Each year, students in the WDHS program at Dearborn High School produce their own full-length movie. It’s a big deal, with a fancy premiere at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center and even screenings at some local movie theaters.This year, the film is “Dare to be Amish,” and Mayor O’Reilly was asked to join other community leaders to help fill out the students’ cast (hey, is that Ann Stagg we see there?). The Mayor plays Judge Yoder, the leader of an Amish community who serves as a kind of mayor, judge and priest. It sounds like type-casting to us, but it’s apparently one of the more serious roles in the comedy.
The students asked all the adults to be true to the Amish look, and since mustaches are a no-no for Amish men, Mayor O’Reilly sacrificed his. Despite a full schedule of meetings and public appearances this week, the Mayor committed to his role like a well-seasoned method actor.
“The film class is really a great program and the students do a wonderful job each year with their movies,” said Mayor O’Reilly, who has a theater background himself. “I’m glad to have this opportunity to be part of their efforts. I know I’ll get questions, but it’s all worth it."
"Besides,” he pointed out, “mustaches grow back.”
The comedy is being shot at locations around town, including Greenfield Village, and is scheduled to premiere at the Michael A. Guido Theater on May 7. Find out more about the project at www.daretobeamish.com.
The comedy is being shot at locations around town, including Greenfield Village, and is scheduled to premiere at the Michael A. Guido Theater on May 7. Find out more about the project at www.daretobeamish.com.
Posts
Nice hat Ann!
ReplyDeleteHilarious! Good to see the Mayor's such a good sport!
ReplyDeleteYeah, thats me... my son Brian is part of the movie so he convinced me to be an extra for the court room part. I have to say I had a blast! And Since Mayor O'Reilly is not only a friend but as a constituent I have to stand up and say this is just one of the many things that Jack does for the community. I know he reconizes the bad that were in the city (and yes illegal)before he was elected but you have to give someone time to try and change things around. Yes, he has gotten rid of some of the wrong do-ers and more will follow you just have to have grounds for dismissal or prosecution. Some of the things that the Mayor has accomplished have been the re-instatement of the pension for the police dept. and a agreement for a pension the fire dept was waiting for. He also has been working to get any viable business or corp. to come to Dearborn, the development of a conference center. He is one of the most honest,dedicated, intelligent, non judgemental person I have ever met. And for those who say we are kissing his ass.. can kiss mine, because if we had gotton anything special from the city or the mayor, we wouldn't have lost the one thing we worked so hard to keep. The Little Cafe was our dream to bring an affordable clean place to the community, and despite our best efforts we weren't able to financial stay there any longer. And why don't you bring up any of Pat's past Health Dept Reports either from the A&W (that he ran for over 20 years) or the Cafe because you would see what a clean place he ran. If anyone is lucky enough to get Pat as an employee will get a hard-working honest person, and yes I am kissing his ass, as I may need something from him. P.S. Hi all my old customers whom I havent been lucky enough to run into in the this great city of Dearborn!
ReplyDeleteHave a good Day
Ann
Good for you Ann. You all look like you were having a blast. Cant wait to see this when its finished!
ReplyDeleteWe always had the best video production department around because Mr Gibb was so far ahead of the curve on that kind of thing. Glad to see they're still going strong in 2009!
ReplyDeleteLooks to me like a meeting of the Mayor and the Building and Safety Department
ReplyDeleteI think I recognize Candymanpat to the right of Ann with that big long beard he glued on.
ReplyDeleteWe always suspected he was one of Mayor O'Reilly's advisors and now we can be sure.
Ann looks cute as ever but are we sure that Ann wrote the post above because it sounds more like Candymanpat with the French words.
Either way, we all miss their Little Cafe and both of them as they are very nice people and very likeable characters.
OMG, the Mayor looks like a real Amish guy! He doesn't even need a costume! Nice to hear from Ann! Miss your cafe and the friendly atmosphere and great coffee.
