05/17/2007

Northern Notes

TC woman thanks area residents for their kindness

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

Read past Northern Notes

Barbara Woodruff of Traverse City wrote to share a story of the kindness of Traverse City's residents.

Barbara had an appointment with Dr. Leslie, a hand specialist, recently and had to park at Immaculate Conception Middle School, about a block away from the specialist's office, and then walked down the snowy street and sidewalk to her appointment.

"After two painful shots and walking to my car, I discovered my keys missing,” Barbara wrote. "I retraced my steps and many people came to my aid. Patients in the waiting room offered me rides or the use of their cell phones. The office staff looked everywhere. The school's secretary was called and she sent out a task force of a teacher and six school children to search. They found a broken remote, but no keys. Then someone suggested the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, which was in session. I asked many people as they emerged from the meeting and one lady said, "Yes, there are keys on a nail!”

The keys turned out to be Barbara's and she is very grateful for all the kindness shown her.

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As a retired educator with 32 years of experience, Rick Ehlers of Kingsley was impressed recently by a group of students from Traverse High School.

Under the supervision of Bill Watson, Youth Corps Coordinator, the student team of Ray, Yano, Andrea, Tighearnan, Christina and Joe, in cooperation with the Grand Traverse Conservation District's seedling sale, planted 300 seedlings on Ehler's property. The team exhibited work, manners and attitude that Ehlers described as "professional.”

"They were a credit to themselves, their families, their school and their community. They scraped away thick sod 300 times, dug 300 holes and planted the 300 trees in a little over three hours,” Ehlers wrote. "The cost to me: the price of the trees and a donation to the Traverse City Youth Corps.”

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After one place told Marlene Trowbridge of Traverse City that she needed new tires, she decided to get another opinion and stopped at the Tire Factory. A young man came out and after looking at her tires told her that she didn't need new ones.

Marlene then told him that she had one more request and that was that everyone had had trouble getting her spare off.

"He pulled (my car) in and worked for at least an hour and got it off,” Marlene wrote. "I said 'What do I owe you' and he said 'Nothing.' The young man was Garth Story (and) from the bottom of my heart I thank him.”

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Brian Simerson, a client advocate and program assistant for the Thomas Judd Care Center of Munson Medical Center, wrote to thank director Al Lien and the cast of "As Is,” along with the Old Town Playhouse, for the benefit performance of the play.

Proceeds from that day's ticket sales, along with donations collected during the run of the play, brought in more than $1,100 for the Angel Fund at the Care Center.

"This fund helps clients with HIV/AIDS cover expenses not covered under current funding options,” Brian wrote. "We also appreciate that the play helped bring more awareness of HIV/AIDS here in northern Michigan. We are fortunate to have some very talented and caring people here in our area. Thank you from the staff, clients, families and friends of the Thomas Judd Care Center of Munson Medical Center.”

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Kris Brott's daughter dropped her school ID either on the way to or from school. Kris wrote to thank Jan Johnson of Traverse City who went to the trouble of contacting the school to track her daughter down. Then, when Kris wasn't able to make it over to Jan's office to pick the ID up, she mailed it to Kris.

"Not many people would have gone the extra mile. Big thanks to Jan,” Kris wrote.

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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.