Traverse City Record-Eagle

Columns

March 7, 2009

Northern Notes: Mattresses aid charities

Guests who buy mattress sets on March 22 at Art Van Furniture, 1775 Oak Hollow Drive, Traverse City, also will be helping local charities.

All day on March 22, Art Van will donate a mattress to either the Father Fred Foundation or the Goodwill Inn homeless shelter for each mattress purchased.

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Alex Sarske lives in Summit City on Church Street, which can get hard to navigate in the winter.

Jan. 31 was just such a day. Alex called the Paradise Township ambulance to take him to the hospital and it had trouble reaching his house and getting back out. The next day, some of the EMTs came out and plowed his driveway and part of Church Street.

"It made me feel good that they went beyond their job to help me out," Alex said.

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The Benzie County Council on Aging's board of directors knows how lonely and depressing the holidays can be for senior citizens who have no family in the area. Also realizing that employees need time with their families, The Gathering Place, Benzie County's senior center, is usually closed during the holidays. However, for the past four years, some employees and volunteers have given up their holidays to keep the senior center open and give seniors a place to go.

On Christmas Day, 112 people enjoyed Christmas dinner. The day started with music and hors d'oeuvres and ended with dessert, more music and Christmas carols. On New Year's Eve, about 60 people enjoyed a party with a countdown to "midnight," a toast, noisemakers and confetti, appetizers and music. The board would like to thank everyone who helped make both parties successful.

Those who helped on Christmas were Charlene Hamilton, Michael and Sherry Stephens and Marilyn and Bernie Killeen, who prepared and cooked the meal; Annmarie and Michael Parsons-McNamara, who provided music; Max Kracht, who drove the COA bus to transport participants to and from the party; Bruce Anderson, Betty Cramer, Becky and Hank Milewski, Beth Belanger, Jeannette Hanson, Carl and Deanna Greene, who served coffee and helped with cleanup; and The Gathering Place staff, who helped with directions and food.

Charlene Hamilton, Jean Owens and Bernie and Marilyn Killeen hosted and helped with the New Year's Eve party. The Melody Makers provided music, while staff prepared hors d'oeuvres. Volunteers who decorated and helped with clean up were Art and Jean Cline, Charlene Hamilton, Judy Fast, Connor Burt, Danielle and Harry Gardner and the Killeens.

Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com or 933-1506.

Text Only
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    Continued ...
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  • Jack Lessenberry: State's prison problem

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  • Adapted in TC: Relationship's strength is at its core

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  • Amish Cook: Warmth helps stove breaks

    The sun is shining and it almost seems like spring with the unusual warmth we are experiencing.

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  • Op-Ed: Reform falls on deaf ears

    Surprise! Would you believe that political systems are stacked in favor of those with money? That's probably been true since the days of the Pharaohs. But these days, two things make the normal much worse in our country.

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  • Monday, February 6, 2012
  • Garret Leiva: This could change your life

    We live in a world where schemers, dreamers and spammers stuff our email inbox with can’t-miss deals and Nigerian bank windfalls. I, for one, can earn $50,000 in the next 90 days or enter to win a free iPad2. The best part is these wishful dreams can come true without any effort.

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  • Sunday, February 5, 2012
  • Giants on Cruz control

    Once again, the Giants come in as the underdog and once again I think they leave with the Vince Lombardi trophy.

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    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • Northern People: Hay in Texas in nick of time

    Hay donated by Dick Olds of Olds' Paradise Farms in Kingsley arrived at Rick Petersen's farm in the northeast Texas town of Wills Point in the nick of time.

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  • On Poetry: Knitting, like love, has a fringe

    Even if this winter's been mild, we've had plenty of chances to appreciate our knitted scarves, shawls, and sweaters. I think the hand-knitted ones are the warmest, holding all that personal care and attention in their fibers.

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    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Jack Lessenberry: Overcoming the Morouns

    Americans are justifiably outraged whenever a lawmaker is caught taking bribes or misusing public funds. But what do you suppose the voters' reaction would be if it were discovered that one very rich family was trying to buy off the Legislature solely for their own financial gain? What if that family spent millions on what amounted to legalized bribes to successfully block a project that virtually every corporation in the state agreed was essential to Michigan's economic future? We are talking about the family of Manuel J. "Matty" Moroun, the 84-year-old billionaire who owns the aging Ambassador Bridge.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • James Cook: Bet against Belichick?

    There's one big reason the pick is New England. Remember 2008?

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • George Weeks: Granholm has new gig

    Over the last half-century, most Michigan governors upon leaving office have gone into or sought another form of public service. The last one, Democrat Jeniffer Granholm, is blazing into the public light with a sprightly talk show gig on California-based national cable TV.

    Continued ...
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    With the cat asleep on my lap, I stared at the flames dancing in the fireplace and my mind drifted back to a long-ago summer afternoon spent with my father.

    Continued ...
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  • Saturday, February 4, 2012
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    Q: My "tween" is always saying "Everybody does it" or "Everybody says it." I know this is an excuse to try to get her own way or get things she wants, but I'm really getting tired of hearing it. Where does this end? — Frustrated Mom

    Continued ...
    Feb 4, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Thursday, February 2, 2012
  • Avid cook teaches in Beulah

    Winter can be kind of quiet in downtown Beulah. So Sally Berlin and Jackleen Carmack decided to spice it up a little with "“ what else? "“ food.

    Continued ...
    Feb 2, 2012 8:07 am 1 Photo
  • Amish Cook: Feverish boy still dervish

    Kevin, 6, is home from school today. He has been running a fever since yesterday morning.

    Continued ...
    Updated Feb 7, 2012 10:38 am
  • Op-Ed: 'Turnaround plan' for Michigan

    Business Leaders for Michigan, a group of some of the state's most progressive, far-seeing corporate chiefs, has released a new 2012 Michigan Turnaround Plan — and it's worth checking out.

    Continued ...
    Feb 2, 2012 7:54 am 1 Photo
  • Wednesday, February 1, 2012
  • Dennis Chase: Family tradition continues

    College football recruiting has changed dramatically since Shane Bullough went through the process nearly 30 years ago.

    Continued ...
    Feb 1, 2012 7:28 am 1 Photo
  • Monday, January 30, 2012
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    The winter of 1957-58 was a doozie. I was in fourth grade. Snowbanks were higher than school bus windows along sections of the back roads.

    Continued ...
    Jan 30, 2012 7:19 am 1 Photo
  • Garret Leiva: Electrifying Super Bowl

    Fans in NFL jerseys and power-suit ad executives will all be abuzz Sunday over the Roman numeral spectacle Super Bowl XLVI. I hope to score the electrical outlet plug-in version.

    Continued ...
    Jan 30, 2012 7:18 am 1 Photo
  • Sunday, January 29, 2012
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    For nine months of each year, Dr. Richard Keidan is an elite physician in an upscale Detroit suburb, a surgeon who specializes in removing cancer. But every three months or so, he flies across the globe to Nepal, lands in Katmandu, and then trudges into the interior.

    Continued ...
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    Continued ...
    Jan 29, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo