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  • Annahbel Ketko, age 7, left, with help from her 2-year-old sister Brecken Ketko, right, manned a lemonade stand to benefit Charity Hill Ranch's Horses for Heroes program during their parent's Memorial Day garage sale. Annahbel raised $57 for the program. Special to the Record-Eagle

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  • Stephanie Beach

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June 11, 2012

Northern Notes: 7 year old helps vets

BY STEPHANIE BEACH, Local columnist ----

Scott and Leslie Ketko of Traverse City were planning a Memorial Day garage sale and their 7-year-old daughter Annahbel wanted to have a lemonade stand.

Scott had heard about Charity Hill Ranch's Horses for Heroes program that serves the needs of military veterans who can benefit physically, emotionally and psychologically with the aid or hoses and riding. After talking with Annahbel about what Memorial Day means and what people in the U.S. military do to preserve America's freedoms, Annahbel, who loves horses, decided that the Charity Hill Ranch program would be the perfect beneficiary of the profits from her lemonade stand.

"The people who made donations to her stand were all so kind, giving change and even a $5 bill," wrote Annahbel's mom Leslie. "She really took a lot away from the one afternoon event, even practicing counting money and change, something they have been working on in first grade."

On June 4, Annahbel hand-delivered her lemonade stand profits of $57 to Charity Hill Ranch.

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Sally Hanley wrote on behalf of the Grand Traverse Baby Pantry to thank the Traverse City area community for their support of April's Diaper Drive. Ninety-eight packages of diapers were collected, plus cash donations.

"Over 400 families with young children visited the pantry last year and diapers are one of the basics they need ... ," Sally wrote. "We'd like to thank the following businesses that hosted our donation boxes — Tom's Food Markets, Oleson's Food Stores, Glen's Market on East Eighth Street, St. Francis Catholic Church, The Presbyterian Church, NW MI Community Action Agency, Munson Medical Center and Small Wonders Resale."

The Baby Pantry reopens Tuesday, June 12, at 1144 Boon Street. Summer hours at 9 a.m.-noon and 3-6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. For details, call Sally, 941-0655.

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Fifty-five artists participated in Goodwill's Reinvention Convention, accepting the challenge of taking items purchased at the Goodwill store and reinventing them as works of art.

The one-of-a-kind art was displayed for several weeks so the public could preview before and after photos of each artist's piece online and vote for their favorite items. With the $1 votes and funds collected through sale of the artwork, the event raised more than $12,000 for Goodwill's Workers on Wheels program.

"We are thrilled with the outcome and appreciative of the support given by the Downtown Traverse City Association and Art Walk and the event's many volunteers," said LuAnn Heinert, Goodwill's director of volunteer resources and Workers on Wheels.

Winning artists were: Hallett FFF, overall grand prize; Anne Stull, adult award; Delaney Mikula, under 18 award; The WOW Gang, group award; and Sarah Nixon, artistic merit award.

Before and after images of the artwork may be viewed at www.reinventionconvention.com.

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