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36 November 9 • 2017 jn c e l e b r i t y j e w s arts&life VETERANS' DAY NOTES It was hard to watch the new Ken Burns and Lynn Novick 10-part PBS series The Vietnam War, and by the time I did, half the episodes were behind a new paywall called PBS Passport. (I learned that a mere $5-a-month automatic contribution opens that paywall.) Dr. Harold "Hal" Kushner, 76, an ophthalmologist, is extensively interviewed starting with episode six. The son of an Army Air Corps doctor grew up in Virginia — I gather the family had deep Southern roots. In 1972, the JTA reported that he was the great-nephew of Judah P. Benjamin (1811-1884), a U.S. senator who became the secretary of war and the secretary of state of the Confederacy. In the series, Kushner recounts how he went to Vietnam "to save lives." In 1967, he was on a fairly routine night flight when his combat helicop- ter crashed into a mountain. He was severely injured, but managed to walk to a nearby village, where he was helped. Soon after, the Viet Cong cap- tured him and he was held in horrible conditions in South Vietnam for several years. Conditions didn't improve that much when he was marched north in 1970. Beatings and lack of food were constants. Kushner says it was agoniz- ing to watch other POWs die whom he could have saved if he'd been provided with supplies. Nonetheless, he managed to relieve the suffering of many. He was released in 1973 and retired from the Army in 1977. He was awarded the Silver Star and several other medals for his heroism. He's still a practicing physician in Florida. ROCK ON Last month, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the nominees for induction in 2018 — fans have until Dec. 5 to vote for nominees. Just google "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vote" and you'll quickly find the vote page. It's easy to vote. The Jewish nominees this year are: David Bryan, 55, keyboardist (as a member of the band Bon Jovi); Elliot Easton, 63, lead guitarist (as a mem- ber of the band The Cars); Brad Wilk, 49, drummer (as a member of the band Rage Against the Machine) and the J. Geils Band. Everybody in the J. Geils band except for the late J.Geils, himself, is Jewish: Peter Wolf, 71, lead singer/songwriter; Seth Justman, 66, keyboardist; Danny Klein, 71, bass guitar; "Magic" Dick Salwitz, 71, har- monica; and Stephen Jo Bladd, 75, drummer. The band Dire Straits, led by Mark Knopfler, is likely to make the Hall this year. Knopfler's father was Jewish by birth, but defined himself as a Marxist. In every interview I've seen, Mark (who I don't think is religious) has resisted having the description "Jewish" or "half Jewish" applied to him. When asked, he mentions his father's politics and moves on quickly. Honorable mention goes to the English band Radiohead, which is immensely popular in Israel and has played there eight times since 1993. This past summer, Radiohead defied calls to boycott Israel and played there again. Lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood (a Hall of Fame nominee as a member of the band) is married to Israel-born artist Sharona Katan and he has professionally collaborated with Israeli musicians. • NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST Novick and Kushner Easton Wilk OAK PARK BIRMINGHAM CLARKSTON NOVI PLYMOUTH UTICA ANN ARBOR 1-800-HAGOPIAN (424-6742) SCHEDULE ONLINE! OriginalHagopian.com RUG CLEANING 2 FOR 1 Bring your rugs to any of our drop-off locations and we'll clean every other one FREE! some restrictions apply 3 ROOMS $ 89. 99 some restrictions apply CARPET CLEANING FALL CLEAN-UP 2187450 ("3"(&t&/53"/$&t4503. 23701 HALSTED ROAD FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48335 5PMM'SFF DuraScreen Motorized Retractable Screens are the affordable way to turn virtually any outdoor area into a cool, comfortable and pest-free sanctuary. The screens are custom built to any opening, have whisper quiet operation, and keep out wind and rain, while allowing fresh air to flow through. They are also available in solid vinyl and solid vinyl with glass, to easily close off a lanai from the elements. See the DuraScreen video at http://tarnowdoor.com/MotorziedScreens/SeeOurVideo.aspx Let us make your garage into a "man cave!" Celebrating 50 Years! ALL In Stock Citizen, Bulova Watches & Clocks on Sale $ 3 Off Any Watchband in Stock $ 2 Off Any Battery Installed (Except Lithium) 27867 Orchard Lake Rd. Orchard 12 Plaza (NW corner of Orchard Lake & 12 Mile Rds., corner store behind Starbucks) Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-553-7720 watchbandsplus.com t8BUDI3FQBJS t$MPDL3FQBJS t+FXFMSZ3FQBJS t#BUUFSJFT*OTUBMMFE8IJMFi6w8BJU t"MM5ZQFTPG-FBUIFSBOE.FUBM8BUDICBOET t$JUJ[FO&DP%SJWF8BUDIFT (Never Needs a Battery) t)PVTF$BMMTPO(SBOEGBUIFS$MPDLT House Calls on Grandfather Clocks NEW LOCATION (formerly on Orchard Lake, S. of 13 Mile) Expires 1-4-18 Expires 1-4-18 Expires 1-4-18 WE MOVED!! ALL WATCHES & CLOCKS 20%-40% OFF FREE Repair Estimate on All Watches & Clocks