05/03/2007

Northern Notes

West Senior High sends out plea for prom dress donations

By Stephanie Beach
Local columnist
sbeach@
record-eagle.com

Read past Northern Notes

Barb Vinocur, a social worker at Traverse City West Senior High School, called to ask for donations of prom dresses and accessories. The West Senior High prom will be held May 26 and also is attended by students at Traverse City High School.

Vinocur said that there are students who would like to attend the prom, but can't afford dresses. Donations would help these students enjoy one of the highlights of high school.

Donations may be dropped off at the West Senior High School main office, 5376 N. Long Lake Road. Vinocur added that donations of free services, such as hair styling, also would be welcome. For more information, call Vinocur, 933-7708.

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A very honest individual, who prefers to remain anonymous, deserves recognition for admitting and correcting what for many would seem to be simply a mistake.

The person, who didn't sign the note that included a $1 bill, wrote that they opened a Record-Eagle newspaper box without putting any money in, took out two newspapers, left them on top of the box and walked away.

"I realize now that I did something bad,” the person wrote. "Here is the money to pay for the two newspapers. I am very sorry.”

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The family of Kit Lowthian wrote to send special thanks to everyone who helped with a benefit on April 18. Kit has been traveling to University of Michigan Hospitals for the past year due to debilitating seizures. Doctors at U-M want to remove part of Kit's brain to help control the seizures. Proceeds from the event will help with travel accommodations and medical expenses.

Thanks go out to TV 9&10 News, Moomer's Ice Cream, Classic Motors, Fantastic Sams, Bay Bread, Cycle-Moore, Planet Beach, Don's Drive-In, Applebee's, Apache Trout Grill, Pour Boiz Tattoo Alley, Target, Gordon Food Service, Cracker Barrel, TC Nails, Eagles Aerie # 383; and many volunteers, including Cheryl, Patti Andrea, Shawna, Perry, Jan, Lori, Judy, Nick, Frank, Melissa, Lindsey, Frank, Jason and Kimmy.

"And a very special thanks to all the people who made donations and attended the benefit,” the Lowthian family wrote. "... we also thank anyone who was not mentioned. We appreciate everything the people of Traverse City have done for us. Thank you once again.”

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Congratulations go out to the Kiwanis Club of Crystal Lake, which will celebrate 55 years of service to Benzie County with a Kiwanis Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Shop and Save shopping center in Benzonia..

Kiwanis is a worldwide organization with clubs in 96 countries. The Michigan Kiwanis movement was started in Detroit in 1915 and is approaching 1 million members. The Kiwanis Club of Crystal Lake was chartered in 1951.

During the past year, the Crystal Lake Kiwanis has given each third-grade student in Benzie County a dictionary to keep, each first-grader has received three books to keep through the Reading is Fundamental program sponsored by Kiwanis, and dozens of fifth-grade students have received the "Terrific Kid of the Month” certificate. In addition, the Benzie Baby Pantry receives a monthly donation and many school clubs and organizations receive sponsorship donations and assistance. The Crystal Lake club also makes and installs the green 911 signs in Benzie County.

The Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month for dinner, a program and a business meeting at the Hungry Tummy Restaurant in Beulah. For details, call 889-9959, or e-mail eckhout@jackpine.com.

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Items for this column may be sent to Northern Notes, Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685-0632; e-mail sbeach@record-eagle.com.