20th Anniversary of Local Event Set for Thursday, May 4
Grosse Pointe Mayors' Prayer Breakfast
To Feature Dual Speakers from Michigan Legislature
Dual speakers will share the spotlight for the 20th annual Grosse Pointe Mayors' Prayer Breakfast planned for Thursday, May 4, 2006, at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.
Featured will be State Representative John Moolenaar (R) of Midland, and State Senator Hansen Clarke (D) of Detroit. Mayor Palmer Heenan of Grosse Pointe Park, host mayor of this year's event, invites the public to attend.
The breakfast attracts more than 500 people annually to celebrate the National Day of Prayer as proclaimed by the president. It also recognizes the role that prayer has played in the lives of individual Americans, as well as the nation as a whole. In addition, scholastic scholarships will be awarded at the breakfast to the top student in each of the area's high schools. Winners will be those so designated by their respective schools.
State Representative John Moolenaar is a Republican serving his second term in the Michigan House representing citizens from parts of Midland and Saginaw counties.
He is a graduate of Hope College, and earned his master's in public administration from Harvard University.
With his background in public administration, Moolenaar worked as an administrator at the Midland Academy of Advanced and Creative Services. He also served as director for the Small Business Center operated by Middle Michigan Development Center.
Prior to his time in Lansing, Moolenaar served in many civic positions, including being a member of the Midland City Council, and chairman for the Midland County Republican Party. Moolenaar also served as an assistant to state Sen. Bill Schuette.
Moolenaar lives in Midland with his wife, Amy, and their six children.
An only child, Hansen Clarke grew up Detroit's lower east side. His father passed away when he was eight years old.
Clarke's found that his artistic bent lead to a scholarship at Cornell University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
But as a Cornell student, Clarke decided to set aside a career in art for law. He attended Georgetown Law School where he graduated, Juris Doctorate.
After passing the bar, Clarke returned to Detroit where as a Democrat he was elected three times to the Michigan House, and in 2002 was elected to represent District 1 in the State Senate where he serves on the Appropriations Committee.
Today, Clarke has come full circle. After being away from art for 19 years, he recently returned to painting. saying, "For years, I wanted to paint, and once I did it, I noticed how alive I felt."
Senator Clarke is also establishing a scholarship fund to help send disadvantaged youths to a college prep school.
The program begins promptly at 7:30 a.m. in the main ballroom of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. Tickets are $15, and available at any of the Grosse Pointe or Harper Woods municipal offices. For more information, contact Barbara Tate at (313) 392-1023 or Jay Hackleman. 
Making plans for the 20th annual Mayors' Prayer Breakfast set for Thursday, May 4, are (left to right): Mayors Palmer T. Heenan, Grosse Pointe Park; James C. Farquhar Jr., Grosse Pointe Farms; Dale N. Scrace, City of Grosse Pointe; Robert E. Novitke, Grosse Pointe Woods; Kenneth A. Poynter, Harper Woods; and Dr. James M. Cooper, Grosse Pointe Shores. Heenan is host mayor for the 2006 event.