ReplyDeleteAgree with everyone. This is one of those little things that make our city seem like a small town. Congrats to Mayor O for pitching in.
ReplyDeletePat and Ann Stagg are some of the best people we have here in town. They care and they stay involved no matter what. They're passionate about what happens to our city and put their money where their mouth is.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Storekeeper and Dearborn needs more like Pat and Ann Stagg.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletePick a name/handle to post in this forum.
ReplyDeleteOk Dearborn News Online Man can You please post my commet know?
ReplyDeleteYes mayor Jack has come a long way since his 1974 role in the cult classic movie "Caged Heat" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071266/
ReplyDeleteThe link lists the cast, and Jack played a sharp shooter prision gaurd who gets his ear shot off. The movie was so low budget that the Grips where also actors in the movie, Jack was a grip in the camera and electrical dept.
This role just another example of the Mayor being a regular kinda guy.
Note the spelling of his last name is listed as
O'Riley because of another actor at the time had the same name.
I have a copy of the movie if anyone wants to borrow it (VHS) but I have to get it back from Tom Clark first.
I think they should show it with 'Dare to Be Amish' and have a Mayor O'Reilley double feature!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the mayor was in a movie called "Caged Heat.' I also can't believe that Jonathan Demme directed both "Caged Heat" and "Philadelphia!" Life takes everyone on crooked paths, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteMrs. Teacher, something tells me The Mayor is in no rush to have his acting debut shown in Dearborn anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteHere's what Netflix had to say:
ReplyDeleteCAGED HEAT (3 stars): In a women's prison, a new inmate (Erica Gavin) falls in with a tough band of sex-starved chicks (Roberta Collins, Ella Reid and Rainbeux Smith) who shower together, fight and perform satirical skits. When they incur the wrath of the prison's sadistic, wheelchair-bound warden (Barbara Steele), the girls are tortured with electroshock therapy. Now, the only thing they want is revenge. Oscar winner Jonathan Demme directs this stylish and sexy romp.
Needless to say, this is now at the top of my Netflix queue.
Are you willing to loan it out? What's the rating?
ReplyDeleteDonna I have a copy on VHS, you can borrow it if you want, but it really is a HARD R, It's one of those T&A movies from the 70's.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat, I'll check with my card playing pals and see if its something they might want to show at our next game for the entertainment portion.
ReplyDeleteDonna, It's definately NOT something you would want to show there. In fact I don't think You should watch it either, It's alot of nudity.
ReplyDeleteThis is a joke right?
ReplyDeleteYou don't know my friends!
ReplyDeleteI find it pretty incredible that someone who claims to be one of the mayors best friends would post this R-rated movie.
ReplyDeleteI find it even more incredible that he would state that this role is just another example of the Mayor being a regular kinda guy. Many of us are regular types of guys and gals and I don't think all that many of us have been in an R-rated movie. I'm also assuming that if we were, we'd keep it pretty quiet at this stage of our lives.
While it probably won't make that much of a difference now, if one of the mayors enemies gets ahold of this movie and tries to make a major issue out of it, it could cause some problems for the mayor, who I think is a pretty nice guy, even if he's not all that much of an effective mayor.
Pat you're a nice guy and I'm sure you meant well, but sometimes your eagerness to defend the mayor and make us like him, ends up hurting the mayor more than it helps. Let's hope I'm wrong about this because we already ahve enough troubles in this city.
Jimmy, this happened 30 years ago for crying out loud. I agree that the mayor may not be thrilled with his old laundry being hung up for all to see but i just cant imagine that it would cost him a single vote or hurt him in a election. I don't care if he inhaled either! LOL!
ReplyDeleteStorekeeper - anything is possible in this day and age!
ReplyDeleteEveryone who whines about all the issues, whatever they may be, these will be either the ones that don't vote gain, or simply be the ones that vote incumbents into office again and again.
ReplyDeleteAnd we wonder why the city is in such a sorry state. It's not just the economy.
