Emmy Lou Cholak lives on Elmwood Avenue in Traverse City, which has been under deconstruction and reconstruction this summer.
"Teams of men from Elmer's Construction have been doing all this work," Emmy Lou wrote. "What a long, hard process! The crew has been amazing. Everyone from the big machine operators and men with shovels and pickaxes to the project managers and supervisors have been extremely polite, pleasant, cooperative, informative and friendly! I could not have picked a better crew to work in front of my house if I had tried."
Emmy Lou went on to say that the process has brought out the best in all the neighbors, who have taken the construction stress as an opportunity to get to know each other better and help each other more. To celebrate the completion of the construction in their area, the neighbors planned a block party.
"The construction manager of the part under way in our block assured us that equipment and personnel would be done that day in time for the after-hours party (on June 28). Of course, no one 'officially' knew about it, but they cooperated to the utmost anyway."
The crew put the asphalt down the next day.
"They have done a great job in the most pleasant, cooperative way possible. Hats off to them with many thanks!" Emmy Lou wrote.
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The Pleasant Valley Community Center, in the former Arcadia Elementary School, is located at M-22 and Glovers Lake Road. It features rental space for large or small gatherings, a playground, an exercise room, gym, electric car racing platform and the Arcadia Branch of the Manistee Library. The kitchen, however, needed everything from soap to roasters. So a kitchen shower was planned.
"The folks in the community came through," wrote fundraising director Debbra Eckhout. "Nearly 50 women, men and children attended, laden with gifts for the kitchen."
Gifts included paper products, electric appliances, towels, flatware, six 8-foot tables, cleaning products, coffee and spices. The Glenwood in Onekama brought three boxes of china and the Ideal Kitchen in Manistee "blessed" the center with a heavy-duty tea kettle and a gift certificate.
"The shower was a great success, and we cannot begin to thank everyone enough," Debbra wrote. "(We) wish to express our sincere gratitude to the community for helping make the center a viable asset in Arcadia."
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Kevin Putman and Tana Nathe wrote to thank everyone who contributed to the success of a "Pingpong 4 OCD" tournament held recently at Camp Daggett. The goal of the event was to raise awareness and educate people about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
"Thirty players registered for the tournament, and around 70 people were in attendance," Kevin and Tana wrote. "Live music was provided by The Hand-Me-Downs and Craig Cottrill with Richard. The day was full of amazing pingpong, OCD education and fun. Thank you to everyone who came out and was part of 'Pingpong 4 OCD,' and a huge thank-you to all of the sponsors who so graciously supported this event."
A complete list of sponsors can be found at www.pingpong4ocd.com.
Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com.
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