Traverse City Record-Eagle

Life

March 1, 2010

Event connects parents with baby sitters

Moms club holds second annual 'baby-sitter swap'

BY LISA PERKINS

TRAVERSE CITY -- Face-to-face meetings help take the anxiety out of hiring a new baby sitter.

That's why The Moms Club of Traverse Bay Area organized its second annual Great Babysitter Swap Saturday, drawing in more than 60 parents and sitters looking to make a connection.

"It can be uncomfortable to have someone come to your home, both for the baby sitter and for the parent, when you are looking for someone to take care of your child," said event organizer and mother-of-two Angeline Piotrowski.

Piotrowski, a member of The Moms Club, helped organize last year's event as a parent who was new to the area and found it difficult to know who to trust when looking for an occasional sitter.

"Meeting people face to face, you get a sense of someone that you can't get otherwise," Piotrowski said.

Heather Grant, of Lake Ann, came to the event held at Old Town Coffee in downtown Traverse City looking for an occasional sitter for her two young children.

"All of my family is downstate. This is a great way to meet people and actually see who might be available in my area," said Grant, who was able to ask for references and inquire about the experience of prospective sitters.

Full-time licensed daycare provider Mindy Rosenberg liked the face-to-face contact she was able to make with prospective youngsters and their parents.

"This gives a very personal quality to the process, something that sometimes gets lost when parents are answering ads or looking on the Internet," she said.

For more information on The Moms Club of the Traverse Bay Area, visit www.themomsclub.net.

Text Only
  • CSSFDEC.jpg
    Foodie With Family: Feeding joy

    The other day, after a protracted conversation about food, my little brother observed that my purpose in life is to make people hungry. As a food writer, there is something to that, but that's not the whole story ... I also feed them.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:34 am 2 Photos
  • Seafood, chocolate are tastes of love
    CSSFE0D.jpg

    Warm and creamy, au gratin are perfect for a cold winter night. And what better way to say "I love you" than with a little indulgence of seafood and cream.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:30 am 1 Photo
  • Recipe of the Week: Maurice Salad

    Mary Smith, of Bellaire, trades recipes with friends, several of whom like this one. The salad was served at Hudson's in downtown Detroit and Smith said she copied it from the Detroit Free Press at least 25 years ago.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:30 am
  • Cooks Corner: Sales help Leelanau Trail
    CSSA02.jpg

    L. Mawby Vineyards has created a special label to benefit the Leelanau Trail Paving Campaign. Plus, more food news from around the region.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:30 am 1 Photo
  • Healthy Cooking: Surf and Turf Cobbler
    CSSFE79.jpg

    If you're looking for a romantic Valentine's Day gift that's truly from the heart, why not give the best gift of all — a mouth-watering, healthy meal you make yourself?

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:30 am 1 Photo
  • On Deadline: Handmade chocolates
    9deadline2.jpg

    Attempting to make chocolate bonbons from scratch is enough to test anyone's love. I was convinced there had to be an easier way. So I started playing. The result is this ridiculously simple — yet outrageously delicious.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:30 am 1 Photo
  • Amish Cook: Warmth helps stove breaks

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

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:30 am
  • Monday, February 6, 2012
  • Students get wired for work
    CSSCA11.jpg

    Students in the TBA-ISD Career Tech Center electrical occupation program had the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test Friday when they participated in a Skills USA competition.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 2 Photos
  • 'Guys and Dolls' center stage at TCSF
    CSSCA32.jpg

    Bringing the high jinks and scheming of Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson to the stage, St. Francis High School presents "Guys and Dolls" for six shows starting Friday.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • Garret Leiva: This could change your life
    CSSCA4E.jpg

    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.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • News from 100 Years Ago: 02/06/2012
    CSSCA81.jpg

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • Historical Photo: 02/06/2012
    CSSCA9D.jpg

    Who are these two guys, and do you know why they are wearing aprons?

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • Community in Brief: 02/06/2012

    Benefit for winter events in Frankfort; MS support group hosts guest speaker; Tips to attract birds to winter feeders; and more

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am
  • I'll use my words to explore
    CSSCABB.jpg

    It is a funny thing, being a creative writer. I wanted to show my talent and illustrate exactly my love for the art of words in my essay. Alas, it was too long; clever, but long.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • Required reading changes relationships
    CSSCAD9.jpg

    First off, I am an avid reader. It is unusual that a book like "The Hunger Games" slipped under my radar for so long; I only had the opportunity to read it in my Science Fiction class as a required book.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • Despite backgrounds, I feel a connection
    CSSCAF7.jpg

    I stayed up almost past 1 a.m. in my room all alone, on a school night, flipping as fast as I could through the pages of "The Hunger Games," because I couldn't stand falling asleep without knowing how Katniss and Peeta escape the trap the Capitol set up for them.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • Genre crosses cultural lines
    CSSCB15.jpg

    I have never been into science fiction; in fact, I have never read a book, nor watched a movie within this genre. I have never really figured out why people would want to make up things way out of our reality, and enjoy it.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am 1 Photo
  • Looking for writers, photographers

    Generation Why is looking for writing and photography from high school students in the five-county Record-Eagle coverage area.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 7:38 am
  • Sunday, February 5, 2012
  • New cultural center plans to teach, celebrate
    CSS8A52.jpg

    The Northern Michigan Cultural Center launched in November and kicked off its programming Jan. 28 with a Chinese New Year open house. It will sponsor a Chinese New Year Lantern Festival from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at the Open Space.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 2 Photos
  • Northern People: Learn about fish playing
    CSS8A75.jpg

    Do you know a walleye from a sunfish? A salmon from a trout? By the time you play "Fishing Camp," you'll have a better idea.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Northern People: Hay in Texas in nick of time
    CSS8A8F.jpg

    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.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • On Poetry: Knitting, like love, has a fringe
    CSS8AAD.jpg

    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.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Reflections: Images on the pond
    CSS8ACB.jpg

    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 ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Books/Travel in Brief: 02/05/2012

    TC native wins six Hopwood Awards; Fleda Brown giving talk in Central Lake; Workshops, party at Kingsley library; Champagne and chocolate for library; Dunes Review winter edition out.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • Marriages: 02/05/2012

    Marriage applications filed with the county clerk.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am