I'm not sure I understand, JT. The people who complain about the issues won't vote or will vote in only incumbents? The logic seems off to me. The people who don't know the issues may do that, but the people who are keeping track? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteJimmy the Bartender,
ReplyDeleteYes this is a real movie and yes Jack is the one whom told us about the movie, he is a regular kind of guy whom is proud of his acomplishments, if you ask him about the movie he'll tell you all about how when he was struggling to be an actor that he worked in the industry and had to do all sorts of crapy stuff.
He hasn't got anything to hide about the movie it's rated R, and I think it stinks, I couldn't even finish the whole movie, it was that bad. I told him this also. Jack is a friend and even more, a Great Mayor and Human Being, I wouldn't have posted if it was something that he wouldn't want people to find out about or even know. So everyone relax and rent the movie and watch it.
And I would watch any movie if anyone I knew was in it.
Why would you keep being in a movie quiet?
What do you mean by at this stage in our lives?
Sorry and not to insult you but I don't think your definition of a regular kinda guy and mine are the same, I have no skeletons in my closet and am never afraid to tell people what I have done or not done.
Storekeeper, what I meant was that people who don't vote complain the loudest. People who do complain loudly that do vote, don't seem to ever have enough votes to vote out the incumbents. The end result is no matter how bad things get, the bums in office are re-elected and we've got a lot of bums running this city, including the mayor.
ReplyDeletecandymanpat,
ReplyDeleteI know Mayor O'Reilly and I think he's a nice, decent fine human being. While he was certainly not a great actor in that movie, he certainly has learned plenty from his acting career. He is an effective, likeable public speaker but what he says and what he does for our city are often the opposite. His speeches show plenty of substance but his actions show little to no substance. But since many people base their opinions of others on their words instead of their actions, then you can go on believing what you want about him.
I also know you Pat and I know you're a good person, but you're not objective at all when it comes to the mayor. It's great to have loyalty to someone that you state is one of your best friends, I admire that. But when that friend affects yours and your neighbors lives in more ways than friendship, blind loyalty like yours is just plain foolish. Have the guts to tell him when you disagree with him as you do so many others you disagree with.
At this stage of our lives meant that I am in the same age group as many on here, including you. I wasn't condemning the mayor for acting in such a movie, as we all have to do what we can to make a living. I was simply saying that sometimes in your great need to help others which you do quite often, you may end up doing more harm than good.
I know you well Pat, I've had many talks with you and it would really surprise you if you ever found out who I am. I am not LX though so don't get your hopes too high there. If you've followed my posts I've said I work in a bar and I am not the fellow you think is LX either. I visited your unique Little Cafe often. I too was very upset when it closed and I was more upset how it may have affected you and Ann. I know you're both good people and I think a lot of you and your family.
Advice from someone who likes you. Start slowing down a bit. Start listening to others more often and really hearing what they are saying. Respect their opinions even if you disagree with them. Quit acting like you are the expert on everything and quit talking so much. Sometimes all the good you've done for so many is overlooked or not all that much appreciated by people you've helped because of that mouth.
I have no doubt that Mayor O'Reilly will still clobber the competition in this election no matter who they are. But if he doesn't quit talking about our issues and start taking some serious action soon, in the election 4 years from he stands a good chance of being defeated.
Jimmy The Bartender,
ReplyDeleteI like your style. Delicately handled with a strong message that might actually even be received. For now, I'll take the roll of the optimist in regards your well-written advice to the Stagg family.
Who knows, maybe one can straighten out a hunchback after all?
Anyway, in the spirit of the theatrical topic, "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"
;)
Finally, the voice of reason returns!
ReplyDeleteJimmy,
ReplyDeleteI have come back to this site numerous times to post a comment and just am not sure how to word it. LX you said that Jimmy's comments were delicately handled. I don't think some of it should have been written at all. I am referring to the paragraph - Advice from someone who likes you. I just think that if you consider Pat a friend this is something you would discuss with him in private.
