-7492 or e-mail at [email protected].

by Ronald CookCSF, North Yard

filtration plant at Water WorksPark in 1923, the Water BoardBuilding in 1928, the (then)world’s largest water treatmentplant (Springwells) in 1935, aswell as the design and begin-ning of construction of thelargest wastewater treatmentplant on a single site inSouthwest Detroit.

Fenkell joined AWWA in June1920, became a trustee in 1926,vice president in 1929, andnational president in 1930. OnFebruary 18, 1938, he chairedthe meeting in Lansing that ledto the formation of AWWA’sMichigan Section, and was it’s

first director until 1941. Aboutthis time, as well, he wasgranted Honorary Lifetimemember in AWWA.

“Fenkell took the Detroitsystem through one of its erasof greatest growth, and did a lotto move our professionforward,” said Brown. “Did youever wonder why pipes areround instead of square?Fenkell figured that out.”


Fenkell headed for Hall of Fame?

places welcome families. Andwith prices that range fromunder a dollar to a few dollarsper hour, a couple of hours ina pool hall with the family cancost less than going to themovies.

Another benefit to pool – ifyou have school-aged kids –is its grounding in basicmathematical principles. Theoutcome of bank shots can bepredicted with some elemen-tary understanding ofgeometry; it’s all aboutstraight lines and angles.Then there is the Englishapplied to the cue ball which

2005 DWSD Softball League

is a primary way to controlwhere the cue ends up afterstriking the target ball.

So the next time you’re lookingfor something that’s fun andinexpensive – either alone orwith the family – give yournearest pool hall a try. Halls arelisted in the phone directory as“billiard halls”.

by Lillette HarrisonWWTP Purchasing

Sources: BilliardsCongress of America

Women’s ProfessionalBilliards Association

Shooting the rails

(continued from page 14) (continued from page 11)


Bitz ‘n’ Pieces

MarriedMichael C. Harrison, PlantMaintenance Sub Foreman atthe Wastewater TreatmentPlant and Lillette Benn,Purchases Agent, WWTP-Purchasing tied the knot inAugust. Mr. And Mrs. Harrisonhoneymooned in St. Peters-burg, Florida a week beforeHurricane Katrina hit the GulfCoast. They send thanks to alltheir well-wishers at DWSD. Besure to check out Lillette’sstory on page 11.

KudosAssistant Director PamTurner and her staff –especially the “staff atControl Center … andBill Scharrett (ImlayCity Pump Station)” –received a big vote ofconfidence from PamelaReid, Superintendent ofWater Systems forLapeer, back in Junefollowing a waterpressure fluctuationissue. “Everyone Ispoke with tonight gaveme straight forwardanswers to my ques-tions; thus, allowing meto make good decisionsin dealing with my watersystem.”

The recently retired Dr.Mohammad Gill (seestory on page 6) and TedZnoy of DWSD’s

Engineering ServicesDivision were praised byGerald J. Renkowski ofthe North Rockwell HomeOwners Association forfacilitating a solution toan odor problem at theEdison Corridor MeterChamber Site on 14 MileRoad in Warren. “We hadbeen adversely affectedby the odor from thischamber for a long time…With assistance ofemployees of yourdepartment, especiallyMr. Ted Znoy, theproblem is now undercontrol. Mr. Znoy wasinstrumental in identify-ing the problem andseeking solutions…Given budget constraintsand trying economictimes, this was no smallaccomplishment.”

photo courtesyphoto courtesyphoto courtesyphoto courtesyphoto courtesyLi l lette Harr isonLi l lette Harr isonLi l lette Harr isonLi l lette Harr isonLi l lette Harr ison

If younoticed thebylines onthe storieson pages 2,3, 6 and 13youprobablyalreadyknow we’ve

got a new writer. But as a moreformal introduction is in order,here goes: S.R. Boland, thePublic Affairs Division’s newPublicist has been with theCity since 1998. He came herefrom the now-defunct Commu-nications and Creative ServicesDepartment. At CCSD, hehandled national and local

New additions to staff!

Do you have new people in your section you’d like tointroduce to the rest of the DWSD? Tell us about it. We’llget the word out.

Blaine Wilson – Audio VisualTechnician II with the PublicAffairs Division’s AudiovisualSection – began with the Cityabout five years ago at theZoo before moving over to theHistorical Department.Currently he’s doing someproduction work and lending ahand to the other technicianswhere needed, “sort of like akey grip.”

Tara Brown– SeniorPromotionalActivitiesAssistant –has beenwith the cityfor 21 yearsand “always

in the arts.” Tara came toDWSD from the Cultural Artsand Tourism Department,where she oversaw corefinancials for that departmentas well as Eastern Market. Priorto that she worked at theDetroit Council of the ArtsDepartment. Currently, shespends part of her time guidingtours at the new water treat-ment plant at Water Works Parkin addition to lending a handwherever and wheneverneeded.

media inquiries, coordinatedpublicity for other depart-ments, and worked onnumerous mayoral initiatives,such as Angels’ Night andMotor City Makeover. Bolandis a U.S. Air Force veteran andholds a bachelor’s degree injournalism from the Universityof Nevada, Reno. He is theco-author of the pictorialvolume, The Birth of TheDetroit Sound, 1940-1964(Arcadia, 2002). His hobbiesare music publicity/promotionand dog sledding. By the way,“S.R.” is his legal name. Just“S.R.” But you can call him“Boris”.

photos by Paul Gomez, Public Affairs

CivilRightsIconRosaParksDies at theage of92.

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