Traverse City Record-Eagle

Stephanie Beach: Northern Notes

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May 1, 2011

Northern Notes: Michael's Place cooking

By STEPHANIE BEACH Local columnist

Thanks to many generous donations, they're cooking at Michael's Place.

The healing center for grieving children, teens, adults and families provides meals for support group members every Monday night. Most weeks the meals are donated by area church groups and restaurants, but often need to be heated. Occasionally Michael's Place staff prepares the meals and needs a place to cook them.

"When we moved our support groups to our new facility, 1144 Boon St., we did not have a stove to use for cooking or reheating these meals," wrote Program Coordinator Nancy Elmore. "Special thanks go out to Annette Goodyear and Tim Swallows for donating the stove; Rob Brenner for assessing our wiring needs; Jack Dipisa and Kendall Electric Supply for donating the plug and breaker; Jim Rose and Windemuller Electric for donating conduit and wire; and Chris Minidis, who donated many hours of his own time to install the wiring and get the stove working for us."

Because of these generous donations, Michael's Place now has a stove to use not only for meals but also for program activities on Monday nights and in its Robin's Nest program.

"We appreciate all the help we've received to provide this special type of support for our families," Nancy wrote.

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Marisa Behrmann would like to recognize the anonymous person who donated seven SmartBoards, worth $26,000, to Trinity Lutheran School in Traverse City.

The SmartBoards are an interactive whiteboard learning system that incorporates computer technology and collaborative opportunities for students through touch. Trinity Lutheran is the first primary school in Traverse City to have the technology in every classroom.

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The inaugural Kampout for KAIR (Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources) was a huge success, with a steady stream of people dropping off personal hygiene items and nonperishable food during a 24-hour period at the Bill Marsh car dealership in Kalkaska. In addition to a full truck of food, donors also contributed more than $5,000 in cash.

The dealership took on the feeling of a summer campout with Boy Scouts setting up tents, an around-the-clock campfire and activities that included games and roasting marshmallows, and all the while volunteers were accepting donations.

"I was shocked," said KAIR Director Deb Harmon. "This community is awesome. I was never so proud to be part of anything."

Deb added that the event would not have been nearly as successful without a dedicated group of volunteers and a strong core of sponsors including radio stations WKLT and the Fox FM, TV stations 9&10 News and Fox 32, Bill Marsh Auto, Northland Foods, Glen's Markets, Morse Moving and Storage, McDonald's Restaurant, B.C. Pizza, Trout Town Cafe and Boy Scout Troop 629.

"The success of the event will make it easier to help serve the growing number of people seeking assistance from us," Deb said.

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The Traverse City High School class of 1956 has lost touch with nine classmates and would like to reconnect with them in time for the 55-year reunion.

The missing classmates are Leroy Howard, Maryann (Zvirbilis) Jerome, Gerald Puishis, Bob McDonald, Lois (Burt) Dettrich, Jessie Weathers, Roy Arnoldt, Jack Krause and Clyde Claycomb. Anyone with information on how to reach these individuals should contact Susan (Moore) Merrill, (616) 949-1596 or tcm3439@aol.com.

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

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