I generally agree with most of what you say but this has just left me "uneasy" and just had to say something.
Donna,
ReplyDeleteWhile I certainly agree with many of Jimmy’s blogs, his blog about Pat Stagg has also left me somewhat uneasy as well and that is why I have not replied until now. My best guess as to what Jimmy's reasons are for not saying this in person to Pat is Jimmy doesn't want Pat to know his real ID. Perhaps Jimmy also thought that shocking Pat by posting this information online would help Pat more than it would hurt Pat. Since Pat has not replied, I am assuming it is the latter.
Like you Donna, I wish Jimmy had chosen the private method over the public method because Pat has suffered plenty already with recently losing the Little Cafe, a business he and his wife Ann just loved. A business many of us, including myself also miss and wish would never have closed. I have owned a small business and let me assure anyone who has not, as difficult as it is to operate a small business, it is even harder to see all that dedication result in having to close it. Some never recover from it.
What is more important though is that despite what some may think, Pat is one of the most decent, kindest human beings I have ever met. He displays this in how much he still tries to help others such as Dearborn businesses, Dearborn citizens and Divine Child with his many benevolent acts. I have watched Pat numerous times, even to this day, give away FREE items he purchases online at EBay, valuable items from the Little Cafe and more. I have watched him go and look for items and purchase them just because someone wanted such items and yet I have never, ever seen him ask or take any payment for any of it. I have also watched Pat help others by getting them a job with one of his contacts and more.
Perhaps he is flawed, but the last time I checked, we all have our flaws. But we need to ask ourselves, how many people do we know that would lose their business and that must be struggling that would STILL be helping others by giving them things FREE and helping them in their job search!!!??? Pat is the only one that I know of and in my opinion, his ability to give even when it hurts, says plenty about what kind of human being he is. As far as I am concerned, Pat is one of the finest, most benevolent people I've ever known. His wonderful wife Ann is also a giver, not a taker.
I just hope that many people who Pat has helped will have the decency to write on here and support Pat at a time when he needs our support. Tough times are when TRUE friends need to step up to the plate and support someone like Pat who has done plenty for so many.
Well,
ReplyDeleteI guess this proves that again opinions I've seen written on here obviously vary. Jimmy The Bartender simply responded to what was openly written by Mr. Pat Stagg. I also now have to give credit to Jimmy The Bartender for investing his time in some well thought out, lengthy, written discussion with respect to Mr. Stagg. In addition, from what I read in several responses by Jimmy The Bartender to Mr. Stagg, they are in my opinion extremely delicately handled, which also illustrates for me that Jimmy truly does like Mr. Stagg.
If you missed it, there was a posting that has been since removed in response to Ann Staggs' somewhat inflammatory rant, which is more or less about any of those in Dearborn who may not agree with or who challenge either Pat or herself can "kiss their ass". Please enjoy Ann's 2/24/09 posting above again and sense the gratitude that is demanded of us with them and their support of the Mayor. Did I keep record of the posting that was removed? Yep, flattering in the least but a direct point was conveyed. And for record, this now makes it only twice that I've commented in this topic and for good reason. The first thing that I thought of with reading Mrs. Stagg's commentary towards her fellow Dearborn citizens reflecting directly on the many reasons that quote, "The Little Cafe was our dream" is no longer.
Now, do I believe that the Stagg's are in nature 'good people'? Without a doubt. However, they've both demonstrated to me over the years at their former establishment or elsewhere a very limiting 'my way or the highway' attitude that restricts ones ability to have vision beyond that of a gnat. Again, I do not write this in hostility towards either Ann or Pat as I've stated my beliefs in them as likewise Jimmy The Bartender has. This too is written with the observed suggested contempt directed at me by Mr. Stagg. Perhaps candymanpat would care to elaborate on this undertone written by Jimmy The Bartender above.
