Traverse City Record-Eagle

Columns

August 22, 2009

Northern Notes: No expiration on thanks

It's never too late to say thank you.

Josette Hoch of Kingsley wrote to thank the woman who helped her husband at the scene of an automobile accident two days before Christmas 2008 by providing comfort when no one else was there for him.

Josette's husband was in his work truck when he was severely injured in a two-car accident on U.S. 31 near the buffalo field south of South Airport Road.

"She stopped her vehicle on a terrible, icy day and helped him off the ground, wrapped a blanket around him and stayed with him until the EMTs took him to Munson," Josette wrote. "After spending time in ICU and finally getting to come home, he kept talking about 'the angel' who helped him.

"There are not enough words to tell her how thankful I am ...," Josette wrote, adding that she would have written sooner, but life has been a little overwhelming since the accident and during her husband's recovery.

"We are not there yet, but hopefully soon," Josette wrote. "I am so glad there are 'angels' in our community, especially the one who made herself visible during that terrible time for us."

School supplies are being collected so that all area children will have what they need to start the school year.

Charter Media's "Operation School Supplies" program is being sponsored locally by Master Dry Cleaners. Donations may be dropped off through Aug. 31 at Master Dry Cleaner locations at East Eighth Street and Woodmere Avenue, Holiday Road near U.S. 31, Pine Street on the curve near the post office and on 14th Street near Ming's Chinese Restaurant. The supplies will be distributed to local school children in need.

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Leslie Julian, project coordinator for the March of Dimes in Traverse City, wrote on behalf of the agency to thank two tireless March of Dimes volunteers, Ken Lemcool and his son, Steve Lemcool.

The pair have been volunteers for March of Dimes for years and usually help get supplies for both the Cadillac and Traverse City "Walk for Babies" each year, but Leslie wrote to say that this year the Lemcools went way above and beyond.

"When they found out that two March of Dimes staff personnel would need to set up more than 30 heavy tables, chairs and all the supplies needed for the outdoor Cadillac walk, they quickly offered to help out," Leslie wrote.

Ken and Steve made two consecutive trips to Cadillac (one starting at 4:30 a.m.), and gave up two full days for the Cadillac walk and two full days for the Traverse City walk.

"The March of Dimes would like to thank them both for giving so much time and energy to the cause. We could not have done this without them," Leslie wrote.

Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com.

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