Northern Notes: Skiers get welcome lift

Stephanie Beach: Northern Notes

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Stephanie Beach

April 17, 2011

By Stephanie Beach, sbeach@record-eagle.com ---- The Record Eagle Wed Apr 18, 2012, 02:24 PM EDT

Heide and Tom McNichols, of Traverse City, had mapped out a route for cross-country skiing that started at the Old Mission General Store. They discovered ... 8 miles later ... that somehow they got headed in the wrong direction and came out at another trailhead, not at the starting point where their car was parked.

"It was a very cold day, and we had really exerted ourselves and had no idea how to get back," Heide said.

A very nice couple was there with their dogs and offered to drive the McNichols back to the trailhead about 3 miles away. Heide and Tom didn't get their names, but do know they live on Montmorency Lane on Old Mission Peninsula.

"It was a very, very nice thing for them to do," Heide said.

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Mary Vollink, a volunteer and holiday coordinator for the Salvation Army, Traverse City, wrote on behalf of the organization to express heartfelt appreciation to those who helped in any way to serve the less fortunate in the community this past Christmas season.

"Your part, whether ringing bells, giving monetary donations, showing kindness to our bell ringers, adopting a family, letting us ring the bell at your place of business, giving your employees the opportunity to do community-service work for us while still paying them, helping with meals or the Toy Shop at our building, giving food to our pantry and many other things that we may not have mentioned, has not gone unnoticed," Mary wrote.

She went on to say that we live in a very generous community, and with its help the Salvation Army was able to help 270 families, which included 625 children this holiday season.

"We are very grateful to each one of you who has and continues to support us in our effort," Mary wrote. "God has certainly blessed us, and for that we are very thankful!"

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Munson Hospice and Palliative Care would like to thank Moomer's Homemade Ice Cream on North Long Lake Road for the wonderful Munson Hospice House Friend-Raiser Benefit in March.

"The stories shared by families who were there were very heartwarming to hear," wrote Munson Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Judy Goodrich. "Our thanks to those who spread the word, brought a friend and supported the Munson Hospice program while enjoying delicious homemade ice cream and a great gourmet sundae bar. And, a special thanks to the Plummer family for a great day!"

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Sandy Piotrowski, development coordinator for Third Level Crisis Intervention Center, wrote on behalf of the center with thank-yous for a trio of fundraisers.

George Thompson and Dan O'Neil PC asked for donations at their Traverse City office and raised nearly $1,600 for the Free Legal Aid Clinic.

"Thank you to everyone who came in support of the program and joined in the fun," Sandy wrote.

Third Level sends its sincere thanks to The Bay Leaf restaurant on Park Street for a fundraiser in February that raised nearly $1,400 for Pete's Place Youth Shelter and to the General Manager Denny Fitzpatrick, owner Dan Kelly, the Bay Leaf staff and volunteers for helping to make this event a great success.

"Third Level also would like to thank Mark and Ginger Haworth, of Right Response, for planning and organizing this fun event," Sandy wrote. "A huge thank-you also to Bill Dungjen for the great entertainment."

Nancy Freund, owner of Lil Bo Pub & Grille, hosted a fundraiser in March for Third Level's Transitional Living Program that raised $2,030.

Fifty percent of sales, 25 percent of tips and all the money raised from a silent auction and raffle went to fund transitional living apartments where youth coming out of foster care or homelessness can live while learning skills to live independently.

"Nancy has been instrumental in raising $5,650 for the program this past year, and we are grateful for her support," Sandy wrote. "Thank you to everyone who donated items for the silent auction and raffle. Thank you also to everyone who came in support of this event and to the Corvairs for the great entertainment and for donating their time and CDs to raffle."

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