Therefore, Donna and Michael, if this all makes you "uneasy", well, I suppose it should, as you seem to be missing the message that Jimmy The Bartender wrote too. Honestly, I can't agree more with Jimmy with his stated advice to Mr. Stagg, "blind loyalty like yours is just plain foolish." Indeed that it is, and this becomes even more dangerous for anyone when coupled with a bull in a china shop demeanor. Perhaps this is reason why others make excuse for Mr. Stagg such as Mr. Albano has from time to time, and low and behold once again, while others find it increasingly difficult to defend his ways. Sorry, but we all can't be enablers.
Donna, if I am interpreting correctly, what you now write, you are concerned with discretion in the communication that is written on here and with whom this applies. Are you not also suspect of the same blind loyalties that were written now causing your "uneasiness"? This is not for me to answer. Although, to crassly interject my thoughts on this in regards to the now continued discussion of the Stagg's and their history of written infatuation with peoples asses, 'whoever smelt it, dealt it'.
And with respect to the Mayor O'Reilly's involvement with the Stagg family, this brings into question for me and maybe with others the old adage of "birds of a feather flock together". There is a pattern emerging of bloggers commenting on both the Mayor and as with either Pat or Ann, who have highlighted the fact for some time now that all of them are not very receptive people when it comes to listening to others opinions that may differ from their own. From my experience with the aforementioned, this is very similar to what is written by others.
As I see it, this November our incumbent Mayor will most likely be reelected unless there is another challenger other than Ziad Abdul Malik before the May 12 deadline. A simple check of our city tax rolls shows no such property owner listed for any Ziad Abdul Malik. Frankly, there is no information on any Ziad Abdul Malik that I've been able to discover anywhere. And I for one sure as hell don't need a renter as a Mayor in Dearborn, just as I do not need any incumbent City Council Member running for reelection while being a $31,675 tax delinquent.
Didn't read that in the Press & Guide online did you?
Plenty of options
Council race features 13 2 months before filing deadline
By Jason Carmel Davis, Press & Guide Newspapers
PUBLISHED: March 4, 2009
http://www.pressandguide.com/stories/030409/loc_20090304002.shtml
And everyone's up in arms a few days back on here about this PC agenda rag failing? Viva la blogs.
Ultimately, I find it sad that we're faced with yet another election in Dearborn that provides little option for voters to choose from other than the longtime established status quo, but just as was reported in the school districts 2008 MLI report on page 8, its "the way we’ve always done it" in Dearborn. The same holds true at City Hall with incumbents like the Mayor with his two decades in public office and whose daddy was Mayor in the prior two-decade gap by Guido.
LX,
ReplyDeleteI did not miss the message that Jimmy the Bartender was sending. I was simply stating that there are many, many good points about Pat as well as Ann Stagg that are worthy of mention and while Jimmy must have had his reasons for writing his thoughts on a blog about Pat who he calls a friend, most 'friends' would have approached him in person about such a private matter. At least that is what I would like to believe. I also know it is the way I would approach a friend with such a sensitive issue.
Pat certainly has his opinions on many issues and states them quite often and while I don't always agree with his opinions, the fact that he's been such a good friend and person to so many merits notice as well. Although some might not like some of his posts and/or sometimes-blunt comments in person, many more do agree with him on most of his posts.
I have also had first hand experience to witness Pat and Ann regularly giving far more than they take from anyone. I also know that for whatever reasons you might think they lost that wonderful business, as you have stated in previous blogs that it is not easy to give up a business that you have devoted so much effort.
Most people do not like having themselves or their friends attacked in any way. Therefore, I can understand Ann's frustration resulting in lashing back at some who attack their friend the mayor. Perhaps some would have chosen different terminology, but if the mayor was ones friend and like Ann and Pat one thought the mayor was doing a great job, then perhaps one would also defend a friend. Therefore, I am not going to condemn Ann for doing what she believed in.
