Traverse City Record-Eagle

Our Views

January 17, 2012

Cheers: 01/17/20112

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the Human Rights Commission of Traverse City, the Dennos Museum Center and Traverse City Area Public Schools for working together to offer free films, concerts, art exhibition and student artwork Monday to honor the civil rights work and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Theatre events included two free movies, “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Help,” as well as a remembrance event. Dennos Museum offerings included the “Welcome to Idlewild: The Black Eden of Michigan” exhibit and screenings of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

n To local businesses that made it possible for several fellow soldiers based in Wyoming to attend Saturday’s funeral for Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz in Traverse City. Schwartz, 34, and two others were killed in action Jan. 5 in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device. The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa provided free rooms, and the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Enterprise Rent-A-Car offered rental cars at reduced rates. A military service is tentatively scheduled for today at F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

n To Traverse City native Matthew “Mo” Gerhardt, who chose to focus on the positive when he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age 8. Now 34 and living in Lansing, he can add author to his list of achievements. He chose to do his first book signing of “Perspective From an Electric Chair” in his hometown. The 1996 Traverse City Central High graduate has degrees from Michigan State University and works with MSU’s College of Natural Science. He is the son of retired teachers Tom and Ann Gerhardt.

n To Jack Pickard, Dick Olds and a cash donor who made it possible to send local hay to disabled veteran Rick Petersen, a farmer in drought-stricken Texas. Petersen couldn’t afford the high hay prices there and faced having to sell his small herd. Pickard, a member of the local Disabled Veterans Chapter 38, will deliver 8,400 pounds of hay this month donated by Olds at Olds Paradise Farms in Kingsley. Cash donations helped offset the anticipated $2,300 transportation costs.

n To the Traverse Area District Library for offering free e-reader workshops through March 1 at the main branch. Demand for e-books has grown since the library began offering downloadable e-books and e-audio books in March.

n To Traverse City cycling enthusiasts Bob and Laura Otwell, who completed a 4,163-mile first leg of a bicycle ride around the United States when they arrived in Carlsbad, Calif., last month. Their five-month return route will take them through the southern United States, up the East Coast into New England and back to Michigan.

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