But I do understand what Jimmy was trying to accomplish and while I think he is a fine writer and gets to the heart of most every story he writes, this time I just simply disagree with his method, and you can understand that LX...
Well Michael, as someone close to the Stagg's and as one who would like to see them grow in times of trouble, perhaps you might consider letting go of being an enabler. It was written that Pat is liked, not any mention of friendship. That like it or not makes for an acquaintance, which is a big difference. Some tend to blur the differences of the two in their life's.
ReplyDeleteI am not condemning either side in the matter as this was made public in the first place, however, as another old saying goes, "excuses are like assholes, everyone has one". Why keep providing them for others shortcomings? And, this too I believe you can understand Michael...
LX,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct in that Jimmy said he liked Pat and did not mention anything about being his friend. However, since Jimmy also wrote that he thinks a lot of Pat, I believed then as I believe now, that Jimmy is much closer to Pat than he leads us to believe. With no disrespect meant to Jimmy, cause I think he's one of the finest writers on here, in my opinion, Jimmy just knows FAR too much about Pat to be a mere acquaintance.
Nonetheless, Pat and I both know that we do not agree on some issues and we debate those differences sometimes, but not all that often. What I learned a long time ago is that most people, including friends are not going to change their mind much about anything they believe in, even if they like and respect the person telling them otherwise. Therefore, instead of me being an enabler, because he has been a wonderful friend, I just accept him as he is. I would like to believe that he does the same with me because I am far from perfect as well. Besides, friendship is far more important to me than always being right or having the last word on every issue and I make no apologies for defending someone that has been a good friend.
Therefore LX, let us just leave it at the point where we can say we disagree and move onto more important issues that affect our city.
It's not often I agree with Mike Albano, but he's right on this one. There are few people in dearborn who give as much as Pat Stagg. He gives me a pain in the ass every time I see him and never asks for anything in return. Let's build a statue to this great giver. I'll offer my ass for a model.
ReplyDeleteWho'da ever thunk it. I'm in agreement with Michaels' last sentence and laughingly in agreement with Pay to Plays' entire remark.
ReplyDeleteGo figure...
My attempt to shock Pat was simply meant to have him reevaulate himself, that's it. I never meant to start such a heated debate and now wish I had never posted the article.
ReplyDeleteOh, you did a good thing Jimmy The Bartender so don't worry about it. As we both wrote, the Stagg's are in nature good people and what you did did not hurt them one bit. Matter of fact, this discussion on here did us all some good.
ReplyDeleteFor everyone's sake, we removed a series of posts here that we felt crossed a line.
ReplyDeleteI find it hypcritical that an online web news site that refuses to let someone post as simply Anonymous, would remove postings from some that further try to identify someone such as the LX info that was removed.
ReplyDeleteI find it even more hypocritical that the same site that won't let someone post as Anonymous won't even ID who the editor or moderator is for this site Dearborn News Online.
Talk about a double standard.
Shadow Boxer,
ReplyDeleteI agree as well.
Shadow Boxer,
ReplyDeleteIsn't everybody actually anonymous on this site? I doubt your first and last name are "Shadow" and "Boxer". Why should they have to identify by name the editor or monitor of this site? Nobody else is identified by name..
It is absolutely ridiculous for someone that refuses to post his/her real name to demand that LX's identity be revealed on this site. And isn't this site already letting everyone post anonymously? I see about 5 people here with the guts to use their own name.
ReplyDeleteWhiners.
Trust me it doesn't take guts at all. Because I use my name doesn't mean I have the right to ask anyone else to use theirs. But, its worth a try - who are you LX???????
ReplyDeleteA tax paying U.S. citizen who happens to reside in Dearborn, which may become subject to change if Dearborn continues to follow a path of what I consider less than mainstream America views in its school district operations and with its elected Officials.
ReplyDeleteI hope that provides some clarification for you.
That was all we needed to know. Thanks.
ReplyDelete